Crecious' Short Story Collection

She found an empty bottle on the beach. Its green glass had caught her eyes as she scoured the beach for loot. Her magic wrapped around the treasure, lifting it up to inspect. It wasn't chipped or cracked at all. Perfect condition! This was likely to fetch her a nice price...

Her face was covered by a sunhat, keeping the bright sunlight at bay, while her mane and tail were both put back in braids, making sure they stayed up and out of the sand. Nothing worse than a sandy mane and tail.

She case left and right and then left to make sure she was alone in having discovered this piece of glass. Fights sometimes broke out over items found out on the beach. Usually, they were settled quickly, but this wasn't a time to waste energy.

She wasn't a very strong pony. She was delicate and frail, preferring peaceful forms of conflict resolution. But in her business it was cutthroat.

Content no pony else had seen it she tucked it away in her saddle bag and trotted off the beach, shaking her little hooves once she was on the board walk and took off to the left.

GoldenRod, the mare made her meager living off the items she found deserted or washed ashore, it was her only source of income currently and she was desperate for some food. Her stomach growled loudly, she was hungry.

Picking up the pace, she turned into a building with "Junk Yard" written on the sign outside. It was the place any pony with goods or junk could go to hawk it off for a few extra coins.

She entered and went for the bell on the counter. She tapped it and a clear crisp sound filled the store. She cast around, there were bottles, cans, buckets made of both plastic and metal. Even some musical instruments were adorning the walls. All were broken in one way or another. One that caught her eye was a very badly damaged guitar missing all it's strings and a large crack ran from the neck to the bottom. Clearly the pony who'd previously owned it hadn't cared for it well...

"Ah, Goldie.. What have you got today, not shells I hope. They don't sell." Goldie was well known in this store, and the owner had a nickname for her. His old friendly face appeared from the back. He'd always been so welcoming to her, helping teach her the kinds of things that were desired and sought after. This time, instead of shells which she used to do in desperation, she thought this one would be of some fancy.

The owner's short-cropped mane and tail were both salt and peppered. His coal coat was also becoming peppered with white. He was getting on in age but never stopped doing what he was doing. Enjoying the ponies and items that came in. Rumor had it, some pony brought in a chest that was incredibly heavy. Taking four unicorns to lift it. The pony couldn't open it and the chest was so rusty he thought it garbage. But he took it in and opened it, finding thousands of coins worth in gold. He offered it back to the donor. But in the end, they split the loot.

"Not this time." She replied. "This time it's a good one, I promise!" She lit her horn and brought the bottle out from her saddle bag and it floated in her will to him.

The store wasn't a pawn shop per se, it was a recycle location where ponies who had something of value could hawk it for a few spare coins. Usually what was popular was glass, metal, wood and sometimes rocks. There were a few gemstones here and there. But nothing extravigant. Ponies from plants would come to collect the mass of items they could use to create more for their business or, sell to other businesses for a profit.

The owner, who's name was Foil looked at it with amusement and nodded.

"That's a good find, may I?" He held out his hoof. She watched him roll it in his hooves, testing the smooth surface for bumps or ridges. When she had looked it hadn't seemed to have any, as close to perfect as she'd ever seen.

Most glass that was found wasn't intact bottles. Shards or even rolled shards that had rounded edges were most common. Whole bottles though? Very rare indeed.

After a few more moments of looking at it, he put it on the table and turned his gaze to her.

"This is a good piece, Goldie. I can offer you five Shoe Bits." That was the currency and that price was mid range for something like this. She frowned.

"Can't you go just a little higher?" She asked. "Eight? Would you do that?" She had a desperate edge to her voice. She'd never admit it but last night she'd gone without food because of how little she'd found the day before.

He looked down at the young mare.

"I can do seven and not a bit higher. You know they'll just smelt it down to make new bottles, right? I'm trying to make a profit here too, love."

"I know." She replied, frowning softly. "I know you need to do what's right for you too.."

Inwardly scowling, she extended her hoof. It was as good a deal as she'd get, better take it before he changes his mind. He was a fair and just pony. Most of the time, but occasionally he was out for his own good.

They shook and a few minutes later she was walking outside the shop with a little purse of clinking coins.

It was enough to get her food for today.

She checked the purse and counted the coins. Instead of finding seven. She found ten whole bits.

That little empty bottle had possibly just saved her life.