**Author's Note** Everyone please take a moment to check back to Chapter 55 - A Rocky Adventure. Right in the middle of Rayne's song there is now an art piece that has been added for the lovely Elly Eveningstar. Seeing as she will appear again in this chapter it might be a good time for you all to go take a look at her art piece before reading this.

The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Chapter 66 - Country Ponies and Criminals

“This is it boys! Come on in and have a seat!” Rayne said excitedly as his mane shined in the dark jazz club light. He and Discord each held out a chair as Big Mac and Spike took a seat. “Trust me fellas, I’d never turn down a rousing game of O&O but it’s good to diversify your interests ever now and then. It helps broaden your… perspective on things.” The stallion said encouragingly to them.

Spike smiled as he looked around and tipped up the brim of the little bowler cap he was wearing. “Don’t worry Rayne. We promised that we’d give the Hot Hoof Club a shot with you guys. We aren’t going to just stay for five minutes and then run out the door.”

“Nope!” Big Mac replied as he eyed the waitress that was swaying her hips up to their table.

“Hiya Rayne, hiya ‘Cordy. Are these two cuties here friends of yours?” She asked as she winked with the charm of a true professional entertainer.

Discord just held onto the collar of his signature orange zoot suit and smiled wide. “Oh yes. These are our bosom buddies! Our closest pals!”

“Oh well aren’t they lucky indeed. This must be a special night for you to be bringing them in. And what a night it is to have them!” The waitress said.

“Oh?” Rayne inquired as he leaned forward over the table also wearing his dark stripped suit, compliments of the Draconequus. “What makes this particular night so special?”

“Haven’t you heard? Ol’ Petey over there struck it rich on some of his ‘business deals’ that he does. He’s been buying rounds for the other patrons tonight like it’s going out of style. But just between you and me, I think you would be far more interested to know that the boss man is also in tonight.”

“Oh Rich is here? I haven’t seen him in the club for awhile.” Rayne replied as the waitress passed around a few menus for the bar upstairs.

“You suga’s just let me know if there is anything that I can get you and I’ll take your order’s right up!” With that Spike had a chuckle as he nudged Big Mac in the side to stop him from drooling over the scantily dressed waitress.

“Wow Rayne, I didn’t know that this place was so popular. It seems like half the town is in here tonight.” Spike pointed out as every table had a group of ponies in it.

“Why of course it’s packed tonight!” Discord exclaimed. “It’s one of Rayne’s singing nights. He’s become quite popular behind the mic you know. Especially after his whole singing fiasco with Pinkie Pie.”

But that was when a pair of stallions approached their table. One was a light brown earth pony with a dark gray mane who wore a collared business jacket. The other was a purple unicorn with a flashy jacket and gold rings around his front hooves. Rayne wondered why Rich and Lil’ Pete were walking together but he smiled to the two nonetheless. “Rayne! There you are you ol’ devil you! I sure hope those pipes of yours are all warmed up for tonight!” Rich called out excitedly.

“Oh, well it’s just a pleasure to be able to sing for you and your fine customers here.” Rayne said modestly. But in truth he felt disinclined to open up in front of the other stallion.

That was when the purple unicorn scoffed before rather rudely projecting, “Oh well would you just look at him!” Lil’ Pete called with his almost Cajun accent to his voice. “Big ol’ little show pony like him trying to be modest. We all know that he’ll sing the roof off this place. I mean, he has to right? That is what you pay him for after all.” Then he grinned as he made Rayne out to sound like a paid attraction than a flesh and blood pony.

“Heh, better than you.” Big Mac said which instantly wiped the smile off his face.

“Ah, why Big Mac! It HAS been a long time since I’ve seen you. What’s it been, five years? Six? I don’t suppose you need another under the table financial arrangement to help save your farm now do you? Lose anymore cart deliveries off the side of the road? Hmm? And however did you manage to pay me off last time? Whoo boy was you in hot water for a minute there ya!”

This made the red stallion growl while his friends looked over in surprise to hear that Big Mac was ever in such a desperate situation. But it was Filthy Rich who spoke up next while waving his hooves to clear the air. “Oh come now, come now. You know that I would never allow such underhoofed loansharking to take place inside one of my many fine establishments! Quite your joking there son.”

“Of course, of course! It was all just in jest. Here, why don’t I buy everypony a drink to help clear the air? Rayne here would share a drink with me won’t ya? Help to wet your whistle before your big show tonight?”

“And maybe I ain’t so thirsty. Maybe the drinks are seeming a little dirty to me tonight.” Rayne replied with a stone cold look in his eyes. Lil Pete scowled as he caught the accusation while Filthy Rich had it go straight over his head, just as Rayne had intended.

“Wh-what?! Dirty glasses? In my club?! Well we’ll just go see about that!” With that Rich stormed off and Lil’ Pete was quick to make his way back to his own table.

Sitting at Lil’ Pete’s table were three other stallions and a mare, all of which who looked to be emptying out their life savings onto the table. In addition, that pretty little Elly Eveningstar was sitting looking even more radiant than ever. She wore a tight white dress with a glittery shine to it. The back was completely open and held by three rows of diamonds. Her mane was long and straightened while parted to one side allowing it to cascade beautifully down her shoulder. And yet the remarkably stunning girl was left ignored as Lil’ Pete sat down with a grin to count his money without even giving her a thought.

“Rayne!” Spike yelled out and shook his shoulder.

“Oh, oh I’m sorry. What were you saying?” Rayne mumbled as his focus returned back to his own table.

“I said, that Petey guy really burns me up. I can’t believe that Rich allows him to hang out here. I remember that it wasn’t long after Twilight and I first moved to Ponyville when he showed up asking Rarity for a new suit. But after more than a few unsavory comments from him Rarity threw him out of her shop and barred him from every returning. Boy I would really like to see somepony put him in his place once and for all.”

“Eyup!” Big Mac said bitterly as he ordered a hard cider and a hay burger.

To this Discord now followed Rayne’s gaze from the arm candy mare across the room and back again. “Hmmm. Well my dear Spike, maybe somepony can. Somepony who is here tonight.”

“Oh? Who is it?” Spike asked while sounding oblivious.

“Heh, well he is sitting right here.” He said while pointing to the dark stallion.

“Who, Rayne? What are you saying Discord? I’m not about to ask a friend to go pick a fight! That could be dangerous!” Spike responded hotly.

“Oh no, no, no! I wouldn’t dream of doing that. But what if there were a different way? A classy way? What if there were somepony with a unique set of skills to handle the situation tactfully?”

“You mean like a pleasure pony?” Rayne asked while giving Discord a wry look.

“Oohh, that’s riiiight! I had almost forgotten that you were one of those!” Discord sarcastically called out.

“So Rayne…” Spike said as they all knew that Discord wasn’t going to let this go. “Do you have any ideas for showing up mister big shot over there?”

But Rayne hardly needed to think about it before saying, “Oh I might. Let’s say that something just came to me. Hey, you boys ready to catch one of my jazzy songs in here?” Rayne asked as he got up from their table.

“Eyup!’ The red stallion said as he gave a high five to Spike and Discord.

Several other patrons looked on excitedly as Rayne made his way across the dance floor. He signaled to the band that they would start soon but before walking up on stage Rayne made one little stop first that no other pony expected. “Excuse me miss. Would you care to have a dance?”

Looking up from hanging her bored face in her hooves Elly saw the nightclub singer was standing in front of her with his hoof out. “Who? Me?”

“That’s right. You’re one of the prettiest little ladies that I see in here and it just breaks my heart to see you looking so lonesome tonight.”

Much to Rayne’s delight Lil’ Pete seemed like he wasn’t going to stand for this. “Hey now, I say hey what in the swamp grit do you think you’re doing there boy?!” He called out angrily. “She ain’t lonesome! She’s here with ME!” The purple stallion yelled and grabbed her by the arm to pull her closer.

Now Rayne glared at him feeling furious at seeing a mare be manhandled in such a way. But Rayne took a breath and played it cool. He knew that the eyes of dozens of ponies were on him now and he had to be careful about how he acted with them watching. “Heh, that’s funny. Because you see, for the last hour it hasn’t even seemed like you noticed that she was here. Oh you’ve been sitting there chatting it up and counting your bits… but if you ask me you might as well be dead.”

“What?! Is you threatening me son?!” Lil’ Pete yelled loudly to make sure everypony in the room could hear.

Rayne just raised his hooves innocently and shook his head before giving a nod to the band to encourage them to start a beat for him. “Hey, hey, whoa now gate. That’s not what I’m saying at all. Lookie here now, you’ve got this stunning little heart-throb sitting here looking oh so pretty tonight. And yet you aint givin’ her no attention! So that’s why I say, you’re heart must not be working. And if you’re heart ain’t working my top cat, then you must be dead. Lemme tell ya a lil’ story now...” Rayne said as she moon walked away from the table to the amazement of the crowd and hopped onto the stage right in time with the music.

https://youtu.be/LCCWkZFgjAI

“When you've got no more assurance,
Than a great big hunk of lead.
And if you don't respond to romance,
Jack, you're dead!” Now a couple of other patrons laughed which made Lil’ Pete grimace.

“When a chick is smiling at you,
Even though there's nothing said.
If you stand there like a statue,
Jack, you're dead!”

Now the crowd cheered as Rayne hopped off the stage still singing but pointing to Lil’ Pete as he did so.
“You've been always kicking,
But you stubbed your hooves.
When you ups and kicks the bucket,
Just like old man mose.

When you get no kicks from loving,
And you blow your top instead.
It's a fact that you ain't living,
Jack, you're dead!” Now Spike and Big Mac were dancing in their chairs both feeling very glad that they decided to come out this evening. Then Rayne pointed to Discord who hopped up to do a snazzy little dance number together until Rayne’s song eventually continued.

“If you just ain't got nobody,
Since you've gone and lost your head.
Rigor mortis has set in daddy,
Jack, you're dead!

What's the use of having muscles,
When your life hangs by a thread?
If you ain't got no red corpuscles,
Jack, you're dead!

You've been always kicking,
But you stubbed your hooves.
When you ups and kicks the bucket,
Just like old man mose.

When you get no kicks from loving,
And the news begins to spread.
All the cats will holler, ‘Murder!’
Jack, you're dead!

All the breath is leaked out of you,
When your friends gather 'round the bed.
Look at you and say, ‘Don't he look natural?’
When that happens to you, daddy,
Jack, you're dead!

The crowd rose up onto their hooves with applause once Rayne had finished his song. Purposefully turning his back to Lil’ Pete he took a bow. But then he turned back around when he heard a whistle from behind him. The purple unicorn’s scowl now seemed to have disappeared and he was sitting with an arm draped around Elly while using his magic to sweep all the bits off the table into a bag.

“Well now...” He said as Rayne stepped over and stood by the end of the table. “That was quite a show you put on. Quite a show indeed. You know, word around town is that you are making quite the name for yourself. Handsome fella like you just strollin’ into town, romancing up all the prettiest mares for yourself, opening up a successful business for yourself in the day spa… and even securing a little night gig here when you have the time.”

Rayne just kept a reserved looked on his face and responded shortly. “Well, one does what one can.”

“HA! Yes! That’s it! That’s what I’m talking about!” The purple stallion suddenly cheered. “The point that I’m getting at is you smart! You sees an opportunity and you TAKE IT! You don’t worry about the nitty gritty or the moral ramifications. Not when you see a good investment sitting right there in front of you, now do you?”

“You got a point with all of these assumptions about me?” Rayne asked. But that was when Elly’s eyes went wide when Lil’ Pete handed a small oblong box. Inside were a dazzling pair of earrings that she quickly reached out to try on.

“The point that I’m making is that you’re a charmer… and real a business-stallion. You and me are a lot alike. You see, we might have different tactics but we think the same. Unicorns of a feather if you will. We don’t need to be at each other’s throats. We should be HELPING each other. You see what I’m saying?”

“And just what are you saying?” Rayne inquired as he set his hooves down on the table.

Now shifting his eyes around Lil’ Pete leaned in lowering his voice to a hush. “You see the thing is, I’m about to be coming up in the world around here. I’ve got plans, big plans! Everypony knows that Filthy Rich is the head real-estate honcho around here. He helped found the town so it makes sense that he’d own the land for most of the properties and store fronts in the area. But what if one day he didn’t? What if somepony were to buy all the biggest gain making businesses out from under him?”

“Oh? And that somepony might be you?” Rayne inquired as he stood back upright again.

“Might be… might be” Lil’ Pete replied while pursing his lip. “But taking over a town is a big venture. It can be done, but it can also go a lot smoother with a partner. Now I see Rich and he’s old blood. Old ways, old thinkin… But then I sees you and I think to myself, ‘now maybe there is a hip cat who knows when change can be a good thing?’ So what do you think? You wanna pool your capital you making at the spa with me and really see the big bits come rollin’ in? Why don’t we share a drink and talk all about it?”

The grin on Lil’ Pete’s face shined wide in the dark light of the jazz club. He stretched out a hoof signaling to the waitress for her to come on over. But she stopped in surprise when a stern tone came from the dark stallion standing beside the table.

“Hello there doll, how about a bottle of your finest-”

“Maybe I ain’t so thirsty.”

Now the two stallions scowled at each other as the waitress nervously took a step back. “This is the second time you turned me down for a drink. What, you don't like champagne?” Lil’ Pete asked with a murderous glare on his face.

“It could be.” Rayne said coldly, still not giving the other unicorn the respect of showing any emotion.

Now the waitress quickly ran from the table to look for assistance as Lil’ Pete leaned up aggressively. “Well excuse me. Maybe there's a mis-fucking-understanding. Maybe you don't realize who I just told you that I am. That I’m going to be the boss man around here soon!”

When Rayne snapped back it was enough to even make Discord, Spike and Big Mac rush out of their chairs. “Maybe I don't give a shit. Maybe I don't remember the last time I blew my nose either. Who the fuck are you, I should remember you?” Rayne slandered to the other unicorn while Discord and Big Mac each placed a hoof on their friend’s shoulder. “What, you think you're like me? You ain't like me, motherfucker. You're a punk.” Now his friends lightly attempted to pull Rayne back a little but he wasn’t done yet. “Chain-snatchin', jive-ass, mind gone motherfucker. Why don't you get lost? Go ahead, snatch a purse! Take a fuckin' walk.” Rayne growled as he belittled the petty loan shark to the lowest form of criminal he could think of.

That was when their altercation was broken up when a different voice spoke up to mediate the situation. “Whoa, whoa, whoa there now my good fellows. Now what is all the fuss? What is one of my long time patrons and my best lounge singer doing looking like there are about to tear my fine establishment apart?”

Trying to save what little face he could the purple stallion wiped his nose and pointed to Rayne while saying, “You better get him up outta here! This one here’s a loose dog I tell you!” To that comment Rayne glared darkly, not appreciating the insinuation at all. “I called it from the start! He ain’t nothing but trouble. I done told you Rich, if you’re wanting to expand and make it big in this here town then your only way of doing so is partnering up with me!”

At that Rayne finally showed some emotion as he could not hold back his laughter. “Ohhhh so is THAT what you two were talking about earlier? Ha, well now isn’t that just something.” Both of the other stallions looked to Rayne questioningly. “Mr. Rich, I think you might be interested to know that this shady would-be-hustler just propositioned me for a deal to steal this whole town out from under you.”

“Now that’s a bold faced lie!” Lil’ Pete shouted but Filthy Rich definitely looked frazzled by the accusation.

Finally taking a step away from the table Rayne turned to Rich and asked, “I’ve always been respectable with you since coming here, right? And I’ve made you a good bit of money without ever asking you for anything in return, isn’t that so?”

Rich straightened his collar a bit and then said, “Well, I do suppose that’s so.”

“Good. Then let me just ask you one thing. You didn’t sign anything with Lil’ Pete tonight did you? Anything at all? You don’t even have to show it to me or let me know what it is. But did you ink your name onto anything for him recently?” Now the business stallion trotted a bit and looked around seeming unsure of something.

That was when there were several gasps from the crowd as he pulled out a roll of parchment from inside his suit. “It just so happens that he proposed a deal to me about expanding all of the local business’s in town. He offered to take part as investor, even willing to fund most of the expenses himself for only a meager ten percent of my return on those businesses.”

Now Lil’ Pete crossed his hooves and proudly proclaimed, “A generous offer on my part to be sure.”

Rayne however was not convinced. “Rich, my friend. Why don’t you read over the fine print? Look over the writing in that contract very carefully.”

Laying the contract down on the table now Rich muttered as he scanned carefully through the small printed lines of text. “Mrrm… so as to… except for… mmrm… and the party to provide the greater financial sum for the renovations shall hence forth be assigned as the primary land owner to which all rights and powers apply!? WHY YOU LYING CHEATING SON OF A-”

“Whoa there!” Rayne yelled and he pulled Rich back from clocking Lil’ Pete right across the face. “Hold on now, I have a better idea. Mr. Rich, this is your town and I think you do a fine job running it. But if you wouldn’t mind me making a suggestion of my own, understandably it can be hard for you to keep a presence at all of your establishments at once. So how about just hiring me on as a manager? Only for your business properties now while all residential assets are still left up to you. No contacts necessary. I’d just be an employ under you… and let’s just say that I could help keep the trash out.”

To that both Rayne and Rich looked over to the nervous Lil’ Pete and back to each other. “You’re hired!” Rich said without a moment’s hesitation as he ripped up Lil’ Pete’s contract right where they stood.

Now speaking in an authoritative voice Rayne said, “As the new manager of the Hot Hoof Jazz Club you’re outta here! You’re eighty sixed pal!” Then Rayne grabbed the loan shark by the collar and threw him straight over the table onto the ground. “Mr. Rich, I think you’ll find the owners of the jewelry store, the furniture store, and the fan shop to be very appreciative to get this back.” He said while handing him Lil’ Pete’s bag. “It took me awhile to recognize the other ponies but Lil’ Pete here has been load sharking in this club for some time.”

The two nodded to each other respectfully but that was when the purple stallion stood back up looking enraged. “If you think that I’m just going to go quietly-”

“That is EXACTLY what you are going to do!” Rayne roared out with bolstering confidence that took the purple stallion by surprise. “Because you see, we aren’t the same. The different between you and I is that unlike you, I have friends.”

Suddenly Lil’ Pete was levitated off the ground and the light from his horn went out as Discord pinched it with a claw. “Excuse me but I believe he said that you were given the boot.” Then after transforming himself into a giant black boot Discord magicked an opening in the ceiling before kicking Lil’ Pete up and out through it.”

Now there was a roaring applause from everypony in the club who were all happy to finally be rid of the loan shark. “I think that I’m going to enjoy working with you son.” Rich said as he stuck a hoof out.

Shaking it with a smile Rayne replied, “I think the pleasure is mine Mr. Rich.” Then the band picked up again to sooth the crowd as the dark stallion returned back to his friends.

“Wow Rayne. Visiting here really was something special after all. I can’t believe you just did all that.” Spike said sounding astounded.

“Eyup!” Big Mac cheered enthusiastically.
.
“Heh, don’t even worry about it. I just brought you here for some drinks and to hear me sing. But now don’t let anypony ever tell you that Rayne doesn’t stand up for his friends.” Then the four buddies all bumped a hoof or claw in together. “Now if you’ll excuse me, my friends… There is one loose end that I need to tie up.”

Sitting alone by herself now Elly Eveningstar huffed and twirled an empty glass on it’s rim. But then she looked up hearing somepony clear their throat. “Oh, back again?”

Finally taking a seat in the booth now Rayne looked over to the beautifully dressed pegasus and offered her a tender smile. “So I guess I had to throw your boyfriend out of the club.” He said, not quite feeling sure where to begin.

“Oh no, not to worry. I knew that I was never anything except for arm candy to him anyways. Want to know how I know? It’s the earrings. You can always what kind of a pony a stallion thinks you are by the kind of earrings he gives you.”

Rayne chuckled as that line sounded a bit familiar to him. “Well anyhow, I’m glad you don’t seem to be too broken up over it.”

“Oh, don’t look so shocked.” She told him. “I always said to Petey that his ambition would get the best of him. They couldn’t prove that he was a loan shark, much less had any other criminal dealings in town. My dear, the only thing that they could prove was that he was a thorn in everyponies side. Anyway, he used to be a darling stallion back a few years ago. He was never my lover or anything like that.”

Rayne just raised his hooves to show that he wasn’t asking her to explain herself. However that was when a new commotion sprang up in the night club. Several stallions whistled when an orange mare in a cowgirl hat slowly walked her way down the stairs. “Big Mac! Have you got any idea what time it is?!” Applejack scolded to him. “Now I get you wanting to stay out late with your friends sometimes but at least TELL somepony when yer gonna do it! You had Granny Smith and I worried sick about you!”

Big Mac cowered sheepishly as a few other patrons snickered at him being scolded by his sister. But that was when Rayne noticed how Elly got nervous and was trying to hide behind him from the other mare. “Oh no…!”

“What? What is it?” Rayne asked as his girlfriend started walking over.

“Oh hi there Rayne. I had heard that you was singing here from time to time. I don’t suppose that I already missed the-… Well I’ll be. Elly? Little Elly? Is that you?!” Applejack asked in wonder as she looked at the sharply dressed pegasus.

Peeking back out from behind the dark stallion the other mare sighed and nodded before sitting up properly now. “Yeah, it’s me.” Rayne did a double take when her voice suddenly changed to a heavy southern accent instead of the refined show girl voice he had heard from her so far.

Now Applejack leaned forward while placing a hoof around her boyfriend’s shoulder. “Rayne, this here is little Elly Evening Star! She is one of my cousins! Well, in-law. Back before the ponies of Appleloosa founded their town one of them had a little filly. She was a wild one who up and ran away at the age of fourteen. Ain’t none of us seen hide nor hair o’ her since!”

“Well why do you think I left?!” Elly shouted out. “Here I am a full grown mare now and you done seen me not five minutes and you’re callin’ me ‘Little Elly’ all over again!”

“What?!” Applejack cried. “Is that why you done left? ‘Cause you thought we wasn’t taking you seriously? Elly, your family loves you! Look, I ain’t gonna force your hoof. You wanna know if I take you seriously? Then here, I’ll respect you as a grown mare to make yer own choices. But at least stop by Appleloosa. You ain’t gotta stay. Just pay your folks a visit to let them see that you’re okay. It would mean the world to them.”

With that Applejack turned towards Big Mac and the two headed off towards the door together. Discord looked to Rayne for a moment before turning back to Spike and offering to walk the dragon out as well. Back at the table the stallion sat beside the polished up country mare who had even Rayne fooled with her dolled up appearance. “She’s right...” Elly sobbed softly. “I ran away. I left without saying a word. I didn’t even leave a note. And that was years ago.”

“Elly...” Rayne began but he stopped because she clearly wasn’t finished.

“Heh, it’s funny you know? At any other time I wouldn’t even have considered returning home. But I don’t exactly have Lil’ Pete around to lean on anymore now do I?” That statement could have been interpreted in a number of different ways but from the expression on her face Rayne was certain that Elly was happy to be free of him. “Maybe I will. Just for a visit, you know?” The pegasus sniffed and then laughed nervously. “Hey, mister hero. Would you walk me out?”

“Of course.” Rayne said as he followed the pegasus upstairs and then held the door open for her.

- -

The train whistle rang out loudly through the night air. “Last call! Last call for the evening train! Last train tonight!” The conductor yelled out across the Ponyville train station platform.

That was where a stallion and a mare stood together holding onto each other’s hooves. “Heh, don’t see why he has to yell. We’re pretty much the only ones here right now.” Rayne jested but it was just small talk while Elly stood nervously on the platform. “Hey, you going to be okay?”

With a nod the young mare wiped her eyes and said, “Yeah, yeah I think I will be now. Thanks to nice ponies like you. Sometimes a mare can forget that stand up guys still exist, ya know? Especially when you fall in with the wrong crowd.”

Now Rayne smiled tenderly while brushing her fallen mane back behind her ear. “Whether you stick with your family or not, just promise me that you’ll make better choices from now on. Okay?”

Rayne was pleased to see an honest laugh come from Elly as she nodded. “Okay. I promise. Well, I guess I had better get going. I don’t want to miss the train.”

The two hugged tightly for a moment before Rayne ushered her on board. “Alright. You get outta here. It was a pleasure to meet you Elly Eveningstar. It feels a shame that I didn’t get to know you better.”

With her now standing in the train car and Rayne standing on the platform the two smiled to each other through the train doorway. Elly looked up as if she wanted to say one final goodbye but that was when Rayne saw her eyes widen as her gaze was fixed upon something over his shoulder.

“Hi, I’m Lil’ Pete from the club. You remember me right?” Said a stallion who was right in Rayne’s face when he turned around.

“Wait, I’ve seen this movie...” Was the dark stallion’s only thought.

“NOOOOOOOOO!!!” Elly screamed as she watched the purple unicorn magic up a knife and drive it four times toward the other stallion’s chest!

Lil Pete sneered victoriously as he felt something flow down over his hoof from where he held the knife. But then his grin faded as he saw a noticeable absence of red dripping onto the train platform. “What the-” He remarked as he attempted to pull his hoof back but found it to be stuck on something.

There was no blood on Rayne’s chest because there was hardly a chest at all. The purple unicorn’s hoof as well as the knife was sunk into a billowy shadow and something within that void now had a hold of Lil’ Pete. “You messed up Petey...” Rayne said but his voice was dark and sinister. “You are like an ant fighting against the sun when you don’t know what it is that you are messing with.”

“What?! What the heck are you?!” That was when the loan shark screamed in fright while Elly stared on hardly being able to believe what she was seeing. A large dark creature crawled outward from Rayne’s chest while holding Lil’ Pete’s hoof in it’s teeth. Then four more of the shadowy canines sprung up from the ground which now surrounded the frightened stallion. “AAHAHH! WHAT ARE YOU?!”

Now Rayne was a horrifying visage with a mouth snarling full of panther teeth. “I am the thing that goes bump in the night, I am what fills your dreams with fright!” With a stomp of his hoof one of Rayne’s hounds jumped into Lil’ Pete’s own shadow and then disappeared. The purple unicorn fell backwards on his flank while looking around but not being able to find the creature.

“WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT’S GOING ON?!” He shrieked like a frightened colt as a nose and a sharp set of fangs slowly came up from underneath his own shirt to lick across his neck.

“I have marked you Petey… You have one of my hounds inside you now. It will watch you and see everything that you do. You will never be able to be free of me now. I am a monster Petey. And you have angered me. So if you ever return to Ponyville my hound will appear and tear you open from the inside out. If you seek to get revenge my hound will tear you open from the inside out. If you ever send anyone on your behalf to come after Elly or myself, my hound will appear and tear you open from the inside out… I would run now if I were you Petey. My hounds are hungry. Maybe flee to Klugetown. I’m sure that scum like you could find a home there… But never return to Equestria if you want to live.”

“AHH-AAHHHHH! I’m sorry! I’M SORRY!!!” He screamed as he turned tail and ran from the station into the darkness.

But Rayne wasn’t quite finished yet. “Oh Petey!!!” The dark stallion yelled out one more time. While almost paralyzed by fear the purple unicorn froze and nervously looked back over his shoulder. Now in an even colder voice… “What was it you called me? A loose dog, am I? Well then that must make you dog food.” Then the remaining hounds on the platform began to jump excitedly.

“N-NRNG- No-NOOOO!!!” Lil Pete screamed as he bolted as fast as his hooves could carry him.

Leaning down and affectionately stroking one of the Obsidianwolves under the chin Rayne said, “Don’t kill him… But he never walks back into this town again.” Then the four Umbran beasts chased after their prey without so much as a sound left in their wake. “Please, forget what you saw. And I hope you travel safe.” Rayne smiled kindly as if all of that had not just happened. Elly stood wide eyed and nodded as she quickly made her way back onto the train just before the doors closed.

Author's Notes:

So this chapter had a lot of old movie references which I hope that you enjoyed. Several of the lines from/about Elly Evening Star are a reference to Lula Mae Barnes from the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Meanwhile Rayne's argument with Lil' Pete, as well as the train station scene, are a reference to the 1993 movie Carlito's Way.

The song that Rayne sang was "Jack You Dead" by Joe Jackson.

Also Rayne now has another source of income being hired as a manager for Filthy Rich's business locations.

I do hope you all enjoyed the arc with Elly here. She is an adorable little character who I was happy to include in my story. She might make a little cameo again but her arc is now over.

Now as for the violence at the end... Rayne is holding true to not killing another pony, but if you pull a knife on him then he is going to respond to that. And boy did Lil' Pete not know who he was messing with haha. The line about Petey being 'dog food' was a reference to TV anime series "Hellsing" 10/10/2003 ep 5 Brotherhood. But again, Rayne didn't kill him. Also the bit about Rayne saying his Obsidianwolf would stick with Lil' Pete forever was a bluff. He pulled all his hounds back later that evening.