Stone and Secrets

The walk to Shining's relaxation spot was not too long, and his fun and excitable conversation made it shorter.

Though some part of Celestia continued to resist the situation, there was a strange but undeniable charm about the stallion, and he had already forced her to feel amused and even laugh multiple times, although she begrudged it. His manner, his demeanor, his sharp wit and warm jokes, all gave one clear message:

"Today will be a good day, whether you like it or not."

Unsure what to say in response to this, Celestia huffed and put on an unamused face, which she managed to hold for all of three seconds before cracking an involuntary smile once again.

Another little part of her gave in to the warmth and the relaxation, and pushed forth a minor confession. "I suppose it will have to be."

"Indeed it will! I have a surprise for you later! But forget I told you that."

She turned her confused expression toward his exuberant smile. He didn't seem to notice.

"Anyways, we're here. It may not be much to a princess, but some soft ground and a bit of shade are something anypony can enjoy! The view's not bad either."

Celestia looked upon an enormous oak tree, which sat alone atop an enormous grassy hill. Shining ran behind it and came back with a full set of picnic supplies, which he had out and open in seconds.

Celestia thought that perhaps she should have offered to help, but realized also that he had it done before she could anyhow.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get over here!"

He gestured for her to come over, and she complied. She realized a bit too late that he had essentially just ordered her around, and she would have been irritated if she wasn’t amused (despite her growing convern) with the way he wore a smirk reminiscent of an amateur con-artist when he told her to take a seat near him.

From a basket that was too small to hold so many things, he brought out a wide array of simple but excellently prepared foods. Two kinds of bread, three jams, a variety of sandwiches, different juices, apples, strawberries... suffice it to say, he was prepared.

"A picnic fit for a princess!" Shining gave her a wink. Celestia gave a look of mock disapproval, and smiled at his antics.

The bread was as fresh and soft as anything Celestia’s own cooks made, and though there was a slight tinge of blackness along the top, it had a slight sweetness and a hint of cinnamon that complemented the rich jam, which seemed to also be homemade. The fruit itself was fresh and succulent, the sandwiches featured strange but lovely combinations of flowers and vegetables, and best of all, she could see that everything had been lovingly homemade and handpicked. It was a bizarre thought at first that someone like Shining could make food to rival that of her own cooks, but she realized that they were only people, like everyone else, and were susceptible to falling into the disinterest of a routine.

“Shining, where do you get food like this?”

He looked at her with visible pride. “Well, I know a couple of farmers for the fruit and flowers, and a friend of mine named Cinammon Toast taught me how to make the bread. The jam is my own recipe, though!”

As they ate and talked, the conversation came to Celestia’s day, then to her duties, and from there to the many ridiculous reports and requests she had been given. After a dozen or so minutes of conversation, she realized that she was taking up the conversation with discussion of her own life and problems almost entirely. She didn't entirely feel the need to stop, though, as Shining seemed to enjoy this and continued to ask questions, between fits of uncontrollable laughter.

"How were they even going to gather that many rodents to begin with?"

Celestia, too, had begun to laugh heavily, as the ridiculousness of some of the proposals came to light. "I think he wanted me to provide him with something like seventeen different specialists in weasel biology and behaviour, and ten more on small animals and methods of capture?"

Both burst out into another fit of laughing.

When she recovered, Celestia noticed that it would soon be time to lower the sun for the night. She felt a sudden twinge of hesitation at the thought of ending the day, which confused her. She decided she was just tired, and that anypony could get caught up in a round of good fun, even a princess.

"Well Shining, if you wanted to make me forget about my duties-"

"-Of course I wanted to!"

She spoke with a slight irritation at being interrupted. "Then you have succeeded, very nicely. But I cannot forget them forever, and I must be setting the sun soon."

Shining looked back and forth mischievously.

Why does that look make me feel anxious?

"Celestia, can we do just one more thing together? It will only take a few minutes."

She hesitated, but she was drawn by the temptation that usually precedes dangerous ventures. That, and Shining's sudden, borderline childlike begging.

"Come onnnn, you know you want toooo. Please?"

Celestia  tried to look indignant. "Oh, fine."

Shining's regular smile returned full-force in an instant. "Hooray!"

He went behind the tree, and somehow produced two barrels. She might have questioned where he got them or how he had them back there, if she wasn't busy questioning what he wanted to do with them.

Something told her that the answer to that would only produce further questions.

"Alright, Celestia. This is going to be fun, but you'll have to trust me. Do you trust me?"

She looked troubled, but still answered with a hesitant "...yes?"

"Great! So, you're going to have to get inside the barrel. Don't worry, it's nice and padded."

Celestia sputtered briefly. She looked into the barrel, saw that it was indeed padded... Who in Equestria makes a padded barrel? And why?

But with the day soon to close, and that evening of fun behind her, she decided not to question for the moment.

She got inside the barrel, and Shining did the same with his own.  True to his word, it was not altogether uncomfortable, and somehow rather cozy. She was almost beginning to like it.

Almost.

"So, are you ready?"

Her better judgement caught up with her all at once, and she became nervous. What am I doing in a padded barrel on a hill?.

"... Ready for... what, exactly?"

"A surprise, of course! Surprise!"

And with that the two barrels and their passengers went careening down the hill at frightening speeds.

Celestia, for all her years of life, had never been inside a barrel that was rotating fast enough to allow it to freefall down a hill, and so her screaming became the only answer to Shining's laughter. This went on for what seemed to be an eternity, and though she became numb to dizziness after the first bit, she did not calm down during any part of it - particularly when the barrel hit the odd bump and sent itself and her into the air briefly. After the barrel came to its eventual rolling stop, she clambered out, her mane in a mess, her speech jumbled, her face flushed, and her hooves shaky.

Shining seemed almost unfazed, but for his spinning eyes and stumbling. "Well, that was fun, wasn't it?"

Celestia struggled both to stand and to find words. "How... was... that... fun? I'm..." She let out a long, relieved sort of sigh, and plopped herself on the ground, waiting for the dizziness to wear off.

"Hmm... well, I guess you did scream an awful lot. But if you wanted to stop the barrel, couldn't you have just used your magic?"

"Not... used to... using magic... when spinning..."

At this point, Shining apparently caught his first good look at her, because he fell over, clutching his sides and laughing uncontrollably.

“Princess Celestia, Keeper of the Sun and joint ruler of Equestria, defeated by a barrel and a hill!”

Still unable to stand, she gave him an exaggeratedly furious look. and used her magic to levitate him and drop him into an nearby puddle. That small revenge stopped his laughing for a moment, but he started laughing again the moment he got another look at her.

A smile, begrudging smile split her lips, and she turned away in the hope that he would not notice, until the smile gave way some quiet laughter and head-shaking. She was still frustrated with him, but the situation was amusing, and his intentions were undoubtedly good.

When she was able to, she stood again and dusted herself off. "Well Shining, I must admit that it was... well, somewhat fun."

Shining lit up with pride. She scowled at him. "I said somewhat fun. Now come with me, we must be getting back. Come stand next to me, I’ll teleport us.”

Shining looked away for a moment, gave her a sort of pleading look, and hesitantly posed a question. “Celestia, do you think you could fly me back? I’ve always wondered what it’s like to fly.”

Given that Shining didn’t seem like the sort of pony who would hesitate about anything, Celestia realized that for once he realized his own strangeness.

He must have wanted to ask someone that for some time.

Without answering verbally, she levitated him onto her back, and... Oh, what the hay, grabbed the barrels also.

She flew him up to the top of the hill, much to his loudly pronounced delight, and deposited the barrels there before flying him back to the castle entrance, smiling in response to his ecstatic giggling.

“That was amazing! We have to do that again next time!”

She gave him a look of mock questioning, and smiled.

"Well Shining, it was a very nice evening, but I still must lower the sun. I suppose I'll be seeing you soon?"

Once again, his trademark smile showed itself, but this time, it was a bit warmer, and less mischievous than usual. "When you need it, or when I do! Take care, Celestia."

And with that, he left her to wonder about the meaning behind his last statement.

When I need it, or when he does.

He is indeed a unique pony.