Author's Note: I am not an editor or a pro writer. I will write this the best I can and edit it the best I can. I also do not own Uma Musume, for it is owned by Cygames. Watch the animes, and read the mangas for they are pretty good. Finally, please enjoy.
Steel Valkyrie POV
It was a beautiful yet meaningless day—another day without real competition, without the taste of victory. I found myself waiting for the team's leadership to decide our future like an addict waiting for the next fix. Competition is my drug. Victory is my addiction.
Back on Earth, that addiction was my only escape.
I grew up in a deeply conservative, religious sports family, in a community where expectations were rigid and unforgiving. And I was a woman in a man's body.
So I lived in secret.
I buried myself in sports—track, mixed martial arts, triathlons—anything that let me push my body to its limits. Racing, especially, became my sanctuary. Winning gave me something louder than the thoughts in my head. Training gave me structure. Competing gave me purpose. As long as I was chasing victory, I didn't have to face romance, sexuality, or the truth of my gender identity.
When I wasn't competing, I was training. When I wasn't training, I was studying, helping in the community, dancing, singing, or learning new sports with friends. To everyone else, I looked like a hyper-competitive, ultra-disciplined athlete. A "manly freak of nature," as some called me with admiration.
They had no idea I was running from myself.
People tried to set me up on dates. I dodged them all. I made excuses. I sabotaged them before they began. I was gay and transgender, but I didn't have the courage to say it out loud. So I hid behind medals, trophies, and reputation.
For years, I dominated. Even as I grew older, I kept winning. But eventually, no amount of discipline could stop my body from declining. My health forced me into retirement. I tried to fill the void—education, business, wealth—but nothing replaced the thrill of competition.
Then I woke up in this world.
At first, everyone seemed intimidated by me. Over time, they relaxed and began acting like themselves around me. Some, like Lily, constantly challenge me, which feeds my addiction because none of them can beat me yet. Still, it's not the same as those massive victories in front of roaring crowds.
And the irony?
I look like Haru Urara—the Uma Musume inspired by the horse famous for never winning. Official record: 0–113.
So I don't see myself starting at zero.
I see myself starting at –113.
My goal is simple: reach zero.
When we were all revealing our truths after arriving here, I was terrified when it was my turn. Mama noticed immediately that I was hiding something. Vic, Rose, GW, and Gray gently encouraged me to speak. With shaking courage, I told them: I had been a woman in a man's body.
The silence that followed nearly broke me.
Then KiWi burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! So this situation must be a dream come true for you, huh? You lucky bitch!"
Everyone started laughing. Including me. The tension shattered. The fear vanished.
One by one, others shared their own truths. Norn, Gray, BlaD, and Sweets spoke about being bisexual. Many of the team were now technically lesbians because their gender changed but their attractions didn't. GW and Mama were straight, but both had raised and supported LGBTQ+ kids back in their past lives.
I realized I was surrounded by the safest group of people I had ever known.
And I started noticing the romances forming—Rose and Sweets, ImP and Lily, the strange love-hate tension between Rain and Gray.
For the first time in my life, I didn't feel like I had to hide.
So I poured myself into helping the team improve.
I helped Vic and Norn refine their adaptability. GW and Rose learned to master terrain changes. KiWi and Spice worked on endurance. Sweets and Rain learned to weaponize their toughness. BlaD and Mama sharpened their speed and stamina. I expanded Gray's and Jo's strategic thinking. And I trained directly with ImP and Lily to polish every skill they had.
I let them challenge me constantly. I let them test theories on me. I became both their trainer and their benchmark.
When Lily later shared her team rankings based on performance and personality, I found myself agreeing. Still, I knew rankings could shift once people unleashed their full potential—especially Jo and GW.
Then came the meeting.
The one I had been waiting for.
That's where we learned about the Freestyle Running League.
Relays. Sprints. Marathons. Obstacle races mixing hurdles with parkour and sabotage. Mixed formats designed for unpredictability.
I loved everything about it.
We began searching for teams and organizations but soon decided an agent and agency would serve us better. Our demands were high: strategic freedom, creative control, proper funding, and respect for our experience. Still, when we agreed to share control and accept expert advice, I was completely on board. I didn't become dominant alone back on Earth. I had mentors, coaches, and supporters.
Soon, we found a small agency willing to give us a chance—if we proved ourselves.
At the public track in a large park, Rose handled registration while we prepared for tryouts. When the agent arrived, she carried herself with calm professionalism. Even if she wasn't an Uma Musume, you could tell she understood athletes.
This was showtime.
Our performance impressed her deeply, especially with Gray and Jo highlighting our strengths as we went. She introduced herself as Ayana Hiraga, and with leadership's help, we signed with her agency.
We relocated to her city and stayed in an Air B&B while she searched for a team for us. Meanwhile, we attended intensive lessons, absorbing every bit of knowledge we could. We adjusted our training, diets, and strategies. The improvement was rapid. Noticeable.
Then the news came.
Ayana had found an organization for us.
From what leadership hinted, it sounded almost too good to be true.
But my instincts—the ones that never failed me in competition—told me this was the real beginning.
So I waited.
Because very soon, I would get my fix again.