“Time to wake up, sister, and begin the sunrise,” Luna said, prodding the large bundle of sheets on her sister’s bed. Princess Celestia stirred, stretching her wings.

“So soon? Alright, let’s go,” she said, getting out of bed. Luna paused, staring. A glorious handlebar mustache was hanging off of Celestia’s face. The edges seemed to flow in a nonexistent wind.

“Umm… sister?” Luna asked, suppressing a giggle. Celestia noticed her looking at her face.

“What is it, Luna?” she asked, walking over to a mirror. Her regular reflection stared back at her, completely mustache-free. “Do I have some drool on my face?” Luna sniggered as Celestia withdrew a handkerchief from a nearby drawer, wiping her mouth. The mustache jiggled.

“Did I get it?” Celestia asked, turning to Luna. It was too much for Luna, and she fell head over hooves in laughter, rolling onto her sister’s bed. “I guess I did, then,” Celestia said. On her way out, she passed by one of the guards ending his night shift. “Excuse me, guard? Is there something wrong with my face?” The guard stared.

“Remember your training,” the guard thought to himself as he struggled to keep the blank, emotionless face every guard was taught, turning away for a moment to steel his nerves. “Remember your training...” He took a deep breath and turned back to Celestia, trying to avoid looking directly at the ridiculous mustache. “Nothing at all, Your Highness,” he said in a completely emotionless voice.

“Thank you. Luna seemed to find something about it amusing,” Celestia said, walking past the guard, the edges of her mustache brushing his snout. The guard’s face was turning blue as he bit his tongue and held his breath.

“Hurry up, just turn the corner… c’mon, princess,” he thought, willing the princess to get out of earshot. As Princess Celestia turned down the hall, exiting the castle, she heard a distant burst of laughter and severe hoof stomping accompany her sister’s.

The maids and butlers had gathered in the dark courtyard, ready for the princess to raise the sun. They silently watched as Celestia walked past them, stood on a pedestal, reared up on her hind legs, and flared her wings, raising the sun. The mustache flowed brilliantly in the sunrise, exciting some giggles from the maids and hearty chuckles from the butlers. “My, everypony’s happy today,” Celestia mused as she got down from her pedestal.

Meanwhile, in Celestia’s bedchambers, Discord and Luna were having a chat. “So we understand today’s your birthday, and we have to ask… was that mustache… your doing?” Luna said.

“Why entertain myself when I can entertain the citizens of Equestria?” Discord asked, grinning toothily.

“And she can’t see nor feel it?” Luna asked, smiling as Discord nodded. “This is going to be a great day.”

Discord turned to leave. “You have no idea. Well, I must be off now. Got places to be and things to do. Wonderful, wonderful things to do.” He walked out the door and into the hallway.

“Oh Discord, I didn’t realize you were visiting today. It is your birthday, is it not?” Celestia asked, bumping into him in the hallway. Luna poked her head out the door, suppressing a giggle with her hoof.

“How delightful of you to remember!” Discord said, “And as a gift to the ponies of Canterlot, I’ve cast a harmless enchantment that will make all of their moods brighten when you approach them. I don’t suppose you’ve noticed this?”

“Oh, that explains it,” Celestia nodded, her mustache bouncing up and down. “Thank you, Discord. I did notice everypony being much happier today than normal.” She turned to leave, her mustache making a large arc in the air. “I think I’ll go visit everypony in Canterlot and brighten their mood.”

Discord bowed, vanishing into the floor. “Well, I was going to do a few more things in Canterlot,” he said to himself, “but it seems like the princess has the entertainment handled there. Next stop, Ponyville.”

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