"Come on, you just fit three days ago!" Summer Solstice was currently yelling at his since, which he struggled to button up due to a large object separating the two ends: his belly. He didn't expect that a weight gain would happen to him, though he also should've also expected his choice of cuisine to cause his new figure.
The petite, golden-yellow coated pegasus with a red and yellow mane he had known was gone, in its place a near blob. He stared at the mirror, taking a look at all the changes that had happened. His massive gut was about as round as a ball and nearly touched the floor when he walked, or now waddled, on all fours. His cheeks were puffed out slightly, and a double chin hung from him. His legs were bulked up and double the width of a normal pony's. However, his flank tool the biggest hit, and they were now something that any mare would've dreamed of having. It was nearly three times its initial size, and jiggled whenever he trotted. His cutie mark, a summer sun, was stretched to make him more noticeable. With all that, Summer seemed to garner stares no matter where he went.
A week and a half ago, Summer wasn't anywhere near fat. Back then, he was a small stallion who was traveling to Trottingham. He just had a position offered to him as a local composer, and accepted the job due to its benefits and pay of forty bits per performance plus extra based on attendance. With a suit just for something like this and his love for classical music, Summer was perfect for the role. He already imagined himself conducting in the presence of Princess Celestia and Luna, with a large cheering crowd in an ornate concert hall. During his dream, the train stopped and announced for its passengers to get off.
Summer carried his piece of luggage, a brown suitcase that contained several hundred bits and his suit amongst other essentials, off the train and stared at the breathtaking sight of Trottingham. The building were intrinsically built and set up in a way to show their majesty effectively. Various stalls were set up for tourists to purchase different knick-knacks.
And of course, the piece de resistance, the Trottingham Theater. It was the premier center for musicians. Performing on stage there was like getting a private audience with the princesses: incredibly coveted and nearly impossible. It was any musician or composer's dream to perform on that stage. And soon, Summer was about to live that dream.
Before Summer could figure out where he wanted to stay, his stomach grumbled. Instead of a inn or hotel, food was now his first priority. He trotted along the streets, looking for a place to eat. However, none of the places he spotted looked appetizing. The meals they served looked like they wouldn't even feed a mouse. It probably tasted good, but his stomach was looking for something more than hors d'oeuvres.
After what felt like an eternity of growling bellies and fancy restaurants, Summer was about to give up. Luckily for him, his search came to an end once he spotted what would be his favorite hangout.
It was a hay burger joint, severely contrasting from the look of literally every other restaurant in the city. Summer figured it was probably set up for tourists who want familiar food since he only spotted a few ponies in the establishment happily dining on greasy food. It still retained a bit of class, however, as it had some beautiful flowers growing from baskets hanging from the windowsill.
Upon entering the establishment, Summer was hit with the aroma of burgers and fries, much better than any fancy food. It was closer to home than anything else in town. As he figured, not many patrons were inside, five excluding him and the staff.
Speaking of staff, the pony serving Summer was cute to him. She was a unicorn with a yellow coat and black mane. Her uniform was a bright orange, and looked great to her. And her voice was simply beautiful, even though it was quiet. "Welcome to Fresh Bites, may I take your order?" She asked, her words coated in nervousness.
Summer looked at the menu, noticing various hay burgers and other fast food options. There were also a few healthy options like salad. But, who would order healthy food at a place like this? His stomach let out another roar, forcing him to decide on an option. "Well, I'd like a double hay burger and a side of fries," He said, taking some bits from his luggage.
The mare smiled nervously as she put the food on a tray. "That will be seven bits, sir," She answered. Summer nodded and placed the money on the counter before he taking the tray to a nearby booth.
Summer took a fry and popped it in his mouth. The crisp flavor exploded all over his taste buds, making them beg for more. He tossed in a few more before deciding to try the burger, which he expected to be just as good, if not better.
Before he opened the box containing his double hay burger, he spotted the cashier from earlier trotting to a booth a bit away from him before entering it. From what he could see, she appeared to be carrying a small container that probably held some salad. She quietly ate before Summer peered to see what she was doing. Once he did, she nervously tried to hide herself. Confused at her antics, Summer picked up his tray and went to sit down by the pony. "Mind if I sit here with you?" He asked, trying to sound friendly. The mare nodded nervously as Summer sat down across from her.
The two sat in an awkward silence as Summer watched the cashier picked at her salad whilst he finished up his fries. After what seemed to be forever, he spoke up to try and engage in friendly conversation. "So, what's your name?" Summer asked, hoped to help the pony he was seated with open up at least a little bit.
The mare life her head up in surprise before dropping it and swallowing. "Um, Daffodil..." She answered quietly.
"Daffodil, huh? What a cute name," Summer said, smiling. "I'm Summer Solstice, it's nice to meet you," He finished his fries and took a bite of his burger. The taste of the fries was nowhere near the perfection that was the hay burger. The various flavors of the contents blended excellently to create one wave of heaven. After a few joy-filled bites, Summer finished his food, but he decided to stay and chat with the shy unicorn.
"You must really like our food here, don't you?" Daffodil asked. "I haven't seen another pony tear into our burgers as much as you did." She added a giggle, a small and shy one, but a giggle nonetheless.
"Good, she's opening up," Summer thought to himself, a major victory to him. He smiled before answering Daffodil. "Yeah I do, it's much better than anything else in town. Probably," He said, getting up. "Well, I should get going. See you later?" Summer asked. Daffodil responded with a nod and slight smile, making Summer feel good about his decision to sit with her. He waved goodbye and took his tray to the trash before he left.
What started our as a simple lunch had become an excuse to constantly return to Fresh Bites to eat. For the next week and a half, nearly every one of Summer's breakfasts, lunches, and dinners were a variety of hay burgers and fries, occasionally changing it up by ordering a small salad along with it. As an added bonus, he sometimes got to catch Daffodil on her breaks, where the two would partake in enjoyable, albeit short, conversations, each one becoming slightly longer than the one before. Nothing seemed to be going wrong.
But that fast food had taken a toll on Summer, causing his current problem. His belly was keeping the suit from encompassing his body, and his flank stuck out from under it. He tried hiding it with his coat before there was a knock on the door. "Solstice, five minutes until stage time," A voice called out.
"Um, okay, I'll be out there soon," Summer called out. He continued to struggle to put on his suit. After several long minutes, the suit had gone on as much as possible, which wasn't very much. Only three buttons were able to be connected to adjacent holes, and even then it had constricted his body so much that he could barely catch any air. He sighed, looking at his reflection once more. He figured that he had to spend money on a new suit. But with his constant meals at Fresh Bites and his rent at the inn, he could barely afford a suit.
"Stupid body!" He yelled at himself. "This is all my fault. I can't believe I let myself dine almost exclusively on fast food. I hate this!" He trotted out of the room in anger.
After a few hours, Summer trotted back into his hotel room, his face red and matted from tears flowing downward. He didn't expect the night to be a disaster. He didn't expect everyone to be so cruel. The show itself wasn't bad, but the aftermath was the problem. As soon as he finished the show, bowed, and left behind the curtains, all of the ponies started to laugh at him. The audience, the musician, everyone. At him and his massive rear. Summer went to take off his suit and store it in his closet, stopping upon seeing what was inside.
Inside the closet was a new suit, similar to his current one but appearing large enough to fit him comfortably. On the suit appeared to be a letter, which Summer picked up.
"Dear Summer," The note started. "I figured you didn't have a large enough suit for your new, soft body. So, I got you a new one. I don't know about anypony else, but I enjoy your new body, and I hope you don't change. From, your admirer."
Summer smiled, taking the suit. Maybe he might take his admirer on their offer. Maybe he does look cute.
