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Your sire had one wish:
"I want her to be happy."
That was what her mother's letter had said, and it was something that Air Groove initially scoffed at. It was common for stallions to hardly be in their children's life, and it was no different for Tony Bin, though under different circumstances. Her mother had loved her though, and often talked about how much Air Groove reminded her of Tony.
Air Groove perked up more when she was compared to her mother, but that was mainly because she hated her habit of sticking her tongue out being noticed. It was rather embarrassing.
Regardless, Air Groove held Tony in high regard, and when she was finally given the letter from her sire, she accepted, if just to get away from city life for a moment.
For Tony Bin had a farm directed to be inherited by Air Groove.
The town it was nestled in was simply known as Forget-me-not Valley, and the name truly said it all. It was quaint, quiet, and in the middle of nowhere. Whiplash stung her by the time she settled into bed, making it hard to sleep.
The next day, she had to start a new routine.
As directed by the previous caretaker, the animals tended to get up early and needed to be put out to pasture so their stalls would be cleaned and their food bins filled. They were of calm temperament, and just needed a bit of a push to head to the pasture. Good, though a chicken got a scolding when it tried to get through the fence.
After that would be Air Groove's biggest care. Her pride.
The fields were maintained relatively well before she arrived, but she had her own way of doing things that would hopefully be effective.
She first began by examining the soil, making sure the plants had enough space and enough moisture retention. Then she began-
To realize that she was being watched.
She looked around quickly, spying a small body darting around the ledger stand near the barn. With a frown, she stood up from where she had been crouching and walked over to the stand.
There was a colt, her ears perked and her tail wagging playfully as she tried to stop her own laughter.
Air Groove smiled and crossed her arms.
"I'd be careful, these animals can hurt you."
The colt yelped and jumped up, facing Air Groove.
"S-sorry!" She quickly recovered, curiosity brightening her eyes. "Who're you?"
"My name is Air Groove. Are you a child of one of the townsfolk?"
The colt blinked before gasping.
"Oh! You're the lady who moved in! Everyone's been talking about you."
"Have they?"
"Yeah! We were the last ones to move in and that was so loooooong ago!" She beamed. "Oh! I can show you around! There's a lot of places I wish I knew about!"
She took Air Groove's hand, lightly tugging her. "Come on!"
"... Hm." Air Groove thought for a moment before deciding. "I'll have to be back before too long though."
"It'll be quick, don't worry!" The colt laughed. "I'm the fastest uma in class, Teio!"
"Well, nice to meet you, Teio."
She got a smile in return that made Air Groove wonder if that was how the colt got out of trouble often.
- Introduction -
"And this is the pond!" Teio exclaimed before pointing to a stallion sitting by the water in a chair. "And that's my papa! Papa!"
Teio let go of her hand to run over to the stallion, who was definitely asleep. Lightly shaking her seemed to do nothing, but the colt tried anyway.
"Papa! Papa! I made a new friend!"
The hat atop the stallion's head sunk down as a light snore was heard from underneath.
Teio frowned and huffed. "Papa was up all night again, huh?"
"I... don't recall having met your father yesterday," Air Groove mumbled. The tour had been rather thorough, introducing her to the denizens of Forget-me-not Valley. And yet, these two were unfamiliar. "What does she do?"
"Papa ran!" Teio beamed and spun around to face the incoming Air Groove. "Papa is famous!"
"Really?" She found herself smiling, the colt's cheer infectious.
"Yeah! She's-!"
"Mm... Teio?" The stallion stirred finally, lifting the hat from her handsome face.
Air Groove chuckled as the colt gasped and nearly tripped over her tail turning to her father.
"Papa! The new lady is here!"
"... New lady?" The stallion sleepily blinked at her. "... Mm... Hello?"
"Hello. Your colt was showing me around."
The stallion blinked again before she yawned.
"Sorry, I was up all night with..." She trailed off before shaking her head. "I'm Rudolf. Nice to meet you."
She outstretched a hand and Air Groove took it.
"I'm Air Groove."
- ♡ -
She saw more of Teio than of Rudolf. The young colt got off of school early and had the weekend off, allowing her to spend her time running about the town, playing by herself or with another kid from Forget-me-not.
Rudolf, however, seemed to be taking her retirement casually, if Teio was to be believed.
She only seemed interested in staying by the pond, either fishing or half falling asleep. It almost made Air Groove curious, but it wasn't her place to demand a full story out of the stranger.
Still, she made sure to stop by and chat with Rudolf when she could, even sometimes having to drop Teio off before she could figure out a way into the fields. Rudolf seemed almost apologetic, but her amusement at her son's antics were far greater than her shame.
It was... Pleasant. Talking to her, that is. While Air Groove was still adjusting to slowing down, it was interesting to hear from someone who had already taken her retirement in stride.
She still did not understand what her sire meant by leaving her the farm though.
"A rather strange gift," Rudolf chimed into her musing. "A big responsibility."
"My sire was strange," Air Groove sighed, watching as the stallion tugged on her line. "... Do you eat the fish you catch or...?"
"I let them go." Rudolf reeled in a large fish with her pole. "Unless the wound is too grevious." She examined the fish for a moment before carefully removing the hook and tossing it back in. "Call it frustrating, but I'm just used to my diet."
"So you were a runner?"
"A relatively good one."
"Relatively?"
"You did not recognize me!" Rudolf laughed. "So yes, I was fairly good."
"I'm not much of a judge. I was focused on my own career."
"Fair enough." She shrugged and began baiting the hook again. "If you ask Teio, I was the most important runner ever."
"Of course. She's your biggest fan, as far as I can see."
"She is!"
Curiosity stung her like an annoying wasp. Hard to ignore, even harder to go away.
"... What made you retire?" She quickly threw in, "if you don't mind me asking."
Rudolf was quiet for a moment, and Air Groove wondered if she had overstepped.
"... That would be my second son."
"Second?" Air Groove frowned. "Teio has a sibling?"
"She's younger than Teio. Still babbles when she has the energy." Rudolf's expression was tight, carefully crafted into neutrality. "... She doesn't often."
"... Is she alright?"
"Not really," Rudolf quickly said, almost as if she didn't wish to dwell on it. "But the fresh air here helps. And the town's doctor is an expert on her condition. It's why I chose here to retire."
"That's understandable. I do hope she gets better."
Rudolf gave a quiet hum in agreement, and nothing more.
- ♡ ♡ -
Spring turned to summer faster than Air Groove thought, making her busier than ever. She had to keep her crops from drying out and her animals from overheating. Milk had become harder to get from the cattle, and the sheep grew sickly in the heat.
That all, and she had to entertain a frequent guest of hers.
"Turn it on! Turn it on!"
Air Groove sighed and shook her head with a fond smile, turning on the sprinklers to gain Teio's delight.
The colt had become a staple of the farm once school had let out, often too energetic for the other non-uma kids to keep up with. And while some days she clearly spent with her father, she seemed to be enjoying Air Groove's company as well. The mare couldn't say she disliked it either, but maybe had a small wish for Rudolf to come by too.
She shook her head. It was a fleeting crush, that's all.
Unfortunately, her heart acted on its own and skipped a beat as she saw Rudolf walking under the ranch's archway.
Teio didn't even notice her at first, playing in the sprinklers until her father let out a laugh.
"So, this is where you've been!"
The colt immediately stopped and beamed at her.
"Papa!"
"I hope you haven't been too much of a bother to Miss Air Groove." Rudolf's tail swayed happily behind her. "Has she?"
"Not one bit." Air Groove shook her head, smiling as Teio ran up and tried to get a hug from Rudolf, despite being soaking wet. "She's a charmer."
"Hard to say no to her, hm?" Rudolf gave a smile speaking of her content. "I have a hard time too."
"Papa, why not?!"
"I don't need to cool down yet, Teio. Why don't you go play? Don't let me stop you!"
"Hmmmm, okay!"
Rudolf sighed in relief as her colt ran back to the sprinklers Air Groove had set up for her.
"Thank you."
Air Groove smiled before blinking as she realized it was being addressed to her.
"Thank you? For what?"
"For entertaining her." Rudolf chuckled. "I was hoping to spend more time with her this summer but Tsuyoshi's been feverish..."
"Where is she now?"
"With the doctor." Rudolf truly sighed that time, yet her shoulders refused to sag. "... I don't like leaving her there, but there's nothing I can do." She frowned, her eyes far off. "To be powerless like this..."
"... I understand." Rudolf jolted in surprise, so she quickly amended, "I hate being powerless as well. But, for what it's worth, I think you're doing enough." Air Groove smiled at her. "After all, Teio still speaks so highly of you! I have no doubt Tsuyoshi would too."
Rudolf stared at her for a moment, making heat rise to Air Groove's cheeks, before she genuinely smiled again.
"Thank you. You know, she speaks highly of you too."
"Really?" Air Groove mused, "even after all the lecturing?"
"Haha! She doesn't let it get to her."
"Hm... Perhaps we should learn a little from her, then?"
"Perhaps, perhaps."
- Summer Event -
They ended summer with a festival.
Well, less a festival and more like a simple event. Fireworks. There weren't enough people in the valley to warrant a whole festival, but everyone agreed to be there and watch the fireworks the brothers worked together to make.
They come to her the night of, asking a simple question:
"Got anyone you wanna watch with?"
Air Groove hummed as she led the cows in early, thinking it over.
Of course, her heart sang praises of Rudolf. Her mind told her she was being childish.
Both were quiet as Rudolf approached the farm, a backpack slung over her shoulder and a picnic basket in the other arm. Two colts clung to her legs, with a familiar one, Teio, waving at her.
"Air Groove!" Rudolf beamed, seeing the attention she received and holding up the basket. "Want to join us?"
The mare smiled and locked the barn door before walking over.
"I was thinking whether or not I should be staying up so late."
"Hm, that's a good point," Rudolf drawled. "It's not the best for growing foals..."
"What?! Papa!" Teio shouted, making Rudolf crack and chuckle. "You promised we could!"
"Pro-mised!" Tsuyoshi, she assumed, echoed and tugged at her father's pantleg.
"Looks like we're tied," Rudolf laughed.
"Indeed." Air Groove hummed, knowing fully well they weren't. "... Alright, but you both better go to bed when Papa says, okay?"
"Yeah!" Teio chimed as Tsuyoshi nodded.
"They're good with that already," Rudolf lied, since she had told Air Groove differently before. Teio had so much energy and it was hard to pry her from her father. "Shall we?" She said, offering her spare arm.
Air Groove smiled and took her arm.
"We shall."
Rudolf had a place already for them in mind, and it seemed perfect. Close to the beach enough to get a good look at the fireworks, but not too close that the sound would be overwhelming. She also brought snacks, dinner, and various other things to keep the children occupied.
"You're quite good with them."
Rudolf looked surprised before her fond smile returned as she helped Tsuyoshi with her bottle.
"Today is a good day," she simply said.
Air Groove wanted to say more, say how comfortable their family looked, how adorable the kids were, how handsome Rudolf was, and how she wanted something like that. But that was all thrown out as the fireworks were lit and their world became nothing but booming sound and color.
- ♡ ♡ ♡ -
Fall came, and Rudolf began inviting her into their home on the hill. She claimed it was because it was getting cold, the fish weren't biting and she'd feel bad making Air Groove stand outside to talk. Air Groove knew why though.
Tsuyoshi wasn't getting better with the change of season. The cold was harsh on her little lungs. Rudolf kept her sheltered, but it was hard when Teio had to go to school and Tsuyoshi missed her sister dearly.
At least Air Groove's presence seemed to cheer her up a little in the fog of her fever.
"Are you tired, Tsu?" Rudolf warmly asked, already holding out a hand.
Tsuyoshi nodded, waddling over from where she had been playing next to Air Groove and yawning. Rudolf shared a look with the mare, a small apology as she helped Tsuyoshi make her way to the kids' bedroom.
It allowed Air Groove some time to look around the room.
Plainly put, it was a mess. Not in the dirty sense, but disorganized. Everything was haphazardly placed around, as if Rudolf dropped everything the moment the kids needed something. Knowing her, perhaps that was exactly what happened.
However, what caught her eye was the trophy case.
It was sitting in the corner, not forgotten, but out of place. It didn't have a speck of dust, allowing Air Groove to simply walk over and read them over.
1st place: Symboli Rudolf.
1st place: Symboli Rudolf.
1st place: Symboli Rudolf.
All of them. Symboli Rudolf.
She knew that name. Any uma in Japan would.
The eternal Emperor, the lion of the track, Triple Crown winner:
Symboli Rudolf.
"Ah, so you found them."
Air Groove nearly jumped, spinning around to find Rudolf smiling at her. "My apologies, my home is a bit... Messy."
"... I have half a mind to clean it myself," she humored her. "There's a lot here that would be buried otherwise."
"Not intentionally. They're just not as important right now."
"Agreed." Air Groove hummed. "... So."
"It wasn't that I was keeping it a secret. You just never asked."
"I wasn't going to say that you were." She chuckled at Rudolf's surprise. "I was just going to ask if you wanted to race sometime."
"... Really?"
"Why not?" Air Groove smiled. "We're uma musume, after all."
"... Thank you." Rudolf smiled back, and it seemed right. "Sometime, I'd like to race you."
"It's a date, then."
"Yes. A date."
- Tsuyoshi's plight -
Tsuyoshi got worse as fall got colder and colder. A horrific cough racked her small body. Rudolf could be found exclusively in her home, taking care of her sickly son.
Air Groove didn't know what she could do, but she tried.
She gave the Symboli family fresh produce, fresh food. If they needed anything, she'd run out of the valley and get it for them. Anything. Anything she could do.
But Tsuyoshi was hanging on by a thread. There was hardly a thing to be done.
Air Groove hardly prayed to the Goddesses for anything. She did not need to, and worked hard for anything she did need.
But.
But.
She prayed for Tsuyoshi, begged them for intervention.
That night...
That one night...
She had a dream.
"Mom?"
The pool's ripples muddied a reflection of a young uma beside her.
"Mom! Haa, she fell asleep again." Gentle hands took her shoulders. "Are you warm enough, mom?"
"Mm," she heard herself say, "thank you, Tsuyoshi..."
"Haha, for what? Come on. Let's go home. Papa's waiting."
When she woke up, she knew to run to Rudolf's home.
Rudolf opened the door the second she knocked, tackling her into a hug.
"She's...!"
Air Groove didn't breathe, but Rudolf laughed. Genuinely and warming the mare from head to toe.
"She's going to be okay!"
Air Groove beamed and hugged her back, taking a moment before following her inside.
Rudolf looked exhausted, but her smile never faltered. Teio was just as overjoyed, watching as Tsuyoshi ate slowly, carefully, but managed to eat her whole plate of breakfast.
Air Groove smiled as well, cleaning up to calm her heart.
"Thank you, again," Rudolf chuckled as Tsuyoshi climbed down to go play with Teio. "For everything you've done."
"It's the least I can do."
"Still, I needed something to hold onto. You were... A ray of sunlight in this winter."
Before Air Groove could reply, Rudolf leaned her head on the mare's shoulder. "Thank you... Thank you..."
Air Groove felt any shiver or chill leave her, her body warming up quickly as she smiled and hugged her again.
"Of course, Rudolf."
- ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ -
Springtime had come, and Air Groove had to make her decision.
Stay and continue to work the farm, or leave and continue on the path she made for herself.
But before she could speak on the matter to the farmhand, they greeted her with a knowing smile.
"You should head down to the pond," they said. "I'll take care of the chores."
Air Groove blinked before nodding and heading down where the blossoms were blooming. So distracted by their beauty, she didn't realize she wasn't alone until a throat cleared from behind her.
She chuckled and turned.
"I should have known it was-" The words were caught in her throat.
Rudolf had on a military-like green suit. Medals from the trophy case adorning her chest. She cleared her throat again.
"Hello, Air Groove."
"Is... That...?"
"My old racewear, yes." She chuckled, fiddling with her gloves. "I wore it to give myself courage! But it seems like it's failing me."
"Why...?"
"Air Groove..." Her eyes were soft. Far softer than she had ever seen them before. "I wanted to ask you something."
Her heart stammered as Rudolf approached her before stopping just a hair's length away.
"Air Groove... May I kiss you?"
The mare blinked before laughing, mirth bubbling up from her as Rudolf looked more and more nervous.
Eventually, she managed to stop and press a kiss to Rudolf's lips.
Parting took only a moment, but that was because she had something to say herself:
"Rudolf. Marry me."
- Ever After -
"That's how I remember it."
"I wasn't that nervous!"
"You were, dear. It was cute."
Rudolf gruffed but smiled, her wrinkled hand finding Air Groove's.
"Don't tell me you told that version to everyone."
"Just the kids." Air Groove grinned. "Arubu was mortified."
"No wonder my sweet princess never looked at me the same way again." She mockingly sniffled.
"You have Teio and Tsu. They didn't believe it. Always the cool dad."
"Now I'm the cool grandpa!" Rudolf laughed. "With the beautiful grandma."
"Stop it, you."
"Never." She squeezed her hand. "You're stuck with this ol' sap."
"Stuck. As if." Air Groove lifted her hand to kiss Rudolf's. "My beautiful Emperor."
"Race you home?" Though her eyes were dulled by age, the soft warmth that she got while looking at Air Groove still remained.
"Always."
A century of "I love you"s couldn't be enough.
Air Groove was happy.