Week 9: Chess Match

 It was the final game of the chess world championship and it was anyone's game. The competition was between two chess legends. David, a masterful attacker who had the white pieces for the final game, and Gary, a masterful defender with the black pieces. 

While this may have seemed like any other ordinary world championship, there was bad blood between the two competitors. It was not just that both of the competitors had grown up playing each other, or that each had never been world champion. Their competitive relationship had gotten personal. 

As the match was about to start David thought about the bad blood between them. First starting with when David's wife left him for Gary. He thought about how he did not blame his wife for leaving him. After all, she was an independent woman with an associates degree who could make her own choices. Additionally, David realized that he was not the most supportive husband. But the real gut punch was the fact she left him for Gary, his mortal enemy.

"What did I ever do?" David thought, "For as far back as I can think Gary has been a thorn in my side. Not just in chess, but in life, as well. Nonetheless, today will be the day I defeat Gary once and for all."

Gary also thought about the bad blood between David and him. How Gary did not even like chess, but the only reason he had decided to begin playing chess was to get revenge on David, the chess club president at the time, for calling him fat in middle school. He also did not even like David's ex-wife, in his opinion she was uptight, but the only reason he had agreed to date her was to get revenge on David. 

"Words hurt," Gary thought, "And today I will get my final revenge on David."

The game then started and David made his first move.

chess

Author's notes: 

This story is based off of the battle between Ravana and Ramayana in the Ramayana. I decided to have David represent Ramayana and Gary represent Ravana. 

The story has many parallels between the original story. In my story Gary "steals" David's wife similarly to how Ravana steals Ramayana's wife. Also Gary is a masterful defender and David is a masterful attacker which parallels how Ravana is defending against Ramayana in the battle. 

Also I had the beginning of the beef between Gary and David be because David was mean to Gary similarly to how the reason Ravana even begins to mess with Ramayana is because he was mean to his sister.

Bibliography: "Myths of Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana" by Sister Nivedita

Reading Notes: Nivedita Ramayana Part B

 Hanuman killed a bunch of Rakshasas in Lanka but was captured and then he escaped and burned the city down. Hanuman then told Rama about what he had done and that he had found Sita. Then they began forming the army to lay siege to Lanka. Ravana's younger brother, Vibhishana, tells Ravana to give back Sita, because the Rakshasas will lose the battle against Rama. Vibhishana then joined Rama and Rama promised that he would rule Lanka once Ravana was killed. The army then built a bridge to get the army across into Lanka.

The monkey army was beaten back by Indrajit and Rama and Lakshman were wounded. Hanuman then got an herb to revive the monkeys who have died. Garuda came and revived the monkey army. Ravana woke up his brother Pot-earwho was the best fighter. Pot-ear was then slain by Rama. Indrajit then killed many of the monkeys, but he was killed by Lakshman after he had an illusion of Sita being killed. Also Hanuman got more herbs to heal the army. Rama then killed Ravana and Ravana's was mourned by Vibhishana, Rama and everyone else. And Ravana was given a hero's funeral.

Sita was glad to see Rama, but Rama refused to take Sita back since she lived with Ravana for almost a year. Sita then built a funeral pyre saying that she would die if she was unfaithful. She did not burn though because she was faithful and Rama took her back. Rama then returned to Ayodhya and became king. Sita then went into exile because of the rumors surrounding Sita. Rama then had a horse sacrifice and found out that Kusha and Lava were Sita's sons. Sita then told Rama that she was always faithful to him and she was received to the earth. Time then came to Rama and asked him how long he thought he would rule over the humans. At that Rama decided it was time for him and his brothers to ascend to heaven.

Horse

Bibliography: "Myths of Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana" by Sister Nivedita

Reading Notes: Nivedita Ramayana Part A

 Valmiki decided to make the Ramayana and meditated until he saw the entire story. Then he made the story and had Rama's sons spread it. Dasharatha did not have a son so he had a horse sacrifice. Ravana was oppressing the gods so Vishnu was born to kill Ravana. Vishvamitra was the reason for Rama's and  Lakshman's love for strife. Rama breaks the bow and wins Sita. Rama was the favorite son. Manthara convinces Kaikeyl to use one of her boons to get Rama sent into exile. Sita and Lakshman follow Rama into exile. In exile they built a house to live in.

Dasharatha died grieving for Rama as was foretold since he killed someone's son in a hunting accident. Rama's brother tried to give back the kingdom, but Rama would not accept. The three spent 10 years in the forest doing various adventures. Rama killed Ravana's brother and 14 thousand rakshasas. Ravana stole Sita by using a golden deer to lure Rama away. Then Lakshman also left Sita when he heard Rama crying out for help. Jatayu the vulture died trying to stop Ravana from taking Sita.

Rama and Sugriva the monkey make an alliance. Rama decided to help Sugriva win his kingdom back from his brother Vali. After winning the kingdom back, Sugriva helped Rama find where Ravana lived. They found out Ravana and Sita were in Lanka. Hanuman crossed into Lanka and caused trouble. 

Deer

Bibliography: "Myths of Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana" by Sister Nivedita