Author's Note

Trigger warning for depression, if you couldn't tell from the title.

Thank you to Glimmi and all the others for their ideas! This was...interesting to write.

Rarity's Depression Expansion

Rarity stood on her scales, half asleep, as she brushed her teeth in preparation for getting ready for the day. Now, while she could wake up fairly quickly, it was better for her to take her time and do her morning routines. Shower, brush teeth, put on her makeup, style her mane and tail, brush her coat. The usual.

Weighing herself had been her norm for ages, and her weight had stayed roughly the same (only a pound or two difference in years. This day, though, was a bit different.

Looking down to read what should be a familiar number, Rarity nearly inhaled her toothbrush in shock and let out a choked scream.

Thundering hooves and the door was flung open with Sweetie holding her CMC helmet above her with faltering magic like she was going to strike somepony with it, still mostly asleep herself. “What’s going on!? Where’s the danger?” Blinking blearily at Rarity for a few seconds, the helmet lowering a bit. “You okay?”

“Okay? Okay!? I’ve gained five pounds in the week I was in Canterlot!” Rarity wailed, spitting toothpaste into her mirror, but she didn’t notice so great was her upset.

“You look fine, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle said dryly, helmet lowering more as she let out an almighty yawn, “Okay, I’m going back to bed. See you in a few yours.” Backing out of the bathroom to go back to her bathroom, not realizing Rarity’s panic.

Rarity rinsed out her mouth, cleaned her mirror, and then stood on the scales again. Still five pounds heavier than she should be. Her heart felt like it was almost vibrating in her chest, her body breaking out in a cold sweat as she stared at the numbers in front of her.

What could she do? She was a lady, and ladies aren’t fat! Nor did they go running or go to the gym. That sort of thing was fine for Rainbow Dash or Twilight but Rarity had friends in high places and you didn’t see them gaining weight or getting gross and sweaty at the gym.

Rarity took several deep, shaking breaths. Okay, okay she could fix this. She could go on a diet! Yes...No ice cream or sweets and the weight would melt right off.

This in mind, Rarity left the bathroom and trotted downstairs. No sweets..and no breakfast aside from some hot lemon water. Wasn’t that what Fleur de Lis always said? Yes...yes, this was manageable before Rarity’s career was ruined.

(LINE BREAK)

Rarity was at work, sewing confidently as she hummed to herself. Work was what she needed, to get into ‘the zone’ and ignore her rumbling stomach. A deep breath...hmm, these stitches were perfect and this outer layer of fabric looked so much the white mist coming off of the Canterlot waterfall-

Rarity’s stomach growled, and she sighed. A prim and proper lady could ignore this. Now...just one more stitch, finished with a flourish of course, and Rarity stood back to admire her work. It was based off the lovely water around the city of Canterlot. All white and shades of blue, with hints of green for emphasis. The material close to the body was silky and soft and the white was the finest, most gossamer and floaty fabric she could buy.

Thusly satisfied with how it looked on the mannequin, Rarity used her magic to put it on. It was one thing to know how it looked on a mannequin, and another to wear it. Feel how the fabric felt, the seams, the way it fitted around the body.

The sleeves were a bit tight, and too long, but this dress had been promised for a mare with longer, slimmer legs than Rarity had. So that was to be expected.

What Rarity hadn’t been expecting was just a sense of...discomfort that surrounded her flanks and barrel. Which was odd.The fabric was heavenly, there was no stitching that rubbed, but…

Rarity breathed in heavily, sucking in her tummy. The discomfort lessoned, but it was still tight around her flanks. Using her magic, she slipped out of the gown and draped it over the mannequin, tears in her eyes.

Rarity often wore her gowns. Both to advertise them and to test them. Before now, there hadn’t been many problems. Her figure had matched the elite she sewed for. But now...now…

Rarity sniffled, trotting into the kitchen and wrenching the fridge-freezer door open and pulling out a carton of ice cream. Without her really realizing it, she started eating, gulping it down.

Before she really realized how much she’d eaten, almost three cartons, her stomach was full to bursting and hurting wildly. Bloated and swollen, Rarity flopped onto the nearby couch with a groan.

“Well...Rarity,” Rarity grunted, running a hoof across the swollen, hard mass of her stomach, “The diet can always wait until tomorrow.” Ignoring the deep, dark void swirling in her chest.

(LINE BREAK)

Sweetie Belle ate her breakfast with the half-asleep gusto of most kids. Ensuring her waffles were covered in butter and syrup before starting to eat them.

Rarity was across from her, staring off into the middle distance. Drinking her little cup of hot lemon water as Sweetie devoured her breakfast before going to school.

“Are you okay, Rarity?” Sweetie asked cautiously. Her sister was always particular, but this was just...weird. All the weirdness, the diet food, everything else was just..weird, even for Rarity.

Rarity blinked, her gaze turning to her sister, “Hmm? Oh..I’m fine, Sweetie Belle. Why do you ask?”

“Well…” What had been five pounds, hardly noticeable, had grown, but ...Sweetie knew how upset Rarity was over it, so she wasn’t going to mention it. “You’ve just been acting differently.”

“Acting differently?” Rarity repeated, eyes and voice far away, “Oh Sweetie I’m just busy. I’ve got a big order I’m working on you know that.”

Sweetie nodded, playing with a bit of waffle, “I’ve seen you make big orders before and this is...different. I’m worried, Rarity.”

Not only did Rarity seem to keep growing but she didn’t seem to be eating either. It was just...uncomfortable.

Rarity leaned over to nuzzle Sweetie’s face gently, “Oh Sweetie. I’m alright, just stressed. Thank you though. I’ll be back to normal soon.” As soon as she lost her five pounds. Which, unbeknownst to her, had turned into fifteen. She hadn’t stepped on the scales in the last few weeks, simply living in denial of her growing problem.

Sweetie offered a smile as well, content with her sister’s words and starting to eat again.

Rarity drank down the last of her lemon water. Ignoring her growling stomach. Just another week or two of her diet and she’d be fine.

(LINE BREAK)

Rarity nearly fainted, staring down at the numbers on the scales. In the span of two months she’d managed to put on twenty pounds. How!? She’d been working so hard, sticking close to her diet...Nevermind the ice cream binges…

Rarity stepped off the scales, mind spinning. Sweetie was at school, thank goodness...What was she supposed to do now?

Rarity slunk into her room, shutting the door behind her and pulling the cover off her full-length mirror. Staring at her reflection with no small amount of horror and worry.

She was huge! Her stomach and flanks bearing the brunt of the twenty pounds. Her stomach sagging (it was fairly slight, but to her it was a dangling orb), flanks jiggling and expanded...
And oh! When she looked down, was that a hint of a double chin?

Rarity’s magic reacted to her emotions, throwing the cover back over the mirror like that could hide her body. Rarity flung herself onto her bed, great heaving sobs shaking her body and making her feel every ounce of the weight as it jiggled in time with her movements.

In spite of the order she was supposed to do, or any of the other daily tasks she had to accomplish, Rarity spent the rest of the afternoon moping in bed. Unable to find the gumption to get up.

(LINE BREAK)

Rarity, in secret desperation, had ordered a treadmill to come to her house. It had discreetly arrived, simply in a box, and she’d assembled it in her bedroom behind a partition so no one could see it.

Now..if only she could find the gumption to use it.

In her defence, Rarity was a busy mare. Busy with dresses, clientele, Sweetie, her friends...And ahem expanding her own wardrobe in the attempt to hide her gain. All the while making sure nopony else realized how much she was eating in an attempt to fill the growing, aching void in her chest. Rarity’s carefully constructed routines were falling to pieces around her, but her acting was so good that she thought no one noticed.

That wasn’t strictly true, Sweetie was naive not blind. And Rarity’s friends knew something was wrong, but none of them were truly aware of the extent of the problems piling up in Rarity’s mind.

The problems compounded and escalated with every pound Rarity gained, and she gained more when she was given more work to do. When Sweetie, and others, weren’t around, Rarity ate constantly. Even her work wasn’t spared, eating ice cream and other sweets as she made dresses for the svelte elite and other customers. Many of whom were also svelte and fit.

When Sapphire Shores’ biggest order ever arrived (for herself and her biggest group of backup dancers yet), Rarity continued to stress eat. Eating lightly (if at all) during meals with her friends and sister, but gorging herself sick on all the things she was supposed to be denying herself. Pastries, ice cream, chocolate, everything that was making her fat and miserable to begin with.

She even took to having candy in her bedside drawer, so she could munch on something sweet when she woke in the night.

As much as she hated it, the sugar and fat and food was bringing her joy. In short bursts, usually when she was eating it. Followed by shame and disgust and a feeling like she was in a deep, dark pit that was filling with water and she couldn’t keep her head afloat for much longer.

But she persevered in the face of such things. She was Rarity after all, and still had standards. Even if making the dresses she once loved to design and sew were becoming more of a chore. Even when getting out of bed was hard, and she often closed the shop for an hour or two (or five) to go have a lay down in the afternoon.

Not that anyone knew that was what she was doing. Most assumed she was busy working on orders.

The treadmill was collecting dust. Every morning Rarity resigned herself to using it instead of napping, but after most of a day filled with fake smiles and an infinite amount of little lies, she was so exhausted she needed the nap.

As time passed, Rarity spent more time working to hide her weight gain. Ordering or making discrete pieces of shapewear to hide the brunt of her weight gain, wearing flowy dresses and cut layered clothes to hide her growing behind and sagging stomach. Walking around like she was proud, head held high, to hide her double chin. Nothing could hide her chubby cheeks, but she did what she could.

Rarity kept herself busy. Her own wardrobe was constantly changing, items being let out or making new things in order to hide her burgeoning body. Her clientele kept her busy enough, and then outings with her friends and Sweetie ate up the rest of her time.

Celestia take her she was exhausted enough she could sleep for a week. But she couldn’t. She needed to hold on. Keep working, keep pretending that she was fine. No one would understand how she was feeling, because what she was feeling was wrong. And not normal and...and too much. Too much to deal with.

So she ate to fill the void. In secret, shamefully. A constant up and down roller coaster highs and lows in relation to sugar highs and sugar crashes.

One night, six months after gaining that initial five pounds, Rarity carefully uncovered her mirror and stripped off her figure-hiding clothes. Ending with the corset, and breathing a sigh of relief as she could breathe. Tossing everything onto the nearby chair, and watching in horror as her body moved.

Her stomach had taken the brunt, sagging down almost to her knees. Gurgling and swaying underneath her thickened barrel. Her flanks had bubbled up, her Cutie Mark stretched out to grow alongside her flanks. They were threatening to fold over her hocks now, and shook and swayed with each step.

The rest of her wasn’t safe from the gain either. A double chin, chipmunk cheeks, and a thickened neck were all present and accounted for. When she focused, she could imagine how she’d continue to grow. She didn’t look too far from the start of a third chin, now, and there was only so much poofy dresses and shapewear could handle.

Rarity made one more turn around the mirror, examining every little flaw and jiggle she could find. There were quite a number of them….she hadn’t even gone to the spa. She didn’t want anyone to know, and it wasn’t as if you could wear three layers in the spa. Maybe Aloe or Lotus would be willing to make a house call…

Rarity sighed, moving to crawl onto her bed. The bit of furniture creaking as her weight settled onto it.

As exhausted as she felt, she didn’t fall asleep until the early hours of the morning, when Celestia’s sun was starting to peer over the eastern hills.

(LINE BREAK)

Twilight wasn’t stupid. Nor were her friends.

Over the last year, it had become more and more clear that things weren’t right with Rarity. What was assumed to be some stress-related weight had only continued to bloom and grow, Rarity became more and more scarce.

Her clothes, while brilliant, couldn’t hide everything. After a certain point...about five months ago, even Rarity’s clothes couldn’t hide how much she was gaining. But that didn’t mean Twilight knew how much Rarity had changed.

They’d all worked to make themselves available, trying to spend time with Rarity and figure out what was wrong, but nothing worked. Even Sweetie couldn’t break through to her.

Which was why Rarity was invited to the castle so she and Twilight could talk. Just the two of them. Maybe it wasn’t too late to nip this in the bud.

Twilight paced in her entrance hall, and brightened when Rarity finally made an appearance.

Rarity entered, huffing and puffing, sweat soaked and red-cheeked. If Twilight had to guess, she’d pin Rarity’s weight as being...well, three hundred pounds? Though it was hard to tell. Because Rarity was clearly wearing shapewear and draping fabrics to hide the extent of everything.

“Sorry...darling,” Rarity panted, waddling over to where Twilight waited. “The stairs...gave me...some trouble.”

“It’s okay,” Twilight smiled, lying by the skin of her teeth. Walking to the other door to let Rarity through. Being mindful to keep her steps slow to match Rarity’s exhausted waddle. “I’m just glad to see you! It’s been a while.”

Rarity’s face fell, but only for a moment as she passed Twilight to go into the corridor, “Oh...sorry. I’ve just been...dreadfully busy.” Wheezing a bit as she continued to work for every breath she took.

Twilight nodded, “I know. That’s why I wanted to speak with you. We’re-wait, what’s that noise?”

There was an odd..creaking sound, one that Twilight couldn’t recognize. She flew around the corridor, trying to figure out what it was and where it was coming from. It took her a few moments to realize Rarity’s face had flushed further, and tears were prickling at her eyes.

“Are you-Sweet Celestia!” Before Twilight could ask if Rarity was okay, the creaking turned into a series of pops and the sound of tearing fabric.

Rarity, standing stock still in the middle of the corridor, was suffering under what had to be a series of catastrophic wardrobe failures.

It started with her corset. It was newish to Rarity, but still several sizes too small, and had been worn too tightly for some time. Working hard to compress her barrel and lift her stomach off the floor. The walk to the castle had weakened it, but the last few steps had been enough for the already strained seams to start breaking apart. The metal hooks popping off and releasing the tidal waves of fat the huge corset had been keeping at bay.

Her clothes didn’t stand a chance. Rips and holes starting to try to relieve the pressure, but like a sausage skin too full, it didn’t take long for the cloth to rip and pop and fall away from the bloated, obese diva.

When it was all said and done, Rarity stood in the remnants of one of the last ‘small’ outfits she could still fit into (with a corset) and that was the last thing her fragile mind could take. She started sobbing, collapsing into a seated position as her limited strength and stamina finally won out.

Three hundred pounds...Twilight lowered herself to the floor, staring at her friend with no small amount of shock. Three hundred pounds..Rarity’s clothes were better than she’d thought.

Rarity was verging on immobility. Her near-mattress sized stomach just touching the ground it was now unsupported. Her flanks large and quivering, melding seamlessly with her plot to spread across the ruins of her outfit and the tile floor. Her barrel and stomach having been compressed so much that the fur and skin were indented by the wooden ribbing of the corset as well as the seams of the clothes.

None of Rarity was spared. Her legs were fat, her hooves so small in comparison that it was almost comical. Her triple chin on full display as Rarity lowered her head to sob into her front hooves. She was covered in rolls and folds and it was amazing she’d lasted this long without this happening.

Twilight moved close to her friend. Stroking her shoulder. Feeling her hoof sink into Rarity’s fat. She had the distinct feeling that this wasn’t going to be such an easy problem to fix after all. For her, Rarity, or the rest of their friends.