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.
Mama Blues POV
Since our arrival, I've been assigned Vice Captain of our little group of fifteen. The others said they chose me for my patience and kindness—traits I'd honed raising my own children. In my previous life, I was a mother of five, all of them grown now, some better off than others. Now, somehow, I have fourteen new ones to look after.
As I got to know everyone, patterns began to emerge. It seems that only Norn Valkyrie, Great Wonder, Sweet Pollen, and I were women before this—Wonder being a mother as well. Most of us retained the same attractions as before. Those who were originally women remained straight, with the exceptions of Norn Valkyrie and Sweet Pollen, who were already bisexual. The former men became lesbians, except for Tactical Gray and Black Diamond, who are bisexual, and Steel Valkyrie—who had been a transgender gay man in her past life. This transformation allowed her to become the woman she had always wanted to be, and she's now straight because of it. When we learned this, everyone was shocked—but we accepted her. Anyone who had a problem with that dealt with me.
Every single one of us had been a runner before, myself included, though I'd retired long ago due to age. Even after having kids, I kept running, and I missed it every day. I had been a sprinter in track and dabbled in freerunning as well—and I was good. Very good. I broke countless speed records. Not just women's records, but men's too. I wasn't chasing the title of fastest woman—I wanted to be the fastest, period. I failed.
But now? Now I was in a body where that dream was possible again. I was an Uma Musume. I had my youth back, and I was allowed to chase that goal once more. How could I not be ecstatic?
I didn't just want to compete again—I needed to. This time, every speed record in this world would be mine. We began searching for a way to make that happen, since everyone else wanted to run again too.
I worked closely with Victory Gate—Vic—our Team Captain; Tactical Gray—Gray—our Strategist; Tyrant Rose—Rose—our Negotiator; and Great Wonder—GW—our Assistant Officer. Gray set out to research what we could do as a group going forward, while the rest of us focused on keeping everyone afloat. Eventually, it seemed he'd found exactly what we were looking for.
Vic called for a meeting. Gray and Vic arrived first, Gray carrying a stack of paperwork and setting up a whiteboard he'd gotten from King Wild—KiWi for short. Soon, everyone else began to file in.
The first group had just finished working out and showering: Imperial Punk (ImP), High Spice (Spice), Edged Lily (Lily), Steel Valkyrie (Steel), and Enduring Rain (Rain). After them came the group who'd spent the day resting and exploring the city, carrying bags of supplies we'd asked them to pick up. KiWi burst in first at full speed, followed by Norn Valkyrie (Norn), Endless Journey (Jo), Black Diamond (BlaD), and finally Sweet Pollen (Sweets).
"Hey, Mama, what's this meeting about?" KiWi shouted as soon as everyone sat down.
Yes—that's what everyone called me. Just "Mama," the short version of Mama Blues.
"It looks like Gray finally found what we've all been looking for," I said, "and it meets every requirement."
"Wait—seriously?" ImP asked, eyes wide.
I nodded, and the room immediately filled with excitement.
Gray began his explanation. I'd already reviewed everything, so I barely listened. Instead, I watched faces. I wanted to see if anyone was agreeing out of group mentality, or if someone looked uncertain or uncomfortable. I'm a caretaker by nature, and I'd been entrusted with fourteen new kids. After spending time with them, I genuinely cared about every one of them.
Everyone looked excited—asking questions when confused, or tossing in random ones just for fun.
Everyone except Vic.
She wasn't paying attention at all. I recognized the signs immediately—anxiety. She was spiraling in her own head.
When it came time to vote, I voted yes without hesitation. Everyone else agreed as well—except Vic. She was so out of it that we had to ask her again. She snapped out of her trance and agreed, saying that if everyone else was on board, so was she.
I knew then that I needed to talk to her.
After Gray assigned everyone their tasks and the meeting dispersed, I followed Vic down the hall, still holding my paperwork. I found her in the middle of another anxiety attack. I placed a firm hand on her shoulder to ground her.
She turned, startled.
"Vic," I said calmly, "I know something's wrong. Let's go talk somewhere private."
We headed to the hotel's gym—unused and completely worthless, just as everyone knew. Once inside, I spoke gently.
"Vic, are you okay? I saw you have two mini anxiety attacks back there while pretending you heard a conversation you were way too deep in your own head to follow."
Her breathing hitched again, and I pulled her into my bosom.
"It's okay," I whispered. "Mama's here. Tell me what's wrong."
She broke down, pouring out her fears—about leadership, about keeping everyone's respect, about having no one left to rely on.
I let her finish.
Then I set her upright and slapped her across the face.
She froze.
"Fool," I scolded her, "who do you think we are? You're a fantastic leader. You keep us organized, you manage this team, and you genuinely care about every single one of us. If you ever need help, you can rely on any of us."
I looked her straight in the eyes.
"And respect? We see how hard you work. Everything you do for us. The idea of you being replaced is unacceptable. If anyone—inside or outside this team—disrespects you, they answer to me. And the rest of us."
She collapsed into me again, sobbing as I held her.
"Now," I said softly, "let's get you caught up on everything you missed while you were lost in that head of yours."
"Yes," she sniffed, still crying.