Chapter 1 (Yellow)[]
I love chess. I love most everything about it, the strategy, the tactics, the nearly endless possibilities, I cannot get enough. My friends, however, do not share my enthusiasm. Blue has shown some interest. In fact, he has become a worthy adversary after I took him under my wing. SC and Green, though, have only played once or twice, and Red has never even glanced at a chessboard, claiming it's a "smart person's game." He also prefers to fight with his fists and feet rather than his mind, but I digress.
More often than not, I play against the computer. It's a great way to relax and de-stress between sparring matches with the guys, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw Alan playing a game on chess.com. Alan plays chess? I never knew that about him, and I became as excited as a little kid on Christmas. I had to tell the guys.
"Hey guys! I've got to show you this!" They sensed my enthusiasm and followed me. "Alan actually plays chess, and blitz chess as well!"
"Look out, my nerd meter is going through the roof." I heard Green mutter under his breath.
"Knock it off, Green." Blue said. I owe it to Blue. He always has my back.
"Yeah, c'mon, Green." I know how to get Green roped in. "Or are you afraid of a little competition?"
"Not today, not ever." Green responded. "I will play hard in anything."
"I've never seen chess played so quickly before." SC noted. "I've always thought it was a slow game."
"It can be," I explained. "but people can play an entire game in five, three, or even one minute. It all depends on the player."
"Whoa, Yellow, there are horses! Like actual horses!" Red squealed.
"You got that right, buddy." I replied. "They're called 'Knights,' and check it out. It looks like one of them is on a rampage." Alan moved his knight around the board, bothering and forking his opponents pieces on the way to a victory. "Good job, Alan!"
"So, Yellow, you have to fill us in. How is this game played?" Green asked.
I explained to them the rules of the game. How the pieces move, simple tactics and strategies, and the guys picked up on it really quickly, even Red. I was most impressed with him, as he never was interested in the game until now. Alan's games helped drive some of those concepts home, and we cheered him on every move he made. Some games he won, some he lost, and others were drawn. After a while, he had to leave, and while the guys were heading out, I stayed behind.
"Yo, Yellow, are you coming?" Blue asked me.
"Hang on." I replied. "Have you ever imagined yourself on the checkered battlefield, leading your forces and commanding your armies?" I picked up the black king's crown and put it on my head. Red, SC, and Green were also intrigued.
"I can't say I ever have," Blue answered. "but it sounds cool." He took the black bishop next to the king, also putting it on his head. "I like the bishop. It is the archer of the chessboard." He pretended to shoot a bow and arrow. Red was drawn to the knight.
"Can I be the knight?" He asked.
"Of course." I answered.
"Awesome!" He carefully grabbed the horse-shaped piece and set it down. He got on top of it and rode it. "This is so cool!"
"Hang on, Red. Let me get in on this!" Green shouted. He grabbed the other knight and began prancing around on it as well. "I love how it moves. It's so cool!"
"SC, you should be the queen. You're the best fighter out of all of us. It's the perfect fit." I grabbed the queen's crown for him, and he put it on his head.
"Hey, this really is cool." SC told me. He stood next to me, both of us having chosen the monarchs of the board. "Men!" Red, Blue, and Green lined up, bowing before us. It's all in fun, I know.
"Forward! Into battle!" I shouted, and they sparred with each other. I couldn't help but smile, excited for them to experience the thrill I feel whenever I play. However, I could not have known how prophetic my "Into battle" comment would be.
Chapter 2[]
White King's POV[]
I am the feared leader of a grand and powerful army. I have eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and my wife, the Queen, at my beck and call. They serve me loyally and without question, even when sacrifices must be made. Together, we have accomplished great feats. We have destroyed our enemies with furious attacks and fended them off with incredible defenses. We have brought grown men to their knees, bowing before me in tears and begging for mercy. I, however, don't know the meaning of the word.
So when I looked across the board and saw several black pieces missing, I had to discover the reason why. Where was the enemy I constantly do battle with, an army I have fought against for centuries? I posed this question to my Queen, since the Black King was also missing.
"What happened to the black army?" I asked her. She is dressed in a long white dress and a golden crown on her head. While she may not look imposing, she is a master of many different martial arts and wields a large sword capable of splitting metal. She is not someone you want to cross.
"It seems like some pieces are being used by five random... stick figures?" She replied, squinting. "From what I can tell, these stick figures are playing with them, like toys."
"What?!" I bellowed. "I am the commander of the mightiest army on the 64 squares, and they mock me and my accomplishments? I will not stand for this insubordination!"
"Want me to bust some heads?" my Rook asked. He wears no shirt, but instead shorts, boots, and a helmet with a castle tower on top for charging enemies like a bull. He and his brother are the muscle of the team, their battle axes glinting. They both built like the Hulk, more muscular than fitness freaks, and both of them share a similar love of violence.
"Might I suggest simply talking to them. Surely they might understand, right?" my light-squared Bishop piped up. He is dressed all in white, with a church's bishop's outfit, holding a staff for close range attacks and a bow and arrow for sniping.
"No. Show them your power, Your Majesty." the dark-squared Bishop said. I always have liked him more. He's more sinister compared to his opposite.
"Whatever you choose, Your Highness, I will fight by your side." my Knight said. He wears a white suit of armor emblazoned with a horse on the chest plate. While not riding a horse, one doesn't need them with dual-wielding sickles at one's disposal.
"Thank you, noble Knight." I replied. Assembling my forces, I shouted, "White army, I command you, follow me into battle! We shall confront these stick figures and show them our power!" My army cheered for me. The pawns led the way, each one wearing simple armor and using a sword and shield, albeit a significantly smaller sword than the Queen's. "Let's show these guys what we're made of!"
The Second Coming's POV[]
I never realized how much fun chess actually was. It was so exhilarating zipping around back and forth, chasing Red and Green around as they bounced around on their Knights.
"You can't catch us, SC!" Red playfully taunted me. He underestimated me and I soon got him, knocking him off his steed. We all had a laugh for a moment before seeing a white-clad figure wearing a royal purple robe and a gold crown with a cross. The guys and I were dumbfounded.
"Uh, Yellow, is this normal?" I heard Red ask.
"For chess? No. For us? Yes." Yellow replied.
"Why must every game we play fight against us?" I muttered to myself.
"Who are you five?" the figure demanded. I suspected he was the White King, considering the distinctive cross on his crown, his white garments, and his royal scepter.
"My name is SC, and these are my friends, Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue." I replied.
"What is the meaning of this?" the White King thundered.
"Meaning of what?" I asked.
"You treat the pieces like toys, like playthings!!" the White King boomed.
"But, they are toys, are they not?" Green asked.
"We are not toys. We are lethal weapons used to destroy people and their psyches, leaving their minds spinning as they hopelessly navigate their surroundings." the White Queen answered. "And you have offended us and who we are. You shall pay."
"Guys, guys, we can settle this peacefully." Blue calmly suggested, standing between the two groups. "Surely we can talk this out, make a deal or something..."
"We will not be appeased by patzers." the White Rook replied coldly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, that was uncalled for." Yellow snapped.
"What did he call us?" I asked Yellow.
"Patzers. 'Patzer' is a rather rude word for 'Noob' or 'Weak player.' It's chess lingo, even though it isn't used much any more." Yellow answered.
"Well, those are fighting words if I ever heard them," Red said. He raised his fists, and took a fighting stance. "Back away from my friends, or face my fists of fury."
"I will not be talked to this way!" The White King shouted furiously. Suddenly, his demeanor changed from angry to sly. A sinister smile crossed his face. "If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you are gonna get." He raised his scepter and struck the ground. Suddenly, everything around me disappeared, and I was surrounded in darkness.
Chapter 3 (Yellow)[]
After the White King struck the ground, I found myself in the middle of total darkness. It was so dark, I couldn't tell if I was floating or falling. I felt no ground underneath my feet, or anything around me. No walls, no objects, nothing. All I could sense was black.
"SC?... Blue?... Guys?... Anyone?" I got no response, other than my voice echoing around me.
Where were they? Where was I? What had I done? Questions flooded my mind, but now was not the time to dismay. I had to find them. I "swam" over in some direction, but I couldn't tell if I was moving or not. I racked my brain for something... anything... but I didn't need to think for long. Below me, I saw a tiny white speck slowly getting bigger.
"What is that?" I "swam" toward it, but it turns out I didn't need to. I was falling directly toward it, picking up speed until I slammed headfirst into it.
"Yellow?" I heard a voice above me, but I couldn't make it out. The impact dazed me quite a bit. "Yellow? Are you there, buddy?"
I opened my eyes to see a blurry SC and Blue standing over me.
"Ow... My head..." I sat up woozily, still trying to gain my bearings.
"Yellow! You're OK!" Blue exclaimed. He threw his arms around me. My vision eventually returned, and I could see Blue embracing me.
"Oh, it's good to see you, buddy." I told him. He's such a great guy, everything I could ask for in a best friend.
"Are you hurt, Yellow?" SC asked. Blue let go of me and helped me to my feet.
"I do not believe I sustained any major injuries." I told him. "Where are Red and Green?"
"Over here!" I heard Red's voice and I turned around. He was behind Green, who was himself behind Blue.
"I'm glad to see you're OK." Green said.
"Thanks, Green. But... Where are we?" I quickly examined my surroundings.
"By my estimation, we are on a giant chessboard." SC replied. "And it looks like we are the pieces."
"Some real Harry Potter stuff right here." Green jested.
"Well, well, well, look who's awake." a voice from afar shouted. I looked across the board and there stood the White King.
"Where are we? What do you want from us?" I demanded to know.
"Your orange friend is correct, Yellow. We are on a chessboard, and you shall be partaking in a game for your life."
"'For' my life?" I asked. "What do you mean?"
"Well, for your mockery of me and my people, you and your army shall be tested to prove if you are worthy to continue playing the Game of Kings. If you manage to defeat me, I will let you free. However, if you fail, you shall be my pawns, except you shall never experience the light of promotion." the White King explained.
"Am I correct in assuming we are different pieces?" SC asked.
"Nothing gets by you, does it?" the White King answered sarcastically. "You, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Red are the Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, and Rook, respectively. As such, you must stay in your roles and move accordingly. If you fail, you are automatically forfeited."
"And if pieces get captured? What will happen to my friends?" I asked. I'm not sure if I wanted to know the answer to that.
"Simple. If, for example, Green gets taken, he takes the place of the other Knight, but if there are no knights remaining, he gets to enjoy my prison tower." the King answered, striking the board twice with his scepter. Instantly, a tower appeared next to the board, with five layers colored each of our colors. "So... Do you accept this challenge?" The guys and I had to talk it over.
"What do you think, Yellow?" Blue asked.
"I'm finding it hard to think right now." I replied. My brain was going a mile a minute. I couldn't bear the thought of putting my friends in danger, and I couldn't reel in my overwhelming thoughts. I could feel the tears start forming in my eyes.
"Deep breaths, Yellow." Red said. "Deep breaths. We will get through this."
"I can't think of a better person to lead us than you, bro." Green reassured me.
"That's the problem." I told him. "I have always dreamed of this moment, but I would never even think of putting you four in danger. Not intentionally at least." I didn't need reminders from the guys of some other times I screwed up in Minecraft and put my friends in danger. "This is my fault! I was the one who started this! You guys don't deserve to be here." My mind was in shambles, which is really uncharacteristic for me. I was breaking down, dropping to my knees in tears.
"Yellow, my friend..." SC bent down, putting a hand on my shoulder and consoling me, "It's not your fault. None of us blame you for this. Do we, guys?"
"No, not at all." Green, Blue, and Red answered in unison.
"Yellow, you are the spine of the team, even when we all are panicking. If anyone can do this, no matter what adversity comes their way, it's you, and we will follow your command up until the final checkmate." SC continued.
"This isn't even the strongest King we've faced." Blue said, lifting my head up. I could not deny that. "We got this, because while they have an army, we have a family."
I dried my eyes, lifted myself up, and hugged Blue. "Stay on your square, buddy." I told him. I then turned around and hugged SC. "You too, don't move any further. Thank you, guys... brothers. I needed that reassurance."
"Aww, that's so heartwarming." Red said.
"Are we gonna take this King down or what?" Green asked excitedly.
"I don't see any other choice, my noble Knight." I answered him. "White King, we accept. Make your first move!"
"I will enjoy making you my pawns." the White King replied. With that, we all became dressed like the opposing pieces we were representing, including holding the weapons they used. "Pawn to d4!"
With that, the game was on.
Chapter 4 (Green)[]
As much as I hate to admit it, I am not the best at chess. That honor would have to go to Yellow, who has much more experience about this game. Still, after seeing it played firsthand, and getting a rundown from Yellow, I feel like I could hold my own against him, for a while at least. However, despite our differing abilities, we were locked into a game for our lives, and it was up to all of us to defeat the White King.
Yellow called me up before the others. "Green, I need you out there now."
"Yes, My Lord." I replied.
"Knight to f6!" He thundered. I leapt to the aforementioned square. "So far, everything is normal. This opening, the Queen's Gambit Declined, has been played many times."
It didn't take long for me to start shaking, however. A couple moves later, I heard, "Bishop to g5!" from the White King. The Bishop stepped into position and eyed me.
"Yellow...?" I asked, a little bit nervous. "Is this..."
"This is also main theory," Yellow said confidently, "but I'll send Blue for support. Bishop to e7!" Blue stood behind me, his staff ready.
"I got your back, bro." Blue told me.
"Thanks." I replied, a bit more relieved, though SC could've also avenged me if nothing else.
"Shall I execute this one, My Liege?" the White Bishop asked. I knew he was talking about me.
"Not yet. Keep him sweating. Pawn to e3!" A White Pawn moved one square.
Nothing else of note happened for the next five or so moves. We just moved our pieces into position. Yellow also castled himself for some extra safety.
"Good, we need him alive." I thought to myself. It was at move 11 when we saw what happens when a capture takes place.
"Pawn takes Pawn on c4!" Yellow commended from his fortress. This pawn has been sitting there for a while, and now, it was going down. The two pawns clashed swords and shields until our Pawn drove his sword through his adversary. The White Pawn collapsed and faded away, our Pawn taking its place. Chess pieces don't bleed, apparently, which was a relief to me and the guys.
"Pawn takes Pawn on c4!" the White King retorted. That Pawn we took had some extra protection, and so, the Pawn replaced itself.
"Guys, keep in mind, some of you may not make it to the end of the game." Yellow warned us. "However, we will not be killed permanently, just locked in the tower."
"Well that's a relief." I replied sarcastically.
"Knock it off, Green." Blue said.
"The important thing is getting out of here, and that means winning the game fairly." Yellow continued. "We will do this."
"What's your next move, Yellow?" The White King asked.
"Pawn to c5!" came the reply from Yellow.
The next several moves involved more maneuvering from both sides until finally, Yellow called my name once again.
"Knight to h5!" I bounced to the edge of the board, happy to be out of the Bishop's gaze. I smirked at him. He just gave me an angry look.
"You're lucky to be alive." the White Bishop said coldly.
I continued my trek to the f4-square, and I could see the pawns in front of the White King, as well as the other Bishop, stuck behind its pawns. I sharpened my sickles, waiting for the opportunity to strike, assuming Yellow wanted me to strike.
"Green, stay there." Yellow told me. "You're really hard to remove. Blue, my friend, you're not doing much."
"I'm not doing anything." Red whined. He was still a little salty because he was a Rook and not a Knight. "I can't even move legally. Every side is blocked. The White King moved his Rooks!"
"I'm sorry, Red, but with a position this locked up, Rooks are not the best pieces to use right now." Yellow explained. Red was still unhappy, but there wasn't much that could be done. "Bishop to e7!"
Blue stepped back one square, raising his bow at the other Bishop, the one who had targeted me.
"Bishop to g3!" the White Bishop stepped back at well, targeting me again.
"Bishop to f6!" Blue did as ordered. I was a bit confused as to why Yellow did this. "If you get taken, Green, Blue will have more scope for his bow and arrow." Considering the other Knight was still alive, I was OK with this explanation.
A few more maneuvering moves happened, and Yellow had me placed on a different advanced square, this one targeting the Queen. However, I did not have long to enjoy my new digs.
"Knight takes Knight on d4!" The White King commanded. That was me. My time was up. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a sickle flying at me. I deflected it away with my own, but the White Knight attacked viciously and eventually got me. I was lucky to respawn as the other Knight.
"You'll pay for that." Yellow promised. "Pawn on c5 takes Knight on d4!" The Pawn had some sneaky skills, and managed to defeat the evil Knight.
"Thanks, Yellow, for avenging me." I told him.
"No problem. Else, we would've been a piece, and that is a recipe for disaster." Yellow replied. However, what the White King did next sent shockwaves across the board.
"Bishop takes Pawn on g6!"
Now, I may not be the best chess player, but I could see what the White King wanted. He was willing to give up a Bishop for two Pawns to break Yellow's castle down. Yellow was stunned as well, but the order was made. The White Bishop took his bow and shot three arrows into the air, seemingly straight up. He then launched a volley of arrows at our Pawn, soon hitting him in the lower leg. Our Pawn flinched, and the trio of arrows came raining down upon him, stabbing him through the back. The White King smirked as the Bishop walked over, standing dangerously close to Yellow.
"Now..." The White King said. "Now we finish things."
Chapter 5 (Blue)[]
I could only watch helplessly as the Pawn to my immediate left became the human equivalent of a pincushion. This move shocked me, and looking at the others, I could tell I was not the only one. Even SC seemed surprised from across the board.
The White King's plans were not subtle: take a wrecking ball to Yellow's castle and bring the most powerful piece in on the action. I saw the White Queen smiling sinisterly, eagerly waiting for her chance to pounce.
"Well, Red, you wanted some more action." I heard Green say.
"I didn't mean this kind of action!" Red retorted.
"The gauntlet has been thrown down, Yellow." I told him. "Will you pick it up?"
"Hang on. I need to focus." Yellow closed his eyes tightly. I could tell he was working through a dozen different possibilities, variations, and repercussions of taking the Bishop in his head. Finally, he opened his eyes and said, "Yes. I am picking up this gauntlet."
The rest of us gasped, knowing Her Majesty was coming, but we trusted him with this critical decision.
"Pawn takes Bishop on g6!" Our Pawn clashed his sword with the Bishop's staff, eventually knocking it away with his shield and then stabbing him. The Pawn took his place.
"Queen takes Pawn on g6!" We all knew this was coming, but our unease at this still was present. The White Queen made short work of our Pawn and stood beside me. I could feel her threatening aura as she raised her sword at Yellow, her blade mere inches from Yellow's throat.
"Check," she said.
"Yellow, let me protect you. Please!" I begged. "I cannot let you go down!"
"Gladly. Bishop to g7!" I stepped between my King and their Queen.
"If you want him, you better get through me!" I thundered.
"Don't tempt me." The White King replied. "But, that was the plan anyway. Rook takes Pawn on e5!"
Another sacrifice, this one a Rook for a Knight and two Pawns. The White King was pushing all his chips to the middle of the table, willing to go all out for my best friend. The Rook delivered powerful blows to our Pawn, eliminating him quickly.
"Sire, this is my chance. I have the opportunity to capture a Rook!" Green said excitedly.
"Are you sure, Green? You will be risking your life, probably losing it." SC warned. Green turned to Yellow.
"Say the word, bro. I am at your call." Hearing Green call him, "Bro" gave Yellow the confidence to do it.
"Knight takes Rook on e5!" Green threw a sickle at the Rook, which he blocked, but this distraction gave Green the opportunity to hop behind him and drive his other sickle through the Rook's back, ending the muscular meathead for good.
"Yellow, win this for me." Green said.
"I will, I promise." Yellow replies, tears filling his eyes.
"Bishop takes Knight on e5!" The Bishop stepped over, knocking both sickles from Green's hands and driving his staff through Green's stick body. I watched him fade away, tears streaming down my face. I could've avenged him, if I wasn't shielding Yellow from an evil Queen.
"Relax. Green's not dead," the White King taunted. "He is in the tower. In fact you can see him." I looked up and indeed, there he was in the prison tower. "He, however, cannot see or hear you, and will no longer take part in this game. Anyways, what's your next move?"
The four of us dried our eyes. Now was not the time to mourn, now was the time to regain our friend. "Yellow, the White King has checkmate in one move." I advised.
"I am aware. Queen to b7!"
SC stepped forward one square, giving me some extra protection from across the board and this stopping the mate threat. "I got you, Blue. Don't worry."
"Thanks, SC." I told him.
"Rook takes Pawn on d4!" The remaining White Rook decimated another Pawn. After the dust settled, while we had an extra Rook, White had four extra Pawns. I've played enough chess with Yellow to know that a Rook and four Pawns are about the same level of firepower, though the Rook has the slight edge.
"What's the plan, My Lord?" I asked Yellow, gripping my staff as if it was my life.
"Exchange as many pieces as possible. That will not only stop their attack, but it will allow our extra Rook to devour some enemy Pawns." Yellow answered. "Red, you might have your time to shine soon enough."
"I don't want to shine. I want my friends back." Red replied.
"If we win this, we'll get them back." Yellow reassured him. "Queen to f7!"
SC slid right next to me, joining Red on a new half-open file and offering to take the Queens off the board.
"Queen to g3!" the White Queen stepped back to cover the new attack on the White King's castle.
"Blue, I'm going to step out of the way. If you get the chance, take that Bishop out." Yellow told me.
"I will follow your lead, Your Majesty." I bowed.
"King to h7!" Yellow stepped to the square on my left. The White King tried stalling, attacking SC, the Queen, and delivering a check to Yellow, which he stepped away from. Red was hoping he could've taken White's other Rook, but he stepped away from Red's gaze, which gave me the green light to take the White Bishop.
"Yellow, My Liege, my best friend, my time has come. If we are gonna win this game, we need to trade into an endgame." I knew what I had to do, but I could feel the tears filling my eyes once more.
"Blue, please, don't do this!" Red begged. "I can't bear to lose my friends."
"If I don't, we might lose more than just each other." I said. "Yellow? Is this the time?"
"Yes, Blue. Do it. Bishop takes Bishop on e5!"
I grabbed my bow and launched arrows in rapid succession at the other Bishop. He was unable to block all of them and he fell over, several arrows poking out of his chest. I took his place.
"If this is the end for me, never forget that I love you guys." I could see the tears fill SC's, Red's, and Yellow's eyes. "Yellow, we got this."
"We got this, buddy." Yellow replied. "And... I love you, too."
"Rook takes Bishop on e5!"
I raised my staff, attempting to protect myself, but the Rook's muscle and battleax were too much for me. He split my staff in two with his battleax and drove it through my midsection. As I felt my body fade away, I dropped to my knees and collapsed, giving my friends one last thumbs-up before disappearing completely.
Chapter 6 (The Second Coming)[]
As Blue gave us a final thumbs up, I saluted his sacrifice. He and Green were heroes, and now, they were locked in the White King’s prison tower. Funnily enough, this isn’t the first time Red, Yellow, and I had to save Green and Blue from danger. That first time, King Purple got overthrown, and I hoped that the same result--a King facing defeat--would happen here, but as for now, there was still a lot of game to play, and seeing my friends disappear brought my mind to shambles. I do not envy Yellow’s leadership position in this case.
“Yellow, how can you stay so calm? Your best friend just got deleted!” Red asked, panicked. I had to admit, I felt some of the same feelings.
“Calm? I broke down in tears before the game and you call that calm?” Yellow replied. “My advice: panic on the inside.”
“Your turn, Yellow.” The White King said confidently.
“Rook on a8 to e8!” The other Rook ran right by me and stopped next to Red.
“Queen to d4!” The White Queen stepped forward one square, lining up with Yellow, only the White Rook between them. Yellow, props to him, showed no fear in the face of Her Majesty.
“Rook takes Rook on e5!” Our Rook attacked the last remaining White Rook, and after a fierce struggle, our Rook triumphed.
“Queen takes Rook on e5!” The White Queen took revenge. Our plan was going well, trade off every piece and let Red go to town on the Pawns.
“Check,” the White Queen said coldly.
“Yellow, let me cover you. I haven’t done much in this game.” I suggested.
“SC, this might cost you your life.”
“I don’t care, just so long as their Queen is gone and you are safe.”
“Thanks, SC. Queen to g7!” I shielded Yellow from his oppressor.
“Pawn to f4!” The White Queen got backup from a Pawn.
“Yellow, I can take the Queen off the board! Should I do it now?” I asked.
“No, not yet. Now is not the time.” Yellow answered. “Their Pawns would become too powerful and too fast for Red to handle.”
“I can handle some Pawns.” Red insisted.
“Too many Pawns protect each other, and will sweep you off the board like a tidal wave.” Yellow calmly answered. “Two Pawns next to each other two steps away from promotion can beat a lone Rook. No, we’ll trade at the opportune time. I will help you stop them, Red, but I need to get into the action first.”
“Yellow, are you sure?” I was quite worried about him.
“A Queen can do some damage, sure, but she can’t checkmate me by herself, especially with you two covering me.” Yellow said. “King to h7!” He stepped one square forward.
Several more relatively slow moves happened, including me getting one step closer to the enemy Queen. The White King also slowly stepped out of his castle, and Yellow gave me some additional support, along with Red.
“Red, now it’s your time. I got SC defended, so you have the chance to feast on Pawns.” Yellow said.
“Whatever you need, My Liege.” Red promised.
“Rook to d8!” Red took two steps to the left, joining SC in attacking an advanced, but weak, Pawn. I could see the Pawn tremble, and even the White King began to sweat.
“Queen to e4!” the White Queen took a step back, eying Yellow with her cold, red eyes.
“Check,” she said again.
“No big deal.” Yellow mocked. “King to f7!” He stepped behind me. “Don’t worry, if that Queen checks me again, you can force a trade of Queens.”
“If I must sacrifice myself to save my friends, I will do that.” I vowed. “You and Red can manage without me, right?”
“We’ll win this for you, Green, and Blue.” Red told me. “As long as I breathe, I will fight anyone if it means I can rescue you.”
“Queen to h7!” The White Queen snuck around me and delivered a side check to Yellow.
“Check,” she said.
“Yellow, is this the time?” I asked. “Is this the time to remove myself from this game? Are you in position to stop these oncoming Pawns?”
“Yes.” Yellow answered. “Red is holding his own and I am close enough to fend off the other King. SC, your bravery shall forever be remembered.”
“Thanks, Yellow.” I felt honored.
“We’ll see you again, we promise.” Red told me.
“And when we do, we’ll be home.” Yellow added. “Queen to g7!”
I stepped between Yellow and the White Queen. In a twist of fate, the White King stepping out of his castle meant that I blocked the Queen’s check and, at the same time, checked the White King.
“Check.” I raised my sword at him. “You know what you must do, and I do as well.” I turned to the White Queen. If she didn’t attack me, I was going to do it to her.
“Queen takes Queen on g7!” My time was up, and I knew it, but I would fight with everything I had. We clashed our swords together, but she managed to trip me up and, when I was flat on my back, she drove her sword through me.
As I felt myself disappear, I told Yellow, “You’re a great leader. Lead us to victory.”
“Thanks, SC. That means a lot coming from you.”
“We love you, SC!” Red shouted. That was the last thing I heard before fading completely.
Chapter 7 (Red)[]
I don’t know whether or not SC heard my final cry before he faded away. I do hope he did, as with our numbers dwindling, I fear my friends and I will not have our freedom, under the iron fist of the White King and his evil significant other.
“Check.” the White Queen said to Yellow.
“You think I don’t know that? King takes Queen on g7!” Yellow shouted.
“You think you can take me?” the White Queen mocked.
“I think I can take revenge.” Yellow replied tersely. His scepter met her sword, and sparks literally flew. He soon drove the sword into the board, got behind her, and choked her with his scepter. I’ve never seen Yellow so ruthless before, even when facing off against enemies like King Orange in a former adventure.
“Holy cow, Yellow.” I was in shock.
“I did what I had to do,” Yellow said, dusting himself off as the White Queen faded away. “Are you still wishing you were a Knight?”
“Actually, yes, but not for the reasons you’d think.” I replied. Yellow gave me a puzzled look, so I elaborated further. “At this point, all of our friends are gone. It’s just us, and I feel a tremendous weight on my shoulders. I’m your best weapon, and if I fail, I will be the cause of all of us losing our freedom, our home, our friends from other adventures.” Tears filled my eyes. I can’t bear the thought of losing my friends, and being the cause of that… I’d rather not think about it. “You know me, I’ve never played chess before until this moment and, to be frank, I don’t feel cut out for this. What if I screw up? What if I make a mistake? What if I am the cause of us losing?” I looked up at Yellow through my tear-stained eyes. I think he too was tearing up, but I couldn’t tell.
“Red, buddy, you have a genuine heart, but whatever happens, it’s not your fault.” Yellow said, comfortingly. “I am leading us. This is entirely my responsibility. This is my game to win or lose. All I need you to do is follow my lead. Can you do that?”
I wiped my tears. “Yes, Yellow. I will follow your lead to the very end.”
“Do what you do best, Red: fight for your family.”
I looked at the battleax in my hands. I saw myself in its reflection, and in doing so, I saw my friends. They were dependent on me, they needed me to succeed. Was I going to let them down? No, I vowed to myself. I’m either saving my friends or I’m gonna die trying. “Yes. I will do that. This King is going down, and we will be freed.”
“Pawn to f5!” the White King ordered. A White Pawn stepped forward.
“King to f6!” Yellow stepped forward to block the White Pawn.
“King to f4!” The White King protected its Pawn.
“Yellow, I can capture that weak Pawn in front of me!” I was eager to unleash my anger.
“I am aware, but I need you to clear a path for our Pawns. I can handle these Pawns on my own.”
“Alright, buddy. I trust you.” I said bravely, but I’d be lying if I claimed to not feel unease.
“Rook to c8!” I stepped to my right and before me was another Pawn, trembling in fear.
“Pawn to g4!” Another pawn took two steps forward.
“Rook takes Pawn on c4!” I had been waiting for this moment, and now, this Pawn was going down. I leapt at it and sliced its shield in half with my battleax. The Pawn went down swiftly after.
“Check.” I felt a thrill I had never experienced before. Now I had a chance to defeat the King and free my friends.
“King to e3!” Of course, the White King stepped away from me.
“Yellow, I’m not finished with this guy. He will pay for trapping our friends.” I shouted. I felt invigorated by harassing the King.
“Go for it, Red. Rook to c3!” I stepped forward.
“Check.” I pointed my ax at the White King.
“King to d4!” He stepped away. I saw a Pawn free for the taking.
“Yellow, I see another Pawn. May I… destroy it?”
“Go for it, Red. I can handle these Pawns myself.” Yellow was even more confident than before. “The White King cannot break through and since these Pawns are separated and doubled, they cannot protect each other, and cannot advance without being lost. Rook takes Pawn on h3!”
I bent down, pointing my castle-shaped crown at the enemy Pawn, and bull-rushed it. It tried raising its shield, but it was no match for me.
“King to c4!”
“Not today, White King. Pawn to a6!” Our Pawns made a barrier, keeping the King out. “We got him, Red. He’s is zugzwang.”
“Speak English, Yellow.” I replied. “I’m not as well-versed in chess lingo as you are.”
“Zugzwang, it comes from a German word meaning, ‘Compelled to move.’ Basically, no matter whatever move White makes is bad.” Yellow explained.
“Oh, so it’s like a pick your poison type of thing.” I figured.
“Exactly.” Yellow answered.
“Pawn to a5!” A White Pawn stepped forward.
“Pawn takes Pawn on a5!” A brief fight ensued between the two pawns, and ours succeeded, stabbing the enemy through the middle with his sword.
“Perfect. King to c5!” I could see what the King wanted. He was trying to clear a path for himself to help his Pawns.
“Yellow, the King is coming!” I yelled.
“You can stop him. Rook to c3!”
I raced to the other side of the board. The White King turned around and saw me. I pointed my ax at him.
“Check.”
“King to b6!” He stepped away, next to our Pawns.
“He can’t get to his Pawns now, right?” I asked.
“Correct, Red. In fact, you’re coming in clutch.” Yellow affirmed. I was coming in clutch? I never would’ve thought an amateur like myself could be the key to victory. “You’re being a barrier he cannot pass, because if he does…”
“I got a battleax with his name on it.” I finished.
“Precisely.” Yellow said. Now the White King was visibly nervous, even more so than before.
“Pawn to a4!” Our Pawn stepped forward. “Red, help that Pawn go the distance.”
“Yes, My King.” I promised.
“A Queen will prove to be the final nail in White’s coffin.”
“And the key to getting our friends back.” I said triumphantly. The White King tried one last shot.
“Pawn to d7!” The Pawn was one square away from becoming a Queen.
“Not today, Pawn. King to e7!” Yellow stood next to the defenseless Pawn, raising his scepter, ready to finish it.
What the White King did next is something I never would’ve expected in a million years.
Chapter 8 (Yellow)[]
I eyed the Pawn on d7, stopping it from its dreams of promotion, while our Pawn was racing down on the other side. We’re gonna get a Queen back. This White King is going down, and going down in flames.
“Well, White King. It’s your move.” I said.
“I know! I know!” The White King shouted angrily. “I’m thinking!”
“Yikes, Yellow. I think you touched a nerve.” Red told me.
"I agree." I replied.
I heard the White King curse under his breath. What he did next shook me to my core.
“Men, stand down!” He ordered. Every one of his remaining Pawns dropped their swords and shields.
“Yellow…? What is happening?” Red asked.
“I am not sure, Red.” I replied. I didn’t have to wait long for an answer. The White King removed his crown and dropped his scepter to the ground.
“I have been bested. I have been defeated.” the White King said. “I concede. I resign.” He dropped to his knees and bowed on the square he stood. His Pawns did the same, all turning to face me and bowing in reverence.
“He can’t be serious, can he?” Red wondered.
“Well, resigning is allowed in a chess game.” I explained.
“I resign, OK?!” The White King shouted, furious. He sighed and continued, “I clearly underestimated you stick figures. You are a great leader, Yellow. You and your friends have proven yourself worthy of the Game of Kings.”
“Well… Thank you, Your Majesty.” I replied, taken aback.
“I am a man of my word. You and your friends are free.” The White King took his scepter and struck the board with it. I suddenly was surrounded by black once again.
I then heard several distorted voices above me.
“Are you OK, bro?”
“He still has a pulse. He should be fine.”
“Oh, Yellow, please wake up.”
“Don’t do this to me, bestie. Please!”
When I opened my eyes, I saw what looked like my friends standing over me.
“Blue? SC? Green?” I was unsure if I was seeing things or not.
“Yellow!” Blue shouted excitedly. He threw his arms around me in a loving embrace.
“Where are we?” I asked, my head spinning.
“We’re home, bro! We are home!” Green exclaimed. I looked around, my vision soon returning completely, and we were on the friendly confines of Alan’s PC.
“All thanks to you, Yellow. You did it, you saved us” SC congratulated me and helped me to my feet.
“It was a group effort,” I said, “and I couldn’t have done it without any of you. But you, Red, you did it.”
“I did? What did I do?” Red asked.
“You saved us.” I told him.
“Me? All I did was follow your command. You had the biggest part to play.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Red. You did what you do best: you fought for your family.”
“Wait, wait, wait, Red was the last one standing, besides you, Yellow?” Green asked.
“He sure was.” I replied.
“Wow. Talk about an underdog story.” Blue said, quite impressed.
“Well done, Red.” SC complimented, patting Red on the back.
“Guys, guys…” Red said, tears of joy filling his eyes. “I’m just glad you guys are OK. That alone is thanks enough, but let’s give Yellow some praise for guiding us through it.”
“You guys don’t have to.” I insisted.
“You deserve it, buddy.” Red said. “Thanks for everything.”
“To Yellow, the King of the game!” Green cheered.
“To Yellow, a proven leader.” SC said.
“To Yellow, the greatest friend one could ask for.” Blue said.
“To Yellow,” said an unexpected voice. I turned around and there was the White King, speaking to me. “a player who has proven himself worthy of this game.”
“Whoa, White King, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I came to do what any honorable chess player does after a game: He shakes the opponent’s hand.” He extended his hand. I was a little skeptical, but decided to shake it anyway. “Good game.” He said.
“Good game.” I replied.
“You five have truly earned my respect, and you have my permission to keep playing chess.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” I bowed before him. He did the same to me.
“Continue growing, continue learning. This game has so much to offer."
"We will. Thank you, Sire." I replied.
"Until the next game… Farewell.”
“Farewell, White King.” we said in unison. The White King struck the ground twice, and disappeared. We looked up, and there was the chess.com tab still open, the King’s icon back on its starting square.
“Wow, what an adventure!” Red said excitedly.
“Indeed, that was quite the emotional rollercoaster.” I agreed.
“Hey, Yellow… I have to ask, were you serious about me coming in clutch?” Red asked.
“Of course, Red. I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true.”
“You have no idea how much that means to me. I mean, never before have I played this game, and now… am I a hero?”
“You are, Red. And, I know you think of chess as a smart person’s game. I hope you realize now that anyone can play it, and you don’t need to have an IQ of 200 to succeed at it.”
“I do now.” Red said. “Thank you for showing it to me, to all of us. Right, fellas?”
“For sure.” Green said. “To be honest, Yellow, it was really fun. Well, for the time I was able to play.”
“I agree. I never knew chess could be so intense.” SC added. “We’ll have to play again sometime soon.”
“I’m glad you all enjoy it, but now, I think I need to unwind for a while, take a break from chess for at least a couple of days.” I admitted.
“Sure thing, buddy.” Blue said. “What are you thinking of doing?”
“Sudoku. Surely the numbers won’t come to life… right?” I wondered.
“Knowing us, Yellow, that might happen.” SC quipped. We laughed, but SC’s statement probably has a lot more truth to it than we’d like to admit.
“But no matter what adventure comes our way,” Green proclaimed.
“We’ll make it through, as a family.” Red finished.
“Well said, Red. Well said.” Blue complimented.
The five of us headed out, all of us dreaming of what the next chapter of our lives will hold.