Celestia groaned as she surveyed the battlefield before her. Hostile forces besieged her castle and there was little that she could do about it. The bulk of her remaining forces were occupied trying to stave off the advances of her opponent, who had, a brilliant display of tactical cunning, managed to slip a guard through Celestia’s line, and it was now wreaking havoc behind her vanguard.
Dimly, Celestia wondered how it had managed to come to this. She had had so many opportunities to end this battle before this moment, but she had squandered them through poor planning and hesitation to take a risk. She still couldn’t believe it; her faithful student, whom she loved like the daughter she would never have, had rebelled against her. The pair were now locked in mortal battle and casualties mounted by the hour, but Twilight didn’t seem to notice or even care as the troops loyal to her were defeated. Among those had had been lost were two of her highest ranked Bishops, the pair seemingly targeted for assassination right from the start by Twilight’s ruthless stratagem.
It had all started out so innocently. Shortly after her coronation, Twilight had expressed an interest in studying military tactics and strategy, claiming that as a princess, she had a need to learn such things if Equestria was ever in danger. Celestia knew that she had been studying closely with both her brother, who was a veteran soldier and General Blackthorn, who was considered to be the finest tactical mind Equestria had ever produced since before the Nightmare Moon incident. Celestia knew that Twilight was gifted, but not like this. Now they were arrayed against each other; two mortal enemies locked in conflict of which there could only be one winner.
Celestia was still indignant over the fact that Twilight had dared to challenge her at all. Didn’t she love Celestia as much as she did her? And where was Luna for that matter. Celestia wondered where her sister was. Luna was far better at this sort of thing than she was; Celestia handled the economic and political side of ruling, while Luna, a far superior tactical strategist held the position of High Commander of Equestria’s military. She should be here to fight this battle, not Celestia.
With a start, Celestia suddenly realised just where Luna was. She could see the Night Princess’s style mixed into Twilight’s strategy; her bold gambles and high risk, high reward chances. So, it seemed that even her sister had betrayed her and sided with the enemy. Celestia grit her teeth and focused back on the battlefield. Her troops couldn’t act without her direction and she had to try and save her castle if she could.
Without hesitation, Celestia pulled one of her two knights away from the advance and issued him with orders to harass and neutralise, or at least slow down the lone marauding hostile pony that had breached her lines.
Displaying skill that belied her youth, Twilight redirected her troops to assist with the siege of the castle, leaving a few units exposed in the open to act as bait. Celestia saw them for what they were – a means to slow her down slightly so that Twilight could net a larger prise herself. Celestia cursed at herself for allowing it to come to this in the first place but she didn’t waiver. There was nothing to be done about the castle that she hadn’t already done, so she struck at Twilight’s exposed troops without mercy or remorse. They had chosen their side and now had to face the consequences of such a choice. Soon Celestia’s ponies had cleared the area of Twilight’s rebels and for the first time, Celestia seemed to have the upper hoof for a moment.
Sensing a weakness in Twilight’s forward lines, Celestia pushed ahead with her remaining forces, eager to try and end this battle quickly. The fighting became more bitter with each passing second and somehow she knew that Twilight would win in a war of attrition. She had to try and end it now with one swift stroke.
To her horror however, Twilight seemed almost able to predict her move and easily responded by dispatching a few of her troops, mere pawns in the grand scheme to interdict Celestia’s advance guard. Though only few in number, they had the advantage of position and Celestia saw that they would easily be able to rout her forces. She was sure that if pressed, her own units would be able to punch their way through and drive a wedge into Twilight’s lines, but not without taking heavy losses.
Celestia realised that she had been lured into a trap by Twilight as the lavender Alicorn pressed forward and took her castle, overwhelming her defenders and gaining the foothold needed to strike at Celestia herself. She had deliberately left a flank open to draw Celestia’s forces forward and trap them out of position when her final attack occurred. The few units that Celestia had left that were capable of making the trip back would never arrive in time.
From her perch above the battle, Celestia looked sadly down at a gleaming marble statue of herself, all alone in its square. She had never liked having such an image of herself present, seeing it as self serving, but the court had insisted that it was only proper. Right now however, her statue was being surrounded on all sides by Twilight’s forces and they were eager to move in for the kill. Celestia had nothing left to defend with and they knew it. Twilight’s forces were in full control and the few remaining units that Celestia still commanded were scattered and well out of position; there would be no help coming today.
With a groan, Celestia watched as Twilight’s sole remaining knight moved in and toppled her statue and then it was all over. She had lost. Twilight’s little rebellion was successful.
Sitting across from her, Twilight instantly rose up to her back hooves, fore hooves up and wings flapping with the excitement of victory. “HAHAHAHA. You are defeated Celestia. Equestria is mine!” she cackled. “From now on, all foals must read for at least 3 hours every day.”
Celestia looked sadly down at her oak table and the chess board that sat upon it. Pieces lay scattered over its surface, with her king resting on its side.
“Best two out of three?”
Author's Note
Thank you, Fimbulvinter, greatly, for this amazing story.
