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The Kandy Kaleidoscope [Las Pegasus] (Open to Customers)


Skycoaster

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The

Kandy Kaleidoscope

Old Fashioned Candy, Sweets, and Popcorn

 

Candy Corn stood nervously as work was being done all around her. Vintage lights where being installed, counters where being built, display cases assembled, and most importantly, the machinery was being put together. Soon her dream of owning her own little shop would become a reality. Things truly went full circle in Equestria. Who would have thought that Las Pegasus of all places would become the location, and soon to be permanent home of this Bittsburgh filly. She had to take it all in. Breath slowly. It was hard to believe that this old building across the street from Golden Bit's Casino was about to be knocked down, only to be saved to become the Kandy Kaleidoscope....and her own apartment above.

 

Candy could hear the clatter outside as her sign had arrived and was being installed on the storefront. As she stepped out to watch it be hung with care, she'd see her landlord from across the street. She'd waive a hoof. "Hi Goldie!" as she waited for her to come over. "What do you think? I hope the Old Fashioned thing helps draw in the customers when we open. I know a lot of casinos N'at have a lot of gimmicks, however us Bittsburgers are stuck in the past as it where when it comes to change. It's actually going to kinda look like that old candy store in that amusement park i sometimes talk about to you and Windy."

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  • Skycoaster changed the title to The Kandy Kaleidoscope [Las Pegasus] (Semi Open. Attn: Ice Storm)

~~~Golden Bit~~~

 

 

Ever since she started trying to make up for her brother's actions, taking care of other ponies kind of came second nature to Golden Bit at this point. This was especially true when it came to the friends of one of her favorite ponies in Las Pegasus. Sure, she took a vested interest in Ice Storm as the poor mare was a rather nasty and unfortunate victim of her brothers deranged antics. From what she'd heard the mare grew up homeless as a filly. But Wind Dancer held a special place in her. She was another pony that despite everything she had been through, was a pony that gave her everything at what she loved, even to the point of causing herself physical pain. Golden Bit was more than happy that this wasn't the case anymore thanks to herself. 

 

Today wasn't about Windy though. Today was about a friend of hers that Golden had met during the wedding between Windy and Sky. Today was all about Candy Corn, a very bubbly mare from Bittsburgh, and had hit it off instantly with Windy. It only took a few minutes with the mare for Golden to understand why. She was a big city pony with a country mare heart. The very nature of the building that she was now standing in front of matched that to a t. The candy shop that she had played a part in putting here was rustic and looked like one of the old fashioned candy shops a pony would have seen a few decades ago. In a day where everything else was modernized, it was relieving to see that someponies still cared about how things used to be. The fact that it was across the street from her was an added bonus.

 

Golden caught sight of the workers starting to put up the sign for 'Kandy Kaleidoscope; Old-fashioned Candy, Sweets, and popcorn'. She also saw, and then immediately heard Candy calling out to her. She smiled and returned the wave before coming over to take a look at the progress herself. She knew it wouldn't be long before the doors opened. She smiled and nodded as Candy commented on the design. "I think old-fashioned is going to be a welcome change. Especially to some of the older generations that Las Pegasus still attracts. It will give the younger ponies a chance to see what things were like when we were young while reminding us of those days and the memories we made in places like this. That alone many ponies would say is worth a million bits. That and your location couldn't be better. With Sky and Windy doing their shows on Sunday's here and it being an outdoor show, you'll make a lot off of selling concessions to the gathering crowd. Plus, being across the street from the Mareage and The Fire and Ice will get you a lot of hoof traffic as well," Gold smiled warmly

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Candy beamed from ear to ear at Golden's compliments. "I was worried at first, but you put my mind at ease. Not everything is going to be completely old fashioned though," she giggled. "Even though I searched for as much of the old style equipment as possible, I'm glad I have a somewhat modern kitchen just in case...and electric lights." she winked. One thing that Golden said however had her thinking. "If we are going to be as busy as you think, I might need to hire staff. That's one thing I've never done. A lot of my family's recipes are up here," as she pointed a hoof to her head, tapping it twice. "I'm going to be busy making lots of candy before the grand opening on Sunday. Gotta wait till the day of for popcorn though. Gotta have it fresh."

 

As the mail mare nodded to both Candy and Golden, she would set down three boxes postmarked from Bittsburgh. Signing the delivery slip, She'd levitate the boxes and take them inside and motion for Golden to follow. Setting the box down on one of the newly installed counters, she'd open the letter and read it aloud.

 

"Dear Candy,

 

Pop and I are sure proud of you. Though we can't make it to the grand opening, we've sent the popping corn you've requested. Also, I made you a dress for the occasion, as well as an outfit for Caramel. You sister should be joining you soon.

 

Best of luck and lots of love, Your mother, Sweet Corn."

 

Candy would look to Golden and give her a hug. "Did ya hear that? My sisters coming for the opening!"

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~~~Golden Bit~~~

 

 

Golden gave a firm nod when Candy started talking about the intricacies of running a candy shop, and making sure that she had the staff to run it if she was going to be as busy as Golden imagined. She listened as the mare in front of her said that would be the hardest part since most of the family recipes were all in her head. "That is a good place to keep them safe from prying eyes, but at the same time. You might want to consider making a record of them at some point. Not saying that you would, but it's always possible to have a lapse of memory and have something go horribly wrong. Unfortunately, I'm old enough to know from experience on that one. I would write them down and lock them in a safe that only you know of. That way you can teach it, and still have a reference yourself. You know, just in case," Golden said with a smile. 

 

When the mail pony arrived, she simply waited while she heard Candy read the letter out loud. It did sadden the older mare a bit to hear that her parents would not be able to attend the grand opening, but at least they had the courtesy to write. It helped calm her a bit to know that the words that they were proud of her, were more than just empty words. She did have to briefly remind herself that Candy's family wasn't what would be considered nobility. That didn't bother her in the slightest, but it did mean that things had a little bit different meaning to them and more often than not, those meanings were pure. The downside of being from an aristocratic family was that for most of them, everything had ulterior motives behind them. She used to think her own family was above that kind of tomfoolery, but her brother made sure to thwart that image before he was taken care of. 

 

She was happy to hear, however, that her sister was going to be there for the event. "Well, that will be good. Always nice to have family present for something like that, and if I know Windy, she's going to be one of the first in line. Both because she is practically a sister to you at this point herself, and I'm pretty sure that she has a sweet tooth that would rival a foals. You might have to hire extra staff just because of her," Golden giggled. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Releasing her hug, Candy would also giggle. "Yep, but I have a plan for that. I made her and Sky a special batch of candies and sweets. It will at least hold her off till after the grand opening rush slows down to a normal pace, though I'm sure nothing is normal or predictable in this city."

 

"So, would you like the grand backstage tour?" she said with a giggle. "See where the magic happens? Oh that reminds me, I have a few test recipes that I just finished. You can be the taste tester before I go to full production...if that's OK? I don't know how much of a sweets mare you are." Motioning to follow, Candy would walk through the saloon like doors into a state of the art kitchen. The walls where white tile with an strip that ran around the room of black and yellow tiles. "So, what do ya think? I made sure they got this done first so I could get a trotting start." looking back to her landlord, she'd grin. "I left the taffy machine in the main shop because that can almost be a show in it self to see running." she said with a wink. "That's why it's behind that counter out there and visible through one of the windows." she giggled.

 

As she reached one of the stainless steel tables, she'd levitate her newest treat to Golden. "I haven't thought of a name for this yet, but it's a white chocolate bonbon with pieces of candy corn mixed in. You know, I never made a bonbon till I did an apprenticeship in Ponyville."

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

~~~Golden Bit~~~

 

 

"Ha! I hope you've made like three of those! That pony can pack away the sweets. Though given how active she is, she no doubt needs all the energy that she can get. Especially now that she's got a new little one to take care of. I can imagine that's going to take a lot of her time now," Golden Bit said with a smile. "And if there's one thing that I've learned about living here in Las Pegasus, is that the only thing that's predictable, is everything is unpredictable. Just when you think you have it figured out, it will blindside you with something wild," she laughed a bit. 

 

When Candy offered the backstage tour, she nodded. "But of course! What kind of friend would I be if I were to say now to such a generous offer?" she said, returning Candy's giggle. She listened as Candy continued, saying that she could be the official taste tester, depending on how much of a sweets pony she was. "Well, I'm nowhere near the level of what Windy is, but in my defense, that's a very high bar to achieve. I love candy and sweets about as much as everypony else does though. Being older though, I can't have as much as I used to though, or it will go straight to the flank I tell ya!" she laughed. 

 

When she saw the kitchen, she stood there for a moment in awe. Candy had really gone all out in making this the perfect shop for her. The tile was a great accent that was going around the room, and all of the equipment here was top notch. She didn't spare no expense, and it made Golden happy to see. With such dedication like that, she knew that her efforts would be well rewarded. When she mentioned the taffy machine, Golden had to speak up. "Do be careful around those. I have heard stories of ponies getting their manes or tails caught in the machine and getting pulled into it. I can't imagine that would be pleasant at all," she cautioned, as the two of them made their way towards a stainless steel table and she saw the newest treat that Candy said that she was working on. She told her that it was a white chocolate bon bon with candy corn in it. She took the treat in her own magic before taking a bit of it. "Oh wow! This is amazing! Even the candy corn is amazing! That's the best candy corn I've ever had! Though I suppose it would be. IT is your namesake after all so I doubt there would ever be anypony better at making it," she giggled. 

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Candy smiled at Golden's comment. For a mare of her status to complement her newest treat, she knew it would be a hit. Thinking back to her earlier remark of how much candy Windy would go through, she chuckled. She'd motion with her head to a room off to the left. Inside it was barrels full of pre-made candy corn and other hard candies. "Think this should do it," as she pointed a hoof to a mixed barrel with a combined WD painted on it. "I just have the root beer barrels to make and I should be good on stock. They are a favorite of Pop. I hope they sell as well here as the more flamboyant treats such as those bonbons." 

 

"There is one more room down here, though it's a bit of a mess." Candy would lead Goldie to a room to the right. There was a desk with a few boxes and even more mail. Upon a closer look, the box had photos of family and friends she planned to hang in her office. The one photo that was out of the box was a photo taken in Ponyville a few Hearthswarmings ago of Candy, her sisters, Windy and Sky. "I guess getting stocked up took priority over unpacking," she giggled. "I think my upstairs apartment is even less unpacked. Just the bed and some of my personal kitchen things."

 

"I think I'm going to apply for an apprentice. That's how I got to where I am in my skills today. It's also why I requested the store with two levels above the shop. That is if it's alright with you. I had to live in BonBon's basement for the first few weeks," she chuckled. "It was a nice basement though." Looking to Golden, Candy would sigh. "I just hope the apprenticeship board goes through with my request. I asked for a pony from a less fortunate background. Somepony I can help out and perhaps in the future they'll be in my hooves and pass it on." Candy would grin. "I guess I've been hanging around Windy and you too much."

 

Giving Golden a hug, she'd lead her back to the front of the store. "I'm thankful to have you as a landlord and friend." Releasing the hug, she'd go back to the pile of mail from earlier. "Looks like the board sent me some prospects for that apprentice. Looks like I got some reading to do. I'll see ya before the grand opening, right?"

 

Grand Opening

 

Candy's heart was beating a mile a minuet as she put on her dress and placed the feather in her mane. Windy was due to be here any moment. She'd need all the help of her friend to get through this day....this hour....this moment in time when she was ready to flip the sign from coming soon to open. Taking a peak out the door their where a few ponies already lining up. "Come on Windy... Celestia give me strength. I just hope she got the letter to come in the receiving door."

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A few minutes before Windy arrived, Sky Sailing drifted down beside the receiving door.  The two of them had come separately, as Sky had to arrange some recording sessions with another artist earlier that day.  His head was still full of the other's music, more mournful than what he himself would usually write, but very powerful all the same, bound to make an impact.  For all that, though, the sky-blue stallion was glad enough that this was his next stop.  A candy store was *just* the sort of place to drive the gloomies from his head, and the fact that he and his wife would be taking their little filly on her very first visit to one was just so... sweet!

He gave a knock on the door to signal her.  "Hey, Windy and Glimmer will be along in a few, I just had to fly over from the studio.  Looks like you've got a some the attentions of the sweet teeth in town!"

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Caramel was… tired. She had stayed up pretty late tinkering with a bit of machinery and as such she was just getting out of the borrowed bed as the conversation downstairs began. Rubbing her eyes with a hoof, the young earth pony started making her way down the stairs towards the shop area. Yawning as she came into view of her sister, she waved, sitting down next to her and also waving at Sky. 
 

“How’s it going, sis? You ready for this?” She asked, looking at Candy and giving a smile. 

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Candy took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself before the chaos that was begin any moment. As she heard the door in the back of the shop open, she quickly turned to face it. Her nerves where getting the better of her "Oh. Hi Sky," she'd say in relief as she tried to look around him before hearing that Windy was coming separately. She'd nod to his comment about sweet teeth, she'd nod. "And some from out of town I'd guess as well. I don't even remember doing any advertising."

 

The door behind Sky would open as two young ponies would enter as well. One was a pegasus mare, the other a unicorn colt not much old enough to be out of school. Candy would let out a sigh of relief. "Sorry were a bit late Miss Candy," the mare would say. "You wouldn't believe how long that line is. It's almost blocking the intersection down a block." Candy's face would go pail for a moment before hearing a familiar voice next to her. In the excitement she had almost forgotten that her sister, Caramel, had arrived last night for the opening. Candy would look to her sister and nod ever so slightly. "As ready as we're going to be. Everypony, this is my sister, Caramel Corn. She's from Bittsburgh as well."

 

"Caramel, I made you a special batch of candy just for today, though I do have a special job for you. I want you to keep an eye and ear out for anything that sounds like it might break down, OK? Especially the taffy machine. It's older then grandpop, Ok? If something doesn't seem right, let me know."

 

Candy's two staff members knew their tasks as they took their positions. "Everypony, be sure to put on your uniform, including the arm band. That means you too Caramel. The outfit mom sent ya."

 

As everything was setting in motion, Candy would motion for Sky to follow her into the storage room. "This is for you guys," as she pointed a hoof at a full barrel of candy with Wind Dancer, Glimmer, Sky's initials on it. "It comes with lifetime refills, though it might take a day or two to refill it," she giggled and then smiled. "Goldie mentioned Windy's appetite and sweet tooth was legendary. I'd imagine Glimmer inhered it as well?" For the first time her nerves where letting up just thinking of her friend that would soon be her.

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Seeing Caramel come down, confirming this confectionary as a Corn Clan caper... it made Sky smile.  Family working together... it sparked in him once more the dream that little Glimmer would one day perform with him and Windy, making their show a true family act!  The only worry he had was what sort of affect being a young performer would have on his daughter, growing up.  He made a mental note to ask Golden Bit for some advice there, and put those thoughts away for more present questions.

 

"Well, sweetness is kind of its own advertising... plus, I think Golden Bit might have done a couple of things to spread the word.  She's that kind a mare."  He chuckled, holding back a yawn.  "Whooah, excuse me.   I'm an insomniac normally, and having a little filly around the place doesn't do much to help one sleep, you know?"  He joked a bit as he followed Candy into the storage room.  "Hah, wow, thank you!  That's generous; we'll try not to put you out of business.  And yeah, it looks like Glimmer is going to follow in Windy's hoofsteps.  She can sure put away the chocolates, especially now that she's back to dancing and can burn them off quick."  He lowered his voice a bit, "Don't tell her I said this, but I don't mind when they stick around her flank."  He blushed a bit to even say something like that out loud.

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~~~Golden Bit~~~

 

 

Golden Bit smiled as Candy explained her intentions within the city as well as the shop itself. She knew that Windy had a good taste in friends. A mare that wanted to help the less fortunate become the next big candy makers? There have been a lot of ponies coming to Las Pegasus with those kind of intentions recently. After all, it was just made public not too long ago that Ice Storm created an entire organization built to help ponies that have had troubled past and in turn defend Equestria. Windy, well ever since that she helped get her wing fixed, Windy's used a majority of the bits she's made from her shows to do the same for others. She kept the only what she needed to support herself, and now support her new family as well. She also couldn't help but smile, seeing the state of the last room and hearing about the state of the apartment upstairs. The poor mare had spent so much time working that she was forgetting how to live. 

 

"I think that everything is looking great, and the three barrels that you made for Windy might be enough to sate her sweet tooth... for a week or two," she teased. "But it's so good that you want to help others as well! You remind me so much of how Windy holds herself that I know that you won't have any problems helping others. Though if you want to look for ponies that have had a troubled past, I can think of no better mare to put you in touch with than Ms. Ice Storm, the owner of the casino over there," she said pointing to The Fire and Ice. "That's something that she's specialized in as well, considering what happened to her when she was little. She has a database of information that I'm pretty sure rivals the Canterlot Archives. If you want to find out something, she's the pony that can find it out for you," she smiled returning the hug to her. 

 

She then heard Candy say that she was thankful to have her as a landlord, and as a friend. Her hug tightened. "Just remember, I'm only your landlord until the land is paid for. After that, everything here is yours. You're the one that put all the work into it. I just provided the bits," she added, giving the mare a gentle nuzzle. When she said the apprentice board had sent her a few applicants she smiled. "Well then, I'll leave you to handle that. As for opening day, there's not a chance that I will miss it. I will also to spread the word around...

 

~~~Opening Day~~~

 

 

It was the day. Golden Bit was running a bit later than expected. Being a little bit older of a mare, sometimes issues flared up that would require some extra attention before it would allow her to truly begin her day. After taking care of a few things, and getting her leg to respond the way she wanted it to, she was able to freshen herself up and make her way out the door. She had made her way to the receiving door. It looked like Sky and some of Candy's Family were there, as well as who she presumed were the apprentices that Candy was looking for. Much to her surprise though she didn't see Windy. She figured that she would have came with Sky, and suddenly she was worried that something had happened. Then she heard them and let out a sigh of relief. Glimmer looked to be exceptionally active today which told her everything that she needed to know. "Sorry I'm late myself," Golden started to Candy. "I'm not as young as I used to be, but at least I'm not the last one here," she giggled as Windy finally entered. "Hopefully I didn't miss too much." 

 

 

~~~Wind Dancer~~~

 

 

"Glimmer! Get back here!" Wind Dancer yelled, trying to chase the hyper filly who was more content to play with her mom than let her try to get her ready. So far the Glimmer Skies had all of the energy that she had when she was a filly and she was finding out first hoof just how her parents felt with her before everything happened. She blew a puff of air through her mane and got an idea. She calmly closed her eyes, and felt the wind around her. Then as soon as she felt the wind change around her, she pounced and then she had Glimmer in her hooves. "Ha! Gotchya!" she said, electing a bunch of giggles from the filly. "Alright you, we have to get ready. Daddy's already holding us a spot and we don't want to keep Auntie Candy waiting do you?" 

 

"Cady!" Glimmer squeaked. 

 

"Yup! Now we just have to get ready," she said with a smile and a small laugh. So far motherhood has in fact been quite challenging, especially with the performance schedules but it was entirely worth it. She finished getting Glimmer changed and ready to go before placing her in her bouncer before getting ready herself. She decided that it would be a good day to bring out the black and blue nebula dress that she had made for her and Sky, with the jacket that he spoke of on one of their dates. They wore it on his first performance and also for the first performance that they put on together. She finished getting everything on and put on a small amount of citric scented perfume before she picked up Glimmer and started making their way towards Kandy's Kaleidoscope. She remembered the letter that she had got from Candy that she was supposed to go to the receiving door instead of the front door.  

 

"Alright Glimmy, hold on to momma now," she smiled as she pushed herself up into the sky. Perks of being a pegasi was she didn't have to fight the hoof traffic on the ground. She started flying towards the candy store, and the route was one that she had practiced numerous times and was one she knew like the back of her hoof. It was the same route she took to the Mareage. Considering it was right next door to the Mareage and technically on their property so it didn't take her too long to get there. She couldn't go as fast as she was used to with Gimmy in her flight harness. She was just as squirmy as she expected, but was watching everything around them as they flew by. As she started to approach she had to stop for a moment and look at the line that had formed. It wasn't just to the next intersection, it looked like it was now starting to wrap around the block. "Uh oh... I think Candy might need some help today," she said before flying back to the recieving door seeing that Candy, Sky, Golden, and few others were already starting to make their way inside.

 

"I'm Here! Sorry I'm late! Glimmy decided dress up time was play time," she giggled before walking in and noticing the barrels with their initials on it. She just managed to catch Sky talking about their sweet tooth, talking about her ability to put away chocolates and sweets, and how Glimmer seemed to be taking after her mom. That made her happy to hear. He then said something else, but it was hushed and she couldn't hear it. She noticed the blush though and could only imagine what it might have been. Still, it made her prideful that she was appreciated in that light. Until she met Sky, that kind of stuff wasn't something that she actively thought of. Well, that was a lie, it was, but for different reasons. Showmares were always painted in the light that they would always seek and lay with anything. She was hoping to change that image and she liked to think that she did that emphatically. Today wasn't their day though, Today they were here for Candy. "Oh wow, this all looks great! We'll be here all day to help as much as needed. When I was flying in I noticed the line was already wrapping around the block," she smiled.

 

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Candy would smile to Golden as she came in. "Your not late, just...in time actually." When Wind Dancer and little Glimmer entered the the back of the shop, Candy squeezing Sky, Windy, and Glimmer in a hug. "I'm so glad you are both here." Releasing them, she'd levitate a few items. "I got something for yinz today." Candy's smile was from ear to ear as she gave Glimmer a few pieces of her namesake treats.

 

"Ok," Candy said looking to the group. "Eight hours of fun for us three," she'd say with a wink. "I trained you both well on how to run your assigned duties. I did put up a sign that states 'as supplies last'...just in case." Saltwater Taffy nodded as did the unicorn.

 

Walking back to where her friends where, she'd sigh. "I don't expect yinz to have to help. I'm sure running a candy shop was the last thing on your mind. Help as you see fit. I have some extra vests and armbands if you do want to help with customers though. Perhaps even if you want to play a song for ambiance to keep me calm, that'd work too," as she looked to Sky. "Do you know how to play a piano by any chance? I found it the basement the store before we remodeled and thought it would make a good ambiance piece. I'd say it's as old as this building itself, though it might be a bit out of tune."

 

She'd give Caramel a nuzzle. "If you get tired, go upstairs and take a nap, OK? I don't need to be braking filly labor laws on my first day open, OK?"

 

As the clock began to strike eleven, Candy would walk over, unlock the door, and flip the sign from coming soon to open. "Here we go," she'd say putting on a big smile to the guests that would begin to enter the store.

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"Windy!"  Sky trotted over to give his wife a nuzzle and his daughter a tickle with his wing.  "Better be careful then, if Glimmer gets into the candy we'll have to deal with her on a sugar rush!"  He joked, but a hyper foal would probably not be a good-spirited gift for their friend's grand opening.  Actually, that did bring up the question of what he could do about the place.  He'd never worked in a shop before, though he had done a stint in the Cloudsdale cold storage.  Upon hearing about the Piano, his eyes lit up.  "Do I?  It's what I do for a living!  Well, keyboards mostly, but I can tune it..."  His vest pocket had a tuning fork and some wire turners in it.  Just in case; his dad had taught him to always be prepared.

"Might take a minute; if it's been a long time since it was played, the strings might snap if they're worked too hard... got some oil?"  With the proper tools and supplies, he headed over to the piano to start tuning it up, one scale and arpeggio at a time...

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~~~Golden Bit~~~

 

 

Golden Bit let out a small sigh of relief when she heard that she wasn't late. She was also thankful for being the proprietor of this establishment, at least until the contract was paid off. If that line out front was anything to go by, however, then she presumed that she would be surrendering this land much sooner rather than later. Especially if Candy could actually keep up with that kind of demand. When she heard Windy offering to help and that they would be here all say to help, she smiled. She wanted to shake her head and laugh, as it was the exact thing that she would expect Windy to do, but she had her own family now too! Granted, seeing her, Candy, and Sky all interacting together you could make the argument that they were family. 

 

As everything got started, Golden Bit made her way over to the door while Candy gave the instructions to her other workers and explaining to Sky about the piano that she found. If it was as old as Candy was saying that it was, it wouldn't be the strings that they had to worry about. It would have been the soundboard. Thankfully Las Pegasus is an arid environment most of the time so it wouldn't have warped, but it could have easily dehydrated and cracked. As she heard Sky start tuning it though, it sounded like everything was still in pretty good condition. Once again, she thanked Las Pegasus's surrounding dessert for that. At the mentioned of vests and armbands, she would nod. "I will take one of the vests. I can help control the flow of ponies, and I'm sure once Miss Storm steps outside this morning, if she's not already in the line... will have some of her agents helping as well. Especially if it's as bit already as Windy said it was on the way over. We don't want ponies getting hurt on the way over. In fact if I don't see her..." Golden said, looking down the line as it started wrapping around the block. "Ah, yup there she is. Right at the bend of the line. I'm sure she's already got something in motion."

 

~~~Wind Dancer~~~

 

 

Wind Dancer would return the hug and the nuzzle that she got from her husband before her eyes landed on the candy barrel again. "All of this just for us! Thank you so much! This all looks delicious!" she complimented, unable to help herself at this point. The temptation was too much. She would open the top of the barrel that had her initials on it before taking a few pieces of the hard candy out and popping one of them in her mouth. "Mmm!" she sounded happily as Candy gave Glimmer a few pieces of her own. "Hey Sky! You gotta try this! This is really good!" she smiled lifting one of the pieces up to him with her wing. 

 

"Cady! Cady Cady Cady!" the young foal would say reaching her hooves for the snow colored pony. 

 

Wind would have to pull her back. "Ahah! Aunt Candy is working! You to will have time to play later," she told Glimmer, trying to hold her back with a wing. She was starting to wonder if maybe they should have gotten a sitter for today, but then the sitter would have to miss the grand opening... She was thankful that the offering of candy had at least calmed her down for the moment while she munched on it. She knew that sugar would have a detrimental effect later though. She would be quite hyper and rambunctious later. She would have to hope that there would be some other fillies or colts that would come in that she could play with while their parents looked around or conversed. Of course there was the option of playing with her herself which she could do once things settled down after the initial rush... if they settled down at all today. Opening days are always a swarm. 

 

She then turned to them and said that she wasn't expecting them to help. Wind couldn't help but chuckle a bit at this. "What? You think I'm going to let the closest thing I have to a sister brave the Las Pegasus crowd all on her own? I can't be here everyday, naturally, but today I'm not taking no for an answer. Just point to where you need me, though if it's at a candy machine you might have to tell me how to work it," she giggled as Sky started working on the piano. That must have been an unexpected, but interesting find. It kinda made her wonder what this building might have been used for before. If she was being honest, it kinda looked like the type of Piano that would be seen in an old-timey saloon. If there was anypony here that would be able to get that working again, it would be her Skybear.

 

She really felt her heart soar though she she watched Candy start walking towards the door. There was always something special to this moment. The very first time that you unlock that door and you flip over that sign. No matter how many times would come after this one, the first time only happens once. This was a moment that she was proud to be a part of, and as of now, she would smile and assist as needed, or until she received further instructions. 

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Candy would smile to Sky as he went to work. "I have some popcorn oil somewhere in the back," she'd joke. Upon hearing Goldie ask for a vest, her horn glowed orange as a saloon style vest would levitate to her. "If ya just want to get customers going in one direction to cases so they can take their treats to the register, that'd be a huge help." Speaking of the register, the unicorn would tap her chin for a moment. "Salty, switch with Beans. I promises that I'll train both of yinz on all the things to do, but right now I need ya doing what your best at. Saltwater did get her Cutie Mark for making taffy after all."

 

Hearing little Glimmer call her name, Candy would step away from the door for a moment and give her a few more pieces of candy corn before looking to the foal's mother. "If ya need to quiet time with Glimmer, feel free to take her up to my apartment above the store. There's a bed and a couch up there...and a bunch of boxes. Didn't really have time to unpack. I think I spent 16 hours a day in the kitchen since it was ready and just slept up there. If ya are looking for something to do though, I'm sure you can get some of the more...um... deluxe items out of display cases so ponies can take the to the register. In the mean time though I'm sure Caramel would love to keep an eye on little Glimmer."

 

Heading towards the center of the room, she'd begin to greet each customer that come in the door. "Welcome to the first ever day of the Kandy Kaleidoscope. If yinz need anything or have any questions, just ask." For the most part, the flow of customers was in line with what she had planned for...to an extent. Most of her early customers seemed to be older ponies looking for the old time treats of their foalhood. One surprise though was the amount of teenage colts coming into the shop. She'd look to Windy and blush a bit, as did Salty when they overheard a rather shy colt say something about there being 'eye candy' in the shop as well. What surprised Candy the most though was just how much the colts where spending on the bit candy. A few of the other customers could be overheard upon leaving talking about how good the treats where, but also about Wind Dancer and Sky being in the store, drawing even more to the line from the plaza of Goldie's casino across the street.

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  • Skycoaster changed the title to The Kandy Kaleidoscope [Las Pegasus] (Open to Customers)

Thankfully for Sky and Candy, the sounding board on the upright was, well, sound!  "Well, hopefully you don't mind your instruments smelling like your product."  Sky joked as he accepted the oil, softening the stiffened strings and lubricating the stuck parts.  A few minutes later, and he was ready to start playing, just as the first customers were starting to come into the store.

 

While normally he loved playing impromptu concerts, he was a little concerned about overshadowing his friend's opening day; plus the fact that a candy store was a store, not a concert venue.  It didn't make a good shopping experience to have a bunch of music-lovers clogging the aisles, though Candy would probably make bank on the concessions.  Actually, now that he thought about it... Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to clear some space for little impromptu old-time music shows?  Maybe with some piano reels or wurlitzers to fill in the gaps between live music.

Something to think about!  For now, Sky was noodling away at some ragtime, not a genre he often played,  Some of the more keen-eared customers might recognize bars from his more popular songs, but he wasn't putting in much more than that.

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Pathfinder was hungry. Well, not super hungry, more like snack-associated hungry, the hunger that sat on your taste buds and that your stomach tried desperately to fight off. It didn't need, didn't want, the intrusion of anything too fatty or sugary, which was a problem since it was exactly that style of treat that the taste buds wanted. Well, Pathfinder didn't need, didn't want a courts summons. She didn't want, didn't need, a wing monitoring device and she didn't want, didn't need to be chased by hired goons (guards) when she broke it. But all of that happened so she was going to have to get some chocolate. It was the right thing to do.

 

Luckily, she was in the right place for it. Las Pegasus never skimped on anything and everything a mare might want and treats certainly fit the bill. It wasn't what attracted her to it this week, of course. The once in a generation alignment of the stars combined with the Cult of Cazok's efforts was supposed to help unshackle the mountain kraken and reveal the ten gemstones of Unicornia's final resting spot, and that sounded right up her alley! And not far from that position was Las Pegasus. And inside Las Pegasus was a hungry mare. See? The science all came together. Avoiding a few assassination attempts- cultists rarely made for good assassins in her experience, too much culting and not enough assassining- only made her more hungry. Of course she was banned from a lot of places. Older places with older memories. They were wrong to do so of course, but such was such. As fate would have it though, there was a new place in town!

 

Sweet!
'Kandy Kaleidoscope' was the sort of shop that some unicorn altimage would use as a front to conduct evil experiments, so Pathfinder was already happy with it. It would be cool to run into fronts again. There wasn't nearly as much tomfoolery as she would have hoped for in Stalliongrad. One of many reasons she was stretching her wings out again. If it wasn't a front though she could be happy. And so were a lot of other ponies, by the looks of it. A big line for a grand opening! She didn't have time for the line at the moment. Lines allowed for assassins to take their time and while it would be cool to duke it out in public she was also not so certain that the cultists weren't gonna resort to something bigger soon. That was what sloppy assassins did and they were sloppy enough already!

 

And so she flew over the top of the crowd, gliding over them as she squeezed herself in through the door. "Hi! Hello! Hi!" She said to nopony in particular as she barrel rolled her way into the store and took a deep sniff. "Ooh! That smells good!" She straightened out and glided to the ends of the store, parking herself next to everything and nothing all at once as she bounced around. "Oooh, and it doesn't even smell like poison! Hey is that reggae time? I like the reggae time. No, ragtime. Ragtime! It fits the mood a lot. Good stuff! Oh, is that a taffy? Taffy is good! Oh hi you're pretty! You look like Snowfall a little. Oh, wow, look at that! Is that- ooh, popcorn!" She sniffed the popcorn. "That's good. I bet it costs one thousand bits, right?"

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~~~Wind Dancer~~~

 

 

Wind Dancer nodded to Candy when she said that she could always take Glimmer upstairs and watch her if things got too chaotic down here for her. It was more likely to happen than anypony would want to admit. Glimmer was a healthy foal for sure, but she was in fact, a young foal. She wasn't even a full year old yet, and there were a lot of things that would provide stimuli today. She also couldn't help roll her eyes a bit, almost not surprised that Candy had spent more time preparing for the opening than she did unpacking. "Just don't overwork yourself. I don't want to be rushing to the LPMC because you collapsed from exhaustion," Wind smiled. After hearing the directions that were given to Golden, Wind Dancer took initiative upon herself to do the same. Help with the flow of ponies that were coming into the establishment. A chaotic environment that would otherwise ensue would be quite dangerous. That being said, she couldn't help but get into a little bit of a sway when Sky finished tuning the piano and started getting into a Ragtime beat. She had to consciously make an effort though to keep it at just a bit of weaving and swaying, less she make a mess of her friend's shop.

 

AS the doors opened, and Candy greeted everypony coming in, she helped to try to funnel them along the aisles while also trying to keep a clear path from the register to the door so that ponies could depart with their purchases when they were ready to do so. Many of the initial customers in the line seemed to be about Goldy's age. It wasn't all that surprising given the motif of the establishment as an old timey candy shop. She even recognized a few ponies from the Las Pegasus Medical Center from some of the times she'd gone in to make her donations. It was good to see them out and about. What she wasn't expecting was a younger pegasus to bypass the line completely and just come in through the other door, or more specifically, rolled through it.

 

The mare seemed to bounce around the store and she seemed quite energetic already. It took her a few moments before she noticed the cutie mark. She was able to narrow the identity down to one of two ponies that she'd heard of. One of them had conventions here on the regular, and the other was a pegasus that had a reputation like the other. Honestly if they every tried doing a doppelganger trick on somepony, Daring Do and Pathfinder would definitely be able to pull it off without much outside assistance. Considering that the few times that she'd seen Daring in Las Pegasus, she was a bit more laid back on things like this, she presumed it was the latter. This complicated things a little bit because she knew the rings that these kinds of ponies traveled in, or rather the kind of things that usually follow them. Still, she hadn't heard of any major outtakings recently that didn't involve another mare from Las Pegasus, so she presumed that they were in the safe for now. And goons that would be looking for Pathfinder would have to get through Ice and her entourage to get here. 

 

No, the biggest issue that this created, was the precedent that ponies could ignore the line and charge directly in. That would lead to the chaotic event that Windy was worried about earlier. She approached the pegasus and gave her a professional smile as she over heard hear talking about how nothing smelled poisoned, complemented the music, and inquired about the taffy and the popcorn. She was also a bit interested to know the answer to those questions. Not because she though her friend would try to price gouge Las Pegasus, but because she would need to know how much of a 'generous donation' she would have to make now and then. After all, there was no way that Wind was going to let Candy make and deliever barrels of candy for her and Sky and not do something to repay her for it. Still, she answered the inquisitive pegasus. "Nope, Nothing to be found here except deliciously sweet, and sour treats. Though I do recommend that next time you see a line, that you do the right thing. It sends a bad message to everypony else that rules and order don't matter, and chaos on a grand opening is the last thing we want," she said, still wearing the professional smile before zipping back to where her barrel of candy was and returned with a small bag full. Subtle advertising. If customers saw her eating and enjoying the candy, then they would want to know what she's eating so they could try it themselves. IT was brilliant!

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Candy Corn was pleasantly surprised by the volume of candy she was selling through. As was to be expected the early favorites where the old time hard candies as well as her speciality. Between greeting, she’d check her stock. Excusing herself, she’d make her way to the storeroom in the back, moving to the beat of Sky’s ragtime melody.
 

Salty had gotten the antique taffy machine running. Sure it was old, but it was an upgrade to what she was used to in Baltimare. She was grateful that Candy had found a flywheel model as apposed to the more common unicorn powered ones. With a flip of a lever, she was off and running. “Let’s see what flavor for today is?” The young pegasus would read the recipe. “Oh, banana taffy today. That should be popular.” Salty would be startled by the overexcited customer that had just come into the shop. Upon hearing she was pretty she’d blush before returning to her work as it seemed that Wind Dancer had everything in her hooves.

 

Candy would return from the backroom with two barrels of candy in her levitation. Overhearing the question about popcorn, she would instinctively answer with the cost. “5 bits for a small bag, 10 bits for a large. We also sell the kernels that you can pop yourself for also 10 bit. It should make about 5 batches.” Swapping out the the fresh barrels, Candy would quickly return the empties and the back back before returning in want seemed to be only a few seconds. Looking at Pathfinder, she’d smile “Only the best for my shop. Grown on the Corn family farm in Bittsburgh. Is there anything else it can answer for yinz or dose my bestie have you covered.”

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Most of the customers so far weren't paying much attention to Sky Sailing, which was fine.  He was there to help see chocolate, the chocolate was not there to attract audience members.  He did, however, transition from general ragtime noodling to actual songs; the Charlie Horse and the Chocolate Factory soundtrack seemed appropriate enough, and he sang softly along with the tune of the opening number,

 

"Who can take a sunrise,

Sprinkle it with dew?

Cover it with chocolate

And a miracle or two?

 

The Candy Mare can!

The candy mare can because she mixes it with love

And makes the world taste good..."

 

Maybe that would be a good radio ad idea, if Candy was thinking that would be a good idea.  Though, if Sky had known who had just trotted into the store, maybe he wouldn't have sung the lyrics.  Pathfinder was the sort of mare who, having no experience in musical theater, would take this song as some sort of secret signal to a chocolate-making cult aiming to flood all of Los Pegasus with hot cocoa or something.  But, everypony had to experience their first encounter with a crazy adventurer sometime!  

 

At least Glimmer was happy, listening to her dad play music and her mom feeding her candy.  She'd crash later, but for now she was a happy, giggly little filly!  More than a few customers were pausing in their browsing to coo over the cute little one, too.

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The first mare she dealt with made a good point about lines. It was a good point for normal times, the simple times, the boring times. Pathfinder didn't like lines. They slowed you down and she was all about that action, but even then she knew that at least seventy times out of a hundred it was a good idea to wait impatiently in line. But this was not one of the boring times. This was a good time with explosions and adventure and eyepatches and she had to think of a greater good! "Thank you," Pathfinder said happily as the mare delivered candy candy candy to her to her. "And I'd wait in the line but ya know, assassins and cults being after me. Didn't want to cause a scene during your graaaaaaaaaaand opening!" She said as she hovered up and shimmied her front legs up before finishing with a flourish. She then hovered back down and pulled Wind Dancer in with a wing and whispered conspiratorially. "Unless you wanted breakfast and a show, of course!"

 

As she held Wind Dancer, more and better information was received about the prices and they were pretty good! It could be that her mind was warped from the prices of a CEO's lifestyle in Stalliongrad but they seemed really low. Happy news for her in any case! "Oooh, not bad at all! Unless they're poison," she ate some, "not poison, as expected. They're really good and cheap too!" A few more bites and then she pulled the Yinzer herself into her embrace with a wing. "Where'd you learn to cook like this? Pretty tasty! Family secret?" She pondered for a second as she looked at the two. "You two would be cute together. Now kiss," she giggled impishly as she brought them together with her wings before letting them go. "I'll take two large bags of that," she pointed at some candy, "that," she pointed at another candy, "that, that, that, and that. Oh, and a large popcorn," she said as she flew on over to the counter.

 

It gave her time to appreciate the music. It was well sung and gave a pep to her step, a peppy prepper step if you would, though her mind couldn't help but find the real meaning. On the face of it, it was just a classic tale of a candy mare making a pony happy. But if you looked close-lier, and then even more close-lier, you could deciper the real meaning. Celestia was often associated with the sunrise, and sprinkling with dew could have many meanings. In modern parlance it was associated positively, but ancient equestrians associated it with Luna- the condensation and cooling of night remaining in the sunlight, slowly evaporating to nothingness. A parable for Luna's sad descent. This state of affairs was often covered up with well-meaning by Celestia who had tried to reach her sister- covered with chocolate, a miracle for two.

 

In this reading of the tale, Celestia was described as a well-meaning but short-sighted foal. 'The Candy Mare', unable to sense the troubles and who failed to make it right before her sister's descent. Her inability to cope with her actions led to her covering the land with her love, trying to envelop and find what she had once had and lost. Equestria became her opiate and her peaceful reign in turn the opiate of the masses. A subtle enough song on its own since it worked well for a candy shop if you didn't know to look close-lier. Laden with even more meaning when you realized that the Cult of Cazok's stated aim at bringing forth the Mountain Kraken with the gemstones of Unicornia was to revert the land to its pre-Equestria, divided state. In that vein, these cult members disguised as musicians were laying out the case that the Alicorn leaders who founded Equestria were incompetents who had lulled their charges into a false sense of safety. The mountain Kraken would relieve them of this fantasy and reveal the truth: The Candy Mare was hollowed out in the sun, melted, and both would evaporate like dew on a summer's blazing afternoon.

 

Clear as day. "Haha, good song there! Good choice! I'll keep my eye on you!" She waved excitedly over to the musician-cultists. She was sure they would fight later, but not now. Now was candy-buying time.

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~~~Wind Dancer~~~

 

 

 

Wind rolled her eyes a bit at the theatrics of the adventurer. She spoke is assassin's and cults being after her like it was a Tuesday for her. Ironically... It was Tuesday, but that wasn't the point, and considering the legacy that Pathfinder had it wasn't entirely far-fetched. "Na, the show is why we're here. And if there were any assassins or cults here, Commander Storm would take care of them. They would have to be rather brazen to strike right next to her home," she said as she felt the wing wrap around her and roaming the store with her. Wind just let it ride. Besides, she was heading up towards the counter and Pathfinder started talking to Candy once more.

 

The prices that Candy spoke... If anything were a little bit low, but this was a grand opening sale. Prices could be below normal for that purpose. Still, that have her a baseline for the amount those barrels would cost. If Candy thought Windy would let her do all that work for free, she had another thing coming. Family or not she'd be giving her something. That first something came rather unexpectedly. The pegasi adventurer telling them that they would be cute together and to kiss. She briefly looked to Sky, who had transitioned into The Candymare, gave her a nod. Shrugging her shoulders. "Don't have to tell me twice," she replied, turning and planting a kiss right onto Candy's lips. It didn't last more than a second or two, but a second or two was all it took. 

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Candy was surprised as she found herself pulled in by a wing. “Most of my recipes are a combination of family hoof me downs and my own tinkering. When yinz have the long winters that we have in Bittsburgh, you have time to try new things before the fields are ready for corn again. I also did my apprenticeship under a mare in Ponyville named BonBon. I learned quite a bit from her about different chocolates.”

 

When the adventurer pushed her and Windy together, her brain took a second to process what she said. “What was…” before she could finish, Wind Dancers kiss found it’s mark. Candy’s face turned as read as the candy apples in her case. Her heart began to pound and she began to feel faint. She could have never dreamed that the farm filly from Bittsburgh, first kiss would be so…memorable. A first kiss she would never forget and the exclamation mark on her opening day. After a few moments, she’d return the kiss, but to Windy’s cheek. She had some emotions to work out after today was over. 
 

The unicorns mind had to quickly switch back to shopkeeper for the time being as Pathfinder’s list grew. All the items Pathfinder listed would be collected and brought to her other apprentice who was ringing up the orders. “Coco,” Candy would say. “Largest order so far.” He’d nod and quickly input the numbers into the old brass register. “85 bits is your total.” Candy nodded in agreement as she also had done a running total in her head. “Oh and here’s a complimentary sample bag of my namesake, Candy Corn to enjoy.”

 

Looking over at the piano and Sky, she didn’t know what to think. She had just gotten to first base with Windy after all…. With a quick sigh she’d grab a candy and a caramel apple and bring them over to Sky and Glimmer with a blush on her face.

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The antics of Pathfinder were so attention-grabbing that even a performer like Sky Sailing had to put his ivory-tickling feathers on autopilot to track the pegasus.  Just to make sure that she wasn't about to do anything wild like knock over a shelf or something!  And while no such destructive whim was acted upon, he did observe her put Windy in a bit of an awkward spot.  Both feeling for his wife's position, and honestly too secure in her love to feel all that jealous, he gave a little nod when she silently asked permission to give Candy Corn a kiss, just as a friend, you know?  The poor shopkeeper was obviously flustered by that, and Sky couldn't help but be amused.  One's first kiss always seemed to have that effect.

 

For himself, he reserved a wry smile for when Pathfinder gave him a wave.  "You're not exactly wrong about them being cute together, but one of those mares is my wife, just so you know."  He lifted a wing to show the gold band that marked him as a taken stallion; Windy wore a similar on on her own.  His other wing stretched out to catch hold of Glimmer as she followed Aunt Candy with the caramel apples, his music given a pause as he and his daughter enjoyed their treats.

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