The battlefield hasn’t changed. It never does. I look around me, taking in the sight of the two armies facing each other. Everything is peaceful now, but I know that it is merely the calm before the storm. It is only a matter of time before both sides will engage in combat.

I feel dwarfed by the giants of the opposing side, but my fear is calmed to some degree by the soldiers behind me. The other members of our army are just as tall as the enemy. I, on the other hand am but a fly when compared to the others. I look to my left and right and I feel a wave of assurance wash over me. At least I’m not the smallest one in our army. The soldiers to the left and right of me are all the same size as me. Now that I take a second look at the army facing us, I notice that their front line is just as small in stature as ours. Unfortunately, my hope is short lived. The feeling of dread returns to me as my gaze strays beyond the front line and I see their King. I had always been under the impression that our King was the tallest, strongest man alive, but the leader of the opposition definitely held the power to oppose him. Their King was the same size as ours at the very least. Even the enemy’s Queen looked as if she was born to fight. She glared across the field at me, silently asking how someone as insignificant as I could dare to look at her. Her eyes burned into me and I could feel my chest slowly constricting in fear. Finally, she looked away, and I could feel myself start to breath again. Clearly, she was even more powerful than her King. You might think me a coward, but I’m not. Only, it isn’t easy, constantly being surrounded by intimidating figures when you’re one of the smallest soldiers in the army. You see, I’m a Pawn.

My brethren and I make up the majority of our army, yet for as long as I can remember we have been looked down upon simply because we are Pawns. Every battle I obey my King, each fight I sacrifice myself for the good of my country. However, without fail my exploits in battle go un-noticed. My accomplishments are constantly overshadowed by those of the larger, more powerful members of the King’s army. However, when you look at things, us Pawns are just as good as any of the others. Just look at the Knights. They can’t even make their steeds follow a straight path. Instead, they ride through battle erratically, like drunkards. The knights aren’t the only ones with flaws though. Take the Bishops for example. The two of them think that they have power because enemy soldiers flee before them. Well of course they do! Wouldn’t you run if a man was coming towards you screaming “Hail Mary’s”? They aren’t even the battle-hardened soldiers they claim to be. After a fight you can find them crying over the people they have destroyed during their Crusades. Crying! Then there are the Rooks, they sure think they’re special. Just watch them in battle though, when they aren’t staying in the back hiding (or protecting the King as they will tell you) they are blindly rushing forward from one end of the field to the other. Of course, the Queen believes that she has no rival. Ha! She may be powerful, but I can be her equal if I try.  For that matter, so can any of the Pawns. The King obviously has to stay behind, without him we have no leader. So, since everyone else is so important, why not sacrifice us? After all, we are only Pawns.

Unfortunately, none of this stops me from feeling apprehensive about the pending battle. Suddenly, I hear the sound of trumpets announcing the start of the battle. The wait is over. First there is nothing but the sound of silence. Both sides face each other, waiting to erupt into action. The calm is over now. I take the first step forward.