Every pony, and dragon, were enjoying their meal at the diner when they found themselves greeted by a very familiar, green Pegasus.
"Rarity!" he called out. "Spike! So nice to see you!"
Everyone turned to see Fluttershy's brother, Zephyr Breeze, approaching the table.
"And, if I may be so blunt, you must be that swanky new trendsetter, NP?" Zephyr more stated than asked.
"The one and only," grinned Nish Pony as he used his Unicorn magic to lift up his rose-tinted glasses for the briefest of moments. "I assume you are familiar with my work?"
"Oh, but of course!" beamed the Pegasus. "I see it all the time in the magazines they keep over at the day spa."
"Day spa?" asked Nish. "Sounds like a potentially trendy place for a photo shoot."
"Oh, it is!" cheered Zephyr. "I'm actually just finishing for the morning so I can work the evening as their exclusive 'Mane Therapist'."
"How's that been going for you, Zephyr?" asked Rarity.
"Hopefully better than when you tricked me into doing all the windows in the Castle of Friendship," scowled Spike before grumpily chewing upon an extra-crispy, hay fry.
"You don'[t seem to like your meal," said Quacky Pants to Spike.
"Well," said Spike. "I prefer gemstones and, well, nobody serves them."
"You know," grinned Quacky while reaching into his saddlebag. "I don't have any gemstones, but I do have some crystals."
"Crystals?" asked Spike.
"Yeah," continued the green-coated, Earth Pony. "I always keep some with me when Nish and I are away from the Crystal Empire."
"Did I just hear you are from the Crystal Empire?" asked Rarity.
"Yeah," replied Quacky as he handed a number of sparkling crystals to Spike. "It's a haven for love and tolerance. Especially since the crystaling of Flurry Heart."
"Makes sense," stated Zephyr. "I know some ponies who wouldn't be all too happy with the kind of work that you get yourself involved in."
Rarity saw an opportunity to learn more about her client.
"What do you mean, Zephyr?" she asked sweetly.
Well... Uh...," he stumbled. "Are you familiar with 'Kink'?"
"'Kink'?" wondered Rarity.
"It's but one of the many open-minded publications I helped to start," stated Nish Pony while biting into his oat burger. "I pride myself on finding fashion, style, glamour,and beauty in all things. No one publication could truly ever contain all of my creative genius."
"I'm familiar with 'Better Stables and Fields', 'Whose Hooves', and 'Hometown Styles'," stated the white Unicorn.
"All great periodicals," remarked Nish. "However, I also like to do work that goes a bit bolder than that when I can."
"Like 'Kink'?" asked Zephyr. "I'm also familiar with a certain publication you do that my sister is into that I simply will not mention here."
Spike munched down on the crystals that Quacky had gave him so quckly that he developed a bit of a tummy ache.
"Ooh," he moaned. "I need to use the bathroom."
Rarity waited for Spike to be out of hearing range before leaning in closer towards Nish and Quacky.
"Isn't a kink another word for a, uh, fetish?" she asked with a blush.
The orange Unicorn and his model with the red mane nodded in near unison.
"Put simply," stated Nish Pony. "Though, I've never understood why ponies have such shame over them."
Zephyr gulped.
"I'm not ashamed," he stated with a slight stutter.
"Oh," grinned Nish. "What makes you feel a bit naughty?"
Zephyr gulped while turning beet red in the cheeks.
"Manes and tails," he said. "It's sort of what got me into Mane Therapy. I just love the feel of a good mane and/or tail."
Rarity was aghast.
"So...," she stumbled. "When you were working on me?"
"No, no, no," stammered Zephyr. "I'm all professional when I'm at work."
"You know, Ms. Rarity," stated Nish. "Many ponies I've photographed for the various publications I've created, or am published in, tend to admit to me that their professions typically align with their kinks."
"They do?" wondered the Unicorn with the purple mane.
"Yes," added Quacky Pants. "It's why, when I'm not modeling, I'm working the local park within the Crystal Empire. Ducks make me so happy and taking care of them brings me such a sense of satisfaction."
Rarity did her best to not read too much into what Quacky meant by 'satisfaction'.
"Surely you have a kink?" inquired Nish Pony. "I did notice how you kind of get all nervous when you see that little dragon wearing filly clothing."
Rarity couldn't hod back her blush as she struggled for composure.
"Oh..., no....," she nervously giggled. "It's not like that."
"What's that?" asked Spike upon returning to the table.
Rarity felt her heart drop into her stomach.
"Nothing, Spikey-Pooh," she said. "Just talking about our next phot shoot at the Everfree Forest."
"Everfree Forest?" wondered Zephyr. "My sister lives right at its border. You should stop by. She has a lot of fabulous areas around her home that would be perfect for photography."
"Hmm," thought Nish. "If you're sister is also a fan of my more distinct work, I believe popping by could be most worthwhile."
Rarity felt like she was sweating needles.
"I could take you there before heading back up to Cloudsdale," stated Zephyr. "Then, if you'd consider it, I'd love to fit you and your friend in for some Mane Therapy tonight."
"Would that be at the Day spa?" asked Nish.
"Oh, yes!" cheered Zephyr. "Ponies carry so much stress in their manes and most can't get in during the day due to their jobs. So, I take a little siesta in the afternoon so I can be at my best for those hard working, tense ponies."
"I'm all for a little release of tension," stated Quacky Pants.
"Sounds good," grinned Nish while getting a paper out of his saddlebag. "I just need you to take this by your employer to make sure they are okay with me taking pictures within their facility."
Zephyr took hold of the parchment.
"I'm sure Aloe and Lotus Blossom would be fine with it," he assured. "Can you come around eight?"
"We'll be there," said Nish after finishing his food and dabbing his face off with a napkin. "But, now, we must head off to your sister's."
"Follow me," said Zephyr. "You're just going to love my Flutter Butter."
Spike smiled upon knowing they were off to Fluttershy's instead of into the Everfree Forest. Rarity, on the other hoof, was wondering if it may be better to just head into the forest before finding out any other tidbits about Nish Pony she hadn't heard from any of her high-society contacts before agreeing to work with him.