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Two figures sat in the middle of a flower field, the colours of the plants overlayed with a blue-ish tint from the navy sky above them, it's vast presence littered with the smallest, but bright twinkling stars. The grass on which the pair sat on was dry and not too sharp, making it comfortable to relax. The atmosphere was quiet, the only sound being the light breeze that travelled through the air.
To the left, sat a figure with two fluffy ears sprouted out the top of their head instead of the sides, their long, dark grey hair covering most of their sillhouette. To the right, a taller figure, her also long but wavy brown hair mostly pushed to the front, which allowed the sight of the pitch black dress she wore, with shades of reds, blues and purples detailing the clothing.
For the time being, the pair stayed silent, gazing above at the simple, but mesmerising night sky.
・
"So, what's next?" The shorter figure said suddenly. This caught the other by surprise, as she was broken out of her trance and looked to her left.
"If you're referring to my career, I have concerts lined up in the following months, songs to be released. I have an EP coming out in November."
"Ah... I should have been more specific. What's next for you... emotionally? You were a wreck the last time we spoke here. How's things with—"
"Dream Journey." The taller figure spoke harshly, glaring at the now named Umamusume. The grey haired uma sighed, her ears slightly flattening in embarrassment. Yet her eyes were still focused on the sky above her, generally unfazed.
"My apologies, Zoë. I was only curious."
"I should flip the question then. You told me the other day that you won the... what was it— Right, the Arima Kinen. It's one, if not the most prestigious races in Japan. So, what's next for you? Have you finally witnessed your so-called 'Journey's End'?"
For the first time in a long while, Dream Journey was uncertain of her answer.
She had always said that she wanted to be the "Witness of the Journey's End", however she couldn't quite pinpoint where this supposed "End" was. She felt like it was when she crossed the finish line back at the Arima Kinen, yet... she did not feel satisfied. She imagined the "End" to be this radiant ball of golden light, near enough to see but too far for her reach. Every night when she slept, she felt herself running faster and faster, chasing this light, but just as she felt it — that warm glow on her fingertips — she looked up, and it was out of reach once more. Yet no matter what, through rain or shine, even if she had no more strength left in her legs and had to crawl, she would go on this journey to see the view she had worked for, she deserved, even if it was eternal. Even if she didn't know where the "End" was, because completion begets a feeling of satisfaction. She ultimately concluded that she didn't know what was next for her as she would never be satisfied no matter how many races she ran, because there would always be another to compete in.
・
"Journey? You there?" Zoë called out, snapping the uma out of her own thoughts. She finally turned to look at the Swiss singer, who donned a playful smile on her face. "Cat got your tongue?"
"No, I was thinking about my answer." Journey replied, her lips curving up to express her amusement. "Don't think you're off the hook. What's next for you?"
Zoë sighed, raising her hands up in surrender. "The months after Eurovision are said to be the most hectic. People from all over the country are hoping to book you for concerts, get you on their TV channels. You're constantly working around the clock to put out new songs. You're ultimately left with little free time to think about your feelings about the future."
"I see... I was specifically asking about your performance at Eurovision, though."
Ah.
Zoë didn't really want to think about what happened during Eurovision, if she had to be completely honest. The lack of televotes was possibly the final nail in the coffin to what felt like weeks of anxiety and fear that her performance wouldn't suffice with the audiences. She was half convinced that there was some rigging done to the votes, but that's here nor there. No, the reason why she didn't want to think of that song contest was because she was—
"Still wallowing in the fact that you couldn't confess to him during the season?"
Damn you, Dream Journey.
"Don't beat yourself over it," The uma continued, ignoring the look of offense that Zoë was giving her. "You sang it yourself, 'Flowers are more beautiful when you don't cut them off.' Why think that Eurovision is the end for the two of you? Just confess to him another day."
The analogy was a bit weird, but Zoë got what Journey was trying to say. Getting caught up over the past was the same as cutting off the stems of a flower — choosing to let herself wilt instead of growing and blossoming. She knew that her voyage was far from over, yet she couldn't even take one step onto the road, even when the traffic light was red, when everyone else was walking. She was stuck there, looking straight ahead at her future with no one to walk with her. She could see where she needed to go, bright and clear, but the memories and emotions of the past were wrapped around her like the thorny vines on a rose. She had every choice to cut them off, to go forward, but she wouldn't. She couldn't, and the thought of it ate at her alive.
・
This time, Zoë got snapped out of her inner thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked down and saw Dream Journey giving her a knowing smile. She reciprocated the action, albeit her's was a bit weary. Not a single word uttered between them, for the answer was visible in the other's eyes.
For the one who continues running for a goal that she could barely see, the other wishes to be the lighthouse in the middle of a raging sea. To guide her towards the satisfaction she deserves to see.
For the one who stands in front of the pedestrian crossing, her limbs shackled by the chains of the past, the other wishes to burn those restraints to the ground, hold the one by the hand, and cross the road together. To guide her towards the things life has planned for her.
The pair looked back at the sky, the same navy blue canvas and twinkling stars looking back at them. The last thing they saw before their vision faded to black, as they gained consciousness and faced their realities with their new found knowledge.
No matter what happens, they always have that flower field to return to. A destination that will wait for them at any point in their travels.