Author's Note

An oblivious archaeologist falls under thrall of a powerful amulet. One that makes her hungry. It doesn't take long for the effects of that hunger to be visible on her waistline. So warning for extreme weight gain, lots of denial, and some minor breathing problems at the end.

Meet a couple of OCs I just...made up on the spot for a fun idea kindly gifted to me by Midnight!

This was fun. I...forget sometimes, how much fun it can be to make two characters up on the spot and just roll with it. ~~Also with a cool historian twist because it's me~~

Also, like, Twilight or someone gets their hooves on it to figure out what it is and it starts getting to them too. Do with that idea what you will

The Amulet

Peachy Keen blew her forelock out of her eyes irritably, before bending back down and brushing away the dirt coating the vase.

It was a broken, beautiful piece of pottery. Dating back before the Everfree City, maybe, which made it a rare find-

There was a rumble. One she felt through her hooves more than with her ears. She dropped the brush, igniting her magic to make sure all the artifacts were stable and safe, before galloping out of the tent towards the ruined town. “Sandy!? Emerald!?”

There were three of them on this expedition, with more on the way. They’d done the initial survey, which had meant they’d gotten the opportunity to start the dig.

At the far end of the town, well past the other buildings, so far away from the main site they’d almost missed it, there lay a temple. Or maybe a tomb. Broken stones peeking out from the overgrown path, peering out through the trees.

Galloping over, heart pounding in her chest, Peachy slowed to a stop at the sight of her colleagues.

Emerald was a pegasus mare with a green coat and light green mane and tail. She specialized in digging things up, and was damned good at it. She looked pale and shaken, eyes wide.

Sandy, an earth pony mare, was all dark browns. Only the white streaks in her mane and tail broke up her colour palette. She looked less shaken, she was more experienced than Emerald, but her eyes were still wide. Alight with curiosity.

“Thank Celestia, what’s going on-” Peachy slowed to a stop. Following their gaze.

The temple was open. The door slid open, just like in one of those ridiculous Daring Do books.

“We’ve-we’ve got to go in.” Sandy said, voice vibrating with excitement.

“We need to make sure it’s safe. What happened?”

“It just-I touched it, those marks in the door, they looked hoof shaped, I just didn’t think-” Emerald shook her head. “I almost got stuck, would’ve been squished.”

“Hey, hey, you weren’t. And this is an amazing find. Not sure if we’ve ever found an intact temple or tomb from this period before.” Peachy let out a sigh, using her magic to retie her curly mass of orange mane away from her face. “We need to make sure it’s safe, though, and I’m the only one who can check for traps safely. You guys did bring equipment with you, right?”

“Yeah,” Sandy nodded, trotting over to the nearest downed tree. Reaching over to the far side to pull out a set of saddlebags groaning with equipment. “Yeah. You want a flashlight?”

“Oh yeah.” Peachy took the offered flashlight with a smile. “Alright, it’ll just be a quick sweep. To make sure it’s safe. Then I’ll be right back. If I”m not out in an hour...well it’s dangerous, and don’t come after me until the others show up.”

Sandy huffed, trotting over to throw the saddlebags over Peachy’s back. “I’m not letting you get hurt because you just brought a flashlight. This might slow you down a little, but there’s water in there, and food. Camera too.”

Peachy winced as they were strapped into place, but nodded. Flicking the flashlight on and holding it above her head. “Alright. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck.” Emerald and Sandy said, nearly in unison.

“Go back to the main site. No point in you two sticking around here. May as well go see what else we can find. If this is here...well there could be more artifacts.” Peachy didn’t wait to see them go before she entered.

Something was weird about this village. The doors were on par with others in this era, more than tall enough for the average pony of the time, but these were all double or triple the width. Which she thought was weird. And the kitchens were all huge too, with hints towards a...reverence towards food.

It was unique, at least. And as Peachy entered into this place, she could see more hints. Paintings on the walls, showing off huge feasts. And big ponies. Wide, not tall. Were they built differently? This was an isolated spot, and if their culture was unique..

Peachy stopped to take the occasional picture. Scanning with her magic to check for traps, ancient or otherwise.

Winding her way through, and down, she reached a large room. Rotten furniture littered the floor, all in front of a large dias. A ruined...table, probably, stretched across the dias. With a huge, stone throne behind it. Wide enough that she, Sandy, and Emerald could sit on it and still have extra room.

More pictures, after Peachy made sure it was safe. No bones yet either. So maybe a temple and not a tomb, though she’d want to explore the entirety of the place first.

She made her way around the room, careful not to disturb anything, her steps light and careful. She crept up onto the dias, and went to check behind the throne.

Another room back there, the door as wide as the others. No, larger for certain. Even a little taller.

No traps that she could detect either. So she made her way in, shining her light around. An unsealed temple! How exciting-

It was a large room, not as large as the previous one, but still big in its own right. Rotting remnants of furniture was everywhere, the smell of damp and decay sickeningly sweet. A bed, some tables. Pottery, cutlery, dishes. Most intact, though a few had broken along with the furniture.

Swinging her flashlight around, a glint caught her eye. Making her turn to go forward, to the far side of the room.

Bones. A whole heaping pile of them. Spears and other weapons were present too.

And more bones. A whole pile of them, almost huddled into a corner. Ponies protecting their leader maybe? Dried blood, and other fluids, stained the stones beneath them.

Another glint, and Peachy leaned forward to see. An amulet, in the corner.

Pictures first. Peachy thought, managing to take a couple, but...the more she stared at that amulet. The more she wanted it. Deep within her soul, tugging at her like whenever she saw something really important.

It was easily found with her magic, and the massive chain slid away from the pile of bones without a fuss. It was long, and even just by looking at it, Peachy could see that parts of the chain were obviously older than others. And had been added to as time passed. Some sort of ritual, maybe? Add a few new links to the chain with every leader?

The chain was metal, Peachy was tempted to say iron but it hadn’t rusted. And the amulet was a flat disk, engraved with writing on the back. Silver, with a sizable sapphire in the front. Simple, but beautiful.

Peachy stared at it for a long time, suddenly overcome with a hunger she couldn’t understand. Her mouth salivating, even as she stared at the amulet.

Licking her lips, she carefully wrapped the amulet and put it into the special pouch on the saddlebags. Digging around for a snack while she was at it. Almost inhaling the granola bar in her haste. And the second one, her stomach still rumbling for more.

No matter. There were no traps. Magical or otherwise. And maybe, they could piece together what had happened here. Though, it would be Sandy who would come here and take more pictures, diagram everything out.

The amulet, and the other relics, would keep Peachy busy though.

She didn’t notice that she ate the remaining snacks as she snaked her way through the temple until she reached and found nothing.

Just a long day. She assured herself. She’d had a long day, after all, and it was physically demanding work. A few extra granola bars weren’t going to hurt her.

(LINE BREAK)

Peachy lived in a tent right next to the tent where she did most of her work. So, it often happened that she stumbled into her tent after too long spent working on an artifact. Or that she’d had a breakthrough while half asleep. Made getting to her work easier, should the need arise.

Laying in her tent, the cool breeze rustling the canvas, hearing the crackling of the campfire not too far off, Peachy could only think of the amulet she had resting on her worktable a few feet away.

A sigh, and she slipped off her cot and out of her tent.

Emerald was awake still, filling out paperwork by firelight. Sandy’s tent was dark, so at least one of them was getting the right amount of sleep.

Peachy’s work tent was messy, if organized. No food was allowed in here, it could hurt the artifacts. And things were labelled. The organization system maybe didn’t make sense to anypony but her, but that wasn’t usually a problem.

By the time the others arrive I’ll have all this sorted out and it won’t matter. Peachy reassured herself. The first few weeks were always hectic, but she always pulled through. Had things categorized and set out properly.

For now, the amulet rested on a special pillow. Light glinting off it as Peachy turned on a lamp.

Hesitantly, carefully, Peachy lifted the amulet up and put it on. The chain really was too big, the amulet nearly brushed the ground. And she was taller than the average pony back then. She shook her head, rubbing at her suddenly rumbling stomach.

The amulet came off. Maybe they had worn the chain in a special way? Pinned it into place? The possibilities were many, and Peachy couldn’t help but wonder.

Her stomach growled again, hunger gnawing at her spine. Peachy rubbed at her stomach absently. She’d eaten twice her usual portion at dinner, and she was still hungry? All the exercise and work had done her good, apparently. Maybe her mother would stop complaining about her not weighing enough…

Off went the lamp, and Peachy went back to her tent. Digging around through a bag to pull out a massive sack of trail mix, before going to town on it. Eating well past when Emerald eventually went to bed, and the campfire outside burned low.

Peachy fell asleep with a bloated, achingly full gut, and didn’t pay it one mind as to how odd that was for her to do.

(LINE BREAK)

The next few weeks passed by quickly. The three mares working together to get things prepped for the next group, trying to learn as much as they could so they had things to present to the others once they arrived.

All the while, Peachy continued to eat large portions, sneak snacks. She didn’t really seem to notice she was doing it, even though she was spending hours looking at the amulet and trying to figure out what it’s purpose was.

If there were more paintings on the temple walls, the specialists from the team would know. They could scan for faded paint, bring lost murals to life.

When the team finally did come, they brought news with them. And letters from home.

Peachy’s mother, Silver Sword, was sick and needed help. Thankfully, the University of Canterlot had given Peachy special dispensation to take artifacts to her lab back home. Let her stay in contact with the others, see what else she could find.

The others stayed quiet about the pudge around Peachy’s middle, helping her pack up and leave with their ride into the forest. Promising lengthy letters, copies of diagrams and findings, while Peachy promised to do the same. The amulet weighing surprisingly heavy in her mind and in her bags.

(LINE BREAK)

Silver Sword arrived in Canterlot before Peachy did. An old weaponsmith, her love of ancient history had shaped Peachy so she found her special talent: Archaeology.

A weird household, maybe, but at least it wasn’t dull.

Silver was an older mare, with a tan coat and a greyed out mane and tail. She was going to get knee replacement in her right front leg, and couldn’t be left alone.

“So, you found anything interesting out there?” Silver asked from where she was sat in a hard-backed chair in the meticulously clean workroom Peachy had set up in her house.

“An intact temple, we think. We’re keeping it quiet for now. There were some weapons, maybe I’ll see if we can get some pictures and diagrams of them. For you to look at while you heal, so you don’t drive me insane.” Peachy grinned, carefully unpacking the crates filled with precious things. Putting them along her worktable in order. The amulet stayed in the bag. For some reason, Peachy didn’t want her mother to see it. Which was ridiculous, because it was beautiful, and maybe Silver could explain how the chain worked-

“Are...we going to talk?”

“About what?” Peachy asked.

“Your weight.” Silver said flatly. She’d never been one to beat around the bush or sugarcoat.

Still, Peachy paused, turning to blink at her mother, one eyebrow quirked. “Really? I’m fine.” She hadn’t gained anything! Her mother was crazy, maybe nervous about the surgery. Bored out of her wits already.

Silver huffed, rolling her eyes. “It’s nothing much yet, but you do look a little heavier than before you left. Give you special rations or something out there?”

“It’s lots of hard work, and we’re well fed.” Peachy huffed, “I’ll be fine. Come on, why don’t you pull up that movie you wanted to watch while I finish up in here? We’ll get you something to eat too, while we’re at it, before you have to fast.”

“Okay.” Silver stood with a grimace, even with the brace on her bad knee it was clear it still hurt. Hobbling out of the room and shutting the door behind her with a sharp click.

Peachy took the amulet out of her bag, staring at it longingly for a few moments before slipping it over her head. It, of course, still brushed the ground. And Peachy suddenly wished it fit her. Resting against her chest, like it was clearly meant to. That was the style of the time, right? So why was this so long?

Her stomach grumbled, and Peachy bit back a groan. Slipping the amulet off to rest it on its cushion. Shuffling to stand in front of the window, nearly hanging out of it, as she all but inhaled the few remaining snacks that she’d snuck into her bag. The crumbs dusting her windowsill rather than her work.

Brushing herself off with a hoof, not noticing or caring about the slight jiggle of her stomach or flanks at the movement, Peachy shut the window. Smoothing down her light orange fur with a hoof, making herself look presentable, before stepping out of the room.

She had a mother to entertain.

(LINE BREAK)

With her mother still in the hospital, Peachy had no need to hide her hunger. Quickly going through entire cupboards full of snacks, ordering takeout, and going grocery shopping far more often than her normal

It was fine. She was still working, and worrying about her team and mother on top of that. Plus she had her walks. It made sense she was a little more hungry than usual. She was a busy mare!

Nevermind that she was really starting to pile on the pounds. Her cutie mark had grown, stretched and faded, her stomach hanging underneath her like a pendulum. She was starting to even look fat when stuffed to the gills with food, the layer of fat there now thick enough to still look soft even when she couldn’t eat another bite.

Peachy dreamed, now. Vividly, of grand feasts and succulent meals. Even waking up in the night to eat.

She didn’t know what was going on with her. Didn’t pay it any more mind beyond a slight annoyance whenever she cleaned out her snack cupboard again.

Brushing away dirt off of a piece of pottery, Peachy muffled a belch against her shoulder. Hunched over her table, her cheeks looking chubbier with her double chin on full display. Her tongue poked out of her crumb-coated muzzle, focused entirely on her work.

Except, when her horn lit up, and she brought a cookie to her muzzle. Eagerly taking it without really realizing what she was doing. Eyeing the splash of paint she was uncovering critically. Pausing, while she chewed, to note it down. They decorated their pottery but it was difficult to say how. Lots of different styles.

Trade with other villages, maybe? That could explain the differences in style. Trading goods, and then keeping the vessels.

A soft huff, and Peachy leaned back to stretch. Groaning as her stomach ached with the movement. Bringing a hoof up to rub at it absently.

Maybe it would be a good idea to take a break for a little while. She’d been working so hard lately. Surely she deserved a treat.

Mind already made up, she stood with a wince. Her stomach felt like a bowling ball, packed tight and painful. Maybe a nap before dinner then.

Peachy paused before leaving. Grabbing the amulet almost as an afterthought. Putting it on, not noticing as the gem glowed softly. The light within a pale blue.

The chain shifted without her realizing, coming to a rest where it traditionally would have been: against her chest. The rest of the chain just...shortening, disappearing. The amulet hanging cool against her fur.

Peachy collapsed onto the couch with a groan, her eyes fluttered shut, and she fell into a deep, dark, dream.

(LINE BREAK)

She sat on her throne. The table fit to bursting with all sorts of goodies. She didn’t even need to worry about moving, beyond chewing. Her servants rushed around her. Feeding her, letting her drink deeply from the wine they kept.

She was growing larger, as intended. Packing on the pounds like her ancestors before her. An honour, in their village. To become a leader. To eat so much, to become so large, to gain the wisdom of the ancients.

The others would stay large too, of course. If she couldn’t keep them stable enough for that, then she’d been the wrong choice for leader. And the next would be chosen.

She opened her mouth for the next morsel, chewing it thoughtfully. Maybe expanding the farmland would help? And doing what the ponies to the west said to try, it seemed to be working. Extra food would be a boon, and show that she was capable.

She settled back in her throne. The silver amulet resting against her chest glowing softly. The light catching on her fat rolls, and dimming once she started rubbing at her stomach with both hooves as it began to ache.

Peachy half jolted into a semi-seated position with a snort. Wiping at her muzzle with a wince, smacking her lips together.

The sunlight that had been streaming through her windows was dim. Sunset, then, or close enough to it.

She yawned and stretched, her muscles aching with the movement. She scratched at her stomach idly, not noticing its heft.

She rocked to her hooves, tiredly making her way to the fridge for food.

Peachy had sauces, and other detritus, but otherwise her fridge was remarkably empty of actual food. She let out an irritable huff, shutting it and opening the freezer. A few bits and pieces, ice cube trays, the frozen bag of peas she’d been using as an icepack for years, and a few frozen cans of juice.

“Pizza it is then.” Peachy grumbled, wiping the sleep from her eyes with a foreleg before making her way over to the phone. Dialling the well-remembered number with barely a thought. “Hi, it’s Peachy Keen. Can I get my usual? Yeah. Yeah, it’s a large pizza and large breadstick and a two-litre soda. And Can I get two more pizzas? One vegetarian and the other just cheese like the first? Yeah, yeah, just take the money from the account information I left with you. Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”

Moving to go sit back on the couch with another forceful yawn. Needed to quit it with the naps, they were making her sluggish, which was what she didn’t need. She already had the grocery store ponies looking at her weird whenever she bought her groceries. Didn’t need anyone to accuse her of not getting her work done on top of all the strangeness. Or her mother eyeing her whenever she visited.

In the time it took for Peachy to wake up a little more and put on some mindless show, the pizza arrived.

The pizza boy was young and excited, but hoofed the boxes over with care. “There-there you go ma’am. Having a party tonight?”

Peachy tried not to roll her eyes. Instead she nodded. “You could say that. Here, for a tip. Have a good night.” Giving him a few bits before all but slamming the door in his face. Her stomach crying out for nourishment, the boxes were hot and large. Just what she needed.

She ate along with the movie. Gorging herself without realizing or meaning to, just eating until she emptied a box, and then going on. Until she’d eaten everything. Her stomach stretched out in agony, and yet…

Her mouth was dry. Some urge within her forced her to open the two litre and start chugging. Even as the soda burnt its way down her throat, and made her bloat even more, she didn’t stop. Barely pausing to breathe and stutter her way through the experience.

Eventually, though, she drained it. Tossing the bottle aside to cradle her bloated, aching stomach with her hooves. Rubbing at it in some effort to make the pain go away.

She didn’t notice that the amulet glowed, and certainly didn’t notice when a deep sleep overtook her again, just as the movie credits began to roll.

(LINE BREAK)

More weeks passed, with Peachy living more and more in denial as time went on. Her growing figure was becoming the talk of those who knew her and her local community. Much to her annoyance.

She was healthy! It was fine. So what she could only make it halfway down the block before needing to sit on a bench and rest. It was summer for Celestia’s sake! It was hot! She wasn’t the only one who needed a break sometimes.

Peachy was in denial. A deep dark pit of denial. About her size, health, and work. All progress had stopped as she lost herself in her love of food. Ordering in, having groceries delivered, leaving the house only for her ‘daily’ walks. Even if those walks were happening weekly, or less.

Her drooping, hanging stomach brushed against all four of her legs at once, making her slow into an awkward waddle. Her barrel was wide and flabby. Her cutie marks were hardly visible for how faded they were against the massive expanse of her flanks. Her plot overhung her hocks, making movement all the more difficult.

Peachy’s face was looking fat too, with rounded chubby cheeks and a double chin, with a third on the way. Even her neck was looking worse for wear, a thick hanging roll that pressed against her poofy pigeon chest.

And yet, the amulet still fit. In fact, she hadn’t taken it off since that fateful day where it had suddenly fit her. And it kept fitting her, even though it should have been tight by now.

Peachy came to a huffing, puffing, wheezing stop to the bench beside her house. Her light coat stained darker by the sweat prickling across her skin and running down her rolls. Her form jiggled and wiggled as she fought to catch her breath, turning a squinting glare at the bright summer sun.

She pulled a chocolate bar from her saddlebags, munching on it happily as she caught her breath. Then another, and another. Not paying any attention to her staring neighbour, nor the mailman who kept giving her weird looks.

Once she was satisfied, she hauled herself back to her hooves, and waddled inside. Grunting a little when her saddlebags got caught in the doorframe. A bit of magic helped push her through, though, so she was fine.

A shower beckoned. She dropped her bags off in the kitchen as she waddled by it. Squeezing herself through the narrow hallway before making it into her bedroom. The master bath was connected, thankfully, meaning she only really had to go through the hallway a couple times a day.

Stepping into the shower was an interesting experience. Her legs already aching from the walk outside, she was wishing dearly to lay down for a while. But she’d just done her bedsheets in the wash and that would be a shame.

One side of her squished against the wall, while the other pressed against the shower curtains. Chilly, but okay.

The cool water was a balm, helping to rinse away the sweat and grime of the day. Here she was, being so productive. What did her mom need to worry about?

“She should focus on that knee.” Peachy said to herself, in the privacy of her shower. “Focus on getting better.” Lifting the amulet up to clean the roll around her neck. Not caring or noticing how it didn’t seem to tarnish, no matter how much time it spent in the water. “Then I can get back to work, catch up with the others.”

It wasn’t long before she was stepping out of the shower with a yawn. Stretching her aching, abused muscles with a wince. “Sandy would love seeing me so strong. She’s always bragging about how much stuff she can do before getting tired.” Using her magic, and several towels, to dry herself off completely before leaving them to dry and flopping onto her bed.

It creaked when she settled, sagging in the middle under her weight. Peachy stretched across it languidly, not caring or noticing how her stomach bulged out in front of her, or how her barrel and flanks rose into the air on top of her.

She nuzzled into her pillow with a content sigh. A good snack run, a walk, and a shower. All very productive.

(LINE BREAK)

Silver Sword came hobbling through the front door of Peachy’s house, face pinched with concern. Even as she paused to wave at the nice taxi-pony who helped her get here from the hospital. It’d been...weeks since she’d seen Peachy, and well…

Peachy had been obese then. Hardly able to waddle her way through the corridors of the hospital. Moving slower than Silver had, that new amulet of hers somehow not caught between the fatty folds of her neck and chest.

Silver had gotten a few calls since then, but even they’d tapered off. She just hoped Peachy was okay.

Setting her saddlebags to one side of the door, she couldn’t help but wrinkle her muzzle in disgust as she hobbled further into the house and shut the door.

It was filthy. Discarded food wrappers were everywhere. Empty pop bottles and cans littered every surface, and a near mountain of empty takeout containers filled the corner where the recycling was probably buried.

“Peachy?!” Silver called, stepping carefully. Her leg in a brace once more, but already feeling much better than it had before the surgery. Her physical therapy had been going very well.

“In...here!” Weak and rasping. Oh no, was she sick?

Being careful not to slip, Silver made her way down the hallway and towards Peachy’s room. Not noticing the odd scrape marks in the paint on either wall, or noticing that all the hallway furniture had been moved.

Throwing open Peachy’s bedroom door, Silver stepped inside. Only to sit down hard, her mouth agape at the sight before her.

Peachy had crushed her bed underneath her massive frame. Her face was spherical, with giant chubby cheeks and a multitude of chins that cascaded down her front to merge with the folds of her neck and chest. The mattress had disappeared under her wide frame, and her back fat pressed against the back of her skull. Her rear was higher in the air than her head was, and had pushed the nightstands onto the floor with its heft.

Peachy’s hind legs, once so muscular, were hidden from view. Silver couldn’t begin to guess if they were swallowed up by their own fat, or if they were trapped between other rolls, but she didn’t care.

“Mom!” Peachy wheezed, smiling hard enough dimples formed in her fat cheeks. She reached towards something, a table maybe it was hard to see for all the garbage littering the floor, and grabbed a hayburger. Bringing it towards her food-coated muzzle to chew at it. Her front leg was absolutely dripping with the fat hanging from the limb. It looked...stiff and heavy, hard to move.

Silver shook her head, “What-what…” Her eyes widened, finally catching sight of that amulet. Still on, miraculously, with shining new metal links in the chain. It was on, but digging into Peachy’s tender, fatty flesh. As Peachy swallowed the last of the burger, the jewel on the amulet glowed, and Peachy’s stomach growled hungrily. Hard enough to make her stomach jiggle with the movement.

“I’m...hungry. Want...pizza?” It looked as though Peachy was going to order pizza regardless, using her magic to bring the telephone to her lips so she could order.

It was then that Silver realized her daughter couldn’t reach the floor to walk even if she wanted to. Her mattress of a stomach lifted her hooves from the ground, making her taller than she actually was.

Silver let out a careful breath. Something wasn’t right with that amulet, and she needed to get to the bottom of things.