A story that somewhat reminds me of the servant of evil song... Mostly because I was listening to it the entire time I was writing. It is a mostly whiterose/ladybug/bloody chessboard, and other implied ships.
Red Queen and her Chess Pieces
Ch. 1: My Queen
The young girl, at the innocent age of eight, had seen more horrors in her youth than most had seen in their entire life. Her parents were killed in front of her by a assassin sent to kill the entire royal family. If not for the aid of her guards and older sister, she may not have escaped the hands of fate, and the kingdom of Vale would be left without its heiress. The young girl was spared that day, though she saw the face of death in the dull eyes of her mother, as she lay on the cold stone flood blood trickling from her throat. After that day, the once cheerful, happy child was changed, becoming cold and distant from all, even her closes friends, and her only living family, her sister. The girl had grown, never smiling, never laughing, only going through her daily duties. Tragedy struck the girl once again when her only sister, with hair as golden as the sun, disappeared while out on an expedition with her Knights. The girl, now the queen of her country at the ripe age of twelve, did not even shed a tear for her lost sister, to numb to even give a damn anymore.
The name of the girl, now fifteen, now a cold, dulled eyed queen, is Ruby Rose.
After the disappearance of her sister, Yang Xiao Long, first born of king Adam and his first wife Lan Fan, Ruby took the throne, looking down from it with a cold expression to all those who came before her.
'Why should I pity you?' She would ask. 'Your family is alive, mine is dead, so what if your home is in ruin? I don't care.'
The men and woman grew to both pity, and fear the cold queen. But then something happened, something both amazing, and terrifying.
Two knights, one clad in onyx black armor, the other in the most pristine of white walked to the palace. They had come to serve the queen. At first the queen did not wish for their services, and told them to leave, but later, away from prying eyes, they spoke, and after that day, life returned to the queens eyes. Not much, but enough so, that on the rare occasion she would smile, and even rarer, she would laugh. A soft, melodic laugh, that brought joy to all who heard it. The queen called the two Knights her chess pieces. In truth, their names were Blake the black knight, and Weiss the white knight. What many found strange was that the two knights were young woman, only two years older that the young queen that ruled the country. Despite this, they fought better then the strongest male knight in the kingdom. They held love in their eyes when they spoke about the queen, and many believed that they were like the new sister to replace the one the queen had lost so few years ago.
If only they knew the truth.
"My queen." Weiss and Blake bowed before queen Rose, to which she simply smiled, a soft, gentle smile.
"What is it my chess pieces?" The queen hummed, looking down on them from her throne.
"Urgent news from the west. The marauders known as the White Fang are approaching the town that rests within the mountains. If they are able to cross the borders we have placed, there will be nothing stopping them from invading the villages in the west. They will then soon be apron the heart of the kingdom." Blake spoke calmly, her voice never raising, her eyes downcast.
Ruby sighed, her smile disappearing at the news. "Send our elite team to the west, have them stamp out the White Fang before it has a chance to invade the villages that reside along the mountains border."
"My queen, what about the villages that reside within the mountain themselves?" Weiss asked, looking up at her queen.
Ruby sighed again, pinching at the bridge of her nose. "I fear that our defense is too weak to defend the village in the mountains themselves."
The queen had a look of pain spread across her face, and the two knights stood, walking forward to comfort their queen. The queen allowed this, letting Blake wrap her arms around the small frame of the queen. Weiss kissed her forehead lovingly, a gesture that only the two knights were allowed to bestow to Ruby. Ruby rested her head on Blake's armor clad chest, breathing in the scent of sweat and wood fire. She wondered briefly where they had been burning wood, the but quickly dismissed the thought.
"I fear that more blood will be shed because of these damned marauders." Ruby scowled.
"Forgive me my queen, if we had gone with the latest recruits, perhaps this would not have to happen." Weiss apologized, hating to see the strong queen in such distress.
"No." Ruby shook her head. "You're place is here, I need my chess pieces to stay by my side no mater what."
Blake nodded, as did Weiss in understanding. They would gladly die for their queen, and if she wished for them to remain by her side that would do so without hesitation.
Weiss took Ruby's hand and kissed the back of it sweetly, muttering against the soft flesh. "We will do whatever our queen wishes of us."
Ruby gave a faint smile. "I know, thank you both."
"There is more news as well." Blake released the queen to pull out a letter from her leather satchel. "This came for you from a messenger of the Western kingdom of Vacuo."
"What do they want?" Ruby's held an edge of bitterness to it as she took the letter and opened it. Her eyes narrowed as she read the neatly written words.
"What is it my queen?" Weiss inquired.
"They wish for me to come to a meeting of the four kingdoms." Ruby muttered softly.
"Do you not wish to attend?" Blake asked, confusion evident in her voice. "I thought you enjoyed the company of King Ozpin and his Queen Glynda of Altas ."
"Yes, but there will also be Queen Cinder and her Lord Mercury and Lady Emerald of Vacuo, as well as King Torchwick of Mistral." Ruby sighed, feeling a headache coming. "You know I don't like associating with such people of violence and destruction."
"Yes my queen, but it is for the good of the people." Weiss reminded her. "You must think if what is best for them."
"I know, I know." Ruby groaned, returning to her seat on the throne, Weiss and Blake on either side of her. "Blake go find me a messenger, tell them to send word to the three kingdoms that I will be attending the meeting of the four."
Blake nodded before leaving to do as instructed. Ruby slumped into her lavish throne, relaxing slightly in the cushioned chair.
"Are you feeling well my queen?" Weiss asked, eyes forward.
"Please stop with the formalities." Ruby smiled lightly, looking up at her white knight. "It just you and I, Weiss.
Weiss smiled softly. "I suppose it is... Ruby."
Ruby smiled. "I truly wish you and Blake didn't have to call me queen all the time, but it seems that we must keep up appearances."
"Yes." Weiss sighed. Ruby took Weiss's hand in her own, reveling in just how soft it was despite all the time they had spent being used in battle. Weiss smiled down at the little queen. It was only in these few and fleeting moments away from prying eyes that Ruby would bask the presence of her precious white knight. Weiss found comfort seeing her queen with a gentle smile across her usually cold, somewhat bored face. It was known throughout the land that when the queen smiled, she was by far one of the most beautiful beings in all creation. "Ruby..."
"Yes Weiss?" Ruby looked up into the clear blue eyes of her knight, smiling sweetly.
Weiss swallowed looking forward, away from the beautiful sight. "... It is nothing my queen."
Ruby's smile faltered and slowly faded as she nodded. They waited in silence till Blake's return. As the black haired beauty walked back into the throne room, she held a grim look on her face. Ruby stood, gathering her dress and lifting it just enough so she would not trip as she walked down the steps so she was at Blake's level, well almost, as she was a good head shorter then the black knight.
"What is it Blake?" Ruby questioned, looking up at the grim faced woman before her.
"You have a visitor." Blake's irritation was clearly written on her face. "The Lady Nora Valkyrie."
Ruby nodded, caressing Blake's cheek. "Do not worry my precious chess piece, Nora is a good woman, you have no need to worry."
"I only wish she would give notice before coming so rudely into the castle as though she owns it." Blake leaned slightly into the touch of her queen before straightening. "She will be with you momentarily, I suggest you take your place on the throne."
The queen nodded, retaking her seat. The doors soon opened, and in walked Lady Nora Valkyrie, along with her dress maids, carrying her long trailing dress behind her so it would not touch the ground. Behind the dress maids walked in her three knights, Pyrrha, Ren, and Jaune. Ruby looked down from her throne at the cheerful looking ginger.
"Good day my queen." Nora bowed at the waist, her dress maids kneeling on one knee, as did her knights before standing again. "How are you on this most beautiful of days?"
"I am well Lady Valkyrie." Ruby addressed Nora in a formal matter. "What is it you have come for?"
"Queen Ruby, can't a friend simply come to see another friend?" Nora question, still smiling brightly. "I simply thought we could have our knights duel. I do not wish for them to go soft, as I'm sure you feel the same way."
"My chess pieces are not going soft." Ruby frowned a look of slight disdain crossing her face. "Nor will they ever."
"I'm sure that is true, but please, it will be fun to watch." Nora smiled cheekily.
Ruby sighed, looking between Weiss and Blake before nodding. "Very well, your three against my chess pieces."
"They are my summer flowers." Nora corrected and the queen looked down at her with outright disdain. Lady Valkyrie's smile wilted slightly, but she merely laughed awkwardly. "C-Come now, let us go to the courtyard."
Ruby stood, Weiss taking her hand in hand in hers to help her walk down the steps in her long, billowing dress made of a wine colored silk. Ruby walked quickly out of the throne room, down the large, window lit hallway, and out into the courtyard, keeping her face neutral the entire time, even as the battle began.
Blake and Weiss wore their usual black and white armor, Weiss holding her rapier in hand, Blake her chain scythe. Jaune wore shining silver armor, holding a shield and arming sword in his hands. Pyrrha wore a golden colored armor with red accents, her xiphos an shield in either hand. Ren wore a deep green armor, wielding two short blades connected to grip handles.
Ruby looked on with a bored expressions as she spoke the rules. "As it is clear all knights have already chosen their weapons, we will skip to the next part. This is not a duel to the death. If any knight tries to make it one they will be stopped, arrested, and tried for attempted murder. Do not go for any vital areas of the body. This is a fight for sport only. We will begin when all the knights are ready. Are you all ready?"
With a nod from all the knights Ruby looked back at Nora who gave her a wide smile, indicating that she was ready to watch.
"Very well, begin!" Ruby ordered, before going back to her seat to watching with only the mildest of interest.
Jaune charged forward, making the first move as he ran at full force at Weiss. Weiss got into position before sidestepping and knocking Jaune's feet out from under him, effectively knocking him flat on his face.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha cried, gripping tight to her xiphos and running at Weiss. Their blades clashed with such intensity that sparks flew from the clash of metal against metal.
Weiss tcked, staring into Pyrrha's eyes. "You're bringing your emotions onto the battlefield, how foolish. If this were a fight to the death you would not fair well."
"Shut up!" Pyrrha used all her strength to throw Weiss back. Weiss quickly regained her footing and clashes again with the red head. As they fought Blake clashed with Ren, using her chain scythe to knock him onto his back. He jumped back up, running forward. The two used their hand blades to fight in close contact, Blake kicking Ren in the chest and sending him backwards, before charging forward, elbowing him in the face. Ren growled, clashing his blades against Blake's.
Nora clapped her hand excitedly. "Isn't this fun to watch queen Ruby?"
"I suppose." Ruby mumbled, eyes watching over her precious chess pieces. The two fought without breaking a sweat, looking graceful and elegant, strong and powerful. She gave a soft smile, so faint that only the keenest of eyes could detect it.
The battle was soon over, the summer flower trio having been exhausted, all except for Pyrrha, who still managed to stand, trying to defend her comrades who now lie the dirt, panting heavily. Weiss and Blake looked at the last standing knight, a mixture of amusement and annoy ment in their eyes.
"I'll leave her to you." Blake mumbled. "You can take her on your own easy."
Weiss nodded, charging forward, hitting Pyrrha in the chest with the hilt of her blade. Pyrrha fell, the wind knocked out of her as she gasped for breath. Weiss looked down at the three fallen knights, offering a hand to Pyrrha. "You fought well, but you would fight better if your thoughts weren't clouded by emotions."
Pyrrha took Weiss's hand reluctantly, Blake helping both the men up to their feet. "Yes... You are right."
"Wow..." Jaune breathed, eyes planted on Weiss. "What a woman."
Weiss regarded at him coldly before walking over the her queen. "Queen Rose, thank you for allowing us this practice battle, but I think it best that Blake and I return to our regular training."
Ruby nodded, dismissing her chess pieces. As they left she turned to Lady Valkyrie. "It seems you must worry about your knights going soft, as you can clearly see that mine are in the best of condition."
Nora flushed in embarrassment. "I-I suppose you are right."
Ruby gave a faint smile and touched Nora's shoulder. "Do not worry though, your knights faired well against my chess pieces. But as it is known through out the kingdom, no one can beat me black and white knights."
Nora nodded, smiling brightly at the queen. "Thank you my queen, you truly are the kindest queen our country could ask for."
Ruby's smile faded. "Thank you for your kind words Lady Nora, but that is not true."
"How can your highness say that!?" Nora looked at her queen in shock.
Ruby merely looked forward, a neutral expression on her face. "I simply have no more room in my heart for love."