Twilight Sparkle's pristine academic record was well on its way to chewing up and spitting out any other that could challenge her for the top spots in the country's best colleges, until the school counsellor plucked the wind from her metaphorical wings and informed her that these days, applications required such idiocies as leisure activities to stand out amongst countless candidates with grades to rival hers.

Chess seemed like the perfect option - an analytical game void of teams or any such extraneous socialization. It was just like studying; ideal.

All she had to do was get on the chess team, but that plan is foiled all-too quickly when she's brutally crushed by the most unlikely opponent.

Human AU. Twidash.