"Checkmate!" Mags stood up from the chair, and exclaimed loudly. Evan Sebastian's head popped up in surprise.
"What?!' I cried looking at the checkered board. This was our fourth game, and I haven't managed one win. You'd think she would atleast let me win one game, just one.
Bella and Melody sat on my bed sharing the carton of ice cream. They got bored after the second game. But they clapped at the sight of her win, again.
"Smooth move Mags." Bella congratulated her. "You're so good at it, you should go pro or something."
"I always heard that chess was hard." Melody said. "Maybe that's why Ariana can't ever win." I gave her a mean look, which she only found humourous.
"Well the basis is simple. You just need to learn how to maneuver your pieces to trap the king. The combinations are really endless. I mean sure it is a difficult game, but it keeps my mind exercised." Mags concluded
Bella checked her clock. "Hey Mags we gotta go."
"Oh my gosh, I almost forgot. We're going to the new chess tower."
I gave them a puzzled look. "What's that?"
"Why don't you come along and find out for yourself." Mags invited
"Ok, lets go." We were heading out of my room, when I realized Melody still seated on my bed. "Come on Melody, you can come too." I waved her over.
"I think I'm going to sit this one out. I'm going to ask Jace if he wants to go to the beach instead." She said jumping off my bed.
"Alright, well call if you need anything."
She nodded, and waved goodbye.
"Bye Melody!" Mags and Bella called out as she ran to Jace's room.
We stood in front of a small building that was shaped like one of those chess pieces. I kept looking at it, wondering how they built it.
"So this is it?" I asked unimpressed. I should have known better, I mean it is called the chess tower. Although I was kinda hoping it was a music store, or better yet a restaurant. Oh or maybe even and ice cream parlor.
"Come on Ariana, look it's shaped like a rook. Isn't that cool?" Bella poked my side.
"Ooh that's what it's called." I finally had a name to the piece.
"Do you remember what it does?" Mags questioned.
"Nope, I just remember it looks like a castle." I said confidently. "So is this a new place?" I looked around and noticed that the chess tower looked really new compared to the other buildings.
"Mhmm. Next week is its grand opening. I heard that they're having a chess tournament to celebrate it. Whoever wins it will be named junior champion." Mags informed us, pulling out a flier from her back pocket.
"Mags you have to enter." Bella grabbed her arm. "You would totally dominate."
"Yeah, I mean you beat me four times today. That definitely means you'll have no competition." I said, but the girls just laughed. As if beating me was no real accomplishment.
"Oh I don't know." Mags replied. "I usually just play for fun, and anyways I've never really played in a tournament."
"If you're not playing to win, you shouldn't even bother playing." said a voice. Behind us we heard heels clacking on the pavement, and the person the voice belonged to. She wore a yellow dress with pink flowers, and a denim jacket.
"What are you talking about? Haven't you ever heard of sportsmanship?" I blurted out.
"Winning is everything. That's what I've learned from the game anyways." She walked to the front doors of the building. "Sorry girls, there's a trophy in there with my name on it." She then looked into Mags eyes "When you want to play with the big leagues, you know where to go." She went inside.
"Don't listen to her Mags." I said rubbing her back.
"You know me better than that Ariana." She gave us a reassuring smile. "Although I'm still going to sign up for the tournament." and just like that she ran inside the building.
"Come on Bells!" I called for her as I followed Mags.
We entered the building. A blast of cold air hit us from the air conditioning. The floor was black and white, and of course it was checkered. The lobby held a beautiful a chandelier. The beads that hung from it made the whole room sparkled. Even though the lobby was big, we didn't see Mags anywhere. Bella and I walked towards the receptionist desk to ask if she had seen her.
"Hello, are you girls here to sign up?" the woman asked, handing us an application.
"No, not exactly." I pushed them away. " A friend of ours just came in, I was wondering if you've seen her. "
"Oh the girl with short black hair?"
"Yeah!" I exclaimed.
"She actually was just called in by the owner of this building. She's been a pupil of him for years." She looked at me matter-of-factly.
"Do you think you can take us to where she's at." I asked her when I realized she wasn't going to continue.
"I'm afraid not. Closing hours are in 10 minutes. If you just wait over there." she pointed to the armchairs on the other side of the room "I'm sure she'll be right out." She flashed us a smile, and turned her attention back to her computer.
How rude. We walked away from the desk, and took a seat. We sat there for 2 minutes waiting, and Mags still hadn't shown up. "Ugh, I'm bored." I fidgeted in my seat.
"She'll be out soon. Maybe she's just brushing on some skills with her former teacher." Bella huffed. I could tell she was getting impatient too, but didn't show it.
I glanced over at the receptionist, who was beginning to doze off. "Hey" I whispered to her, although I knew the receptionist couldn't hear me. "Want to sneak off and find her." I asked Bella.
She looked at woman behind the desk, and gave me an eager nod. We slipped through the lobby as quietly as we could, and ran through the door that led to who knows where. But we were about to find out.
We walked the hallways of the building and found nothing but empty rooms with checkerboards on a table. There were no vending machines, or water fountains. But the windows did have a nice view of the city.
"I thought this was going to be a little bit more exciting." Bella blurted out.
I nodded in agreement.
As we continued our search we heard a scream coming from the end of the hallway. And it sounded just like Mags. Bella and I looked at each other.
She raised her hand in the air. "Rose Star Power!" She yelled
"Sea Diamond Power!" I yelled right after.
When we were done transforming, we ran to the room where we heard the scream. I kicked open the double doors, and saw Mitchie, from the Strange Sister, about to launch an attack on Mags, who has transformed into Sailor Blossom. She was in a fighting pose, ready to take on Mitchie. Both girls were oblivious of us barging into the room. Bella took this opportunity to throw her rose petals at Mitchie for a surprise attack. Which she only dodged all to easy.
"Can't take me on your own Sailor Blossom?" Mitchie asked Mags, finally realizing the new company. "And I thought you were going to be a worthy challenger."
"We are challenging you! Right here, right now." I spoke up to defend Sailor Blossom.
"No my dear Sailor Sea, I choose when and where. And it will be soon." She gave us a smirk and vanished into thin air.
"Damn it." Mags cursed when she left.
"Hey what's wrong Mags?" I asked shocked by her angry tone.
She turned around to face Bella and I. Her face was scrunched up in a alarm. "She saw me transform into Sailor Blossom. I was playing a match with Mr. Lewis and I saw her from the corner of my eye. I followed her to see what she was doing here. And we ended up in this room"
"Why would she be interested in the chess tower?" Bella asked
"Well whatever it is, we have it covered." I placed a reassuring hand on Mags shoulder. Her face went back to a relaxed expression.
"Thanks. You guys are the best." Mags wrapped her arms around us for a group hug.
The day of the tournament had arrived. Bella, Jade, Briar Rose, and I promised Mags we were going to attend and cheer her on. We even invited Leila.
The way the tournament was set up was that the competitors were in a different room. There were cameras set up on each match. Then in another room, the main ballroom, there was a huge screen that showed the stats, and the match.
We got there a bit early so we got great seats in the middle. As we waited Leila told us about her new job at a makeup store. She seemed really happy. Her smile was brighter, and her eyes shone whenever she spoke about her job.
"I'm glad you're liking human life." Jade said.
"Where did you say you were living?" I asked her.
"Oh in the apartment complex in front of Marina Beach. You girls should come by one day. We could have lunch. Maybe you can teach me to cook Bella?" She said hopeful.
"I would be honored." Bella replied. Flashing Leila a smile.
The room began to fill up with parents, friends, reporters, and supporters. As the begin time approached, a man, Mr. Lewis stood in front of the screen.
"Good afternoon. I am Jeremy Lewis. I welcome all of you to the Chess Towers first Chess tournament. So please sit back, relax, and enjoy the game." He took a quick bow, and walked off, and sat in the back.
The screen in front began to broadcast the players. Each of them stated their name and gave a quick wave. I noticed the girl from last week, the one in the yellow dress was there. I wasn't paying attention, and missed her name. The first few rounds, Mags held her ground.
"Wow, she's just plowing through these games." Briar Rose commented.
"She's doing great." Leila responded.
"Of course she is. Now come on let's cheer for her so she knows we're out here." I said. I grabbed the little pompon I brought lying from home and began my cheer. "Mags Mags she's ok, she's the one who's here to stay!" I belted out.
Jade brought her hand to her face to hide from her growing pink cheeks. She then snatched my pompons. "Ariana, will you stop. She know's we're out here. No need to embarrass her. Anyway's she can't hear us."
Just then Mr. Lewis walked over to our seats. "What's all this ruckus?"
"Sorry, our friend just got a bit carried away." Briar laughed.
"Did I hear you guys cheering for Mags?" He asked a bit more curiously. We all hesitantly nodded. "Oh so you girls must be the friends she was talking about. She came by last week and mentioned how great you all are."
"She did?" Bella asked, her smile widening. Mr. Lewis nodded. We were interrupted by the voice of the receptionist stating that Mags, and the girl from last week were the finalist. She also announced that there was going to be an intermission.
Mr. Lewis excused himself as he went to shake the hands of the players who participated. We sat in our seats waiting for the ten minutes to pass. Mags and the other girl were suppose to stay in the back room to unwind after playing so many matches. The girls went for a bathroom break and went to get snacks. Leila and I stayed to save our seats. She kept squirming in seat, and glancing at the monitor.
"You alright?" I asked her noticing her nervousness.
"Me? Yeah I'm fine. Just hungry is all." She laughed it off
When the girls returned they handed us a bag of chex mix. The lights then flashed off and on signaling that the match was about to begin. The monitor flickered, then we saw Mags and the girl shake hands. They took their seat, and the girl took a box from below her chair. She emptied out the contents onto the board. They were chess pieces carved from some black crystal and clear crystal.
"I didn't know you could bring your own pieces." Jade whispered out loud.
The girls set up and the board and began the match. Both of them had a strong concentration. Unfortunately Mags had a few of her white pieces captured. I could see her mind beginning to work out a solution. She moved her queen diagonally to the edge, therefore capturing the king. They went at it like that for a while. Leila and I munched loudly on our chex mix as we began to grow more and more nervous.
"Checkmate!" we heard Mags exclaimed. The room went into a roar, and everyone clapped for her.
"She's going to win!" Bella and I shouted. We rose onto our feets and celebrated her capture. Mr. Lewis walked over to us again and cheered with us.
Then something odd happened, the camera that was filming the final match went dead. The monitor was full of static. The room grew eerily quiet.
"What's going on?" He asked confused.
The girls and I had a feeling. "We'll check it out. You stay here." Jade asserted. "You too Leila." We ran out of the room, and went over to the area where the match was taking place. Before we took down the door, we transformed.
"Sea Diamond Power!"
"Rose Star Power!"
"Beauty Star Power!"
"Mystique Star Power!"
Once we had finished transforming Sailor Mystique kicked the door in. We arrived just in time to see Sailor Blossom arguing with Mitchie. Wait was Mitchie disguised as the chess girl. That would explain why Leila was so nervous.
"Hold it right there!" I shouted at Mitchie. "You've been playing by your rules. It's time to change the game. In the name of the Sea we will punish you!"
Mitchie didn't change expressions. "More pawns in my game." She merely said. "Let's make this game a little bit more interesting. Shall we?"
A dark bubble appeared from below our feet. It trapped me and the Sailor Scouts. The sphere began to float up into the ceiling. Giving us a view of Mitchie and Mags, who were right below us.
"What is this?" Sailor Beauty exclaimed.
"They make a nice ornament don't they Sailor Blossom?" She gave a giggle. "Now let's continue another match. But with my rules and we'll use my pieces." She took a seat waiting for Mags to respond.
"I don't have a choice." She replied looking at us. She took a seat, and the match began.
I began to shiver, not because of what was happening below us. But of the bubble. The temperature inside had begun to drop. The bottom of the bubble had ice going up the sides. Then I realized that the room that we were in was completely iced over. The doors were frozen. No one could get in, or out. Unless Mags won. Which I had no doubt in my mind that she would.
"Ugh some rules." I heard Mags complain. "If you're such great player you wouldn't need to cheat your way through."
"Oh you'll find the rules quite fair...to me." She grinned wickedly. She moved one of her pawns and captured Mags piece.
We heard ice crackling below us. "Guys look!" I pointed to Mags blue boots.
"Did I forget to mention that each time you lose a piece, a piece of you gets frozen." Mitchie inform her.
"Sailor Blossom don't give in!" Sailor Rose yelled out.
"We believe in you!" I shouted.
"That's right! Even though she's cheating!" Sailor Mystique added.
"Just play the game." Mags huffed. I could tell she wasn't going to give up so easily. She continued moving her pieces, trying to dodge being captured. As she continue to participate in Mitchies horrible scheme, she lost another piece. Now her whole torso was frozen. The only thing that was free was her arms.
I couldn't take it any more. I was not going to sit here and watch my friend turn into a popscicle. I pounded on the ice bubble. "Blossom stop now!"
"I can't watch this anymore. I'm going to get her out." Sailor Mystique said. "Golden Fire Inferno!" Her fire rebounded off the icy shell and began to swirl inside the bubble. We ducked hoping not get burn. The fire died out after a few seconds.
We all looked at Jade with a hint of anger in our eyes. She brushed off the looks, "Sorry you guys"
"Checkmate." We heard Mitchie say. "Should we continue?"
Mags looked at her intently, but answered nothing.
"You have pawns in the game, my dear." Mitchie continued. "That's probably why you're losing."
"They're not pawns!" Sailor Blossom yelled out. She pointed at us. "They are friends. My friends."
"You call them friends. I call them pawns. I didn't know people in this century had friends." She stood up from the game.
"Everyone has friends. I will fight to save them Mitchie. Just like they would for me."
Mitchie took a seat again. She was thinking of a new way to challenge her. But before she came up with something, Zenon and Alex appeared behind her.
"Nice work Mitchie." Alex looked impressed with how far her sister had come.
"I think we came just in time." Zenon looked around the room.
"You mean right when its almost over?" Mitchie raised her eyebrow.
"Well Undertow has to think that we had something to do with this. You know how it is Mitchie." Zenon placed her hand on her shoulder. "Just to claim a tiny piece of the credit."
Mitchie shook her sister off, and continued to play against Mags. As she was about to capture Mags last piece, a rose hit her hand and shattered one of her pieces.
"Tuxedo Mask" I whispered. The ice that trapped Sailor Blossom and the rest of the Sailor Scouts had melted. We landed on the ground not so gracefully.
Mitchie held her hand, looking for the cut. She then searched the room to find him. When she spotted him in the corner of the room, her confidence had shifted.
"Farewell Sailor Scouts." He simply said and vanished.
I honestly have no idea how he got in with the whole room being frozen shut. But now that all five sailor scouts were free, we had a fighting chance against the sisters.
Mitchie began to panic and turned to Zenon and Alex, who were still trying to process what had just happened. "Can you girls help me?"
"No way. You blew it Mitchie. Big time." replied Zenon.
Alex shook her head in disappointment. "I'd hate to think what Undertow is going to do with you. If I were you, I wouldn't come back."
Zenon and Alex gave her a small wave, and vanished without another word. Mitchie's shoulder slouched, and I could hear her weeping. She passed it off as a chuckle and turned to face us. "What do you know. Even sisters let you down." She shrugged. " But I never really expected anything else." She looked around the room and saw our surprised face. "Hey don't look so glum. You girls won. " She began to laugh, and then to heavily cry. "I can't do this anymore! Forces of the NegaSea take me now!"
Her power had created a polar vortex inside the room. The walls had more ice cover them. Cold air hit our faces. Snow was beginning to shower us.
"There is no such thing as love. Why didn't I see it sooner?" The cold was beginning to cover her. The ice was snaking its way up her body. Only her head was free.
"No Mitchie you're wrong!" I heard a voice calling out from behind us. We turned to see who it was. Running toward her sister was Leila. How did she manage to get in here?
Mitchie didn't react to her being there. "Go ahead and laugh Leila. I deserve it."
"I'm not going to laugh. I'm here for you Mitchie." She said trying to reach her. The wind had gotten so much stronger that it began to chip off ice. Some of the ice shards were hitting Leila. Her black and white polk-a-dot midi skirt was being cut to shreds, but that didn't stop her.
"How could you possibly understand what I'm going through right now?" She looked at her with lost eyes.
Leila had finally reached her body that was being swallowed by ice. "Oh but I do understand Mitchie. More than anyone here. I know how it feels like to think you're completely alone"
"I can't do this!" Mitchie's eyes watered.
A huge chunk of ice flew by Leila, and knocked her off her feet. Mitchie watched her sister fall onto the cold ground.
"Mitchie." Leila said softly. "You aren't alone. The Sailor Scouts.. They taught me what true friendship is really about. We don't ever have to be alone as long as we have love and friendship.
There was a twinkle in Mitchie's eye. The words her sister spoke to her were being accepted. The gust of wind stopped. The ice shards fell to the ground, and began to melt. Mitchie freed herself from the cocoon of ice.
Leila stood up and approached her sister with open arms. The embrace was touching. Their arms wrapped each other tightly.
"Leila are you crying?" Mitchie noticed the tears on her shoulders.
"Just tears of joy." Leila smiled at her.
I took this as my cue. I brought my brooch up into the air. "Sea Diamond Healing Activation!" The pink light that shone from the Sparkling Sea Diamond illuminated Mitchie. I lowered the brooch when the light had died out.
Mitchie stood in front of us. She smiled so wide. And looked herself up and down. "I feel so different. A good different. Thank you Sailor Scouts."
Leila went in for a hug that made us all happy. Watching them be in each others arms gave me hope. Hope that we will find Melody's family and reunite them just as we reunited Leila and Mitchie.
"You can stay with me now. The apartment won't feel so lonely. It'll finally feel like a home." Leila said.
"Home is wherever I'm with you." Mitchie laughed.
The Scouts and I transformed back. All of us cleaned the room a bit, and went out back to the grand ballroom. Mr. Lewis saw us walking towards the room, he rushed over.
"You guys were in there a while, what happened?" he asked worriedly.
"One of the cables from the camera disconnected and it took us a while to figure out how to plug it back in." Mags informed him.
"Oh I see. I knew that cable was faulty. I'll replace it." he mumbled. then eyes Mags and Mitchie. "So shall we continue the game?"
"That won't be necessary. Mags and I continued the match as the girls fixed the cable. We all know who won." Mitchie winked at Mags.
" Actually Mr. Lewis, we got pretty tired around the middle game, and just called it a draw." She smiled widely at her. "Guess we'll have to continue the game some other time."
"Well then a tie it is. You girls don't mind sharing the trophy then?" Mr. Lewis asked.
Mags and Mitchie both nodded. "We would be honored." Mags responded.
Mr. Lewis swooped them into the ballroom to inform the spectators that in the end the whole game was a draw. They were a bit disappointed, but their spirits were lifted when he announced that there would be a continuation of the game sometime in the future. Parents, friends, supporters, photographers, and journalist went up to congratulate both girls.
The rest of us stood by the doorway watching. It made me smile knowing that Leila had her sister now. Hopefully soon Melody would have her mother.