//-------------------------------------------------------// Soft Power -by waterpear- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The dress is tight. It's not supposed to be. Yes, it was supposed to be a little bit form-fitting, less so after Rarity modified it to accommodate my wings, but it wasn't meant to cling to my waist and rear as tightly as one of Pinkie Pie's hugs. Is there a better dress in my closet? No, I just looked. It didn't take long to look, since I don't have very many dresses. All the others are too fancy or too frumpy, and none are any roomier. This one is my best option. But it doesn't fit. I squeeze my abdominals, forcing out air. I let my breath back in. Now I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. With my lungs full of air, the dress is even tighter. The minimalist dress that Rarity made me for my birthday a few years back certainly isn't forgiving around the waist. I feel myself grimace, and tug at the edges of one of the creases streaking up the side. Rather than flattening, it folds into two smaller creases. A fractal fashion disaster! I sigh; I'm going to have to live with it, because I don't have anything better to wear. I walk out of the bedroom. Every step I take bounces back up my legs and wobbles inside my dress. I feel my belly shifting with every step. To dampen the waves, I take slight, careful steps. It works, but I can still feel myself jiggle, as if my hoofsteps echo into my body. My rump is wobbling, too. I suppose that'd make me feel sexy if it didn't make me feel puffy. No, the dress did not shrink in the wash. A rationalization like that would be absolutely ridiculous. It's undeniable: I, Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and the darling of Equestria, have put on weight. This is not good. Ponies are going to lose some of their respect for me, and they're going to openly make fun of me in the, shall we say, less respectable publications. And if they don't, I'll be setting a bad example to foals all over. "Oh, hey Twilight!" Spike greets me in the hallway, carrying a big bowl of gems. "Hey, Spike." I say. The gloom in my voice surprises me, ruining my mood even more. "What's wrong?" I take a deep breath. "Does this dress make me look fat?" Spike glares, leaving an icy silence. "What?" I ask. "Did you seriously ask me that?" Spike grumbles. "That's like the oldest trick question in the book!" He pauses, expecting an answer. I don't understand the problem. "There's no way I could answer that question that won't upset you." That is neither the answer I blindly hoped for, nor the obvious answer I feared. "Oh! Uh, I suppose you're right. That is a dumb question." Spike's eyes light up in realization. "Wait, no, I can handle this! 'You look great, Twi!' There! That's my honest and totally inoffensive answer." What would you know, Spike? I don't say that aloud. "No, I've put on some weight, and it's extremely obvious. After all, this dress is too tight." "Can't you just get one that fits better?" "Nope. It's really uncomfortable, but it's the best I've got." "What about the Princess Dress?" I shake my head. "This is just Minuette's welcome-to-Ponyville party, Spike. That dress would be way too much for that sort of thing. And besides, I probably couldn't even fit into it." "Well, it looks fine to me. I don't think anypony is gonna notice." "But what if they do notice? What am I gonna do then?" Spike shrugs. "What are you gonna do about it? Stay home and not go to Minuette's party?" I sigh. He's absolutely right, but I just want to grouse about everything. "You're right. It'll be fine." Things are fine. That's never stopped me from stressing. Not that it isn't a pleasant party. The music is perfect, the refreshments are adequate--not that I'd know, since I'm not eager to worsen my predicament--and the guests are lively. A herd of ponies flutter around Minuette, the guest of honor, who's telling great stories, giggling like she's having the time of her life. And, in the corner by the punch, is me, decidedly not being my best gregarious self. I've said hello to Minuette and struck up some small talk. For a brief moment, I forgot my worries. Ever the charmer, that mare. But then she left, and I once again became aware of the extra padding straining against my dress, and my verve ebbed away. I feel shrink-wrapped, like I'm supposed to just stand in the corner until somepony needs me. That's what I'm doing. It's just a few pounds, I tell myself. Nopony is going to notice, right? I take a deep breath, and feel what must be the seams beginning to pop. I gasp, sending a jiggle through my belly. Looking at the side, I notice that the seams are fine--but for how much longer? The clock rings ten. I suppose I'll say my goodbyes and leave early before disaster-- "Twilight! There you are, darling! I've been looking all over for you." Rarity. Just the pony I wasn't looking forward to seeing. Granted, Rarity has more than enough tact to not bring up my weight in public, but that doesn't mean she won't make her disapproval known in other ways. "How've you been?" she asked. "G-great. I'm doing well." Maybe if I eke out some small talk, things won't go too poorly. "Excellent! What do you think of the--" Rarity's eyes trace my pudgy flank "--party?" A grimace flickers on Rarity's face as her voice sinks. My stomach sinks with it. I'm blushing, aren't I? "It's...it's pretty good." I laughed nervously. There's no way I convinced her, and I sure didn't convince myself. "Indeed. Now, Twilight, don't take this the wrong way, but why on earth are you wearing that dress? I'm aware you're fond of it, but isn't it a little, well, you know...?" "It's fine, really." I smile sheepishly. "A little snug, maybe, but it's fine." "It is not fine. You look absolutely miserable in it! Now, come to Carousel Boutique at one-thirty tomorrow, and I'll see if I can't make that dress more comfortable for you, do you understand?" "But--" "No buts. It just won't do for Princes Twilight to be stuck wearing a dress that doesn't fit, now will it?" I shake my head. "No," I say softly. Rarity smiled. "Other than that, you look lovely." "Thanks." "I really do mean it, you know. I'm sorry for making such a fuss about it. You know how passionate I get about fashion. I'm sure nopony else here is going to mind very much." "Thank you, Rarity." I feel my anxiety dissipate. That could have gone much worse. "Any time, Twilight." I look out at the party going on around me, and a smirk crawls up on my face. "Hey, Rarity, you just reminded me that I really shouldn't care too deeply about what other ponies think about me," I say. "Mmm, I suppose that is the upshot of what I just said, yes." "And I've been so uptight this entire party, I figure it's time to just unwind as fast as I can." "Beg pardon?" The automated record player changes discs. I don't recognize this song, but the beat's pretty nice. I grin at Rarity. "I guess that means I'm about to go clear the dance floor now." Rarity's eyes go wide. I bet she'd blanch if she weren't already white. She mumbles something about having to wash her sewing machine and practically flees Sugarcube Corner. I giggle. It's so fun to mess with her by threatening to dance. If only this dress were more comfortable. It's going to be such a pain feeling myself jiggle every time I move too swiftly. But right now, it can't be helped. It's quarter to two. Twilight's late. I suppose she is a busy mare, but I'm still disappointed. Not in her, no. Just that she hasn't shown up. Maybe I was too blunt about her needing a new fit? I'm going to have to check on her if she doesn't show up. Twilight was never particularly sensitive, but this might have been a sore spot for her. I pass the time until Twilight arrives by rearranging the Carousel Boutique lobby and innocuously allowing my mind to drift into completely chaste and ladylike daydreams about Twilight's gorgeous body. While I prefer stallions, I do confess that I enjoy curvaceous mares--oh, let's be honest, mares of size. Twilight's body was unflattering in her undersized dress, but I'm sure she looks fine au naturel. I imagine how Twilight's plush bottom must look, so round and soft. It puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step. The door opens and the bell rings. "Coming!" I chirp as always. I feel the autumn breeze seep inside, a bit chilly for my tastes. Maybe Twilight finds it lovely with her extra-- "Hey, Rarity." It's Twilight. I freeze for a moment, until I realize that I haven't been doing anything wrong. I turn around, smiling. "Why, hello, Twilight! How've you been?" She honestly doesn't look much bigger at first glance. Perhaps I haven't been paying attention to her weight. Well, I am now. At any rate, she looks in higher spirits now that she isn't packed into that dress. Still a little apprehensive, almost like she's guilty of requiring my services. "I'm fine," she says. "I brought the dress." "Let me take that off your hooves for now." The aura around the dress changes from purple to blue, and I bring the dress to me to examine it. It smells like a meadow just after it started to rain. "This smells lovely! I simply must know what brand of fabric softener you use!" "Oh, I use the bargain kind. It's just as good as the fancy stuff." "I see. I'm going to have to look into that. If it's as good as you say, the Manehattan boutique could stand to save quite a few bits." I scan the dress to see what damage Twilight did to it. It wasn't much. I put the dress away. "The seams are fine, and it isn't permanently stretched out. It should be possible to salvage this. Now, let's get your measurements. Follow me." I bring her over to the rear of the shop. Anxiety wracks her pretty face. The poor thing. I put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "Now, Twilight, relax. It'll throw off the measurements if you're all tense." I look her straight in the eyes and put on a warm smile. "It's the dress that's wrong, not you." That did the trick. She nods, easing into a more natural pose. I grab the measuring tape and start taking measurements. "There, doesn't that feel better?" I ask. "Measurements change, darling. It happens all the time. As far as I see it, it's not any of my business how or why." Her neck is the same circumference as it used to be, and her shoulders are the same width. Her height is the same; she started to grow a little bit after she became an alicorn, but that spurt seems to have passed. "Besides, it's no big deal, really," I continue. "Ninety times out of a hundred, ponies look just as good as they did before. And altering their clothing is usually a simple matter if the changes aren't too drastic." Her forelegs are a little thicker: a quarter inch around the thigh. That's nothing much. Now for the waist. I snap the tape around Twilight and gently cinch it. Two and a half inches bigger. Wait, no. I had accidentally cinched it too tightly, and it's digging into her soft tummy. I relax the tape. Three inches. A rather big increase. I cinch the tape again. Twilight's abdomen gives almost no resistance as the tape sinks into the fat right under her coat. That'd feel lovely to hug, wouldn't it? I hear a gurgling noise. "Sorry," Twilight says, giving a nervous giggle. "I haven't eaten much today. I'm trying to lose some of this weight." "You musn't starve yourself, Twilight! You'll just end up overeating later." "I'm not starving myself. I'm just eating less than I'm used to. It's calculated to lead to a very modest calorie deficit for a unicorn mare of my height and activity level. Since I'm an alicorn, that'd probably lead to a more severe deficit, but I can fine-tune it as needed." A sigh escapes my lips. I suppose this wasn't meant to last. Twilight is driven and clever, a winning combination in anything. This weight won't last long. "Is there something wrong with that?" Twilight asks. "No, not in the slightest." I add an extra half-inch to the waist, just in case. Next are her hind legs. A full inch bigger at the thigh! Her flank is more than three inches bigger around, and her rump is an inch and a half wider. It seems Twilight is becoming a rear-heavy pony. Maybe it's her body providing a cushion for those long nights spend studying. It certainly looks luxurious. I imagine what it must be like to slap it, to see it wobble up and down. How unladylike! "All done," I say. I have all the numbers I need, and I fear I may embarrass myself if I linger too long on Twilight's tush. "How bad is it?" Twilight asks. There is no way I can get that dress to fit her rear end. "Well, I could let this dress out, but it would be more efficient to just sew a new one. Besides, you're planning on losing weight. Wouldn't you rather have this dress on hoof for when you slim down?" Not if, alas. Twilight nods. "That makes sense. So you're going to make the same dress, but bigger, right?" "I could, if you'd like. Or I could modernize it a bit. Truth be told, if I were designing it again, I'd add just a smidge more ornamentation." "You're the fashionista, Rarity. Do what you think would look nice. Just keep it simple." "Excellent! Now, there's a bit of a lull in business lately, so I should be able to hammer something out tomorrow, and it'll be ready by Wednesday. Is that alright with you?" Twilight grins. "That'd be perfect! I'll see you then." "Farewell, Twilight!" I give her a wave and watch her as she leaves. To be honest, I think I may have crossed the line into ogling--but I just couldn't help myself! That rump is just so wonderful, so round and soft and big. Its cheeks bounce up and down so ostentatiously; one can't help but gawk. Slimmer ponies can't compete with that. I shake my head--it is most uncouth to think that way about one's friends. Perhaps it's time to be more than friends. "Evening, Twi," Spike says. "Long day, huh?" I nod. In addition to getting my measurements, I'd decided to work through the pile of errands that I'd put off for being of little immediate consequence. It was rough, but I finished them all just barely before sunset. "Yeah," I say, smiling. "But I'm all done now!" "That's great!" Spike yawns. "Man, I'm glad you're home now. I've wanted to go to bed for like an hour, but I didn't wanna greet you with my snoring." "Oh, really? Since when have you been an early sleeper?" "Couldn't really sleep last night. Indigestion. I take it the thing with Rarity went well?" "Yep! Rarity took my measurements, and she's gonna have a new dress ready by Wednesday." "Great. I'm gonna hit the hay now. Night, Twi!" Spike goes down the hallway into his room, and his door clunks shut. Normally, I wait until Spike goes to bed to turn in. But Spike had gone to bed so early that I'm not the least bit sleepy. There's not really anything to do, either. So, waiting for sleep, I find myself curled up in bed with a nice book and a big bag of dried rose petals. Dried rose petals are the best. Those crunchy wisps of flowery goodness are just the thing to deal with my hunger. And the book is great, too. 50 Facts About Mane Care has some important information that I've got to try out some time. I burp, which brings me out of my literary trance. Reaching into the bag, I notice that I've plowed through half the petals already. "Mmm, these petals are really good," I say aloud. Ah, that is probably why I've gained weight. I've just up and eaten half a bag of rose petals that was meant to last a couple weeks. This is excessive. I am full of rose petals, and it feels so good. I pat my tummy. My stomach is starting to bulge out from all the food, and I feel my soft fat ripple at my touch. It's a pleasant contrast. Smiling, I levitate another clump of petals into my mouth. I'm gonna regret this tomorrow, but right now, it's totally worth it. I slide my hooves gently over my coat, making gentle ripples across my abdomen. It's soft fat, right under my skin. That's the kind that isn't unhealthy. Maybe I've been worrying about it too much. I draw circles, watching the swirls travel at my command. I make two waves and crash them into each other, watching them dissolve into a single jiggle. Now I slap my midsection. The wave from that is particularly impressive. I haven't actually gained too much weight yet. I could very easily-- There's a warmth welling in my body, and my juices are beginning to flow. There was no mistaking it: I am, for some reason, aroused. "Wha?" is all I can say, the word escaping my mouth as a whispering gasp. This is turning me on? I blush, even though there's no way anypony could see me. Shame mixes with arousal, leaving me a little light-headed. Part of me just wants to turn the light off and fall asleep, pretending that none of this ever happened. What kind of creep gets turned on by being fat? But that's not an option. My body demands satisfaction. So I dutifully curl up to rub my clit. My hoof strokes the corner of my lips. The sensation pulses, beckoning me to reach further. I dive to comply, but my hoof comes just short. I stretch, tugging my muscles. Even at my furthest, I can just barely nudge myself. It tingles, but not enough. My foreleg aches a little from the exertion. Maybe I've lost some flexibility? Or maybe my fat tummy is getting in the way? The thing that's driving me to desire is keeping me from slaking my lust. I shudder at the sheer naughtiness of it. Oh well. I've never found it a comfortable pose. Sighing, I light up my horn. I've never been a fan of magical self-stimulation. Still, it'll bring me the release I crave. That's all I need. The vibration spell kicks in, and waves of magic bounce inside my pussy and onto my clit. I grunt with pleasure. With my hooves free, I pat my belly. I could go for some more rose petals. But I'm-- Ignoring my scruples, I pull out a glob of petals and shove them in my mouth. Excess petals tumble onto my shoulders and into the bed. The sweet taste of rose fills my mouth. "Mmmmgh!" I grunt, overcome by primal pleasure. I swallow the floral mass greedily, barely bothering to chew. I gasp, partly for air, partly from arousal. Again, I rub my tummy. I ate that much, that greedily, while pleasuring myself, and I wasn't even hungry! Rationally, I know I should be ashamed, but I'm too deep in ecstasy to care. I pull in more food. My magic accomplishes all this perversion, leaving my forehooves free to caress my swelling midsection. Pleasure overwhelms my body--base animal pleasure. There's nothing wicked left for me to give into. Gluttony, lust, sloth--they're all covered. This is wrong. This is hot. I imagine myself being pampered, like the princess I am. A retainer to feed me as many petals as I want. A concubine to fuck me as I moan in pleasure. And a third to tend to my ever-bulging gut. "Ooh, Twilight. At the rate you're growing, you're going to need yet another dress. You certainly know how to keep yourself happy, don't you? I stroke my gut. I imagine that my hooves belong to somepony else. I'd hoped to keep quiet, but I just can't help herself. It's all just so--"Ohhh!" I shove another huge mouthful of petals into my mouth, hoping that it would muffle any more noise I'd make. It goes straight down my throat. The bag is empty and light. I'm heavy and full, almost uncomfortably so. The pressure mounts inside my body as the magic buzzes. It's like I'm going to pop. I come. It's lightning: brief, but intense. Did I scream? I don't know. What I do know is that I'd just had the best orgasm of my life. Yet, dazed by pleasure, I want more, more, more. I reset the vibration spell, chasing the storm that just blew over me. My body is nowhere near done, and I readily come again. Again and again, I squeeze out orgasms, a converging sum to approximate the purest form of erotic bliss. It leaves me panting and limp on my bed. My sheets are damp with sweat and fluid, and I could not care any less. The thought crosses my sex-dazed mind to turn off the light. But the afterglow conspires with my full stomach, and I fall sound asleep.