The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 96 - Heart's Contention

"B-boyfriend?! Are you serious?!" Starlight stammered to Trixie in disbelief.

‘Whoa there, now let’s hold on everypony.” Rayne called out nervously.

Trixie just smiled as she kept a hoof held around Rayne's shoulder. “What’s up? Why do you two suddenly look like you’ve seen a ghost?” She asked, not having caught on yet that there was a problem.

As Starlight’s expression turned stern, Rayne covered his face with a hoof knowing that no good would come from that. “Ghost my hoof Trixie! What has gotten into you?!” The heliotrope mare yelled before walking up and actually grabbing Trixie’s hoof to throw it off from around Rayne’s neck.

Trixie’s jaw dropped as she stood there staring at her friend in disbelief. But no sooner had she regained her composure than did her own face flash with anger. “Me?! What’s YOUR problem?! Huh?!” Trixie snapped while shoving Starlight away from her.

“WHOA! HEY NOW!” Rayne yelled as he jumped between them before a unicorn spell fight could break out. “Starlight, calm down! Trixie, look we need to talk.”

“Talk about what?!” Trixie snapped as she leaned in feeling safe next to her boyfriend. “Talk about how my best friend has suddenly turned into a psycho?! What? Are you jealous now or something? Just because I’ve gotten closer to your ex than you were expecting? Heh, I mean this is crazy right? Back me up here Rayne. You are on my side on this, aren’t you? …Sweetie?” She asked as her tone gradually changed from angry, to insecure, to worried.

Rayne saw the look of disbelief growing in her eyes. Even as he tried to mitigate the situation he was forced to watch as she just shook her head while stepping slowly away from his side. “Trixie, look I’m sorry but I think there’s been a misunderstanding. If you’ll give me a chance then I might be able to explain.” He said to her softly.

“EXPLAIN WHAT?!” Trixie screamed which immediately made Starlight recoil in shock. Rayne just slowly closed his eyes with his ears lowering from the feeling of guilt already washing over him before she had even gotten started. “Explain that it seems that you LIED to me?! That you made me believe that you were there for me?! That… that we were going to be together?! Huh?! Is that what you want to explain?!” Trixie’s voice was cracking as tears started welling up in her eyes.

Starlight gave a heartbroken expression at seeing her friend so upset. “Trixie… listen, I’m to blame for this. I’m the one who put you up to it. But I never thought that you would end up getting hurt. So let me apologize if-”

“Nrrooo!” Trixie roared as her emotions started to get the better of her. “I’m angry at the both of you! Y-you didn’t prepare me Starlight! You didn’t let me know what Rayne was like!" She whined in a bitter tone. But then with her voice turning even more sour she marched right up to Rayne yelling, "And as for you! I opened my heart to you! I gave you fair warning! You had every chance to tell me if you weren’t interested! But you let me have room for hope for us… and you lied! You liar! I will NEVER forgive you for that!”

There was a brief moment where Rayne recognized the look in Trixie's eyes. It was the same kind of look that Trixie had for Twilight back during her humiliation with the Ursa Minor incident. But he was quick to push that thought aside in order to focus on what was really important at the moment.

“You’re right Trixie.” Rayne stated in bold confession. “You are absolutely right that this is all my fault for hurting you.” Rayne said in a genuinely remorseful tone.

Starlight of course was quick to come to his rescue saying, "What? No Rayne, come on. You're not actually saying that it's true? That you lied to her? And that you lead her on? Psh, you aren't that kind of pony. The Rayne I know wouldn't do that." She insisted. Then she reached out to him tenderly. "Tell me and I'll listen. I know there has to be another side to this."

But the stallion just sighed. He knew he was lucky to have somepony like Starlight keeping such faith in him. That was why it hurt so much to now have to break that faith. Sucking up his courage he turned to face Trixie square on. "I shouldn't stand here and try to make excuses for what I know I did wrong." Starlight's hooves shot up over her mouth as tears began to fill in her eyes as she listened. "You're absolutely right. I allowed you to believe that I had feelings for you… when I don't." Just hearing the words visibly struck Trixie which made Rayne feel all the worse. "I'm sorry Trixie… but I don't feel the same." Now there were two mares before him that both had tears in their eyes. One was sobbing with a hurt look on her face while the other was somewhat recoiled as if she didn't even know what to say.

"Well there you have it." Trixie whimpered. "I guess that's it then. You know, you're really rotten Rayne. It's just horrible what you did to me. I'll never forgive you for this! Never, nev-" She shouted as she turned to storm away. Although what she didn't expect was to run into Rayne's large black chest after he quickly jumped in front of her.

"Wait…" He tried to urge her. "Hold on, we aren't done yet."

Now glaring wide eyed with anger Trixie snarled at him. "Oh I think you've made it perfectly clear just how done we are!"

Rayne reached out to hold her shoulders and Trixie looked flabbergasted that he had to nerve to touch her right now. “You have every right to be angry at me. And if that’s how you want to feel right now then go ahead." He told her, even as she gave an expression that he had better choose his next words wisely. "I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. Be as mad at me as you want because I know I hurt you... And the worst part about it is that this happened because I didn't even bother to pay attention to you like I should have. But Trixie, despite everything, I AM sorry! I can’t let you walk away from here without knowing that.”

Now Trixie took a step back looking as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. "Oh, you're sorry?! And you think that makes it all better?!"

'No, of course not. I-"

"Oh boo hoo! The big stallion is sorry! Well you listen to me. You hurt me! And now… I am going to hurt you!' Trixie declared in a voice so vindictive that Starlight was startled out of her disappointed glance towards Rayne. "You don't know the meaning of the word sorry yet! I'm not going to rest until every pony in this town changes from singing your praises to seeing you as I do now!" Starlight grimaced at that, even with being as upset with Rayne as she now was. "You're vile… stallions like you disgust Trixie… I… I… Rayne I HAT-"

Just then Trixie was cut off as a heliotrope hoof wrapped over her mouth and dragged her off to the side. "Don't, you, go, anywhere!" Starlight hissed at Rayne before yanking Trixie a few feet away.

"Oww, what are you doing?! Let go of me! Why does every pony I'm mad at keep touching me?!" Trixie yelled before she was tossed forward where Starlight could look her straight in the eye.

"Forgive him." The princess's pupil said while stern faced.

"What?!" Trixie gasped and looked to Starlight as if she'd lost her mind.

"I want you to forgive Rayne. I mean it Trixie. And not later, now!" Starlight demanded while she flared her nostrils angrily.

The other mare turned her back on Starlight and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hmph. Some loyalty you have for your friends Starlight. I can't believe that you would take his side on this." She said as she held her head high.

But Starlight's growl was enough to let Trixie know that she was dead serious. "Oh I'm not taking his side here, trust me on that." Starlight declared which only made Rayne's ears slump lower. "I'm so angry with him right now that I can hardly see straight… but that's not why I'm asking you to forgive him." She sighed and now Trixie turned back, looking curious as to what Starlight was trying to say. "Listen, there's something about Rayne that you need to know… Have you ever heard of a pleasure pony before?" Starlight asked glumly.

Several minutes went by as Starlight conveyed what she knew and Rayne did his best to fill in the gaps. Trixie did not interrupt as she listened to the fable of how pleasure ponies work as well as the danger that is ever posed to them. Once they had finished Trixie just raised her hoof and when Starlight nodded to her she asked, "Sooo you're saying that Rayne is totally a messed up loser who deserves for us to be mad at him for the scumbag piece of waste that he is… as long as we don't get too mad at him because then he might actually die from it because of some crazy ancient magic?"

Starlight took a moment to work through all of that in her head before smiling and saying, "Yes." Rayne immediately frowned and gave a perturbed snort to that which Starlight promptly ignored.

Trixie on the other hand had started laughing hysterically until she was holding her ribs. "Ahahaha! Starlight, wow! I mean have I got a bridge to sell you! Come on, you can't seriously believe all that can you?" Trixie chuckled to which Starlight just frowned. "That is the WORST excuse I have ever heard a stallion use to try to sleep with mares and get away with it! I mean come on! Think about what you just told me. Does the smart, intelligent, and wise Starlight Glimmer I know think that story makes even the least bit of sense?"

The heliotrope mare grimaced while saying, "You do realize that all three of those things are basically the same right?" But after that Starlight went on to say, "Listen, I know the point that you're trying to make… but with Rayne it honestly isn't like that! This information came from Discord, not from Rayne. And Twilight even found-"

"And now all of a sudden you are going to believe ANYthing that DISCORD has to say?! Come on Starlight, that only makes Rayne more suspicious! That cutie mark of his is probably saying that he two times mares on each other!"

Finally feeling unable to restrain himself Rayne interjected, "Then uh, wouldn't they be facing away from each other? You know, if I was meant to be going behind their backs?"

"Not helping!" Starlight growled to him angrily.

But after that Trixie just flipped her mane and took a step back from the both of them. "It doesn't matter, Trixie has heard enough. My decision stands and Starlight, we will always be friends but I have to say that I think this stallion is a bad influence on you. I am going now. It is late and I need my great and powerful beauty sleep! But believe me, before I leave town I won't rest until every citizen of Ponyville knows the truth about him!" After that closing remark she turned and marched off back to the direction of her wagon.

Starlight was so mad at everything that had just happened that she stomped at the grown before rounding upon the stallion beside her. "Alright mister! You are going to come with me right now and you're going to tell me everything about what happened!" She ordered before marching him back into town.

- The Ponyville Diner, A Few Minutes Later -

"THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED?!" Starlight yelled before looking around apologetically to the other patrons from over her oat burger. "Rayne! Why didn't you say that was all you did?!" She hissed out more quietly. "Look, I get why Trixie's so mad but what happened between you two doesn't sound nearly as bad as what she was making it sound like."

"Yeah, that's what I had wanted to explain to her. It was just a mistake." Rayne replied. "Maud's guess has been totally right. My pleasure pony magic hadn't been working on her at all. I know that she is your friend and I really just wanted to do something meaningful for her before she left town. I didn't mean to stop paying attention to what she was saying right when she decided to ask me out! It was just… the worst of all possible timing." Rayne said with a frown, genuinely feeling bad about what had happened.

Starlight however couldn't help but to perk an ear curiously. "Did she really cut you off right in the beginning of one of your songs?" She asked in disbelief while remembering all the times she had become so smitten during his singing.

"Mmhmm. Twice actually." Rayne nodded while eating some fries with a shake.

"And… you're sure that you're feeling okay?" She asked in a worried tone, pausing from their meal to reach out to him with a hoof. "No… pain? No deep hurting in your chest? Not even a little heartburn?" She joked with him uneasily.

Rayne stopped eating and reached out to hold her hoof as well. "Really, I'm fine." He reassured her, taking the moment to appreciate the feeling of her hoof in his which he'd missed. "Listen... yes it's true that Trixie said some pretty hurtful things to me. But that doesn't matter to me because I don't care what Trixie thinks of me. I already know what she can be like when she's upset and I guess you could say that my heart was ready for it. But what did hurt was when it looked like I had disappointed you Starlight. That, if anything, was definitely the lowest I've felt since ever moving to Ponyville."

Instantly the mare had to turn away and bite her lip while blushing a bit. "B-because I'm your friend, right? And as friends, my opinion means more to you than a stranger." She interjected, trying hard to stave off any further room for romance between the two of them.

Rayne just smiled and allowed the moment slip by. Then he continued on by returning to the issue at hand. "But from what I do know about her though, Trixie is not going to just let this slide."

"No, she probably won't." Then as the two stood from the table and paid for their meal. "But hey, maybe we can be hopeful. This town already sees Trixie as somepony who's a bit iffy anyways; and they all love you. How much harm could she really possibly do?" The two chuckled uneasily together as they parted for the night. But Rayne knew enough to recognize that statements like that always came before trouble.

- The Next Morning -

Rayne awoke with a loud stretch. Even before opening his eyes there was a smile on his face at the familiar scent of the mare next to him. After waking, Maud was happy to agree to a leisure start to their day together as they cuddled, ate breakfast, cleaned up, and cuddled some more. But once they had finally made their way into town they quickly got the sense that there was more of a buzz about the place than normal.

As they approached Rarity rushed her way out of a crowd that had begun forming in the town center. "There you are! Where ever have you been all morning?!" She shouted to Rayne with her usual hysterics. "Oh and hello, good morning Maud." She quickly whispered much more sweetly.

"Good morning Rarity." Maud replied and then just continued to stare ahead at the other mare.

"Something going on over there?" Rayne asked uneasily from how upset Rarity seemed to be.

"Oh it's terrible, just terrible!" The fashion mare wailed. "Rayne, you must do something! We are in so much trouble and I tried to help but I'm afraid I haven't the slightest notion of what to do."

The stallion just sighed and offered her a smile. "Alright well just tell me-"

"Oh and by we, I mean you." She suddenly added at the end.

"Wait what?!" Rayne shouted in surprise as he looked to Maud before the two of them waded their way forward through the crowd to investigate.

What they saw was shocking as there seemed to be pictures of Rayne posted all over with bright red cross out symbols over his face. "Listen up everypony because have I got a surprise for all of you!" A malicious voice called to the crowd. Maud blinked and Rayne sighed seeing a furious looking Trixie standing on the steps of the town hall. "This is a depiction of a certain stallion that I think most of you have become acquainted with! But what you don't know is that he has been lying to all of you all along!" The crowd murmured amongst themselves as several ponies nodded, definitely recognizing Rayne from his pictures.

Leaning down to whisper where the others wouldn't hear Maud asked, "Rayne, what is going on? What is this about?"

The stallion didn't hesitate in being completely forth coming by as he whispered back, "Last night I accidentally broke Trixie's heart. I didn't mean to but I can admit it was entirely my own fault. But now it seems this is her way of wanting to get back at me." He explained as the crowd began tightening in with more ponies wanting to see what the commotion was about. "You see, Trixie found out about me being a pleasure pony and let's just say she didn't take to the news as well as you and the others girls did." Rayne whispered to Maud remorsefully.

Not having noticed Rayne in the crowd yet Trixie carried on as if performing a show. "That's right, come one come all! Everypony come and see for yourselves the truth about this town's greatest deceiver!" She called loudly as she handed out even more pictures to the crowd while Featherweight worked tirelessly on his printing press around the corner, just as Trixie had paid him to do.

Maud however looked around in concern. "Rayne, I think that you should leave. I don't want you around here if Trixie turns this crowd against you." She said while fearing the stories she was told about the pleasure ponies from the past. "Don't worry, I will handle this." She stated as she began marching toward the azure blue unicorn.

However she stopped in surprise as a large dark hoof blocked her path. "No Maud, wait. I want to see this through." He could see that she wanted to object but he just shook his head. "These ponies here in Ponyville, these are all my friends. I trust them Maud. I believe in them that they won't turn on me like how Trixie wants. Maybe some will be swayed but at least some of them will stand up for me, I'm sure of it. Because if they don't then that would mean that everything I've done here to try to be kind to ponies was for nothing from the start. I might as well see for myself if I really mean anything to the citizens of the town.

Maud looked down to the ground for a moment. But then she nodded to him deciding that the best thing she could do right now would be just to support him. They both looked up and listened as Trixie finally addressed the crowd. "Ladies and gentleponies! You may be wondering what I am going on so adamantly about before you here today! Well I am sorry to say it is not for a magical trick but instead to reveal a great and powerful trickster!" The crowd gasped as she pointed to a large picture of Rayne which dropped from the town hall. Meanwhile Mayor Mare poked her head out of the curtain and frowned.

That was when a voice spoke out from the crowd as Mrs. Cake stood beside her husband shouting, "Oh now you just hold your horses there one minute! That's a picture of Rayne you're pointing to there! He's not just a regular patron in my pastry shop, he's a friend to boot and a good one too! So you'd better think twice if you're going to slander his name in this town!"

"Oh?" Trixie called out sounding not the least bit swayed. "Even if everything you know about him has been an act?!"

To that Mrs. Cake frowned not quite knowing what to say but it was her husband who spoke up saying, "Those are some pretty big claims you're making! And what proof do you have?"

However that seemed to be just what Trixie was waiting for. "A confession… straight from the horse's mouth." She grinned. "You all know Rayne now don't you? Rayne the handsome! Rayne the smooth talking… I bet every one of you who have spoken to him in probably thought that he was just the greatest pony around. Am I right?"

The first to speak up was a pale yellow mare with a raspberry mane. "Not only was he always nice to me, he gave me some gardening tips and now my roses have bloomed fuller than ever before!" Roseluck shared with the crowd.

Next was a white pegasus mare with a dark violet mane shouting, "Same for me! That Rayne is a perfect gentlepony! And he's helped my grape vineyard to taste sweeter than ever!" Sugar Grape called out.

Trixie just eyed the nubile mares up and down before saying, "And was that before or after he probably slept with you both?" Instantly both mares backed down bashfully at having their private lives put on display in front of the whole town.

In an instant Sugar Grape had her two friends Strawberry Surprise and Honey Apple there to support her. Roseluck tried to disappear into the crowd until she was stopped by a generous light gray hoof reaching out to comfort her. "Now don't you answer that Rose." Rarity said before giving her a hug. Then turning to face the azure unicorn she shouted, "Now just what business is it of yours with what anypony does with anypony else behind closed doors?! There's no shame in that, except for bringing up private affairs in a public setting like this! Trixie, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!"

There were some mild cheers from the crowd before an old stallion called out, "I work in the costume shop here in town and I'll tell you that I ain't never had such a such a caring and generous customer in all my years. The way he thinks of doing for others, why I wish we had ten more in town just like him!"

After that a large stallion with a yellow construction helmet called out, "He's been giving back to the town and helping to support local jobs as well as the town economy! And that's good for EVERYpony in town! And here you are, going and callin' him a liar!" Hard Hat yelled and now almost everypony had something to yell out at Trixie to Rayne's defense. Meanwhile Maud poked her elbow gently into the dark stallion's side while giving him a smile.

That was when Trixie tipped her magicians hat with a smile saying, "Just as I suspected. He's got you all seduced and ensnared with all his little niceties that he's done for you… but what you don't know is that he was using MAGIC to make it all happen!" Trixie snapped.

"So?" Rarity retorted loudly in the fullest voice she could mustered. "Celestia uses magic to raise the sun. What else would you suggest? That she fly up there every morning to get out and push?" More than a couple ponies in the crowd snickered at the remark.

"What I'm saying is, that with all of your joy and fanfare for the stallion… you never had a choice!" Now that seemed to wipe the smirks off of the faces in the crowd. "Let me share with you a little history lesson. Long ago there used to be ponies in Equestria called 'pleasure ponies' and they would go around making everyone's dream come true…"

At this Rarity looked surprised that Trixie somehow knew of the story and quickly shouted, "Oh no! Nothing to listen to here! Tra-lala! Who cares about old stories anyways!" But several from the crowd quickly shushed her. "Ohhh! If Trixie knows the truth then this is sure to get out of hoof! I must warn Twilight before it's too late!"

As Trixie went on the citizens of Ponyville became more and more interested. "No matter who they met, they could find a way to charm them. At first they spread happiness and cheer. It all seems so wonderful, but then you find out it's all an act! They somehow are using magic to give you whatever it is that would make you smile! And worse yet! Even when some ponies through history wised up against them, apparently you aren't supposed to call a pleasure pony out on what they're doing because too much negativity could very literally KILL THEM! ...or so says some magic curse about them or something…" Trixie added dismissively. "Isn't that just terrible?!" She asked to the crowd who had grown quite silent.

"Wow, when you out it that way… that does sound terrible." Strawberry Surprise mumbled as a few sullen faces agreed with her. After taking a moment she looked up to Trixie asking, "And they could do anything to make you happy? Anything at all?"

"That's right." Trixie grinned deviously. "Anything!"

Bringing a hoof up to her lips Strawberry pondered out loud, "Well if that's true then… what kind of rotten ponies would ever 'rise up' again somepony that sounds so helpful to everyone else around them?" She asked as the others nodded.

"Yes they really are manipulative an-- wait, what?" Trixie suddenly stumbled.

"I mean, if I had that kind of power then I'd do more than just grow strawberries! I'd find all kinds of different ways to make my friends smile!" The red maned earth pony cheered.

"I volunteer at the fillies ward in the hospital!" Called an old stallion.

"I'd go on tour spreading cheer wherever I could!" Cried another mare from the crowd.

Then a calm voice with just the hint of a smile spoke out as Maud said, "I'd do it exactly like Rayne has been doing, living in a small town spreading compassion and joy to all my neighbors. And if I were a stallion I would definitely go around doing what I could to make every mare I saw feel beautiful about themselves." With that Roseluck and Sugar Grape both mouthed a silent thank you to her for those words.

Now ponies in the crowd were all cheering their praises for Rayne harder than ever as Trixie fought to regain their attention. "No! Wait! It means it's all a trick! Can't you see-Eee-aahh!" She screamed as she slipped and fell back into the fountain in the center of town. Not being able to hide his presence anymore everypony turned to the dark stallion with smiles on their faces.

"Wow Rayne, you must have the best cutie mark of all!" Shouted the owner of the bowling club.

"Do you think you could come by class for a little show and tell?" Ms. Cheerilee asked.

"How's a hard working pony like me ever supposed to find a date when I'm already married to my work all the time?" Hard Hat butted in.

Meanwhile, Rayne and Trixie caught eye contact with each other through the crowd as she sat and pouted in the pool of water. Rayne just shrugged as he turned to leave while Trixie slapped the water in frustration splashing no one but herself. The stallion just chuckled as he continued being bombarded with questions from excited ponies in every direction. Maud quirked an eyebrow up at him as they walked together but Rayne just laughed and gave a sigh.

"I'm sorry everypony, but I couldn't possibly answer all of your questions at once. Remember, I'm just your friendly neighborhood stallion. I might be a pleasure pony but I'm not a miracle worker. I'm sure I'll be getting around to visit each of you in time. But until then maybe let's try not to dog-pile me here in the street, alright?" And with that he wrapped his hoof around Maud and teleported away.

"Awwwww!" Cried a resounding call from the crowd as they all felt disappointed to not have their questions answered right away. But soon enough they all went back to whatever it was they were doing while Trixie packed up her belongings bitterly muttering to herself to make her way out of town.

Author's Notes:

Helloooooo everyone! Four months... Yes four months since you've heard from me! I do deeply apologize for that, but I AM still around and I definitely am still going to keep working on this story.

So... what did you all think of this chapter? How was it seeing not only Trixie but also Starlight getting mad at Rayne? Do you think Trixie was overreacting? Did Starlight let Rayne off too easily after he had the chance to explain himself? Let me know in the comments! I love hearing from all of you.

And now the cat's out of the bag! Before, Rayne's friends had the opinion that it wasn't anypony else's business if Rayne were a pleasure pony. But now that everyone in the town knows....this news is probably going to spread like wildfire across Equestria.

Also, this was a very important chapter for Rayne. Remember, he's really a human who didn't have the easiest of lives before coming to Equestria. People can be mean and two faced, you never really know how someone else feels about you. So it was important to him to see whether or not the ponies in town really cared about him or not. And he was not disappointed by their actions. However... ponies will be ponies and sure enough now they are all wanting to gang up on him "demanding satisfaction" from the stallion... just like in the stories. Who thinks it was a good idea for him to teleport out when he did?

Alright well I've missed you and I'm still writing. More chapters should come soon. Oh and one last thing... Uh oh, where did Rarity go? Someone needs to tie a bell around that mare's neck.