Unleashing The Gluttony Within
Data Curve felt the heavy ship make touchdown. Despite all the advances in ship engineering over the many, many years there was always a dull thump when any made contact with a planet’s surface regardless of whether it was a pony pilot or the ship's computer bringing the vessel down.
She was having a look over the report one final time before first contact with the inhabitants. She and the rest of the team on the vessel had been observing them for some time and the order had come down that it was now acceptable to meet the inhabitants of the planet. The ponies on the planet called it Evenya, which was much more captivating than Equestrian Science Department: Planet 4590-B which it had been termed on the official reports. It was curious how across the many missions that Data Curve had undertaken, just how many planets they came across supporting pony life. There were small differences of course, but often the dominant species was Ponykind. Perhaps the universe had just decided that they were the best creatures and it was a constant. No matter. Her eyes scanned down more of the report. She wanted to make sure she had most of the details right, she had spent so many weeks observing them some of the information she had forgotten.
INTERIM REPORT
EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
PLANET 4590-B
HEAD OF SCIENCE TEAM: DATA CURVE
ASSISTANT HEAD: RESONANCE WAVE
PLANET TYPE: CLASS P (Pony supporting)
PLANET DETAILS: A typical Class P planet with a tribal (pre-technological) society inhabits most of the central regions of the planets over a number of continents. Like Equestria they seem to have one large capital and then outlying cities, towns and smaller hamlets across the surface. Over the weeks it has been observed they do not appear to be at war with any other of the local intelligent species, mostly opting to trade with them, mostly foodstuffs. The ponies of this planet seem to be kept in check from overrunning the planet by a lack of easily obtainable nutritious food. Samples taken by ground teams who have gone unnoticed have made notes of a severe lack of anything remotely bulk-building within the makeup of these samples. It is suspected that should the local population be introduced to Equestrian quality foods, they could flourish.
SPECIES DETAILS: Pony-like creatures typical of a Class P planet. Not too much biological difference to our own DNA makeup. A sample taken from one of their dead indicates an 87% biological match. These creatures have access to magic and use it frequently in their day to day lives. There are also a strand that appear to have similar properties to Pegasi but make use of their magic to fly. UNVERIFIED: A singular study on a live creature appears to show their magic strength is related to their size, but with the majority of the population being underweight, this has not been confirmed.
EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS: Make immediate contact with leaders of Planet 4590-B and once formalities are taken care of, begin to slowly introduce them to richer foods. Observe results from orbital facility. Begin the process of bringing them into Equestrian society as with other similar planets. If any issues arise, abandon the mission and observe how the ponies react. Equestrian Science Department to be notified if they reach a technological advancement they become a threat.
Data Curve sighed, so that was the whole mission after months of observation. Go down, make nice and feed them. She flicked the report off her screen and made for the door. Resonance Wave was waiting for her on the other side as she left her small cabin.
‘Captain says we’re all landed okay, just outside the outskirts of their main city in a forest that had a clearing. He was pretty sure some of the locals observed us landing though.’ Resonance Wave said.
‘Indeed, well a pre-technological society would notice especially since we landed close. Have they started chanting to their God and rallying their warriors yet?’ Data Curve asked.
‘No idea. We’ll find out. Generally with societies like this once they see we’re ponies too they tend to calm down immediately.’ Resonance Wave scoffed. ‘At least that’s what happened the last few times we’ve done this.’
Resonance Wave was Data Curve’s right hoof mare, so to speak. The two had been on many, many missions together like this. The ship was small, it had a small crew. It was a mandate by the science department. Big ships were expensive, locals in first contact situations often panicked when they saw giant metal beasts coming down from the sky. Smaller ships with small crews also meant that if they had any problems, it was a smaller loss for them. It also meant the science team was often in charge of first contact scenarios like this one. In any case, Data Curve trusted Resonance Wave implicitly. She could be somewhat more boisterous than Data Curve at points, often taking a tactless and more direct approach to solve problems. The thing was, when she had to, it got results. Data Curve couldn’t really argue. Just voice her displeasure. She looked over to her friend, who currently had a hoof up to her ear. There was a small communication device implanted inside.
‘Understood, thanks for the update.’ she said, moving her hoof away. ‘Captain says a small band is approaching. They’re armed but there appears to be a larger pony at the centre.’ Resonance Wave said.
‘A greeting party? They must be more civilized than we gave them credit for. Wasn’t the ship barraged with rocks last time?’ Data Curve chuckled.
‘Yes...they had catapults.’ Resonance Wave sighed. ‘These ones though only appear to have rudimentary spears and small hoof catapults so we should be okay.’
‘Just turn your body shield on, just in case.’ Data Curve said.
‘Oh right. Of course.’ Resonance Wave replied. She pressed a small pad on her arm, for a split second her body surrounded in a light blue colour and then it vanished. She was protected.
‘Well then. Let’s go greet the locals.’ Data Curve said dryly. She never really enjoyed first contact, but at least from the initial reports, this one was shaping up to be a bit more pleasant than most.
-
The large front door to the ship gently opened, only the hydraulic psssttt of the metal arms that worked the mechanism made any noise. The two ponies exited the ship, seeing that the greeting party was still a little ways off.
‘Hopefully the translator will convert their language quickly.’ Data Curve said. She switched on the device and gently held it aloft with her magic.
‘Mmm, otherwise this will be a fun conversation.’ Resonance Wave replied. ‘Maybe let them do the speaking first so it can pick up on their words? Otherwise we’re going to give the whole speech and none of them are going to understand.’
‘Oh true. I suppose that would be a good idea.’ Data Curve replied. The device did need some time to attune itself to their language so as the party approached, the two decided to make idle chit-chat. ‘Did you see that small portion under the species details about their magic strength being related to their size? It was unverified of course.’
‘I did, apparently that was down to it only being observed from this leader on a remote hidden camera. They thought they saw her move an entire structure just with their magic and they are the biggest pony we’ve observed. Several times larger than any others on the planet.’ Resonance Wave replied.
‘Well, usually leaders are the biggest, especially in tribal level societies. It’s how they show they are strong.’ Data Curve said. ‘I am interested to see whether that might be true or not though. Anyway, they approach.’
The small party of locals got closer. Data Curve was able to corroborate what the captain had said now. It was indeed a small band. Around ten ponies. Visually, they looked no different as they had observed but it was in their biological make up where the changes really were. Nine of the procession were clearly guards, all armed, rather thin and pasty looking. At the centre on a large, floating sofa like object was the apparent leader. She looked like a mare, quite overweight compared to the rest, on Equestria she would have been considered obese. Her blubber flowed over the object supporting her weight. The thing was, Data Curve could now see she was casting, there was a gentle glow like a levitation spell around the thing keeping her aloft. She thought back to the report and her comments she had just made to Resonance Wave. It seemed their magic really was related to size if she could support herself and float along like that.
The procession stopped and one of the guards stepped forward. He started to speak, unfurling a piece of paper and reading from it. Before the translator kicked in and converted their words to Equestrian Data Curve listened. It was always fascinating to hear another species language before it was effectively erased. They’d still be speaking it of course, it was just the device converted whatever they said to Equestrian, and whatever Data Curve and Resonance Wave said to their language. It was odd, almost like...singing really. But then as her ears continued to listen it started to warp as it always did. Eventually, whatever the creature was reading warped into Equestrian.
‘...And by the nine deities you shall be brought before The Arbiter and judged accordingly. It is by her will that…’
Data Curve held up one of her hooves. ‘Excuse me, sorry to interrupt you mid-flow but our translator device takes a little time before it can understand your language. We know what you’re saying now. You should be able to understand us too. Can you just confirm you can?’ Data Curve asked. The stallion who had been reading stopped abruptly, surprised as the interruption.
‘Um, yes. I can understand you. I assume that goes for the rest of us?’ he asked.
‘It should. May we talk to your leader please?’ Data Curve asked.
‘This is...unusual.’ the stallion said, still slightly flummoxed, but he moved aside. ‘Presenting her majesty The Arbiter.’
The large pony supported by her own magic slowly moved forward. There was a smile on her face. To the two scientists, she did not seem malicious.
‘Welcome to Evenya. That is quite the impressive metal device that brought you here.’ she said, observing to two newcomers. ‘I am The Arbiter, I speak for my people. Tell me, what continent do you hail from and why you are here.’ she was straightforward in her queries, Data Curve appreciated it. She decided it would be best to launch into the standard speech which would answer her questions.
‘Greetings Arbiter. I am Data Curve and this is my assistant, Resonance Wave. We hail from a planet different to yours, Equestria. We have been observing your people for some time. We are here to make friends and help your people. We search the stars for species like our own to uplift and bring into the folds of the Equestrian people. We would like to request a meeting with you and any other officials you might think necessary to invite so we can begin a profitable and mutual friendship agreement.’ Data Curve said. The Arbiter just eyed her, more relaxed but still cautious.
‘I see, and what if we refuse?’ she asked. Ah, a leader with principles Data Curve thought. She clearly was interested in having a way out in case things went wrong.
‘Then we shall leave you alone and welcome you when the time is right.’ Data Curve said.
‘I see...this is not what I was expecting. I see from the metal device behind you that you are clearly quite advanced in the ways of science. You do not appear malicious or even armed like we are. To turn down a meeting at least would be foolish on my part. Come, it is a short distance back to our city. You will be escorted personally.’ the mare said, turning her magic to direct her back to the city. The guards rotated as well, with four taking up flanking positions around Data Curve and Resonance Wave.
‘Well, like I said, beats having our ship bombarded by rocks.’ Resonance Wave said, Data Curve just laughed.
-
‘So then...you’ve made your intentions rather clear. To my council and to me. Now then, how do you plan to implement all this before I agree to what you’re proposing?’ The Arbiter asked the pair.
The two ponies had been brought to the capital city of Evenya. Data Curve had observed the buildings and surroundings which she could see much more up close now she was on the surface. The structures were well built but crude, they seemed to have running water to points in the town but there was no electricity, gas or anything else to homes that might have been indicators they were more advanced than they appeared. She imagined Equestria to be like this many thousands of years ago. Indeed it was typical of the sort of society who had advanced this far, but still had some ways to go.
Right now, the duo plus The Arbiter and her council (as well as a number of armed guards) were in a large chamber in what had been referred to as the central palace. Some food had been brought for the discussion which Data Curve had taken a nibble of. It was as bland and unfilling as the analysis team had reported on.
‘Well I had explained what we plan to do, but I suppose not how we’ll do it. The key to any society is a well fed population, we’ve observed your food…’ Data Curve said, holding up one of the items that had been placed before her as an example. ‘Is not very nutritious, your population spend a vast amount of time working fields to produce little sustenance to feed everypony. Why is that?’ Data Curve asked.
‘It is the way of things, our food has always been as you observe it now.’ The Arbiter simply responded. ‘I assume that is something you can help us with.’
‘Yes, but before I explain, how is it that you are so large, Arbiter?’ Data Curve asked.
The large and portly leader belly laughed, her fat rolls wobbling on her belly. ‘Is it not obvious? I eat the same food as everypony else on this planet. I just eat much more of it. Privilege as the leader.’ she scoffed, taking some large bites of foodstuffs for the meeting. ‘It takes a large amount of time each day to eat all this, but I am often signing documents so I have the time. My council here takes care of things that do not require my immediate attention.’ she said.
‘Interesting. We have observed that what is keeping you expanding...no pun intended, is that this food keeps your population relatively busy and unable to focus on other things. If we brought Equestrian crops, even already packaged ready to eat food, they could be put to better use elsewhere. No?’ Data Curve replied.
‘Indeed, it is a problem that has plagued me and Arbiter’s before me. None have come up with a solution.’ she said. ‘Better crops and even imported foods would be nothing short of a miracle. We have tried bartering with other races but it seems the entire planet suffers this problem. Their foods are just as bland and lacking in nutrition.’ she explained.
‘I see. Well as I’ve explained we can certainly solve that problem, as well as others.’ Data Curve said, at this point she let her assistant take over explaining more society related things to do with technology. She was better at it.
‘What do you mean by that?’ The Arbiter asked.
‘We mean that we can bring in new technologies. Your buildings will be stronger. Your citizens will be provided things they probably do not even know exist, or think of luxuries. You will have key advantages over the other species on this planet. That is not to say you should crush them in war, but they can be allies. You’ll hold all the cards when trading with them.’ Resonance Wave explained.
‘It all sounds too good to be true.’ The Arbiter replied. Data Curve could tell she was still uneasy.
‘Perhaps then, it would be best if you were shown? To prove we are not visitors here with nothing but false promises?’ Data Curve said.
‘Yes...that would be acceptable.’ The Arbiter said. ‘I will leave you to discuss that with my council. For now I must retire, it has been a long day. Once you are finished discussions, you are free to stay here in the palace or return to your ship. It is your choice.’ the mare said, picking herself up and levitating out of the room. As she left, Data Curve observed her jiggling body. It seemed that The Arbiter did nothing to stop her blubber wobbling and jiggling about, even with the help of magic to steady her.
‘You didn’t mention their magic to weight ratio?’ Resonance Wave whispered to her as the council talked among themselves for a moment.
‘It is possible they already know, or if not it is better they discover for themselves.’ Data Curve whispered back. At this time, there were so many other things to focus on that she wanted to get those in motion first before the question of size to magical power was even raised. The two turned to the council members and began further discussions, for them, it would be an even longer day than The Arbiter had endured.
-
Six months had passed since that initial meeting. Progress had been rapid to say the least.
The main capital city had pushed out a few extra miles into what was once farmland, there was no need with Equestrian technology to have such massive farms producing so little. Efficient bio-farms had taken the place of vast crop fields to produce the necessary crops to become food for the population.
Data Curve always felt a little bad when a society's identity was somewhat washed away by progress like this. The population however never really cared, there were maybe some older ones who were sad to see it go but it was progress. They often forgot about this when their homes now had running water, modern amenities and other such things that made all the previous toil and hard work trivial. They could finally take it easy.
Shops, personal carriages and a happy population now stuffed the streets, almost fit to bursting. They were still working up to more advanced technologies like cars and such. The general mandate was to get important, life changing tech in first and worry about luxuries later, even if some of the life changing tech seemed like a luxury to these ponies. They didn’t want to overwhelm them, it had to be gradual.
The biggest change had been the food of course. They had initially started shipping in Equestrian foods but the ponies of the planet were now becoming self-sufficient in producing their own. It had been rather satisfying for Data Curve and Resonance Wave see a malnourished population go to looking somewhat normal. Bellies were full and the people were satisfied. There was just one small hiccup though...The Arbiter.
Data Curve and Resonance Wave had been meeting with her regularly to keep her up to date on new technologies and changes in her realm that she needed to be aware of, as well as other things. As soon as they had introduced the Equestrian food however, she had requested ten percent of the total shipments come directly to the palace ‘To ensure her fighting force was well fed.’ was her explanation. The thing was, Data Curve had talked to a number of the guards and whilst they were certainly better fed, none of them had said their food had come from the palace. They were just eating whatever they were given when they got home by husbands, wives, partners or buying themselves if they were single.
Data Curve meanwhile had been keeping her own personal observation of The Arbiter. Each time she met with her, she was considerably larger. Right now she was about approaching that of a regular cart in terms of size. It was her sneaking suspicion that the ten percent of food was vanishing straight into her gut. The thing was, Equestrian food wasn’t going to be that fattening on these ponies. Data Curve had done the math and she was clearly getting some other source. After each meeting in pony, her assistant would often stay behind to discuss further things that did not require Data Curve to be there. Perhaps it was worth looking into. Right from the get go things had been suspicious about this whole affair. The mare was a bit worried.
At six months in, The Arbiter had not only grown in size considerably (now so large, her fat rolls slid along the palace walls in a corridor wide enough comfortably for four ponies) but also in her confidence. She was becoming rude, almost dismissive of her Equestrian allies and only concerned for her own size and where the next batch of fattening foods was coming from. Despite the ponies she cared for now almost being self-sufficient in producing foods for themselves, she still insisted on shipments to the palace. Data Curve wondered at what point she’d have to step in and put a stop to them and how she’d take the news.
Today was another meeting, no council present this time. They were all far too busy now with day to day items. Data Curve and Resonance Wave were meeting in a small palace chamber with just The Arbiter and some armed guards.
‘Now then, I believe we need to discuss the matter of energy. You’re planning to put down another hundred bio farms in the northern region and they’ll need supply.’ Data Curve started to say.
‘Well you’ll handle that won’t you? Another job for the Equestrian pony wizards and masters of technology.’ The Arbiter said dismissively, taking a large bite of something that resembled pizza, at least to Data Curve. As she did so, that massive bulk of hers wobbled about, even movement now was causing her body to react to her size. Fat folds shifted, like miniature waves that rippled over her flesh.
‘Well, actually, it is around this time the population is knowledgeable enough to start taking our plans and doing the work themselves. We’ve noticed that lots of ponies have stuck to farming, it might be good to start to retrain them for more industrial focused work.’ Data Curve said. ‘As I’ve stated a few times.’ she was starting to become a little impatient with The Arbiter, who was quite content to push work and things like this to her Equestrian allies.
‘My people are content with their work, it would be unwise.’ she simply responded, taking another bite of the pseudo-pizza food. ‘Is there anything else? I grow weary of this meeting. It is the third one this week.’
‘With all due respect Arbiter, your society is undergoing a rapid technological growth that would usually take hundreds or thousands of years in a very short span of time. It is important it is handled correctly, we have seen it break and ruin entire planets.’ Data Curve said rather sternly, this seemed to get The Arbiter’s attention for just a moment.
‘Well...It will be your job to fix it if that should happen.’ the mare said, her eyes narrowing. ‘Now I shall retire, but I believe like normal your assistant wishes to discuss further matters.’ The Arbiter said. Data Curve observed her magic lifting her. It seemed that now it was hardly any effort to carry such a vast weight. It seemed the hypothesis of their weight being related to size had been proved, even if The Arbiter hadn’t realized it herself. She also noted the mare was multitasking with her magic. Whereas before a guard may have opened the door as she was too concentrated on her casting where she lifted herself, now she was able to do both with ease. Perhaps that was part of it too, the mare gaining intentionally to make herself more powerful. Data Curve wondered how long it would take for her own people, similarly blessed with magical abilities to realize this too.
Data Curve left the room, leaving Resonance Wave and The Arbiter to their meeting. She was still curious about those, one day she would have to formulate a plan to find out what was really happening.
-
‘Your colleague is clearly suspicious.’ The Arbiter said to Resonance Wave. The two had made their way deeper into the castle into a special sound proofed and (supposedly) tamper proof room. It was large enough though to comfortably fit both of them inside.
‘She’s been suspicious for weeks now. She keeps asking me what we’re meeting about and I tell her it’s in the report I fabricate for her. That seems to sate it.’ Resonance Wave replied. She had stopped worrying about Data Curve so much, often when she was buried in work for a new world things like this would crop up, but she’d fail to notice. This wouldn’t be the first leader that Resonance Wave had gotten her way with. It was all too easy to slip under the official radar.
‘Good, now then what have you got for me this meeting?’ The Arbiter asked, grinning from ear to ear. The two of them relaxed, Resonance Wave pressed a small panel on the wall which flipped over revealing a hidden mountain of food.
‘Well I thought you could indulge in some more fast food, this is shipped from one of our other colonies who took to it. Burgers like you’ve never had.’ Resonance Wave cooed at her, grabbing one of the brown paper bags and bringing it over to the practically salivating Arbiter.
‘You know six months ago, I had never even heard of a burger, now I can’t imagine life without them…’ she replied, her words muffled as Resonance Wave stuffed one between her lips, loving just how greedy this leader was. A lot of leaders she had secretly indulged would succumb to gluttony, but not like The Arbiter. The advantage was she was already a big eater before Resonance Wave even got involved, but now she was a big eater, eating food that properly contributed to her size.
‘I suspect, going back to what you said before, your increasing bulk due to our rich foods has something to do with it. Data Curve is unaware you know your magic gets more potent the bigger you are. She only has a suspicion.’ Resonance Wave said, pushing another burger between the lips of the bloated Arbiter.
‘Mmm, it shall be her undoing, once I can pass this sort of gaining to our population. But for now, I think we should start with the leader no? Another burger my dear.’ The Arbiter cooed at Resonance Wave, who was more than happy to oblige. There was something about bulking up a leader like this which really drew her in, how fortuitous that the leader of Evenya was a greedy pig who loved to stuff her face more than any other. She was loving how it was altering her body too, thunderous thighs, an ass that could crush any regular pony under its hefty weight and a belly that could be used as a bed to lie on and snooze. So enticing, she was keen only on making this one as big as she could get away with. Perhaps this time Data Curve might find out what is going on, The Arbiter wasn’t exactly hiding her gains.
‘I have no desire other than to make you as big as you like.’ Resonance Wave cooed. ‘But...it may be prudent for you to act more as you did when we first arrived. Forgive me but even I am noticing your responses are becoming curt and sharp, the gain is not being hidden particularly well.’ the mare said, trying to give her a little advice.
The Arbiter just roared with laughter. ‘Haha! Excellent joke Resonance, I am as fearless a leader as when you arrived, even more fearless now! We have not had a leader of Evenya as titanic as me in all of history. She is no match for me.’ The Arbiter scoffed, stopping when Resonance Wave pushed another burger between her lips, lazily chewing on the calorie rich filling it had. ‘By the time she finally has the gall to confront either of us, it will be too late anyway.’
‘I hope you’re right. Now, another burger.’ Resonance Wave said, she decided for now, it was best to take her mind off it and just enjoy feeding the jiggling, wobbling Arbiter until the burgers ran out. Her fat seemed to be thankful too, practically enveloping Resonance Wave in blubber as she fed her, the soft warm fatty flesh making her tingle all over, her cart sized queen a joy to feed.
-
‘Hmmm.’
Data Curve was observing the general population from back at their ship, still based just outside the capital city. Since they had landed, it had now served as their base of operations. It was too much work to move all their analysis equipment into the city anyway, particularly when some of it was integrated into the ships system.
There were reports she could look at of course, things that would tell her in writing exactly what was going on, but a perk of adding all this new technology was security systems where she could observe the population which they of course had full access to. Nothing invasive mind, just what may be useful in the name of science.
The mare used her magic to manipulate the controls in front of her, working her way through menus of security feeds from different parts of the city. It wasn’t all manual scrubbing, the system was programmed and designed to pick up on things and store it in its databases. Verbally, she asked it to show her things.
‘Security system, can you show me footage of ponies going about their day to day lives in the city? I just want to observe how they are coping with their day to day comings and goings.’ she asked it. A loading bar appeared and then a few select clips started to play in front of her eyes.
Clearly something that had been missed over the last couple of months was not just the population adapting to new technology, but size as well. They had now past the point of just being a healthy size and lots were starting to venture into obesity, particularly those that had taken jobs that were less intensive. They could for the first time ever, in all of their history, afford to indulge themselves and eat an excess of food because they were producing the same amount as before but it was now properly saturated with the nutrients their bodies needed. It wasn’t unexpected but Data Curve made a note to look into it. She watched the footage, amusing things really. The side walks on the newly constructed streets were now insufficient to allow walking (waddling really) ponies to pass unhindered so they were having to step out onto the road, causing traffic issues. Another piece of footage was brought before her eyes, this time of a stallion getting home from work with his wife having the grease around the doorframe so he could slide himself inside the family home. She noted she was just as big as he was. The next was outside an office block of a pony getting out a carriage, seeing that there was a small flight of stairs and then summoning several workers from inside to help them up it so they could get inside. The laziness was quite impressive to Data Curve, she made more notes.
She sat back in her chair and put a hoof to her chin. On average, the ponies of the city were roughly the size of The Arbiter when they had first arrived and looked only to get bigger. The Arbiter was another curious case. She was gaining at a much faster rate than expected. She must have been triple as large or bigger than when they had met her for the first time. That ten percent of food being diverted to the palace was really bothering Data Curve, but she suspected there was more to it than that. She moved investigating it up on her priority list.
Perhaps it should be something brought to a higher-up's attention. Data Curve had the evidence. She decided to send it off to the Science Department and see what came back. Opening up a new window, she typed up a correspondence.
FROM: DATA CURVE
TO: EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
INQUIRY REGARDING PLANET 4590-B
ADVICE NEEDED. POPULATION GAINING IN SIZE AND WEIGHT AT A RAPID PACE. FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED. NO CRISIS YET BUT ONE POSSIBLY FORTHCOMING. WHAT DO YOU ADVISE?
She sent it off, turning back to the cameras to observe more. Usually these responses took days to come as the department was busy with so many things. She had marked it urgent though. The mare was somewhat impressed when ten minutes later a response notification appeared on her screen. The message was short.
FROM: EQUESTRIAN SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
TO: DATA CURVE
RE: INQUIRY REGARDING PLANET 4590-B
MONITOR POPULATION. DO NOT REDUCE FOOD SHIPMENTS OR ALTER FARMING PRACTICES.
And that was it, just keep an eye on them basically. Something that Data Curve was more than happy to do. She thought that tomorrow she would take a trot into the city and see just how the population were doing rather than relying on sitting in the ship all warm and cosy, observing from camera feeds. Some first hand observation was needed she felt so that she could really get a hoof on the situation to raise it with Resonance Wave. Her response to her concern would tell her all she needed to know.
-
Alone the next day, Data Curve made her way into the city. She had no meetings scheduled this day and Resonance Wave was busy with something for The Arbiter that she had decided not to enquire into.
It was rather amazing to think that only six months ago this was all mud huts and dirt roads with precious little around it apart from the palace looming over the city. So much had changed in such a short time. The palace had stayed of course (massively upgraded so it still loomed over the city) but the city itself was a gleaming silver marvel that could have rivalled any of Equestria’s best colony cities. They did do good work on the infrastructure, at least that was what Data Curve told herself.
Her progress was slow though, currently she was stuck behind a rather large mare who was as wide as the pavement, making her way somewhere at a rather slow pace. Data Curve would have dodged around her, but decided it was best instead to flag down a taxi carriage and hop in to take her to the centre. It wasn’t long before one pulled up next to her and she hopped in.
Cars were slowly beginning to come into play, self driving ones at least like this where the inhabitants didn’t have direct control. She observed that despite this taxi carriage being nearly new, the doors were rather worn and the seat inside was as flat as a pancake, all of the stuffing having been crushed under what she assumed was the newly gained immense weight of the city inhabitants. She made another note and took some photos, it was all evidence of her current conundrum.
She had only asked the taxi to the centre of the city, she hadn’t specified where. She was dropped at a large plaza which looked pleasant enough, some large ponies just enjoying the sunshine of the day, sitting on creaking benches not rated for their weights. Data Curve looked around, wondering where to start. Then her eyes spied the perfect place. A fast food building, on the corner of a street just across the road from the plaza. It seemed to be popular, there was a small line of hefty ponies waiting outside the door. Data Curve joined it and queued up, finding herself somewhat squeezed between two large mares while she waited. In fact as she looked around, she couldn’t see a pony of her size anywhere. They were all...huge.
The line moved slowly, Data Curve decided it best if she just pretended she was an out of towner and when she got to the front, ordered something. Despite all their work not too many of the city ponies were really aware of who her and Resonance Wave were and what they were responsible for. They kept busy so there was no time really to be out in public so much.
As they got towards the front door, Data Curve had to stifle a grin, but this was amusing. Two of the (also large) employees of the store were stood by the entrance, both armed with tubs of butter. It seemed their sole job was making sure their customers could fit inside when they got themselves wedged in the entrance. The mare watched as a number of ponies ahead of her in line got stuck and were quickly pulled, pushed or in some cases, they managed to jiggle themselves free. It was no surprise, they were about cart sized. It depended as well where they were widest most that they got wedged. Some had exceptionally wide bellies, others, thunderous thighs that got stuck. When she got to the entrance and just walked through, the two butter greasers looked relieved not to have to unstick her as well. It was a short way now to the cashier.
‘Welcome to Big Burger, what are you having?’ the chunky mare behind the register asked. Data Curve was becoming more and more aware of the size of the ponies around her the more she was observing. None of them were what could be considered thin. The building had clearly been built with smaller ponies in mind. Occupants practically overflowed from booths and some were quite clearly smooshing up against one another where there was now a total lack of space for their gigantic bodies to fit. Data Curve just ordered a small meal to go, she didn’t fancy getting accidentally sat on by a careless fatty, or being crushed between a pair’s blubber as she tried to eat. She took her small meal (prepared in a matter of minutes) and left, thankfully the building had a separate exit to the entrance, but two more greasers were on standby which she passed.
The rest of the day, the mare just wandered the city observing all these amusing things happen in real life before her eyes. The video feeds she had been observing weren’t lying to her. All these buildings that had gone up in mere months were already failing to accommodate the growing size of the ponies here. Like The Arbiter, it seemed that the magical ones were discovering their potential as their size grew as well. Sitting on a bench, Data Curve observed as a rather short tempered mare, angry at the fact she couldn’t fit inside her own block of flats easily used her magic to rip the door off its hinges and then squeeze her way inside. It was a symptom of things going wrong rather quickly. The mare’s mind races at what the next step would be. She always would consult Resonance Wave first, but her meetings with The Arbiter had been suspicious lately to say the least. Perhaps it would be best to go to the boastful, rather flabby source. She got out a small pocket device, using it to check when their next meeting was. Luckily, it was tomorrow. Not in the palace but at a high-rise block downtown which she could see from her bench. The meeting notes said that it would be a more suitable location, as The Arbiter had meetings all day with various ponies from all over, so picked a location in town easier to meet at than the palace.
-
Data Curve had the first meeting of the day with her, so the pair arrived at the building together. The Arbiter greeted her somewhat more nicely than she had before, it was less dismissive than her usual tone. Her size of course was greater than before, Data Curve estimated she was just over a cart and a half wide, bigger than everypony else still.
‘Ah Data Curve, good to see you. I guess we’ll be riding the elevator to the meeting room together.’ she said.
‘Indeed, I have something I want to discuss.’ Data Curve replied.
‘I’m sure, save it for the meeting.’ The Arbiter replied. The two entered the lobby of the building, the receptionist showed them to the elevator, there was only one.
‘After you.’ The Arbiter said, letting Data Curve get in first. This was clearly an effort to be nice, but it somewhat backfired as The Arbiter squeezed herself inside. Data Curve was very quickly resigned to the fate that she had been trying to avoid in the fast food place, smothered and squished up against the wall as The Arbiter’s fat completely engulfed her. It was made even worse by the fact the thing was on the outer wall of the building and a lot of it was glass, meaning a few passing ponies in the street next to it stopped to stare at the poor Data Curve, now pressed up against the glass.
‘Mrshh...Arbitersshh…’ Data Curve tried to speak, but her words were muffled by fat. She couldn’t even move as the massive bulky fat body of the leader. She could feel the mare trying to squish herself inside more, to allow the doors to close. Eventually, as Data Curve thought the glass was going to pop out from the frame, she heard a ding! as they did so and the two started their climb up the building, the elevator mechanism complaining the entire time at having to lift such a vast weight it wasn’t really rated for up to the top floor. It was the longest ride Data Curve had ever taken, the entire time her body being squished and squeezed as The Arbiter didn’t exactly move, but her body just reacted to the motion of the thing moving. When the doors finally opened as they got to the top and The Arbiter shuffled her way out, Data Curve took a huge breath of fresh air, collecting herself as best she could from the ordeal. It seemed that The Arbiter hadn’t even noticed what she had done, not completely aware of how large she was. The mare exited the elevator and entered the conference room, taking a spot at the head of the table.
‘So then, what do you want to discuss?’ she asked, already chewing on a few burgers that had been provided by the staff. Data Curve was completely frazzled from the ordeal in the elevator, taking a moment to collect herself.
‘Um, yes. Your population. We’re noticing a rapid size increase, faster than predicted.’ Data Curve said.
‘I thought your main goal was to ensure we were well fed. This is well fed, is it not?’ The Arbiter said with a smile, giving her own flab a little wobble to make her point. It was almost mesmerizing at her size now, Data Curve could hardly take her eyes off it. Fat sloshed all over her body like an ocean. She quickly snapped her attention away, back to the meeting.
‘Well yes, but this is over feeding from what I have seen. Your citizens are outgrowing their surroundings. Look.’ Data Curve replied, bringing up some of the clips on a monitor that was a part of the room. The Arbiter watched and appeared unphased.
‘What of it?’ she simply asked.
‘What of it? We need to cut back on deliveries and let your population gain some semblance of normality.’ Data Curve said, a little sharply.
‘You will do nothing of the sort. Mrs Data Curve, I know you are only aware really of our planet's recent history, but our people have struggled for as long as anypony can remember to feed ourselves. Now we have a taste of what it means to be well fed and I will not deny us that right.’ The Arbiter replied, chewing on another burger. ‘Is that all you came to discuss today?’
‘Well...yes.’ Data Curve replied. She could see it was pointless arguing. The Arbiter’s mind would not be changed.
‘Well then, you leave me ample time to eat before my next meeting. I’ll see you at our next one.’ she said, taking another large bite from a burger. Data Curve, annoyed, just gathered her things and left. Thankfully on the ride down, there was no humongous pony to crush her against the elevator walls. It was clear to Data Curve more drastic action needed to be taken. She knew that in a few days, Resonance Wave had another meeting with her in the palace. She’d confront both of them there.
-
Data Curve continued to monitor the ever growing population of Evenya. The size difference between the ponies of the science ship and the population was quite incredible now really. What was once the tribal ponies, who just a short six months ago were frail, stick weapon wielding things now towered in size over them, their massive weight giving them a huge size advantage. They seemed to be relishing in it, as you would after a lifetime of practical starvation. Their bellies carried so much of their weight that they were now rising high from the floor above any regular sized ponies left, only still mobile really by some effort of hefting their weight downward so that their hooves could about touch the floor. The more clever and richer ones were assisted by tech in varying ways, either allowing them to walk or move more easily. Some were even starting to verge on immobility, but the technology provided by the Equestrians made it easy for them to get around still whereas six months ago it would have been a real problem. It was not without its difficulties though of course.
The small shuttle that had been carrying Data Curve landed at the palace. She was stopped by a few of the guards before entering.
‘You’re not on the roster for today Ma’am.’ one of them said.
‘I know, it’s urgent business. I couldn’t make an appointment. I need to see The Arbiter and my assistant.’ she replied.
‘Sorry, she is currently busy in a meeting. You can wait.’ the guard said, leading her off (slowly, due to his own massive size) to an area of the palace that was quiet. Data Curve sat waiting, fidgeting for a bit before finally decided to get up and wander the palace herself. It was oddly quiet these days, mostly because the guards tended to stay outside to stop their huge sizes being a problem in the corridors they too were outgrowing. As soon as she had entered the room, the guard had left. She was alone.
Getting up, Data Curve decided to wander the corridors with confidence, putting on that act as if she belonged there. Nopony questioned her, at least the few she ran into, letting her pass without so much as a glance.
She made her way deeper and deeper into the palace, at heart despite being upgraded it was still an old building. The staff hadn’t quite got around to more elaborate security systems yet and many of the large, ornate doors still used large locks to keep them shut. This allowed Data Curve to peek through them and see what was going on inside. Most rooms were unremarkable, staff doing their day to day work, storage, other things. But then she found it.
‘I knew it, Resonance Wave you utter snake.’ she said to herself. The room only contains three things. Resonance Wave, The Arbiter and a gigantic pile of food that was well, poorly hidden. The door wasn’t even locked, it was as if the pair didn’t even care. Well, Data Curve supposed there was no need for it to be locked. Neither were expecting any interruptions. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if this really was the right way to go about it. But her conscience got the better of her, she opened the door, right as a blushy, red faced Resonance Wave was pushing a gigantic, entire pizza into the mouth of The Arbiter.
‘So this is what your ‘meetings’ have been for huh? I knew something was off.’ Data Curve said. She watched as the two turned their heads to face her, like deer in headlights they looked completely guilty for a moment, at least before The Arbiter composed herself into her usual, overconfident and brash self. Resonance Wave however, still looked a little shaken.
‘Data Curve! How…’ she started to say.
‘Well the palace is hardly guarded these days. It wasn’t too difficult to slip in.’ Data Curve said. ‘These secret meetings were a real giveaway Resonance Wave, I know you’ve been up to this sort of thing for a while.’
Resonance Wave just smiled, returning to The Arbiter, who was concentrating so much on eating she had stopped paying attention to the conversation that Data Curve and Resonance Wave were having, only caring for stuffing herself more with the food in front of her. Resonance Wave was happily obliging, pressing food into her lips. Data Curve was to say at this point, more than a little upset. A harrumph got Resonance Wave’s attention.
‘Oh come now Data, of course I knew that you knew. I didn’t exactly try to hide it very well.’ Resonance Wave replied, feeding her bloated Arbiter another pizza. ‘I just...can’t help it, look at her. Such a thing of beauty.’ she said.
For a moment, Data Curve stood and considered her words, looking at The Arbiter through the eyes of Resonance Wave. She had to admit there was something about the size of these ponies that was...alluring. She had first noticed herself having these thoughts the other day making her way around town. What had been amusement had turned to a small amount of arousal as it played on her mind. Enough bulk to get yourself stuck in places...interesting. She no longer felt compelled to stop the feeding, but did feel it was her duty to to at least do something about it. The mare had too many morals to stop herself from getting totally sucked into the pairs little game. It was at this point, The Arbiter somewhat re-honed her attention to the conversation. It seemed she had been listening the entire time. Although to Data Curve, she suspected it was because the mountain of pizza had vanished, quickly gobbled down by the now immobile Arbiter. She burped, loudly, to get Data Curve’s attention.
‘UUUURRRRRPPPPPPP! It is not her...huff...concern Resonance Wave, this is a private meeting between us, which your partner has broken into.’ The Arbiter said, unconcerned. ‘Snooping around places she shouldn’t be. That carries...puff...a severe punishment. Unless…’
‘Unless what? You expect me to bend? The science department will be hearing about this betrayal of our trust!’ Data Curve shot back. It was the first time she had heard The Arbiter speak since the meeting, it seemed her size was now having some effect on her words, the mare taking breaths, forcing her way through sentences that actually seemed to be an effort for her due to her gigantic size.
‘They’ll do no such...pant...thing, you’ll be surrounded by guards and thrown in one of our cells before you even got a message out.’ The Arbiter said. ‘Now do you want to hear about that unless?’ she asked, rather coolly.
Data Curve thought about her options. She had stumbled in a little quickly, not thinking about the consequences, only to catch out the two of them when she found them. She was somewhat now between well, a rock and one of those monsterously obese ponies of the planet. She decided to at least hear The Arbiter out.
‘Go on.’ Data Curve said.
‘You do your thing, observe us. Record the...huff...results of my continued gluttony. You must admit it’s rather impressive?’ The Arbiter queried. Data Curve was somewhat taken aback by her forthrightness, even with her attitude.
‘I uh...well, you and your citizens are certainly much more gluttonous than we expected.’ Data Curve stammered.’
‘Oh please, is that the most...wheeze...you can say about it? I heard you stutter back there talking to Resonance. You were impressed by my size weren’t you?’ The Arbiter cooed. This whole change in tone was completely throwing off Data Curve. She had only been with The Arbiter when she had been brash, rude even. But her mind started to wander. The softness of her the other day when she had practically crushed her in the elevator...at her size now she’d probably burst out of it. It seemed that her ego was growing at a rate relative to her blubber. There was so much of it too...Data Curve couldn’t even see the chair that the mare was resting on anymore, her fat overtook it, engulfed it even. She was just now noticing that Resonance Wave was in fact, perched upon it. Almost using The Arbiter as a soft, comfy seat.
‘Impressed...yes.’ Data Curve muttered. She hated that she was being bested like this. Usually science and facts were her ally, to help her out of any hard conversation, but right now her desires to observe this seemingly endless mountain of fat that was The Arbiter was taking over. She was starting to understand how Resonance Wave had succumbed to these private feeding sessions. ‘So that’s it, you just want me to record the results? Then what?’
‘There is no ‘then what’ my dear. You and your assistant...huff...aid in feeding me, increasing my size to proportions not yet achieved by any other pony in your empire. My subjects too.’ The Arbiter proposed. ‘Think of the prestige that would come with...puff...being the ponies who elevated a race to such heights and sizes in such a short time span? Would the recognition not be...wheeze...marvellous?’ The Arbiter continued.
‘I...well…’ Data Curve couldn’t think. Well, she could, but it was extremely difficult. Now she was playing on her scientific intrigue. It would be interesting, just to see how big they could all get...but what if it got out of hoof? No, every species had their limit, even these ones who seemed to be thriving now they had proper food to eat. There would be a fat ceiling, so to speak. Data Curve...would find it. ‘Observe...maybe feed?’ she asked.
‘Feeding is appreciated. I could certainly...huff...use two of you, maybe more as I grow.’ The Arbiter cooed.
Data Curve submitted, she was now part of this. Part of the gluttony within these ponies that she had helped unleash. There was no going back now.
-
The first thing of course that happened was they had to move The Arbiter to a more suitable space in the palace where she could grow. The guards were informed of what was happening, no information about it was to be leaked outside of the grounds. The science department was none the wiser, as Data Curve simply reported her meetings as things concerning the wellbeing of the population...it was somewhat true.
Curiously, there was no need for more and more food to keep making the leader and the citizens grow. It seemed just a steady amount kept them all gaining at a good pace. The bigger they got, the faster they seemed to grow. It wasn’t long before the population was rivalling sizes of The Arbiter where Data Curve had first agreed to feed her, but she was now much larger.
First she started to dwarf the palace, a point where her blubber was only being held back by the thick outer walls. The mare was now a blob of a pony, her massive body threatening to crush the massive, ancient building at any moment in a display of indulgence and decadence the likes of which had never been seen in the entire universe. Then one day, she simply did, the tide of fat too much to hold back the palace walls crumbled under her blubber like they were made of match sticks. There was a horrendous boom as the walls came down, which was then quickly stifled by her fat blocking out the sound.
As Data Curve and Resonance Wave continued to feed the ever growing Arbiter they had to be more inventive with how they got the food to her. After a time, her massive, bloated cheeks were so buried and so surrounded by a mountain of cellulite that it was a job even to get down to her face, let along bring food. Hover trucks were brought in, equipped with massive tubes to directly feed the impossibly big mare. Data Curve was utterly fascinated by her gluttony. It seemed nothing was going to stop her eating as long as food was supplied, or her growth. The mare had once projected she’d stop growing when she was about room sized. The thing was, that was long passed and nothing about the data she was collecting suggested she’d stop any time soon. She already covered a good square mile of space, with her citizens not far behind.
The way her body had adapted to her what should have been impossible size was quite impressive too. Everything had sort of ‘rounded out’ so to speak, as Data Curve had put it in one of her observation reports. She had expected many, many more rolls as fat fought for space but it seemed through some biological function that she was not aware of, these ponies' bodies were built to deal with extreme size. She hypothesized that it was some latent, unawakened part of their physiology that just never saw use, sitting idle until a time at which they were able to take advantage of it. She had made extensive notes on how The Arbiter’s body had adapted. Her ass cheeks were like two perfectly formed, massive blubbery spheres. Her belly formed the ideal bed to support all that weight on and neatly her body sat right in the middle of all this, her fat neck supporting a hugely bloated head, even if it was sinking into herself like her hooves.
Her magic was stronger too, much, much stronger. When she tired of the hoses, Data Curve observed that she was starting to use it to levitate food from nearby fast food outlets that she hadn’t yet crushed under her bulk which was now spreading out into the city. What had been a secret no longer was about her proportions, no longer hidden by the palace, she was free to spread out about the city. The only thing she was really coming up against were the bigger, more sturdy buildings and ponies who had also gained incredible amounts of weight.
There was one last thing the pair tried...well, specifically Data Curve tried. She could make it to The Arbiter’s face, down that shaft of blubber to the swollen cheeks and stuffed maw that was filled with food at all hours. She had been lowered in from one of the hover trucks, a rope around her waist to secure her. She made ground on one of her swollen cheeks, the flesh rumbling and jostling around under her hooves as she attempted to steady herself.
‘Arbiter? It’s Data Curve, I’m just to your right.’ she said.
There was no response from The Arbiter, her mouth still full of food. For a moment, Data Curve thought that she saw her move her lazy eyes to the right slightly, almost a flicker of motion to register that something was to the right of her face. However they quickly went back to staring straight ahead at the mountain of food that was being fed to her and she was feeding to herself.
‘Please...this has to stop. Everything is out of control. Your size, your people’s size. I’m begging you to listen to me.’ Data Curve pleaded, but her words were completely ignored. Data Curve was unsure whether or not she had even registered that she was there. There was no reasoning with her. She left, disappointed that she was that far gone.
The more this went on, the more Data Curve and Resonance Wave were coming more to their senses about the whole ordeal. After a night of talking, deciding how to proceed they decided it would be best to cut The Arbiter and her people off cold turkey from their enriched food supply. The problem was, it was too late. The Arbiter was too impatient to be fed. After a mere ten minutes of no food, with no hovering trucks showing up to feed her she took matters into her own hooves. Her magic was strong enough. First she ate the city dry of any remaining food stuffs, as did her citizens, then she started to turn to the planet itself. To her and her people, everything now was just food for them, something to consume, to add to their sheer size. First they ate the mountains, then they sucked the oceans dry. Finally they turned to the land itself, eating their way into the core of the planet and leaving it nothing more than a small husk of its former glory. By this time, Data Curve and Resonance Wave, realizing what was happening had lifted the science ship off and observed from a distance. Their errors in judgement had cost them dearly, creating a race of impossible blobs now unleashed on the galaxy, slowly moving off deeper into space, looking for more of the universe to consume. All they could do was send a warning to the science department and wait for an answer. Their ship vanished into slip space, heading home for Equestria. Magic though, is magic. Data Curve had no clue that The Arbiter, locked onto her signal knew exactly where they were going. Equestria sounded like a mighty tasty planet to consume.
