Since her debut race, her popularity skyrocketed. Later, according to the jockey, the stable staff, and the person who had found her, the margin by which she won her debut race was unprecedented, especially considering it was a come-from-behind victory.
But she didn't continue to race immediately. After the jockey realized she could understand words, he asked her if she wanted to compete in her first G1 race while her prize money was sufficient and she was still young enough.
To his surprise and confirmation, she nodded.
Her first G1, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.
She continued her self-training, which outsiders constantly remarked, "This child doesn't need a Trainer," and her physique had significantly improved by this point.
An easy victory; no one was her opponent.
She then immediately participated in the second G1, the Hopeful Stakes, winning easily. By this time, her popularity and prize money were already sufficient.
In her second year of debut, she gave up the Filly Triple Crown and chose the Triple Crown.
Along the way, she also hinted to her jockey to participate in the NHK Mile Cup, Yasuda Kinen, and Takarazuka Kinen, and in September, she participated in the Sprinters Stakes. She was only missing a long-distance race to achieve a clean sweep of all G1 distances, becoming a dazzling star.
However, after running the Kikka Sho, she fractured a bone.
Usually, horses with fractures cannot be treated well because their active nature prevents them from resting, and they eventually die in pain, so euthanasia is generally performed. But the people she knew suppressed this matter and then arranged for medical staff to treat her.
Of course, she wouldn't resist, so she chose to rest.
But even so, in just one short month, she had her splint removed, and her fracture healed to everyone's amazement.
Her comeback race was the Japan Cup, and it was still a victory. She could not lose, absolutely.
She then consecutively competed in the Champions Cup and Arima Kinen. In the Champions Cup, a dirt track race, her swiftness earned her the title of a true all-rounder.
Perhaps due to the will of the great universe, she still couldn't participate in the Dirt Derby in July of her second year because her jockey had other races.
In her third year of debut, starting with the February Stakes, she raced all the way to the Arima Kinen, becoming a monstrous "G1 Hunter."
Dubbed "Miracle," she campaigned abroad and subsequently defeated countless foreign horses in those true long-distance races overseas, achieving the highest popularity worldwide.
Until one day, she felt like she couldn't run anymore.
She was, after all, a horse, not an Uma Musume blessed by the Three Goddesses, unable to resist the erosion of time. As she gradually aged, her stamina declined, but even so, her strength was still not something that challengers could overcome.
But in the end, she retired, retiring in a grand Arima Kinen.
In her retirement race, even though her body was no longer as powerful, she still won the championship, but by this time, she could no longer open up a particularly large gap as before.
At her retirement ceremony, many people expressed their gratitude to her, thanking her running for giving them courage and dreams, and thanking her for the confidence brought by her victories along the way.
But she knew that she would no longer be able to run on the racetrack. Perhaps she would be bred with some excellent stallions? However, she didn't want to.
She could still run, but only in the ranch where she would retire, living a leisurely life there. If she didn't want to breed, no one would ever force her. She would just live a leisurely life, fall asleep one day, and never wake up again.
For no reason, she felt fear.
Afraid of death? Or afraid of being alone? She didn't know.
Perhaps, she was afraid of not being able to run on this racetrack anymore?
After retirement, she was sent to a vast grassland where she could run freely. The grass on the ground was of excellent quality and could be eaten at any time, and the feed was also very high-grade.
But she was not happy, not even when the ranch owner who had found her, the jockey, and the stable staff and Trainer who had always been responsible for her came to visit.
So, this was her last act of willfulness.
In full view of everyone, she jumped over the fence and ran all the way into the forest.
No one came to stop her. Perhaps they understood her?
She didn't know how long she ran, gnawing on grass when hungry, and drinking river water when thirsty.
She kept running like this, not knowing where she was going, until she reached a cliff and saw the sunset.
That was her.
She clearly felt her body was no longer as agile and powerful, just like the setting sun.
The sun would rise again after setting, but she would not.
Her gaze fell upon the abyss below, then fixed on the opposite cliff.
Come on, this is the final challenge.
Stepping back a distance, she ran forward, and at the edge of the cliff, she leaped with all her might.
The moment she jumped, she closed her eyes, feeling the wind caress her body.
It was that, the fierce wind rushing past her body, just like the wind when she galloped on the racetrack in the past.
Then she landed steadily, and the aging of her body seemed like a fleeting dream. She was still the absolute king, and she could still run on the racetrack.
She was very happy, laughing joyfully, and the neigh of a magnificent horse echoed through the valley.
She knew this was truly the end.
A few days later, someone came to the cliff she had jumped from and saw her, who had been staying on the opposite side.
She also saw a familiar person, the one who had brought her to the first ranch.
The other party was in tears, looking at her, weak and lying on the ground, ceaselessly saying things like "I'm sorry," "Thank you," and "You are the strongest."
As she listened, she grew tired and closed her eyes.
The aging king, in her final moment, flew across the cliff. She was still that king, and would only ever be a king.
The first person witnessed her end. Perhaps he could appoint her as his first chief minister?
The hoof print left on that cliff from her powerful leap and a broken horseshoe that had fallen off were reinforced and protected, remaining there.
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When Zero woke up, she found herself lying in the hospital specially prepared for her by the Emperor. When she woke up, she also saw the Emperor looking worried.
Seeing her wake up, the other party excitedly went to call the doctor, leaving her where she was.
Looking around, she also noticed the IV drip in her arm, giving her nutrients.
She reached out and pulled it out.
Then she was severely scolded by the Emperor and the doctor he brought.
After confirming that she was indeed fine, the doctor left, leaving the two of them.
Her body had unknowingly returned to its adult form, though still under one hundred and fifty centimeters.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"A week," the Emperor said with a complex expression.
When Alice Digital reported, "She's been asleep for a day and hasn't woken up," the entire Student Council was thrown into a panic. After a chaotic scramble, they finally managed to keep the matter under wraps.
Later, this child, like Sleeping Beauty, slept for a week and woke up perfectly fine, but they had spent that week in constant fear.
If this child didn't give her an explanation today, she would definitely make her understand that her title of Emperor wasn't just a title!
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