Chapter 1
The Crystal Palace was crowded, the lowermost levels of them having been temporarily crowded with the ponies who had gotten the worst exposure
Cadance and Shining Armour were working hard to ensure everypony got the care they needed, if they needed any. And, with the room so crowded and the magical wards around the city reinstated, it was starting to warm up.
“Next time a magical relic goes missing, can it happen south of the equator?” Rainbow asked miserably, from where she was squished on the bench in between Pinkie and Fluttershy.
“You all did remarkably well.” Princess Celestia said soothingly. “Luna and I knew you six would be able to find it before the wards would fail completely.”
“They did fail.” Rainbow said dryly.
“Yes, but not completely.” Twilight advised. “Would have been much worse if they’d failed completely. More snow removal, more injuries, more damage.”
“Maybe but it was still rather brutally cold.” Rarity sniffed delicately. “I’d be glad never to have to do that again.”
“I’d do it again! Sliding down that snow pile was awesome!” Pinkie beamed.
Applejack laughed. “Well, I’m glad it’s over.”
“As am I.” Luna approached the group, rolling her wings as she shifted them into a more comfortable position at her back. “I’m glad for the assistance, however, that you all gave. Equestria is once more in your debt.”
“You helped us.” Twilight added. “You stopped things from getting much colder. We all appreciate it.”
Twilight’s friends all nodded in agreement, murmuring their own thanks along with the motion.
“Excuse me, excuse me!” The eight mares all turned to see a ninth approaching.
A unicorn, a pinkish purple in colour, with a dark blue mane tied up and away from her face. She had glasses perched on her nose, and was wearing scrubs and a lab coat, with a stethoscope around her neck. One of Equestria’s doctors, sent to help the Empire while they caught up on a thousand years of...well, everything.
“Excuse me for interrupting. I’m Doctor Marama.” She greeted with a big smile, “But I’m making sure everypony has been seen to. Have you all seen a doctor or anything yet?”
“No, not yet, but we’re fine.” Rainbow waved hoof. “We’re okay.”
Marama sighed, hoisting a clipboard in her magic, “You’ll have to forgive me, but my orders are clear. I have to check you all over. Nothing more than a routine checkup, I promise. You could feel fine now, but that doesn’t mean you are.”
“There is some wisdom in that.” Celestia heaved a sigh. “Very well, I’ll go first. Please, my little pony, lead the way.”
Marama did, leading the way out of the throne room proper and into a small antechamber that had been changed into a makeshift clinic.
“Alright, then, please sit down and make yourself comfortable. Any aches, any pains? Complaints? I could see you, you were out flying in the worst of the cold for far longer than most. You and your sister both.”
“I was feeling cold, but I admit the time in the throne room has helped take the edge of. I’m a little more resilient to the cold, due to the nature of my magic.” Celestia explained helpfully. “However, I do have a headache. It is likely nothing more than an overuse of magic, however. I’m familiar with the symptoms.”
Marama nodded, “That’s fair, and you’re probably right. However, I’d like to run a few tests. One of which is a simple vision test. I don’t want you to get home, only to realize you’ve been struck with snow blindness or that we missed a blow to the head.”
“Very well. I appreciate your diligence.”
Marama half turned to offer Celestia a grin. “Alright, then.” Using her magic to bring a pocket watch out of her pocket. And holding it by the chain. “This is a little unorthodox, and I apologize, but please. Follow the watch with your eyes. I leant my penlight to another doctor, and can’t seem to find it.”
Celestia chuckled, “No worries.” Eyes glued to the watch as Marama started to swing the watch side to side. So focused Celestia was, that she didn’t notice Marama’s aura glowing brighter and brighter, casting another spell in the background.
“Just relax, there’s no need to worry. Just listen to the sound of my voice.” Marama said. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“Good, good. Now, I need you and Luna to spend some time at Twilight’s castle. You’ll tell the public it's for some wind down time after dealing with this mess. That’s what you’ll believe yourself. Some time away from Canterlot to rest.”
“Of course. Today was tiring.” Celestia added in a soft voice.
“Good, good. Now, keep yourself relaxed. I’ve got some medicine here that will help.” Marama half turned to gather a syringe. “I’m also going to prescribe you a couple of pills. Mostly to help with your headaches. I want you to take them regularly.” Using her magic to give Celestia a shot of medication. “There we are. This will help boost your immune system.”
“Good idea, after today.”
“Exactly. Don’t want anypony catching a cold.” Marama grinned, her smile a little too sharp to be entirely truthful. “There we go. Now, you’ve been following the watch excellently. And now I want you to blink awake. With no memory of this hypnotism session. This was a normal checkup, aside from the pills and shot, you’re going to be fine.” Marama put the pocket watch back into her pocket, turning to scribble on her clipboard.
Celestia swayed for a few moments, then raised a hoof to her head. “Oh. Forgive me, perhaps it was the examination but my headache has grown worse.”
“No worries.” Marama nodded, using her magic to hand over two pill bottles. “Here, try these. Should help, and it’ll help prevent similar headaches from happening again, even if you overuse your magic.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate it.” Celestia put the pills in her saddlebags, “Thank you for your help. If we’re done, I’ll go get Luna.”
“Of course. Thank you very much.” Marama grinned, opening the door so Celestia could leave. “I’ll tell Luna who to bring afterwards.”
“Of course.” Celestia stood and left, leaving Marama to prepare for Luna’s arrival.
(LINE BREAK)
The others waited, as the crowd thinned as more and more ponies went home. Celestia, then Luna, then Twilight. Rainbow, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and finally Applejack. All going in for a checkup, to return a few minutes later. Feeling, perhaps, a little dazed, but feeling good. Considering the hard afternoon.
They were all tired, and thus all boarded the Friendship Express as a group. Chatting amicably, or falling asleep in their bunks, as they got comfortable in a sleeper car.
“Twilight,” Celestia intoned, “Would it trouble you at all if Luna and I join you in Ponyville for a while? I think a bit of a vacation could do us all some good, you included. You can show me your new library set up.”
Twilight grinned from where she was sitting on her cot. “Of course! I’ll show you both around the castle, Luna you’ll love the balconies. They offer a great view of the night sky! And I have a bunch of books from your castle at the edge of the Everfree. You two could help me catalogue them-”
“Of course, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna chuckled tiredly. “I thank you for your hospitality, though this conversation can certainly be moved until tomorrow, yes?”
“Rainbow’s already asleep.” Applejack reported.
“Rarity too.” Pinkie giggled.
Fluttershy made a noise in the back of her throat, but if she was trying to sleep it wasn’t making much in the way of sense.
Twilight laughed quietly, shifting to lay down. The events of the day made her feel sluggish, tired, and heavy. But that was probably from all the snow. Maybe a touch of magic overuse as well, but nothing that wouldn’t fade in a few days.
She used her magic to tug the blankets up and around her shoulders, and promptly fell asleep.
(LINE BREAK)
It was early morning when the train pulled into the Ponyville train station. And the mares all parted, going towards their different destinations. In spite of the rest, they were still feeling a little sluggish, a bit tired.
But Twilight led the way to her castle, Luna and Celestia following behind, in high spirits. Getting home would do them all some good. See their friends and family, have a bath, get back into their familiar routines. All would do them some good.
“The baths should be big enough for you two as well.” Twilight added, tossing a grin over her shoulder. “There are a few that are...well they’re really big.”
“Likely to help you as you grow into your wings.” Celestia counseled. “So you won’t need to do much in the way of renovation, perhaps. It would be interesting to see how the castle could change over the years. Since it’s magical in origins, I’m not sure what to expect.”
“Me either,” Twilight admitted. “I’ve run some rudimentary tests, but they haven’t shown much.”
“You have time on your side, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna soothed. “You need not unravel the mysteries of the world in any amount of haste.”
“I suppose.” Twilight shrugged, brightening up even more as it started to loom over them in the distance. “You guys got to see a little bit of it, but please feel free to take a look around. Spike and I have already found a few hidden areas, so I’m curious to see if we missed anything.” Opening one of the double doors to usher them into the castle’s foyer.
“Where is Spike? I thought it a little curious he wasn’t with you when you arrived at the Empire, but things grew worse and I didn’t have time to ask.” Celestia asked.
“Oh! He’s with Cadance and Shining, I think, helping to smooth things over. You didn’t see him because he was helping with crowd control .”
“Without you?”
“I trust him. He’ll make sure things run smoothly, and he knows he can contact us if he needs to.” Twilight grinned. “Shining and Cadance will look after him too.”
“You’ve put your faith in the right dragon, Twilight. If anyone can handle it, it’ll be him.” Celestia offered a smile.
“I agree. However, I do believe I’d benefit from a bath. Could you please point the way to the princess sized tubs?”
“Oh, yes of course. There are linens in every bathroom already, thank Rarity later. And don’t worry too much about ruining the presentation of the towels, Rarity’s shown me how to do them so often I can do it with my eyes closed.” Twilight’s pace picked up as she led them through the halls of the castle. “Here’s the first one.”
Luna took the room with a grateful smile and a half bow, shutting the door behind her.
“She’ll probably fall asleep again.” Celestia chuckled. “Both our schedules were thrown into chaos once Cadance wrote us to tell us the Heart had been stolen. A bath and a nap might be in order.”
“I agree. I’m still pretty achy from flying all over yesterday, and the hard cots on the train didn’t help.” Twilight agreed. “Here’s your room, I’m up and around the corner on the right. Please, make yourself at home.”
Celestia nodded, stepping through into a suite.
Alone now, Twilight rolled her wings in some effort to make the aching go away. The motion of flexing those muscles hadn’t helped any, but part of her hoped it wouldn’t hurt. It did a bit, but nothing unbearable.
Twilight let out a sigh, head drooping a little closer to the ground as she plodded along to her suite. A bath and a nap, in her big comfortable bed, sounded just what the doctor ordered. She opened the door, and stepped inside her room. Shimmying out of her saddlebags, she winced when she heard the sound of a pill bottle rattling around in there.
Oh, right. She pulled the prescription bottle out of the bag, squinting at the label for a few moments. She’d forgotten about them completely. Something to help prevent headaches caused by magic overuse. Needed to be taken daily for it to work effectively though.
Twilight half shrugged, taking down the day’s dose with some water straight from the bathroom sink. She left the pill bottle there, too, hoping that she’d remember to take them every morning. She turned her attention to the promised shower, and then sunk into a deep and dreamless sleep.
(LINE BREAK)
What was supposed to be a weekend visit stretched out across two weeks. Twilight didn’t mind the company, though, and both Luna and Celestia seemed to be doing better for the change in schedule.
The one thing that wasn’t changing all that much was how they were feeling. And not just the princesses, either, but the rest of Twilight’s friends felt it too. Tired, lethargic, with little energy to do much.
It sucked. Twilight decided. Pulling her blanket up roughly over her shoulder with a sigh. To feel so exhausted that it felt like her muscles were aching.
There came a soft knock on the door, and Twilight hardly had any time to look up before the familiar, if unexpected, Marama entered. Looking harried, her mane sticking out of a sloppy bun at the base of her skull.
“Princess Twilight, oh no! Not you all as well.” Marama let out a sigh, “I don’t know what’s going on, but whoever was involved with helping the city haven’t been doing well. I don’t know what’s going on, but Princess Cadance asked me to come check on you all.”
That got Twilight’s attention. “My brother, Cadance, are they okay?” Twilight asked.
“They’re okay. They have each other, and a whole palace full of doctors looking after them.” Marama soothed. “It’s you all I’m worried about. I’ve been running myself ragged trying to figure out what was going on, and I felt terrible when I realized you all might be affected too-”
“It’s okay.” Twilight interrupted, struggling past her exhaustion to sit up. “You’re here now, so you can help. If it helps, you can stay here?”
The worried look on Marama’s face drained away a little. “I can?” A small smile replaced the dread on her face and she nodded, “I can run tests. In fact, can I run a couple of quick tests now?”
“On me? I suppose.” Twilight shrugged, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Marama nodded, igniting her horn and bringing out the pocket watch. It took less time for Twilight to be hypnotised this time, and Marama used a few seconds to catch her breath and take stock. What she’d started in the Crystal Empire had taken root fairly quickly, though she’d only had two subjects…
Hopefully eight wouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle, I need you to start eating far more than you are. You’re underweight, and that makes me worried. Maybe you caught a bug while up north, one you and your friends have passed back and forth a few times, and you need rest and good food to make yourselves feel better.” The grin turned into a sharp smile, as Marama leaned in close, still swinging the watch back and forth for Twilight to watch. “I want you to eat as much as you can. I want you to eat until you’re full and then eat some more. You feel better with a full stomach, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Twilight murmured. Eyes glassy and blank.
“Good.” Marama grinned. “I want you to encourage your friends to do the same. In fact, while I’m here to run tests, why don’t they stay with you? That would help, wouldn’t it?”
Twilight nodded, “Yes, doctor.”
“Good. Also, I’m going to be putting you on some more medication. Nothing serious, just some vitamins and the like.” Marama giggled. “In fact you and your friends will be taking much the same things. It’ll help, I promise.” In any other situation, Twilight would have been able to read the sarcasm in Marama’s voice, could hear the familiar dry tones in a voice she’d all but forgotten. Hypnotised, however, Twilight just nodded along.
“Good, good.” Marama grinned. “I’m going to examine Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, and they’ll meet you in the kitchen for breakfast. Why don’t you go make a nice, big feast for you all? Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Twilight’s stomach was grumbling audibly. “Yes. Can I invite my friends?”
“Of course!? Who doesn’t love an impromptu brunch? You invite them over, tell them what I’ve told you, and then I’ll examine them too. Now Twilight, this is important: you must make sure they’re eating all the time, just like you’ll be okay? But we can’t let anyone feel uncomfortable about eating or anything, that would be rude. So be gentle, I’m sure this will be a big change for all of you.”
Twilight nodded, and Marama beamed. Things were going better than she might have hoped.
(LINE BREAK)
After that first visit, when Marama explained the importance of good nutrition and rest in dealing with their mysterious ailment, things...became less concrete. Blurry. Twilight, for the life of her, couldn’t seem to focus on much. Only able to snatch moments of focus, lucidity, in pieces. Like leaves on the wind, or cherry blossoms floating on the water.
Things were...fuzzy to say the least. But Twilight didn’t mind too much, she was with friends. Her friends, who were always looking out for one another and making sure they had what they needed.
Her stomach growled, and suddenly there was a cupcake in front of Twilight. She didn’t stop to wonder where it had come from, or why, but it was there. So Twilight ate it. Food was...important. It helped fill the burning ache in her stomach, the hole in her heart. Spike’s trip back home was delayed, she remembered, but couldn’t remember why-
“Twilight, you need to calm down.” A voice, sickly sweet broke through Twilight’s mounting panic. She was snapped back into place, a jolt of fear prickling down her spine and making her heart jump in her chest. She was sweat-covered and sticky, and felt weirdly heavy…
“Princess, please, you must calm yourself.” The voice repeated, with a harsh edge. “You’re alright, just hungry-”
“I’m not.” The words felt heavy, her face felt heavy. All of her felt heavy, and the burning ache wasn’t hunger: it was fullness. Twilight managed to fight her way through the exhaustion tugging at her, the thick cloud that made it difficult to do anything, to open her eyes.
Only to gasp at the sight swimming before light-sensitive eyes.
Twilight was in the library, her library, in the castle. It was one of the largest rooms in her castle, with stained glass windows high above with crystal lights that made the place practically shine without being harsh on the eyes.
Only the furniture was gone. Couches, lounges, chairs, desks, tables, paintings, all gone. Removed. The books were present, still, not that it mattered. Some of them, on the lower shelves, were hidden from view.
Nearby, within sight, was Rarity. Who was chewing mechanically on some rich pastry or another, her usually brilliant eyes were glassy and dull with no life behind them. She was also incredibly obese. Resting on what might have been a huge cushion, her plump rolls of fat rolled over the edges to brush the floor. Her barrel, at least from Twilight’s angle, was the widest part of her. Her stomach forming a large mattress of extra flesh under her, lifting her useless hooves off the ground. She was just...huge, her vastness swimming at the edges of Twilight’s awareness.
How long had Twilight been asleep? Had she been asleep? What was going on? Why-
She managed to look down. Only to see a thick roll of purple flesh. She looked up, mouth agape, ready to ask questions, demanding answers. Feeling suddenly and completely aware of the extra weight pressing in and around her, her form wobbling with each panicked breath.
Marama tutted, shaking her head. “Don’t you worry, Twilight, you’ll know soon.” Lifting a syringe of a clear fluid to her face, reading the dosage, before pressing the plunger a little to be rid of potential air pockets.
“Why?” Twilight panted. Wiggling in vain, trying to move a body that was simply too fat to do much.
“You took the world from me.” Marama sneered. “Seems only fair I snatch it back from under you.” Twilight felt the sharp sting of the needle, and then the fog rolled back in, bringing the sense of utter calm with it.
On the edge of her awareness, she could hear a familiar laugh, and wondered dimly why that laugh made a shiver run up her spine.
(LINE BREAK)
Marama trotted into Twilight’s library, eyes roaming the bloated, overweight figures of the ponies that were supposed to be under her care, and couldn’t help but laugh. A low chuckle, at first, quickly escalated into full blown cackling. Long, and loud, leaving her breathless and panting by the end of the fit.
When she looked back up, she saw that everypony was staring at her. A few were chewing, all had food stains around their muzzles and fat cheeks. All fattened to immobility, minds twisted to addiction and gluttony to the point they were hardly recognizable as the ponies they’d once been. The only difference now was the lack of drugs coursing through their system, and it was just about long enough now that they had to be waking up properly. No longer in a drug and food induced haze.
Luna, Celestia, and Twilight were the largest since they were the biggest threats. Bloated bodies taking up the most space, with the most rolls. They hardly even resembled ponies anymore. Just fattened blobs, little more than landed whales.
Fluttershy was next, for what she’d done in the village. Duplicitous traitor. Not as large as the princesses, but just as unable to move.
And then...well, the rest didn’t matter so much. They were all equal now anyway: fattened to immobility. With restraints around their wings, or horns, which prevented them from trying anything anyway.
Twilight’s brows were furrowed as she licked her lips, almost like she was trying to think of something. Something important, like why the sound of that laughter sounded so familiar-
Marama’s horn lit up, and she started to change. It was...almost like when a bucket of water was thrown onto wet paint. Colour leached from her mane, going from navy blue to a dark purple with light blue streaks. The pinkish tone to her coat lightened considerably, and she cast aside the glasses and coat with another chuckle.
Starlight Glimmer stood in front of them all, grinning maliciously with another cruel laugh.
“Because of your foolishness, I’ll be able to spread Equality all across Equestria!”
“You won’t...get away with this!” Rainbow wheezed, face cloudy. Voice a little slurred. Sober enough to be conscious but still drugged enough not to fully recognize the extent of the problem.
“Oh, I rather think I will.” Starlight’s horn lit up again, and the double doors behind her opened. She brought in dozens and dozens of food carts, all lining up near the blobby ponies scattered about the room. “This is the most coherent you’ve all been in weeks, but that’ll change. I couldn’t help but take you off the drugs for now, just so you know what exactly you’ve done to yourselves.
Twilight squirmed, igniting her horn, but the inhibitor ring stopped her from doing anything. Luna and Celestia did much the same, trying to utilize their alicorn strength, but even their bodies were so fattened, with muscles so wizened, that they couldn’t manage much beyond futile wiggling.
“So, eat up my little ponies. Tomorrow you’ll become the first disciples in my new regime.” Starlight beamed. Ignoring the protests and weak flailing as she began to feed them all the food she’d prepared.
The drugs wouldn’t take too long to kick back in, leaving them hungry and docile once again.
Which left Starlight all the time in the world to work out her plans on making a better, equal, Equestria.