Stone and Secrets

I think Shining Smiles is a fitting name for someone like me; I love spreading joy. Besides, ponies tell me all the time how bright and contagious my smile is. Maybe that's why I love to wear it so much. But even if it wasn't, I think smiling would still be my favourite thing to do, and I'd still smile anyways. Hey, if they won't laugh with you, you can laugh at them!

Wait. That came out wrong.

If they're just being mean or grumpy, you can kinda laugh at them. Just a little. Right?

Maybe a little more if they're a jerk.

But what if they're really sad, or just lonely or exhausted?

I mean, some days, even I get lonely or sad. That's not a nice way to be at all.

Today might be one of those days.

I felt a little cold when I woke up, so I decided to go find someone who could warm me up. Loneliness, sadness, and even my occasional bitterness were always afraid to follow me when I went to my friends. After thinking a little, I realized most of my friends are probably busy. In fact, all of them were busy.

They were usually busy, even when they weren't.

But there was one pony who would be just perfect for making me feel better today. And I know she'll feel better too.

I chuckle to myself as I realize that I'm not seeing my friends because they're too busy for a visit, and yet I'm walking down these cobblestone paths to see Celestia mostly because she's too busy for her own good.

I think the guards might let me in freely after Luna gave me permission, but I wouldn't want risk getting them into trouble, so I slip around them.

I start to feel a bit better already. I soft smile comes across my lips, and an idea for a joke hatches in my mind. She's so busy with her paperwork that she probably won't catch on, and it'll probably highlight to her just how overworked she is.

She's got an enormous pile of paperwork in front of her, and there are rings around her eyes. She looks frustrated; very, very frustrated.

So, I wait for a moment to make sure she's thoroughly absorbed in her work. When she looks about ready to explode, I put on my best Canterlot accent, and point my Cutie Mark toward her.

"Your majesty, your majesty! You must come quickly!"

She sighs, and doesn't look up. I wonder if she heard me.  "Not now, please, I'm already very busy."

Oh, this is going to be hilarious. "Oh, but your Majesty, this is a very important matter. I'm afraid you'll have to come immediately."

She groans, and stares at the papers. I guess she thinks I can't tell that she's not even reading them anymore.

"If this is about the griffon diplomat coming next week, it's already been taken care of."

There's some signs of an internal conflict, which is probably good. If there's conflict, it means there has to be some sincere desire to change course.

She snaps out of her momentary trance and stamps some papers, before looking shocked. Apparently, she has some serious fortitude, because she doesn't look over after that.

Well, at least she clearly wants to look up.

"Please, I've far too much to do, sir..."

"Shining Flank, your majesty."

She looks a little bewildered, and then she finally looks up to my Cutie Mark.

"I don't believe I've-"

The look on her face is priceless, and I fall to the ground laughing, my sides threatening to burst. Suddenly, the lonely day is forgotten.

"Ah, Shining Smiles. I remember you. We met at the Gala last week, correct?"

I jump up and wipe a tear from my eye. "Indeed we did! I never knew royalty could be so interesting! "

I think it's a good compliment. I could have said she was beautiful, or graceful, or wise and still been perfectly honest, but interesting is one thing that every pony wants to hear, but nopony ever says, even to really interesting ponies like Celestia. She smiles, and I hope she's not just being polite.

"I'm glad to hear it, Shining, but I have a lot of work to do and-"

"And you've probably been overwhelmed like this every day since the Gala, haven't you?"

Excuses would be bad, but cutting her off and throwing in a question would pull the fuel from that fire.

"Well, I suppose, but-"

"No buts! You're going to have some fun!"

I feel a little bit weird after strategizing that part of the conversation, but she needs the break more than I need the company.

Her expression changed. "Now hold on a moment.  You're not a member of the court, so how did you get past the guards?"

It won't be very good do let her know how badly that question caught me off guard, so I decide to take pride in my explanation. "Oh, that was easy! I just did it like this, see?"

As I walk behind a nearby pillar, I see an opportunity arise. I pop my head out from and back into a nearby flowerpot, and then I come out from behind her throne, which allowed me to grab the papers while Celestia was startled.

"See? Easy peasy!"

I duck behind the throne again, and come out behind another pillar, holding her paperwork in plain view. If I can get her off the throne, even just for a moment, she'll probably be willing to stay off it for the next little while.

I get kinda sorta creeped out just a little when she half-smiles, half-scowls, and opens her eyes abnormally wide all at once.

"What- how-"

"I just showed you how, silly! You should really pay closer attention!"

"Shining, give those back this instant! "

"Come and get them!"

And with that I duck away behind the flower pot and drop from the ceiling in front of the two guards. They both try to tackle me, but I manage to get away before they even become airborne.

When I get through the door, Luna is waiting there for me.

She looks very amused. I guess she was watching the whole thing?

"Shining, quickly, give me the paperwork."

I hoof it over to her, but find myself caught in a golden glow that pulls me back and upward.

Oh no.

Flailing my hooves does little to help, and soon Celestia’s eyes are looking down at me in the scariest way I can imagine. They’re even glowing a little bit, which sort of adds to the existentially horrifying feeling that the sun itself is angry with me. The moment drags on while her gaze looks through my soul.

“Tia, perhaps you’re overreacting?”

I’m enormously relieved to see Luna intervening, but mot so relieved to feel my side THUMP onto the stone floor. Ow.

When I look back up, there's a hilarious game of keep-away going on between the two most powerful ponies in existence. Luna still looks amused, but Celestia is completely angry and flustered, which just makes it even funnier.

She finally stops for a moment, and she looks as angry, but composed. Well, more composed than she was, anyways.

"Luna, what is the meaning of this?"

"It's very simple, Tia. You see, I've agreed to let Shining come by and see you as he pleases, provided he can do so without my help, as we've both seen that he can. You go have fun with him; he's very good at it, and I can take care of the paperwork later tonight. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be getting back to bed. Excellent work, Shining."

I flash Celestia a cheeky smile.

"But I don't need another day off! It's been less than two weeks since the Gala and—"

"And you've been running yourself ragged and getting half the sleep you should be getting since then, Tia. Trust me, I should know. It's no secret that this is the busiest time of year for you."

It looks like Celestia is at a total loss, so I decide to fill in the new gap in her day for her.

" Now you have to come have some fun! Come on, I know this great spot we can go relax for a little bit."

We walk off, and Celestia seems to have resigned herself to whatever she thinks I have planned.

I realize she probably needs to relax after everything I just put her through, so I figure I'll take her a beautiful grassy hill I know about.

There's a beautiful tree there, too, with lots of shade and some hidden picnic supplies behind it.

She doesn't know it, but Celestia has warmed up my day already.

It's only fair I do the same for her.

"Don't worry, Celestia. You're going to love this."

She sighs, and I chuckle, and we walk toward the hopeful sunshine of an open door at the end of a large hall, and everything feels simply beautiful.