Stone and Secrets

“... To summarize the final part of this discourse, with these simple reforms, we will be able see an almost complete elimination of poverty in major cities within the decade, and across most of Equestria within a decade more.”

The attendants applauded vigorously, and especially Shining, who lept up and down while waving and whistling.

The speech had gone a bit better than usual, and the delegates seemed pleased enough. Celestia, on the other hand, was all too aware of dozens of small flaws she could, and indeed should, improve on. And some of the flaws... weren't so small.

Shining, in a move that had pleasantly surprised Celestia, managed to stay well-behaved and reassuring through the entire discourse. By the end of it, she was glad to have a friend among the crowd, even if he did draw some strange looks for his... less than formal attire.

But it was over now, and the one and only Shining Smiles was accompanying her down a hallway, through shadows of tinted glass, toward a bright and sunny day outside.

She pulled herself from her thoughts, and tuned back in to her current surroundings.

Oddly enough, Shining was not in the middle of an elaborate conversation. He seemed to be walking quietly, a smile painted on his face.

"Well, Shining, you're unusually quiet today. Something on your mind?"

He took a moment before responding. "Lots of of things! But that's not why I'm not talking as much as I usually do. I just like the tinted glass and the stone hallway. It's really nice!"

Celestia smiled at the simple warmth of his words. It was so very like him.

A stallion of simple pleasures.

“And some of them... some of them are really interesting. So much symbolism, so much history. They tell us so much more than old books do. Ponies don’t always think about it, but the artists pour their hearts into these things, and they’re so proud of their achievements, especially when they get the honour of having their work put up in the royal castle.” Shining chuckled. “It’s only fair that we appreciate their work.”

She looked at him with a mixture of surprise, interest, and amusement. “You’re full of surprises, you know that?”

She walked along with him, noticing the same old windows with a new eye. It was surprising how much she had missed before. Many had bright, beautiful designs, through which the sunlight filtered to create a dazzling display, and others which spun narratives of heroes and wars and many other things. Celestia noticed several of herself, and noticed moreso that Shining was paying particular attention to these. She smiled and turned to a recently installed depiction of Starswirl the bearded, and Clover the Clever, his faithful student.

It must be nice having a faithful student to learn from you. Maybe I'll have one myself someday.

She realized that eventually all of these windows would bear narratives, as it was the custom to install new histories as they occurred.  She pondered it until something else gave her mind a good jab. "Shining, I wanted to thank you for... well, for the... surprises and such over the past couple of weeks. I needed them. And those desserts were magnificent!"

Shining beamed. "Thanks for the compliment! I hope they were fit for a Princess."

"Indeed they were."

She felt a bit better for having shown gratitude, and they walked on in relaxed silence for a moment, but Celestia felt another jab in her mind. "Shining, I really should thank you. Not just for the cake and the chocolate, and being there at my speech, but for... well, for everything. You've made me laugh when I needed to, you've been there when I needed you, you even somehow made my most unpleasant duties enjoyable. You always make me feel..."

Simply wonderful.

A sudden inner warmth came and went, and Celestia's face flushed. she stopped in her tracks for several seconds, then shook her head and continued as if nothing had happened. "...better. You make me feel better every time you come by."

Another warm, reassuring smile from Shining.

"Well, that's enough to make me happy."

As they sat and relaxed beneath the same tree that they had on Shining's first visit, and several other times since, ridiculous but persistent thoughts hung on the edge of Celestia's mind.

She tried to drown them out with fresh fruit and interesting conversation, but they kept coming back.

He's a great friend... and a great stallion. He's fun, charming, witty, kind, unquestionably unique...

But why is he making me feel so...

She gave her head a violent shake.

I think the stress from the speech has driven me slightly mad.

I'm just tired. I'm not thinking straight.

"Uh, Celestia, you've been staring at me for a couple of minutes now. I don't mind, 'cause I get a better look at those beautiful eyes of yours that way, but is anything wrong?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, Shining."

She looked around for something to talk about. She was glad to find a worthy topic.

However do you make such delicious meals?"

"Well, my neighbour is a baker, and he's a good friend of mine. I taught him some things about desserts, and he taught me some things about breads and stuff."

"Interesting. I'll have to meet him someday."

Shining nodded silently, and smiled.

And now I feel slightly concerned.

Shining looked up, into the sky, and the sun shone through and around him in a beautiful golden colour, adding a glow about his body and light to his mane.

Again I feel so... so...

She lost herself again for a moment, but decided to float on for the moment this time. It was such a nice place to be, after all.

"Say, Shining, I don't suppose you still have those padded barrels?"

"Do I?  Well of course I do!"

Celestia chuckled as he produced the same barrels from behind the same tree, with the same vigor he had the first time.

I wonder if he'll always be like this.

Well, I suppose he'll...

...grow old... someday...

"Celestia? Are you there?"

She pushed away the hoof that Shining was waving in front of her face, and smiled.

"Of course I am. Let's get rolling!"

They each hopped into their barrels, and began the long trip down the hill.