Mr. Tender arrived an hour after opening with a big smile on his face and came up to the bar. “If Ah didn’t believe in someone bringing good luck before, Ah do now, Yang.”

“So what’s got you in a good mood?” I asked as I cleaned a glass.

The owner looked side to side before leaning over the bar towards me. “So, after you got back on Friday, this important looking unicorn mare approached me and offered to straight up buy my house, and even cover my moving expenses.”

“You’re moving?”

“Ah’ve been thinking about adding a room for myself to the upstairs, and even had a bunch of things packed up and ready to go, but never got around to it. She even had a bunch of moving and construction ponies with her, and even offered to pay for it all.”

“Congratulations, then,” I said with a smile of my own. “How long will it take?”

“They’ll have the building supplies in on Tuesday, the room built by Thursday, and everything moved in by the end of the week.”

“Very nice. How much did she pay you?”

“Well, Ah don’t mean to boast or nothin’, but Ah’m certainly a millionaire now.”

“A million bits?” Something sounded a bit fishy about the situation.

“And she used these fancy silver ones that were worth five gold ones, too. Those are rare, and she used nothing but those to pay me.”

My interest was piqued. “This rich mare. Did she give a name?”

“She did. Lady Gold Leaf. Didn’t say why she wanted to buy my house, but with the kind of money and offer she was making, how could Ah have refused?”

I stopped at his description and thought for a bit. “Lady Gold Leaf. I’ve heard that name somewhere before, but where?”

“Anyways, Ah’d better get back to work here. The Rusty Horseshoe isn’t going to run itself, after all. Much as Ah love the bits, Ah love this place a bit more.” Without another word, he left the bar with a spring in his step and went into the office.

"Isn't she a noble?" I quietly mused on his story for a bit before a patron came up to the bar and asked for a cider and salt lick.

It was a busy Sunday night, and it looked like there were a few paparazzi ponies present. Unlike before, they were actually behaving themselves, likely because they knew what would happen if they got rowdy, and they probably wanted to see what I would wear on my last day behind the bar.

A local earth pony stallion came up to the bar. "So, how are you likin' Appleloosa, Miss Xiao Long?"

"It's been. . . Interesting, but I've mostly been behind this bar," I said. "And you are. . ."

"Pardon my manners, I didn't introduce myself. Name's Braeburn. Ah just got back from visiting relatives out in Manehattan. You ever been there?"

"Nope. Want something to drink?"

"A mug of cider and a few carrots, please."

"Coming up." After getting him his cider, I got the order for the carrots in. Moments later, they were out and in front of him. "And there you go."

"Thank ya kindly," Braeburn said after a long sip of cider. "The Oranges, the relatives out there, are good folk, but their definition of a good meal is overpriced and undersized. You wouldn't last an hour before getting hungry again."

"Artsy food, then?"

"Exactly!"

Before Braeburn could continue, a bigger stallion sat down next to him, his imposing form bringing an end to the conversation. "A mug of ale."

"Coming up." I quickly got the drink out for him. "Long day, Mr. Appleseed?"

"Had to cut down ten dead trees today," he answered before chugging down his whole drink. "It wasn't good."

I nodded at his answer. "Log day, then." Groans came at me from all along the bar.

After showering up and drying off, the towel thief apparently gone for good, I went back to my room and started packing my things up. I made sure the whole Barmaid set was neatly put away and the Sunflower set was out and ready for my last day on the job. "The week's just flown by. Tomorrow's payday, and then I'll be on my way home. I wonder if I’ll get to meet Sweet Cider?”

Just as I sat down on the bed, I came up with an idea. I got back up, looked out my window, and saw exactly what I needed for the plan. “If this works, I’m sure Mr. Tender won’t mind if I use one of those.”

Author's Notes:

Not much for this chapter. One more part to go.