A Taste-Test of Royaltyby Liquid SavageChaptersThe Opportunity of a LifetimeFirst ImpressionsPancake PowerThe Royal ButterballTaking the CakeThe PromotionThe Opportunity of a LifetimeMidnight Blossom was almost certain, the last thing she expected on her graduation day was for Princess Luna to appear at her front door. Just a few hours ago, the bat pony was in front of Manehattan University, celebrating her tenure there with a shiny new degree in Alchemic Cookery. Her parents were there too of course, and they couldn't be prouder of their daughter when they watched her climb the stage in her black robe and square cap to accept her certificate. Group photos were taken, hugs were given, congratulations were shared, and hooves, claws and other assortments of appendage were shook. Though, now she had her future to think about. How to put this degree to good use and make some good bits. As she rode the train home to Canterlot with her folks, she weighed her options. That new cafe on Restaurant Row is hiring. Maybe I could start there? Begin as a waitress, then I can move up when I show how organised I am. Maybe even head of staff. Or, Midnight Blossom: Manager. Yeah, that's got a good ring to it. She told her parents her thoughts when her mother had asked on the way home what she planned to do next, and they offered their support with big smiles. With her qualifications, she'd be a shoe-in for that kind of job. All she had to do was work on her social interaction skills, but that didn't sound too hard. Her parents went back to their home in the dark quarter, and she to her own apartment near the high street. She laid on her bed, tapping her quill on her chin as she stared at the blank parchment. Jobs required a good resume after all. Let's see, I have that new degree...I'm organised, I can work in a team and on my own. Oh, I'm eager too! Always good to include that. And, um, I live nearby and am available on short notice. Oh, that'll clinch it for sure. She smirked as she wrote down her thoughts on the parchment. It might need some tweaking, but this would be a brilliant resume. There wouldn't be anypony around who wouldn't hire her on the spot! knock knock knock Midnight's ears perked up. She wasn't expecting any visitors, so who could that be, the bat pony wondered to herself as she he trotted downstairs and opened the front door. Her jaw almost unhinged when she saw a very familiar, dark blue alicorn standing in front of her, flanked by a pair of bat ponies, larger than Midnight and clad in purple armour. "Your Highness!" she gasped, and her face practically slammed into the floor in a hasty bow. She dared a glance up at the Princess, and blinked quizzically at the smile on her face. "Arise, Midnight Blossom," she said, her tone soft but with just a pinch of authority that made her subject obey right away. "This is merely a friendly visit, no need for such formalities." Midnight tilted her head. "A friendly visit? How come?" "All in due time," Luna said with a raised hoof. "May we discuss this privately? If it would not impose, of course." "Oh, not at all! Um, I mean it wouldn't impose! Please come in!" Midnight scurried aside, leaving the doorway clear. Luna smiled and let herself inside. Her rounded middle jiggled and bounced in her strut, but Midnight dared not stare. She flicked her tail at the guards about to fall in behind her. "You two shall wait outside, make sure nopony disturbs us." The guards bowed their heads and turned to stand outside, making sure the crowd gathering outside were kept at a distance. Midnight reluctantly shut the door and followed Luna into the living room. Her mouth twitched as she wondered what the princess was thinking as she looked around at the furniture. Then she froze as she realised something. This would be perfect practice! If she could impress one of Equestria's rulers, she would have ponies begging her to work for them! She took a deep breath and approached. "Can I get you anything?" she offered, hoping Luna wouldn't notice her voice crack. "Tea? Coffee?" Luna gave the bat pony a smile. "Coffee would be nice, thank you. Milk, four teaspoons of sugar." "Four sugars?" she blurted out without thinking. "Is this a problem?" asked Luna, raising an eyebrow. She bit her lip and her wings sprang out in alarm. "N-no, not at all! I-I just- I wasn't- um, milk and four sugars, coming up!" She leapt into the air and swooped into the kitchen, quietly scolding herself for her lack of tact. A few minutes later, the bat pony emerged with a mug of coffee in her curled wing. Luna had made herself comfortable on an armchair. Midnight couldn't help but wonder, did she make it correctly? Did she use the right amount of milk? Were there a few grains of sugar too much or too little? Maybe she should go back and remake it? She shook her head. She needed to relax, be confident. "Your coffee, Your Majesty," she said, unfurling her wing when she spotted the blue aura of magic around the mug. "Thank you." Luna smiled as she lifted the mug to her mouth to take a sip of the dark, steamy liquid. Her head tilted in thought as she swished the liquid from cheek to cheek before swallowing. "Hm, this coffee is quite good." Midnight's flanks had just touched the couch across from Luna and they were about to leap right off again. "It is?" "Just the right amount of milk, and very sweet," she said with a nod. "My duties involve a lot of long nights, so I'm sure you can understand." "Oh, absolutely," agreed Midnight. "But, why did you want to see me of all ponies?" Luna floated her mug to the coffee table and sat, front hooves crossed. Midnight could swear she looked a little plumper than usual, but she dared not ask. "I understand that today was your graduation from Manehattan University," she began, "and with a degree in Alchemic Cookery, yes?" Midnight's eyes widened. "How'd you know about that?" "I make a point to keep a close eye on my fellow night-dwelling subjects," Luna explained, then added with a knowing grin, "even those who are not so nocturnal." Midnight blushed, but nodded. "Yes...?" "Well, it just so happens that a spot in the castle staff has just opened for a pony of your qualifications." The bat pony gasped, wings fluttering with excitement. "Really?! You want me to work for you?!" The Princess nodded. "As my personal taste tester." Midnight halted, and she wasn't sure what emotion to go with. She wasn't disappointed. Surprised? A little. Confused? Yes, confused would do. "Taste tester?" she repeated, earning another nod. "To make sure our food at meal times and royal functions are prepared with immaculate attention, and without poison." Luna snickered into her hoof as Midnight stiffened up. "The poison has never happened, twas merely a jest. My sister and I used to share one between us, but recently, thanks to a surprise influx of confections in recent months - that had nothing to do with myself, I will have you know - she had the poor thing...shall we say, transferred to work as personal assistant to the Royal Dietitian?" Midnight got the hint, but tilted her head. "You want me to fill in for them?" "They will not be fit to return to such duties for a long time," Luna explained. "Quite literally. My sister and I agreed to hire a tester for each of us, and I have decided to grace you, Midnight Blossom, with this offer. You will be paid quite handsomely for good work, and receive the benefits befitting a personal assistant to a Princess of Equestria." Midnight rubbed her eyes, to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Luna was still sitting there, watching her expectantly. She was truly offering her a job at the Castle, no strings attached! Forget a cafe, she was going straight to the top! "When do I start?" she asked, her wings fluttering in excitement. First ImpressionsJust a week later, Midnight Blossom was walking down one of Canterlot Castle’s many wide, lavishly decorated hallways. The sweet aroma from the flowers in the wall sconces, the soft rug beneath her hooves, the guards marching up and down the corridors. She had to keep reminding herself that she was indeed awake and not in one of Princess Luna’s pleasant dreams. Speaking of Luna, the Princess of the Night had taken the time out of her schedule - at this time of day, she was mostly booked up with ‘Sleep’ - to give Midnight a brief tour of her new workplace. Midnight tried to ignore how much Luna’s round flanks wobbled and bounced in her stride in front of the new royal taste tester. “This is the royal dining room,” Luna said, pushing a door open to show a room populated by a dining table that left Midnight somewhat surprised. She was expecting a grand table with two dozen chairs on both sides, but this was a regular table that looked no bigger than one you would find on Restaurant Row. A chair sat on each side, one with purple cushions, the other red. A bowl of fresh fruit was square in the middle. “A personal dining room?” Midnight guessed, quickly assuming who the chair belonged to. Luna nodded. “Correct. The royal dining room is much more compact than the public one we would use for social functions, because we enjoy the privacy. And it is rather difficult to make conversation across a table sided by four dozen chairs.” Midnight nodded slowly. “I can understand that. So I’m gonna be working in here?” Another nod, then Luna pointed to another set of double doors. “For the most part, yes. We have a personal kitchen through there. My sister and I do not like to be kept waiting too long for our meals; it is quite a walk up here from the downstairs kitchen and Celestia does not like to be kept waiting for her pancakes. Plus she enjoys the occasional cooking lesson.” The bat pony tilted her head at Luna’s aside glance, and at how she’d added the last part a little quietly. She couldn’t help but wonder, was she hiding something? No, of course not. What would a Princess have to hide? “But back on topic,” the alicorn said, catching Midnight’s attention again, “you shall mostly be working either in here or in the kitchen there. Your duty is simply to make sure our meals are prepared to the highest standard.” “You don’t trust your chefs?” “Of course we do, but mistakes can happen. And if Celestia’s breakfast is missing a single grain of sugar, she will not be happy. Believe me, she notices. She’d had one particularly bad night’s sleep and...well, I do not envy that ex-chef’s fate.” Midnight gulped. “What happened to them…?” “You do not want to know,” Luna muttered. “You should be okay, though. You strike me as quite an astute young mare.” Midnight grinned and raised her chin with pride. “I won’t let you down, Your Majesty.” A gentle smile from the Princess. “I know you won’t, Midnight Blossom.” A bright flash filled the room for a moment, and at the door leading from the hallway stood a slender white alicorn, standing taller than Luna and her rainbow-like mane waving with pure magic. Midnight recognised her right away as she looked at Luna. “Oh mother of me, I thought I’d never get out of there in time for lunch,” said Celestia, in a casual tone Midnight had never heard her use before. “I wasn’t even looking at the ordinances I was signing, but I’ll worry about that later.” “The joys of handling the day-to-day life of the kingdom,” Luna snarked with a playful smirk, then nodded toward the bat pony. “Sister, this is Midnight Blossom, my new taste tester.” “Oh, how wonderful to meet you,” Celestia greeted her in that familiar, motherly voice. “Um, are you alright? Let me help you.” Midnight felt magic wrap around her body, and her front legs lifted up so she was back on her hooves. Her cheeks burned. “I was bowing, Your Majesty.” “Oh, my mistake,” Celestia chuckled, “I thought you’d fallen over somehow.” Midnight’s face flushed redder, and looked toward the kitchen doors as one them opened. A unicorn mare poked her head out. “Oh, Princess Celestia,” she said, “your lunch is ready.” “Splendid!” The taller mare smiled eagerly and looked to Midnight, then her sister. “Luna, would you mind if I borrowed your taste tester for a few minutes? Mine isn’t here yet.” “Very well then,” Luna agreed, and yawned into her hoof. “I must retire to my chambers, I’m sure you understand. And I’m sure my new taste tester won’t mind.” Midnight’s eyes widened. She was already getting her first assignment? She looked to Luna, who was giving her an expectant stare. “I don’t mind at all.” Celestia’s smile was as warm as the sun she rose at dawn. “Wonderful. Now, let’s see what we’re having today.” Luna walked out to the hallway, and Midnight followed Celestia into the kitchen. The moment she walked into the grey-white room, the smell of toast and cheese filled the air, making her belly rumble. “Sound like you could use some lunch too,” Celestia chuckled, leaving Midnight to shy away a little. “Not to worry, I’m sure the chefs made plenty for both of us.” The chef mare from earlier used her magic to hover a small stack of triangle-cut grilled cheese sandwiches toward the alicorn. “As requested.” “Thank you very much,” she said, and floated one of them to the bat pony. “Now, let’s have a verdict.” Midnight tilted her head as she held the sandwich in her hoof. She was expecting something more...regal, like caviar or something. Though, she did like grilled cheese so she didn’t complain. She took a bite. Her eyes widened, mind blanked, jaw dropped. She took another, larger bite, just to be sure. Then another, just in case. Maybe one more, for good measure. It was the most common and easy-to-make meal in the world, but somehow this was the best one she’d ever had in a long time! Before she knew it, she was staring at her hoof, empty save for a few crumbs. She licked her lips without thinking. Celestia giggled into her hoof. “I think that’s a good sign.” Midnight bit her lip. She had to be a professional and prove she was here to work, not stuff her face. “Um, the bread was toasted to perfection. A perfect blend of soft but crunchy. The cheese was nicely melted, and the hints of spices made the taste really stand out. Not too hot either.” Celestia took a bite herself, and nodded. “I have to agree. Luna certainly picked a good taste tester.” Midnight blushed with a sweet smile, which only grew into a grin as Celestia floated more sandwiches to her. She wasted no time thanking her and cramming the first into her mouth. This may not have been the job she had in mind at first, but she was certain she was going to like it. Pancake PowerWeeks went by, and Midnight Blossom was enjoying every day of her job. She quickly got used to getting up early and rushing to the castle in time to test the Princess’ breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Sometimes she even got to try a dessert, when the alicorns felt like spoiling themselves. Which seemed to be every other day, according to Luna’s…rounder abdomen compared to the slender Celestia, but she dared not say anything to her rulers’ faces. What she also didn’t notice was the effect her new job was having on her physique. She had learned on that fateful day that Luna had grown quite a round middle, but she was starting to share that shape. Her belly had gone from a slender barrel to a real barrel. Her cheeks had gotten chubbier, and the ghost of a double chin was beginning to form under her jaw. One particular morning, she was met with a strange smell as she entered the private dining hall. She recognised it; definitely pancakes, but not like the ones the chefs usually made. They smelt...not so sweet, a little burnt. Very rough. She scowled and stepped through the kitchen doors, ready to reprimand whoever would dare create something so shoddy for the Princesses. Her mouth snapped shut when she saw Princess Luna standing at the stove. She turned to look at Midnight with a smile. “Good morning, Midnight Blossom,” she greeted with a smile. “You seem surprised to see me.” “I am,” Midnight admitted, “you said Celestia took cooking lessons.” “I suppose I neglected to mention I take them also,” Luna said with a casual shrug. “I am trying to perfect the art of pancake preparation.” “Why pancakes?” “Why not pancakes?” Midnight blinked. “I meant, why pancakes in particular?” “Oh, ‘tis a long story,” Luna said with a dismissive hoof, “involving swapped cutie marks and delves into the dream realm to fight my sister’s evil side. But I shan’t bother you with it now; perhaps later?” Midnight’s ears perked up. She definitely wanted to hear this story. “Later, sure. So how’re the pancakes coming along?” “Better than my first attempt, I would like to say.” The Princess floated a small stack of pancakes toward the bat pony. “But I would like my taste tester’s professional opinion.” “Wha--me?” Midnight asked dumbly, staring at the plate before she took it in her hoof. “That is why I hired you,” Luna pointed out. “Besides, my sister tells me you have quite a palate.” Midnight blushed sweetly. Had Celestia really said that? Maybe she had nothing to worry about with this new job. Besides, despite how the pancakes looked rather rough, she felt her mouth watering. Normally she’d pass on such a shoddy creation, but she really wanted this one. Not just because one of the rulers of Equestria had prepared it, but because she was hungry. Starving. She wanted it. She needed it. She hadn’t even noticed that she was already licking an empty plate clean, then wiping crumbs, syrup and berry juice off her muzzle. It was over already? Where’d they all go? Was there more? She needed more. “Somepony is eager,” Luna commented, and Midnight could swear she saw the ghost of a smirk on the Princess’s face when she looked up at her. “So, what did you think? And be honest; I will not improve without criticism.” “Well the pancakes themselves were a little overcooked and not cut so evenly,” Midnight said, “and as much as I love syrup, they were practically drowning in it. The berries weren’t the freshest either; I’d consult the chefs about getting better ones next time. Other than that, they’re pretty good.” Luna’s brow furrowed, and Midnight clapped a hoof over her mouth. Had she really just said that? Luna wanted honesty, but she had more or less just mouthed off to a Princess! Forget losing her job, she was going to the dungeons for this! Luna looked to the stove and tapped her chin. “Hm, yes, I see what you mean. Perhaps I still have a way to go. Thank you, Midnight Blossom. Why don’t you get comfortable in the dining room and I will have breakfast brought out for you? I will have the chefs prepare it, do not worry.” She smirked, noticing Midnight’s face. “Y-you’re not mad…?” Luna tilted her head. “I asked for your honest opinion, Midnight Blossom. Why would I be mad at you for giving me what I wanted?” Midnight didn’t have a good answer to that logic, and so obediently exited to the dining room. She watched chefs walk in and greeted them as she took a seat, her plush plot and the few small folds of back fat squishing into the cushions. She didn’t notice of course, not even when she wiggled her oversized rump into the seat. She didn’t even think about how, despite having a half-dozen pancakes all to herself and her belly wasn’t rumbling, she still felt hungry. Sure, the pancakes weren’t the best she ever had, but it was still a sizeable stack. All she was thinking about was what she was going to eat next, for her real breakfast. Her mouth watered anew when the kitchen doors opened again, and the smell of perfectly cooked pancakes, toast and waffles wafted up her nose. Her wings fluttered when she watched the table fill up with plates, and wasted no time shoving her face into the stack of fluffy, syrup-coated pancakes in front of her, not realising in her gluttony that Luna was watching with a smirk. The Royal ButterballMidnight huffed and puffed as she lumbered into the castle ballroom, sweat trickling down her forehead. Even the short walk from her new quarters by the Royal Dining chamber to the ballroom enough to exhaust her. Heads turned and eyebrows raised in concern and discomfort before going back to setting up decorations. The head chef groaned under her breath. Midnight’s gasps and wheezes echoed through the huge room as she waddled in, her barrel more like a keg as it bounced off the ground in her awkward gait and stuck out between her thick rolly legs. But despite her strained expression, Midnight was excited. Tomorrow night was the Grand Galloping Gala, and the castle staff were all busy making sure everything was ready for the biggest party of the year in Equestria. Even the Princesses were rushing around making sure everypony was doing their jobs. And Midnight had, in her opinion, the most fun job of all; as the royal taste tester, it was her job to make sure the Gala’s catering was suitable for the guests. It was almost as good as having a free pass to attend the invitation-only Gala, maybe even better. “Ah, there you are, Midnight,” said Princess Celestia, and the blubbery bat pony looked up to see the alabaster alicorn float down to the floor in front of her. “Are you ready? You seem a little...out of breath.” Midnight nodded, her double chin jiggling from the motion. “I’m fine,” she huffed, “no problem! Where’s the banquet?” “Right over here.” Celestia waved a hoof toward a table at the far side of the room. She followed Midnight over, giggling softly at how the bat pony’s rump wobbled and bounced to her step. “Well, it’s less a banquet and more of a buffet. I felt putting a pause on the music and dancing to make everypony sit at a table would dampen the mood a bit.” Midnight’s gluttonous smirk wavered ever so slightly. She had never been to the Gala before, but she always had the impression that it was this huge extravaganza with fireworks, special shows and a huge feast. It definitely had the fireworks since she could see them from her apartment, but just a buffet? But as she looked at the table, her disappointment had already begun to fade. Cupcakes, mini apple pies, muffins, hay and straw sandwiches, and even a huge punch bowl. They were only hoof-foods, but they were the best looking, and best smelling hoof-foods she’d ever seen. “Just a sample selection,” Celestia continued, “for you to try. With your critique, we can make them even better.” The head chef looked up at the Princess, not even trying to hide her irritation. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, I think she knows what to do by now.” Celestia looked and smirked at Midnight, who was already leaning over the table and pushing mounds of cupcakes and sandwiches toward her open mouth. “Well, I shall leave her in your charge then.” “Of course,” the head chef sighed, bowing her head and watching Celestia walk toward a group of ponies having a heated discussion about the design of the window drapes. She glowered at the quivering mass of bat pony gobbling up whatever she could, wondering if she was even tasting the food. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Midnight only took the position just so she could stuff her face. Midnight was indeed enjoying the sample buffet, moaning and fluttering her barely-usable wings with glee. She burped and looked up at the dubious unicorn. “The cupcakes could use a pinch more sugar, and the batter on those apple pies is a teeny bit too tough but everything else is cooked perfectly. Maybe ease up on the lettuce in the sandwiches?” The head chef’s brow smoothed in pleasant surprise. She was doing her job. “Um, alright, I’ll make a note of that. What about the punch?” Midnight turned to the large bowl of purple liquid and licked her lips. “One sec.” She took the ladle in one thick hoof and poured herself a cup. She sniffed the punch inside and took a sip. She licked her chops, pleased with the fruity taste, and took a swig, then chugged the cup empty. She took a second cupful, then dunked the cup inside the bowl for a third, then a fourth. The head chef sighed and pressed her hoof into her face as Midnight tilted the bowl so the punch began to flow into her mouth, her belly distending even more than it already had been. Once she finished, she set the empty bowl down and let out a wet belch. She sat back on her haunches and rubbed and patted her belly, which sloshed and rippled like a water balloon. The head chef didn’t dare to look at her, but she was aware that almost all eyes were on the buffet table. “Well…?” “Mixed berry punch,” Midnight guessed, smacking her lips and wiping her face with her thick foreleg. “Very good choice, and a good combination of berries. Maybe a little more sugar, but aside from that, perfect.” “Wonderful,” snarked the unicorn, shaking her head. “Now I must take these notes to the kitchen, and I suppose you should stay around to make sure we follow your advice properly.” “Oh, I’ll be happy to stay,” Midnight giggled and rolled onto her back, her belly sticking up in the air and sloshing like the waterbed it was slowly turning into. “Just, gimme a little while to rest…” The head chef groaned and walked away, ears flattened angrily. Midnight, meanwhile, looked up and saw a familiar, dark blue face looming over her. She grinned, chubby cheeks dimpled. “Princess Luna!” “Somepony is enjoying her Gala duty,” giggled the alicorn. “Comfortable enough?” “Yeah,” she sighed happily, then rubbed her huge belly. “Though, if there’s anything else to test…” Taking the CakeGuards looked down at their hooves, feeling the floor shake beneath them. They looked back up and stared, then looked at each other in shock, and stared back at the dimly-coloured mass of bat pony slowly waddling by. Midnight had definitely grown in the months she’d started working at the Castle. In that she had physically grown. Her belly was a wobbling sack of lard that pressed against the ground and swelled outwards from between her rolly, tree trunk-like legs. Her plot bounced and swayed behind her, getting the attention of many passers-by. Her cutie marks had stretched to fill out the new space, and her wings were borderline useless, the long unused muscles not strong enough to flap, let alone carry so much weight. Her cheeks were dimpled by an eager grin, giving her a little squint. Today was quite a special day; Princess Celestia’s birthday, to be exact. Why was Midnight so excited? Because birthdays meant cake. And Princess Celestia’s birthday obviously meant the best cake ever made, straight out of Sugarcube Corner in Ponyville, according to Luna. And that meant she got to taste them herself. A tiny voice in the back of her head wondered why Celestia hadn’t gotten her own taste tester to do it, or why she still hadn’t hired one. But most of Midnight’s thoughts were taken up by one word; cake. Luna had told her that Celestia always had two cakes prepared on her birthday; one for the public celebration, and another for the sisters themselves. And she had gotten permission from both sisters to make sure both of them were up to par. Heads turned in the private dining hall’s kitchen when the royal taste tester barged in, body quaking this way and that. “Where’s the cake?!” she demanded with a manic smile, then shook her head, sending her double chin wobbling. “Sorry, I mean hello. Are the cakes ready?” “Yes, ma’am,” said the head chef, pointing a hoof to the counter. Two triple-layer chocolate cakes stood side by side, practically oozing fudge and topped with what looked like a dozen strawberries. The world was blocked out as Midnight stared at the creations. There was only her and the cakes, just how she wanted it. Just how it should be. She couldn’t think of anything else, nor did she want to. There was only cake. Her and cake. Cake and her. Cake in her. Cake inside her. Yes, she wanted the cake inside her. She needed it inside her. “Um, Miss Blossom?” asked the chef, snapping the bat pony out of it. “Did you hear me?” “Buh, sorry,” Midnight murmured, shaking her head again, “what were you saying?” “That Princess Celestia will need an answer before two o’clock this afternoon, when the party begins.” “Ah yes, of course.” Midnight took a shaky breath and tried not to dart her eyes back to the cakes. “Um, I’m going to need some privacy.” The head chef tilted her head. “Privacy, ma’am?” “I concentrate better when I’m alone. I’ll have an answer sooner if I can focus.” The unicorn tried to avoid looking at Midnight’s bloated form and suppressed any related thoughts. “Very well then. Let us know what you think. The sooner, the better.” “Will do.” The head chef led her work force out of the kitchen, and Midnight kept up her smile until the door finally closed. She snapped right toward the cakes the moment she was alone. “Finally.” Wasting no more time, the tubby taste tester took a hearty bite of one of the cakes, moaning with sheer bliss. The mix of chocolate batter and fudge filling danced around in her mouth, making her perform a wobbly wiggle with them. And not just from endorphins. Celestia’s birthday be damned, she was the royal taste tester. She deserved all the food the Princesses did. And that was just what she was going to have. She had another large bite of the cake. And another, just to be sure. And another, and another. Before she knew it, she was licking crumbs off an empty plate and rubbing her even more distended belly with a wet belch, followed by a soft sigh. Her chocolate-and-fudge covered cheeks dimpled with a big, remorseless smile. Celestia may have been reluctant to hire her own taste tester, but she sure knew how to pick chefs. This cake was definitely fit for a Princess. She looked at the second cake. Somehow she hadn’t started on it yet. She should. It may have been made the exact same as the first one she’d demolished, but she had to be sure. After all, didn’t Celestia’s subjects deserve the same quality as their ruler? And so, she kept up her duties and shoved her thick face right into the side of the dessert for the party goers. She was more than pleased to discover that it was just as delicious as the one she’d just enjoyed. Tasted. She meant tasted. This was a job, after all. Another wet burp and another contented sigh. More crumbs to lick off an empty plate and fudge to suck off her plump cheeks and hooves. She let out another pleased moan. “I’d say these are perfectly fit for Celestia,” she giggled. “Well they would be,” Celestia said, “if there was any left.” Midnight froze and slowly turned herself around, partly due to her cumbersome girth. Celestia stood over her, eyebrow raised, expecting an explanation. The sobering sight caused Midnight to come to her senses, and she looked to the two plates she’d left devoid of cake. “Um, I,” she murmured, sitting on her oversized haunches and tapping her hooves, “I can explain…” “Somepony really enjoys her duties,” Celestia continued, then added with a smirk, “it’s a good thing I had another pair of cakes prepared and on their way to the party.” Midnight blinked. “Huh? Then why were these ones…?” “Just a little reward from Luna and I for doing such a good job for us,” she explained, then winked. “Plus, a little test of self-control.” She giggled at how red Midnight’s face turned, the bat pony’s blush showing through her grey fur and the thick splattering of chocolate & fudge. “S-so, you’re not mad…?” “Not at all,” Celestia assured with a warm smile. “Though, I’d try to slow down with how much dessert I eat from now on.” Midnight nodded. “I’ll try.” With such good cake like that around here? Not likely. Celestia nodded, then turned toward the doors. “Now then, why not accompany me to the party?” Midnight grinned and waddled after her, enticed by the idea of even more cake. She ignored the warning in the back of her head telling her she was already quite full and might make herself sick. The PromotionPrincess Luna strode up to the royal taste tester’s quarters, just down the hall from the private dining room. A group of unicorns flanked her. The guard posted at the door stood aside without a word. Putting on a smirk, she gently knocked before stepping inside. She was met with quite a sight indeed. In front of her was an enormous, gelatinous, grey-furred mass that was the royal taste tester herself. To say Midnight Blossom had become a blob would be putting it mildly. She had lost all semblance of being a pony aside from a few features. Her legs had almost completely been sucked into deep rolls of blubber, her hooves nothing but useless stumps barely wiggling out of them. Her belly made up most of her form, being an enormous sack of lard spread along the large cushions spread on the floor. There was no sign of a neck anymore, just a collection of rolls and chins surrounding a pair of deflated yoga balls serving as her cheeks, which commanded the most of her face. Her eyes were badly squinting and the edges of her mouth were very close together. Her freckles were less like little white flecks of sugar and more like huge puffy clouds with how stretched out they had become. Her mane and ears were some of the few things that would remind you that she used to resemble a pony once. If one were to travel along the mountain pass of back rolls and endearingly tiny bat wings, they’d find themselves at a pair of globes with cutie marks stretched out to cover the expanse of the wagon-sized flanks. Her tail was tiny by comparison, occasionally and lazily flicking near the top. Luna giggled and spread her wings, hovering up to get eye-level with the mass. “So, how is my favourite taste tester this morn?” Midnight opened her mouth to reply, but her belly did the honours with a growl so thunderous some of the furniture shook. “As I thought,” Luna said, a sly smirk on her muzzle. “But if you’d allow me a few moments before your breakfast, I have some good news. My sister and I have been talking, and we have decided that you shall be promoted.” Midnight’s eyes lit up, which did not happen often unless she sensed food. “Puh...promoted…?” she rumbled, the sheer amount of fat pressing against her neck making her voice deep and husky. “That’s right, and your new role comes with a new uniform.” Luna nodded to the fleet of unicorns, and two stepped forward, opening the bags they carried in their magic. Out of one floated what looked like a huge, frilly, black and white drape, which opened up and covered her. She groaned softly, wondering what was going on. She felt the fabric being tugged along her massive frame, sticking into her in some places. Out of the other bag was some more fabric that went on her head. Another unicorn presented a huge, wall-sized mirror, and Midnight gasped at what she saw. Not how morbidly obese she had grown in her own gluttony, but what she was wearing. She was dressed up in a maid’s dress and bonnet! “Wh-what’sh all thish…?” she mumbled, having developed a lisp thanks to her cheeks squishing against her mouth so much. “I felt that this would be a uniform fitting the royal food disposal,” Luna answered, her smirk growing. “Do you not agree?” “F-food dish...poshal…?” “Of course. A bottomless appetite and enthusiasm for ‘taste testing’ like yours does not come to the palace often, now that Celestia practices self-control. And your loyalty to your duties has not wavered once in the months you have spent under me, to the point where having your own quarters here was not suitable enough reward. Hence your promotion.” Midnight’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink, embarrassment growing from how silly she looked in her new ‘uniform’ and Luna praising her awful eating habits. “Speaking of which, I should explain your new duties,” Luna went on. “It is quite simple. In fact, I think you’ll enjoy it very much. All you must do is eat every piece of food my sister and I give you. Every last crumb and drop. We will make sure the food is safe, and something you will like, since I have heard you have taken a liking to our head chef’s desserts.” Midnight was a little confused. First she had to make sure Luna’s food was safe for her, and now she was getting it done to her? Was she being rewarded? Was she still fit for her taste tester duties? What kind of food would she get? Would there be even more cake? Would she get her own birthday cakes? Would they be like the ones Celestia got? “You seem quite eager,” Luna commented, grinning wickedly as she caught Midnight licking her lips. “We shall have some food brought up to you post-haste. But first, breakfast is in order, yes?” The head chef entered behind the group of unicorns, a large trolley of toast, waffles, pancakes and many other delicious breakfast foods wheeled in behind her. The rest of the personal kitchen staff followed with trolleys of their own. Midnight’s eyes lit up. “These ponies will help you with your duties,” Luna explained, landing on the floor as she exited out to the hallway. “Oh, and to wash you, of course. As much of a glutton she may be, the royal food disposal must still be presentable!” The Princess of the Night sauntered away, smirking at the sound of chomping and slurping behind her.
The Opportunity of a LifetimeMidnight Blossom was almost certain, the last thing she expected on her graduation day was for Princess Luna to appear at her front door. Just a few hours ago, the bat pony was in front of Manehattan University, celebrating her tenure there with a shiny new degree in Alchemic Cookery. Her parents were there too of course, and they couldn't be prouder of their daughter when they watched her climb the stage in her black robe and square cap to accept her certificate. Group photos were taken, hugs were given, congratulations were shared, and hooves, claws and other assortments of appendage were shook. Though, now she had her future to think about. How to put this degree to good use and make some good bits. As she rode the train home to Canterlot with her folks, she weighed her options. That new cafe on Restaurant Row is hiring. Maybe I could start there? Begin as a waitress, then I can move up when I show how organised I am. Maybe even head of staff. Or, Midnight Blossom: Manager. Yeah, that's got a good ring to it. She told her parents her thoughts when her mother had asked on the way home what she planned to do next, and they offered their support with big smiles. With her qualifications, she'd be a shoe-in for that kind of job. All she had to do was work on her social interaction skills, but that didn't sound too hard. Her parents went back to their home in the dark quarter, and she to her own apartment near the high street. She laid on her bed, tapping her quill on her chin as she stared at the blank parchment. Jobs required a good resume after all. Let's see, I have that new degree...I'm organised, I can work in a team and on my own. Oh, I'm eager too! Always good to include that. And, um, I live nearby and am available on short notice. Oh, that'll clinch it for sure. She smirked as she wrote down her thoughts on the parchment. It might need some tweaking, but this would be a brilliant resume. There wouldn't be anypony around who wouldn't hire her on the spot! knock knock knock Midnight's ears perked up. She wasn't expecting any visitors, so who could that be, the bat pony wondered to herself as she he trotted downstairs and opened the front door. Her jaw almost unhinged when she saw a very familiar, dark blue alicorn standing in front of her, flanked by a pair of bat ponies, larger than Midnight and clad in purple armour. "Your Highness!" she gasped, and her face practically slammed into the floor in a hasty bow. She dared a glance up at the Princess, and blinked quizzically at the smile on her face. "Arise, Midnight Blossom," she said, her tone soft but with just a pinch of authority that made her subject obey right away. "This is merely a friendly visit, no need for such formalities." Midnight tilted her head. "A friendly visit? How come?" "All in due time," Luna said with a raised hoof. "May we discuss this privately? If it would not impose, of course." "Oh, not at all! Um, I mean it wouldn't impose! Please come in!" Midnight scurried aside, leaving the doorway clear. Luna smiled and let herself inside. Her rounded middle jiggled and bounced in her strut, but Midnight dared not stare. She flicked her tail at the guards about to fall in behind her. "You two shall wait outside, make sure nopony disturbs us." The guards bowed their heads and turned to stand outside, making sure the crowd gathering outside were kept at a distance. Midnight reluctantly shut the door and followed Luna into the living room. Her mouth twitched as she wondered what the princess was thinking as she looked around at the furniture. Then she froze as she realised something. This would be perfect practice! If she could impress one of Equestria's rulers, she would have ponies begging her to work for them! She took a deep breath and approached. "Can I get you anything?" she offered, hoping Luna wouldn't notice her voice crack. "Tea? Coffee?" Luna gave the bat pony a smile. "Coffee would be nice, thank you. Milk, four teaspoons of sugar." "Four sugars?" she blurted out without thinking. "Is this a problem?" asked Luna, raising an eyebrow. She bit her lip and her wings sprang out in alarm. "N-no, not at all! I-I just- I wasn't- um, milk and four sugars, coming up!" She leapt into the air and swooped into the kitchen, quietly scolding herself for her lack of tact. A few minutes later, the bat pony emerged with a mug of coffee in her curled wing. Luna had made herself comfortable on an armchair. Midnight couldn't help but wonder, did she make it correctly? Did she use the right amount of milk? Were there a few grains of sugar too much or too little? Maybe she should go back and remake it? She shook her head. She needed to relax, be confident. "Your coffee, Your Majesty," she said, unfurling her wing when she spotted the blue aura of magic around the mug. "Thank you." Luna smiled as she lifted the mug to her mouth to take a sip of the dark, steamy liquid. Her head tilted in thought as she swished the liquid from cheek to cheek before swallowing. "Hm, this coffee is quite good." Midnight's flanks had just touched the couch across from Luna and they were about to leap right off again. "It is?" "Just the right amount of milk, and very sweet," she said with a nod. "My duties involve a lot of long nights, so I'm sure you can understand." "Oh, absolutely," agreed Midnight. "But, why did you want to see me of all ponies?" Luna floated her mug to the coffee table and sat, front hooves crossed. Midnight could swear she looked a little plumper than usual, but she dared not ask. "I understand that today was your graduation from Manehattan University," she began, "and with a degree in Alchemic Cookery, yes?" Midnight's eyes widened. "How'd you know about that?" "I make a point to keep a close eye on my fellow night-dwelling subjects," Luna explained, then added with a knowing grin, "even those who are not so nocturnal." Midnight blushed, but nodded. "Yes...?" "Well, it just so happens that a spot in the castle staff has just opened for a pony of your qualifications." The bat pony gasped, wings fluttering with excitement. "Really?! You want me to work for you?!" The Princess nodded. "As my personal taste tester." Midnight halted, and she wasn't sure what emotion to go with. She wasn't disappointed. Surprised? A little. Confused? Yes, confused would do. "Taste tester?" she repeated, earning another nod. "To make sure our food at meal times and royal functions are prepared with immaculate attention, and without poison." Luna snickered into her hoof as Midnight stiffened up. "The poison has never happened, twas merely a jest. My sister and I used to share one between us, but recently, thanks to a surprise influx of confections in recent months - that had nothing to do with myself, I will have you know - she had the poor thing...shall we say, transferred to work as personal assistant to the Royal Dietitian?" Midnight got the hint, but tilted her head. "You want me to fill in for them?" "They will not be fit to return to such duties for a long time," Luna explained. "Quite literally. My sister and I agreed to hire a tester for each of us, and I have decided to grace you, Midnight Blossom, with this offer. You will be paid quite handsomely for good work, and receive the benefits befitting a personal assistant to a Princess of Equestria." Midnight rubbed her eyes, to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Luna was still sitting there, watching her expectantly. She was truly offering her a job at the Castle, no strings attached! Forget a cafe, she was going straight to the top! "When do I start?" she asked, her wings fluttering in excitement.
First ImpressionsJust a week later, Midnight Blossom was walking down one of Canterlot Castle’s many wide, lavishly decorated hallways. The sweet aroma from the flowers in the wall sconces, the soft rug beneath her hooves, the guards marching up and down the corridors. She had to keep reminding herself that she was indeed awake and not in one of Princess Luna’s pleasant dreams. Speaking of Luna, the Princess of the Night had taken the time out of her schedule - at this time of day, she was mostly booked up with ‘Sleep’ - to give Midnight a brief tour of her new workplace. Midnight tried to ignore how much Luna’s round flanks wobbled and bounced in her stride in front of the new royal taste tester. “This is the royal dining room,” Luna said, pushing a door open to show a room populated by a dining table that left Midnight somewhat surprised. She was expecting a grand table with two dozen chairs on both sides, but this was a regular table that looked no bigger than one you would find on Restaurant Row. A chair sat on each side, one with purple cushions, the other red. A bowl of fresh fruit was square in the middle. “A personal dining room?” Midnight guessed, quickly assuming who the chair belonged to. Luna nodded. “Correct. The royal dining room is much more compact than the public one we would use for social functions, because we enjoy the privacy. And it is rather difficult to make conversation across a table sided by four dozen chairs.” Midnight nodded slowly. “I can understand that. So I’m gonna be working in here?” Another nod, then Luna pointed to another set of double doors. “For the most part, yes. We have a personal kitchen through there. My sister and I do not like to be kept waiting too long for our meals; it is quite a walk up here from the downstairs kitchen and Celestia does not like to be kept waiting for her pancakes. Plus she enjoys the occasional cooking lesson.” The bat pony tilted her head at Luna’s aside glance, and at how she’d added the last part a little quietly. She couldn’t help but wonder, was she hiding something? No, of course not. What would a Princess have to hide? “But back on topic,” the alicorn said, catching Midnight’s attention again, “you shall mostly be working either in here or in the kitchen there. Your duty is simply to make sure our meals are prepared to the highest standard.” “You don’t trust your chefs?” “Of course we do, but mistakes can happen. And if Celestia’s breakfast is missing a single grain of sugar, she will not be happy. Believe me, she notices. She’d had one particularly bad night’s sleep and...well, I do not envy that ex-chef’s fate.” Midnight gulped. “What happened to them…?” “You do not want to know,” Luna muttered. “You should be okay, though. You strike me as quite an astute young mare.” Midnight grinned and raised her chin with pride. “I won’t let you down, Your Majesty.” A gentle smile from the Princess. “I know you won’t, Midnight Blossom.” A bright flash filled the room for a moment, and at the door leading from the hallway stood a slender white alicorn, standing taller than Luna and her rainbow-like mane waving with pure magic. Midnight recognised her right away as she looked at Luna. “Oh mother of me, I thought I’d never get out of there in time for lunch,” said Celestia, in a casual tone Midnight had never heard her use before. “I wasn’t even looking at the ordinances I was signing, but I’ll worry about that later.” “The joys of handling the day-to-day life of the kingdom,” Luna snarked with a playful smirk, then nodded toward the bat pony. “Sister, this is Midnight Blossom, my new taste tester.” “Oh, how wonderful to meet you,” Celestia greeted her in that familiar, motherly voice. “Um, are you alright? Let me help you.” Midnight felt magic wrap around her body, and her front legs lifted up so she was back on her hooves. Her cheeks burned. “I was bowing, Your Majesty.” “Oh, my mistake,” Celestia chuckled, “I thought you’d fallen over somehow.” Midnight’s face flushed redder, and looked toward the kitchen doors as one them opened. A unicorn mare poked her head out. “Oh, Princess Celestia,” she said, “your lunch is ready.” “Splendid!” The taller mare smiled eagerly and looked to Midnight, then her sister. “Luna, would you mind if I borrowed your taste tester for a few minutes? Mine isn’t here yet.” “Very well then,” Luna agreed, and yawned into her hoof. “I must retire to my chambers, I’m sure you understand. And I’m sure my new taste tester won’t mind.” Midnight’s eyes widened. She was already getting her first assignment? She looked to Luna, who was giving her an expectant stare. “I don’t mind at all.” Celestia’s smile was as warm as the sun she rose at dawn. “Wonderful. Now, let’s see what we’re having today.” Luna walked out to the hallway, and Midnight followed Celestia into the kitchen. The moment she walked into the grey-white room, the smell of toast and cheese filled the air, making her belly rumble. “Sound like you could use some lunch too,” Celestia chuckled, leaving Midnight to shy away a little. “Not to worry, I’m sure the chefs made plenty for both of us.” The chef mare from earlier used her magic to hover a small stack of triangle-cut grilled cheese sandwiches toward the alicorn. “As requested.” “Thank you very much,” she said, and floated one of them to the bat pony. “Now, let’s have a verdict.” Midnight tilted her head as she held the sandwich in her hoof. She was expecting something more...regal, like caviar or something. Though, she did like grilled cheese so she didn’t complain. She took a bite. Her eyes widened, mind blanked, jaw dropped. She took another, larger bite, just to be sure. Then another, just in case. Maybe one more, for good measure. It was the most common and easy-to-make meal in the world, but somehow this was the best one she’d ever had in a long time! Before she knew it, she was staring at her hoof, empty save for a few crumbs. She licked her lips without thinking. Celestia giggled into her hoof. “I think that’s a good sign.” Midnight bit her lip. She had to be a professional and prove she was here to work, not stuff her face. “Um, the bread was toasted to perfection. A perfect blend of soft but crunchy. The cheese was nicely melted, and the hints of spices made the taste really stand out. Not too hot either.” Celestia took a bite herself, and nodded. “I have to agree. Luna certainly picked a good taste tester.” Midnight blushed with a sweet smile, which only grew into a grin as Celestia floated more sandwiches to her. She wasted no time thanking her and cramming the first into her mouth. This may not have been the job she had in mind at first, but she was certain she was going to like it.
Pancake PowerWeeks went by, and Midnight Blossom was enjoying every day of her job. She quickly got used to getting up early and rushing to the castle in time to test the Princess’ breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Sometimes she even got to try a dessert, when the alicorns felt like spoiling themselves. Which seemed to be every other day, according to Luna’s…rounder abdomen compared to the slender Celestia, but she dared not say anything to her rulers’ faces. What she also didn’t notice was the effect her new job was having on her physique. She had learned on that fateful day that Luna had grown quite a round middle, but she was starting to share that shape. Her belly had gone from a slender barrel to a real barrel. Her cheeks had gotten chubbier, and the ghost of a double chin was beginning to form under her jaw. One particular morning, she was met with a strange smell as she entered the private dining hall. She recognised it; definitely pancakes, but not like the ones the chefs usually made. They smelt...not so sweet, a little burnt. Very rough. She scowled and stepped through the kitchen doors, ready to reprimand whoever would dare create something so shoddy for the Princesses. Her mouth snapped shut when she saw Princess Luna standing at the stove. She turned to look at Midnight with a smile. “Good morning, Midnight Blossom,” she greeted with a smile. “You seem surprised to see me.” “I am,” Midnight admitted, “you said Celestia took cooking lessons.” “I suppose I neglected to mention I take them also,” Luna said with a casual shrug. “I am trying to perfect the art of pancake preparation.” “Why pancakes?” “Why not pancakes?” Midnight blinked. “I meant, why pancakes in particular?” “Oh, ‘tis a long story,” Luna said with a dismissive hoof, “involving swapped cutie marks and delves into the dream realm to fight my sister’s evil side. But I shan’t bother you with it now; perhaps later?” Midnight’s ears perked up. She definitely wanted to hear this story. “Later, sure. So how’re the pancakes coming along?” “Better than my first attempt, I would like to say.” The Princess floated a small stack of pancakes toward the bat pony. “But I would like my taste tester’s professional opinion.” “Wha--me?” Midnight asked dumbly, staring at the plate before she took it in her hoof. “That is why I hired you,” Luna pointed out. “Besides, my sister tells me you have quite a palate.” Midnight blushed sweetly. Had Celestia really said that? Maybe she had nothing to worry about with this new job. Besides, despite how the pancakes looked rather rough, she felt her mouth watering. Normally she’d pass on such a shoddy creation, but she really wanted this one. Not just because one of the rulers of Equestria had prepared it, but because she was hungry. Starving. She wanted it. She needed it. She hadn’t even noticed that she was already licking an empty plate clean, then wiping crumbs, syrup and berry juice off her muzzle. It was over already? Where’d they all go? Was there more? She needed more. “Somepony is eager,” Luna commented, and Midnight could swear she saw the ghost of a smirk on the Princess’s face when she looked up at her. “So, what did you think? And be honest; I will not improve without criticism.” “Well the pancakes themselves were a little overcooked and not cut so evenly,” Midnight said, “and as much as I love syrup, they were practically drowning in it. The berries weren’t the freshest either; I’d consult the chefs about getting better ones next time. Other than that, they’re pretty good.” Luna’s brow furrowed, and Midnight clapped a hoof over her mouth. Had she really just said that? Luna wanted honesty, but she had more or less just mouthed off to a Princess! Forget losing her job, she was going to the dungeons for this! Luna looked to the stove and tapped her chin. “Hm, yes, I see what you mean. Perhaps I still have a way to go. Thank you, Midnight Blossom. Why don’t you get comfortable in the dining room and I will have breakfast brought out for you? I will have the chefs prepare it, do not worry.” She smirked, noticing Midnight’s face. “Y-you’re not mad…?” Luna tilted her head. “I asked for your honest opinion, Midnight Blossom. Why would I be mad at you for giving me what I wanted?” Midnight didn’t have a good answer to that logic, and so obediently exited to the dining room. She watched chefs walk in and greeted them as she took a seat, her plush plot and the few small folds of back fat squishing into the cushions. She didn’t notice of course, not even when she wiggled her oversized rump into the seat. She didn’t even think about how, despite having a half-dozen pancakes all to herself and her belly wasn’t rumbling, she still felt hungry. Sure, the pancakes weren’t the best she ever had, but it was still a sizeable stack. All she was thinking about was what she was going to eat next, for her real breakfast. Her mouth watered anew when the kitchen doors opened again, and the smell of perfectly cooked pancakes, toast and waffles wafted up her nose. Her wings fluttered when she watched the table fill up with plates, and wasted no time shoving her face into the stack of fluffy, syrup-coated pancakes in front of her, not realising in her gluttony that Luna was watching with a smirk.
The Royal ButterballMidnight huffed and puffed as she lumbered into the castle ballroom, sweat trickling down her forehead. Even the short walk from her new quarters by the Royal Dining chamber to the ballroom enough to exhaust her. Heads turned and eyebrows raised in concern and discomfort before going back to setting up decorations. The head chef groaned under her breath. Midnight’s gasps and wheezes echoed through the huge room as she waddled in, her barrel more like a keg as it bounced off the ground in her awkward gait and stuck out between her thick rolly legs. But despite her strained expression, Midnight was excited. Tomorrow night was the Grand Galloping Gala, and the castle staff were all busy making sure everything was ready for the biggest party of the year in Equestria. Even the Princesses were rushing around making sure everypony was doing their jobs. And Midnight had, in her opinion, the most fun job of all; as the royal taste tester, it was her job to make sure the Gala’s catering was suitable for the guests. It was almost as good as having a free pass to attend the invitation-only Gala, maybe even better. “Ah, there you are, Midnight,” said Princess Celestia, and the blubbery bat pony looked up to see the alabaster alicorn float down to the floor in front of her. “Are you ready? You seem a little...out of breath.” Midnight nodded, her double chin jiggling from the motion. “I’m fine,” she huffed, “no problem! Where’s the banquet?” “Right over here.” Celestia waved a hoof toward a table at the far side of the room. She followed Midnight over, giggling softly at how the bat pony’s rump wobbled and bounced to her step. “Well, it’s less a banquet and more of a buffet. I felt putting a pause on the music and dancing to make everypony sit at a table would dampen the mood a bit.” Midnight’s gluttonous smirk wavered ever so slightly. She had never been to the Gala before, but she always had the impression that it was this huge extravaganza with fireworks, special shows and a huge feast. It definitely had the fireworks since she could see them from her apartment, but just a buffet? But as she looked at the table, her disappointment had already begun to fade. Cupcakes, mini apple pies, muffins, hay and straw sandwiches, and even a huge punch bowl. They were only hoof-foods, but they were the best looking, and best smelling hoof-foods she’d ever seen. “Just a sample selection,” Celestia continued, “for you to try. With your critique, we can make them even better.” The head chef looked up at the Princess, not even trying to hide her irritation. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, I think she knows what to do by now.” Celestia looked and smirked at Midnight, who was already leaning over the table and pushing mounds of cupcakes and sandwiches toward her open mouth. “Well, I shall leave her in your charge then.” “Of course,” the head chef sighed, bowing her head and watching Celestia walk toward a group of ponies having a heated discussion about the design of the window drapes. She glowered at the quivering mass of bat pony gobbling up whatever she could, wondering if she was even tasting the food. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Midnight only took the position just so she could stuff her face. Midnight was indeed enjoying the sample buffet, moaning and fluttering her barely-usable wings with glee. She burped and looked up at the dubious unicorn. “The cupcakes could use a pinch more sugar, and the batter on those apple pies is a teeny bit too tough but everything else is cooked perfectly. Maybe ease up on the lettuce in the sandwiches?” The head chef’s brow smoothed in pleasant surprise. She was doing her job. “Um, alright, I’ll make a note of that. What about the punch?” Midnight turned to the large bowl of purple liquid and licked her lips. “One sec.” She took the ladle in one thick hoof and poured herself a cup. She sniffed the punch inside and took a sip. She licked her chops, pleased with the fruity taste, and took a swig, then chugged the cup empty. She took a second cupful, then dunked the cup inside the bowl for a third, then a fourth. The head chef sighed and pressed her hoof into her face as Midnight tilted the bowl so the punch began to flow into her mouth, her belly distending even more than it already had been. Once she finished, she set the empty bowl down and let out a wet belch. She sat back on her haunches and rubbed and patted her belly, which sloshed and rippled like a water balloon. The head chef didn’t dare to look at her, but she was aware that almost all eyes were on the buffet table. “Well…?” “Mixed berry punch,” Midnight guessed, smacking her lips and wiping her face with her thick foreleg. “Very good choice, and a good combination of berries. Maybe a little more sugar, but aside from that, perfect.” “Wonderful,” snarked the unicorn, shaking her head. “Now I must take these notes to the kitchen, and I suppose you should stay around to make sure we follow your advice properly.” “Oh, I’ll be happy to stay,” Midnight giggled and rolled onto her back, her belly sticking up in the air and sloshing like the waterbed it was slowly turning into. “Just, gimme a little while to rest…” The head chef groaned and walked away, ears flattened angrily. Midnight, meanwhile, looked up and saw a familiar, dark blue face looming over her. She grinned, chubby cheeks dimpled. “Princess Luna!” “Somepony is enjoying her Gala duty,” giggled the alicorn. “Comfortable enough?” “Yeah,” she sighed happily, then rubbed her huge belly. “Though, if there’s anything else to test…”
Taking the CakeGuards looked down at their hooves, feeling the floor shake beneath them. They looked back up and stared, then looked at each other in shock, and stared back at the dimly-coloured mass of bat pony slowly waddling by. Midnight had definitely grown in the months she’d started working at the Castle. In that she had physically grown. Her belly was a wobbling sack of lard that pressed against the ground and swelled outwards from between her rolly, tree trunk-like legs. Her plot bounced and swayed behind her, getting the attention of many passers-by. Her cutie marks had stretched to fill out the new space, and her wings were borderline useless, the long unused muscles not strong enough to flap, let alone carry so much weight. Her cheeks were dimpled by an eager grin, giving her a little squint. Today was quite a special day; Princess Celestia’s birthday, to be exact. Why was Midnight so excited? Because birthdays meant cake. And Princess Celestia’s birthday obviously meant the best cake ever made, straight out of Sugarcube Corner in Ponyville, according to Luna. And that meant she got to taste them herself. A tiny voice in the back of her head wondered why Celestia hadn’t gotten her own taste tester to do it, or why she still hadn’t hired one. But most of Midnight’s thoughts were taken up by one word; cake. Luna had told her that Celestia always had two cakes prepared on her birthday; one for the public celebration, and another for the sisters themselves. And she had gotten permission from both sisters to make sure both of them were up to par. Heads turned in the private dining hall’s kitchen when the royal taste tester barged in, body quaking this way and that. “Where’s the cake?!” she demanded with a manic smile, then shook her head, sending her double chin wobbling. “Sorry, I mean hello. Are the cakes ready?” “Yes, ma’am,” said the head chef, pointing a hoof to the counter. Two triple-layer chocolate cakes stood side by side, practically oozing fudge and topped with what looked like a dozen strawberries. The world was blocked out as Midnight stared at the creations. There was only her and the cakes, just how she wanted it. Just how it should be. She couldn’t think of anything else, nor did she want to. There was only cake. Her and cake. Cake and her. Cake in her. Cake inside her. Yes, she wanted the cake inside her. She needed it inside her. “Um, Miss Blossom?” asked the chef, snapping the bat pony out of it. “Did you hear me?” “Buh, sorry,” Midnight murmured, shaking her head again, “what were you saying?” “That Princess Celestia will need an answer before two o’clock this afternoon, when the party begins.” “Ah yes, of course.” Midnight took a shaky breath and tried not to dart her eyes back to the cakes. “Um, I’m going to need some privacy.” The head chef tilted her head. “Privacy, ma’am?” “I concentrate better when I’m alone. I’ll have an answer sooner if I can focus.” The unicorn tried to avoid looking at Midnight’s bloated form and suppressed any related thoughts. “Very well then. Let us know what you think. The sooner, the better.” “Will do.” The head chef led her work force out of the kitchen, and Midnight kept up her smile until the door finally closed. She snapped right toward the cakes the moment she was alone. “Finally.” Wasting no more time, the tubby taste tester took a hearty bite of one of the cakes, moaning with sheer bliss. The mix of chocolate batter and fudge filling danced around in her mouth, making her perform a wobbly wiggle with them. And not just from endorphins. Celestia’s birthday be damned, she was the royal taste tester. She deserved all the food the Princesses did. And that was just what she was going to have. She had another large bite of the cake. And another, just to be sure. And another, and another. Before she knew it, she was licking crumbs off an empty plate and rubbing her even more distended belly with a wet belch, followed by a soft sigh. Her chocolate-and-fudge covered cheeks dimpled with a big, remorseless smile. Celestia may have been reluctant to hire her own taste tester, but she sure knew how to pick chefs. This cake was definitely fit for a Princess. She looked at the second cake. Somehow she hadn’t started on it yet. She should. It may have been made the exact same as the first one she’d demolished, but she had to be sure. After all, didn’t Celestia’s subjects deserve the same quality as their ruler? And so, she kept up her duties and shoved her thick face right into the side of the dessert for the party goers. She was more than pleased to discover that it was just as delicious as the one she’d just enjoyed. Tasted. She meant tasted. This was a job, after all. Another wet burp and another contented sigh. More crumbs to lick off an empty plate and fudge to suck off her plump cheeks and hooves. She let out another pleased moan. “I’d say these are perfectly fit for Celestia,” she giggled. “Well they would be,” Celestia said, “if there was any left.” Midnight froze and slowly turned herself around, partly due to her cumbersome girth. Celestia stood over her, eyebrow raised, expecting an explanation. The sobering sight caused Midnight to come to her senses, and she looked to the two plates she’d left devoid of cake. “Um, I,” she murmured, sitting on her oversized haunches and tapping her hooves, “I can explain…” “Somepony really enjoys her duties,” Celestia continued, then added with a smirk, “it’s a good thing I had another pair of cakes prepared and on their way to the party.” Midnight blinked. “Huh? Then why were these ones…?” “Just a little reward from Luna and I for doing such a good job for us,” she explained, then winked. “Plus, a little test of self-control.” She giggled at how red Midnight’s face turned, the bat pony’s blush showing through her grey fur and the thick splattering of chocolate & fudge. “S-so, you’re not mad…?” “Not at all,” Celestia assured with a warm smile. “Though, I’d try to slow down with how much dessert I eat from now on.” Midnight nodded. “I’ll try.” With such good cake like that around here? Not likely. Celestia nodded, then turned toward the doors. “Now then, why not accompany me to the party?” Midnight grinned and waddled after her, enticed by the idea of even more cake. She ignored the warning in the back of her head telling her she was already quite full and might make herself sick.
The PromotionPrincess Luna strode up to the royal taste tester’s quarters, just down the hall from the private dining room. A group of unicorns flanked her. The guard posted at the door stood aside without a word. Putting on a smirk, she gently knocked before stepping inside. She was met with quite a sight indeed. In front of her was an enormous, gelatinous, grey-furred mass that was the royal taste tester herself. To say Midnight Blossom had become a blob would be putting it mildly. She had lost all semblance of being a pony aside from a few features. Her legs had almost completely been sucked into deep rolls of blubber, her hooves nothing but useless stumps barely wiggling out of them. Her belly made up most of her form, being an enormous sack of lard spread along the large cushions spread on the floor. There was no sign of a neck anymore, just a collection of rolls and chins surrounding a pair of deflated yoga balls serving as her cheeks, which commanded the most of her face. Her eyes were badly squinting and the edges of her mouth were very close together. Her freckles were less like little white flecks of sugar and more like huge puffy clouds with how stretched out they had become. Her mane and ears were some of the few things that would remind you that she used to resemble a pony once. If one were to travel along the mountain pass of back rolls and endearingly tiny bat wings, they’d find themselves at a pair of globes with cutie marks stretched out to cover the expanse of the wagon-sized flanks. Her tail was tiny by comparison, occasionally and lazily flicking near the top. Luna giggled and spread her wings, hovering up to get eye-level with the mass. “So, how is my favourite taste tester this morn?” Midnight opened her mouth to reply, but her belly did the honours with a growl so thunderous some of the furniture shook. “As I thought,” Luna said, a sly smirk on her muzzle. “But if you’d allow me a few moments before your breakfast, I have some good news. My sister and I have been talking, and we have decided that you shall be promoted.” Midnight’s eyes lit up, which did not happen often unless she sensed food. “Puh...promoted…?” she rumbled, the sheer amount of fat pressing against her neck making her voice deep and husky. “That’s right, and your new role comes with a new uniform.” Luna nodded to the fleet of unicorns, and two stepped forward, opening the bags they carried in their magic. Out of one floated what looked like a huge, frilly, black and white drape, which opened up and covered her. She groaned softly, wondering what was going on. She felt the fabric being tugged along her massive frame, sticking into her in some places. Out of the other bag was some more fabric that went on her head. Another unicorn presented a huge, wall-sized mirror, and Midnight gasped at what she saw. Not how morbidly obese she had grown in her own gluttony, but what she was wearing. She was dressed up in a maid’s dress and bonnet! “Wh-what’sh all thish…?” she mumbled, having developed a lisp thanks to her cheeks squishing against her mouth so much. “I felt that this would be a uniform fitting the royal food disposal,” Luna answered, her smirk growing. “Do you not agree?” “F-food dish...poshal…?” “Of course. A bottomless appetite and enthusiasm for ‘taste testing’ like yours does not come to the palace often, now that Celestia practices self-control. And your loyalty to your duties has not wavered once in the months you have spent under me, to the point where having your own quarters here was not suitable enough reward. Hence your promotion.” Midnight’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink, embarrassment growing from how silly she looked in her new ‘uniform’ and Luna praising her awful eating habits. “Speaking of which, I should explain your new duties,” Luna went on. “It is quite simple. In fact, I think you’ll enjoy it very much. All you must do is eat every piece of food my sister and I give you. Every last crumb and drop. We will make sure the food is safe, and something you will like, since I have heard you have taken a liking to our head chef’s desserts.” Midnight was a little confused. First she had to make sure Luna’s food was safe for her, and now she was getting it done to her? Was she being rewarded? Was she still fit for her taste tester duties? What kind of food would she get? Would there be even more cake? Would she get her own birthday cakes? Would they be like the ones Celestia got? “You seem quite eager,” Luna commented, grinning wickedly as she caught Midnight licking her lips. “We shall have some food brought up to you post-haste. But first, breakfast is in order, yes?” The head chef entered behind the group of unicorns, a large trolley of toast, waffles, pancakes and many other delicious breakfast foods wheeled in behind her. The rest of the personal kitchen staff followed with trolleys of their own. Midnight’s eyes lit up. “These ponies will help you with your duties,” Luna explained, landing on the floor as she exited out to the hallway. “Oh, and to wash you, of course. As much of a glutton she may be, the royal food disposal must still be presentable!” The Princess of the Night sauntered away, smirking at the sound of chomping and slurping behind her.
