You just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake
Rarity had been to Canterlot more times than she could count by now, but the magnificence of the capital of Equestria never ceased to enthrall her. Whether it was the breathtaking architecture of the buildings or the refined, cosmopolitan air of the ponies lucky enough to live there, Rarity never tired of the city no matter how many times she saw it. Any opportunity to visit Canterlot was a welcome one for her.
Rarity's purpose for this particular visit was to check in on Canterlot Carousel, left in the care of her good friend and business partner Sassy Saddles. She had been pleased to read in Sassy's letters to her that the boutique had been doing exceptionally well since they had abandoned Sassy's mass production methods. Today, Rarity wanted to meet her in person to discuss her designs for the planned summer lineup. Rarity was always eager to hear a second opinion from a fellow designer.
Humming a merry tune to herself, Rarity trotted away from the train station and through the streets of Canterlot, bidding polite greetings to ponies she passed by as she made her way to Canterlot Carousel. After some time, she found herself standing outside the white, diamond-patterned building that was the boutique. Eager to get down to business with Sassy, she trotted up to the door and stepped inside.
"Yoo-hoo!" she called out. "Sassy, I'm here!"
"Rarity?" called a voice from the far end of the shop. "J-just give me a minute, please, I'll be right out."
"Take your time, darling," Rarity replied, before busying herself with looking around the boutique. She was pleased to note that Sassy had taken her advice and set up a colour motif for the displays, with red, blue and violet discreetly fading into each other as one cast their eyes around the dresses on sale. It really was the little touches that made a boutique shine.
A moment later, the door to the office opened and Sassy herself stepped out. Rarity turned to greet her, only for her words to get caught in her throat as she took in the sight of Sassy.
Oh, goodness...
When Rarity had left Sassy to run the boutique on her own a couple of months ago, she had been a tall, slender mare, the picture of a Canterlot runway model. Now, she was still tall, but... not slender. Not by a long shot.
Sassy's once trim and petite barrel had swollen up with plump rolls of fat, with her stomach having grown into a pot belly that wobbled ever so slightly when she walked. Her rump and flanks, not yet large enough to jiggle like her belly, nonetheless had a noticeable quiver to them. Her cheeks had grown chubbier, too, forming a cute pair of dimples that were accompanied by a ring of fat around her neck. A smear of what looked like chocolate clung to her lips, which she hurriedly licked away.
"Rarity!" she said, giving her a smile. "Cottons and cashmere, it's wonderful to see you again!"
"Ah... y-you too, Sassy," Rarity stammered, still not quite able to adjust to how much weight Sassy had put on. The boutique was clearly doing well if she could afford to eat that well, so that was a good sign, at least.
"Just a moment, please," Sassy said, before taking hold of the 'Open' sign in the doorway with her magical aura and flipping it to 'Closed'. "There, that should avoid any interruptions. So, you're here to discuss the new summer lineup you had planned, right?"
Rarity had taken the moment provided by Sassy flipping the sign to compose herself and gather her thoughts a little bit, for which she was grateful. If her thoughts were composed, she wouldn't blurt out an inappropriate remark and hurt Sassy's feelings.
"That's right," she replied, smiling. "I haven't actually started on the lineup just yet, but I have some ideas which I think you will find truly breathtaking."
"I haven't the slightest doubt," Sassy said, chuckling, her belly bouncing slightly as she did so. "Would you care to take this into the parlour upstairs?"
"That sounds wonderful," Rarity replied. "Please, do lead the way."
"Can I get you anything while you're here, Rarity?" Sassy asked as she led her into the parlour. "Tea, coffee, snacks?"
"Coffee sounds wonderful," Rarity replied.
"Alright, then! Just take a seat on the couch and I'll have it right out."
Rarity nodded and took a seat on the red velvet couch. She watched Sassy walk through a door to the adjoining kitchen, again noting how her buttocks quivered with every step. Sassy's weight gain honestly surprised Rarity—Sassy had never struck her as the sort of pony to not care about her figure. Appearance was an integral part of the fashion business, after all.
Rarity's thoughts then drifted to the decor of the room, which was tastefully furnished with two red couches facing each other across a plain wooden coffee table, with matching red velvet curtains over the window at the other end of the room. Quite basic, but still pleasing to look at. Sassy's eye for aesthetics didn't just extend to clothing, it seemed.
Sassy returned bearing a tray with two cups of coffee on it, as well as a large black forest cake. She set the tray down on the coffee table and took a seat on the couch facing Rarity, her plot bulging slightly where it met the cushions.
"So, do tell, Rarity," she said eagerly, "what exactly did you have in mind for the summer lineup?"
Rarity beamed. "Ah, Sassy, I think I have just the perfect idea for our lineup. You recall how Rarity's Royal Regalia was partly inspired by the Canterlot castle gardens? Well, I decided to expand on that with my new lineup and focus on the natural beauty of summer, drawing inspiration from the glorious forests and fields around Ponyville."
"A nature motif does sound perfect," Sassy said, looking intrigued. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
"Well, first of all," Rarity started, "I came up with a design I'm calling 'L'eau d'été'." She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a sketch for Sassy to look at. "As you can see, the design is based primarily on the rivers and ponds found in the countryside..."
As Rarity continued to describe the dress, Sassy levitated a piece of cake to her lips and took a bite. She chewed slowly, savouring the rich chocolate and delectable icing as it melted on her tongue, before swallowing. She knew full well that the calories were going to go to her flanks yet again, but she honestly didn't care. Food like this was just too gorgeous to pass up. She took another couple of slices as Rarity ran through the basics of her other designs, listening attentively as she ate.
"And that's that!" Rarity said cheerfully, setting down the final sketch she had brought. "So, Sassy, what do you think of the Summer Selection?"
"It all sounds positively wonderful, Rarity," Sassy replied, smiling widely. "A perfect fit for the summer months. I'm sure it'll be as much of a hit as Rarity's Royal Regalia was."
"I do hope so," Rarity replied. "Canterlot Carousel appears to be doing very well right now, but one can always aim to improve, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," Sassy said, nodding. "Canterlot Carousel has been doing better than I could ever have hoped for." She chuckled. "You can probably see for yourself how well I've been eating since this place took off."
"Oh, nonsense," Rarity said, waving a hoof. "You look as splendid as you always do, Sassy."
"You don't have to hide it, Rarity," Sassy replied, laughing. "I know full well that I've put on weight. But I just can't help it. The food here in Canterlot is just that delicious!" She giggled. "Say, have you tried this cake yet? It's utterly sublime."
"Oh, I shouldn't really..." Rarity said slowly.
"Oh, go on," Sassy said, giving her a grin. "You won't regret it, I promise."
"Um... well, if you insist," Rarity said, "I suppose one slice couldn't hurt." She took up a slice in her aura and brought it to her mouth before taking a bite. She closed her eyes in pleasure as she chewed, relishing in the sweet chocolaty goodness.
"Mmm... goodness, Sassy, this is positively divine!" she exclaimed. "I can see why you've been loving the food here."
"It really is wonderful, isn't it?" Sassy beamed. "Care for more?"
Rarity was about to say she really shouldn't, but a more primal part of her brain was giving her a message that she couldn't help but obey. That message was, CAKE. MORE CAKE. NOW.
"Oh, why not?" she said, taking another slice and biting into it as Sassy did the same. She ate it with just as much enjoyment as the last one, before swallowing.
"Simply delectable," she moaned. She pointed to the rest of the cake. "May I?"
"But of course," Sassy replied. "Be my guest."
Smiling at her, Rarity obliged and took another slice. The two mares continued in this manner until there was nothing left on the plate but crumbs.
"Oh, my," Rarity gushed, licking her lips to pick up any stray crumbs and icing residing there. "You weren't joking, Sassy. That really was some of the best cake I've ever eaten."
"Wasn't it just?" Sassy agreed. "It's a miracle I haven't put on more weight than this already." She placed a hoof to her chin, pondering. "You know, there's some more cake in the kitchen if you fancy it."
Rarity dithered. One the one hoof, she knew that glutting herself with empty calories like this could only end in tears. On the other hoof, the prospect of eating more of such amazing baking as that was simply too good to pass up.
"Oh, very well," she said. "I'll join you in one more, but after that I'm afraid I really must call it a day."
"Wonderful!" Sassy said, smiling happily and giggling. "Just give me one moment and I'll bring it out."
Rarity watched as Sassy trotted back into the kitchen once more. There was a pause.
"Oho!" Sassy said delightedly, as she appeared at the doorway again. "Rarity, I do believe we've lucked out, as the saying goes."
"Whatever do you mean?" Rarity asked. In response, Sassy simply levitated the cake towards Rarity, and her jaw dropped. The cake was the size of a wagon wheel, easily, and looked like it was positively bursting with chocolate. The top was smothered in thick, white icing, bringing to mind snow covering the top of a tree stump.
"Look at this beauty!" Sassy laughed. "There's more than enough here for us both to enjoy!" She set the cake down on the table, where it just about managed to avoid hanging off the sides.
"G-goodness," Rarity stammered, staring down at the huge cake. "That's... that's quite a cake."
"Isn't it just?" Sassy said gleefully, pulling off a generous helping for herself. "Well, dig in, Rarity!"
Hesitantly, Rarity pulled off a more sensible serving for herself and took a bite from it. It was just as delicious as the last one had been, if not even more so. Rarity barely managed to stop herself from shuddering with delight as she swallowed it.
Sweating a little, she looked at the cake. There was so much of it, and it all looked so appetising... The sensible part of her brain was still telling her that she needed to moderate herself, to not go crazy. But that primal part of her brain was starting to drown out her other thoughts. All she could think of was how delicious that cake was, and how she wanted... no, needed more. The thoughts grew more and more intense, until finally, Rarity snapped.
She tore off a massive slice—larger than even Sassy's had been—and shoved it into her face, making audible "om-nom-nom" sounds as she chewed noisily and messily. She moaned ecstatically, before swallowing. She barely had time to breathe before she was pushing another slice of cake into her face.
Sassy watched Rarity gorge herself a startled expression. She wasn't sure what, exactly, had come over her.
"Um, Rarity?" she asked tentatively. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, I'm better than okay," Rarity whispered, wide-eyed and grinning. "I've just tasted the best cake in the world!" She laughed triumphantly, before stuffing even more cake into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as her face was covered in flecks of chocolate. "So good... sooo goo-hoo-hood..." she moaned.
"Well, um..." Sassy gulped nervously. "I'm... glad you're enjoying it?"
Rarity didn't even bother to reply, instead ripping the cake apart with even more voracity. Sassy didn't even dare to take another slice for fear of getting caught in the crossfire. Instead, she watched in silent amazement as Rarity continued to eat the entire cake by herself.
Rarity was in utter heaven as she smooshed her face into the cake, taking huge, gaping mouthfuls, nearly in tears from how utterly amazing it was. As she continued to stuff herself full to the gills with cake, her stomach was beginning to swell up in order to cope with the amount of food that was being foisted upon it. As Rarity ate and ate, her stomach grew and grew, swelling up until it was brushing against her hind legs, making her look like she was overdue with twins. And still Rarity ate, mindlessly, making an utter pig of herself without a care in the world. At that moment, her only world was cake, and how she needed more of it.
All told, Rarity finished off the entire enormous cake, large enough to feed a family of four, in just under ten minutes. There was simply nothing left by the time she was done, not even crumbs. Swallowing the last mouthful, Rarity cried out in pleasure and fell to the floor, laying on her back as she breathed heavily.
Rarity was absolutely covered in cake remnants. Flecks of cake and icing were caught in her mane, and her face, front hooves and torso were all smothered by a thick layer of brown and white. Her stomach was a truly impressive specimen. Stuffed to bursting point with cake, it looked like a large white boulder, easily two or three feet in diameter. Her belly gurgled and glorped as it struggled to digest its feast, the skin around it stretched to almost paper-thinness.
"That... was... amazing..." Rarity mumbled, opening her eyes slowly. She registered that she was staring at the ceiling, before looking down at the great cake-covered dome that was her gut. Above her, Sassy was staring down at her in utter shock and fear.
...Oh dear.
"Alright, I see we have a new member joining us today," the middle-aged mare said, adjusting her glasses on her nose. "Would you care to introduce yourself to the group, dear?"
Sighing, Rarity got out of her seat, her rump quivering as she did so. Just as her sensible side had predicted, her gorging had not ended well for her petite figure, granting her a new layer of padding all around her belly, flanks and plot, as well as making her cheeks chubbier. It was a look that Rarity could very much have done without, and she wasn't looking forward to the diet and exercise that would be required to get rid of it.
Rarity walked to the centre of the room and stood before the dozen or so other ponies in attendance, all with similarly plump builds.
"My name is Rarity," she began.
"Hi, Rarity," the group intoned.
"And I... can't handle my cake."
END
