Snips 'n Snails

That purple-eyed, smiling scan of their class on that day a week ago still lingered upon his fur. That way that Twilight dragged her perfect-tooth grin over the class. That way she singled Snails out, of all the ponies, for that little portion of the tour of Celestia's palace.

"You like it?" Twilight queried, hushed, smiling, on a little 'high-note' as always. How she could put a positive spin on the subject matter was a mystery to Snails. How could that unicorn observe something like a crossbow and think 'Neat!'?

"Uh.. Yeah, it's... cool, I guess. I liked t-the- demonstration you did, y'know?" he stammered back, allowing himself a fleeting glimpse at the unicorn, letting his eyes wander from the haven of the weapon's metallic length. Ugh. She was staring at him with that smile. She was close to him, towering over him. The warmth of her body, nay, the warmth of her breath, overwhelmed the colt.

Her muzzle hovered over him ever so slightly. That curious little peering motion, that feigned interest in the weapon Celestia had likely forced her test for the students earlier that day. Twilight didn't want to. She didn't like it. She was pretending. A mare like her wouldn't like crossbows. But she smiled anyway.

What would she say if Snails were to stab his head upwards? Send his horn on a quick little voyage into the flesh of her neck. Would she still be smiling? Giggling out a "H-hehe, hey, cut it out!". Would she even be able to speak at all?

"Hehe, thanks Snips. Maybe in a few years, Princess Celestia will release them for the public! You could have a turn, hm?"

She was still staring. Smiling. Why...?

"Uh.. Hehe, yeah, maybe," he chuckled back, eyes wandering astray in another glimpse her way, locking with her own gaze for a split moment. His attention fell to her lips. What if he kissed her? What would she say? "I-it's uh.. Snails, by the way. Not snips. That's my friend," added the colt, throat tightening as his gaze returned to its refuge on the display case before them. His smile began to dim, fade.

"Oh... Woops. Silly me. Heh, sorry 'bout that Snails..." stuttered back the unicorn, chuckles perched between her words, still smiling, still smiling. "I'd make a bad teacher, huh? Forgetting all your names like that. I called Diamond Tiara her friend's name, too. She wasn't too happy!"

She let her gaze wander to the side, off towards the rest of the 'display room'. Thankfully completely turning her velvet purple form away from the colt. Freedom from that fake gaze.

Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon were picking on Evening again. Applebloom and her friends were crowded around a suit of armor on display. Cheerilee was chatting with the other tour guide, a no-name far less interesting than Twilight Sparkle. Celestia was really capitalizing on her 'local fame' now, forcing her favorite student to take schoolfillies on tours around the castle. It must be embarrassing.

Snails' felt those familiar creeping, tingling waves of fear rising and falling underneath his fur, radiating from that spot in his chest. Almost strong enough to make him react. They subsided however, attention drifting from those feelings, following his gaze as it fell upon Twilight's body.

What would she say if he mounted her? He was far off from getting a.. stiffy... but it wouldn't take long if he ignored the stares and her protests. Would she even protest? Was she a... 'slut'? That weird word Diamond Tiara called Sweetie Belle sometimes?

Snails' gaze found itself slipping through the strands of her tail. Locking onto that darkened line every mare had. What if he touched it? Just a little pinch, a little prod with his magic? Would he get in trouble?

No, he wouldn't. He didn't want to wear himself out. He was already holding down a spell of his own. That protection spell underneath what felt like a mountain of flames that Twilight had put in place to guard the weapon. It felt so wrong that such a meager, pathetic little spell of his own could be 'lifted' up and send all that work, all that power, sliding aside. Leaving the weapon unprotected.