The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 93 – Cares & Concerns

“No it is not okay! I don’t want your apology, I want to know that this kind of thing isn’t going to happen again!” The scene that Rayne walked in on was anything but serene as he found the performance magician being heavily reprimanded by the town mayor.

“Ugh, isn’t that what an apology is?” Trixie sassed with a thoroughly unamused expression. Then turning away disinterestedly she dumped the bits from her show into a trunk before removing a hidden belt from around her waist. “What is it that you want me to say?”

Mayor Mare was fuming as she stomped her hoof into the ground shouting, “I don’t want you to SAY ANYTHING! I want you to listen because you aren’t just getting off with a slap on the wrist this time Trixie! You CANNOT fire gun powder cannons in the center of town in the middle of the night! There are ponies who were sleeping and many of the citizens had foals that were frightened by your explosion!”

Even though the mayor had a point, Rayne closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead already imagining how irritated Trixie must be feeling by this point. “Excuse me, um, ladies? Mayor Mare, if I could just-”

“Oh please hold your praise for the performance of this no-good-doer for another time!” The older mare shouted. “I am speaking to her about official town business and this is very important!” The mayor snapped before turning back to Trixie looking angrier than ever.

“Uh actually I’m not here about her. I walked over here to talk to you madam Mayor. It's about a noise complaint.” Rayne interjected, not allowing himself to be dismissed so easily.

“Ugh, you see?!” The mayor shouted to Trixie while pointing with her hoof. “There’s another one! This is exactly my point! You can’t just-”

“Soooo sorry to interrupt again-” Rayne slid around in front of the mayor almost like a serpent coiling an unsuspecting mouse. “But my complaint wasn’t actually about Trixie.” He said and was pleased to see the look of surprise on the older ponies face.

“Oh? There’s been another disturbance? Well, I mean I am mayor but I’m still only one pony. No one had told me if there was something else- Oh well I mean maybe after I finish here I can-”

“Yeaaah… but you see," He pointed out in his best Bill Lumbergh voice, "the other disturbance? It’s you.”

‘W-wait, what?” The mayor balked as she blinked several times while staring at the stallion in surprise.

“You see, I know you’re trying to do what you feel is best for the town and everything...” Rayne began as he slipped a hoof around her shoulders and then turned to begin walking her away from Trixie’s wagon. “But you’re doing an awful lot of shouting. It’s late, and ponies are trying to go to bed… Couldn’t you just, you know, file a citation or provide a zoning map or something? I'm sure that a matter such as this could certainly wait until morning, right?” Rayne listed and before the mayor knew what happened she was looking around wondering how they had gotten back to the town square.

“Well I mean, yes I suppose… I didn’t mean to… Wait now I wasn’t...” She stammered through a mix of emotions. Once she realized what had happened she sucked up her pride and raised her head proudly. “Perhaps right now isn’t the most appropriate time to deal with the matter. But this isn’t over. Good night Rayne!” Then she marched off to the town hall and slammed the door behind her.

Rayne’s smirk was from ear to ear as the traveling magician stepped up beside him. “How did you-? Wow, I cannot believe that you just did that!" Trixie stammered with her jaw open. But then she pulled off her hat and gave the grinning stallion a smile. "But thank you. No pony has ever done anything like that for me.”

Recognizing an opportunity for a laugh when he saw one Rayne replied, “Aw don’t mention it. It was nothing. But did you see the look on her face?!” It took a moment but sure enough Trixie and Rayne both broke out into hearty laugh together. A moment afterwards the mayor stuck her scowling head back out her door but Trixie and Rayne had snickered all the way back to the wagon together.

Once they’d returned Trixie paused to catch her breath but then gave Rayne a curious smile. He rose an eyebrow to her as she looked him over giving quite the inquisitive smirk. “So, my hero then huh?" She asked sarcastically which definitely caught Rayne off guard. "Am I supposed to swoon into your arms now?” She wisecracked.

For his part Rayne just raised his hooves saying, “No, no. A thank you might be nice but nothing more than that is necessary. To be honest I didn’t exactly do it for you.”

“Oh?” Trixie looked over with legitimate curiosity now as she returned to tieing her performance supplies away on top of her wagon.

“Heh, yeah well let’s say that from another life I know what it’s like to have to deal with unruly and entitled individuals. It’s something that I hate to see happen so it was a personal joy for me to come in and intervene.” Then with a flick of his horn the rest of Trixie’s cases lifted themselves into place.

The unicorn mare raised her brow before leaning back against her wagon saying, “Wow, you really are helpful to have around. Starlight was right about you. So it’s Rayne, isn’t it?”

The stallion was a little taken aback by this but he nodded all the same. “It seems that my reputation proceeds me. She didn’t tell you too much about me I hope? I would hate for my mysterious stranger approach to be foiled already.”

With a slight chuckle Trixie replied, “Oh no, don’t worry. All she told me about was a twisted love affair that ended tragically and with hearts broken on both sides. One where you poured your heart out to her and she smashed it into a million pieces while also hurting her own heart in the process.”

“Nnnmm… I never meant for that.” Rayne mumbled under his breath.

“Oh you would probably be interested to know that she feels INCREDIBLY guilty over the whole thing.” Trixie went on.

“What? I never wanted that.” Rayne said dishearteningly.

“One might even say that she feels responsible for you now. Speaking in a since that she wants to make sure that you’re happy as opposed to moping around like a devastated train wreck that is struggling to prove himself or some nonsense like that.”

“She’s what?! I never asked for that!” He growled in frustration. “Damn, it turns out that Trixie really IS as freakin' annoying as the show made her out to be!” Rayne thought quietly to himself as she clearly wasn’t listening to a word he was saying.

“Oh but don’t you worry because it isn’t all bad.” She said coyly to him. “In fact, I think I might actually have some good news in store for you.” Her tone was hopeful but her gaze seemed apprehensive as she began to stride around him in a circle now. “Hmm, my my. Not disappointing indeed.” She commented more to herself as she took in the full view of the stallion. “You’re in luck because Trixie the compassionate and alluring is here to take all your heartache away.” She announced with arrogant conviction.

“De’uh… Say what now?” Rayne choked in his stupor as he found himself wondering if he'd heard her right.

“Oh? Which part wasn't clear to you? And here Starlight had said that you were sharper than most in this dull hick town." She stated with a snide expression. Leaning in close now Trixie gave a sassy scowl announcing, "I, Trixie, intend to take you out!” She declared as if there were no question in the matter.

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Rayne asked aloud while giving the mare a curious gaze.

“OHH! How DARE you?! You're going to reject me?! And I thought you were supposed to be charming.” The blue unicorn huffed before turning her back to him and walking up her short wagon staircase.

“No, wait!” Rayne quickly retorted. “Crap, that was smooth. Nice going big mouth.” He thought to himself as he watched the magician stop at the door. She didn’t give him the respect of turning around to face him but still made it clear that she was willing to hear him out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mead it like that. All I was thinking was that you’re so spectacular and wonderful. How could just a simple stallion hope to keep up?” Rayne said as his save.

She gave it a moment to consider his apology but then raised her chin proudly as she called back, “Hmm, I suppose that sort of makes up for it. But you needn’t worry. It isn’t up to you to impress me when you are the ‘take-out-ee’ and not the ‘take-out-er.’ All you need to worry about is not being late.”

“Ah-heh, well... since this seems like it's definitely happening... then I promise to do my best.” He said uneasily. There was a silence between them as Trixie stared back from her doorway and Rayne stood there unsure of what he should do.

Then something happened that Rayne didn’t expect. Trixie looked regretful for a moment and the walked back down her stairs to place a hoof over his shoulder. “Hey, listen to me for a moment. Let’s go ahead and take the pressure off this for the both of us. I will admit, yes Starlight put me up to this. She did in fact ask me to go on a date with you. But please don’t take that as the only reason for why I'm asking.”

Rayne was giving his fully attention now because he knew that moments like this were rare for a pony like Trixie to open up about herself. He gave a nod to show that he was listening and had no intention of interrupting her.

“Traveling from time to town isn’t exactly cheap you know. I don’t usually get the best reviews from Ponyville but I needed the bits so I stopped by. If it hadn’t been for you then I might have been in some real trouble.” She explained and then gave him a smile. “So please, let me just take you out to say thank you. It's the least I can do.”

Now that things had taken an easier tone Rayne gave Trixie a gentle smile back and nodded again. “I would like that. And I’ll be looking forward to it. You just tell me when and I’ll be sure to make the time for you.”

“Excellent.” Trixie cheered returning back to her usual tone. “Tomorrow night then, just after sun down. Meet me on the grassy hill over to the east end of town.” Then she leaned forward and ever so gently whispered to his ear, “And if you’re late or if you stand me up then I… will… end… you...” After that she trotted right back up the steps to her wagon and yelled, “Good night!” With a cheerful smile she slammed her door shut and that was the end of their conversation that evening.

Rayne stood there with a bit of surprise. But after hearing a distinct lack of malicious monologue or any nefarious plan of evil deeds coming from inside Rayne bowed respectfully to the wagon and took his leave to head home. “Good night Trixie.”

- Back in Ponyville Adjacent -

“Hello?" Rayne called out after teleporting in at the entryway of the cave. "Maud hun? You home?" All looked peaceful and still as it usually did but Rayne knew that his girlfriend had returned from her day of mining because he could see her bag of equipment sitting in the corner.

Then there was a splash from the pool down beside the waterfall. “I’m down here!" A steady voice called out as Rayne stepped over to see a half submerged mare tilting her head to get the water out of her ears.

She paused when she heard the water be disturbed behind her and it made her smile seeing two dark hooves wrapping around her from behind. “Mmmm… hi there.” Rayne whispered into her ear which made her instinctively press herself back against the stallion. “Taking a bath without me I see?”

“Well you got home so late. But you still made it and that’s what counts.” She told him as she reached up and wrung out her mane. “I’m almost done though so you-”

“Mmmm no.” Rayne cooed out with a chuckle as he held the smaller mare tight. “No I think you’re still dirty.” He snickered amorously.

Maud blushed a bit and then looked away as her monotone voice softened. “Rayne… I mean it. I already washed up for the most part. I just need to-”

But she stopped as her boyfriend shook his head and then trailed his hooves down to her hips. “No… You’re definitely still dirty...” Rayne whispered seductively beside her ear as he pulled her back down into the water with him. Maud gave up resisting and turned around to lock lips with the dark stallion as she allowed him to submerge her.

- Awhile Later -

Maud and Rayne both lay in bed together with a silky sheet draped across their hips. The stallion had the mare laying on her side as he lay behind her tenderly stroking through the fur on her back. He stared down adoringly at the small mare beside him savoring the moments when she gave a gentle sigh from his touch upon her.

“Thank you for tonight Rayne… I think I really needed this.” She whispered softly with her eyes blissfully closed.

“Hmm? Sorry, I was distracted by how beautiful the arch of your back is. What did you say?” He smirked out as he watched her turn over to face him.

“You always tell me that.” She chided him playfully.

“And it’s always true.” Rayne replied wholeheartedly. He then leaned over her to enjoy one of their many long make out sessions together. What surprised him though was when she gently pushed him away as she had never done that before.

“I want to ask you about something… but I don’t want it to spoil the mood we have right now.” She stated which naturally set the stallion’s curiosity ablaze. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad per-say. But I wanted to ask you if you are feeling alright tonight?”

“Hmm?” Tilting his head being legitimately confused Rayne asked, “What do you mean? Was I a little off tonight? Or did I-”

“No, no.” She stopped him with a gentle hoof over his lips. “You were amazing. I am so happy right now.” She reassured and Rayne held her close believing in the trust that he'd grown with her. “But I want to make sure that you're okay too. It was your eyes... when you came home looking for me, it wasn’t just because you wanted to see me. You were looking for relief in me.”

“Damn this mare is perceptive!” Rayne thought to himself before looking surprised as she pointed up to him.

“Ah, there. I knew it… you’re guilty.” She joked with him and she smirked feeling proud of knowing that she was the only mare in Equestria who could back Rayne into a corner without a come back.

“Are you upset with me?” Rayne asked as his ears lowered. “I don’t want you feeling like I’m using you." He asked as he tightened his hold on her a little.

Maud looked up at him giving an expression that was even more monotone than usual. “Don’t be stupid. You never have to feel that way with me.” She declared, explaining in her own way that she would always be there for him. “Alright, come here.” She said suddenly which surprised the stallion as she sat up to face him. “It’s your turn. Get over here.” She ordered as she sat with her arms outstretched.

“Oh, well this is nice.” Rayne chuckled as she laid him down with his head in her lap.

Maud gave his antics no mind and smiled at how easy it was to shut him up once she caressed her hooves across his scalp. “If I can’t do at least this for you then I don’t deserve to be your girlfriend. Now… talk to me. What happened today? Tell me or I’ll stop doing this.” She playfully threatening as she lifted her hooves away making Rayne change from a state of bliss to whimpering up pleadingly.

“Wow, merciless tonight.” He jested.

“When it comes to the stallion I care about? Yes, absolutely.” Then she returned to running her hooves through his mane and said, “That’s what you get for coming home with your brow furrowed looking like soil consolidation instead of natural healthy compaction.”

Rayne blinked for a moment as it took him time to get her joke but then he raises his hooves saying, “Alright, you win already! Enough with the third degree.” She gave him a quaint kiss on his snout but then leaned back to listen as she continued to caress his scalp. “Well it certainly started off as a good day. I went around, did some errands, accomplished a few things that I set out to do. I even took a nap at Fluttershy’s sanctuary again.”

“Yes, you love doing that. You’re going to get in trouble one of these days with taking your cat naps all over the place.” She reprimanded him but not aggressively so.

“Yeah, speaking of that...” He began which made Maud halt her hooves in concern. But she returned to what she was doing after the stallion looked up at her. “I had a chat with Fluttershy today. She was there waiting for me atop the falls when I woke up.”

“Oh? And did you get a chance to tell her how you feel? That you want to run your cat tongue through her fur like a full body mane to hoof massage?” She teased him quite enjoying how bashfully she could make her stallion squirm.

“Ah-d...nooo!” Rayne smacked a hoof over his face at how embarrassingly immature his response sounded. “What I mean is, I am entirely rooting for her and Discord to get together one day.”

“Mmmhm.” Maud mused disbelievingly. “So what’s different there? You slept with Rarity and she is now happily together with Spike. Why couldn’t you do the same thing with Fluttershy? I know how badly you want to sleep with her.”

Rayne quirked an eyebrow marveling at how understanding she was of him. But he didn’t leave her waiting as he quickly explained, “Well for those two… let’s just say that their stars aren’t exactly aligned. It’s going to take a lot of work to get them officially together. And on top of any vengeance that I’m sure Discord would seek, I have no doubt it might hurt him to learn if he weren’t Fluttershy’s first kiss… her first everything.” Maud nodded that she could see that. “And besides, with Spike and Rarity that wasn’t exactly hard to setup. I mean Rarity made it so easy to- OUCH!”

There was a moment of silence as Rayne looked up in shock seeing Maud holding a single strand of hair that she’d just intentionally plucked from his mane. “You deserved that...” She said to him pointedly.

“...Yeah, I know.” He admitted and with her point made she went back to stroking him affectionately. But Maud froze again as Rayne looked down to his hooves and said, “But that’s not what had me so vexed when I came home to you.” The two looked into each other’s eyes now as Rayne sat up and turned to face her properly. “It wasn’t about Fluttershy… or any pony who lives in town. It was about Trixie… She just pulled into Ponyville today and I spoke to her for the first time this evening.”

“Did she say something to hurt you?” Maud asked almost threateningly and Rayne shook his head before the earth pony marched off to shatter the magician's face like a boulder.

“Well… I caught her show, and then afterwards Starlight asked me to go to see Trixie at her wagon. I didn’t know what to expect but after I started talking with Trixie… I can’t explain it. Something just felt wrong." He paused and Maud looked to him curiously now. "It was like I wasn’t needed there. It was an anxiety that is hard to explain.”

“Tell me. I want you to confide in me with things like this.” Maud urged as she gave him a still monotone yet concerned stare.

“Well after chasing away the town mayor who was causing a scene I tried to be charming like usual but it just felt empty. Trixie didn’t do a thing to make me feel this way but I felt like my words were worthless to her.” Rayne’s voice was heavy and contemplative as he tried his best to explain.

Maud looked down to her hooves as she thought for a moment. “You always flirt with everypony, mare or stallion alike. But you do it in a way to try to brighten other’s day. Or sometimes just to make them feel good about themselves. But you’re saying it was different when you tried to get sweet on Trixie?”

“I wouldn’t even say that I got that far. I don’t even remember flirting with her. It was like I started feeling this way as soon as I was alone with her.” Rayne relayed as he tried to sort his feelings out. “Well after I accidentally ended up insulting her, she asked me to go out with her tomorrow evening as a thank you for saving her show from some hecklers. Normally I'd know just what to do or what to say to make a pony smile... but in this case I kept getting this nagging feeling like it wasn’t important for me to do.”

“Was it magic?” Maud asked which confused Rayne even more.

“What do you mean?” He asked while reached out to hold her hooves.

Turning to lay back against his chest again she held onto his arms. “Rayne, I am probably one of the only mares left in town who don’t see you as some tail struck play-colt by now. But I know you like the other’s in town never will. You didn’t know this but Pinkie told me that Mr and Mrs Cake had been having some marital problems with the stress of the new twins. However after your little kitchen stunt their relationship has been like new again. And even your tail chasing with all those farm ponies in town has done wonders for the taste of the food at the local markets.”

“Okay, okay, I get around. What are you getting at?” Rayne pushed as he was starting to feel a little bashful about his exploits now.

“What I’m saying is you’re not like a normal stallion who dreams of wild fantasies with as many mares as he can come across. It's not about the sex to you. When you step into another ponies life it is to bring a joy to them that they didn’t know they were missing. Perhaps even a joy that you didn’t know they were missing. You’re a pleasure pony Rayne. It’s like an invisible force guides you to make others smile in the most intimate ways possible. And naturally... more than a couple town ponies have felt inclined to show their appreciation back for that.”

“So I think you just said it doesnt make me a pervert for sleeping with almost half fhe ponies in town?" He remarked sarcastically. "And this relates to my failure at conversing with Trixie this evening because...?”

Maud turned her neck to face up at him. “Being a pleasure pony, there is something that drives your ability to make other ponies happy. And maybe it is telling you that Trixie doesn’t need any help from you."

"Huh." Rayne uttered at that revelation. "Yeah, I think you're right. That feels like it fits. I think that maybe the only thing that makes Trixie happy, at least on an intimate level, is just being Trixie."

"But you know that means you're in trouble right?" Maud settled back down and it almost frightened Rayne to see a devious smile on the usually stoic ponies face.

"W-what do you mean?" Rayne asked as his tension elevated despite how Maud happily closed her eyes while laying on his chest.

"Your powers of being a pleasure pony only work when you are serving for another ponies benefit. Trixie doesn't need your help, so that means you'll be on your own to be charming for her." She whispered. "It'll be interesting to see how charming you really are... without your magic... to... mmm..." But her voice trailed off until she was just softly breathing while laying against his warm torso.

"You are the smartest pony that I know. I would be lost without you Maud." Rayne whispered affectionately to her before kissing her forehead good night. The mare only shifted a hoof gently as she dreamed but otherwise didn't stir. The stallion just levitated over a serving of his disdream elixir for the night and then wrapped his hooves around his girlfriend to sleep for the night.

Author's Notes:

Alright all so it's time for the chapter review. I always enjoy a chance to show how smooth Rayne can be in action. And being able to smooth thing over with an angry mare is a perfect example. Also it was too hilarious to pass up using a Bill Lumbergh voice on the mayor. That is a fictional character from the movie Office Space. He is the boss of a boring office and he has a comically dull voice.

As for Trixie, Rayne wasn't 'too bad' at talking to her but he definitely wasn't his usually smooth self. This of course was explained by the lovely Maud.

Unlike most ponies, or any people people for that matter, Trixie needs no validation from others tool feel good about herself. Her problem isn't being shy, or having anxiety, or having crippling regrets. I'm not saying she doesn't have her own problems but usually her issue is being too confident and overbearing. Also don't let this chapter mislead you, I really like Trixie and Rayne is excited to see her. But it isn't going to go the way things did with the other mares.

Also I hope you all enjoyed seeing Maud again. Rayne still lives with her and comes back home to her on most nights. She'll still be a big part of Rayne's life for a long time to come.

Maud's play-colt joke was supposed to be a playboy reference.

Okay for Maud's soil joke here's the explaination. Soil compaction is when dirt and minerals come together which mix to make all the glorious stuff in geology. But soil consolidation is when the pressure gets too tight and stuff can't mix around. When soil is consolidated water can't get to plant roots, etc. Remember, Rayne has all the geological knowledge that Maud does. So he has the background knowledge to understand all of her jokes. But I hope it came through clear just how deep the connection between Rayne and Maud has become.