//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Chess // by TheColorGreen //------------------------------// “Why did you call me here, Discord?” Princess Celestia leveled an austere gaze at the “reformed” spirit of chaos, who grinned merrily back. Never mind that his head had switched placed with his left arm. On his right hand―or paw, or whatever it was―a chess board had been balanced. It appeared to be an ordinary chess board, but Celestia knew better. She narrowed her eyes. “I thought I put that away.” “Oh, dearest Celestia, did you think you could hide something from me?” Discord spun around once, sat down, and set the board on the table. “Of course you put it away, but the maid was very cooperative in pointing me to the nondimensional closet it was in. I thought we’d have a little game. Unless you’re… chicken?” Discord’s lower half abruptly morphed into that of a giant chicken, and then laid an egg, just for good measure. Celestia sighed. Don’t do it, her conscience whispered. And yet... there was a part of her that wanted to. I suppose it… couldn't hurt. She levitated a unicorn piece. “Alright.” Discord smiled. “Excellent.” The game began. *** A waning crescent moon hung over the dark treetops of the Everfree Forest. In the moon’s faded light, a young mare could just barely be seen, resting beneath the trees. No creature of the twisted wood dared come near her. Timberwolves gave her a wide berth; ursa majors abandoned their hunts at a mere whisper from the mare. For at her back a pair of iridescent wings glowed in the— *** “Wait, wait, stop.” Celestia glared over the top of the chessboard at her foe. “What in the name of Father Sleipnir is that abomination?” “Why, it’s a flutter pony, of course,” Discord answered, toying with the magical chess piece. “Haven’t you heard the legends?” “Flutter ponies were just that—legends,” Celestia said, rather indignantly. “They were blamed when milk curdled or a family pet died. Occasionally they kidnapped foals.” She levelled a glare at the draconequus. “They don’t live in the Everfree Forest.” “Really? Have you ever, oh, I don’t know, been to the Everfree Forest to prove that?” Celestia sighed, knowing that this time she would have to concede. “Well… no.” “Very well,” Discord sniffed. “If I may continue?” Celestia simply nodded. *** The flutter pony lifted her head and gazed at the moon, wondering when her kin would have her back. They had long since fled to the Golden Shores; when she had decided to stay back in Equestria to care for endangered wildlife, her family—and, indeed, her species—had shunned her. As the mare laid her head down again a warning bell went off in her head. Instantly she stood, scanning the dark forest ahead of her. Danger! There! Even as she took off running, Täysi knew what the trouble was. That zebra living on the edge of the forest was probably— *** “Wait.” Discord stopped, clearly annoyed. “What?” “How does she know about Zecora? Until recently, only the ponies of Ponyville knew about her, and even they didn’t know much.” Discord looked down at the chessboard. “Um… Täysi is a flutter pony mage.” “Really? You failed to mention that in her conveniently-harped upon bit of backstory.” Discord gave the Princess an annoyed glare. “Look, unless you can prove there wasn’t such a thing as flutter pony mages, it stays. Any last arguments?” “No.” Discord went back to the game. *** Even as she took off running, Täysi knew what the trouble was. That zebra living on the edge of the forest was probably being attacked by the awful bigots from the nearby town of Ponyville! As she went Täysi mentally mapped out a strategy. She was one of the most powerful flutter pony mages there was, so power—or rather lack of it—should be no problem. In fact, as daughter of Besvär she might even be able to— *** “Discord.” “What?” Celestia glanced briefly up at the speech bubble portraying the italicized word just over Discord’s head. “Discord. Besvär was the legendary goddess of a fictional people. The evidence overwhelming proves she never actually existed.” “Really?” The speech bubble disappeared with a pop!, and an interested expression appeared on Discord’s face. Literally, as the expression was actually a mask covering a smirk. “Whenever did you get your Ph.D on flutter pony mythology? You need to tell me about these things, Tia!” Celestia narrowed her eyes. “Do not. Call me that.” “Fine. My point is: can you prove there are no half-goddess flutter ponies inhabiting the Everfree?” This time Celestia did nothing to sugarcoat the single word forced through grit teeth. “No…” “Very well then.” Discord’s nose suddenly detached from his face and floated primly up into the air over his head. “Let us continue.” Celestia lifted her hoof and menacingly moved a single piece towards Discord’s side of the board. *** Täysi sensed the new presence just in time to pull up. By the light of the moon she beheld a lavender unicorn with a dark mane and tail standing in front of her. Täysi instinctively backed away, knowing that lesser ponies such as the unicorn before her would naturally not understand her, thus leading to fear and perhaps hate. “Oh, I understand you perfectly well,” the unicorn spat, her horn lighting up with a magenta glow. A beam of pure magic, tinted magenta, shot from the unicorn’s horn. The spell quickly stripped away the illusions cloaking the mare, revealing her for what she truly was: a female changeling. The unicorn launched an attack spell. The changeling’s scream of terror was cut short as the spell found its mark and she was vaporized. Twilight Sparkle turned and headed back the way she had come. A lingering scream and a scorch mark on the forest floor were all that remained of an ill-fated story. *** “Game over,” Celestia announced, knocking back Discord’s last piece. “I win.” The draconequus slouched down, crossing his arms several more times that he should have been able to. “’S not fair. How do you even know female changeling drones exist?” “Can you prove that they don’t?” The spirit of chaos paused. “I can see how that might get annoying.” Celestia didn't try to hide her grin. “Shall we go again?” Discord’s face rotated a hundred and eighty degrees, turning his frown into a smile. “But of course, Celestia dearest.” He placed a new piece on the board.