The Sweet(ie) Touch
"Ugh! Brussel sprouts!?"
Sweetie Belle screwed up her face, at the little green balls on her plate.
"Now Sweetie," said her father, "Your mother and I are just tryin' tah make sure you're eatin' right, is all."
"Yah, you got to stay healthy, young lady," came her mother's voice from across the table. "Last thing we want is to see you gettin' all pudgy and stuff."
"Mom, there's nothing wrong with me," said Sweetie. "I'm perfectly fine, see?"
"Well then if you're perfectly fine, you'll eat those sprouts, young lady."
"I'd rather eat mud," murmured Sweetie, under her breath.
"What was that?" Asked Sweetie's father, a not-too-happy tone inching into his voice.
"I said I'd rather eat mud," replied Sweetie, before turning up her nose like her big-sister, Rarity. "Hmph!"
"Well you won't even get that," said her father, "you march your keister up to your room right now, because you're not having any supper!"
"Fine!" Retorted Sweetie, scooting out of her chair, and clopping noisily up the stairs to her room. A magical slam of the door, and she flounced onto her bed.
"I hate brussel sprouts," she said, aloud. "There's no way they'll ever get me to eat em."
_____
"They sent you to bed without your supper?" asked Scootaloo, the next day at lunch.
"That sounds a bit harsh if yuh ask me," added Applebloom.
"Well there was no way I was eating brussel sprouts," said Sweetie Belle.
"Yuck," said Scootaloo.
"Eww," replied Applebloom.
"See? Even you two don't like em," said Sweetie Belle.
"Ah can't think of any ponies that would actually like brussel sprouts," said Applebloom. "I bet even Diamond Tiara hates em."
"Yeah, but her family's rich," said Sweetie Belle, glancing over at a table where Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were eating. "I bet she gets to eat whatever she wants.
"'Father,' said Sweetie, imitating Diamond Tiara's voice, 'Why in all of Equestria would you have our private chef serve me these horrible greens? Take them away at once! I won't eat anything but cake tonight...and it better be devil's food!'"
The impression brought some giggles from her friends.
"I wouldn't be surprised if that did happen in her household," said Scootaloo.
"If only there was a way to make greens not taste like...like greens," said Sweetie. "Too bad noone's found a way to make candy-flavored salad."
"But even if they did," asked Applebloom, "if it tasted like candy, it prob'ly wouldn't be as healthy as a real salad."
"But at least it would taste good," said Sweetie, opening her lunchbag. "Oh great. Speaking of greens, Mom packed me another salad. Maybe I can trade Featherweight for his lunch."
_____
Trotting through Ponyville after school, Sweetie's mind was still preoccupied with her thoughts from lunch.
I bet they'll serve brussel sprouts for dinner again, she thought. Oh, if only there was a way to hide that yucky taste. Or, just clop my hooves and just like magic-that's it!
_____
A few minutes later, Sweetie was knocking on the front door of Twilight's castle.
"Twilight? Are you in? It's Sweetie Belle."
A few moments later, Spike answered the door.
"Oh, hi Sweetie Belle. I'm afraid Twilight's not here right now. She was summoned to Canterlot a few days ago by Princess Celestia. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Well, maybe," said Sweetie. "I'm, looking to do some, research, for something in school, and, do you think I could use the library?"
"I don't see why not," said Spike. "Come on in. I'm sure Twilight wouldn't mind."
Walking down the echoing hallways, the two soon came to the library, with row-upon-row of books.
"Gee, there's definitely more books here than there were in the Golden Oak Library," gulped Sweetie.
"Yeah, but Twilight doesn't seem to think so," said Spike. "She's got so many extra rooms in the castle, she's thinking of annexing a few for various categories."
"Speaking of categories," said Sweetie, "Where are the books on magic spells?"
"Oh, that would be section M.A." Said Spike. "It's 8 shelves down, and takes up about 12 bookcases. You might find some books in disrepair, but don't worry. Twilight and I salvaged those from 'The Castle of the Two Sisters.' We've been meaning to get those books repaired one of these days. Just try to be careful if you encounter any of them."
"Ok. Thanks Spike."
_____
Two bookshelves in, and Sweetie was still no closer to a solution to her problem.
Her little unicorn horn glowed green as she magically whipped open book-after-book, skimming the various spells from across Equestrian history.
"Oh, Come on," she murmured to herself, slamming another book shut. "There's got to be something in one of these books I can use. Did everypony just enjoy eating gruel back in the old days?"
Angrily shoving a copy of "Magic for Colts and Novices" back on the shelf, she then grabbed the next book, which quickly exploded into fragments, causing the little filly to cough and sneeze.
"Oops! I guess this is one of the books Spike warned me about," said Sweetie, as she tries to collect all the scattered remnants of the book. Some pages appeared to have turned to dust, and others were so fragile, that they even came apart as Sweetie magically picked them off the floor.
"Hope I didn't ruin anything too valuable in this thing," said Sweetie, carefully trying to layer the pages back in. "Doesn't look like anything's numbered in any order, so I guess-wait, what's this?"
Her eyes had fallen on a half-rotted page, with what looked like several inked cookies, and a slice of cake.
"'The Sweet Touch,'" she read aloud. "'Whatever horn and tongue will touch, becomes a sugary treat to munch.' Ooo! I think I found what I'm looking for!"
The page was tattered in several areas, but it looked like the main incantation was still readable. Magically lighting up her horn, Sweetie read the large words aloud:
"Corpulescence, Decadentia, Engorgio, Dessertia!"
Unfocusing her magic powers, Sweetie sat for a few moments, waiting for something to happen.
Did it work? She wondered. She didn't feel any different, and the room looked just the same as it did a few moments ago. Seeing an inkwell on a nearby table, Sweetie picked it up.
"Well, here goes nothing," she said, and extended her little pink tongue out, touching the side of the golden inkwell. However, it didn't taste like metal. It tasted like...chocolate!?
Sweetie pulled back her hoof and was shocked: where once had been a gold inkwell, was one made entirely of light-brown chocolate! But, what about the ink, she wondered. Tilting the inkwell, she saw a darker-colored liquid inside. Pouring a small drop on the table, she gave it a cautious lick.
It tastes like dark chocolate, she thought happily. She then attempted to empty all of the liquid into her mouth, before finishing the inkwell in 3 quick bites!
"Oooo, thank you thank you thank you," she cried, clutching the tattered book to her chest. "Now I won't have to worry about anymore icky vegetables ever again!"
She stuffed the rest of the pages haphazardly into the book, and magically shoved it back onto the shelf.
Throwing on her saddlebag, she rushed down the main hall, almost knocking Spike over.
"Um, did you find what you needed?" Came the little dragon's voice behind her.
"Found everything thanks Spike! Gotta get home for dinner!"
_____
"Well, look who decided to show up," said Sweetie's father, as she rushed into the house, slamming the door behind her.
"Sorry Dad," she said, throwing her saddlebag on the sofa. "Applebloom, Scootaloo and I were going over some things for class and, I guess we just forgot about the time."
"Well, get cleaned up and sit yourself down at the table," said her Mom, coming out of the kitchen. "You don't want your dinner to get cold."
Sweetie quickly rushed to the kitchen sink, and washed her hooves before sitting down at the table, as her Mom set down her plate.
"Ooo! Brussel sprouts!" She squeaked, causing her parent's eyes to open wide.
"Uh, you want to run that by me again, honey?" Asked her Dad. "Yesterday, you said you'd sooner eat mud than eat brussel sprouts."
"Well Dad, that was yesterday," said Sweetie. "And this is today! You see, a lot can happen in a day."
"I, see," said her father, still looking perplexed. "Oh well, I guess our little filly's becoming a big girl, gettin' over her fear of greens."
"Sure thing," said Sweetie, as she magicked one of the gumball-sized sprouts into her mouth.
The spell did the trick, as once the sprout touched Sweetie's tongue, she was treated to the decadent taste of a chocolate truffle! The gooey center swirled around in her mouth as she savored the rich flavors, before she swallowed, and went for another 'sprout.'
By the end of the evening, Sweetie had consumed 16 brussel sprouts, 3 helpings of beans (that had turned into jelly beans), and 4 glasses of milk (that had turned into chocolate milk upon going into her mouth).
"*burp* Oops, excuse me," blushed the stuffed little filly. "Dinner was great, Mom."
"Why, thank you, dear," replied Sweetie's Mom, as she began to clear the plates. "And I'm so thrilled that you're eating your greens."
"Yeah, I don't know why I thought they were so yucky," said Sweetie, a mischievous little smile playing across her face. "Maybe you could make more for tomorrow's dinner."
"Well, maybe I will," said her Mom. "Course, I am going by the market tomorrow. Maybe I'll add some variety to the meal."
"Sounds good," said Sweetie, trotting up to her room, where she spent the next few hours relaxing, as well as doing her homework.
Sprawled out on her bed, she found herself chewing on her pencil...only to find it turning into a chocolate-covered stick, with biscuit-filling.
Oops, she thought, as she consumed one pencil...then two...then three!
Guess I'll need to stop chewing on my pencils, she thought, as the third one disappeared down her throat.
When it was time for bed, she went into the bathroom, and magicked her toothbrush out of its holder. It was in seeing her reflection in the mirror, that she noticed a slight change.
Instead of the magical aura around her horn being a light green, it was now a chocolate-brown!
That's weird, she thought. Maybe it's because I just started using the spell. Oh well, it'll probably go away in a few days.
She then magicked some toothpaste onto her brush, and brought it up to her mouth. However, as she swirled the paste around her teeth, the flavor seemed a little...different?
Suddenly, the brush snapped, and the upper portion fell into the sink. It looked like the brush was now made of white chocolate. Plus, the toothpaste looked like creamy mint-chocolate, with brown and green swirls of color!
Sweetie looked down at the magicked remnants of the brush and paste in the sink, and the handle floating in front of her. Suddenly, she found herself shoving the broken candied handle into her mouth, before consuming the other half of the toothbrush.
Of course, a few moments after she swallowed them, she was surprised to find herself leaning over the counter, scooping up the stray bits of mint-chocolate 'toothpaste,' and slurping them off her hoof!
W-why did I just do that, she wondered, along with wondering how she would explain where her toothbrush had gone.
Taking a deep breath, Sweetie shrugged her shoulders, and tried to take a drink of water, only to scrunch up her muzzle in disgust! It didn't taste like water, but like someone had diluted chocolate in it.
Eww, she thought, as she swallowed it, unpleasantly. This is disgusting! Well, I guess when it comes to 'The Sweet Touch,' the ponies who used it had to make some changes, and, I guess I will too. Besides, I'm sure I can get by without brushing my teeth. I'll be just fine.
After turning off the bathroom light, Sweetie headed to her bed, and tried to get comfortable. However, she couldn't help but feel an uneasiness in her stomach, causing her to toss and turn a bit, before finally drifting off to sleep.
_____
The next day, Sweetie awoke to a breakfast of eggs, cereal, and milk. Of course, with the magic of "The Sweet Touch," the eggs became cotton candy in her mouth, the cereal bits became a mixture of marshmallow and chocolate bits, and her pure white milk turned to chocolate going down her throat.
That was fun, thought Sweetie to herself, as she rushed out of the house on her way to school. She couldn't wait to tell her friends about her new 'gift.'
_____
"Aw come on, Sweetie Belle," said Scootaloo, as she took a bite of an apple. "Have you been daydreaming again?"
"Girls, I'm serious," said Sweetie, as they sat in their usual place for lunch. "The spell was in one of The books in Twilight's library, and it is, to quote Rainbow Dash: 'awesome!'"
"Ah think maybe you should find out more about it," said Applebloom. "Remember when ah used Zecora's 'Heart's Desire' spell? I thought it was a good idea at first, and then next thing I knew, I was like a possessed pony, doing all those crazy talents!"
"Well, this is different than getting our cutie marks," said Sweetie. "Besides, if 'the sweet touch' works on me, maybe I can cast the spell on you two too!"
"Thanks, but no thanks," said Applebloom, apprehensively.
"Yeah," said Scootaloo. "Although, can you at least show us what this 'sweet touch' does?"
"Of course," said Sweetie, pulling out her bag lunch. "Behold: a salad Mom packed. Green, healthy, boring. But, one touch of my horn-"
Sweetie placed the salad on the table, and tapped the small bowl with her horn...and as her friends watched, the bowl became striped like a peppermint stick, the green leaves took on a cotton candy texture, and the vinaigrette dressing, resembled caramel! "Ta-da!"
"Wow!" Applebloom and Scootaloo exclaimed in unison. "That IS awesome!"
"Told you," said Sweetie. "So-*chomp*-you gurfs whuna-*smack*-try thom?"
"Uh, we would," said Scootaloo, quizzically, "if you hadn't shoved the whole thing in yer mouth just now."
"Whuf do you meanf?" Asked Sweetie...before suddenly realizing that the salad was no longer on the table, and her mouth was extremely full with the taste of peppermint, cotton candy, and caramel. Straining hard, she swallowed the sweet concoction, which made a bulge in her throat, before plopping into her belly.
"H-how did I do that?" She asked, her green eyes widening a bit in shock.
"What do you mean?" Asked Applebloom. "You were just talkin' to us, you grabbed the salad, and then you just shoved it into your mouth, bowl and all."
"I, I don't even remember doing that," exclaimed Sweetie.
"Well, maybe you're hungrier than you thought," said Applebloom.
"Let me try something," said Sweetie, picking up Scootaloo's sandwich.
"Hey, what gives?" Asked Scootaloo.
"Just hang on a moment," said Sweetie, as she tapped the daisy sandwich to her horn. In a flash, the bread became slices of carrotcake, and the bits of flower sticking out, became cotton candy.
"There," said Sweetie. "Now go on Scootaloo, take a bi-fwumpf-"
Sweetie Belle didn't even get to finish her sentence, as her hoof suddenly jammed the sweet sandwich into her mouth, where her teeth immediately went to work chewing it up, before swallowing!
"Sweetie Belle, that was my sandwich!" said Scootaloo. "Why'd you have to be such a, a pig?"
"I-I didn't mean to eat it," the little filly said, a look of shock registering on her face. "I, I should go."
Sweetie quickly rushed away from the table, only to smack muzzle-first into Diamond Tiara, knocking her off her hooves.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" Came Diamond's snarky voice.
"I-I'm sorry," said Sweetie, when suddenly, a strong aroma of cinnamon sugar and fried dough wafted into her nostrils.
Turning around, she saw Diamond Tiara's tiara on the ground...but looking like it had been baked in an oven, and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Oh no, she thought. My horn must have touched it when we collided!
"My tiara," cried Diamond. "Give it here!"
"I'm sorry," said Sweetie. "I, I didn't *chomp* meanf thu."
A scream filled the air, causing every filly on the school grounds to turn.
The look of horror on Diamond Tiara's face was reflected in Sweetie's, as the doughy, sugary taste of the transformed tiara filled her mouth, and she swallowed it.
"Ms Cheerilee!!" Wailed Diamond Tiara. "Sweetie Belle ate my tiara!!!"
Sweetie didn't wait around for their teacher to come over. She merely turned tail, and ran away, as fast as her little legs would carry her.
_____
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*
"Spike!! Are you there? Open up!!"
The door to Twilight's castle had barely opened a crack when Sweetie rushed forward, her hooves knocking it open (and flattening Spike against a wall).
Running down the hall, she entered the library, and headed immediately to section M.A. Quickly finding the book from yesterday, she frantically pulled it from the shelf with her magic, only for the book to once again break apart into detached pages, and some dust.
"Ohno ohno ohno," she squealed, trying to magically collect the pages, and seeing some more had turned to dust. "Please don't let one of those pages be the one I need!"
After a few moments, she found the page from yesterday. Near the bottom, was a partially-torn paragraph. Slowly, she began to read:
The more items transformed by the Sweet Touch one consumes, the greater one's appetite becomes. Pretty soon, the consumer will be unable to do anything, until they consume the last item that was transformed. Size and shape of the item is irrelevant to the appetite. If one wishes to remov-
The words ended at the frayed, torn edges of the page, but they had caused a look of utter horror to spread over Sweetie's face.
Anything she touched with her horn or tongue, she'd be forced to consume! A plate of food wasn't that bad, but what if she touched the sofa in her family's living room? What if her horn touched the walls of Carousel Boutique? Her sister would have a fit about losing her business, and gaining a sister who had literally eaten her out of house and home!
"Um, can I, help you?" Came Spike's voice, as he gingerly walked into the library.
"Oh, sorry Spike," Sweetie said. "I, uh, just remembered, um, this book! Yeah! You don't think Twilight would mind if I, borrowed it, would you?"
"I guess not," said Spike.
"Perfect," responded Sweetie, opening her saddlebag with her hooves, and placing the book inside.
"Using your hooves?" Asked Spike. "I thought your magic was powerful enough to-"
"Well, um, I, want to do things, the old-fashioned way today," said Sweetie, throwing the saddlebag on her back and trotting out. "Thanks, Spike! Don't worry I'll return the book soon. Bye!"
_____
Sweetie rushed into her family's house and slammed the door loudly, rushing past her Mom.
"Young filly, we do not slam doors in this house," scolded her Mom.
"SorryMomI'llremembernexttime," Sweetie replied, as she rushed up the stairs and closed her room door, locking it behind her. Throwing her saddlebag on the bed, she pulled the spell book out quickly, only to once again have it's pages fly out of the broken binding!
"Ugh! I gotta stop doing that," she said, trying to pick up a torn paper with her magic, only to see the tinted parchment, turn into a thin sliver of chocolate.
Oh no, she thought, as her magic levitated the piece into her mouth, where she consumed it in seconds.
Realizing she was in danger of consuming the book (and the possible antidote to her condition!), Sweetie gingerly piled the pages up with her hooves. Placing them on the bed along with the rest of the book, she started going through each one.
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*
"Ugh, WHAT?" she found herself yelling.
"Sweetie, it's Dad," came a voice on the other side. "I think we need to talk."
"Not now Dad, I'm busy, with, homework."
"Well, speaking of school, Ms Cheerilee informed me that there was an incident with one of your classmates today."
"It's fine, Dad. She's just making a big deal out of nothing, okay?" Sweetie's voice was growing in annoyance, as she struggled to focus.
"Well, I think we should talk about what happened-"
"I don't want to talk about it, Dad! Go away!"
"Sweetie Belle, I am not appreciating your tone of voice. You're in danger of not getting your dinner-"
"Fine! I don't want it anyway! Feed it to the birds or something!"
There was silence on the other side of the door, before her Dad replied.
"Alright. I don't know what is up with your attitude young filly, but you'll get your wish. No dinner, and no snacks for the rest of the night. Maybe tomorrow, we can talk about this like civilized horses."
Sweetie heard her Dad's hoofbeats retreating, and felt a tinge of sadness. She didn't mean to sound so upset, but she was desperate to get rid of this spell-no, this...curse!
Hours passed, and each page she analyzed, was showing her plenty of magic spells, but nothing that pointed to ridding her of the sweet touch.
*GRUMBLE*
"Stop that," she said aloud, looking down at her stomach. "You're not getting anything until I'm back to, *yawn* normal."
The yawn made her look to the clock on her bedside table, which showed that it was already way past her bedtime.
"Forget it," she said to the clock. "I'm not sleeping, until I find *yawn* that antidote."
Brave words for a little filly, but pretty soon, Sweetie Belle's head began to droop, and soon, her eyes closed. As her mouth lay open, her tongue lolled out, touching her bedcover.
_____
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*
"Sweetie Belle?"
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*
"Sweetie Belle! You're going to be late for school!"
Sweetie Belle yawned, licking a peculiar taste from her muzzle, and trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes, as her Mom's voice came through the door.
"I'll be down in a minute, Mom," she said, wondering why her alarm clock hadn't gone off.
Stranger still, was the feeling of wood under her cheek. She was sure she had been on her bed last night. Getting to her hooves, she could swear she felt...heavier?
Looking down at her front hooves, the sleep left her eyes in seconds!
She was staring at her front appendages, but they were thicker, looking like a puffed up pair of elongated marshmallows!
Looking around the room, the feeling of horror in her stomach quadrupled!
Her bed was gone, along with her wardrobe, dresser, bedside table, and alarm clock!
Nononononono, she thought, rushing for the door, each hoofbeat making the floorboards creak under her.
Exiting her room suddenly became a hassle, as she felt the sides of her body squeeze gently through the wood frame, as she hurried to the bathroom. Raising herself up to the sink mirror, revealed her worst fears!
Staring back at her, was an incredibly pudgy filly. Big green eyes looked over the tops of her face's plump round cheeks, and down to a double-chin underneath. Filling the rest of the mirror, was a bulbous white body,that looked like somepony had inflated her with an air-pump.
"Oh, Don't tell me I sleep-eat when I'm hungry," she wailed, tears glistening in her eyes. "I look like a blob!"
Suddenly, her mind flashed to the book...where was it!?
Waddling back to her room, she found the cover and bindings on the floor...but most of the pages were gone!
I must have eaten them when I ate the bed, she thought.
Shuffling through what was left of the book, her frantic search turned up no further information about her curse.
"NO!" She cried. "NONONONONO!!!"
Her last 'no' brought her horn down on the book...which quickly turned into a book-ish s'more, with graham cracker binding, marshmallow pages, and chocolate words.
The aroma tickled the plump little pony's nose, and in a matter of seconds, a tearful Sweetie Belle had eaten up the last of the book!
I need to get out of here, she thought. I got to get to Twilight!
_____
Some time later, several of Ponyville's residents were surprised to see a bouncing white blob with pink and purple highlights, jiggling into town.
Sweetie had run as fast as her fat little legs would carry her, but the added weight on her body had winded her greatly. Sweat poured down her forehead, as she also tried to ignore the 'stitch' in her side.
"Got to get on the next train to Canterlot," she said to herself, huffing and puffing loudly. "Twilight can help me. There's got to be something in The Royal Palace that can-"
*WHAM*
Next thing Sweetie knew, she had collided with something, and hit the ground like a big white pillow.
"Hey!" Came a familiar-sounding-voice, "Watch where you're going you big fat...Sweetie Belle!?"
Sweetie turned her head, and laid eyes on Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon. Both were staring at her in shock, before Diamond's eyes narrowed into devilish little slits.
"Oops, I'm so sor-ry," said Diamond, sweetly. "Judging by your huge body, I guess I should call you 'Sweetie Belly' from now on!"
"Shut up," said Sweetie, noticing several other fillies and colts beginning to crowd around.
"Look how fat she is," said Silver. "What happened, Sweetie? Did you eat your little blank-flank friends?"
"S-stop it," said Sweetie, growing nervous as it seemed all eyes were affixed on her swollen body.
"Or what?" Asked Silver. "You'll gobble me up too, like the little piggy you are?"
"I'm not a pig!"
"Look at how your little tail curls behind your big fat bottom! Oh, hear that? I think the farmer's calling you home! Sooie! Sooie!"
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon doubled over with laughter, and several of the other children nearby started to snicker and giggle.
"Sweetie Belly Sweetie Belly, Silly little jelly belly," sang Diamond Tiara.
As she repeated the song, Silver Spoon joined in, and in a matter of seconds, a number of the other young fillies and colts followed suit, as a flood of tears streamed down Sweetie Belle's cheeks.
"STOP IT!!" She cried, getting up on her legs, and running away, as the song continued behind her:
"Sweetie Belly Sweetie Belly, Silly little jelly belly!"
_____
Sweetie's vision was a blurry mess as she ran and jiggled along. Shaking her head to get the tears out of her eyes, she suddenly found herself away from the main buildings of Ponyville. Nearby, a pastel-colored structure rose up...one that Sweetie knew all-too-well.
"Carousel Boutique," she said, still sniffling. "Rarity will help me."
Going up to the door, Sweetie instinctively used her horn's magic to open it, and as the door's overhead bell twinkled, Sweetie watched as it went silent, and the wooden door became a blueberry-scented confection!
"NO!!" She cried out, but it was too late. Within seconds, she was hungrily taking huge bites out of the door, her cheeks soon caked with frosting, as her tongue greedily tried to lick up all traces on her face.
"Coming!" Came Rarity's voice from inside the boutique.
"No *munch* Rarity," Sweetie called out, between mouthfuls of the door. "Go *smack* away!"
"Wait a minute," came a perplexed voice. "Something is EATING MY FRONT DOOR!!? AAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!"
Sweetie quickly licked up the last of the door, and (with much difficulty) squeezed into the boutique, where Rarity was perched on top of a chair.
"GO A-WAY YOU HORRID THING!"
"Rarity, it's me!!"
"WHAT the...the..thethe...SWEETIE BELLE!?"
Rarity then carefully descended down from her chair, and came over to the overstuffed filly.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle! What have you done to yourself?"
And so, sitting in the center of Carousel Boutique like an overfilled bag of flour, Sweetie told her sister everything. By the time she got to the part about the other kids calling her names, she had broken down in heavy sobbing again.
"Oh, my poor little Sweetie," said Rarity, trying to hug her 'little' sister...a task that was almost akin to squeezing a large marshmallow. "Everything is going to be alright. I promise."
"B-but how?" Sobbed Sweetie. "I ate the book with the spell and antidote in it! At the rate I'm going, I'll end up eating nothing but candy until I explode!"
"Oh, that won't happen. We just need to get you to Twilight! I'm sure she can get you fixed up."
Rarity leaned her head against Sweetie's and nuzzled her for comfort...not realizing how close her own horn was to her little sister's.
Sweetie noticed it immediately. Rarity's embrace suddenly seemed...stiff. Looking up, she let out the biggest scream she had ever made in her life!
Holding her, was a pony-like figure that resembled Rarity, but one made entirely out of candy! Her body smelled of white chocolate, her dark eyelashes were made out of black licorice, her vacant blue eyes glistened with a blueberry coating, and her swirling purple hair, was composed of grape-smelling fondant!
Sweetie Belle scooted away, as far and fast across the room as she could, her huge body jiggling as she tried to put as much distance between her and her sister!
"No, NO! DON'T MAKE ME!!" She screamed, but as she neared the door, her body seemed to 'reverse,' and she found herself slowly crawling back to the candy Rarity, her mouth beginning to water!
"NO!! PLEASE!! I DON'T WANT TO EAT MY SISTER!!! TWILIGHT!! PRINCESS LUNA!! PRINCESS CELESTIA!!! SOMEPONY!!! ANYPONY!!! HELP ME!!!!!"
Suddenly, Sweetie's hooves locked in place, and a purple aura enveloped her in a round bubble, lifting her off the ground.
"Don't worry, Sweetie Belle," came Twilight Sparkle's voice. "It's going to be alright."
Turning in the direction of the voice, Sweetie saw Twilight, standing in the doorway of the boutique.
"Twilight! You need to help me," cried Sweetie through the bubble, where she struggled to still get to Rarity. "I'm under a curse, and I'm trying to eat my sister!"
"I know," the purple pony replied.
"H-how?"
"Because of this," said Twilight, holding up a page that looked like it had been torn out of a book. In cursive lettering, Sweetie could read five words that calmed her immediately: Antidote for The Sweetie Touch.
_____
Once Twilight recited the incantation, Rarity returned to normal, and Sweetie Belle was let out of the bubble, her hunger to devour her sister, now squelched. She then embraced Rarity, happy and relieved that things were (somewhat) back to normal.
A test of her magic brought further relief, when attempts to move a nearby hat, resulted in Sweetie's horn glowing green, and levitating the chapeau a few inches off it's display base, without it transforming.
Twilight soon explained that she had returned to her castle that morning, where Spike had told her about Sweetie almost giving him a concussion on her way into the library the day before.
Examining where Sweetie had sat, Twilight had found the antidote page under a nearby table, but no sign of the book.
Going out into Ponyville, she had heard the kids chanting about Sweetie Belle's weight, and headed off to where they last saw the plump filly going.
"I heard you scream from inside the boutique," said Twilight, to Sweetie. "Good thing I was in time."
"Thanks again,, Twilight," said Sweetie, giving the Princess a 'big' hug. "I promise I'll never use any spells in your library without your permission, ever again."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Twilight.
"That makes two of us," said Rarity, coming over to them with a small tea tray.
"So, now that I'm back to normal magically," said Sweetie Belle, taking a sip from one of the cups. "When does my body return to normal?"
"Actually, Sweetie Belle...it doesn't."
"HUH!?" Squeaked the plump little filly, spurting tea out of her mouth.
"The antidote can undo The Sweet Touch spell," said Twilight, "but all the food you've eaten, isn't actually magical. That extra weight, I'm afraid, will have to be worked off, through dieting and exercising."
In a matter of seconds, the joy in Sweetie Belle's pudgy face, was replaced with a look of utter dejection.
_____
Later on that evening, Sweetie was seated at the dinner table at home, her eyes looking down at her empty plate. She shifted in her chair, which creaked and groaned under the weight of her body, most of which was spilling out over the sides.
"Ok then, little filly," said her Mom, coming into the room with a pot. "Princess Twilight Sparkle made it pretty clear to your Dad and me, that you need to go on a diet."
"I understand," said Sweetie, still looking at her plate.
"You're going to need to eat your greens."
"I understand."
"Even if they taste bad."
"...I understand."
"Ok then, let's get you eating healthy, and back down to size!"
And as Sweetie Belle watched, her mother magically placed some familiar vegetables on her plate.
Ugh, brussel sprouts, she thought.
__ The End __