This story is a sequel to As the Raven Flies
Sometimes, friendship can be a trial of endurance.
For Twilight, it's the trial of her friends heaping celebration and attention upon her to make up for several years of missed birthdays.
For Moondancer, it's the trial of rebuilding her friendship with Sunset and ignoring her rising jealousy over Sunset's relationship with Twilight.
For Sunset, it's the trial of conquering her inner demon before it pushes her to do something she can't take back.
Sometimes, trials end in failure.
Historian’s Note:
Set in the Wavelengths Timeline where the Sonic Rainboom didn’t happen, Checkmate in Two occurs three months after the events of As The Raven Flies.
Cast: Sunset Shimmer, Moondancer, Twilight Sparkle, Surprise, Minuette, Coco Pommel, Coloratura, Cheerilee, Raven Inkwell, & Princess Celestia.
Guest Starring: Trixie Lulamoon & Philomena as herself.
Special Guest Stars: 28 Very Special Ponies.
Beta Reader, Synopsis Crafter & Editor Credit
DrakeyC: Master of Edits for Sunset Shimmer
Cover Art by OverlordNeon
Cover Text, Chapter Header, and Break Designs by Amber Spark
Sunset Shimmer's Cutie Mark by MillennialDan
Celestia’s Cutie Mark by BlackGryp0n
MLP Book Vector by SnowedEarth
MLP Magic Aura Vector by AimeeLovesU
Moondancer's Cutie Mark by AllyCatBlu
Coloratura's Cutie Mark by AllyCatBlu
Raven's Cutie Mark by Parcly-Taxel
Cheerilee's Cutie Mark by noxwyll
Minuette's Cutie Mark by juniberries
Coco Pommel's Cutie Mark by thatguy1945
Stories set in the Wavelengths Timeline in chronological order:
Origins Arc
The Alchemy of Chemistry
Bards of the Badlands
Grading on a Bell Curve
Habits of the Equestrian Phoenix
How Not To Use Your Royal Prerogative
Applications Arc
The Application of Unified Harmony Magics
Princess Celestia: A Brief History
The Cloudsdale Report
Dreamers Arc
Tactics of Snowbound Unicorns
A Study in Chaos Theory
Teahouses of Saddle Arabia
As the Raven Flies
It's great to see you writting agian Amber! Keeping in theme with the title; the board is set and the pieces have been placed. What will the opening moves be?
okay okay okay I'm so excited aaaaaaaaa
Hi! I remember coming across (I believe) Teahouses a couple months back, and after reading the first chapter (or so) going straight back to the start - and I'm so looking forward to where this goes.
I would say this is probably one of my favourite series on both this site and AO3, and I am both excited and scared to see where this story goes, especially with the mild foreboding that comes from a title such as 'Checkmate in Two', not even including the chess pieces being characters' cutie marks. (Part of me prays there's no deeper meaning to that.)
I adore this prologue already - a slight establishment for the headspace of each character already sets up so much in terms of potential conflict, and I'm eager to see where it goes. (Have I said that yet?)
Otherwise, I'm curious as to who the other journal entry was supposed to be. I assume Lemon Hearts, and I do wonder what her perspective on this would've been/ is.
All that's left to say is that I will be following this closely (my only dilemma was reading instantly or waiting for everything to be released first, but as you can see I kinda failed at that.) and that I absolutely love this series.
Keep up the amazing work Amber + Team!
Lots of love and all the kudos.
(Yes I know that's an archive thing.)
It probably is.
What am I going to do?
Would that I know.
A storm is brewing.
She's right.
I guess Teacher Mode never really turns off.
I respect it.
No kidding. She might need some professional help.
Wait, really? Well damn.
Please don't jinx it.
Jesus. Brutal.
Aye. Doesn't help that Sunset's probably not being wholly honest.
I think you have some hangups yourself.
Which begs the question of why.
Yeah, that does sounds annoying.
I'm guessing you can't/won't just ask.
Never mind, that answers that.
He's not that subtle.
Then, the status quo will be upended.
Someone get a Wizard to cast Forgive Yourself. Or is that a Cleric spell? I forget.
Learning you're not the "Prime" Timeline has to do a number on you.
Ominous. But, accurate.
You have no idea why that's hilarious to me.
From the highest authority in the land and basically her Mom.
Good luck, Celestia.
Oh, Sunset....
That's, a lot of pressure to put on yourself.
The RWBY V9 Intro? My my, a person of taste!
Isn't the cutie mark on top of Twilight's chess piece incorrect? I was under the impression that, like in the text, Twilight's cutie mark in this verse is a book held in purple magic. I don't think she uses the purple pointed star iconography at all.
Coco: It’s not okay.
Rara: It’s not okay
Cheerilee: It’ll be okay.
Minuete: I’m gonna make it okay!
Moondancer: It’s really not okay!
Twilight: I can’t verify any substantial details of the nightmare plane I visited other than rumors, and the books that might tell me are guarded by the Princess of the Sun whom I believe is intentionally blocking me from finding them furthering my fear that she has a dangerous grand machination for us and Sunset, but Sunset trusts her implicitly and I can’t tell any of my other friends. Also my birthday party is tomorrow.
Raven: The apocalypse is coming. We’re not ready.
Celestia: I fucked up and need to fix it.
Sunset: I can fix everything!
We are so back.
The tricky part there is a little chaos...
Just off the top of my head, I can think of twenty spells a mare of her caliber could cast that would get the job done more quickly and cleanly than just...
Okay, seeing that written out like that reminds me that that wasn't why Twi was upset.
I wonder what it might take for Raven to directly explain what Celestia cannot bring herself to speak. I wonder if she even dares consider such a possibility. Can even the fate of the world forgive such a breach of trust?
I do appreciate the different heading styles. Celestia calling this the Ninth Era raises a number of fascinating questions.
Oh. Or maybe Celestia's finally ready to divulge the true depths of what they face. Or at least some more details. As Raven noted, this won't work if they try to force it.
(And, of course, there's the question of what would happen if Celestia ordered Sunset to trauma-dump to her friends...)
Deeply gripping and concerning intro. Looking forward to more.
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Note that the queen on the upper-left major chunk of the chessboard is Starlight. The board may represent more than this timeline.
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If you mean the queen in the top-left chunk, that's not Starlight Glimmer, but Moondancer.
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Oh. Whoops. In my defense, one shiny thing and swoosh looks a lot like another.
derpicdn.net/img/2021/8/19/2681639/large.png
Artist's rendition of FoME attempting to parse Skylight Lightverb symbolism.
Pssst, Sunny, here's a secret winning strategy: you can just (metaphorically) eat the pieces while nopony's looking! So, uh, yeah go figure out how eat ponies. Metaphorically.
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Actually the Queen is a special design for Moondancer!
And Twi’s cutie mark being wrong is me and Neon missing that! New version coming soon! (We always forget when we’re working on these together!)
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AGGHHH! (Kermit Flailing Emote) You are absolutely right! Neon and I both forgot! Updated cover will be coming soon!!
Now imagine if they were playing 3-D chess. On the Pony Enterprise.
It's too fucking late, Celestia. This story's going to end in heartbreak and I blame you and the rest of those smug chucklefucks who masterminded the whole leyline disaster.
SO EXCITED AAAAAAA
Oooh finally a new chapter!
Here, have like and Favourite, i am sure it will be warranted.
Agh, I need to check my fimfic notifications more often!
I'm so very very excited for this!
A good reintroduction to the present state of affairs after such a long time. Despite the absence, you've still got it.
That's not an ominous title at all.
Huh. That's, ominous.
Something's not right.
What in the world?
That's an excellent question.
That's what we in the community call "El Grande Oof".
Oh, that's not a good sign.
Oh. Oh shit.
Daybreaker?
Nope, Nightmare Sunset.
She's your Shadow. Someone get the Investigation Team on this. I'd do it myself, but, I haven't played Persona 4.
Because she's tired. Because she wants a successor.
Someone play You Will Remember from Danny Phantom.
Somehow, I don't believe you. Also, this AND Spectacular Seven on the same day? This IS a good day.
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Yup! We didn’t plan it to go like this, but we’re together right now in person!
If this was any other story, I’d be thinking Nightmare Moon is fucking with Sunset from her prison. But I know this story and I know you. This is all just Sunset’s built up trauma, guilt, self-loathing.
I didn’t think Nightmare Sunset would be so direct with her. Literally tells Sunset what’s wrong. A testament to the fact that, even knowing what the problem is, Sunset will deeply struggle to solve it.
Also, Sunset is right—the nightmare talks too much.
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Hell the fuck yeah.
I mean, Surprise being Pinkie as a Pegasus (AND a Wonderbolt) is kinda common.
Probable copy/paste error.
Otherwise lovely chapter, good that they're at trying with their relationship. Sunset isn't doing great, though :(
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Interesting! I definitely wasn’t thinking of “Surprise is Pinkie” while writing this!
We banter about which one of us has hurt their Sunset more. It terms of physical wounds and supernatural conflicts, I think I win. In terms of real, raw emotional and mental damage that's also incredibly relatable... yeah, you take the cake. I just want to hug her.
"Suck it, grounders!"
Whistles.
Surprise may not be the pony Sunset wants, but right now, she's proven she's the pony Sunset needs. This is our first time seeing a (real) interaction with them and I adore their relationship 100%. It's soft, it's understanding, and it's wholesome.
The eventual breakup will at least be amicable, but it's still gonna suck.
Great work, Love.
That's, not a good sign.
That's one every two months.
That, is a very sad and telling line.
"I am thou and thou art I."
Red? I thought Surprise had purple eyes?
Both?
Ey! Ace rep!
And yet, you're loved.
Valid.
Because you don't take it out on her.
I'd ask if she could just not for a few minutes, but then Sunset would be paranoid that it's heralding something worse.
Well, I'm always game for ace rep, so, yeah, she's pretty cool. A lot more stable than most unicorns.
Hoo boy. Yeah, that’s not good. She's half a step away from leveling a town along with every creature in it.
I had a brief boyfriend/girlfriend relationship with a girl I met at a convention after we met upnwith others over New Years some time ago. It was born mostly from loneliness and curiosity. We tried to make it work, but ultimately she came to the conclusion that she was asexual. She loved being with friends but doing more just did nothing for her emotionally even if her body said yay. It was a sad breakup and we didn't talk for about a year afterwards, but then we met up with others again and restarted our friendship. Sometimes, things don't have to get complicated and we all need a little of that in our lives. Someone who listens and understands we are all a little broken but that's okay.
I like this Surprise. It takes love and courage to stay by someone who lashes out when they don't know how to handle their emotions.
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Inner demons always do.
Im holding out for Sunshim x OTL Princess Twilight tbh
Yeah, I dunno, I need some of this crap to be subverted somehow.
Like, you've successfully built up Celestia as a minor antagonist for me at this point by hammering in constantly how much hurt has been done by her driving a wedge in between Twilight and Sunset. And yes, it IS hurt, it IS negative change, not simply difference.
Because of that I've come to view Celestia's entire *plan* as undesirable by association. I want *something* to break for her. I want *something* to go wrong for the *antagonist.*
Either Sunset not being Magic, or... I don't know. I'd absolutely drop this series if Sunset ends up Magic AND Twilight/Moondancer don't break up AND the otl Twilight doesn't show up until after y1000.
I feel like I've been getting clobbered over the head with "we're hurting Sunset and denying Sunlight so that Sunshim be the element of magic" for two hundred thousand words. Who cares about Nightmare Moon? I just want Raven and Celestia to not get what they want.
IRL that shit can happen, but I'm plenty sick enough of villains winning IRL, I don't need to read fiction about it too.
Oh, she's already stressed. Neat.
*Pointing meme* I know that place!
Yaay! Best (Canon) couple!
Oh right, one of the few things we disagree on. You spell it that way.
And so, the truth comes out. Because I only want the best for Sunset, I do hope she and Cadence make up. But, oof, Sunset that wasn't okay. Neither was Cadence's reaction. I'm sure now, the only thing stopping Sunset from trying to apologize is shame, and maybe just a smidgen of pride.
Celestia was right: kids can be unintentionally cruel to each other. I do like that Sunset didn't hate Cadence off the bat and their relationship soured due to... self-inflicted errors. But, time heals... most wounds.
Gonna steal that one day.
Alright, enough sad topics! We have a birthday to celebrate! Surely, nothing else will go wrong now!
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Raven and Celestia are not villains, and there is more to this author's saga than pandering to your preferred ship.
It'd be nice if reality did too.
And yet the universe laughs at the idea of order.
You're such a nerd.
I love this sentence so much.
ScienceHorse.
Just like that.
In your world.
I love this little nerd so much.
Why?
Minuette is delightful.
Shit's weird, BookHorse.
Atmosphere matters.
Shining Armor and Cadence.
Ah. A Notice-Me-Not spell.
RIP BookHorse.
Aaaw. This is nice.
Oh?
Valid, if subtle as a brick.
You may not like it.
Exactly.
Oof.
It is a touch hard to believe.
Ah.
One day, you and Albi will stop putting SunHorse Jr through The Blender(TM).
Aye.
There's so much packed into that. Hell, into that last sentence alone.
Nothing good, that's certain.
Oh dear.
All cards on the table, I can't say I blame her.
Jesus...
... Fuck, man.
That's, deeply unfair to everyone involved.
Huh. Weird.
Likely for years.
In a sense.
static.wikia.nocookie.net/megamitensei/images/4/41/Persona_5_Sun_Cooperation_ability_Negotiation.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160830083253
Food IS pretty great.
Motherfucker. It is! That's good. Well played.
missing something.
how much older than twilight IS Sunset? like 10 years or so?
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I worry that Kaizuki is like those types who saw Starlight turning herself around at the sight of actual consequences for her actions as ruining the show, and the only way to save it would have been to outright kill her off in a way we all know Hasbro would never approve of.
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4 years, give or take. Twi's the baby of the bunch.
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Only 4? O.o
Okay, thanks!
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Perhaps. BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!
There really is. Think about it. She's ruled for a thousand years. 1000 years ago was in the Middle Ages for us. I can't help but think that Celestia HAD to have many, many students over the centuries. And there were likely many great heroes and heroines among their ranks. And while we know of no alicorn that ever came forth from this (since Ascension is so mysterious), there is only one who may have had the real potential and that was from the comics.
As for the rest of it... well, that's the fun part.
And yes, Twilight did definitely rank up in her Confidant path with Cadance. Though no comment on which Major Arcana Cadance is (mainly because I have not figured that out since I've only recently gotten into tarot, primarily because of Persona).
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I love you. *says in a delightfully fond voice*
She's not having a good time.
She is.
Good news, she found you!
Which is fascinating, given how canon Twilight can teleport spam.
Oh?
Here's to hoping.
A Smartypants doll. That's adorable.
High Int, Low Wis. Classic Wizard.
Oooh, she's in trouble!
She's having a great time.
That's, a complicated story.
It's what she deserves.
She's remarkably fast, when she tries.
She's barely being hyperbolic.
Adorkable.
This old lady's incredible.
A Handy Haversack.
Oh no.
Correct.
Oh dear.
Oooh dear.
Oh boy.
That's genuinely fascinating. I love worldbuilding regarding pony magic.
What a wonderful gift for Twilight! Also love the absurdity of "Book Horse Monthly" as the librarian trade publication lol.
Also, I'm glad to see Fluttershy is doing well, even without the Rainboom.
her what now?
of who?
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Of "those we love"
Twilight squee is a great sound.
Moondancer confronting Sunset. Bring fireproof body armor.
Risking the Queen
Chess motif is continuing.
Good things CAN happen.
This has been going on for a while.
That's ominous.
A reasonable assumption. Clearly inaccurate.
Her self loathing is only making things worse.
You've never met Pinkie Pie, I take it.
Boy. The Nightmare Moon situation is only going to make things exponentially worse if this isn't dealt with by then.
Sounds fun.
I'm sure she'll do something to deserve it.
2 more years. A lot can happen in 2 MONTHS.
Oh shit, a Wonderbolt already? That's an academy record.
Damn.
Big mood.
I do not like you.
Huh. Interesting.
Huh. More a Flutterdash guy myself, but I can ship it.
The Sonic Rainboom. That, and if her parents are anythin like their canon, their constant showering praise upon her probably gave her a complex, not being sure what praise is real and which isn't.
Every day.
Life puts things in a funny order, Jackie.
That's, that's good.
That's, that's good advice.
Oh boy.
That's gotta sting.
Aw, that's SO cool!
Join the club.
Gladly, that show is (mostly) great.
I haven't read any AppleDash in what feels like years. Good shit.
AppleDash is fun! More seriously, poor Sunset, you're not doing well at all.
These ponies really need to get it over with and form a polycule
Good to know Apple Bloom has plenty of family to look after her. But, I’m worried about Scootaloo with only her part-time parents and no mentor in her life.
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Neither do I, but I'm just waiting for the day Sunset calls on her with a cry of "PERSONA!!!"
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You know, this DOES feel pretty Persona.