Everypony gets tired; the princess of the sun is no exception. Celestia was slowly dragging herself to her bed. She had to deal with land disputes, nobles bickering over pointless taxation laws, Blueblood complaining about something trivial, and there was paperwork that stood as tall as one of the castle’s spire. All of it was gone for the day, for a little while, she could relax and drift off into slumber. Celestia took off her regalia and fell onto her bed. The soft embrace of her mattress soothed the pains she had collected during the day. Her comforter was gently brought over herself. Her eyes began to close as a smile formed on her face. She then drifted off into the land of Nodd… for about thirty seconds. Muffled accordion music and glasses breaking could be heard through her wall. Celestia sat up, her eyes narrowed.
“Luna,” she sneered. She got up from her bed and exited her chambers. Once in the hall, she turned to her left and began walking. After a few minutes, she reached a pair of large mahogany doors. Beside the doors were large, vertical, purple banners. On the banners was a stylized crescent moon with wings sprouting from the sides. On the other side of the doors, she could hear laughing, music, and glasses breaking. Celestia pushed one of the doors open. “Luna, do you mind keeping it down? I’ve had a long day and…” she was stopped by a bottle breaking beside her. Luna’s entire chamber had been transformed into a massive mead hall. All around the hall were wooden tables set up with the lunar guard sitting at each one. In front of each of the bat winged ponies was a stein with a different drink in them. Many were drinking from their steins while others were laughing with each other. All of them however, were clearly inebriated. Off to the left was a large collection of barrels. Some were scattered on the ground while some had a taps embedded into them. In front of the barrels was a bar with a lunar guard behind it. She was preparing drinks for her friends and like her companions, she was inebriated. On the right was a band playing various instruments. All were playing loudly and in harmony, despite being drunk. Celestia’s eyes moved around the room looking for her younger sister. She found her standing atop a table with two bat ponies at her side, one of them had an eye patch over his left eye. The bat ponies had their steins to their mouths while Luna had hers in the air. Her face was flushed and she was singing along with the music.
“Tis half past three and the chill is gone,” she sang.
“Luna.” Her words fell on deaf ears.
“It’s the longest binge I’ve ever been on,” Celestia closed the door.
“Luna.” She approached her less than sober sister, avoiding all the drunken guards.
“Had so many pints, my mind’s stupefied,” Celestia’s progress was halted as a stein was placed on her hoof.
“Thank you, but I really need to talk to…” the bat pony who gave her the stein ignored her and continued drinking. She made her way to the table that Luna stood on.
“But through all the haze I still hear them cry!” All of the lunar guards raised the steins into the air.
“Drink, motherbucker, drink, motherbucker, drink!” they all chanted in unison. “A curse to you lads, a curse on your head. Drinking pint after pint until I am dead. I just keep drinking and I don’t know why, but tonight is the night that I drink ‘til I die!” Celestia’s patience had run out. She took in a deep breath.
“LUNA!” she screamed. The Royal Canterlot Voice knocked her sister and the two bat ponies off the table. The music had stopped. All of the guards turned their attention to the fuming solar princess. Luna and the bat ponies slowly sat up. When Luna met Celestia’s eyes, a goofy smile appeared on her face.
“Celly!” she slurred. All of the guards raised their steins.
“Celly!” they cheered in unison. All of the inebriated ponies brought their steins to their lips. Celestia sighed.
“What exactly are you doing?” The eye patched bat pony stood up. He helped his fallen companion to his feet. Luna gestured to both of them.
“It’s Sunshine Smile’s birthday,” she said pointing at the eye patched pony. “And since it’s Sunshine’s birthday, it’s also Frolicsome Meadowlark’s birthday.” Her stein was raised to the air. “To Sunshine and Meadowlark!”
“To Sunshine and Medowlark!” the guards cheered. All of them drank from their steins.
“Luna,” Celestia said. “I can appreciate that you want to celebrate your guards’ birthday…”
“They’re not just our guards,” Luna slurred. She grabbed both Sunshine and Meadowlark in a hug. “They’re our family.” A chorus of “awwws” echoed in the room. Celestia, despite being tired, giggled at the sight.
“Alright, your family’s birthday,” she continued. “But I’ve had a long day, and I really need my rest.” Sunshine broke the hug and stumbled his way towards her. He stood relatively still and looked her straight in the eye.
“Your Highness,” he began. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve had a bad day correct?” Celestia nodded.
“And when most have had a bad day, they rest or relax.” Again she nodded.
“So, allow me to propose something. Why not celebrate with us? You’ll be able to relax. And after the night, you can ‘rest’.” All of the guards chuckled.
“I don’t think I can do that,” Celestia said. “I have to attend to day court, and I have more business to attend to. And I have to raise the sun.” Luna snorted.
“One day’s worth of rest will not hurt the country,” she said. “Celly, have one drink. Afterwards, we promise to stop the party.” The guards groaned. Celestia nodded.
“Alright, one drink,” she raised her stein to her lips. After one sip, she had to stop. The drink was fizzy, that was to be expected, but it had a sweet aftertaste. It was bitter but it had a mix of honey in it. Celestia drank the entirety of the stein’s contents in one gulp. “This drink, I like it!” She threw the stein onto the ground causing it to shatter.
“Another!” she cried. Luna and all of the guards cheered. The music began once again and a stein was placed into Celestia’s hoof. The sun princess joined all of the guards in their drinking and singing. Sunshine returned to his brother just as Meadowlark nudged Luna.
“Luna,” he said. “Did you know that this would happen?” Luna chuckled.
“We did not. But we know mead is her favourite. And we know that she can’t have less than two of that drink. She needs this. Anyways,” she held her stein in front of her. “Happy Birthday, Meadowlark. Happy Birthday, Sunshine.” The two brothers smiled. They pushed their steins against Luna’s with a small clink coming from them. The three assembled ponies threw the contents down their throats with smiles on their faces.