//------------------------------//
// Eclipse (Rivals Week) 
// Story: Itty-Bitty Bite Size Stories 
// by gallagsp the corgi 
//------------------------------//

	Patches of dark and light grass covered the field below. Celestia, aboard her airship Harmony looked down to her ground forces below. The army stood stoically, waiting her commands. Celestia glanced across the field to her enemy's forces, standing in a eerily similar formation awaiting the orders of their commander. Celestia sent word to a small force below, they advanced, and so began the battle.

The enemy countered, and soon the two divisions were locked, neither one being able to advance or retreat. Celestia sent more units forward, but for each advance she made the enemy countered with an equal move. It was like they were toying with her, testing her, holding out until she made a mistake. She would not make that mistake. She would beat this opponent and bring peace to these lands.

She made move after move with her troops, the enemy continued to counter, sometimes they would deal a deadly blow to the forces on the ground, wiping out entire divisions in one fell swoop. Celestia did what she could to stop the onslaught but she could only do so much. Soon, the strategic movements turned into desperate counterattacks and cowardice trickery. Celestia refused to admit it, but she was losing this battle.

She finally made that fatal mistake. Her forces moved to attack, leaving a hole in her defenses. The enemy was quick to flood through the gap, and soon, Celestia's floating fortress was surrounded. She could do nothing but finally accept defeat. She ordered the flag to be lowered, and in shame she bowed her head. The enemy commander boarded her ship and met her face to face. Celestia bowed to her new ruler, showing respect, but not hiding her anger.

"And that was the only game of chess I have ever lost." Celestia said to Twilight over her tea.

"And 'Twas a glorious day for the Lunar Republic." Luna yawned, taking a long draw from her coffee cup.

"So, the game chess was invented by you two?" Twilight said with confusion. "And it was an actual war game where ponies were killed and stuff?"

"Times were different a thousand years ago." Celestia smiled. "And Luna fought dirty."

"Tis a lie! Thou art the one who resorted to cowerdly tactics and treachery!"

"Did not."

"Did too"

"Did not." Celestia said, standing up from her seat.

"Did too!" Luna stood to size her up. They were face to face. "Let us settle this matter honorably in the field of battle!"

"I agree." Celestia's horn glowed and a large chess board materialized on the table. "I go first."

Twilight watched in awe and shock as chess pieces began rapidly moving around the board. She smiled slowly and thought to herself.

	Better this than an actual war, I guess.