The Future Will Change

Meanwhile, at a bowling alley near the edge of the city…

CRASH!

The crash of ten pins falling would result in a wave of cheers as Luna got out of her seat. “Yes! Good one, Aidon!”

“Oh uh…thanks?” the shadowman--Aidoneus would smile nervously as he turned to face Luna and the rest of his bowling team. “I’m still trying to get the hang of all this…”

Vice Principal--or rather, retired Vice Principal Luna--was participating in a bowling tournament alongside Aidon. Their remaining team members included Saffron Masala, Pistachio, and Kerfuffle. They all wore matching, dark blue shirts with the moon printed on them and above it, the words: “LUNAR LANDERS” in striking white text.

“Don’t be modest,” Luna asserted, “We’ve been practicing all year! You’re a natural. Right, sister?”

Celestia was actually not part of their team at all. But rather, she was a mere spectator to the event. “I had no clue how this sport worked when I first started watching, but you’re all doing so well. Almost makes me regret not signing up…almost.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “We get it, sister. You’re lazy and don’t like to lift big heavy balls.”

Everyone in their group snickered as Pistachio too his turn.

“...” Celestia couldn’t help but grin and shake her head. “...anyway, how far behind are you from the other team?” she asked while looking up at the electronic scoreboard that hung from the ceiling.

As team captain, Luna’s team was about 20 points away from their opponents. A team led Windy Whistles--Rainbow Dash’s mother.

“Not too far behind,” Luna replied, “If we can maintain our streak of strikes, we can manage to eke out a win.”

“Oh that’s right,” Celestia continued, “If you win this game, you’ll be representing Vanhoover at Nationals, correct?”

Aidon nodded, “That’s right. And if we manage to win that tournament, we’ll be eligible to participate in the worldwide bowling events at the World Games.” He folded his arms with a frown of contempt on his face. “Then hopefully the Olympics will finally recognize bowling as a proper sport.”

CRASH!

“Yes!” Windy Whistles shouted from a nearby lane as she scored a striker, “Woooo! Beat that, Luna!” Her team consisted of Cinnamon Chai, Ms. Peachbottom, Trouble Shoes, and Thorax. They all wore jet black shirts with a hot pink lightning bolt in the center with text that read: “DASHERS” above it.

Nearby, her husband Bo Hothoof was cheering her on while their daughter, Rainbow Dash was cringing to herself as she grabbed the bridge of her nose. “...please keep your shirt on,” she muttered to herself, “We don’t need a repeat of last month.”

“Shyooot…” Pistachio--a college-aged farmer boy--tilted his hat upwards as he glanced at the score screen. “We’re a bit behind. Come on, we can do this,” he muttered nervously since he knew his parents were spectating nearby.

“I think we got this,” famed restaurateur Saffron Masala added, “Who’s next?”

Kerfuffle, a young woman with a prosthetic leg, spoke up, “...looks like it’s Luna.”

“The pressure’s on now,” Luna replied as she grabbed her ball from the nearest rack. “Okay…”

Everyone watched with bated breath and quieted down as Luna took the last bowl of the game. Her custom dark-blue, 8-pound ball would decide the fate of the game and either team. One would continue, one would fall. It was the tightest game of bowling the local alley had seen in months.

After a few steps and with a hefty thud, Luna rolled her ball down the lane. Everyone stared closely as the ball rolled towards the set of ten pins. All Luna could do was shut her eyes and cross her fingers…

CRASH!

All ten pins were knocked down. The Lunar Landers had won the game with a final combined average of 245 over the Dashers’ 243!

“We’re headin’ to nationals, ya’ll!” Pistachio cheered.

Everyone of their team members started hollering and gathered around for a group hug, practically dogpiling Luna for scoring the winning strike!

“Ah! W-we won?! Really?!” Luna gave a surprised gasp.

Meanwhile, Windy huffed and took a seat. “Darn…almost had ‘em. Ah well. There’s always next week, right?”

“Yeah, mom--part of me is glad you didn’t win,” Rainbow Dash stated bluntly, “You get waaay too excited when you win. And coming from me, that’s saying something.”

“Ah, lighten up, kiddo,” her dad patted her on the back, “This is your mother’s only real hobby. Support her, wouldja?”

“Hrrk!” Rainbow coughed from the force of her dad’s hand on her back, “Yeah dad. Sure--try explaining an indecent exposure charge to the police when it’s all on CCTV.”

After the celebratory postgame party with fried chicken, everyone went their separate ways. Except for Luna who walked with Aidon.

“...that was fun, huh?” she asked with a giddy pep in her step, “Just think, Aidon. Soon, we’ll be famous for our own skills.”

“...it would be nice, yes,” the shadow man admitted with a nervous smile on his face. “...Honestly, I never thought I’d be able to retain my sanity and make it this far here. But with you by my side, Luna, it’s been much easier.”

Luna blushed and started to fidget her hands behind her back as she walked. “I…well…that is to say, I’m glad I could make things easier for you too, Aidon. You deserve it after all you’ve been through. Your power doesn’t define nor control you.”

“...you’re right,” Aidon replied with a content smile, “It doesn’t. Ready to head home, love?”

"Mm-hmm. I have a surprise for you when we get baaaaack~" she replied with her best attempt to sound sultry which came out mostly as goat-like noises instead due nerves.

"...oh?"