MLP belongs to Hasbro and to the respective artists. I own nothing and gain nothing. Story is purely entertainment aka it is fanfiction and nothing more.
The early morning came as it usually does with a yawn and blinking eyes. There was nothing truly unusual about this morning. It was early spring with winter wrap up having been concluded just a few weeks prior. What was unusual was the soon-to-be realization of one generous fashion-inclined unicorn.
Rarity awoke to the morning sun rays with a smile thinking to herself “My what a marvelous day.”
Things had been going well for the fashionista with sales increasing enough to give her a substantial vacation. Her winter line of clothing had proven a huge success with ponies from Manehattan to Appleoosa purchasing the items in bulk.
“What a perfect opportunity to do some research and spend some time with friends” Rarity said with a contemplating look upon her face.
She made her way to the kitchen fixing some eggs and toast while reading the morning paper with her usual coffee. Princess Luna was attempting a tax reform, Princess Celestia was busy with making rounds abroad in Saddle Arabia, and new legislation was put forward to add increased spending for hospitals in major cities. “Just the usual it seems” Rarity said with a tired yawn.
Making her way to bathroom she enjoyed the quiet of her boutique. She truly loved Sweetie Bell, but all the same it was nice to have some peace and quiet while their parents were back in town for the foreseeable future.
“Of all the best possible days…..THIS….IS…THE…BEST…POSSIBLE….DAY!!!” Rarity cried with a smile so wide one might have wondered if Pinkie Pies habits were rubbing off.
As she made her way to the bathroom to prepare for the day she saw the weighing scale. Looking at it with a glare that could have shattered stone. She would not look at her weight. She was perfectly fine she told herself. Her figure was just fine.
Looking into the mirror she thought “Well maybe it couldn’t hurt just to look a bit….but only after a shower” she said with a gulp of fear.
Stepping into the shower she relished the warm water and the soft fragrance of her shampoos and body wash. Cleanliness was next to Celestia after all.
Stepping out of the shower her eyes fell to the scale. She sighed thinking “Might as well. After all what harm could it do?”
Stepping on the scale she mentally prepared herself “It can’t be that bad. I’m in very fine shape after all” she said out loud.
As the scale round its way around finding her weight Rarity looked down. Her eyes blinked and she stepped off the scale and back on it to check again with the same result. She looked down and looked into the mirror and back to the scale. The scale read a weight gain of forty five pounds. Rarity turned pink with rage.
“OF ALL THE WORST POSSIBLE THINGS THIS IS THE WORST POSSIBLE THING EVER!!!!!” She roared.
“What on earth am I going to do!? I can’t be this heavy….I JUST CAN’T WEIGH THAT MUCH!!!” She shouted in righteous indignation that such a travesty was even possible.
“What was she going to do!?” She thought to herself. Her entire line of work depended not just on the quality of the clothes she made, but on the actual image of physical beauty she presented. All her business partners expected….no…. demanded perfection.
Then a lightbulb went off. If she was this much heavier why hadn’t her friends noticed? Why hadn’t they said anything?!!!
Growling in anger she applied her makeup and did her mane grinding her teeth. She was going to get answers and find a solution for this…this momentary setback. Rarity brushed and flossed her teeth and made her way downstairs making the entire boutique shake as if the world was about to divide asunder.
Rarity determined to make her way to the Golden Oaks Library. If she had one friend who would notice physical changes it would be Twilight. The young mare was known for her attention to even the smallest of details. In addition, Twilight would have a way to fix….this thing that happened. Being the Princess’s private student she had to know a cure…..SHE JUST HAD TOO!!!
At that same time, Twilight was making her way through History of Equestria again for a bit of light reading having gotten up earlier several hours earlier. Spike was still lying in his basket sleeping Twilight wanting him to have a bit more sleep than usual. Suddenly she heard a loud thrashing and birds flying off into the distance.
“Twilight!!!” Rarity shouted as she opened the door.
Twilight gulped in fear secretly wondering what she had done to earn Rarity’s ire.
“Ummm hi, Rarity. What brings you by this early?” asked Twilight.
“Oh well you see dear I just had a few quick questions for you that I hoped you might be able to answer,” Rarity said while her left eye twitched and her ears flopped.
“I think I can Rarity, but why are you so angry?” asked Twilight.
“WHY!??” shouted Rarity.
“Yes, Rarity why?” Twilight said.
Rarity’s left and right eyebrows begin twitching and her ears continued to flop in anger. Twilight secretly wondered if her dear friend had completed one too many work nights without sleep and finally lost her sanity.
“Well Twilight I’ll answer your question with one of my own” she said.
“Have you or have you not been a tad bit quiet about something regarding me?” Rarity asked.
Twilight thought to herself for a moment and her eyes shrank realizing what this must be about.
“Rarity is this about the recent weight you’ve been gaining?” she asked.
“YES!!!!” Rarity shouted shaking the aged library and awakening Spike who came running down the stairs in alarm.
Twilight sighed knowing this was going to take some time and she might very well need some pain medication on account of the headache she was sure to have.
“Spike you can go back to bed,” Twilight said.
Rarity having realized that Spike was up and about changed instantly.
“Oh yes, Spike darling….please do be a dear and rest. I’m terribly sorry for having woken you up”, she said.
“What’s this about?” Spike asked.
“Does this have to do with your wei….gulp” Spike began to ask before Twilight shoved a sock into his mouth.
“Spike”, she whispered into his ear, “Rarity is very, very sensitive about her weight and we wouldn’t want to make her mad. Tartarus has no fury like a mare scorned after all”, Twilight said.
Spike again gulped taking the sock out of his mouth “Oh uh…yeah sure. I’ll talk to you later Rarity”. Rarity only smiled waving her hoof goodbye to her dear Spikey Wikey knowing full well the conversation that just took place, but patient enough to wait for the young dragon to leave.
“Come on Rarity let's go to the kitchen”, Twilight sighed. As the two friends made their way to the kitchen Twilight made some tea and lit a lavender candle trying to bring about a sense of calm as they both sat down to talk about the Rarity’s recent discovery.
“Twilight why didn’t you say anything?” she asked.
Twilight took a deep breath and sipped her tea before she began.
“Rarity I didn’t say anything because….well….I knew you might react badly to being told you had put on some weight and the other girls didn’t say anything for the same reason. We didn’t want to hurt your feelings or worry you. We also figured you might react the way you're reacting now. We just wanted to be kind and not create a problem for you or anypony else” Twilight said.
“But Twilight I’ve put on 45 pounds!!!” She exclaimed.
Smash!!! Twilight's cup slipped from her magic as her concentration was broken.
“Forty-five pounds!?”, Twilight asked.
“Yes” stated Rarity flatly.
“I thought maybe ten or fifteen pounds….not forty five. Rarity what have you been eating?” Twilight asked.
Rarity blushed suddenly remembering she had been attending one too many of Pinkie Pies's parties and being far too generous when it came to her appetite. Combined with the late-night work she had done during the winter things were in fact starting to make more sense to her.
“Well, I might have had a tad too much of Pinkie cakes and sweets” Rarity admitted to her friend.
Twilight facehoofed and thought to herself. Somehow one of her best friends had gotten so caught up in her work she had neglected her health and proceeded to gain forty five pounds in the period of a few months. She thought about lecturing Rarity but suddenly remembered one too many late-night study sessions she herself had had in the past.
“Rarity I’m sorry. We should have told you. Everypony just wanted to give you some space. We knew you were having to do a lot more work and didn’t want to add any more stress to you”, Twilight admitted.
“But Twilight forty five pounds!!!” Rarity exclaimed tears starting to flow down her fur.
Twilight rushed into her friend holding her in a hug while Rarity proceeded to bawl like a little filly about the whole ordeal. Twilight just rocking her and letting her cry it out.
Once Rarity had calmed down a bit Twilight let her go and asked “Feeling better?”
Rarity sniffed and said, “Not really no, but all the same thank you”.
“No problem,” Twilight said having been given comfort herself when she had had a few emotional breakdowns.
“Now though you can help me get rid of this,” said Rarity with hope in her eyes.
Twilight's eyebrows rose in alarm not knowing how to tell her friend that there was no quick fix to her friend’s ordeal.
“Umm Rarity I can’t do anything for you,” Twilight said looking down at the floor in shame.
“What!? But…but…but you're Princess Celestia’s private student!!!” Rarity screamed.
Twilight frowned saying “Spike” pointing a hoof up to the ceiling.
“Oops, sorry” Rarity apologized.
Twilight sighed again wondering how to best explain this to her friend.
“Rarity magic can’t solve everything. I could in fact make the weight go away, but only for a little bit. The weight would just come right back on within a few minutes of the spell wearing off. I’m afraid the only way you're going to be able to get your weight down is the old-fashioned way” Said Twilight.
“But Twilight that means dieting and exercise!!!!” Cried Rarity
“Yes I suppose it does, but it will be good for you and me and the girls will be there to help you every step of the way,” Twilight said in an effort to comfort her friend.
“That’s not fair though!!! Pinkie Pie eats mountains of sweets. Why doesn’t she gain weight?” Rarity asked.
Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared out from underneath Rarity’s chair giving Rarity a hug explaining “Because I’m throwing parties all the time silly filly” and disappeared.
Rarity’s mouth gaped open even though she had seen Pinkie do many strange and unexplainable things before. Twilight just smiled knowing it was futile and already being willing to explain that Pinkie Pies's own metabolism was probably just part of the Pinkie being Pinkie explanation.
Getting over the shock Twilight again addressed her friend saying “Rarity I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but you can lose the weight and keep it off”.
“How Twilight? How am I supposed to do that? There are no gyms anywhere near here and no ponies I would trust to help me with it even if there were and I’m not counting that white pony that always shouts "YEAH" at the top of his lungs….he’s just crazy” Rarity said.
“Rarity I’m sure there is somepony that would be willing to help you,” Twilight said in a comforting manner.
“But Twilight even if there were its exercise…..I hate sweating profusely...it makes me feel so…soooo….sweaty!!!!” Rarity cried out.
Twilight just rolled her eyes smiling knowing her friends tendency to blow a solution or problem way of proportion. Twilight herself didn’t know what that was like since she never took anything out of proportion right???? And even if she did somepony would have helped her stop like Princess Celestia right???
Somewhere in Saddle Arabia a white alicorn with a majestic cosmic flowing mane sneezed.
Twilight was about to open her mouth to say something when a knock came to the door. Frowning Twilight made her way to the door allowing Rarity to go on babbling about the sheer horror of the effort required in exercising. Answering the door Twilight came face to face with Applejack.
They looked at one another for a moment before Twilight tried to speak only to be cut off by Applejack.
“Let me guess Rarity came here after she found out about her weight?” asked Applejack with her usual and endearing accent.
“Yes, but how did you know?” asked Twilight.
“Folks in town saw Rarity and heard shouting and I put two and two together on my own” admitted Applejack.
“Well you may as well come inside,” Said Twilight.
Both mares made their way to the kitchen where Rarity was still lost in her overly dramatic speech. Applejack raised an eyebrow, but shrugged remembering who it was doing the talking.
“Howdy Rares” Applejack greeted.
“Oh Applejack something horrible…no dreadful…..no absolutely The worst possible thing has happened!!!” Rarity exclaimed.
“Let me guess you found out about your weight gain” asked Applejack.
Rarity’s lips quivered and began to cry waterworks worthy of any Pegasus generated rainstorm.
Applejack just smiled and gave her friend a hug suddenly realizing just how much this had really hurt her friend.
“Shucks sugarcube ain’t no big deal. Why I bet you can get that weight off easy as an apple falling from a tree and worse comes to worse we’ll all still love you and help you”, Applejack said comfortingly. Rarity looked up and smiled grateful for such good friends, but still a little peeved nopony had said anything.
“Applejack that involves exercise and sweating and…I HATE SWEATING!!!” Rarity cried out.
Applejack just laughed inside thinking about all the times she had actually seen Rarity doing something physically demanding.
“Well sugarcube I reckon it does, but you can probably do it,” said Applejack.
Twilight cut in saying “Applejack is right Rarity. You’ve done plenty of other hard things with all of us. Plus don’t you have a substantial amount of time off for the next little while?” asked Twilight.
Rarity groaned realizing the downtime she had been hoping now meant physical exertion in addition to researching and thinking up a new line of stylish clothing….not to mention dieting….ughhhhhh.
“Twilight that may be true, but where am I going to find somepony to help me with this? Not to mention I was hoping to spend more time with you and the rest of the girls” said Rarity.
Twilight furrowed her brow thinking on the problem. She might have suggested Rainbow Dash, but she was sure everypony, including Rainbow Dash, would agree that might not be a good fit overall. Rainbow tended to be brash and upfront and in a situation like this that might not be the best option.
“Well shucks sugarcube I’d be mighty pleased to give you a helping hoof,” said Applejack having had similar thoughts to Twilights.
Rarity looked at her earth pony friend. Applejack was not a bulking monster of muscle, but was also certainly not a frail thing years of farm work having created a solid and well balanced body for the mare.
“Applejack I’m certainly grateful for the offer, but I…well I…” Rarity tried to say.
“Rares you do realize I went to college and got a minor in exercise-related topics right?” asked Applejack.
Twilight and Rarity’s eyebrows went up with their mouths hanging open never having been privy to such details. Applejack just sighed.
“You both honestly thought I was just some honest and uneducated country farm hick didn’t you?” asked Applejack.
“Umm, Applejack if you went to college what was your major and why did you minor in exercise-related topics,” asked Twilight.
“Earned my degree in Agriculture and I thought it might be useful to know a thing or two about exercise so I could stay in shape during the winter that way come spring I wouldn’t have to worry none bout being out of shape” Applejack explained.
Twilight and Rarity both thought on the explanation and it did make sense. Applejack had proven a surprising mare on more than one occasion.
Rarity broken out of her shock by the explanation asked “Well that’s wonderful Applejack, but all the same I abhor exercise. I don’t want to look like some green she-mare from the comics.”
Applejack smiled and then broke out laughing as did Twilight both remembering that particular heroine.
“Rarity I guarantee I can help you and you won’t have to use no barbell or regular weights,” said Applejack.
“How will you do that?” asked Twilight.
“Simple farm work with some other regular pony body only exercises to even things out,” said Applejack.
Rarity’s heart grew fearful. She was a lady, not a farmhand. Farmwork might very well kill the fashionista. She made a mad dash for the door the weight problem suddenly forgotten. Twilight sighed and grabbed her friend in her magic her body shaking all about trying in vain to free herself.
“Rarity Applejack wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you. Right, Applejack?” asked Twilight.
Applejack smiled a bit mischievously at the temptation to get back at Rarity for some past practical jokes and verbal jousting the two occasionally got into but thought better of it.
“Shucks Twi I’m the element of honesty. I wouldn’t let no trouble happen to her” admitted Applejack.
Rarity having calmed down a bit debated while Twilight set her down on the floor again. On the one hand she hated exercise, but doing a routine like what Applejack had described would help her gain a better appreciation for what her friend did on a daily basis more readily. Looking at her friends well balanced and natural-looking and solid physique she also saw some potential benefits as well. Not being an earth pony it was certainly unlikely, to her, that she would develop anywhere near as much muscle as Applejack. She imagined herself at her old weight, but with a few extra pounds of muscle where it counted not enough to make her a she-mare, but certainly enough to enhance her figure.
“All right Applejack I’ll let you help me.” Rarity sighed.
“Shucks Rarity thanks. I promise you’ll get through it.” said Applejack.
“And I’ll be sure to make sure Pinky makes less Pinky Pie-style snacks for you.” said Twilight all the while smiling at the deep friendship the three shared.
“Now out of curiosity though Rarity just how much weight have you put on so I can know how hard to push ya?” asked Applejack.
Twilight hid her face in her hooves suddenly remembering the amount of weight her friend had gained.
“Ummm well you see…..it’s around….about…. forty-five pounds” Rarity whispered nearly like Fluttershy.
“Begging your pardon Rarity, but I don’t reckon I heard you right could you repeat that?” asked Applejack blinking a bit.
Twilight sighed saying “Forty-five pounds Applejack. She’s gained forty-five pounds.”
Applejack blinked and looked at her friends and blinked some more.
“What in tarnation!???” Exclaimed Applejack.
“Eh he he” laughed Rarity nervously.
Twilight blinked a bit and thought to herself realizing she and her friends had probably just taken one of the most unusual adventures together.
That’s all for chapter one. As for grammatical errors this is my first story so please be gentle as I’m a sensitive person ☹.
Author's Note
This chapter was written several years ago. I've gone through correcting what grammar mistakes I could see.
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Forty five pounds. Applejack was still mulling over the words she had just heard her friend say. Did Rarity realize just how hard this might be? Obviously not, was her first conclusion with the second being that this was going to take a lot more work with a lot more progression for Rarity than Applejack had originally thought. Now how exactly to explain all this without Rarity reacting poorly to it.
“Applejack dear are you alright?” Rarity inquired.
“Right as rain sugarcube. Right as rain.” She responded.
“Applejack you seemed nervous and worried. Will that be too much to help me with?” Rarity asked?
Applejack shook her head still deep in thought. While Rarity was certainly glad to see Applejack as not unable to help her feelings of her own self-worth began to bubble in her mind. The knowledge that somepony would react so quickly and shocked hurt. She of course understood to some extent as that had been partially her own reaction as well. How many other ponies were judging her very worth as an individual every time she walked down the street? Did that make her less of a pony? The answer she knew to both questions was first probably quite a few given the town’s treatment of Zecora and the second she knew was not true again because of the incident with Zecora. All the same, to understand something intellectually was one thing, but to experience it was another.
“All right then sugarcube I’ve got some thoughts to talk with you and Twiight about.”
“Which are what exactly?” Rarity asked with some trepidation with Twilight being silent merely raising an eyebrow wondering what part she was to play.
“Well in the first place you telling me exactly how off I was on your weight is a setback…but not in a bad way. All that means is it will take a little longer and we’ll have to be more careful about how we train ya.”
“Ummm all right then what does that mean in basic pony?” Rarity asked.
“I’m curious about that as well Applejack.” Twilight stated.
“All it means is we’ll have to start a lot more basic in terms of the training nothing horrible or world-ending. Twilight I’ll need you to go over to Zecora’s for a bit and hand her this note and explain the situation to her.” Applejack concluded handing a carefully folded note she had written for the well-striped mare. She then addressed Rarity again.
“Rare’s I ain’t gonna lie this is probably going to take more than just a few months overall. This may take a good six months and maybe even almost a year all things depending.”
“WHAT!?” Both Rarity and Twilight exclaimed neither really understanding both being somewhat ignorant of what such a routine as this really might entail.
“Look girls weight loss ain’t real complicated, but it is an effort. There ain’t an easy fix. It’s like trying to plant a seed, but it takes a long time to harvest depending on what you’re planting. You gotta give the plant time to grow and take root. Try to make it grow too fast and all you’ll do is cause the plant to not give ya the crop you want. Understand?” Applejack asked.
Twilight had a look of comprehension and zipped over to get a book while Rarity still had a dazed look. Applejack facehoofed and opened her mouth to explain in detail, but Twilight beat her to it.
“AH HA!” Twilight exclaimed.
“When excessive amounts of weight are gained even though rapid weight loss may be possible it is generally advised to maintain a small, but continual weight loss per week.” Twilight finished.
“Yep. You got that right as sugar sugracube.”
“Also you might want to remember Rares that you still have plenty of time.” Twilight comforted her now trembling friend.
All the attention this would bring was starting to bring Rarity to understand just how much her choices might come back to haunt her in the form of gossip remembering the gabby gums incident she had no wish to be the center of attention in such a way again. Had she really sunk so low going from a trim mare and a heroine of Equestria and on speaking terms with the Princess herself to this….this flab of butter? Not being able to come to grips with the whole situation she simply buried her thoughts and emotions looking forward to the exercise as a way of punishment on herself not realizing the inherent risks with such an outlook.
“Applejack. I’ll do whatever I must to overcome this….this horrid form!!!” Rarity shouted.
Applejack grimaced happy at her friend's determination but recognizing tell tale signs of something not being what it quite right. Being the element of honesty tended to do that to a pony. She sighed knowing things like this could and did happen hoping that she’d be able to help her friend though this entire thing and still have her in one piece emotionally.
“Twi you head on and give Zecora that message and I’ll finish up here with Rarity.” Applejack said. Twilight nodded her head and made to leave, but not before giving both her friends a hug. Applejack then looked to Rarity prepared to explain the basics of what was to come.
“All right Rares so here’s the run down on what I’m thinking. We’ll be doing a basic training program with cardio one stay and strength training the next for about an hour each time or at the very least thirty minutes of each.” Applejack began.
“Applejack darling that seems….to lack in terms of…how do I say….length of time.” The fashionista unicorn observed.
“That’s because it's meant to sugarcube. One you're not an earth pony. Two we each have things to do. Three I’ve still got to run my farm all the same. Fourth your body ain’t used to training and ya’ll aren’t trying to be a big sports star like Rainbow, just get more fit is all.” Applejack answered.
Rarity nodded it all making sense. The earth pony bit felt a bit harsh perhaps, but it was essentially true. Earth ponies relied on specific magic and physical attributes to farm and perform the intensive physical labor required of them. Rarity being a unicorn could certainly do physical work, but compared to ponies with built in adaptatinons and, in comparison to Applejack, ponies who might have grown up their whole lives doing such work she understood happy at least the more part of her day would be hers still.
Applejack simply smiled glad her friend seemed to be able to accept the reasoning overall as she hadn’t said anything against what she had said.
“Applejack you did say though that part of this exercise regime would involve farmwork though correct?” Rarity asked.
Applejack nodded.
“Sure thing Rarity. Nothing big though. We might have you walking one day for instance and then building up to carrying around harvested apples or other produce. Pull a wagon on deliveries when you get stronger to add some resistance to it if need be. Just basic things that we’ll build up to no issue. The stuff you end up carrying acts like resistance on a cycle or a hill on a treadmill if we had any just over longer distances is all. We’ll have somepony there making deliveries to when it comes to that so you aren’t going overboard. Eventually, it’ll become more resistance training than anything else, but we’ll do other things for cardio at that point too. I’ve got you covered sugarcube” Applejack answered.
“Applejack dear is that the simplified version and if so am I to understand you have whole levels of progression though out for the entire period of time?” Rarity asked.
Applejack nodded.
“Sure as tootin. Each thing has to build up off of the other. Ultimately though this is going to come down to what you're comfortable doing physically and mentally. I ain’t gonna push you to do something you don’t want to. If you like walking and not much else I’ll work with that too. I put some resistance training in there to make the routine more complete, but also to give ya a little more real-world strength is all. I’m concerned about buildin' ya up from the inside out mentally first and physically second.”
Rarity was a bit shocked, to say the least. Here was one of her best friends not only stating what they were going to do and why to some extent, but also what she thought was important namely building from the inside out. She had never thought Applejack could be so deep or sound like Twilight so much it was both unnerving and comforting all in one. This begged the question about Zecora though.
“Applejack I understand what you have explained to some extent, but may I ask why Zecora of all ponies?
Applejack just smiled “First off Rarity Zecora has some specalities I don’t have and even though we’ll be doing things together Zecora has other exercise options that I’d like you to do. I might make you do thirty minutes with me in the morning and let you rest and then in the afternoon go to Zecora to have her work with you.”
“But dearest Applejack what does Zecora know of things apart from potions and brewing” asked a confused Rarity.
“Ya’ll ever wonder how Twilight learned all those fancy balance and stretching exercises she likes to do?” Zecora taught em to her.
Rarity’s jaw was left hanging. The Zebra mare could make literally all types of brews and while certainly fit Rarity never put two and two together thinking the mare's physical abilities were largely the result of the mare walking to and fro in the Everfree forest and to Ponyville. She had again judged a friend and been proven wrong. Bringing the lingering doubts of how others might judge her back to the surface.
“Darling what exactly did you tell Zecora other than the basics?” She asked somewhat concerned.
“Well, I told her you had gained some weight and told her about my own plans if she might want to help. Zecora’s always kind to Applebloom. Plus she can be great with support. She might even surprise you a bit with it. In all honesty though Rarity sometimes it just helps to have somepony that you don’t see all the time and you can talk to them. Zecora knows what it's like to have other ponies judge her by her looks since we’ve all done it to her so I assumed she might be a good fit to help ya through this where Twi and the rest of the girls aren’t able to” answered Applejack.
Applejack was showing such insight into the possibilities of what might occur it scared Rarity a bit. Not only had she deduced the unique physical abilities of the Zebra, but also concluded that an emotional bond from a more neutral source would be helpful. True enough that Zecora was a friend, but she wasn’t a friend she had weekly meetings with at the spa. She was not a mare she had saved equestrian with on several occasions. In short Applejack's ideas were filled with honesty not only in what she and the girls could possibly not do, but going so far as to seek somepony that could in fact help.
“I think I understand. Thank you Applejack.”
“It’s not a problem Rare’s we’re all here for you” replied Applejack.
Rarity nodded though not quite believing the everypony part. Her and the girls yes and maybe Zecora as well, but the town itself? She had seen on more than one occasion how quickly they all were to make rash opinions. Granted she herself had done such things, but she had tried to overcome it and had been doing her best to not gossip about anypony anymore. She began wondering if Karma was coming back to get her for her past misdeeds. Perhaps she deserved this entire ordeal and whatever pain in might bring.
“Rares. You there?” Applejack asked realizing her friend was lost in her thoughts.
“Yes, Darling of course….I’m sorry it's just that this entire thing has me well….rather flustered is all” Rarity replied.
“Sure do sugarcube. I’ve had my ups and downs to just a mite different is all” Applejack said.
“Is there anything else I should need to know about the program itself then?” asked Rarity.
“Not much no. You might want to remember to take the longer paths to places when you travel even when not exercising formally. The extra hoof travel will add up. It's simple, but useful all the same. Other than that though diet shouldn’t be too much of an issue. We’ll have Twilight help write some things up for you. Be sure to see the doctor before we start though. Don’t want any mishaps. It’ll take me and Zecora a few days to put everything together same on the diet I’ll give you a copy to run by him when we’ve got it” the orange mare said.
Rarity nodded not wanting a bad situation to become potentially worse.
“All right then Applejack I think I’ll just head home or go to the park to think for the rest of the day. Let me know first thing when you have everything and thank you again for being so willing to help me” Rarity said.
Applejack nodded and gave her friend a hug with the unicorn returning the favor glad to have somepony there to help.
As Rarity exited the library, Applejack watched the library till Twilight got back, she made her way back to her home. She walked slowly and somewhat solemn wishing that she wasn’t having to go through with this and hoping against hope there was still some easy way, but realizing there wasn’t.
She made her way through her home having reached the door and proceeded to the kitchen. The freezer door opened and cartons of ice cream was collected and shoved into the trash. Rarity proceeded to rid herself of the rest of Pinkie’s treats figuring her easily excited friend would understand her dilemma having just seen her not that long ago. The food items collected she threw the assorted items into the trash along with several liters of soda she had obtained as well.
Gloomily she made her way into her bathroom to get another good look at herself.
Looking in the mirror when she came to the sacred temple that was her beauty parlor of a bathroom, she pondered again how she could have let herself go. She could see her belly protruding with her hindquarters a bit thicker and softer than it had been. Rarity realized she had projected an image of what she believed she still looked like into the mirror each time she looked, but now….now that mirage was gone and all that remained was the honest and inescapable truth that was before her.
“I can’t let this stand” She said to herself.
“Have I not earned the right to be who I was?”
Then something inside Rarity broke. The entire day’s series of events thus far along with the stress and pressure from the winter line finally converged and found a way for release via an outlet of emotion whose base was months in the making.
Screaming she picked up the small bathroom stool she used and began to smash the mirror bits and pieces of glass flying every which way. With every piece that broke from the mirror it was like a piece of Rarity’s self-confidence and self-worth were also breaking. She flung the stool against the wall where it broke. Her emotions not yet weary she advanced upon the shampoo and other beauty products throwing them aside here and there no bottle or product safe. Each one seemed to mock and scorn her in her own mind. When the mare was finally done the once pristine bathroom was no more. Glass covered the ground mixed with the scent of flowers, sweat, spring, and fear. Rarity collapsed.
She sobbed for dreams she had accomplished of what she had been. So far at the top only to end up dragging herself down to this nightmare of her own creation, or so she thought, with no escape readily at hand that she could see. Rarity stayed there crying and crying snot on her snout and tears still coming down like rain. Her fears, anger, sorrow, and built-up stress creating these emotions within her. Years of bottling worry and fear up inside of her because of countless deadlines, responsibilities, and meetings had been let loose to flow and flow they had.
Little did Rarity know that her cries and outward actions had led others to her. Fluttershy passed by to see her friend and was doing something for Twilight, Twilight having visited her on her way to Zecora. Fluttershy heard the crying from an open window and made her way inside in a hurry worried for the well-being of her friend.
Fluttershy made her way to the bathroom to find her friend lying in the middle of the pile of filth her mane disheveled and makeup smeared along with the debris.
“Oh, Rarity!” Fluttershy cried rushing to her friend being careful for glass.
Rarity latched onto her friend crying tears of shame. Shame for being found out. Shame that she was so foolish to not close the window before starting her destruction. And shame for having to be helped.
Fluttershy and Rarity sat on the floor for some time while Rarity cried herself to sleep.
Fluttershy carefully took her friend to the downstairs bathroom and did her best to clean the grief-stricken unicorn up. Washing her mane and sifting through her coat to ensure no glass had injured Rarity. She took Rarity and put her into her bed humming quietly till her friends' whimpers ceased. Fluttershy left some calming music to play while she went to work cleaning up the mess.
Just the rest of the girls and Zecora entered the home.
Flutterhy seeing Rainbow Dash rushed to her friend and began crying onto her friend's should the others looking on confused. When she had calmed down a bit she explained what had happened and the state she had found the bathroom in. Rarity all the while oblivious to her friends learning of the new information being too tired and mentally exhausted to wake.
The group made their way to the bathroom to survey the damage. Applejack's jaw was left hanging. Twilight eyes started to water. Rainbow Dash ever the stout mare was left shaking her head wondering. Pinkie’s hair deflated a sure sign that if something could make Pink sad it was indeed a sad state of affairs. Flutterhy's own emotions were still a turmoil at this point as well. The girls were all more than just friends. Their adventures and even the very elements themselves made them more akin to sisters in all, but blood. To see their friend and sister hurting this badly was a wake-up call. What was thought to be a simple weight loss problem had become something much, much bigger.
Zecora had remained quiet her own eyes widening a great deal. She had read Applejack's note and had accepted the offer. She wanted to repay the kind mares for being her friend, notwithstanding the prejudice they had all harbored against her at first. Zecora saw just what the others saw and more than ever Applejack's words from the note rang true “ She’s in a fix. She needs somepony that can listen and be somepony new. I worry us being so close to her might close her off.” Those words seemed to hold more weight than had been expected.
“Friends and ponies in this mire let's pull ourselves up before we all tire. Rarity unicorn dear is in a pinch more than I feared. We should clean this place up and then see what can be done to douse this raging inferno fire” Zecora said.
The friends all looked together and back at Zecora while Applejack nodded. This was one adventure and they none of them was soon to forget.
Author's Note
As you can probably tell this particular chapter is littered with grammar issues. This was the original second chapter written a number of years ago. I'll try to build off of this as I am able.
