Knights and Pawns

Chapter 6
Motions of Pawns

Twilight spent the entire night after the party trying to figure out what to do. It wasn't like she blamed Checkmate for what he did. After everything he went through it was no surprise he would be suspicious of other ponies. She still didn't understand why he would have told her all that he did. He needed another chance, that much was for certain. Maybe she could talk her friends into giving him that, and who better to start with than Applejack.

The next morning Twilight immediately went to the Apple Family Farm, Applejack would be tending to the trees already so she would be easiest to find. After a quick search She found Applejack on her rounds and approached.

“Hey Applejack.”

“Oh, howdy Twilight, what can ah do ya for?”

“Well, about last night...”

“Yea... I'm sorry about that.” Twilight blinked.

“What?”

“Well, ah was just so worried 'bout ya that ah caused a huge scene.”

“So... You're not still angry with Checkmate?”

“Lookey here sugarcube, ah've known Checkmate since we was little. Ah know he has some serious problems with trustin' ponies, especially after what he's been through.”

“I see, so you believe him?”

“Of course ah do, I can tell when that stallion is lyin' and last night was no lie.”

“Oh wow, that takes a load off already. Have you apologized to him yet?”

“Not yet, ah thought ah'd fix this mistake before ah went and apologized.” Twilight nodded a little.

“Well leave that to me, you just think about what you're going to say to him alright?” With that Twilight trotted off to find the other four. Pinkie Pie was very forgiving and by the time Twilight had found her she was already planning a 'We forgive you' party, which Twilight quickly talked her out of. Fluttershy didn't take much convincing either, her kind nature allowing it after Twilight explained a little. She finally came to a problem when she found Rainbow Dash...

“Rainbow Dash.” Twilight called up to the cloud her rainbow maned friend was sleeping on. “Can we talk?”

“Why, so you can try to make me one of Checkerboard's pawns too?!”

“What? No! And his name is Checkmate, now come down here and talk to me.”

“Not until you are no longer under his evil spell.”

“I'm not under his spell! There are no spells that would last this long without the caster nearby.” Rainbow Dash looked around.

“Alright Checker, come out of hiding! I know you're down there!” Twilight was getting more and more frustrated. Finally she used her magic to teleport Rainbow Dash straight down to her. Before she could fly off Twilight shoved an open book in her face with a few lines underlined. “There is only one spell that allows mind domination without constant casting... yadda yadda yadda... Before constant effect can take hold the pony to be dominated must be placed under entrancement for a total of 1 week. So, what's the deal?”

“Do the math Rainbow Dash, This spell takes a total of 1 week to cast, Checkmate has only been here for 6 days. I am not under any sort of spell.”

“How do I know your not a Twilight imposter? Or an illusion?” Rainbow Dash was even more stubborn than usual, Twilight knew this would take a while...

OoOoOoOo

Meanwhile Cassidy Irons was just finishing armoring the troops for General Checkmate's first raid. Due to the nature of the mission her presence wasn't required so she had the rest of the day off. She took this opportunity to go meet some of the ponies of Ponyville, and where better to start than the owners of the nearby farm. After a short walk Cass spotted two ponies working the fields, one was an orange mare with a blonde mane, and the other was a red stallion an orange mane.

“Excuse me, are you busy?” Cass got a short and simple reply from the red stallion.

“Nope.” The orange mare on the other hand was a bit more talkative.

“Nah, we ain't terribly busy. What can ah do ya for?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to go around and meet some of the local ponies.”

“Really? You onea Checkmate's ponies?”

“Yea, do you know him?”

“Uhhh, somethin like that. He used to live here ya know?”

“Really? He never mentioned that... Might be why he wanted to oversee this mission personally.”

“Wait, you mean he came here by choice?”

“Well, yea. He's the First General, typically he just stays in Canterlot and directs campaigns. He couldn't possibly oversee every little insurgency.” Applejack couldn't wrap her head around it, Checkmate chose to come to Ponyville.

“Wow...”

“By the way, My names Cassidy, Cassidy Irons, but you can call me Cass.”

“Nice ta meet ya, my names Applejack and this here's my brother Big Macintosh,” Applejack motioned to the quiet stallion, “though we just call him Big Mac.”

“He doesn't talk much does he?”

“Oh don't mind him, he's just a bit shy, but he's got nothing on...” Applejack was interrupted by a quiet, gentle voice from behind Cass.

“Um... excuse me. Applejack, I was wondering... I mean, if your not busy, but could you help me?” The voice sounded familiar to Cass and when she turned to see the pink maned mare her heart skipped a beat. “Oh... am I interrupting something? I'll come back later...”

“Oh don't be silly Fluttershy, I was just talkin with a new friend. Come say he...” Again Applejack is cut off, this time by Cass.

“Fluttershy?” Fluttershy looked up to acknowledge her, “What, don't you remember me? Cassidy. We went to flight school together. Well until you up and vanished... I heard what happened at the race and searched for days, I thought you were dead.”

“Oh, no. I just decided to stay down here with all the cute little animals.” She nuzzled Angel a bit. “Well, it was nice seeing you again but I must tend to some of the animals.”

“Well hold on, you mentioned needing help. Maybe... If it's not to much trouble,”Cassidy's heart was racing, her cheeks were turning red, and her knees were trembling, “maybe I could help you?”

“Oh that would be very nice of you, I have a lot of medicine to give out.” Cassidy nodded and they both trotted off leaving a rather dumbfounded Applejack.

“Hey, Big Mac... ya don't suppose Cass...”

“Eeyup.”

OoOoOoOo

After what felt like ages of arguing, lots of small magic tricks, and answering countless question only the 'real Twilight' would know, Rainbow Dash finally listened to Twilight and would forgive Checkmate. With 4 out of the 5 taken care of she just had to counter any rumors Rarity might have heard. As she approached Carousel Boutique she spotted Rarity cheering up a somber Pickin.

“Hey you two, what's up?” Twilight asked eying Pickin.

“Oh, hello darling. Pickin has been real depressed since Checkmate's return.” Rarity shook her head, “I've tried everything to cheer him up; hooficure, facial, sauna...” Twilight held her hoof up to silence the white pony.

“Why don't you go prepare some tea, let me talk to him.” Rarity nodded and disappeared into the boutique while Twilight sat next to Pickin. “So, do you want to tell me what going on?”

“No...” Pickin spoke somewhere between a grumble and a sigh.

“Come on Pickin, I know Checkmate was cold towards you but he's been like that for everypony.” Twilight gently rubbed Pickin's back as he started to speak.

“I know he's cold... I know it's not just me... But... It's my fault.” Pickin was on the verge of tears as he continued, “I betrayed his trust, I caused him a world of misery, it's all my fault.” Twilight wipes a tear from the gray stallions face.

“He doesn't blame you. I heard him say that last night.” Twilight thought back to Checkmate's story. “Besides you told someone you trusted, it's her fault, not yours. You can't beat yourself up over this.”

“But if I hadn't told her... Checkmate would never have left, and we would still be friends.” Twilight nodded a bit. She understood his feelings but knew there was a silver lining.

“Pickin, listen. If Checkmate hadn't gone through that embarrassment when he did he may have never found his special talent. Think about it, if he hadn't left Ponyville he wouldn't have joined the military, and military tactics is he special talent.” Pickin smiled and nodded.

“You're right, I just wish it coulda been done in a nicer way.” Rarity returned carrying a tray with a beautiful tea set.

“Oh, Pickin, it is wonderful to see you smiling again.” Rarity set the tray on the table and poured out three cups as she continued, “I always thought you looked a dozen times better with a smile. My, with a smile like that you could almost be a prince.” These words got Pickin smiling more and more.

“Now that that's settled, Rarity. I wanted to know, what do you heard about Checkmate?” Twilight sipped on her tea while she awaited the response.

“Well, Rainbow Dash came around this morning and told me all about some 'evil' plan he was hatching to take over Ponyville, but I told her there is no way he would do any such thing. That mare has quite an imagination.” Twilight groaned remembering the ordeal she just went through.

“Tell me about it... Anyway, why do you have such confidence in him?”

“Well, he is Princess Celestia's First General, there is no way he would do anything like that. The Princess is a wonderful judge of character.”

“Is that all?” Twilight eyed rarity a second before Pickin spoke up.

“She's going to find out eventually Rarity, you might as well tell her.” Rarity shot a nasty glare at Pickin.

“What ever do you mean darling? There is nothing to 'find out'.”

“Do recall, you are talking to the most studious pony in Ponyville.” Pickin sighed shaking his head before continuing. “Plus she runs the library, where all Ponyville's records are kept.”

“Well maybe if you hadn't said anything she might not have bothered to look.” Twilight watched this exchange in silence.

“Look, she already knows Checkmate was born here, she obviously has a big interest in him, she is bound to check the records eventually so just tell her. He's not a child, and he's not an embarrassment anymore, so just tell her.” This was getting more and more confusing, how could Checkmate be an embarrassment to Rarity?

“Alright, fine. Twilight... Checkmate is kind of... well not kind of... He... happens to be...” Rarity looked down, “my older brother.” This week was threatening to make Twilight's heart stop. First Princess Celestia and now Rarity, next she was gonna find out Pickin was Applejack's brother.

“Wait... you have a brother? Why didn't you tell me?”

“Well, you see darling, Checkmate is kind of the 'dark horse' of my family... in more than one way. Let's also say his origins are less than sparkling.” Rarity sighed, avoiding Twilight's gaze as Pickin picked up the explanation.

“To be a little more accurate, Checkmate is only Rarity's half brother, same mother. Before you suggest it, her mother was not a willing participant in the act.” Twilight sat there dumbfounded, it seemed like she found a new dark secret every day since Checkmate arrived.

“Please Twilight, don't tell Sweetie Belle about this,” Rarity was finally looking her in the eye, “She is to young to remember him at all.” Twilight nodded, Sweetie Belle should grow up in a beautiful world until she's old enough to understand the darkness.

“Alright, but you have to tell her eventually.” Rarity returned the nod. “Now while we're on the topic of family skeletons, Pickin, do you have any siblings I should know about?”

“No,” Pickin said with a slight chuckle, “only family I have are my parents out in Fillydelphia.”

“Hmm, why did you leave?”

“No good mines near Fillydelphia. Anyway, Twilight, can you come to the library with me? I'd like to check out a book.”

“uh, yea... but why?”

“It's a secret.” Pickin gave her a wry smile and Twilight nodded as they took off towards the library. Rarity smiled as she watched them go, Pickin looked pretty handsome with his confidence.

After Pickin had his book and left Twilight sat down to begin writing a letter. Without spike she would have to send it personally. Now, how to put it...