A life stolen for a war unclaimed

The two dashed off to their respective kitchen half and began to sort through all the ingredients. Luna was first to grab for the mangoes. While Damocles had ran for eggs and milk whipping it up and mixing it while preheating several pans. With Luna's magic the began to dice the mango, and several other vegetables and fruits. Damocles on the other hand had began to boil water while mixing spices in a bowl having set the eggs off to the side. Damocles seemed to put something into the pot before putting a lid on
it. Setting a timer before he moving to cook rice. Before realizing something and audibly cursing.

"Everything alright my dear child?" Luna called out as she continued to work her magic with the knives cutting intricate designs onto some of the foods.

"Yeah, just realized something that may kick me in the flank later. Does anyone have any allergies? to Anything at all... Meat included?" He asked to the judges causing his mother to laugh. There was a quick response of no's. Luna had begun to cook a crab like substitute the scent filling the area with lemon and salt.

"Hmm ladies and gentlecolts I don't know if I'm understanding this right, This is supposed to be a food war right?" Discord asked the audience and judges. The ones that weren't discord copies hesitantly agreed while the Discord copies went into an uproar.

"Well lets make this Food go to war!" He declared Dressed in a General's Military Officer uniform before snapping his fingers. Suddenly The Tomatoes that Luna had been cutting into roses grew stems and thorns and began to swat at the knifes Luna was holding. On Damocles's end the Pot on the stove began to creak and stretch as if it was being torn apart before suddenly a red Lobster claw tore through it, and the lobster was still growing.

"Well fuck... Suddenly Glad i opted out of the Octopus." Was all he said.

"You know... I was hoping you would do that just because it would be funny to hear you scream 'It's Lord Ocho Muerte!' but this? This is slightly more terrifying." Discord said as he walked up next to Damocles while the lobster reached its full height. One that would make the Bumble bear Blush. The lobster in turn snapped its claws before roaring in rage as it pointed at Damocles. "Huh, I dont think he likes you."

"Thank you, Discord, for pointing out the obvious."

"Hey someone has to be the Captain."

Suddenly the Lobster rammed its claw into the ground in front of Damocles Shattering the tiles that the construction Discords had laid out. Damocles in response ran to the sink and quickly washed his wings. As the Lobster was trying to remove its claw Damocles walked walked up to it.

"Listen here Scorpion Mermaid. I don't take kindly to people ruining my food. I take less kindly to my food attacking me and even less so when I'm in a competition against my mother." Damocles gestured to Luna had gotten the Tomato vines under control and was cooking fluently again. "So here's how this is going to go. I'm going to kill you, then I'm going to cook you, and then The dragon baby, the judges, my mother, and myself are all going to dine on the deliciousness that is your flesh with a Mango Chutney Omurice, Understand?" Damocles stated as he walked to the lobster and put his hoof on its stuck claw. "Well you compliance is not really a necessity now that I think about it." Before the lobster could react Damocles's Wing struck the joint of the stuck claw cutting it off as a large crunch was heard. "Hmmm.... Hey Discord?" Damocles called out.

"Yes Mr. Meteora?" Discord replied.

"Can you get a pot of Boiling Salt water for what you did to my lobster?" A snap later and a flash of light later is a large pot of water with steam rising above it. "Thank you." Damocles quickly took of ramming the lobsters underside with his fore hooves as he flapped harder to attempt to lift the monstrous sized shellfish drop it into the Giant pot. A giant lid appearing on it as a hisses and roars could be heard as it died. Damocles Sighed as the 1 hour warning alarmed sounded and began to panic as he started cooking again. The rest of the time passed without any interruption from discord as Fluttershy (whom was emotional scarred at the death of a sea critter) Scolded Discord for interrupting the match. Soon it just became a battle of wills smells and cooking styles. Damocles chose to be more active while humming songs he remembered from his time in his home while cooking filling it with his passion. Luna on the other hand seemed to be focusing on a single thought one that any parent or guardian knew all to well from experience but to anyone who did not have to raise someone or had no one to raise them it would seem like a strange smile. At 8 minutes before the end of the time Luna Carried 7 dishes placing 5 before the judges handing to discord and placing the last on an open counter top for her son.

"What I have for you today is a seafood pasta , using seaweed noodles, with a false crab and shrimp, along with mangoes and tomatoes served with a balsamic Vinegar and a light Alfredo glaze. This was among my favorite of dishes upon my return when I toured a river city in Bitaly." Luna explained.

The judges each looked at the dishes and noticed that with the sauces it seemed to make some kind of picture with the mangoes and tomatoes cut into flowers. It was that of a crescent moon facing towards the left with a star that appeared to inside of it. Fleur suddenly took in a deep breath of the scent that was being given off.

"Something so crisp and vivid that permeates the air around it, and the sight of the moon holding the star it deems most precious. Its scent reminds me of the time when Fancy and myself went to the tropics. I had awoken from my slumber and saw the sea and sky were bathed in the light of Moon that seemed to shine anew. And the stars that danced with it in the cresting waves. It brought me Greater peace and content than I ever experienced. As I sit before you all and take in the aesthetics of your dish, Princess Luna, I can't help but experience the same feeling as then, And for that, Merci."

"Now to see how it tastes." Ramsey began to try the food focusing first on the tomatoes and Mangoes. " The balsamic vinegar with the tomatoes was brilliantly done, with the Alfredo glaze however, the flavor clashes with the mango ever so distinctly that its almost terrible," He paused as he took a bite with the pseudo seafood and noodles. Luna beginning to wilt under the scrutiny of the Iron Chef. "However with the rest of the dish it takes its flavor and transforms it, Nothing is under cooked and the mangoes are not too mushy, but there is something else in the Meat that's taking away from the saltiness of the dish... Honey?" Luna nodded hesitantly as she bit her lip. "Well its passable as a trial dish for my establishments however i would not, without editing it, have it as a permanent dish." Luna nodded. The rest of the group all gave sounds of approval of the flavor.

"My only Complaint, yer highness, Is that the noodles are tad too stringy for the elderly and the meat is a bit hard ta chew." Granny Smith Declared.

"Honestly, I haven't had a dish that tasted like this in a wild yet I can't help but remember my own childhood with my family as I eat." Chilled Keg stated mood almost wistful as he closed his eyes with each bite.

"And that leaves our Lovely Miss Reaper." Discord stated as Sheila was just finishing the Dish. Cleaning her mouth with a napkin. She turned her head towards the Alicorn.

"Princess Luna, All I can say is this, You, you adorable thing you, Are incredibly mean." Sheila said with tears in her eyes as she wiped them away.

"With that, judges Tally your points." Discord Declared. All of a sudden 5 panels of digital numbers began alternating numbers from 1-10 with decimals included. Suddenly Granny smith's number stopped at a solid 8. Chilled Keg's followed with a 7.5. Fleur Dis Lee's Stopped at 9.2, the same time Ramsey's stopped at 6.8 and Sheila's ended at an even 10.

"What! There is no way that this dish is worth a full 10." Ramsey Declared looking at the Unicorn in utter disgust.

"Ramsey, This dish isn't meant for us. you need to understand that. We are just guest for the one that the dish is for. The emotions in the dish the pride she has for it. And her own memories that go into it. I can taste all of that. So i know who its meant for. I know why she made this dish in specifics. And I with the way it tastes. I can say without doubt its one of the best I have ever tasted." Sheila spoke calmly. Discord looked at the plate before looking to Luna who simply nodded at him. He looked back at the plate before eating it and his eyes began to water.

"How sweet, Luna..." He took the plate and shared it with the mane six and spike. The timer was was 2 minutes left when Damocles Approached with his dishes. Using the metal tendrils that are his wings to serve them."

"And what do you have for us Damocles?" Ramsey looked at the dish."

"Its sort of an old trick I learned once upon a time. What i have for you is a Mango Chutney Omelette served on risotto with Lobster Sausage." Damocles said smugly.

The judges smelled the dish Granny smith Sneezing a moment.

"Why, this smells like my cousin Spiced Apple's Chili Powder. Sonny if you wouldn't mind could you show me later how you made this?" Granny Smith asked.

"But of Course Ms. Smith it would be my pleasure." Damocles replied as the judges began to dig into it.

"Faust, how much vinegar did you put into the risotto? Its like its drowning in it!" Ramsey Declared angrily, before eating into the Omelette and Sausage. "Now the Chutney is impressively made, the Sausage however Could use a little more work."

"Honestly the heat from the chutney and the sweetness of the mango being soothed by the risotto is as if there is a dance on my tongue, but more so like a battle. The passion of the flavors all fighting for dominance." Fleur said after swallowing the food before continuing to eat it.

"Hmm I wouldn't say fighting for dominance, No but fighting to bring out the best both sides have to offer. like there is something hidden." Chilled Keg takes another bite before his eyes go wide. "The Sausage... It was finished cooking in Black Berry Wine! Thats what they are fighting to free! Quickly, all of you try it with the Sausage Together not apart." Chilled encouraged before scarfing the rest of the food down as if he hadn't eaten in days. Fleur began to pant from the flavor and heat hitting her all at once. Her face flushed with the slight burning sensation in her mouth. Ramsey eyes were narrowed Dangerously as he was eating In disbelief of what was going on. He had tasted the subtlety of the Sausage with the dish but dismissed it all the same. Granny smith was just enjoying the dish lost in her memories of the flavor Spiced Apples food. When the other finished the Turned to Sheila who looked at the dish Disappointingly. Sighing she turned to face Damocles opening her mouth only to close it. She does this for a moment before shaking her head and turning her head to Luna.

"You have a lot to teach him as a parent... I wish you luck if he will even acknowledge what you have to say." With that Sheila posted her score and walked away not finishing the dish and fading from visual existence like a ghost. The judges tallied their scores. Fleur at 7.0 Chilled at 8.9 Granny at 8.0 ramsey at 6.0 and Sheila at 4.0

The total scores for both chefs where Luna at 41.5 out of 50 and Damocles at 33.9. A Landslide Victory for Luna. Damocles stood in disbelief of the final scores. Stunned until Luna Prodded his shoulder with her hoof.

"Son, your food is going to get cold if you let it sit. Shall we eat together like a family?" She asked as she picked up what he made for her and sat down with the rest of the group as Discord took back the 4 ponies. Damocles looked at the food she had made and then looked back at the ponies who were laughing and talking about the food and the happenings in their own lives the Construct-cords, what they named themselves began to build a base of operations similar to an Asian Guard Barracks and training grounds. Damocles sighed as he took a bite of the food as he stood by himself and realized what it was that made Sheila score him so low. Tears began to well up until a series of thoughts struck his mind and heart.

'Its Cute Isn't it? How much she sees you as her child. It's too bad we don't feel the same do we? No, but we will just continue to play along till she no longer needs us, ain't that right Rowan? Deny it all you want but that the Truth about People, oops I mean Ponies like us.'