Chapter 54-Rocky Eats, part Three

The very next morning…

"YYAAAWWWWNNNNN."

I step out of my motel room with a yawn, and Old-Man F follows, where the two of us are greeted by Khione and Mary exiting their room, and Ana exiting her own private room.

"Morning, boys," Khione says.

"How'd you guys sleep?"  I ask.

"Like a king."

"AMAZING!"

"Like a queen!"

"Never felt better."

"Great," I smirk, "Now…why don't we go find Gaia?"

And so, the five of us head over to Rocky Eats, where we are met with a surprising sight.  Gaia is nowhere to be seen, instead, a different man in a chef's outfit is buddy trying to quell a furious crowd.

"WHERE'S CHEF GAIA?!"

"I WAS HERE FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW, AND NEVER GOT MY FOOD!"

"WE CAME ALL THIS WAY TO EAT!"

"People, people, please!"  The chef pleads, "Chef Gaia will be back soon, so just give him a few days!"

All the chef's pleas seem to do is anger the crowd even more, who begin throwing stuff at the chef, who flinches, then ducks under the counter for cover.

"What the heck is going on over there?!"  Khione yelps.

"I don't know, but let's check it out," I reply as the five of us hustle on over to Rocky Eats.

"OW!"

"OOF!"

"WATCH YOURSELF!"

The five of us grunt in pain as we fight our way to the head of the angry mop, earning ourselves shoves, and elbows, and shouts from the crowd as we do so, until eventually, we reach the front.

"Hey, chef man, where's Gaia?"  I ask.

"H-he's left for a few days, but he'll be back soon," the chef stammers, "So don't worry!"

"Don't worry, you can tell us," I reply with a tender smile, "My name is Noah, I'm the Water Charger."

"And I'm Anemoi, the Wind Charger!"  Ana adds.

"We're…BASICALLY Gaia's family, we're here to help," I finish.

The chef's eyes widen.  "W-well, in that case-" the chef stammers as he jumps to his feet, earning a rock to the skull from the angry audience.

"Ooohh…" we wince as blood begins trickly down the chef's forehead.

"Come with me!"  The chef orders as he grabs onto the five of us, and drags him over to counter alongside him.

"A-are you okay?!"  I ask.

"Yes," the chef sighs, "This has been happening all morning."

"Here, let me help," Mary says as she places her hands to the chef's forehead, and maroon-red sparks of energy begin to burst and swirl around Mary's body.

The Chef's eyes widen, as his blood begins to seep back into his forehead, and his wound scabs over.

"Are you…?"  The chef begins to ask, but I cut him off.

"Yes," I answer, "We're all E-Chargers."

The Chef's eyes widen.  "Perfect, that's perfect!"  He exclaims, "That means you can go help Gaia!"

"So…where IS Gaia?"  Ana asks.

"Gaia is after a legendary treasure called the 'Secret Ingredient'!"  The chef explains, "It is said that if someone eats a dish that has been created using the Secret Ingredient…it can grant them ONE WISH."

"One wish?!"  I cry, "How is that even possible?!"

"I don't know," the chef replies, "But I believe in the legend."

"What does Gaia want to use the wish for?"  Ana asks.

"Gaia told me that he wants to obtain the Secret Ingredient in order to wish for-" the chef begins to answer, but he's cut off when we hear some screams come from ahead of us.

"My customers!"  The chef cries as he jumps to his feet from under the counter top, and we do as well.

And when we see what is on the other side of the counter top, our eyes widen. The crowd of customers that had been pestering the chef…are now lying on the ground, in pools of their own blood.

"Wh-who would do such a terrible thing…?"  The chef trembles as he covers his mouth with his hands, "My…precious customers…"

"How…horrible…!"  Mary gasps.

"If Gaia was here…this would have never happened…" the chef sadly says as they stare at the ground.

"We need to find Gaia!"  I exclaim as I turn to face the chef, "Do you know where the Secret Ingredient is!"

The chef sadly shakes their head.  "No…I don't…" he answers.

"So you guys are looking for the Secret Ingredient now, huh?"  A voice then asks.

The five of us turn to where we heard the voice, watching as our same smiling tour guide from before strolls over to us, happily making their way through the bloody scene, completely unfazed.

"Ah, the tour guide!"  Khione happily exclaims.

"No…something's not right…" Old-Man F replies.

"Well I know where the Secret Ingredient is!"  The tour guide says as they continue making their way towards us, stomping on a corpse as they do so.

"Great!"  I reply, "Can you lead us to it?"

The tour guide cocks their head at me, and with a sickeningly sweet, close-eyed smile they answer: "No."

My smile quickly fades.

"GUYS, LOOK OUT!"

Instantly, a giant bolt of lightning CRASHES down upon Rocky Eats, exploding the wooden structure, and sending splinters of wood flying everywhere.  Just in the nick of time, the five of us leap out of the way of the blast, dragging the chef alongside us.  The five of us land on the ground next to the destroyed Rocky Eats, coughing.

"Darn…" the tour guide grumbles, "I thought I'd be able to get all five of you with one attack…"

As our coughing slows down, the five of us wave away the black smoke wafting through the air, before turning around to face the remains of Rocky Eats, which has been completely destroyed, and set ablaze.

"Shit," Old-Man F grunts as he turns away in shame, "I should have known sooner that something was awry."

The chef's eyes widen.  Trembling, the chef drops to his knees, as tears begin forming at the edges of his eyes.  "My entire life's worth of work is gone…" the chef softly whimpers, "My dream…has been destroyed…"

And then…the chef doubles over on his hands and knees and begins sobbing madly as his tears splatter against the pavement.

"Sorry 'bout that!"  The tour guide smirks as they reach up and rip off their tour guide cap, before flinging it into the air, revealing her long, sand-green hair, and sky-blue eyes.

Our eyes widen.

"That hair…" Old-Man F softly says, "Those eyes…"

"The tour guide…" I add, "IS AN E-CHARGER?!"

"I didn't WANT to destroy Rocky Eats, I really didn't," the tour guide sighs with a shrug, "After all, they DO HAVE great food!"  The tour guide then turns back to face us and smirks.  "BUT I'D RATHER GET THAT WISH!"  She cackles.

"Just who…are you…?"  I growl.

"You can call me CLOUD," the tour guide smirks, "A bandit of the Treasure Thieves!"

The chef's eyes widen.  "Oh no, this is bad!"  He cries.

I raise an eyebrow as I peer down at the chef.  "Is it?"  I ask.

"Yes, it is!"  He answers, "The Treasure Thieves…are the STRONGEST and scariest bandit group in the Land of Earth!  It is said that once they set their eyes on a certain treasure…they'll get their hands on it, no matter what!  I'm scared to see what they'll wish for if they get their hands on the Secret Ingredient…"

"Well they WON'T get their wish," I reply as I turn back to face Cloud, and punch a fist into my palm, "Because Team Noah will stop them!"

"R-really…?"  The chef whimpers as he peers up at me.

"REALLY," I answer as I keep my scowl trained on Cloud.

"So what do the Treasure Thieves plan to do with the Secret Ingredient?"  Old-Man F asks.

"Are you serious?!"  Cloud spits, "We're gonna turn the Secret Ingredient into some chicken casserole, and wish for every treasure in the world to be OURS!"

Cloud cackles madly as she holds her hands into the air.

"So you're the one…?"  Khione growls.

"Who FUCKED with our meal…?"  Ana growls as well.

"Oh?"  Cloud asks as she peers down at Khione and Ana, "Were you two waiting in line for a while?  Sorry!  I know what that's like…"

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"  Khione and Ana roar as they peer up at Cloud.

"Chef!"  I bark, "Can you at least tell us which way Gaia went?"

"Um…yes," the chef answers as they point Northeastward, "Gaia went THAT WAY."

"I see…" Old-Man F replies as he reaches into the folds of his gi and pulls out my map

"Does it…line up?"  I ask.

"It does," Old-Man F answers as he tucks my map, "Your map, Noah…will lead us to the Secret Ingredient."

"Great, then let's head there now!"  I exclaim.

"But…what about Cloud?"  Mary asks.

"Alright, someone will need to stay back and take care of Cloud," I say as I turn to face the group, "Any volunteers?"

"I'LL DO IT!"  Khione and Ana simultaneously roar.

Khione and Ana then turn to face one another, sneers, then turns away with a "HMPH!"

"Alright, two volunteers it is," I sigh.

"Um…can I come with you…?"  The chef asks, "I'm responsible for Gaia and Rocky Eats, after all."

"I thought Gaia was the head chef here?"  Mary asks.

"He is," the chef answers, "But I'm the owner."

"No," I answer as I shake my head, "It's too dangerous.  Buuut…it's too dangerous here, as well.  Go hide out in the motel."

The chef nods frantically, then cries to his feet, and hustles away.

I turn away from Rocky Eats.  "KHIONE!  ANA!"  I bark, with my back still turned to the women, "I'M LEAVING CLOUD TO YOU!  DON'T DISGRACE THE NAME OF TEAM NOAH!"

"Never planned on it," Khione smirks as she cracks her knuckles.

"Like I'd ever!"  Ana smirks as well as she taps her katana.

With a smirk, I set my eyes Northeastward.  "OLD-MAN F!  MARY!"  I bark, "LET'S GO!"

"RIGHT!"  my two remaining allies reply.

And so, the three of us set off to find Gaia.