Chapter 1
Twilight Sparkle was hunched over several books, others yet floating in midair, held aloft by her magic. Reading intently, all the while writing down notes. The table in her library was a cluttered mess, the library was a mess if she was being honest, but Twilight was so close to a breakthrough.
It had all started when she’d started her research on ancient magics, and had been astounded to find out that there used to be spells so common to unicorns that they could usually cast them, and not just telekinesis. Ancient magic, from before Harmony touched their lives, was mystical and mysterious. So much had been forgotten…
So, Twilight did as Twilight did best: research. Tracking down mentions of spells in the ancient scrolls, old diaries, anything she could get her hooves on. Cross referencing those sources, and then cross referencing again. Hoping, maybe, to reconstruct such a spell.
The one she had in mind dated from before the pony tribes unified, and food could become scarce. One that helped existing food taste better, potentially because of spoilage, and to be more nutritionally dense.
If she could figure out how to recreate it, that is. She could cast it over the town of Ponyville for a few weeks, and see if it made any real improvement. It could be interesting to see how ponies, not just unicorns, would react to the spell. There was no written record of unicorns offering to perform the spell for the other tribes, so it could have no effect or a greater effect.
Regardless of the outcome, Twilight was very excited to find out exactly what the spell did. She already had a report outlined, her hypothesis written out.
All she needed now was to recreate the spell for herself. Test it on a small scale first, maybe, make sure it didn’t backfire or fizzle out before using it on Ponyville proper. Then she’d try casting it on the town.
Twilight scribbled out a few more lines, brows furrowed. Looking back through her notes, using her magic to flip a nearby chalkboard to its clean side. Flipping through her notes, extracting the bits and pieces she needed.
Old magic like this didn’t often have a verbal component. Rituals usually did, but this spell wasn’t meant to be a ritual. It was cast using the body as an anchor, with willpower and intent being the main foci through which to power up the magic, and letting it flow through the body and out of the horn.
It..wasn’t as firm as she would like, but endlessly fascinating. Seeing how ancient magic was less precise, varying from region to region depending on the folklore and education present.
“Twilight?” Spike’s voice broke through her reverie, making her half turn towards him.
“I think I’m almost at a breakthrough, Spike.” Twilight said irritably, “What is it?”
“Dinner.” Spike said flatly. “You promised you’d take a break tonight, remember?”
Twilight didn’t remember, but it seemed something like she’d do with her muzzle buried in a book .Certainly wouldn’t be the first time she’d agreed to something unwillingly because she was lost in research. She sighed, setting her notes and the chalk down. “Alright, alright.” At the thought of food, she could admit her stomach was growling, “Good call. What’d you make?”
Spike brightened at her change of attitude, leading them through the corridors of the castle towards the kitchen. “I made a vegetable fried rice, with those dumplings you like.”
Twilight couldn’t help but hum in anticipation at that. “Oh, Spike, you spoil me.”
He half turned to face her, still walking, “I was hoping it would be enough to tempt you even if you were in a rut. Glad you worked your way out of it. Anything I’d understand?”
Spike was highly intelligent for his age, Twilight’s influence rubbing off on him more than either of them cared to admit to, but he wasn’t a spellcaster, and thus lacked the innate instincts Twilight had for this sort of research. It annoyed them both equally: because Spike wanted to help and was unable to, and because Twilight didn’t like just trusting her instinct. She wanted hard facts and science when there wasn’t any to be had..
“No.” Twilight let out a long suffering sigh. “You...might be able to help, though.”
“Oh?”
“I think I’ve worked it out. I was just thinking it over in my head again before trying it out. Would you mind if I try casting the spell over both of us and dinner? If I ruin dinner tonight, I promise I’ll forgo research and treat you to dinner tonight as an apology.”
Spike thought it over for a moment before nodding. “Sure, it’ll be cool to see what you’ve been working on anyway.”
“Thanks, Spike.”
The two entered the kitchen at long last, the oven turned on as low as it would go. While Twilight poured them both some water, Spike gathered the two plates from the oven (where they were being kept warm) to put them up on the counter.
It was informal, but easier than trying to get all the way to the dining room for just the two of them. The two sat at the kitchen island, on stools.
“So...what now?” Spike asked, wiggling to get comfortable.
“I’ve got to concentrate. So please don’t move too much.” Twilight closed her eyes, and took a centering breath. Gently pulling at the magic, coaxing it forth, doing her best to keep her mind clear and calm even above her bubbling excitement at the experiment.
She wanted to make the food more nutritionally dense, make it the best she’d ever have. The food Spike had prepared, the food in the kitchen, she even wanted all of Ponyville to experience the same. Nutritionally dense, highly delicious food, available and abundant for all.
The magic responded, pouring out of her horn in a huge wave that engulfed the kitchen, then the castle. Unbeknownst to Twilight and Spike, the energy radiated outward. Following Twilight’s true desire for the entirety of Ponyville to receive the same spell as well as the food on her plate.
The wave of magic went mostly undetected, it was rather late in the evening after all, and to those who did notice didn’t pay it much mind. If they panicked about every odd occurance around Ponyville, nopony would ever get anything done.
As such, when Twilight opened her eyes, there seemed nothing amiss. Even the food looked as it had before, and still smelled wonderful.
“Did it work?” Spike asked, peering at the food he’d made critically.
“I’m not sure.” Twilight admitted. “We should try it.”
Spike nodded, and the two reached for their bowls at roughly the same time.
Twilight started to eat hers first. Now she was away from the library and her research, her stomach was crying for nourishment. So burnt tongue or not she ploughed forward excitedly, hardly blowing on her first mouthful in order to cool it enough for it to be comfortable.
It was delectable, delicious, the most magnificent thing she’d ever eaten.
Well maybe not the best ever, but that’s what it felt like. Probably because of the fact she couldn’t remember when her last solid meal had come from. Woops, her bad, she needed to start setting reminders or something before big research sessions. Wasn’t fair to leave Spike in charge of it all.
The two ate what was on their plates in relative silence. Gobbling their food down at a pace known to those who had ever been truly hungry. They cleared their plates, then ate the leftovers still sitting on the stove.
After that, feeling bloated and a little discouraged at the inconclusive results, Twilight went to bed. Crawling under the covers and getting comfortable, her stomach gurgling softly in the stillness, lulling her into sleep.
(LINE BREAK)
Flapjacks, or pancakes, were an Apple Family staple and had been for decades before even Big Mac had been born. So, whether it was for dinner, breakfast, or brunch, the scent of flapjacks could summon any Apple to the main farmhouse, even from the furthest orchards.
Sometimes, it was Applejack and Big Mac that got breakfast started, especially during the winter when Granny’s hip was acting up and she needed more time to get her body working. The siblings worked well together, sneaking back into the house and starting to cook in the hopes that a hot breakfast and warming wood stove would be enough to bring Granny and Apple Bloom downstairs. Sometimes it was Granny that got breakfast going, usually in the summer and fall, when there was more chores than downtime.
Apple Bloom wasn’t yet old enough to cook the entire thing on her own, but there were mornings where she’d join her siblings or grandmother and help. Yawning extravagantly all the while, but helping to set the table, gathering ingredients, whatever was needed.
This morning had been no different. Applejack and Big Mac had gone out onto the farm to do the chores for the morning, before coming back to Granny and Apple Bloom making breakfast. Flapjacks, crispy hay pieces, fresh squeezed apple juice, pear jam, caramel, and chopped pecans. As well as the requisite maple syrup and butter.
Apple Bloom offered a sleepy smile as she shuffled onto her favourite spot at the kitchen table. Pouring herself some juice, she sipped at it idly. Waiting for there to be enough flapjacks for them all to dig in, rather than making the others wait for their portion.
Big Mac took over making the flapjacks for Granny once he’d washed up, allowing her to do the same. Sliding into place beside Apple Bloom with a groan.
Soon enough Big Mac used the last of the batter and set the heaping tray of plate-sized flapjacks onto the middle of the table. Applejack turned the stove off before joining her family, pouring herself and Big Mac some coffee as well as juice.
The second the flapjacks were on the table, the stack piled high into the air, the Apples started to dig into them. They always made more than enough. Big Mac and Applejack were big eaters, considering all the hard labour they did. Granny’s portions were smaller than they used to be, but she always pushed a little when it came to flapjacks, and Apple Bloom was a growing foal.
Still, there were usually enough left for Apple Bloom to bring to school for lunch, or a few left for when someone got hungry enough for a snack but not a full meal.
The speed with which the Apples ate through the stack was phenomenal. So much so that Applejack reached for another one, only to touch air. She looked up, blinking at the empty plate, before looking to the rest of her family.
Now the food was gone they seemed to notice the same thing.
“They were really good.” Apple Bloom said, almost ashamed.
“They were.” Granny nodded sagely. “No shame in it.”
“Happens sometimes,” Applejack rubbed at her eyes with her fetlock, clearing the sleep from them. “Anypony want anymore?”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac pushed away from the table to stand, turning on the stove and reusing the bowl to make more batter.
Applejack sat and watched, licking the remnants of syrup from her muzzle. They had been so good, like how she sometimes remembered eating them with her parents. The memories hazy, golden-bright, dipped in happiness and nostalgia that coloured the flapjacks she’d eaten then into something godlike, impossible to recreate. Or, at least she’d thought so…
“You okay Applejack?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Oh, I’m fine.” Applejack sat back in her chair, turning a smile to Apple Bloom. “Just a bit tired, still, I’ll be fine.”
Apple Bloom didn’t look entirely convinced, but nodded. Watching Big Mac as he worked excitedly.
Even Granny, who had eaten two or three of the massive flapjacks, didn’t leave the table. Waiting not so patiently for Big Mac to cook up the next batch.
It was weird, but their lives were weird. Probably nothing to worry about, Applejack figured. A spike in appetite because they were all so busy. Nothing too weird or unusual about that.
Right?
(LINE BREAK)
Sugarcube Corner had a line that stretched from the counter, to outside, before wrapping around the building and extending down the street for a ways.
Pinkie Pie was pleased as punch with this development, it kept her busy and the Cakes were happy with the money they were making. She only worried that they would run out of stock before they were able to serve all their customers! They were her friends, after all, and Pinkie would feel just terrible if she had to turn them away because Sugarcube was out of cupcakes!
Candy was flying off the shelves quicker than she could restock it, the milkshake machine was running near constantly trying to blend orders, and her front legs were smeared with icecream from where she’d accidentally brushed them against the sides of the ice cream tubs while scooping.
Ponies were happy though, smiling cheerfully even as she ran around like a chicken with its head cut off. Flitting between customers and the counter with a speed that would shock anypony who didn’t know who Pinkie was.
Mrs. Cake brought out a batch of still steaming cookies. Her muzzle was smeared with chocolate, stomach bulging against the constraints of her apron, but Pinkie didn’t think too much of it. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were known to sample products every now and again, and she did the same while baking.
Besides, they were busy enough she wasn’t likely to get a break anytime soon, unless one of the Cakes took over the till, but she didn’t mind. If she smuggled a cookie or ten as she worked, no one was the wiser. Her full stomach didn’t slow her down or dim her smile, so she could continue on as she pleased. Not ever once wondering why all these ponies were suddenly ordering several days’ worth of pastries and sweets all at once.
Eventually, around mid-morning, Rarity and Fluttershy were at the front of the line.
“Pinkie! It’s so busy!”
“I know, isn’t it great!?” Pinkie beamed. Her own muzzle was stained, with chocolate, crumbs, and smears of ice cream whenever she got the chance to eat a spoonful. Her hair was fluffier than usual, but she did seem genuinely happy. “There’s gotta be some big party today or something!”
“N-no, not that I know of?” Fluttershy shrugged.
Rarity shrugged. “I woke up hungry, darling, and all I could think of was some of your delicious ice cream, maybe a few cupcakes.”
“Angel and I are hungry too.” Fluttershy confirmed.
“Alright then, Rarity, how can Pinkie help you today!?” Pinkie asked, her bright smile never leaving her face or her eyes.
“Can I get three litres of your death by chocolate ice cream, please?” Rarity looked up at the menu above Pinkie’s head, clearly mulling something over, “Oh and a dozen cupcakes, assorted flavours please.”
“Of course! It’ll take a few minutes to get everything ready, so if you could stand off to your left I’ll bring everything right over when I’ve got it assembled! And you, Fluttershy?”
“Um...Could I have a dozen cupcakes, assorted flavours, and...um a dozen cookies? Also assorted.”
“Alrighty, so same to you Fluttershy. Off to the left please, and I’ll bring it over when I can.”
The two mares paid, and Pinkie ran the items through, before zipping off to go fetch things. Leaving a rather portly stallion in front of the cash register, staring up at the menu thoughtfully while Pinkie gathered what she needed to complete the next couple of orders.
Sugarcube Corner was grateful for the sudden boost in business, and none of the customers were overly concerned at the sight of Mr and Mrs Cake’s full bellies, nor the bulging stomach of one Pinkie Pie.
After all, if they noticed the apparent fullness of other ponies, they’d have to acknowledge their own.
(LINE BREAK)
The next couple of days passed without much incident. Twilight was as absorbed in her reading as she ever was, hoping to figure out what had gone with her spell.
She didn’t leave her castle, so she didn’t see how ponies were gorging themselves on food daily. Stuffing themselves full of everything from sweet pastries to fresh fruit, cooked dishes, and everything in between.
Twilight didn’t notice her own change in eating habits, either. What started off as bringing snacks with her so Spike wouldn’t worry about her skipping meals had turned into her bringing books into the kitchen so she could cook and read all at the same time, then usually eat everything she’d made while reading and not be 100% aware of her actions.
Unbeknownst to Twilight, the enchantment she’d cast over Ponyville was already taking root in everypony: including herself. In only a few days she’d packed on almost fifteen pounds of fat, and that didn’t look likely to change any time soon. In fact, the more she ate, the more she seemed to gain.
Twilight was always hungry, so she spent more time in the kitchen than she’d ever had before. Trying new recipes, tinkering with new ones. Not caring that she was eating entire portions of ingredients without thinking.
She looked as she usually did, just...softer. The excess weight clung to her stomach, causing a slight curve outward, and her cheeks were a little chubbier, and the rest of her just looked a touch softer. Not different enough for her to notice at all whenever she caught sight of herself in a mirror.
Twilight lifted a huge forkful of cheesy, greasy, mac and cheese and took a bite. Humming contentedly to herself while she used her magic to turn the page of her current book. Wiggling her hips in excitement as the flavours burst along her tongue.
Spike would enjoy this recipe, she decided. Twilight would have to leave him some…
Inevitably, when her fork hit nothing but the bottom of her enamel dish, she decided to recreate the batch. It would be a shame for Spike to miss it, after all.
(LINE BREAK)
Rainbow Dash stretched languidly over the surface of Fluttershy’s couch, turning to nuzzle into the nearest pillow with a contented sigh. The couch let out an ominous groan, but Rainbow didn’t pay it any mind.
In the months since that weird energy had swept through the town, things had changed. Ponies focused on eating, and eating only. Stuffing their faces endlessly, with food they made themselves or from restaurants and bakeries, places that offered delicious food and hearty portions.
All portions were hearty, now, and there hadn’t yet been a place that Rainbow hadn’t liked.
The effects of both were easily noticeable on her figure. The once slim and trim athlete was an obese, rotund mare who hardly fit on Fluttershy’s couch. Rainbow’s excess flesh bulged out in rolls and folds that covered her body and hid whatever muscle mass she still clung to from view. A massive belly hung from an equally wide barrel, her neck had turned into one roll that hung over her fluffy pigeon chest like a spare tire of flesh. Her shoulders jiggled, her flanks overhung her hocks, and her cutie mark was stretched and faded beyond recognition. Even Rainbow’s face was changed, near spherical, with fat cheeks and an extra chin that wobbled whenever she spoke or ate.
Laziness had taken root like Twilight’s spell had. As ponies got heavier, the less they wanted to move. The less they wanted to move, the more food they ate to satiate boredom, the more they ate the more weight they gained. A vicious cycle of the worst kind.
Rainbow awoke to a familiar scraping sound coming from Fluttershy’s stairwell. “You okay?” Rainbow managed to ask, still half asleep and building the momentum to roll off the couch.
“Yes.” Came Fluttershy’s timid response, almost a question but not quite. There was a soft grunt, more scraping sounds, and then hoofsteps on the wooden floor of Fluttershy’s cottage.
“Oh good. Breakfast?” Another yawn punctuated Rainbow’s speech, accompanied by a grunt as her rocking finally pushed her mass of a stomach off the couch and onto the floor, bringing the rest of her with it.
Rainbow’s stomach brushed the ground as she waddled foreward a few steps. Rustling her wings to get them repositioned comfortably against her back, not noticing how heavy or cumbersome they were starting to become. Rainbow rounded the corner and entered Fluttershy’s kitchen, where the pegasi was sitting on two stools, reaching up to open a cupboard for a look inside.
“I’m not sure.” Fluttershy shrugged, casting an apologetic look over in Rainbow’s direction. “I thought we had more food left, but it doesn’t look like it.”
Fluttershy was hardly clinging to mobility. She was fatter than Rainbow, but her added height gave her a bit more wiggle room to keep moving. Fluttershy was beginning to resemble a fatty blob, more than a pony. With more rolls and folds than Rainbow could count. Fluttershy’s wings half sunken into folds of their own making, her cutie mark faded to the point where she looked like a blank flank if somepony didn’t know what to look for.
Even seated, Fluttershy’s stomach touched the ground. Her ponderous plot overhung the stools, threatening to swallow her tail with one wrong move. Her face was even fattier than Rainbow’s, with extra chins that melded into the rolls of where her neck used to be.
Rainbow huffed. “I’m still tired from yesterday.” The two portly pegasi had endured the long trek into town, had gotten food at restaurants and the market, but they’d eaten it all the night before.
“We can order something in.” Fluttershy decided. “We don’t want to overdo anything.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Rainbow’s head bobbed in agreement. “What were you thinking? Pizza?”
“Pizza would be nice. If you can call it in, I’ll stay here near the door.” Fluttershy offered a small smile, dimples forming in her cheeks. “And let you know when it gets here.” Evidently she didn’t feel like making the trip back upstairs to rest. The fur on parts of her stomach had been rubbed away. Along the bottom, from constant friction with the floor, and parts of the sides, from where she kept getting stuck in the stairway.
“Of course. You want the usual? Four large veggies and an extra large breadstick for you?”
“And soda.” Fluttershy nodded.
“Cool, so four large veggies, two extra large breadsticks, four sodas, and four six-cheese pizzas. Got it.” Rainbow managed to turn around and waddle back into the living room.
Distantly, Fluttershy could hear Rainbow place the order. The butter yellow pegasus let out a sigh, stretched, and relaxed against the counter behind her.
Pizza would be a good start to the day, she decided. Not traditional by any means, but hearty. With how hungry she was feeling, hearty was just what the doctor ordered.
(LINE BREAK)
Twilight was laid out on cushions and pillows on one of the balconies on her castle. Staring out across the field and at the edge of Ponyville proper. From this distance, she couldn’t see the wheezing, fat ponies waddling their way from restaurant to restaurant, nor could she see those trapped in their houses because of their weight.
She couldn’t see the others like her, unicorns who were too fat to move, but able to move around because of their magic.
She popped a cookie into her mouth with a sigh, chewing languidly as her stomach cried out for more nourishment. She was always hungry, they all were, and she wasn’t too proud to admit that she was addicted to food.
Because she was. For the first time in her life, Twilight could see the allure of food. Why ponies coveted it, indulged in it. It was like food had never tasted this good before, and she was eager to make up for lost time. Damn the consequences.
And wow was she feeling those consequences.
Twilight was a true blob of a mare. She’d eaten herself into immobility and beyond, and her figure displayed that clearly for anyone who got a good look. She was covered in rolls and folds, spare flesh spilling out for several feet in all directions. Far past the dimensions her body used to occupy.
Her stomach was by far her biggest asset. Spreading out from a barrel that was now buried under enough fat that somepony could press their hoof against her side and never feel her ribcage. It acted almost like a mattress, lifting her up off of the ground and spreading around her for a foot or two in all directions. Her wings were buried in the folds that had sprung up around them, only visible by the few stray feathers that were sticking up from the fleshy divuts. Her rear was the largest after her stomach, her cutie mark stretched and faded so often it couldn’t be seen beyond a few splotches of colour against her flank. Still faded as she continued to pile on the pounds daily. Her hind legs were gone from view, hidden behind and sucked into their own rolls, the rolls of her flanks and plot, and her stomach.
Twilight’s front legs hung uselessly from fatty sleeves, her hooves barely poking out of the sleeves of fat that made them impossible to move. Her pigeon chest had melded into her stomach fat, and that fatty roll pushed her front legs apart so much she couldn’t hope to bring her hooves together. The fatty spare tires where her neck used to be helped prop her head up without her needing to do anything, and they melded into the rolls of her extra chins and sagging jowls. Her cheeks were large and cumbersome, hanging down off her face, even her muzzle had gained a bit of a fatty layer. It was only because of her magic she was able to function, needing even to squint over the rising fat of her cheeks in order to see.
Twilight huffed quietly to herself, shoving the last dozen cookies into her maw and teleporting herself into town. There was a few moments of weightlessness, of potential falling, before she cast a telekinesis spell that kept her off the ground. Gravity was still tugging at her, forcing her rolls and folds down rather than out, reducing the weightless feeling, but at least she could move about fairly freely.
The streets were mostly empty. A few ponies were waddling around, still, others were using mobility devices like scooters or boards with wheels to help keep their stomachs off the ground for a bit longer.
But most had given up on mobility like Twilight had. Housebound and only growing larger, some windows were covered from the inside by fatty rolls pressed against them.
Sugarcube Corner was empty, yet still busy. Twilight had done some enchanting herself, so that the bakery could run even though the Cakes and Pinkie were too fat to safely run things themselves anymore. Magic and machine kept things running smoothly, the power of an alicorn’s enchantment, Twilight figured. Gave the Cakes all they needed and then some, provided they ordered in their ingredients like they were supposed to.
Pinkie took up most of what used to be the dining area. She never stopped eating, Twilight had worried that non magic users would starve as their mobility decreased, so she’d set up magic trails for food to follow. Allowing ponies to eat so long as they were hungry without worrying about lifting their hooves to their face.
For ponies like Pinkie, even that small movement was impossible. Pinkie was the largest of Twilight’s friend group, followed closely by Rarity. Pinkie had lost all definition of being pony shaped a long time ago, and had packed on the pounds well after that point. Her rear end was higher than her head, with cascades of rolls and folds that made getting close to Pinkie’s head impossible without treading on her stomach fat. Or if somepony tried to walk over to her, at any rate. Twilight and other unicorns had the luxury of floating over.
Still, Pinkie was massive. Her plot brushed the ceiling, and she was wider than Twilight was long twice over. None of her limbs were visible, and even her head was starting to sink into the rolls of fat that had overtaken her neck so long ago.
“Hey!” Pinkie wheezed in greeting, chewing on a cupcake with a grin. The building groaned, probably from where the Cakes were trapped upstairs. Twilight couldn’t help but frown, maybe she’d have to bring them down and outside. Couldn’t have them crashing through the ceiling…
“Hey Pinkie.” Twilight greeted.
“Hungry? Help...yourself.” If Pinkie still had enough mobility to gesture beyond faint movements of her head, Twilight had the thought that she’d have gestured to the stocked counter full of goodies.
“Thanks!” Twilight offered a smile, earning a bright one for herself.
The pair ate in as relative silence as could be expected of mares of their girth. Gobbling their food like mares starved. Able to faintly hear the Cakes, in their apartment above, doing much the same.
While Twilight ate, she thought. She often did a lot of thinking, while she lounged around and ate. It was a growing probability that the Cakes weren’t the only ones outgrowing their homes. It could be safer to bring them outside, or at least downstairs if they were above the ground floor.
“Twilight.” Pinkie groaned.
“What?” Twilight asked.
“Stop thinking. Enjoy…yourself. Don’t worry.” Pinkie’s blue eyes looked fierce at the notion of Twilight not having a good time.
Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes fondly. “Alright, Pinkie.”
“Good.” A slight nod, and an even brighter smile. “Lemme know...what you think...of the cookies? New recipe.”
“Deal.” Twilight didn’t waste her time not eating, not after that. “Good.” She managed through a mouthful of fudgy, chocolate cookies. “Delicious.”
Pinkie nodded once more, her grin never budding. Mouth too full to speak.
The pair went back into their gluttony. Enjoying each others’ company almost as much as they enjoyed their never ending feast.