The sky was bright, with good weather conditions today, as two figures were seen stretching, getting ready for the race before them. Yet even on a sunny day, the air between the pair was cold. "Shall we begin… Dearest cousin? Oh Ha ha!~"
A cackle of laughter erupted from TM Opera O, as she glanced upwards at the liver chestnut Uma Musume before her, as she nodded back. "We can begin if you want. Meisho! You are our starter. Though since we don't have a green flag, just say when to begin."
"A-ah! Me? Uhm, alright then! Make sure to line up, and I'll count you guys down!" She says, rising up before getting down to the line. "Which distance do you two want to do?" Meisho asked, glancing at the two now readied Uma Musume.
"I'll let Kincsem decide on that one! Which do you want to do Birthday gal?~" She asks, chuckling lightly yet insisting on it. "Mmm.. I think a two kilometre run will be fine for practice?" Which instantly perked up the ears of both Meisho Doto and TM Opera O alike.
"Two thousand metres you say? Well I hope you have enough stamina to survive the race! I wouldn't want for you to collapse before we finish. But if that's what you say, I shall permit it! Two thousand metres it is Meisho!" As in disbelief from such approval, She grasped the stopwatch tightly.
"Two kilometres? Then, I hope you guys have good luck on your race! Good luck Opera O-san!" As she began to count down. With their shoes digging into the ground. "On your marks.. Get set. Go!"
Grass began to grind against the heels of their shoes as it was pulled from the floor due to the force exerted, with the two of them flying off the start line, they were closely matched, yet even being filled to the brim with potential, Kincsem could not beat the one who had two more years of experience than her.
Slowly but surely, after one hundred.. Then two hundred metres, Opera O would form a lead over her by one and a half lengths. Gritting her teeth from the sight, she began to analyse intensely at the reasoning for such a lead, as the draw of her focus became more linear.
Could it be her speed? Not at all, as they had stayed at a constant speed since the start of the race. Nor could it be for external effects. Yet the answer had begun to get more clear as she stared at the running form of her cousin. Long, sharp strides that sliced through the air.
It was opposite of that of the running form she had learnt from her previous life, with a lower centre of mass, it led to higher flexibility, and a higher range of motion. And with the issue of being a Mare not existing in this world, it led to her amassing the full potential of this body.
Kincsem began to understand, incorporating these subtle changes in form, from the way her cousin moved her limbs, to even how one breathed. It was a transformation that was light, but led to gradual improvements. One plus one may equal two, but if you increased your total by one percent each time, it was exponential.
"Opera O-san is still two lengths ahead! And with six hundred metres left, they have started to begin the final stretch..! It seems that she will win, as she begins to pull away!" Yet even the insightful Meisho Doto, was oblivious to what was occurring to Kincsem. As another pair of eyes glanced downwards from the main academy, as though an emperor overseeing their kingdom.
As she stared back at her assistant vice president. "Air Groove. Who is racing TM Opera O right now?" She asked, with her magenta eyes shining in interest. As the Uma beside her replied. "That I do not know completely of, though from a call I received from Tazuna, it seems to be a relative of hers, named Kincsem."
Pondering over the information, she nodded. "That girl's gaze, even from here it feels similar to what Oguri's was which she wore when she first came to this room. She must be no older than twelve, but she is already baring fangs, even at her own kin. Though she is still an unpolished gem. Unrefined."
Glancing back over the race, Kincsem began to slowly regain distance. Yet there were no thoughts racing in her head. It was still, entirely dedicated to trying to surpass the figure running ahead. As she began to accelerate, even if the exhaustion had begun to kick in.
This was not about fun, nor was it for the sake of being a practice race anymore. It was self fulfilment. To understand her current capabilities and to break past pre-conceived thoughts developed from her previous life. The idea of once being of Human Flesh, cindering whilst turning into the optimal structure.
It ignited what had once been empty.
Seeping through her mind was the essence of what made Uma Musume what they were. Beings containing raw speed, and an unbridled strength as it momentarily took control, hijacking her body, as it forced her along. Every step, becoming more violent, as TM Opera O began to feel the pressure.
Yet her laughter was not of surety to win, it was more hesitant, as she herself began to ponder. "By the three goddesses! Even as her cousin, she creates a feeling I have rarely felt. To make I, the impervious Opera O even slightly tremble. Oh how I fear for the inevitable future that we may meet again on the racetrack.. Yet I feel joy in being able to race against such a foe!"
With the primal beast that now began to get rid of its chains disguised as human flesh, shed itself as Kincsem lurched forward, to grasp TM Opera O by her neck. Lunging as the predator grappled onto her prey to surpass it. With a little over fifty metres left, the lead had dropped to only a neck's length.
Their final fight, now momentarily in the cycle of time, lasted for an eternity as they tried to compete for victory. Who would have guessed this was a practice race? Rather now, it was a fight for survival, else the other be consumed. It was a fight of ego. A fight that befitted two such prideful beings.
Yet as they crossed the line, it had become apparent who had won, as even Symboli Rudolf herself smirked at the outcome. With the loser staring, at the backs of who had just won.. "What a monster.." they had all muttered under their breaths as in unison, as the physical toll had led to its stature falling.
With a low chuckle, she began to lean, before falling unconscious. For a brief, yet long sleep.