The Guest Lecturer (unedited)
The bell rang, followed by a series of backpacks being stuffed and students rushing for the door. Taco Tuesday always created a flurry that made everyone pick up the pace, that is except for the new student, Twilight Sparkle. She saw students practically running down the halls, including Rainbow Dash. Attempting to catch up, she quickly stuffed her bag and took off at a run. Unfortunately for her, the line was a ten minute wait before she even arrived.
Sighing dejectedly, she looked around until finally spotting Fluttershy waving her over. Relieved at seeing a friend, she went to sit across from Fluttershy.
"Hello, Twilight," Fluttershy greeted. "How are your new classes?"
"They're fine, though I have a load of work to catch up on," Twilight replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice. These classes are such a waste of time. I already know how to do all of the homework before the teacher even begins to explain! Before she was able to voice any of her thoughts, they were joined by two others, one with rainbow hair and the other wearing a leather jacket.
"Hey, Fluttershy and Twilight," Rainbow Dash said before sitting across from Fluttershy. Twilight quickly looked over and saw that Rainbow Dash had snagged a few tacos. Why are people so crazy about these tacos? Suddenly, without warning, her stomach growled.
"I assume you didn't get out in time to get lunch quickly?" Sunset asked.
"No, I wasn't expecting so many students to go into pandemonium over a few tacos." Rainbow Dash gasped and looked down at her tray. Seeing three tacos left, she passed one to Twilight with a simple command and a prediction.
"Eat the taco," she said. "You'll understand then.” Twilight grabbed the taco, and carefully put it into her mouth. Might as well humor her a bit.
"I don't see what the big... deal...... is......" Twilight looked back at the taco. This taco is the best food I’ve ever tasted! Why couldn’t crystal prep have food that tasted like this? I need to get in line now, I have to---
"Twilight, don't focus on the flavor," Sunset interrupted. "It's too easy to get lost if you do."
"T-Thanks,” Twilight replied sheepishly. I guess friends do come in handy sometimes.
"No problem... by the way, did you ever find any clubs you were interested in?" Sunset inquired.
"There were a few, mostly science ones, but I they don't have meetings for a few weeks." Twilight's gaze fell back onto her taco again as she noticed it was now half gone. Though I doubt that anybody wants me in their club.
"That's too bad, but I'm sure there must be a club that's meeting sooner than that, right?" Sunset said optimistically.
"I suppose I could look again," Twilight conceded. I might even get lucky and find out one is meeting today. Before she could move, however, Rarity sat down, along with Pinkie Pie.
"Hello, darling," Rarity greeted. She sat down with elegance and poise, though she too had on her tray a triplet of three tacos.
"Twilight, have you found a club to join yet?" Pinkie asked.
"No, none of them are meeting this week, at least none that I'm interested in," came the reply. Why does Canterlot require students to be in three clubs or sports anyway?
"So you're not interested in the chess club?" Pinkie asked in surprise.
"This school has a chess club?" both Twilight and Sunset asked in unison. That wasn’t on the official club list.
"Not officially, but once a week a bunch of students meet in one of the teacher's rooms with chess boards to have a mini tournament during lunch and after school. In fact, I’m pretty sure today is one of those days." Pinkie turned back to her tray to eat with zeal, leaving Twilight to think over it. That could be fun… I just have to relearn the game. I’ll have to look up a few guides, see into playing some online matches, maybe play some games against other members...
"Does that sound interesting to you, Twilight?" Sunset asked, interrupting her thoughts once again.
"It does," Twilight affirmed, "but I don't know how to play chess very well."
"Luckily for you, I played chess for years, before coming here," Sunset replied with a smile. "In fact, why don't we go now?"
"Uh... Sure, why not." After saying their farewells, the two went off to try and find the chess club. After about five minutes of searching, they finally found them in Mr. Doodle's room. Room 61? Don’t I have this room later today? Hm… first period Math in room 4, second period English in room 63, third period...
Suddenly, the tapping of a chess piece sounded throughout the room, along with a few murmurs. Inside the room were six desks put together, each with a chess set, but only one set was in use. Ten people were gathered around the chess set, each one critically watching the two players at work.
"That was a good move. You've put me in quite the tight spot," one of the players said with a smile. "However, I think you'll find this move quite clever as well. Check."
There were murmurs from the crowd praising the move that was just made. Twilight moved closer to see what had happened. It appeared that the two players were evenly matched, though the player that just spoke was holding a confident and kind smile while the other looked simply happy at the game. Why is he happy? His plan just failed.
"Well played, well played indeed. You even saved both of your pieces." the second player said. He was around 5’ 8’’, with messy black hair and a pair of glasses. He moved his pieces with a grace that spoke of a thousands games played, and many to come. His face was still in the same smile, though it was different, somehow. Why does he keep smiling like that? "Your move.”
"Well, you've put me in quite the tough spot, so I think a retreat is in order." The first player moved their queen back to protect their rook, who was still in danger from a knight.
"A smart move, but with this, I call checkmate." He casually moved his queen to a protected spot by his rook, using his opponent's pawns as barricades against the King's advancement. There was no way to protect the king or move it into a safe position. Good, clean victory. Smart.
For once, however, the man was not smiling, as if he didn’t enjoy the move he just made. However, he still stuck his hand out and said, “Good game.”
"Good game, as always," the loser said with a smile
"You've improved a lot since last time I was here," the winner said, his smile returning. "I think I have enough time for one more game, but if you don't mind, I'd like to play someone new." He scanned the crowd until laying eyes on Sunset Shimmer and Twilight.
"How about you?" he asked, pointing to Sunset Shimmer. "You look like you'd know how to play a good game of chess."
"No thank you, I'm a bit rusty," Sunset responded.
"Nonsense, you can't just forget how to play chess. Come on, just one game?" he begged. Why does he want to play a game of chess so badly?
"Alright, but only one game."
After a few minutes, it was clear who the superior player was. Moving his pieces with an ease gained only through repetition, the reigning champion pushed Sunset into extending her lines.
"You may be rusty, but you're still doing quite well," he complimented.
"Thank you, though even I can see where this game is heading," Sunset retorted.
"But isn't that the joy it, seeing the moves leading up to a victory and defeat?"
"I always find the end game more fun the the mid-game."
"Fair enough, though I always prefer to see people learn from their mistakes," he said, a glint in his eyes betraying his next words. "Like this." He moved his bishop forward, taking an unprotected castle. Sunset groaned in dismay. How couldn’t she see that?
In a few more moves, Sunset had most of her left board, leaving her with limited options and limited time.
"I don't believe we've formally met, have we?" the man asked. "My name is Lace Night."
"You can call me Sunset Shimmer."
Sunset tried to go onto the offensive, but found out that the opening had really been a trap. Her queen was cut down, shortly followed by her white bishop. Sunset, you should have gone on the defensive and forced him to make bad trades.
Before a comeback could be achieved or Sunset could lose, the bell rang. All the students went into a flurry of motion, each one grabbing the chess sets and putting them in their bags. Over the commotion, Twilight could hear Lace saying how good the game was and how Sunset just needed to practice for a bit to become great at the game. After a few more seconds, Sunset began to walk towards Twilight and the two began to go to their next class.
"That was a close game," Twilight commented. Sunset did quite well, besides her few mistakes.
"Not really. He had the game in the bag within the first ten moves," Sunset responded, breaking Twilight's mood.
"What do you mean?"
"He was in complete control. He already had five different plans thought of and had already guessed my moves. He read me like an open book, and judged my moves accordingly."
"How do you know that, maybe it was just luck."
"It wasn't luck, you could see that in the trap he laid for me. He knew I wouldn't notice that the knight would be in a perfect spot to kill my queen, and even left his pawn out as bait so that I wouldn't move my rook into safety." I guess that makes sense...
"I guess I may need to read up on this a bit more," Twilight conceded with a small shrug. But maybe I should start with reviewing what your mistakes were.
"Yeah, that would be a smart idea. My next class is this way, so I'll talk to you after school."
"Alright, bye!" Twilight waved before turning back to her next class. Throughout the rest of the school day, Twilight replayed the chess match in her head, judging each move made by both of the players. It wasn't until after school that she was pulled from her thoughts.
"You doing okay, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked as she approached Twilight, who was waiting in front of the school. "You seem distracted."
"W-what?" Twilight exclaimed in surprise, being pulled from deep thought. "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" Sunset asked as she approached.
"That chess match you played earlier today," Twilight answered. I think I figured out what went wrong.
"Oh, right... that."
"You played a game of chess?" Fluttershy asked. "Did you win?"
"We didn't get a chance to finish it, but I was going to lose," Sunset said with grimace. "I hate losing."
"I was analyzing the game, and I think I know where you went wrong," Twilight said. "It was right after you broke the formation of your pawns."
"Yeah, I think so too," Sunset agreed. "It was a bad move on my part, but trial and error makes perfect." But not making mistakes is better.
"I suppose... anyways, I have to get going now," Twilight said. "The bus back to town is going to be here in a minute, and I'd rather not miss it." Note to self: get license as soon as 16.
"Alright, see you tomorrow then." Sunset and Fluttershy waved goodbye as Twilight walked across the street.
An hour later, Twilight was at home with her homework done and a computer in front of her. For the next several hours, she studied chess match and strategy after chess match and strategy. Next Monday, she would be ready to face Night Lace.