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.