//------------------------------// // Business Was Slow // Story: The Rising Rose // by Count Rodrigo de Vasquez //------------------------------// Roseluck looked from left to right, there hasn't been anypony who dropped by to her shop recently.Business was slow, as usual, she had been waiting for customers in the marketplace for several hours now. Idly, she raised a hoof and scratched her mane, the terrible heat of the afternoon was too much for her, but it was beginning to cool down now. She slouched on her flower cart, everything was quiet. There were barely any ponies in the marketplace today, everything was peaceful. The silence was accompanied only by the humming of birds around the bushes and the wind's soft whispers. "Ah well, no point in waiting for somepony if nopony is going 'round here anytime sooner." She sighed. She began to close down her little shop, just a few weeks ago the coronation yielded a booming business, sales were high and the bits were flowing, but now, everything took a U-turn to Depression Town and Looserville. She had barely enough bits to pay off her rents, and can barely even sustain herself, she's got about two weeks worth of money left to keep her kicking. Things weren't looking very pretty for the poor mare. "Dark skies ahead for me then.." she said as she stared at her cart. "Well, mother always said, 'When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade', I guess I do make a pretty mean cup of lemonade." She giggled, a small attempt to cheer herself up. She placed her saddle pack at her back and trotted in the direction of her where her apartment was located, the afternoon always filled the marketplace with an almost dynamic array of orange, which made her trip home more enjoyable. As she reached the town square,a familiar voice called out to her, it was one of her closest friend, Daisy. "Hiya, Roseluck!" "Oh, hi there Daisy, what brings you about town today?" "Ah nothin' just looking around town, got nothing else to do besides mope on the couch all day." "Well, I'm heading back home, wanna come and take a walk?" "I'd like that" The two mares trotted along the road, the afternoon sky was less bright as the hours pass by Roseluck has completely forgotten all about time as she spent the rest of her afternoon talking with a friend. They were right about friends being the outlet of your problems, they can really take out the daily tensions of your stressful life. But even friends can't take the horrible reality of life. Right around the corner Roseluck could see her apartment, she looked at Daisy and raised a hoof, an 'I have to go gesture' as Daisy understood. "Well, see you 'round next time then." Daisy chuckled, she swished her pale grayish green mane to the side which looked almost graceful to Roseluck. "See you around Daisy" Roseluck took the key from her saddle pack, she trotted to the door and opened it, once she was inside she immediately the herself on the couch. Tears rolled down her face, what was she gonna do? "Hey, you know, you can always talk to me." It was Daisy, who was just following her all along. "Your door was unlocked, and girl, I know for a fact that you wouldn't leave your door open unless you had something going on in your head, so what is it?" Roseluck slumped her head, 'might as well tell her' she thought to herself. "Well, Daisy, This whole flower cart business thing isn't doing very well, I have enough bits to pay my rents for this month, and after that comes the next month. I'm barely making any bits at all, and if I don't make any more by this month, then I'll have to leave, and where am I supposed to go? My mother would be glad to take me in but I don't want to trouble her with my problems." "You can always stay with me." Daisy suggested, her eyes seemed to brighten. "Daisy, you know I can't do that, I don't want to be a burde--" She was cut of by Daisy's hoof covering her mouth. "That's what friends are for isn't it?" Daisy smiled. "Daisy..." tears ran down Roseluck's eyes, she can't help it, the emotional strain of her current situation, backed up by this mighty act of generosity from her best friend was too much for even this strong mare to handle. Daisy sat down beside her and took her in her warm embrace. She could feel Roseluck's tears drench her chest. "There, there....I'm here for you Rosey, I'm here for you." Daisy's voice comforted Roseluck, it always had.It was a sort of a sister-like bond between the two, a bond not even the might of Discord can break. Outside, the sun was already setting, Daisy let go of Roseluck, still looking down at the distressed mare. Roselucks face was smudged with dried tears, like a white canvas smudged with grey stains. "It's getting late." Daisy's soft voice echoed through Roseluck's ear. "I should get going now." Daisy gave Roseluck a final hug before heading for the door. Roseluck just stood there watching, she forced a smile on Daisy trying to tell her she's going to be fine, but Daisy and Roseluck have been friends for many years now, and Daisy wouldn't easily buy her friend's faked assurances. "You're going to be fine Roseluck. I promise I'll help you out, through thick and thin." Daisy said as she trotted out the door. The sun was already halfway down and Roseluck was feeling exhausted, emotionally and physically. Millions of thoughts swirled around her head, 'what was she going to do next?' 'Would she be a burden to her very good friend?' 'Was this the end of her glory days?' The very thought of such things was enough to push Roseluck to the brink of insanity. She was thinking too much negativity on her future outcome, too much troubles and problems. She apparently cried herself to sleep.