Author's Note

This is based on the Lady (un)Luck Casino series by Blue64, the story is inspired by the art series but is not the official story of the series, for that you will have to follow the art.

Prologue

Sphinx looked over the earnings and expense reports with a predatory smile, her sharp teeth glistened just a moment before her laughter filled the office causing her buxom bust to shake in her legless leotard with gold trimming along the top of the bustline. Her maroon fur seemed a bit shinier than usual, and her tail twitched about in approval. Her chair and desk were composed of a noticeably gleaming mahogany, and styled with gold ink-paint to have quite a few desert images, which gave the office a distinct look. According to the reports, the casino’s expenses were almost a third of the revenue generated by the establishment. It seems far more visitors were willing to put themselves in debt than are willing to admit to such. Looking over to the next set of papers, she sighed, another list of applicants to look over. Despite the fantastic income and competitive pay, several employees on the floor kept filing for their service time before the end of their first month, she was sure she didn’t put that much stress on her employees. Now she had to find a half dozen new employees, maybe more, by month’s end.

Everyone called her Sphinx, even her closet employees, and she was fine with that. The sphinx race habitually allowed itself to be referred to by its race due to their general solitary nature, especially in regards to others of their own race, a fact very few were even aware of, even the so-called most learned scholars were generally unaware of the fact. Did she have a proper name? Yes, was she going to share it with anyone? Only if they proved worthy to know the fact. To date, only about a dozen individuals had earned the right to know her proper name, and only 1 was currently living last time she checked. Sphinx reinvented herself every few decades, a habit of most of her race, due to her race’s generally long lifespan. Due to their unique mystic properties, sphinxes had average lifespans measured in centuries. How old was Sphinx herself? It’s considered quite rude to ask a female her age, especially particularly long-lived ones.

There were a few applicants, but the ones that caught Sphinx’s attention the most were a demure yellow pegasus named Fluttershy and a reserved gray earth pony named Marble Pie. Chances were very likely their applications were either a result of coercion from someone trying to break them out of their shells or a joke by a third party. Fluttershy would make for an excellent waitstaff, her natural flying ability would enable her to get to patrons on the upper levels more effectively. Marble Pie would probably do better as a card dealer, maybe poker or Twenty-One (better known as Blackjack by some) to start things off. Sphinx had started Umbra out on poker, the mare had begun flourishing surprisingly fast and well, probably had something to do with her elitist attitude that had mellowed a bit into a haughty but respectful manner these days.

While confident ladies were usually good for business reasons, ladies who are a bit more reserved would probably attract more business, as well. Sphinx herself was confident, she had to be as the Casino’s owner and primary manager. Yes, having ladies that are naturally a bit more...submissive would work out well for business. Now, she just had to arrange interviews, face to face meetings always helped.

The casino also needed some non-gambling entertainment, Queen Novo of the sea ponies offered her services, as well as those of her daughter, as entertainment. A lot of the floorspace would have to have pools and fountains built into them, possibly with some kind of light show that could be programmed and adjusted. Sphinx, naturally, accepted the offer and began renovation plans for the entire Casino. It wouldn’t do to have her star performers be unable to reach most of the public spaces on the main floor, Sphinx was making sure there were water passageways for her aquatic stars. If the two had a way to navigate without the need for the watery passageways, all the better, but Sphinx liked to make sure all her employees had some measure of comfort.