The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 46 - A Stray Cat

-In Ponyville, the Next Day-

At about an hour passed noon Rayne had made his way over to the fountain in the center of town. A few passerbys waived at him while others who weren’t familiar with the stallion yet just walked on about their day. Most ponies at least raised a curious eyebrow though at seeing the dark stallion push a small cart of objects toward the water display. Rayne had made quick work of visiting a few stores in town to acquire the disorderly assortment of trinkets he was now pulling out from the cart.

First he dumped a small bucket of food coloring into the water which quickly began turning the fountain green. Then he placed around the water’s edge a large box of candy, a bag of popcorn, an apple, and a cup of lemonaid. Working quickly he used a bit of glue along with a touch of magic to attach strands of liquorish to both sides of each item.

It was about then that a few ponys had stopped in whatever they were doing to watch him. Rayne didn’t mind while just continuing on with his task in a hurried pace. After casting a spell upon each item he watched as they slowly began to pick themselves up like little creatures with the liquorish for arms and legs. “Oh wait, the googlely eyes! I can’t forget the googley eyes!” He said to himself while quickly attaching the silly decoration to the items which now looked around on their own.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Asked a light green mare who Rayne needed no introduction to recognize as Lyra Heartstrings.

“Just making a present for a friend.” Rayne responded before pulling an award stand out from his cart but with no award on it. Instead he set there two of the largest pears that he could find at the local fruit stand.

Next he pulled out an entire box of unmarked birthday cards as well as a pen and sat down on the ground to write the letters U and N in front of the word birthday on each card. “Oh right, I almost forgot.” He said aloud as he looked over to the four animated food creatures who were just staring at him. With a magical snap they all began to sing and dance the song ‘Let’s All Go to the Lobby’ in a circle around the fountain. The crowd had grown larger now as more ponies stopped to watch as Rayne called out, “Come on over folks! And don’t forget to support your local stores and vendors!” After that he began handing out the Happy Unbirthday cards to anypony who would take one.

It was about then that a new voice whispered out sounding curious and slithery coming from up in the air above Rayne. “Mmm and what do you think you are doing?”

To this Rayne just looked relieved as if he had been waiting for this and was glad to see that it had finally happened. “Do you like it?” He asked while not even bothering to look up as the Draconequus materialized in the air about him. “Here, have a very merry unbirthday Discord.” He said as he handed him a card and then passed more out to other ponies as they walked by.

Discord observed the absurd display that danced around the fountain but then slithered around through the air to in front of Rayne stating, “I don’t believe that is what I asked.”

“It’s a gift.” The stallion said simply. Finally putting the cards down and he looked up to Discord properly. “A gift for you.”

Now the levitating serpent, griffon, lion, thing looked shocked as that was certainly not what he expected Rayne to say. “A g-gift? For me-e?” He asked as he floated down to rest his feet on the ground now.

“Yup. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal your thunder or anything. I’m no master of chaos. This was the best that I could manage on a thirty minute lunch break which is almost over with now.”

Discord looked over to the scene behind the stallion. “Hmmm. No master indeed but all the same not bad, not bad. What is that though?” He asked, pointing over to the award stand.

Now Rayne smiled as he gestured back to the fountain. “Oh well when I was brainstorming this idea together for you I thought that the song and dance would be a nice touch. But it needed more. So when I got to thinking what would do well to go along with it-”

“And you decided that this would make a ‘great pair?’” Discord interjected and Rayne nodded with a smirk. Several on-looking ponies rolled their eyes but a few in the crowd still chuckled. Discord however seemed beside himself as he heartily laughed out loud. “My, well I just have to say that this is a splendid gift and I thank you for it Rayne. You even managed to spread a little discord around town with these unbirthday cards. Very... ahem, ‘wonderful’ of you to think of.” He said with a grin.

“Well you’re welcome.” Rayne said happily as he began picking up his supplies.

Now the long necked spirit of disharmony floated around him asking, “Not to make it sound as if I were ungrateful for this thoughtful, thoughtful gesture. But I still have to ask... Why come up with such a thing to begin with?”

Rayne then sat down being careful not the knock the dancing lemonaid cup into the fountain. “Well for one, I will admit it was pretty fun. But secondly, I was hoping that you would accept an apology from me.”

“Oooohhh?” Discord cooed with curiosity as he snapped his claw to clean up everything Rayne had laid out. Then shooing the on-lookers away he leaned in to whisper as he asked, “And just what preytell have you done to warrant needing my forgiveness?”

The stallion looked up to Discord with a genuine smile and said, “I made you wait." He laughed at Discord's surprise before continuing. "I didn’t want you thinking that I had forgotten about you. I think you’re fun Discord and I meant what I said about wanting to hang out with you. This was my way of getting your attention to see if you were free this evening?”

"You did ALL THIS just to ask if I had plans tonight?!" For one of the rare instances when Discord put his chaos aside to have a real moment shared with a friend, he sat down next to Rayne and said, “You know what? I’m touched. I’ve still been keeping tabs on you ya know. Maybe not as closely as I could have but enough to know you’ve had your hooves full with helping Twilight and her friends trapes all over Equestria. I didn’t want to sound too pushy but I will admit that I had my doubts.”

Rayne just grinned and decided to save Discord from himself because the sappy stuff so did not suit him. “Still got your party shoes big guy?”

That seemed to be more than enough to snap the Draconequus back into his usual self. “Oh do I ever!”

“And how about a loaner suit for a bud, huh? I promise that in time I can have Rarity whip something up for me once I’ve gotten paid a little more from the Day Spa.”

Chuckling loudly Discord nodded to him. “Oh I think that can be arranged. So tonight you said?”

Rayne nodded eagerly as he was looking forward to it just as much as Discord was. “That’s right. But for now I have to head on back to work. The new business rush still hasn’t even died down yet. Somehow a trading caravan from Rainbow Falls heard about me. Then right after them I've got the entire Buckball team in from Appaloosa waiting in the lobby.” He chuckled.

That was when Rayne was surprised to see Discord click his fingers and suddenly they were right outside the spa. “A little favor for a friend. We don’t want you getting into trouble for being late now do we?” The stallion just nodded thankfully and waved before heading back inside.

- Later that Evening -

Not more than about an hour after sundown Rayne found himself leaving from Sugarcube Corner. "Thanks a bunch for letting me stay for a short cat-nap in your bed Pinkie Pie. I might have to find myself a comfy spot closer to town if I plan to keep having late nights like this.” He said with a smile.

To this she just waived it off as if it were no big deal. "Pssh, please. Really it was no trouble! Feel free to crash here any time just as long as it isn't late enough to disturb the Cake's. Alright?" She offered to him with a smile.

Rayne then reached up and pulled down two balloons that hung in her room. One was pink and the other was purple. In a blur his hooves quickly twisted them around making a mini balloon Pinkie Pie inside of a purple heart. She gasped that she loved it and he handed it over to her with a chuckle. "Really Pinkie, thanks for everything. Have a good night now." He told her before walking out the door, licking his lips from the taste of her magic still fresh on his tongue.

“Alright, let’s see. Where is this place?" He asked himself as he looked over a small town map. "The... The Hot Hoof? Really?! That’s the name of this place? Well I suppose from an innocent point of view that’s a good name for a dance spot. But it certainly doesn’t make me think of dancing when I hear that.” He thought as he proceeded to a wide building that seemed to slant downward toward the ground on the back end.

Once inside Rayne found that the establishment was much bigger than it looked on the outside. It had a second floor that was built below the ground level contrary to most other buildings in Ponyville. The top floor had a bar for servicing drinks and there seemed to be a kitchen in the back but Rayne had no clue what would be on the menu for a place like this. He now regretted eating before heading over but he was sure there would always be a next time. Following the sound of some soft strumming music Rayne headed downstairs where he could hear a band playing some soft background jazz. The lower level was designed with an large open dance floor. There was an asortment of tables with chairs surrounding the outline of the room where patrons could eat and watch the stage.

“Hmm, not quite as swanky as that place I saw Discord take the boys to in the show but it isn’t bad. It could definitely do.” He thought to himself as he pulled up a chair just to get a feel for the place for awhile.

“Hi there, welcome to the Hot Hoof. Are you hungry honey? Or did you just come for the ambience?” Rayne looked up to see a orange pegasus that he didn’t recognize looking down to him while holding a serving tray. Her mane was a vibrant fuschia but her waitress dress covered her cutie mark from view.

“Well I’m relatively new in town. I had been hoping this was some sort of dance bar.” Rayne said, but it had really been more of a question.

“A dance bar?” She asked with a slightly nasally tone. “Well yeah, I suppose that this place would qualify as that. It usually only heats up when we get a band traveling through town or when someone actually good comes by for amature night.” Dropping a menu on the table in front of him just in case she added. “Here in Ponyville you only gots two choices when it comes to music. This place or the theater house. But in either case... ya need someone to actually play.”

“W-wait!” He called out as she turned to leave. Glancing back over her shoulder, she waited as he asked, “Well what about me? I sing. Could I give it a try?”

“You sugar? Heh, you don’t look much like no show pony. You look like you’re better cut out to be a hair dresser!” She teased him while flipping the front of his long mane with a hoof. “But hey, if you wanna give it a try then who am I to stop you? Lemme go tell the manager and see what he has to say.” Rayne nodded watched as she made her way back somewhere behind the stage.

That was when Discord came sliding in across the floor right into the seat beside the dark stallion. He put his hooves upon the table and snapped his claws as they were suddenly both sporting a flashy zoot suit customed fit to each of them. “Hey there, nice threads Daddio.” Rayne smirked while admirring how his new gray suit looked just as good on him as Discord’s orange suit did on the Draconequus.

“Heeeey there, look at you hep cat.” Discord cheered. “I know you mentioned before but it looks like you really do know how to jive. Well fancy that.” He chuckled.

Rayne reached out so Discord could slap his hoof with a low five as he said, “No sweat, alligator. But uh, it looks like we might not be able to get our jump and wail on without no music to swing to. You feel me?”

Now snapping his claws again, a few gold coins appeared on the bar upstairs while a pair of milkshakes appeared at their table before them. Then materializing a pair of sunglasses over his eyes just for the purpose of looking out over the tops of them he said, “Oh well it’s still early! Of course there is no fun yet! The party has only just arrived. And my friend, by the party I mean us!”

Rayne chuckled and took a sip of his milkshake. “Mmm that’s pretty good. I mean that’s no five bit milkshake but it’s still pretty good.”

But to that Discord looked confused as his sunglasses almost bounced off his nose. "A wha?"

"A five bit milkshake." Rayne repeated, holding back a snicker as he couldn't believe Discord was really going to take the bait on this.

"You're talking about a milkshake? Milk and ice cream?" Discord asked skeptically.

"Uh huh." Rayne replied confidently.

"Worth five bits?"

"Yup."

"You don't put alcohol in it or anything?"

"Nope."

"Well..." Discord scoffed in disbelief. "I'd like to know what a five bit milkshake tastes like."

"Oh yeah?" Rayne asked. "Well hold onto your hat there Gate!" He slapped the table confidently and teleported himself upstairs. "Excuse me mister, mind if I cut in here for just a moment?" He asked to the bartender. The other pony looked around seeing that there were no other customers waiting at the bar just then so he stepped aside. Thinking to himself now Rayne thought, "Alright so I have Pinkie's and Mrs. Cake's magic. In fact Starlight is a pretty handy in the kitchen too. Time to see how well this pleasure pony can shake up a shake."

Five minutes later Rayne teleported back to his seat with a large crystal glass filled to the brim with melted sugary perfection. Discord grumbled in disbelief but his horns almost spun around after sunk in a spoon and took in a bite. "Yeow! That's a pretty freakin' good milkshake!"

"Told ya." Rayne smirked.

"I don't know if it's worth five bits but that's pretty freakin' good."

It was about then that Rayne saw his waitress pony step back out with none other than Filthy Rich himself following along behind her. “Yeah, over here at table number four.” She said, “Hey wait a minute. You’s wasn’t wearing that a moment ago. When did you have time to-”

“Wait a minute.” Rayne interrupted her after seeing the two approach. “Filthy Rich? You’re the manager here?”

Now the light brown stallion laughed and extended a hoof for him. “A what? Ah, heck. All I do own the place. But I do enjoy hearing about when we have new talent in the area. So put’er there! Glad to meet ya.” Rayne shook his hoof and listened as Mr. Rich turned towards his companion. “Greetings Discord."

"Rich." The Draconequus replied.

Turning back to Rayne the proprietor told him, "I’ll tell you the same thing that I tell this one here. Pay for your drinks, be kind to the staff, and don’t break anything that I paid for. But otherwise feel free to enjoy yourself.”

The dark stallion nodded as Mr. Rich excused himself and the waitress walked back up to him. “If you fellas wanna embarrass yourselves then be my guest. I checked and we ain’t got no other acts tonight. So just introduce yourself to the band and ain’t nobody gonna stop you unless we start to get some customers complaining.”

Once she had left Discord smirked while twirling his hat around on a finger. “Ah, so getting into trouble already are we?”

Flipping his mane back Rayne laughed, “I hate to break it to you buddy but I came here hoping for a hot time. And so far this place has been ice cold.”

“You’re enjoying this too much.” Discord snickered.

“Just try and stop me.” Rayne winked as he stood up from the table.

“After you oh instigator of revelrey!” The smile on Discord’s face was almost devious from how Rayne was inspiring him with his confident attitude. Sitting back to see how far the stallion could take things Discord watched to see if Rayne could muster the band into action.

Tipping his hat Rayne stepped up to the band. “Hey there fellas, oh and lady. You feel like stepping things up a little? See my buddy Discord and I came here tonight hoping to get some hooves stomping. But it’s been mellow, far too mellow since we walked in here.” Looking at the group he saw that there was a stallion for the piano, trumpet, a couple guitars while a mare sat behind the drums. They all wore matching tuxedos and now their ears picked up as they listened to the stallion.

However before they could respond, they all heard a rather rude shouting coming from a well dressed stallion in a corner booth. He had a purple coat with a bit of stylish stubble on his chin. His mane was a dark lavender slicked to one side. He wore a jacket of faux fur and a lavish looking a gold necklance. There were also two silver bracelets on each hoof. “Hey there, hol’ on now!” The purple stallion called out agitatedly with a heavy cajon sounding accent. “You ain’t gunna let that nobody newcomer up in here to ruin our good mood now are you?”

Sitting beside him was the fanciest looking pieces of eye candy Rayne had ever seen in this world. She was more of a lilac colored mare with a pale lavender mane that billowed down her shoulders. Her green eyes gave a seductive contrast against her red sequins dress. But despite her being a pegasus, Rayne could only describe her as the underworld version of Fleur-de-Lis. "Oh come on darling. I'm bored!" She complained to him softly. "The noise, the excitement... Isn't that what you bring me here for?"

The drummer of the band leaned over her bass drum and growled nastily at him, “You don’t own this place Lil’ Pete and you certainly don’t pay our checks! So you just stay sitting down and shut up like every other customer.” The other band members chuckled and no further complaints came from his table. “Go on there doll. You go ahead and give us a beat and we’ll match it to whatever you’re singing.”

Rayne smirked and nodded to them humming a little melody for a few jazzy songs until they all nodded that they could feel the rhythum. He walked up to the small stage now as a few other patrons began stepping downstairs upon hearing the band kicking in.

Before he could begin there was a shout. “HEY!” Rayne looked over seeing a slightly overweight construction worker stallion taking a seat. “Who the heck are you? I haven’t seen you in here before!”

Rayne grinned at him as the drums kicked in behind him. “Oh my name is Rayne... And I’m about to tell you all about me...”

https://youtu.be/vEtbfzMLVWU

“Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!" A few ponies began nodding along or clicking their hooves as they began enjoying the beat.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!”

“Black and orange stray cat sittin' on a fence...
I ain't got enough dough to pay the rent.” A few of the patrons chuckled at this but they all listened without interrupting.
“I'm flat broke but I don't care,
I strut right by with my tail in the air!

Stray cat strut, I'm a ladies cat!
I'm a feline Casanova, hey now that's that!” A mare from the crowd whooped at him appreciatively.
“Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old stallion,
Get my dinner from a garbage can!”

There were a couple more laughs but Rayne had definitely gotten the favor of the crowd. “Whoa now!” One patron shouted. “Don’t burn us up!” Shouted another excitedly.

“Don't go crossing my path!” Rayne sang while pointing at the last heckler before he really leaning his voice smoothly into the song.

“I don't bother chasing mice around!
I slink down the alleyway looking for a fight,
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night!” The whole place erupted in cheers now.
“Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry.
‘Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy.’
I wish I could be as carefree and wild,
But I got cat class and I got cat style!”

Making a slide across the dance floor with the microphone in hoof there were several whistles and cheers from the crowd as the band laughed together.

“I don't bother chasing mice around.
I slink down the alleyway looking for a fight,
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night!
Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry!
‘Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy!’” All the mares in the room shouted except for Lil’ Pete’s.
“I wish I could be as carefree and wild,
But I got cat class and I got cat style!”

Discord started hooting causing a few of the others to laugh. But Rayne grinned seeing everypony cheering for him as the song ended. He gave a wink over to the purple stallion who had commented against him and watched as his heckler just grimaced in response.

“Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all night!” Rayne called out as the band picked up now and Discord as well as several others joined Rayne on the dance floor.

- - -

Later that evening Discord and Rayne stumbled arm in arm together out from the night club. The noise of their ruckus had really drew in the crowds that evening and the dark stallion had even been approached by Filthy Rich asking if Rayne could make his attendance be a regular thing. It was an offer which he happily accepted, in exchange for a regular payment of bits of course.

“HOT, HOT, HOT HOOF DANCING!!!” Shouted Discord and Rayne together, drunk on their merriment and intoxicated by their exhaustion. They walked like an awkward three legged beast, laughing and chuckling down the street until they nearly collapsed into the town fountain together.

“Ha, ha, ho, oh boy!” Discord wheezed, slapping a paw across Rayne’s back. “I can’t tell you how long it has been since I have had fun like that. You really do know how to have a blast. Now, I’m not complaining about how I usually find myself spending time with friends. But let’s just say that it involves a lot less singing.”

Rayne leaned back not even minding as he accidentally got some of his mane wet in the fountain. “Oh yeah, that was a blast. I don’t think I have ever had a friend as cool as you Discord. In fact I know I haven’t.” Rayne chuckled as he thought he caught the Draconequus blush a little bit. “But you know, I wouldn’t mind seeing what you usually get up to. What do your other buddies do for fun? Adventure trips? Fantasy combat practice? Or I don’t suppose you like board games by chance?” Rayne asked knowingly.

“Well now that you mention in...” Discord began. “I suppose I should probably ask the others first before just inviting you. I mean I’m not even the one hosting the game really but… I don’t suppose you enjoy role playing scenarios or that sort of thing?”

“Discord?” Rayne asked cheekily. “Are you asking me if I am interested in Ogres and Oubliettes? Because if that’s where you’re going with this then I would be sooo okay with that.” Ending with a chuckle he then sat up and shook the water from his mane.

“Reeeaaaaally? Well, I will just have to keep that in mind.” The two gave a hoof bump to each other before Discord stood up and yawned. “Oh well, master of chaos or not even one such as I needs his BeaUTy sleep! I supposed that we should probably call it a night.”

Rayne nodded following with a yawn of his own. “I had a blast with you Discord. I’ll be sure to let you know the next time I’m free for something like this again. And you let me know if I’d be welcome to the next game night with your other friends.”

“Nightie night, Mr Mystery Pony...” Discord said, reminding Rayne that he hadn’t given up on his curiosity about the stallion. Then Discord turned himself into a flock of sheep which jumped over Rayne’s head but then were gone.

“Hmm. Let’s see...” Rayne said aloud as he looked around at the quiet and dark streets of Ponyville. “I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. I certainly hope that Maud is asleep already. She’s really taking a liking to that clock even though it was a gift for me, heh. Zecora I know went home so she wouldn’t be waiting for me. I suppose I could crash at the Day Spa so I wouldn’t have to walk all the way out of town but… maybe there is a better idea for where I could stay for the night." He thought to himself as he walked off in a very different direction from Maud's cave.

Author's Notes:

Alright so welcome to the chapter of pop culture references haha! There were several listed in this chapter. Now I know that not all of my readers live in America but I wonder how many of you were able to recognize them all?

So even though I didn't write out the song, the reference to "Let's All Go to the Lobby" was about the 1950's animation directed and produced by Dave Fleischer. Meanwhile the Unbirthday Cards were a reference to Alice in Wonderland. But what did you think of the present to Discord as a whole? Clever? Too Cheesy?

Also yes this chapter implies that after Rayne got off work he went to have a nap at Pinkie's and at some point pulled a fast one to steal her magic. No Rayne and Pinkie did not have sex but as he is her sister's boyfriend it would make sense that she would let him get close to her.

The Hot Hoof establishment, Rayne's waitress, the band, and Lil' Pete are all of my own design that I made up. They aren't based off of anything. But I hope you like them. The eye candy mare sitting beside Lil' Pete though is actually the OC of one of my readers who I included as a little cameo with their permission. But you'll find out more about her later on. Additionally, yes Lil' Pete does dress and act a little bit like a pimp but in actuality he is just a flashy loan shark.

Yes there were references to the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction about the 5 dollar milkshake.

The song that Rayne sang was the 1981 hit Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cats. All credit goes to them.

Yes Rayne does also have himself a second source of income now singing for Filthy Rich in the Hot Hoof.

Finally, where in the heck does Rayne think he's going in the middle of the night if it isn't home to Maud?