#He has the Queen in checkmate instead of the king (I wanted it to represent the fairy queen)

[eliseyweeseylol]

POV: the you’re a fairy and the silly little dark unicorn is making you play chess with him

I was in between doing like really cheap dollar tree plastic chess pieces (cuz he would totally use them 😭) or fancy expensive ones, but I ended up doing the fancy marble ones because they're more fun to draw. Anyways I have like the symbolism for the placement of the chess pieces and stuff in the tags cuz most likely no sane people want to read it 😭 @lunar-lurker

[blackosprey]

So let's talk about that kh3 chess game and foreshadowing

(Will contain minor spoilers from the opening and trailers. Nothing too crazy. I'd put it under a cut but I'm stuck with mobile)

Chess is a well-worn cliche. Wanna not-so-subtly imply that two people are at the head of a battle of strategy and wits? Maybe you just want to show someone is intelligent, devious, or a strategist? Or hey maybe if you just wanna make an r/iamverysmart archetype to mock, chess is there for ya.

Chess imagery has been featured heavily in KH3's promotion, both in its OP and trailers, and all the usual implications are there... Xehanort is a villain sue I mean "cunning tactician" and he is Very Smart and the pieces all represent characters and KH3 will be a battle between opposing sides. Who'da thought.

What I find a little more interesting is the rather fitting metaphor that the RULES of chess create within this context.

For those who don't know, the goal of chess is to kill the other side's king while protecting your own. The king, despite being a piece with incredibly limited in terms of range and speed (it is only slightly better than a pawn) is the most vital piece of the game. Essentially the game hinges on the survival of a damsel in distress. Even though rooks, knights, bishops, and queens are far more versatile and dangerous, they are ultimately disposable; if it means the king stays safe or the other side it put into a bad position, then it's acceptable to even lose your queen.

A king, by itself, is utterly helpless. And if both sides only have kings left, the game is a stalemate. No one wins. Bad either way.

It seems like Sora and Xehanort are the kings of this game. Sora isn't the most powerful keyblade wielder by far, and yet everything hinges on him. His belief that his own strength comes from others and his statement that he "can't do this alone" reflect a king's complete helplessness when isolated. And, based on the snippets from trailers, more talented and powerful wielders are going to sacrifice themselves so he can stay alive.

So, being isolated from his friends and surrounded by enemies in Scala ad Caelum would pretty much mean checkmate.

... of course that's not to say it'll end that way. This is a game that only resembles chess, after all. And, the OP ends with both Young Xehanort and Sora, their pieces in the other's hand. Maybe this will come down to a stalemate of 2 kings, and maybe they will be able to actually directly fight instead of coming to an impasse. Maybe they'll destroy eachother simultaneously. Maybe someone will just stand up and send the whole chessboard flying and demand they play checkers instead. We'll see soon enough.

[mama-m1na]

Of Queens and Drum Majors: Prologue

                                                    ~~~0~~~

I felt my body freeze as I took in the sight of what had happened a few feet away from me.

I had never felt a deep attachment to my parents but I would never ask for this. I would never wish for them to be killed right in front of me.

“Get that brat!”

Those three words was all it took for me to bolt back out of the doorway as fast as I could through the dead halls of the castle.

‘Where is everyone?’ I thought to myself as I weaved through my home, doing my best to avoid the people after me.

I had just caught sight of one of the guards in the distance but was quickly halted by a blast of light that was too quick for me to avoid.

When I opened my eyes I was lying on my back in the throne room before the stained glass mural of the Moon Goddess Mayari and the mace each ruler of Ibadora would hold.

It hurt for me to even move at this point and I could feel the blood running down my face and pooling at my back.

“Man, I almost feel sorry for this worthless kingdom,” laughed a foreign man as he walked closer, “This was almost too easy.”

I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall freely as they came closer with their swords drawn.

“Anak,” spoke a smooth, almost distorted voice, “Papayagan mo bang mangyari nito? Na pinatay ng mama et papa mo. Ano sila ma gawa sa tao mo?”

I opened my eyes and turned to the mural of our deity to see the full moon glowing brightly through the glass.

“Ikaw ng Ibadora, ano ikaw ma dawa na?”

I slowly stood up on shaky legs as my charred robes swayed with my movement, earning chuckles from the men behind me.

‘They sure are cocky for low lifes that couldn’t even face my parents face to face,’ I thought bitterly as I limped over to the stand holding up the mace, ‘Cowards is all they are.’

I could still hear their laughter even as I grasped onto the black staff, even as I felt a surge of energy flow through me as I turned to them with a glare.

They only stopped laughing when the energy had finally died down leaving me in a purple outfit with a light purple obi decorated with white peacocks and gold outlines as well as black fox ears a top my head with nine matching fox tails flicking angrily behind me.

“Do you wish to continue mocking this ‘worthless kingdom’?” I growled, gripping tightly onto the mace, stepping closer as I could hear the distant sound of the guards coming, “Your country must not have tried to invade before.”

“Sige, Anak, ipakita sa kanila ng lakas mo.”

“Do you understand the mistake you’ve just made?” I asked as the doors burst open to allow my guards to surround them, “Now I have one question for you which will decide your punishment.”

I could see the fear in their eyes as I stepped closer, the only sound being the click of my heels on the stone floors.

“Are you sorry for what you’ve just done?” I asked as I knelt to keep them focused on my gold splattered, brown irises.

I could practically hear their increased heartbeats before one answered.

“No.”

My ears twitched atop my head before I slowly stood back up with a frown and let out a deep sigh.

“Shame,” I said taking the mace in my right hand, “You would have lived if you had told the truth.”

My hair began to float around me as I spoke my command.

“Residing spirits of sorrow, malice, and revenge, I call upon you to heed my orders,” I said, tapping the bottom of the mace on the floor.

Even the guards faltered as before them two shadows rose from the ground before solidifying into two humanoid figures kneeling before me.

The pair were very similar in looks, the only differences I could find were their genders and length of hair.

“We have answered your call, My Queen,” both spoke in unison, “What do you ask of us?”

“Punish the murderers,” I ordered, pointing the ball of my mace past the pair at the three males looking up at me with wide eyes.

“As you wish, My Queen,” they both answered with a smirk before standing and turning to the three males.

“Well done, Anak.”

Three weeks later I was dressed in the same pink robes my mother wore just weeks ago as I was prepped for my coronation, the only difference was the light purple obi tied around my waist.

As I stood in front of my kingdom, waiting for the priest to place the crown on my head I noticed many representatives from our allied countries.

“Ingat ka, Anak, baka ma pagmamanipula ka.”

‘Alam ko yun,’ I thought bowing my head as the golden circlet was placed upon my brown.

To seal my status as the new Queen of Ibadora I was once again given the mace and as soon as it came into my hands it’s form changed slightly.

The once silver ball had turned gold and gold chains were wrapped tightly around the black staff claiming it as my own.

“Long live Queen Kitsami Verum Princeps Ibadora!”

As the festivities went on I interacted with many of my people and some of those visiting from neighboring countries to witness this.

It was quite overwhelming so I decided to step out to my garden in order to get some fresh air; however, that was quickly interrupted as two shadows dashed behind me and a yelp was heard.

“Kalungkutan, Malisya,” I called with a sigh before turning around to see the two spirits looming over a man from Espagne, “Calm thyselves.”

“My Queen,” the female called as her bright yellow irises turned down to meet my own, “Meron ng ahas sa hardin mo.”

“Alam ko yun pero hindi ko kayang magsimula ng isang digmaan ngayon,” I replied as the two backed off the foreign man. 

“We just want to keep you safe, My Queen,” the deep voice of Kalungkutan responded as  the spirits stood on either side of me.

I nodded before turning to the man and asked, “What can I help you with?”

“I would just like to know who your regent would be so I can report it back to my King,” the man spoke with a smile as the two spirits glared daggers at the man.

“Are you shitting me?” Malisya asked through gritted teeth.

“You do realize that question is extremely rude considering the fact Her Highness has just ascended to the throne, correct?” Kalungkutan asked.

“I mean no offence to Her Highness in anyway, it’s just that she is but a child,” the man tried to explain as my eyes narrowed.

“I am not a complete child,” she replied with a frown, “I have been through schooling all of my life in order to rule and I have various assistants and secretaries to help me if there is confusion.”

“I know that; however, you have a life ahead of you and you should live it through while you still can,” the man explained, chuckling nervously.

“Are you suggesting that instead of learning how to rule my country I stay ignorant and vulnerable?” I asked with a small grin, “That I leave decisions up to someone else who will most likely do things vaguely just because I’m young instead of seeing the situation myself and making decisions based on the evidence I have collected myself? Are you saying that I should stay weak and let another nation walk all over me?”

The man’s eyes widened as he heard my last statement and I couldn’t help but think, ‘Checkmate.’

“Right on the nose aren’t I?” I chuckled as I began to walk back into the crowded ballroom before pausing, “Just know if I catch anyone trying something like that there will be consequences.”

A few weeks later I was out with the two spirits checking on the nearby ports when I heard a fight.

Much to the irritation of my companions I got closer to find a man beating and screaming at a teenage boy. 

Both seemed to be foreigners but I couldn’t place where they were from.

“Excuse me,” I called somehow loud enough for everyone nearby to turn their heads.

“Y-Your Highness!” the man exclaimed with wide eyes before bowing and forcing the teenager to bow his head as well, “How can I help you?”

“Why were you beating that boy?” I questioned tilting my head to the side as I held my mace in my left hand.

“W-well, Your Highness, this rat stowed away on my ship and we just found him today,” the man explained as the teen tilted his head up to look at me.

“Might I ask where your ship is from?”

“Gallia, Your Highness.”

“I see,” I nodded, “Well, last question, what will happen to him?”

“He’ll either be locked in the brig, thrown overboard once we set sail again, or forced to work off the journey,” the man explained, “But considering his attitude I doubt it’ll be the latter.”

“Well,” I chirped, “I can take him off of your hands… If he’d like me to that is.”

“There is no-” “I don’t believe the offer was extended to you,” I spoke in a low tone.

“So?” I asked turning to the older male, “Would you like to join me?”

He simply nodded and I extended a hand to him as I felt the surprise from my companions. 

“My Queen, are you sure about this?” Malisya asked looking over my shoulder as I helped the boy to his feet.

“You don’t know what his intentions are, My Queen,” Kalungkutan added as I turned to walk back to the carriage with the boy following me.

“And waste his potential?” I asked with a wide grin, gripping my mace with both hands as I felt a surge of energy run through me, “I don’t think so!”

On the way back to the castle the boy sat across from me when I realized something.

“Hey, what’s your name?” I asked looking up at him with a small smile.

“Kagami, Your Highness,” he answered moving his hair out of the way allowing me to see how bad he actually was hurt.

“You don’t need to call me that,” I chirped as my eyes drifted over the rest of him and his injuries, “You can just call me, Kitsami!”

“Alright,” he said before giving a small smirk, “Your Highness.”

I let out a huff before taking his left hand, seeing that his wrist was quite swollen.

He didn’t say anything but watched with interest as I hovered my right hand over it and felt the energy return as a soft blue light came from my palms.

After a few moments I let the energy leave me and moved my hands away rubbing them together to regain some warmth.

“Any better?” I asked as he touched the now cold surface of his skin, “I can’t do anything about your other injuries sadly but I’m sure Kelxi can.”

A few months later I stood before three men who were sent to assassinate me with Kagami by my side glaring down at them.

“I’m assuming you’re from Espagne?” I asked boredly as I lazily held my mace with the ball pointed down.

They were silent as they only glared up at me and I turned to walk off.

“This kingdom will fall,” one spoke as I turned my head, expression not changing, this was the third set of assassins they had sent since I cut off trade with them, “And you shall with it.”

“You little-” I held my hand in front of Kagami, keeping him from ripping the heads off of the three foreign men.

“No kingdom lasts forever,” I spoke calmly, now facing them fully, “and the point of a leader is to try and make it last as long as it can, eventually dying with it. Just know that even if a kingdom is wiped off the map, a good ruler will make sure her people can escape the carnage and live on.”

“As queen I have accepted that role and I know I will eventually die with Ibadora,” I continued, crouching down to meet their height, “and I know my people will live on as long as I have anything to do with it.”

“Your Highness, there’s an emergency!” a maid exclaimed running into the room, “soldiers from Espagne have invaded Queson and taken all of the females!”

“When?” I asked through gritted teeth as my face contorted into an expression of anger as I turned to the doorway.

“Last night, Your Highness!”

I gripped onto my mace harder as I felt a rush of energy flow through me once again and ice began to climb up my hands and feet as my anger built up.

Taking a deep breath I tapped the end of my mace on the ground, summoning Malisya and Kalungkutan to my side.

“Yes, My Queen?” they asked kneeling at my right.

“So you’re using those demons of yours to solve your problems again?” scoffed one of the assassins.

“No, they’re here for you,” I chipped turning back to them with pinned pupils, “I’m going out to respond to your king’s declaration of war.”

Two years later, I stood before the king of Espange in my magical form at age fifteen, bloodied and face void of any expression as I held my mace in my right hand.

My army stood behind me, tired but still strong as we stood surrounding the bodies of the enemies.

“You really are stupid aren’t you?” I growled walking closer to the frightened male, “None of this needed to happen.”

“I gave you so many chances for peace,” I continued feeling tears start to form at the corners of my eyes, “and you ignored all of them all for the sake of your pettiness.”

“No one needed to die!” I screeched as tears began to stream down my face and as spikes of ice came dangerously close to the king’s face, “None of my people! None of your people! No one!”

“Before I end this once and for all I must ask, are you sorry for what you’ve done?” I asked, taking a breath.

The man stayed silent before an evil smile spread across his face and he began cackling.

“You’re still only a child!” he spat with a grin, “You cannot see that death is needed to advance your status. You have a powerful army and outrageous powers at your disposal yet you do nothing with them! It is not I who is stupid, Wench.”

The Ibadoran soldiers pointed their weapons at the fallen king as soon as the insult left his mouth but all the female did was glare before saying, “I may be the stupid; however, I still have morals and I can see this power has you consumed by greed. Your people will be better off without you.”

The last thing he did was cackle once more before large spires of ice impaled him.

I did my best to ignore the feeling of warm blood splattering on my face as my soldiers began to cheer.

The war was over.

I kept my people safe.

I did my job, so why don’t I feel any joy? Any relief?

Why do I feel so… hurt?

Another two years passed before I jolted up from my bed grasping at my chest, afraid my heart would leap right out, and gasping for breath as if I was a fish out of water.

Those images never failed to haunt me, I could never forget that laugh, and now I could never stop seeing how others would try to use me but not everyone is like that right?

I’m doing the right thing by being alive, right?

I have a purpose here, right?

I slipped a robe on and grabbed my mace before walking outside my room.

“It's like we're a bunch of lonely people, testing the limit to see how much pain we can bear,” I sung as I made my way through the empty halls, “Honestly I don't know how I got so far.”

“I did this to me, I did this to me, There is no one else to blame, I did it myself, I did this to me, I did this to me, I did this to me, I did this to me,” I continued as I came into the throne room, “I wish it was your fault, I wish it was your fault, but how could it be, oh, but how could it be, oh. I did this to me.”

“Sometimes I can't move at all, unless I'm certain that I'm following the right path, the right path,” I sang looking up to the painting of my mother in the pink robes of the queen, “In my dreams, you praised me and clapped. Then mommy said, ‘It's alright, there's always next time.’ ‘You did your best.’”

“It's like we're a bunch of lonely people testing the limit to see how much pain we can bear. Not too much and not too little,” I sang quickly leaving, walking down another hallway, “So the world feels much more familiar.”

“And the only reason I could carry on is thanks to my imaginary children, great-great-grandchildren singing in front of my 100th birthday cake saying they are glad, saying they are proud of what I've accomplished in my time,” I continued as I began to walk up a set of stone stairs, “It's all but a dream. It's all but a dream.”

“It's all but a dream,” I sang as the breeze from the roof met my skin.

“I did this to me, I did this to me, I did this to me, I did this to me,” I continued looking over the edge of the railing, out at my kingdom, “There is no more mommy, there is no more daddy.”

“I'll take it head on. Yeah I'll take it head on,” I sang swinging my legs over the railing, “Cause I did this to me.”

Then my world faded to black.

~~~Fin. Prologue~~~

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Picture: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436497388884726973/

Song Used: “Birthday Kid” by Mili 

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