//------------------------------// // New Gal in Town: Part 2 // Story: Something Sparkling // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// The tavern. A place in the upper tier of places for ponies to hang out, socialize, have a great time. On this particular day, the tavern wasn’t too busy; only about 50% capacity, so Grapefruit, the hybrid owner who was also a bartender, was taking the less-business opportunity to fix the broken cabinet door he had been unable to tend to. “Don’t worry, cabinet. I’ve got time tonight.” He said. He slid a nail into the hole and grabbed the trusty hammer with his teeth. However, before he could start hitting the nail into place, he suddenly heard the door to his tavern open. He glanced over at the entrance area, to see a pink unicorn mare dressed in a blue poncho and matching blue stetson. Along with a parrot on her back too. Grapefruit, powered by his customer-comes-first instincts, put down the hammer and smiled as the mare walked over to the bar part of the tavern. “Howdy there, stranger. Welcome to Appleloosa Tavern. The name’s Grapefruit. What brings you here?” The mare smiled back. “Grapefruit. Just the stallion I was lookin fer.” She exclaimed in luckiness. Grapefruit raised an eyebrow. “You were lookin for me?” The mare’s parrot nodded as it flew from her back and onto the countertop. “Squawk! Bradford from the Inn said we’d find you here. Squawk!” The mare nodded. “The name’s Sparkler. This here’s mah parrot friend, Flappy.” Grapefruit nodded. “Well. It’s right nice to meet the both of ya. Can I get you two anything?” Sparkler smiled. “A glass of apple juice please.” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! I’ll have that too. Squawk!” Grapefruit had never heard of a bird drinking apple juice, but hey, you never know what you’ll find in this world. He nodded to his customers and brought out a pair of red glasses from the back counter. He placed them on the counter, and then grabbed a bottle of apple juice from the refrigerator below the counter top. He bit the cap off and carefully poured a full-glass serving of the juice into each of the two fine dishes, and finally, placed a straw into one of them for the parrot. Happiness project complete. He smiled and handed the customers on the barstools their orders. “There you two are. Finest apple juice in town.” Sparkler smiled. “Thank you Grapefruit.” She takes no time in sipping up that first taste. Grapefruit nodded. “So, to get the topic we were at before, you say Bradford told you where to find me. Mind if I ask why you sought me out?” “Sure.”, Sparkler replied. “Bradford said you know about available space in this here town.” Grapefruit smiled. “Real-estate. You must be new residents.” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! That’s right. Squawk!” “Ya see Grapefruit, my parrot and I are...music producers is the closest term for it.” Sparkler explained. “We’d like to set up shop in this town but we don’t really know where there’s available space.” Grapefruit smiled. “So you’re looking for a place to set up your studio.” Sparkler nodded. “Nothing too large. A studio apartment should suffice.” Grapefruit nodded. “Is that so.” He smiled. “Yeah. I think I know where you can find a space.” Sparkler smiled. “Really? Where?” Grapefruit gestured to Sparkler’s drink. “Finish your drink and I’ll show you.” Sparkler nodded and smiled. She was excited to learn Bradford hadn’t been lying. A few minutes after the closing of that conversation and after Sparkler and Flappy had finished their apple juice, Grapefruit led them upstairs to the building’s second floor, directly above the Tavern. They came up to a particular door and Grapefruit smiled at them. “I cannot tell you how long it’s been since this room’s been used.” Grapefruit says. “I’ve never, ever had a need for it, and honestly I don can’t remember what it was last used at all!” Grapefruit opened the door to the deserted wasteland of a room that might get tenants, letting the studio-searching Sparkler and Flappy in. Inside, they saw that it was a simple place. A single room space with no more than a pair of windows. Flappy nodded as he inspected the room. “Squawk! Cozy. Squawk!” Grapefruit chuckled. “It’s built real good, so the acoustics should be acceptable. Not that I’d know much about music, though. Generator out back is rated to handle a great load so it should be able to power yer gear.” Sparkler nodded and smiled. “And it’s the right size. This’ll be perfect!” Grapefruit nodded. “Then feel free to move yer stuff in.” He turned to leave the upstairs room and return to bartending. That is, until Sparkler remembered a crucial piece of what she and Flappy are doing here. She raised an eyebrow and called after Grapefruit. “Now hold on there. Ain’t there a rent or some kind of payment we should know about?” Grapefruit stopped in his tracks, chuckled, and shook his head. He turned backwards on his path to look at Sparkler agan. “Miss, the only other time that I know of this room being used was before I even took over this joint. I sure as apples don’t need it for anything. I make enough from the tavern.” He insisted. Sparkler shook her head. “It don’t feel right to use your property for free. Come on. Name yer price.” Grapefruit smiled at her and continued to insist otherwise. “All I need from you in return is information about yer business hours. So that I know if’n you’ll be jamming when I go to bed. Otherwise, it’s yers to use.” Sparkler chuckled and shook her head, sticking to her side as well. “It still don’t feel right...oh, I know. If’n you ever need a musical act for the tavern I’m yer gal. Just say the word and I’ll play as long as you need.” Grapefruit smiled and nodded, accepting this one. “I reckon that will be sufficient. If payin me back means that much to you.” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! She’s a very talented musician. You’re definitely getting a good deal here. Squawk!” Grapefruit chuckled. “I’ll bet she is.” Sparkler nodded. “Thanks a lot Grapefruit. We really appreciate it.” Grapefruit nodded. “Anytime.” With that, he left the room. Sparkler nodded and turned to Flappy. “Well. We don got our new studio.” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Wanna start moving stuff in? Squawk!” Sparkler nodded. “Let’s get’er done pard’ner!” To be continued...