The next morning did not begin well for Lyra as she prepared to open up shop.
"W-what do you mean? Do you really have to leave now?" Lyra gestured with a hoof towards her newest merchandise. "But we just finished all of the small contracts! We were supposed to go do the really good ones now!" Her ears drooped.
"I know, right?" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Of course I have to go off to some far-off place to save Equestria again at the worst possible time." Her sarcasm was bitter as she threw her hooves up in obvious frustration. "Just when things were starting to get good, too."
There was silence throughout the shop as Lyra, Bon Bon, and Rainbow Dash all thought about the implications of this revelation. Lyra was going to be without the top adventurer in the guild. In fact, Rainbow Dash had been the only adventurer she had used up to this point. She wasn't even sure who else, besides Trixie, was a member.
Bon Bon seemed to have read her mind, because she said, "Who's going to go adventuring with us now?" She looked at Rainbow Dash. "Can you recommend anypony else from the guild?"
Rainbow shifted awkwardly. "Well, actually–"
"She can't!" a high-pitched voice shouted.
Lyra turned to face the newcomer and only wondered briefly how she managed to get inside when the door was locked. "Hi, Pinkie Pie!" She tilted her head. "Why can't Rainbow recommend anypony from the guild?"
"Because most members keep their guild activity a secret!" Pinkie wrapped a hoof around Rainbow Dash's shoulders. "Dashie didn't even tell me she was a member until three days ago!"
Rainbow glanced at Pinkie. "Um, I actually never told you directly. You just showed up out of nowhere and asked Flam if you could request me personally for a job. Remember?"
Pinkie shrugged. "Same difference. Anyway," she said, looking back at Lyra and Bon Bon, "since nopony knows who's in the guild, anypony could be a member!" She zipped over to Lyra, her snout inches from Lyra's own. "Your own sister could be a member!"
"I don't have a sister," Lyra said.
"Or maybe somepony's brother!" Pinkie continued, apparently not listening. She gasped and rushed over to Rainbow Dash. "Maybe somepony you look up to!" She hopped away, leaving Rainbow to just stare quizzically after her. She stopped before Bon Bon and shrugged. "Or maybe just somepony trying to discover who she is. You can never tell who might be a member."
Bon Bon raised an eyebrow. "Or, instead of being mysterious we could always, you know, ask the Flim Flam brothers."
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "They won't reveal anything," she said. "Part of the draw of the guild is that Flim and Flam have agreed to protect the identities of its members. There are some ponies who would rather keep any kind of association with those two a secret, if you know what I mean."
Lyra nodded. "Well, that makes sense, I guess." She gestured to Rainbow. "Still, isn't it a bit odd that you don't know any other members? What about all the ponies we've seen at the guild headquarters before? And what about you? Flim didn't keep your membership a secret from us!"
"I didn't tell him to. Anyway, the Flim Flam brothers will let in anyone with bits to spend," Rainbow explained. "Most of the ponies you see are just there for a few drinks." She frowned slightly. "And I actually do know one of the other members. Your buddy, Iron Will."
"Not any more," Bon Bon muttered. "He recently quit."
Rainbow shrugged. "Well in that case, I can't help you." She stretched her wings and headed towards the exit. "And Pinkie and I need to get going before we have to sit through another lecture from Twilight Sparkle on punctuality." She shuddered.
"Wait," Lyra called as Rainbow opened the door. "How are we supposed to find out who the other guild members are?"
"Just look for a diamond in the rough!" Pinkie said as she bounced outside. The door closed behind her, leaving Lyra and Bon Bon to themselves.
"Well," Bon Bon said, "I doubt Trixie would tell us who the other members are, even if she knew." Her face suddenly brightened. "But Iron Will should be here later to tell us about next week's payment. Maybe he'll be able to help!"
The two friends got to work on getting the shop opened for the day's business, unaware that the news Iron Will carried with him was nothing at all to smile about.
..o0o..
"Welcome to Lyra's Ultimate Item Emporium, how can I–" Lyra blinked. "Oh hello, Iron Will! Care to buy a hammer?"
Iron Will shook his head as he entered the store. "Iron Will is just here on business today." He took a cursory look around the shop. "Not so busy today, hm?"
Lyra hung her head slightly. "Today was supposed to be an adventure day, but Rainbow Dash is off fighting monsters with her friends." She looked up at the minotaur and offered a small, hopeful grin. "Actually, Bon Bon and I were hoping that maybe you could recommend someone, seeing as you used to be a member."
Iron Will shrugged his massive shoulders. "If Iron Will recommended anyone, it would have been the rainbow pony. She is strong and self-assured, unlike most ponies." He blinked and grinned sheepishly. "Iron Will means no offense, of course."
"None taken!" Lyra said. "I don't suppose there's anypony else you could recommend? We'll take anyone, really."
"Hm..." Iron Will thought for a moment, then held up a finger, but Bon Bon cut him off.
"Besides Trixie," she muttered.
Unfortunately for Lyra and Bon Bon, Iron Will had no one else to suggest. Like Rainbow Dash, he wasn't aware of who the other members of the Adventurer's Guild were. He had only been a member for a few days, and most of his time had been spent dealing with Can't Run, Can't Hide.
"Speaking of which," Iron Will said, "Iron Will must discuss the matters concerning your next payment." He brought out his clipboard and studied it for a moment. "As you are aware, you were successful in making last week's payment of five thousand bits. Congratulations!"
Lyra smiled. Her hard work had paid off. Sure, this week might be more difficult without Rainbow Dash to collect on some easy contracts for her, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem to find a suitable replacement. Five thousand bits was a lot of money, but Lyra's Ultimate Item Emporium had already proven itself to be more than capable of bringing in enough bits within the deadline. She would make it work.
"It is now Iron Will's duty," Iron Will continued, "to inform you of this week's payment, due in seven day's time."
Lyra saw Bon Bon looking at her out of the corner of her eye. They both knew that they already had over a thousand bits saved up to go towards this week's payment. They would be able to relax a little this week, and perhaps have enough bits in excess to purchase some upgraded displays and shelving. Perhaps a flash sale would bring them in enough bits within a day or two to pay everything off.
Iron Will looked up from the clipboard. "It is with pleasure that Iron Will announces that this week's payment is a mere twenty thousand bits!" He glanced down at the ponies and smiled.
He then blinked and scratched his head. For some reason, both the ponies had fainted.
... 20 K. Ouch. Time to put noses to the grindstone, mares! Buckle down and deal with Trixie, if you gotta...
20 thousand bits?
OK, Im calling it now. these guys are desperate for cash income as tehy have shed load of loans and debts and are being called in on.
Now, how can Lyra pull the rug out from under them and buy them out.
Better than Pinkamena and Dans idea of lets just burn the place to the ground and shoot any who try to escape.
i just started playing recettear a few days ago so my reaction when i saw a story like this featured was something like:
my god... I MUST READ IT
It's so obvious, the Crusaders would probably do it just for the life experience.
6257428 "Sweetie Belle, get away from that slime!"
"But it's so cute! Ouch!"
Wow, 5 to 20? The game goes 10 to 30. You've got a much bigger relative jump here.
6257907 Have to keep readers on their toes.
Whoa, you've been writing this bad boy for 2 years?
What a casual. I've been playing Recettear for two and a half. You best have another year's worth of content planned.
6257969 I know!
Over half my stories were written after I began this one. But this is the year I decided that I need to keep at it and pay it more attention.
Considering that Lyra only knows the identities of two adventurers, and she's only just received her week 2 goal, I have a bit more writing to do.
"You called? I must admit, I'm not much of a fighter, but I do try to keep fit..."
6257980 Well, in that case, may the ride be never-ending and the fun be...I don't know you get the idea.
6257980
So a Recettear x Ponies?
My Interest Piqued.
6258282 Whoops! My bad for having a life outside of writing. Never fear! I'll work extra-hard at ignoring my work, wife, children, and the six employees who rely on me to provide them an earning wage so that they can enjoy life so that I can write enough words to satisfy you.
Dang. It seems like those two just can't catch a break. Also, congrats, Slorgy, you made me stay up to 2 AM reading this
6258408 Doncha just hate how that pesky real life prevents you from churning out stories on the petty demands of your fans who give you no means to survive? I mean. What kind of harsh reality is this that distracts you with a loving family, a decent paying job, and associations who rely on you? I just don't understand at all what could appeal about that over slaving away over stories for random stranger's approval with no other gain at all.
On a more serious, less sarcastic note, thank you for taking the time you do spend to write this. It's a very enjoyable read. Amusing, peaceful, and heartfelt. I look forward to the next chapter, whenever it's released. Take your time, do it right, and enjoy your life.
6258408 While I would love for this story to be updated more frequently as it's currently one of my favourites on the site...No. Do not ignore your home life. That will not end well.
(I know you were being sarcastic but I wanted to throw my voice in with the other sane, not demanding fans)
The both knew that they already
1. They.
derpicdn.net/img/2013/10/16/450027/large.png
6258856 Oh man, that's the greatest.
6258942
Too bad there is not a lot of ponified pics.
derpicdn.net/img/view/2015/7/22/941672__safe_crossover_ponified_recettear_artist-colon-d00mf1sh_recette.jpeg
6258718
6258749
It's the support of readers like you who keep a guy smiling and wanting to write even more. Thank you.
6258751 Thanks for pointing out that derp.
Corrected.
Well, also the fact that apparently the company Slorg's basing this off of (in-game from Recettear) has positively USURIOUS interest rates.
In-game it's justified as a "git gud, scrub" difficulty ramp... but yeah, as a story, it's a bit harsh.
I'm sorry, i had to.
6259560
... Well, your certainly a personality.
6259625 You bet.
6259398
yeah those kids suck dont they? they expect you to sell at like 106% instead of the usually 130% for them
... You quadrupled the damn payment...
ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!?
6258971 This is the correct reader/writer relationship. The author enjoys the thanks of his fans, but doesn't feel obligated to them. The fans, meanwhile, enjoy the work but do not feel entitled to it. I don't understand why other people don't get this.
Anyway, it's no problem. Enjoying things like this is the easier part, and voicing appreciation isn't difficult.
You, on the other hand, have the comparatively difficult part, so we can only thank you instead.
6258751 Every so often, I see typos in some of the better stories, and I go to correct them. And then I realize that you'll be along shortly to point it out, and I don't want to spoil your fun.
6260121 I, however, am and evil litarary critic and spread chaos and disharmony where ever I go.
That said, I can't complain about this fic, since it's set up it's light-hearted conflict nicely and has just the right exaggerations to fit the tone.
Poor Lyra's next payment is a perfect example of the gradual escalation. Loan sharks, SRSLY! Readers can easily be drawn into the flow, hardly noticing the incremental upward shifts as they're so involved in the narrative.
This story would make an interesting and amusing side series to FiM, keeping tone with the rest of the world.
Hmn, a diamond in the rough. So, Aladdin? Pony Aladdin?
6258408 That particular dude is a known site troll, I wouldn't let him get under your skin. I would have sworn he was banned, actually.
Hehe, silly ponies fall down go boom.
6271751 Fun, no?
20000 bits is only the second part and I doubt they'll be able to work it off in a week and I also shudder to think how high the total debt must be. If this trend continues then 25000 is less than half of the total. How come the debt is so high and why would Lyra's parents need suich huge amounts of money? I hope the story will provide a sufficient answer.