“I’d like to propose a toast,” announced Princess Celestia as she stood on the raised dais, her voice powerful and confident for all to hear. “To Twilight Sparkle and her friends. These six ponies have never failed when Equestria needed them the most. Their heroism, determination, and unwavering faith in each other and the magic of friendship ensured that the Storm King and his army were defeated. Equestria owes them its gratitude as peace and freedom have been restored to the land.”

“Here, here,” came replies from across the grand ballroom of the castle. The massive, assembled crowd of nobles and dignitaries and friends all raised their glasses and took a sip.

Princess Celestia raised her own crystal chalice in salute before downing its content. The sweet, sparkling wine has come from her own personal cellar located several floors below, hidden amongst the ancient catacombs of the city. After the stress of the past few days, she welcomed a little of her favorite three-hundred-year-old vintage to take the edge off.

With a sigh of contentment, she set the chalice to the side and prepared to offer her next prepared remarks. She opened her mouth –

“To the Princesses!” came a cry.

Princess Celestia looked around the assembled ballroom. How had she forgotten? Such formal affairs typically involved a customary salute to the monarch – or monarchs since her dear sister’s return from exile.

Hastily she reached out with her aura to grab another wine glass and raised it in acknowledgement to the toast. Taking to the glass yet again, she downed its contents, relishing its flavorful bouquet, the rich aroma once again filling her nostrils.

Setting her glass aside, she turned to face the assembled crowd.

Twilight Sparkle spoke up next. “To friends, old –” she proclaimed as she gazed upon the other members of the Elements of Harmony, “and new.” Her focus shifted to Songbird Serenade, Princess Skystar, Capper, the pirates, and Tempest Shadow.

“Here, here,” came the expected replies.

Princess Celestia quickly snatched another wine glass, nearly spilling it as she rushed to raise it high before downing its contents.

She hardly had any time to finish the glass before another pony proclaimed, “A toast to our royal guests!”

Princess Celestia summoned yet another wine glass and downed its content. When had it become so warm in the ballroom? she wondered.

“To Fluttershy!” came Discord’s booming voice as she lifted the nervous pegasus upon his shoulders. “Without her, the entire epic quest would have come to nothing!”

Princess Celestia was ready this time, having retrieved two more glasses of her favorite wine. Downing one glass in a single gulp, a goofy grin began to spread across her face. She began to feel much more relaxed than before and a little bit giddy. I’ll have to break out this vintage more often she thought.

“To Tempest Shadow!” came Rarity’s voice, “who saved us from the Storm King’s attempt to turn us to stone!”

Princess Celestia downed another glass. Wow, that’s some good stuff! She reached out with her magic for another glass, only for her glowing aura to wink out.

“Shit,” she muttered. She cantered off to a servant carrying a plate of wine glasses. She stumbled but managed to make it without falling in front of everypony.

“To Pinkie Pie’s Trojan Cake!” came another toast.

Using her hoof to raise the glass, she repeated, “To Pinkie Pie’sh Rojan Keke!” After downing it, she turned to the servant. “Waiter! ’Nother round fer me an’ enypony that wantsh one!” slurred Celestia.

The celebratory events continued on into the night….

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Celestia let out a low groan. She brought a hoof to her head, only to hit her horn by mistake. Instantly bolts of electrifying pain shot throughout her body. “Ah!” she cried out.

When had her skull shrunk? It squeezed her brain, trying to compress it down into a singularity. Or perhaps her brain had grown too big and her skull was the only thing keeping it from exploding?

“What happened last night?” she wondered out loud to nopony in particular. “Everything’s a blur.”

Slowly, through the haziness that was her mind, something else became obvious – the foul, putrid taste in her mouth. She must not have brushed her teeth. She opened her mouth, slowly working it back and forth. No, this was something else. It was the rancid, acidic vileness that could only come from one thing.

She cracked her eyes. Thankfully the pale luminous moonlight coming in through the windows lacked the harshness of the day. She looked over to see a large pool of slimy, sticky vomit upon the sheets and pillows.

Too early to do something about it, Princess Celestia rolled over to sleep off her agony....

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Bam! Bam! Bam!

Princess Celestia slowly came back to consciousness. “Go away!” she bellowed.

“Sister? Are you alright?” came Luna’s voice through the door.

“Go away!” repeated the elder alicorn. Let me sleep off this hangover!

“Sister, you are needed!”

Princess Celestia groaned. “I can’t make you pancakes this morning. Go have a banana!” Honestly, Luna can act like such a foal.

“That is not it.”

“Luna, I swear....” She didn’t know how to finish that but did her best to gain some coherence in her mind. “What is it?”

An awkward pause followed from the other side of the door. “It is time for you to raise the sun.”

The sun! Princess Celestia rolled over. “You go raise it.”

“I cannot.”

Really!? Really!!?? “Luna –” Princess Celestia had enough control to stop the tirade of expletives that she was on the tip of her tongue. Composing herself, she replied, “I raised the moon for a thousand years, you can raise the sun for one day!”

“I am not strong enough. Only you can raise the sun.”

“Give me a few hours.”

“There is a growing crowd outside. They are most insistent that the sun be raised as expected. Many wonder if their princess is being lazy; others if she is on her deathbed. Some are becoming quite hostile.” Luna’s voice had taken on a new urgency.

Celestia brought her hoof and slowly massaged her pounding head. “Will you leave me alone if I raise the sun?” she yelled at the door.

“Yes, and I will perform all your duties today.”

“Fine.”

Princess Celestia – sovereign of the sun, bringer of dawn, most regal alicorn in the land – slowly pushed herself upright from her vomit-stained sheets. Opening her bloodshot eyes, she did her best to focus. She lit her horn, which crackled and sparked with electricity before fading out. “Damn it.” Grimacing at the pain, she again lit her horn, and in a flash the room was bathed in blinding golden light.

Celestia fell back into the feather mattress and resumed her alcohol-induced coma....

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Outside the castle gates the hostile crowd broke for cover.

Ponies closed their eyes and dashed about, running into each other or carts or lampposts in the melee.

Shrill screams of agony rang out across the plaza and echoed off Canterlot’s many buildings.

Within this swirling storm of chaos, Pinkie Pie broke an egg and watched it instantly sizzle upon the pavement.

While wild rumors and speculation would abound, everypony would remember the day that Princess Celestia parked the sun a hundred feet above Canterlot.