//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: Snail's Marehood 
// by Unidentified20XD6 
//------------------------------//

Snail's Marehood
By Unidentified20XD6
For Prince_BlueBlood, you proggy ponce. 

“You want to know what!?”
“What's a marehood,” the lanky brown unicorn clarified. “I heard Rarity saying it when she came to pick up Sweetie Belle the other day, and, well...” Snails dropped his gaze from the stern eyes of his teacher.
Cheerilee sighed. “Snails, I don't want you repeating that word, all right? Now, run along. Go find your friends. It's the weekend, after all.” She stared down at Snails, who refused to return her glare. Walking backwards, he shuffled out of the room and closed the door. Cheerilee trotted to her desk and slid open the bottom drawer, revealing a bottle of the Apple Family's finest cider. With a barely concealed grimace, she chewed the aluminum wrapping off its neck and popped the cork. She could tell it was going to be a long night.

Snails walked out of the schoolhouse with his head held low. He walked past his classmates getting greeted by their family members. He saw Twist out of the corner of his eye. She was deep in conversation with Snips. Instead of heading over to them, he walked the opposite direction, hoping to avoid catching their attention. He wandered down the busy streets, staring into shop windows with vacant eyes.  He wandered around for hours before noticing that Celestia had finished gracing the day with her presence, and was submitting to Luna's authority. With the sun going down, he had just enough light to retrace his steps. By the time he reached the schoolhouse, the sun was gone completely. A crescent moon gave barely enough light to make out his surroundings. He slumped next to the flagpole, mentally preparing himself for another long, cold night. He closed his eyes and began to slumber. Suddenly, a raspy cough caught his ear. Shocked, Snails stood up and began looking for the source of the disturbance.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
A coughing noise from his right caused Snails to jump. He began walking to the sound. He turned around the corner of the school and could barely make out a small shape. He listened, and noticed that it was crying.
“Hello? Is something wrong?”
The sniffling stopped, and a scared voice called out to him.
“Wh-Who's there?” said the lump.
“Snails. Who're you?”
“Oh. Hi, Snails. It's Sweetie Belle.”
“Why are you crying?” Snails walked over to Sweetie and sat down next to her.
“Well, I guess my sister forgot she was supposed to take me home tonight and I'm scared of the dark and I thought I'd have to stay the night here again and I-” she cut off, and the tears began to flow down her face again.
“Don't, uh, don't start crying again. I'll walk you home,” Snails muttered. He looked over and saw a tear in the corner of the filly's eye, and a smile spread on her face.
“Oh, you will? Thanks so much!” She stood up, and Snails followed suit. He walked to her side and, with some effort, ignited his horn to illuminate the surrounding area. They walked and conversed, and by the time they had reached Carousel Boutique her face was nearly dry. As they neared the door, Snails decided to ask her the one question on his mind.
“Uh, Sweetie Belle. Do you know what a 'marehood' is?”
Sweetie Belle giggled before answering. “I could show you, if you wanted.”
“Sure. Where is it?” Snail's horn sputtered out with a wheeze of protest.
“It's inside. My sister Rarity keeps her marehood on her bed.”
The two foals waled up to the doorstep. Sweetie took the lead and pushed on the front door. It swung open, and the two tip-hooved into the front room. 
“Shh! We don't want to wake her,” Sweetie Belle whispered. They headed up the staircase and pushed open Rarity's bedroom door. As quiet as mice, they headed to the bed.
In an undertone, Sweetie gestured with her horn at Rarity, who was splayed out on the bed and snoring softly. “That's a marehood.”
Snails pushed himself closer to the prone figure on the bed. Walking around the bed proved to be easy, as the thick carpet muffled his every move. The silence of the night was broken only by the rough sound of the white unicorn breathing. Snails walked around the bed a second time, not sure what he was looking for. Finally, he gave up and walked over to Sweetie Belle, who led them out of her sister's room. They walked down the stairs before Snails asked a question.
“I didn't see a place for you to stay the night. Where do you sleep?”
Sweetie Belle's smile left her face, and she dropped her head. “I sleep under the water heater over here,” she said to the floor. Snails stood still for a second, and almost missed what the dejected unicorn said next. “It's actually pretty cold. My sister keeps the heat low during the summer.”
Picking his words carefully, Snails slid next to Sweetie and put his neck on her back. “I, uh. I could stay with you tonight, maybe keep you warm.”
He felt the unicorn tense up and prepared for her to pull away, but instead she leaned into him.
“I'd like that,” she said through a yawn. “Follow me.” 
The two of them made their way to the water heater. Sweetie Belle wiggled her way in first, tail held high. Snails stood at the doorway for a moment before lighting his horn and following her in. It was small and cramped, but after some wiggling they managed to fit themselves into a comfortable position. Snails squirmed into the newspapers on the floor, widening the dent that was already in them. He closed his eyes, and felt Sweetie Belle lay her head on his stomach. 
“Sweetie Belle?” 
All he got in response was a non-committal grunt.
“Do I have a marehood?” Snails opened one eye and looked at the unicorn's upturned face. He reached down and nuzzled her cheek, tasting the salty fur. 
“Of course you do,” she muttered. “Everypony has one.”
Snails thought about that for a moment before replying. 
“Well, I'm glad I could share it with you.”
A snore, so much like her sister's, was Snail's only response. Closing his eye once more, he allowed himself to drift off with the warm weight of Sweetie Belle resting on top of him.