Snips 'n Snails

Snips found his vigor reduced to a panting mess by the time the pair had reached that familiar slump in the rolling hills. The colt's little hideaway from the town. Neither could see a sign of life beyond the wall-like slopes around them- as no one from outside could see them, either.

Fumbling for his breath, outstretched, lying limp in the grass, Snips let himself get his bearings. Snails was already reaching into his saddlebag, so clunky-looking and stuffed... What was in there? Something fragile, worth protecting. Snails hadn't half-galloped half-fell down the hill as he usually had, snickering the whole way down. He had retained that grin the whole way there, though.

"So.. What is it? Whatchya got?" huffed Snips from where he laid, only now beginning to reach back up from where he had collapsed. Under the warmth of the sun, something glistened, shone, within that bag of Snails'. Something shiny.

That familiar, yet secret little smirk spread across Snails' lips. One reserved for those 'supply runs' Trixie had sent them on.  Sneaking into the store, whisking up one or two cupcakes or ingredients, part of that game Trixie and the store owners played together. Snips had to admit, it was fun, but Snails liked it even more. That was where the smirk came from. 'Supply-run Snails', hehe.

Trixie must have liked Snails more. He would often empty out the cash register and hide its contents among the shelves, in a messy little clump. Trixie must have told him to do that. Some inside-joke between her and the store owners. Between her and Snails. Snickering Snips playing pranks on Sugarcube Corner and poor Bon Bon, as always...

A snicker cracked through Snails' grin as he hefted the mystery object out onto the grass. A swift little plop with his magic. He was getting better at it.

On the soft lashes of green slathering the hills was the crossbow. A polished, murky wooden hilt, smooth to the touch, but mostly for show. Snips could tell it wasn't for 'physical' use. Unicorns used it. If earth ponies and pegasi were to use it, there would be those mouthguard things on it, like spears and swords had.

The white of the sun ran along the smooth, seemingly perfect arches and curves of the weapon's iron. All centered around that little shaft on the middle, where the... 'Balt'? Bult? Bolt? The bolt, yes, the bolt.. where the bolt rested.

Snips flinched, that little squeaky gasp of his escaping him. Woops.

"Oh c'mon, it's not even loaded!" Snails exclaimed between chuckles, those brown eyes of his following Snips' terrified form. Those bolts Twilight had launched nearly broke the little red-and-white target she had shot at. The way the little hornet-like piece of metal hit the timber, sending splintering little canyons cracking across its surface. He didn't want to imagine what that would do to a pony, especially a foal.

"I-I.. I was just... I was just surprised, that's all.." he stammered back from where he sat perched up the hill, ever-so-slightly, giving him a bit of high ground on his friend. Snails said he did that a lot. Stand back from ponies. Stand higher than them. It was okay though. Snails said he did it too, and he did. "How.. how did you get that? Twilight musta put like... a bajillion spells on that case!"

"Hehe, well... she did," chuckled Snails, nodding back, letting his grin wander away from his frightened form, letting the startled unicorn settle. "But I remember this thing Trixie taught me. Y'remember how she was researching all those.. ex.. ploits.. exploits, in Canterlot magic?"

"I.. I think... Yeah, yeah, I remember..."

"Well, I figured that because Twilight came from Canterlot, she'd be taught using that sorta magic. And she was! That weird shield spell thing... it worked. I didn't think it would, I thought... I thought Trixie would'a used it already and Twilight would've fixed it, but... it worked," murmured Snails, grinning throughout his explanation, running the tips of his gaze along the weapon before them. Transfixed by its 'i.. ronic.. ironic beauty' as Twilight said back on the tour. Whatever that meant.

Snails seemed to grow quiet, eyes slowing, coming to a halt on a bundle of bolts sat nestled in his saddlebag. "Yeah, I.. I remember some'a Trixie's spells. I know she... said not to read her books, but... I did. I remembered a bit."

"E-even.. her diary?" Snips uttered back, words coming to a whisper.

He nodded.

"I uh... I can't say anything, 'cause... she WAS our friend, but... I can teach you some of the spells. That's it," added his friend, unease entering his tone, now frail and uncertain. The pair lapsed into silence.

Snails' gaze locked with his. "Wanna try it out?"

"Uh.. what..?"

"The crossbow! C'mon! We can try it down at the gorge!"