Just a Friendly Game
It was just a typical day in Canterlot. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, everyone was being happy and high class, and good sweet sister of hers Luna was bored out of here skull. She was awake because Twilight and her friends were here discussing things about her castle, but now Twilight was showing the others around Canterlot to have some fun, and she was so bored. She literally sat around for a while as thoughts spread into her mind. Is this really all she has left to do today? It's so boring! Just sitting here and waiting patiently to raise the moon as Celestia raises the sun? That hardly seems fair. Maybe she can visit the locals and speak with them. She got up to do so, then remembered that she got over run by screaming fans when she left the castle, which she admittedly liked a lot. She got up and decided to talk to her big sister. Who knows, maybe they can just talk about whatever random things are on each other's mind. Or maybe Celestia can stop being so cryptic about what she always hides. Luna sighed at that, her sister always was so dang cryptic. One has to wonder what she hides from her and her subjects.
Celestia in the mean time was experiencing a very similar boredom. It was nice to have Twilight and her friends over, they even brought the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Twilight wanted her to meet her new students, and they were kinda...excitable is probably the best word for it. However, she used to be like that when she was a little filly, actually both Luna and her were both kinda like that. She smiled as she thought back to earlier that day when Luna got all that love from the Crusaders. It's nice to know that she has such an adoring public now compared to way back when. She smiled as she remembered that when they were little they used to play all sorts of fun and games together. Now that they're both princesses,teachers, and at least one of them knows of a more grand design that she needs to keep everyone in the dark about. There really isn't time for that.
As Celestia was rolling down memory lane, Luna walks into the throne room. Celestia looked up and said "Oh, Luna, hey, I was just thinking about you."
Smiling Luna said "I pray it is not a dark thought" Celestia shook her head no and Luna said "Listen, I know we're grown mares now and...it seems a bit silly but...you wanna play a game like we used to do when we were fillies? I'm kinda bored"
Celestia smiled and said "That would be lovely, what game did you have in mind?"
Luna actually did not expect a yes, so she started to think back.
it was at a time when the Mare's were fillies, as Celestia and Luna were playing a game of chess with each other. Celestia smiled and said "Checkmate! You lose again"
Luna paused and said "How are you so good at this game!?" Celestia stuck her tongue out as a response which caused Luna to glare harder. Luna said "I'm gonna beat you at chess someday, even if it takes me 1000 years!"
Luna kinda cringed at that statement, she never really intended on making that a literal sentence but what can you really do. She then smiled however as she realized she's never beaten Celestia at chess. "Let's play chess" Luna said with a smile
Celestia paused as similar memories came back and she smiled "I would love to beat you again" She teased as Luna slightly glared "But how about we make this more interesting?"
"What did you have in mind?" Luna said with a slight smirk of her own. She is not going to lose to Celestia again. She's got a promise to keep after all.
In Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Appledash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, and Applebloom were all enjoying a day of nothing major or minor happening. There was no disasters, no one in Canterlot was rude, though that may have been due to fear of offending one of the four princesses of Equestria, and most importantly there was nothing in the group that was driving them crazy apart from the usual normal things. Fluttershy smiled as the group sat down at a coffee shop and said "This is nice" She said taking a sip of some tea. "Once in a while it's nice to enjoy a day without some random craziness happening."
Twilight nodded slightly and said "Yeah, but I got a bad feeling you know. It's almost to peaceful, there is nothing major or minor that is happening. I can't really shake this feeling"
"Ya'll just need to relax" Apple Dash said with a smile as she took a nice drink. "Not everyday is full of catastrophe."
Rainbow kinda groaned and said "As much as we would like it to be"
"Oh Rainbow relax darling, there is nothing wrong with taking a little break from adventure now and again. After all we're in Canterlot! This is one of the most wonderful cities in Equestria, it's home to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, it's always so divine to come there" Rarity piped up as she moved on.
Pinkie smiled and said "Besides, a day with nothing bad happening can't be not fun as well! " She said with a minor smile. "Maybe we could go to the Wonderbolts Derby later, after all we got a Princess VIP!" She said as excitedly as ever pointing to Twilight.
"One who is very uncomfortable with flaunting her status" Twilight reminded Pinkie Pie. "Just because I'm a princess doesn't mean I can just do whatever I want. I mean there has to be some limit to what we can or can not do"
Applebloom piped up and said "Yeah, it would be kinda wrong if she just did whatever she pleased because she was royalty" She smiled "It just wouldn't feel right"
"Well said little one" Luna said walking into frame. The Crusaders instantly pumped up with excitement seeing their favorite of the two sisters standing before them.
Twilight smiled and said "Princess Luna, what brings you here on this lovely day?"
"Well my sister and I are requesting you...all of you fillies included to come to the castle for something interesting" Luna said with a smile. "Celestia and I are proposing a fun little game"
Rarity had to ask "What kind of game?"
A little while later in the Canterlot gardens everyone was dressed up in chess pieces including Celestia and Luna, who were appropriately dressed as a White King for Celestia and Luna as the Black King. The Crusaders were on Luna's side, as Luna had Applebloom as a Tower, Sweetie Bell as a Wizard, and Scootoloo as a Knight, while on Celestia's side were their sisters, who matched them respectively. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were the Queen, Fluttershy was the White Queen and Pinkie Pie was the Black Queen. Twilight looked over head while wearing a referee shirt. Rainbow looked at Rarity and responded with "You had to ask?"
"Princess Celestia" Twilight said looking at her teacher "Might I ask why in the world you and Luna are doing this?"
Celestia smiled and said "Once in a while it is important to take a break and have some fun Twilight. Yes, what you do, Luna does, and I do is important, but if you get to wrapped up in your work you kind of...go a little mad" She then said "Besides, Luna never beats me at chess...this shouldn't take long"
Luna glared and said "Is that a challenge sister?" She said with a sly little smile. "I am going to enjoy finally beating you. I waited 1000 years for this!"
Celestia paused and then said to Twilight "Sad thing is she's not joking" Celestia said quietly.
Rarity asked "That's all lovely, but why couldn't you just use a board like any other pony?" She said a bit embarrassed by her wizard outfit.
Sweetie responded with "Because then we wouldn't be getting these cool chess outfits!"
Celestia smiled and said "Besides I figured after, Tirek and this Starlight you wrote to me about, you all could use some fun. There is nothing wrong with a little healthy competition"
Twilight noticed that aside from ponies in the back all the pawns were large stone pillars shaped like Chess Pawns. "Have you done this before?"
Luna smiled and said "Several times, why do you ask?"
Twilight rolled her eyes and said "Okay then, it's standard chess moves if some pony takes either Princess Luna or Princess Celestia the match is over" She said "Other than that it is standard chess moves, each piece must respond to their respective princess." She said to them all. "Now then...Princess Celestia being the oldest you can go first" Luna glared at that as Celestia smirked and moved one of her pawns up. Luna followed suit with one her pawns, and the two engaged each other in a competitive glare.
Luna smirked and said "Oh it's on!"
Scootaloo asked "Do you think we're going to get Cutie Marks as chess players?" She said quietly to Sweetie Bell..
Sweetie responded with "Probably not, but hey we're hanging out with Princess Luna!" She said with a smile.
Applebloom responded "Not only that, but we're fighting for the honor of all the little sisters out there!" Applebloom said with a smile.
"Umm, sure" Scootaloo said in response.
"Yah here that Applejack, Luna and the Cutie Mark Crusaders are gonna take you down!" Applebloom taunted her older sister really getting into the game as Luna made her move, moving the farthest pawn to the left.
Applejack smirked and said "Oh bring it on yah little pest" She said with a smirk.
Rarity rolled her eyes at that and said "Honestly," She then said with a smile "I'm glad Sweetie Bell isn't so competitive."
"Rarity, I hope you don't hate me after I beat you!" Rarity looked at her sister in shock as Sweetie completed that taunt.
Rarity glared and said "Oh...it...is...on!" She said with a glare.
Rainbow and Scootaloo smirked as they looked at each other. Rainbow said "You think you can beat me kid?" Scootaloo looked at Rainbow with serious game face as Celestia moved the pawn in front of her. "Then bring it on!"
Luna smirked at that as Pinkie said to Fluttershy, she smiled and said "Lets have fun Fluttershy!" She said as excitable as ever. Fluttershy smiled and nodded as Luna moved another pawn which was right next to Celestia's Pawn. Celestia took that chance and jumped over it and used her magic to teleport the claimed pawn to behind her.
She smirked as Luna smirked as well as Celestia noticed it. Luna looked at Scootaloo who moved the spaces and smiled as she took the piece. She smirked and said "I got a piece!" She said so excitedly.
Celestia furrowed her brow as she looked at Fluttershy who moved in taking position of Scootaloo. Luna saw this and moved Scootaloo back to where she was. However Fluttershy was a Queen so that means that she is an important piece. She scooted her Queen, Pinkie Pie out as Twilight looked at the game face that appeared on the two rulers and had to wonder how seriously they were taking this.
Fluttershy gulped as Pinkie was right into the position of taking her. Celestia noticed and moved a pawn in front of her.
Luna smirked and claimed said pawn, but forgot that Pinkie was literally right there. Celestia smirked and said "Okay Fluttershy, claim her" Fluttershy nodded and timidly jumped on Pinkie.
Pinkie smiled and said "Aww well I lose" She said with a smile, then teleported by Celestia to behind her with a slight smirk. Luna glared as Celestia gave a little smirk
Luna bellowed and said "Sister, it is on!" She then saw Fluttershy was right next to a pawn and smiled as she nudged Fluttershy away and then put her in her claimed position. She looked at Fluttershy and said "You're okay right?" Fluttershy smiled and nodded and Luna went back with her game face on.
The game waged on, every one of the stone pieced of chess were over taken slowly one by one until it was just the costumed ponies standing in various positions. Luna and Celestia's eyes were locked as their competitive streak was showing. The two in an even deadlock of chess.
Applejack was in prime position to take her sister, and vice versa, however Luna noticed that pretty much everyone was in a position to take the other. Luna smirked as it was her turn and said "Applebloom you're up...I want you to take Applejack" Applebloom smirked and bolted like crazy towards Applejack toppling her over.
Applebloom smirked and said "I GOT YOU!" Applejack sighed and rolled her eyes admitting defeat. Suddenly she was teleported to Luna's claimed side. Applebloom was busy celebrating but failed to notice right where she was which was in Celestia's diagonal position, which being a king she gets to move there at least once. Celestia smirked and teleported Applebloom to her claimed side as Applebloom pouted somewhat. Celestia used her magic to move Rainbow into another position.
Rainbow looked at Celestia and said "You do know I can move on my own right?" She commented. Celestia shrugged as Dash smirked as she was right in Luna taking position. Thinking fast Luna moved over to the side. Rainbow looked around as she noticed quietly where she was. She was right in the area where she could claim Scootaloo's piece.
Celestia looked at Rainbow and nodded. Rainbow looked at Scootaloo and said "Sorry kid, thems the bricks" She said walking to Scootaloo who looked so disappointed. Rainbow smiled and said "Oh buck up, Scootaloo. You did great." She gently knocked Scootaloo over and Celestia gently floated Scootaloo over to her.
Luna smiled and said "I'm glad Scootaloo looks up to you so much Ms. Dash" She said in earnest, mostly because Dash couldn't claim her because she was literally right next to her.
Dash shrugged and said "The kid's grown on me a lot. She's gonna do great things when she gets older I know it" Luna gently walked to the side and claimed Rainbow much in the same way, which means the game was down to the final four: Celestia, Luna, Sweetie Bell, and Rarity.
The four looked at each other and began making their moves. Luna and Celestia had Rarity and Sweetie Bell constantly getting in and out of each other's range. Eventally Celestia got smart and put Rarity in Luna's claiming range. Celesta smirked and said "Checkmate, I win again Luna" She then said "As the eldest always does in the end" She playfully taunted as Rarity gave her a small smile.
Luna shook her head no and then moved Sweetie Bell in front of her. "Not this time Sister." Sweetie Bell paused as she realized what was going to happen. She sighed as Luna paused and said "Sorry Sweetie Bell, if it's any consolation you and your friends did wonderfully"
Sweetie Bell smiled as Celestia gave the move Order and Rarity went to claim her. Rarity smiled and rubbed her sister's head as stood In Luna's away. Celestia smiled as she put Sweetie Bell next to the CMC. She then said "Okay now, Checkmate Luna" She said in earnest "I think this is the closest you've ever gotten to beating me" Suddenly Luna was smiling. She said "Glad you had fun, this was a great way to alleviate the boredom. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
Luna responded with "I'm not smiling because of that" She then said "I'm smiling because" She looked at Celestia and said "I've never moved diagonal this game!" Luna smiled and moved up diagonally which caused Celestia to look at Twilight for conformation.
Twilight said to Celestia and said "Sorry Princess Celestia, but Luna's right. She hasn't made a hoof towards diagonal this entire game. Rarity is claimed." Celestia paused as she realized something. Luna and Celestia are literally the only one's left.
One by one they kept making moves to counter one another. Eventually though it came down to the final two moves, Celestia moved in the wrong position when Luna smiled very happily. She stepped on Celestia's space and smiled so happily as she said "Checkmate, sister. I win!"
Celestia looked at her and then slowly smiled "Good game." Then she shook her hoof and bowed gracefully, walking back to her team.
The CMC were going nuts and ran to Luna jumping up and down so happy for her, which caused Luna to smiled being a little embarrassed now. Dash sighed and looked a little down and said quietly "I hate losing"
Rarity smiled and said "You like seeing Scootaloo happy though right?" She looked at the excited Sweetie Bell and said "I know I'm happy seeing Sweetie Bell jump for joy this much"
Rainbow looked at Scootaloo who was fluttering her wings at a breakneck pace, on top of an excited Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down with joy. "Yeah" Rainbow said with a blissful smile.
"I can't be to ugly towards Applebloom either, I don't think I ever seen her this excited" Applejack commented "Never can thank Princess Luna enough for all the hard work she does."
Celestia nodded and said "I couldn't agree more"
Night began to come as Luna raised the moon as normal. Twilight and the rest were on the train heading to Ponyville, leaving only Luna and Celestia in the castle. Luna was heading to go stretch her wings when Celestia called Luna into her room.
Luna came in and Celestia smiled and had a normal sized chess board. "Rematch?"
Luna smirked and sat down, "You're on"
