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—START—
2020 Japan Cup, a race that normally was famous by itself by virtue of being Japan’s most known International G1 and one of the steps of the Senior Triple Crown of autumn.
This year was just much more grand for the participants that were running, specially on the side of Japanese Umamusume.
The presentations had already passed, all participants stretching and checking their outfits to ensure they find themselves at perfect capacity for the race, tension and determination sweeping all of them.
They began to call for them to enter their gates.
Almond eye, the Triple Tiara winner of two years ago and a record breaking G1 winner on gate number 2. The appearance of a hero with beautiful Star eyes that dazzled the audience, as her white and blue Racing Outfit complimented her figure.
Completely pumped and excited, she entered her gate.
Contrail, this year undefeated Triple Crown, a monster that tore with efficiency and power all other runners of her path to victory on her classic year on gate number 6. Black long hair tied into a singular low ponytail, a military like Racing Outfit of light blue color, red markings on her sleeves and torso and white gloves, high boots with red x on each side of it.
Serious and prepared as usual she got into her position.
Daring Tact, another Triple Tiara winner from three years ago, an elegant presence that beautifully raced for years now with a legendary record approaching the race to face the two powerful opponents before her on gate number 5. Her white dress Racing Outfit fluttering as the wind went.
Gracefully and focused she stepped into the gate.
All lined one after the other, each having spent all their time preparing for a race that promised to be one of the most exciting and legendary races of the current history of Japan.
Almond Eye breather deeply, her tail’s rhythmic swaying as air filled her lungs, the smell of turf felt just right.
This was her last race, her retirement. (Shine bright) She told herself, a hero’s downfall was also their most dazzling moment, if she were to win then her career would truly finish with that fractured star she always chased.
Faltering would not be how she would retire.
The gate and the roar of the crow cheering from the stands called her, her instinct fired up with a lot of trepidation. “You know” The words seemed to come out on their own, as if her desire to run against the best had possessed her. “I intend to get my ninth G1 today”
Her smile turns wilder, her face turning right to the two biggest threats on this track. “Do try to destroy that opportunity please!” Blue starlike eyes piercing Contrail and Daring Tact. “That way I can prove I’m the strongest by beating you at your best!”
She threw a declaration of war, her pressure extending over all other runners. Some shivered slightly, others froze for a second, yet her main competition did not.
Sharply an other presence clashed immediately with Almonds. “You would bring such ways to this race?”
Daring Tact being beside her spoke first her ears had reacted even if the rest of herself had not. “If it’s a battle of Domain you seek then I will make sure that my field of flowers crushes…whatever it is that you do” Her poise is calm, but it too has some bite.
“Hero things!” Ai excitedly and sharply replies, pumping her arm. “What of you little junior? Think you can stand up to us without one?” Looking one post ahead to the black-haired girl.
Contrail just huffs, unimpressed. “I know not of what you two speak” Of course she wouldn’t know, only Umamusume who had touched the state were privy to the information of Zone. “Yet whatever it is I do not need it to achieve victory”
The trumpets began and all banter was over, from now on only their legs would be carrying them towards victory or loss, only their speed would converse and only one would be crowned victor.
A bead of sweat runs down Almond’s neck.
Contrail’s tail twitches slightly as her posture adjusted stopping her tremor.
A slow breath escapes Daring Tact as she shakes her nerves off.
The music stops and tension rises.
Flag raised in the air.
And the gates open.
-CLANG-
Everyone had a good start, no late starts or tumbles as each of the runners here do not wish to falter, not when the competition promised so much.
Powerfully and swiftly Almond Eye claimed the lead as she usually did, a shorter stride than she usually takes to ensure her position, dominant from the start on the inner rail.
Yet doing as usual was not going to cut it for this race as Kiseki surged beside her, her tail and ponytail fluttered through the wind, taking a route around Almond and setting herself as the leader of the race early, blocking the hero’s path.
Almond readjusted immediately. (An escape? Ha, very well Kiseki, show me if your fire can outrun my shine) Grinning as she settled on pacing herself slower, almost a pace chaser position yet still mostly up front.
From behind Daring Tact slipped behind, the air pushing against her reduced by the body of the rival with Contrail just a step behind her too chasing that slipstream.
Whatever initial plan existed for the race shifted immediately, Almond Eye allowed the others to pass her, letting them spend more stamina as her stride became more measured and controlled than before.
Packs shifted as everyone’s running style became cleared once they entered the first curve, hoof steps echoing through the track, dirt and grass flying through the air each time a powerful stomp hit the floor.
15 Umamusume ran to the best of their abilities, each seeking victory against three giants of racing amongst them.it was only when the second curve ended that the true race would begin.
They entered the straight, the conditions were met.
With a singular step Daring Tact exhaled, her eyes opening with a glint behind them.
A floral scent would stretch to all runners, soft while light illuminating a path as various lilies bloom along it.
Pressure from the strong, from experience and willpower hits all runners simultaneously. Weight falling on all runners as she unleashed her Domain upon them.
The full might of herself and her experiences, her individuality and effort and her dreams becoming a singular phenomenon.
A soft light emanating from her eyes, her movement turned sharper and her mind cleared. Daring Tact was unleashing everything from the start.
“!!/Axk/urgh” Reactions varied from all runners, some had already experienced this pressure before and quickly recovered, others were much less accustomed and nearly stumbled by the sudden impact.
A storm was released within this track, a storm of petals and fragrance.
Most telling of all was the way Contrail reacted to it.
Her pupils shrank, the hair on her ears and tail frazzled as she remained breathless for an instant, for she had never been put against a feeling and oppression like this, her eyes tracking forward to the source of brilliant glow. (Is this what they mentioned before?) Her mind ran even faster than her. (That so called Domain?!)
It was strength, the true strength and power that Daring Tact held clashing against her run. Contrail couldn’t help but feel both fascinated by her senior’s display as well as apprehensive for what that meant. (Does she have one too?) Serious and focused, regaining the best she can her composure through willpower Contrail stares at Almond, a few paced beyond them.
She was confident before…but faced with this even her pure might felt small. This was beyond conventional strength, a real she had not reached and now threatened to end her victory streak.
(So this is how my seniors run) Contrail felt her muscles working overtime to keep up. (Good, I would have hated an easy victory) Her will would not shatter this early in the race.
Almond too felt that release, her breath controlled even as she felt her own body trying to unleash her own to clash, to counteract it and overpower it. (Not yet) Holding it in was a much better option however, using it would quickly consume her own stamina.
So she kept running even with that pressured right over her head, her foot widening her stride as the end of the second stretch approached. This was not the first time she would run under such a weight.
But it would be the last, it would be her last in general in the Twinkle Series.
Dream Series, races for retired racers, none of those things existed in her view right now, not when she had her last stand right in front of her.
Her eyes found a gap in entering the third corner, the inner rail was left open due to Kiseki’s attempt of an escape.
“Gotcha”
A whisper to the wind, just a singular word said under ragged yet controlled breaths.
One that somehow the whole track had head, and that knew exactly how much more difficult the race would be becoming.
Contrail’s eyes sharpened, Daring Tact’s Domain flared stronger, Kiseki tried to accelerate further, Curren Bouquet d’Or tensed.
Almond Eye cut into the inner rail, taking a curve much narrower that all of her rivals ahead had and in a singular instant burst forward she put herself in overtaking position.
Her foot was planted firmly, the dirt under it pushed back with great potency as she decided that it would be here where she would give it her everything. “Never forget! That Almond Eye is the Heroine!” She declared for all to hear, she didn’t care if a move like this might have been too early.
She was staking everything to win today.
Her grin was nearly manic, she knew that making her move here would move all others, she knew Daring Tact would act as well. Each beath, each shock sent through her body as she ran, it all fuelled her, exhaustion and pain would not stop her from enjoying the battle ahead.
In a flash Almond eye had taken second place, dangerously approaching Kiseki’s slowing form.
A giant fragmented sky would forever be in her path as she chased the most magnificent start. Light blue aura exuded from her body with stardust carried by it, many blue roads stretching before her as she followed her already selected path.
She was a meteor crossing the sky.
She accelerated increasingly, a sickly cracking sound that echoed as Almond Eye’s domain was fully unleashed. A shattering so loud all runners felt themselves loosing some steam as it released such a grand pressure.
The star was in reach and Almond Eye chased with ferocity, hitting the 600-meter mark as she unleashed her spurt completely.
This was her Domain, the slow drain of Tact’s vs Almond’s Insane speed increase.
Said Uma would never dare stay behind on this, she had already been preparing her advance before her rival acted, now even more so she forced her Domain into overdrive, clashing in waves with Almond as she gained ground, passing all others, 7th then 5th, then 3rd.
Kiseki ran out of fuel by virtue of her running style and the battle happening behind them, eventually Daring Tact and Almond Eye were engaged in a battle for the number one position.
Almond remained one length ahead still, one eye glanced back towards her chaser, her stride fastening as much as she could make them, bending forward with a smile on her face. (I am Number One!)
Glaring from behind Daring Tact pushed herself to her brink gritting her teeth as she struggled to catch up further down the final straight, the pressure itself from the Umamusume in front of her made it hard to fight with her own. (Victory will be mine)
They ran, approaching the finish line with each second.
Clashing white against blue.
-CRACK-
That was until someone else pushed the gates of Domain Open.
For the first time,
“Do not dare” Claws of darkness, armoured hands latched onto Contrail as she advanced. “Forget about ME!” The serious Tripple Crown Winner shattered, a tempered warrior rising.
She had watched them run away from her, take off and leaving her into the dust no matter how hard she chased.
They focused on the others…they hadn’t been looking at her. She reached the bottom, she was no contender even as she crossed into third place at the final straight.
Then she felt it, her heart knew it before her brain.
Desire, will and strength awakened under a single-minded focus to beat the two in front of her, forcing her way into their view, forced them to look at her. “I won’t be defeated here!!” She roared as she released a second burst of acceleration approaching faster than the two were currently running, the claws turning into streaks of shadows that she donned like a cape.
Contrail ran, she ran like her life depended on it, like her effort would be nigh if she were to lose here. “I WILL NOT FALL HERE!!”
An imperial march approached with the force of a Triple Crown Winner.
And promptly surpassed Darign Tact, the sudden surge of Contrail’s Domain working as the final straw for hers.
Now only one racer remained ahead.
Contrail pushed, she pushed harder than she had ever pushed, her legs hurt by just the impact on the ground alone.
Yet her shadows were useless here, her march could not catch the Heroine who blazed a path to the most distant of stars.
“You will approach no more!” She shouted in the heat of the moment, with a ragged breathing that she could no longer control. “For the victor is me!!”
Remaining a gap that Almond Eye used to declare to all of Japan…no, the world.
That she was number one.
On her retirement race Almond Eye crossed the finish line first, earning her ninth G1 victory.
Shining more than anyone on the track she said goodbye to the Twinkle Series.
—END—
—Mystic—
