The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 43 – The Hunt Begins

Rayne smiled to himself proudly as the sun rolled over the land that morning. Feeling for the first time that he was less alone in this world, he now honestly trusted that he would have help if he ever came to need it. His girlfriend Maud slept soundly in their jewel encrusted home, feeling happy to understand her stallion a little bit better. Meanwhile Rayne parted ways with his other partner Zecora as he headed into town and she made her way down the road toward Sweet Apple Acres.

The town was quiet as Rayne made his way through the streets. It was still very early and the sun had only just been risen a few moments ago. “Alright, time for me to make some apologizes.” He said to himself as the doorbell chimed at the Ponyville Day Spa.

“It’s about time you showed up!” Screamed an angry Lotus Blossom who came marching around the counter. “Look, I understand what happened. We got your note from Canterlot about you being attacked. I’m honestly glad to see you on your hooves again but I sincerely hope that you are ready to work?”

“Actually...” Rayne sighed apologetically. “That is what I am coming here to tell you. I won’t be able to begin until tomorrow.”

“WHAT?!” She bellowed furiously.

- - -

Over on the complete other side of Ponyville, things were carrying on as livily as one would expect them to be on a farm at an hour after sun rise. Applejack was bucking away in the orchard, Big Mac was ploughing the fields for their various crops, Granny Smith was inside tallying up their finances for the month and little Applebloom was just headed outside on her way to school for the day. However that was when the filly got a surprise that she certainly wasn’t expecting. “ZECORA!”

The zebra laughed with a smile on her face at seeing the young mare shout to her happily. “There is my favorite little student. I came to thank you for your notes which I found most prudent.” She hugged the little girl with a hoof warmly.

“Aww come on now Zecora. You don’t get to get away with calling me your favorite when I know gosh darn well that I’m you’re only student.” To this the Zebra just laughed. “So what happened to ya? I was so worried when you wouldn’t answer your door. I’m relieved to see you looking safe and sound. And what brings you around?”

Zecora faulted a bit at hearing Applebloom make a rhyme and worried if she might be becoming a bad influence on her speech patterns. But she waived that off for now as she smiled and said. “I have come here for reasons two. First of all, I am looking for a map you may have. And secondly, Rayne is in need for a refill for the potions to be made my you.”

“Oh no! I forgot! I can’t believe I let it slip my mind after I promised that I’d help him!” She shouted. “Ohhh but today I have to go to school, then after I get home I’m supposed to help around the farm... Do you think it would be okay if it took me until tonight to make the potions?”

Zecora just chuckled. “Well I do not think that Rayne is planning to go to bed while the sun is still risen. So I think saying that by tonight would be a safe decision.”

“Phew, well okay then. I promise that I won’t forget this time. Now uh, you also said something about needing a map? I’m happy to help but we’re just farm ponies. We don’t really get out much.” Applebloom sulked at that, as if the idea of leaving for some adventure would have been an exciting prospect.

Zecora was ready with her answer though. “Ah, but making deliveries is something I know your family can do. And as with pies, medicine can also require a delivery too.”

“Ohhh I see now. You left to go bring some sick pony some medicine somewhere. But then you couldn’t find your way and probably got lost, which then took you even longer than normal to get back from where you went because you hadn’t quite understood where it is that you had gone.” Applebloom surmised as if it were the most simple thing in the world.

Zecora hesistated a bit and seemed to have to recant that in her head a few times before smiling and asking, “Uh, yes?”

“Well then no problem. Where is it that you’re needing a map to go to?”

“I believe there is one town that has a route most trecherous. It leads through a fire swam with monsters who are most dexterious.”

“Ohhhhhh... That place.” Appleboom said solemly, remembering the time that she had tried to make the journey on her own. At first Zecora was concerned that maybe Applebloom was going to say that she couldn’t help. But then before she knew what had happened, the little filly ran inside and ran back while holding up a large scroll of paper. “Here it is!”

“Oh, uh, well thank you my friend.” Zecora took a moment to hug the little mare once more. Then she said, “I’m sorry to be in a rush but I look forward to seeing you again. However I must warn you to not visit me in the forest for awhile Applebloom. I fear that the creatures within may be extra wild for the next several of moon.”

“No worries! Bye Zecora! Stop by again any time! I’ll just be... Oh Golly! I’m gonna be late to school!” She shouted and then bolted right passed the zebra and straight up the path toward town.

- A Little Later at Sugarcube Corner -

“Ohhh, it’s always so boring working here in the mornings.” Pinkie Pie sighed. “Unless we get a buisness order the night before, no pony ever comes in until the lunch rush.” Deciding to pass the time by hopping back onto her tail she then started to mysteriously bounce upon it as if there had been a pogo stick hidden inside.

Suddenly another mare’s voice called down from upstairs as Mrs. Cake was tending to her two foals that were just waking up for the day. “Oh Pinkie, I think I see Derpy Hooves flying in from down the street with the mail. Could you be a dear and go meet her outside so that maybe we can avoid another broken window like last week?”

“Righteo!” Pinkie cheered and pogo tail bounced her way out the door.

Upon seeing the bright pink spectacle of fur that Pinkie was, the moderate gray pegasus sort of haphazardly flapped her way down but managed to do so without causing too much of a comotion in the street. “Hiya there Pinkie Pie! Want to hear a funny story?!” Derpy shouted, slightly louder than was necessary. But to Pinkie that only excited her more.

“Oooh yes! I love stories! What kinda story is it?! Is it a spooky story? A love story?!”

“It’s a mail story!” Derpy cheered excitedly as she stared ahead with her crossed eyes pointing in separate directions.

“Ohhhh, mysterious... Ha, ha! Okay, go on!” Pinkie said while still snickering.

“So early this morning we got a visitor at the mail house with a letter!” Derpy began.

“Go on...!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“And the letter was for you, from your sister!” Derpy continued.

“Go on...!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“But the letter for you from your sister wasn’t delivered by your sister! It was delivered by Zecora of all ponies, who isn’t even a pony, on behalf of your sister!” Derpy continued.

“Go on...!” Pinkie said excitedly.

But that was the the gray pegasus just shook her head. “Nope, that’s it. That’s the story. Oh and here’s your letter!”

Then as Derpy fluttered on down the street Pinkie just shruggled saying, “Eh, I liked the story better before I found out what it was.” Just as she turned to walk inside though Pinkie poked her head back out thinking she had seen some sort of green flash from the allyway nearby. “Huh? What was that? Hey, where did Derpy go? Oh that crazy pegagus. Anywho...”

Proceeding inside Pinkie smiled hearing the door chime behind her. Mrs. Cake called down asking, “Did you get the mail Pinkie?”

“Yeah, just a letter for me!” Then there was a commotion as the foals upstairs started laughing. Making her way back behind the counter Pinkie quickly tore the letter open and smiled seeing that it was indeed in one of her sister’s hoof writing. “Ha, I’d know that pony scratch anywhere. This must be a letter from Maud! Let’s see... Dear Pinkie, I hope you are doing well. I’m sorry that I haven’t been visiting you as often lately but I haven’t forgotten about our plans to meet up tomorrow night. In the mean time I would like it if you could do a favor for me.”

Pinkie giggled to herself excitedly. “Oooh a favor for Maud?! I wonder what she wants! Oooh but I don’t know because I haven’t finished reading yet!” Getting back into the letter she read aloud to herself, “Today Starlight should be working at her job as guidance counselor in the school of friendship. I would like it if you could meet up with her immediately after she gets off work and... WHAT?! GIVE HER THE WILDEST EVENING POSSIBLE?! IS SHE SERIOUS?! HAS SHE MEET ME?! DOES MAUD EVEN KNOW WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF?! HAHAHA THIS IS GOING TO BE SOOOOO GREAT!” Pinkie yelled so loud that the cake shop shook causing the foals upstairs to cry. “Sorry Mrs Cake!”

- - -

Rayne emerged from the back rooms of the day spa with a smile on his face. He was looking refreshed as if he had just recently showered. “Alright well I’m done here for now. I have a busy day and a lot of chores to take care of. So much for me having a final rest day after my incident.” He called out to Aloe Vera who was now working the front counter.

“Oh, mesieur Rayne. Are you leaving?” She asked, looking to him in surprise. “Where is Lotus Blossom? I had thought that you two were talking.”

“Oh, I left her back there. Don’t worry, we worked something out. I’ll be here first thing in the morning ready and eager to show our customers the benefits of the chiropractic practice.”

He waived to her and she waived back. But becoming curious as to why Lotus had not follow out with Rayne Aloe decided to go into the back to take a look for herself. "Lotus? Sweetie?" Aloe called out melodically. Not finding her in any of the massage rooms she then proceeded on to the shower area and gasped when she she saw a pair of cerulean hooves laying limply on the floor. "Oh! Lotus! Are you okay?" Aloe asked in surprise and gasped again at seeing the thick trail of white substance that was dripping it's way down the back of the other mare's thigh.

Meanwhile, when Rayne stepped outside he had barely made it to the river bridge in town before spotting a stripped mare heading his way. “Ah, Zecora. Perfect timing. I take it you got it?” He asked and she nodded while holding up the map of the fire swamp and its surrounding areas. “That’s great, I knew I could count on you. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet. We are on a schedule after all if we are going to be done by tonight.”

“The likes of which I have never seen is truly the state of your ambition. But you were wise to ask for my aid in completing such a dangerous mission.” The two were not shy about leaning into a warm embrace once they had rejoined back up with one another.

After they parted, Rayne stretched out his hoof like a gentlepony toward the direction of the Everfree Forest. “After you my lady. We should get that map stored away someplace safe and then I would be happy to have you be my guide to the local wildlife.”

Not missing the almost hungry look in Rayne's eyes Zecora chuckled as they walked into the woods together. “If I did not know you better, I would say you were a beast before pony. Sometimes your attitude makes it difficult to tell which side of you is the phony.”

Less than an hour later the two of them were squatted down in front of Zecora’s hut where she had nearly the entire forest diagrammed out in the mud with a stick. “So,” Rayne began, “the Cragadile swamp seems like it would be the closest habitat to here and the Roc nest up on the hill would be the hardest to reach. Certain creatures like Manticores and Cockatrices travel around instead of setting up home in a specific location but leave tracks that can make them easy to find.”

“You learn quick dear Rayne. It would seem that many a creature their powers you will gain.” Figuring that she wasn’t going to help the stallion any further by just sitting around talking, Zecora began wiping out the extensive drawings she had marked into the ground.

“Hmm. But what about the plant life?” Rayne added in, wanting to be as thorough as possible in locating every creature from the show he could remember. “I heard rumor that when Discord was responsible for making the forest overgrow a few years back… there were some kind of spore spitting, pony eating, black plants that attacked Princess Twilight.”

“Pony eating plants?” Zecora asked. Rayne was not reassured by her bewildered expression. “The Everfree Forest has many dangers but it sounds to me that somepony may have been pulling your leg per chance.”

Rayne frowned as he definitely knew they existed. “Hmm. No, I’m pretty sure that they exist. From what I heard, when Twilight’s friends charged in to save her it was Applejack who called them… let’s see, it was rabid something. Rabid… rhino… Rabid Rhinoderons?”

The zebra thought for a moment as she stepped up to her porch and picked up a shoulder bag. “Could you mean Rhododendrons?”

“Rabid Rhodo- Yeah! That was it! That’s what I had heard she was attacked by.” Rayne cheered as he galluped up to her excitedly. “Any chance you know how to find those in the forest?”

Slinging the strap over her shoulders Zecora now laughed as she told him, “Oh, I hate to disappoint but it may be difficult to find what you seek. For you see, a Rhododendron is nothing more than a flower that is small and harmless and pink.” She placed a reassuring hoof around Rayne’s shoulder as she saw his face fall. “Those plants are not actually native to this forest as you have heard. They were created by Discord’s Plunderseeds, but don’t be deterred. Some still may linger in these woods yet. Together we will search so that your quarry you may get.”

But Rayne just froze where he stood as he saw Zecora try stepping away from her hut. “Uh, we? Where do you think you’re going?” He asked her sternly.

Zecora just looked over her shoulder and gave an angry snort. “You are my stallion now and I am your mare?” She asked and he nodded as he walked up beside her. “Then to allow you to venture off on this dangerous task alone I would not dare!"

“Hey, hey now. This IS going to be dangerous and I want to keep you safe. You know how to avoid the dangers of this forest but I am going out to specifically pick a fight with them. It wouldn’t be the same and I don’t want anything ha-OWW!” Rayne yelled as she studdenly stomped on his hoof.

“Oh? And can you tell me how to identify quicksand?! Are your sharp claws going to cut your way out if you get stuck?! What if not everything goes to your plan? Who better to help you if you run out of luck?!” She stomped her hoof angrily and Rayne began to wonder if he had hurt her feelings by suggesting that she not come.

“Okay, okay. You’re right. I’m sorry, I was just being protective of you is all.” He leaned forward to nuzzle her. She gave him a questioning look for a moment. But then after returning his gesture the two of them set off together.

- - -

Not too far from the zebra’s home a large pond of water sat in stillness. Just faintly within sight appeared to be ssmall stones that lay just breaking the water’s edge. Birds chirped as they flew overhead but otherwise no wildlife seemed to dare approach. All of a sudden one of the rocky forms in the water seemed to shift as a small pebble trickled across it from the shore. There a lone creature walked slowly out from the bushes. Through the murky surface of the water it looked to be a pony but with bright and dark stripping which did nothing to camouflage it in the green of this forest.

A few bubbles floated up from the surface just at the water’s edge as the four legged land meal was seen approaching closer. It stopped to look around as if being uncertain of its surroundings. Then it tip toed closer, peering down at the shimmering surface before her. Then all of a sudden the hooved creature slapped the water violently, breaking the peaceful tension and then reared back to run away as fast as her legs could carry her.

“RRAAAWWWWRRR!” Only inches away from the shoreline an expertly camouflaged scaled beast rose up. It had lighter green scales beneath but on top was covered in dark scaled plates over it's enormous body. With a jawline twice the size of a pony it snapped out like a lightening bolt, nearly clipping the hairs at the end of the zebra’s tail. Not being intent to miss out on a meal so closely the Cragadile raced on it’s four stubby legs after its prey.

The mare screamed, echoing her voice throughout the treeline. Several more vicious yellow eyes appeared over the water’s edge but seeing as the cause of the commotion was now too far away it was only the single Cragadile continued to give chase. Rounding behind a large upcropping of rocks the zebra quickly darted into a thick brush of vines. Turning around she crouched as much as she could and waited while she shivered in fright. The amphibious beast had been only seconds behind her as it snapped its jaws about in agitation. But before it could even begin to search for her, Zecora was amazed seeing the entire creature turn to a dark colored stone.

“Well, you were right. There was only one that decided to chase after you.” A heavy voice rumbled out as four black paws thudded to the ground from the tree directly above. Without wasting time the black panther gripped the open stone jaws in its paws. Slowly a fiery light shimmered out from the amphibian and into the feline. “Mmmm so that’s how they hold their breath for so long.” Rayne snickered to himself, opening and closing his jaw as he felt the joint shift differently now at the base of his ear. “Splendid.”

“That was...” Zecora began but now the panther rounded upon her angrily. “Zecora, I love your company and the fact that you are willing to help brings a joy straight to my heart. But now you have seen what I can do first hoof. I humored you this one time but we will NOT be using you as bait any further! Is that understood?!" He growled out through his teeth as his elongated claws pierced through the soft dirt.

“Are you angry with me Rayne?” She asked softly, not understanding why she was being yelled at. “The hunt was a success; what have I done to cause you this strain?” Having absolutely no fear of the snarling feline she rose a hoof up to tenderly caress his cheek.

Dropping his rear end to the ground with a plop Rayne looked away from her and in a surprisingly childish tone said to her, “I… I got jealous okay?”

“You...” Zecora’s eyes almost popped out of her head, “ha ha, you what? You are angry with me because your pride as a hunter was undercut?” Zecora actually started to blush as she was clearly laughing at him now.

Roaring forward just inches from her face Rayne viciously snarled, “You are MINE! To fuck! To hunt! Whatever! You hear me? After the last time you had me lay with you in this form... I apparently cannot stand the sight of another predator giving chase to you. So we will NOT be using you as bait anymore because-” Suddenly he was rendered speechless with the dumbfounded expression of a house cat as she kissed his nose right in the middle of him chastising her.

“HAHAHAHA! Oh Rayne, your face! You… hahaha, even as this beast that adorable look is a memory my mind will not soon erase!” The zebra was down on her back now having not an ounce of shame at how she teased him.

“You’re not taking this very seriously.” He grumbled, ears flat and head sulking. He was feeling slightly annoyed at her behavior towards him but he didn’t miss that she was just being playful. In that aspect he loved what she was doing. “Look, I know I told you that I wanted you to make as much noise as possible. But this isn’t exactly how I pictured you would-”

Suddenly though Zecora looked up and stopped laughing. “Yes but Rayne it worked!” She shouted while staring over his shoulder and quickly darting back to the cover of the vines.

“RAAAWWWLLLLLLRRR!!!” Rayne hissed, not even bothering to look first as he extended his claws and swiped around in the direction that Zecora had looked at. Just as soon as he had, he was met with a Manticore pouncing directly at him.

“RRROOOAAAWRRR!” The bronzen winged lion roared out until Rayne used a back paw to flip the charging creature over him. Now snarling face to face with each other the black cat observed the brown cat as well as the blood red scorpion tail that rose over his head. He watched the Manticore’s wings flap and its eyes shift from him to Zecora and back to him again. Rayne could feel instinctively that this was a battle for the feeding rights. It wanted the ‘prey’ that stood frightened beside them. However this was a fight that was on unequal terms from the moment it began. Deciding to have a bit of fun, Rayne pounced forward while just narrowly avoiding the sting of the tail before Rayne sank his fangs into the other feline’s shoulder. Quickly a wrestling match ensured between them where they two twisted around like snakes with claws trying to dig into one another.

Several times the manticore attempted flight but with the weight of the black cat not releasing, the brownish cat could not support itself in the air. As the two tumbled the Manticore’s tail tried to strike at the panther several times but Rayne quickly found he could not be hit as long as he remained on the underside of his prey. “YOU WILL YIELD TO ME!!!” The panther roared out which seemed to surprise the Manticore that it’s opponent could talk like ponies do.

But that brief hesitation was all the opening Rayne needed for one of his fangs catch the winged lion right in the face. Howling with pain the forest animal whimpered back now blinded in one eye and lowered its head as it attempted to bow out from the fight. Planting his paws confidently in the dirt the panther glared the Manticore down and roared out through the forest. “RRRAAAAAAWWWWLLLLRRR!!!” The injured cat knelt at Rayne’s snarling, acknowledging him as superior and that he was dominant. An exit was now the only thing the lion searched for, completely abandoning its desire for the prey it had tried to steal.

“Well, that was a struggle… but I dare say worth the effort.” Rayne said with a smirk as he licked his lips. Suddenly he pounced upon the Manticore gripping it tightly by the face. Opening his jaws wide a fiery orange light fled from the beast as all of its multiple limbs now fell limp to the ground. “Ooooh, wow. The ambidextrous strength of this thing...” He purred before dropping the now exhausted creature to the dirt.

“Rayne… are you alright? In place of petrifying it, why did you insist to fight?” Rayne felt bad about the worry he saw in his girlfriend’s eyes. But his resolve didn’t waiver as he approached and kissed her tenderly.

“I needed to earn this one. Think of it as a moral code of mine. If I obtain all of my abilites through underhanded tactics then that only makes me underhandedly powerful. I intend to keep respect for every bit of power that I take. A Manticore is a proud animal. It deserves a warriors death if it is going to be defeated. If I can’t give it that then I don't deserve its strength.”

Zecora looked like she somewhat understood but then suddenly choked in shock as his words caught up with her. “Wait, it’s death?” She asked looking wide eyed to Rayne.

Smirking now he looked back to the creature upon the ground. “The forest is a dangerous place. It was a predator attacking another predator. It knew it’s chances and took a gamble. There is nothing outside of what is natural in nature that is about to happen here. And besides, I hadn’t eaten for the entire day yesterday. Let’s just say that Maud’s salad was delicious but did not suffice.”

Zecora covered her mouth with her hooves as Rayne’s heavy black paws padded over to the fallen creature. After first breaking the Manticore’s tail for safety purposes, Zecora watched in horrified fascination as the panther’s fangs lowered to the other feline’s chest.

- Later that Evening -

Maud sat waiting in her home but in her anticipation she had over prepared for Rayne and Zecora’s return. As the black stallion and striped mare magically teleported into the entryway of Maud’s cave they were stunned to see what had been laid out before them. A serving dish with sandwiches, fruits and nuts had been arranged which could have fed a small army of ponies. Off to the side a large assortment of medical bandages, alcohol, ointments, and gauze was set at the ready. Meanwhile, Maud was laying seductively upon a perfectly made bed with candles that were all already lit.

“Whoa Maud, hun. What is all this?” Rayne asked as he stepped up feeling almost embarrassed by the lengths she had gone to in his absence.

The normally monotone mare now looked up at him nervously. “I didn’t know what to expect when you finally returned. I completed the tasks you asked of me in only a few hours. But I didn’t know if you would be hungry when you got back. Then I thought that you might have been injuried and maybe decided on not using your magic to heal yourself. Later it dawned on me that maybe you would need to burn off of steam. I didn’t know if I should be ready in bed for you when you got back.” He looked to her as she gave an apologetic expression saying, “I had too much time on my hooves and was worried. So I busied myself and over prepared.”

Rayne pushed his mane back with a hoof and chuckled. “Maud, you really are amazing. We aren’t quite done yet but once I’m finished with things… I am so coming back here and making love to you as devotedly and expertly as I can to thank you for all this!” Now both the mares in the room blushed. Stepping over to lay down on the floor Rayne picked up a sandwich and looked down to a paper that lay stretched out nearby. “Is this it?”

Both girls stepped over to join him. Maud looked to Zecora with worry seeing that Rayne was indeed covered in a multitude of nicks and scrapes. But Zecora shook her head to signal the earth pony that she needn't worry. Now they all looked down together as Maud and Zecora took places beside their stallion. Maud nodded to him before saying, “Yes, this gives you a basic direction of which tunnel leads where from my home. This path leads to the Mirror Pool while this path, after some distance, will lead you to the Diamond Dog's territory. These paths span the length underneath Ponyville and this one here will actually circumvent the entire length of the Everfree Forest before opening up on the other side.”

“Wow, I’m very impressed Maud. Thank you.”

At Rayne’s praise the gray mare blushed happily. Then she turned to the two and asked, “What about you? Did you have a successful time in the forest?”

Rayne now became too busy smirking to answer so Zecora spoke up instead. “Indeed we did. Quite fearsome is our beloved stallion. For any creature to challenge him I would forbid.” Zecora shuddered remembering how beast after beast fell to his claws if not his magic.

Now speaking for himself Rayne added, “So far we found about nine different creatures. Fighting that swarm of Pukwedgies was interesting. And it turns out those frog creatures, Bufogren, do not live the solitary lifestyle that I had expected. While we weren’t successful at finding any Timberwolves like I wanted we did finally find the rabid plant from the Plunderstone Seeds that I was after.”

Maud nodded but still had a hard time ignoring the injuries that were practically all over the stallion’s body. Rising to her hooves to at least get some disinfectant for him Maud asked, “So do you think you are ready?”

Giving a deep sigh he nodded as if it were himself he were trying to convince. “Yeah, I do. Without finding something BIG to take the power from I doubt there is much else I could do to make myself anymore ready. I guess now is the time to proceed.”

- - -

After both his girls had made sure his wounds were attended to, the three made their way together through the underground caves to where a magical subterranean lake awaited them. The water looked clear as if inviting you to gaze down upon it. It even shimmered with a soft light against the looming darkness of the cave.

“So this is it?” Rayne asked hesitantly.

Maud nodded but Zecora placed a worried hoof on his shoulder. “Now remember, approach but do not look down into it. An accident here we simply cannot permit.”

Rayne nodded clearly understanding the danger. “Will this even work?” His other partner asked causing him to look over to Maud now.

“From my understanding, Tirek could only take the magic from living things. However when Pinkie Pie accidentally made a hundred different copies of herself Twilight resolved the situation by transporting those Pinkies back into the pool itself. So that ‘should’ mean that the pool has life energy of its own. About ninety nine different life energies to be exact. But I guess we’ll find out.” He explained. “A hundred souls to burn...” He mumbled to himself, loosely paraphrasing a line from the movie Ghost Rider.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.” He said to Maud and then approached the water but kept his eyes focused carefully on the cave wall at the other end of the pool. Nervously taking a breath Rayne opened his mouth and did all he could to focus on the water without actually looking at it. But that was when Maud and Zecora had to shield their eyes. As soon as Rayne’s magic had touched the surface the entire pool then began to glow brightly.

Author's Notes:

Ooooh, what's going to happen? Hehe.

So going in reverse order here, Rayne's comment about his hunting tactics was a short but fairly important detail here. Yes while he is technically poaching, it is meant to imply that he is only killing when necessary. Additionally, he eats what he kills as to follow the law of the jungle. Otherwise he uses his magic to avoid killing his targets. Also notice, there was not a single raven in this chapter.

The Ghost Rider comment was paraphrasing the line, "A thousand souls to burn, " from the 2007 movie with Nicolas Cage.

Also back toward the beginning... Oh Uh! What happened to Derpy? Could this be some foreshadowing? Hmm? Haha. And why did Maud need to send that letter to Pinkie?!