//------------------------------//
// Ch. 4: Warble Goes to Fat Camp 
// Story: We're Still Sinners 
// by MemoryLane 
//------------------------------//

        Warble sat in the front row of the train car. This was his first mistake.

        Sounds of loud chatter filled the small space, lighting up the chunky stallion’s ears.  He heard joyful cheering and laughter resonated from all over, and it was desperately trying to spread to Warble as well. He bore a small grin, as he stared outside of the window at the passing countryland. Thought Warble sat alone, he was eerily at peace in contrast to the rest of the ponies.

        He had a suitcase right next to him, one that Fluttershy had packed for him the morning before. It was full of everything he needed, including an unhealthy amount of snacks--rather than essential items such as a few articles of warm clothing, bug spray, and his toothbrush--should be.

        He’d need all the energy he could get. After all, he was going to P.H.A.T Camp, one of the most prestigious and well-known camps in all of Equestria. He had paid two hundred bits for a week full of fun activities such as paintball, arts and crafts, and even swimming in a huge lake! The radio commercial he had heard said that there would be results, and if you weren’t happy, they would even give his money back.

        It’s like he was guaranteed endless amounts of fun! He was going to love Ponies Having Amazing Times Camp. 

         No, that was not in the radio commercial. Warble actually made that acronym up.

        Though most of the ponies on the camping trip came along with ponies they knew, Warble went alone. In fact, the stallion had actually begged Fluttershy to go with him for some “bonding time”. Fluttershy didn’t understand what he meant by that, but egged him to go on solo--and said that maybe getting outside and doing something would be good for his health.

        So, this was why Warble was currently seated next to a fat stallion. Like, a really fat stallion. He made Warble, an already chubby pony, look extremely healthy. He was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, with at least six pieces of bread. “Oh wow!” he smacked his lips obnoxiously. He leaned over to Warble, his short light blue mane almost making contact with his foreleg. Warble tried to scoot over, but it was in vain. He was already backed up against the window. He felt awkward. “This is so good! The multiple pieces of rye really lock in the flavor!”

        Warble didn’t know the dark blue colored stallion, so he didn’t know how to reply. “Uhm… neat?” he said, weirdly. 

        “You wanna try some?” Without warning, the lard almost shoved the half-eaten sandwich in Warble’s face. It was only two inches away.

        “N-No thanks…” Warble turned his head away, trying to get the sandwich away from him without rudely pushing it away. He took a deep breathe when the fatso stuffed the rest in his mouth. Now, had Warble not promised Fluttershy that he’d watch what he ate on the trip, he’d have snatched that sandwich and eaten it with the ferocity of a thousand lions. After all, as the Attribute of Gluttony, it was only to be expected.

        Warble was afraid that this behemoth of a being was going to take that title away from him, though. “Suit yourself!” he said.

        Now that Warble looked around, most of the ponies on the bus were somewhere between “mildly chubby” and “gigantic ball of fat”. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. Warble didn’t think about it too much.

        Warble was getting a little tired of not talking to anypony. Unfortunately, he was terrible awkward when it came to starting conversations, especially with ponies he didn’t know. He tried his best, and turned towards the large blue pony. “Uhm… so, is this your first time at pee-aitch-ay-tee camp?” he asked. The large pony cocked an eyebrow, and then shook his head after a few brief second. He most likely would have answered, had he not had another sandwich in his mouth. After he chewed and swallowed, he looked at Warble with sea-green eyes.

        “Nope,” he said. “My parents say I have a problem, and send me here every summer. I just don’t see it.” Another monumental bite. Warble nodded, understanding entirely.

        “I came here on my own free will,” he explained. “Sounds like an opportunity I just can’t pass up. I heard this place was the best.” 

        The other pony cocked his head, actually taking a moment to breathe from inhaling his morning snack. Then he smiled. “Good for you, bro! You don’t see many ponies at camp with that kind of attitude.”
 
        Warble felt proud of himself, but he didn’t know why. “Really? I thought everypony’d be dying to come to this place. It sounded so interesting.”
        
        “Not everyone has the same attitude towards it.” Another sloppy, disgusting bite. “This is my third year, after all, and I’m still not used to everything it has to offer. I’m sure by tomorrow, you’ll understand why.”

        “Is that when we go kayaking?”

        Fatty Mcgee laughed, and held out a hoof. “You’re a funny stallion. I’m Paunch.”

        “Warble.” He shook his hoof with a small smile. Not even at the camp yet, and he’s already making friends! He was too excited for words. Even though he left all his other friends, and his marefriend, at home--all of whom he wouldn’t trade for the world, he still felt an inner feeling of ecstasy whenever he met somepony new.

        “Perhaps if we stick together, we can get through this week without having a heart attack,” Paunch chuckled. The fat underneath his chin jiggled with every sharp intake of breath. Warble wasn’t sure if Paunch actually had make a joke, or was making a reference to their weight. Normally, Warble had a history of getting upset at the mentioning of his weight. But, considering Paunch entirely, Warble only felt like laughing.

        There was the sound of feedback as the trains intercom system roared to life. “We will be arriving at our destination in ten minutes. Please gather your belongings, and-”

        Warble couldn’t hear the intercom anymore due to the sheer amount of panic that erupted in the train car. Ponies, in a frenzy and as if their lives depended on it, grabbed their bags and tossed all of their remaining snacks out the window, as if it was the plague. Ponies turned to the ones around them with manic eyes. It was as if they were trying to get rid of evidence. 

        Of all the ponies in the train car, Warble was the only one to not panic. What was going on? Why was everyone throwing away so much food? What a waste!

        Apparently, Paunch had the same idea as the other ponies. Paunch practically hopped on top of Warble’s unprepared body, desperate to get rid of the rest of his morning meal. Paunch’s flabs of unfiltered sweaty fat dragged itself acrossed Warble’s face as he screamed in agony. Not only was Warble victim to having a fat stallion’s body rubbed against his, but he was also running out of breath as Paunch decided to put all of his weight on top of him. Warble was flailing like a madpony.

        After scrambling on top of Warble like a squirrel going up a tree, Paunch threw his food out the window. Only when he sat back down, which took way more time and effort than Warble would have preferred, did Warble continue to breath.

        “Sorry,” Paunch said, giving Warble a look of shame.

        Warble nodded in his direction, eyes widened as if he had just seen a ghost.

        Once we get to camp, Warble thought, things will take a turn for the fun. Warble rested his head against the window, and tried to relax. Ow...

***

        When Warble got off that train car, things didn’t seem too bad at first.

        Since Warble was at the front of the car, he was nearly the first pony off the bus. With his bright orange suitcase in tow, he had a large smile as soon as he stepped outside.

        The train “station” was located somewhere in the middle of the woods. Trees seemed to touch the sky, and various plants adorned the floor. He was unsure of the location, however, but that hardly mattered. He was on top of a wooden platform as soon as he stepped off the train. It was literally just that. Nothing more. All the other ponies congregated around him. Apparently, they were supposed to wait there for further guidance.

        Paunch was right behind Warble, who had a much larger grin on his face than any of the other. Whenever the blue stallion took a step, his large belly would jiggle. Warble’s belly was already large, and almost hit the ground. Paunch’s actually did, and there were little scuff marks on the underside of his stomach. “Finally! Oh, I’m so excited! I wonder what we’re going to do first! I wonder what our cabins are like! I wonder who our camp counselors are gonna be!” He turned to Paunch. “You’ve been here before, what goes on first?”

        Paunch gave Warble the stupidest look he could manage, as if nothing he had said had made a lick of sense. Paunch must have thought he was kidding, because he bit the inside of his mouth. “Ya know what, I’m not going to spoil it for you. Just be patient, Whips will be here any second.”

        Whips? Wait, why did that name sound familiar?

        The heavyset group of ponies on the wooden platform remained silent, as if they were afraid. Warble couldn’t understand why. He wanted to get moving. He was almost nervous that the platform would collapse due to the sheer weight. Truthfully, most of the other ponies were much larger than he was. How come he got stuck with the Attribute of Gluttony, and not one of those ponies? The answer was obvious, but he didn’t have time to think about it when a microphone burst to life. 

        “Welcome, Fatties!” a loud voice boomed over the microphone. About five feet below Warble, a stallion was staring up at them from the forest floor. He wore a set of aviators that covered his eyes, and a sweatband around him head. His black mane was gelled upwards, almost defying gravity. His coat was the color of Warble’s favorite kind of macaroni and cheese. “I hope you all had a good train ride, because that’s the last time you’ll be sitting for a prolonged amount of time. My name, for those of that are new here and don’t know just what you’ve gotten yourself into, is Whips. I’m your councillor. ”

        Warble gave the councillor a very silly, excited wave. Whips seemed to notice, but only shook his head in his direction. “If you are here, then you are here for one reason and one reason only: because you. Are. Fat!”

        What?

        “That’s right. You’re all gigantic tubs of lard. Your fatassery knows no bounds.” Warble wasn’t understanding why Whips was calling names. Perhaps this was part of some kind of camp initiation skit. Warble grinned, and decided to play along. Whips paced back and forth with the microphone, whilst he verbally beat the group of twenty-some ponies. “That’s why you’re here. So, let’s get started. We’re going to begin this morning right. We’re going to hike four miles to camp. Starting now.” He set down his microphone, and blew a whistle. Warble, as well as the rest of the group jumped. 

        A light green mare with a curly white mane at the back of the group--who had more rolls than a Canterlotian bakery--ended up raising her hoof. Whips nodded in her direction. “But… we still have our things. Can we-”

        “That’s right! You will not only be hiking, but you will be hauling your belongings. Almost forgot to mention. Thanks, Windy.”

        “Windy” flattened her ears against her head when most of the group ended up giving her a death glare. She whimpered. 

        “Alright, let’s go. We’re on a tight schedule.” Whips blew his whistle again, louder than before. Warble, unsure, grabbed his suitcase and hoisted it onto his back. He was really regretting packing his bag full. Whips started to walk down the trail, and the rest of the ground began to follow.

        “Welcome to Fat Camp, Thunder Thighs! We’re gonna whip you into shape whether you like it or not!” yelled Whips, like he was some sort of drill sergeant.

        Wait a minute… PHAT… Fat…

        Warble screwed up.

        Only a few steps, and already Warble was panting. He wasn’t healthy in the slightest, and the bag on his back didn’t help. He rushed to the front of the line. Paunch, for some reason, tried to follow him. However, the stallion was already having a heap of trouble moving. By the time the stallion reached the two of them, he was already wheezing.

        “Uhm, excuse me, sir?” Warble said meekly from behind Whips. The camp councilor didn’t slow down, nor bat an eyelash. Not like Warble would even be able to see, consider the aviators. “I’m Warble. I think there’s been a mistake.”

        “Warble? Well, your name suits a Wide Load such as yourself. And I don’t believe in mistakes, son. But humor me.”

        Paunch’s wheezing was becoming crazy loud, but Warble tried to tune it out. “I… I thought this was PHAT Camp. Pee-aitch-ay-tee. Like, an activities camp. I didn’t mean to be here.”

        Whips only stayed silent, looking Warble up and down. Eventually, he huffed and turned the path in front of him. “By the looks of it, it appears that you being here is a happy accident,” he said. Warble’s heart dropped. “You look like you should be here.”

        “But I’m trying to lose weight at home already!” Warble argued. Whips didn’t appear to hear. “Part of it has to do with the fact that I’m big boned…” he said under his breath.

        Now, Whips heard.

        “HALT!” The stallion shouted. Warble jumped, and stopped in his tracks. Paunch, who was still staying at his side for some reason like an oversized puppy dog, slammed into him, almost knocking him into the ground. The rest of the group stopped immediately, thankful that they could take a break...

        ...even though they’d only walked roughly 300 feet.

        “Everypony, I’d like you to meet Warble!” Whips threw an angered hoof towards Warble, who regretted ever opening his mouth at this point. “He thinks that coming here was a gigantic mistake, and that he doesn’t have a problem.”

        The other fat ponies simply looked from each other, then to Warble, and back again. They didn’t appear to want any part of what Whips was doing. 

        “This joke doesn’t get the fact that he’s overweight, and desperately in need of help, and a better life!”

        “But I like my lif-”

        “Give me ten push-ups, Tubs!”

        Warble was confused, and faltered. He cocked an eyebrow as if Whips had made no sense whatsoever. Though, to Warble, that was kind of the case. “E-Excuse me?”

        “You heard me. Ten. Go!” With Whips’ increased aggression and name-calling, Warble obeyed. He got down, and did a single push-up.

        “ONE,” Whips chanted. Warble did well in high school. However, P.E. wasn’t his forte. He used to bumble through class, and generally got his lowest grades there. It was unsurprisingly that Warble was already having trouble getting up from his first push-up. His forelegs were already shaking. “Look at this! Everyone! Gather around this failure right here! He can’t even do two push-ups! Is this what you all want to be like in the future? Or worse, continue to be like this?”

        Warble did another push-up. It hurt. “TWO,” said Whips. “I’m going to whip you all into shape, whether you’re here on your own free will or not. No ifs, ands or buts.” Whips got down, and started shouting in Warble’s face. “These ponies are watching you struggle, how does that make you feel, fatty?”

        Warble began to cry.

        “If those tears were sweat, you wouldn’t be struggling to do ten push-ups right now, Lardo!” Whips shouted. “Are you a disgrace, Warble? Huh, are you?”

        “Nooo-oo-oo,” Warble sobbed on the ground.

        “So you’re not going to question what your purpose here is, right? Because you already know!”

        “Yeee-eee-ees!” More tears.

Whips broke away his uncomfortable gaze with Warble. “Paunch, back again, are we?” he said, while pointing a hoof at the nearby pony. Paunch nervously shrugged.
        
        “Watch him, make sure he does eight more push-ups. The rest of you follow me!” He blew a whistle, and soon, the rest of the group grabbed their belongings and made their way down the path, casting sorry glances towards Warble.

        Warble didn’t stop crying. Paunch watched him. It was an awkward moment in their relationship.

***

        Almost an hour and a half later, the group reached camp.

        Much to Warble’s surprise, the camp was actually fairly standard. There were small cabins, a small lake, and even a mess hall. It felt like Warble was simply at summer camp back in grade school. Except, it wasn’t a complete Hell.

        By the time the group of chubby ponies arrived, everyone was on the brink of death. While most of them were wheezing up a storm, sweat poured down each and every one of their faces, including Warble. The stallion had long since ditched his bag. Even though there was a few essential items inside, most of it was food anyways. It was expendable. Besides, he was dying.

        He practically flopped onto the ground the moment Whips shouted “Halt!” His legs were on fire, as well as his lungs. Never, in his life, had Warble walked or hiked that much in one sitting. When he was traveling with Twilight, her friends, and the six other sins--that was a close second.

        “Alright, Sad Sacks, we’re here,” shouted Whips, stating the obvious. He was barely heard over the loud cacophony of wheezing and unhealthy pants for breath. “I hope you all enjoyed that, because we’re just getting started.”

        Warble wanted to vomit. Why? Why had he done this to himself? Why didn’t he research this camp before blindly signing up? Because he’s an idiot, that’s why. 

        “T-Thank… Celestia…” Paunch rasped. When the stallion flopped to the ground, Warble was afraid that Paunch would actually damage the earth underneath him.

        “We’re not done yet, Boobs,” Whips shouted. He pointed his hoof over to the mess hall. “We’re gonna have some lunch. We’ve got some delicious veggies, fruits, and other healthy crap all made for ya. And you’re going to eat all of it, even if we have to force feed you.” The entirety of the group groaned, and followed Whips in a similar way to being lead to Hell.

        “This… is going to be the worst... week of my l-life…” gasped Warble. Meanwhile, the other mare that spoke earlier, Windy, crashed down right next to them.

        “Trust me,” she huffed and puffed. “It o-only gets worse. This is my second time here. Almost died last time.” Windy’s curling mane groped at the ground. Her face was beginning to grow pink.

        “I wish I wouldn’t left my bag out there… I could use a snack,” Warble grunted. There was a stunning silence among the three. Paunch and Windy simply stared at him, eyes wide, before they both tackled him.

        Warble felt like he was drowning in a pool of jelly.

        Except it wasn’t jelly at all. It was fat. 

        “You have snacks?” 

        “Tell us! Please!”

        “Get off me!” Warble shouted. Almost immediately, as if they were Warble’s trusted assistants, the two hopped off of him. He dusted himself off, and spat on the ground. That was the second time he was almost killed by Paunch that day. It was weird, because Warble only knew the stallion for three hours. “I… my bag. I brought snacks, but I left it in the woods.”

        “Show us,” Windy said, with eyes made of steel. Paunch was looming over him, like two tanks created to destroy a weakling like Warble. The stallion held his hooves up, defensively.

        “O-Okay…” he whispered. “Please… don’t hurt me.”

        “Give us the snacks, and nobody will,” Paunch murmured.

***
        
        It had taken a bit of effort to sneak away from Whips’ line of sight, as well as the other campers. Ten minutes after Warble’s stupid mentioning of his bag, the trio were already on their way.

        Unsurprisingly, they were all panting and wheezing already.

        “H-How much farther?” Windy panted. “You better not be leading us astray, Warble.” Windy gave the stallion in question a grand glare. The trio was producing enough sweat to fill a small bathtub.

        “I dropped it soon after it started to become a bother to carry.” Warble brought a hoof to his chin. “So, not very far from where we started.” 

        Two groans.

        However, soon after, they found it. 

        It was absolutely beautiful. A few parcels of snacks and food had spilled out of the bag, and were placed around as if an artist had moved them around. The midmorning sun streamed through the air like magical beams. Warble’s stomach instantly growled. The only thing that kind of ruined the mood for him was the two fatass’ that were shoveling down all of it.

        “Ehh?” Warble emitted.

        “Hey!” Paunch yelled, taking a step forward. The other two ponies instantly turned around, as if they were deer caught in headlights. Food hung from their still-open mouths. “That’s our food!

        “Actually, it’s mine… I brought--”

        “Your food?” said an fat orange stallion with acne. His chin was stained with juices from the various foods he’d been eating. “We found it. We had to hike how-many minutes to get it. We claimed it.”

        “Yeah. What gives you the right to take it?” said the other pony, a grey mare. She was a little less pudgy, but still a little bigger than Warble.

        “Because it’s originally ours, that’s why!” Windy shot back. Warble wanted to intervene, and explain how the food was technically his, but he didn’t feel like this would stop them from fighting over it. Instead, he just let out a timid whimper instead.

        “Come on, guys. Just give it. We don’t want any trouble,” yelled Paunch. With every word he said, the more greasy and sweaty his forehead became.

        “Hmm,” said the stallion, turning to the mare. “I don’t think I want to do that. What do you think, Eclair?”

        “Nope. Fudge, I agree with you a hundred percent.” The mare known as “Eclair”, gave the other group of hungry ponies a menacing smirk. Windy cracked her neck, while Paunch just narrowed his eyes.

        Warble was becoming scared again. He turned to the side, and noticed Whips. Instead of intruding like Warble was initially hoping, he was sitting in the bushes munching on some popcorn, eyes wide. Warble would take any punishment the stallion would give him, but Warble wasn’t one for fighting.

        Back in the Canterlot Castle, when he saw Kindling fight all those Changelings by himself, it made Warble physically uncomfortable.
        
        “Fine,” said Windy, taking a few steps closer. Fudge and Eclair took a defensive position in front of the bag, as if it was their child. “Then we’ll take it by force!”

        Without another warning, Windy took a few steps forward, swung her hoof back, and clocked Eclair right under the chin. The mare’s head snapped back, and she fell back onto the ground.

        Warble let out a girly cry for help. 

Whips continued to munch on his popcorn.

Fudge, obviously not having it in him to punch a mare, shoved Windy back. “Now you’ve done it!”

Paunch used this opportunity to try to sock Fudge, but he was just too slow. Fudge stopped Paunch cold with a solid strike to the gut.

Before Warble could blink, or yell out a “please stop!”, he heard a legion of battle cries from behind him, and a flash of color.

The rest of the ponies from camp had followed them.

And now everypony wanted some food.

The next thing Warble knew, he was sitting right in the middle of an open battlefield. The air was a flurry of fat hooves and cries for junk food. Ponies punching, kicking, and tackling others were all that filled Warble’s vision. One mare forcibly tackled another to the ground, who was panting and wheezing already. When the mare was knocked to the ground, she had trouble getting back up. She continued to roll around on her back in a fat, tubby mess.

One stallion was literally sitting on top of another, driving him into the ground. A younger colt was running under others’ legs and tripping them. One mare was using a frozen TV dinner from the bag as a weapon, and slapping unsuspecting faces with it.

Warble started to cry.

He let out a sharp shriek when someone poked him in the side. “Uhm… hi, Warble.”

Warble turned around. It was Fluttershy. Warble couldn’t contain himself any longer. He gave Fluttershy the biggest hug he could manage, and began to blubber like an idiot. “Oh my Celestia, you’re here! I was so scared! Everyone just started punching each other! I thought this was a fun camp, not a fat camp! Everypony called me Tubs and made me do pushups and made me saaa-aaaa-aaaad!” he sobbed.

Fluttershy just patted his back with a small smile. “There, there. It’s alright, I’m here to take you home.” Warble disconnected the hug. “Well, you’re mother is, actually. She has to pick you up, due to some kind of form you signed. She said she’d meet me here. After you left, I did a few minutes of research and realized that you might’ve made a mistake.”

While Fluttershy had wanted Warble to eat better and lose a little weight, Warble knew that she didn’t want it done this way. “Thanks, Fluttershy,” he said, as the war raged on around them.

“Pookiebear!” Like clockwork, the body of Warble’s mom hugged the stallion from behind with a grand smile. “I’m so glad to see you’re okay!”

        “Mommy!” Warble cheered with glee as Fluttershy took in the sight that was her coltfriend's mother. Warble’s mother was an earth pony with a buttery coat, and a short pink mane. She bore green eyes and three dragonflies… as her… cutiemark…

        Fluttershy frowned. “Uhm…” 

        “I’m here to take you home! I’m so sorry you got stuck here!” Warble’s mom said. Warble gained many kisses and hugs.

        “It’s alright, mom! Just please take me home!” said Warble.

        “Yeah!” said a voice from not so far away. “Yeah, punch that fat tub of lard in the face! Bodyslaaaam!” Meanwhile, Whips was still cheering on from the bushes. In his excitement, popcorn was flying everywhere.

        Everypony stopped fighting upon realizing that he was there. They all just stared at him with narrowed eyes, as if they realized who the true enemy was.

        “Anyone else feel like calling a… truce, for right now?” said Windy, not taking her eyes off of Whips. The stallion gulped.

        “Aye!” said the rest of the group.

        “Get Whips!” yelled Fudge. Letting out yet another war cry, the army of fatness charged Whips with hooves raised.

        “Wait, wait, wait!--” Whips tried to convince the ponies to stop, but deep inside he knew they weren’t going to. Without needing any more prompting, he sped into the forest, screaming at the top of his lungs. The army was just at his heels.

        Fluttershy, Warble, and Warble’s mother were all that remained. There was another moment of silence between them, before Warble turned to his mommy. “Can we go home now?”

        Warble’s mom answered by pulling Fluttershy and Warble in for a group hug. “Yes, dear. On the train back, you’re going to need to tell me all about your new girlfriend here! I’m so proud of you!”

        She leaned in close to Warble, so as Fluttershy couldn’t hear. “She’s a fox, Warby!”

        Fluttershy heard, and her eye twitched just a little bit.

        With this, the three of the ponies made their way for the nearby train station. They made a pact not to tell anypony that Warble only lasted three hours at Fat Camp before his mommy had to pick him up.