A Cheery Household Herd

A few days later…

So I was out buying some ‘groceries’ from Tree Hugger as usual when something interesting came up during our conversation.

“...Oh yeah, by the way,” Tree droned in her mellow state, “I think Moondancer was like, totally asking about you.”

Pale put the bag of brownies he had purchased from Tree into his coat and asked, “Really? Oh--well, what did she say?”

“Something about…needing your help with something?” Tree repeated from memory, “I dunno all the details, but it sounded like she wanted your help soon.”

Pale nodded. “Gotcha. Is she here or did she message you from Canterlot?”

“Yeah she sent me a letter, man. Guess she’s still kinda shy about getting out more.”

“Hrm…I wonder why she didn’t ask Twilight or any of her other friends for help since she knows them better,” Pale wondered aloud while rubbing the side of his head.

Tree Hugger simply stared at him with her half-lidded eyes and snorted. “Heh. C’mon, man. You know why. She’s lonely and there aren’t enough stallions around. She probably wants your help with something the mares simply can’t provide, ya know?”

“...Damn…” Pale muttered as he looked at the ground, “I didn’t realize it was that bad.” He then looked back up at Tree Hugger. “Well in that case, I’m going to go see what’s up. Oh--but I’ll be letting Cheerilee know first of course.”

And so, Pale went home to discuss this information with Cheerilee at her home…

“Hm…yeah, it sounds like she’s caught wind of our little herd and wants in,” the fuschia mare explained, “Though she’s probably far too shy to come out to us--which is probably why she wants you to come to her instead.”

“Damn…that makes sense though,” Pale said with a sigh, “Wanna come with me, Cheerilee? I’m not quite sure I can do this alone.”

“Hm…I’d like to, but Moondancer isn’t the type of pony who gets along well when there’s more than one other pony involved--outside of her close friend group that is.”

“Yeah I know how that feels,” Pale agreed, “So should I go by myself?”

“Probably for the best,” Cheerilee replied with a nod, “I’ve got some documents that need sorting and some gardening I want to get back to. Growing carrots in my yard has saved me loads of money surprisingly.”

“Pfft. I don’t got the patience for that,” Pale scoffed, “I’d rather just buy everything from the market. Though I guess that’s just what I’m used to--having grown up in Manehattan where the amount of fertile land is scarce and all.”

“You’re a city colt, yes,” Cheerilee said with a playful eye roll, “Maybe that’s something you and Moondancer can bond over!”

Pale rubbed the back of his head and raised a brow. “Uh, Cheery--you know that Manehattan and Canterlot--while they’re both cities, they’re actually light years apart in how their respective citizens act. I’m from a place where you’d be killed for spiting someone with the wrong pizza, hun--”

Cheerilee simply raised a brow and asked, ...Seriously?”

“Well there was already tension beforehoof between the crime families in question but still--”

Once again, Cheerilee coyly shook her head, making eyes at her husband as he spoke. “You just love picking things apart, don’t you? That’s something else you and Moondancer might be able to bond over come to think of it.”

“Now that’s a good idea,” he replied, “You may be onto something, Cheery.”

“We’ve been together for too long for me not to, dear,” she replied, and kissed the nape of his neck. “Now go on, let’s see if you can get that nerdy little unicorn lady to come out of her shell, hm?”

“Well, wish me luck then,” Pale added as he got up from the couch, “With all of these world-class threats finally gone, the only problems that remain seem to be domestic.”

“Problems that we’ll be able to solve with ease, hun,” Cheerilee teased as she flicked her tail while trotting off. “Have fun with her now, and be sure to give me all of the juicy details when you get back.”

“I will, hun.”

And with that, I was off to Canterlot to go check up on Moondancer. It had been a while since I had spoken to her, so I was genuinely curious as to how she had been getting along. All I could hope was that she wasn’t going through anything too severe that’d hamper her social skills…

Pale got off the train for Canterlot, and walked through the regal, elegant city of royalty that Twilight Sparkle had control over. Everything was business as usual with various haughty, noble ponies prancing about with their heads held high…

“...And somehow, they don’t run into anything,” Pale remarked as he watched them walk.

Soon enough, he arrived at Moondancer’s home, and knocked on the door. “Erm…Ms. Dancer?”

The door was flung open with an aura of violet magic, and a voice called out from within.

“Come in, Pale.”

Pale stepped inside--and her home was marginally cleaner than before with far less files strewn about the place. However, there was something else that was significantly different…

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Moondancer called out from her living room couch as she shut the door with her magic. “I’ve been hearing about your herd that you’ve been establishing. I think it’s a neat idea since some of the mares you knew only really trust you with their bodies.”

“...Well I wouldn’t go as far as saying that but…”

Moodancer continued, “Nevertheless, I’m interested in…seeing how it’s affected your body. That’s all.”

Pale rounded the corner and entered the living room to see a rather…chubby Moondancer lying on the couch on her stomach while using her magic to levitate spoons of ice cream into her mouth. The most significant change was her body itself--specifically her rear end which had gotten…much bigger compared to when he last saw her.

“...Oh uh…really?” Pale asked nervously while trying to avert his gaze from her massive rump. “Is that all?”

Moondancer adjusted her glasses, looked over her shoulder at Pale, then groaned as she placed her chin on her hoof. “Ugh…I’m not gonna kill you for looking at my butt, Pale. I know I’m a fat sack of crap.”

To be specific, her sweater could barely fit her lower half at this point and one could easily see the…rather jiggly state of her behind with every movement of her tail.

“...Hey now, wait a second--” Pale tackled the issue directly, “That’s not what I was thinking at all. My question is: Why do you think so lowly of yourself?”

“...I lack motivation, Pale.”