> Stretch Mark Crusaders > by Nekiyha > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Stretch Mark Crusaders Begin > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweetie Belle left the Carousel Boutique, squinting up at the sunlight she hadn't seen in almost a week. She'd been stuck inside with Rarity, as she'd been helping Rarity with a massive order of dresses that had come in just before the start of the summer. In that time, Sweetie had been unable to do much beyond sit and wait for whenever Rarity needed her. Then, it had been trying to stay as still as possible while she held whatever it was that Rarity needed. All the while, Rarity had been too stressed out and had been working too hard to cook. Rarity had ordered the pair of them vast quantities of take-out so they didn't have to worry about losing time to cooking. This morning, Rarity had taken one look at Sweetie, and suggested she should go outside for some 'exercise', though Sweetie couldn't guess why. Walking outside in the fresh air, Sweetie slowly made her way to the clubhouse that she and her two other friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, frequented. On the walk over, across Ponyville and out to Sweet Apple Acres, Sweetie noticed something odd about her body. Usually, the walk would have been nothing, but halfway there, and Sweetie's legs burned with exhaustion. She panted for breath, and sweat was beading on her forehead. Sweetie took a deep breath, and forced herself to go on. I can get a glass of water when I get there. By the time Sweetie made it into the clubhouse, she was utterly exhausted. The second she crossed the threshold, her legs gave out from under her, sending Sweetie to the ground. “Are you alright?-” Scootaloo gave out an excited gasp, “Oh! Is that your Cutie Mark?!” Sweetie's brows furrowed in confusion. She lifted her head, and twisted around to look at her flank. It was blank as usual, wasn't it?- Sweetie let out an excited gasp. It wasn't a Cutie Mark, at least it didn't look like one, but there were several indents in her skin that looked like lines, “That can't be a Cutie Mark!” “What are they then?” Scootaloo asked, bending down to examine the lines closer. “Ah think they're stretch marks!” Apple Bloom pronounced. Sweetie Belle jumped at her friend's sudden appearance, “What are those?” “My Mom had them on her tummy. She always said they happened after she had Big Mac, Applejack, and ah,” Apple Bloom explained, “She said they happened when parts of you got bigger. Applejack has some, too.” Sweetie sat up, her face burning hot, “It's not like my butt got big-” “Uh. It kind of did,” to prove her point, Scootaloo poked at Sweetie's flank with her hoof. Sweetie watched in equal parts horror and equal parts fascination as her flesh jiggled a bit. “Since they appeared on your flank,” Apple Bloom began thoughtfully, “Maybe it's a hint about your Cutie Mark!” “Is there a weight gain Cutie Mark?” Scootaloo asked, her face scrunching up in thought. “Ah don't know, but it's worth a shot!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, “We've got to try!” “I don't know,” Sweetie Belle eased herself into a sitting position, suddenly hyper-aware of her slightly larger body, “It's not like I've gotten my Cutie Mark yet.” “You're not big enough yet!” Scootaloo stated simply, “How do we go about getting bigger? How's you do it, Sweetie?” “Well, I didn't do much physically,” Sweetie answered slowly, “and I got bored so I ate a lot of the junk food Rarity bought, and I ate a lot of the take-out she ordered-” “So, we have to eat at Sugarcube Corner a lot and not do much? That sounds super simple!” Apple Bloom beamed, “Ah think this is it, girls. We just have to stick it out long enough!” Sweetie Belle began to get excited at the prospect. Who doesn't want to do nothing and eat all day? Besides, if this isn't our special talent, we can just lose the weight! Feeling secure in the knowledge that her closest friends would gain weight with her, Sweetie forgot about the sly, almost disapproving, looks Rarity had been giving her before she left. (LINE BREAK) Several Weeks Later… Sweetie craned her neck up so she could peer over the bulge of flesh her belly had become in the weeks since the Cutie Mark Crusaders had decided to try getting a weight gain cutie mark. Sweetie had taken great strides in trying to keep herself the heaviest of the three, and she couldn't help but enjoy the thrills of watching her body, and the bodies of her friends, expand as a result of their overeating and laziness. Scootaloo was propped up against the podium, rubbing her stomach with her hoof, a blissful smile and vacant eyes telling Sweetie that the pegasus was in a food coma. Looking around allowed Sweetie to find Apple Bloom in a similar situation, laying on her side, and wrapping her front legs around her bloated stomach. Sweetie set her head back onto the wooden floor, watching as he belly jiggled with each breath. Moving a little made Sweetie winced as her hooves, and her new fat, pressed against the take-out containers, candy wrappers, and other remnants of their binge. “We're gonna have to clean this up before Applejack sees the mess,” Apple Bloom mumbled, absentmindedly stroking her soft belly. Scootaloo let out a groan, “Do we have to right now?” “Should do it soon,” Sweetie grunted, rolling to her side and ignoring the crinkles that occurred when she trapped wrappers under her, “I have to get back home soon.” “Yeah, I suppose so,” with a grunt of effort, a lot of wing-flapping, and some sweat, Scootaloo was up on her hooves. Out of the trio, Scootaloo had most of her weight centered on her belly. Her stomach hung down nearly to her knees, making her once energetic walk a slow waddle. Apple Bloom groaned, and rolled onto her stomach before getting to her feet. Her newly acquired adipose hadn't settled into one specific area, instead coating her whole body in a thick layer of fat, making her jiggle no matter what she did. Sweetie sighed, getting up as well, making sure to brush the wrappers from her coat where they had stuck to her side. She used her magic, falteringly, to help the others gather up the trash, then sat back down once the chore was taken care of. Sweetie, as the heaviest of the CMC, had gained quite a bit more weight than her friends. Her belly hung low, just shy of Scootaloo's, while her plot had doubled in size. They jiggled, wiggled, were covered in stretch marks, and had developed a slight crease where they met her hind legs. If Sweetie looked down, a double chin was also prominent. While the CMC were happy with their new sizes, the reactions of those around them were not quite so...supportive. Rarity had been harping on Sweetie since the day she had first noticed her gain. Applejack was in a similar position, while Cheerilee had sat the CMC down to talk about the dangers of what they were doing. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom didn't care. They were set on their new lifestyles, and they had done everything within their power to speed up their gains, to spite those who worked against them. It had worked. They were the heaviest fillies in Ponyville, and they were proud, even if strutting their new figures around Ponyville was getting harder and harder to do every day. Sweetie smiled, staring down at her globular belly, poking it so she could watch it jiggle. I wonder how much bigger we have to get before getting our Cutie Marks? > Markings > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weeks had passed, and Apple Bloom was happy to note that despite everypony trying to curb the CMC’s new gains; nothing had worked. Mostly due to Apple Bloom herself. The CMC had worked hard to upgrade the clubhouse without Applejack’s knowledge; they had installed a small oven, and a fridge. With discounts and promises of doing more work, the CMC had quickly taken care of any debts they owed, and often ate loads of Apple Bloom’s baking. Apple Bloom had always liked baking, and making food in general, with her family; as making apple-based goods was always a part of running the farm. Apple Bloom had never realized how much she enjoyed it, however, until she made the most rich food she could for the simple task of making her friends, and herself, larger. Apple Bloom pulled a batch of apple fritters out of the oven, noting with glee that the cinnamon and sugar had created a glaze overtop, and that none of them had broken open during the cooking process. Her nose was tantalized by the smells of sweet apples, caramel, and spices. There’s those done. Now I’ll try that cupcake recipe Pinkie gave me! Humming an off-key tune under her breath, Apple Bloom waddled her way to the fridge, and pulled out the ingredients that she’d need. Looking at the clock Sweetie Belle had found told Apple Bloom the others would be back just in time for the cupcakes to be done. Apple Bloom thought about herself, and the changes to her body. She had thought that she might have hit some form of milestone last Wednesday, and had hoped the weight gain Cutie Mark would appear. None had, but the wave of disappointment had led to her baking more than enough treats to keep herself, and her friends, stocked for several days. Apple Bloom’s body had undergone a lot of changes in the months since Sweetie had gained those first few pounds. Luckily, Apple Bloom’s skin was stretchy, and wasn’t prone to stretch marks like Applejack and Sweetie Belle. At first, Apple Bloom’s gains hadn’t focused on one area; the new pounds of squishy fat had deposited evenly around her body. That had changed around twenty pounds ago, and Apple Bloom had found her flanks and plot thickening much quicker than everything else had been. Scootaloo’s stomach was large. It hung down so far that if Scootaloo crouched, it touched the ground. That’s not to say that the rest of her wasn’t quickly burgeoning outward, but her stomach in all it’s squishy glory was the largest part of the little pegasus. Her wings were coated in a little layer of fat, she had a definite double chin, and Scootaloo’s thighs touched her stomach at all times. If it weren’t for the simple fact that the adults were doing all they could to stop the trio from gaining, Apple Bloom figured Scootaloo would be immobile; pinned to the ground by her stomach. Thinking about the added pounds her food was giving to herself and her friends, Apple Bloom felt joy blooming in her chest. She wriggled her hips in delight at the thought of every treat she had baked that day making her friends (and herself) even more squishy and fat as time went on. Apple Bloom felt an odd feeling in her flanks, a tingling, itchy feeling, but simply assumed she had brushed them up against the flour again, and her body was simply trying to tell her to wipe off the itchy powder before it was caked on because of sweat. Pushing the last tray of cupcakes into the oven, Apple Bloom pulled a clean rag from a chest, and twisted herself so she could even wipe her flank. She dropped the rag onto the floor, and stared in amazement. A Cutie Mark adorned her flank, swollen to a large size because of the size of her flank. Three cupcakes atop a scale. Twisting to the other side, Apple Bloom found the same image on her other flank. Apple Bloom let out a cheer of happiness, just as the door to the clubhouse opened, and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle waddled in. Their eyes went wide, and they began hollering in joy as they noticed the mark. “It’s a cooking mark! I can’t believe it! Haven’t we already tried that?!” Scootaloo waddled over as fast as she could, her stomach bouncing off the floor in her excitement. “Not with the goal of making ourselves fatter! I’m supposed to make other ponies gain weight with my cooking! Can you believe it?!” “That’s awesome, Apple Bloom!” Sweetie exclaimed, “I guess there are weight gain Cutie Marks.” “Yeah, I guess so,” Apple Bloom looked down at her mark, and felt a real joy build up in her heart. (LINE BREAK) Sweetie Belle bit into one of Apple Bloom’s sweet apple fritters, indulging herself with one more before she finished writing the assignment due in school the next day. Since Apple Bloom had earned her Cutie Mark, she’d been baking almost non-stop when not at school or trying to help Sweetie and Scootaloo figure out what they wanted to do. Applejack had been forced to let her sister be, and as such, the CMC’s weight had skyrocketed. Scootaloo had to use a modified scooter to get around, one that lifted her belly off the ground. Apple Bloom had broken her desk at school, and Sweetie had been writing little songs about the deliciousness that Apple Bloom produced. Sweetie’s body had expanded all over, leaving her jiggling and wiggling all over. Her butt sagged over her hind legs, her belly hung past her knees, and Rarity hated how fat her sister had gotten. Rarity was always nagging Sweetie about her body, demanding she try diets and exercise regimes. Sweetie hated every moment of it all. Sweetie shook herself. She looked down at her almost completed critique and smiled. The assignment was to critique something in Ponyville. A business, food, and restaurants were all popular choices. Sweetie had decided to critique Apple Bloom’s baked goods, ranging from a pie, cookies, donuts, and finishing with the fritters. In all, Sweetie found the assignment to be a lot of fun. In fact, she wouldn’t mind doing the assignment over, and over, and over again. Sweetie licked her lips at the thought of going from restaurant to restaurant, tasting endless dishes, and making bits by reviewing them. Just as Sweetie finished the critique, she felt an odd sensation on her flanks. Sweetie twisted around to look, hoping she hadn’t hurt herself sitting in the tight chair. Instead, she found a quill next to a wide array of different dishes. Immediately, the meaning dawned: I’m meant to be a food critic! Sweetie let out an excited squeal, pushing herself out of her too-tight chair, “Rarity! I got my Cutie Mark!” Sweetie would always remember the look of horror when Rarity realized her little sister would never be ‘little’ again. However, the joy of the rest of her life eventually dulled the hurt. (LINE BREAK) Scootaloo couldn’t help but be miserable. Both of her friends had their Cutie Marks, but her ever-growing flank was still blank. When Scootaloo was miserable, she ate, and because of how miserable she had been, she hadn’t left her house in several days. Had barely moved, content to sit in her room and eat away at everything she had stashed there. Now, however, school had started again, since the long weekend had passed. Scootaloo wished she could stay and eat, and watch in her mirror as every new fold and inch of her body appeared. With a sudden realization, Scootaloo realized that all she really wanted to do was gain weight. A tingly, itchy feeling spread across Scootaloo’s flanks. Feeling curious as to what was making her flank so itchy, since she couldn’t see herself around her belly, Scootaloo tried to stand for the first time in almost two days. Leaning back so her hind legs touched the ground, Scootaloo pushed hard, flapping with her nearly useless wings. Nothing. Twisting her head to see, and wriggling around experimentally, Scootaloo realized her hooves hadn’t touched the floor at all: they had planted themselves in a layer of her own fat. Trying again, Scootaloo managed to be able to plant her front hooves on the ground, and pull herself forward. She managed to drag herself over, her forelegs burning with exertion. The sight in the mirror made her scream in triumph. A Cutie Mark had appeared, and Scootaloo could see that it was exactly what she wanted. It wa a scale, one that showed a number many times her current weight. Scootaloo hoped the numbers on the scale would grow along with her. Now she had to tackle the problem of getting to school. Or getting help. Scootaloo realized she would be lucky to move under her own power anytime soon. For some reason, that thought filled her with joy. > The End > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apple Bloom waddled down the cramped street of Canterlot, wincing as her sides brushed the cold walls of the almost-alley. Finding the back door to her small house, Apple Bloom wearily opened the door, and locked it behind her. Apple Bloom, in a well-practised move, slid the platter of uneaten food off of her flabby back and onto her kitchen table. Pouring herself a tankard of Applejack’s cider, she eased her weight onto the reinforced chair. Uncovering the dish, Apple Bloom’s mouth watered. As she began to eat the perfect, cheesy lasagne, she smiled in joy at what she’d been doing to help ponies. Apple Bloom excelled at making delicious dishes that helped ponies put on weight, as was clearly evident by her own physique. That had heralded her career into serving the old or sick ponies in Canterlot, trying to get them to healthier weights. Her healthy, calorie-laden food helped ponies of all ages. So far anypony who entered the clinic where she worked, staff included, had gained at least ten pounds. Apple Bloom was happy, and loved seeing other ponies get healthier. She loved helping ponies. She loved cooking, and most importantly, she loved eating her own food. Apple Bloom loved her life now, and she couldn’t help but find it hilariously absurd that she’d found this happiness because of Sweetie Belle’s stretch marks. Apple Bloom shoved the last of the lasagne in her mouth, chasing it down with the last of the cider. Sighing contentedly, Apple Bloom leaned back in her chair. Heaving herself to her tired hooves, Apple Bloom plodded to her bedroom, eyes catching the circled date on her calendar out of the corner of her eye. She stopped, and partially turned, staring at the calendar. Tomorrow’s date was circled in red pen, with a red line striking across the next week. Blinking, trying to get her tired brain to remember, Apple Bloom suddenly remembered. Her vacation to Ponyville, where she’d see the Cutie Mark Crusaders again! “I can’t believe I almost forgot!” A dumb smile stretched Apple Bloom’s mouth, creating big dimples in her spherical cheeks, “Oh! I’ve got to pack! Where did I put those tickets!?” Moving as quickly as she could at her current size, Apple Bloom ignored the uncomfortable jiggling her body produced as she rifled through her desk and dresser, trying to find her tickets for the Friendship Express. Eventually, she found them in her sock drawer. Happily packing some things in her suitcase, Apple Bloom gently placed the tickets beside her house keys, so she wouldn’t forget them in the morning. In spite of her excitement, Apple Bloom’s exhausted body won the battle for sleep just seconds after her head hit her pillow. Scootaloo watched as one of her handlers scrubbed in between her massive rolls, mildly impressed at the mare’s strength and efficiency. Sighing, Scootaloo used what she had left of her mobility to wiggle a little, distributing some of her fat into more comfortable positions. “Peachy Blossom is here to see you,” a voice over the intercom said. Peachy Blossom walked into the room, completely ignoring the handler. Peachy was Scootaloo’s agent. She did a lot of the dirty work that came with Scootaloo’s career choice: competitive eating contest champion. Peachy signed Scootaloo up, negotiated contracts with Scootaloo’s major sponsors, and helped keep the young mare organized, comfortable, and well-fed. It was a tough job for Peachy, Scootaloo knew, but Peachy did it well. “What...is..it?” Scootaloo wheezed, trying not to moan in pleasure when her handler scrubbed at a particularly sore spot on her back. “You’re friends Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are coming back for your reunion, do you remember?” Scootaloo’s spherical face brightened, her eyes widening enough to be easily seen from between her two blubbery cheeks, “Of...course I do!” “Good. Would you like the chefs to prepare a large enough meal befitting their company, or-” “No...let Apple Bloom...know she can have...the kitchen.” “Of course. Anything else?” “Make sure...no appointments,” Even speaking simple sentences left Scootaloo winded, panting for air under her over-thousand pounds of fat. She was a prisoner trapped within her own flesh, certainly but it was all worth it. The celebrity, the wonderful ponies she met, and the food all made it worth it. “Already done,” Peachy smiled, “Don’t worry about it.” Scootaloo beamed, “Thanks.” “I’ll leave to to your routine then, dear. I’ll see you soon!” With that, Peachy left, shutting the door behind her. Scootaloo sighed, shutting her eyes and trying to enjoy her bath. Her handler moved to clean the many folds of her hind legs, working quickly and confidently. “This...is...the life,” Scootaloo breathed. Sweetie Belle had to pay for a whole row of seating on the Friendship Express due to her bulk. In spite of her travelling and work, she continued to gain an unprecedented amount of weight, even though she moved a lot. Though, remembering exactly how much she’d packed away at each restaurant she’d been too was staggering. She operated under the thought that you couldn’t understand somepony’s cooking by eating just one or two dishes. Her weight had it’s drawbacks, but for the most part, Sweetie was content. She ate at the upcoming restaurants in Equestria, and she wrote about how good or bad each one was. Most passed, as many were popular for good reasons. Her work was critically acclaimed, and with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo’s help, she’d published a few books. Sweetie’s career was successful, and she couldn’t be happier about it. Her friendships were strong, and she had more friends than she could count now. She loved eating, she loved writing, and she loved her life. Even if her weight had a few drawbacks, over all she was happy with how she looked. Her legs had muscles, but they were covered with so much fat nopony knew they were there but her. They were thick, rubbing her stomach all the time, little sleeves of fat beginning to try to sag down over the shoulder joints. Her flanks and plot were indistinguishable from one-another, constantly fighting (and losing) a fight with gravity. Stretch marks covered most of her flesh, when cellulite wasn’t visible. The only unmarked piece of skin was where her Cutie Marks were. A sagging, massive stomach hung heavily from her barrel. It was well past her knees, but wasn’t near enough to the ground to give Sweetie pause. Soon, the train would stop in Ponyville, and Sweetie would see her friends for the first time in months. In the back of her mind, she’d wondered how much weight Scootaloo had added to her already massive frame. Sweetie was also curious about Apple Bloom, who had made a name for herself as somepony who helped to sick ponies find joy in food again. While Apple Bloom’s focus had shifted from feeding herself and the SMC, had she continued to put on weight at the same rate she had been doing before leaving for Canterlot? Sweetie wasn’t sure, and she was very excited to see her friends again. Sighing, she sat back and waited for the familiar hills of Ponyville to appear. (LINE BREAK) Apple Bloom didn’t know what day it was, nor did she know if Celestia’s sun was shining or if Luna’s sky was bright with stars. Apple Bloom didn’t know, and didn’t care to know. She was with her friends, and they were having fun. After arriving at Scootaloo’s large house, Apple Bloom had helped Scootaloo’s chefs cook up a truly massive feast. In the span of hours, there was enough food to feed the whole of Ponyville at least once. When Sweetie had arrived, the three mares had made themselves comfortable, and began to eat. They chattered off and on, happy to simply be in each other’s presence. It had been...two days? Maybe three? Since then, and Apple Bloom hated to admit it, but she’d missed this. She’d missed mindlessly gorging for hours on end, falling asleep, and then doing it all over again. Looking down at herself, as much as she could, Apple Bloom felt a little disgusted at how filthy her coat had become after untold hours of eating. She didn’t care enough to do anything about it, though, and she knew Sweetie and Scootaloo were just as bad. Three mares, who had once been three fillies, back together again for a time. Happily slurping down thousands of calories at a time, not caring about what anypony else thought of their habits or body. This was the life for Apple Bloom, and she couldn’t imagine anything else. Happiness was theirs, no matter what anypony else said. “More?” Scootaloo wheezed. “Please!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie replied as one. A little bell was rung, and all they had to do was wait for the next course to be served. Apple Bloom made herself comfortable, comforted by her expanding, morbidly obese frame.