Radiata Stories: The Untold Love Story
Chapter 1: Starting from the end
The Silver Dragon has been slain, and the Gold dragon was stopped before it was able to take control of Ridley's body. After a silent goodbye to their former captain, Jack Russell and Ridley Silverlake escape the collapse of the Gold Dragon Castle with their lives intact. With all the dragons put to an eternal sleep, and with the nonhumans plot foiled, Jack and Ridley slowly made their return to Radiata Castle to explain all the events that had taken place that day to the king of Radiata, Jiorus, and to Lord Larks, Prime Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Radiata Knights.
"Take it easy Ridley, it would be a drag if I had to carry you all the way back to the castle." said Jack in a teasing matter.
"I'm fine Jack. Worry about yourself for once, you still haven't completely healed from your fight, idiot." Ridley responded calmly as they continued to move at a slow pace.
"Idiot huh, well this idiot just saved your life so I'd show a little more gratitude if I were you." Jack responded almost angrily as he turned his head away from her. On the outside he looked annoyed, but on the inside he had a big grin on. Suddenly he felt Ridley pull his arm over her shoulders as she hugged him from the side continuing to walk. Jack blushed feverishly and looked at her in shock.
"Huh...Ri...Ridley?!" he stuttered as she looked up at him with her brilliant emerald eyes.
"This is the most gratitude you will get from me so just shut up and accept it." She looked back towards the road as she finished speaking.
Jack was speechless, and in fear of ruining the moment, he fought the urge to try to force a conversation. He just held her close as they walked towards what seemed to be an endless desert road.
The sun was setting behind them and Jack noted how Ridley looked almost angelic as the sun hit her, lighting up her long blonde hair. At this moment, Jack realized just how long the journey was to get to this point, and he wouldn't change a thing. There were many losses, including General Dynas, Lord Nogueira leader of the dark elves, many Radiata Knights and nonhuman warriors alike. Even Cross, who wasn't either Jacks or Ridley's favorite person, but they would feel cold hearted to say he deserved death or to not feel bad that he died.
After awhile, Jack and Ridley came across a journey pig statue and they approached it. Ridley stopped Jack before they were close enough to touch it.
"Listen Jack" she said quietly "I don't quite want to go back to the castle just yet...can we go somewhere else for now? Anywhere else...please?"
"Well sure Ridley I guess its fine" Jack said looking at Ridley confused "I don't really mind, but don't you think we should let the King and Lord Larks know what happened right away?"
"That's just it, a lot has happened and I just want to rest somewhere nice and safe before we get back to the castle and bombarded with questions. Just for the night then straight to the castle in the morning." she looked up at him with a face that was almost begging and Jack finally gave in.
"Okay Ridley, I still don't really understand, but if that's what you want to do then that's fine with me" he said giving her a gentle smile. She responded in kind with a equally gentle and tired smile
"Thanks Jack, so do you have a place in mind?"
He thought for a second, then kicked the statue and it teleported them off in a flash of light. They appeared in Tria Village, Jacks hometown and just from the expression on his face you could tell that he was happy to be home. As they walked into the village, Ridley looked at Jack oddly.
"Why did you kick the pig statue? We could have easily gotten here just by touching it with your hands.
Jack looked up into the sky with his hand on his chin as if in deep thought. "I don't know really, force of habit I guess." Ridley let out a long sigh and decided to drop the subject all together. She started to look around the village a little and noticed how small and empty it was compared to Radiata, and equally how many trees, flowers, and how quiet it was compared to the always active and less green, city she grew up in. She liked it a lot.
Jack went up to his old and cozy home and knocked on the door. He and Ridley heard movement come from inside and he decided to knock again.
"This is the house I grew up in" he told Ridley with a smile on his face "It's not that big compared to the castle, but it should be good enough to stay here for the night. My older sister Adele is the only one who lives here now and I'm sure she won't mind if we stay the night."
Ridley was glad that they were going to be staying with someone trustworthy and was a little excited and nervous to meet Jack's older sister as well.
They heard footsteps come towards the door along with a sudden shout. "Sunset if that's you again I swear I'm going to wring your neck!" said a violent voice that came from inside the house. The door swung open fast, and Jack and Ridley took a quick step back with their hands up defensively as if on instinct. Adele stepped out of the house with an angry expression and was greeted in kind by the scared and worried faces on Jack and Ridley.
"Jack?" said Adele confused and in shock "what are you doing here at this hour?" she takes a quick glance at Ridley and immediately back to Jack. "Whose your lovely companion?" before Jack had a second to speak, Adele interrupted "Wait before all that what happened?! You guys look like a wreck!"
After Adele had calmed down a bit, Ridley introduced herself, and over a warm cup of tea, started to answer all of her questions. "Wow, you guys have...uhhh...sure been through a lot..." Adele said lost for words at the incredible story that was just told to her.
"Yes so, Jack mentioned that it might be okay if we stayed here for the night before returning to report the details of everything we just told you. I mean if that's okay with you." Adele eyed her little brother who noticed right away and tried to hide behind his cup of tea.
Adele shook her head, "Yes that would be perfectly fine if you stayed here for the night. You can take Jacks room and he can sleep on the couch." At this news Jack almost spat out his tea.
"Wait what?! Why do I have to sleep on the couch?! It's all hard and lumpy!" Jack protested but was easily quieted by Adele's stare.
"Be a man Jack!" responded Adele rather angrily "would you rather have Ridley sleep on the couch?! Don't be ridiculous, there's no way I'd allow that. Either sleep on the couch or sleep on the floor, I don't care, but Ridley is taking your room" He pouted a little but knew it was pointless to argue. He had rather have Ridley more comfortable anyways.
"If you are done whining then take Ridley and go wash up. I'll make you guys dinner, you look starving." As if on command, Jack and Ridley's stomach began to growl in unison. Ridley looked embarrassed, but Jack was excited that he was going to get a home cooked meal. Jack led her to the restroom and allowed her to enter first.
"Okay, the soap should be on the dish next to the faucet and there should be towel hanging from a rack next to the door." Ridley entered part way and then stopped and looked back at Jack.
"I'm sorry Jack, I didn't mean to inconvenience you...if you wish then I'll sleep on the couch and you can have your room."
She looked down at the floor and Jack just smiled.
"No Ridley, don't worry about it, honestly if she didn't say that then later on I would have done the same thing so relax." He looked at her with a smile and she met his gaze. She realized she was blushing a little, and she looked away.
"Thank you Jack..." she turned away and started walking into the bathroom and he grabbed her arm.
"Listen, I know I told you to show me a little more gratitude, but I think it's enough now. You don't have to thank me for everything. It's getting kind of weird." Ridley met his gaze once again and started to blush more. She didn't know what else to say so she just nodded as he let go of her arm and walked away." She closed the restroom door behind her and went to the sink. She was about to turn on the water until she noticed her reflection in the mirror above the sink. She studied her face and beyond the small dirt marks and her hair being a mess, she looked really tired, more than she felt. She stopped looking and turned on the water. She washed her delicate but powerful hands first, then her face along with running some water through her hair in an attempt to fix it even a little. All of this while thinking heavily of all the things that had happened and in what order to tell it when she returned to the castle.
While Ridley was washing up, Jack went to his old room to prepare it for her. There wasn't much to be done since it seemed Adele had been keeping it tidy since he had been gone. He fluffed a pillow a bit, smoothed out the covers, and then went to wait by the restroom door for Ridley to come out.
After washing up briefly, Ridley dried her hands and face on a hanging towel near the door and exited. She passed by Jack with a nod as he entered and went to go see if Adele needed help with anything
"Is there anything I could do to help?" she said softly as Adele pointed at a few dishes.
"Yes can you set the table please?" Ridley nodded as she went towards the dishes. Adele was reheating soup she had made the previous day. She was use to cooking for herself and Jack, so whenever she cooked she always had plenty of leftovers. The meat and veggies gave off a very pleasant scent that made Ridley's hunger increase.
"So Ridley, are you and my brother dating? You are quite the catch." Ridley fumbled with a bowl almost dropping it at the sound of Adele's question.
"N..n..no no we are just friends" Ridley said embarrassedly as her cheeks showed an obvious blush. "We were in the same brigade when he was still in the knights and I'm kind of the reason he was fired..." She looked down a little ashamed at that fact still. She still hadn't forgiven herself fully for that even though Jack said he was perfectly fine being a part of Theater Vancoor. He even left that to come with her to the City of Flowers to meet with the elder Lord Zane. The more she thought about it, the sadder she thought thinking everything was her fault. Adele caught unto this and put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay Ridley relax. I can tell you are a very special person to my brother and he doesn't look like he is holding any of that against you so let it go." Adele radiated strength and encouragement, and Ridley couldn't help but smile and feel better.
Jack walked in on this scene and asked if everything was okay and they nodded as he sat down at the prepared table. Adele served them good helpings of soup and they all talked happily through the meal. Jack helped Adele with the dishes when they were done as Ridley got herself situated in Jack's room.
"She's a keeper Jack. Don't screw this up for yourself." Jack looked at his sister with a blush, but didn't say a word. She knew him well.
"Hey sis?" Jack asked curiously wanting to change the subject "Why did you yell out Sunsets name when we got here?" Adele's face grew a little annoyed.
"That little kid has been pranking all the houses over here for the past couple of weeks." She said very annoyed "Leaving cow pies at people's front doors and throwing rotten eggs at people walking by." It sounded like the Sunset Jack knew, always trying to get people's attention.
Adele had given Ridley an old pair of her pajamas that fit her perfectly. She looked around at the plainly decorated room which gave her comfort as she laid down on the bed. No sooner had she closed her eyes did she fall into a deep sleep.
Jack had stayed up a little longer talking to Adele about the possible consequences of leaving the castle and joining the nonhumans side in the war. Though they weren't fighting for their cause, they were still seen as traitors to the kingdom and it was something they had to deal with when they returned. With this warning, Adele retired to her room and Jack stayed up a little longer thinking about all of this. The drowsiness was taking over his thoughts so he decided it was time for bed. He forgot to take out his pajamas before Ridley went to sleep. He knocked on the door quietly calling out her name and when there was no answer, he opened the door slowly. He popped his head through the door first and noticed that Ridley was already asleep. He quietly entered the room and quickly withdrew his pajamas out of the little closet. He was about to exit when he heard Ridley give off a little noise and started to squirm in the bed. He was frozen looking at her.
She grew more and more restless saying barely audible words like "No" "Please no" "Stop". Jack went over to her side and put his hand on her face calling out to her. He shook her lightly until she shot up almost yelling "Jack!"
She was breathing heavy and it took her a few seconds to realize Jack was right beside her.
"What's the matter Ridley?! Are you okay?!" Jack said very worriedly.
"I don't know...I had a really bad nightmare and...It shook me up real bad" she said almost on the verge of tears. Jack gave her a hug and she buried her face into his chest and cried. He didn't know what to say or what else he could do. After a moment she withdrew herself from his embrace and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.
"I'm sorry Jack...I've been nothing but a burden to..." he stopped her right there before she had a chance to finish her sentence.
"Hey hey its okay Ridley, you aren't a burden to me at all. If I thought that I would have never went after you." She looked into his warm eyes and almost started to cry again but she shook it away. "Try to get some sleep okay? We have a long day tomorrow." As he got up Ridley grabbed onto his arm and pulled him gently back down.
"Please...stay with me...at least until I can fall asleep again...it would make me feel more...safe." The moons light through the window made Ridley's emerald eyes shine even more brilliantly than usual. Again he couldn't refuse her request. Adele wouldn't be too happy, but she needed him.
"Okay Ridley" he said calmly and soothingly "I won't leave your side." He walked over to the other side of the bed and lay beside her. She scooted closer to him and put his arm over her body and hugged it. She was out almost instantly and Jack almost exactly after. It was the best night's sleep they had both had in a long time, no nightmares or dreams period invaded their minds and neither of them moved an inch throughout the night.