Episode 139: Slice of Life

"This week on Sliced!" A commercial is playing. On it a logo saying SLICED is cut in half by a meat cleaver. "It's time for a very special episode. Three amateur chefs will battle against each other and the culinary grab bag on a very special live episode. Don't miss it! Tonight at 8/7 Central! Only on PTV!"

Sliced!? I love that show! And so does Brock!

Brock is watching the commercial on a holovision in a Pokémon Center. He clutches a piece of paper in his hand and looks very excited.

Brenda asks, "Sliced is your favorite TV show, right Brock?"

Brock nods. "Absolutely. Not only do you get an intense cooking competition, but the time limit and culinary grab bag ingredients force the contestants to come up with wild and creative combinations that you would never expect, but completely work. I've always dreamed of being on the show." He looks down to his paper. "And now it's happening."

Ash asks, "How did you even get the invitation? Isn't that show for professional chefs?"

"Normally, but tonight's live show is for amateur chefs. I've applied for all of their amateur shows, and it's finally happened. Even more lucky is that we just happening to be passing through the city where Pokémon Television is headquartered. This is going to be amazing."

Ash grins. Seeing Brock so giddy makes him happy too. "You're going to do great, Brock. I know it."

Brenda points out, "So long as your competition isn't a pretty girl. Then you're doomed to fail." She laughs at her own joke.

At mention of a pretty girl, Meteorfight appears and looks around expectingly. It is disappointed to find Brock in his senses.

Brock announces, "Not even the world's most beautiful Nurse Joy could distract me today!" His attention is grabbed by Nurse Joy walking by. "Except maybe her!" he exclaims dreamily.

Meteorfight is already out and ready. It wastes no time seizing this opportunity and slams Brock with an uppercut. It seems extremely satisfied with itself for not misreading the situation after all. "Meteor."

Brock announces meekly, "And that…is why I won't get distracted…"

As Brock excitedly leads Ash and Brenda to the TV studio, Team Rocket tails them. Meowth is ready for action, but Jessie and James look dead tired. Meowth encourages, "Come on, team, we've got to keep up with the twerps if our plan is to work."

Jessie yawns loudly. "Keep up with the who now…?" She's so tired she's out of it.

James, just as tired, responds, "With the…" He nods off before he can answer.

Meowth turns around to glare at them and puts his hands to his hips. "Hey! Wake up!" The shout wakes them both up, but only barely. "What gives? You lugs are acting even more lethargic than usual."

James responds, "Sorry, barely got a wink of sleep last night…"

Jessie adds with annoyance, "Maybe if you didn't insist we stay up to watch your talk show, we'd be well rested right now." She yawns.

Meowth looks offended. "Come on, now. Watching the Up All Night Show doesn't get in the way of sleeping. Everyone watches late night shows."

James points out, "This show was on until four in the morning…"

"Hence the term 'late night show,'" Meowth points out as if it were obvious.

Jessie shakes her head. "That's not late night, that's beyond late…"

James adds, "I don't get the big deal anyways. The comedian wasn't funny. The celebrity guest was a has-been. The band was off-key. The—"

"Blasphemy! You clearly have no respect for the art of late-night talk shows!"

Jessie asks as she yawns, "Why do you care so much?"

"Why do I care so much? Why do I care so much!? You two may be too fortunate in life to realize this, but talk shows celebrate our freedom to speak! It's in the name! I suppose that two humans who grew up always talking don't understand the value of speech, but I do! By disrespecting the talk show, you disrespect the very concept of talking!" He thinks back to a time where he was living in an attic. Through a crack in the ground, he looks down to the floor below and sees a television that someone is watching. A talk show is on. Meowth watches with joy.

Jessie shakes her head tiredly. "You're thinking way too much into this. Right, Wobbuffet?"

Wobbuffet has appeared, but it remains silent. It's looking at a piece of paper in its hands. The same invitation Brock had. Without anyone noticing, Wobbuffet sneaks away. Despite having just asked it a question, Jessie seems not to mind its absence.

Meowth shouts, "Just because you don't like them, doesn't mean you can't respect them!"

Jessie shakes her head. "No, I'm pretty sure it does."

Someone shouts from a distance, "Do my ears deceive me, or did that Meowth just talk!?"

Meowth turns around to see a man in sunglasses and a flamboyant purple suit approaching him. "That depends, who's asking?"

The man laughs. "Marvelous! It is! You could be just what I've been searching for!" He lifts Meowth off the ground and spins him around.

Meowth jumps from his grasp. "Hey! Hands off the merchandise, buddy!"

"Infinite apologies, my friend. The name's Timmy Vick, but folks call me Tee Vee, on account of my job."

Meowth looks at him skeptically. "Which is?"

"I'm a producer and boy do I have a production for you. What would you say to having your own talk show? A Pokémon-lead talk show would be an instant hit! The gimmick would win over even the most avid talk show haters!"

Meowth is in a state of disbelief. "My own talk show…" He suddenly exclaims, "Meow we're talking!"

Everyone looks at him in confusion.

"That would be the name of my talk show, of course."

Tee Vee grins at him. "Sure, why not!" He pulls out a pen and contract he somehow has readymade. "Just sign on the line, and we'll make Meow We're Talking a reality. Of course, I'll be your producer with creative oversight, but I think we can work together to make something beautiful.

Meowth doesn't need any convincing. He grabs the pen and signs without hesitation. Tee Vee rolls up the contract and pockets it with a smirk.

James asks, "Ooh, can I be on your show?"

Meowth grins smugly. "Looks who's suddenly interested in talk shows." He laughs. "I'm sure I can find something for you lugs."

Jessie chimes in, "Ooh! You can interview me! An interview with the famous celebrity Jessie will draw in an audience for sure!"

James adds, "And I could lead the band! All those music lessons I took as a kid could pay off!"

Meowth shakes his head as he chuckles. "Sorry, no can do. My talk show is going to be a talk show all about Pokémon. That's the gimmick. I was thinking you could be crew."

Jessie and James immediately frown. James asks, "Crew? Really? While you star?"

"Sure, this is all about me, after all."

Jessie shakes her head. "Nah ah. I refuse to do menial labor. Call me when you come to your senses." She and James turn around and leave, both clearly offended.

Meowth looks like he's about to call out to them, but Tee Vee puts a hand on his shoulder and comforts, "Meowth, baby, you don't need them anymore. You've hit the big time. They'd just hold you back."

Meowth nods. "You're right. They don't deserve to be involved in the sacred ritual of a talk show anyways."

"Yeah. Sacred. Right."

Ash, Brock, and Brenda have made it to the studio. A crew member is showing them around. He explains, "We film just about anything here. News, talk shows, reality, game shows, and of course, cooking. Just up ahead is where you'll be preparing for tonight's show. The other contestants have already shown up." He leads them into a room.

They step into the room to see one of Brock's competition, who has just been handed a plate of food from the other. He shouts, "It's tasting time!" It's Cilan, who is trying a plate of food prepared by Wobbuffet wearing a chef's coat. He takes a bite and gushes, as a spotlight appears over him. "The flavors on this plate are bold, and yet somehow reserved! It's the perfect blend of sweet and salty, with just a hint of sour! Stupendous! This cooking competition connoisseur gives it a big five stars!"

Wobbuffet happily accepts the evaluation. "Wobbuffet!"

Ash gasps. "No way! Cilan! You're competing against Brock!?"

Cilan looks to Ash with equal surprise. "Ash! What a coincidence, meeting you here!"

Pansage leaps up onto his shoulder and greets, "Pansage!"

Brock gasps, "Wait, I know you!"

Cilan gasps as well. "An even bigger coincidence! Imagine that!"

Brock laughs. "I never thought I would get the chance to see you again. I never even asked what your name was last time we saw each other."

Ash is very confused. "Wait, you two know each other? How?"

Cilan laughs. "We met once in Johto, soon after I parted ways with you and Iris, actually."

Brock is shocked. "No way. You're telling me that Ash was one of the friends you used to cook for?"

Cilan nods proudly. "I like to think I made him some of the best food he's ever had."

Brock chuckles. "That would be impossible, because it was me who made him the best food he ever had."

Cilan puts two and two together. "Ash was the friend you used to cook for?"

They stare at each other, then crack up in laughter.

Ash shakes his head in dismay. "I'm so confused."

Brenda giggles. "Welcome to my world."

Brock extends a hand. "My name's Brock."

Cilan shakes it. "I'm Cilan. Nice to formally meet you."

"Same here. So, it looks like we'll be competing tonight."

Cilan nods. "I remember how good that soup you made us was. I can't wait for the challenge."

"And I can't wait to see what kind of cooking you can do. I guess we'll find out who made the better food for Ash."

Brock glances over to Wobbuffet. "And you must be the third contestant." He stares at it for a moment. "Wait…don't I know you…?"

Wobbuffet looks nervous. "Wo…wobba…?"

Brock realizes, "I know! You're Chef Wobbuffet! The only Pokémon to ever compete and win on Sliced! This is going to be great!"

Wobbuffet breathes a sigh of relief. "Wobbaaa…"

Everyone now relaxes on a breakroom couch. Ash asks, "So, Cilan, how's it been going? It's been a long time."

Cilan grins. "I'm still working on becoming an S-Class Pokémon Connoisseur. After traveling in Johto, I've evaluated all around the world."

Brenda asks, "What's a Connoisseur?"

Cilan is more than happy to explain. "A Pokémon Connoisseur is a specialist in the partnerships between Pokémon and people. I evaluate the bonds that form and assess their strength."

Brenda adds, "Didn't you say before that you were a cooking competition connoisseur?"

Cilan grins. "I'm all kinds of connoisseurs. Pokémon. Food. Trains. Mysteries. Science. You name it, I evaluate it!"

Ash adds, "What he really means is that he gets excited way too easily."

Cilan chuckles. "Guilty as charged."

Ash looks from Cilan to Brock and back to Cilan. "I can't believe two of the best cooks I've ever known are about to compete with each other on TV. This is amazing!"

Brock grins. "Being on Sliced was a dream come true. To be on the show competing against such high-caliber competition makes it even better. Tonight is going to be a night to remember."

Cilan grins back at Brock. "I concur. I hope you don't plan on holding back, just because we're friends."

"Just so long as you don't hold back on me."

"It's a deal."

Meowth sits behind a desk with a couch next to it on a studio set. Lights and cameras surround him. He's giddy with excitement. He watches as sign is hoisted above him. It's a logo for his show. Golden text proudly declares, "Meow We're Talking!" with smaller neon light-like lettering saying, "With Meowth." Aside the words is a cartoon rendition of Meowth's face.

Meowth says to himself, "Have I lost nine lives and gone to heaven? My mug is about to be on the small screen. Somebody pinch me."

One of the crew members leans in and pinches Meowth. She asks, "Is there anything else you need, Mr. Meowth?"

Once he gets over the shock of being pinched, he shakes his head. "No. That will be all for now." Once she's gone, a goofy grin crosses his face. "Mr. Meowth. Now you know I've made it to the big time."

Who's that Pokémon!?

It pushes the tips of its tails against its foes and then lets loose a high-voltage current. Its foes are burned to a crisp in an instant.

The Sliced host announces, "This is Sliced!" The Sliced logo appears, and a meat cleaver cuts through it. "On this cooking competition like no other, we pit famous chefs up against the culinary grab bag! Anything could be in it, and the chefs have to make a meal using all four ingredients in time or face being sliced. Are these three chefs going to make the cut?"

The Sliced host walks out into the kitchen. "I'm Ted Scallion, and today I'm pleased to present to you not one, not two, but three talented amateur chefs who all think they have what it takes to claim the title of Sliced Champion and the cash prize that goes with it. Let's meet the contestants. First is Chef Brock."

Brock walks out into the kitchen. As he does, a prerecorded segment plays. "My name is Brock. I may be training to be a Pokémon Doctor, but don't think that means my food won't knock you out." As he speaks, different clips of him cooking are shown. "I grew up cooking for my nine younger siblings. Because of that, I have developed culinary skills to appease even the pickiest of eaters. My other interests include Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, and really any other pretty woman, for that matter."

"And then there's Chef Cilan."

Cilan follows Brock out. "I'm Chef Cilan, and it's evaluation time! I'm a Pokémon Connoisseur, but don't think that means I'm not interested in cooking. You could even call me a cooking connoisseur. I run a gym with my brothers in Striaton City, and the gym doubles as a restaurant. That's how I learned to cook. My gym leader and connoisseur duties may have gotten in the way of me ever being considered a professional chef, but I'm no pushover."

"And finally, we have a returning fan-favorite, it's Chef Wobbuffet!"

Wobbuffet also takes its position in the kitchen. "Wobbuffet! Wobba wobba wobba. Wobbuffet wobba. Wobba wobbuffet. Wobbuffet! Wobba wobba, wobbuffet. Wobba wobba wobba wobba, wobbuffet, !"

Ted Scallion steps back in. "Greetings, Chefs."

Brock and Cilan respond, "Hello, Ted," while Wobbuffet greets, "Wobbuffet!"

"With only three of you, today you will be competing in two rounds. Entrée and dessert. In each round you will open the culinary grab bag, which will contain four ingredients you have to use in some way in your dish. Each round another of you will be sliced, until only the Sliced Amateur Champion remains. Are you all ready?" They all affirm. "In that case, please open your entrée grab bags."

Everyone opens the bags in front of them. "What can you make with…berry juice," the chefs pull out a wide bowl of berry juice, "Pewter Crunchies," Brock's face lights up with joy upon seeing the bagged snack, "leeks," a bushel of leeks fit for a Farfetch'd are pulled, "and finally, a Galar staple, Bob's Food Tin." All three chefs scowl with disgust as they pull out the canned food product. "Does inspiration strike? I hope it does. You've got thirty minutes to create an entrée dish using all four ingredients. Good luck." A thirty-minute clock begins its countdown and the chefs leap into action.

Despite being a live show, Cilan somehow comments in a cutaway interview, "Bob's Food Tin? Are they trying to torture us? No real chef would be caught dead using canned food. But I suppose I have no choice but to make it work." He quickly opens the can with a can opener and sniffs the contents. He scowls at what he smells.

Brock wastes no time running into the pantry to gather ingredients for his dish. His interview says, "I know they were thrown at us as a curveball, but I'm really happy to see Pewter Crunchies here. As a Pewter City native, I grew up eating the things. They're savory pellets made of rice. This will bring the perfect texture to my dish."

Wobbuffet beings to chop away at its leeks. Its interview is simply, "Wobbuffet!"

Ted turns the table of judges, who are identified by an overlay as Alex Vermicelli, Chris Santoast, and Amanda Friedtag. "Judges, our viewers may think that berry juice sounds like one of the tamer ingredients here. Would you care to enlighten them?"

Alex Vermicelli laughs. "Berry juice, or at least this kind of it, is made by placing berries into the shell of a Shuckle and allowing it to decompose. It enhances the healing property of the berries. According to some, it also enhances the taste."

As Brock pours his berry juice into a pan to boil, he says in an interview, "I'm not afraid of the origin of the berry juice. I think berry juice is a great ingredient, both for cooking and healing. It's going to make the perfect base for my gastrique." After he pours a few more ingredients into the pot, he turns around and cuts some bread. "Inspired by childhood memories of Pewter Crunchies, I'm going to make another childhood favorite, a sandwich. Except, I'm going to put a gourmet twist on it." He runs over to a deep fryer and drops several battered and breaded chunks of the canned food into the frier. "Frying the canned food will help to remove the tin flavor. It's breaded in crumbs from the Pewter Crunchies. Hopefully their perfect crunchiness will translate over to the canned food."

Amanda Friedtag points out, "Look, Cilan's just gotten out some Galar masala, the primary spice used to flavor curry in the Galar Region. Could we be seeing curry?"

Chris Santoast agrees, "It would make sense, given the Bob's Food Tin."

As Cilan dumps ingredients into a pot, his interview explains, "For some reason, Bob's Food Tin is a popular curry ingredient in the Galar Region, so I figure when in Galar, do as the Galarians do. So, I'll be making a curry. They also use berries in Galarian curry, so the berry juice should be perfect. The leeks will add a great flavor that should mix well with the savory taste of the canned food. Finally, I figure that as the crunchies are made from rice, I could use them as a substitute for the rice that curry is usually served over."

Wobbuffet is cooking the canned food in a pan with butter, thinly sliced leeks, and herbs. "Wobba wobbuffet. Wobbuffet!" According to the overlay, its planning on cooking a pan-seared canned food with a berry juice reduction and Pewter Crunchy crumble.

Amanda Friedtag explains, "Clearly, the biggest challenge of this bag is going to be the Bob's Food Tin. It's the canned food version of a popular dish at a famous restaurant in Galar. Like any canned food, it's going to have a tinny flavor to it. How the chefs either hide it or embrace it will be the key to success."

Brock has chopped his leek into thin slices. "My sandwich needs a side dish. Leeks are similar to onions, so I'm going to try making something similar to onion rings, but with fried battered leeks instead." He pulls his meat from the fryer basket and replaces it with his leeks. "Winning Sliced would be a dream come true for me. I used to watch the show with my siblings, and it would help me come up with ideas to make for dinner. Some nights I would teach them how to cook by playing Sliced with them using whatever we had in our pantry."

Ted announces, "Chefs, you have less than a minute left! I hope you're putting on your finishing touches now!"

Cilan hears this and shouts, "Got to go fast!" as he runs to the pantry to grab some seasoning for the top of his plates. He ladles his curry into bowls filled with Pewter Crunchies, then finishes with the seasoning.

Brock is quickly assembling sandwiches. A slice of toasted bread is topped with the fried canned food, which is covered with the berry juice gastrique, then another slice of bread. On the side is his leek fries.

"Five…four…three…!"

Wobbuffet is quickly plating his seared canned food. It crumbles the seasoned crushed Crunchies over it. As the countdown is reaching its end, Wobbuffet suddenly panics. "Wobbuffet!" It runs back to his stove to grab a pot.

Chris Santoast realizes, "Oh no! Chef Wobbuffet forgot his berry juice reduction!"

"Two…one…times up!"

The Sliced logo appears as the show cuts to commercials.

It's Electivire!

Meowth is sitting behind his desk, mentally preparing himself. Tee Vee steps in and shouts, "Okay everyone, it's time for a rehearsal! Is everyone ready? Play the intro! Ready the guest!"

A prerecorded voice announces, "Live, from Tenno! Welcome to Meow We're Talking! The only talk show hosted by a Pokémon!" Prerecorded applause plays. "And now, he's the host with the most! Here's Meowth!" More applause.

The cameras turn to Meowth. Meowth grins as he says to himself, "Showtime." He looks to the camera and says "Good evening and thank you for joining me on Meow We're Talking. I've got a great show lined up for you. You won't want to miss this!"

A Chatot flies down from above and shouts, "You want to miss this! You want to miss this!"

Meowth shouts, "Hey! What gives!? Get this lug out of here!" He swats at Chatot, who flies around his head.

"Get this lug out of here! Get this lug out of here!"

"Tee Vee!"

Tee Vee is at Meowth's side. "Meowth, I figured you'd understand. I needed to make things more interesting. So, I got a comedian sidekick for you. It's perfect. Another talking Pokémon! A stroke of genius."

"Genius! Genius!"

"There's nothing smart about a Pokémon that just repeats what you say. I'm a real talking Pokémon!"

"There's nothing smart about a talking Pokémon! There's nothing smart about a talking Pokémon!"

"Hey! That's not what I said!"

Tee Vee puts a hand on Meowth's shoulder. "Just trust me, Meowth. This change will cause your ratings to go through the roof! I promise."

Meowth sighs. "Okay. Fine."

The three chefs stand in front of the judges. Cilan's plates have been placed on the table. Ted Scallion recaps, "Chefs, you have arrived at the slicing table. It's time to see what you've made with berry juice, leeks, Pewter Crunchies, and Bob's Food Tin. Chef Cilan, what do you have for us?"

Cilan grins. "Judges, I've made you a Galar-style sweet juicy curry over crunchy rice."

Alex Vermicelli takes a bite first and judges, "Going to curry was the perfect idea. Everything in this basket really was asking you to make curry."

Chris Santoast adds, "I was afraid of being fed food from a can, but stewing it in curry really did eliminate the metallic taste you would expect."

Amanda Friedtag contributes, "The sweetness of the berry juice with the savory of the canned food. It seems like a mismatch, but the combination is both rich and smooth, creating something beyond compare."

Cilan grins.

Chris Santoast speaks back up, "However, there is something we need to address here. While I appreciate your rather whimsical idea of using the rice-based Pewter Crunchies as rice for your curry, the broth over the crunchies just makes them soggy. It's not a pleasant texture."

Cilan nods in understanding. "My bad."

Moving on, Ted says, "Chef Brock, you're up."

Brock grins. "Thank you, Ted. Inspired by my childhood in Pewter City, I made you a fried canned food sandwich with leek fries."

Chris Santoast speaks first this time. "Watching you cook, I was afraid that you were going to take the already heavy canned food and make it heavier by breading it with the crunchies and deep frying it, but the sweet freshness of the berry gastrique cuts straight through all that fatty heaviness."

After finishing a bite that she seemed to enjoy, Alex Vermicelli says, "Making a sandwich was a wonderful idea. I love sandwiches, and it's the perfect vehicle for the canned food." She bites a leek fry. "And these fries are perfect. I'd take this over a regular onion ring any day."

Amanda Friedtag stares at her sandwich before saying, "I'm going to have to disagree with Alex. I don't think this works as a sandwich. The crusty bread is hard to bite through, while the fried canned food is mushy, so you end up just squishing the canned food away when you try to bite down. A softer bread would have been a better idea."

Brock nods. "Thank you, chefs."

Last up is Wobbuffet. "Wobbuffet! Wobba wobba wobbuffet wobba. Wobbuffet wobbuffet, wobba. Wobbuffet!"

After taking her bite, Chris Santoast says seriously, "Chef Wobbuffet, we all saw that time got a little away from you."

Wobbuffet sighs. "Wobba…"

"Your berry juice reduction failed to make it to the plate in time. Is the berry juice present on this plate in any way?"

"Wobba…"

"I thought not."

Ted points out, "While failing to use a mystery ingredient isn't an automatic disqualification, it is going to make things harder for you."

Amanda Friedtag finishes her bite and shakes her head. "Chef Wobbuffet, I really wish that reduction made it to the plate. This pan seared canned food is surprisingly good, but it really needs that sweet factor from the reduction to fill out its flavor profile."

Alex Vermicelli finishes, "Even without the sauce, you managed to get a whole lot of flavor into something that most people traditionally consider bland. That is the sign of an amazing chef. Good luck, chef."

"Wobbuffet."

Ted says, "Okay, chefs, wait backstage while the judges deliberate."

Brock, Cilan, and Wobbuffet take seats in a break room. Brock laughs. "I can't believe you thought to make a curry. I wish I had thought of that."

Cilan grins. "Hey, a sandwich was a good idea too." Cilan looks to Wobbuffet. "And you made a five-star meal out of canned food. That's amazing!"

Wobbuffet doesn't seem so convinced. "Wobba…"

Brock stares at Wobbuffet as he scratches his chin. "I can't shake the feeling that I know you from somewhere other than TV. Did we go to school together?"

Wobbuffet frantically shakes its head. "Wobba wobba!"

Brock shrugs. "I'll figure it out eventually."

The chefs have gathered again before the judges. One of their dishes is hidden beneath a steel dome food cover. Ted holds the handle. "It's time to see who's been sliced." He pulls the cover. Beneath it is the pan seared canned food. Wobbuffet's head sinks. "Chef Wobbuffet, I'm sorry. You've been sliced."

Chris Santoast explains, "Chef Wobbuffet, I think I can speak for all three of us. Your dish was great. But so was your opponents'. In the end, it comes down to the ingredient you left off. Had that reduction made it to the plate, things very well could have gone differently."

Wobbuffet walks for the door, as its exit interview plays. "Wobbuffet! Wobba wobba. Wobbuffet, wobba. Wobbuffet!"

Brock and Cilan are back to their cooking stations with a new bag in front of them. Ted announces, "Chef Brock, Chef Cilan, you've both made it through the first round. Are you ready to cook some creative desserts with a little help from the grab bag?"

Brock answers, "More than ready."

Cilan says, "It's dessert time!"

"Okay, let's take a look into the bags. What sort of desserts will you make with Kanaveral Ice Cream…" they pull out a package of freeze dried ice cream with an astronaut mascot on the packaging. Brock and Cilan laugh at the sight. "…a bottle of Aprijuice…" they each pull out cup with green juice inside. "…an old Hisuian cake-lure base…" they produce a plain white cake. "…and Tamato Berries?" Brock and Cilan do not look happy as they pull the spikey red berries from their bags.

Brock says in an interview, "I hate to admit it, but for as long as I've been in Tenno, I've never tried Kanaveral Ice Cream before."

Cilan looks at the Tamato Berries apprehensively. "I'm going to have to be very careful about those berries. Their spice levels are off the charts."

"You've got thirty minutes to make us a dessert the likes we've never heard. Let's go." The clock begins its countdown and the chefs leap into action.

Ted looks to the judges. "This is it. Whoever wins this round will be our first ever amateur Sliced Champion. There's a lot on the line."

Alex Vermicelli emphasizes, "A lot."

Cilan opens the Kanaveral Ice Cream package up. "It's testing time!" He takes a bite of it. "It's crunchy! It's brittle! It's cloyingly sweet! If you're looking for a novelty food, this is exactly what you want!"

Ted asks the judges, "What exactly is Kanaveral Ice Cream?"

Chris Santoast explains, "It's a novelty item sold at tourist shops in Kanaveral City. It's actual ice cream but freeze dried. Hypothetically, it was made so that ice cream could be brought into outer space on space missions. Despite being made for the purpose, it was never actually eaten in space. Now it's little more than a cheap and whimsical souvenir."

Brock is pounding the Kanaveral Ice Cream into tiny pieces. "I see the Kanaveral Ice Cream, and I can't get past the idea of using it to make actual ice cream. If I mix it with some Moo Moo Cream and the Aprijuice to rehydrate it, then put it all in the ice cream maker, I should have something good."

Ted says, "We've already had a history lesson on the ice cream, so why stop there? This cake-lure base seems like a historical culinary relic."

Amanda Friedtag agrees, "It definitely is. They used to make those plain cakes in Sinnoh when it was still called Hisui. They are just about as simple of a cake as you can get. They'll take on the flavor of anything you cook them with. Honey, mushrooms, salt, you name it. They're basically a blank canvas."

Cilan is carefully observing a piece of cake-lure base. His interview explains, "The Hisuian people would give flavor to what was basically a sponge cake by cooking it with various ingredients. This makes me think of a tiramisu, which is a sponge cake dipped in coffee. So, I'll be making a tiramisu. Instead of just dipping it in coffee, I'll use a coffee-Aprijuice mixture." He gets a container from a fridge in the pantry with some eggs. "As expected of any good tiramisu, I'll stuff it with whipped mascarpone cheese and eggs, but instead of sugar, I'll use ground up Kanaveral Ice Cream." He drops a bar of the ice cream into a food processor and turns it into dust. "Lastly, I'll mix in the slightest pinch of Tamato Berry into coffee dust that goes on top of it all, in order to give it the slightest hint of spice, without overpowering the entire dish.

Brock has also ground his Kanaveral Ice Cream in a food processor. As he explained earlier, he mixes the ice cream dust in with cream and Aprijuice. "I'm also going to add some Tamato Berry Juice into my ice cream base. I'll be careful not to use too much, but the cream in the ice crem should temper the heat of the Tamato Berry, allowing it be more palatable." He squeezes half a Tamato Berry into his mixture.

After that's done, he runs into the back to the pantry, where there's an ice cream maker, and pours his mixture into the top.

Alex Vermicelli says excitedly, "Look! Brock's making ice cream!"

Amanda Friedtag grins. "I love it when chefs make us ice cream from scratch."

Chris Santoast points out skeptically, "I hope he realizes how difficult it can be to make ice cream from scratch. Too short a time in the machine, and we get soup. Too long, it will over-churn and we get butter."

Back at his station, Brock starts working with his cake. "I can't just serve the judges a bowl of ice cream, I need something more than that. And what's better to serve with ice cream than a hot and rich brownie? I should be able to transform this cake-lure base into a fudge brownie." He starts melting chocolate in a pot. "I'm going to challenge myself in this round. I want to use the Kanaveral Ice Cream in as many ways as possible." He throws some pieces of freeze-dried ice cream in with his chocolate. "So, I'll use it to add a sweetness and richness to my brownie." While that's melting, he pours his remaining cream into a mixing bowl and gets out a whisk. "I'll also use the ground ice cream instead of sugar in my whipped cream topping." He beats the whisk through the cream and ice cream mixture.

Ted announces, "Three minutes left!"

Brock glances at the clock, then rushes to the ice cream machine. He holds a bowl underneath it and opens the machine. Ice cream starts to pour out. Except, for ice cream, it looks very melted. Brock shakes his head in dismay.

Alex Vermicelli says with concern, "Oh no, he didn't give his ice cream enough time!"

The show cuts to commercials.

Still in the middle of a rehearsal, Tee Vee shouts, "Okay! Bring out the guest!"

Meowth rubs his paws together with anticipation. "This is what I've been waiting for."

Chatot squawks, "Waiting bore! Waiting bore!"

Meowth shouts angrily at it, "There's nothing boring about this!" He quickly regains his composure.

On to the set walks a woman dressed in a gawdy sparkly dress. She sits in the chair next to Meowth.

Meowth is confused at first. Then he demands, "What's going on here? I was supposed to have a talk with a beautiful Delcatty! Not whatever this is!"

The woman, who most would call beautiful, scoffs at Meowth's insinuations.

Tee Vee steps in and pulls Meowth aside. "Meowth, baby, my money maker. We had to make some changes."

"Changes?"

"Yeah. The surveys came in, and it turned out people weren't as interested in an all Pokémon talk show as we first thought. They still like the idea of a talking Pokémon on a talk show, but you've got to be talking to humans. Famous humans. That woman there is as famous as they get. You should be honored."

Meowth crosses his arms resentfully. "You're wasting my talent."

"Slow down there. I'm the talent scout here. Just let me be the judge of that, and you do your talk show thing. Okay?"

Meowth groans. "Fine…"

Brock shakes his head in dismay as he looks at his unfrozen ice cream in a bowl. "I was really hoping that would be enough time in the ice cream machine. That ice cream has three of the mandatory ingredients in it, two of which I don't have anywhere else. I can't give up on it."

Suddenly getting an idea, Brock sets down his bowl, pulls out a mixer and pours the ice cream in. He turns around to get something else.

Amanda Friedtag asks with excitement, "No way! Is he doing what I think he's doing?"

Alex Vermicelli laughs. "I think he might be. We're about to see a really neat trick."

Brock comes back with a large metal container with frost forming around its edges. He opens the lid and pours it contents into the activated mixer. When the cold liquid hits the ice cream, steam explodes up and pours out from the mixer.

Brock explains, "I'm finishing the ice cream using liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is so cold that it can flash freeze the ice cream. So long as the mixer is on while I do that, it should give me the perfect consistency of ice cream. It's not traditional, but it should work."

"Thirty seconds left, chefs! If you want to be the Sliced Champion, do everything you can!"

Cilan is spreading his whipped mascarpone cheese between two halves of the coffee-dipped cake. Once he finishes that, he moves on to topping it with a mixture of coffee dust and shaved Tamato Berries.

"Five…four…"

Brock is quickly placing his brownie atop scoops of ice cream. Then it's a dallop of fresh whipped cream on top of each of those.

"…three…two…one…time's up!"

Brock and Cilan step away from their dishes. They look at their own and look at each other's.

Cilan's interview says, "Brock decided to make an ice cream out of the Kanaveral Ice Cream. That's very smart. I would expect nothing less of him."

Brock says in turn, "Tiramisu. That's clever. Very clever."

Both Brock and Cilan says, "But I know I can still win."

"Chefs, it is once more time to face the judges. This time it's for all the marbles. Chef Cilan, you're first."

"Chefs, for dessert I present to you an Aprijuice and Tamato tiramisu. The astronaut ice cream is used in place of sugar, and the cake base is, of course, the cake."

Alex Vermicelli grins as she takes a bite. "Tiramisu is made from allowing a plain cake to take on the flavor of the coffee it soaks in. This is extremely similar to how these cake-lure bases were used. It's the perfect fit."

Amanda Friedtag adds, "My only complaint is that you used the Aprijuice too straight up. There's a certain medicinal taste to it, and I can still taste it here."

Chris Santoast concludes, "Amanda is right that you can taste the Aprijuice, but I don't think that's automatically a bad thing. After all, if I couldn't taste it, you wouldn't really have used the ingredient properly."

Cilan nods. "Thank you, chefs."

Ted asks, "Cilan, why do you want to be Sliced Champion?"

Cilan grins. "My two brothers and I would often compete in our own mock cooking competitions. All three of us have constantly applied to be on a real one. I'm the first to make it. If I could win this, let's just say I would be making them jealous."

Amanda Friedtag laughs. "I sense a strong sibling rivalry."

Ted turns to Brock. "Chef Brock, what have you made us?"

"Taking inspiration from the Kanaveral Ice Cream, I made you a brownie sundae with Tamato Berry, Aprijuice, and Kanaveral Ice Cream, a rich chocolate brownie, and fresh whipped cream."

Chris Santoast gives Brock a deadpan look as he tries the dish. "Chef Brock, I was skeptical of you making ice cream. You proved me right when it came out wrong. The ice cream maker is just too difficult to use."

Brock nods. "I felt it was a risk worth taking."

"And indeed, it was. You proved me wrong when you salvaged your ice cream with the liquid nitrogen. And I'm glad you did. This ice cream is good." Brock grins.

Alex Vermicelli says, "Making real ice cream using freeze-dried ice cream. The idea is so crazy, but it also makes so much sense. You get style points for sure."

Amanda Friedtag chimes in, "Speaking of style points, you also get them for using the Kanaveral Ice Cream in not only two, but three different ways. I appreciate that. I do need to point out one problem though. You call this a brownie sundae, but this really isn't a brownie. It's chocolate cake. Chocolate cake is good, but if you say it's a brownie, you have me expecting something more."

Brock nods. "I understand. Sorry, chef."

Ted announces, "Chefs, please leave the room while our judges deliberate. Remember, this time they will be making a decision based off your performance in both rounds."

Brock and Cilan move to the back room. Both sit down, looking exhausted. Brock chuckles. "I have a whole new respect for the contestants on this show now. I never realized how draining it is."

Cilan chuckles. "I concur. I won't ever question someone's mistake again." He looks to Brock. "Hey, good luck. May the best chef win."

Brock smiles back and shakes Cilan's hand. "Same to you."

Ted says to the judges, "Let's start with the first round. Is there a clear winner in that round?"

Chris Santoast says, "Cilan's Pewter Crunchy rice did not do him any favors. I would dare say it went a long way towards pulling his otherwise excellent dish down."

Alex Vermicelli points out, "Brock wasn't perfect either. His bread just wasn't the right choice. It made enjoying the sandwich much harder, as good as it was. It may not be as blatant of an error, but it was one which could have easily been fixed."

Amanda Friedtag adds, "Even if Brock's dish didn't have as big of an error, I think if we were to ignore all mistakes, I would have liked Cilan's dish better. That has to count for something.

Alex ponders, "In the dessert round, both dishes were wonderfully creative, with minimal errors."

Amanda says, "I just wish that Brock had made an actual brownie."

Chris says, "And I wish Cilan had better controlled the taste of the Aprijuice."

Ted asks, "Judges, do you know who won?"

They all look to each other, and Alex announces, "Yes. We do."

Brock and Cilan are pulled back out. Ted stands over another food cover. "Chefs, it's time to see who's been sliced, and who will be the first ever Amateur Sliced Champion." He grabs the cover and prepares to pull it. Brock and Cilan lean in with anticipation. The lid is lifted and beneath it is nothing. Brock and Cilan are confused.

Alex Vermicelli grins. "Chefs, you are both such great cooks. This was an amateur competition, and yet you performed better than most professionals. In the end, it was just too close to pick a winner. So, you both win."

Brock and Cilan both grin.

Ted announces, "Congratulations, Sliced Champions."

Brock and Cilan shake hands.

Ash, Brenda, and Wobbuffet come in. Ash shouts, "That was amazing! Congrats, guys!"

Brenda exclaims, "Brock, you have to makes us all that stuff! You too, Cilan!"

Wobbuffet offers to shake both of their hands respectfully. As Brock stares at Wobbuffet, he realizes, "Wait! I know where I recognize you from! You're not just Chef Wobbuffet!"

Wobbuffet frantically glances around as it panics. "Wobba wobba!"

"You're also Wobbuffet, the world-class shuffleboard star!"

Wobbuffet breathes a sigh of relief. "Wobbuffet…"

Tee Vee announces, "Okay! We're ten minutes from going live! Everyone, take your positions!"

Meowth walks nervously up to his desk, only to blocked by Tee Vee's arm. "What gives?"

Tee Vee grins at Meowth. "Sorry, my friend, but we just got the results from the focus group we put together. They just can't get behind the idea of a Pokémon as a talk show host. We've got a new host now." He points to man in a suit with slicked back hair.

Meowth looks at Tee Vee with shock. "Are you saying I'm fired?"

Tee Vee laughs. "Fired? No! Of course not! You're too valuable to fire! You're going to be the show mascot now. After all, we can't have Meow We're Talking without a talking Meowth."

Meowth is outraged. "No! You can't! And you can't without me as host, either! I quit!" He turns around and stomps out, only to blocked by Tee Vee once more. "Out of my way."

Tee Vee shakes his head in disapproval. "I don't think you realize the position you're in, Meowth." He pulls out a piece of paper. "You signed a contract. And that contract says that, not only do I have complete creative control over the show, but that you have to work on it for the next five years."

"Five years! You can't hold me here for that! I signed that contract to be host! This is false pretenses! I'll sue!"

Tee Vee laughs. "Meowth, Meowth, Meowth, Meowth, Meowth… I don't think you understand how this works. You're a Pokémon. Pokémon can't sue people. We're in this for long run."

Meowth's eyes widen in horror.

But then Jessie shouts, "That's where you're wrong!"

Meowth looks up in surprise. "Jessie? James?"

Jessie and James come marching in wearing fancy suits and glasses. Jessie snatches the contract out of Tee Vee's hands. "I'll be taking that."

Tee Vee looks at her with annoyance. "And just who do you think you are?"

James hands him a business card, while Jessie introduces, "I'm Jessie J. Jessica esquire, attorney at law, and this is my partner, James. Together we're the Jessie J. Jessica Esquire, Attorney at Law and James Law Firm."

Tee Vee crosses his arms. "I'll have you know that contract is fool-proof. There are no loopholes for you to exploit."

Jessie laughs. "Maybe that would be true, if it weren't for one fact."

"What?"

"You had a Pokémon sign it. By no legal definition is a Pokémon's signature legally binding. There's no precedent for it."

Tee Vee's eyes widen. "Oh no! You're right!"

"Jessie J. Jessica esquire, attorney at law is always right." She rips the contract to shreds. "Now, we'll be taking our client and leaving." She marches out, ushering Meowth along with her.

Tee Vee shouts, "Who cares! I'll make Meow We're Talking the greatest talk show you've ever seen! With or without a talking Pokémon!"

As Meowth is pushed out the door, he shouts to Tee Vee, "This is Meowth, signing off! Thank you, and good night!"

Outside the studio, Meowth says while crying, "I can't believe you came back for me after I was such a jerk to you."

James says, "Maybe it's just my sleep deprivation speaking, but we're a team. We never leave one behind."

Meowth sighs. "Except, that's exactly what I did."

Jessie grins smugly. "Well, now you've been proven wrong. Just make sure you don't ever do it again."

Meowth leaps at them and embraces them in a tight hug. "I love you lugs." Something occurs to him, and he chuckles. "You know, if this were a more serious show, I'd be concerned about the fact that you freed me by establishing that I have absolutely no legal rights and am not considered a person in the eyes of the law, but seeing as this is a children's cartoon with no place for such philosophical and moral debates, I'll let it slide."

James looks to Meowth with bewilderment. "I have no idea what you just said."

Meowth laughs. "Neither do I!"

Ash, Brenda, Brock, and Cilan are seated at a table in a Pokémon Center. In front of them are all the dishes Brock and Cilan made on the show. Everyone is happily eating them.

Ash exclaims, "Brock, this is amazing! I can't believe you made this out of canned meat and junk food!"

Brenda adds, "And Cilan, you can cook for me any day!"

Cilan says, "Well, Brock. I guess today won't be the day we decide who was the better cook for Ash."

Brock chuckles. "No, it won't. Maybe some other day."

"Some other day, indeed."

Between bites, Ash asks, "What are you going to do now, Cilan?"

Cilan grins at Ash. "There's a Pokémon Connoisseur convention being held soon in Kalos. I'll be heading there. I'll be certain to pick up as many Kalosian recipes as I can, while I'm there."

"Wow, Kalos. That sounds like fun."

Cilan looks back to Brock. "Okay, Brock. I need you to promise me something."

"Oh?"

"Promise me that you'll keep taking care of Ash and keep cooking him nothing but the best of meals."

Brock grins at Cilan. "He's in good hands."

At that moment, Nurse Joy walks by.

Brock leaps up. "Speaking of good hands!" He leaps to Nurse Joy and takes her hand in his. "Nurse Joy, dear, sweet, lovely, Nurse Joy."

Cilan laughs. "There's that Lady Connoisseur I met back in Johto."

Brock continues, "With your hand in mine, I know that—"

He's cut off by the expected uppercut from Meteorfight. As Brock flies up, then crashes down, Meteorfight curtly nods. "Meteor."

Cilan abruptly stands. The lights dim and a spotlight shines on him. As he twirls around, he shouts, "It's evaluation time!" He points to the fallen Brock and Meteorfight. "Meteorfight is quite the spicy Pokémon, while Brock is the sweetest of trainers! Many cannot pallet the unorthodox combination of sweet and spicy! But just as a Tamato Berry can be blended into ice cream, so can the vastly different tastes of Brock and Meteorfight! Together their flavors complement each other perfectly, creating a unique dish like no other! It's a culinary sensation! A premium brand of bonding!"

Meteorfight just stares in confusion at Cilan, while Brock, who's slumped upside-down, says bemoaningly, "You could have fooled me…"

Ash, Brenda, and Cilan all laugh together.

Both Brock and Cilan survived the Slicing Table and achieved their dream of winning their favorite show. They may not know which of them is better than the other, but if you ask me, they're both just as great! Now, somebody get me a bowl of that curry with a side of that sandwich!

To Be Continued…