[Ozzy’s POV, 8:20 a.m.]

I felt really comfortable, but at the same time very trapped as I groggily woke up the next morning. I also smelt something that was mixed somehow, but the scents that came together were familiar. There was more force pressing on me from both sides than previous nights, and the positions of my arms felt awkward. Once my vision was clear enough, I saw that the room was barely lit, and there were some blobs blocking my vision. I looked down, and saw that Fleur’s head was on the crook of my neck. Shining’s head was close beside my own while her breasts were pressing against my side, and my torso was wrapped by her arms. Speaking of arms, not only was one of mine was around Shining, but the other had my hand on something soft. I looked over, and saw that my hand was held by Fleur while it was on top of one of her breasts. I wasn’t sure if I moved around enough that caused something like this to happen, but I don’t think Fleur wants that happening again like last time. I also realized something dire once my senses came back: as much as a part of me wanted to stay in this position a little longer, there was something welling up inside that would say otherwise.

… Crap, I need to pee.

I looked down and noticed my legs were trapped by an ensemble of the girls’ legs and tails coiled around me, but a little more from Shining’s side though. I didn’t want to disturb either of the girls, but I’m not sure if I can hold it until they wake up, and I’m too tangled up this time to get out on my own. After an internal sigh of guilt, I went with the option of waking up one of the girls, Shining mostly, to make some room for me to get up. With one of my arms still around her, I gave her shoulder a little shake.

“Psst, Shining, wake up,” I whispered.

“Mmgh… Wha?” She asked as she groggily opened her sleep filled eyes to where they were half-lidded as she tiredly gazed in my direction.

“Shining, could you move please? I need to use the bathroom,” I said.

She took a moment to blink her eyes a few times before her senses came back, and a hint of red was shown on her cheeks. “U-um… Sure… Could I also talk to you outside when you’re done?”

“Sure thing,” I replied.

Shining then moved herself out of the bed, and I followed without waking Fleur up. Shining and I then put on our glasses, and I went to the bathroom to do my business. Once I was finished, I put on my jacket, socks, and a pair of sneakers before I stepped out of the room, and saw Shining waiting with a jacket, and a change of clothes of her own. She seemed to be worried about something when I came out. I shut the door quietly behind me before turning to her.

“So… How’s your stomach?” Shining asked.

“Still a little sore, but not as bad as yesterday, thanks,” I replied.

“I just… I want to say I’m really sorry for what happened yesterday,” Shining said while looking to the side with ears folded.

Is she still hung up on this? I thought we went over it already.

“Shining, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it,” I said.

“I still feel it’s not okay though,” she said while still looking away. “I mean I was enjoying the massage you were giving me yesterday, and I didn’t mean to overreact the way I did. I appreciated you giving me such treatment even after I was giving you a hard time about not going with you and Fleur to the spa. I just feel like I returned the favor by kicking you in the stomach.” She then turned back to me with a guilty expression on her face. “Isn’t there anything I can do for you to make up for it? Maybe give me like, I don’t know, five tail tugs that are harder than usual?”

“I don’t feel right evening things out between us with more pain,” I admitted. “It just doesn’t seem like what friends would do. Besides, from the way you were two days ago after seven tugs with less force, I’m afraid that I’d be hurting you quite a bit doing what you requested. Before we continue this though, is there any other sensitive places on the majority of ponies’ bodies I should know about? I know the tail is, and the fleshy part of the inner hooves just recently… What about your ears? It’s kind of cute the way they flick sometimes, and I’m curious to how they feel.”

Shining’s face blushed a little before glancing to the side once more. “Um… In our culture, any physical contact with a pony’s ear is kind of something couples would do once they’re really close in their relationship, and what most spouses would do with each other. It’s a very… Intimate moment for us.”

“O-oh,” I replied. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know, and I don’t want to bring up any wrong ideas. Forget I asked.”

“It’s fine,” Shining replied with a wave. “Anyway, besides the ears, the inner hooves, and tail, the unicorns’ horns are pretty sensitive, especially when they’re focusing magic through it, and a pegasus’ wings can be as such as well. I’m sure whatever other places that are sensitive varies, and perhaps similar to humans, taking into account how similar our body structures are.”

“I guess that makes sense,” I said. “Anyway, back to the, um… Paying me back for the kicking thing, there isn’t really much for me to think about, and I already forgave you for doing it on accident.” Shining glanced to the side with ears folded once more.

Looks like she still feels guilty about it, and this may keep going until she actually does something for me in return…

“Alright, how about this then,” I continued, making Shining look back with a patient expression. “Since I can’t think of anything, how about you think of something creative to do to make up for the accident? It doesn’t have to be right now, or soon, and I don’t want anything that involves pain, just something that the both of us will walk away happy with, and putting the incident behind us. What do you say?”

Shining glanced to the side while holding a hand up to her chin in thought for a moment. After a couple of seconds, she turned back, nodded, and gave a small smile. “Yeah, I think I can work with that. And I promise I won’t feel guilty about it after that, and not overreact to something by hitting you again.”

“Alright, glad we got that settled. Now give me a hug ya big worrywart,” I said while holding my arms open with a small smile. Shining giggled a little before she complied. Once again, I saw the cute side of her where she wags her tail like a dog as we hugged.

I wonder if this is something they do intentionally, or it’s some kind of instinct at play showing happiness? Maybe they’re slightly more in tuned with their animal instincts than we humans are? Wonder if scratching behind a pony’s ears will get them to react the same way dogs do? I mean, sure, ponies can scratch themselves just fine with their hands, and unicorns could probably levitate backscratchers to get hard to reach places, but getting touched by someone else must be different compared to doing it yourself right? Eh, it’s something to think about for another day.

The two of us then broke the hug, and Shining fixed her glasses before speaking. “Alright, why don’t we take some time today to relax a little before we get you to Ms. Mascara’s office later today? We’ll have to give Bubbles a call to see if he can get some ponies to be on lookout for Fleur’s sake.”

“He’s the head of Fancy’s security right?” I asked. “Shouldn’t all of them be in Canterlot right now? I doubt they can get here until later in the day.”

“Oz, Oz, Oz,” Shining said before clicking her tongue. “If there’s one thing you should never doubt, it’s a noble’s security team, especially Fancy Pants’. They’re pretty much on par with the Royal Guard, and they’ll respond to Bubble’s call faster than a regular pony.”

“Well that’s certainly good to hear,” I said. “Alright, how about we wake up Fleur, and get some breakfast?”

“Sounds good, I’m kind of starving,” Shining said while rubbing her stomach. “Strange how Chineighse food can sometimes never fill you up no matter how much you eat.”

“You know? That’s like the exact same thing back on my world, only we call it Chinese,” I replied.

“How do you think our worlds have so many similar things?” Shining asked as we walked inside, and continued our chat about our worlds’ odd similarities.

[2:25 p.m.]

After we woke up Fleur, the three of us went out for breakfast like usual, enjoying a light meal while we chatted. We agreed that I’d… Disrobe myself for them later in the evening once we have our final answer from Vogue, but depending on what the company decides, plans could change in just a snap.

Once we were done with our breakfast, we headed back to our hotel room so Shining could brief me in on how I should behave around ponies with high, important occupations like Mascara’s. I thought with me handling higher ups back in my previous jobs would give me some experience, but since I’m in a completely different culture, I’d have to be careful about what I say or do that might offend somepony.

Finally, with the time of my appointment near, I got into my best business apparel, which was the same set of clothes I wore the last time I was in Vogue’s building. I made sure everything about me was clean, my hair was styled, and I didn’t smell gross. Once I knew I was fully set, I went to the girls who were waiting patiently.

“Well, this is it,” I said. “The moment we’ve all been waiting for.”

“It sure is,” Fleur said before giving me a big squeeze. “Best wishes that the news will be a good one.”

“Same here,” I replied before I pulled back, and it was Shining’s turn for the embrace.

“Best of luck Oz, we’ll be with you in spirit,” Shining said.

“Thanks,” I responded before pulling back, and I grabbed my laptop bag. “See you later girls,” I bid before I grabbed my phone, wallet, and the hotel room key as I made my way out.

I stepped out of the hotel, called a taxi, and rode my way to Vogue’s corporate office. I tried to keep a calm face as I repeated the things Shining taught me like a broken record in my head along the way before we finally made it to our stop.

Once I paid the driver, I grabbed my things, headed inside, and went up to the front desk where the same receptionist mare from yesterday sat.

“Hello, I have an appointment with Ms. Mascara for Ozzy Shore?” I asked.

“Ah yes, here you are,” the receptionist said before picking up the phone. “Ms. Mascara? Ozzy Shore came in… Uh huh, alright, thank you.” She then hung up the phone, and pointed to the elevator. “Ms. Mascara will be waiting for you on the top floor in her office. You may proceed.”

“Thank you,” I said before I walked inside the elevator, and went to the designated floor. The elevator music didn’t exactly help ease my tensions as I was the only one inside.

When I stepped out of the elevator, the place was kind of different. The mare who sat in the center of the room, Pantyhose I think was her name, wasn’t present. I looked around, and saw that Mr. Brushstroke’s, and Ms. Wind’s offices were vacant as the lights were out, leaving Mascara’s the only one lit.

Huh, were they scheduled a day off? I’d think there’d be somepony subbing Pantyhose for the day. Maybe it’s a slow day?

I shrugged before I walked over to Mascara’s office, gave it a few knocks, and found the door unlocked as I opened it a crack. “Mascara?” I asked. “It’s me, Oz. I’m here for Fleur de Lis?”

“Ah yes, please, do come in,” she said before I walked inside, and closed the door behind me. The biggest change I’ve seen compared to the last time I was in her office were the large blinds that were covering the entire wall that acted as a window. There were only the lights from the ceiling that kept the office lit, but not bright enough that they were blinding. Mascara sat in her desk like last time, only her suit jacket was hung on the back of her chair. She only had her dress shirt that had a few buttons from her neck undone.

“Please excuse my current state Oz,” Mascara said as she fanned herself. “It’s been getting pretty hot and stuffy in here, and the A/C takes time to kick in.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” I said.

“Please, have a seat,” she said as she gestured to the chair in front of her. I complied to her request with my laptop case leaning the side, and my hands together on my lap.

Mascara’s horn then lit up before she shot a navy blue ray of magic to the ceiling before it spread throughout the entire office, the lights dimmed to make the room darker than it was, and a subtle click was heard from behind me. “So… Here we are,” she said with a smirk as she fixed her black framed glasses.

“Yes indeed,” I agreed.

“Before we get started, I just have a few more questions I’d like to ask of you Oz.”

“Please, ask away.”

Mascara then stood up, and walked in front her desk where she sat on it, giving me a full view of her. She had a skirt that matched the jacket that was hanging on the chair along with black stockings on her crossed legs, and matching slippers. “Would you say you’re happy with the job and place you have right now?”

“Uh, yeah,” I replied with a shrug. “Job pays well, I have a nice home, and I made good friends with Fleur and Shining.”

“I see. Have you ever thought of aiming a little higher than where you stand?” Mascara asked with a smirk before she got off from her desk, and started to slowly unbutton her shirt. “Making more money than you earn now, settling in a better home, and having more… Fun, with new, better friends than your current ones?” She slipped off her shirt, revealing a voluptuous torso with a D cup sized, black laced bra. “What if I told you Oz, that I could give you everything I had mentioned, and more?” She then unzipped her skirt, and let it drop to the floor before stepping out of it. She had a pair of black laced panties with garters that held up the stockings on her legs. On one side of her hip and shoulders, even in the dark, I could make out her cutie mark of an opened bottle of mascara, the brush part combing an eye’s lashes to make them stand out more.

She kicked off her slippers to the side before walking towards me, sat on my lap with her hands resting on my shoulders, and started to grind herself on my lap as she moaned in pleasure. “How does that sound to you Oz?” Mascara asked in a euphoric sigh.

… I AM OFFICIALLY FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW! This is not the direction I expected this meeting to take, and good lord why are my pants getting tight?!

“U-uh…” I stuttered before I gulped my suddenly dry throat, sweat already forming quickly on my forehead as my clammy hands gripped to the chair’s arms tightly. My heart began to race as I had no idea how to respond. I suddenly recalled the magic I saw, and the click I heard earlier. I made a horrid realization that not only did Mascara locked the place from the inside, but even if I screamed to the top of my lungs, not only was there nopony on this floor, but the sound-proof spell she cast made double the insurance that no one would hear the slightest peep from this room.

“All you have to do to make this possible Oz,” Mascara continued in a sultry tone as she unraveled my tie, and slowly unbutton my dress shirt and suit jacket. I could see the great lust in her half-lidded, deep blue eyes, taking her time to undress me like a child would hold in the eagerness to opening a present. “Is to quit your job as their secretary, and come work for me as my own. Not only will you have a higher pay than what you currently earn, but you’ll live with me in my humble abode, answering to my every beck and call in order to satisfy me in any way possible. I promise you with my experience, you’ll never want to work with anypony else for the rest of your life.” She then reached down to grab my member over my slacks, and inspected its greatly pulsing girth, hardness, and length by feel. “Mmm~ a big boy aren’t you? So what’s it going to be Oz? Them, or me?”

What she didn’t know was that I stopped listening after the phrase ‘quit my job’ kept echoing in my mind. Images of all the good and bad times I spent with Fleur and Shining flashed before my eyes. How they welcomed me (Shining taking a little longer to adjust) to the team with open arms, how they showed kindness and care to my well-being, making sure they’d always be there for me while I would do the same. My nervous wreck of a body may be saying otherwise from the sheer arousal, but my mind and heart can agree that all the times I’ve shared with these two fantastic mares up to now, and the times ahead are worth more than the best job, house, sex, and all the money in the world combined.

Mascara’s lustful expression turned to shock as I furrowed my brow, and stared at her sternly without blinking. “I’m afraid I’ll have to decline Mascara,” I responded with assurance in my voice before I grabbed her by the waist, and got her off of me. I then stood up, and practically stared her down. “You can try to bribe and convince me all you want, but nothing will ever make me let Fleur de Lis, and Shining Star go for my own benefit, as they’re worth more than anything you, or even the Princesses of Equestria can offer. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going back to my dear friends now.” I then walked toward the door, proud that I made the right decision while stepping up to it… Until…

“How very noble of you to say Oz,” Mascara said. “But what about Fleur’s chance of modeling for our Fall design lineup?”

My whole body froze once more as my hand was just about to unlock the door. From all the nervousness and arousal, I had completely forgotten why I came here in the first place, and everything inside of me went cold as I finally put the pieces together.

“I respect you for not accepting my job offer Oz, but I’m not going to let you leave me empty handed,” Mascara said as my body was suddenly encased in her magical hold. She laid me down on the floor before she got on top and gripped the collar of my dress shirt tightly. The expression she had was one of persistence, determination, lust, and hunger as she gripped my open shirt tightly.

“Ever since I first saw you on that broadcast, I wanted to have you all to myself at least once to get a taste for how well you human males can please me in every way possible. It’s a shame you didn’t want to be my secretary. I’ve satisfied my urges with other stallions who’ve worked with their models I took in, but I’ve never come across anypony who looked so exotic, so different, so…” She paused before moving up my head to take a big whiff out from my hair, my face buried in her large cleavage as I could feel her racing heartbeat. She sighed a hot, shaky breath of euphoria on my head, making my back shiver from the alien-like feeling. “… Delicious, in all my lifetime.” She moved back down to where her half-lidded eyes met my own as I wavered in different directions. “Oh the things I could do to you if you were mine, but I think just one experience will be all that I need before I decide to look for more humans like yourself. I don’t know when I’ll ever get a chance like this again, and I’m not getting any younger.” Her expression then turned fierce, almost predatory like she was about to eat me alive. “So if you aren’t going to be my secretary, then you’re going to be my living sex toy for the next few hours until I’m completely satisfied, or all chances of Fleur working for us are off. permanently.”

“H-has this been your plan all along?” I stuttered, my heart thumping enough that I could feel it against my ears. “Is Fleur even worth modeling f-for you?”

“I’ll admit, Fleur de Lis is pretty good… For a stripper,” Mascara answered as she looked to the side with disinterest. “I’ve seen her work, and quite frankly, she’s better off working in a brothel as a pleasure mare than a professional model. That goes for a couple other models I’ve taken in because they knew how to pick their stallion associates. Now, I have enlisted professional models for the sake of their work, I’ve been in this business long enough to know how to pick them, but when they have hot stallions in tow as well, it’s a win-win for all of us. The models get their places in my company, while the stallions and I have mind-blowing sex that leaves them wanting more even outside of this office.”

How dare she call Fleur a prostitute when she’s so much more than that! The nerve of this fucking whore!

“Anyway,” Mascara continued as I felt what I assumed to be her tail stroking my leg. “You may not be like the other stallions to enjoy this, but I’m not letting you leave without getting what I want. You do this for me, and keep everything that will happen in this room a secret, and I guarantee that not only will Fleur be in our Fall lineup commercial, but she’ll be put on the reserves list for future occasions. Do we have a deal Mr. Shore?”

My mind raced back to all the times when Fleur talked about how much she wanted to be in at least one of their photo shoots. I could tell from the glimmer in her eyes, and especially all the applications in that folder I saw that this meant everything in the world to her.

What do I do? I don’t want Fleur to earn her spot this way, and I don’t want to lose my virginity like this. I think out of all the forward mares I’ve come across, Mascara’s probably the scariest I’ve ever met, and since she can cast magic, who knows what she’s going to do with me? What if I still said no? Will she stay true to her word, or is she going to get worse than she is right now? Even if it did go in that direction, I can’t even fight back because of her magical hold on me. Goddammit, no matter what I choose I’ll always lose, and the only good thing that will come from one choice is that...

“… You promise t-to take Fleur in if I do?” I asked for clarification.

“You have my word,” Mascara replied with the lust-filled look back on her face.

“… Just do whatever you want, and make it quick,” I said while I looked to the side in shame.

“Oh no, for something like this? I’m going to enjoy and savor every last minute,” she purred before she turned my gaze to her, locked her lips with mine, and moaned in hunger as she jammed her tongue inside my mouth. She scoured every last bit of me as she swirled her long tongue against my own, along with my teeth, and my inner cheeks. I almost gagged from how tasteless her make out was, and how wrong all of this was. Tears started to stream down my face as feelings of fear, sadness, shame, and disgust were scattering inside me. As she ate me out, one of her hands moved to my hardening crotch, and slowly undid my belt and pants while I waited for my fate.

Good-bye my sweet virginity, I’m sorry our first ended up like this. Fleur, Shining, I hope you’ll forgive me for what I’m about to do, and I’m sorry that I got us all into this—

SLAM!

“EVERYPONY FREEZE!” A familiar, gruff voice exclaimed.

Mascara jolted up from the kiss, leaving a coat of saliva on my mouth while the two of us saw the pony who yelled the order. Standing at the entrance over the broken door was Bubbles. Behind him was a stern Shining, an angry Fleur, a surprised Ms. Winds, and a police stallion that followed suit with a deep blush on his face.

“Step away from the human, and put your hands in the air lady. Cuffs, hold her,” Bubbles demanded in such stern voice it made Mascara obey without hesitation. The police stallion who I assumed to be Cuffs took out a pair of handcuffs, and some kind of ring. He fitted the ring over Mascara’s horn before holding her from behind, and locked her hands together.

“Mascara, you’re under arrest for sexual assault, and questioning for illegal business negotiations,” Cuffs said.

“How do you know that?!” Mascara asked with fear now prevalent in her voice and expression. “This whole floor’s deserted, and I soundproofed the office!”

“Because of this,” Shining said as she walked over to me, reached behind my head, and I felt a tug on my back collar. I looked up, and I could make out some kind of black electronic piece she was holding. “I planted what was called a bug on Oz because I wanted to see for myself how legit this whole interview was. I had my suspicions when I went through the photos Ms. Winds lent me. When I saw most, if not all photos contained good captures of Oz here, that’s when I came up with planting a bug on him to see if my suspicions were correct. We heard everything from the very beginning, and have it all recorded for evidence.” She then held up some kind of box that I assumed to be a recording device.

I wiped my tears and Mascara’s saliva off my face before I sat up. “S-so what’s going to happen?” I asked as I button my clothes back on.

“Once we get her dressed, we’re taking Mascara to the station so she can explain all the other ‘negotiations’ she made with her past associates like what almost happened here,” Cuffs explained. “Bubbles called me over for extra security, and when I heard how things got out of hand, I called backup. They’re all waiting out front.”

“What about Ms. Winds? Why’s she here?” I asked.

“I was on my day off, but I came back because I left something in my office,” she answered as she walked over to Mascara, crossed her arms, and stared her down. “I heard what I needed to hear when I ran into Mr. Bubbles and the girls. Mascara, in all my years of working with you, I must say I’m deeply disappointed that you took advantage of your occupation for something like this. I don’t think you even realize how much this will affect our business once this gets out in the news. Not only that, you’ve besmirched, no, you made a complete mess of our company’s ideals of beauty. I’m afraid you’re not going to seduce your way into keeping your job once this is all over.”

“And don’t think you’ll ever get away with this in court,” Fleur added in as she helped me up. “I’ll make sure my brother hires the best attorney to bring you down to the ground.”

“Oz,” Bubbles said before I turned to him, and he handed me my laptop case. “You and the girls go head back to the hotel. We’ll take everything else from here, and we’ll call you for anything that needs to be clarified.”

“Thanks Bubbles,” I said before I looked back to Mascara, and she gave me an angry stare. I quickly turned around, and I left the office with the girls and my things in tow before we got into the elevator. Instead of the first floor, Fleur pushed a button that would have the elevator take us two floors above it.

“Uh… Why are we—“

“Oz… We have much to discuss,” Shining interrupted me, making the air in the elevator silent and tense.

I didn’t say anything else when we made it to the floor. When we stepped out, the room had a couple box offices that some of the employees were busy making phone calls while a few were staring in our direction. We ignored them as we made way for the break room on the side, closed the door behind us, and Fleur cast a soundproof spell in the room. We stood there in tense silence, lost for where we would even start our discussion. I took the initiative to begin with what needed to be said.

“Um… T-thanks for coming to save my hide by the way,” I said as I looked to the side, and scratched my head in awkwardness. “I can’t imagine how things would go if that were to continue—“

“Why?” Fleur interrupted.

“I-I’m sorry?” I asked.

“Why didn’t you say no?” Fleur asked with her back still turned, but I could see that she was trying to hold in her tears from how her shoulders were shuddering. “Why didn’t you just walk away and save yourself?”

“She… Said she wouldn’t give you the spot if I said no,” I answered. “I know how much modeling for this company meant to you, and—“

“THAT’S NOT THE POINT!” Fleur exclaimed as she turned to me, making me jump back from the volume. Tears were streaming down her face that made the eyeliner she was wearing run. “Do you even know how I felt when I heard one of my best friends was going to sacrifice something so precious to them for my sake?! Do you think I wanted the spot so bad that I’d use you to get there?!”

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO FLEUR?!” I screamed, making the girls jump back. “I was fucking trapped in a locked, soundproofed room with a deranged unicorn possessing God knows how much magic she had under her belt! I didn’t know what she’d do to me if I said no, and I…” I slid down the wall until I got on the ground, and I broke down. All the fear, anxiety, stress, and helplessness came out as I closed myself into a fetal position and sobbed greatly. “I wanna go home… I just wanna go home,” I whimpered pathetically as I continued crying, not even able to look up at the girls anymore.

The sobs only filled the silence in the break room as the girls were silent, and my head was down while I hugged my knees. At one point, I heard a door opening, and a couple hoof steps before the door closed.

A few moments later, I heard a few light hoof steps coming towards me before I felt something hugged me, and rubbed my back. I just accepted it as I returned the gesture. I didn’t care how pathetic I may have looked, or how awkward I felt. I just wanted, no, I needed someone there to hold on to comfort me.

“Shhh, it’s okay Ozzy,” Fleur’s voice whispered as she rubbed my back, and I felt something wet drop on me while I heard sniffling. “It’s all over now. You’re safe here.”

“I’m so sorry,” I apologized while my crying calmed down.

“There’s no need to apologize,” she replied in a soothing, caring voice. “I’m sorry that you had to go through all of that.”

I took a few moments to gather myself before I pulled back. Fleur with a mess of make up on her face offered me tissues that I gladly accepted before she grabbed some for herself. Once we cleaned ourselves, I was a little calmer than when I came in. “Sorry about the mess,” I apologized as I looked to the side in awkwardness.

“It’s quite alright Ozzy,” she replied with a small smile. “How do you feel?”

“A little better,” I answered before I sighed and I rubbed my eyes. “I still can’t believe we came all the way here for this, and how that whore was referring you.”

“Unfortunately, that’s one of the downsides of modeling,” Fleur said while brushing her mane out of her face. “One way or another, you’re basically using sex appeal to bring in customers, whether it be selling products, yourself, or just giving them a show in a club. You can label it to whatever floats your boat, but in the end, there’ll be at least one who sees it as seduction no matter what the occasion.

“I knew what I was getting into when I started modeling, and negative publicity aside, not only am I making good money to help other ponies and causes, but I have a blast doing what I do for a living, and I think that’s what’s most important.”

“That’s a nice way to look at things,” I commented.

“Still, for Mascara herself to refer to me in such a manner while she not only has those escapades, but the company as a whole using the bodies of models to sell their products, she’s kind of a hypocrite,” Fleur regarded before sighing. “I still can’t believe I looked up to this company for so long. I don’t think I’ll look at their brand of gowns the same way again.

“Anyway, why don’t we get something to eat, call it a night, and make our way back home tomorrow?” Fleur asked. “I think a quiet evening is something all of us will need at this point.”

“That sounds nice,” I replied before the two of us got up, and left the break room. When I stepped out, Shining was having a talk with Ms. Winds before they turned to us, the latter with her ears folded.

“How you doing Oz?” Shining asked with a hand on my shoulder, and a concerned expression.

“A little better, thanks,” I answered.

“Mr. Shore, I must deeply apologize for what Mascara almost did to you,” Ms. Winds said. “If I knew she was doing something like this, I would have stopped her a long time ago.”

“It’s fine. You didn’t know about this as much as I did,” I replied.

“Anyway, while Mascara won’t be working here for a while, if not forever, I’ll step in until we get everything settled,” Ms. Winds continued. “We’re going to take full responsibility for what happened today. No bribing to avoid lawsuits, no schemes, and especially no seducing our way to get what we want. We may be cutting back enough to cancel the commercial for the Fall design lineup, but Fleur, I really do feel you have the potential to model for us no matter what Mascara had said about you. I’d like to have a proper interview with you for next year’s Spring or Summer lineup if you’re still okay working with us. What do you say?”

Shining and I turned to Fleur while we waited for her response. She took her time gathering her thoughts, which had me surprised since she wanted to work with Vogue for so long, but after everything that has happened today, I could understand why she would second guess her decision.

“ I... Suppose I could work with that,” Fleur answered. “After we have court settled, would we schedule a proper interview then?”

“Absolutely, and it will be planned further ahead of time instead of last minute,” Ms. Winds added in with a smile. “Despite everything that has happened, I’d like to thank you three for coming by. What will you do now?”

“We’re going to be heading back to Canterlot tomorrow,” Fleur answered. “After what we’ve experience here, I think spending the rest of our days off back home sounds nice right about now.”

“I don’t blame you,” Ms. Winds agreed. “Well then, I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here in Manehattan, and I’ll be sure to keep in touch. If you’ll excuse me, I need to make some phone calls.” She then took the elevator to leave the floor, leaving the three of us to ourselves once more.

“So I guess that’s it for our trip in Manehattan huh?” Shining asked. “I’m kind of glad actually. The big city life here is getting me less comfortable with stallions compared to Canterlot.”

“And I’m kind of worried what may happen if we stay here a little longer since Solar’s around too,” Fleur added in. “Come on. Let’s go grab something to eat, and take it easy for the rest of the evening huh? We’ll try to grab the earliest ride back home tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” I replied.

With the plan in mind, we took the elevator down to the first floor, and the police held back the paparazzi that were trying to ask us questions as we hitched a taxi ride to a nice restaurant as far away from the scene as possible.

Author's Notes:

So there you have it. Mascara screwed herself over, Ozzy's been traumatized with a near-rape experience as if what he's been through so far wasn't bad enough, and I don't think Fleur and Shining will be seeing his junk after all of that.

Next chapter we'll see how Ozzy fares in the aftermath, where the girls stand with him, and a dreadful special surprise awaits for all three of them. What's it gonna be? Who's it gonna be? Whatcha gonna do when it comes for you? Sorry, I just had to get it out there.

This is Dudeler, signing off.