Check"Mate"

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"Mate"

The Starting Position

At the crack of dawn, the ambiance immediately appeared awkward in historic Northamptonshire, England. The clouds skirmished against the sun over who will prevail the darkness or light. The bird's lovely, tranquil chirps battle the hustle and bustle of the town, one trying to one-up the other to win recognition amongst the wealthy, high-class townspeople. It shaped up to be the same story several miles outside the town in the gigantic Archibald manor.

Johnathan's Opening

Jonathan Archibald III belonged to one of the wealthiest, most venerable families in town, and his parents taught him to play chess to dominate the other families in the region.

Across the town at the Coswald house, Edward Coswald V jubilantly jumped out of bed and immediately started his magic. Like his counterpart, Edward also had a passion, just not for chess, but for magic, which didn’t sit well with his competitive parents, who set their sights on overtaking the slightly wealthier Archibalds.

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Today appeared no different to Johnathan instead of flocking to the town center to socialize with the other children, he always opted to hustle down to the grand family library and practice his chess skills, like a soccer player rushing to the field. Before sprinting down the stairs, however, Jonathan religiously cleaned his glasses to help him see clearly and without these glasses, he would never be able to pursue his fervent passion for chess they act as a key to unlock a house. As Johnathan commenced his training, his parents pranced down the staircase in their fine silky robes to inform Johnathan that today, he will have the honor of playing the Archibald's most bitter rival, the Coswalds.

The Aspiring Magician

Across the town at the Coswald house, Edward Coswald V jubilantly jumped out of bed and immediately started his magic. Like his counterpart, Edward also had a passion, just not for chess, but for magic, which didn’t sit well with his competitive parents, who set their sights on overtaking the slightly wealthier Archibalds.

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They dreamt of Edward maturing into a magnificent chess player able to bring glory to the family, however, Edward aspired to leave the bleak English countryside and perform magic in London. Despite this, Edward’s parents fervently told him that he would be facing off against his nemesis, Johnathan, the aloof boy who managed to lure all the children with his formidable chess skills. Winning this game would not only help Edward become more popular than Johnathan but make his family proud enough to allow him to pursue his vocation of magic. Edward rapidly dressed in his punk outfit and grabbed his blue-tinted glasses, which created the illusion that he was performing magic.

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The First Contact

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On Sundays, the Archibalds attend the local golf club for breakfast. Even though the queue

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appeared extremely long, the status of the Archibalds granted them easy access to the secluded corner table. On the other side of the hall, packed in with other ordinary civilians, the Coswalds sat and enviously glared at the Archibalds, receiving their special treatment from the staff; however, Edward was not staring at the family, just Johnathan, the person who hindered Edward’s parents from accepting him. As Johnathan handed out hundreds of dollars to the waiters, Edward shot up from his chair and began performing his signature magic trick with his notebook in hand, without which, Edward would not be able to perform. As the crowd exploded in cheers, Johnathan grew livid even though he himself did not enjoy the attention, but loved seeing the townspeople stare at his family's immense success and excellence. Johnathan knew that he should not allow Edward to influence him and throw him off his game later that day.

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appeared extremely long, the status of the Archibalds granted them easy access to the secluded corner table. On the other side of the hall, packed in with other ordinary civilians, the Coswalds sat and enviously glared at the Archibalds, receiving their special treatment from the staff; however, Edward was not staring at the family, just Johnathan, the person who hindered Edward’s parents from accepting him. As Johnathan handed out hundreds of dollars to the waiters, Edward shot up from his chair and began performing his signature magic trick with his notebook in hand, without which, Edward would not be able to perform. As the crowd exploded in cheers, Johnathan grew livid even though he himself did not enjoy the attention, but loved seeing the townspeople stare at his family's immense success and excellence. Johnathan knew that he should not allow Edward to influence him and throw him off his game later that day.

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The First Capture

After breakfast, Johnathan practiced chess in the park, where all the children surrounded him in awe of his incredible talent. Johnathan enjoyed the park, but Edward decided he did not want to practice magic under the roof of people who antagonized him for it. As Edward strolled through the park, he once again saw Johnathan surrounded by the children. Once again, Edward pulled out his notebook and prepared a special trick. As Johnathan was explaining his move to the injudicious children, he heard a blustering sound behind the children, and while the kids parted, he saw the punk, rebellious, magician imbecile challenging the honor of the Archibalds. All of a sudden, Edward made a dove appear out of thin air, and all the children rushed over to him,

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applauding and cheering him for his fantastic feat; however, Edward had more up his sleeve, and he knew that the only way Johnathan could only see with his glasses, so all he had to do was break them and Johnathan would forfeit. Quickly, Edward ordered the dove to fly right into Johnathan’s face, which was followed by a crack and the guffaw of the children. Ashamed, Jonathan ran back home with tears streaming down his face he not only let down his family, but without his almighty glasses, he could not play chess.

Analysis

As the day dawdled on, Jonathan sat in his secluded room, hastily thinking about what he should do. Should he forfeit the game and sacrifice his family's honor, or should he stoop down to the level of the pesky Coswalds and come up with an underhanded way to retaliate? Jonathan, accustomed to formulating tactics in chess to trap his opponent, quickly realized

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that if he stole one of his key pieces, then Edward would have no additional moves, and thus in this case, Edwards's notebook appears vulnerable and susceptible to an attack. The game grew closer and closer until it was time for Edward's freedom, and acceptance of family and townspeople were on the line, and for Johnathan, the reputation of his entire pedigree was at stake. As Johnathan was cruising down the road towards the town’s local chess center, where all the families settled their disputes and attempted to be the most dominant in the area, Jonathan couldn’t help but notice two birds, one blackbird, perfectly colored with no blemishes, and one white bird, with a blemish ravaged body fighting over the last piece of bread. As the jet-black, beautifully adorned Archibald limousine arrived at the jampacked chess center, the immense pressure began to weigh on the composed

Johnathan with every step closer he took. Due to the Archibald’s premier status, the stewards escorted the family to the waiting deck where Johanathan could warm up, but he felt practically blind. Anxiously looking around, Jonathan locked eyes with the ever so haughty Edward amongst a ginormous group of townspeople around him, cheering his name.

Seeing this, Jonathan immediately saw red, Johanatahan's ire put all of his lessons on patience and being a composed chess player were put in checkmate, and instead of trying to formulate a plan to steal Edward’s notebook, Jonathan audaciously stormed through the crowd and socked Edward in the face, while all of his family’s edict and honor vacated their last descendant as the punch followed through. The

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Johnathan with every step closer he took. Due to the Archibald’s premier status, the stewards escorted the family to the waiting deck where Johanathan could warm up, but he felt practically blind. Anxiously looking around, Jonathan locked eyes with the ever so haughty Edward amongst a ginormous group of townspeople around him, cheering his name.

Blunder

Seeing this, Jonathan immediately saw red, Johanatahan's ire put all of his lessons on patience and being a composed chess player were put in checkmate, and instead of trying to formulate a plan to steal Edward’s notebook, Jonathan audaciously stormed through the crowd and socked Edward in the face, while all of his family’s edict and honor vacated their last descendant as the punch followed through. The

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crowd erupted and hauled Johnathan away from the now motionless Edward; however, Jonathan immediately realized what he had done, he fell for Edward’s trap, all Edward wanted to do was push Johnathan over the edge to knock him off his game, and it worked. As Johnathan was dragged away by a grown man, the rest of the crowd circled Edward showing him all the attention that Johnathan thought he deserved, but the only thing he received was a trip to the police station, and his expensive button-down shirt tore, revealing his bare human skin.

The Exposed Outliar

Slowly beginning to blink, Edward, at last, woke up with dozens of curious heads circling around him. Without hesitation, Edward began scouring the mahogany wood floors for his precious notebook

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