//------------------------------// // Reactions and Plans // Story: Rarity Weighs In // by Rose1453 //------------------------------// Reactions and Planst: Forty five pounds. Applejack was still mulling over the words she had just heard her friend say. Did Rarity realize just how hard this might be? Obviously not, was her first conclusion with the second being that this was going to take a lot more work with a lot more progression for Rarity than Applejack had originally thought. Now how exactly to explain all this without Rarity reacting poorly to it. “Applejack dear are you alright?” Rarity inquired. “Right as rain sugarcube. Right as rain.” She responded. “Applejack you seemed nervous and worried. Will that be too much to help me with?” Rarity asked? Applejack shook her head still deep in thought. While Rarity was certainly glad to see Applejack as not unable to help her feelings of her own self-worth began to bubble in her mind. The knowledge that somepony would react so quickly and shocked hurt. She of course understood to some extent as that had been partially her own reaction as well. How many other ponies were judging her very worth as an individual every time she walked down the street? Did that make her less of a pony? The answer she knew to both questions was first probably quite a few given the town’s treatment of Zecora and the second she knew was not true again because of the incident with Zecora. All the same, to understand something intellectually was one thing, but to experience it was another. “All right then sugarcube I’ve got some thoughts to talk with you and Twiight about.” “Which are what exactly?” Rarity asked with some trepidation with Twilight being silent merely raising an eyebrow wondering what part she was to play. “Well in the first place you telling me exactly how off I was on your weight is a setback…but not in a bad way. All that means is it will take a little longer and we’ll have to be more careful about how we train ya.” “Ummm all right then what does that mean in basic pony?” Rarity asked. “I’m curious about that as well Applejack.” Twilight stated. “All it means is we’ll have to start a lot more basic in terms of the training nothing horrible or world-ending. Twilight I’ll need you to go over to Zecora’s for a bit and hand her this note and explain the situation to her.” Applejack concluded handing a carefully folded note she had written for the well-striped mare. She then addressed Rarity again. “Rare’s I ain’t gonna lie this is probably going to take more than just a few months overall. This may take a good six months and maybe even almost a year all things depending.” “WHAT!?” Both Rarity and Twilight exclaimed neither really understanding both being somewhat ignorant of what such a routine as this really might entail. “Look girls weight loss ain’t real complicated, but it is an effort. There ain’t an easy fix. It’s like trying to plant a seed, but it takes a long time to harvest depending on what you’re planting. You gotta give the plant time to grow and take root. Try to make it grow too fast and all you’ll do is cause the plant to not give ya the crop you want. Understand?” Applejack asked. Twilight had a look of comprehension and zipped over to get a book while Rarity still had a dazed look. Applejack facehoofed and opened her mouth to explain in detail, but Twilight beat her to it. “AH HA!” Twilight exclaimed. “When excessive amounts of weight are gained even though rapid weight loss may be possible it is generally advised to maintain a small, but continual weight loss per week.” Twilight finished. “Yep. You got that right as sugar sugracube.” “Also you might want to remember Rares that you still have plenty of time.” Twilight comforted her now trembling friend. All the attention this would bring was starting to bring Rarity to understand just how much her choices might come back to haunt her in the form of gossip remembering the gabby gums incident she had no wish to be the center of attention in such a way again. Had she really sunk so low going from a trim mare and a heroine of Equestria and on speaking terms with the Princess herself to this….this flab of butter? Not being able to come to grips with the whole situation she simply buried her thoughts and emotions looking forward to the exercise as a way of punishment on herself not realizing the inherent risks with such an outlook. “Applejack. I’ll do whatever I must to overcome this….this horrid form!!!” Rarity shouted. Applejack grimaced happy at her friend's determination but recognizing tell tale signs of something not being what it quite right. Being the element of honesty tended to do that to a pony. She sighed knowing things like this could and did happen hoping that she’d be able to help her friend though this entire thing and still have her in one piece emotionally. “Twi you head on and give Zecora that message and I’ll finish up here with Rarity.” Applejack said. Twilight nodded her head and made to leave, but not before giving both her friends a hug. Applejack then looked to Rarity prepared to explain the basics of what was to come. “All right Rares so here’s the run down on what I’m thinking. We’ll be doing a basic training program with cardio one stay and strength training the next for about an hour each time or at the very least thirty minutes of each.” Applejack began. “Applejack darling that seems….to lack in terms of…how do I say….length of time.” The fashionista unicorn observed. “That’s because it's meant to sugarcube. One you're not an earth pony. Two we each have things to do. Three I’ve still got to run my farm all the same. Fourth your body ain’t used to training and ya’ll aren’t trying to be a big sports star like Rainbow, just get more fit is all.” Applejack answered. Rarity nodded it all making sense. The earth pony bit felt a bit harsh perhaps, but it was essentially true. Earth ponies relied on specific magic and physical attributes to farm and perform the intensive physical labor required of them. Rarity being a unicorn could certainly do physical work, but compared to ponies with built in adaptatinons and, in comparison to Applejack, ponies who might have grown up their whole lives doing such work she understood happy at least the more part of her day would be hers still. Applejack simply smiled glad her friend seemed to be able to accept the reasoning overall as she hadn’t said anything against what she had said. “Applejack you did say though that part of this exercise regime would involve farmwork though correct?” Rarity asked. Applejack nodded. “Sure thing Rarity. Nothing big though. We might have you walking one day for instance and then building up to carrying around harvested apples or other produce. Pull a wagon on deliveries when you get stronger to add some resistance to it if need be. Just basic things that we’ll build up to no issue. The stuff you end up carrying acts like resistance on a cycle or a hill on a treadmill if we had any just over longer distances is all. We’ll have somepony there making deliveries to when it comes to that so you aren’t going overboard. Eventually, it’ll become more resistance training than anything else, but we’ll do other things for cardio at that point too. I’ve got you covered sugarcube” Applejack answered. “Applejack dear is that the simplified version and if so am I to understand you have whole levels of progression though out for the entire period of time?” Rarity asked. Applejack nodded. “Sure as tootin. Each thing has to build up off of the other. Ultimately though this is going to come down to what you're comfortable doing physically and mentally. I ain’t gonna push you to do something you don’t want to. If you like walking and not much else I’ll work with that too. I put some resistance training in there to make the routine more complete, but also to give ya a little more real-world strength is all. I’m concerned about buildin' ya up from the inside out mentally first and physically second.” Rarity was a bit shocked, to say the least. Here was one of her best friends not only stating what they were going to do and why to some extent, but also what she thought was important namely building from the inside out. She had never thought Applejack could be so deep or sound like Twilight so much it was both unnerving and comforting all in one. This begged the question about Zecora though. “Applejack I understand what you have explained to some extent, but may I ask why Zecora of all ponies? Applejack just smiled “First off Rarity Zecora has some specalities I don’t have and even though we’ll be doing things together Zecora has other exercise options that I’d like you to do. I might make you do thirty minutes with me in the morning and let you rest and then in the afternoon go to Zecora to have her work with you.” “But dearest Applejack what does Zecora know of things apart from potions and brewing” asked a confused Rarity. “Ya’ll ever wonder how Twilight learned all those fancy balance and stretching exercises she likes to do?” Zecora taught em to her. Rarity’s jaw was left hanging. The Zebra mare could make literally all types of brews and while certainly fit Rarity never put two and two together thinking the mare's physical abilities were largely the result of the mare walking to and fro in the Everfree forest and to Ponyville. She had again judged a friend and been proven wrong. Bringing the lingering doubts of how others might judge her back to the surface. “Darling what exactly did you tell Zecora other than the basics?” She asked somewhat concerned. “Well, I told her you had gained some weight and told her about my own plans if she might want to help. Zecora’s always kind to Applebloom. Plus she can be great with support. She might even surprise you a bit with it. In all honesty though Rarity sometimes it just helps to have somepony that you don’t see all the time and you can talk to them. Zecora knows what it's like to have other ponies judge her by her looks since we’ve all done it to her so I assumed she might be a good fit to help ya through this where Twi and the rest of the girls aren’t able to” answered Applejack. Applejack was showing such insight into the possibilities of what might occur it scared Rarity a bit. Not only had she deduced the unique physical abilities of the Zebra, but also concluded that an emotional bond from a more neutral source would be helpful. True enough that Zecora was a friend, but she wasn’t a friend she had weekly meetings with at the spa. She was not a mare she had saved equestrian with on several occasions. In short Applejack's ideas were filled with honesty not only in what she and the girls could possibly not do, but going so far as to seek somepony that could in fact help. “I think I understand. Thank you Applejack.” “It’s not a problem Rare’s we’re all here for you” replied Applejack. Rarity nodded though not quite believing the everypony part. Her and the girls yes and maybe Zecora as well, but the town itself? She had seen on more than one occasion how quickly they all were to make rash opinions. Granted she herself had done such things, but she had tried to overcome it and had been doing her best to not gossip about anypony anymore. She began wondering if Karma was coming back to get her for her past misdeeds. Perhaps she deserved this entire ordeal and whatever pain in might bring. “Rares. You there?” Applejack asked realizing her friend was lost in her thoughts. “Yes, Darling of course….I’m sorry it's just that this entire thing has me well….rather flustered is all” Rarity replied. “Sure do sugarcube. I’ve had my ups and downs to just a mite different is all” Applejack said. “Is there anything else I should need to know about the program itself then?” asked Rarity. “Not much no. You might want to remember to take the longer paths to places when you travel even when not exercising formally. The extra hoof travel will add up. It's simple, but useful all the same. Other than that though diet shouldn’t be too much of an issue. We’ll have Twilight help write some things up for you. Be sure to see the doctor before we start though. Don’t want any mishaps. It’ll take me and Zecora a few days to put everything together same on the diet I’ll give you a copy to run by him when we’ve got it” the orange mare said. Rarity nodded not wanting a bad situation to become potentially worse. “All right then Applejack I think I’ll just head home or go to the park to think for the rest of the day. Let me know first thing when you have everything and thank you again for being so willing to help me” Rarity said. Applejack nodded and gave her friend a hug with the unicorn returning the favor glad to have somepony there to help. As Rarity exited the library, Applejack watched the library till Twilight got back, she made her way back to her home. She walked slowly and somewhat solemn wishing that she wasn’t having to go through with this and hoping against hope there was still some easy way, but realizing there wasn’t. She made her way through her home having reached the door and proceeded to the kitchen. The freezer door opened and cartons of ice cream was collected and shoved into the trash. Rarity proceeded to rid herself of the rest of Pinkie’s treats figuring her easily excited friend would understand her dilemma having just seen her not that long ago. The food items collected she threw the assorted items into the trash along with several liters of soda she had obtained as well. Gloomily she made her way into her bathroom to get another good look at herself. Looking in the mirror when she came to the sacred temple that was her beauty parlor of a bathroom, she pondered again how she could have let herself go. She could see her belly protruding with her hindquarters a bit thicker and softer than it had been. Rarity realized she had projected an image of what she believed she still looked like into the mirror each time she looked, but now….now that mirage was gone and all that remained was the honest and inescapable truth that was before her. “I can’t let this stand” She said to herself. “Have I not earned the right to be who I was?” Then something inside Rarity broke. The entire day’s series of events thus far along with the stress and pressure from the winter line finally converged and found a way for release via an outlet of emotion whose base was months in the making. Screaming she picked up the small bathroom stool she used and began to smash the mirror bits and pieces of glass flying every which way. With every piece that broke from the mirror it was like a piece of Rarity’s self-confidence and self-worth were also breaking. She flung the stool against the wall where it broke. Her emotions not yet weary she advanced upon the shampoo and other beauty products throwing them aside here and there no bottle or product safe. Each one seemed to mock and scorn her in her own mind. When the mare was finally done the once pristine bathroom was no more. Glass covered the ground mixed with the scent of flowers, sweat, spring, and fear. Rarity collapsed. She sobbed for dreams she had accomplished of what she had been. So far at the top only to end up dragging herself down to this nightmare of her own creation, or so she thought, with no escape readily at hand that she could see. Rarity stayed there crying and crying snot on her snout and tears still coming down like rain. Her fears, anger, sorrow, and built-up stress creating these emotions within her. Years of bottling worry and fear up inside of her because of countless deadlines, responsibilities, and meetings had been let loose to flow and flow they had. Little did Rarity know that her cries and outward actions had led others to her. Fluttershy passed by to see her friend and was doing something for Twilight, Twilight having visited her on her way to Zecora. Fluttershy heard the crying from an open window and made her way inside in a hurry worried for the well-being of her friend. Fluttershy made her way to the bathroom to find her friend lying in the middle of the pile of filth her mane disheveled and makeup smeared along with the debris. “Oh, Rarity!” Fluttershy cried rushing to her friend being careful for glass. Rarity latched onto her friend crying tears of shame. Shame for being found out. Shame that she was so foolish to not close the window before starting her destruction. And shame for having to be helped. Fluttershy and Rarity sat on the floor for some time while Rarity cried herself to sleep. Fluttershy carefully took her friend to the downstairs bathroom and did her best to clean the grief-stricken unicorn up. Washing her mane and sifting through her coat to ensure no glass had injured Rarity. She took Rarity and put her into her bed humming quietly till her friends' whimpers ceased. Fluttershy left some calming music to play while she went to work cleaning up the mess. Just the rest of the girls and Zecora entered the home. Flutterhy seeing Rainbow Dash rushed to her friend and began crying onto her friend's should the others looking on confused. When she had calmed down a bit she explained what had happened and the state she had found the bathroom in. Rarity all the while oblivious to her friends learning of the new information being too tired and mentally exhausted to wake. The group made their way to the bathroom to survey the damage. Applejack's jaw was left hanging. Twilight eyes started to water. Rainbow Dash ever the stout mare was left shaking her head wondering. Pinkie’s hair deflated a sure sign that if something could make Pink sad it was indeed a sad state of affairs. Flutterhy's own emotions were still a turmoil at this point as well. The girls were all more than just friends. Their adventures and even the very elements themselves made them more akin to sisters in all, but blood. To see their friend and sister hurting this badly was a wake-up call. What was thought to be a simple weight loss problem had become something much, much bigger. Zecora had remained quiet her own eyes widening a great deal. She had read Applejack's note and had accepted the offer. She wanted to repay the kind mares for being her friend, notwithstanding the prejudice they had all harbored against her at first. Zecora saw just what the others saw and more than ever Applejack's words from the note rang true “ She’s in a fix. She needs somepony that can listen and be somepony new. I worry us being so close to her might close her off.” Those words seemed to hold more weight than had been expected. “Friends and ponies in this mire let's pull ourselves up before we all tire. Rarity unicorn dear is in a pinch more than I feared. We should clean this place up and then see what can be done to douse this raging inferno fire” Zecora said. The friends all looked together and back at Zecora while Applejack nodded. This was one adventure and they none of them was soon to forget.