“...and then, of course, you have Oakey Anneigh... she once hit--”
“Oh goodness, Oakey!” Celestia couldn’t help it, a little chuckle escaped her as she interrupted Twilight’s lecture for the first time that evening. “You have her on there, too?”
Twilight’s notepad lowered, and she glanced back at Celestia. They were walking down a winding path of the Whitetail Woods, where to, Celestia hadn’t bothered specifying. A little picnic, while the two had the time to spare it. What could be better?
“Knew her, too?” Twilight scratched off a name from the notepad in her magic. “Damn it. You’re three for three on these.”
“Not yet I’m not. Ask the trivia point.”
Twilight snickered. “Fine. Reminisce after, trivia now.” Her eyes returned to the notepad. “Ahem! Oakey Anneigh, a sharpshooter from Dodge Junction, once shot THIS object from the back of a stage coach, making her the first pony to ever do so!”
“An apple! The show-off!” Celestia chimed back, and took a pre-emptive swig of her canteen in victory. “Goodness, she was incredible. She did a show in Canterlot way back when, and I just had to seek her out after."
“Alright, alright, that’s three for three. Show-off.” Twilight flicked her trail at Celestia, who laughed herself. “Never would’ve taken you to have an interest in gunslingers, of all ponies.”
“Oh, please. Because of the Princess thing?” Celestia looked almost offended. “I can respect the skill when it's due, Twilight.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Twilight broke off into light chuckles, re-consulting her notepad and checking something else off within. “Well, looks like I’ve got my trivia down pat. Good.”
“Yes, you shall be well-armed if either Rainbow or Applejack assault you with unprompted gunslinger trivia, I’m sure.”
“Hey, it might happen!”
“It very well might!" Celestia nodded. Knowing Rainbow and Applejack herself, it was hardly impossible. They were the competitive type. “No longer nervous then?”
“Of going to the rodeo with them?” Twilight waved a hoof. “Nahhh. It’s just sharpshooting! Anypony can do it with enough practice!”
“Indeed. And if they ask you if you want to try?”
“Woah woah, hey. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Twilight returned, waving a hoof. “I’m just there to watch them! They invited me, after all!”
“Oh come now. You’re going to at least try it once. When are you going to get this chance again?”
“Ugh, I want to, but they’re just so, so... noisy!” Twilight squeaks a little at the mere thought, a little shiver snaking through her form. “And they kick? What’s up with that? What does that even mean?”
“A truly intriguing question, and one that only research can help us with!” Celestia poked her head into her saddlebag, and promptly returned with an ornate case...
“Hey, is that where you used to keep the elements of harmo--”
Twilight broke off as Celestia withdrew a loaded six-shot revolver proudly in her telekinesis, proudly adorning her cutiemark lovingly engraved on.
“We’re here!” Celestia announced.
Twilight stopped in her steps. Ahead of them, the path winded into a clearing, and she gawked as soon as she saw what awaited them.
Targets were proudly emblazoned on several trees at varying distances through the clearing. The arrangement wasn’t exact, but a quick run of mental math told Twilight they were around 25 meters, 50, and 100 respectively.
“...You can’t be serious.”
“You want to show off in front of your daredevil friends, don’t you?”
“No I don’t! I’m just interested in, in... like you said! The skill part of it!”
“Twilight. The mare said you were too much of a ‘scaredy pony’.” Celestia gave her a knowing smirk. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a bit of a showoff.”
“Well, but, that’s just Rainbow being Rainbow!” Twilight stomped a hoof on the ground.
"...But you still want to show off to her a little bit, don't you? Wipe that smug look off her face?"
Twilight looked up at Celestia, a small pout on her face. "...Maybe a little bit."
“Then no more excuses. Take the gun.”