"I wouldn't do that Cain." Cain sighed and set the chess piece down. DG smiled innocently as Glitch watched with some apprehension.

"Look head case you said you couldn't play-"

"No I said I Don t play." Glitch clarified " I m actually quite and accomplished chess player."

Azkadellia giggled lightly. "Its true, Ambrose taught me and DG chess when we were smaller."

"That explains it." DG said thoughtfully, making one of Cains captured knights float into her hand. With less effort Azkadellia floated the knight to her own hand. "I remembered knowing how to play, but I didn't know anyone in Kansas who could have taught me."

"Yes well the point is." Cain replied tensely "Glitch you declined to play. Its me and the princess."

"That's because DG is mean when she plays chess."

Kalm was snoozing in a great chair on the Dias, Raw looked out the window at the grand view of the realms spread out before him. Glitch was sprawled on the floor, as far from the window as possible. Azkadellia sat across form him, laying on her back watching the light play on the crystal chandelier. DG and Cain both sat cross-legged and straight-backed, determined as they commanded their little armies across the black and white board between them.

Jeb was in another corner by the dais playing Nojou, a game DG dubbed some weird warped version of Solitaire. (Jebs only response being a shrug of the shoulders and a murmer of 'Whatever solitaire is')

It all started some hours ago. DG, for reasons best known to herself had woken at the crack of dawn, trekked halfway through the castle in the north, found the gloomy musty room that once belonged to Ambrose and rummaged about until she came upon an ancient chess set. Upon asking everyone, Cain was the only one to accept the princesses challenge.

The seven were gathered in the grand ballroom, a place long deserted in the annuals of the war. It was big enough for Jeb and Wyatt to breathe but not so big as to overwhelm small town DG.

After a long game, most of the pieces were off the board and Glitch was adamant Cain not move his queen.

"Listen I got a straight shot at her rook, I m going to take it. "

Azkadellia stopped playing with the knight and glanced casually at the board. "Don t do it."

DG merely smiled innocently up at the tin man.

Glitch sighed and braced himself on his elbows. "Cain do you even know how to play chess?"

"Of course I know how to play chess. In case you missed it I m winning,"

Glitch sighed and shook his head "I wouldn't be so sure, if I were you. "

"Yeah DG 's sneaky" Azkadellia giggled. "She put that rook there so you' d think it could be taken."

DG said nothing, but continued to smile. Come to think of it Cain really ought to know better than to trust that smile. But on the other hand.

"You two are just psyching me out, trying to throw the game in DG's favor."

"No we re giving you some friendly advice Cain." Glitch replied somewhat affronted. "Honest. I've played chess with DG. No one plays chess like DG"

Az merely shrugged. "You re funeral."

Cain growled and took the rook.

Still smiling sweetly DG moved her remaining bishop two squares, where Cains could no longer reach it." Check Mate."

Azkadellia stared contemplatively up as the suns-light danced on the chandelier. "By the way Cain" She pointed to DGs knight. "Did you know you were in check for the past two hours? The ponies jump."

Cain sat there flabbergasted as DG stood up and dusted herself off. "Its alright Cain, I m sure we can find a game more your speed. Like maybe Candy-land."