Checkmate!

I Do not own Radiata Stories

The Meeting Room:

Jack walked with into the Meeting room with Ridley at his side; Cross had just been arrested along with his entire Brigade and would be standing trial later in the week. However at the moment there were other issues to discuss that Jack and his Shadow (Lord Lucian) had worked meticulously to set up.

He took a moment to reflect on what Hap had revealed the previous day.

(Flashback)

Jack laid on his bed thinking about the upcoming match with Cross wondering where Hap was. The Light Elven Spirt had been stangely absent today thus far. Before he could thing further on the subject he was engulfed in a giant Flash.

When the light died down he looked around and noticed where he was.

There above him was the endless Heavens and below him and a sea of clouds, in the distance he could see a parting in the cloud-floor and through that he saw the vastness of space with what he assumed was the planet below.

"Over here, young Dragon Half-god." Spoke a regal feminine voice.

Jack turned to see A women with long silver-white hair in a midnight blue Evening gown with stars glittering all over it. Beside her stood a Sun bronzed bald dude that wore a short white tunic that was held in place with a gold clasp, he looked uncomfortable. And off to the side was Hap in corporeal form looking nervously at all three present.

"Ethereal do I have to wear this?!" said the man in an unmanly whine.

"Yes Celeste, you do, we don't want him scarred for life!" She hissed at him before looking to Jack and giving him and sweet smile.

Well that answered who they were. These two were the gods of Totalus, Ethereal Queen and Gabriel Celeste.

" I thought that my life being reset was the work of some Deity I pissed off. So then what did I do wrong?"

Ethereal smiled at him. "You've done nothing wrong Jack, we had chosen you to be our champion to defeat the Archfiend Asmodeus ."

"Why me? I've always been Agnostic at worst and wary of you guys at best."

"It has nothing to do with your views and everything to do with ours." She said with a smirk

"Soooo, the Archfiend huh?" Jack questioned

"Yes but before that a bit of history, Long ago before the birth of the six Dragons and the world Gabriel Celeste and myself along with several other gods and goddess imprisoned an evil god of great and incredible power within the realm of Pandemonium, We thought it secure but in case something went wrong we placed the six dragons here to watch closer to the lock. Then with the birth of the Dark elves the balance of the world shifted just enough that his power began to leak out and infect the mortal realm."

"In other words, Algendars disease.." Jack commented.

"Precisely," Celeste nodded

"We thought up plan to finally kill off Asmodeus for good, but it required two pure souls from both a human and a light elf, in order for it to work."

"Hap and I?"

"Yes." Ethereal nodded this time

And Celeste continued "To buy time and set up the necessary elements we created the World Cycle. The idea was to keep Algendars from spreading further at the same time constantly renewing the planet while keeping human civilization at a small enough level so that when Asmodeus came to a head he couldn't use advanced technology to make things even worse, It was unfair to the humans, but it was a necessary evil."

"Interesting choice of words…" Jack commented

"Only because we don't believe in a bullshit phrase like 'For the Greater Good' … the only ones who say that stuff are usually unwilling to admit their own wrong doing." Ethereal snapped

"Okay, okay I gotcha." Jack said trying to calm her down

"Now where was I? Oh yes.. Only just recently did the cycle of souls produce a Human soul of exceptional purity. Yours Jack." Ethereal said smiling warmly like a grandmother does to her favorite grandchild.

"So in other words, you've been resetting my life hoping that I would be the one to take Ridleys place? Wow, that's a lot to take in.." Jack said stumbling back a bit

"We plan on giving you more info through Hap since his spirit can transcend the dimensional planes right now, but we need you to place this mark *A glowing cross of energy floats from them to be absorbed into Jack*on Cross, so that when Asmodeus takes his body as his vessel we can spare his soul from being trapped in the underworld with him."

"Is Cross worth saving?" Jack asks

*Snort* "The welp is already jumping to conclusions…" Celeste commented

"Do not miss-judge Cross Jack. He was once a good person before an ill-fated mission with his father to Algendars Castle. His Father died and the men were slaughtered, only Cross managed to re-seal the great chasm of the Impure-world Rift, the process however, cost him his memories and he was subsequently tainted by Asmodeus."

"Poor Cross, will marking him the way you shown me in my mind help save him?" Jack asked

"Yes, but when his sleeping memories awaken and Asmodeus takes full control of his body, his fractured soul will be restored and he will be able to aid you from behind enemy lines so to speak." Celeste answered

The area started to fade and Jack felt a falling sensation.

"For now, we must part ways. Farewell Chosen One." The two gods called In unison.

(End Flashback)

Jack walked in the room and took notice of the room's décor and its occupants. The room was spacious and housed a long elaborate wooden oak table at which sat the king at the far end. Larks sat to his right along with Dynas and a number of minor lords as well that had come at Jack's invitation, Jack took note that Lady Anastasia was also there.

'Interesting that she should be present, good this will make things less complicated than it could have been.' Jack thought with a smirk.

Jack went the left side of the table and pulled out a seat for Ridley on the right of her father Jasne, which she accepted graciously before he seated himself between her and left of Lucian who was seated near the opposite end of where the king sat.

After Al shut the door Larks stood.

"This meeting has been called to discuss something that will no doubt affect everyone in Radiata. " At this He pulled out the Letter and placed it on the table.

Jack took note that it had been opened and it looked as though everyone else was well aware as to the contents as well.

Larks continued while making eye contacted with the rest of the room. "The Dwarves are demanding a raise in the prices of their metal goods, normally this would not be much of a problem except that what they are asking is a sixty percent increase."

There were a few mummers between most of the Gentry in the room.

"No doubt this presents us with a big problem, as the Dwarves are the main if not the only source of metal products in the kingdom, and these prices are way too high for us to accept." The king commented

Jack smirked to himself, something that did not go unnoticed by Ridley.

"Any ideas?" Larks asked

At this point Dyans spoke up." Before he was arrested, Cross was going to suggest we send soldiers to Earth valley much to my Ire."

"Yes well we can see the effect of Crosses actions now can't we?" Jasne sneered. He had always sought to improve the relationships with nonhumans and what that upstart would suggest would ruin all his good work... thank goodness for young Jack.

At this point Larks spook up. "Be that as it may, we could still use his misguided idea with a few alterations; I suggest we use soldiers as a bluff to get a more desirable response."

At this Jasne looked furious while the rest of the room nodded at the idea, sans Jack Ridley and Lucian.

Suddenly Jack started snickering which drew the attention of all present in the room.

"Is there something you find amusing Sir Jack?" The King asked

"Not really your majesty, but I would like to point out some things that you all do not seem to be aware of, if you'll allow me to do so."

The King Nodded at Jack "Proceed young man."

"Thank you Your Majesty." he said nodding in turn.

Jack Quickly Stood as Larks seated himself and took the Folder that His new "Father" handed him.

"This…" He said holding the file where all could see. "..is a report that was submitted by an acquaintance of mine who his currently in my employ. I'm sure a few present will remember Professor Weissheit who is the current authority on Elves in general." At this he received a few nods and even more confused looks.

"A few Days ago he reported to me that the leader of the Dark Elves Lord Nogueira had passed away. Lord Zane who is in fact, Lord Nogueira's younger Brother and leader of the light elves will be a stewing pot of angst and spite at this moment. So…"

Jack looked at everyone in the room and continued as he began to circle the table"…. If we, in our advanced wisdom, see fit to antagonize the Dwarves, who might I add, we have held good relations with thus far. We can expect to draw the attention of the Light elves and by extension the dark elves."

He smirked at everyone at this point "And we can all pray that they will understand of us in our 'wisdom' induced actions."

Here, the young captain stopped and leveled Larks, who he was beside with a Deadpan look. "I Highly Doubt it."

Jack continued after smacking the folder down in front of Larks before continuing his path around the table to stand next to the king. "We do not have the luxury antagonizing the Dwarves, and in the process angering the other races, it would be most…. Unwise." He finished in a cold dead tone.

"Then what would you have us do?" Larks asked sharply at the young captain, who smirked in return.

"Why my dear minister, I'm so very glad you asked! We actually have two options available to us at present time." He said while buffing his nails.

The king looked interestedly at Jack who was standing beside him "Really?"

"Yes Your Majesty, I believe that if we were to fully withdraw all support from Earth Valley and stopped trade with the dwarves completely, they would soon realize that they would not fare so well without our support and soon change their tune."

"But then where will we get weapons from?" Asked Dynas

"I was getting to that General. "Jack assured

He then turned to face the group of minor nobles at the table. "I'm sure quite a few here noticed the blade I used in the duel with Cross yes?"

And quite a few people nodded an affirmative, and Lady Anastasia Spoke up "Indeed, I may not use weapons, but I have an eye for quality and though that blade was no-where near the level of Dwarven Masterpiece workmanship, it was of a higher make to that of the normal mass produced swords I've seen in some weapons shops around Warrior Town, and I believe they come from Earth Valley."

Jack nodded to her "I'd had hoped you noticed that. That sword is the product of the "Magical Refurbisher" that I had commissioned the Mages of Vareth to work on. It essentially recycles any form of metal into a blade, armor, exct. This results in Mass produced weapons and Armor that are a higher grade of craftsmanship while simaltainusly reducing the amount of metal waste produced here in Radiata, and at the same time provides us with an alternative to the Dwarves." He said smiling at the assembly.

"Then it seems that you have provided us with an Ideal solution Sir Jack." The king said with a slight smile

"Indeed your Majesty."

The meeting continued an hour longer as everyone discussed the prices for the new weapons produced by the Magical Refurbisher. In the end it was agreed on by all parts that the products would have a thirty percent price increase, This was for several reasons. One) Jack had funded the research that went into the making Magical Refurbisher and the king felt it only fair to reimburse him for it. Two) the mages would also be paid so that they would be willing to aid any future project that would be funded by Jack or the crown. Three, Jack was planning on seeing if there was a way to fix the environment and water at Earth Valley through magical means which would simultaneously help the dwarves get their home back to optimal condition and put them his debt so they owed him favors.

Once every one was finished the meeting was adjourned with Jack receiving a few pats on the back mostly for his keen foresight, and excellent handling of the problem.

Jack was exiting the meeting room and was heading down the hall when he heard someone call after him.

"Sir Jack, a moment of your time if you will."

Jack turned and was greeted with the sight of King Joris coming down the hall to meet him.

Jack bowed and addressed him. "Hello your Majesty, how might I be of service to you?"

The king smiled at Jack before nodding to himself as if he had come to a desion on something then spoke

"Sir Jack there is no easy way to say this, so I'll just come right out and say it."

Jack nodded for him to continue.

"Sir Jack Russell Hewitt, I would like to ask if you would marry my daughter Princess Bellflower."

And Cut! I know it's not long but I promise next Chapter will be longer! Please Review and keep and open mind. ...And Yes Etheral Made Celeste dress appropriately.