Chess
CHESS
Just a unicorn, huh? Just a unicorn? I’ll show you ‘just a unicorn’ you little…
Said in jest, I’m sure. Just a tease. Meant to throw me off my game. That’s how you work, isn’t it? That’s how you always work. Up there in the castle. Up there sitting on your little throne of gold and silver and whatever metals you decided to make your throne out of.
I mean, who makes a throne out of gold? Gold’s really uncomfortable! There’s a whole bunch of different things you could make a chair out of, and gold sure isn’t the first logical choice. If it were me, I’d make it out of something lovely, like… like…
Note to self, I’m gonna have to do some research to find out what the most comfortable chair-making material is.
I bet it’s something like a cotton-hay hybrid or maybe just a mattress stuffed with cheesecake.
Yeah. Stuffed with cheesecake. That’s a good line. That’s what I’ll call her. That’ll throw her off. I know she’s sensitive about the cakes. She loves those cakes. Especially Pinkie’s. But then again, which pony wouldn’t love them?
Look at what she’s doing. She’s going on and on about the latest developments in astronomical sciences. Trying to distract me. Well, I’m not going to fall for it, Miss Princess! I’ll just wait for the right moment to slide in that cheesecake comment…
And…
Hah!
Perfect. Couldn’t have set that up better myself if I wrote the script. Look at her. She’s turning purple now. As purple as I am, even. She looks serene, but I know her. I know her more than she knows me. And that is how I am going to win this little game, Miss Princess. You might be a thousand and whatever years, but you’re still not going to beat me!
Yes, a little cough, right on cue. Smile for the cameras, Princess! I wonder what you’d be thinking right now if this was being filmed? Caught on tape for all to see! The great Princess Celestia, beaten at her own game by Twilight Sparkle, right outside her own library in Ponyville!
That’s all this is, isn’t it? A game? A game of wits? A game of moving pieces across a board? But oh, it’s oh so much more than that. It’s about me and you, Princess. It’s about a showdown of magnificent… what… what do you call it? Feats? No, that’s a bad word.
Something about magnificence, anyway. It’s… if you had a thing that was really that amazing and you just had to look at it and… no. Nevermind. This thought is getting nowhere. I know what I mean. That’s enough for now. I can’t afford to spend time thinking of words when I have a move to make.
And just look at the crowd go. Staring intently. Watching every move. Listening to you prattle on and on. I’m not distracted, I’m telling you! Stop that! I’m thinking. Just wait until it’s your turn, and I start to play these little mind games.
But I don’t even need to, do I? I can match wits and think five, six, seven, eight steps ahead! I just…
Alright, maybe that’s a little annoying. They really shouldn’t have allowed Pinkie to bring in the vuvuzela. This isn’t that kind of game. This is a game which requires two core skills to win. A superior analytical brain, which I have, and the ability to talk down the opponent, which I have. Princess Celestia may be the ruler of this land, and maybe I’ll never be able to measure up to her in terms of skill or magic or wisdom, but I’m good enough to at least win this.
Also, she says I’m pretty amazing with a beaker. And coming from her, that’s a really big compliment.
But considering who I am and who she is, I don’t know.
Maybe she just says those kind of things to me. To make me feel better.
Okay, no.
Gotta stop that. That’s how you get distracted. That’s how you lose. Thinking too much. Worrying too much. Keep your head in the game, Twilight. There’s only a few more pieces left to go, and you’re going to win this little game of chess.
Oh, was it my turn already?
Oh, it’s such a thing. Time simply flies by when you’re employing the standard rules of distraction.
Oh, but it’s so delightful to add a little bit of challenge to our fun. Nothing ever worth having comes easy. If Twilight intends to usurp my crown from me, she is going to have to be able to think harder than she has been.
Oh. Oh.
Oh.
Do I say ‘oh’ too much?
Do I speak that way out loud? It’s something I’ll have to watch out for. There is never any point in any speech when one requires an overabundance of ‘oh’s. Brevity is what is required when delivering messages. Brevity and tactfulness.
But that is such a conundrum, is it not?
Brevity requires shorthoofedness and specifics. Tactfulness requires the purposeful manipulation of words, normally stating things in ways that are rather longwinded, in order to bring forth a point that isn’t too… well… pointy.
I think this is something that I should look into. The best method of deli-
Alright.
I shall have to divorce myself from this avenue of thought. Simply, it will not do. It only serves to distract. No. My thoughts are in the game. My mind is one with the little pieces on the board. I am the Castle! I am the Knight! And above all, I am most certainly the Queen.
Little Twilight. Darling pupil. Sitting there and regarding me with such shaky foundations. Have you learnt nothing over these past years? Have you not realised that despite your bravado and poise, your true nature shines forth like the very sun through the clouds?
And, my dear, I am the harbinger of the sun, and not a single ray that you shine escapes my grasp.
You are nervous, my little one! You are scared and…
Oooh, is that a chocolate croissant I see? Oh, they really should not allow Pinkie to bring such things to this venue. It disrupts formalities.
What was I saying?
Oh, no matter.
Emulation is the sincerest form of flattery, as they say, and while I sit here calmly regarding the pieces to play, Twilight sits across me attempting to throw me off my game with incessant chatter.
Darling, I invented incessant chatter.
Well, alright. Technically, Luna invented incessant chatter. I just simply borrowed it and appropriated it. After all, I found it to have a more applicable use during tactical negotiations than at the dinner table complaining about the size of one’s peas.
Oh, Luna, they’re all the same size. I don’t see why you can’t understand that. There aren’t gigantic mutant peas that are three times larger than regular peas. I’m fairly sure that those are sprouts.
Hm…
Right.
No. I can’t move that one. Another piece then.
She is doing rather well, is she not?
Maybe I should, as they say in the vernacular, ‘step up’. I shall ‘front’ her and ‘get on her grill’. Ah! These terms. How delightful they are. It is lovely to see language evolve, isn’t it? Why, if this were a thousand years back, the proper term for this case would be ‘sucking thine eggs’. Yes, Twilight. I shall suck thine eggs!
Oh my, that sounds incredibly vulgar. No wonder it changed.
This is getting slightly annoying. This is not simple. This is not fun.
It’s not just because I’m losing, is it?
I wonder if I’m capable of being that petty.
You know what was annoying? When I saw your name on the list. When I saw your name on the sign-up sheets. You’ve never shown any interest in the tournaments before. It’s just… stupid that you’re competing this year.
Stupid.
I’m getting frustrated.
I don’t know what move to play next. I don’t know how many steps ahead you’ve got this figured out. I can’t… plan enough! Maybe I should just think to the end of the game…
Yes! That’s right, I’ll just… calculate every possible variance of moves…
And… no.
That’s far too many.
I’m being silly.
Ugh, Applejack! Stop slurping your drink!
You’re distracting me!
My brain is starting to melt. It is figuratively melting!
This is all her fault. This is. She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t have come. She’s so calm and serene like a stupid, stupid lake or whatever.
Stupid Celestia! Go back to your castle!
I’m going to just finish you off just like that. And that will be the end of all this.
Would you look at her. At the look on her face.
Isn't she such a precocious little child?
It reminds me of that one time she managed to get gum stuck in her hair. She spent four hours researching so that she could come up with a spell to get it out.
Me? I would have just used peanut butter. Works in a pinch. A pair of scissors wouldn’t hurt either. Manes grow back, Twilight. Dignity doesn’t.
But her actions were to be commended. Four hours to invent a spell was nothing short of brilliant on her part.
Ah, Twilight! Doing what I could only do in my mid five-hundreds. And you’re how old?
Mmm. No matter.
The deciding factor will be the victor of this game. The winner of this match. That will prove once and for all.
It… will, won’t it?
I can’t keep my guard down around her.
I am trapped again, with her on the offense. She certainly has a rather aggravated playing style, I must say.
But well done, Twilight. Your previous move was devious indeed. It was no easy task to corner me like this. But a cornered mouse will bite back. You will be shocked, certainly shocked, to find that I can take this situation and completely turn it around with one single move.
Just one is all I need. I’ll just have to think of what… to… do…
Let’s see…
Ah!
Just one move. That was all that was allowed of me. Not bad, Twilight.
I do believe congratulations are in order.
She always does that! She always does that!
Oh, she knows I can’t stand it. Her snarky voice. That wry smile. ‘Ooh, good move, Twilight! It was a stumper’, my lavender flank!
She’s so… so… infuriating! And her face! Her face!
You know what it is? It’s because she’s better, and she knows it. She knows I can’t stand it when she rubs it in like that! How low will you stoop, Princess, just to win?
Can’t you even let me have a fair chance?
No. You know what? No!
I’m going to win this fair and square and bring home the trophy. It’s sitting there. It’s ready to have my name engraved on it. I’m going to win this tournament just like I did the last two years running!
Why did you even want to join this year, Princess? To steal my thunder? To take my achievements away from me?
You already run the entire world, and you still want to…
Eurggehghhh!
Alright. Calm down. Calm down, Twilight.
It’s just a game. Don’t worry.
Damn, dusty table! I can’t have that. I have to wi-
No! Keep your horn pointed towards the prize, Twilight!
What happened? Right. She moved there. Typical. She saw through my one single weak spot like it was nothing. The only move that she should have made and she did it. Why did I even give her the chance? Why didn’t I spend a few more moments thinking?
I’m slipping, aren’t I? I’m losing it. Oh Celestia, I’m losing it. I have to… I have to win. I must do this. I can’t lose to you.
I mustn’t!
Imagine if I’d lost. Yeah sure, everypony’s expecting it. They’re just going to be ‘yeah, what did you expect, Twilight? She’s the Princess’, or ‘you didn’t expect to win, did you?’ and stuff like that. That’s what they say when they’re trying to make me feel better about being inadequate.
Yeah, that’s right, girls. I pay attention, you know! I super pay attention! And you know what? Just because she’s the Princess doesn’t make her perfect! She’s a pony just like everypony else! I mean… well. Not really, I guess. What is a pony, anyway? What makes a pony?
In this small universe, just what is a p-
Ugh, Rainbow! Stop staring at me like that! I know you’re bored, okay? What, is it because you think it’s pointless? Is it because you already know who the victor is, and you want to leave? I’ll show you. I’ll show all of you! I’m going to beat her! I have to beat her!
I’m going to have to beat Princess Celestia because…
Because…
I just can’t let her win.
I just can’t.
Why hasn’t anypony wiped this table?
It looks like it’s been through a freaking hurricane!
Oh, come on. I’ll just make my move and go fetch a towel. I can’t concentrate with all these distractions!
Where is she going?
Who… who gets up during the middle of a game of chess to…
Now, that’s just impolite. I’m sure I taught her better than that. Not that I’d have had to, really. She knows to be polite. I am willing to wager that she is currently distracted by something. Something silly, and she’s deflecting it onto something else even sillier.
It is a simple matter. She is a pony of frivolous thought. She is much like the guards at the castle. When one stands alone with nothing but one’s thoughts to keep one company, one’s mind wanders. And wonders, too. A wandering, wondering mind. Hm.
I wonder if that was intentional. Words are strange.
So, Twilight here has a distraction. I had hoped to give her a challenge, really, but in the end it seems that she doesn’t even need to use all of her mental faculties to have a chess match of this level with me. It is why she is distracted and allowing her brain to focus on everything else but which piece to move next.
You know what? I’m going to wager that Twilight is probably distracted by dust again. When she’s in a state of panic, she cleans. That’s what she’s always done. It was like that time… oh… when was it?
Oh, no matter. It was that time, and she was going to do that thing, and you know what? Dust. That’s right. She had to clean before she could finish the thing at the time. It was exactly like what’s going on now!
And then she moved on to clean the toilet because it was there. I can’t believe that that was a reason. ‘It was there’ is never a good excuse for… for anything!
Luna throwing up at the last Winter Wrap Up party after eating that fourth pie? “It was there.”
Discord turning Ponyville into some sort of bizarre side-show? “It was there.”
And cleaning the toilet! Ugh! One should never put one’s hooves on a commode. Why would she even take to it with her hooves? I’m not above cleaning my own facilities, but I would do it with magic and from a safe distance. I would ne-
Oh, she’s back. That feather duster looks familiar.
Wait a minute.
Wait just a darn minute.
So that’s why I haven’t been finding any recently!
Twilight! That’s… well. That’s not horrible, but you could have just asked.
Is there some merit in using those feathers for dusting? Are they better?
I ought to ask later. In fact, I think I will. Twilight always does things for a specific reason, and this is no different. If she went through all that trouble to get those feathers, then there has to be a good reason.
Still, though! She ought to have asked!
I… I’m just confused now.
Alright, time to make a move, I suppose.
She knows.
She knows, doesn’t she?
Oh no. She’s watching me. She’s frowning slightly. I know that frown. I’ve seen that frown many times before. The first time was when I spilled eggs all over her bed because I wanted to make her breakfast. That was many years ago, when she first took me in as her pupil.
I’m older now.
So why aren’t I any wiser?
Stupid Twilight, stupid!
I could have picked up a regular duster, but nooo, I had to get the one that I made out of Philomena’s tail-feathers, didn’t I? It’s effective, darn it, and I stand by that!
Did you know, Princess? Did you, the pony who knows everything, know about the vaporizing effects of phoenix feathers on dust? I bet you didn’t.
You don’t know everything after all, do you? You didn’t know I was having your guards sneak the feathers to me either, did you?
Giving me that look.
Stop it.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
Stop it.
You too, Pinkie. Stop grinning at me. It’s not the time. It’s not the place. This is a chess tournament, and it’s… it’s serious.
I have to focus. I can’t let her win.
I can’t let her take this away like she takes everything away.
Like this as well. She’s going to realise the potential in my idea, and she’s going to steal it, isn’t she? She’s going to take it for herself and use it. She won’t even tell me, will she? She’s done this before. It’s in her eyes.
Stop it.
Why does she have to do that? It’s so snarky. It’s like she’s belittling me with her gaze. She’s pushing me down. She always has, hasn’t she? She always does. Every time I do something wrong, she gives that look. Every time I try to do something for myself, she gives that look.
She gives that look and never says a word. She just puts on that face and continues on like nothing happened. But I know the truth.
I know she’s judging. I know she’s telling me to shut up and learn my place and keep learning.
That’s all I’ll ever do, in the end. Learn forever.
Because I’m never going to be as good as her.
Ever.
She’s staring back at me now. She knows I’ve realised something. I can never keep anything from her. She is simply too sharp.
I am unable to slip my concerns by her. She simply knows.
All those years in talks. Peace treaties. Trade agreements. I have spent my life in negotiations and talking and a whole bunch of other princess-y nonsense, and I can’t even keep my face straight when I handle one small unicorn.
I wonder if it’s just that my heart weakens around her or if it’s just that she’s that perceptive?
Luna as well – she can always tell when I’m lying. Twilight knows when I’m thinking. It is the same, but different.
Oh, but how smart she is. I had not even realised the applications. She took it to bear and laid it to practice. I would have never thought to use phoenix feathers as an aid for cleaning! It is nothing short of inspired. A little touch of that classic Twilight Sparkle brilliance.
But yet, why is it you always hesitate to tell me these things? Why is it you always keep them for yourself, holding secrets behind your back?
Are you worried of something? Are you ashamed? If anything, why can you not read the confusion on my face that comes every time I have to discover one of your latest breakthroughs in this manner?
If you know me so well, why do you not know that of all things, I have only ever been proud of you? And I want to show my pride if you would only just let me.
But this… this is brilliant. Truly. I will have to make one of my own. Oh, Twilight. If you don’t want to tell me, then I will respect your decisions. I hope you do not mind, Twilight. I hope you won’t be offended if I use this for my own devices.
And I will not mention it, since you deemed me unfit to speak to about the idea.
But please, please do not be angry.
I am a mere pony, taking advantage where I need to, a shadow in the light of brilliance.
I suppose it’s the reason for all this. You’d find it silly if I told you. You’d find it… aggravating, as you do. I’ve always just wanted to have a game of chess with my pupil.
A silly little game.
You’ve always said no in the past. I never knew why. But you couldn’t say no now, could you?
I’d like to think I would have enjoyed this more.
Something is rather un-fun about all this, and I can’t quite put my hoof on it.
It’s too late to take it back. I’ll just have to play on. And I respect you enough, Twilight, not to do any less than my best. I will play this game, and whatever happens happens.
Your move.
You cornered me, just as you now corner my pieces. I love this game. It is a game of strategy. It is a game of power. It is a game where the best beats the rest. There is never any room for interpretation. It is simply what it is. Chess.
May the smartest, shrewdest, most cunning and most powerful of all win.
That’s what it is.
And yet, you couldn’t leave alone.
I’ve told you a hundred times before I didn’t want to play with you. ‘No thank you’, I’d always say. Can’t you get the hint? Don’t you understand that I don’t need to add ‘not as good at chess’ to my ever-growing list of inadequacies and things that I disappoint you with?
But you couldn’t leave it alone, could you? You just had to rub it in my face.
You just had to come here and… not just in private, but in front of everypony! My friends and Spike and… what good would this do, Princess? You’ve had a thousand years of practice! Everypony knows you’re going to win! So what is this for? Why? Why?
Why?
Should I even bother playing my hardest?
Should I even try?
Shouldn’t I just knock down my king right now and settle for second place, where I belong?
What would make you happy, Princess?
Did you really just come here to see me fail?
…
…
…
No.
That’s just stupid.
Come on, Twilight. You’re going there again. You… you do do that don’t you?
But really, she’s being… I can’t explain why she… it’s just not…
But I do do that.
This place. Right here. Always thinking bad. Always letting the thoughts get in.
It was… it was Princess Celestia herself who told me once.
What was it? Confidence? Faith? Belief?
Oh, but why would she tell me that? She’s always lording over me! She’s always trying to upsta-
Come on.
Come on.
Breathe.
She had trust in me, right? She has… a reason. A good reason to be here. It’s not to destroy me. Is it? No. She’s Princess Celestia.
You took me in. You believed in me when I messed up. I’m still messing up to this day. But you always…
You’re always there, aren’t you?
Just like how you’re here now.
Then why are you here? Why?
I don’t understand it! I never understand you! Why is this so hard to just get? What is so… difficult about just having a game of chess with my teacher?
Somepony more than my teacher, even!
If you only knew what I was thinking. Maybe it’d help.
Maybe.
I wish I knew what she was thinking. Maybe it’d help me understand. There were spells once circulated that allowed a pony to read the mind of another. But there was wisdom in the act of forbidding them and burying them deep within the vaults of the castle. There are some things that should just not be allowed free. There are spells, like wild animals, that are better left amongst their kind and not brought into the midst of society.
Besides, the mind is the final bastion. To penetrate it is the final insult to any pony – it is the final removal of freedom, of rights, and of truth.
Truth.
The mind is where truth lies. The mind is what gives voice to the heart.
If I knew your thoughts, I’d know your feelings. I’d be able to tell everything that bothers you. And maybe I’d be able to fix it.
But would that be cheating?
Would that be… irresponsible?
Why do you look so sad?
We are supposed to be having fun. This was meant to be fun. Does my presence really upset you that much, Twilight? Did I come here thinking we’d have a nice friendly game for once, something that you’ve denied me for months upon months, but…
I fear how this will end. I fear…
I fear myself. My actions. My hooves. I make such mistakes like this all the time. Has a thousand years taught me nothing?
Hah.
Not when it comes to you, it seems.
I will always make mistakes with you, Twilight, because…
Because you’re Twilight.
And I’ve made yet another one, haven’t I?
I’ve been selfish. I don’t have your ability of self-control. I don’t have your steadfastness. I don’t know when to draw the line. I think it might be because I feel so entitled sometimes. And I must act that way.
But it’s always so easy to forget that you’re not just any pony to take for… however I treat others. It’s always so simple to discard the things closest to the heart and forget that we must expend patience and understanding.
I have not been patient.
I have not been understanding.
I am… sorry, Twilight.
I don’t understand your feelings. I do not know what thoughts run through your head.
But just because I don’t know them doesn’t give me the right to ignore them.
I should concede. I should give up and give her the win.
But would she like that? Would she so readily accept that? Knowing her… she will… not take that well. It is part of her stubbornness. I know that much. And the crowd has expectations. We also owe it to the ponies who came here to watch this today. We owe it to the ones we set this up for.
One must not make oneself a mockery in a public event.
I must apologize a second time, Twilight. For matters of grace, for the sake of both of us, we must continue this match to the end.
But I should not have come.
I make mistakes around you, and that is why…
That is why you will always be the better pony.
Princess, I’m sorry.
I’m sorry for doubting you. I’m sorry for doubting myself.
I know you told me a thousand times before that you will never ever be against me and that you will always be on my side…
It’s so easy to forget.
I can’t help but always feel so… small around you.
It’s not something I enjoy telling other ponies. It’s not something I ever have.
I just wouldn’t know how.
Having to face you…
Having to fight for survival…
It feels like that, and I can’t help how I feel. But it’s not true. But somehow it just gets confusing along the way. Everything’s all muddly and flipped over and everything.
Because why should I ever think of you this way, Princess? Why should I ever believe for a minute, a second, a fraction of a second that you would ever do anything to harm me?
Ever since that first day.
…
…
…
It was when I was younger, after you had given me a chance when nopony else would. After we had begun studying. My magic was terrible. I had no focus. I couldn’t weave a spell to save my life.
I tried to learn a simple one. A basic one. Can’t remember what it is now, but… no matter. It’ll come later. Whatever. You were there.
Just couldn’t get it. Couldn’t. Tried a hundred times. Couldn’t get it. You had that thing in the morning. Important stuff. Can’t remember what it was either. I was too young. It all went over my horn.
But you stayed up with me all night just to get it done. I finally was able to cast a spell properly. I was… happy. I remember happy. I remember being exhausted and falling asleep. I remember you leaving for your thing immediately after.
Bags under the eyes and all.
And you ruled the world while I slept.
Who am I to you, Celestia, in comparison to the world?
Who am I that such matters are on equal importance?
And who am I to always say no?
Who… am I?
Always saying no.
When all you wanted was to play a stupid damn game of chess with me.
Always saying no.
What are we doing, Twilight?
What is this we are doing right now at this moment?
The crowd believes we are playing Chess.
But you play so many other games with me.
All without saying a word.
You make me realise my faults.
You make me question my leadership.
You make me question our relation.
It was quite a while back, in the late winter.
I will not forget that day.
It was a lonely year. Luna was out of the country playing ambassador, and the castle was drafty. You were already in Ponyville then. Yes. That was how it was.
I do not understand the reasons why, myself, but when you returned to the castle, it was the brightest day of the bleak and cold winter season – it was the first breath of morning.
You had come, I remember clearly, to give me a present. Hearths’ Warming, you said, was a time when one should remember the things that we are close to. You wrapped up a little snow globe in a silvery foil paper. It was decorated with miniature pictures of bells and fruit of some sort and holly.
Inside the snowglobe was a little carving of a book.
To commemorate the joining of hearts, you said, between teacher and pupil and for the many futures of joined hearts to come.
You didn’t stay. You had work to do. Studies to complete. You had to make me proud, you said.
I was proud that you came.
I was proud… that you were even there.
I’m always proud of you, Twilight. I will always be proud.
I love you.
More than you will understand.
And still, I deem myself fit to play slave to base emotions and act on bad judgement.
And here I sit.
Forcing this game of chess on you.
When all you ever said was no.
It’s so shameful.
The way I think, sometimes. The fears I feel. Unfounded.
Ungrounded.
The crowd’s gone really oddly silent.
I think I should put on a show, at least, for them. Finish this with a bit of class. Whatever it is that you came here for, I can show you a bit of honour and finish this with grace.
I can do my utmost.
Because you wouldn’t want anything less.
You wanted a game. You’ll get it.
Right?
Yeah.
Doesn’t really matter who wins or loses anymore, I don’t think. I’m too tired to care.
I think… I’d just like to play a game of chess with you.
Maybe I can, for once, without worrying.
But still, I feel that there’s something…
Well…
You’ve always been better than me.
At least, that’s how I feel.
I need to… I can’t wait. I have to say something. At least this. And then we can finish our game.
I think… I ought to say something, finally.
Something that perhaps I keep guarded myself.
As your heart is guarded, mine is too. But there is nopony else but you, Twilight, whom I am willing to share my concerns and feelings and… fears with.
I will tell you the real reason why I wanted so desperately to have a game of chess with you for all this time.
It is selfish. But… it is the truth. And maybe we need the truth.
I will tell you that I have always feared that you would be able to best me.
How childish.
I’m glad no pony is able to know these truths. I am glad there is no one out there reading my thoughts. It is an utter embarrassment.
But it is well founded. And it is the source of a lot of my mistakes. It is the source of all my grief.
One day, you will surpass me, Twilight, if you haven’t yet already.
And mayhaps these thoughts clash with my pride. And all I want is to have love and pride, and in that, these thoughts must go.
I ought to wait for the match to conclude. I do not believe it matters who emerges victorious any longer, as long as we both play our best.
It is just a game now, and nothing more. Let it be that, and let it remain that.
But I must speak now. Just a few words. Just to calm my soul.
Let me just say this one thing.
“Princess Cele-”
“Twili-”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Princess. Yes?”
“No. Please go on, Twilight. I insist.”
“Ah… I was hoping that once this was over we could… have a talk?”
“Oh. A talk?”
“Yes, Princess. Just… I’ve had a lot to think about during this game, and I think…”
“Yes, Twilight. I would love that. I would like to share some things with you as well.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Twilight. I will remain behind.”
“Would you not like to go to the castle, Princess?”
“Why, no. Of course not! After all, I’ll have to be here to celebrate my victory, won’t I?”
“You mean my victory, Princess?”
“We’ll see, Twilight.”
“We’ll see.”
You know what?
I feel better.
End
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"Because it was there" is the best reason to do anything!
3639545
I joined the competition.
Because it was there.
And that's actually not a lie.
Oh, no. Certainly not.
3639567
... Oh.
Holy shit...
Just... THIS is why I follow you. And THIS is why I LOVE that game.
...
I want to play against someone again...
~Skeeter The Lurker
I need to play Chess again some time, its been far too long.
This was a pleasure to read, thank you.
I remember when I used to play chess. It was one of the few things I had in common with my own teacher. Occasionally when all the kids went out for recess and lunch, I'd stay behind and play a game with them.
No one ever wants to play chess anymore. Everyone's either in the middle of something or they have plans. It's kind of sad, not being able to fit in a simple board game. I haven't played a game in literally years. It's such a great game, and it certainly isn't monopoly where there are multi-day world records for longest games. Just a quick bout where you try to corner the other's king.
So why isn't there time anymore?
It was never a serious game, never for things like pride or importance, just for fun. I got really into it at one point, looking for books and practicing with my family or against computer games. I was never any good, never won any games, but I was young, just young enough to not care about winning or losing all the time.
But then that one day, I was staying in, having another friendly game, and I won. We were both genuinely shocked that I had actually won a game, let alone against someone with such experience. But there it was on the board, a checkmate for white. I'm not sure if I had gotten better, or if my teacher had a critical slip, but it felt nice. Not much different from all the other games mind you, but with a bit of pride floating around in the room.
...
...
I very much enjoyed this, I couldn't help but read the entire thing aloud, which is reserved for thought-provoking stories. The idea of them being so close just to be separated by their own thoughts is... I want to say sweet, but it doesn't really do it justice. It shows how much they have both grown, how they both think, just how much they can figure out and still be so wrong about each other as well.
I think I'm about to devolve to pointless rambling, but simply put, this is good enough to be in my "actual" favorites. They really need a way to separate favoriting from following. G'night!
Thank you for taking me on a journey through the minds of Twilight and Celestia. It was magnificent.
There was a lot more depth to this than I expected from those tags. Very nice.
Also, I am terrible at chess. Just putting that out there.
That was one of the best things I've read all week. No, possibly all month.
Bravo.
So......beautiful.
One question, though: who won?
WHO WON?!?!?!
Eh, who cares about winning, right?
I'ma follow you now, because I love chess and this is one game that I'll remember whenever I'm playing against a really really hard person to beat.
P.S.- that was beutiful bra
3641065
Both of them, I'd say.
3641208
The politically correct statement was a tie. Neither of them won.
At least that's how I pictured this to end, on the note where neither of them won.
For a moment there, I thought they'd tip over their kings at the same time.
But then, you didn't say who won, so I suppose that it's still possible.
So I'll just content myself with the thought of Celestia and Twilight looking into each other's eyes for a second or two, lighting up their faces with a smile, reaching out with a hoof, and knocking their kings over at the same time.
For two such immensely intelligent, talented and perceptive ponies who've known each other for a long time, Celestia and Twilight sure don't understand each other.
No, that's not exactly it... perhaps they see themselves in one another? You think it's a mirror, but it's actually someone like you behind the window, mimicking your expressions (or thinking that you do the same). Confusing.
Whose turn was it again?
This is mistagged. You ought to remove "Comedy" and add "ABSOLUTELY FREAKING AWESOME."
This was utterly exquisite. It pulled tears from me with effortless grace.
This is exactly what happens when two people - ponies or otherwise - have not yet found the way past their eccentricities, responsibilities, and internal baggage so that they can truly communicate. Celestia and Twilight clearly have an intensely powerful relationship... and just as clearly have not yet found and explored what that does and will mean for them.
With so many other things going on in their lives, who can blame them for not building this bridge before? And here we see them staring at each other across a chasm, each wondering whether the other will find it acceptable even to lay down a stronger foundation for said bridge. And finally they lay down the first stone, both at the same time, and to their surprise - and to nopony's surprise who's been paying any attention to them, especially those of us who have hoped for the love of Harmony that they would finally get around to doing it - even that first stone is powerful enough for them to know that the bridge will, in time, be completed.
And that is why this story is Liked and Faved, and you, oh author, Followed: because you reminded me at such a profound level how important it is to lay that first stone.
Thank you.
Light and laughter,
SongCoyote
Why so many Ws and As at the start of every new line. It read WAWAW. It must be secret speak. I am tottaly going to find the alien who did this.
Am I the only one who needs to know who won?
I think the appropriate way for this match to end is for Twilight to ponder some more, then offer Celestia a draw/tie, which Celestia would graciously accept. Then perhaps Twilight would offer to play another match at a later date but without the pressure of competition or spectators.
This is what I would expect from her growing maturity as this game/fic progressed.
Shouldn't that be "precious" not "precocious" ?
Hmmm, if that was Twilights birth and ponies were more Earth-like both could classify :)
I loved this story. I'm not sure it should be tagged comedy though, I found it rather sad. I know it will all work out when they have their talk afterward but they both seemed so insecure, and maybe a bit lonely... That might not be the right word, but still.
3641818 This is now my headcanon to how it ended.
3641857
Not at the beginning, but far better at the end, despite saying nothing of consequence to each other.
This was incredible. You have two characters speaking volumes to each other without a word of written dialogue. And your move-by-move section formatting was truly inspired and quite engaging. I love how they're both so absurdly good at it that they can both trash-talk and think circles around each other's ulterior motives (and their own) while playing; it's not often that a story manages to not just tell but show their minds in action, and it's also rare to simultaneously demonstrate both Twilight's intelligence (as opposed to magical ability) and Celestia's experience/intelligence without diminishing either.
And for a minute I thought that feather-duster was going to be Celestia's feathers, which would be one heck of a distraction.
Twilight really needs to work on how neurotic she is.
Also, she ought to know better than to invite Pinkie, Dash, and Applejack to a chess tournament.
Was going to rush out a story for the Twilestia competition.
Then I see this in the feature box.
God, I feel inadequate. This is amazing. Simply and utterly... Christ.
I need to practise my characters. Maybe some day I can weave a tale as grand as this.
nice! I like it!
The ending seemed a bit off to me, but eh, what the hay. It was good none the less.
Is it sad that I was hoping to read about the actual game more so than their thoughts of it?
...
Signs point to yes.
Chess mate
3644238 I believe you mean "check mate" good sir.
I AM A MASTER AT CHESS
Sort of reminds me of when I used to play against my brother. Our granddad is a chess grand master, so we both picked up a few things for him. Our play styles and tactics have changed as we drifted in and out of the sport, but I was always the better player. It sometimes came down to the wire, but I was always able to outwit him, every time. But then, his tactics changed. Once he figured out he couldn't beat me, his endgame moves starting taking on a new direction. Taking advantage of my need to systematically clear his side of the board, he became very good at forcing stalemates.
Neither of us has won a game against the other in a long time.
Brilliant story. The silent interaction between Twilight and Celestia was absolutely brilliant, and they both felt true to their character. If I wanted to spend some time analyzing, I'm sure I could find something to quip about, but I don't care about any faults, as they are not significant.
I loved the ambiguity in not revealing the winner, too. Beautifully developed, driven, and resolved plotline.
I loved reading this, and I thank you for writing it.
3640247
Thank you very much. Maybe we'll have a game sometime and you'll eat me alive because I'm actually rubbish at the game.
3640317
You're very welcome, and thank you for reading it!
3640428
Thank you so much for sharing that story with me. It's really this kind of thing that makes me happy to have written something. The point of stories is to share experiences, right? So you've given me something that's worth more than what I've written, since it's so personal. I'm glad what I wrote has made you remember. One thing that I always want to have in anything I write is that... it ought to make people think. Stories need to make people think. So it seems like it fit the bill in this case. =)
Thank you very much for your heartfelt comments, and I hope to be able to make you think again sometime in the future with another one of my meager offerings.
3640513
You're absolutely welcome. Thank you for the comment.
3640948
I'm terrible too! In fact, I barely know how to play, haha. And yeah, the tags... them tags have ALWAYS been a problem for me. The stuff I write really isn't 'standard' in any of the tags that are available on FimFic... I have very misleading stories. =\
3640983
Thank you ever so much for saying so. I'm really terribly honoured by the sentiment. I'll work hard for my other stories, too!
3641065
3641205
3641208
3641355
3641818
The power of an ambiguous ending is that sometimes you can take what you want from it and be happy. I did in fact, leave it open for this purpose. The 'reality' of this is that... you guys can choose what you want! It all works.
3641857
It's my turn.
That's the game, isn't it?
3641918
I will beg FimFic to add that tag so that I might do this. Glad you liked the fic, though. ^_^
3642103
Thank you very much for writing out that very weighty comment. These comments are the kind that really make me feel that I've sent across that message well. It's the kind that lets me know that as a teller of stories and emotions and sentiment, I was successful. So thank you, my friend, for reading, for loving, and for travelling with me, and may we have more journeys in the future to come.
And the follow doesn't hurt either! Hehehe. =)
3643209
Possibly! Possibly! I wrote 'precocious' because I think Celestia, at that moment, related her to a child. It was a bit of a put down, sure. But yours certainly works too!
3643279
I find it very hard to tag my stories. I usually involve so many elements. However, the story here ends on a very happy and hopeful tone. The sadness only is temporary, but the smiles last longer. So to me, it's more of a comedy, even though it's not EXACTLY a comedy.
3643354
Thank you very much for the comments! I'm happy that you liked it. Really happy. And yes, the insinuation was that it was Celestia's feathers, but having that as what actually happened would be a bit too ridiculous! It's still fun to mislead a bit though, huh. ^_^
3643463
I know, what a dummy. =(
But she just wanted to show off. Oh, Twilight!
3643914
No no. Nonsense. Really. I got lucky. Please join the competition! Why would we say no to more good works? And who's to say you won't blow me out of the water? The only way to find out is to join, so please do. =)
3644063
Please do tell me why! I'd love to hear your thoughts on why it didn't work for you.
3644145
Haha, sorry! I couldn't help you there.
3644642
But I bet you forged some lovely relationships in the playing of it!
3644661
And thank you very much for enjoying it. I'm glad you did. I'm glad the format of this story worked as well! It was a challenge to make everything 'flow'.
Wow.
3645010 Yeah, I see what you're saying, it does end with a hopeful tone, don't know about happy, but definately hopeful. I think even at the end they're both still quite sad.
You should have had discord have a line at the end like: "and that my little humans is how you do a mind reading spell."
I could really see a spin off with discord the other mane 6 and spike commentating as they watch the two titans face off maybe even Luna for a bit incessant chatter
3645065
Whoa!
3645071
Melancholic, I would say. There is no melancholic tag. But if there was, I'd definitely stick that on this. However, Comedy is... a good setup. I can't say I did it also a little on purpose because if people go into it thinking it's funny (and it does have comedy elements at the start), the feels hit harder at the end. Truthfully, labeling it as sad would have only given it a negative connotation from the start. Everyone would EXPECT that it would be ending up with bad things through association, and it might not be as effective in that sense, since this story isn't told through standard narration.
More tags. This site needs more tags.
3645199
Haha, maybe! But that would have distracted from the tone, I think. But if it were more towards a funny thing, I would have. =)
3645235
Tags can make or break your story personally I stay away from sad or tragedies after reading one of shortskirtsandexplosions stories
It must be a nightmare to tag your stories if they're anything like chess
3645245
ALL my stories are like this. ALL of them.
I NEVER know what to tag them. I suffer from a lot of people being turned away from the offset due to that sort of thing you just described. But that's the business. There isn't even a 'normal' tag in FimFic so I'm stuck with either slapping sad, comedy, adventure or slice-of-life on everything when nothing I write REALLY is any of those things, or takes a lot of those together in a big pot.
Well! No matter. It's a small deal in the bigger picture.
3645235 True true, a sad tag probably would be too much. Melancholic does sound about right though, and it was funny at the start.
i.imgur.com/KnVdVvL.gif
i.imgur.com/PuubP.gif
Beautiful and kind'a painful to watch, but in the sympathetic sense, seeing these two. (Aside from occasional bursts of 'One Night in Bangkok' that kept rumbling through my mind; I never even saw the play ... )
And on a stylistic choice, I'll also note it was probably best to not go into too much detail on the moves they were making, aside from that they were made. Just enough detail to know what's going on, but not enough for the herd of grandmasters who read pony fic to analyse. (Seriously, I ended up doing this to an XKCD comic. Something bugged me, likely the fact that he initially drew it with three bishops; he later defrocked one. But not at my request.)
Overall, a good tense psychological piece. With a good payoff at the end.
I read it, and had a good laugh. Chuckling a little I hit the upvote and went on my merry way in another tab.
While I was in this other tab I whiled away my time on a mindless task. Said task gave me time to think over what I just read. I have to admit, fridge horror is the term that comes to mind. This was actually kind of terrifying when I thought about. All the things that could be but won't. The worst part is we'll never know; we'll be perfectly fine without the 'never-to-be's'.
Holy crap my brain.
...
And as I type this I realize: all you wanted to do was write a story. And we come full circle. Now I'm laughing again, ha.
3645384
W-why is it a slow clap? WHY IS IT SLOW? DO YOU LIKE THIS OR NOT? TELL ME! TELL ME!!!!!
3645385
You know what, I was EXPECTING someone to make that reference. Congrats on being the first. Altogether now~
One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a God in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky then the God's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me~~~~~
And there's another reason why I didn't go into too much detail, although this isn't the primary reason.
I don't play chess well. =)
3645395
I like to write stories that sort of... try to make people think of things, really. It's always my intention to pen provocative pieces that, in some way or other, have something to ponder or consider. Like little puzzles and little considerations, so I wouldn't really say that I just wanted to write a story. And in the end, you should be more comforted to know that this story ends however we want it to, and we don't necessarily have to focus on the 'not haves' but rather on the 'what ifs'. It's not a cheat - I don't leave it open for the point that I can't end it. But I leave it open because it ends where it needs to end, and I think... I think the rest is a gift. Fill in your own blanks, picture your own scene, and make everything right, because everything will be fine. All you need is to open the door, and the treasure that lies behind is whatever you can possibly imagine.
That said though, 90% of what I write usually only has that impact if you stop and think about things, and that's how I like it.
3645430
Ah, I had forgotten you ended openly. Rather, I remembered, but hadn't considered it.
Perhaps I hadn't been thinking long enough... Or maybe too long? Yeah, it's totally time to go to bed.