A Game of Chess

"This guy is absolutely crazy," Spike muttered, as he, Twilight, Checkmate, and the others walked into Canterlot. He'd been complaining the entire walk to the city (Checkmate had insisted that, with Rolan, they'd best be careful not to be seen, so they walked; naturally, the windigo went out of his way to attract as much attention as he could).

Checkmate himself was able to walk, unsupported, after a long day of lingering in bed. Some things, he realized, were most appreciated when you didn't have them anymore.

The ponies on the streets were stepping out of their way as they walked past, but didn't protest as they had when Checkmate had entered the city alone. However, they stared at Rolan as if he were some monster, and screamed in fear and cowered as he walked past as casually as one would through the streets of Ponyville.

"How so?" the windigo asked the baby dragon, cheerily. "I mean, the townsfolk don't seem to mind me much. Hey there!" He called to a couple on the side of the road, who instinctively cowered behind some other ponies.

"Hatred..." he muttered. "You'd think that they'd never met a windigo before, eh?"

"Well, of course they're hating you," Rainbow said. "I mean, hello! You're a windigo, the creature that we've been told we're supposed to fear from birth!"

Rolan cast her a look of amusement. "Oh, I wasn't talking about them hating me. Certainly you've heard of Lord Hatred before, right?"

"Lord... Hatred?" Asked Twilight.

"Sure. You know, the creator of us windigoes? Chronos's old friend? Eh, I'll tell you about him someday. Maybe."

The calmness and laid-back attitude of the windigo was absolutely astonishing. He seemed to have a response for every question he was asked, and, even when he didn't, he came up with one almost immediately.

Checkmate would have to ask him how to do that someday.

"This 'Hatred' guy doesn't sound very nice," said Pinkie. "I mean, how could anypony with a name like 'Hatred' be anything but a big meany-face?"

"You'd be surprised," Rolan said, calmly. "He threw some great parties - you'd be amazed to see how nice a pony called 'Lord Hatred' could be -, and Chronos seemed to like him well enough."

He stopped, then, "Ah... we're here. The royal palace."

Indeed, the group stood outside the massive building, its spires reaching into the clouds themselves. The entire building looked just as beautiful as when Checkmate had first seen it, but was no less solemn and dark for it.

"C'mon," the windigo said, turning towards his companions. "If we're gonna warn Celestia, we may as well do it now, before Wendigo proceeds to attack the palace."

"Right," Checkmate muttered. "Come on, let's go."

The group stepped up to the gate, as a royal guard looked them over, before turning his attention towards Rolan. His face went pale as he saw the windigo.

"Y-y-y-y-y-y-y..." the poor stallion couldn't even get one word out.

Rolan flashed him a grin, "Hi there," he said. "Would you permit me and my companions here access to the palace? We have an important message for the princess."

"I-I-I-I-I'm n-not..." the guard continued to stammer. "I-I-I-I-I-I..."

The stallion then proceeded to faint, dropping like a rock before their eyes.

"How pathetic," muttered Rolan, annoyed. "Honestly, the first thing that I do once Wendigo is dead will be restoring the reputation of the windigoes..."

"How do we get in, now?" Twilight asked, stepping over the unconscious guard. "He was the only one who could open up this gate at the time, so what do we do?"

"Simple," Applejack said.

The orange earth pony stepped over to the door, turned her back on it, and slammed her hooves into it with an intensity that made even Rolan flinch. The gate burst from its hinges, smashing down into the hall behind it.

"Nicely done," the windigo said, grinning again. "You kick things often?"

"Ah buck the apple trees down on the farm," replied Applejack, and she grinned as well. "Ha! Ah've been waitin' ta try somethin' like that fer a while, now! Worth it completely!"

"Are you certain Celestia will be alright with this?" Twilight asked, touching the area where the gate once stood.

"I'm not gonna lie, AJ," Rainbow hovered over to the orange mare. "That was awesome. I've gotta try doing that sometime!"

"We can worry about that later," Checkmate said. "We've got to go and meet Celestia, and fast. Twilight, I assume that you can get us into the throne room?"

"Of course," the unicorn seemed to completely forget about Applejack's act of vandalism.

"Good. Okay, odds are there are going to be many royal guards who run away, faint, or try to attack us as we make our way to the throne room, and I need you all to be on your guard throughout the entire -"

"None of that is necessary," said Celestia, as appeared before them. "The guards on the barracks told me of a 'hostile windigo'. Of course, this one doesn't look very hostile at all."

"I'm not sure about that," Rolan mused. "I'm a very dangerous guy when I want to be."

"Good to see you again, Rolan," the princess said, chuckling. "I haven't seen you in centuries."

"Ha! Well, I just barely got away from Darkfrost today, and already your ponies are treating me like I'm a criminal," he pouted, although it was evident that he was just teasing her. "You really need to work on your guard's etiquette, Celestia. I mean, really, shouldn't I at least get a decent greeting?"

"Oh, my apologies!" Clearly, the two had done this before. "I'm so very sorry that your greeting was inadequate, Lord Rolan."

Everypony save Checkmate had a double-take at that.

"L-Lord Rolan?!" Twilight cried. "What... what is...?!"

"Oh, that's right," said the windigo, absentmindedly. "I never did introduce myself properly to... well, to any of you, did I? Checkmate, would you do me the honors?"

"Certainly," the stallion had a grin on his face at this. "All of you, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Spike -"

"Why did I have to be last?" muttered the dragon.

"- Allow me to introduce you to Lord Rolan Rimeheart, former king of Darkfrost."

"WHAT?!" The cry was absolutely, impossibly unanimous.

"A pleasure to meet you all," said Rolan, smirking. "Although that was a... different me, to say the least."

"Agreed," mused Celestia. "You were much too formal last time around. And your attempts at 'blending in' to society were... well..."

"I used the Royal Canterlot voice once," murmured the former king, "and that's all anypony is ever going to remember me for, isn't it?"

"Of course it is," Celestia replied, "but I don't suspect that you came here just to catch up about our pasts."

"You're right about that," Rolan said, "but here is not the place to talk about it. After all... you never know just who could be listening."

"Indeed," mused the princess. "Come with me to the royal hall. I think that it'd be best if we speak there."

A short walk later, the odd group of ponies had arrived at the throne room. It was, again, just as Checkmate remembered it, but the level of tension had increased exponentially. Even if Celestia knew not of what she was about to get into, even she could see the urgency in their eyes. Instinctively, she called upon her sister to speak with the group as well, and was even able to ask Discord to sit in. All of this in mere minutes.

"Oh, hey there, Rolan!" said the god of chaos, cheerfully. "How's it been, lately? I haven't seen you since... well, the last time you came to the gardens, actually. How long ago was that? five-hundred years? Yeah, that sounds about right."

Rolan regarded him coldly. "Yeah. The last time I saw you, you were a lump of stone sitting on a pedestal. It's nice to see that the most dangerous creature in Equestria is wandering about freely."

"Even with a new personality, your tongue is as sharp as ever..." muttered Discord.

"You don't have to worry about him," mused Celestia. "Fluttershy is making sure to keep him under wraps."

"This meek little creature?" scoffed Rolan, pointing at said mare, who instinctively cowered away. "Gee, I wonder how long that'll last? A month? Two? Five? You're not talking about a mere draconequus, a dangerous creature in-and-of itself, but the god of all chaos. The one who ruled over Equestria with an iron fist?! Honestly, though, sometimes I think that your brother was right about you being too soft..."

"Please don't talk about that," Luna said, stiffly.

Rolan glared at her. "As if you ever met him. He was... gone... centuries before Chronos went and fathered you. But, again, that's not why I'm here. If I wanted to argue with Discord over the chaos he's caused, I would likely be doing so in a castle made out of cotton candy with waterfalls of chocolate milk." He glanced over at the draconequus and cracked a smirk. "You've really ought to change your diet. That can't be especially healthy, I'm sure."

Discord shrugged. "Meh, I'm immortal. I'll live."

"Indeed," Rolan muttered. "Unfortunately for us all..."

Celestia coughed. "Getting to the matter at hoof..."

"Right, right," Rolan said, calming down, and he sighed. "I'm sure that you've all heard of Wendigo, king of Darkfrost?"

"Oh, yes!" Discord said. "He and I go way back! Tell me, how is old Wendy?"

Checkmate avoided spluttering out laughter at this, but only barely. The other ponies all gave him an odd look at how he was just barely holding it in.

"Well," replied Rolan. "Let's just say that... tonight isn't exactly going to be a fantastic night for Equestria."

"How so?" Luna asked, cocking her head slightly.

"Because," Rolan's voice was cold, "a certain heartless bastard is coming here. Tonight."

"Tonight?!" Celestia gasped, stepping from the throne. "Why would he...?!"

The former king glanced up at the princess. "Isn't it obvious, Celestia? He's looking for somepony. I'm sure you know who, as well. What better time to attack than when you wouldn't expect it? Especially at the Winter Gala, when you all are celebrating your 'victory' over the windigoes."

Checkmate stepped forwards, his face as straight as he could make it. "Indeed. He seeks me, and he plans to threaten you unless you hand me over to him."

Discord stared at him in surprise. "You? What could you possibly do to somepony like Wendy? I mean, honestly -"

The stallion was at the god's throat before the latter could complete that statement, the Glacius's tip touching it.

"Anything else?" Checkmate asked, coldly.

Discord flushed. "I-I'm good," he stammered. "Erm... That's the Glacius, right?"

"Of course," the stallion replied, stepping back to join his group. "Now do you understand just why Wendigo wants me dead?"

The god of chaos simply nodded, and swallowed.

"Now, can we get back to business?" asked Rolan, simply. "After all, we have a violent, brilliant god-like monster planning to attack tonight's gala."

"What, then, should we do?" Luna asked, obviously trying to keep herself sounding formal. "If Wendigo is attempting to get at Checkmate... then what is our best course of action?"

"It's simple, actually," replied Rolan. "We give him Checkmate."

"I... don't understand," said Celestia, frowning. "How are we going to stop Wendigo if we just give him Checkmate?"

"Because Checkmate Vigarde," started the windigo, calmly. "Will be ready to attack the bastard before he can find him."

"A preemptive strike..." Discord mused. "Simple... and difficult to pinpoint."

"Exactly," Checkmate stepped forward again. "All that we need now is a way to keep the ponies at the gala calm when the inevitable happens."

Celestia grimaced. "It's the best plan we have, but it seems dangerous," she sighed. "When does Wendigo plan to attack?"

"Midnight," Rolan replied, simply. "He's well known for being dramatic."

"Midnight," repeated Luna, dryly. "How cliché."

Just then, as soon as these words left Luna's mouth, there was a loud knock on the door. Rolan glanced back, and let out a sigh.

"Well, it would appear that..." he started, only to be cut off as door burst open, and a duo of ponies stepped in.

"... We have guests," he finished, deadpan.

The two stepped up towards the throne, as a pair of guards followed after them.

"Halt!" one of them said. "You cannot just enter the throne room without an audience!"

One of the original two, a unicorn with a blue mane and a pair of sunglasses perched on her horn, sent him a smirk. "Please, like I care," she said. "I mean, really! You didn't stop us from entering just now!"

"She doesn't speak for me..." the other, an earth pony with a dark mane, muttered.

"In any case..." the guard growled, "you cannot just..." His jaw dropped as he caught sight of Rolan, who sent him a cheerful wave. "W-w-w..." No more sounds exited his mouth, as the guard fainted right then-and-there.

The windigo sighed. "Really, Celestia?" He asked, turning towards her. "Your guards aren't exactly known for their backbone, are they?"

The princess winced at this, as the other guard ran from the chamber screaming. "And here I was hoping that Captain Blade was at least giving them some discipline training..." she said, angrily.

The blue-maned unicorn turned towards her friend, shrugged, and began to walk up the steps again.

"Princess Celestia, my apologies," said the other. "Vinyl here wanted to tell you of our song for tonight's gala as soon as she could." she looked over at Rolan, stared for a second, and turned back towards Celestia. "Huh... I'd ask what you're discussing, but I'm not sure that I really want to know."

Vinyl, on the other hoof, did just that. "Oh, what is this?" She asked, excitedly. "Is that a windigo?" She ran over and tried to poke Rolan, only for her hoof to go right through him.

"Why, yes," the windigo was grinning. "I am."

"Cool," the unicorn was not fazed in the slightest by this revelation. "Well, Princess, we're just here to give you a listen to our little song for the Midnight Dance."

Vinyl handed a small box to Celestia, and grinned. "We've been working on it for weeks, now!"

The other pony rolled her eyes. "Indeed," she said. "Vinyl had to learn how to play the electric guitar just for this one song. It may not be our best work, but it fits the mood of the Midnight Dance, if I recall correctly."

"Excuse me," Twilight growled, and the two turned towards her. "We're discussing a very, very important matter, here. It could determine the fate of all Equestria."

"And furthermore," supplied Luna. "You are in the presence of a windigo. How could you remain so calm when even the royal guards could not?"

Vinyl giving them a surprisingly hard look for one so energetic. "Octavia and I saw the Grand Galloping Gala collapse three years ago, as you and your friends tore the palace apart. The two of us were stuck in the middle of a changeling invasion, we were both forced into an eternal night by Nightmare Moon, and the one standing by the princess nearly destroyed everything that we've ever cared about. Nothing fazes us anymore, not even a windigo. Now, Princess, could you please give that a listen so that Octavia and I can leave you and your guests to your business?"

The others, and even Octavia herself, stared at the blue-maned unicorn with jaws agape.

"What?" asked Vinyl. "I was only answering your question!"

Pinkie stared, indignantly. "Well, just because we destroyed the entire palace one time...!"

"I like this mare," Rolan declared, ignoring Pinkie. "What's your name, kid?"

Vinyl lowered her sunglasses and grinned again. "Vinyl Scratch, or DJ Pon-3 to my fans."

"And my name is Octavia," said the other. "Cellist, violinist... Pretty much any string instrument you name, I can play."

Rolan smirked. "A cellist and a DJ? Odd friendship, I'm guessing?"

Octavia grimaced. "Yes... Vinyl is quite a bit... informal."

"Oh, you mean like Luna?" Discord added, helpfully.

"H-hey, I resent that remark!" Luna shouted, her mask of formality shattering completely.

Checkmate chuckled. "It is strange, honestly," he mused. "I wasn't exactly expecting guests. This is a very important meeting, after all."

Vinyl glanced over at him. "I guessed that much," she said. "But... well, we're just here to have the princess tell us what she thinks of the song for the Midnight Dance."

"There's a Midnight Dance?" Checkmate asked. "Well... that could get... complicated."

"How?" Octavia asked. "Well, I suppose that it doesn't matter. I don't want to pry. Either way, Princess Celestia, would you be willing to listen?"

"Certainly," Celestia said, finally speaking. "It's the least that I can do, given that you've just shown more bravery than the royal guards." She muttered something to herself, but Checkmate couldn't quite make it out.

The princess held the box up to her ear, and there was the sound of something clicking.

The room fell silent, then, as Celestia began to listen to the song. Three minutes later, she pulled the box away from her ear.

"It's perfect," she said, simply. "Perfect... given that at midnight..." The princess paused, then, and smiled, sweetly, "Yes, yes, it's fantastic. I'm certain that the ponies at the gala will love it."

"Awesome!" Vinyl shouted, leaping into the air. "C'mon, Octavia! We've gotta go practice a bit more!"

"Wait, don't you want...?" Celestia called after them as the duo turned to leave.

"Nah, you keep it," Vinyl said, looking back. "After all, we've got dozens of 'em. Just have it as something to whet your appetite for tonight!" She giggled as she and her friend left the room.

"Well," Discord said, calmly. "That came out of absolutely nowhere."

"Agreed," Luna mused. "It's amazing just what lengths these ponies will go to just to show us their accomplishments. Somewhat sad, really."

"How so?" Rolan asked.

"Well..." Luna sighed. "Think about it. They ran past several guards, spent weeks on their work, and, even now, they're still trying to improve their technique just for one night. And considering what is going to happen at midnight -" she shook her head "- I don't think that their song will ever be heard."

"Not so," Celestia said, smiling.

The many creatures turned towards her, confused by this.

"What do you mean?" asked Rolan. "If Wendigo is to attack at midnight, then their song - for a dance at midnight - shall never be heard, right?"

"Yes, but you must remember," Celestia glanced throughout the room. "This is no mere monster we're dealing with, but the king of the windigoes; it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he longed to hear this song just as a background for his threatening. And you'd all be surprised just how fitting it really is..."

"Crisis averted," muttered Checkmate, dryly. "You realize that we've completely distracted ourselves from what actually matters just to talk about a song?"

"A song that those ponies - Octavia and Vinyl Scratch - poured their hearts into," Celestia said, gently. "Checkmate, these ponies aren't like the ones in Darkfrost. They have hopes and dreams besides just running away or destroying any other races." The princess grimaced. "They made this song specifically for tonight, you know. And I'm not one to let good talent go to waste."

"He does have a point, though," Twilight admitted. "Wendigo's going to be here tonight, and we have to ensure that we're completely prepared for him when he appears. You... do know what he did to Checkmate back in Darkfrost, right?"

Luna looked away, but said nothing. She didn't even have to, as that one action said everything for her.

"Yeah," Rainbow said, quietly, "but you didn't have to see it, did you?"

Everypony in the room turned to look at her.

"No, not really," said Discord. "Do tell."

Rainbow shot him a look filled with anger, before she began. "Wendigo... he cut Checkmate open. Right down his back, and he was gonna kill him. If I hadn't been there, he wouldn't be here."

"So now you're taking all of the credit for saving Checkmate," mused Rolan. "Then again, I do have to admit that the sonic rainboom you created was immensely impressive, and I really did nothing but hinder you, so I'll let you pass on this one."

Rarity scoffed. "Well, I was the one who had to sew up the wound, you know," she said, primly. "Honestly, Rainbow Dash. You act as though you're the only one responsible for Checkmate's survival. And it was not just you and I, but Twilight as well, you know. And, again, all of the ponies in this room - save for Rolan, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Discord, of course - all watched to ensure that he recovered fully. Based on how he's walking unaided, I'd say that it was a success, no?"

"Wh- No!" Rainbow said, flustered. "I meant to say that if I didn't pick him up after Wendigo cut him open..."

"I know what you mean, Rainbow Dash," said Rarity. "I was only kidding. You're so... sensitive to these things."

Rolan sighed. "You're all such... children."

"Coming from you?" Asked Celestia, smirking. "Really, Rolan, you can claim that we're children and you're not?"

The windigo laughed. "I never said that, Celestia," he stated, grinning. "Just that they're all children. Or... well... childish, I guess."

"Well, Spike's still a kid," Twilight said.

"H-hey!" interjected the baby dragon. "I'm no kid!"

"Of course you're not," muttered Checkmate. "We're falling off topic. Again."

"Lighten up, Checkie!" Pinkie said, her grin even wider than Rolan's.

"L-lighten up?!" Checkmate growled. "Wendigo, the most dangerous tyrant in the entire damned world, is coming here! Tonight! We don't exactly have the time to make jokes and laugh... and..."

Everypony was staring at him as if he were crazy, and then they all burst into laughter, themselves.

"What... Why are you all laughing?! We don't have the time for..."

"Calm down, Checkmate," Applejack said, stepping up to him. "Yeah, we all know 'bout Wendigo comin' here... but sometimes you just gotta laugh at these things. It helps keep yerself from goin' insane with worry. Right, Twi'?"

The purple alicorn winced as though she'd been struck.

"We already have our plan," continued Applejack. "One of them 'preemptive strikes', or whatever it was ya called it." She shrugged. "Ah'm just sayin' that ya can't get too worried over somethin' like this. Otherwise, it'll only hurt ya in the end."

Checkmate stared at her for just a second, before sighing. "You're never afraid to speak your mind, are you?"

"Of course not," Applejack said, proudly. "Ah'm the element of Honesty, after all. Jus' like how Fluttershy's the element of Kindness, Rainbow Dash is Loyalty, Pinkie is Laughter, Rarity is Generosity, an' Twilight is... well, Magic, or somethin' like that. I never did understand it that much... Seems like it shoulda been a part of her personality, rather than her skills, but hey, Ah'm not one to complain."

The stallion smiled, despite himself. "Well, with the Elements of Harmony by my side, I'm not exactly afraid of losing," he declared. "So we have a plan, we have ourselves prepared for tonight in nearly every way possible, and... we have a... song for the time that Wendigo arrives. Or something."

"Then we're all set," replied Discord. "That's good... Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get some beauty rest. Chaos isn't easy to spread when tired, you know." He paused, "Oh, yes. Wake me up when it's time to fight Wendy, eh? I've got some choice words for him..."

Then, before their eyes, the god of chaos vanished into thin air, leaving the others standing in the throne room.

"Well, then," Celestia stated, "are you all truly ready for the gala?"

Checkmate nodded. "Yes. Well... I am, anyway. There's nothing more I can do to prepare myself, after all. What about all of you?"

"I'm ready," Twilight said. "I mean, what is there that I can really do to get ready for the gala, now?"

"Same," Rainbow agreed. "There's nothing more that I can get."

"Nothing for me, either," Applejack said, grinning. "Although... Apple Bloom's comin' tonight to the gala, okay? I'm jus' gonna stay with her for awhile and make sure that she don't get into any trouble..."

"Likewise," Rarity added, "and I'll make sure to keep Sweetie Belle from asking any questions of Wendigo."

"Oh, right," Rainbow muttered. "I'd better keep a close eye on Scootaloo, too... Last thing I need is for her to run off into trouble and get herself hurt. So I guess that I'll be hangin' with you and AJ tonight, Rarity."

"Not a problem," Applejack replied. "Pinkie, how 'bout you?"

"Duh!" Said the pink mare, indignantly. "I mean, of course I'm ready! I never leave home without everything that I need for a perfect party! Let's see..." She began to pull items out of thin air, "Party cannon... Pranking kit... Oh! And fifteen-dozen cupcakes!" A massive stack of cupcakes fell next to the cannon and the small kit.

"How..." Checkmate started.

"Don't question it," Twilight replied. "We stopped trying to a while ago. Oh, she also has a sixth sense."

"Of course she does," the reply was completely blunt, without any emotion whatsoever.

"Fluttershy!" Applejack interrupted. "How 'bout you? Ya ready fer tonight?"

"W-well... I-I'm not exactly sure..." stammered the yellow mare. "Well... maybe but... I think I have... e-everything..."

Rolan turned towards Celestia. "This is the one who's looking after Discord," he said bluntly. "Remember that."

Celestia grinned. "Did you know that she took down a manticore once?"

"One manticore? Fine, let's say she did. That still doesn't -"

"- And a cockatrice," continued Celestia.

"Okay. Again, fine. She beat a cockatrice. Anypony can -"

"- And a dragon," finished the princess.

Rolan's jaw went slack. "She... beat a dragon?"

"By staring at it."

Rolan turned towards Fluttershy. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you," he said, sincerely.

"Th-that's..." stammered the pegasus, again. "That's... okay."

"Well, now that that has been resolved," mused Checkmate. "What about you, kid?" He turned towards Spike.

"I'm not a -" Spike was cut off as Twilight threw him a glare. "- ... I'm ready," he muttered.

"Good," Checkmate said. "That's everypony. Are you all sure about this? There's no turning back after this point."

The nod was unanimous.

"Good," repeated the stallion. "Then, tonight, we drive Wendigo back. After that, I can begin the quest for the Ignis, and then..." He paused.

"Then, I defeat Wendigo. Once and for all."