“Explain this...to me again,” Trixie panted as the two mares made their way up to Twilight’s castle.

“If the cure...works,” Starlight repeated for what felt like the millionth time since they left the ruins, “Fluttershy’ll...slim down and won’t be...addicted...We can’t have...her completely...cover somepony.”

The pair lapsed into silence as they got closer to the castle. It was shocking to see them up close. The smallest was Spike, but he still towered over Trixie and Starlight. It was going to be a hard climb, and a long one.

Starlight and Trixie rested for a while before starting to climb up the mountains of flab. Starting with Spike, trying to move carefully so not to step on the irritated scales. Like the dragons back in the Dragon Lands, Spike was growing so much that his scales had separated and were constantly shedding. The last thing he needed was for them to get a scale stuck in between his rolls and folds. That would be painful.

The climb was hard. There was some firmness to the fat, but Starlight and Trixie still sunk into it somewhat. The shifting, soft mass was hard to crawl across and even harder to maneuver around.

After a while, they transitioned onto Sweetie Belle as she’d started growing onto Spike. After that they went onto Rainbow, then Twilight. It had been at least an hour, probably two or three, just to make it to Twilight.

Trixie called for a break, and the pair rested on an expansive fold. What part of Twilight they were at, Starlight wasn’t sure. It was so hard to tell. Panting for breath and wheezing, it took longer than Starlight would like to admit before she started feeling better.

Fluttershy still towered above them, and Starlight could tell the climb would be harder. Trixie looked wiped, and Starlight had to admit she felt the same. Sleepless nights, long hours, and food deprivation had finally left its mark. Their bodies didn’t have much left to give.

“I...don’t think...we’ll make...it to...Fluttershy,” Trixie wheezed, dragging a hoof over her sweat coated forehead.

Starlight nodded in agreement.

“What do we do?” Trixie asked a few minutes later, after some more rest.

“If we get up their, we won’t have the energy to get back safely,” Starlight said, “There should be a bit of a time delay, but not one large enough for us to get down her without magic.”

“Well we need to cure somepony else,” Trixie replied.

“What if they get smothered to death?”

“Do you think we could teleport them out?” Trixie asked, “Between the two of us, we should be able to manage, right?”

“Once they start to shrink down,” Starlight said, “We don’t want to risk teleporting somepony this size otherwise. That might kill us before the starvation will.”

Trixie nodded, “Alright then. Who do we cure?”

“Twilight,” Starlight said without a moment of hesitation, “We’re already here, and she could help us make more cure.”

Trixie nodded, “Okay.”

After a few more minutes rest, the pair set about finding where the stream of cupcakes leading to Twilight’s face was. Once they’d located it, Trixie pulled out a long rope from her saddlebags, “Here, so I can help pull you out,” she explained as she tied one end around Starlight’s barrel.

Starlight slipped off her saddlebags, holding a flask of the cure in her mouth. She nodded at Trixie before crawling across what was probably chins to enter the tunnel of fat that the cupcakes were going into.

It was dark and warm, so dark that Starlight needed to use her horn to see. Crawling across rolls and folds, trying not to think of her nightmare whenever the tunnel tightened up a little. Dragging herself along, her legs and muscles aching and shaking with the exercise, she tried to ignore the feeling of cupcakes bumping into her from behind as they tried to squeeze past her to go to Twilight.

All along Twilight’s skin folds was crumbs and smears of frosting. Somehow not rotting or stinking. Starlight was careful to keep her mouth closed tightly around the flask. She couldn’t be lost now. Not here.

She had no idea how long it took, but it felt like an hour. As time passed, the passageway got tighter and tighter. Making it hard to crawl her way through, but Starlight did her best. She could now hear this horrible high-pitched whistling sound. It sounded almost like Marjoram when he’d had one of his attacks, and Starlight hoped the noise was just Twilight trying to breathe.

Starlight continued to crawl on, the noise getting louder and louder. After what could have been another eternity, Starlight finally came upon Twilight’s face. It was unrecognizable. Twilight was blinded, her eyes hidden behind all the fat. Her muzzle and fat lips were the only things really visible amidst the fat of her cheeks, chins, and forehead. Which probably made up the tunnel Starlight had used to get here. Twilight’s horn was barely visible, and there was wisps of her mane visible. That was it.

Starlight pulled the cork off the flask, “Here, Twilight. Drink this,” She stuck the flask into Twilight’s mouth, and Twilight guzzled it greedily. Removing the flask and recorking it, putting it back into her mouth, Starlight waited. Now or never. Would this cure or kill?

Please work, please work, please work. Starlight hoped, waiting and watching for anything to happen.Nothing did. Just the sounds of Twilight’s horrible breathing, soon accompanied by choked whimpers as Starlight did her best not to cry. Taking the flask out of her mouth again, Starlight sobbed.

“I just want my friends back,” She said, “I just want all this to stop. I miss everypony. I want things to be back the way they were. I need you Twilight. I don’t know how much longer we have. Please.”

No response. Not even a snort. Nothing. Just an open mouth, clearly unused to the lack of cupcakes. This made Starlight cry harder, “I don’t know what to do, Twilight. Please.”

Nothing. Heartbroken, Starlight put the flask back into her mouth and pulled on the rope twice.

Helping when she could, Starlight felt Trixie pulling her out of the tunnel of fat. It was hard with the rolls and folds, but after a while, Starlight was pulled out. Trixie looked hopeful, and Starlight could only shake her head. Spitting the flask out, letting it fall to the ground or get caught in fat, Starlight began to make her way down Twilight’s vast form.

Trixie followed after, “Starlight?...” She asked questions and talked the entire way back to the nearest lake for Starlight to wash the sweat and cupcake from her body. Well she did when she had the air to do so.

All the while, Starlight refused to say a thing. They ate the last of their food, and still went to bed hungry. Both were quiet in the hopes the other was sleeping. Neither of them were.

___

The next morning, the pair found themselves in the destroyed foyer of the ruins. No food, only a little water left. They’d been arguing all morning about what to do. No food and at a dead end in their research, Starlight just wanted them to finalize their pact and eat a cupcake. Trixie didn’t want to, feeling hopeful they could still make it work.

Now though they were resting. Tired and starving. Starlight yawned, trying hard not to doze off. What little sleep she’d managed to get had been tainted by her nightmare, but now had the added effect of Twilight’s awful breathing. The sound still haunted her if she was being honest.

Both mares jumped when there was a knock at the door. They shared a look, jumping to their hooves when there was another knock. Both Trixie and Starlight worked to open the door.

They were shocked at the sight that greeted them. A floating, purple blob.

“Starlight! Trixie!” Twilight called! She was clearly out of breath, panting and wheezing. She was no longer the mountain she’d been, now simply small enough to be immobilized, and was using her magic to lift her body and allow her to move.

Twilight released her magic, and landed on the ground with a dull thump, still panting.

After another moment of stunned silence, Starlight tackled her mentor into a hug, laughing and crying tears of joy, “YOU’RE BACK! YOU’RE BACK!”

Trixie still stood near the door, mouth agape.

“What happened?” Twilight asked as Starlight hugged as much of Twilight’s enormity as she could, “Last thing I remember was enjoying some cupcakes and then they stopped. Then..you. Talking to me. I remember...talking to Discord about what was going on and being thin, but I also remember always being fat. Which is real?”

Starlight hastily launched into an explanation of the cupcakes and how they caused fake memories. Explaining how things had happened and the cure. Twilight listened with rapt attention. When Starlight was done, Trixie cleared her throat.

“This is nice and all but shouldn’t we go cure everypony else?”

Thus began several weeks of hard work.

The cure wasn’t perfect but it was passable. Ponies lost a lot of the weight they’d gained, but most were still immobile. Some gained their mobility back into their forelegs and head, allowing them to start the weight loss process if they so wished.

When Discord was cured, he tried to help by snapping his paws but nothing he did had any effect. He claimed ignorance as to why things weren’t working. He had theories, mostly that the cupcake’s influence had absorbed so much chaos that it was affecting his powers. Starlight didn’t believe him, and continued to cure those she could. Including herself and Trixie.

____

It had been a year and a half since Starlight had found the cure. During this time everycreature had started and continued to rebuild what was lost and destroyed. Creatures were still fat, but more and more were becoming mobile by the day.

As Starlight checked over her appearance one more time, she couldn’t help but think about the changes her body had dealt with over the last year and a half. She’d put on weight, Trixie had as well, finally able to eat the cursed food without any side effects. After starving for so long the pair had allowed themselves to enjoy the overabundance of food more than they should. They were chubby, and compared to everyone else they were still stick thin.

Twilight and Fluttershy were still immobile. Fluttershy has lost the most weight out of everypony Starlight knew, but considering she’d been one of the fattest to begin with, she was still immobilized. Her front hooves had just become visible a few weeks before and she could wiggle them a little bit. They were like little nubs, but they were progress. She could even speak more than a word at a time before needing to stop to breathe.

Twilight hadn’t lost much weight at all after the initial cure. Starlight couldn’t be sure, but it was possible that Twilight might have gained some weight back. Mostly because Twilight was so focused on helping rebuild civilization.

Rarity was mobile with a belly board. She’d lost weight initially, but had actually started piling it back on once she as more mobile. With fatness still being so common, it had become fashionable. “The fatter the better” was a common slogan that magazines used to help sell, and Rarity was doing her best to capitalize on that and build her brand.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were mobile, more mobile than a lot of ponies, but they tired quickly and sometimes opted to use mobility scooters. Usually though they toughed it out to burn more calories.

Pinkie was an anomaly, even now. She was like Trixie and Starlight: merely chubby. She’d lost almost all the weight she’d gained, and actually weighed less than Starlight and Trixie did.

Starlight, pleased with her appearance, began to make her way to the tent that Twilight had requisitioned for this important meeting. All the while thinking about the changes that had occured.

The Cutie Mark Crusader were mobile again, Spike too. The Crusaders were constantly going out and helping fillies and colts lose weight in an effort to get back to normal weights. Spike was helping the dragons, and helping keep the communication between Equestria and the Dragon Lands. They were all doing their small parts to help things, and it was amazing to see.

Today was the day that many leaders and important people came together for a progress report. The tent Twilight had got was a circus-sized. With a large table with a map on it.

Starlight entered to find Trixie already in her seat. After Starlight settled, Twilight and her friends joined.

Princess Luna arrived in a special cart. She hadn’t lost much weight after being cured, her hooves little nubs in their sleeves of fat. Celestia following after, barely able to waddle around with the help of four belly boards.

Princess Cadence arrives shortly after on an extra large, specially made mobility scooter that seemed seconds away from breaking down. The basket on the scooter was packed full of fast food, and evidence of her constant eating was evident on her face, cheeks, and hooves. She smiled brightly at everypony. Bringing her scooter about to hug at her aunts and Twilight as best as possible considering the fat, carts, and other mobility devices involved.

Ember arrived in a cart, so fat she could barely bend her talons. Trying to feed herself but even this task was proving too much for her bloated limbs. She settled herself between Spike and Rarity, happy to let the two talk.

Gilda represented the griffons. She’d lost a considerable amount of weight, though she still needed a belly board. She was stubborn however, and refused to ‘waste her bits’ on something she thought she wouldn’t use for long. Thus her entrance was long, slow, and painful. She needed to drag herself across the ground, her stomach was rubbed raw and furless from friction. She settled herself beside Rainbow where the two began to talk.

Thorax was next, looking like he did before the cupcakes. Regal and colourful. From his letters though, Starlight knew he was using his shapeshifting abilities to hide his real size.

Queen Novo of the Hippogriffs was last. She was similar to Fluttershy, needing a cart to move and so fat she was beyond mobile. Most of it was due to her focus on helping her people rebuild.

It was too dangerous to get the yaks from Yakyakistan until they slimmed down more. Otherwise they could cause massive avalanches. It would be a while yet, but the Yaks were doing what they could.

The Zebras, after the initial cure, kept to their isolationist policies and were working towards their own solution.

Once everyone was settled, Celestia and Luna began their meeting. Comparing the twisted history that everyone remembered but hadn’t truly lived. Speaking briefly about countless feasts from the morning when Celestia would raise the sun until Luna raised the moon at night.

This opened up a larger discussion about the altered memories as a whole. Rainbow saying she remembered eating a lot because her parents pressured her to be the best competitive eater. Rarity because she wanted to be the most fashion-forward. Applejack because eating was akin to loving her family and farm.

Thorax opened his mouth, probably to chime in with another memory, but there was a pop and Discord appeared over the table, “Sorry I’m late everycreature! I was busy helping some of the immobile ponies move around a little, I’m sure you understand.”

Discord was like Pinkie. He’d lost almost all the weight he’d gained, retaining only a pot belly and a second chin. He was as lively as ever, and smiling happily. He snapped his talons, and boxes of cupcakes appeared on the table. Similar to the cupcakes that had caused all the problems.

“It’s safe to eat them since you’ve all been cured, but I hoped I could reinstate everyone's’ love of Pinkie Pie’s favourite dessert!” Eyes twinkling, “It’s a new recipe, and I’m curious to see how you all like it.”

Starlight wasn’t hungry, having just eaten. So she watched as everyone else took a cupcake and started eating.

The reaction was immediate. The fattening more intense than the previous cupcakes.

Rarity’s belly boards snapped, Twilight and Fluttershy gained so much weight they were blinded again. Applejack, Cadence, and Rainbow’s scooters were crushed under their owners. Luna crushed her cart, and Celestia was immobilized.

Starlight watched, dumbfounded as her friends dug in, getting fatter by the second. She turned her gaze to Discord, “Why?”

Discord shrugged, “It was so fun the first time, I thought I could make some improvements. Especially on a run where nopony will stop me.” The smirk wasn’t friendly anymore, “I think I’ll fix things again in a few years but who knows?”

“Could I be mountain sized this time?” Pinkie asked. She was eating too, but since she was smaller than just about everypony it was taking more time for her to reach such larger sizes.

Discord laughed, “You might be the size of a continent when I’m done!”

Starlight’s brain tried to register that mental image, but it was very much like seeing the mountain-sized Fluttershy for the first time. Her brain simply didn’t accept it. She looked around the room to each growing creature, her eyes locking onto an already immobilized Trixie.

The cupcakes used to hold so much fear and anxiety, and all she could feel clawing at the back of her throat was envy. Starlight didn’t-couldn’t deal with this again. Not alone. Without any more hesitation, Starlight began to eat. Eat the rich pastries that had once made hr cower in fear.

After a few moments, she could feel Trixie and Twilight’s fat press into her, almost like in her nightmares. This made her eat faster, even as she grew heavier and heavier, until her legs gave out completely.

As she ate, the memories began to change. She hadn’t taken anypony’s Cutie Marks. That would be ridiculous. She’d simply wanted everypony to be immobile so they would all be equally grounded. Both literally and figuratively. Eating had always been a part of her life, and it came as naturally as breathing.

Starlight had a mountain of cupcakes to eat, so of course she couldn’t let any of them go to waste.

__

Outside of the tent, several hundred meters away, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were busy helping Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Gabby a workout. Only the Crusaders were mobile, but they focused on using what parts of someone could move. Head, feet, hooves, tails, wings-anything burned calories so long as you were working hard!

After a grueling workout, Sweetie called for a break. Doling out water and helping keep everyone happy was important after all. After a few moments of panting, Scootaloo squinted at the distant sight of the tent.

“Um...Is the tent getting destroyed?” Scootaloo pointed, looking at the multi-coloured blobs emerging from the ruins.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie turned in time, mouths open to question or say something. Cupcakes popped up in front of everycreature and shot into their mouths without hesitation.

Within seconds, a year and a half of hard work was done. Leaving a rapidly growing population as Discord’s magic allowed the cupcakes to recapture the creatures it had once held.

Author's Note

And there we have it! The story (such as it is) is over.

Again, I'd like to thank fatblack. This was really fun to write and I'm glad you gave me the opportunity to.

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Thank you all very much for reading!