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There are times in life when on needs to stand up for themselves, to face their fears with every ounce of determination and spirit they got for the challenge ahead is too great.
Fear and anxiety riddling your being and pushing you down while all you can do is resist and keep moving forward.
Today is one said day, a day oh so very important for Mejiro Palmer.
“HELIOS!!!” Running like a madwoman through the halls of Tracen academy the black sheep of the Mejiro family desperately screams for someone. “HELIOS!!”
The one being called for perks her head from the library, a place not usually suited for someone like her, utter confusion painted on her expression.
Rare were the days when this particular Uma decides to study, under the vice president’s threat, so when Palmer did not find her at the usual place she panicked and began searching for her all over. “Palmster? Watcha screaming for?”
“Helios!! Helios I need help ASAP!” Sweat poured as she caught her breath, as this was the last place the Mejiro would have expected her to be she ran through all other parts of campus.
Helios found this alarmed Palmer to be quite adorable. “Whoa there, take a breather fam!” However she seemed to be genuinely panicking from this, even so teasing couldn't wait until afterwards. “What’s got your panties in a twist like this luv ☆”
Words would have begun pouring out of her as soon as she heard Helios’s question, however Palmer still held a sense of her surroundings…somewhat. “We…can talk about it somewhere else” Urgency took her and her hand shot up to grab her girl’s. “Quick, we got no time”
Palmer pulled her all the way outside, speeding up as if this was one of their races, looking for a place where no other people were around. ”Pamma-chi mercy please ☆” It wasn’t hard for Helios to keep up, finding it hilarious how the tired girl attempted to drag her.
Various students greeted them along the way, Palmer’s popularity having spiked incredibly after her recently improved performance and win at the Takarazuka Kinen.
A graded win, a G1 win, was enough to put her name out there.
Palmer had no time for them however because despite how dumb her screaming for her friend everywhere might have been the need for help was serious.
Finding a more secluded space didn’t take long, late as it was in the day not many people still roamed the academic parts of Tracen when the track called for them.
Still, the not so noble young lady looked around nervously, whatever she had to say it was clear it was only meant for Helios to hear. “Alright, it’s just us now” Letting a sigh out.
She took a moment to catch her breath, even for a long distance runner like herself running the entirety of Tracen up and down was too much.
“Bestie chill, I’m all for helping you out but spill first” She would have normally taken this with giggles and a good attitude but seeing the actual worry in Palmer even Helios had to slow down.
Seeing a place on the ground the Uma sat down, patting the place beside her. “Here, let’s plop down and talk”
“Right…right” Her friend listened, sitting beside her under a tree near the entrance of Tracen, in supporting herself down Helios noted a little shake that she hadn’t felt when they had been holding hands.
It unsettled her, never in all her time since she was approached by her had Helios seen Palmer this distressed. (…Palmster…) The situation was serious, more than she expected.
It took a moment and some deep breaths for the thoughts to settle.
Palmer’s pool of emotions becoming stable enough for her to talk about it. “Grandmother called today” Three words were enough to make Helios truly grasp what caused this.
Now it made sense why she didn’t want anyone to hear.
For Mejiro Palmer’s relationship with the rest of her family was not something everyone was privy too, and those who know of her story would not think a notice like this as good.
Black sheep, the title for which a majority of Mejiro affiliates knew her as, and the weight Palmer had carried ever since Ryan and McQueen outshone her completely.
Always.
Whether it was as children or to this day, Mejiro Palmer would always be last.
No expectations from her parents, indifference from the elders, ignored by the associates. One who’s existence might as well be called a Ghost within the Mejiro State premises.
Even still, a call from the head was not a strange occurrence, Grandmother Asama made efforts to keep track of all of the main family members monthly at the very least.
Someone like her also got a check up call, a surprise on her first days, although it was never one that went over a minute long.
Rather it was the message itself that terrified Palmer. “She wants me to go to the State” Going to a place she would prefer not going back to for quite some time.
It took a lot out Helios not to outright tell her to reject outright the call, having seen how much damage her family’s lack of regard for her on most occasions had caused.
Why would she accept or agree to her leaving towards a place she had not heard good things about for Palmer, one of the most important people in her life.
But despite it all Palmer still loved her family somewhat, so instead Helios asked with the softest voice she could muster. “A family gathering?” Palmster did not need the energetic Helios right now, but the one that would sit and comfort her.
“No” Her voice was incredulous, for her it was like mentioning something she had never expected to experience. ”Just me” The family head did not make meetings like those for nothing. “A meeting just with me”
…So many things could be said, woes could be dug up, mistakes could be mentioned and even…
Pulling her knees up to her chest the girl tried to make herself look smaller. “I don’t like this” A mere whisper flying out of her lips. “I don’t want to go there”
An arm made it’s way to her left shoulder, Helios’s hand, as her body pressed against her in a side hug while her head slowly rested on Palmer’s right shoulder. “Palmster, I’m here with ya” With such proximity that even the gal’s breath could reach her neck Palmer couldn’t stop the pink tinge of her face from deepening as time passed.
“I’m sorry” An apology made for bringing her friend, the one she’d always want by her side, towards her own sadness was dropped in a voice so low Helios might have not caught it.
She did.
“Nah, ya ain’t got to apologize to me ever Palmster” With her free hand she turned Palmer’s head to look at her, lifting her own so their eyes would meet. “As your bestie I’m so helping and I’m so making sure you feel ready to face your gran-gran”
“But you have to face her ok?” Because that is how the two of them had face every obstacle on their races together. “Full throttle, with an explosive start and speed that nobody can catch ☆” Helios winked at her, a toothy grin on her lips that somehow balanced sweetness and imprudence.
“Ha ha ha!” It was such a Helios thing to say that Palmer couldn’t hold the laugh despite her fears, comforted by her presence and warmth.
Not for a moment would their eyes leave the others. “Thanks Helios” Her ears were still flattened against her head, the fear and rejection of that house still rang true in her heart.
Yet she would confront it.
How could she, when faced with a sun that was illuminating a path forward to her with all its radiance, back down from this new challenge life was putting her way.
The two remained together for a while under the tree, enjoying their time together whole letting the tense atmosphere slowly melt away.
Eventually this would end as the clocked marked Palmer’s time to go, the summons towards Mejiro State were not for her to push back if she wanted to avoid problems.
Getting up together Daitaku Helios made sure to accompany her best friend all the way to Tracen’s exit never for a moment allowing the Mejiro to feel the pressure in her presence.
Palmer gave Helios one last hug once they reached it. “Really Helios, Thank you for being with me today” Genuine gratitude for having this person in her life and for her to take the time to be by her side. (I wish…I wish I could say how much you truly mean to me) Her eyes shining when looking at her.
“heh! No prob Palmster ☆” They stepped away from one another, the limousine that would take Palmer home waiting for her. “You and I are soulmates after all, there is no one else I’d rather spend my time than you~”
The girl waved her friend goodbye, walking inside once more as if her words were the most normal thing in the world.
Heat instantly rose to Mejiro Palmer’s head, mouth agape at the casual way such declaration one could even call romantic was given by her dearest one.
“You…you dummy” Almost chocking on those words she felt her heart flutter. “Don’t say things like that out of the blue, my heart can’t handle it” Pressing her hand against her chest she let a bit of time pass and the red on her face vanish slowly.
Then, mustering all of her courage, she walked towards the vehicle ready to be taken home.
A Butler familiar to her stepped out of it and greeted her, giving one quick look before opening the door and allowing her passage inside with professionalism.
He closed them off after she climbed in, now alone with the silence of nobility and class, incredibly uncomfortable. (After a year in Tracen, it’s weird to come back) Time slowly passed as Palmer stared out the window of the car.
Nothing other than the car’s engine echoing in her head.
The driver found her so distracted once they arrived that she’d almost fell out of the vehicle when he opened the door, scolding softly for the lack of decorum and returning to his duties.
Now the mansion of her family, the Mejiro State, was right before her in all of its enormous glory.
(Alright Palmer, calm down) Her gaze travelled up and down the building, not a single thing had changed about this place since she last saw it. (You’ve only avoided literally every family gathering since you entered Tracen, nothing will go wrong)
Pushing the large doors got the attention from everyone inside, workers hired to keep the state clean turning to look towards the entrance with barely hidden surprise at seeing her back here.
It felt like being caught in a police light, everyone staring at you as if you were some freak of nature despite being your own home. (It’s fine, probably just a bit of a shock from seeing me back here again) Palmer gave them a polite bow before rushing upstairs on the main stairway.
The third floor was Grandmother Asama’s office, the place she’d been sited, where every single room of the main branch of the family was found.
Her steps were loud, the heel and horseshoe echoing through the entirety of it while Palmer looked for the correct door.
McQueen’s room then Ryan’s then…her mother’s.
Becoming absorbed in that piece of wood for a moment lots of memories passed through her mind in quick succession.
When she won her first race as a filly only to be told it was expected, the time her tutors had been giving her a hard time and her complain fell on deaf hears and being told to do better.
Her Tracen acceptance letter almost being useless when her mother made her apply for exhibition performative races instead.
(Stop! You aren’t here for this) Shaking her head Palmer quickly regained her focus on what she came her for. (…And it’s not like she is in there…)
Arriving in front of a door Palmer knew was the correct one thanks one silver plate she proceeded to knock on it, hand clenched and slightly trembling.
“Full throttle ahead Palmer” She whispered to herself. “there isn’t a backing away from this”
How long had she stood there, Palmer wasn’t aware but eventually someone did answer. “It is open” Old and tired would be good adjectives to describe the voice coming from the other side. “Come in”
Pressing one hand against the door Palmer pushed.
Sitting behind a desk was the Grandmother Mejiro Asama herself, wearing a dark dress and an equally dark hat that covered a good amount of her wavy lilac hair.
The woman blinked slowly at her Granddaughters appearance, checking the clock on her table before looking at her once more. “Greetings Palmer” Pushing aside some of the content on her desk to give the girl her undivided attention.
“Ten minutes early, good to see some of your manners have not been lost” Palmer flinched, neutral as the tone might have been the reprimand was still there for every single invitation she had chosen to ignore. “Leaving family hanging the way you have been is not what one expects of a Mejiro”
Two sentences in and the runner already wanted to get out of there, the same talk about the Mejiro name was the least thing she wanted to hear right now. “I did not call you here for that however” And yet, the old woman chose not to address it.
Her eyes locked into Palmer’s, a sudden bout of courage surging from withing the girl made her ask. “Then why? Grandmother has never needed to call for me before”
“Is it truly that big of a mystery?” With her right hand Mejiro Asama opened the cabinet to ger right, pulling a press paper from it with an image from not too long ago, the final stretch of the Takarazuka Kinen. “When a member of my house achieves something grand, is it not normal for me to congratulate them personally?”
It was Palmer crossing the finish line, her first G1.
Her throat felt dry, this was not what she had expected in the slightest. “You…watched it?”
Stern, Mejiro Asama leveled her granddaughter once more with her stare. “Why would I not? You are a part of my family despite what your thoughts on me might be” Setting aside the paper. (Even if it cannot be said the same for your mother)
Palmer remained with her mouth half open for a moment, torn between saying something or not.
“That’s the first thing” Lifting two fingers Asama got the girl’s attention again. “Since we’re on the topic of family I’ll raise the second” Bringing up something else entirely. “Talks of your…stunt at your start in Tracen reached my ears long ago” And whatever confused warmth she had chilled immediately with that.
“All through daughters of branches of the family, so I can’t test for their veracity” There was only one this she could be talking about. “Thus I want your account of it”
“Did you truly say, what I have been told?” Palmer could have sworn the room had gotten a full three degrees colder with that statement alone, an invisible pressure weighing on her shoulders.
Something said after a trial race meant for trainers to scout talent.
The thing Mejiro Palmer had screamed after winning for who’d end up becoming her trainer.
“For all of you looking for a Mejiro here get out!! All I am is Palmer a name I will make that echo in history” A younger, more confident Palmer claimed as she stood at the end of the track. “Even if I have to leave that name behind so mine can be seen!!”
Thinking of that day the realization that nothing would ever make her regret saying that came to her. “Yes, I did” Meeting Grandmother’s eyes for the first time. “I couldn’t not say it”
Silence prevailed for a few ticks of the clock, waiting for the answer for her daringness.
Sighing Grandmother took off her hat.
“…”A pressure unseen by her almost began to pull down her shoulders, a weight caused by the grandmother. “I see” Mejiro Asama was not the head for nothing, her Domain had manifested and with it came the instinctual recognition for other Umamusume of her strength.
It was exactly that what Palmer felt, a glimpse of an Uma’s truest strength that escaped Asama in a moment of irritation. “The Mejiro name is an honor, a code and our pride” Slowly getting up the matriarch of the Mejiro spoke potently. “You would rather forsake it?”
Such a sentence echoed in the girl’s head, legs trembling at the change in demeanor of her grandmother as well as the fear of finally being kicked out. (You’ve done it now) Nothing could truly save this situation in her eyes, small tears begging to form at the corner of her eyes.
Mejiro Asama had one good look at the child in front of her, angry as she was and despite disappointed at her words, none of this feelings were for her or because of her.
(This…cannot be something other than failure) If one of her own could not feel safe or even comfortable between the walls of this state then something had gone wrong from the very start. “Tch, such a mess this is”
Despite being a whisper the young girl caught that, her tail tensing and her ears flattened against her head, believing those to be meant for her.
“It is clear that the house of Mejiro is doing something…incorrectly” Everything eased, no longer was that invisible weight dragging the girl down at every moment instead when she looked towards her grandmother nothing but sadness and guilt plagued her eyes.
“Mejiro Palmer, as head of the Mejiro…as well as your grandmother” Bowing completely over her own desk, despite the pain it might cause on her back, Asama gave Palmer something different than expected. “I apologize for this state not being the home you needed and the family…not your own”
This was not right.
“Despite being aware of the difficulties faced, this old woman did nothing to alleviate your aches or burdens as family should do”
Mejiro Palmer could not believe what she was hearing.
“I’m sorry Palmer”
For the first time since leaving this place, Mejiro Palmer was glad to have come here.
—END—
—Mystic—
