Grand Game

In the ages to come, the world's greatest powers had played the world as if it were a game. Their objective was domination, and their pawns were the other countries, states and rebellion movements. Once again, the Cold War entailed another game.

Before Game Start

America and Russia sat on opposite ends of the same table. Their room was dim; the sole source of light being the lamp that hanged over them. The light mainly shone on the table, which was a chessboard. It was blue against red, democratic blue against communist red.

"So Comrade America… how did we end up like this?" Russia asked, "I mean, what went wrong since the good old days?"

"Don't you comrade me! We were never comrades to begin with," America replied coldly.

"Giving me the cold shoulder now~" Russia mused, "I like it da. Let's say we begin our little game, with the world as our chessboard."

"Over my dissolved body!" the American shouted.

"I like that flare in you, Comrade America. It would be even more lovely to put it out with my coldness," Russia said, smiling, "and I warn you now… that chess here… it's a Russian's game… let us begin~"

Blue Bishop Advances

"I got my new pawn to attack your other pawn and the bishop. If you don't move that bishop of yours, you'll lose both of them~"

"America-san, please allow me assist you in Korea," Japan pleaded.

"Japan… I don't think Korea will welcome you… especially after what you had done to his people," America warned.

"Please America-san; I understand the situation with Russia," Japan pleaded, "but North Korea is ready to attack me, so please… for your sake and mine!"

"Er… ok… you can help me out…" America relented.

"Arigatou," Japan thanked.

Red Pawn Chain

"To protect the King, the pawn has a duty to guard their King."

Russia was seated in a row of tables, at its ends. The other nations gathered were Prussia, Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania.

"So all of you just need to sign the pact and we will support one another in times of war da," Russia explained, "and I will not accept no from any of you. Now sign!"

The other Communist nations of Europe had no say in this, and they just quietly signed their fate into being Russia's sacrificial layer. As just how zinc would be sacrificed for iron, the Warsaw Pact was formed to be sacrificed at their overlord's will.

Blue Pawn Promotes to Knight

"So I can promote them… guess this must be done."

"America, you're serious about this," asked an eager Germany.

"Of course, you are one of my country's greatest allies!" America said, "We really need you in NATO right now."

"Very well, West Germany shall be remilitarised at once," Germany declared.

Red Rook Advances to Blue Pawn

"Your little pawns shall be mine one by one…"

"America, this is horrible!" shouted a desperate Taiwan, "the Mainland…Dalu… he has taken some of my islands!"

The Taiwanese girl fell into America's arms and sobbed. America could only give a pat on her back.

"Don't you worry, Wan," America replied, "we will get back at Red China for this. You are Free China, after all."

Red Rook is Lost

"My rook is gone!"

China stomped off the door, and ran even quicker as Russia was pursuing him.

"Please China, stay with me. Stay for me!" cried Russia, "We still need to unite the world under one roof! We were making such good friends, no… our relationship transcend beyond all bound…"

"You are no more different from America and Japan, all just imperialists!" China snapped, "I am out of here now!"

Red Pawn Advances

"Da, finally got one of them to your side."

America was shocked by the very images he was shown in the World Conference. There were no doubt they were photos of the world landscape taken from space, with the clouds and all. The Sputnik was indeed launched into space, a Russian satellite.

"Impossible, a fucking commie like you can launch anything into space!" America yelled.

"Well I did fire the Sputnik anyway," Russia said, "and you seem tense, Comrade America. Don't lose yourself; this is only the beginning."

Red Pawn Advances to Blue King

"Prepare yourself, Comrade America~ you are going to lose if you do nothing…"

"Fuck this!"

"Language now and you do have your pawn near me too. So how about we have a deal…"

"What the Fuck!" America cried, "Cuba has nukes!"

"Yes sir," reported an American soldier, "and it's straight from Moscow too."

"Fucking Reds… he's doing this to me on purpose…" America cursed.

"But Turkey still has the USSR on hold with the nukes we had sent to them," the soldier added, "and please mind your language, sir. Your men can hear you."

Red Pawn Takes Blue Pawn

"Comrade America, if you keep up with your stupid defence, you'll lose the entire game. Surely you would want me to have a real challenge…"

"Arg… you… may be… right…"

South Vietnam looked wearily, as a collar was strapped around her neck. Since that war, she was dragged into the fields and made to clear it entirely and without break. With only a scythe and with her limbs shackled, she could do little to resist.

Just as she stopped, a bayonet nudged the Vietnamese to continue. Her keeper was her own sister, who would be the sole Vietnam by default.

"Chi gai…" South Vietnam muttered.

"Capitalist pig, keep on cutting!" North Vietnam ordered.

Red Queen is Lost

"I need my Queen… where is Sister?"

Ukraine was lying down on a hospital bed, with bandages wrapping her form. The three Baltics looked downward at the fallen Ukrainian, and checked through the monitors surrounding her.

"Dear me, Chernobyl had taken her out more than we imagine," Estonia said, "she can't do much now."

"Hope Ms Ukraine don't die out on us yet," Latvia claimed.

Blue Knight Takes Red Pawn

"Yes! I've got a pawn over to your side! Now let's dance!"

The Berlin Wall fell apart with the people on both sides pecking and chipping the concrete blocks away. As the Wall crumbled, Germany gazed over the other side and saw his brother. Prussia and the others were there and running towards the other end. Germany dashed off to receive Prussia.

"It was damn cold in Russia," Prussia commented, "but I was too awesome for the cold to affect me!"

"Welcome back, bruder…" Germany replied calmly.

Checkmate – Red King Captured

"As of today, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is hereby dissolved. Its place in the United Nations Security Council is hereby replaced by the new Russian Federation…"

"Yes! You lost, Commie!" cheered America.

"Da, it was only a game still and a lovely one too," Russia commented, "but you cannot always win. Not Rome, not Spain, not France, not England, not Germany or anyone else."

"Unlike you and them, I do not dominate and subjugate the others!" proclaimed America, "I treat them as friends, my partners."

"Your naivety knows no boundaries da~" mused Russia as he walked away, "I got to go now, things will be hectic in Moscow."

As Russia retreated into the darkness, America looked down at the chessboard representing the world. He played around with the Red King, which had represented the Soviet Union…

Out of the shadows, China appeared and sat down on Russia's place. Suddenly, America looked up and looked at his new opponent.

"Hello America," China greeted openly, and America gulped under his breath.

The Cold War had ended with the fall of the Soviet Union and the victory of the United States. However, the battle between superpowers never ends. As one competitor falls, another shall rise to the occasion.