The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Chapter 22 - Fliers, Flirtations & Flight Patterns

“Oh Rarity, you're a scandal! I can't believe you!” Starlight said in surprise as Spike laughed along side while they walked through the streets of Ponyville.

“What?!” She said innocently, knowing full well that no one was buying it. “It was the perfect solution for pulling Twilight out when she gets stuck in a loop! Listen, the other girls and I have seen Twilight obsess and obsess about getting things perfect and we just did not have that kind of time. Besides, things were getting much too dramatic even for my tastes." Now the other two stopped and blinked at her. "W-what?"

"Too dramatic for YOUR tastes?" Starlight chuckled as Spike covered a snicker with his claws.

Rarity rolled her eyes knowing full well that drama had become a trademark of hers. "The point that I am trying to make, is that Twilight really does need a break from any other serious business. We'll give Twilight some time to do what she loves the most which is researching. Then we'll head on over to where there's trouble to once more save the day... and we'll do it with the help of hero of the Crystal Empire!" Rarity said while nudging her new boyfriend playfully. "Then later, maybe much later, we can finally finish discussing with Twilight the facts about our… relationship.” She said smiling to Spike.

Starlight rolled her eyes but then smiled. “I never knew you could be so mischievous. I like it.”

“Oh well darling, I am just full of surprises." After turning around a corner the three finally saw the Carousel Boutique in the distance. It was right about then that Rarity whispered over to Starlight, "And speaking of surprises, how about I throw together something fetching for you to wear on your next date with Rayne? It could be my thank you gift for helping Spike and I out when we needed it with Twilight.”

Starlight was definitely caught of guard as she choked out, “F-fetching?! Rarity! Just what exactly do you expect Rayne and I to be doing together?! We've only had a single date!" Starlight insisted. Rarity however, did not miss the sudden blush to her friend's cheeks.

"Ohhh, I don't know. Maybe something along the lines of you on your back, hooves up in the air, oH! Oh Rayne!" Rarity teased, slowly speaking louder and louder until Starlight quickly snapped her hooves over her snout.

"Will you be quiet?! Other ponies are going to hear and... ohhh, this is payback for earlier when I embarrassed you and Twilight with my questions, isn't it?" Starlight said flatly as Rarity just smirked while they walked on together.

"Yes well, with all humor aside the offer still stands darling. We could put together a modest outfit for you. Maybe a summer dress to compliment your mane? And as for under the dress, you could be wearing something much more... risque? Who knows if you might need it or not with a stallion like Rayne around. And should you decide that you aren't prepared to take things to that level then you simply needn't even let him know what you have on underneath. But wouldn't you rather be prepared? Just in case you do decide to... look up at him from below?" The two had paused now, sharing a private moment before walking any further.

Starlight bit her lip as she gave it some thought. "Oh no, really! You don't have to… well I mean, I suppose it's true l that I don't actually own anything you could call ‘fetching.’ Oh, it wouldn't be too embarrassing to wear out in public would it?” She asked with a mix of nervousness and giddiness. Then with a smirk Starlight added, "And wait a minute, who ever said that Rayne would be the one ontop?"

She laughed as Rarity's jaw dropped. "Oh now look who is the scandalous one!" They laughed together as Starlight just winked. But before they could continue on they noticed Spike waiving up to them. "What is it dear? Is something wrong?" Rarity asked.

Looking up to the two mares he pointed their attention down to the opposite end of the road. “I was going to let you two finish your girl talk but... isn't that Aloe Vera walking over this way? Why she isn't working at the day spa today?”

The three of them looked forward to see a pale rose colored earth pony with a light cerulean mane making her way up the road. In one hoof she seemed to be carrying a twine tied stack of papers. “Oooh hello there Rarity, hello there Rarity's friends.” She called out as she trotted over.

“Aloe, what a nice surprise to see you. Muah, muah!” Rarity greeted her before they both kissed toward each other's cheeks. “What brings you out into the town? Do you have the day off today?”

“Oh no, I am advertising to Ponyville about a great new service that the spa will be introducing in just a few days!” She announced happily in her nasally voice.

Now Rarity gave a small cheer, definitely becoming excited by this news. “Oh really? What sort of service is it?”

Aloe struggled a little bit as she attempted to remove just a single flier from the stack. “Oh well it is very new. It is called chiro-...chiropractic service. Yes, that's it!”

But the mares looked to each other a little confused. “Uh, that doesn't really tell us anything about what the service actually is. Like, at all.” Starlight pointed out.

“Oh well yes, it is a little difficult to explain. If you have a pain or a sore spot in your body we can now pop the part of you that hurts back into place and then you feel better than new again!”

“Uh, you pop… ponies?” Spike asked, sounding a little worried.

“Do not worry!” She encouraged. “Everything is safe and fine! We have a new specialist who will help with everything. We had a full demonstration of the practice with the staff at the spa and believe me, it felt WONDERFUL afterwards.”

“Well…” Rarity said, interjecting into the matter. “If it was good enough for you Aloe then it is good enough for me. I'd be happy to at least give it a try. I do have some business calling me to the Crystal Empire tomorrow. But as long as I am not delayed then I will look forward to being there the day after for the big opening.”

“Oh thank you, thank you Rarity! You have always been one of my favorite customers! That is why I made the journey all the way to your boutique to deliver a flier face to face for you. I was surprised to see you were closed but your super stylish sign definitely made it all clear. Well, until I next see you. Ta ta dear!” After that Aloe Vera trotted off to deliver more fliers to other ponies.

But Rarity then turned to the other two and said, “My sign? What sign? I didn't leave any sort of sign.” They all rushed off now in a hurry to see what their spa friend had been talking about.

A moment later the three of them all stood before the Carousel Boutique and hanging from the door was the most elaborate sign that any of then had ever seen. It looked to be made of a polished redwood, the letters were woven in gold and it had an adorable little caricature of Rarity on it. Spike walked up and read it aloud. “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! I Rarity am taking a short leave from the store but my other departments in Canterlot and Manehattan will remain open. In case of an emergency please inquire at the Castle of Friendship.”

Rarity was astounded as she unlocked the door and brought the sign in with them. “Oh why, this is absolutely charming! Look at the cute little me! But, how could this delightful item have come to be here? I didn't request anypony to make this for me.”

“Maybe it was left as a gift?” Starlight suggested.

Rarity thought for a moment. “Oh? But from whom? Oh wait, was this here when we came back last night?”

Starlight shook her head. “I don't know. You were in a hurry so I popped us right here to the lobby and then back again. Remember?”

“Oh so that's what you were doing when you ran off.” Spike said and both of the girls looked embarrassed having forgotten for a moment that Spike was still with them.

While magically opening up all of the blinds that had been shut Rarity pondered aloud, “Starlight, you know the story of what happened in the boutique. When I left, there were three individuals who still remained behind in my workshop. Not to discredit her but this craftsmanship seems a little beyond Zecora's hooves. And Twilight had become exhausted, I doubt she would have had it in her to magic this together. You don't think it's possible that it was a present from Discord do you?”

- Later that Afternoon -

“Wow, this looks like a bigger event than I thought it was going to be.” Rayne said in surprise as he walked with Maud to a camp ground filled with tent stands and wagons. There were several rows of carriages and carts alike that had exhibit displays opened to show off the contents within.

Maud walked with him speaking in her usual tone as she stated, “It takes a lot of work to put an event like this together. The displays gathered here can sometimes be very heavy. So each are wheeled in individually rather than trying to deliver them to a standard exhibit hall.” Rayne just nodded as they stepped up to an admission booth that was setup. He didn't have a lot of bits but he had been paid a small sum as an advance by the spa ponies when he had given each of them a personalized chiropractic session. He happily paid for both his and Maud’s entry before they stepped in together.

“So have you been to one of these shows before?” Rayne asked, trying to involve himself more in her interests.

“I try to regularly attend any showcasing of rocks, minerals and gemstones in Equestria. But no, this event is special. It shows how the permineralization process of petrification in all organic material is replaced entirely with silicates.” Her face actually lit up with genuine excitement as she explained.

He smiled having it warm his heart to see Maud so happy. “I think I understand what you mean by that. It's when water has little bits of metals or minerals floating in it. Then that water seeps into the pores of other things like wood or stone. There is no oxygen down in there for decay to occur, so instead those metals or minerals sort of contaminate the object and that is what leads to the petrification." Now Maud stopped for a moment looking to him surprised. Feeling like he was impressing her he continued on. "I know that different kinds of contaminants create different colors in rocks which is how some gems are formed... but when the same thing happens to wood it becomes petrified. Isn't that right?” He asked while looking to her encouragingly.

It took her a moment but eventually she just smiled at him and said, “That's not the way I would have worded it but, yes that is about right.”

Rayne smiled back and told her, “I may not know as much as you or have all the vocabulary down… but I'm interested in this too. Let's go look at it ‘together’ okay?” Maud didn't say another word but he noticed how she very happily held onto his hoof as they both walked in to see the first exhibit.

As they browsed around they took their time looking over each display and sometimes stopping to ask questions about a particular item. The event itself wasn't too crowded with other ponies and Rayne didn't know if that was normal or if it was because they arrived so late in the day. But he could tell that to Maud that didn't matter. She walked around with him as if they were the only two ponies that were there and it made Rayne feel overjoyed to see just how excited each new specimen in the exhibit was making her.

- Up in the Wonderbolts Locker Room -

“Rrraaah!” An angry pegasus yelled, grabbing the towel from around her neck and throwing it to the floor. Immediately she winced through a heavy black eye as every other pegasi in the room turned to look at her.

“Hey, chill out Crash! We're all upset but do you know how hard it was to get your bandages to sit right?!” Misty Fly complained but everyone could hear it was more out of concern than from agitation.

Rainbow Dash just sighed and picked up her towel. “I know, I'm sorry Dizzy. Don't worry, I'm okay. Thank you for helping me with that. But I just… tell me honestly. Did I totally screw up and make everything worse for Spitfire than it had to be?” She looked to her friends with a solemn expression. “If there is anything that I hate most of all, it's letting my pals down.”

She looked up as a stallion put his hoof on her shoulder. “Don't worry about it.” Soarin told her. “You didn't let anypony down. Especially not Spitfire. We were all thinking it but you were the only one of us brave enough to say it. That eighth challenge just doesn't make any sense. There doesn't seem to be any way around it.”

Suddenly Blaze chimed in with a mocking tone. “Yeah, and Crash sure showed us that going ‘through it' isn't an alternative to going around it.” Several of the pegasi laughed but then winced from their own injuries.

Rainbow Dash closed her locker and turned to the group. “I don't know you guys, something just doesn't feel right about this. I hear what you're all saying but something inside is telling me that I'm not doing all I can for this situation.”

“Don't push it Dash.” Surprise said with concern. "You've already done more than any of us! We don't like seeing you get hurt.”

The multicolored pegasus just smiled and nodded. “No more recklessness, I promise. But still, I dont think that's it. I know I don't need to but I'm going to go apologize to Spitfire. Fleetfoot never came back from helping her so I also want to make sure that she’s okay.” The rest just nodded and waved goodbye to her for the night as most of them headed for the dorm this evening instead of making the trip back to their homes.

After walking down the corridors to Spitfire's administrative room Rainbow Dash stopped when she realized that she could hear loud shouting coming through the door. “What?! Is that Flash Magnus’ voice? What is he still doing here?” She wondered. She ducked down to listen in first before making her presence known.

“I told you, it's not like that! They are excellent fliers and they are doing the best they can! Your training course is too hard!” Spitfire yelled out, sounding like she was pretty upset herself.

“Too hard?!” Came the angry stallion's voice. “This is the course that we would use for the RESERVES! If your Wonderbolts can't make it through this then I would call it a serious endangerment to their health to even let them look at the training our fully fledged legionnaires would go through!”

“Listen! Ow-, I said they can do it and I know they can!” She argued but from the sound of her voice she wasn't holding up very well from her injury.

Clearly he was angry but now Magnus' voice did soften a bit. “Spitfire look, I respect you. And I do respect the Wonderbolts. Please relax, you needn't strain yourself any farther.” But his momentary sympathy did not stop him from quickly toughened back up again. “But it's time to face facts! The Wonderbolts do not work as a team! If this were a millennia ago and they were trying out for the Legion, not a single one of you would make the cut even as powerful of fliers as you are. Every single one in your squad is trying to show off how good they are and that's all they seem to care about. I gave you three days! Three days for the Wonderbolts to conquer my gauntlet or else you admit that the lot of you are just a bunch of show ponies! That was the bet that we made and you agreed to! But from what I've seen, you wouldn't be able to pull it together even if I gave you three years!”

Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide as she couldn't believe her ears. She thought she would hear a fiery retort from Spitfire but instead all she heard was a gasp from Fleetfoot. “Did you really agree to that?” Now daring to peek in through the window she saw Spitfire sitting on a stool and nodding sorrowfully. Behind her Fleetfoot was struggling to rebandage the wound on Spitfire's head. As she pulled the existing bandage away Rainbow Dash gasped seeing a massive gash on Spitfire's temple that was bleeding down behind her ear.

Seeing this was too much for the Rainbow to take as she suddenly charged into the room. “Now hold on just a minute!” She yelled with her sense of loyalty compelling her to stand up for her friend. All of the others shouted in surprise, questioning what she was suddenly doing there. “I just came by to see how my commander and friend was doing after practice today! Because that's what the Wonderbolts are to each other, we're friends with each other! And friends don't yell at one another when they have a bleeding head wound!”

“Go home Rainbow Dash! I've got this!” Growled a rather embarrassed looking Spitfire.

But Dash just turned to her with a smug grin. “Yeah right. Come on, what do you think the chances of me actually listening to that are?” Spitfire looked like she wanted to argue for a moment but then let it go and just smiled to her. The commander gave Dash a soft hoof bump to show her gratitude and then turned away towards Fleetfoot so she could be bandaged properly. Now Dash looked back to Magnus who just crossed his hooves proudly. “Now listen here! The Wonderbolts are a symbol of hope, integrity and loyalty all across Equestria! We eat, sleep and train as a team! I understand that you are trying to help but just because we might do things differently from how you used to do them does NOT give you the right to stomp on the name of that!”

Magnus just snorted feeling unimpressed. “Rainbow Dash, I like you. I really do. You've got spirit. But spirit alone won't help you against a rampaging monster who is attacking your home!”

But Dash was amped and ready to argue for their cause. “No, it won't. But faith and trust in my friends will! Just like when my other friends helped to expel the real evil in the Pony of Shadows that you and your friends helped create! Before you judge, maybe you should take a moment and see what YOU could be learning from US!”

Magnus grumbled a bit but then softened. “Listen, this isn't about all that. This training course has a very specific purpose and just none of you are getting it. It would spoil it all for me to just give you the answer. But I do wish every pegasus had your overwhelming amount of loyalty. If they did then maybe things on the course would be different.”

Now Rainbow Dash grit her teeth. “Don't try to make me sound like I'm better than any pony else! All of us have just as much loyalty as the rest! I-... Wait a minute…” She stopped suddenly which then drew all eyes in the room to her. She looked up as if she realized something but then choose to ignore it as she stared back to Magnus sternly. “Listen, obviously nopony is going to be continuing training tonight! And certainly not in this room! As such, I think that you should leave!” Now every pony gasped at Dash’s boldness. “Come on, I mean it. I've got things to do tonight but no way am I leaving with you still in here with Spitfire. So go home Magnus, the Wonderbolts will see you on the field in the morning!”

The legionnaire continued to give her a stern eye but after a moment he turned away without saying another word. He looked back to Spitfire, then to Fleetfoot, then to Dash before finally stepping out the door. “Wow.” Fleetfoot gasped, feeling amazed by the initiative her friend had just taken.

“You're really something, you know that? I owe you one for this.” Spitfire said.

They shared a mutual smile until Rainbow Dash suddenly gave her a wink. “You know, I might already know what you can do to pay me back.” She said as Spitfire looked to her surprised. “All you have to do is… just don't complain or argue with what I am about to suggest next.” Rainbow Dash then took a deep breath. “Fleetfoot, can you take Spitfire to the Cloudsdale Hospital please?” Spitfire immediately looked like she was about to yell in objection but when Rainbow Dash pointed at her with a hoof she put her pride aside and gave in. “Good, now I'm not trying to overstep my position here but I would like to lead the training tomorrow morning if that's okay with you.” Now Dash was a little more uneasy at this request.

Spitfire looked at her sternly for a moment but then turned her face away before saying, “I said I owe you one so if this is what you want then I guess I'll have to agree. Just until I get back to the field though Crash!”

“I wouldn't have it any other way! Thanks Commander!” And with that Rainbow Dash zoomed right out the door.

Back inside though the two pegasi looked at each other. Spitfire smiled and said, “Alright, I guess we had better get going.” But then she noticed the sad look on Fleetfoot's face. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I'm thorry!” She cried before throwing her arms around Spitfire. The commander jumped a little in surprise and was even more shocked as the arctic blue pony suddenly looked her right in the eyes. “Look, I'll talk to you all you want! I know you thecretly have a thing my lis-thp. I'll be with you and I'll thay anything you want me to! Jus' don't get hurt like this again, okay?!” Then Fleetfoot leaned forward and kissed Spitfire full on her lips.

The amber pegasus sat there for a moment staring wide eyed at Fleetfoot's forehead while still trying to process what just happened. But once it registered to Spitfire that the other pegasus was kissing her, she settled down and wrapped her hooves around her teamate's neck. Together they breathed softly while sharing an intimate moment. As they kissed, the artic blue mare could see the tension in Spitfire's shoulders start melting away. The exchange felt tranquil and supportive; more platonic than romantic. Yet, Fleetfoot could feel the desire of an unrequited crush burning on Spitfire's wet lips. Leaning herself forward into Spitfire's hold she allowed the moment to continue for as long as her commander desired it to.

"Say, antithesis..."

"Wh-what?" Fleetfoot mumbled out as Spitfire broke their kiss only long enough to whisper to her.

Spitfire pulled back and gave Fleetfoot the most sultry eyed look she had ever seen on a pony. "I want you to say the word for me. I want you to try to say... antithesis."

Fleetfoot looked a little bashful but then shyly she mumbled, "An.. antff-.. antituff-" She looked down while mumbling through her speech impediment. Fleetfoot had really been concentrating, trying hard to do as Spitfire had asked of her. But then she felt silly as she realized Spitfire didn't care about her getting through the word at all. The Wonderbolts commander threw their lips back into a hot sucking set of kissed again. What really got Fleetfoot by surprise was when Spitfire suddenly bit her on her bottom lip and held it, but gently to not actually hurt her.

Several fiery lip smacking minutes later, Spitifre eventually pushed the other mare away and said, “Hey now, come on. There's no need to carry on like this. I'm not dying." Both of the them chuckled, trying to put on a brave face for their pride even though they were both blushing just as hard. "But it's nice to know that you care so much. And besides, you weren't supposed to know about that hehe."

Fleetfoot actually had to wipe a tear from her eye. She had never seen Spitfire look as happy as she did right at that moment. Furthermore, she would never admit that Spitfire had just given her the most romantic kiss of her life. "I've always known. You're terrible at hiding it." She teased which made Spitfire laugh until she winced and had to raise a hoof up to her bandages.

"Come on, let's get me to the hospital. I'm actually pretty tired of putting on a brave face. This really does hurt a lot."

- - -

Outside the compound, Rainbow Dash hovered before the WOTC as it stood in the dark with all of its mechanisms deactivated. “There's something that we're doing wrong.” She said to herself, slowly flying through the course and looking over each challenge in detail now that it was shut down. “Magnus said we aren't flying through this as a team…” She went on, studying the course in detail.

Author's Notes:

Alright a lot happened here so there is a lot to recap on. It was previously mentioned that Rayne will be working at the day spa but not a lot has happened with that yet. Don't worry, it's coming. Don't forget that this is only the fourth day since Rayne arrived in Equestria. Even though a lot has happened, not a lot of time has passed yet.

So who liked Rayne's date with Maud? This is an important scene and not just because it has really brought these two closer together. In the show Maud goes to this exhibit on her own and there meets another pony called Mudbriar. But in this story Rayne and Maud arrive after most others have left and are too caught up with each other to notice anypony else. As such, Maud never meets Mudbriar. Later on I might give these two another chance, but that would be much later on in story. (Originally I already had this date planned out to take Maud to a rock museum but I changed the details to fit into the timeline for events in season 8.)

Lastly but certainly not least is the tension at the Wonderbolts. Several pegasi are injuried and Rainbow Dash is severely bruised while Spitfire has a deep head wound. Don't worry, all will recover with time. But how were the reactions here? I really tried to pull out some deep emotional tension. Rainbow Dash's loyalty to Spitfire is making her lash out against a childhood hero. But nopony is really trying to work against anypony else in this chapter. Also, Fleetfoot's initial actions were supposed to be coming just from a deep bond she has. It was neither romantic nor sexual when she kissed Spitfire. It was desperation to support her friend. At least it was supposed to start out that way but maybe neither of them know where they might stand with each other after this.

**A special thank you to Ark_Angel4 twitter for the beautiful picture of when Fleetfoot first kissed Spitfire. I added the image a few paragraphs down to not give the surprise away for the readers.