"But he keeps treating me like a little kid! I need to find a way for him to see me as a mature woman!"
"Didn't you buy some mature clothes with McQueen? How about using them to charm him?"
"I can't use those unless it's just the two of us! I'll burst out in embarrassment if anyone else sees me in those!!"
"But when you're with him, so is McQueen, right? You will never be alone with him if that's the case."
"Uuuuhhmmm… You're right. McQueen always gets in my way. How deep should a hole be to bury a body?"
"Six feet…? At least that's what I heard. If McQueen was always there when you are there, why don't you sneak out of class when McQueen can't?"
"Ah!! That's a great idea!! Thank you, Mayano!! I can always rely on you!!"
"Hehehe~~ That's what a roommate is for!!"
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Alright, you two. It's time to sleep."
A princely dorm leader opened the door of the still-lit room. She has short, sleek, dark hair that shimmers like moonlight on steel, hinting at both refinement and individuality. Her bright blue eyes are dim, indicating she is on the edge of sleep. Her baggy white T-shirt and black shorts only support said idea. She is Fuji Kiseki, the one in charge of Ritto Dorm.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhh~~ Fine…"
"Hahaha… That's how good ponies should act. I'll see you both tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night~~"
The dorm leader turns off the light before closing the door and leaving the pair in darkness. The pair slides down into their blankets and tries to get some sleep.
The future Monarch looks up at the ceiling as she waits for sleep to coddle her. Her mind wanders to random thoughts as she hears the light tapping of rain on the window. Her mind eventually thinks of her trainer. Teio couldn't pinpoint the moment she became obsessed with him, but she is now. She had met all kinds of trainers before, and she was also scouted by some of them. Some who have deeper experience, knowledge, and have portofolio filled with great Uma. So why did she choose a new trainer?
It was purely out of instinct. When she watched how he trained McQueen that day, her instinct was screaming at her that he was the one. So far, it's not wrong. He is an ambitious newbie who many would consider to be over his head, but perhaps there was something deeper than baseless confidence in him. If not, how can he manage to train 5 Uma Musumes, scout a Phantom Triple Crown to be his assistant, and so on?
"Hey, Mayano."
"Zzzzzzzzzzzz~~~"
"Aaah…"
Teio forgot that her roommate can fall asleep after only lying in bed for 5 seconds. Not only that, but she is also a heavy sleeper who could easily sleep through 3 seasons.
I guess I should sleep too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Teio, my daughter, I entrust you with this campaign. Remember that this is to hone your skills and instincts. It will be meaningless if you die."
"Yes. I shall not disappoint you."
In one of the worlds of the multiverse, where every woman born is an Uma Musume, an Empire stands tall through the millennium. The Tracen Empire had survived through many tribulations, disasters, and wars. With each Emperor, the Empire's influence, power, and territory grow, which is why it is now one of the strongest Empire of the world.
Its current Emperor, Symboli Rudolph, is about to send her princess, Tokai Teio, out on her first campaign to an unlawful land to the North of the Empire. It is a land that is filled with countless nomadic, uncivilized, barbaric tribes. It's a land filled with bountiful harvest and resources. A golden egg for the ever-growing Empire.
"Knightess Fuji Kiseki, I entrust to you to keep her safe."
"I will make sure your trust isn't misplaced, Emperor."
"Now go, both of you. Prepare the path for our future."
XxX-XxX
"Yaaawwwn~~ Uuuhh… This campaign has been pretty uneventful."
"Patient, Princess Teio. We're still inside the Empire border."
"Where are the bandits? Where are the thugs? Where are the people who want to kidnap me and take me hostage?"
"Duchess Narita Brian had led an effort in cleaning those unlawful people out, Princess."
"Aaaaaahhhhh!! I want to move my body!!"
In a world where every girl is born as an Uma Musume, the society developed as a matriarchal society. Being stronger than the other gender has helped women of this world to gain power and eventually lead society.
"I do hope you still remember our plan, Princess."
"I know… I know… Enter the unlawful land, map out the possible route to seize the first sector, test the might of the barbarians living there, and then dip out. Sigh… I'm not that stupid, Fuji."
"I didn't think you were one, Princess. Quite the opposite. You're a genius, in battle only."
"Alright, partner stealers. No need to get sarcastic with me."
"Please don't call me that. I never really steal someone's partner."
Rarely anything can outspeed an Uma Musume in this world, and they also have a lot of energy, so Umanity doesn't tame animals to ride them for speed, but for something else. For example, the cavalry in the convoy that is led by Princess Teio is using rhinocherous as their ride. They don't provide speed as they're unmistakably slower than an Uma Musume, but they do provide protection. The cavalry unit in this world isn't used to strike quickly into enemy lines, but to stay back and become a moving fortress. An injured Uma Musume can get behind the cavalry line to avoid getting killed.
"Tomorrow, we will start moving through the unlawful lands. Please get a proper sleep tonight."
"I know…"
XxX-XxX
"Princess, report! There's a village approximately six hundred and thirteen meters northwest of our current position."
"Finally! Action!"
"Princess."
"Uhm!! Describe the terrain, soldier."
"Yes! There's a running river in the northwest of the village. There's a hill southwest of the village. On the east is a vast grassland."
"Perfect! We can use the river and the hill to corner them!"
"Hmm… I don't think that's a good idea. We're up against an unknown enemy. We don't know what they can do."
Fuji Kiseki chimes in when the Princess was about to make up her strategy.
"And an animal is at their most dangerous when it's cornered. We're still in the middle of a campaign, Princess. We still minimize casualties as much as possible."
"I see… Then, cavalry will lead the encroachment from the southeast. The foot soldiers will back them up. Fuji Kiseki, I'll leave them to you. I'll lead my personal knightesses and climb over the hill. We'll strike the village from the southwest."
"With this, they'll still have a gate to escape on the northeast."
"Yep! The runners will run, and we'll have fewer enemies."
"Affirmative! I shall lead the east force."
"Got it! I leave that to you!! Alright girls!! Follow me!!"
.
.
.
"Those barbarians are charging straight at our cavalry."
"What a bunch of idiots! None of their weapons can pierce through the rhinos' thick hide."
"Alright! Alright! Prepare yourself, girls! It's about time we run them down!"
"Yeah!"
The armored Uma Musume who were hiding on the hill raise their weapons. Most of them are carrying a lance and a backup short sword.
"CHARGE!!!"
The wave of Uma Musume running down the hill takes the barbarians by surprise. The hill is pretty high, so they weren't expecting anyone to expend their stamina to climb it.
"SHIT!! CHIEFESS!! They're attacking from the hill!!"
"Darn them!! Ray!! Go run to our village and tell everyone to run northeast!! Everyone here will hold these bastards so they don't close us in!! UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN IN UMALLA!!!"
"YES, CHIEFESS!!!!!!"
Before the Uma named Ray could even reach the village, most of the inhabitants were already running to the east. The scene of an army of lance-carrying Uma running at them at high speed was enough to scare them away.
"Only leave the men and children alive! Kill the Umas!!"
Teio's force receives small resistance as it comes into contact with the village. With most of the Umas engaging Fuji Kiseki's force, the number of Umas that can fight back can be counted by 2 hands. They were swiftly taken care of, though, so it doesn't really matter.
"Come here~~ I promise I'll be gentle~~"
"No!! No!! HELP ME!! WAIT!!"
"Hehehe~~ You're quite young, aren't you? I like em' young!"
"Sniffle… Sniffle… Please… Sniffle… I don't want to die…"
Chaos erupted as Teio's force runsack through the village. They're searching for men and children, since, unlike food and such, they tend to run away. It's a free-for-all party. The man is yours if you are the first one to capture him.
"Fuh… Womaaaaan~~ I thought they'll be more resistance than this."
"If you want a fight, then you should lead the eastern force, Princess."
"Oh shut up, you! You girls kill the barbarians too quickly!! At least let me have a taste!!"
"Hahahaha!! Isn't that supposed to be good?"
"Sigh…"
"Princess! Princess!! We have a problem!!"
"Hmm?"
.
.
"KAAAAHH!!!"
"Wait!! Wait!!"
*STAB*
"KUH!!"
"What is this?"
Princess Teio walks into a scene where some of her soldiers are surrounding a red-haired man. They're not holding him down or anything, they're circling them out of fear. On his feet are some of her soldiers, dead from slicing damage. Teio knows that it was the work of the man as he is carrying two swords. A cutlass on the right and a gladius on his left.
"He's massacring our soldiers!"
"I can see that! Finally! A worthy opponent!! Our battle will be legendary!! Move away, girls!! He is mine!!"
The soldiers obey both since she is the Princess, and they're afraid of him. The Princess confidently walks forward with her lance in hand, staring at the man who is now staring back at her.
"I'm Symboli Tokai Teio! The daughter of the Emperor of Tracen!"
"Igo… Igo Heita."
Both fighters enter their fighting stance. Teio digs her feet into the dirt while the young man bends his knees and tightens his grip. They let the atmosphere ripen as they measure each other with their eyes.
Push me to improve, and I'll make you my personal slave.
"HERE I COME!!"
"HUH!!!"