She awoke, yet not to a white room endowed with curtains in a nurses office, but in an empty room that acted as the bedroom of her old home. In her old life. With this old body. "Could it have all been just a long dream?" She had asked herself. Before a sharp, feminine voice cut in, her accent Hungarian deep as she spoke.
"Worry not, other me. This is only a temporary measure for us to meet. I am… who you consider Kincsem. Yet I have lived through both worlds, time and time again, and thus I can be considered. The True Kincsem. Yet thanks to you, I am able to be freed from this cycle of Saṃsāra. Constant racing has taken a toll on me, you see…"
She says, her tall stature looming over her, a being sculpted by a fine craftsman. Her body now forged after countless lifetimes as her eyes glistened, filled with the knowledge and experience of one who had endured such lifetimes. Yet it had begun to darken, as if mentally drained.
She wore a long gown, emphasising the Hungarian national identity that had fused with Parisian fashion. As a tight corset bound her, accentuating her figure, with dark, rich colours that accepted such an identity. Her posture, authoritative, befitting her the status of an empress as she continued to speak with eloquence.
"Though, due to me being freed from the cycle of life, I am now of a similar being to that of them. And because of that, I can not stay for long. You are no longer completely safe as even if the world is peaceful, the others will try to find you. Do not race with them until you have consolidated such strength. Losing will lead to irreversible consequences. You have a title to uphold."
As she looked down at her body, its physical structure began deteriorating before Kincsem. "It seems like time has grown thin, and so we must depart. Get stronger, for the both of us to survive.. My other half." As her own vision began to get fuzzy, unable to mutter even a single question.
Yet the final cling to this other person never reached, as she re-awoke in the real world. A fist formed in the sky as she got up, body exhausted from the race as several people sat around. Her cousin TM Opera O, Meisho Doto, and two other unfamiliar people sat around, as they noticed the abrupt movements, her cousin huddled over.
"Are you okay?" She asked sincerely, as she tried to prop up Kincsem in a better position on the infirmary bed. "Ah.. I must have over-exhausted myself. Sorry about scaring you, Opera O." A light laugh emerged from TM Opera O herself. "I wasn't scared! As the great TM Opera O, I sensed you were fine!"
A lie that she herself tried to believe in, as a soft voice came from one of the foreign faces. "Are you sure?~ Because the moment she collapsed you instantly grabbed her and-" As she spoke, TM Opera O became increasingly flustered, before blurting out; "I did not! Why are you even here.. Student Prez?"
As she tried to bicker, a hand was laid out for Kincsem to grab onto, whilst she tried to communicate with her. "Hello, Kincsem. This is the first time we have spoken, right?" As Kincsem nodded, she continued. "I am student president at Tracen Academy, also known as Symboli Rudolf. I came here because I saw your practice run, and I was interested in you, Kincsem."
As a loud laughter erupted from TM Opera O, affirming her own guess. "Ah Haha- ha! I guess even my younger cousin's talent has intrigued Prez. Well it is to be expected from someone who is related to me.~" A sharp glare came from Symboli Rudolf, as she motioned her hands in zipping her own mouth.
"I wanted to give you an offer to come to Tracen. Though not having debuted, I see raw talent, and yours is formidable." As she and Air Groove began to leave. "If you want to apply, you are free to do so, just come to my office. Anyways I have to get back to doing some work, I hope to see you again." Before closing the door shut.
Leaving the three of them to themselves, Meisho Doto instantly tried hugging Kincsem in surprise at hearing that she could enter Tracen academy. Whilst TM Opera O congratulated her. Though she herself did not know whether to take the deal or not.
"Hm.. I wonder if I should, simply because first, I'm a foreign Uma Musume, and also if my parents will permit it." She says, slightly scratching her head before TM Opera O blurted out. "Ah! Don't worry Kincsem, I can have auntie for sure get you to enter Tracen, after all I'm trustworthy!"
A facepalm came from Meisho Doto, staring disappointedly at her companion. As Kincsem stood up, being completely fine now. "I will decide when I get home, after my birthday perhaps." As a sigh came from her cousin, almost disappointed.
As two imposing figures were walking back, Air Groove asked Symboli Rudolf a question. "Did you mean it when you were giving the offer to that foreign Uma Musume? I know we started the international programme but she won't be able to participate in any of the Japanese classics, and we both know that."
A sigh of disappointment bellowed from Symboli Rudolf, as she replied to that inquiry. "I know, I know. That's the one thing I dislike about the JRA, their unusual stubbornness to tradition. It's exactly like when Oguri couldn't enter for the triple crown. If she had been able to, who knows if she could've become a triple crown winner."
"Though.. Perhaps in the future they will become lenient." As they entered the student council's room, an English quote was displayed in bold. "This quote is what I strive to be. What I wish all Uma Musume could do. Perhaps she will be able to reach their level.."
She sat down, reclining on her chair, whilst she stared at Air Groove. "You felt it too, right? Even from afar, it seemed as though a monster had been let loose from that young girl's body." As Air Groove nodded subtly. "Is she a snake, or a dragon though? That is what I wish to find out."