The Future Will Change

At a jazz club in Canterlot City, Adagio Dazzle had just finished a performance on stage while wearing a rather form-fitting black dress. The wooden floors combined with the sparsely populated tables and bar as the band accompanied the siren would give the place a rather modest, almost cozy feel. The small crowd cheered for her as soon as she was finished, and someone in particular from the audience would come up to greet her once she was done.

“I see your voice hasn’t gotten worse over time,” Sunset Shimmer teased the siren while leaning with her back against the wall next to the stage.

“Uch. Wouldn’t you know,” Adagio rolled her eyes, then greeted her properly. “But I’ll admit, it’s not that bad to see you again, Shimmer. How have you been?”

“Well, things could be a whole lot worse,” Sunset replied with a shrug. “I’ve been working on getting my comics published. Things have been a bit…tense outside the city lately.”

Adagio groaned and walked with Sunset to her break room. “Ugh…don’t even get me started. I get that there are dangerous magical creatures out there, but does that really mean we should all be labeled as dangerous?”

“Aaaaand now you see how it felt for me when I first got here way back then,” Sunset joked at herself with a forced smile, then a sigh. “But I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later with all of the incidents we got involved in that were made public and whatnot.”

“...yes, I think I understand now,” the siren replied with a regrettable tone as she flopped down on the break room’s couch. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Shimmer.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Sunset replied. “Part of me just wants to move on up in life like a normal woman, ya know?”

“...you don’t want to go back to your home in Equestria?”

There were a few reasons Sunset wasn’t worried about this. “Nah. For one thing, I know Princess Twilight has everything under control over there and I can always visit. But here…I feel like I’m at home here even though I wasn’t born here. Like I’ve found my place in life. There are things here that we just don’t have in Equestria like cars,” she glanced at her hand and wiggled her fingers, “hands, and sports like basketball.”

Adagio could see her perspective and gave a nod. “Yes, that’s true. The modern architecture is also a nice change of pace.”

“Plus there’s also the fact that comic books are way more popular here than in Equestria,” Sunset went on, “It’s kinda my passion but it never really caught on back home. Here though? I’m already in the process of getting my story published!” she squealed with excitement at the prospect.

“Oh?” the orange siren tilted her head as she sipped from a bottle of water, “What’s this ‘comic book’ you’re writing about? What’s the story?”

“It’s about a demon who suddenly finds herself in space in the midst of war of guns and marines,” Sunset explained with excitement on her face as she pantomimed the act of firing a weapon, “It’s full of crazy shenanigans that’ll appeal to guys and girls too.”

Her enthusiasm killed Adagio’s mood for a moment; the siren gave a half-hearted smile, “...I’m happy for you, Shimmer.”

Sunset noticed this, and asked, “...is everything alright?”

“Meh…I suppose I’m still jealous of you even after all these years,” Adagio replied while chuckling at herself, “Yet again, you’ve proven that you’re better than me by braving the school system of this world and making a name for yourself.” She sighed, and looked longingly down the hallway towards the front house of the jazz club. “...meanwhile, this is all I can really do to support myself and my sisters. But we’re getting by…”

“...” Sunset bit her lip and rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. “...sorry, Dagi. I didn’t realize you and your sisters weren’t doing so hot.”

Adagio gasped and shook her head. “O-oh! No…sorry. If anything, I should apologize for bringing the mood down. I don’t mean to devalue your accomplishments, Shimmer. I hope your career brings you the success you want out of this world. Even if who we are as magical beings has been…”

“Made into social pariahs by the public?” Sunset rattled off, “Admittedly, I can’t exactly blame them. A lot’s happened in the last few years. Loads of magical beasts and corrupt people trying to use it for personal gain have done everything from petty theft to commit gang violence. I…can’t exactly blame the government for being scared.”

“Hmph,” Adagio grumbled as she placed the empty bottle down and folded her arms. “Even so, I don’t intend on rejecting who I am just to satisfy some corporate suits who sit on piles of infinite wealth while the innocent people on the ground have to suffer. Makes me sick just thinking about it, Shimmer…”

And admittedly, Sunset couldn’t blame her for that line of thinking either. The government at large had chosen to actively vilify all forms of magic and respond with lethal force. At the end of it all though, it wasn’t magic that determined good or evil, it was its user…

Something Sunset was fully aware of, given her past. “...you have a point,” she replied.

Adagio shook her head and decided to change the topic. “Sorry…let’s talk about something a bit less heavy. How has Keiji been?”

“Oh, from what I heard he’s been doing alright. Apparently he’s looking to become a toy maker so he’s pursuing graphic design. I think he wants to share his passion of those little crochet dolls with everyone else.”

“How sweet…” Adagio muttered with a smile on her face, then thought of someone else. “...what about Professor Aidon? Is he still teaching at Canterlot High or did he transfer somewhere else?”

“...I’m not sure, honestly,” Sunset admitted, “...I’ve never really kept up with my teachers outside of Princess Celestia and Twilight. I wonder how he’s doing…”

“I wonder if he and Luna have done it yet--”

Sunset interrupted her with a blush on her face, “That’s private!”

Adagio simply giggled and shot Sunset a knowing grin, “Come on. They’re both adults who love each other. It’s only a matter of time.”

“...Yeah I’d rather not discuss one of my teacher’s sex lives though,” she faux-gagged, and stuck out her tongue before changing the subject. "Moving things along, have you heard how Keiji's pursuing his career? He didn't give me too many details other than graphic design."

"Well from what I last heard," Adagio confirmed, "He's actually been accepted into Vanhoover University in the capital city. Alongside Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon no less."

Sunset's eyes shot open at such news. The vampire-pony-turned-human boy with a rather rebellious nature had not only gone off to college, but the most prestigious one in the nation? All Sunset could manage to say was, "Wait…what???"