Baen sat in silence. He was consulting a text that he had received from one of the school’s teachers, it was simply called, ‘Math’. The formula’s boggled his mind as he scratched his head in utter confusion, this world and its lessons confused him far more than Equestria’s did. Equestria…., he looked up at the roof of the gym. Currently he was lying on his back reading the book, but he had it resting on his chest as he looked at the fluorescent lights buzzing above him. Shaking his head, his mind started to wander.
“Did I do the right thing,” he muttered, “Just…leaving….,” he looked to the side as he saw other students socializing and finishing setting up for some sort of event, “well the bright side, at least most of these….beings. Keep to themselves.”
“Hey, you’re in our spot.”
Baen looked up from where he lay and raised an eyebrow at the upside down girls glaring at him. One had a ponytail, the other pigtails and…what was that style the other had?
“Hm?”
The lead girl who had the most odd hairstyle Baen had ever seen stepped forward, “I said you’re in our spot. Beat it,” she cocked a thumb toward the door.
Baen slowly got into the sitting position and cracked his neck, “I’m sorry,” he stared at them in mild disinterest, “Did you brand this section with your names?”
Below, several students turned their heads and glanced at the scene before them.
The lead girl narrowed her eyes, “No we didn’t. But we sit here every day and we’ve made it a habit of not letting any punks decide to take it.”
Baen chuckled as he stood to his full height, the girl with a ponytail gawked, “Wow he’s tall.”
Baen tilted his head, “If that’s the only insult under your belt cotton ball, I doubt that you scare many away.”
The lead girl’s left eye twitched, “I’m sorry, what did you just call me?”
Baen smiled, “Oh, is that hair of yours obstructing your ears? I said you’re a walking orange cotton ball, that so bad?”
Several students inhaled slightly and turned away. The girl with pigtails snickered behind her hand.
The lead girl growled and stepped forward, “Who do you think you are? Do you know who we are?”
Baen glanced at each one in turn and flatly stated as he pointed to each one in turn, “Cotton Ball, Purple Drink, and Blueberry, the all CHS Rejects.”
The three girls stood stock still as their eyes practically burned red. Baen shrugged and gathered his supplies, snubbing them as he turned to leave.
“HEY!”
Baen stopped midstep and turned to stare at Cotton Ball, “Yes?”
The girl cleared the distance and jabbed a finger into his shoulder, “Don’t think for a second I won’t forget this,” she clenched her teeth, “I am not one you should’ve made an enemy of.”
“Excuse me while I tremble in fear at your wrath,” he smacked her hand away, “Cotton Ball.”
Baen left the gym as the student’s gaze followed him. They all then turned to the Dazzling’s who sat down. Adagio noticed the stares and growled.
“What’re you all looking at!”
The students turned from the fuming girls.
Aria snickered again, “Heh, Cotton Ball.”
“Whatever you say,” Adagio coldly stated, “Purple Drink.”
Aria glared daggers at Adagio as Sonata giggled.
Adagio glowered at the blue girl, “What’s so funny?”
“I just remembered,” she giddily smiled, “I love blueberries.”
Adagio resisted the maddening urge to strangle her cohort.
Nearby however, Applejack had watched the whole scene unfold while she set up the last folding chair.
*
“And then he just told the Dazzlings off,” Applejack finished before eating another fry from her tray, “Ah gotta tell ya, was might foolish, but ya gotta respect the guy.”
Rainbow Dash scoffed, “Oh please, we tell them off every time they give us the business.”
Rarity pointed at Dash with her fork, “But bear in mind Dash, WE are the only ones who do. Everyone here is still wary and a tad scared of them ever since,” she shivered at the memory, “the musical showcase….”
Sunset Shimmer was scanning the cafeteria, looking for any sign of the boy, but found none.
Applejack nudged Pinkie Pie which caused the pink haired girl to gently poke Sunset on the back of the neck. The leather jacketed girl jumped slightly.
“WHA?!”
Applejack raised her hand, “Sorry bout that, but ever since that Baen fellow caught you, you’ve been acting like a girl on a mission,” Sunset looked to the side.
“Sorry AJ,” Sunset said, “It’s just….I mean come on! I’m not the only one who thinks he’s odd right?”
Dash munched on a fry in thought, “Well…I have noticed in gym class he looked at the heart monitors like they were going to eat him.”
Sunset snapped her fingers as something dawned on her, “And the other day when he saw us,” she pointed at Pinkie Pie, “the look on his face when he saw Pinkie. It was a look of recollection.”
Rarity tilted her head, “You’re saying that he’s seen Pinkie Pie before? But that can’t be.”
“Yeah,” Pinkie nodded, “I mean I know everyone in and out of school and I’ve never even met him until the other day,” she pouted after making her mashed potatoes in the shape of a volcano.
Rainbow reclined in her chair, “Well we could always ask Celestia about him,” the girls glanced at her as she casually twirled her hand in the air, “I mean, all new students meet with her first right?”
Sunset’s eyes lit up, “Dash, that’s brilliant!”
“I know,” Rainbow admitted while mock checking her nails.
Soon the group stood and ventured from the Cafeteria, not noticing Baen hiding near the door.
*
Principal Celestia raised an eyebrow at the six girls in her office, “I’m sorry. Would you care to repeat that?”
Sunset sighed, “We want to know about a new student who’s here in the school if it isn’t too much trouble.”
Celestia sighed as she folded her hands on her desk, “That’s what I thought you said. Sunset Shimmer, though I realize that you mean well, I can’t just hand over information on a student. Not only is it highly unethical, but it’s against the law.”
Sunset nodded, “I understand that,” she placed her hands on the table, “But I have reason to believe this new student might be….well…like me and the Dazzlings.”
Celestia’s eyes widened, “That’s a serious accusation Sunset Shimmer. Do you have any proof?”
Rainbow stepped forward, “In my gym class, he broke a punching bag with one fist.”
Celestia tapped her chin, “So that’s how it happened.”
“And he cleared a long distance in the gym and caught me when I fell from a ladder,” Sunset added.
Celestia sighed and rubbed her temples, “Perfect, just what this school needs right now….,” Celestia booted up her computer, “what’s the student’s name?”
Sunset inhaled, “Baen.”
Celestia nodded and typed in the name. A beep was heard as Celestia scanned the file on her screen.
“Oh yes, I remember this boy,” she looked from the screen, “I did find it quite odd when he asked not to be shown around and just start here.”
Applejack stepped forward and tilted her head, “Is there anythin else?”
Celestia tapped her chin, “He seemed….severely out of place. He was looking at everything like it was the first time he was seeing it. I just thought the fact he possibly came from the far north might be the case,” she folded her hands again, “But if he is indeed from the same place you hail from Miss Shimmer, I don’t want a repeat of the last two incidents,” the principal blinked and raised a hand, “Sorry.”
Sunset shook her head with a good natured smile, “its fine.”
Celestia nodded as her resolve became steeled, “I want the six of you to keep an eye on him. If there is a possibility he plans to cause my students any harm,” she gestured to the group, “I’m counting on the six of you to nip this in the bud.”
Rainbow saluted, “You can count on us!”
The girls voiced their agreement and exited the office. As they started going over possible game plans, the halted when they saw a trio of familiar faces.
“Well, well, look who it is girls,” Adagio smirked, “it’s the Drainbooms.”
Sunset narrowed her eyes, “What do you three want?”
Adagio casually glanced at the roof, “Oh nothing, we were just wandering past Principal Celestia’s office on our way to our lockers.”
Sonata blinked, “But I thought we were spying on them, you know, because…”
Adagio covered Sonata’s mouth and hissed, “Shut up.”
Sunset crossed her arms, “What?”
Adagio glared at the girl, “None of your business bacon strip,” she made a dismissive gesture, “Now run along Raingoons, don’t you have a stupid music number to practice for the Parent Teacher meeting?”
Rainbow stepped forward only to be held back by AJ.
Adagio crossed her arms with a satisfied smirk, “Well, we’ll be seeing you around.”
The trio left as The Rainbooms were only left with a few questions answered, but more questions only to present themselves.