The Future Will Change

Later that evening, at Sunset’s home…

“Ugh…that was certainly a day,” she muttered as she dried herself off once she exited the shower and put on her pajamas. But just before she could lie down to get any sleep, she was interrupted by a phone call. “Hm?”

Once she saw it was Flash Sentry, her heart raced for a moment as she thought about why he could possibly be calling so late.

‘Wait…what? He’s…no, just stay cool. It’s probably nothing serious. Just act normal.’

With a deep breath, she hesitantly answered the phone. “...hello?”

“Sunset? Good--listen,” he started off with a concerned, yet focused tone, “Fluttershy is in trouble. I don’t know what’s going on, but someone needs to get over to her house right now.”

Sunset discarded her personal feelings once she heard that. “Wait, what? What’s going on? Her too?”

“I’m not sure,” Sentry replied, “We were gaming together and then I heard some kinda monster noise in the background then she logged off outta nowhere. I’m not sure if there’s something in her house or what--wait a sec. ‘Too’?”

“...I’m sure you’ve heard the news of the animal mutations that have been going around,” Sunset explained, “Whatever you do, Flash--do not watch Enchanted Torment. It’s a cursed film that turns people into animals. Then the trigger-happy police comes and arrests whoever they deem out of the ordinary.”

That’s when Flash put it together. “...It’s possible that could’ve happened to Fluttershy. Someone should go check up on her.”

“I’d go but I’m kinda spent for the day after that last battle I was in,” Sunset admitted with a yawn. “But I know just who to send over.”

About one hour later, a young woman was speeding towards Fluttershy’s house, hopping from rooftop to rooftop…

“I got this, Sunset, don’t worry,” Coral Currents replied over the phone as she neared Fluttershy’s home. “My drones will keep an eye on everything and I’ll make sure I stop any creeps that get near her place.”

“Thanks,” Sunset sighed, “I’d go, but…”

“Yeah, yeah just don’t overdo it, huh? I got this,” she boasted before hanging up. Coral would then hustle her way over to Fluttershy’s house. Just then, she had picked up a police signal in her headset…

‘...we’re on our way now.’

‘Thank you! That growling is very scary and concerning!’

“...”

Coral’s eyes shot open. If the police got there before she did, that would only spell bad news. Something that she absolutely did not want to think about.

After a few minutes, she was at Fluttershy’s house, and dropped in front of her front door to knock. “...hello? Fluttershy? It’s me, Coral. Sandbar’s sister?” she called out and got no answer.

With no other option, she picked the lock of the front door and pushed it open to walk inside. She’d then call out once more.

“...Flash Sentry said he was gaming with you and you logged off suddenly. I just wanna check up on you and see if you’re oka--”

“AAAAGH! STOP! PLEASE!” a blood-curdling scream could be heard from the backyard. Coral felt her heart skip a beat as soon as the piercing cry reached her ears.

“...Fluttershy?!” she called out as she ran towards the back door of the home, “Fluttersh--!”

CRACK!

With a swift thud, Coral was struck upside her head and tossed to the floor as Eris came out from behind a nearby table.

“Now what’s a little brat like you doing here?” Eris hissed as she walked up to Coral and stomped on her chest before she could make a move. “Answer me.”

“Argh!” Coral forcefully coughed up air--the woman’s boot had knocked the wind out of her. “You…how did you--”

“Get here so fast?” Eris snickered as she increased the pressure of her shoe on the girl’s ribcage. “It’s my job. Kids like you should be making yourselves busy studying. Not messing around where adults are working.”

“Grrgh! I work for the government, asshole!” Coral screamed, her voice becoming raspy due to losing air fast as she tried to grab ahold of Eris’ ankle, “And I’m…like…17! Grrrgh! Where’s…Fluttershy?!”

“Her? She’s become one of them,” Eris hissed under her breath, “...would you like to see?”

“...no…no way!” Coral coughed.

Eris lifted Coral off the floor and slapped handcuffs on her. “And that’s an obstruction of justice charge for you by the way. Now get moving.”

“What the--hey!”

With a swift kick, Eris knocked Coral forwards down the patio to Fluttershy’s backyard where the latter had been taken down by other officers working under Eris.

Fluttershy had become a mutated giant panda bear with black and white fur and a semi-humanoid body. She had been beaten down to the ground and tased--crying into the dirt after she was arrested.

“I didn’t…I didn’t do anything wrong,” Fluttershy pleaded, “I swear…please let me go…!”

“A sick freak like you is bound to cause trouble,” Eris refuted her words as her fellow officers arrested her, “I’m not letting any of you ruin my city. Not again.”

“No…Fluttershy!” Coral yelled as she watched the officers take her away. She grit her teeth and glared at Eris. “...you…you’re gonna regret this.”

“...no,” she replied with a shrug and a devious smile on her face, “I don’t think I will. Now shut it. You have the right to remain silent.”

As he watched this unfold from the nearby patrol car, Archie clenched his fist in silence…