Twilight wasn't the most observant pony when it came to matters of social grace.

She hadn't needed to be from since she was very young. But even that was a stretch because even as a child, she was a crazed brat of strange reasons and actions. The bulk of her childhood was spent getting into things and her parents chasing her down with her brother egging her on.

In fact, Twilight couldn't remember half the things she accidentally got herself in but was aware her name was blacklisted at a couple libraries in Canterlot. (Of course, she was un-blacklisted after becoming the Princess's student but nobody working from back then would look her in the eye.) And the many trips to the doctor to have her stomach pumped. The smell of stale printing-press ink always made her remember her parents patting her stomach and her brother snickering in the background.

But passed that singular point in her life, Twilight was above chit-chat and small talk. She had no need to interact. Not for friends or boys or teachers meaning well. There was no need for personal communication with anyone. And if she really needed it, she had Spike and her family that she could write to. Wasting time slacking and hanging out with her peers more than necessary... There wasn't enough time in the day for that. She didn't need to figure out the complex rules of maintaining social relationships and minding her words.

She did not talk. She was talked to.

Everyone wants to score points with the Princess by rubbing hooves with her personal student, after all.

And with everything that comes with that position, she was used to having ponies slink their way through her presence and intrude whether she wanted them too or not. She was comfortable (to an extent) to ponies parading in and out, wanting this or that. It was normal to be dragged along with crowds of mixed students to whatever set her classmates ablaze with gossip and love until she had enough and fled back to their dorm tower.

Upon officially moving to Ponyville and left to her own devices with a regular correspondence with the Princess, Twilight finally learned of a different way of life. The idea of lazy, peaceful days. The idea of having friends to talk to and spend time with for fun's sake.

Ponyville was peaceful. Well... As peaceful as it could be besides being a weirdness magnet thanks to being so close to both the Everfree forest and the great Prison Tartarus. There was a reason why they were the only town settlement out here...

It was quite different from her school in Canterlot with its hustle and bustle and shrieking and shouting of her fellow students tearing their hair out from the stress of it all. And she joined them in the chorus of frustrated scores, unexpected marks and the teachers plotting and plotting. The typical remarks of “We didn't cover this!” and “Where's the extra credit? I can't turn this assignment in like this!” filled her room as it did theirs as a disorderly song of student grievances. Thinking back on her school life, it was noisy and stressful and petty but Twilight could never say she was truly alone.

Ponyville was much, much quieter. Almost silent in her daily routine outside the occasional outing with the girls. Sure, ponies got in her face from time to time... But that was because of her failure to read the situation.

The ponies here talk differently.

They said, “How are you doing?”

What was the right way to respond?

Twilight has tried many different responses and so far, the best one is “Fine, thanks.” Which, more than not, gets an unsatisfied look for the pony in question. But it at least moved the conversation on.

In Canterlot, they also said, “How are you doing?”

The correct answer can be the following:

“Spell Spunk decided to raise the grading curve. We need to come up with another form of attack for the next quiz! He'll start filling his quota to unfairly knock out students from his class. I'm not losing my placement because Spunk wants to look strict!”

OR.

“I'm actually pretty weak in Siege Spell Theory. I'm looking to start a club for those of a like-mind for elite studying sessions. Are you up for it? We can learn great things from each other.”

OR.

“I already saw the scores posted outside of Ms. Jinx's classroom. These are a copy of my notes for Alchemical Rune 1. Let's do the trade.”

All were acceptable responses because even though Twilight wouldn't call herself friends with any of them, they were her peers. They knew each other well and found kinship in the great pursuit of knowledge. Twilight didn't have time for pleasantries than any of them did. The ones who did, they just didn't have their priorities straight.

Twilight knew the basic words for when she had to talk to ponies on the street. But being able to do more than that... She failed in some aspect. Her mind often came to a crashing halt whenever common questions were asked from time to time in her life. And maybe, maybe, it carried to the conversation.

“How the weather?”

“Fine.” She'd respond. “Um, from what I can see outside my window, it looks great.”

Somehow, it always felt that she wasn't saying the right thing.

“What are you up to?”

It was the way those questions sounded. As if they were pointed at her neck.

“Nothing particularly interesting. I'm finishing up some reports for my teachers back in Canterlot.”

What was the right answer? Did the conversation have to sound so flat?

“How's Spike?”

“Oh, he's fine. Would you like to speak to him?” Was it wrong for her to push off all social interaction to Spike? She wasn't shy...

It was just...

Off...

She was just used to a pony talking her ear off without pause but already knowing of her that she didn't have to go through the awkwardness of communicating. At school, talking was really a game of favors and grades. Yet here in Ponyville... Talking. Socializing. It was beginning to be a bit too much. It was if they were speaking two different languages...

Maybe, she should be more opened with her answers? But she tried that route and would watch in stilted horror as the listener's eyes glazed over as she took too long in getting to the point.

It annoyed her.

Twilight would have to take her time and learn whatever the ponies of Ponyville wanted her to say. Or not. Why should she bother? She wasn't friends with those ponies anyway... She had the girls and as long as she stayed polite and welcoming, she wasn't hurting anyone.

Let them call her standoff-ish, she didn't care.

Author's Notes:

Technically, a prologue.