On a Pale Horse (Umamusume/Youjo Senki)

[Shadow314]

On the day that Merry snaps, she'd ignore the race and physically attack Shirogane on the racetrack. In a twisted repeat of Shiro's first death, another irrational being has shoved her onto the tracks.

Sure, they'd both be disqualified and worse...

But... in that long seconds of fading consciousness as Shirogane methodically thrashes her to death with the focused hatred of a bloodlusted warhorse, Merry declares victory.

She has finally earned her Rival's undivided attention.

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It's not about his usual aloofness or the professionalism with which he approaches races. It's about the emotions and desires—or, rather, the traumas—surrounding the way Shirogane intends to resolve these matters (killing/eliminating).

That's why Mary wants to see that hidden side of Shirogane again now; after all, that side is reserved only for her, his rival/enemy.

 

[TheSmallSauce]

Funny, as well, considering Shiro doesn't seem to have that reason. Or, rather, doesn't have a reason that makes running super important to her.

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I think this an interesting question to ask actually. What is Shiro's reason for running? How far will she go because of it?

"That aside, I believe you are mistaken. I have no intention of pursuing a racing career. The initial investment would be too expensive in the short term for uncertain gains."

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She seemingly has no plans for it until she is recruited by Hana, and in the end she agrees because...?

"Besides, Shiro-chan," Shigeru murmured, drawing his daughter's attention. "We've been saving money since you were little so we could afford to send you to a good school, or a racing academy if you were interested."

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at him, her ears flicking once in surprise before she controlled her expression again.

"We couldn't afford to send you to a better school when you were little, but now, we could probably afford for you to go to a good high school."

"I…see…" Shirogane's jaw clenched, and Shigeru felt his heart twinge at how she looked close to crying, or at least as close as she came to that. "Thank you, Father."

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"If money is a significant concern, Tracen is one the best options available," Toujou-san added. "Asides from the numerous scholarships, the academy has the best training facilities and programs in the nation, with our students regularly qualifying to compete in graded races and taking at least part of the prize pool."

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Once again it seems to be her family. She goes because they express their genuine desire to send her to a good school with what little they have, and all of a sudden the best possible option is on the table?

Shirogane took a moment to think, glancing between her father and mother, her ears twitching minutely in indecision.

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This moment seems the like the point where she makes the decision to join Tracen, although it feels like she's more swayed by the scholarship offer and the possibility of prize money. Though it's clear to see the reason she runs isn't really for the money and that it is just a means to an end. That end being to reduce the financial burden on her family and ensure they have a comfortable retirement. I think that's quite important to Shiro, but yeah, probably not to the same extent as say Silence Suzuka's reason.

Silence Suzuka

"I want to see the view from the front again. That's the only place where I feel truly free."

Clearly Shirogane doesn't find running to be something existential like Suzuka does. The key difference is probably that running isn't the only way she can achieve her goals, just the one most convenient to her right now. She would probably stop running if a bigger opportunity presented itself.

Though if we think about it...

After her initial iterations of downhill training, the slope on the Nakayama course almost felt disappointing, a sentiment Shirogane was fairly certain was residual from the Soldier who once could fly.

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Maybe one day Shiro will want to chase the sensation of flight again, this time using her own two legs.

On the day that Merry snaps, she'd ignore the race and physically attack Shirogane on the racetrack. In a twisted repeat of Shiro's first death, another irrational being has shoved her onto the tracks.

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Evasive maneuvers activated! I'd bet Shirogane's survival instinct hasn't dulled to the point where a greenhorn from the Heisei era could just sneak up on her!

Don't quote me on that though.

On the other hand, I don't think Merry would attack her during a race, cause the victory she's looking for is one within the bounds of competition. If it had to happen, it would most likely be after she takes something Shirogane said or did extremely personally, like...

...

I don't know actually. I have no clue what would be devastating enough to spur her into rage instead of just making her really depressed. She is still a normal teenage girl, someone who isn't going to see murder as the first option, or even as an option to begin with.

I'll have to think about that.

 

[cappo]

Reading several comments about how Shirogane lacks the spark she had as Tanya, living in a peaceful world with no reason to use her "Devil of the Rin" mode, no one seems to have considered that deep down, Shirogane might harbor some paranoia about "being X." I mean, we as readers can assume there won't be interference from being X (because it wouldn't make much sense in this story ), but Shirogane wouldn't know that. If she saw any Uma acting like her archenemy Mary Sioux, it would put her on high alert. And since she couldn't kill her in this world, her only option would be to overshadow her career with such resounding victories that no one would even mention the supposed "new envoy" of being X.

For example, in Merry's "what if" scenario, if she were to confront Shirogane with the same defiant attitude reminiscent of Mary Sioux, she might begin to suspect Mary's reincarnation and, out of fear, consider crushing the Uma. Meanwhile, in the main storyline, I think Rice Shower could take on this role, given that in the Pretty Derby series she strives to be the "heroine." It's possible that upon seeing so many Umas crushed by Shirogane, coupled with his cold demeanor that only inflicts more pain on the defeated, she might openly challenge the "Demon of the Racetracks" as the "heroine" she is, and perhaps that could awaken Tanya's war instincts. Of course, this is just my hypothesis, and I don't know if it's already been discussed. I don't have time to read so many threads!

 

[ScarredPunLover]

I don't know actually. I have no clue what would be devastating enough to spur her into rage instead of just making her really depressed. She is still a normal teenage girl, someone who isn't going to see murder as the first option, or even as an option to begin with.

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To be fair, it could just be that Merry chases Shiro without any idea of what she'll do. She's not planning anything drastic, per se, she simply acts on instinct, every part of her being demanding... something in that moment. Admittedly, not sure what might bring about this kind of reaction, either.

My mind keeps coming back to that idea of "acknowledgement." And my imagination is treading down a wordy path.

---

"I have poured blood, sweat, and tears into my career. Into my training. Into this race. I've given my all to chase you. To beat you.

"You, who runs without a care for those in your dust. Who runs the same way, everytime. Without rest or exhaustion. You, who doesn't care if she loses. Who doesn't care if she wins. It's all the same, to you.

"I've watched friends tear themselves apart, just for one more race, because it is everything for them. You race like it means nothing at all. Because it's all just a paycheck to you, right? All you care about is the money, damn all the dreams you break and shatter and stomp on.

"I poured my soul into catching you. To surpassing you. I gave everything, all of my time, to this moment. Even when everyone was screaming at me to just stop, before I hurt myself trying to imitate something I didn't understand. I kept going. I kept going, and I did it. I won. And when I turned to you, to see something from you... you gave me nothing. A 'congrats,' and you went on your merry way. No respect or recognition for the effort I had to put in to beat you. And next week, you're just going to go race again. Shatter more dreams and futures. Inspire other racers to tear themselves apart as they obsess over you, to chase you and focus as if nothing else matters.

"I hate you, Orzel. Hate you for what you've done to me. Hate you for the agony you've put me through, hate you for making my every waking moment focused on you. Hate you for just continuing on like I mean nothing. I. Hate. You."

And there, Shirogane might stare at this strange, crazed Uma who is vaguely familiar.

"... okay."

And she turns and walks away.

And perhaps Merry, half-mad and half-mad, cannot handle this dismissal. She takes a step forward, reaching out to grab Shiro's shoulder. At most, she's just planning to spin Shiro around and demand some form of acknowledgement.

She doesn't get the chance.

The moment Merry's hand makes contact with Shiro, the Eagle's instinct takes over. Merry's flying through the air and crashing down on her back, faster than she can comprehend. Standing over her, Shirogane with a... dangerous familiar look in her eye.

"Devil..." Merry murmurs before she can stop herself, still regaining her breath. Something connecting in her brain, then fading again before she can truly comprehend it.

---

or something like that.

 

[ndh]

I think Rice Shower could take on this role, given that in the Pretty Derby series she strives to be the heroine.

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Problem with that is she IRL died before the Golden Generation started, so depending on how long Shirogane races for hillariously, TM Opera O would be the one from the following generation to take up the role of hero for a bit in the eyes of the public. Though in the anime, TM ends up on Team Rigil, which means that their relationship will most likely be a senpai-kohai relationship.

 

[neta wey]

And there, Shirogane might stare at this strange, crazed Uma who is vaguely familiar.

"... okay."

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I can absolutely taste her "Ma am, this is a Wendy's"

 

[TheSmallSauce]

Man, now I really wish that Shiro was living in one of the dorms. It would be fun to think about who her roommate would be and what their dynamic would be like.

 

[FluffyVoid]

Man, now I really wish that Shiro was living in one of the dorms. It would be fun to think about who her roommate would be and what their dynamic would be like.

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If you can't bring Shiro to the dorms then you just have to bring the dorms to Shiro.

 

[Lyrista]

If you can't bring Shiro to the dorms then you just have to bring the dorms to Shiro.

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Or just kidnap her with Goldshi's bag.

 

[Introverted]

Or just kidnap her with Goldshi's bag.

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She would probably rip open the bag and attack whoever is even trying.

 

[Lyrista]

She would probably rip open the bag and attack whoever is even trying.

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In normal circumstances yes, but comedic scenes of anime tomfoolery trump all.

 

[Introverted]

In normal circumstances yes, but comedic scenes of anime tomfoolery trump all.

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Ehh... in that case it would only work if it wasn't GoldShip doing the bagging.
Because violence on GolShi is funny.

 

[TheSmallSauce]

It seems right now, she's sort of distantly fond of her classmates and actually knows her seniors much better. She's talked more with Air Groove, Mejiro Dober and Silence Suzuka than she has with her peers. And Stay Gold, I suppose? Maybe that's how she meets Golshi, perhaps the tall troublemaker tags along with Stego to the screaming stump on one of his her Shirogane Observation Visits.

Stego's divorced dad energy is too strong, I instinctively used a male pronoun...

Or, is Golshi even enrolled at Tracen yet? She's a horse from the 2012 generation and it's currently 1997, isn't it? How does that work here?

 

[Lyrista]

With gacha games that involves schools its often recommended to not pay too much attention to the passing of time.... or the lack of it