[A/N: I'm juggling with two story at the same time, so chapters will not come often until I finished researching Uma Musume as a whole]
Beep-
Beep-
Beep-
…
..
.
The buzz and beeping of the heart monitor accompanied me when I was 3 years old. They are a reminder of the cursed life I am living in.
Looking out the window, I can see the endless plain of grass, and I know that I'm hallucinating. There's no way that something so beautiful could be outside my window, inviting me to run and laugh.
"Khekhe…"
I chuckled as I closed my eyes, my breathing has gotten worse by the passing days. I know my end is near.
'How cruel of you, life… Tempting me with things I could never have…'
I looked down at my lower body, which is slowly crumbling apart, cracks already formed and transformed my legs and waist into stone.
I am the only patient to have this virus, and for a specific reason, nobody has ever been infected by this virus. How ironic!
"But at least nobody will suffer like me." I spoke with a breathy and coarse voice.
"..."
No matter how much the doctors tried to research the virus to find the cure, it was all infutile. As if the origin of this virus is magical, and I know that I will be visited by Death within a week.
I open my eyes and glance at the window, wondering if the grass field has disappeared.
'Nope, still there.' I sighed as I lean my head back into the pillow, staring at the window.
I'm on the third floor of the hospital, in the center of a massive bustling city. There is no way such a thing is real, waiting for me outside the door.
Even if I wanted to reach it, I couldn't. I have lost any sensation in my lower body.
"Ah… I wonder if Death will be gentle with me… Khekhe…"
"Yes, he will be gentle with you." A new voice appeared, but not from the entrance that led into my room. I turned my head and saw three beautiful lady, outside the window. Standing on the endless beautiful grass field.
My mouth went agape at this, am I really going to be schizophrenic while having a hallucination? What a riot!
"You aren't hallucinating, my child…" The same voice spoke to me, it came from a gentle lady who has long blue hair and blue eyes like the sea. She wore a blue tracker jacket and black shorts, having a beautiful accessory on her right ear… Right ear?!
I stare in shock, her right ear isn't a human ear. It is more like a… Horse ear?
"Fufufu…"
Her laugh made me feel calm for some reason, as if her very presence soothes the world around her.
"She is right, you know. Death will be gentle with you." This time, a free-spirited voice appeared, coming from an energetic lady who has long red hair with a white blaze marking, as well as her emerald green eyes. Her skin is distinctively tan and wearing a summer casual outfit with her shoulders bare. She also has an accessory on her right horse ear.
She looks like the type of person who would face death and laugh without fear.
"Hahaha! You're right about that!" She sat on the ledge of the open window with a wide grin.
"Eh? Did I say it out loud?" I said, not realizing my voice no longer hurt or coarse.
She smiled gently.
"Death is really gentle, you are not suffering anymore."
"Not…?" I widened my eyes in surprise before a red-headed girl grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bed. I yelped and closed my eyes as I expected to fall down, and yet I didn't.
I open my eyes and see my legs, my legs. As if all the years of pain and suffering have disappeared like a dream.
"Wha…"
This time, the third lady took a step forward toward me with stern purple eyes, her short hair is two-toned brown and black, wearing a yellow military-style outfit and a scar across her left eye. She also has an accessory on her right ear, this time a crown.
"Do you want to run?" Her voice is gruff and strict like a military sergeant.
I felt my heart skip a beat, I shouldn't be listening to my schizophrenia. But I…
"I do…" 'I want to run, I want to feel the wind rushing by my body, I want to feel the solid ground as I kick the ground. I want to run.'
I stare with determination at the stern purple eyes peering into mine, before she huffs and smirks at me.
"Look behind you."
I did what she said and found a body on the hospital bed, it is a sickly person who is not breathing anymore. I know this person very well, because it is me.
"I'm… dead?"
The blue-haired lady held my hand with a gentle and soft smile.
"Yes, you are. You are now free…" She hugged me from behind, and tears came out of my eyes, as if i'm being hugged by my mother.
Then the red-haired lady pulled me away and out of the room, the windowed wall somehow had disappeared as I stepped onto the grassy ground.
"It's warm…"
She laughed out loud with a toothy grin.
"We are here to give you a second chance at life."
"Wha…?"
"Are you brave enough to venture into your second life?" She hummed with a wide grin, and I froze.
'Why me?'
"Because your spirit wants to run."
The stern strict lady walked up beside me.
"Will you keep running, no matter what?"
I nodded instinctually without thinking.
The blue-haired lady arrived at my other side.
"We will be your blessers, and I hope you can have a joyous time of running in your next life."
The red-haired chuckles as she pushes me onward.
"Come on! Run!"
My breathing gets rapid as I notice that I'm truly running, the wind brushing against my skin, the warm soft grass beneath my feet as I push myself forward. Blood is rushing through my body as I breathe in the air.
I smiled widely and laughed from the bottom of my heart.
"Hahahaha!"
The three ladies ran beside me, clearly holding back their speed.
"Go, run to your fullest desire." The blue-haired goddess echoes in my mind.
"No matter how bleak your future or obstacle may look in front of you, just keep moving forward!" The red-haired goddess laughed with a wide grin.
"Keep on running, no matter what. Efforts will not betray you, for you have been blessed by your feet. So run, filly. Run." The Strict yet warm goddess commanded gently, as I kept on running across the grass field.
I ran and ran, without noticing the goddess ran ahead at their top speed.
"Beautiful…"
I kept on running, trying to catch up to them. I kept on running.
And without realizing, I slowly fade away into my next life.
"Run, filly. For we are your blessers and protectors."
The three goddesses spoke at the same time.
I laugh and smile so wide, I had never felt so happy in my entire life.
"I will keep running!"
My voice slowly fades away until there is nothing of me.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I think she will love her new life…"
"I hope she can experience more! It is such a shame that a spirit like her got held down by her crumbling body." The red-haired goddess stretches.
"Let's visit her from time to time." The short two-toned goddess smiled in satisfaction.