Lunch Time!

KND Newbase

"Chef Yuzu's Newbase Dining is once again open for business!" Yuzu Kurosaki beamed, wearing a chef's hat and holding a spatula and spoon. "There's nothing I can't cook and no appetite too big!"

Yuzu started to work part-time in KND Newbase after the Apocalypse. On those days, customers flew in and only ordered food from her. Sally Harper, Bon Clay Jr., Wendy Marvell, and Kirie Beatles along with other operatives worked with her and followed her recipes. "For Suki Crystal, a bowl of Everest Ice Cream, styled with snow from Mt. Everest and blueberries inside!" Yuzu placed a bowl of ice cream that looked like a mountain on Suki's table. "Eat it while it's frosty!"

"Yummyyyy!" Suki grabbed a spoon and started eating. There was a tingly chill on her teeth and a brainfreeze coursing through her body.

"For April and Mary Goldenweek, Hue Pudding, with six different colors carefully divided!" Yuzu placed a bowl of colorful pudding before her customers. "Mix it however you like!"

"It tastes like real paint!" Mary beamed. "Except it's not! Because real paint would be poisonous! April, how can you taste something, yet not taste it?"

"Artist intuition, of course."

"And of course we haven't forgotten our new giant friends!" A group of cooks worked together to bring a giant taco and bowl of orange carrot soup for the giant children. "Sind, you ordered a quintuple large Spicy Taco with salted churros at the bottom, and Doran, Giga Carrot Soup with giant Floran carrots."

Sind took the first bite of the taco. "WOW! This is even better than Dos Bros Tacos! (And not just 'cause they only make tiny ones.)"

"Doran, it's no wonder you're so orange with all those carrots!" Ally joked.

"It's not my fault Mom got me to like them."

"Hey, who wants a bite of my Halcandran Magma Burger?!" Ruby shouted, raising a burger with a burnt bun and lava for ketchup. Some of it dripped and burned the table. "Come on, it's not as hot as it looks."

"Be warned: it will melt the mouth of any normal human or non-Solaran creature." Sapphire said.

"I'll try it." Chris came over and took a bite of the burger. Everyone gaped and watched with anticipation. "MMMMMFFF!" Chris's mouth was on fire and his face was red.

"Heh heh heh! Oh, my!" Malladus said in Chris's head. "Even I tasted that! Groudon really likes it hot!"

With terrific willpower and a very firm throat, Chris swallowed the piece. "Pleah… delicious!"

"As I said." Sapphire confirmed.

"No one's more inhuman than Chris's family." Artie remarked, eating a Choco Chilidog with cream for ketchup.

"Thank you for sharing this Couple's Cake with me, Maseyfairy!" Carol Masterson said happily as she and Mason ate a white cake with hearts around it. "And paying for it decreased more of your $975 debt."

"Please stop increasing it…" Mason wept.

"If you become my full-time servant, I can happily do so."

"Not up for shrinking down throughout the summer."

"I ordered a Couple's Cake too, Mabel." Gideon Gleeful sat next to his beloved. "But specially decorated for us." The cake had light-blue icing, Gideon faces around the top, and shooting stars around the sides. "It's got mah face on it."

"I really hope you don't join our sector." Mabel frowned.

"YOWZA!" Lola yelped after tasting a red gelatin. "I know it's Bloody Jelly, but it tastes like REAL blood! Dude, are you killing people back there?"

"N-No!" Yuzu stuttered. "It's imported from the Underworld! The Spirit Kids Next Door brought it. We've asked them to remove any demon material. I added the extra flavors myself."

"Well, you got this vampire's approval." Lola tasted it again.

"THAT'S NOT RIKA'S BLOOD, IS IT?!" Mary screamed in horror and panic. "We need her to keep the disease from spreading!!"

"Vanellope, why did you make her watch that show?" Dillon asked, eating Night Waffles (waffles with black syrup and dots of white butter to look like stars).

"It had colorful characters." Vanel shrugged. "I told her it was paint…"

There was a loud POP!! and everyone looked to Kodama, whose face was blackened as smoke emitted from her mouth. "Hehehe… So, that's why it's called the Small Kodama."

"I'm not tasting the Big Kodama." Jinta said, eating a Scrambled Eggball. "You, Ururu?"

"Um…" Before answering, Ururu ate one tree from her Tiny Forest tray.

"Boy, Yuzu, you have to be the only chef in the universe to cook with so many alien ingredients." Karin commented, eating a large Soccer Berry composed of several Gatorade flavors. "It's amazing that all those KNDs agreed to this."

"Well, the people in the Kid Council agree you humans have been through a lot in one Earth month." Vweeb said, eating large pieces of Shroom Bits on a plate.

"Incidentally, where do the ingredients for this Hue Pudding come from?" April asked.

"They're from the Mushroom Kingdom. Apparently, they started a Kids Next Door!"

"Really?" Goombella asked. "Oh my gosh, I must've inspired them! I feel, like, so important! Guys, we HAVE to visit Mushroom Kingdom after this!"

"It pays a hefty amount of coin, that's for sure." Nagisa replied. "How much did Cheren pay to have it all imported?"

"Nebula took care of the bill." Sally said as she brought Nagisa Happy Sushi; sushi with a grinning yellow face in the center. "But Cheren's got lots of paperwork to fill. I say it's well worth it after all we've been through."

Leader's Office

It had been a little over an hour since Cheren's debate with the giant kids. It was somewhat of an embarrassing moment, and not just because he was beaten up by Panini in front of six cadets. After that incident, he didn't feel the same anymore.

He looked up when Larry knocked and came into his office. "Cheren, did you finish the paperwork for the imported goods? Yuzu's making quick work of them in the kitchen. Speaking of which, I brought you a Gold Cherry Pie that she made." He was holding a pie with gold cherries. "I don't think it's real gold, just some kind of topping."

"Thanks, Larry." Cheren smiled. "The papers are right there. Nowadays, kids are spending more time here than at their sectors. We might as well give them a good meal."

"Don't you wanna come eat in the mess hall? I'm sure the giants won't throw you around again." Larry chuckled.

"I think I just want peace and quiet right now. I'm going through a lot of stuff."

"Well… okay, then. Enjoy the pie!" Larry took the papers and left.

Cheren moved his papers aside to make room for the pie. He grabbed a fork and took the first bite. "The life of a god is lonesome, isn't it 8oy?"

Cheren whipped around in surprise. A Zoni was behind him. It had seven pupils in its left eye. "It's…It's you. Didn't you tell me about Zanifr?"

"Correct. Vriska Serket was my name. Still is. ;;;; P I never received a 'Thank you.'"

"For what?"

"For your victory over King Panhead. Helping you achieve God Tier was always my plan. It's thanks to me that you're powerful and invinci8le. I mean, it helped, didn't it?"

"Sigh, I guess it did… but why did you help me, anyway? What was in it for you?"

"Stopping Lord English, of course. We're afraid of him just as much as you are. Given that, I don't see why you wouldn't welcome the giant kids."

"Because I don't believe sheer power and strength is going to be the answer. Nobody could get that powerful. Unless you were a god…"

"Well, then I guess we know the solution." :::; )

"Hold on though, if I can become God Tier, shouldn't my siblings be able to? They're descended from the Shadow Queen like I am."

"Hmmm, I suppose they should… 8ut I never quite 'felt' it from them, if you know what I mean."

"What do you mean?"

"It didn't seem like they were cut out to 8e gods, they weren't 8orn with it. Not like you were, Cheren. You're the wisest, the kindest, and the most fiercest of all your human friends. You deserve to 8e God!"

"Hardly." He turned around and bit into his Gold Cherry Pie again.

"It's a curious family you have, Cheren. Your 8rother's a devil, you're the god, and your sister could 8e the saint!"

"But I never wanted to be a god. I just wanted to keep being a normal kid, regardless of the kinds of villains we fought. Sigh… but I guess fate had other plans."

"There really is nothing to 8e ashamed a8out. While you've 8een sailing on your ship, the Thirteen Darknesses have conquered hundreds of worlds in Lord English's name. And he's 8ecoming more powerful as a result. The only thing keeping him from doing any serious damage is Arceus. So, it's a shame when mortals don't appreci8 gods like yourself." ;;;; )

"Why does it matter to you, anyway?"

"8ecause I'm a God Tier, too. Like you, or Zanifr. And I understand your plight." :::: )

"Did your friends give you grief?"

"Oh, they give me lots of grief. That's why I'm positive we can 8e friends!"

"Well, friends don't keep secrets from each other, and I feel like you trolls are keeping dozens of secrets from us."

"It isn't that we want to keep the secret, we just don't know the 8est way of telling you. 8ut we don't mean anything 8ad 8y it. And if you ever need a friend to turn to, I'm always here for you." :::: )

"That's sweet, but I can't exactly add you to my Girlfriend Scrap Book until I see you in person." He smirked.

"Well, that'll 8e something to look forward to! You seem like a way cooler leader than Karkat."

"He's the one who yells all the time, right? Hyeah, he's really got some anger issues. And that's coming from Mr. Demon State." Cheren chuckled and took another bite of pie.

"At least you had good reasons for getting mad. Karkat just gets angry whenever the mood strikes him. Which is all the time."

"Heheh, reminds me of Terry! Ever try shrinking him? Maybe that'd calm him down."

"Hey, I was shrinking people 8efore you even existed, don't tell that to me." ;:;: )

"I guess we know where we got it from. …So, uh, who else is in your crew, anyway?"

"Hello, Cheren!" Yuzu barged into the office, Cheren flinching. "I just came to collect your plate if you were finished. Doesn't that Space Honey taste delicious when it melts in your mouth and sticks between your teeth??"

"Oh, it's honey? I thought it was some sort of gold!" Cheren grinned, showing a web of the shiny honey in his teeth.

"Apparently, it's from a hive of gigantic space-bees, and it was really hard to acquire. I thought if anyone would love it, it would be you!"

"Well, consider me in love! …!" Cheren blushed. "Metaphorically."

"Don't you wanna come eat in the cafeteria? Food is much more tasty when you're around friends! It's a proven scientific fact!"

"It's not!" Emily called.

"Oh, that's alright, I…" Cheren glanced behind him. The Zoni was gone. "…have to finish this paperwork."

"Oh, it'll still be here when you get back. Everyone's having a good time, you should join us!"

"Nah, I'm enjoying the quiet. Besides, those giants took a lot of my energy."

"If you say so. Back to the kitchen with me! Bye-bye!" Yuzu twirled and exited the office.

Cheren looked around the room, wondering if Vriska hid. Bing! He looked at his computer screen. ArachnidsGrip wants to chat. Curious, Cheren clicked on the message. A black chat screen came up as blue text was written.

AG: Thought it 8e 8etter if no one heard us. Wouldn't wanna ruin the quiet. ;;;; )

Cheren smiled and typed: Hehe, you make a guy feel comfy. Should I have a chat name?

AG: Nah, you can use your real name.

But I want one! I'll be… Heroboy3621!

AG: That's so dum8. I'll call you GoldenChild.

GC: Fine by me.

AG: To answer your question, there's lots of us. A 8lind chick named Terezi, she prophesized the prophecy. I mean, she didn't write it, she saw it coming.

GC: Which came first, the prophecy or the prophesizer?

AG: LOL! Anyway, there's Tavros, he's a wheelchair guy. I shrunk him once. ;;;; )

GC: Grl, stop shrinking people. I'll get Mr. York to kick your ass. ;)

AG: I'll gra8 me a lightsa8er and cut his wanna8e Jedi ass.

GC: lol wannabe Batman.

AG: Jedi 8atman?

GC: OMG he would be a great one!

GC: Hey, want some of my pie?

AG: Sure, I'll just eat it through the screen. :::: )

GC: lol I thought you could warp it with your Zoni thing or something.

AG: My superiors don't want me to. Just descri8e it for me.

GC: ok. … Think of a highly saturated honey syrup, melting in your mouth along with the cherry… sigh, I'm not a food critic, I can't describe it. It's just really really really good.

AG: Mmmm… I can t8s it. :::: )P

GC: Ha ha ha! :)

Mess Hall

"Since I'm dead, I can't actually taste anything." Django said as he was holding an Expired Sandwich, composed of rotten egg salad, decayed fish corpse, and moldy bread. "Any food that goes into my mouth becomes dead ash. That's why the quality of the food lies in its age." With that, he chomped the sandwich in his boney jaws. It dissolved, expelling a toxic aroma around the room. Arianna's Celery Blossom wilted, and even Mason and Haruka wanted to cover their noses. "Ahhhh… delicious. Hey, Emo Girl, give me some of that ice cream to wash it down." Django requested from Miyuki.

"Uhh… ok." Miyuki handed her bowl of Spidey Cream (vanilla ice cream with blackberry spiders) to Django, who scooped and ate a few chunks. They melted in his mouth and dripped onto the floor. "WAITER, cleanup on Table 5!"

"I'm starting to think you're doing that on purpose…" Wendy said as she flicked her wand to send the mess flying into a trashcan.

"The customer is always right, right?"

"Wendy, could you do Table 7 when you're done with that?" Sally asked. "They're having another muffin-stuffing contest."

"Not again…" Wendy moaned.

A few tables over, Sheila Frantic, Chimney, Index, and Crest were squeezing large quantities of muffins into their mouths, chewing them so they would fit better. Their cheeks were as big and puffy as balloons. "Tht blke Uh-gstus say he wnts te be lke meh." Sheila muffled through chews. "He gnn hve te et mrr thn meh."

"Nani?" Chimney asked.

"Please don't talk with your mouth full, guys." Sally told them.

"Chimney's belly is bouncy when it's full." Aeincha blushed. She was dipping her hand into a giant tub of (edible) Hair Cream and licking it off.

"Index, are you sure there isn't another wormhole in your stomach?" Nagisa asked.

"Crst is cheating!" Index pointed accusingly. "He's expndng hs chks wth hs pwr!"

"Sharry, didn't catch that." Crest replied; his cheeks were the puffiest despite him being the smallest. The sides of his crescent head were round like twin moons.

"Their mouths are even bigger than ours!" Ally said in awe.

"Heh heh! Being with Chimney for three months, I can confirm that!" Mocha laughed.

"Whoa, look at Fybi's bubblegum!" Harvey Harper shouted.

It was only then everyone noticed the gigantic pink balloon expanding from Fybi's mouth. She sucked breath in through her nose and released a little at a time into the balloon. It was made from a sturdy candy rubber that could be easily molded, endlessly stretch, but never rupture unless hit with a strong force.

"And HERE COMES THE BOOM!" Aisa launched a light arrow from Fybi's B.O.W.. BOOM!!! A burst of wind blew all the food off the tables and against the walls (and into peoples' faces).

"KYAAAAAA!!" Yuzu screamed so loud that her hair stood on end. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY LUNCH ROOM?!"

Chimney took a big gulp to swallow her muffins. "AISA-CHAN DID IT!" ("Gyom-gyom!")

"Hee hee hee!" Aisa grinned sheepishly. "It just got so big, I couldn't resist!"

In an instant, Yuzu whacked her with a ladle. "OW!"

"Food isn't something to play with!" the chef stated firmly. "It's not for throwing around the room or seeing how much of it you can fit in your mouth. When I asked for this post, I dreamed of a lunch room where everyone can come in and ask for a fantastic, inventive, and nutritious meal, and leave with happy bellies and happy mouths! And if all of us ate together, our mouths and bellies would be even happier!"

"None of this is supported by science!!" Emily called.

"Listen, this 3-year voyage is going to be over before you know it. It's important for you to balance training with a healthy diet. My recipes are specially designed to satisfy the needs of every customer – from spicy foods for firebenders, gaseous foods for poisonbenders, or juicy foods for waterbenders. I can't work in this kitchen all the time, but I will help you the best I can. So, I expect you to show my meals your respect."

Sheila swallowed all her muffins. "Bleh… she's right. I remember 'ow hungry I was after that bloody Candy Adventure."

"Knowing Aisa's mischievousness, mayhaps I should hath blown bubble outside." Fybi said.

"We're sorry, Yuzu." Aisa blushed.

"Alright, then." Yuzu nodded. "Fix 'er up, Kayla."

MaKayla King used the Chrono Staff to Rewind the room's time to before Aisa popped Fybi's gum. Everyone's food returned to the tables, so they resumed eating. "And they say life has no Reset button!"

"You make things unfairly easy for us." Dillon chuckled.

"Well, we have to fight unfairly powerful opponents in 3 years, so who cares!" Kayla took a bite of her Multi-Degree Pizza—a pizza whose 8 divided areas were cooked at different times ranging from raw to burnt.

"And thus, order is restored." Yuzu said proudly. "Ah, and I see Cheren's Kool-Aid is ready." Kirie brought her a small glass of the sugary red liquid. "Any trouble getting it?"

Kirie shook her head, smiling innocently as she whipped up a baseball bat. "Hey, Yuzu, ya mind if I take this ta him?" Panini asked. "Ay wanna try and invite him to the party."

"Sounds fine by me. Make sure he takes a hearty gulp!"

Panini took the Kool-Aid and headed for Cheren's office. Before she knocked, she heard a "Heh heh heh heh!" She cocked a brow and barged in. "HEY, CHERRY!"

"COUGH!" Cheren choked on the last golden cherry with a start.

"Whatcha lookin' at, boy?" Pan smirked, seeing him on the computer. "Funny fanfic, funny video? Don't ya have more important things to do than look at that stuff?"

"Excuse a guy for wanting some entertainment."

"If you want entertainment, come to the lunch room." Panini placed the Kool-Aid on his desk. "Everyone's having a lot of fun. You ought to come, it's not the same without ya!"

"I'll join you soon, there's just a few more papers I wanna get done."

"…Ya sure you aren't upset about me beatin' you up?"

"You beat me up all the time, Panini!" Cheren grinned, exposing the gold on his teeth. "Don't pride yourself on this one!"

"…Ay guess I won't, then." Panini frowned suspiciously. "See ya." She left.

AG: She don't get to hear a8out me? I'm special!

GC: I don't want her to get jealous. XD

GC: Or tease me about having "so many girlfriends."

AG: Cheren the play8oy. :::: )

GC: lol ye. You got any boyfriends?

AG: None that are willing.

GC: You really are a spider woman. :P Where do you live, a web?

AG: I wish. 8ut no, just a crummy space fortress. Used to 8e a house, 8ut… you know. Apocalypse.

GC: Sorry. ^^; Maybe it'll come back when this is over.

AG: Wanna come over if it does?

GC: This is going too fast! =P

AG: Okay, okay. L8rd English first. ;;;; P Can't w8 until you get here!

GC: Can't w8 either. :)