Stone and Secrets

A couple of months and a few additional misadventures had gone by since Celestia's first barrel-ride. In that time, she had at times seen Shining more frequently than almost anyone, save her personal staff and her own sister.

Some weeks he would come three, four, even five or six times. Other times, a week or two would go by without him making any appearance. But even when he did not come for a visit, she would sometimes stumble upon surprises of various kinds.

It was well-known but rarely mentioned among her close associates that Celestia had a bit of difficulty with public speaking, and that she was more than a little self-conscious of it; the Princesses of Equestria do not speak publicly as often as many may think, and eloquence is a feat difficult to achieve, accomplished only through patient teachers and practiced students.

One morning, when she had a speech to prepare and had specifically asked Shining not to come for the past few days, she went to get her notes and found a simple box with a yellow ribbon tied a round it sitting atop them. Inside, there were various homemade chocolates, each a different flavour. Normally, she would not indulge in sweets at such a time, but they had been so lovingly prepared, she simply had to have one. And then two, and three, and seven. It was an odd thing, but they seemed to calm her stomach, and reduce her stress. When they were finished, she noticed that the bottom of the box bore an inscription that said simply:

Remember to stay sweet!

-Shining Smiles

And, surely enough, she thought of a few ways that she could have been a tad more polite over the past few days. She wondered briefly if he had been spying on her, then realized that he knew her well enough to know what she was like under stress anyhow.

Still though, even with general access, how and when did he get this box into there?

Another evening later in that week, when she was pacing in her bedroom and going over particulars, she heard a strange noise coming from her closet. When she opened it, a pie filled with whipped cream hit her squarely in the face. Her initial reaction was shock and rage, but after she noticed that Luna - whom had been standing in the doorway for who knows how long - was laughing to the point of tears, she too realized how ridiculous the situation was and laughed herself. The pie tray had a note attached to the bottom, which read:

SurPIES!

Don't get TOO serious!

You need to remember to laugh!

-Shining Smiles

Two days later, with three days before the speech, Luna was staying awake through part of the day to help Celestia. About the fourth time through the lengthy oration, however, Celestia noticed that Luna's studious eye was caught by something else. "Lulu, is something wrong?"

Luna sighed. "No, Tia, I'm just getting something to drink from the... well, what have we here?"

Luna came back from the neighbouring miniature wine cellar carrying a circular and exquisite looking cake with a rainbow of colours on one side and a rich blue with white spots over the other, kept safe under a clear cover. She smiled and chuckled, and spoke with a touch of teasing. "Well, Tia, I don't know how he gets in here, but I don't see any problem with it."

It was then that Celestia noticed and immediately snatched away the note that was attached to the dessert.

"Give me that!"

After she snatched the note away, her face flushed slightly, as she realized that she had spoken perhaps a little too forcefully... and a tad too loudly, as well.

Luna is no doubt feeling some strain as well, so this cake is for both of you to share.

That's why it has a rainbow on one side and a starry sky on the other - it matches your manes.

So share it.

Anyways, feel free to split it however you want, but I recommend cutting it into eighths. I've marked appropriate lines.

-Shining Smiles

Soon enough, one of the kitchen staff came running to ensure that the cake was cut properly. Celestia briefly considered stopping him, but it would be a shame to risk wasting any of it. Cooking was Shining’s artwork, and she was not one to trample on hard work and creativity of an artist.

After it had been cut, they found out that each eighth was a different flavour.

And how in the world did he manage this?

Royals don't need to be as regal when nopony is around, so Luna had no qualms about speaking with a mouth that was full of delicious cake. Somehow, she still spoke normally. "Incredible as both a baker and a chef. Quite the stallion, wouldn't you say so, Tia?"

Celestia, on the other hoof, did have reservations, but also had delicious cake, and so responded in a similar manner. She did take some solace in the knowledge that she could also speak clearly, not because of practice, but because of having somewhat less food in her mouth than her sometimes-slovenly sister. "I suppose he is."

Luna's eye took on something of a maniacal gleam, but Celestia failed to notice. Delicious cake will do that to you. "Yes, a good catch, even for a princess."

Celestia spoke in a slightly dreamy state, her mind clouded by the fluffy deliciousness.

"Yes, I suppose he would- .... wait, what?" Luna looked away with a smirk, and continued eating her second piece of cake.

"Oh, nothing, nothing."

For some reason, Celestia found herself feeling... confused, and rather flustered.

She didn't know why, or perhaps she didn’t want to know why, but she hid her reaction behind a mask of indignance, and looked away as if offered insult.

Did she just imply that...

No, obviously not. Don't be ridiculous. She's just making jokes.

The day of the speech itself, she found a note stuck to the podium, pulled it off, and read:

You'll do fine!

-Shining Smiles

When she looked up to the podium again, she found another note in the same place:

P.S.

I'll be here to congratulate you afterward, and then we're going for some fun!

-Shining Smiles

Still another was underneath that note, and she found this one most surprising:

P.P.S.

Also, look up near the middle of the crowd, on the left side.

-Shining Smiles.

When she did so, she found Shining himself, waving to her amidst the crowd of delegates, who were beginning to give her strange looks.

She suddenly found her face sinking behind her hoof.