Magic & Steel: An Odd School Love Story

by CrypticMetaphor

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Comedy, Adagio Dazzle, Adventure, Human, Sunset Shimmer, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Other, Romance
Length: 11281

In a fit of depression over being dumped, Baen wonders and ends up in CHS and meets a girl that will help him in more ways than one

"I....I think we should see other ponies.... I mean I love you Baen, I really do. But I just don't think I might be the mare for you. You understand right?"
"I...understand....."
After the day when Coco broke up with him, the day the stoic barbarian's heart was broken, Baen became lost and depressed. For many days he wondered without a destination, just trotting and going through the motions. Many of his friends wanted to talk to him about it, but he avoided them. One night, in a stupor, he finds himself in Twilight's castle and the next morning he had vanished. His friends didn't look much into it, thinking he had gone on a vacation. But he did not go to a resort or an island, but to a different world. But his arrival and mannerisms draw the attention of many people, the first being a group of girls who not only seek to befriend the barbarian, but to help him see things aren't so bad. And the other being three girls who wish to nab him for their own nefarious purposes and the purposes of another. But all is not dark, for out of these girls, a miss Sunset Shimmer feels a connection with the wayward warrior, and perhaps something more. But can one of the strongest magic's bloom when a threat looms on the horizon?

A little non-canon/spin-off in the Baen-Verse

Published 2014-10-09 07:00:08 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-20 06:13:10 UTC

I

Author's Note

Well here it is! If the pacing seems off, I apologize. If it's not, tell me otherwise.

I

Several Days Ago

Baen sat on the train to Manehattan, the locomotive chugged along quite fast, but the barbarian wished it would move faster. He was controlled on the outside, but inside he was happy, he had received a letter from Coco inviting him over for some form of talk. He didn’t know why she couldn’t come to him, but he figured whatever she wanted to say was of the upmost importance, so he dropped what he was doing and departed immediately. He could already see the city in the distance, which brought a smile to his face. Soon the train arrived and Baen disembarked with his destination clear in his mind. As Baen trotted along, ponies occasionally gave him nods of respect or asked for pictures to which he obliged. Eventually, he reached Coco’s apartment and took the elevator to the floor of the one he loved. Smiling, he trotted to the door with a spring in his step and knocked four times.

The door opened to reveal Coco Pommel who gave a small smiled, “Hello Baen.”

“How’re you doing this day,” Baen nuzzled her, but her nuzzle in return lacked it’s…feel.

Baen looked at her in concern as he walked into the house, “Coco, is something troubling you?”

Coco shuffled uneasily as she gestured to the living room, “Baen….could you sit down for a moment please.”

Baen nodded as she slowly took a seat. She inhaled to calm her nerves then looked Baen straight in the eyes as her front hooves found his.

“Baen you know I love you right?”

Baen nodded, “Of course, and I love you!”

Coco nodded sadly, “Baen…., I really do love you. And when somepony loves another, they want to see the one they love happy,” she smiled warmly at Baen.

Baen blinked in confusion, “What are you saying?”

Tears welled up in Coco’s eyes, "I....I think we should see other ponies.... I mean I love you Baen, I really do. But I just don't think I might be the mare for you. You understand right?"

Baen blinked. Baen couldn’t explain what he was feeling, he felt angry, sad, and….something else. The best way to describe it, it felt as though his very heart had just got a hole ripped in it, his face was unreadable as Coco gently stroked his face.

“I’m sure there’s someone out there for you,” Coco’s smile slowly shrank as she saw Baen’s face was an unreadable mask, “You understand….right?”

Baen’s voice was quiet, "I...understand....."

*

A few days later

After Baen had left without another word aside from short answers and returned to Ponyville, Coco became greatly worried and sent a letter to Twilight. Twilight, being Baen’s Blood Sister, became increasingly worried. It wasn’t just the fact that it was because Baen had been dumped and was most likely feeling things he had never felt before, and she didn’t want him to be alone in this time. So it was only natural that when she found Baen outside of his house staring into space, that her worry increased.

She approached her friend slowly, “Baen….are you alright?”

Baen remained silent.

“Baen….,” she placed a hoof on his shoulder, “please talk to me.”

Baen stared at her, his look still blank, “What’s there to talk about?”

Twilight tilted her head with a sad look, “Baen, you shouldn’t keep these things bottled up.”

Baen smacked her hoof away much to her shock, “I said there’s nothing to talk about!”

His voice raised several octaves for a moment but went back to its even tone, “I’m going for a walk….,” he then silently said, “maybe another vacation…..”

The pony stood and started to wander. For the next few days, that’s all he did. He barely talked to anypony in days after; he just bought groceries, trained, and then locked himself away in his home. This cycle repeated, until one night. Baen left his home when night fell, inhaling the cool night air, before walking. The scenery melded together as he walked, streets became one, and buildings seemed connected. But he cared little. He only shook his head. Eventually however, he smacked into something which snapped him out of his stupor. He looked around and noticed that he had somehow wondered into Twilight’s library. His eyes lingered on the objects around him; eventually his gaze fell upon one thing.

“If you truly are a portal,” he approached the Crystal Mirror, “then do me a favour and work….”

He placed his hoof upon the glass. When he did, a small bolt of his Old Magic surged through the machinery and it whirred to life.

*

The next morning when Twilight paid Baen a visit, she found that he wasn’t home.

“Maybe…he did go on that vacation,” she smiled sadly, “might do him some good to get away from it all.”

*

Present Day, One Week Later.

Canterlot High. The building itself had made a few headlines in the past. A few successful fundraisers here, a few otherworldly occurrences there, it was particularly famous. However, one girl had missed a majority of it due to being out of town for a month. That would be the Student Council President, Hecate. The girl stood outside the building, her skin was a light mulberry with soft blue eyes. Her hair was a dark indigo with lighter streaks of violet in it. The style was long but a nice wavy pattern to it. On her face was a pair of horn rimmed glasses with deep plum frames. On her torso she wore a white tank top with an indigo and white plaid skirt. Her boots were black with indigo laces that reached just below her knees. Covering her arms were a pair of plum and white striped arm warmers. She hugged herself as several students smiled her way. She gave a half wave as she was greeted by all. Hiding behind her hair as she went into the building, inside the building, many students were either conversing or in one case finishing a punishment.

“This is disgusting,” Adagio Dazzle complained as she pulled a gum wad from her mess of hair, “scrape the bottom of every desk in the school, this is degrading!”

Sonata Dusk tapped her chin as she placed her bucket beside the janitor room, “But I thought you said it was disgusting?”

Aria Blaze stood nearby and groaned in both annoyance and mild anger.

*

Nearby, two girls were walking down the hall toward the gym of the school with smiles. The girls in question who were happily talking to each other were known as Flitter and Cloudchaser. Both girls were dressed identically, grey t-shirts and blue pants with matching darker shaded boots. As they chatted, they turned the corner and froze. Before them was a student that for a better word…stood quite imposingly before them. He was about six foot four and was a tad lean, not much muscle could be seen but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fit in the slightest. The boy wore faded black jeans with black trainers. On his torso he wore a grey muscle shirt and dangling from his neck was a red tear shaped gem stone attached to a silver chain. Over his shirt he wore a red and white sports jacket, slung over one shoulder was a white book bag. Atop his head was a head wild looking rose red hair. But what caused them to stop was the fact he had a scar on one of his eyes, and the fact that his green eyes stared at them with mild disinterest.

“Uh…..,” Flitter tried to speak.

The Boy raised an eyebrow as they quickly walked the other way.

The Boy shook his head as he walked into the gym and sat on one of the bleachers.

*

A little ways away from the gym, Sunset Shimmer was happily carrying a box of supplies in her arms to the gym. She and her friends had volunteered to set up for a parent teacher conference at the school and were given specific jobs. Sunset and Rarity’s job merely involved the two of them climbing two ladders to hang a banner. Sunset had been sent to grab some extra hooks and nails for said banner and had successfully retrieved them. Though a bottle of cleaner had almost clocked her on the head for her efforts, but she had shrugged that off a long time ago. Opening the doors, she stood for a moment and smiled at all the students lending their assistance, though she also took note of the few who had either finished or were just around to chat.

“Sunset,” a familiar voice chimed, “there you are darling! Did you get the hooks?”

Sunset glanced over to Rarity and smiled as she casually approached, “Yeah, took a bit of digging, but I managed to find them.”

Rarity nodded with appreciation and took the box while sniffing the air, “Why does it smell like bleach?”

Sunset sniffed her hand and sighed, “Guess I didn’t avoid all of it…”

Rarity walked to the ladder as she started climbing, “What exactly happened dear?”

“Nothing to write home about,” Sunset started her own climb, “I was just digging around for a bit and I just knocked a bottle of cleaner loose. It was no problem.”

Rarity reached the top and reached down to her end of the banner while she fished around in the box, “Well it could have been a disaster,” she pulled out the hook she needed, “quite frankly I don’t believe you’d be able to pull off the bleached look.”

Sunset chuckled, “Hey, I can pull off this jacket. What’s stopping me from bleaching my hair?”

Rarity feigned a dramatic tone, “The scorn! The drama! The laughter!”

“Oh no,” Sunset mock trembled, “how will I survive?”

Both girls shared a hearty laugh as they placed their hooks. Pausing as Rarity hung her side of the banner, Sunset took in the high view. When one is high up, it really puts things into perspective, and Sunset quite enjoyed it. She’d be lying if she hadn’t wished when she was a filly to have wings. But then a jostle knocked her both from her mild daze…and her perch. Rarity screamed her name as she started falling, a churning sensation in her stomach and the rush of wind told her of her fate. Inhaling to scream, her breath caught in her throat when she felt herself hit something and abruptly stop. Blinking a few times, she noticed that she was still staring at the roof, but the area around her wasn’t moving. Looking around she saw that she was floor level again, but she felt something else. Someone was holding her. She turned her head…and stared straight into a pair of green eyes.

The male student stared right back at her in silence. Many students were staring at the pair as both remained as still as statues.

Sunset still shocked, tried to speak, but nothing came out.

The Boy just continued to stare at her in silence.

Rarity started to scramble down the ladder. At the noise, The Boy looked up then back at Sunset.

“Sorry….,” The Boy then let Sunset drop and bolted from the gym. The doors slamming shut behind him.

Sunset rubbed her lower back as she stood up. Rarity reached her and was in the biggest tizzy as she hugged her friend.

“Oh Sunset I was so worried!”

“What happened?”

Rarity looked to the side, “Well…,when I was raising my side of the banner, your side got caught and pulled your ladder a tad.”

“Oh,” Sunset looked to the doors as Rarity followed her gaze and scowled.

“The nerve of him to just drop you like that,” Rarity crossed her arms, “If I were you, I’d give him a piece of my mind the next time I see him.”

Sunset just stared at the door, almost like she was expecting him to come back inside. But the gaze didn’t hold just curiosity; it held focus, and the look of one whose mind was kicking into overdrive.

II

The following day came quite fast for everyone. It wasn’t uncommon with school days, one could go through a full day and go home and the next moment, it would be tomorrow and they would go back. Among the student body, Sunset Shimmer for once was quite silent, though she did respond to their greetings. However her mind was buzzing with activity, the previous day’s events running through her head. She just couldn’t place her finger on it. Who was that boy? She vaguely remembered seeing him sitting in the bleachers when she went up the ladder, there was no way he could cross the room that fast and catch her. It was scientifically impossible.

“Just who are you,” Sunset muttered as she entered the Cafeteria.

“SUNSET SHIMMER!”

Blinking out of her mild daze she glanced up and noticed a familiar pink girl waving to her. She smiled and approached her friends and took her seat. The girls welcomed her and started to chat amongst themselves, but Sunset got lost in thought again until the conversation took a different turn.

“…And the most frightening thing happened yesterday,” Rarity stated, “Sunset almost fell to….well….”

Rainbow looked at the zoning out girl in question, “Um…Earth to Sunset?”

Sunset blinked a few times and shook her head, “Huh? Oh, sorry,” she smiled sheepishly, “I was just thinking.”

“About yesterday?” Rarity interjected.

“Yeah, I mean it was unbelievable,” the girls leaned forward, “there I was falling…then just out of nowhere,” Sunset made a whoosing gesture with her right hand, “this guy caught me.”

Applejack blinked, “What’s so unbelievable about that? So he caught ya,” she smiled, “you should be countin yer lucky stars!”

Sunset nodded, “Well don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to him for catching me,” she drummed her fingers on the table, “What bothers me is the fact when I walked into the gym, he was on the bleachers BEFORE he caught me.”

Rainbow half choked, “What?! That’s impossible, I mean come on, I’m captain of the track and field team and even I’m not that fast!”

Sunset nodded, “Exactly my point, there’s something unusual about this guy.”

The girls fell silent.

Rainbow broke the pause, “Um…are we talking,” she leaned forward, “Equestrian unusual?”

Sunset nodded, “It would be wise not to rule out the possibility.”

Pinkie gasped, “What if he’s some sort of monster from that world who wants to gobble us all up!”

Applejack stared at Pinkie, “Pinkie, even for you, that’s ridiculous.”

Rarity shook her head, “Don’t be so sure Applejack, remember the last ‘Off’ students that came here?”

At that, the girls collectively cast looks at The Dazzlings who sat in the far back of the cafeteria. When the trio noticed their stares, both groups glared daggers at each other. But the girl’s attention was diverted when, out of the corner of their eyes, they noticed a new person enter the cafeteria. Sunset’s eyes widened when he fully entered, The Red Haired Boy.

“That’s him,” she almost yelled but caught herself and spoke in a low voice, “That’s the guy I was talking about.”

The Red Haired Boy glanced around and stood in the lunch line up, taking an odd fascination in a cellphone that a girl in front of him was using.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and she snapped her fingers, “Hey! I know that guy!”

Everyone stared at the rainbow haired girl, “Well…I don’t really know him, know him. He’s in my gym class though. And if you want weird, listen to this.”

*

Two Days Earlier

Rainbow Dash was running on the school’s treadmill. Coach Spitfire was nodding in approval as she continued to sprint hard; her muscles’ burning and sweat dripping. After a few more minutes, Spitfire clicked her tongue and clicked a stop watch.

“Alright, nice hustle there Rainbow Dash,” she gestured to a nearby bench, “Go take a break and then do what have you for the remainder of the period.”

Rainbow nodded as she clicked the stop button and stepped off the treadmill, her sneakers making a bit of a squeak as she wiped her face. She turned the corner and stopped for a moment. At the punching bag was a student she hadn’t seen before. His rose red hair was slick with sweat and on his right bicep was a rose red mark…she vaguely recalled it was called a rune. She tilted her head as he punched away at the red hanging bag. Rainbow was about to walk over and support the bag for him, but stopped when something happened.

The Red Haired Boy brought one of his fists back and into the bag. In the moment of connection, a breaking of metal was heard by the cyan skinned girl as the bag hit the wall and split open. The Red Haired Boy looked around quickly; he then grabbed a few boxes of printer paper from the nearby office and moved them in front of the bag. After that deed was done, he walked away from the scene whistling innocently.

*

The girls just stared at Dash for a moment.

“What? It did happen,” Dash pointed to the now seated Boy in question, “when Spitfire came around and found the bag, she just thought the chain was faulty and the bag just split from falling. But it was that guy!”

Applejack twirled her finger in the air, “Dash, are ya sure it wasn’t just the bag?”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

Applejack raised her hands, “No, I’m just saying, the fact that this guy can run real fast and be super strong sounds a little farfetched for my likin.”

Sunset stared at the boy as he absently flipped through a book and munched on his food. Tilting her head, she nodded.

“I’m going to go talk to him.”

The girl’s stared at her.

Rarity tapped her chin, “Are you sure darling? He didn’t seem too keen to speak with anyone in the gym.”

Sunset gave a half smile, “Well it’s just that I want to thank him for catching me and,” she shrugged, “I might as well introduce myself, I mean if none of us have seen him before and he is new, it’s kind of my job. Besides,” her gaze found the boy again, “even a stranger could prove to be a good friend in the end.”

Rainbow nodded, “Now you’re starting to sound like Twilight.”

Sunset smiled warmly at the girls before standing and approaching the boy’s table. She cleared her throat politely. The Boy didn’t respond at first, so she tried again. This time The Boy did look up, and his eyes widened.

“Relax,” she said reassuringly, “I’m not here to rip you apart for dropping me,” she sat across from him, “Actually I’m here to thank you for catching me in the first place.”

She extended a hand across the table toward him, “My name is Sunset Shimmer, and let me be the first to say, welcome to Canterlot High.”

The Boy stared at her hand for a moment. He slowly extended his own hand and it found hers, but both parties pulled back when they made contact when some static zapped them. The Boy wringed his hand a few times, he then turned to look at the ceiling for a moment.

“Nice to meet you Sunset Shimmer,” he mumbled, “I’m…um…..,”

Sunset raised an eyebrow, “Pardon?”

The Boy coughed for a moment, “Um….my name…is….Baen….”

Sunset blinked a few times at his name. It didn’t sound Equestrian.

“Baen,” she said the name once, “that’s…a pretty unique name. Are you an exchange student?”

Baen nodded a little too fast, “YES. I’m from…the far north,” he stood up abruptly, “it was nice meeting you Miss Shimmer, but. I have things…to do….”

He quickly power walked out of the cafeteria.

Sunset looked after him, her curiosity piqued. Nearby, a trio of girls looked back at each other as Sunset went to rejoin her group.

“Oh look, Sunset is making nice with the new boy,” Adagio grumbled, “how predictable.”

Aria prodded her food with her fork, “Who cares. What I’m more concerned about is if this slop is going to poison me. What is this even? It’s like,” she stabbed the food, “a blob of….I don’t even know.”

Sonata was happily munching on her food with a pleased smile, “It’s not that bad! Come on, give it a try!”

Aria pushed her tray away, “Pass.”

Adagio tapped her chin with her index nail as she noticed the boy glancing around in the hallway, “Hm….”

*

After the lunch period ended, the six girls walked out into the hall and stopped when they noticed a girl hanging posters in the hall with hearts on them. The girls stopped and smiled.

Pinkie bounced happily, “Hecate’s back!”

Rainbow crossed her arms, “Huh, I was wondering where the prez went off to for a while.”

Sunset looked to the side and rubbed her right arm with a bit of shame on her face.

Rarity and the girls rubbed the back of their heads.

Applejack placed a hand on her shoulder, “Hey now. Just do whatcha been doin,” she smiled in support, “I’m positive she won’t hold anythin against ya.”

Sunset sighed, “I don’t know….”

*

Two Weeks Before the Fall Formal

Sunset shoved the School President against the locker, “What do you mean I’m not allowed to participate?”

Hecate was looking everywhere but Sunset’s burning eyes, “Well…see….the principal told me….to ban you….”

Sunset crossed her arms and nodded, “Oh, is that all? Well that’s fine,” she then snatched Hecate’s glasses off her face and threw them on the ground.

Hecate fell to the ground in fright, trying to find them.

Sunset snickered as her boot rested on the frames, “Here’s the deal, you tell Principal Celestia that you’ll allow me on the roster. And I’ll give you your precious glasses back. Deal?”

Hecate was on the brink of tears, “Yes okay, just please,” she handed her the clipboard, “here.”

Sunset smiled in satisfaction writing her name. Glancing down at the girl, she raised an eyebrow. A smirk appearing on her face, she pressed down with her boot.

“Oops, sorry,” she faked apologized, “I didn’t see them there.”

Hecate sniffled as Sunset placed the clipboard down and walked away.

*

Sunset bit her lip a bit, but her friends nodded in encouragement. Steeling herself, she approached the Prez and cleared her throat. Hecate turned around and blanched.

Hecate spoke quietly, “Sunset Shimmer….”

Sunset raised her hands in a calming gesture, “Just….don’t be scared. I’m not here to do anything,” she scratched the back of her neck, “I…came to apologize. I was really awful to you in the past, I was to everyone. But,” a small smile graced her lips, “I’ve learned from that experience and I realized my mistakes and I’ve turned over a new leaf.”

Hecate glanced at the five girls as they nodded.

Sunset sighed, “I know…I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, but,” she raised her hand, “will you accept it?

Hecate glanced at her hand and smiled, “What kind of School Prez would I be if I didn’t?”

She took Sunset’s hand, both girls smiling at each other, “Everyone makes mistakes.”

Sunset smiled, “Thank you, it means a lot.”

The others approached with Rarity pointing to the posters, “What’s on the agenda this month?”

Hecate smiled as she revealed the poster, “The Hearts and Hooves Dance. Principal Celestia thought it would be a cute event for the students to mingle in light of,” she tapped her chin, “recent events. What does she mean?”

The six girls looked at each other.

Sunset shrugged, “You wouldn’t believe us if we told you.”

Hecate waved to them, “Well it was nice seeing you all again…I have more fliers to post then I have a mountain of paper work to attend to.”
Pinkie yelled after her, “I’M GOING TO HAVE TO THROW YOU A WELCOME BACK PARTY!”

“I LOOK FORWARD TO IT!”

The six girls continued their walk and rounded the corner; however they halted when they saw who was at the end of the hallway. The boy known as Baen stared bug eyed at them.

Pinkie Pie waved at him, “Hiya!”

Baen’s eyes shrunk, “The Pink One…..”

He turned and sprinted away at breakneck speed.

The girls looked after him in confusion.

Rainbow pointed after Baen, “What’s his problem?”

Author's Note

Just to clear a couple of things up, in this world, the Harbingers have been defeated. But in this version of the world, Twi hasn't told Sunset about Baen.

III

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.

IV

Baen sat in the darkened school, looking down the dark hallways that seemed to only lead to an endless black abyss. As he sat in front of his locker, he slammed the back of his head a few times against the metal door. He couldn’t help it; his mind was plagued by thoughts, thoughts that wouldn’t leave him no matter how hard he tried. He glanced at his axe which lay across his lap. When he had come through the portal, his armor and overall appearance vanished. His axe, it had stayed. Before he started at CHS he remembered hiding it in a shrub nearby, and when everyone was in class on his first day, he snuck it into his locker on the same day. Sighing, he stood and started to do what he had done since he arrived, wander the halls with his weapon. Glancing around, he noticed a display case that contained a photo. Approaching it, he gazed at the photo and couldn’t help but smile. In the photo was who he could only guess was Twilight with the girls who were counterparts to the ones he knew.

“How do you do it Twilight,” he shook his head as he noticed another photo of the group together with instruments, “It’s astounds me.”

He then caught a glimpse of something in the glass. Whipping around, he raised his axe. Staring at him from the far end of the hall was that same damn thing. What was this thing you ask? Ever since Baen had taken residence in the human world as well as his sleeping arrangements in the building itself, he had been stalked and been stalking something, whatever it was it had been watching him. He did not know what it was, all he had to go on was that it had golden eyes with slits for pupils, like a snakes. But at times he had noticed the pupils would be normal.

“WHO ARE YOU?!”

The eyes continued to stare at him unblinking.

Baen growled and stepped forward, “Whatever you are, begone!”

The eyes seemed to stare at him in a challenging manner, as if to say ‘make me’.

Baen rushed the target, only for several bolts of black electricity to surge forth. Baen raised the flat of his axe. The bolts hit the metal and ricocheted into a nearby locker door. The force of the impact knocked the barbarian to the floor hard. An airy laugh met his ears as he looked up and saw the eyes had vanished. Shaking his head, he stood up and walked toward the gym. Looking back toward the hall, he shook his head and shut the gym doors behind him.

*

The following morning, Baen couldn’t help but feel he was being watched. It started out as just the hairs standing up on the back of his neck, but soon he recognized the looming presence of eyes being upon him. As the day progressed, the battle hardened warrior couldn’t help but feel a tad threatened. Granted this had not been the first time he had been stalked by an unseen foe. But the fact he was surrounded by strange beings that resembled ponies he knew, it was unnerving. Soon the end of school arrived. This time of day allowed for many students to either hang around with friends for study hall or in some cases, practice extra activities. For Baen, it was a manner of him stocking up on books to read for the night. Baen rounded a corner and opened his locker, leaning against the far back of it, obscured by a few knick knacks, was his axe. Smiling, he placed his hand upon its handle. But then he tensed up, he felt the presence again. Looking slightly over his shoulder, he straightened his sports jacket. His eyes looked across the entire hall, until he noticed something. Reflected on one of the silver handles of a locker, he could make out a few shapes around the corner behind him. Narrowing his eyes, he shut his locker and started walking. His pace was steady, but he made it so his footfalls wouldn’t obscure any background noise too much. He heard it for a moment, the faint squeak of a boot heel on the floor. Snapping around, he saw nothing. Snorting in agitation, he broke into a full on sprint down the hall.

*

Rainbow Dash glanced around the corner quickly, “He’s making a run for it!”

The girls nodded and gave chase.

Applejack was focused ahead as she saw his hair round another corner, “How the heck did he know we were following him.”

Pinkie was surprisingly keeping pace even though she was skipping, “Maybe he’s a ninja? Trained to find his targets so he can take them down,” she emphasised this by bringing her fist down into her open hand.

Dash cast a look at the girls, “Or maybe it’s because someone jumped the gun.”

Applejack grimaced at Rainbow, “Ah already told ya that I lost my footin back there.”

Sunset sighed, “Can we please not argue,” she saw the computer lab door shut, “he’s in there!”

Sunset threw the door open and the girls froze.

Baen stood there staring at them with his arms crossed.

*

Baen stared at the six girls with a not too amused expression, “Care to explain why you all feel the need to follow me around this building?”

Sunset cleared her throat and stepped forward as the girls filed in behind her and shut the door, “Just who are you?”

Baen raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

Rainbow pointed an accusing finger at him, “What she means is, we’re onto you pony boy!”

Baen blinked in mild surprise of which the girls took notice.

“We don’t know exactly why you’re here,” Sunset began slowly, “or what your game is. Just know that if you do have anything planned for this school, you’ll have to get through us.”

Baen blinked for a few seconds, and then he started laughing.

Rarity became mildly flustered, “And what is so funny?”

“The sheer fact that you think I’m here for,” his words were lost in another string of laughter.

Baen wiped a tear from his eye, “Sorry,” his expression came serious as he stood in front of Sunset, he loomed over her but she was undaunted, “Whatever you think you know about me or what you suspect, you know nothing,” Baen narrowed his eyes, “so it would be in your best interest that you leave me be.”

Sunset tilted her head when he spoke the last words. But he shook his head.

“Forget it,” he gently moved her aside, “I have things to do.”

When he opened the door, Sunset turned fully toward him, “Hey Baen.”

Baen froze.

“Our band is going to be preforming at the meeting tomorrow,” the girls looked at her in confusion, “if you feel like it. You should come.”

Baen looked back at her and just shook his head in response before vanishing around the corner.

The girls looked after him and then to Sunset.

Rainbow walked up to her and then gestured after the barbarian, “What the heck was that? You just invited the guy who could probably be some monster in disguise to our performance tomorrow night!”

Sunset shook her head as she stared at the open door, “He doesn’t strike me as a bad guy,” she thought for a moment, “When he said to leave him be, I saw something.”

Fluttershy blinked, “what did you see?”

“It almost looked like,” Sunset chose her words carefully, “Sadness, maybe regret?”

Applejack looked outside, “But why would he be sad?”

Sunset shook her head, “I’m not sure. But I think in all honesty,” she nodded in finality, “we should be his friends.”

The girls blinked and collectively stated, “What?”

Sunset opened her arms, “Come on girls. Do you think Princess Twilight would just let someone like him go through whatever he’s going through alone? She would at least try besides,” she smiled knowingly, “If he was an enemy, why didn’t he shove me aside when he walked out?”

Rarity nodded, “That is true.”

Dash looked at the clock, “Shoot! We have to get moving to AJ’s, we gotta get our practice session in!”

The girls bolted out the door. As they did, down the hall, Baen was against the wall out of sight.

“Why,” he looked at the sky, “even here they somehow manage to find me,” he chuckled, “It must be some form of irony.”

Author's Note

So I have to ask, me taking it slow, you guys liking it?

V

Deep within the school, a shape slumbered. More specifically, the shape snoozed in an old room at the back of the gym. The room had once been a room for supply storage, but the stuff had long since been moved to the much larger equipment room on the main floor. One could mistake the old room for a break room for its size, but most of the space was taken up by various things. One of these things was an old couch that had once been in the teachers’ lounge a large three seated one. Atop it, with his head propped up by a pillow and covered in a blanket he had ‘borrowed’ from the home ec room was Baen. He snored softly in the darkened room, dressed only in his muscle shirt and undergarments. He heard the very faint sounds of early arriving students and snorted lightly, his eyes fluttering open. Glancing around, he sighed and sat up on his mock bed. The room though dark did have one window that cast faint light through its frosted glass. Stretching and cracking his joints, he donned his garments and absently grabbed his book bag. Walking out, he gazed around the darkened backstage and proceeded to move a centerpiece in front of his door.

“There we go,” he stated pleased with himself.

Turning, he walked onto the gyms stage and froze. Sitting an inch from him was The Pink One. Slowly he turned to back away, but he noticed that the other girls were there as well. His left eye twitched, where in Tieg’s name did they come from, he then took notice that they seemed to be setting up instruments. He sighed, that was it. They were just setting up for their band. Unfortunately his sigh was not unheard. Fluttershy turned her head and eeped, an eep of which drew the attention of the others. Baen was stock still as all eyes fell on him.

Looking around he pointed to the ceiling, “OH! So that’s where that door went,” he chuckled as eyebrows were raised, “excuse me.”

When he turned to leave, a hand stopped his departure. He wind milled his arms on reflex as a bit of giggling met his ears. Turning his head, he stared at the culprit.

“Where ya going,” Rainbow asked with a bit of a grin, “don’t you want a front row seat to one of the most awesome bands in CHS?”

Baen pursed his lips, “Do I have a choice?”

Sunset gave a small smile, “Well you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, I mean we’re just going to do some sound checks and a bit of practice. No big deal.”

Baen raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised, “Really?”

Applejack nodded as she tuned her bass, “Why would we keep ya here against yer will? Wouldn’t be really friendly of us would it?”

Baen blinked, “Um…no…I suppose it wouldn’t….”

Dash smirked as she struck a power cord, “What? You thought we were going to blackmail you or something?”

Baen looked at the girls in turn, even though they looked like their counterparts and acted like them. They were drastically different in more ways than one.

Pinkie smiled and waved a hand in front of his face, “Hey Baeny, you were zoning out,” she got real close to his face, “what zone do you go to?”

Baen raised his hand gently pushed her back, “A zone that none can follow me to.”

Sunset chuckled a little, “Sorry, she gets really excited around new people,” she tilted her head, “by the way…where EXACTLY did you come from just now?”

Without missing a beat, Baen pointed to the stage back entrance, “there.”

The girls collectively nodded as the boy looked from side to side awkwardly.

“So….this band of yours,” he stated slowly, “do you tour?”

Fluttershy shook her head, “Oh no, we just play for fun.”

Rainbow nodded, “Yeah, it’s an awesome hobby to do in your spare time,” she raised an eyebrow, “say, do you play anything?”

Baen blinked, “No….not really. Never learned, I was always busy with training….”

Applejack looked up at him with a bit of intrigue, “Trainin?”

Rarity tilted her head, “Well you have the build…are you an athlete?”

Baen chuckled, “Something like that,” he scratched the back of his head, “So….it was nice talking you all. But I don’t want to keep any of you from your practice,” the barbarian turned and left swiftly.

Sunset nodded a bit, “Well that went better than I thought.”

Applejack looked after him, “Well, ah see what ya mean. He doesn’t seem so bad,” she made a gesture with her hand, “sort of out of sorts, but at most just awkward.”

Rainbow shrugged, “Meh, I’m still under the impression that he’s something in disguise,” she plucked a few strings as the girls looked at her, “What? I have every right to be suspicious.”

The girls shook their heads as they prepped for the nights events.

*

Baen sat in the cafeteria, drumming his fingers as his mind wandered. It was true they were different; he cast a glance at the laughing girls and smiled lightly. Even though they were different in many regards, he could still see the companions he called friends. But then why did he feel the need to avoid them? Was it out of shame? Or perhaps it was just the sheer fact he felt that if he did avoid them, that he could truly stay away from it all. But just like in Equestria, he felt that same connection he always felt toward them. It was that feeling of kinship and comfort whenever he was near them, but at the same time, that feeling frightened him more than ever. Whenever he slept, he had visions. Those visions of those days his friends tried to help him, try to talk to him about….her. And the looks when he had pushed them away, snubbed them, rejected them. Perhaps he just couldn’t bear to see those same looks again, those looks that broke his heart.

“Um….excuse me?”

Baen glanced up and stared with mild surprise at Fluttershy who shuffled a little uneasily, “Yes?”

Fluttershy smiled lightly, “Oh…um…we were just wondering if maybe….if it was okay with you,” Baen raised an eyebrow causing her to hide behind her hair, “If….we could…..sit with you…….”

Baen turned his head and stared at the other five girls who all smiled. Looking to the side, he sighed. Even when he tried to avoid them, somehow fate happened to thrust them into his life. Shaking his head, he chuckled.

“Might as well…,” he muttered.

Fluttershy blinked, “Pardon?”

Baen remembered the girl was still in front of him, “Oh. Sure.”

Fluttershy squeed and ushered the others over. As they all sat, Baen drifted off into his own world again. Why. Why did they always seem to find him? Perhaps he was fated to be involved with them. Tieg knew well what a warrior’s fate would be; maybe his was to be partner to the Elements of Harmony in their endeavours and by extension, them to him. He looked to the ceiling as if to ask Tieg himself. It was then that he was brought back down to earth.

“Hm?”

Rarity smiled sweetly, “Oh, I asked where it is you hail from.”

Baen looked to the side, “I….hail from the far north,” he chose his words wisely, “a mountain village. There isn’t much…advancement as there is here.”

Rarity blinked with interest, “A mountain village you say? Why, I didn’t even know there were some old villages left in this age,” she clapped her hands, “are you from a colony perhaps?”

Baen tilted his head, “Of…sorts.”

Sunset tapped her chin as he spoke. He didn’t seem to be lying, but he didn’t seem to be telling the truth either.

Applejack leaned forward, “What’s the weather like up there any how? Is it just all ice and snow?”

Baen blinked a few times, “Only in the winter and fall. The other seasons it’s warmer and a bit clear,” he trailed off then narrowed his eyes, “why exactly are you choosing to sit with me?”

Rainbow rested her chin on her fist, “Isn’t it obvious? We’re trying to be your friends.”

Baen looked to the side, “But you don’t even know me.”

Pinkie Pie smiled, “That doesn’t mean we don’t want to.”

Baen was about to respond, but the bell rang interrupting his train of thought.

Baen sighed and stood his gaze a tad distant.

“If you like the way you all live your lives,” he stated a bit sadly, “getting to know me is unwise. I’ve been known….to wreck good things…”

He left with his hands in his pockets.

Fluttershy looked after him, “What do you think he meant by that?”

The girls collectively shrugged.

*

Soon school ended and the hours passed and the school was filled, but not with just students. The Parent Teacher event was in full swing, Baen could hear this, because at the moment he was in his room. Above him, a lone light bulb on a pull string swung lazily back and forth as he read a book. The sound of joyous laughter and chit chat reached his ears as he flicked through his book. Eventually however he placed it down and leaned back, folding his hands on his lap, staring at the far wall. The sounds of the chatter slowly died down and were replaced by the sound of the Principal saying something. Turning his head toward the door, he leaned against it to listen.

“….and I thank all who could attend this evening. As a special treat, one of our school’s musical groups has volunteered to provide music for the evening,” she paused and most likely ushered the group in question, “allow me to introduce The Rainbooms!”

Baen leaned against the back of the door and shook his head. So that was their name hm? Fitting. Then he started to hear a tune start, the collective voices of the group started to sing as one.

"We've just got the day to get ready,” they started, “And there's only so much time to lose. Because tonight, yeah, we're here to party, so let's think of something fun to do. We don't know what's gonna happen, we just know it's gonna feel right.”

Baen chuckled at the lyrics as they continued, “All our friends are here, and it's time to ignite the lights!”

The tune then picked up, “Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight. Shake your tail, shake your tail! Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight, shake your tail, shake your tail!”

Baen couldn’t help it. He slowly eased the door open and peeked out onto the active stage. But what he saw amazed him. He saw a light surround the group as they sprouted pony ears and wings respectively. Their hair even extended into ponytails.

Sunset stepped up to the mic with a smile, “So what you didn't get it right the first time.”

Pinkie Pie then chimed in from behind her drums, “Laugh it off, no one said it is a crime.”

Rarity tapped her keys on her instrument, “Do your thing, you know you're an original!”

AJ stood beside Rarity for a moment and shared her mic, “Your ideas are so funny that they're criminal!”

Baen smirked. Even here they felt the need to sing, he always wondered how that happened. Shrugging he turned to shut the door, but his foot caught on a stray cushion causing him to lose his footing. He stumbled and grabbed wildly for anything, he felt his back hit the door and he slammed hard onto the stage. Blinking away some of the stars in his eyes, he looked at the girls who, still playing, smiled at him. AJ helped the boy to his feet and nudged him; he glanced at the crowd like a deer in the headlights. Looking at Pinkie, she mouthed with an excited grin, ‘dance silly billy.’

Baen glanced back toward his door, but saw his way blocked. He knew it was too late. So he surrendered and actually started dancing in tune with the music.

The girls nodded both in encouragement and the fact he got the beat down as the Rainbooms started to sing once more.

“All our friends are here,” Dash bumped Baen playfully as she leaned against him and shredded on her guitar, “And it's time to ignite the lights!”

“Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight! Shake your tail, shake your tail,” Baen felt a smile creep onto his face as he started getting lost in the beat.

“Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight,” the girls chanted as the audience joined in.

Baen, lost in the moment, felt himself singing with them, “Shake your tail, shake your tail, Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight!”

As the song carried on, several things happened none had seen before. Baen the battle hardened warrior was singing and dancing, but unknown to him, more happening. As he continued to sing and dance, atop his head two bits of light started to take shape. Sunset caught the familiar light out of the corner of her eye and stared on in shock. But something else happened in that instance. The lights on his head started growing and taking a more defined shape, but then it happened. In an instant, an electric aura of pure red energy surged from his body and into the amps, mic’s, and even along Dash’s guitar strings. In an instant, every light bulb, speaker, and mic shorted out. The entire stage was plunged into darkness. Baen stood stock still. EVERY EYE was on him. Looking around frantically as the lights on his head popped out of existence, he gave a forced smile.

“Well….what a showstopper right?!”

The girls were still gawking at him.

“Excuse me, I have to be,” he gestured to the door, “not here.”

Baen blasted through the doors.

Near the back of the gym however, a familiar girl lowered her cellphone and turned of the recording function with a shaking finger.

Adagio blinked in utter shock, speechless.

“That boy….,” she smiled evilly, “girls, I believe we just found our meal ticket.”

Sonata blinked a few times, “Ticket to where?”

Aria and Adagio face palmed.

Author's Note

And we see Old Magic in the real world for a moment. It seems the process that the girls use works, but at the same time doesn't. Interesting eh?

VI

The next day, the boy known as Baen, The Red Haired Kid, or the Concert Guy, was the talk of school. Some of the students were utterly wary of this new boy do to…‘past incidents,’ but others were intrigued beyond belief at a third and possibly nice visitor from the place known as Twilight’s world. A certain group of girls had tried their hardest to track down the boy in question, but their search pretty much turned up nothing. Rainbow came out of the gym with a shake of her head.

“Well the good news,” she gestured to the gym, “I found out where he’s been holing himself up for the past few weeks.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow, “Where?”

“The old equipment room,” she shrugged, “somehow he converted it into a mock bedroom.”

Sunset looked around for a moment in thought, “Well we have two possibilities,” she raised one finger, “Either he got out of dodge and went back to Equestria or,” she raised a second finger, “he’s still around and he’s just hiding.”

Fluttershy raised a finger, “Um, if he’s hiding…shouldn’t we…well….let him? I mean it’s not really our business to bother him if he doesn’t want to be.”

The girls looked at the girl who shrank under their gaze. Applejack pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Shy’s right ya’ll,” AJ said with a mild sigh, “ah mean even if he is still around, how in tarnation would we even find him? This school and the city are huge, plus I doubt he’d make it easy. When someone doesn’t want to be found,” she leaned against the wall, “they make sure they stay hidden.”

Sunset leaned against the far wall, going over every possible hiding spot she herself had once used inside the school. Her brain wracked over every possible scenario but she couldn’t pinpoint the right place someone like Baen would pick for a good hiding spot. Shaking her head, she and the rest of the girls sat on the ground in defeat.

“Applejack has a point,” Sunset hit her knee lightly, “if we could think like him we could….”

“He’s right over there,” Pinkie pointed far down the hall as Baen walked out the far doors.

The girls did a collective double take before running to the doors.

*

Baen sat outside in the grass of the soccer field, mentally punching himself and just thrashing around in the grass in anger. How could he have been so foolish!? He had been careful since he had arrived at the school. He took great care in avoiding unwanted attention and keeping low, but how could he have slipped up like that. It was carelessness, carelessness and once more, being foolish. It was those girls; they just had a way with him.

“Damn them,” he slumped on his back and just stared up at the blue sky, “Though I suppose it wasn’t so bad,” he sighed in resignation for his mistake, “at least I had a little fun. Something to break the boredom,” he gave a half-hearted chuckle, “I have to admit, they sing quite well.”

And so the barbarian lay there in silence, pondering his next move as a steady breeze carried its own song. Baen’s mind ceased its senseless ramble as he himself got lost in the day sky. A small smile appeared on his face as he continued to stare at the passing clouds. Despite the oddities of this world, it did have its moments indeed. He blinked a bit as he started to doze off….but then his eyes shot open when several shadows fell over him. Blinking a few times, he stared at the faces of six familiar girls.

“Oh.”

He slowly stood as the girl’s gaze seemed to stare into his very soul.

Rainbow narrowed her eyes, “Alright start talking. What are you?”

Baen looked at each one of them in turn, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Applejack shook her head, “So ya don’t remember that red magic of yours shorting out our stage?”

“Faulty?” Baen stated nervously.

Pinkie was immediately on him and took a firm hold of his jacket, “WE KNOW YOU’RE A MAGICAL NINJA! CONFESS!”

Sunset yanked the pink girl off of him, “Pinkie! “

Rainbow tilted her head, “So what’s your game huh? Gonna infiltrate our school and wait until our guard is down before you strike? That is it isn’t it!”

Sunset raised her hands, “Calm down! Before we jump to any conclusions, let’s just give him a chance to explain himself. Is that alright?”

The girls nodded as Sunset turned to Baen, crossing her arms, “Well? We’re waiting.”

Baen looked to each one of them in turn once more, “I…I…”

Fluttershy smiled a tad warmly, “Just take your time.”

Baen ran one of his hands through his hair, “This is ridiculous, what have you any reason to accuse me of anything? Have I done any of you wrong?”

Rarity shook her head, “No you have not, but we’ve had….visitors such as yourself before and they have been less than friendly,” Sunset stared at her as Rarity smiled sheepishly, “Um….present company excluded.”

Sunset shook her head with a smile, “Its fine.”

Baen turned his back to them, “By Tieg this is ridiculous, I’m going…anywhere but here.”

Sunset smiled lightly, “I think you mean by Celestia.”

“Yes the term has been used many times by Twilight and I’ve told her…..,” he trailed off as he turned to look at a smug Sunset, “Blast.”

Sunset pointed, “AHA! I knew it! You are from Equestria!”

Baen pursed his lips then growled. But eventually, he slouched in defeat.

Baen shook his head, “Damn it all.”

Rainbow closed the distance and grabbed Baen by the jacket, “Now Baen, IF that is your real name. The seven of us are going to have a little chat!”

Baen resigned himself to his fate as he was dragged off with the girls.

*

During the confrontation outside, another was taking place. The Dazzlings stood outside a door, the only thing separating them and who they were going to see. Adagio inhaled to steady her nerves, then opened the door. They stepped into the office, a round table was in the corner and at the far end near some shaded windows was a desk. Seated at it scribbling on some paperwork was a familiar face.

“Excuse me,” Adagio stated slowly, “we’re here.”

The person stopped her scribbling, “I can see that. To what do I owe this intrusion hm?”

Adagio smiled as Aria shut the door, “I’ve brought you something I think you’ll want to see.”

The girl placed her pen down and stared at Adagio who flinched lightly, “Oh is that so,” her eyes pierced the siren from behind the lenses of her glasses, “I hope it’s actually something worthwhile this time.”

Aria crossed her arms, “Thanks for the vote of confidence, boss.”

Hecate folded her hands on her desk, “Watch your tongue Blaze, lest I burn it out of your mouth.”

The second siren clamped her mouth shut as Sonata tilted her head, “But I really think you’ll like it this time! It’s coverage of a concert!”

Hecate inhaled sharply and stood up from behind her desk as Adagio cast a scathing look at the third siren, “Oh, another concert of the local favorites,” she started advancing on Adagio who started backing up, “As if you haven’t shown me enough of those already,” Hecate reached up and removed her glasses with her eyes closed in concentration as her patience began to run out, "I thought I made it clear…”

Adagio desperately reached for her phone when she hit the back wall. Hecate’s hand was on her shoulder, and then she opened her eyes. A pair of unnatural gold eyes bore into Adagio’s own, freezing the girl in place.

“And I believe I said, bring me something worthwhile or else you would be wasting my time and as you know,” her voice dropped into a hushed whisper, “I hate having my time wasted.”

Adagio quickly pulled her phone out and held it up, “But this is different, please just look,” the siren was visibly trembling.

Hecate looked at the screen and snatched the phone from Adagio’s grasp before turning her back. Hecate looked out of the corner of her eye, and noticed Sonata fiddling with some of the knick knacks on the book shelf. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed a rubix cube from her desk and tossed it to her.

“Play with this,” she muttered, “simpleton.”

Hecate watched the footage with mild annoyance and growing anger. Her fingernails drummed the table beside her rhythmically. As the footage reached the end, her patience slowly joining it, her eyes widened. Stopping the footage, she rewinded it and played it several times before whirling on her heel to face Adagio.

“Who,” she placed her index nail on the boy depicted on the footage, “Is this?”

Adagio shrugged, “I’m not sure, but we found out his name is Baen.”

Hecate shook her head, “That’s all?”

“Well we would have gotten more info on him,” Aria droned, “but the Raingoons got in our way…again.”

Hecate looked at the screen then replayed the scene once more, “At the moment that’s no importance, what is of importance,” she showed the three girls the moment when the stage shorted out, “is what this is.”

Adagio stared at the screen, “It’s some form of magic?”

Hecate smiled with sinister glee, “Oh something much better than that,” she handed the phone to Adagio, “Here is what’s going to happen. You three will keep him under watch, I want to know exactly who this, Baen is. Confront him directly if need be. When the time is right, we shall acquire him.”

Adagio gave a bit of a hopeful smile, “Then we can have our reward.”

Hecate smiled and patted the siren on the head much to the latter’s mild annoyance, “Yes.”

Aria nodded with a smirk, “Bout time

Sonata held up the completed rubix cube, “YES! I DID IT!”

Everyone just stared on in astonishment.

Author's Note

And with that the stage is set, lets get to da meat of the story shall we?