Your shoulders sagged as you walked down the empty hallways. Pretending to be happy and cheerful to make sure that the demonic Princess didn't blow a head gasket wasn't easy on your psyche. You were lying every step of the way, and you were glad that you were on your way home. Though instead of hurrying away as you usually do, you take your time and enjoy the peaceful quiet environment. The castle had seen less and less visitors as the days went on with Daybreaker ruling, and it was no surprise to you. Even though the common-ponies still respected her, they feared her. A problem that you were sure would eventually bite her.

The calm and quiet feeling that the corridor gave you was immediately ruined by a certain murmur behind you, and it was certainly not Princess Luna. You turn around, your face immediately falling into a frown. In front of you, slowly walking towards you, was Princess Twilight Sparkle. You never expected to hate her-- well, maybe hate was a strong word. You 'strongly disliked' her, and you didn't choose that on your own. No, she forced that on to you. She always tried to teach you something, but it was either something that was simple enough to be an insult to your intelligence, or so complex that it felt like she was mocking your lack of knowledge on the topic. There was no in-between with her.

"Ah, Anonymous! Are you heading to your bedroom? I'm sure you and the Princess had quite an eventful day. She's always been pretty sporadic; even more-so now."

You wanted to poke your eyeballs out.

"Twilight... Why are you here? I thought you were planning to leave the castle."

"Well, I was, but Princess Daybreaker said that there was something that required me to stay. Something urgent, she said. She hasn't really said anything to me like that before, so I know that it's definitely something important. It's best to stay until she can inform me of what it is."

You sighed, shaking your head with your fingers pinching your nose. "Great. I'm really... glad."

"I know!" She exclaimed, her face beaming with happiness. "Right about now, I'd be on a friendship quest doing something exhausting, but it's nice to have time and be here at the castle. It reminds me of when I was a foal, learning underneath Princess Celestia. I remember that it was pretty weird at first. She consistently confused my name with 'Sunset', and–"

"Twilight." You say, putting your hand up to stop her. "Please, for the love of god... Shut up. I am not going to deal with this right now– you're annoying me, and I already have a gigantic headache. The last thing I need is you making me feel worse than I already am. I don't care about your life story, or about how you used to grow up here. Hey– here's an idea, remember how you're the Princess of Friendship? Maybe go make a new friend, because I don't want to be yours." You said, your eyes piercing down at her with anger. You could see that each word you said made her sink down just a tiny bit further. You weren't sure if you felt happy, or felt sad for her.

Despite this though, Twilight's face contorted into a sneer, her eyes hyper-focused on yours. "You know, considering you're the Princess' royal assistant, I thought you would've been a little nicer. All this time, I've been trying to help you, and all you do is keep... keep being rude! You're completely undeserving of that title that she gave you."

"You're right!" You said with a pained laugh. "I am undeserving of that title because I didn't fucking want it in the first place! It's hard to be nice to someone when they're condescending to you all the time, teaching you basic math like I'm a fucking child, or trying to explain 'Chrono-thaumatology' and confusing the hell out of me! I don't have time to learn, nor do I care for it."

"I've tried to help you! How am I supposed to know what you do and don't know?!"

"BY ASKING!" You yelled, your headache spiking even heavier. You could feel your legs waver a little, and you could feel your breath shorten. You pinched your nose again as you leaned on a pillar, shaking your head. "I... Fuck– I just... I'm sorry, Twilight. I don't know what I'm doing."

Twilight's face softened, and she got up close to you, peering a little up at you. "No, I'm sorry. You're not the first po– ... person, to tell me that I'm overbearing or condescending. I didn't mean to make you feel stupid, or feel like I'm treating you like a foal."

You shake your head, looking up at the sky for a moment as you digest what's happening. You, and Twilight Sparkle, who you thought you would dislike forever considering her cockiness, are having a normal heartfelt conversation. She wasn't an asshole on purpose– she was actually trying to help you. In a rude, horrible way, sure, but trying to help nonetheless. You only had a few chance encounters with her, and you had already made up your mind about where the two of you stood.

Wow, you really were getting bitter, weren't you?

"Don't worry about it Twilight." You say, your eyes drifting down to hers. "I'm just... really stressed, and I don't know if I can contain any of this anymore. And no, I'm not telling you a single thing. I like to keep to myself, and I like to do things on my own even if..." You sigh. "Even if they're hurtful to me. Maybe humans are stupid."

"No, not at all." Twilight said with a smile. "You're just stubborn. I know a donkey in Ponyville who would get along so well with you, it wouldn't even be funny. Maybe I'll introduce you to him sometime. Does this, uh... clear things up?"

You tilt your head a little as you nod. "Sort of. I think we need to actually be around each other a little more often, and without you trying to teach me something while I'm walking from one place to another. If you really want to teach me something, we can sit down and do it. I don't like being quizzed on topics out of the blue by a pony that I hardly know."

"Deal." Twilight said with a smile. "Could I ask for a favor, though?"

"Hm?"

"You said I was... Condescending, and pretty rude. Like I said, you're not the first person to tell me that. But, I can't really ask those people for help on anything because they don't like me. Can you sort of... walk me through things? Tell me what makes me come off that way. I don't want this to be an issue, and with this whole situation I think that I can learn a lot from it."

You smirk. She is so damn wholesome. Who would've known? "I think that would be a good idea. But, it might get brutally honest and you're probably going to cringe a whole lot. I mean, Daybreaker herself has told me some of the things you've done that made even her cringe.."

Twilight immediately stiffened. She gave off a fake laugh. "Hah... hah, yeah... Yeah, we'll have to talk really soon then."

"Alright well, I need to get to bed before this headache actually decides to kill me. If I'm lucky, it'll do it in my sleep. Or, maybe it'll happen right here and the maids will have to clean me up. Hmmm... choices."

Twilight gave you an odd look as she then backed off, returning the way she came from. "I'll see you around, Anonymous!"

"Call me Anon!" You yell back as you begin down your own path. You hear a giggle behind you.

"Okay Anon!"

And just like that, your number-two enemy became a possible friend in the matter of a few minutes.

Author's Note

Most Anon stories feature their hatred for Twilight, and their stupidity, venturing so far out as to remove all logic from conversation.
This Anon does not do that.
Be like Anon.

As for the delay on this chapter; I'm terribly sorry. The chapter that was intended for this spot had to be put on delay, so it will come at a later date. Instead of making you all wait as we try to construct the perfect chapter, we decided to instead continue the story as usual.