"Hurry! Double time, cadet!"
A young, vibrant recruit, new to the royal guard, galloped down the regal halls of the castle. His gilded hooves moved in a blur as he ran with every ounce of strength he could muster. Every few steps, he would glance behind him at the approaching mob, his eyes growing wider each time. "Captain! I don't think I'm gonna make it!"
His superior officer reached out from behind the makeshift barricade. "Silver Shoes! They're right behind you!"
"Captaaain!"
Iron Strike pulled his hoof back as the cadet fell to the mob behind him. His wailing echoed throughout the halls as the horde smothered him bodily. Not content with having the young recruit as their plaything, a few members of the rabble glanced up at the captain, still peering over the dining room table he and his unit we're forced to use for cover.
"Gentlecolts," Iron Strike started, "I think our time is up."
His subordinates visibly trembled as the echoing hoofsteps came closer and closer to their position.
"Captain! What do we do?" a younger soldier pleaded.
"Fun!"
Their eyes shot up at the pink pony, balancing precariously on the edge of the table.
"Fun!"
"Fun!"
"Fun!"
Three more of the pink troublemakers joined in, jumping on the first one's back until they stood atop one another, a tower of mischief.
The captain removed his helmet, placing it over his heart. "Celestia, have mercy on our souls."
The tower of Pinkies predictably lost their footing, falling on the captain and his soldiers. Several more pink ponies hopped over the table, smothering the guard ponies in pink and fuzzy manes. Celestia threw open the giant double doors and barged into the room with several Pinkie's in hot pursuit.
"It's Mutiny! Regicide! A coup!"
The solar princess stared in horror as a Pinkie skidded and ducked in front of her with a mischievous grin. With no time to react, the princess tripped over the living trip hazard and tumbled to the ground. She had just enough time to shake off the impact before a pot of melted cheese oozed down her head.
"My beautiful mane!" she wailed. "Luna! I know this is your fault! I'll get you for this! No desserts for a million years! No, a billion!"
A fort of pillows would not be many ponies' first choice for stability or security, but it would certainly halt or lessen the impact of hyper-energetic mares, which is what Luna and Pinkie wanted out of their protective shelter. They stared through several peep holes at the ensuing chaos around them.
"My sister doesn’t take being covered in fondue as well as I did," Luna noted.
"I hope there's some left when they're done. Just looking at all that cheese is making me hungry," Pinkie said. Upon her chest was a name tag with the words 'real Pinkie' written in marker.
"It does look delicious," Luna added, staring longingly at the cheese oozing down her sister's snow-white body.
"Luna, look out!" Pinkie screamed.
Alas, it was too late. A group of Pinkies had apparently noticed the fort of pillows and decided it would be fun to jump into it. What followed was a catastrophe of feathers, cloth, and pink as the pair of ponies were trounced and trampled by the throng of Pinkies. Their attention span being what it was, they soon tired of the pillow fort and galloped off to find fun elsewhere.
Her mane disheveled and head still reeling from the sudden attack, Luna stared at her companion. Pinkie looked worried, downright devastated. Tears started at the edges of her eyes.
"Oh no! My nametag! Not again! How will I know if I'm the real Pinkie Pie or not?"
Reaching over, Luna lifted the pink mare's chin up and smiled. "Do not worry. I have no trouble discerning you from these copies. I would have to be a poor marefriend indeed if I couldn't tell you apart."
Pinkie's smile returned, beaming brightly. She reached around Luna's neck and gave her a gentle hug. The alicorn started to pull away, but Pinkie pulled back, leaning into Luna's ear.
"Happy birthday. I have a very special gift for you."
Letting go of Pinkie's embrace, Luna tilted her head. "Oh?"
Pinkie said nothing. She darted in and kissed Luna on the lips. The alicorn's eyes lit in surprise, but she soon melted into the gesture, letting her back hit the floor. Suddenly, the entire world disappeared and it was just the two of them, locked in an intimate embrace.
The two ponies battled for dominance as they explored each other's mouths until the need for oxygen forced them apart, a taste of cinnamon lingered on Luna's lips.
"But I thought..."
"That I didn't want to the other night?" Pinkie finished. "Of course I did... but I wanted to give you a birthday gift that nopony else could give you. A kiss, from me. It can only be given, not taken, and no one can give you that kiss but me."
Luna smiled. "So you did find something only you could give me. Very commendable, Pinkie Pie."
They fell silent for a moment, their eyes returning to the chaos around them. Luna bit her lip and turned back to her partner, eagerly watching the drama unfold.
"Out of curiosity... that wasn't the only gift you had for me... was it?"
"Pshhh, of course not!" Pinkie said. "There's a four layer cake in your room and a Lamborghini on the front lawn of the castle."
Luna barely had time enough to catch the key tossed her way. "A lambor-what?"
"Shhh! Watch this! They just found the sugar in the kitchen!" Pinkie squealed in delight.
On her birthday, Luna could have made arrangements to go anywhere. To any beach, or even a five-star restaurant. Sitting in their ruined pillow fort with the one she loved, while the castle was under siege, was the only place she wanted to be right now.
"Do you think Twilight will be upset when she finds out we used the mirror pool again?"
A light chuckle escaped Luna's lips. "I doubt she'll find out. I sent her and Rainbow Dash to a seaside resort."
Pinkie sighed contentedly, leaning into Luna's side.
"I love you, Pinkie Pie," she said, pulling the pony close for a nuzzle.
"Love you too, Luna."