It was two days later, and approaching 8 o’clock. Within the Ponyville Library, Twilight Sparkle descended the staircase towards the ground floor, using her magic to carry her carefully prepared and rehearsed speech with her. Gathered in the main hall of the Library was Spike, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. There was also Mr and Mrs Cake, The Doctor, and all three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Excellent Twilight thought to herself. Everypony whom she had asked to attend tonight was here. They had trouble arranging a date for this meeting, but now they could finally begin.
The attending ponies were all grouped together in the middle of the room talking to one another, no doubt discussing the reason as too why they had all been called to attend this preparation for intervention meeting. Twilight went to the podium Spike had set up earlier. Taking her position at it, she set up her stack of papers, and cleared her throat. This was enough to get everyone’s attention. They ceased their chatter, and turned to face Twilight, who began to address them with an air of authority.
‘‘Fillies and Gentlecolts. Thank you all for taking the time to attend tonight’s meeting.’’ She was careful to look each pony in the eye as she said this. Always engage the audience directly. That was the key to making a good speech. ‘‘I think that it is safe to say that we all know why we’re here.’’ There was a murmur of general agreement among the gathered ponies, and the nodding of heads.
‘‘I don’t!’’ called out Pinkie Pie. She had inexplicitly appeared at the front of the assembly, drawing looks of startled surprise from the others. Pinkie was sat on her haunches with an enormous box of baked goods in her hoofs, already open and half eaten. The pink filly’s immense belly was spread out all before her, and her plump face and curly mane were coated in sugar, frosting, jam and sprinkles. She was by far the most sizable pony in the room.
‘‘Pinkie Pie?’’ Twilight gasped. ‘‘W-where…where did you come from?’’ Pinkie cocked her head in curiosity at the question. Then she cracked a smile and give out a snorting giggle.
‘‘Why, from my room, silly! Where else would I come from? Space? OH! That would be cool, if I had a spaceship and I just touched down after a journey through…’’
‘‘No I mean…oh never mind. OK, since you’re here, we might as well skip the speech and just get to the business at hoof.’’ Twilight said glumly. She couldn’t hide the disappointment at being denied the chance to read out her speech. About coming together to confront a close friend about a problem they were having, and being there for that friend when they needed them. She had been really proud of this one.
‘‘We were going to talk to you tomorrow about what it was we were going to discuss together here tonight.’’ Twilight said.
‘‘You were?’’ Pinkie asked. Her face was alight with delight, as ever.
‘‘Yes, and what we were going to discuss was…you. You’re the reason we’re here tonight.’’
‘‘I am?’’ Twilight wished Pinkie would stop looking at her like that. It was only making this so much harder.
‘‘Yes dear. You have a problem Pinkie Pie. A big problem.’’ quipped up Rarity.
‘‘I do?’’ Pinkie asked, turning to face the white unicorn from her seated position on the floor. Applejack then took up the lead.
‘‘Am afraid so, sugarcube.’’ She took off her hat, and approached her friend, looking forlorn. ‘‘This is hard for me tah say Pink, but I wouldn’t be honest to myself or you if I just kept my mouth shut on this matter. And that goes for the rest of us as well. We think yur headin’ down a dangerous route, and as your friends, we gotta call ya out on it.’’ The gathered assembly of Ponies voiced their agreements. Pinkie was now anxious looking. Her eyes desperately searched AJ’s face for a clue as to what could possibly be wrong.
‘‘What is it Applejack? What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong. Am I in trouble? Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to do it, whatever it was!’’
‘‘No no no Pink, ya ain’t in no trouble. At least, not in the way that yer thinking’ of. The reason why we were goin’ at talk to ya tomorrow is at tell ya…’’. Applejack stopped, inhaled deeply, then stated what everyone thought. ‘‘Pinkie Pie…you’ve gotten fat.’’
The assembled ponies held their collective breaths. Pinkie Pie just looked at Applejack with a blank expression. Dash and Rarity were both avoiding the gazes of anyone else, with Dash rubbing the back of her head and Rarity fidgeting with her front hoofs. Spike looked more uncomfortable than Twilight had ever seen him. Fluttershy looked like she was on the verge of tears. The CMCs were all looking at Pinkie with sad little faces. Mr and Mrs Cake each came over and put a comforting hoof on Pinkie. The Doctor, looking quite serious, cleared his throat and nodded slowly in agreement with what AJ had just said. Twilight bit her lip in apprehension. It was now out in the open. And this was her idea. If this went wrong, the fallout would all be her fault. Pinkie Pie finally answered.
‘‘Aaannnddd?’’
‘‘And, that’s it Sugarcube. We all think you’ve fat and…we thought we should tell ya…that’’ AJ replied. Pinkie Pie didn’t answer for a moment. Then, she let out a massive sigh of relief, wiping her brow with her hoof.
‘‘Oh so that’s what this is all this about? My pudge? Oh boy, whew! You really really really had me worried there for a second! I thought I was in big big trouble or something!’’
‘‘Wait you’re…you’re not upset?’’ Twilight asked.
‘‘Of course not silly! Why would I be?’’ Pinkie had returned to eating the baked goods. At this moment, Fluttershy completely broke down in tears and fluttered over to hug Pinkie, who gladly returned it.
‘‘Awww, there there Fluttershy! Aww, don’t cry. It’s OK! Your old auntie Pinkie Pie’s here for ya. Want a cupcake?’’
‘‘Ha, told ya!’’ Dash called out with returned bravado and confidence. ‘‘I knew she wouldn’t care! Nothing gets Pinkie Pie down, right Pinkie?!’’
‘‘NOPE!’’ Pinkie Pie said over the sobbing yellow Pegasus, now with a great toothy smile.
‘‘So you knew you gained weight?’’ Applebloom plucked up. ‘‘And you don’t care?’’
‘‘Sure I knew. How could I not! And yes, there was a time when I was worried about it, but I got over that ages ago! I know all my saddles have stopped fitting me, and my bed collapsed, and I fell through the floor of Sugercube Corner, but on the plus side, at least now there’s more of me to share around! A lot more! And I can use my big jelly belly tummy as a big soft cushion when laying down, which is pretty comfy! Why…do you all care that I’m fat?’’
‘‘Pinkie Pie?’’ asked the Doctor in an inquisitive tone. ‘‘Is there any particular reason you can think of as to why you’ve become so, heavy? The others told me that when you came home from your parent’s farm, you mentioned your mother’s cooking. A lot. I’m assuming that you…enjoyed it quite often while you were out there. Why was that?’’ Pinkie seemed to ponder over this.
‘‘Well, we farmers always have big, hearty meals as a reward for a hard day’s work. And when I got sad and lonely from missing you guys so so much, Momma Pie would make me a big plate of her chocolate fudge brownies…oh they were so good all chocolately and moist. I wish I had some right now …’’ Pinkie broke off in mid sentence. She began to drool heavily over herself and the sobbing Fluttershy, and her eyes rolled upwards in pleasure and her tongue fell lose at the memories of the brownies.
‘‘Pinkie? Pinkie? Pinkie?’’ said the Doctor. Pinkie didn’t answer. She was just mumbling incomprehensively. The Doctor shook her to bring her back to the present.
‘‘Huh? Oh, sorry Doctor Brownie, I was just brownie about those brownies and their sweet, sweet brownie…’’
‘‘And how often would your mother make you these brownies each day?’’ the Doctor cut in before she continue.
‘‘Erm…three times. Yes, three times everyday. At least.’’ Pinkie said. She seemed to have snapped out of her trance. ‘‘They were no where near as good as hanging out with you guys, but they sure did help me cope without you.’’
‘‘Oh my…’’ said Rarity. Now she seemed close to tears as well.
‘‘Well, ah must say…I’m touched by that.’’ said AJ.
‘‘And you didn’t do a lot of exercise while you were out there, did you Pinkie Pie?’’ the Doctor continued.
‘‘No, not really. I was too busy eating Brownies and looking after Poppa to do any of that.’’
‘‘Ah. Well then. That explains everything.’’ the Doctor concluded. He turned to face all the assembled ponies and the dragon.
‘‘It does?’’ Pinkie asked.
‘‘Yes. It’s perfectly simple. To cope with the loneliness and isolation of being separated from your friends for all those months, you turned to food as a substitute for social interaction. By feasting upon these Brownies, you were trying to fill the hole in your being that is normally occupied by your friends. And that is a pretty big hole to fill. Combine that with the lack of physical activity, and that is the reason why you’ve gained all this weight. But what’s more, a vicious cycle has been placed in motion. You’ve become so used to comfort eating, now you can’t stop. And your decreased fitness levels is only exasperating problem.’’
‘‘Oh…’’ said Pinkie Pie. She looked sadly at the box of baked goods. Fluttershy still cried and hugged her friend.
‘‘So that’s it.’’ Dash said. ‘‘She just needs exercise and proper diet. That’s my speciality!’’ The rainbow maned Pegasus flew over to Pinkie. ‘‘You leave everything to me pal! I’ll get rid of this pudge of yours. Give me three weeks, and I’ll have you back to your normal bouncy self. Wadda say?’’
‘‘Yes, let’s all help Pinkie Pie beat this eating obsession!’’ Twilight said with enthusiasm.
‘‘We can help too!’’ said Applebloom. Then she and her fellow crusaders sprang into action. ‘‘CUTIEMARKCRUSADERSFITNESSINSTRUCTERS!’’ the trio of fillies yelled out.
‘‘Well, what do think of this then, Pinkie?’’ asked the Doctor. Pinkie looked around at her assembled friends, before answering.
‘‘OKKI DOKKI LOKKI!’’ she said with a big beaming smile.