"Welcome back, Lady Rampage! The Grand Lady awaits, and her guest eagerly anticipates your arrival."
"…Wanna bolt…"
"With respect, my lady, this is your home."
On a rare day off, Rampage would usually drag Ryan and Ines out or take Rice to the aquarium. Not today—no room for fun. Streaming gear's already set up, no dodging this one. They want her on air.
"Grand Lady, I've brought Lady Rampage."
"Enter."
"Here you are, my lady."
"Ugh… Guess sitting tight won't cut it. Gotta dive in…"
Beyond the door, two elegant Uma Musume chat merrily around a table. One's Granny Mejiro Asama, familiar. The other… doesn't outshine Asama but creates an untouchable aura together. An inviolable realm. Gulping, Rampage steps forward.
"Thanks for coming. Sorry for the summons."
"No worries, I was free anyway."
"Perfect timing, then."
"Pretty much."
She keeps cool, but the moment arrives.
"She's the one?"
"Yes, Rampage, meet her."
The guest removes a large hat, revealing glossy, natural hair—finer than any model's. Her smile, playful yet refined, hints at a mischievous noble.
"Speed Symboli. I used to shine on the track."
"Oh, stop. You make me sound ancient too."
"Haha, my bad."
Speed Symboli: Rudolf's grandsire, first to challenge the Arc de Triomphe, Takarazuka champ at a record eight years old, and first to conquer the Arima Memorial twice. A legend.
"Mejiro… Rampage. Honored to meet you."
"No need to be so stiff. I love your streams!"
"Honored…"
No way to stay calm. Rampage is called a modern legend, but Speed's on another level—noble grace, champion aura, still radiant post-retirement. Racing her? No chance.
"Don't be so tense. I'm rooting for you."
"She's nervous. We're old-timers with wild pasts."
"C'mon, just say 'Ohakonhallo'!"
"…What?"
Speed's quirky greeting—straight out of Nanjamo—cracks Rampage's nerves. She meant it about streaming? Asama sighs as Speed smirks like a prankster.
"Ease up. Sorry, Rampage, this old gal doesn't realize her antics stress her grandkids. She wants to bond."
"Don't say it like that, A-chan!!"
"You're hardly innocent. Even Rudolf's fine, but Sirius dodges you, Su-chan."
"A-chan? Su-chan…?"
Nicknames overload Rampage's brain. Asama and Speed, old pals, still use their youthful monikers.
"We used to sneak out in disguise, ditch our escorts, and hit the town, right, A-chan?"
"Nostalgic… We dressed like modern girls. Like Daitaku Helios, maybe."
"Granny said 'Wheee'!?"
"I tried, but A-chan couldn't. You said we'd get caught if I did!"
"You wanted to, but you said it'd blow our cover, Su-chan!"
Shockers: Asama had a wild side? They show photos—young Asama, McQueen's spitting image; Speed, Rudolf's double.
"Our escorts saw through us. Got laughed at by Mom and Dad."
"Never been so embarrassed… Good memories, though."
"Wanna try again?"
"Stop, you'll kill me!"
"Mean, A-chan!! I'm still game, right, Rampage!?"
"Me!?"
"Tell her, Rampage. Act your age, you old hag."
"If I'm a hag, you're one too, A-chan! Crow's-feet granny!"
"What!? Take that back, Su-chan, you instant-KO has-been!"
Their bickering makes Rampage's tension feel silly. Why was she nervous? They're just Uma Musume too. So…
"If you're that heated, settle it with Pokémon. You both play, right?"
"Great idea! I've got a new team ready."
"Bring it. Rampage's Iono-inspired squad will crush you."
"Scarlet, huh? Trade me one, A-chan? I got Violet thinking you'd pick Scarlet."
"No problem."
Rampage snaps back to her usual self. This'll be fun.
"Let's move."
"All set."
"Somewhere else?"
"Just a bit. Call me Su-chan♪, Rampage."
"Then I'm Ran, Su-chan♪."
"Well done, Ran-chan♪!"
They lead her to a home-theater-like room—more like a facility. A massive monitor looms, with a console-like setup. It screams old-school Pokémon battle hubs. Asama and Speed pull Switches from custom cases—Asama's red with Mejiro accents, Speed's purple-patterned—plugging cables to project the battle screen.
"Let's do this, A-chan!!"
"Eyes meet, Pokémon battle's on!!"
"Ran-chan / Rampage, declare the start!!"
"Uh—yes!! Legends clash in this hall!! Mejiro versus Symboli, their Pokémon in a duel for supremacy. A new legend begins!! Battle—START!!!"
Rampage gets swept up. The screen flares: Asama's Tinkaton versus Speed's Dragonite.
"What is this?"
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