'You've got to be kidding me.' thought a young man who was standing in front of the most famous school within Canterlot City, Canterlot High. Even though he looks a little too old for a High school he is only sixteen years old. Perhaps it's his long black hair which he always wears in a ponytail and a small beard that would make Ironman proud. It's not too long, and not too short for it to look horrible, and trimmed in the same style as Ironman. He even appears to be taller than the average person here in Canterlot City. His name is Phoenix and he hails from the far away land of the Netherlands across the great ocean. He is nothing special, just your ordinary hard working young man with a love for gardening. Yes, gardening.
As he was standing there gawking at the massive school, he gained the attention of one of the students. She may be familiar, She is none other than Sunset Shimmer. 'Never seen him here before...' She thought to herself as she walked up to him. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt and a pair of lose hanging jeans kept in place by a brown leather belt. She gently tapped him on the shoulder gaining his attention.
"Can I help you with something sir?" She asked as she looked into his clear blue eyes. "I've never seen you here before, and you don't seem to come from around here." She smiled gently which Phoenix gladly returned.
As he spoke, he spoke in a somewhat thick accent which made it clear he wasn't indeed from around here. "That's correct miss, I've only recently arrived here in Camelot? Camtelot? Ack, I keep forgetting the name." He rubbed the back of his neck as he released a sheepish chuckle.
"It's Canterlot City, and from your accent I take it you're not from around here. May I ask where you're from?" Phoenix was about to answer as Sunset's phone went off. Taking it from her pocked she looked at who was calling and saw it was one of her friends. "Oh, I have to take this. Will you be alright?" She asked him quickly.
"I'll be fine, can you point me to the principal's office?" He replied with a clueless look.
She couldn't help but smile at him as she pointed to the window almost next to the entrance. "Just walk through those doors and when you come in the main hall take a left, on the door hangs a sign with Principal's office. But I really have to take it, I'll see you around." She called out to him before disappearing into the school. Knowing where to go he entered the school with a bit of hesitation. Which is to be expected. Coming from a far away land to a completely foreign land, with new cultures and new people to meet.
'Come on Phoenix, pull it together.' He told himself as he walked into what should be the main hall. 'To the left, or the right.... Oh bloody, I can't remember.' He looked around with a clueless expression and took a right, walking into a hall which was completely deserted.
He walked past many doors, some with glass and some not. All he knew is that he was lost. 'Verdorie...' He thought, but then heard several voices coming from one of the
doors. With his curiosity peaked he slowly walked towards the wooden door and gently opened it, all the while completely overlooking the pink sign. As he peeked inside and immediately wished he didn't, for before his eyes was a group of girls changing from their supposed sweaty gym cloths to their normal ones, all standing in their panties and bra's as he froze up. He'd seen his fair share of half naked girls but this is something completely different.
"Hey girls is it getting chilly, or is it just me." Said a blue skinned girl wearing a black and blue sport bra along with spandex shorts. She had long rainbow colored hair and was rather small around the chest area. She looked around attempting to find the source of the chill when her eyes connected with those of Phoenix. Her face became bright red as she yelled out to him. "Hey you! Pervert!!" She yelled as he quickly closed the door. But soon he found out she was pretty strong as he felt her pushing against the door.
"I'm sorry!" He yelled as he used all his might to keep the door sealed shut. "I'm just lost and came here by accident!!" He cried but his efforts were in vain as the door behind him slammed open launching him against the wall on the other side. It turned out that all the girls were pushing against the door that he kept shut, so when it did open it released all the stored energy into him sending him flying.
As he rose to his knees he shook his head with a groan as he suddenly felt something land on his back, forcing him back on the ground. He wanted to turn his head to face the unknown weight, only to be stopped by a raspy voice. "Keep your head down you pervert!" The female yelled as he felt a naked foot on his head. "Who are you and why were you peeking on us?!"
He wanted to reply but the foot on his head pressed down on his cheek making speaking almost impossible, so all he could do was groan and try to break free. "Rainbow, I think you are hurting him." Said a soft and gently voice.
"So what?! He peeked on us and kept the door closed!" The girl names Rainbow replied as she pulled on his ponytail, making him groan in pain.
"Please stop, perhaps it was all a misunderstanding. So please remove your foot from his face so he can explain."
Rainbow groaned as she removed her foot from his face. "Alright, you better start talking chump before I break your arm." She threatened still holding his ponytail in a strong grip all the while using her hand to pull up his arm in the wrong direction gaining more pained groans from him.
"It was all a big misunderstanding!" He yelled out, gritting his teeth in pain. "I was looking for the principal's office, but I got lost. And from one thing to-... *groan* Another I heard voices so I thought someone was willing to help... I never expected it to be a changing room!" he felt the grip on his hair and arm soften as he released a sigh of relief.
"Rainbow, what is going on here?" A familiar voice asked which came from the changing room. "And why are you half naked holding down a guy? Wait a minute... I met you ten minutes ago." Sunset said as she was fully dressed.
"Oh, hello again..." He replied with a small wave of his hand, which was still kept in place by Rainbow. "I have a good reason for being in this situation." He started as he explained everything he told Rainbow and the other girls that were standing around him.
Sunset rubbed her eyes. "Rainbow, please release him and get dressed. Same for you Fluttershy and the other girls" Rainbow nodded as he felt her weight getting off his back. He heard Rainbow mutter something under her breath but dismissed it. After the door closed he slowly stood up as several joints popped for being in a bad position for too long. "Nothing broken?" Asked Sunset as she dusted off his shirt.
"No, all is still in place. I'm tougher then I look." He replied as he rolled his left shoulder but winches in pain. "Scratch that, I think this Rainbow girl pulled a muscle in my shoulder. Damn does she have a grip."
Sunset snicker as she shook her head. "Yes, she got quite the strength to her for someone with a slim build."
"You can say that, when I saw her she looked like I could break her with both my thumbs." He added with a small blush on his face. "Can you take me to a nurse or something first? I'd like to get a sling for around my arm, which is going to be useless for some time." His face gained a sad look.
Sunset merely nodded as she walked in front of him, making sure he was going the right way. They walked for a few minutes until they reached a set of white doors with a red cross on it. Sunset went ahead of him. "Nurse Redheart?" She called out as a woman, somewhere around her forties appeared from behind a door. "Ah, hello Sunset. How are you my dear?" She asked.
"I'm fine nurse Redheart, but I could say otherwise from my friend." She replied as she points a finger behind her at Phoenix who was still holding his left arm. "He got a bad experience with Rainbow Dash this morning and he thinks she pulled a muscle in his shoulder."
Redheart shook her head for a moment. "Let me have a look then." She said as she motions him to come over to the hospital bed located to the side. "Now if you could remove your shirt, I can check for any damage."
As Phoenix took off his shirt Sunset felt herself sweat a little. He was not the most muscled man in the world but most certainly not the least. "My you got quite the muscle on you dear." Redheart commented as she started to inspect his shoulder.
"You'd be surprised how many times I've heard that. It's nothing to brag about, just a lot of physical work." He chuckled a few times but releases a hiss as Redheart pressed her hand on the back of his shoulder.
"What kind of work?" Asked Sunset as she had places herself on an empty chair.
Phoenix thought for a moment. "Well my parents have a farm in the rural area, mostly dairy though. I provided the cows with hay and milked them every morning. Other than that I worked as a gardener."
"Gardener, as in creating gardens for people?" She asked.
"That's correct."
"Oh that reminds me, I never asked for your name and where you were from."
He couldn't help but chuckle as she finally noticed it. "I'm Phoenix, just Phoenix. And I come from the Netherlands."
Her eyes grew wide as her jaw hit the ground. 'He is from all the way over there!' She thought. "I-I'm Sunset Shimmer."
"Seeing from your reaction you are familiar with my country?" He asked as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course, they were the first to open trade routes through the great ocean. Shipping spices and good all over the world!" She replied with a look of joy present on her face. "Oh, the rich culture. The landscape. In all honesty I always wanted to go there. But as you might imagine it's quite expensive."
Phoenix nodded a few times as he looked at nurse Redheart who was about to finish checking his shoulder. "Well you are in luck mister Phoenix, the muscle is indeed sprained but not torn. So I suggest that you wear a sling for a few days perhaps a week or so, and after that be sure not to strain the shoulder too much for at least another week." While explaining Redheart had made a sling around his neck and places his arm in it to keep his shoulder in place, after he had put his shirt back on.
"Thank you for your help nurse Redheart." He thanked her as he stood up, walking over to Sunset.
"It was nothing dear, be safe now!" She replied with a wave of her hand before returning to what she was doing before the two entered. Phoenix and Sunset left the nurse office as they walked through the almost deserted hall ways towards the principal's office.
Phoenix turned to face Sunset with a small smile on his face. "Thanks again for taking me to the principal's office, I'd be sure to get lost once more and walk into that Rainbow girl again."
Sunset returned the smile with one of her own. "No problem, I'm just glad that I found you when I did. I rather won't think about what would have happened when I didn't interfere." She rubbed her neck. To Phoenix it was clear that she was thinking about something, he decided not to ask since it's none of his business but he couldn't help but to speculate what.
The conversation fell silent as they reached the office they were looking for, and indeed there was a name carved in a bronze plate on the door. Phoenix mentally slapped himself as he remembered what Sunset told him at the entrance. "Well I guess this is it." He started. "Thanks again for helping out, my memory isn't the best. I'll see you at lunch alright?"
"Of course, take care now!" Sunset gave him a small wave as she left to go back to her class before lunch starts.
Phoenix turned his attention to the office in front of him as he gently knocked two times on the door. After a few seconds a soft, "Come in." escaped from within. With a silent nod he opened the door and walked inside. Once inside he saw the principal sitting behind her desk. He noticed her purl white skin and her multi colored hair, but after fully inspecting her he was pulled from his thoughts by the principal. "Can I help you?" She asked leaning back into her leather chair.
He blinked a few times as he rubbed his neck followed by a sheepish chuckle. "Oh yes. I recently arrived from the Netherlands to study here." He started as he pulled out a neatly folded letter from his pocket. He approached the desk as he hands the letter to the principal.
"Ah, Phoenix right?" She asked him with a warm smile. "I am Principal Celestia, it's nice to finally meet you in person."
He nodded a few times and returns her smile with one of his own. "Correct, and the pleasure is mine Principal Celestia."
"I hope you had a safe trip? Twelve hour flight am I correct?"
"Heh, yea. It takes some getting used to, I left from Amsterdam around eight in the morning and arrived here the same time, really disorientating." He nodded once more as he sat down in the chair in front of the desk.
"I can understand." She leaned forward and she gently pushes a piece of paper towards him. "This is your schedule for this year, but since a forth of the year already past you'll need to catch up. But I have a feeling that shouldn't really be an issue."
He takes his schedule and gives it a quick look before folding it and storing it in his bag. "That shouldn't be a major issue, though I have one request to make."
Celestia raised an eyebrow at him. "What kind of request?"
"Well not really a request but more of an ehm.... Blast, I forgot the words." He rubbed his nose as he desperate tries to remember the words. "Never mind, I wanted to ask if you have a map of the school I could use. I had a not so lovely encounter with some of the students because of my terrible since of direction." He points towards his arm in the sling.
Celestia couldn't help but chuckle lightly as she opens a drawer pulling out an A4 piece of paper. "Here you go Phoenix, and might I ask what happened?"
A small blush graced his cheeks as he tried to look away. "Let's just say that I walked into the wrong room, and I'm sure you can possibly guess the rest."
"Could it be a girl named Rainbow Dash changing after gym class?"
He was quite taken back by her question. "How'd you guess?" He asked her as he leaned forward to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Let's just say that you're not the first to wander into the girls changing room, and I'm honestly surprised she stopped when she did, she can be quite unforgiving. Oh and she likes to hold grudges."
'Dat heb ik weer...' He thought to himself as he placed his hand on his face. "Just my luck. Do you know a way to make her lose the grudge?"
Celestia suddenly grew a sly smirk as she leaned her head on her left hand. "You -can- try to fight her or challenge her. I know for a fact that she is quite the sports woman and never backs out of a challenge, it could be a good way to show your physique."
His looked quite uncertain about the whole challenge part. "Are you sure that that's a good idea? I don't want to look like an asshole to her. I was never one to make enemies."
"Oh, I'm quite aware of that. But it's good for her to get a run for her money once in a while, perhaps you'll get a friend out of it." The smirk returned to her face as giggles. "Or maybe something more." With that sentence she wiggles her eyebrows and a wink. "Now if that's everything I must ask you to leave for I have a meeting planned in a few minutes and I'm sure Lunch is about to start. You must be hungry after the long trip."
Phoenix nods. "Of course, then I'll take my leave. Thank you again for allowing me into Canterlot High." With that said he stood up and walked to the door, he turned to face Celestia one more time as he gives a small bow before leaving the office.
-o-
It was indeed lunch time as many students made their way to the cafeteria, Phoenix followed the crowd as he was quite sure that they were going to get lunch. It took him a minute or so to arrive at the giant hall filled with many tables and chairs. It became instantly clear to him that the place was quite sorted out. The geeks had their own table, same for the musicians and of course the popular students. With a shake of his head he walked towards the line of students that were waiting to get their lunch. He went for a egg and cheese sandwich along with a bottle of apple juice, he paid for his meal which he found to be quite cheap. He looked around to see if he could spot Sunset who agreed to have lunch with him, but before he could spot her he heard someone call out his name. He followed the source of the voice and saw Sunset wave her hand to get his attention.
"Over here Phoenix!" She called out again as he smiles softly and approached the group.
"Good afternoon Sunset, I was wondering where you'd be. I was sure not to forget our agreement." He winked playfully at her. She shook her head and motioned him to sit down next to her. He placed his plate on the table to sat himself down with a groan as he bumped his elbow against the table sending pain through his shoulder due to the sudden movement.
"You alright?" She asks with a worried expression.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine-...." He suddenly stops his sentence as he looks at the girl who was sitting on the table across of him. It was none other than Rainbow Dash and by the looks of it she hasn't forgotten their not so pleasant meeting by the glare fixated on his eyes. "G-good afternoon to you too Rainbow."
She huffed as she stuffed her face with an apple, still trying to kill him with her death glare.
Phoenix released a sigh but compost himself as he heard several girls approach their table. He looked up from his plate as he saw five more girls standing at their table. There was a short silence between the group but it was soon broken by Sunset. "Hello girls, how are you all?" She asked smiling softly at the five.
The white skinned and purple haired girl answered first. "Oh, we're quite alright darling. But we're just wandering who your new friend is and why Rainbow tries to kill him with her glare."
"Ah, girls, meet Phoenix. He transferred here today." She turned to look at him. "Phoenix meet my friends, Rarity," She points at the purple curled haired girl, "Fluttershy," Then to the soft pink haired girl, "Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Twilight." While she was introducing her friends they each gave their greetings while Fluttershy merely peeped.
"A pleasure to meet you all, as Sunset said my name is Phoenix, I came here from the Netherlands to study abroad." He smiled softly but it soon vanishes as he heard Rainbow growl under her breath. "As for why she is glaring at me, she and I had a less pleasant meeting."
"Less pleasant!?" Rainbow suddenly roared out as she slams her fist on the table. "You peeked on us while we were changing!"
"I already explained that it was a misunderstanding." He replied. "I was searching for the Principal's office but got lost, my memory isn't the best so I accidently walked in on them and I said I was sorry."
"That doesn't excuse that you are a bucking pervert!" She shot back. She sat herself down and took another bite from her apple. The other five looked at him with a questionable gaze not sure who they should believe.
"That's enough Rainbow." Sunset stepped in. "He explained himself and it was an accident, Fluttershy where there too you know and she even told you to stop or you would have broken his arm. And not to mention tearing his ponytail from his head."
"No. She's right Sunset, but I won't sit by letting myself be called a pervert. How about we sort this out your way Rainbow." He added before shifting his gaze to Rainbow.
"What do you mean my way?" She replied with a raised eyebrow.
"I heard from Principal Celestia that you're great at sports, and she gave me the idea of challenging you to a sport duel." Phoenix holds a determent look on his face while keeping eye contact with Rainbow Dash. "So, I hereby challenge you to a sport duel after school."
Rainbow huffed as she leaned back into her chair. "And what if I win?" She asks with a deadpan look.
"If you win, I shall do one thing for you. No rules." He replied crossing his arms. "But, if I were to win you shall do one thing for me."
Her glare returns as she snarls at him. "So you can fulfill your pervert dreams?! I don't think so!"
"Then I shall add a rule, you don't have to perform the act if you don't want to do it. Simple as that."
Rainbow released a sigh. "Fine, but I'm choosing the sport!"
"That's fine by me."