Chapter Text
When Snapdragon jumped a bamboo hurdle at Trainer Oju's mock steeplechase course, everything finally clicked.
Since waking up at Tracen, lacking all her memories aside from the name Nishino Snapdragon, and wearing nothing but a canvas tarp to spare her modesty, Snapdragon had felt adrift. She attended classes and tryout races, she ran in scrimmages of various lengths and she even got scouted by three different trainers based on her physique alone. The trainers each insisted she had the build of a great distance runner, and each insisted they knew better than the last. All of them inevitably gave up when the spark just didn't seem to come.
She considered giving up, was nearly at that point. Then ten months into her time at the famous academy, Trainer Oju Chosan told Dragon she had the potential to be a great steeplechase racer. Snapdragon was understandably confused by both the term steeplechase and the presence of an umamusume who looked less like a trainer and more like a racer who'd been picked up, slammed into a counter, dropped into a dirt patch and then stayed awake for a week straight.
And yet, in spite of her … unusual appearance Oju Chosan was not only a registered Tracen trainer, Director Akikawa's personal hire. Her 9 G1 victories in steeplechasing probably factored into that, but with Director Akikawa, it was hard to know what drove her decision making.
When Chosan first approached her, Snapdragon was listlessly trying yet again to practice longs by herself, as the one thing all her previous trainers agreed on was her immense stamina. Chosan waited until Dragon finished a lap to approach wordlessly and told a panting Snapdragon: "Listen kid, ya don't got legs fer runnin', ya got legs fer jumpin'."
Though skeptical, Snapdragon was willing to try anything given her continued failures with flat racing. She agreed to let Trainer Oju scout her, and training for her debut began in earnest.
It was a major adjustment for her. The various obstacles all required different approaches to jumping over, through, or around them, and the patches of dirt required a different running style. The challenge was thrilling.
It was disappointing to see that even though steeplechasing was now far more popular than when Trainer Oju was running, largely thanks to her, resources for training were sparse. Dragon was fortunate though, because she had trainer Oju.
Her trainer used the wealth from her dominant career to turn a tract of land in Tokyo into a Steeplechase course and acquired obstacles from the same companies the racecourses did. This meant the training Dragon was doing would translate directly onto the track, and would be a boon for her debut race.
She spent several months improving her technique on the various obstacles like the hurdles and pits. Then Oju had her practice jumping while running until she was confident enough to maintain most of her speed when landing. Finally, and Dragon maintained this training was the scariest, they practiced jumping from the ledges and absorbing an impact from a height safely. Seven months after meeting Trainer Oju, Dragon was ready.
The debut was now nearly upon them and only one obstacle remained: The Student Council President.
"You're certain I can't convince you to choose a different path?"
Snapdragon shook her head, determined.
"No, President Rudolf, I'm sorry. This is my choice."
Rudolf nodded. She responded with a slightly apologetic tone.
"You understand my hesitance, I hope. Given the mysterious circumstances of your arrival and your struggles on the track, I worry about allowing you to walk this path. A path where you will not find much support from this school."
Oju spoke up from the doorway, where she'd remained since the start of the meeting, refusing to sit at Rudolf's desk.
"'N why don't ya try and fix that problem President Rudy?" There was some steel to her tone, but it was clear the question was genuine. Oju hadn't come to pick a fight.
Rudolf seemed to really consider the thought, momentarily silent.
As Rudolf hesitated, Snapdragon took the chance to be vulnerable, hoping it might sway her.
"President Rudolf, when I run on the flat tracks, I feel nothing. It’s… it’s awful. I was so worried that something was wrong with me. I thought maybe me waking up here was a fluke.” She paused, playing with the sleeves of her shirt, nervous about showing weakness to the President. “Then Trainer Oju found me, and when I jump through obstacles, even if it’s only been practice, I feel it. That joy from racing that everyone talks about."
Rudolf closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she looked at trainer and trainee, expression now resolute.
"I've done you both a disservice. I declared it my goal to help the dreams of all umamusume no matter their creed, and your cases are no different. Nishino Snapdragon, I will support your efforts to make a steeplechase debut.” She reached out a hand for Dragon to shake. Surprised, Dragon took it, and Rudolf gave her a firm handshake, and kept hold of Dragon’s hand, maintaining eye contact. “Although I have little to currently offer, I will turn my efforts towards creating more resources not just for you, but for all the steeplechasers who will come after when you show the world your dream. This I swear as Japan's Emperor of Umamusume."
With the President's support acquired, Nishino Snapdragon's fate was sealed.
She would be a Steeplechaser. She would win.