Chapter 64-Team Noah's Sixth Member

"OM NOM NOM!"

Gaia, Old-Man F, Mary, and myself enter the dining hall of the motel that we stayed in on our first night on top of Mount Gia, where we watch as a frantic Rocko desperately attempts to shovel plate after plate o' grub towards Khione and Ana, who devour Rocko's fine cooking just as fast as it comes.

"MOOORE!"  Khione burps

"KEEP IT COMING!"  Ana orders over large mouthfuls of food burbs.

"Eh…?"  The four of us grunt.

"Ladies, ladies, please!"  Rocko cries, "I'm cooking as fast as I can!"

But upon noticing the four of us standing there, Rocko's face lightens up.

"Ah…Gaia, thank GOODNESS!"  Rocko exclaims, "Help me out here, I've been cooking for DAYS!"

"Right," Gaia replies.

Gaia cracks his neck from side to side, then cracks his knuckles, before whipping a tall orange chef's hat from out of nowhere, and slides it on his head.

"Woah!"  The three of us exclaim.

"Wh-where did the hat come from…?"  Mary nervously asks.

"Stand aside, old man," Gaia orders as he shoves Rocko out of the way, then takes his place at the oven.

Rocko drops to his knees, gasping heavily for breath.

"Let the MASTER show you how it's done…" Gaia says as he draws a spoon and a spatula.

And then…Gaia gets to work.

Gaia whips up gourmet dish after gourmet dish, faster than Khione and Ana can devour them, each dish maintaining the same level of quality and prestige as the last and the next to come.

Time flies by.

Beads of sweat begin to dot Gaia's forehead.

But then…with a long groan, Khione and Ana flop face forwards onto the table, and snores can be heard soon after.

Khione and Ana have been defeated.

Gaia has won.

"WOO-HOO!"  The three of us cheer as we leap into the air in celebration.

"Um…are Khione and Ana alright?"  Mary asks once we've landed back on the ground.

"Meh," I reply, "Probably just a food-coma."

"Cut them some slack," Old-Man F chuckles, "Those girls have NEVER gotten to eat like this, and neither have we."

"True…" I reply as I stare at the snoozing Khione and Ana with a small smile.

"Whew…" Gaia whistles as he leans against the table and wipes his brow, then takes off his chef's hat.

"Gaia, that was AMAZING!"  Rocko exclaims as he hustles over to his pupil, "NO ONE could tame those beats quite like you did!"

"Really?"  Gaia asks, sparkles lighting up in his eyes.

"REALLY," Rocko smiles.

"Heh," I chuckle as I place a hand on my hip, "So even Gaia has someone who can make him feel like a kid."

"Rocko…I'm sorry…" Gaia then says as he turns away from the chef in shame, "If I didn't leave, then Rocky Eats would have never been destroyed."

"That's quite alright, Gaia," Rocko replies with a small smile.

"I have these five to help me rebuild!"  Rocko then laughs as he motions towards the five of us, "Rocky Eats will be back, and ene BETTER than before!"

"HUH?!"  The three of us cry.

"And besides, you left for a good reason, Gaia," Rocko continues, "To fulfill my dream for me.  Thank you, Gaia, from the bottom of my heart, I'm touched."

"No problem, old man," Gaia smiles as he pulls the Secret Ingredient out of his bag, then unravels the orange cloth that he's been carrying it in, "Here you go."

"Oh…my…" Rocko marvels as he takes the fruit from Gaia's hand, and holds it up to his face to see, which is illuminated by the golden glow.

"So what are you going to wish for?"  Gaia asks.

"Wish?"  Rocko asks as he lowers the fruit, "What do you mean?  I already HAVE my wish."

"Eh?"  Gaia asks as he cocks his head at Rocko, "Then why do you always talk about the Secret Ingredient like you're longing for it?"

"Eh?"  Rocko asks as he cocks his head at Gaia.

"Ah…I see what you mean!" Rocko exclaims as he knocks a fist into his palm,  "When I told you that the Secret Ingredient can grant the one who eats it a wish…you took that literally!  What I MEANT is that the Secret Ingredient can grant MY wish of creating the most delicious dish in the world!  Which I would use in order to fulfill my dream of opening up a restaurant."

The rest of us are silent.

"WWWWWHHHHHAAAAATTTTT!!!!!!!!!!??????????"

"So I risked my life…for NOTHING…?!"  Gaia sobs as he drops to his hands and knees.

The rest of us slump to the ground, as well.

"Are you kidding me…?"

"Gaia," Rocko says as he holds his hand out to Gaia with a small smile, "Thank you.  You made my dream a reality.  Now…will you cook the finest dish in the world?  I need the finest chef by my side, in order to do so."

Gaia's face lightens up.

"Yes!"  Gaia exclaims as he takes Rocko's hand, and Rocko hoists Gaia up to his feet, "I will!"

"Great!"  Rocko exclaims before turning to face the three of us.

"Noah!  Flint!  Mary!"  Rocko barks, "Clean up these dishes and set the table!  For tonight…we FEAST!"

"Y-yes sir!"  The three of us stammer with a salute, before hustling off to fulfill our chores.

Khione and Ana remain snoring.

And so, Gaia and Rocko get to work.  Chopping vegetables, basting meat, stirring stew.

After a few hours pass by, Old-Man F, Mary, and myself take our seats at the table, where we're served the most amazing meal of our LIVES by Gaia and Rocko.

"Woah…" the three of us marvel as we stare at dozens of the dishes before us, most of which I don't even know what they ARE.

"Where do I begin…?"

"Well THIS is roasted duck with a wine garnish," Gaia explains as he points to the first dish, "And this is black ink pasta decorated with clams, and this-"

"Alright, alright!"  I say, cutting Gaia off, "Can we eat?!  I'm starvin'!"

"Dig in," Gaia smirks, and so, the three of us do what we're told.

Never again in my LIFE will I eat food this good…

"So…how about it, Gaia?"  I ask as I shove another forkful of that duck stuff into my mouth, "You joining us now?"

"I-I don't know…" Gaia begins to say as his eyes linger over to Rocko, but Rocko shoves Gaia in the back, sending him stumbling towards me.

"Rocko!"  Gaia groans, "If I leave, then who'll protect the shop?!"

"Are you serious?!"  Rocko laughs, "You forget that I'm an E-Charger too, Gaia!"

I drop my fork.

"YOU'RE A E-CHARGER?!"  Old-Man F, Mary, and I cry.

"Yep!"  Rocko answers as he holds a spatula up, and tan sparks of energy begin to swirl around his hand, "The STONE Element.  It's a genetic mutation of Earth."

"I-I see…" Old-Man F stammers as he turns back to his food, "So how come you couldn't find the Secret Ingredient?"

"Or protect the restaurant?"  Mary chimes in.

"Because not only is my pupil a better chef than me, but he's STRONGER, too," Rocko answers as he places a hand on the much-taller Gaia's head, causing the Earth Charger to blush.

"Go with the, Gaia," Rocko orders, causing Gaia's eyes to widen, "These kids…they're nice people, although those two girls have monstrous appetites!"

"Kids…" Old-Man F snickers under his breath.

"Not you," Mary sighs.

Gaia trembles as he turns around to face his teacher and father, Rocko.

"A-are you sure…?"  Gaia asks.

"All these years, you would tell me about how you wanted to use your Earth Charge to do some good!"  Rocko exclaims, "And now…this is your chance…be free, Gaia.  You've long since paid your debt to me."

  Tears begin forming at the edges of Gaia's eyes, and as Rocko wraps his arms around him, Gaia begins sobbing, and he hugs his father back.

The three of us smile as we watch the emotional display.

Khione and Ana groan.