> A Royal Decree > by Archy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A Royal Decree > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess Celestia was...ashamed. It was rare in her long and extensive life that she felt this way very often. So many years of ruling meant that she was prepared for almost any situation, bar those that Twilight and her friends got into when saving Equestria. She hadn’t felt this way in a long time, in fact she was struggling to remember when last had experienced such emotions. That fat mare stood in her private quarters, tears streaming from her eyes thinking of how much of a total fool she had made of herself and believing she could just pass it off with nopony saying a word or noticing the change in her size. Months ago, boredom had become something she felt she had needed to vanquish from her daily life. Excitement came and went but the running of a kingdom that covered huge tracts of land was so mundane. She remembered the one day Luna had tried it and begged her to return her to her nightly work where she entered the dreams of ponies, likely having a lot more fun in the process. To fill her time alone in the evenings once the official business of the day finished, the Princess had started to fill her time with eating. It had started small at first as it always does with these things. A few orders down to the royal kitchen for a small plate of cookies, muffins or some other sweet treat. A week in, the orders had increased. Slices of cake, an entire basket of muffins. The more the Princess seemed to eat the more she enjoyed asking for more. The royal kitchen’s were always quiet too in the evenings. Why not make use of them? By the time a few weeks had passed, each evening the mare had several lavish trays of delectables waiting for her by her bed. Whole cakes by this stage, multiple pastries, endless cookies, biscuits and snacks for her to enjoy. She was continually impressed by what her staff made her and Celestia was eating everything that was brought to her for her pleasure. Of course, whilst the Princess was eternal her figure was not. Quickly as she had started to eat far more than her usual fair of foods she began to pack on the pounds. A hefty middle formed beneath her, a large gut of huge proportions that sagged low and wobbled as she walked. Her face became chubby, jiggly facial cheeks bouncing around every time she uttered a word to anypony. Her flanks widened, her body looking for ways to compensate for the large influx of food that she was consuming each evening. At the end of the month, the Princess was starting to resemble a small elephant, her size now so great and huge. The end of the month also brought a small meeting of her, Twilight and her friends, a number of ponies from the high society of Canterlot and a small contingent of the Royal Guard. It was a monthly meet of sorts to catch up with those ponies close to her if no immediate threats were arising. The evening itself was a complete disaster. Celestia, her now gluttonous self, spent the entire time at the head of the table stuffing her face as Twilight and the nobles looked on. Hardly a word was said. Twilight and the rest of her friends spent most of the time staring, Twilight herself hardly able to believe what she was witnessing her mentor do. The nobles however were not so kind, throughout the evening her ears picked up whisperings between partners sat at the table, attempting to enjoy their rather quaint looking meals. “Surely this is not our Princess? Has she been replaced with a Changeling? A fat one at that…” “This can’t be Celestia, her manners...disgusting!” “I believe that’s her third cake of the evening dear...we’ve only been sat here twenty minutes…” The harsh words continued until the meal was over. The Princess had noticed it all through stuffing her face. The stares, the whispered words that hadn’t escaped her ears. She sat for a moment, a few crumbs leaving her lips and rolling rather un-majestically down her chins as for the first time in the evening she decided to speak. “It seems my size has not escaped notice…” Celestia stood up, her huge form rising above the table. Gut pushing out and forming a crease as it pushed against it. Several ponies stared, others grinned. Twilight still had the same look of total disbelief on her face, most likely too polite to make a comment on how lardy her mentor had grown. “I had hoped to catch up with you all this evening after I was done eating, however I think instead I shall make a decree.” she said, holding back the anger and upset feelings in her head as she spoke, retaining her regal demeanour. “It seems ponies of the larger size are somewhat, looked down upon. This clearly needs remedying. Therefore, I am giving all the mares of Equestria two months to reach the same size as me. Of all the ponies here tonight, they made the most observations about me. Anypony not at my weight as of now will be banished beyond our borders.” she said, smiling and sitting her fat rear back down with a pomf! For a moment there was silence. Nopony quite knew what to make of what she had said. There was confused looks on faces, ponies looking at each other with distraught expressions. Finally Twilight was the first to speak. “S-surely you are joking Celestia?” she started to ask, then turning her head to look at the shocked audience and back to Celestia. “D-don’t worry, I’m sure this is just temporary, right?” “We’ll see Twilight, for now I am retiring for the night. I expect to see you all back here next month with a bit of added weight.” the Princess said, before getting up and waddling her way out the room. The repercussions that followed were felt throughout Equestria. Twilight Sparkle, the ever faithful student did her best to assure the populace that this law was temporary until Celestia came to her senses and repealed in, however in the meantime it was best that everypony follow her lead. The night she passed the law, Celestia let that shame she felt wash over her. She had never passed such a rather ridiculous law. She knew she was pushing the limits of her power. She felt absolutely awful. That was, right up until the point her nightly meals arrived. The Princess mused on her decree. She might repeal it, but first some ponies had to learn. - “Come on dangit!” They had been at this for hours. Applejack was getting fed up, in fact fed up might be the understatement of the year. She was angry. “Rarity, for lands sakes will you stop fussin’ over everything!” she yelled out, trying her best with a flabby hoof to pull on her friend to get her moving. The problem was, Rarity was just as big as she was. Both ponies the size and weight of a small cart the farm pony was having a heck of a time trying to get the fashion pony out the door. “But it is everything Applejack!” the Unicorn replied. The mare was utterly inconsolable. Refusing to move herself she bawled and wailed as she lay on the couch in Carousel Boutique which was looking rather sorry for itself under her immense weight, the legs splayed out trying to hold up that fat blubbery frame of Rarity. “Look, ya came this far. What’s the problem?” Applejack asked. She had been there the whole time Rarity had been messing with her hair, getting her outfit just so and making sure everything matched. It was excruciatingly slow for a pony who basically rolled out of bed, combed her mane and threw her hat on her head. “Look at me Applejack!” Rarity continued to wail. “I. Am. ENORMOUS!” was what finally came out of her lips. Applejack just rolled her eyes. “But so is EVERYPONY else Rarity. Since the decree ain’t nopony who don’t waddle around town or get themselves jammed in doors!” Applejack tried to reason. Unlike Rarity who had really had to force herself to eat to meet the rigorous size and weight of Celestia, Applejack had just bulked up by working less and eating more. She had to admit that the added size gave her a few advantages. Gigantic thunder thighs certainly made bucking a whole lot easier… Right now though, clearly Rarity was feeling like her added size was of no benefit whatsoever. “Everypony else might be massive, but I’m not used to it! Look at me...flabby hooves, a flank that gets stuck every time I try to leave the boutique! A belly that makes me look like a whale. My whole appearance is just a complete disaster Applejack!” the Unicorn said, finally finding the energy to move her huge bulk off the couch to stand and face her friend. “Do you really think I’m leaving looking like this?” she asked, her tone dipping down to be much more sincere. “Well...we gotta get out Rarity! Dash was hopin’ to show us some sorta new trick and we were meant to meet up with Twilight later as well. Ya know, for that meal?” “Another meal!?” the incredulous tone of Rarity’s voice just deepend. “I simply can’t Applejack! It doesn’t help either that all the stallions out there are still thin! I can’t believe Celestia would just decree this to mares only!” she protested. “You were there Rarity and ya know it ain’t our fault. It was those prissy and upright Canterlot mares who made all those comments! Now we’re gettin the punishment cos they couldn’t keep their yaps shut!” Applejack retorted, it seemed she wasn’t done though. “Ya know what Rarity, I’ve put up with a lot of yer’ nonsense over the years. That mighty fine appearance of yours has always been one of em’. I thought this might actually be the one opportunity for y'all to let your mane down a bit. Experience life a little more freely seein’ as everypony is as big and bloated as the others...bar the stallions of course. But no! Y’all are just uptight and prissy as ever, even more so! Why I…” she trailed off, her face scrunching into an annoyed look as she looked down slightly at the floor trying to think of her next sentence. “What Applejack? You’ll sit on me? You’ll push me out the door? I know you’ve got more power with those thunderous thighs you’re sporting but it’ll take a lot more than that to get me out of here!” Rarity yelled back, plopping herself back down on the couch which moaned audibly and sagged under her weight. “Quiet you!” “Ya know what? Stay here. I don’t care. Stay here, eat, get fatter and even more uptight about how y’all look. Letting yards out yer outfits just so they fit! Making sure all yer clients are orderin’ the XXL skirts and dresses! Y'all just stay here, stare at yerself in that mirror of yours and tell yerself that yer pretty. Because maybe I don’t wanna go out with ya if you’re just gonna care about how you look!” she yelled, her last words leaving her lips with venom as she told Rarity exactly what she thought of her attitude. For a few seconds Rarity just stared, right before her face fell and she buried her head in her chubby hooves and bawled. Again Applejack just rolled her eyes, she was used to this when Rarity got told some hard truths. She never did take it that well. “Alright, alright...maybe I was a tad harsh…” Applejack said, shifting herself just enough to get to close to the couch and rest a flabby hoof of her own over Rarity to try and give her some comfort. “Y-you think?” Rarity replied, lifting her head from being buried as a few final tears streamed down her face having ruined her carefully prepared makeup. She sighed and flopped forward. Applejack was right really, she had to be big. The Princess had decreed it. That didn’t however mean she couldn’t get even with Applejack for all those nasty words… “P-perhaps there is something you can help me with?” she asked, trying her best to push her hurt pony persona a little further. “What is it sugarcube?” “Well… I’ve been, rather upset for another reason. It’s not just me.” she confessed. “Oh? And what reason is this?” Applejack asked, now curious. “Well… as a part of the new ruling some of the more important ponies in fashion got together and decided it would be a good idea if we put together a plus sized fashion show that would try and sell to ponies like me, concerned about our appearance, that being bigger was actually a good thing. Of course I didn’t buy it, but they asked me to put a show on here in Ponyville.” “Okay well, sounds reasonable. What’s the problem then?” Applejack asked, her fat hoof still rubbing into Rarity’s folds to calm her. “Well...I had a pony drop out last minute. She wasn’t gaining fast enough and she decided to stay home to catch up as it were.” Rarity explained. “Everything is set, I’m just a pony down and she was my main model.” “Well...err. Hold on Rarity, don’t go getting any funny ideas. I mean I think I can see where this is goin’. I wasn’t born yesterday but uh…” was all Applejack managed, she knew what was coming. Best just let Rarity get it out and say it, she knew she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Will you fill in for her? The show is tonight. I’ll give you a makeover, it’ll be fun!” Rarity said. “Fine. I knew that’s what you wanted but fine. Just don’t make it too girly okay? I don’t wanna look all fancy.” Applejack said, watching as Rarity’s down and upset demeanour quickly changed. She was smiling and leaned up, giving Applejack a giant bear hug that squished her fat making it blorp out as it tried to escape the crush. “O-okay calm down. Lets just ah...get this over with? Please?” “Certainly! Head upstairs, I’ll be right there to get started on you! I just need a few things.” Rarity excitedly explained, getting up and waddling her way over to a store room to fetch the items. “Alright…” Applejack carefully manoeuvred her wobbling frame up the narrow staircase of the boutique. She could tell Rarity had been having problems getting up and down since her gain in size, bits of wallpaper were looking rather worn from her flanks and stomach rubbing against them each trip. The wall even had some small divots in, clearly where she was just a little too wide to get past unhindered. AJ herself didn’t fare too much better, she could feel her stomach below her wobbling as she pulled it up several flights of stairs. Her own flanks brushing and squishing against the walls as she finally escaped the staircase and made it to the landing with her enlarged body. The final hurdle was the door to the room. The mare went forward, opting for the gentle approach. The frame itself looked a bit worse for wear. As Rarity had gotten bigger Applejack suspected that she had tried to force herself out up to a point. Slowly she wiggled her hooves through, making sure that her thundering belly didn’t do too much damage to the frame. Gently it squished through. Now she just had to do the same to her flanks. Slightly wider and firmer than her belly, the mares applebucking thighs were easily wedged in the door frame. She tried the gentle approach, but each time she moved forward she felt her rear protest against the doorway. After a minute or two of trying to squish through, she heard Rarity behind her who now with her things had followed her up the stairs. “I think your uh, generous proportions are a little too much for it dear.” she said. “Ya think?” Applejack said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Rarity just giggled. “You know...this means I can work on you more easily. Okay there’s a door frame holding you in place, but I can work around it.” Rarity said, her horn glowing that familiar dull blue as she summoned over all the tools and items she needed to get to work on AJ. “W-wait! Hol’ on Rarity, I didn’t agree to be styled here!” Applejack tried her best to wiggle her way out of the frame, but her massive thighs kept her there. She wasn’t going anywhere until Rarity decided she was getting out. “Hold still Applejack! Really, I need you to be near motionless for me to be able to work. Now, lift your tail…” Rarity said calmly. “Why?” “So I can comb it and start to put you in the outfit. Really, what were you thinking?” Rarity asked with a questioning tone as she started her work. “N-nothin. You just ah. You do what you do best, ah’m here for ya.” Applejack said. She sighed, she had to just keep still and let Rarity get on with it. Not that she had much movement. She wiggled her thighs one last time, feeling her blubbery body pushing against that frame. Yup. Really wedged... The outfit was simple, something Rarity had been planning for a little while now. She didn’t have to let it out, it was already set up for plus sized ponies. It just needed fitting to Applejack. Her friend was the one that needed prettying up really. She paid special attention to her mane, facial features and tail to make her look as darling as she possibly could. It was AJ after all, she deserved it. It was a long, long process to get her friend ready for the fashion show, Rarity working her magic to make AJ as presentable as she could. Se kept what she had done as secret as possible. Applejack still had eyes, but with her massive frame it was hard to observe what was going on around her as Rarity worked. When she finally finished and Applejack was freed, she didn’t let her near a mirror until they were backstage at the show... “Rarity dangit! I said not too girly! I look ridiculous!” she huffed in embarrassment, cheeks turning a deep red as she observed just how much Rarity had done to her. She knew she had done it on purpose and was just about to protest when Rarity butted in. “Well I had to take a little creative pleasure darling...besides, you look rather fetching. You’ll really show off the plus sized garments I have prepared. Not a moment to waste, out the curtain! Our friends are waiting!” she excitedly said. “Hold on, our friends?” Applejack asked, somewhat oblivious. “Yes! All of them! I told them about this show a few weeks ago! They’ll all be there, cheering you on as you walk down the aisle!” she beamed. Immediately AJ dug her jiggling heels in. “Are you serious!? They’re all gonna see me waddlin mahself down that aisle?!” she asked. “Oh no, no way ahm I doin’ this now! Forget it!” the mare said with a huff, sitting down on her rear and like Rarity earlier, refusing to move. “Now come on dear. You were just saying to me a few hours ago I should be far less concerned with my appearance. A little bit hypocritical of you now to not want to be seen for the same reason, hmm?” Rarity asked with a questioning tone. Applejack hated to admit it but she was right, she had her there. If she refused she’d only be proving Rarity’s point from earlier in the day. She sighed and stood up. She hated Rarity being right and her being wrong. “Fine, but I ain’t happy about this. Not one little bit.” “I know darling, but trust me, ponies will love you.” “This is revenge for earlier ain’t it?” Applejack asked bluntly as she stared at the closed curtain that she was about to gracefully jiggle her way through. “Well I wouldn’t say revenge… How about, getting even?” “That’s revenge.” “If you want to call it that.” Rarity giggled. “Now come on, there are ponies waiting.” The show itself was a smash. The pièce de résistance being Applejack’s display at the end. Walking down the aisle with that stoic expression sporting an extremely frilly dress in front of all her friends was not the best experience for the farm pony. Rarity however took great pleasure in watching as the dress hugged that frame, she had made sure it fitted Applejack to perfection before she waddled out on that stage. Perhaps now Applejack might understand Rarity’s concerns about her appearance. If she didn’t, well there was always more fashion shows. - “Hnnnggg!” The sounds of a fat Pegasus struggling to leave the group echoed around the valley. Rainbow Dash was not having a good day. “R-Rainbow? Maybe you uh, shouldn’t struggle so much…” Fluttershy tried to say, her voice drowned out by the frenzied flapping of wings and the struggles of her fat friend trying to lift her humongous body off the floor. “T-this can’t be right…” was all Rainbow managed to puff out, taking a moment to rest and gather her strength. She had always been an excellent flyer. The best. Even after the decree with the added weight that she had to put on she had managed to stay airborne. But a side effect of what Celestia had ordered her ponies to do was now taking hold of the many Pegasi that inhabited Equestria. They were too fat to fly. Wings are a part of themselves that all Pegasi are always trying their best to look after. With no wings there’s no flight. It had only been a couple of weeks into the decree when the first of them had voluntarily grounded themselves. The ponies having a firm belief that putting too much pressure on themselves to fly around at increased weights would be detrimental to their physique and well being. Some had struggled on, getting fatter and fatter until they too saw reason and reached the point where they couldn’t go on either. Only the truly dedicated had continued to try to lift themselves up. Ponies in the Wonderbolts, Weather Teams or other vital services had tried to struggle on putting huge pressures on their wings that flapped frantically trying to lift bodies far too fat to be in the air. Even they though were dropping like flies. Cloudsdale was now mostly run by stallions, the mares hardly leaving their homes as they continued to try to bulk up to meet the Princess’s expectations. Pegasi who lived on the ground, the mares anyway, just weren’t flying anymore. It had taken a small toll on Equestria as a whole, with no mares to bolster the weather groups that controlled the rain, snow, storms and other such planned weather the stallions were doing their best but starting to run behind schedule keeping up as there simply wasn’t enough of them to do the work. Weather across Equestria was erratic. Scheduled rain storms were days late and it was starting to have an effect on the crops. Rainbow Dash is, well was, one of the last mares flying. Right up until she had eaten that meal yesterday to carbo load herself. It had clearly been a little too much as right now, wearing her Wonderbolts uniform she couldn’t even get a single hoof off the ground. “Maybe try again tomorrow?” Fluttershy suggested. It was always her way to try to say something optimistic. Rainbow however wasn’t buying it. “But I’ll be even bigger tomorrow Fluttershy! If I slim down to fly, I won’t meet Celestia’s orders! And that means all this extra weight will be for nothing, I’ll be banished!” she blurted out, shifting her hefty hindquarters a little to face her friend. “Do you really think she meant it?” Fluttershy asked. “Well...do you want to find out whether she did or not?” Rainbow dash replied. “I suppose not…” Fluttershy was equally large herself, but Rainbow was just that little bit larger. The yellow Pegasus had stopped flying weeks ago, the delicate mare deciding like the a number of her friends not to put stress on her wings. Besides, she wasn’t a huge fan of flying. It was nice to have a convenient excuse to not have to do it. “Well, now what? I can’t stay here all day. I can’t do my job. What else is there?” Rainbow asked. “Well, I still have my animals to tend to. Why don’t you help me with them?” Fluttershy replied, leaning towards Rainbow and making her frame jiggle a little with the movement. She watched as Rainbow groaned. “I guess, not like I have anything better to do…” it was a small protest, like as soon as something better came along Rainbow would waddle away as fast as she could to whatever it was that came up. For now though, she might as well give Fluttershy a hand. “Come on, it’s a short walk...trot, er. Waddle? Back to my cottage.” “The cottage? Why not the sanctuary? I thought all your animals were there.” Rainbow queried, the two large ponies making their way slowly out the valley as their bodies wobbled and jostled about. Rainbow feeling it particularly wearing the flight suit. “Well most are yes, but I still keep a few at home. We can have some tea too.” she smiled, one of her chins shifting upwards slightly to make it look like she was grinning twice. When they arrived Rainbow realised just how out of shape she was, she was sweating after what she would have classed as a very short walk. Clearly being large meant your body had a lot more to cope with and this was a side effect. She had to get out of the suit, the wet material clinging to her body was extremely uncomfortable. “Mind if I take this off? I… -huff- just need to let my skin breathe.” she said to Flutters, already unzipping the suit and starting to slide her fat hooves out. “Oh go ahead.” As she watched Rainbow take the suit off, Fluttershy couldn’t help but notice one of her animals staring as well. She took a few trots over to the pen, standing next to the fence to make sure. After a few moments of darting her eyes back and forth between him and Rainbow, she had absolutely no doubt in her mind that he was transfixed. When Rainbow finished undressing, kicking the suit aside to let it dry out she saw that Fluttershy had moved a short distance away and was stood next to a pen. She waddled her way over to her. “So who’s this?” she asked. “Rainbow Dash, this is Humphry. Humphry say hello to Rainbow Dash.” There was a number of grunts, almost verging on the sounds of coos from the beast. Rainbows expression changed from pleasant to looking slightly worried. “Um, do Hippos usually make those noises?” she asked, looking as the animal, just a little larger than she was, almost leaned over his pen to get a closer look at her. “Well, the grunts yes.” Fluttershy said honestly. “What about the other noises.” Rainbow Dash asked in a rather flat and matter-a-fact tone. “Oh um...well…” “Fluttershy, why is one of your animals giving me goo-goo eyes and making noises like that?” she asked. Humphry gave a few more grunts and coos in response, which sent Fluttershy red. “Oh um....he likes you.” “What.” Fluttershy stuttered a little. She couldn’t think of another way to say it. If she translated everything Humphry had said Rainbow Dash would probably waddle away screaming. “He um, he really likes you. He says he thinks you’re cute.” she started to say, watching as Rainbows face fell, her mouth going so low as to nearly intersect her large wobbling chin as she frowned. “Okay. Lots of ponies like me Fluttershy. Ponies. Why has a hippo got the hots for me?” There was even more grunts from Humphry as the animal explained to Fluttershy, obviously what he was saying was rather personal. The more he said the more Fluttershy started to get red. “N-no, I can’t tell her that Humphry!” “Tell me what?” “He uh...he really likes your size. He says you’re the prettiest pony he’s ever laid eyes on.” There was a moment of silence, rare for Rainbow Dash. Her face went almost stoney, her eyes narrowed. She dug her hooves into the ground a little, large frame wobbling as she did so. “MY SIZE?” she yelled out, her anger echoing throughout the small clearing that encompassed the cottage. “Yes, he u-uh. He says he thinks the added w-weight makes you r-really attractive. H-he wants to ask if you’d l-like a date?” “I…” for a few seconds Rainbow had no words. Her mind spasmed, suddenly she lived a mini life in her head of her getting married to Humphry, the two of them at the altar as Fluttershy married them. The words ‘I do’ came from her lips, and she snapped back to reality as dream wedding Humphry leaned in for a giant, wet smooch. She felt insulted with no clue what to say. Humphry was still staring at her, Fluttershy was trying not to die of embarrassment next to him relaying his words. But as per typical Rainbow Dash fashion her hot head got the better of her. “NO. Tell Humphry I appreciate it, but I do not have any plans in the near future to date a hippo! Seeing as though I resemble one, perhaps I might change my mind! UGH!” The Pegasus yelled, turning her body to stomp off at such a rate that her flanks almost sloshed to the side like her belly. With a lot of protest the Pegasus waddled her way up the small hill, squeezing her way inside the cottage and slamming the door behind her. “Do you think I should have told her you understood all that. Not to worry Humphry, you might have a chance!” Fluttershy said with a smile. Humphry just responded with some sad grunts as he returned to his mud for a lie down. “I’ll um, go talk to her and calm her down. Sorry Humphry!” Fluttershy said, picking her hooves up and waddling her way up to the cottage to see a very grumpy Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy pushed the door open. The carpenters of Equestria were doing a roaring trade since the decree. She had already had it widened once, as she squeezed her way inside she was sure she was going to have to call them out to widen it again. Towards the middle of the room a very fat and very upset Rainbow was sat on her flanks pouting. “Tea?” “I guess.” Fluttershy started to prepare the drinks. It was a good time to ask questions whilst she was somewhat distracted. “Are you really that upset by a proposition?” she asked. “Seriously? That’s what you’re asking?” Rainbow Dash started to say. “No Fluttershy, I am not upset by a proposition. Plenty of stallions have asked me out on dates. Stallions. Not once in my life did I ever think that a hippo would ask me out. I mean what was he going to do with me anyway? Offer to take me into his pen and roll me around in the mud? Sheesh.” the mare said, sitting back on her cushion like rear and digging a hoof slightly into one of her belly folds. “I mean it’s enough that I’m too fat to fly. It’s even worse when your only date prospects are gigantic fat hippos.” “Okay, okay I see what you mean.” Fluttershy said, bringing the tea over on her back and then setting the tray down on a small table. She watched as with a flabby hoof Rainbow took a cup and started to take gentle sips. Her mood started to change immediately. It was always wonderous what such a simple drink did for the mind. She continued her thoughts. “I know you’re upset Rainbow, I imagine most of the flyers that are like you are. But you didn’t have to snap a Humphry. He’s rather kind if you gave him a chance.” “Look Fluttershy, I’ll say sorry to him later but I am not dating a hippo.” “I didn’t expect you to. Actually I’d have been surprised if you had agreed.” she replied, taking a sip of the tea herself. “This whole thing is not the best situation is it?” “No, it’s not. Well okay, I did have a small laugh at Rarity’s fashion show. Watching Applejack up there clearly against her will was rather amusing. She pulled the outfit off though.” Rainbow Dash smiled, her anger now evaporated. Fluttershy joined her in a small giggle. “Yes, Rarity said she agreed to help her out at the last moment. Very kind of her. I meant to ask, have you seen Twilight or Pinkie at all? I haven’t seen them for around a week now.” Fluttershy asked. “Well I know Twilight basically locked herself in the castle. Right after the announcement she said she had some sort of spell she needed to perfect and work on. No idea what though, she didn’t say. I assume with all the ponies needing to eat more Pinkie has been preoccupied at Sugarcube Corner making as many treats as she can. I bet they’re sold out every day.” Rainbow Dash mused. It seemed like a fair assessment of what their friends might be up to. Fluttershy just nodded her head in agreement. “I should go see them soon. Anyway, back to the matter at hoof. What are you going to do now you can’t fly? What are most Pegasi doing actually?” Fluttershy queried. She had her animals which always kept her occupied. Not being able to fly was just a small hindrance which meant it took a little longer for her to get around and do her chores. “Eating.” “Eating?” “Eating. That’s all most ponies are doing Fluttershy. This stupid decree means we all have to bulk up. Most flyers like me are naturally slim. The fact that suddenly we have to put on so much weight we’re resembling hippos so much they want to date us is a big change. I’ve always had a perfect aerodynamic body Flutters. I’m having to eat morning, noon and night just to keep up. That reminds me, got any cakes?” she asked. Despite Rainbow explaining the struggle, the fatter ponies got the more that they did want to eat. Rainbow was finding that despite stuffing her face, when she wasn’t eating, she wanted to eat. “Yes one moment.” Fluttershy said, clearing the tea away and waddling herself over to a kitchen cupboard where she pulled out a few cakes. They took the place of the tea on the table, Rainbow greedily taking a huge slice with a chunky hoof. “It’s just hard, you know?” Rainbow started to speak again between chews. “Like I don’t like it, no pony like me likes it, but who wants to be banished? This is my home Fluttershy. I don’t wanna get kicked out just because the Princess says I’m too thin to live here.” Rainbow said. “Mmm, it’s very odd. The decision was so rash as well. And to only ask mares to do this? Do you think she’ll do what Twilight said and repeal it?” Fluttershy asked. “Well maybe, but like, I can’t wait to find out. If she doesn’t then I’ve gotta be prepared. Well, we all do.” Rainbow said with a slight sigh. “You’re doing pretty well yourself. I thought you’d struggle.” Rainbow continued, observing the rather porky frame of her once slender friend. “Well um, it wasn’t so hard. Just eat more like you do. I have a lot of animal supplements as well, I maaaaay have been going into those just a teeny tiny bit.” she confessed, blushing slightly as Rainbow grinned back at her. “I see.” was all the Rainbow Pegasus replied, she finished off the last of her cake. Both of them having vanished extremely quickly, both the girls with big appetites due to their sizes. “URRRPPPP!” “Urp!” Each had to release something, Rainbows a lot more hefty of a belch than Fluttershy, who was still trying her best to keep her soft and delicate demeanour. Rainbow wiped a few crumbs for her chin before going down into her folds and searching with her hooves for any remains that might have fallen inside. “Believe it or not I found a whole lollipop in here the other day, just stuck between two of my stomach folds…” she said as she reached around, meanwhile Fluttershy cleared away what the two had been eating. She waddled her way back over to Rainbow, now done with her search having found now flotsam in her flab, putting a hoof around her. “I’m sure we’ll get through this Rainbow. We may be the size of hippos but we have each other.” she comforted. “Yeah thanks Fluttershy. You’re right.” “Now speaking of hippos, once certain hippo outside I think deserves an apology.” “Heh, okay okay I’ll go say sorry.” Rainbow did as she promised, going outside and apologising to an upset but understanding Humphry. Fluttershy with her, just translated. “He says he understands. He didn’t mean to offend you. He still thinks you’re pretty though.” “Well Humphry if I ever change my mind on hippo’s I’ll look you up...just don’t expect that to be soon.” Rainbow replied to another disappointed grunt, watching as the beast rolled around in his mud. She envied him a little, must be nice just to roll around in muck all day and have food brought to you. “Now what?” Fluttershy asked. “I have to tend to the animals like I said, did you want to stay and help?” she asked, not forgetting what they had talked about earlier. “Actually um, do you mind if I head into town...I need a real meal. I also need to talk to somepony about ropes. I think I need to ground my house again, long term. I’m not getting in there at this rate.” Rainbow said, picking up the flight suit and slinging it over her back. Fluttershy just nodded and smiled. “Of course, that’s more important. I’m more than capable of doing this alone.” she said, turning herself and waddling towards her cottage to get her things. “Might be back later though! I’m sure it won’t take all day!” Rainbow said, seeing Fluttershy break into a bigger smile. She didn’t like to let her friends down totally, even if it meant doing something she wasn’t totally fond of. Right now, Rainbow had to get something to eat and well, see about making sure see could at least get into her house. The Pegasus still wasn’t totally happy, but at least she had friends who she could always rely on to make her feel better about things. She started her waddle into town, body jiggling happily as she went. - “Hey Twilight!” As per her usual happy, bouncy self Pinkie Pie burst in on the slightly preoccupied Princess of Friendship. It was rather a miracle that with all that added weight on her body, Pinkie could still do that little bouncing motion she made when she was feeling rather good. Clearly Twilight was slightly more preoccupied than normal, who yelped as her obese friend entered her personal quarters of the castle. “Gah!” Twilight topped backwards slightly, her large frame cushioning her fall. At least it seemed that way at first. The fat mare getting up and rubbing the small of her back with her free hoof to try to ease her pain. “Ohhhh, ouchie! Sorry Twilight! Are you okay?” the pink earth pony asked, looking a bit concerned. “I’ll be fine Pinkie, just please don’t burst in on me like that?” Ow…” Twilight replied, trailing off and rubbing her back a little more. There was a slight twinge of pain as she winced and then straightened up. “Wow! You’re not as protected as the rest of us! I’ve fallen over several times today already! My squishy fat just protects me from anything!” Pinkie said grinning, demonstrating by planting her rump flat on the floor with an almighty WHUMP which made her whole body wobble and shake, her stomach rippling around as if a mighty slap had sent the blubber on her belly into a frenzy. “I guess not…” Twilight finished, turning back to her book. Since she had entered, Pinkie had noticed something. It wasn’t her style to snoop, so she thought she had better just come out and ask. “Why is your horn glowing?” came the blunt question from the pink ponies mouth. “I’m an Alicorn Pinkie, don’t tell me you’ve had so many meals you forgot that? It does that when I’m casting.” Twilight said, her horn continuing to faintly glow. It wasn’t always on like it was now though, even Pinkie knew that. It wasn’t a particularly powerful spell by the looks of it, Pinkie noticing that the horn on Twilight’s head was only glowing with a very dull, almost veil like glow. “Okie dokie! Of course I didn’t forget silly!” she responded, pushing her large frame forward and going for a hug. Before she could get there though, Twilight shifted herself back, her huge body moving far quicker than it should have. Especially at her size. “D-don’t come close!” was all she blurted out, the utterly confused Pinkie now just even more curious. “Why not?” “Because of the spell! Yes um, the spell! I’m having to maintain it and any interference could be catastrophic!” Twilight retorted. She pointed a flabby hoof to her horn, her expression set in somewhat of a please believe me grin that Pinkie had seen a few times before. It was always more fun to let Twilight believe she had the upper hoof so Pinkie could figure out what it was later and get her to confess. They usually had a big laugh about it and a lesson was learned. Pinkie decided not to press it further, but she did have an idea. “Anyway! Just came by to let you know we got fresh batches in at Sugarcube Corner! Thought you might wanna know before it all sells out again and you don’t get any! Haven’t seen you around there much, we’ve been packed!” Pinkie explained. “I’m sure. Don’t worry about me Pinkie I’m keeping up with the decree and my studies. I’ll make time to come and see you.” the Alicorn said, turning back to her book. “Alright, well can you come by tomorrow morning before we open? We’re testing a new batch of cakes and I’d love for one of my super best friends to try them out before the customers do!” the mare happily bounced, her blubber rolling about beneath her, enlarged stomach slapping against the floor as she did. “Okay, I’ll be there. Guess I’ll just have to waddle my way over.” Twilight replied. “How are you finding all this anyway!?” Pinkie asked. “I love it! I can eat as much as I like and I’m happier than ever!” “Well the added weight has some advantages, I mean it’s winter now so I feel more warm without having to wear layers. Applejack told me the other day bucking with more weight behind her feels a lot easier.” Twilight mused. “It’s okay, I’m just doing what the Princess orders. Hopefully this doesn’t last much longer...I’ve got a lot of ponies writing in they are behind the weight quota and are worried they’re gonna get banished. I’m just trying to give them advice.” Twilight said, pulling out a small sack of letters to prove it. Pinkie just smiled back. “Alrighty! Well see you tomorrow!” the jiggly Pinkie replied, still somehow bounding her way out the room with Twilight magically shutting the door behind her. Now in one of the many hallways of the castle, Pinkie stood for a moment. She hated doing this, but there was something about Twilight that just wasn’t adding up. She hadn’t bought as much food as any of the other ponies to bulk up, the speed at which she moved for her size, the fact she wouldn’t let Pinkie near her to hug her. Twilight always loved a hug… It went against everything she thought was right, but Pinkie had to know. She wondered if a little peek through the keyhole would satisfy her curiosity. Twilight was still sat, as big as she was when she left the room. But then she sighed and her horn stopped glowing… The fat around her body vanished, instantly. Twilight was...normal? Well, normal as could be before the decree came into effect. Pinkie watched as she wiped her brow with a hoof, clearly the continuous casting of the spell was causing her some fatigue. Pinkie withdrew her gaze, Twilight simply went back to her book albeit now very thin instead of very fat. Suddenly as Pinkie pieced everything together, it all made sense. No hug, her regular movement speed, the spell, lack of food...it was an illusion spell. Twilight wasn’t fat, she never was fat. She was just pretending to be fat. Pinkie couldn’t work out why though, she’d get that out of her tomorrow. The naughty Princess was maintaining a spell to make herself look large without actually being large! A plan started to formulate in Pinkie’s head. She had to head back to Sugarcube Corner. An all nighter was in order, all night baking. The next day, Twilight waddled her way into Sugarcube Corner before opening hours as Pinkie had asked her to. She looked around. Seemed fairly normal. “Pinkie?” she called out, before making her way to the kitchen. The Alicorn looking through into the kitchen, still in the main shop floor, her eyes wide. There was...mountains of food. Pinkie had been baking a lot. Like a lot. The kitchen was almost bursting at the seams with treats and sweets. The Princess, completely preoccupied with what was in front of her eyes failed to notice that a number of straps had been tied around her hooves. She immediately found out when she went to step forward and tripped. “Ahh!” The chunky Alicorn caught herself just in time, keeping her large body upright and looking down. “Pinkie!? What’s with the straps!? HELLO?” she yelled out. “Twilight Sparkle…” “Pinkie is that you? Come out! This isn’t funny!” Twilight yelled, getting increasingly concerned. There was something about the straps too, despite maintaining the illusion spell she could still cast others. Teleportation magic wasn’t working. Every time she tried, she felt the straps around her hooves just tighten instead, as if they were enchanted. “Something from Trixie, I thought they’d come in useful. Part of her act.” Pinkie’s voice came from behind a huge stack of cakes, the mare revealing herself as she waddled out. “Twilight, what’s going on?” she asked. “What do you mean what’s going on? You asked me to come taste some food and now I’m strapped to the floor. This is very odd Pinkie. Can you let me go? Please?” Twilight pleaded. “Oh sure, once I’m done with you. You can drop the act by the way.” Pinkie said in a matter of fact tone, picking up a plate of fritters. “I know what you’re up to.” Twilight went wide-eyed again. She knew Pinkie was being serious when all that bubbly attitude vanished from her voice. “Up to what?” she asked. Maybe her friend was bluffing. “The spell. I know you’re still the same thin mare I’ve always known Twilight. Why pretend?” Pinkie asked. Twilight looked down for a moment. Clearly she had found out, must have been something she did yesterday. There was no point lying anymore. She ended the spell, knowing the two of them were alone. Her fake, fat body vanished and left the Alicorn standing, still trapped. “I...couldn’t do it.” “You couldn’t do it?” Twilight sighed. “Eat, I mean. I tried. Celestia knows I tried! I even had Spike looking up old tomes to see if there was any sort of foods I could eat that would more easily pack on the pounds! Nothing! Not that there would be a use for fattening foods anymore…” Twilight explained. “So this was the next best thing, a spell to make myself look fat. It has to be maintained but I had gotten away with it until you stopped by yesterday.” “Must be eating you up inside, not being able to fulfil the orders of Celestia?” Pinkie asked. “More than anything, I know this decree is silly. That it was probably made on a whim and Celestia could revoke it at any moment but I’ve failed Pinkie. There’s not much in my life I’ve failed at, but I can’t do this.” Twilight said. Now almost tearful. “Do you...want some help?” Pinkie asked. “Help? How?” Twilight just asked back. “This sort of help.” Pinkie said, immediately stuffing a number of the fritters into Twilight who through muffled moans tried to protest, but started to choke the food down as best she could. Pinkie picked up more trays and plates, making sure that what she had and what she had made would be enough. “Don’t worry Twilight, I can help. But you’ve been naughty! Lying to your friends and even worse, your mentor! The shame! Don’t you want to make it up to her?...” As Twilight chewed, her body already enlarging from Pinkie’s baking that she was swallowing down all she did was nod, all Pinkie did back was grin. “You’ve come to the right pony Twilight, I’m an expert of eating. I’m going to make you eat.” she giggled, her last words said with a mischievous tone as she started to push a number of donuts between Twilights lips. To her surprise, Twilight after some more forced chewing managed to eke out a few words of protest. “B-but I’ll get sick! I can’t...mfff…” her words were cut off by more food being forced between her lips by Pinkie, who was taking great delight in making her friend eat and fatten up. She had a secret weapon that would make Twilight eat. “You want to impress Celestia right?” she asked. All Twilight did was nod in response, unable to speak as Pinkie shoved more food in. “Then eat everything here, be twice as big as the rest of us and really show us regular ponies how fat a Princess can be.” she laughed, a number more of the donuts now going down Twilight’s throat. It was her ace in the hole, she knew she had done it when Twilight was now greedily eating and almost demanding to eat more every time Pinkie dawdled a little and had to get more for her. Twilight herself was getting big, she could already feel her belly sagging on the floor and then, full on spreading out to accommodate the rapid gaining of blubber she was getting. The mare licked her lips, eager for more. She wanted to please Celestia, make it up to her friends. Each treat devoured brought her a few calories closer to achieving that. Her hooves widened, fat pouring on like thick batter that was being spread around her jiggling body. Her flanks pushed backwards and outwards, back legs squishing into her belly whilst they supported an ever growing set of wrecking ball cheeks behind her that were slowly getting so fat and voluptuous that her tail was starting to vanish between her blubbery cheeks. The Princess moaned, more...more food. She had no idea why she had trouble before. Everything Pinkie was feeding her was heaven. The quick turnaround seemed like it wasn’t possible, but there was something about Pinkie’s baking that just made her crave more of it. Perhaps there was some sort of special ingredient. Who could tell, the mare didn’t care. Already she was the size of Pinkie, having caught up - the illusion spell already forgotten. Not that she needed it anymore. Still she grew. The straps loosened their grip on Twilight’s hooves, no longer needed to support the mare who was quickly resembling a hippo in her appearance Twilight was starting to verge on immobility. She wiggled her hooves, still touching the floor. A few moments later and a number more of Pinkie’s food and she wiggled them again. She was completely off the floor, her huge belly bed now supporting her weight as she leaned forward on it to get closer to Pinkie. Her massive jelly belly making a sloooosshhhhh noise as she shifted her weight. “Hehe, somepony really is hungry, what a gluttonous mare you are Twilight. Even more than me.” Pinkie teased, her stock of food now just over half devoured by Twilight who was snapping her jaw for more, Pinkie more than happy to oblige by giving her whole cakes at this point. There was a split second of worry as Pinkie saw Twilight’s horn glow, but she was relieved when she saw all the whale of a mare wanted was to levitate even more food to her waiting maw. Twilight was now blushing as she ate, her whole body resembling more of a whale than a pony. Her useless flabby hooves now rested on hundreds of pounds of fat that in itself was lifting her off the floor as her stomach had enlarged tenfold to accommodate all the food. Underneath her it sloshed, churned and jiggled as she crammed it full of even more delicious offerings that Pinkie had baked up. Twilight now sporting triple chins, the fat Alicorn wanting nothing more than the finish off all the food in front of her. She tried moving her rear legs, no good. So encased in lard that she struggled to get any movement out of them at all. She blushed. Realising what a lardy fat ass she was the mare was loving every second of growing to please Celestia. Just a few more cakes, she had to finish. There was a certain satisfaction in being so huge. Her body felt so warm, so soft. It was wonderful to be this big and feel so satisfied. Her flanks behind her had ballooned. Giant purple orbs that sported a massive cutie mark rippling as her slight movements now meant that all her blubber moved with her, wobbling around for moments even after she stopped. The last cakes slipped between her lips. Twilight panted. In just over an hour she had managed to devour what had taken Pinkie a whole night to bake. The earth pony just grinned, she had taken a bit of a back seat for the final part. Twilight had done all the work as she levitated mounds of food into her maw. Now done, a few final crumbs trickled down her triple chins, vanishing between the crevasses of her fat folds. Twilight didn’t care. She had done it. “UUUUURRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!” Pinkie felt her hair blow backwards slightly as Twilight let out a gigantic belch, letting herself go as her whole body wobbled endlessly while she burped. It was clearly needed after devouring so much. “Well Twilight, seems we’ve got a new champion for fattest mare. Celestia will be pleased.” Pinkie said, admiring Twilight’s immense size and giving a hoof a little push into her side to feel the squish of her fat, her hoof vanishing into soft blubber that seemed as greedy as Twilight, trying to devour Pinkie’s hoof. She pulled it out and gave Twilight an I told ya so look of victory. “W-well...didn’t seem right to waste all that food you made.” was all Twilight managed, her cheeks going redder and redder as the gravity of what she had done started to take hold. She could feel her fat frame oozing out from under her, belly squishing into furniture that surrounded her. She hoped her magic was strong enough, her useless wings and wiggling legs no longer able to transport her around. Not that it mattered, there was no way she was getting out the door like this. They’d probably have to tear one of the walls down to even get her out. Teleportation was her only method of movement now. “Sure, well Princess Twilard.” Pinkie putting emphasis on the new name and giggling. “What’s the plan now?” she asked. “Um...I er, hadn’t thought that far ahead…” she confessed, scratching the back of her spare tyre neck with her huge flabby hoof. Twilight may have been the smartest of the group, but she did often get caught up in things like this without planning it out sometimes. “Don’t worry, just stay here for now. I’ll keep us closed today and well...I just want to hug all that blubber like I couldn’t the other day.” Pinkie said with a coy grin, greedily taking huge hoof fulls of fat which blorped between her own chubby hooves. Twilight was quite a hoof full for sure, there was a lot of purple pony for Pinkie to play with. “W-won’t the other customers be upset?” Twilight asked. “Well maybe, but there’s lots of other places in town to eat. I’m sure they’ll understand. Besides, that means I can bake more for you.” Pinkie teased, turning her own bulk to waddle back to the kitchen to whip up more treats. “Don’t go anywhere, not that you can.” she giggled, vanishing. Twilight left to herself just relaxed, she had completely overdone it. But the thought of pleasing Celestia was just too good an opportunity to pass up. Pinkie clearly had a knack for getting to her weak spots. Her belly beneath her gurgled. Hungry, already? At least Pinkie was whipping up more snacks for Twilard. She waited while Pinkie baked, thinking about just how pleased Celestia would be with her favourite student. - Despite the initial outcry against Celestia’s ruling, it stuck around for a while. There was one huge advantage over all the little problems ponies faced at larger sizes. Oh sure sometimes they got their flanks wedged, but doors could be widened, houses strengthened, more food could always be baked. Celestia found that overall the populace was more happy, more content. The Princess realised she had been rash however, repealing the part of the decree stating ponies would be banned for failing to meet her size. It was hardly fair anyway, with her newfound love of food, Celestia herself was constantly growing. A nightly snack still arriving at her private quarters each evening. Rarity decided to keep her size, it was useful being plus sized as a model for all the new gowns and dresses ponies were requesting. Despite her advances, Applejack refused to model for her again. She had the farm to work. Applejack herself using her thunder thighs to easily buck trees even better than she had before. Rainbow Dash found that over time she grew to like being large, besides she didn’t want to be left out seeing as all her friends were huge. She did miss flying though. She still hasn’t taken Humphry up on the offer of a date. Fluttershy stayed big too, it had its advantages. She could carry a lot more food on her widened back to feed her animal friends. Pinkie continued to feed Ponyville from Sugarcube Corner, but she makes a special trip once a week to Twilight’s Castle to bring a large delivery of cakes, fritters, pies and other sweet treats to Celestia’s prized student. Princess Twilard has made quite a name for herself, the largest of all ponies in Equestria with Pinkie maintaining her size for her with weekly feeding sessions. Friendship lessons are suddenly a lot more food related with her newfound interest, pushing Celestia’s mandate of ‘A big pony is a content pony.’ The mares of Equestria are learning to cope with their sizes. Ponyville for example has had ponies adapt in ways they wouldn’t have thought of before. Ditzy Doo now enjoys more muffins than she ever could on her rounds, walking to deliver the mail instead. Mayor Mare now uses her literal weight to win elections, usually by sitting on her opponent. Golden Harvest finds that pulling the carrots out of her patch is much easier with some weight behind it. Lyra is just happy to find a bench that doesn’t buckle under her immense body. That last one not so much of an advantage, but it could be worse. The ponies of Equestria overall stayed large, there was just too many good things about being big. It really was something else. They were happy, they were content. The food was wonderful and the enjoyment they got from it even better. It seemed Equestria was set on being big, for better or for worse.