Chapter 9: Stewed Off
At a posh treehouse a distance from the Holy Land Academy, Aura had her attendants bring Ash and Kenshi to her. Arriving, the attendants announced their mission. "Princess Aura, we have brought Ash and Kenshi here," they proclaimed.
"Thank you," she praised. "All we need to do now is wait for the rest of the party to arrive for this." Pikachu arrived on the shoulder of the Headmistress.
"Princess Aura, I would love to hear the explanation to this," she ordered. Aura turned to Headmistress as Lithia and Lapis arrived.
"Apparently, Empress Lashara and Princess Maria are fighting for the affections of Ash and Kenshi," Aura answered. "Though for one, it's not that direct." The attendants latched collars to Ash and Kenshi.
("You're not gonna hurt them, right?") worried Pikachu. Aura came to Pikachu's and itched his ears.
"I'll make sure they're safe from harm," she assured. "Come here." Pikachu leaped from Headmistress' shoulder to Aura's arms.
"Man, these collars make me feel like a slave," Kenshi mulled.
"Now I know what it's like being on a leash," Ash added. Before long, others arrived. Aside from Lashara and Maria, Chiaia, Wahanly and Yukine joined.
"Good… the more, the merrier…" awed Aura. After a while, Aura decided to bring up the rules. "I like to thank you all for coming to this party. You already know of the Shurifon Stew Battle… still, the rules are that you must gather ingredients from the forest to create the stew. Each dish will be judged and voted on by popularity. In this case, we have the prize to have Ash and Kenshi as their personal retainers." To Chiaia, this was an experience neither girl was familiar with.
"Excuse me, but none of us are familiar with what we should do," she spoke for the rest.
"Well, maybe I can shed some light to the contest," Ulyte offered. Everyone turned to see Ulyte entering the grounds.
"Mister Ulyte!" gawked Chiaia. Even Aura seemed a little startled at Ulyte's arrival.
"This is a surprise, Mister Ulyte," she welcomed.
"Of course," he smiled. "After all, nothing else comes to mind when food is being offered. Besides, I'd also like to be involved with the festivities as it may also benefit in the fun factor of all." Aura smiled to Ulyte's request.
"You're more than welcome to join," she accepted. "And you can be our judge for this." Ulyte seemed delighted to be involved.
"To think, I go from a journey though the forest to becoming involved in this stew battle," he laughed. "What a delicious surprise." Then, he softly pounded his hand. "Hold on! Why not allow these two to participate as well?" Everyone looked to each other rather confused. "It would seem fair that Ash and Kenshi would compete to win their freedom." Ash and Kenshi were gleeful to the suggestion. Aura's attendants freed Ash and Kenshi before being handed baskets to match the other women. Headmistress did not participate, but Pikachu was allowed to be with Ash.
"Ready!?" voiced Aura. "Go!" Four teams raced out for the ingredients: Ash and Kenshi, Lashara and Chiaia, Lithia and Lapis and Maria and Yukine. Wahanly's the only solo member. Ash and Kenshi found mushrooms near a tree.
"These look good," Ash believed. Pikachu sniffed the mushrooms, but recoiled and growled. Kenshi came to see Pikachu's reaction. "They're not good?"
"No, those are poisonous," Kenshi clarified. Then, he found more mushrooms to the side which were a different brown shade. "These ones are edible." Ash and Kenshi plucked a few from the roots.
("I could snack on one right now!") squeaked Pikachu. In another part, Lashara pulled herbs from the ground and some bulbs attached.
"We should have countered Mister Ulyte's offer and brought Ash with," she declared. "We'll shoot from the hip at the ingredients that look edible and show Mister Ulyte to judge." Chiaia stood up and cricked her back.
"If I knew what I was getting into, I would agree," she groaned. "They're more of the experts in this field."
"Physically or professionally?" Lashara's followup made Chiaia gawk.
"Good question…" In another part of the forest, Lithia and Lapis examined large plums with lime green streaks.
"What do you think?" wondered Lithia. She had a book of a purple football-shaped fruit.
"It looks like it," Lapis studied. "But rather not…" This didn't help Lithia.
"This is so frustrating…"
"But we need to take some time if we want to verify that the ingredients we'll need are good."
"Agreed…" One more part of the forest had Maria and Yukine searching a certain spot.
"Are you sure it's around here?" wondered Yukine. Maria looked ahead and gasped.
"Yukine!" she called as she ran to a stock of lavender flowers. "Are these not it?"
"They are!" Satisfied, Yukine helped Maria pick a few of the flowers. Back at the dorm, one of Aura's attendants brew a cup of tea for Ulyte to enjoy. Lashara and Chiaia returned with a full basket and the Headmistress was the first to notice.
"Empress, you're back so soon," she welcomed. Ulyte placed the tea down and looked to Lashara.
"We bring back the essentials for the stew," she declared. "Hopefully, it's good to pass inspection." Ulyte was handed the basket of different herbs and fruits, one being a man-shaped carrot.
"Oh my," he awed. "This is a tremendous load."
"So, you're impressed?" wondered Lashara.
"Very!" smiled Ulyte. "This is an impressive stack of poisonous ingredients." Lashara and Chiaia gasped to the quick judging.
"Poi… son… ous!?" slowly repeated Chiaia. Ulyte pulled out each article of ingredients Lashara gathered, starting with a few blades that appeared to be blades of aloe grass.
"This one gives you diarrhea,"he started as he now picked up a thin branch with spiky leaves. "This one gives you vertigo…" Next was a red spotted mushroom. "Instant paralysis…" Lastly was the the man-shaped carrot. "And one of these carrots can take out a hundred people." Lashara's and Chiaia's faces had gone pale. They brought back ingredients that were dangerous. Meanwhile, Ash and Kenshi had their baskets filled with all sorts of fruits and herbs.
"Man, I don't know if I would've done a decent job without you or Pikachu," Ash complimented.
("I detected the bad stuff,") Pikachu squeaked.
"At least you have two pairs of noses if one doesn't work," Kenshi smiled before a giant stomp vibrated the ground. Ash and Kenshi felt the vibration as Pikachu climbed onto Ash's shoulder for stability before they turned to a giant yellow spider mechanoid. Wahanly's inside the mechanoid's driver seat.
"Hey, Ash, Kenshi, Pikachu!" she greeted. "How do you like the new MechaWorker I'm bringing out?" Ash and Kenshi gulped to the contraption.
"Not bad, Wahanly!" complimented Kenshi.
"I think so, as well." She extended an arm out. "Now, gimme those ingredients!" This made Ash and Kenshi run with Wahanly in pursuit.
"Don't you think this is cheating!?" complained Kenshi
"Actually, it's not if I'm recovering food you two drop while I chase you!" countered Wahanly.
"I hate loopholes!" complained Ash.
("What's a loophole!?") asked Pikachu. Looking up, Ash saw a method of escape.
"Hang on!" he urged as he leaped and climbed onto a branch as Wahanly crossed. The MechaWorker caught a piece of the branch and Ash and Pikachu fell onto the back. Wahanly turned.
"Well… I guess one basket's better than none," she sneered.
"Anyway, this is my stop," Ash sneered back. "See ya!" Ash cleared off as Kenshi jumped down a ledge and proceeded onward. Wahanly's MechaWorker followed suit as Ash and Pikachu jumped in their own pursuit. Kenshi realized the part of the forest he was in.
"I have an idea," he whispered to himself. "I just hope it works." His dead-sprint led him to a lake where he raced toward. The MechaWorker was closing in, but then it hit a cord and flew end-over-end into the lake. Ash and Pikachu soon arrived to find Wahanly and her MechaWorker in the drink. "Yep… just as I planned." Wahanly emerged and spat water out.
"What the hell, Kenshi!?" she argued.
"I'll just tell them you were going through some hot flashes and you needed to cool off!" he grinned. "See ya!" Kenshi ran off as Ash and Pikachu reached the edge after putting Ash's basket down. He reached for Wahanly's hand.
"Here," he offered. Wahanly grabbed Ash's hand and was pulled out of the water.
"Thanks," she accepted. She brushed off her robe of the water as Pikachu's nose picked something up. Seeing the Pokémon running off, Ash and Wahanly chased after Pikachu as they reunited with Kenshi. He watched Pikachu passed.
"What's up with Pikachu?" asked Kenshi.
"Pikachu's picked up a scent!" replied Ash.
"I bet this is how you two interact!" guessed Wahanly.
"Let me put it as easy as possible: As a Pokémon Trainer, working with your Pokémon goes a long way! They can pick up scents and traps faster than people would and if they sense something, follow their lead!" That's when Pikachu stopped in front of a tree. By its roots was some darkened bark. Ash reached it and threw the wood down, breaking it wide open. Inside were white mushrooms with the umbrella looking like wedding veils.
"Check this out!" called out Kenshi. "Veil Mushrooms!"
"And a large amount of it!" added Wahanly. Picking one up, Ash gazed at the mushroom.
"They look pretty but they sound important," Ash believed.
"They are," Kenshi confirmed. "Veil Mushrooms are very rare and are treasured by the Dark Elves to use on special occasions." Ash and Pikachu seemed surprised by value of the Veil Mushrooms.
"Let's take a couple home," Ash suggested. They grabbed a few each and started to return. Taking a different route, Ash and Kenshi found the road back which Mexiah was walking down in a black dress with shoulder guards.
"Ash!" she called out. "Kenshi!" Ash and Kenshi had scrapes on their foreheads. Kenshi had one over his left eye and Ash over the right. They turned to Mexiah with Kenshi excited to see her.
"Big Sis Mexiah!" he replied. "What brings you here?"
"I heard something going on around here," she explained. "And what's with the baskets?"
"We're participating in the Shurifon event," Ash replied.
"Oh, the stew battle!" Mexiah chose to change the subject. "You know, you two have been through a lot, attending classes, doing odd jobs and those girls chase you around the academy nonstop! You've got to be tired right?"
"No, we're fine and able to keep going," Kenshi laughed.
"It's just with you, having Lashara and Maria constantly fighting over you," Mexiah cooed to Ash. "Love of royalty must be waning heavily on your heart!" A sigh from Ash billowed, not sure how to respond. That's when she saw scrapes on the boys. "What's this? You're both bleeding!" The boys became defensive.
"It's nothing!" gulped Kenshi. "Just a scrape to the head!" Mexiah took pity to the boys.
"I could give you two some healing Ahou, but this should work just fine," she offered as she kissed the scrapes. Ash and Kenshi breathed in relief.
"Thanks for that, Big Sis Mexiah!" praised Ash. "Let's get back, time's almost up!"
"Right!" agreed Kenshi. "See you later, Big Sis Mexiah!" Mexiah waived them off with a smile as Ash and Kenshi raced away. The kisses magically removed the scrapes from their heads. They returned to Aura's dorm where they watched Ulyte dumb a large basket in front of Lashara.
"What's going on?" asked Ash while Lashara cried in defeat.
"Lashara and Chiaia have been collecting all sorts of poisonous material," Wahanly muttered with Pikachu on her shoulder. "Even a Mandrake Carrot which could bring upon a small genocide. I guess they're more concerned about impressing you that they forgot to verify what to actually find." Ash shyly giggled to the outcome.
"This contest is unfair!" she complained loudly. "There was no way we'd find the ingredients for something you had the rules to!" Aura scoffed to Lashara's anger.
"What the Shurifon Stew Battle is," she started. "...Is a friendly competition which is suppose to help with survival instincts should anything like the Swan is under attack. While I do like Ash and maybe give him a night at my dorm, keep in mind that's how far my likeness to him is as far as I'd like to take it." Lashara calmed down a little from it. Everyone surveyed who brought what and soon began to make stew. With Kenshi's guidance, Ash created a pot of stew as did others, but some had a few ingredients if any and some were just broth. Aura also got involved while Headmistress judged the appearance for herself.
"From what I've seen, there are a handful of plain ones which wouldn't qualify. That's when she viewed the three pots with drawings of Ash, Aura and Kenshi. "However, the texture of these will gobsmack some of the finest taste buds."
"That may be," Aura sneered. "This friendly competition is reaching its end as it's a battle between me, Ash and Kenshi… and I'm not planning to lose."
"We don't back down," Ash argued. The three pots were divided into bowls for everyone to try. First was Aura. At first bite, Ash seemed pleased. "Pretty good…" Pikachu squealed in pleasure. Now came Kenshi's. One bite and lightning struck everyone. They were shocked.
"What's this!?" gawked Chiaia.
"I've never tasted anything like this before!" gasped Lapis.
"What in the world did you put in?" wondered Aura.
"Is it bad?" whined Kenshi. "I did everything I could!"
"No, it's the opposite!" smiled Aura. "This stew is so good, I can tell that everyone wants more!" Last was Ash's. One bite and an explosion of flavor erupted. Mushroom clouds bloomed over their heads.
"I thought Kenshi's was good!" gawked Headmistress.
"This!" stuttered Lashara. "This is… unbelievable!"
"My god!" hushed Lithia. "We've got the best stew available!"
"It is to expect from Ash and Kenshi that they make incredible stew with how hard they work, especially together," Maria explained.
"And while Kenshi's stew is incredible, Ash's stew's on another level!" weighed Headmistress.
"Hey, I'm happy with the loss if it means that!" smiled Kenshi. Aura came to Ash's side and rose his arm.
"Winner of the Shurifon Stew Battle: Ash Ketchum!" she announced. Everyone clapped. Lashara and Maria made it to Ash and they clasped his hands. Lashara's hands were over the knuckles and wrist while Maria's were over the thumbs and pinkies.
"Ash, you are indeed the deserving chef we'd admire!" cooed Lashara.
"We've been blessed by the goddess with a young man who'd be my husband!" claimed Maria.
"Oh... no!" denied Lashara. "You'll be heeding to our emperor when we become one."
"In your dreams, cousin!" bellowed Maria. The two argued for awhile.
"Well, I've gotten my fill, even though it came from the Wild Beast," Lithia complimented. Kenshi sighed to the outcome.
"I guess I'm still a Wild Beast," he whined. Upon that, Lithia and Lapis excused themselves.
"Ash, I'd still prefer you as a little brother, anyway!" she teased. Everyone wondered about Lithia's little flirt, but none more than why Ash's stew was better than Kenshi's.
"Well, Ash?" voiced Lashara. "Tell us your secret." Ash surrendered and produced chopped pieces of various fruits.
"I wondered about how people would feel if I chopped Berries into this," he pondered.
"Berries?" hushed Yukine.
"Yeah… Sitrus, Tomato, Oran, Pecha…" The names didn't ring any bells for anyone but Pikachu.
"They must come from your world," Wahanly believed.
"That's right," Ash confirmed. "They help Pokémon in their growth and heal them as well."
"Really?" awed Kenshi. "And here, I have what I made Lithia's medicine." He pulled out a bag and showed dead bugs and tiny lizards. Everyone freaked out.
"What the hell!?" gawked Chiaia.
"You put that in her tea!?" gulped Aura.
"No!" struggled Kenshi. Ash looked to the dead bugs and lizards. "I dry them out and dilute the fluids to make it!" Ash and Pikachu shuttered in their thoughts as Kenshi pleaded his case.
"If we show this to Lithia," he whispered. "She'll be sick to her stomach."
("Literally,") Pikachu trusted. Back at the dorms, Ash and Pikachu were bathing.
"Scavenging for food isn't something that people don't normally do."
("Unless you're Team Rocket.") The Mouse Pokémon flashed a few poses. Ash quickly caught on.
"I know, right?" As he laid back down, a foot rose from the depth and the sole was in Ash's face. Ash gulped at the foot's proximity to him as the toes wiggled, alluring to the trainer as it appeared to waive. Then, the big toe and index toe clamped on Ash's nose. The nose could still breathe as it took the scent of a lily, but it didn't quell Ash's nerves. That's when Mexiah emerged like a lake monster rising out of the water. Ash saw a lot, perhaps too much of Mexiah's voluptuous and exposed body.
"I hope you don't mind, you looked rather lonely," she teased. The heat from the bath and the freaked expression of his face made Ash's nose leaked blood. Pikachu wasn't sure if Mexiah was playing or Ash was in trouble. "Oh my…" Her giggle made Ash nervous. She hooked her foot around the base of Ash's neck and pulled his head into the gap between her breasts. The milky scent didn't break Ash from his petrified state. "Seeing your innocence, I'm amazed that you have the young man's feel while you're strong to the core." With another giggle, Mexiah smothered Ash's face with kisses when he looked up. After a few moments, Mexiah laid Ash's head and back onto her large mounds. "I feel like a mother holding her son as they bathed." This made Ash picture himself with a mahogany-haired young woman in a smaller bathtub.
"Thanks for the reminder," Ash smiled. Pikachu also joined in the bath and cuddled with Ash.
"Oh, you recalled your bathing moments?"
"I do… Mom said that I was never afraid of the water, not even the ocean waves stopped me, no matter how big they got."Mexiah giggled to Ash's youth.
"I'm actually glad… I just wonder who I'm enjoying more: you or Kenshi?"
"Right? I feel the same way about Lashara and Maria."
"I guess I can't feel too jealous. You've a lot around the Holy Land that I think you deserve those two at least. Empress Lashara's got your confidence challenged and Maria's the same about your compassion. It's like… whoever you end up, you'll be in charge of it. However, you don't need to make hasty decisions until everything is settled."
"Nah, I only do that while battling."
"And besides, word is… you'll be traveling to see Princess Maria's mother, Queen Flora, soon." Ash blinked, thinking of the honor of meeting the queen. What more could Ash and Pikachu experience?
TO BE CONTINUED...