A Dazzling Trio

Chapter X: One Achievement Follows Another

Author's Notes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKLOPgJbGio 
Yep. It's been more than a month since I've uploaded a chapter to this story~ A lot has happened honestly. I got back from my trip to Japan and it was amazing~ I feel really inspired and I won't ever forget that trip. A Dazzling World also got to 100 kudos on AO3!!! Honestly, that's a big achievement to me and this chapter is sort of a celebratory chapter for that achievement. This is the longest chapter of A Dazzling Trio up to this point and I really wanted to put in a lot of set up for the new direction this story is going after this chapter. I'm sure you can probably tell where it is going after reading this~ And yes, the final scene of this chapter is something you've probably seen before elsewhere ;) Regardless, I am really happy that A Dazzling World got 100 kudos on AO3 and it's almost to 100 likes on FIMFiction as well~ I hope you all enjoy this latest installment of the Sundagioverse!

Chapter X: One Achievement Follows Another

Unlocking the door to the music studio, it's hard for me to not enjoy the sound of the bell ringing, making the establishment feel more alive than it has in a year. That single sound reminds me that this place is mine. There are still numerous things that need to be fixed, but for now? This is a day of celebration. I'll make sure of it. The lights in the studio flicker on within a second and I can't help but enjoy the sight. All of this is owned by me now. Not someone above me. I own this business and I can do with it what I please, when I want. I'm determined to turn it into something bigger than it ever was...

Walking into the studio from behind me, Applejack sets a couple bags down on the counter near the door as Rarity sets her sights on the studio itself. Clearly, a look of surprise overcomes both of them, but the cowgirl is able to contain it more than her girlfriend.

"Oh my gosh... You own all of this, darling?" Rarity asks in disbelief, walking further into the studio. Her hand briefly feels the furniture in the main area of the studio. Applejack simply looks at the walls and the ceiling, nodding to herself.

"It is quite impressive, Sugarcube. Gosh. Knowing you, I bet ya have some pretty big plans for the place, right?" Applejack's eyes look towards me with curiosity, wanting to hear whatever I have planned. I can't help but chuckle at her curious nature.

"Well, I can say that my plans are decently sized~" I tease my friend, placing the grocery bag in my hand on the counter next to Applejack's bags. Taking out a bottle, I smile at the label showing my favorite kind of whiskey. Four Roses Single Barrel. I'd say today is a special occasion that justifies this little treat~

"Before you get too focused on those plans of yours, ya may want to have someone inspect the walls," Applejack tells me with her eyes focused on the ceiling, seemingly trying to observe any change. She looks so focused that you can almost swear that she's trying to spot any movement in the paint.

"What do you mean exactly...?" I ask her with a raised eyebrow, placing the bottle back down. Applejack's behavior feels very... weird. What the hell does she mean? Is there something I should know about? I guess she does know more about repairs than me, but I'm hoping nothing is wrong with the studio...

"From the looks of it, this building has been around for a while. The pipes may be outdated and if there's any sign of mold, ya need to take care of it early to avoid spending a fortune on it. Since the bakery below the studio also owns a portion of the building, I'm guessing you would have some sort of insurance." Applejack traces her finger across the wall, her eyes still focused on the paint with furrowed eyebrows.

"You can tell all of that from the wall?" I ask her with a slight chuckle, not believing her statement momentarily. Even though Applejack is always honest with me, it's hard for me to understand how she could tell that from the wall. The cowgirl looks towards me with a serious expression, clearly not a fan of my humorous chuckle.