The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 90 – Priests and Purchases

Ponyville had seen a change over the next several weeks. The small community which was once a happy town now seemed downright merryfull instead. Where ponies would casually walk down the streets with gentle smiles they now passed each other jovial grins from ear to ear. Commerce was up as food tasted just a little bit sweeter, namely after some agricultural tips given to the local farming community. And even the air had a delightful fragrance to it, albeit partially from a suggestion to Mr. Breezy of partnering his business with the nearby perfume store.

Even in the castle there was an increased since of thrill and intrigue. While Spike was beside himself in laughter at being given a literal mountain of new Ogres & Oubliette ideas to peruse through, the Princess had her wings flutter with excitement as she lay on a futon enjoying the afternoon with an unexpected reading companion.

“Ohhhh! No, no, no, ahh!” Twilight gasped as she nearly fell off her seat at the passage of a book that she and Rayne reading a copy of together. “What?! They threw him off a cliff?! I thought they were supposed to bury him!” She shouted to herself in a blind crawl back onto her seat as she could not pull her eyes away from the page.

Meanwhile Rayne just smirked while staring up from over the cover of his copy. “I told you that you would like this one.” He whispered but felt unsure of whether she heard him or not.

The delay was short as she gave a sigh after finishing the line that she was on. But then Twilight marked her place and shut the novel to look up at him. “Like it?! It’s infuriating! To think that even in a fictional world that ponies could be so selfish and cruel to one another.” Then a second later she excitedly exclaimed, “I LOVE IT!”

“Heh, heh. I figured as much.” The stallion smirked as he closed his copy as well feeling no need to mark his place. “Just wait till you read what comes next. After an almost supernatural feat of swimming our ill fated protagonist runs into a band of pirates! You know, Dash might even enjoy this one if we can get her to look passed all the old ponish that’s written in it.”

“Ooooh! When you told me you had a story with drama like no other you really weren’t kidding!” Twilight beamed. “Yes the content is a bit dark for my usual taste but the tragedy and romance mixed with the suspense of what’s to come makes it so thrilling that it’s hard to put down!”

“I’m glad that you seem to be enjoying having me as a reading partner after all.” Rayne stated as he remembered back to her initial response. “When I first offered to share this book with you I thought you were going to laugh in my face.”

“I was not!” Twilight protested. But then she folded her wings a bit as she admitted, “Okay well to be fair, yes I did find it to be an odd suggestion. I didn’t expect you to actually show up on my door one day with a pair of books in hoof asking me if I’d like to read them together.”

Rayne nodded and opened his mouth to speak again but stopped when he noticed Twilight’s mood seem to change.

“But there's something that I just don’t understand.” She told him while looking down to the book in her hooves almost mournfully. “Why did the old stallion Abbé Faroia have to die? It just seems so cruel that his fate would be to never find the freedom which he toiled so long for.”

"Well it's because it wasn't important for him to have it Twilight.” Rayne explained as she looked up to the stallion with a pensive stare. “I’m surprised that you don’t already know this but every character in every story MUST have a purpose that they fulfill, else they need to be removed. It's a basic principle of writing fiction.”

“What do you mean?” She asked him rather contestably. “There are lots of characters in many stories whose only purpose is for filler or to maybe insert some comedic relief.”

“Ah, but you’re missing the point of their existence Twilight.” Rayne said excitably, not entirely missing the comparison of the Abbe from their story lecturing to the Eston-Dantes. “While a lowly and fleeting sub character might appear to have insignificant importance in the grand scheme of things, think instead how important that comedic break or scene filler actually is to the mood of a chapter.”

“Oh! I.. I didn’t...” Twilight stammered but was still processing as Rayne went on.

“A sailor who embarks on a grand adventure and encounters a mythical beast is still just a lowly street urchin if he never finds the boatman to purchase a vessel from in the first place. A majestic garden pieced together of flowers and fruit all too sweet would certainly be a wonder to behold. But how much more meaningful would the origin of that garden become when you remember that the adventurer had consorted with the seller at the flower stand back when he was several chapters younger.” Rayne pointed out.

Twilight’s eyes were now open wide as her mind reeled at the possibilities that she had previously missed. “While a protagonist might be going on adventures galore in the exciting chapters, you don’t find out until later all the hard work he was committing himself to in the background!” Twilight shouted.

“That’s right, now you’re getting it. It is usually the minor characters who end up giving the greatest power to the heroes.” Rayne explained to her. “Every character serves a purpose no matter how large or small. But Twilight, once they have served their purpose they no longer have a place in the story. It would be great for the Abbé to have escaped and lived a full life until the end of his days. But that is not what this book was about. His purpose in Dantes’ tale is crucial but it was required for him to die because he now lives on in the lesson he provided.”

“Wait, which lesson?” Twilight faltered. “He taught Dantes nearly everything! There were hundreds of lessons!”

To this Rayne could not resist a chuckle. But then he looked Twilight in the eye as he explained, “It was one of the final things he ever said to Dantes. Abbé Faroia told him ‘Here is your final lesson - do not commit the crime for which you now serve the sentence.’ Powerful words, that become even more potent as the story continues on. That beyond all the other support that Faroia gave that was what his character existed to teach. And after that, the lession was over."

Now there was a silence between them as Twilight took a deep breath and folded her wings in. “Thank you Rayne. I am very glad that you introduced this novel to me. I think that at a later time I will reread it from the beginning with a greater appreciation for the finer details included. But for now I think I need a break.”

Standing from his seat the stallion stepped over and extended a hoof to assist the princess up. “I hope that having somepony like me as you reading partner was not too taxing for you.”

“Oh you were fine. They story is just anything but light reading is all. But thank you, I enjoyed myself today. Now I really need to get back to grading school papers. Heh, a Headmare’s work is never done.”

Now the stallion stepped backwards with his hooves up as they both walked out into the hall together. “School work? Well I’m no miracle worker. I believe you just may have found the one thing that this pleasure pony cannot help you with.”

“Ha! Either that or you’re just lazy when it comes to the academic arts!” She pointed to him playfully.

“Yeah, I’ll admit to being guilty at that. Lend my hoof to help with the extracurricular activities like band or shop class any day but when it comes to math and sciences leave me out of it!”

“You’re hopeless.” Twilight joked at him.

“Yup.” Rayne grinned back.

The two laughed together as she walked him to the front doors before they waved to depart from one another. But once Rayne had traveled a good ways down the road it was then that he was greated by another dark stallion with bright blue eyes who stood waiting for him. After looking around to make sure that no other pony was within view, two mirror imaged Rayne’s clapped hooves in a high five which resulted in Rayne reabsorbing his copy until there was only one stallion left behind.

“Hehe, seems like things in town are going well. But there’s still a few more stops to make before the day is out. After all, it IS usually the minor characters who give the empowerment to the heroes.” He repeated to himself with a smirk.

- Back in Town -

There was a suddenly rush of giggling from a pair of mares on the street as they watched the infamous dark stallion in town proudly walking his way out from the house belonging to their friend Strawberry Surprise.

“Oh my gosh! Nooo!” Sugar Grape gasped in laughter as her pegasus wings stood on end from her surprise.

“She didn’t?!” Apple Honey asked in disbelief as the two squealing mares rushed ahead just in time for the rosy remnant to appear at her doorway.

“Awww… Oh, hello girls.” Strawberry Surprise cooed blissfully before casually greeting the other mares who looked up with smirks all over their faces.

“Don’t you hello girls us!” Sugar Grape blurted out. “What were YOU doing all afternoon, huh?!” The white pegasus with the dark violet mane shouted while giving no regard for her friend's privacy.

“Heh heh. I’ll tell you what she was doing.” The dark golden country pony chuckled. “She was out in the field getting her strawberries picked with that tall glass of water walkin' away from us. That’s what she was doing.” Apple Honey said with a smirk. Then all three mares stared at the rear end of the stallion with a sigh until he turned a corner down the street.

“Excuse you!” The red maned mare finally shouted with an offended scowl. Then she reached out to pull her two friends inside. “That strawberry picking reference sounds an awful lot like a cherry picking reference to which I do not appreciate at all!” She sassed while crossing her hooves and turning her back to them.

“Oh, hey Straw’s come on.” The earth pony whined as the pegasus beside her lifted her wings to her mouth. “We didn’t mean anything by it. We was only joking with ya. Surely you know that?” She asked with concern.

But then Strawberry looked back over her shoulder with a grin and stuck her tongue out. “Gotcha! Haha! Actually, that stallion picked my strawberries alright… He picked my strawberries three times...” She groaned in dramatic satisfaction before dropping herself into her friend's hooves with a laugh.

For Grape and Honey’s part though they just looked to each other and then let their friend fall to the floor with a thud. “Haha, serves you right for pulling a fast one on us. You really had me going.” Honey replied but Strawberry just waved it off while looking up to them from the floor.

Sugar Grape then looked down and with a raised eyebrow asked, “Is everything okay Straw’s? I’ve got to admit, yeah I’ve heard the rumors about him but I never pictured you for the philandering type.”

“Excuse me!” Strawberry growled but still had a smile on her face. “Now don’t get me going for real. It’s not like I hadn’t met the stallion before today! And he’s always been real nice, a proper gentlepony to me. Today being no exception! And don’t you stand there all high and mighty like you don’t drop your berries whenever you see Honey’s cousin walking by.”

Both of the other girls broke out into a hearty laugh as the pegasus’ wings spruced up in a guilty exclamation. “Aw now lay off her.” Honey sassed while giving Strawberry a shove once she finally stood up. “Every pony knows that Big Mac’s been the eye candy of the town since he was a colt. That ain’t nuthin’ but nuthin’.”

“Well,” Strawberry remarked coyly, “I suppose that she’ll find out what that Rayne is like soon enough.”

“S-soon enough?” Grape stammered as she looked to her friend in surprise. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, you hadn’t heard?” The red headed mare giggled as she looked into a mirror to straighten her mane that the stallion had left a sweaty mess. “That Rayne’s being paying a visit to every farmer, fruit picker, and flower grower in town. Has been for better part of the week. Now I’m not saying he’s looking to climb your vines or anything, but he did mention that it was the grape orchard he was headed to right after leaving my strawberry fields.”

“WHAT?! No, oh my gosh!” The now panicked pegasus shouted before hurriedly rushing back out the door.

- Elsewhere in Town -

Rayne chuckled as a white pegasus with a dark violet mane zoomed by overhead seemingly unaware of his presence below. However after his snicker it was actually the Ponyville Costume Shop that he next proceeded to instead. With a little jingle of the bell above the door the shopkeeper looked up from the counter and smiled.

“Ah, a customer! Well, feel free to- Oh! It’s you! Well hello again Mister Rayne.” The store owner jovially called out. “Traveling by yourself today? Looking to pay for another afternoon’s perusal of my store you sly dog you?” The shop keeper was an older tan colored stallion but one who definitely seemed to still have a lot of zip in him.

“Heh, heh. No thanks Mr Garbsworth. I’m actually shopping as a customer for myself today. In fact I would like to make a large purchase.” Rayne told the shopkeeper with a charming smile.

“A L-L-LARGE PURCHASE?!” The old stallion shouted excitedly before rushing around the counter to place a hoof around Rayne’s shoulders. “Well then, please allow me to be your guide. We have ghouls, and fairies, and party clowns galore! What kind of costume are you looking for?” He rhymed out with a beaming grin.

Rayne just smirked enjoying the old codger’s enthusiasm. “Unless I’m mistaken, Nightmare Night is going to be coming up in only a couple of months. Let’s just say that I’m looking to get ahead on the festivities and I have some very big plans for the holiday.”

“Ah, a keen shopper. Somepony who wants to beat the rush. I like that.” The old pony said as he guided Rayne to a corner of the store that was filled with masks meant to be both frightful and terrifying. “Are you looking for a costume for yourself that’s positively chilling? Or perhaps something elegantly spook-some for some of your lady friends? We offer complimentary sizing you know and if your plan is to be discreet then I can work with that too.”

Now Rayne had to hold a snicker back as he covered his mouth with a hoof. “I’ve got to give it to you old timer. Your sales-ship is top class. But for what I have in mind I’m afraid we might have to go bigger.”

“B-B-BIGGER?!” The shopkeeper shouted again as money signs almost shined in his eyes for a moment. “Why-y-y. Yes! Whatever it is that you need!”

At this point Rayne looked around as if checking to see if anypony else were around and listening. Then he waved the other stallion to lean in closer and whispered softly into his ear. “Tell me friend, where DOES Pinkie get all those supplies when she throws a party for the whole town? I’m sure you MUST be a supplier to her, am I correct? Maybe some other material like fabrics and such from Carousel Boutique as well?”

Now leaning back the old pony thought to himself. “Well yes, I’d suppose. Maybe a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. What makes ya ask?”

“Oh well I’m sure that a resourceful business pony like yourself could gather some items for me. And I’d of course be paying for all the base materials and time spent on your part.” Rayne negotiated as he lead the store owner back to front counter.

“Hmm. Materials you say? Just how big of a project is it that you’re talking about here sonny?” Mister Garbsworth asked while scratching his chin.

“Well...” Rayne smirked as he magicked up a scroll that he’d written in advance. Letting it roll open the parchment spanned from his hoof down the length of the register to the front door. But just then after a flick of his horn a large sack of gleaming bits plopped down out of thin air right in front of the store owner. “One for the material purchases I’m making.” Then a second bag equally full of bits appeared. “And a second for your time and assistance with this.”

The older stallion momentarily looked like he might have a heart attack but then with a gulp he steadied himself and smiled to his customer. “Whoooowie! Whatever you need! Right away!” He shouted before trying to drag each bag that was half the size that he was back behind the counter.

Using his magic to levitate the bags for him Rayne leaned down over the counter and asked, “Now, one more thing… Do you know where I can find Hard Hat? The construction pony?”

- A Few Minutes Later -

Rayne stepped outside of the mayor’s office with an accomplished look and a roll of paper under his arm. He trotted down the stairs but then looked up as he heard a whistle from down the street.

It didn’t cause much notice for a random stallion to just be walking about his business. Rayne then slid into an alley between two large buildings where another Rayne had been standing and waiting for him. “Did you get the deed?”

“Did you get things taken care of at the costume store?” The stallion with a paper under his arm asked.

“T’ch. As if there would be any complications. It all went according to plan. But uh, the deed there. How much is this going to set us back?” Asked the Rayne from the costume store.

“Well… wow.” The Rayne from town hall answered. But then he straightened himself up. “Not to worry though. We knew that it probably wasn’t going to be cheap. But at least it's taken care of.”

“How much is wow?” The concerned stallion asked.

“Look, as long as you found out where the construction ponies are then we can proceed as scheduled.” Rayne deflected.

“How much is wow?” The concerned stallion begged to know.

“Look, it’s getting late and we need to get a jump on this project if it's all going to be finished in time!” Rayne pointed out, still circumventing the question.

But that was when Rayne from the costume shop stepped forward and put his hooves up on his other self’s shoulders. “How much is wow?” He pleaded desperately.

“Oh well… It's right in between, uh, ‘ouch’ and ‘boing’.” He stated before the two stallions suddenly merged back together. “Wow!” He exclaimed, mentally counting over the sizable decrease in his finances. However it was that momentary distraction that allowed him to absentmindedly collide right into the face of another pony after stepping back out on the street.

“Owwwie! That hurt.” Pinkie whimpered softly before looking up and then bouncing back to her hooves excitedly. “Oh, hi Rayne! Wait, what are you doing walking out of an alleyway huh?!” She asked him suspiciously.

“Heh heh, oh Pinkie. You’re so silly. I just came from saying hello the to costume shop owner. And this is the fastest way to walk to the center of town from there.” Rayne responded as if it were merely a game they were playing.

“Oh! Oh! Were you giving him super special, amazing wowsit, unbelievably scary and spooktastic ideas for the upcoming Nightmare Night in a couple of months?! I mean you did totally turn business around for Mr. Breezy’s fan shop and the perfume store recently. Not to mention Sugarcube Corner, the cherry stand, the lemon stand and the flower store; not to forget that the ice cream shop has never had SO many flavors. Wow, you know you’ve been really busy lately Rayn- HEY WAIT! WHERE DID YOU GO?!” But as much as she searched around the party pony could not find where the stallion had trotted off to while she was busy listing off his recent ventures over the last few weeks.

- Out in the Workshop Behind Mr. Hay’s Hardware -

“Wait, you want to build this over here?” Asked a gruff voice from a stallion who was looking over a town map in the busy workshop. All around there were sounds of machinery as lumber was hauled back and forth between the warehouse and the sawmill on the corner of Sweet Apple Acres.

“No, no not there.” Rayne explained to the dark blue-gray stallion in an orange safety vest. “More over here. Look see, there’s a whole area right here with no buildings, no tress, and it’s right on the edge of town. It should fit perfectly.”

The construction stallion stood upright as he tipped his bright yellow hard hat upwards over his buzzed mane. “Well I don’t know. If there’s really nothing there then what you’re pointing at is city property. Because you’re sure well within the city zoning limits. You’re gonna need-” The stallion Hard Hat began but he was promptly interrupted by a series of papers being unraveled from a scroll and placed in front of his face.

“Deed of sale and title for land ownership, latest tax paid receipt, agreement of sale and permit for construction notarized by the town mayor, sanctioned building plan, approved zoning and property certificates, and finally proof of payment finalization with no loan outstanding for all receipts, permits, and certificates here included.” Rayne listed before finishing with a cheeky grin. “All that’s left to be required is a site survey on yours the contractor’s part and then payment for your services.”

Hard Hat’s eyes spun for a moment but then after looking everything over he glared back to the stallion and snorted. “Now wait just a minute! You can’t just walk in here off the streets and place an order for an entire building like you’re buying a muffin on a Sunday stroll! Your designs here include plumbing, electricity, labor... while on a huge plot of land you have mapped out here and what’s this… dual chimneys?! This would be one of the largest buildings in Ponyville! How do you expect to pay for something like this?!”

But Rayne’s smile did not falter as he just slid his arm around the other stallion’s shoulders. “Let me borrow you for a moment. I’d like to show you something...” Then several of the other workers in the warehouse looked over curiously as the two of them were teleported away.

“Uh… what just happened?” Hard Hat asked as he looked around and realized everything had gone dark.

Suddenly a light was shined revealing an underground tunnel that seemed to open up into a cavern ahead. “You asked me how I intend to pay for the building? Well let me show you.” Rayne’s voice echoed off the walls as his horn illuminated the way.

“Where are we?” Hard Hat asked while staring at the stalactites hanging from the ceiling and the stalagmites rising up from down below.

“Yeah… I’d rather not answer you that.” Rayne frowned wondering why the other stallion had even bothered to ask.

“Ah, wha-what are those?!” Hard Hat shouted as several figures darted back and forth across the passage way before them.

“What, you’ve never heard of guard dogs before? Come on if you’re ever going to have your answer.” Rayne beckoned him over to where he now stood at the precipice of a cliff drop. “Take a look down there.”

Hard Hat was seeming less and less amused by the moment. But when Rayne shined his light down below Hard Hat’s eyes spread wide while reflecting the small sea of bits, gold, and jewels that shimmered before him. “Whaaaat in the...”

“Heh heh… I assume then that payment isn’t going to be a problem?” Rayne smirked and then teleported them both back to the warehouse behind Hay’s Hardware Store. “So can I count on your services? You will be working under a bit of a time crunch. I apologize to you in advance for that.”

Hard Hat had to blink several times before realizing that he was no longer staring at all those bits. “Oh uh, y-yeah. I mean, of course.” He said suddenly straightening his tune and now speaking to Rayne as if he were somepony of importance. “My team will get on this right away.”

“Heh heh, glad… to… hear it.” Rayne announced more to himself as he turned and made his way back out the door. Once he was outside he looked around and watched as three more copies of himself all came out from hiding. After merging back together he grinned, “Ah… Happy ponies, happy town hehe. Now… where is that grape orchard?"

- Back at the Castle of Friendship -

“Knock, knock...”

True to her word Twilight had spent the rest of her afternoon totally engrossed in the new book that had been presented to her. “No! No don’t do it! He’s your son! Oh my gosh!” She mumbled to herself as her eyes were almost burning holes in the pages from how intensely she was reading.

“Knock, knock!” Came a rapping from a hoof against the door.

“Ohhhh...! Ouuuuu...!” The princess muttered to herself tensely.

Then with a light creak a pink pony opened the door to the princess’s room and spoke softly. “Uh, Twilight? Are you-”

“AHHHHH!!!

“AAAAAHHHHHH!!!”

The two mares screamed after Twilight jumped in fright seeing somepony approach her side during an intense sword fight that she had forgotten for a moment that she was not actually a part of. “Ohhh goodness! Pinkie, I’m so sorry! Are you okay? Ahem, I mean, what can I help you with?” Twilight asked while setting the book down and leaning a hoof to her hyperventilating friend.

But the party pony just gave a sly grin and asked, “Good book?”

With a bit of a bashful blush Twilight responded, “Very good book.” Then she helped her friend up off the floor. “So, what’s up?”

“Wellllll...” Pinkie called out in dramatic fashion. “I wanted to ask if have you seen Rayne recently? I ran into him today but he must have been busy because he just suddenly vanished on me.”

“Oh why yes actually.” Twilight said before stepping out with Pinkie into the hallway. “You just missed him by a few hours. He was here sharing a reading session with me earlier. Why do you ask?”

“Well I’m worried about him. He seems different.” She said but from the tone of her voice it sounded as if she weren't entirely certain of what she meant by that.

This of course threw Twilight’s anxiety into overdrive. “Wait, worried about him?! He’s acting different?! Oh no! There wasn’t somepony being mean to him was there?!”

But Pinkie just laughed and said, “Oh don’t be silly, he’s fine! If it were something like that going on then I’d be like AHHHH TWILIGHT! RAYNE’S IN TROUBLE, YOU HAVE TO COME RIGGGHHT NOOOWWW!”

Twilight stood their with her mane blown back a little and she had to wipe the saliva that her friend had accidentally spit out off of her face. “Uh yeah, okay. Duly noted.” She remarked sarcastically. Once she was hoof groomed back into shape she turned and asked, “Well what’s wrong then? I thought that things had been going great for him. I know he’s been a delight all over town. In fact, Ponyville’s never been happier.”

But just outside of Spike’s room Pinkie turned and whined out, “Well yeah but that’s what has me concerned.” Suddenly a light gray hoof pulled the little dragon back and shut the door to just a crack as a blue eye and a green eye peeked out from within. “Rayne has been busy making EVERY other pony he comes across happy. But he’s been so busy that I wonder who is it that’s still around to make HIM happy?”

Inside the room Rarity stepped back from the door and whispered, “Oh dear.”

“Wait, I don’t get it. Is Rayne okay?” Spike asked starting to sound concerned.

“Why I don’t know my darling.” Rarity replied as they both heard Twilight speak out again.

“I think I can see what you mean. Let’s gather our friends and maybe we can all talk about it.” Then Pinkie and Twilight were heard walking off down the hall while Rarity and Spike were left with only their suspicions.

Author's Notes:

(Happy Leap Year!)

Forshadding warning here haha. Anyways, I wonder how quick some of you might have guessed that the book Rayne shared with Twilight is a ponyfied version of The Count of Monte Cristo. They had only gotten to the escape from prison when they stopped to have their conversation.

Abbé Faroia is a play on words for the character in the book Abbé Faria. A Faroe pony is an equine native to the Faroe Islands that is short and stocky but still referred to as a horse by the locals due to it’s strength. That reminds me of the Priest's character in the book because even though he is old and frail, his spirit is mighty. So I combined Faria with Faroe to make Abbé Faroia for this story. Likewise I named the character Edmond Dantes as Eston-Dantes after the Eston-Arden Draft Horse. It is a mixed breed that I felt complimented how Dontes is a mix of many different elements.

Now what Rayne is saying here is important about side characters being huge factors to the plot. Even something as insignificant as a store purchase could have radical consequences later on. And of course, all this is written to help you remember something that will be important much later on.

So yes, Rayne is finally loosening up be a little more leisure with his powers. Using the magic of the mirror pool he has been having copies of himself running around all over Ponyville. But Rayne is being careful to not split himself too many times at once. Also with using Starlight's magic he can choose which parts of himself go to which copy. So none of the duplicates of Rayne are derpy like the copies that Pinkie once made of herself.

Strawberry Surprise, Sugar Grape, and Apple Honey are all canon background ponies from Ponyville. But I just made up that they're all long standing friends with each other.

Oooh, why is Rayne visiting all those farmers?

So the owner of the costume store in Ponyville has never been revealed as far as I know. So I made a simple OC for the interaction with Rayne in this chapter. What do you think of him? Oooh and what could he be planning for Nightmare Night that could possibly be SO expensive?!

So if you've never seen the movie then you probably won't appreciate reference as much but this chapter had an homage to 'White Christmas.' Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye have a bit where they discuss the cost of putting on a stage show in a sky lodge in Vermont. The bit goes somewhat similar to the two Rayne's discussing the purchase of a deed at town hall. Also let me remind everyone that when the duplicate Raynes come back together their memories and experiences come together as well as if there had only ever been one of him.

Mister Hay's Hardware is a canon store in town but the workshop is something that I added for this story. It makes sense though that a hardware store might have one.

So yes... Rayne hasn't been putting his fortune into any kind of bank. He has been storing it up deep within the caverns below Maud's home and he now had a small vault of treasure just like Scrooge McDuck.

Aww good Pinkie looking out for a friend. But wait... Rarity! No! Stop! Eavesdropping is bad! No! What are you planning?! You don't know the whole story! What are you going to do?! Stalp!!! (Haha.)