The next day, he put his plan into motion. The first step was simple: he came to work early. He made sure he arrived in between class periods. That way, he had less chance of running into one of those six students he loathed with such burning fury. He didn't know what he'd do if he came across them, but he knew it'd be counterproductive to his plan. He checked in with Starlight Glimmer, the new headmare, so that she was aware of his presence. Then, he simply roamed the halls waiting for the right opportunity.
The perfect chance came when he came across Rarity and Pinkie Pie, two of the princess' close friends, in the maze of sprawling corridors. For his plan to work, he needed to make friends with these two, so he quickly approached the duo.
"Hi," he started, "I'm Knox."
"Hello, darling. Rarity," the white unicorn offered a hoof to shake. "A pleasure."
"Hey Knox!" said Pinkie Pie. "Wait... I don't think I've seen you before."
She slowly circled around Knox, as if trying to find proof of her claim.
"You must be Pinkie Pie," said Knox nervously. "I've heard a lot about your... eccentricities."
"Really?" she asked in reply. "Oh, this is horrible! You know all about me, but I know nothing about you!"
She paused for a moment as if contemplating something deeply. After a few seconds, she gasped dramatically and broke out in a large smile.
"I've got an idea! Wanna be friends?"
Knox let out a light chuckle at the absurdity of the dramatic scene he'd just witnessed.
"Sure, Pinkie," he responded. "I'd love to be friends."
'One down,' he thought to himself. 'That was easier than I thought.'
He then turned his attention to Rarity, who had been patiently waiting for a pause in Pinkie's insanity.
"Well," she said, "any friend of Pinkie is a friend of mine."
"Wow..." Knox hadn't expected it to be nearly that easy. "That would be great!"