There was nopony in Equestria that worked as hard as the princesses. Celestia knew this fact very well, and put forth every ounce of effort she could everyday. But sometimes even the shortest days of winter could feel like the longest days of summer, and all Celestia could do was smile and shoulder each task without complaint.
At least she could take some assurance in the fact that there was always a bottle of wine waiting for her in her study.
The princess took another sip as she calculated the budget for the years’ Hearth Warming pageant. Seventy gallons of paint to repaint the whole set, one hundred spools of thread to mend costumes… sheesh where do all these expenses keep coming from? She sighed and took another, long, sip.
“Drinking on the job, Princess? Tsk, tsk. I thought you knew better.”
Celestia glared up from the paper, “I drink because I have to deal with you interrupting me.”
The Draconequus didn't even try to hide his smirk as he peered over her writing desk. “So cruel, my dear, you wound me.”
Suppressing her temper, the princess looked back at her paper. “I’m sorry but I’m busy, Discord, is this important or can it wait?”
Discord drifted languidly above the desk and let out a dramatic sigh, “I suppose it can,” he threw his eagle arm across his forehead and put on his best pouty face, “but with Fluttershy sick in bed, the nobles such stuck up snobs, and Lulu not even giving me the time of day, I’ve been starved for a real conversation all day.”
“You just want to talk?”
“Yes, is that truly too much to ask? However, if you have work to do, I can leave you to…” Discord squinted at one of the papers in Celestia’s to-do pile, “Re-evaluate the taxation of imports from the Griffon Tribes-- oh how exciting-- and go elsewhere.”
‘Exciting’, that’s a good word for it. The princess sighed inwardly, her eyes drifting from the mischievous spirit to the rack of wine glasses on the wall. “Would you care for a glass of wine?”
Half a bottle of wine later, Celestia had abandoned her desk and was now seated next to Discord on carpet in the center of the room; both doubled over in a fit of mirth.
“He was so proud of himself, too!” Celestia laughed, “And none of us had the courage to tell him!”
Discord wiped a tear from his eye and exhaled, “My goodness, Celestia, I never realized you were quite the storyteller.”
“I suppose there’s a lot about me you don't know, but I doubt you're interested.” She turned to levitate the bottle of wine, “Would you like another-- ah!” Discord’s face was inches from hers now, a sly smirk barely hidden behind his paw.
“Actually, I'm quite interested to learn more.”
“Is that so?” Celestia smirked and leaned in as well, “Well…”
The door creaked open. “Sister, I finished those reports you--” Luna stopped in her tracks, looking very unimpressed. The princess and spirit stared back in silent embarrassment. The younger sister rolled her eyes and muttered as she left.
“The truth is in the wine, I suppose.”