The Architect jumps from rooftop to rooftop around Ponyville, seemingly carefree and with great ease. He suddenly drops down to grab onto and spin around a lamp post. Stopping on it he looks around and sighs deeply.

"I'm so bored... It's been two weeks since our brother made his declaration of war. Other than my building contracts I have absolutely nothing to do... I wonder if anyone else is as bored as I am..." The Architect muses as he looks around.

The Architect raises his eyebrow upon seeing the bounding presence of a pink pony heading up the street wearing the widest smile he has ever seen.

"There is happy... Then there is that... I don't even know where to begin with what level of unbelievable happiness that is." The Architect rolls his eyes before jumping off the lamp post.

As he starts to head down the road his path is suddenly blocked by the pink pony. On closer inspection her mane and tail are very puffy while being a darker shade of pink compared to her coat. Her eyes, which are practically in his face, are light blue. Looking him over she can't help but block every attempt he makes to get past her. Finally annoyed with her overly happy presence, The Architect jumps up onto a nearby roof and begins to jump over them again. Smirking, he looks backwards to see that the pink mare is not giving pursuit. Looking forwards, he is suddenly stopped in his tracks by the very pony he just ran away from. Diving down into an alleyway he continues to make his escape through the side alleys of Ponyville before sliding underneath a cart.

"Follow that..?" The Architect boasts before looking next to him.

Lying beside him, wearing her signature wide grin, is the pink pony once again. "Hi!"

Deciding that further fleeing would only result in the repeated process he slams his head into the ground and groans loudly.

"Why are you following me..?" The Architect asks, sounding very annoyed.

"You're interesting! One of the few new additions to Ponyville along with the other alters that belong to Yuuki, Princess Luna's bodyguard!" The pony states happily.

"That doesn't quite answer my question of 'Why are you following me?'" The Architect looks at the mare with a blank expression.

"I wanted to say hello and see how your day is going! Would you like to hang out?!" The mare asks, her enthusiasm clearly never waning.

"You won't leave me alone even if I say no, right?" The Architect asks flatly.

"Nope!" She states without hesitation.

Groaning in frustration, The Architect decides to give in and sighs deeply. "Fine... However, one must wonder what in the name of Equestria we will even do..."

"Baking! Pranking! Depends what you feel like! I'm Pinkie Pie by the way!" Pinkie replied happily.

"Baking then Pranking maybe..? By the looks of this it's going to be an unexpected adventure... Also, is everything you say going to have these things '!'?" The Architect asks, holding a exclamation mark.

"Maybe! I don't know! Let's go now!" Pinkie slides backwards slightly and to The Architects surprise is fired forward by a small unassuming cannon.

"What the f%&k have I gotten myself into..? The hell just... I'm not even going to argue...." The Architect rolls out from under the cart and starts to follow Pinkie.

The Architect walks into a very decorated shop labelled 'Sugarcube Corner'. He ducks under the weird long black line above the door as he follows Pinkie inside.

"That fecking line will kill someone someday... Just randomly showing up between stuff..." The Architect states looking back at the line as it slowly disappears.

"Yeah, we get those a lot! They seem very random, but transition places I think! Anyway, I think the Cakes are out currently on a delivery. So, we have the kitchen to ourselves." Pinkie informs The Architect happily.

"Least not every part of your subtitles has exclamation marks.... By the looks of things it's a public place. This might be an increasingly stupid question, but I hardly care... What exactly do they sell here?" The Architect asks, bracing himself for the answer.

Pinkie takes a deep breath before pulling a scroll out of her mane which unravels. "We sell cakes, pies, pastries, croissants, muffins, cupcakes, milkshakes, chocolate, fudge, cookies, brownies, tarts, crumpets, cheese cakes, rolls and most of all... Coffee!" Pinkie finally finishes.

"I almost regret asking... Almost. I imagine there are variations of all these products?" The Architect asks flatly.

Pinkie goes to take another deep breath as she pulls out another scroll, but has her mouth covered by his hand.

"Kidding... That was a joke... Please do not list every. Single. Different. Product... Please." The Architect pleads removing his hand.

"Okie Dokie Loki!" Pinkie replies putting her scroll back in her mane before taking The Architect to the kitchen.

The kitchen looks well equipped and outfitted with everything a baker might want, even a baby alligator.

"I'm not entirely sure what baker actually needs a baby alligator to bake... Regardless what did you have in mind?" The Architect asks, leaning against the work surface.

Pinkie turns around and looks at The Architect happily. "Cupcakes, they are very easy to start with given you have no experience."

The Architect attempts to reply to that comment, but is cut off by Pinkie who slaps a chefs hat on their heads and places The Architect in a white apron. She then seemingly bursts into song without much provocation.

All you have to do is take a cup of flour!
Add it to the mix!
Now just take a little something sweet, not sour!
A bit of salt, just a pinch!

Baking these treats is such a cinch!
Add a teaspoon of vanilla!
Add a little more, and you count to four,
And you never get your fill of...

Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty!
Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty!
Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!

The Architect rolls his eyes and sighs deeply as they begin baking.

Valentine is wiping down the bar while Applejack is setting up the tables. With the bar finished very quickly after Valentine's recovery, he and Applejack have made the little establishment well known in the past month.

"Hey, Applejack. What do you think about what we have here?" Valentine asks, watching Applejack as he cleans the drink bottles hanging up on the wall.

"I think it's mighty successful. We have made quite a few bits providing food, drink and lodging for ponies. Not only that, but we're helping folks who otherwise don't have a place to stay. I'd say I really like our bar." Applejack smiles as she finishes the last table.

"True, I enjoy being able to help those who don't normally live here. It's been interesting, living for myself rather than just being an alter inside Yuuki's head... Is it wrong for me to enjoy being my own person? Do I... Deserve it?" Valentine muses as he leans on the bar.

"I believe so, granted your the first person I've known, but I think yer the sweetest guy I've met and are extremely kind." Applejack comments as she walks over to the bar.

"AJ, I'm the only 'guy' you know, but thanks... I just want to feel like I belong here because I earned it, not because of who I come from. Equestria is not where or when I was born... That was the other world. All of us alters feel that we need to earn our place in this world alongside Yuuki. While he might not say it, The Architect feels this too." Valentine pours himself a shot of whiskey before drinking it.

"Don't get too drunk ya hear. We open in an hour..." Applejack sighs.

"I know, I hold my liquor very well. You of all ponies should know that even by now, AJ." Valentine chuckles before stretching and coming round the bar to sit beside Applejack.

"You have been very insistent on me staying here since you recovered. The Architect told me that my room was never in the original plans for the bar. Then again, you've been acting increasingly sweet and kind around me. Any pony would think you really like me or something." Applejack states looking at Valentine who spits his whiskey out.

Valentine wipes his mouth with a cloth and clears his throat before getting the mop. "W-what makes you say that? I mean surely you get that a lot, being as you are?" Valentine asks to a raised eyebrow Applejack. Sighing deeply he mops up the whiskey before sitting back down. "I know I was made from loving and sexual emotions... But surely my affectionate gestures were not so obvious?"

"I-I mean... I was just teasing you, but when you say it like that... You do really like me?" Applejack asks, looking at Valentine who blushes and looks away.

Valentine puts the mop away and goes back behind the bar, but stops as he is about to go down the hatch staircase into the basement.

"I guess I can't help how obvious I am due to my nature... I never wish to be rude or leave you doubting something like that... I don't know how it'll make you feel or even if the feelings would be returned, nor... Do I think it matters to me... I'm content to simply be able to love a pony like I do you. So to properly answer your question Applejack, I do really like you..." Valentine replies as he enters the brewing basement, blushing a deep shade of scarlet.

Applejack blinks a few times and remains sitting on her chair before pouring herself a draught of cider and downing half. She then smiles slightly as she thinks about it all and goes back to work.

The Architect sits down against the work surface and sighs deeply. Pinkie sits beside him, the floor and work surface is coated in a variety of flour, frosting and other bakery ingredients.

"Did we seriously have to bake that much..? I blame the mess on the unexpected arrival of that black line again..." The Architect comments wiping his forehead.

"Yup, it's not normally such big orders, but it's close enough!" Pinkie smiles.

"You're doing that '!' thing again... Anyway, I'm beat... I don't mean that in a pun sense either." The Architect wears a deadpan expression.

Pinkie giggles. "I'm also beat. Hey, follow me. I wanna show you something."

Pinkie gets up and walks out of the kitchen. The Architect sits there for a few minutes contemplating if he should get up or fall asleep right there. Deciding against the latter he gets up and removes his chef hat and apron to then follow Pinkie. The pink mare in question was walking up the stairs when The Architect finally got out of the Kitchen and made his way up the stairs to continue following Pinkie. When caught up with her he found himself in what could be assumed as her room in Sugarcube Corner.

"I take it this is your room... You're not showing me your inflatable balloon collection are you..?" the Architect asks flatly.

"No, but I do have a party cannon collection! However, this is quite different." Pinkie states touching the top of a nearby large ice cream styled decoration.

"I don't see the relevance of stroking that-" The Architect stops as Pinkie's carpet underneath him suddenly splits to form a circle hole. "Oh... One of those levers..." The Architect muses as he falls down it into darkness.

After a few seconds The Architect looks around and sighs deeply before a light is turned on. Turning around he can see Pinkie standing beside a slide.

"I'm going to go out on a wild guess here and say this is a party planning cave? The massive assortment of decorations and files gives it away... That and your reputation around town." The Architect informs slowly getting up.

"Aww How'd you know? It was going to be a surprise." Pinkie frowns, disappointed.

"Let's just ignore this conveniently placed hyper link and move on... I must say this cave is quite impressive and colourful." The Architect comments as he throws away some green text.

"Yeah, they are very conveniently placed. I work hard for my parties so I can make everypony smile!" Pinkie explains dramatically.

"I can see that... To be honest I thought you'd be overly happy for no reason and annoy me constantly. However, I guess this isn't so bad... You are pretty fun... Always have something to do... Meh, I think I'm starting to like you Pinkie." The Architect smiles a little making Pinkie squee with glee.

"Yes! Finally made you smile, even if just a little! Anyway would you like to stay here?" Pinkie asks, shifting some balloons.

"You mean here with you? Well, I have nowhere to stay currently and have been living in the construction areas lately... I see no harm in living in a proper house for now." The Architect agrees and stretches.

"Okie Dokie! I'll just go set up your sleeping area!" Pinkie states as she hops onto the nearby slide and travels up it.

"So... Do I walk up the slide..? Or... Or What?" The Architect looks very confused.

Author's Note

Finally it's out! The latest chapter of 'The Chained Luna Cycle'. This chapter was a bit difficult to write, but I got there. The next few chapters will come so much more smoothly, I just had trouble writing Pinkie which a friend helped me with. Look forward to the next chapter coming very soon!