500 Words 2023: read a finalist's story from the 8 -11 category

<500 Words< Finalists< 8-11

This story was chosen as a top 50 finalist for 500 Words 2023.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

The Battle of the Kings by Isabelle B.

As dawn broke, the soldiers stood in formation face to face in front of the castle preparing for the biggest battle of their lives.Two sides stood fiercely glaring at each other across a wide valley. It was so silent you could hear a pin drop. If you listened carefully you could hear the prayers of the bishops like a whisper in the wind. Everyone seemed lost in their own private thoughts.

Warriors stood side by side shaking with nervous energy awaiting their orders from the king. With a mist in the air and the land damp underfoot, the cold seeped into the warriors armour. Most felt a tingle of fear but the White King stood proud and determined amongst his warriors ready for battle. He was so sure he would win he could almost taste the victory. His proud Queen stood beside him tall and silent. On the other side stood the Black King surrounded by his formidable knights.

Following a single trumpet blast, a large cry from the warriors echoes throughout the valley as they hold their swords high in the air, feeling the power of unity. The white king makes the first move. "Foot soldiers attack" he roars. As the battle commences, swords clash, arrows whizz through the air and the first foot soldiers begin to fall. With their knights protecting them the white warriors face down their opponents in a battle of true bloodshed. The bishops pray for the battle to end soon.

The Black King, determined to win, places his knights down the right defence to block the white warriors from capturing his queen. As the opposition reach the other side their king calls out for more troops to attack and surround the Black King and Queen. The white knights are relentless. Meanwhile, the bishops of the Black king have sneakily infiltrated the white battalion and kidnapped their Queen.

With a rush of excitement the Black King now fights back and attacks. He sends out troops to specifically target the Knights of the White Guard. Struggling with the loss of their Queen they begin to lose hope. However, the distraught White King is not intimidated by the opponent's breakthrough. He has one last move. He pushes his knights forward. After a brutal fight one lonely white knight finally finds himself standing in a river of blood right in front of the Black King, who has nowhere to go.

"CHECKMATE" shouts Jack jumping out of his chair with glee. "I have done it! I have finally beaten the chess master." and he runs off to tell his mum. His grandad sits back and crosses his arms in utter disbelief.

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