The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 105 – At the Gala part 1

Voices murmured in the darkened lounge as the lights were turned down low. Patrons sat among the scattered tables while wearing their best attire and stared at the stage before them. The crowd was unusually large in the Hot Hoof for it being so early in the morning. However the advertisement of a no expense performance for the common pony who were not invited to the Grand Galloping Gala definitely caught the attention of many.

The voices hushed as a feedback rang out from the microphone on stage. Suddenly a stomping could be heard from a figure standing unilluminated before them. A rhythmic beat was soon carried along by the crowd who started clapping their hooves. Then a spotlight revealed a stallion in a pin-stripe suit and a dazzling crimson tie. Without delay his strong voice rang out to a jazzy tune that quickly filled the room.

-Redacted Content- (Lyrics for all songs removed due to the previously mentioned 2/2/23 redactions... even though it breaks these once beautiful scenes so much without them.)

The crowd roared in applause as Rayne threw his mane back and sang to the crowd.

He sang out as ponies from all over Equestria prepared themselves for the Gala later this evening.

Rayne jumped off the stage to sing in the crowd, not too differently from how Twilight jumped out of bed to wake up Spike in a rush.

Dash zipped over town to make sure Applejack was ready.

Rarity sighed, making some last minute alterations to dresses.

In Canterlot, a sparsely rested Celestia and Luna were both up early seeing to the provisions for the evening to make sure everything was in place.

Rayne sang with eyes closed to envision Luna in his thoughts. He imagined them dancing together through the clouds. He daydreamed of the smile upon her face. And his daydream was popped just before they kissed in his imagination.

Rayne screamed out in the Hot Hoof club. He danced, making his way back on stage. He shimmied himself with some fast step dancing to excite the crowd.

He stomped to the floor. The patrons all stomped with him. He clapped into the air. Then the patrons broke out into clapping applause as he shouted out the chorus again.

Decorations were hung high in the Canterlot hall. Platters were set out readying for the feast that was being cooked. Celestia and Luna looked to each other, nodding in satisfaction.

Rayne sang with one of his hooves raised up. He sang as he strutted across the stage. He shook his head from side to side. Then he turned around and gave the mares a cheer as he sang with his hind end toward them.

Celestia teleported a series of tickets off toward Spike. The mane six all made their way to Twilight’s castle to finish their prep for the evening. Rayne dropped to his knees on the stage, extending his final note. Meanwhile in Canterlot, Celestia and Luna retreated to their rooms to get their last chance at rest before having to be up all evening long party.

• -

At a little before noon ponies poured out of the Hot Hoof dance club as nearly a third of the town had been in attendance. Vouchers were handed out, advertising discounted rates for those attending the club as well as the services at the day spa when visited within the same week. These seemed pleasing enough for ponies to receive but upon exiting the club they all looked up to the sky with either surprise or disappointment on their faces.

“What’s going on? What are dark clouds doing in the sky on a day like today?” Filthy Rich inquired to no one in particular.

“Are those, rain clouds? On a date like today?” Lyra asked in disbelief to Bon Bon who was next to her.

All of a sudden Derpy came flying by who hastily had her tail yanked down by an uncaring Spoiled Rich. But before she could even open her mouth she was suddenly bumped out of place by the hip of a dark stallion who scowled at her.

Reaching out to help the pegasus to make sure she was okay Rayne said, “Oh sorry about that Derpy, must have been an accident.” He quipped. But as expected, Derpy didn’t seem to be bothered so Rayne went on to ask, “What’s with the weather? Tonight is the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot. What is Cloudsdale doing?”

The pegasus spoke loudly sounding just as surprised as the rest of the town. “I know! It’s so strange right?! But there’s nothing that can be done about it.”

“Whattaya mean nothing-!” Hat Hard cried out but was hissed at by Rayne to silence him for being rude.

Walking Derpy over a few paces away so as to prevent her from getting mobbed upon Rayne asked, “Why? What’s going on up in Cloudsdale?”

Not giving the circumstances another thought she immediately answered, “Oh well you see, the storm generators have been backing up and the pegasi were unable to release the scheduled rain deliveries on time which were supposed to be all last week. They didn’t forget about the gala, but the storm clouds are finally flowing again and now there are so many of them that the rain has to be delivered or the whole thing will turn into a lightening storm right in the middle of the factory!”

“Ah, I see.” Rayne replied. “So it basically means that the Grand Galloping Gala has to put up with a rainy night or else the whole weather factory in Cloudsdale runs the risk of exploding. Am I right?”

“You got it.” She cheered and the stallion rushed her off to save her from the tempers of any more townsponies.

“Well, rain for Rayne it is them.” The stallion smirked and decided to make his way towards Twilight’s castle. “Guess I better make sure Rarity doesn’t need any help in preventing her dresses from getting wet."

• -

“No Fluttershy, not like that! Pull it tighter!” Rarity yelled before giving a wheeze as the pegasus pulled on the strings to her corset. “Applejack darling, would you be a dear and also help Twilight with hers please? Make sure to give it a good tight tug so that-”

“No, thank you!” The princess screamed immediately. “I think I'd like to be able to breathe long enough to actually see the gala tonight which won't happen if Applejack squeezes the air out of me with one of your corsets, Rarity.” Twilight flicked her horn and used magic to make sure her outfit was fitting properly.

In the rather crowded dressing room all members of the mane six along with Starlight included were gathered together to help each other prepare for the evening. They were trying on the dresses that Rarity had prepared for each of them, checking themselves over to make sure they fit just right, and deciding how they wanted their manes styled for the evening. Furthermore, they each did a quick make up check even though many of them only applied a simple mascara or eye shadow at most.

That was when the door suddenly opened as an anxiously sounding Spike yelled out, “No but I’m telling you that she is going to get mad if you-”

“Relax Spike, I’m good at these sorts of things. I’m just coming to offer my help if any of them-” Rayne reassured him as he stepped into the room.

Although to his surprise Rarity gasped and levitated up two rolls of fabric like curtains over the girls who each looked around as if they had no idea what was going on. “RAYNE YOU GET YOUR PERVERTED STALLION EYES OUT OF THIS DRESSING ROOM UNTIL YOU ARE INVITED, THIS INSTANT!!!” The fashion pony screamed as the stallion stood wide eyed in surprise.

“Whoa, hey there Rarity. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I just-” He stammered before freezing and nervously scooting backwards out the door when Rarity stomped, half corset tied, out toward him.

“I said OUT, OUT, OUT! If I won't even allow my own boyfriend in here while we are changing then what makes you think it is acceptable to just come barging into a changing room full of mares unannounced?!”

From off on the other side of the curtain Dash scoffed, “T’ch, maybe because there’s not a mare in here that Rayne hasn’t already seen the most of, and then some.” In response Pinkie Pie snickered along, Twilight blushed, and Applejack smacked Dash upside the back of her head for that comment.

Meanwhile Rayne went scampering back over his hooves as Rarity chased him off, half threatening to wallop him if he didn’t immediately leave. As soon as she returned and dropped the curtains Applejack frowned at her but Rarity spoke up in haste, “Don’t even say it! I know that ponies don’t normally wear clothes. It… is… the… principle, dear! It’s impolite to look upon a mare when she is in a state that she does not intend for you to see her in!”

Most of the other girls laughed it off but Starlight looked at Dash in the mirror while she was trying to adjust a strand of hair that wouldn’t cooperate with her mane. “Yeah, that stallion sure gets around alright. But don’t over exaggerate Dash. Rayne hasn’t been intimate with ALL the mares in this room.”

At this everypony grew silent and did a rather poor job of pretending they were not paying attention. The blue pegasus looked around to make sure that Spike was gone before replying, “Uh, yeah he has. Didn’t you know that?”

Starlight stopped what she was doing and turned around with a suppressed scowl as if she didn’t enjoy the implication of what Rainbow was saying. In an agitated tone she snapped out, “What?”

Rainbow shrugged as she turned to face Starlight properly. “What, you need me to spell it out for you? Rayne’s been up the tail end of every single mare in this room. What are you getting all huffy about? It’s never been a big deal before when Rayne slept with any of us. We were even dating him together for awhile in case you've forgotten?” Dash remarked with a snarky tone.

However Starlight just laughed, still having a hard time wrapping her head around this. “So you’re telling me that Twilight, our beloved princess who-”

“Yes, that’s right Starlight. Rayne and I have had sex.” Twilight admitted calmly, showing neither pride nor shame in that statement. "It was just the one time, but we did. And I'll admit, it was pretty nice."

Starlight looked taken aback in shock. “Really?! Seriously?! And wait, what about… Now I know that Fluttershy, you didn’t-”

“Oh, um, um, well… We didn’t do that but we did… um, we did… other stuff? So technically what Dashy is saying is true.” Starlight’s jaw dropped. But her mood didn’t improve as Fluttershy continued. “Yeah, and Pinkie Pie was there for it too. We all already know that Rarity is with Spike now so we didn't invite her but-”

Fluttershy quickly silenced herself as Starlight interrupted giving a dark growl as she asked, “What do you mean ‘Pinkie was there for it too?’”

There was a short pause as all the ponies looked around to each other uneasily. Dash and the others explained how Twilight had the plan to reaffirm Rayne’s health through a less than conventional means and Rarity took the time to admit her guilt for the idea as well. But the more that was explained the redder Starlight’s face became before she seemed to have a breakdown of some kind and ask through grit teeth to speak to Twilight privately in another room.

However even as the princess teleported them into the next drawing room over, the walls did little to contain the screaming that immediately broke out. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN ALL OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS HAD AN ORGY WITH MY EX-BOYFRIEND?!!!"

To this Twilight flinched and raised her hooves up trying to calm the other mare. "Starlight, please listen to me. I'm so sorry that this has come as such a shock to you. Believe me, we weren't trying to do it behind your back or anything. I didn't even realize you didn't know about it. Of course it makes sense to me now but I really can't believe that I didn't even stop to consider your feelings about it."

"Yeah… well…" The angered mare yelled, "I do have feelings on it! And my feelings are hurt!"

With her ears folded downward Twilight told her, "I'm sorry Starlight… I don't know what to say. I can't really apologize for it because I don't feel that we did anything wrong in sleeping with Rayne. And he honestly made us all feel really happy that night. But what doesn't make me happy is seeing you so upset over this. But it was just supposed to be for the one night. I have no interest in dating him or anything. We were just trying to help him with his cutie mark issue after Trixie made such a fuss over him that morning."

“Well then WHY didn’t you just ASK him about it then?!” Starlight screamed out vehemently.

“Ask him about what?!” Twilight screamed back, getting caught up in the emotional intensity of their debate.

“Ugh! His cutie mark! The ponies that he is supposed to be with! Why didn’t you just ask him who they are?! Rayne already knows their identities!” Starlight argued.

That was when Twilight's mood changed immediately. Her shouting dropped in place of a hushed sense of shock as she nearly whispered out, “What? He knows?” Quickly Twilight teleported the two of them back into the room with the others.

Giving an apologetic ear fold after realizing how loudly she had been screaming at a friend, Starlight nodded and explained what she knew. “I heard as much from him and I got the sense that Maud feels the same. He didn’t tell me who they are but Rayne has already found the two ponies that he is supposed to be with. But he just hasn’t gone after them to try to romance them for some reason.”

The others had been looking away after listening to Starlight yelling so angrily but that was all but forgotten when they heard her reveal this startling news. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked to each other in surprise. Pinkie Pie seemed a little clueless. Meanwhile, Applejack tilted her head to the side as if to speak. Unfortunately she didn’t get the chance as Rarity’s eyes went wide and she brought her hooves up to her mouth as she gasped in shock.

“What is it now?!” Twilight groaned as she looked from Starlight over to Rarity not wanting to take the chance of any more misunderstandings being caused by the emotional mare.

“Oh no! Oh NO! This can’t be happening! I can’t believe that I had forgotten all about it!” Rarity ranted off.

Suddenly every single pony in the room all shouted out in perfect unison, “SPIT IT OUT, RARITY!”

After a mild flinch from the off-white unicorn she eventually lowered her hooves and explained, “It was only shortly after he had arrived into town. In fact it wasn’t long before you had burst into the room on the day of my fateful tryst with the stallion. He had revealed me to that he was already in love with someponies unmentioned and invited me to ask him about it at another time. Well, so much had happened so quickly with the unveiling of his destiny as a pleasure pony that I had forgotten all about it until now.”

Everyone else in the room jumped as Twilight and Starlight both stomped their hooves and yelled out together, “YOU MEAN RAYNE ALREADY KNEW THE TWO PONIES HE WAS DESTINED TO BE WITH FROM THE DAY HE WALKED INTO PONYVILLE?!"

“Um… I guess?” Rarity whimpered uneasily.

• A Little Later -

Laughter filled the map room in Twilight’s castle as the girls sat around dressed up in their outfits for the night with Rayne and Spike in their company along with them. All the mares were chuckling as the two boys improvised how startled they expect the fancy ponies of Canterlot had probably been upon receiving the news that the gala was Hearts and Hooves Day themed this year.

The chairs had been pushed back and the map table receded into the floor with large pillows strewn about similar, to the sleep over that Rayne had with the girls about two months back. “Oh Rayne, you really are a riot as always.” Rarity chuckled. But amidst their laughter the trap was set as Twilight finally gave a nod to Rarity and Starlight’s smile immediately fell away. “Ahem, excuse me Rayne. I hate to break up the joyous mood here but I wanted to know if you would be willing to answer a rather serious question for me?”

Rayne was in high spirits at the time. He was laughing the afternoon away with his friends and it was just before a party that was sure to make for a fantastic evening. He smiled without a second thought saying, “Oh well of course Rarity. How can I help you?”

She cleared her throat and then nodded. “Well… the thing is, we all wanted to talk to you about your cutie mark… and about your fate as being a pleasure pony.” Rarity asked softly.

The stallion looked a bit surprised but otherwise still smiled. “Oh, well okay. If you have questions about it then I’d be happy to answer. But you all already know just about as much about it as I do. I… haven’t done anything wrong to upset you all, have I?”

“NO!” Rarity shouted a little too quickly. “No, it isn’t anything like that. You see… on the day that you and I shared a moment together in my boutique, you mentioned to me that you were already in love with somepony else. And you encouraged me to ask you about it another time. Well, I am asking you about it now… here… in front of all our friends. Who is it that you are in love with Rayne?”

Rayne gave an involuntary equine-like snort of surprise. Before he could respond Twilight looked over at him and said, “We all care about you Rayne. We know you are capable of looking after yourself… but the fact that there has never been a record of a pleasure pony surviving for very long has us all worried about you. So if there is anything we can do to help protect you against this awful fate then we just want to help.”

“Come on Rayne, just tell us...” Dash encouraged softly.

"We aren't trying to pry into your personal affairs." Fluttershy added. "We just want to know if there is a way we can help."

Rayne nodded to the others and gave a deep sigh. “You’re right… I am already in love. And I know who it is that my cutie mark is leading me towards.” They all sat patiently while listening to him. Rayne didn’t miss that Starlight had her back to him with her head lowered but at the very least she was still there along with the others to support him. “I just… the mares I am in love with I haven’t really-”

“Just spit it out now sugar. No sense in making excuses at this point. Just tell us who it is.” Applejack told him.

Rayne nodded. “Well it’s two mares, and I can only tell you one of them for now… but it's a bit embarrassing to have to admit to all of you that it’s a princess.”

Instantly the eyes of all of them gasped and even Starlight turned around in shock. Exclamations of surprise were heard all around the room and a few eyes even turned to Twilight as she stood frozen with a blush on her cheeks. “Oh, well Rayne… I- uh, I had no idea that you-”

“NO! No, sorry no.” Rayne called out toward her. “No, I’m sorry Twilight. It is a princess but it isn’t you.”

“Oh I see. Well that’s a little bit of a relief I guess. But now I seem to be confused. If it’s not me, and well Cadence is already happily married… Are we talking about a non-pony princess here or…?” Twilight asked in confusion, the truth seeming to be beyond her reasoning.

The stallion raised an eyebrow to her curiously. "Is that something that you all wouldn't have a problem with, if she wasn't?"

Now the mares in the room all seemed startled. Spike was the one who looked over at him and asked, "Rayne, is that really a possibility?" He asked while glancing over at Rarity since he had a non pony to pony romance himself.

Although after frowning that none of the girls had answered him he very clearly avoided the question. "The mare I'm talking about is a pony princess alright. But it isn’t you Twilight and it isn’t Cadence either. The mare that I’m talking about, who already has my heart, is actually Princess Luna.” Rayne admitted and then sat nervously watching for their reactions.

There was a silence among them as they all looked to each other. However a moment later everypony broke out into varying degrees of laughter. “HaHaHa! Princess Luna! Yeah, right!” Dash blotted.

“Oh, hehe. That was a good one Rayne. You even got me.” Fluttershy added.

Then Starlight looked him in the eyes from where she was sitting. “Seriously though Rayne, who is it?”

Rayne just looked at her straight faced and said, “It’s Princess Luna. I am in love with Luna.”

Now the smiles seemed to slide off from their faces as they others looked around nervously. “Alright now the jokes over!” Applejack said a bit fiercely. “It ain’t funny no-more so you might as well quit!”

“Rayne, please tell me that you aren’t serious.” Twilight said to him with a grave tone. “You can’t be in love with Princess Luna. That’s… that’s just… Well that would be really cruel if you actually meant that Rayne.” She said to him sternly.

Now Rayne leaned back a little bit in surprise. “I don’t understand. What’s so cruel about it? What’s wrong with Luna? She has a vast emotional depth and she’s most definitely beautiful. The compassion she has to help others with their nightmares every night is inspiring. And she-” But Rayne didn't get to finish.

Starlight's bitter voice spoke out as if she were appauled of him. “Rayne… I didn’t break both our hearts when I rejected you just so that you could go and break somepony else’s.”

Twilight looked to the stallion but her face seemed agitated with him now. “Don’t you get it? There’s nothing wrong with Luna, she’s amazing! But haven’t you ever wondered why she’s still unpartnered? Why both she AND Celestia remain single? It isn’t because there aren’t any stallions willing to marry a ruler of Equestria!”

Rayne paused for a moment becoming frustrated himself now. “You‘re right, I don’t get it. Is this a 'royalty can only marry royalty' kind of thing? Cadence is married and no one is bothered by that. So why shouldn’t Luna get to-”

“Rayne, you dolt!” Dash screamed. “Cadence is only slightly older than any of us! She’s still young for an alicorn! She hasn’t even lived a single lifetime yet!”

Fluttershy explained next saying, “But as an alicorn she is going to remain the ruler of the Crystal Empire for many years to come. For decades or even centuries if that is what she decides to do.”

Pinkie looked over and in an unusually glum face for her she said, “One day Shining Armor is going to die, Rayne. I’m not saying it’s any time soon but Cadence is going to stay young while her husband grows old. She, and Flurryheart too probably, are going to well outlive him. Yeah, she’s gotten married now… but it’s more like this was her only chance. Once she gets older then it’ll be different because no pony would want to live through the death of a loved one like that a second time.”

At this point Rayne frowned because he did not like where the conversation was going. It was Twilight who spoke next saying, “Luna is well passed the time that she first lived as a filly. The love that she and Celestia hold onto now is for the well being of all Equestria. No pony is saying that they don’t deserve romantic attention. But to try to woo either of them at this stage is just to ask them to watch you wither away before them later on. No pony wants to cause our leaders that heartache when it can be avoided. And to try… well that would just be a really selfish thing to ask of them.”

The expression on the stallion’s face looked almost snarling with anger which did not put any of their minds at ease. “So what you're saying is…” Rayne growled out through his clenched teeth. “That when Luna was banished away, robbing her of the life that she should have had for a thousand years, that she also lost the right to enjoy any sort of companionship for herself?” Everypony looked around but no one had a clear answer for that. “Well I think that’s garbage. I think that’s just about the most rotten thing that I’ve ever heard of since coming to Ponyville.” Everyone in the room lowered their heads feeling a bit shameful after hearing that.

Twilight looked up again and said, “Rayne, as I’m sure you are aware Princess Luna will be there at the party tonight. Just promise me that you will think about what we’ve said before you decide to do anything too drastic tonight.”

“T’ch.” He remarked between his teeth in protest but when he looked her in the eye he couldn’t honestly give her an answer one way or another.

Just then there was a knocking upon the front castle doors before a courier from Canterlot made his way inside. “Attention, attention please. Will Princess Twilight and her entourage please assemble outside? The royal chariots are here to receive you all to Canterlot for the Gala.”

Everypony looked surprised and Applejack blurted out, “Already? But it’s only a hair’s past noon and the party ain’t even until tonight!”

The courier frowned but raised his chin saying, “Yes, that may be true. But Princess Twilight is being summoned to help oversee the final preparations for the event and that stallion there has had his presence requested as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.”

Rayne was a little shocked by the news but it certainly brought a smile to his face to hear. Meanwhile Spike made his way over to nudge his side with an elbow. “Hey there, look at you moving up in the world. MC to the Grand Galloping Gala? Niiiice!” The two shared a low fist bump together.

One by one everypony started filing out of the room as they were all already dressed and prepped for the evening. But as Rayne and Twilight walked side by side one another he spoke softly to her saying, “So who’s heart would you have break in the end? Her heart… or mine? I’m the one who dies either way, right?” The sourness of that line ran Twilight’s throat dry. But she gave him a reassuring nod that she understood when he told her, “If you think I would ever do anything to hurt a pony I care about... then maybe you don’t know me as well as you thought you did Twilight.” With that they all filled into four different chariots together and were off.

• Later that Evening -

Once the guests started to arrive the party quickly got into full swing. This year the pristine white hall was decorated from top to bottom with a romantic setting fit for any ponies tastes. Candles of assorted colors burned everywhere. Fruit, cakes, candies, and sweetened assortments were done up in the shapes of hearts or kisses or other designs. As the guests entered many of them showed up in pairs as everypony felt inclined to bring a specified date for themselves. Celestia and Luna remained in their thrones atop a short staircase as opposed to standing at the entry way to greet the guests when they arrived.

“Twilight! Hi!” An eloquent voice called from over the crowd. After turning around the purple alicorn saw her Cadence walking in with Shining Armor at her side.

“Oh you made it! I’m so glad to see you two!” Twilight responded while hugging her brother and her sister in law. “So, what do you think of the party? A little pretentious, am I right?” She asked with a smirk.

“Oh I don’t know about that Twily.” Her brother answered. “I think I sort of dig it.”

“Oh you’re just a sucker for these sorts of things.” His wife commented with a laugh.

Just then a pink blur shot through the crowd to Twilight’s side as Pinkie appeared with a large grin. “Can you believe it?! I’m Twilight’s date to the party! But don’t worry, even with all the mood setting there won’t be anything amorous between us. She’ll have to work reeaaaally hard if she wants to get into the frosting of this cupcake.” Pinkie smirked flirtatiously.

Shining Armor stood there looking confused while Cadence just shook her head with a laugh saying, “You’re so weird Pinkie Pie.”

“I know!” The pink pony cheered proudly. But that was when their conversation was interrupted. In fact every pony in attendance stopped what they were doing when a smooth masculine voice rang out.

“Heaven….”

The serenading tone of a stallion came somewhere in the room. Ponies everywhere looked around in wonder as the voice called out again.

“Heaaaven…..”

Discord, who had arrived with Fluttershy and had been doing a remarkable job of behaving himself thus far, snapped his fingers causing a spotlight to shine down upon a dark stallion in the corner of the room. He was standing near the band just beside the piano and was wearing an outfit that amazed the onlookers. Rayne straightened his cravat that sat atop his dark cloak with red trim and his blue sleeved suit. All eyes were upon him as he stepped down into the crowd and the band picked up with a fast tempo jazzy beat.

-Redacted Content-

Rayne sang, bouncing on each step through the crowd. He teased, holding Maud’s chin delicately. He sang while holding his face against hers as she closed her eyes and smiled. Then he danced away from her as the crowd seemed to be getting into the song now.

He snapped with the two halves of his hoof together. He smiled to Filthy Rich and his wife. Fancy Pants nodded to him with Fleur De Lis at his side. He gave a polite nod to the royal thrones and Celestia was the one to return his nod graciously while Luna sat seeming disinterested.

Then Rayne left the presence of the Canterlot Elite and made his way toward the buffet where some of the lower class guests were standing.

He sang while sharing a little two step from pony to pony. He smiled seeing Lyra and Bon Bon in attendance together.

Rayne danced his way over to Fluttershy and Discord giving the Draconequus a wink. Fluttershy seemed happily in the spirit of things as she eagerly raised her cheek to dance along side Discord like a couple.

Rayne spun away from the crowd now and stood in the open as he let his voice ring out in a handsome tone.

His tone softened again as he skipped back over toward the band.

He gave a wink to Octavia in the band and nodded to the crowd. She quickly spotted Vinyl staring back at her holding a rose in her mouth which caused Octavia to blush and miss a cord before she returned to playing the song.

Now Rayne took the opportunity to dance a bit while the band played merrily. He looked for ponies who appeared to be without a date and swept them into his arms, dancing a jazzy rhythm with them for a couple of notes before switching to another partner. It didn’t matter to Rayne whether they were mares or stallions, by the time he started singing again there wasn’t a face in the crowd that wasn’t smiling.

Then Rayne returned to Maud and she fell right in time into his arms.

He sang as the earth pony danced with him. They smiled together and he gave her a big twirl. They kicked their hooves back and forth together. The two gave a big finish while dancing as the entire party shouted and cheered to applaud their performance.

“Wowie! That’s my sister! I had no idea that Maud had some wicked dance moves!” Pinkie shouted.

Twilight just smirked beside her. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that was just Rayne out there doing most of the work. But you’re right, she did look amazing dancing with him.”

Once the song and dance number had concluded Rayne and Maud separated but both became quite the popular guest that everypony seemed to want to talk to. “Remarkable! Simply remarkable!” Fancy Pants praised as he stepped over to the stallion. “I must commend you sir on your spectacular performance. I’ll say, are you that charming Rayne fellow that I keep hearing so much about these days? That, 'special' kind of pony from Ponyville?”

Rayne raised his chin and gave a quaint smile as he nodded. “Yes, that’s right. I suppose that my reputation may have gotten away from me a bit. I warn you though ladies, all the rumors about me are absolutely true.” He jested as the mares standing around him all blushed and giggled.

“Ah yes, the pleasure pony. Is that right?” Fleur de Lis asked him. “And what exactly is it that a pleasure pony is supposed to do in life?” She queried. However Fancy Pants seemed to clear his throat because he had seen himself as the one having the primary conversation with Rayne.

Before she could step back Rayne reached out and took her by the hoof. Instantly everyone nearby quieted down as they watched the stallion stare into Fluer’s eyes as if she were the only pony in the room. She blushed a bit, unsure of what to do while having her hoof held so delicately and yet so powerfully. “Well...” He almost whispered to her. “Tell me, what is your pleasure… and I will make accomplishing that, the purpose of my life."

Fluer was stricken breathless as she folded under the weight of Rayne’s words. She pulled her hoof back and several ponies around chuckled as she bashfully stepped away to return to Fancy Pant’s side. “Very provoking, yes very thought provoking indeed good sir.” The other stallion replied to Rayne. “I say, I’d wager you'd be quite the diplomat should you find yourself in the realm of politics or the social circles of Canterlot’s elite. How about you stop by sometime as my personal guest so I can introduce you to some prominent figures around the city?”

With that Rayne gave a polite bow but stepped away. “Unfortunately I must decline. At the present moment my focus is reserved for the guests at this party and I still have quite a bit of entertaining left to do. So if you would excuse me?”

All the while Twilight had been standing nearby Pinkie and Starlight who had come along as a single guest without a date. The three of them had been enjoying themselves as other guests would approach to pay their respects to Twilight for being a princess. But their attention was captured as Rayne’s voice loudly called out over the crowd once again.

“Hello and attention everypony! May I have your attention please? For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Rayne and I am your master of ceremonies for the evening. I would like to thank you all for coming and I hope that you are enjoying the theme of the gala this year.” There was some positive murmuring from the crowd. “I want to announce that in the spirit of the Hearts and Hooves Day theme, I have a surprise for you all.

“What is he up to?” Twilight asked while taking a sip of her drink.

“I have no idea.” Starlight answered as they both watched.

“I would like to treat you all to another song. This one is a special little piece which I think that you will enjoy. If you would be so kind as to allow… and with the permission of the lovely royalty that we have here tonight...”

Instantly Twilight spit her drink out onto the floor in shock and gasped out, “Tell me he’s not!”

“I would like to dedicate this particular number to one special royal here tonight!” Rayne announced.

There were some surprised but chuckling whispers from the crowd. “Oh, he is.” Starlight answered.

Rayne glanced toward the thrones and Celestia gave an excited smile, seeming thrilled by this sudden surprise. “I will allow it.” She acknowledged. Meanwhile Luna rolled her eyes at yet another celebration of her sister that she would have to live through.

Rayne smiled and bowed before the princesses. Then he rubbed his hooves together excitedly. He nodded to the band that he was ready and then a light drum tapping began to count the stallion in. The smile that Rayne had on his face was positively infectious as his excitement radiated off from him like a beacon.

-Redacted Content-

Rayne began.

He continued as ponies looked to him curiously.

A few ponies in the crowd began to sway to his rhythm.

He slid forward into the crowd.

All the ponies in the crowd sighed that they understood now. Rayne chuckled as he hip bumped Pinkie while Twilight scowled at him. Many couples in the crowd looked to their own partner and smiled.

Now there was an extended musical number in which Rayne grabbed couples by the hooves and encouraged them to dance together. Quickly Rayne shot a glance toward Spike before nodding towards Twilight. He nodded back and suddenly rushed Rarity out onto the dance floor as Rayne began dancing slowly backwards out of the crowd.

Twilight almost dropped her drink when she realized Rayne was moving towards the thrones.

However Spike danced Rarity right into her way blocking her path.

Celestia looked at Luna and chuckled as Rayne turned towards them.

Celestia blushed, pushing up on her mane as the pleasure pony started dancing and singing closer to them. Meanwhile Luna looked away uninterested in seeing her sister in another romance like when they were younger.

Rayne sang as everypony took notice of him placing approaching the thrones. However Celestia’s smile fell when she realized it wasn’t her that Rayne was looking at. Luna suddenly glanced over her shoulder seeming confused. Rayne sang and Luna’s jaw dropped when the stallion knelt down in front of her.

Luna shouted out in surprise when he suddenly took her by the hoof and pulled her out of her seat. She blushed in surprise as Rayne started dancing with her. Everypony was staring so Luna didn’t know what else to do but to go along with it. By the last line of the song Luna had an excited smile on her face as Rayne spun and twirled her around. Meanwhile Celestia crossed her hooves feeling spurned in her throne. Luna’s eyes spread wide as Rayne finished the song by dipping her in his arms down low as if he were going to kiss her. They paused for a moment as she hung in his grasp and he whispered, “That number was dedicated exclusively for you, dear princess. I hope you enjoyed it."

The color of Luna’s face turned so red that her cheeks scrunched a bit as if they were hurting her. In a hastily set of movements, Luna stood back up and shoved the stallion away from her. Without a word she rushed off the party floor to one of the castle balconies that lined the party area.

Author's Note

So I really love the intro that I gave to this chapter. It's my little reminder that despite everything else going on, Rayne is still maintaining his working career at both the Day Spa as well as a lounge singer. Plus it was fun to showcase how excited he is along with everypony else getting ready. I think the song Rip It Up by Little Richard portrays Rayne's excitement for the ball perfectly!

The note about the rain was thrown in for more than just a little flavor. This will be a continued theme for a bit. Even though sunny weather is obviously preferred by ponies, the weather does need to change from time to time. I felt it was my duty as the writer to include that so things will be a little wet around Equestria for a while.

Alright so this chapter is definitely a reward for those of you who have been able to keep track of the little details throughout the story. How many hints were dropped leading up to this moment? Rarity knew about it. Starlight knew about it. Maud has actually known it but nobody knows that she does. Rayne's love, well for Luna at least, is finally publically revealed! But the ponies have mixed feelings on it. I think I explained it pretty well in the chapter. If Rayne was only meaning to flirt with Luna then it might not be such a big deal but stating that he's in love with her is just taboo. But it was time for Rayne to be called out on it. His interest in Chrysalis remains a secret though.

Alright so what's a pleasure pony at a gala to do other than sing for the crowd? I felt that the Frank Sinatra version of Cheek to Cheek was a nice song choice to entertain ponies. Also that choice might come into play for something else later. But L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole was a very specific choice I've been waiting to write in for years. It was Rayne's public declaration to Luna that she and him should be together. And I think that scene worked out very nicely.

Who all enjoyed the art that was provided by the wonderful Rey Roseqete? The detail for it to be raining was added to the story after this piece was commissioned. Also they are standing because it's the last moment of song where Rayne dips Luna at the end. The original art piece was much more grand with the surroundings but I had to crop it down because this site would not allow me to embed the picture due to it's file size.