Princess Celestia vs. the Shingles Virus

When Princess Celestia returned to her quarters that night, the pain in her back was almost unbearable, but she wasn't in any pain in the moment. In fact, her mind was so weakened from all that was going on that she couldn't even think of the painful virus that was on her back. All that she could think of was stepping away from her duties of being Equestria's main princess.

"It's for your own benefit, sister," said Luna, as Celestia climbed into her bed. "You need to let myself and Princess Twilight take charge while you deal with the Shingles virus. If you don't, then the pain is only going to get worse."

"Why did this happen to me, sister?" moaned Celestia. "I am the leader of an entire nation, responsible for the well-being of all our subjects."

"Because we are all fallible to anything," answered Luna, wisely. "We may be alicorns, but we are ponies nonetheless and we are vulnerable to any illness that is out there, even Shingles. All that matters right now is you getting better."

No matter what her younger sister said, Celestia realized that no words would ever take away the pain she was feeling right now.

"How long will I have this, sister?" asked Celestia, looking at Luna with tender eyes. "Please tell me that it won't be forever."

"It will not be forever," replied Luna, chuckling slightly. "However, the process may be easier if you just relax and focus on your health, big sister. Everypony will understand what you are going through and have I ever let you down since I was freed from being Nightmare Moon?"

Celestia produced a small smile upon hearing this and feeling exhausted, turned on her side and fell asleep as Luna began her duties. Next morning, Celestia awoke and with the pain in her back still throbbing, did the one duty that she could never ignore: raise the sun to start a new day. But, the shingles virus in her back made that more difficult than it already was.

"Sister, why don't I…?" asked Celestia as Luna walked by exhausted from her night duties. But, Luna stood steadfast.

"Remember," interrupted Luna, firmly. "Just relax, big sister and leave everything to me and Twilight Sparkle."

"I know," sighed Celestia. "I know. Focus on getting better."

Watching Luna leave, Celestia returned to her room and went back to lying down on her bed. For the next hour, she stayed in the position that she was in, growing bored that she had to be confined in this manner.

Then, suddenly, her solitude was interrupted by the flashes of white light and a mismatched creature appeared rubbing on her back where the rash was.

"Ow, Discord!" moaned Celestia, hissing like a wounded animal and glaring at the creature. "What are you doing? Don't touch my back!"

"Sor…ry, Celestia!" gasped Discord, jumping back slightly before donning a doctor's outfit. "But, a little birdie told me that you were…how should I say it...indisposed. What do you have? The horsey hives? I thought only fillies could get that."

"I did have the horsey hives as a filly," sighed Celestia, looking at Discord. "But, the virus that causes it never went away and now I have the other kind of virus."

Turning on the light that was on his head, Discord carefully looked at the painful rash on Celestia's back and almost immediately, couldn't help but feel sympathetic for his former enemy turned friend.

"It looks painful," he said. "Even for somepony as centuries old as yourself."

"Is that a joke or not?" grunted Celestia.

"It's not meant to be a joke," replied Discord, snapping out of his doctor's garb. "I'm just reacting to the pain that you find yourself in. In fact, I was overhearing your conversation with Princess Luna and perhaps maybe taking some time off might be a good thing. Get a chance to reconnect with that other side of you, that other side who is begging you to come out and play."

As she listened, Celestia knew that Discord was right in terms of reconnecting with that other side of her. Celestia did have a playful side that needed to be brought out once again, a side that her subjects found somewhat amusing.

"What do you say?" asked Discord, floating in front of Celestia. "Just do some low key things that will take your mind off of the virus that plagues your back."

"I suppose you are right," sighed Celestia. "It won't be easy, but it will help me get better sooner rather than later. But, I don't know where to start."

"Start at something that you are good at," suggested Discord, transforming into a tea cup. "Weren't you known for playing tricks whenever you drank tea? You'd pretend to sip the tea, only for the poor soul pouring the tea to overfill the teacup?"

As Discord spoke, Celestia began to think back to that time at Sugarcube Corner in Ponyville when she played a trick on the Cakes with the teacup she was drinking out of. In fact, Celestia couldn't help but slightly chuckle to herself when she began to think of that time.

"I didn't expect you to be chuckling at this," remarked Discord, raising an eyebrow. "This is what can help you get over this virus, Celestia. Show off your fun side to everypony, do something charitable like spending time with sick ponies. Something low key and that it demonstrates character that you probably never even knew you had."

To get his point across, Discord showed off several flashbacks of Celestia showing off her fun side.

"But, I can't decide for you, Celly," he remarked. "You have to make the decision of either doing so, or just lay here feeling sorry for yourself and letting this mean old nasty virus get to you."

With those words, Discord snapped his fingers and disappeared in a flash, leaving Celestia to contemplate with what had been said.

"Maybe, just maybe, that they are right," Celestia thought to herself, as she collapsed back onto her bed. "I do need to lighten up a bit and if that is what it takes to beat the Shingles virus, then so be it."