"Fucks sake." Anon exclaimed quietly. He and Azrael were sitting in the back of the wooden stage that resided in the middle of Ponyville. The small wooden wall was the only thing separating him from the large group of ponies on the other side.

"How did we go through so many options and this was the only viable one? I call bullshit." The human stated, his voice drowned out by the murmurs of ponies and the booming voice of Mayor Mare, who had been addressing them. The hastily put together backstage was almost pitch black except for a few rays of sunlight slipping through the cracks and corners, it created an atmosphere of anxiety and dread that feasted on Anon.

Azrael laid sprawled out on her back, her head tipped backwards to look at Anon as her long hair draped carelessly across the wooden floor. "Can you not just back out Sir? Just tell her you changed your mind. I don't see a reason to put yourself through this." The demon stated casually. "Ponies will always be skittish creatures. They are afraid of anything they don't understand. Unless it's extremely dangerous magic, then their survival instinct just goes out the window." Azrael finished, sounding like she speaks from experience.

Anon sighed as he rubbed his face. "Nah, I said I would. I don't have much left apart from my word. I don't want to lose that as well." The human stated, steeling his resolve as he listened to the Mayor's words.

"I understand how you all feel in these uncertain times." Mayor Mare spoke loudly, booming her voice over the large crowd of ponies in an encouraging tone. Her eyes scanned the crowed, making sure every pony felt included in her speech.

Anon was interrupted in his listening as the door to the backstage opened, filling the room with an almost blinding light. The human covered his eyes for a few moments as they adjusted. Twilight trotted into the room before closing the door behind her, swallowing the small room in darkness once more. Twilight's eyes glanced at the sprawled out demon before her focus returned to Anon.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, knowing the answer but trying to be supportive.

Anon blinked a few times before his gaze landed on her face. "Don't comfort me. It's weird." The human told her.

Twilight sighed softly before a small reassuring smile graced her features. She approached Anon before sitting beside him. "I know it may not feel like it, but you are among friends." The princess stated, her tone supporting and gentle.

Anon chuckled darkly. "You ponies are far too nice for your own good."

Twilight chuckled along with him. "You're probably right, but it's helped us show others a better path, turning foes into friends." She told him.

"Now I would like to say that I came here just to cheer you up, but unfortunately that is not the case. I know this may be a bad time to mention this, but it is important." Twilight began, her tone turning serious.

"You need to use your magic more Anon." Twilight stated simply.

Anon sighed as he scratched his chin. "You're right." He replied. "This is a bad time." He finished, shooting her a slightly annoyed look.

Twilight stammered slightly as she tried to explain herself. "Yes, I know you're trying to mentally prepare, but I needed to tell you at a time when you are fully aware. If you don't start using magic in your day-to-day life, It will build up again. And it will be worse than last time." Twilight stated.

Anon blinked a few times as an image of him attacking Redheart flashed across his mind. He grunted softly as guilt and rage suddenly crept up on him. He shook his head and the feeling away as he looked back at Twilight. "When I use magic, I hurt people. When I don't use magic, I still hurt people. Doesn't sound any fucking better." The human stated with a huff.

"You're good at this." Azrael stated mockingly. The seeming once fearful demon now testing dangerous waters.

Twilight gave Azrael a short glare before surrounding her with magic and tossing her out the back.

"Weee!" Azrael exclaimed as she was flung out of the backroom before a soft thud followed. "I'm ok." The demon stated, her voice muffled slightly from being outside.

Twilight looked back to Anon as she cleared her throat. "Look, you don't need to do anything now. But just give it some thought. I'm always available if you needed any help or guidance." The Alicorn said as she placed a hoof on Anon's shoulder.

The muffled voice of Mayor mare broke the tension as she spoke up again. "But to provide you more information, I've asked Twilight Sparkle to give a quick speech about it. Afterwards, Anonymous the Human is going to say a few words." She told the crowd, which responded in murmurs and questions.

"Well that's my cue. When it's your turn, just speak from the heart and everything will be fine." Twilight stated as she left the backroom before her hoof steps could be heard on stage.

Anon ignored what was said as he watched Azrael walk back in the backroom, wiping some grass off her clothing.

"Why did you do that?" Anon asked, his curiosity peaked.

"I could tell the moment was getting tense, so I irritated her hoping she would do something like that, therefore breaking the weird tension. Ta-da" She finished with jazz hands.

Anon chuckled. "You're a clever little shit aren't you?" Anon asked rhetorically.

"Also, it might be best if you switched back to a pony for now. I'm already enough of a problem." Anon stated.

"Kay." Azrael replied simply with a mock salute as the sound of breaking bones and flesh tearing filled the room as her shape changed. Anon looked away as her clothes fell from her shrinking frame. Waiting until the noises stopped before looking back.

"But now I ask you to be patient and listen to what he has to say." Anon heard Twilight's muffled voice, clearly his cue. "God I fucking hate crowds."

Author's Note

Hey all. As usual, thank you so much for reading and please yell at me for any grammar or spelling errors.

I'm always worried about how to write Azrael, I feel like I'm veering off sometimes. Might need to reread her intro chapters.

Peace