The Future Will Change

Indeed. Vanhoover University was the most prestigious college in the country and one of the top universities in the world, clipping at the heels of Trottingham’s Oxenford. A large, castle-like building on the outside that even tried to mimic the old architecture of Oxenford. Though the fraternity houses surrounding the campus itself were still built to accommodate more modernized technology which each student had access to along with their own rooms.

Keiji Ketsuki, formerly a vampire batpony and thrust into this new world well over 5 years ago was now a freshman at this very university. His intent was to learn graphic design and turn that into his major as he wanted to get into manufacturing. Unfortunately, the recent tension growing within the government had caused folks like him to be…treated not so greatly. So he did his best to avoid standing out.

So far, he had been there for the last few months and had just joined a fraternity. There is where he met one of his friends from high school…

“Keij-match!” a voice called out to the vampboy as he approached the fraternity building.

Keiji, who now stood at six feet tall and currently wore a pair of dark jeans, a solid black t-shirt, and a green letterman jacket with ‘VU’ on its shoulders, looked in the direction of the voice and realized who it was. “...Royal Rumble.”

Rumble, Thunderlane’s younger brother, wore a pair of baggy gray athletic pants along with a white track jacket. Now also a bit older and standing at the same height as Keiji with a deeper voice as well, he was happy to see Keiji after missing him for a while.

“You son of a gun,” Rumble remarked.

The two approached each other, and locked hands in what could only be described as a mid-air arm-wrestle-like ‘handshake’ of sorts.

“Damn, your grip is much stronger now,” Keiji commented, noting how the veins on Rumble’s arms bulged before letting go. The vampboy had to actually shake his hand to get rid of the sting he felt. “Not bad at all. How’ve you been?”

“Good here. Been actually practicing my TKD skills and been majoring anatomy so I can prepare myself to become a track star,” Rumble replied with his hands behind his head.

“Sweet. How about your brother--Thunderlane, right?”

“Yeah, he’s gone pro with Spitfire,” Rumble continued, “She, Rainbow Dash, and a few others are looking to go pro as the Wondercolts Soccer Team. They’re actually hoping to join the internationals too at some point.”

Keiji smiled, knowing that one of his best friends and his family was safe put him at ease. “Good to hear, dawg. But I guess it means you’re on your own more often, huh?”

“Eh, doesn’t bother me,” Rumbled replied with a shrug, “Besides, the new power we’ve unlocked has helped me focus on something else instead.”

“...hey now, try not to make use of it too much, alright?” Keiji warned his friend, “I don’t want you getting hazed over your powers.”

Rumble scoffed at this, and led him into the frat house, “You worry to much, K. Come on, follow me. We’re in Fraternity Iota.”

“Iota huh…hrm…” Keiji muttered as he followed Rumble into the building. “Where have I heard that name before…?”

The inside of the frat house building was a rather large, two story building with a set of stairs immediately to the right that led up to the main rooms and freshly shined hardwood floors. To their left was a big TV room and a common area with a fireplace. To their right was a massive kitchen area where food could be made or ordered. And towards the back of the building, near the end of the hall, was where a hatch that led to a basement was located. More than likely where all the frat houses' supplies were kept.

“So we meet here every week I think. Though you’re free to come and go as you please. Er--Keiji?”

“Oh, sorry,” the vampboy looked up from a state of deep thought as Rumble led him to the common area, “Yeah, I’m with ya. Was just thinking for a sec. Guess no one else is here, huh?”

“Yeah,” Rumble replied, “We’re the only ones here for now and the Sororities are also getting ready to get started. But I think we’ll see some of our other classmates soon.”

Suddenly, the two young men heard a loud thump sound from upstairs which caused them both to tilt their heads upwards.

“What the--?” Rumble immediately squinted out of confusion as he looked up and ran towards the stairwell. “Hang on, I could’ve sworn I was the only one here.”

“Oh hell no you don’t,” Keiji called out as he followed his friend, “I’ve seen those slasher flicks where the killer is hiding on the college campuses. ‘Shriek’ or something. Not letting you go alone.”

The two ran up the steps and hurried towards one of the rooms of the frat house where a soft sobbing could be heard. Keiji stood on the left side while Rumble stood on the right side against the walls in a breaching position. They glanced at each other, nodded, and prepared to kick the door open. However, before they could…

The door swung open on it’s own as a young woman’s voice could be heard, followed by a hooded figure running out and screaming, “I-I’m sorry! I won’t come around here again, I promise!”

“You better not!” a young man’s deep voice called out after her.

The hooded figure, presumably the young woman, had ran off downstairs, and out of the frat house. As she left, both of the guys could see that she had cat-like ears…?

“What the…?” Keiji muttered as they watched the hooded female leave.

Then they looked up and watched as a young man their age stepped out to greet them. He had a rather fair skin tone and a rather long head of burgundy hair. He wore baggy sweatpants and a black tank top with a pentagram pendant around his neck.

“Fuckin’ bitch thinks she can do what she wants around here,” he paused, then noticed the two freshmen. “...oh, sorry about that. Just had to deal with some trash that thought she could show her face around her. Fuckin’ cat-eared weirdo…”

“...cat ears…?” Rumble muttered, “...I wonder…”

“I don’t think all that was necessary,” Keiji stepped up to him, “What’s the deal?”

“Hey,” the guy raised a brow and grit his teeth, “Let’s get something straight: I’m the House Leader. Do as I say and worry about what I tell ya to worry about. Got it?"

Keiji grumbled and took a step back. “...alright alright, jeez. What even is your name anyway?”

“Vertex. Vertex Incline. Don’t forget it, alright? And…" he stopped for a second and squinted, looking more closely at Keiji's lips and the fangs that resulted in an overbite. "...The hell? What's with those teeth? Are you one of those freaks too?"

"...Nah I…got a condition…" Keiji made up on the spot.

Vertex glared at him with suspicion, "Riiiight…just don't allow any freaks in here. I'm gonna go get some supplies for later." And with that, he took his leave downstairs and out of the frat house.

Both Rumble and Keiji glanced at each other. They didn't quite have the full story and for all they knew, that hooded individual could have been a thief…

“...Ah shit--”

“--here we go again,” they lamented respectively.