Forty Bits

Forty Bits

“Let’s get moving Spike I don’t want to be laaaate!”

Spike grabbed a pair of books off the shelf. They were a particularly slim pair of texts, unusual compared to the rest of the library. Instead of shoving them away in their proper places he had the notion to leave them in an easier to access spot on the lower racks. Nobody knew but him and he didn’t get scolded from any perfectionist unicorns. He scratched his scales, wondering if he had misplaced the third book somewhere in the library. It was a good chance he hadn’t though and he wouldn’t be in trouble this time.

Every day for a while now he had been taking a trip with Twilight over to SugarCube Corner to help out Pinkie with her new baking experiments. The daily trips were pretty fun, and there were always new things to do at the bakery. Stuffing the two books in the saddlebags he toddled over to the door.

“Spike do you have all the books prepared?” called Twilight from the kitchen.

“Uh…” he looked at the two volumes, both titled Baking is Magic.

“Well do you?” she asked tersely.

“I have two of them Twilight. The other’s probably over at Sugarcube corner,” he replied nervously.

“UGH! I hate leaving my books there. I’m afraid that Pinkie Pie is going to end up spilling batter on the pages or something,” Twilight said, levitating some bottled ingredients over to the saddlebags. Spike moved the two thin books aside for the cyclinder tubes.

“Alright, let’s going Spike.”

Twilight Sparkle trotted out of the small kitchen. It wasn’t so much of a trot anymore, but it wasn’t quite a waddle. Since all her recent experimentation involved cooking and eating the once trim and slim unicorn had packed on a considerable amount of pounds compared to her prior appearance. Her stomach bulged underneath her, belly stretched tight, as if she had swallowed a watermelon whole. Every heavy hoofstep sent a minor shockwave through her pudgy body, her plump flanks wiggling as she made it to the door. Spike watched with minor fascination as she magically slid her saddlebag over her back. It wasn’t a good fit anymore.

“Spike!” she cried.

“Wha? Oh! Sorry…” he reached over to clasp fit the clasp over her back correctly. “Alright, we’re good to go!”

“Hop on Spike,” she motioned with her head for him to climb on her back.

“Are you sure? I can just walk next…” he trailed off. Twilight had her eyes narrowed at him, practically staring daggers.

“I said get on. Why? Is there a problem?” she hissed, uncharacteristically tense.

“NO! Nope. No problems here,” chuckled Spike, leaping onto her back.

Twilight walked out the library door, magically closing it behind her. Spike wiped his forehead. He was glad he didn’t have to say anything he’d regret, but as he bounced around on Twilights cushy backside the little dragon could not help but wonder if he should have voiced his concerns earlier.

***

“What the hay can we order then? This place has like, the WORST food. I can’t believe we stopped here of all places!”

Rainbow Dash picked up the menu and turned it upside down, hoping a smaller menu with actual food listed would tumble out. Instead the plastic sheet wobbled lamely. The blue Pegasus snorted, letting it slide back to the table.

“We are having brunch Rainbow Dash. This isn’t the time of the day for a heavy meal,” Rarity eyed her friend lamely, magically smearing a small piece of sliced bread with cream cheese.

“No offense, but brunch kind of sucks Rarity,” she replied, folding her head into her hooves.

“I’d beg to differ missy,” Applejack piped up, “There’s some pretty tasty stuff to eat for brunch. I already ordered a plate of toasted cinnamon apple slices ya’ll can try.”

“Sounds fantastic,” grumbled Dash.

“Now Rainbow, just order something, then after brunch is over Seasonal Delights will roll out the lunch menu and you can order whatever foods you like when the time comes. Please for the sake of the waiter just get a small salad or something,” said Rarity sounding completely exasperated.

“Fine.” Dash picked her menu up off the table. She turned to the waiter, sullenly pointing at a picture of a salad. “One of those.”

“Dressing?” he inquired.

“Thousand Island.”

“Croutons?”

“Yeah.”

“Grated cheese?”

“Can I just get my salad!?” she snapped.

“RAINBOW!”

Applejack reached over, shoving a hoof in her friends mouth “Beg’n yer pardon. She’s jus’ real, uh, antsy right now.”

The waiter nodded, looked at Rainbow Dash balefully, then walked away from the table scribbling into his pad. Applejack pulled her hoof away from her friends mouth.

“What’s your problem now?” she asked.

“I just asked for a salad,” shrugged Dash, “I didn’t think I’d have to play twenty questions with the guy to get a bowl with lettuce in it.”

“Are you two quite finished?” asked Rarity, “I’d prefer we move on with the conversation. I’ve already told you both why we’re here.”

“Rarity, don’t ya’ll think that meddling in our friends business ain’t right? I mean, the girl isn’t exactly fishing for advice you know,” Applejack cut in, taking a swig from her glass of water.

“Please darling have you seen the state she’s in? I’m only concerned for her well being,” Rarity scowled, then recovered and put on a sympathetic face “Aren’t you the least bit concerned on her physical state as of late?”

“She has a point AJ. Twilights gotten pretty fat,” Dash chimed in. The other two ponies glared at her. “What? Isn’t that why we’re here?”

“Yes Rainbow, we are here to put forth various ways we can help our friend drop her awful eating habits. That languid lifestyle was going to catch up with her sooner or later. Now that it has the results are, well, as you put it, not pretty,” said Rarity as the waiter delivered the food to the table.

“Well spit it out Rarity! Don’tcha have some amazing ideas to help?” Dash said sifting through her salad with a fork, checking for spit. Rarity sighed, knowing full well this classy establishment would never do that to any customer but withheld her comments.

“I am in possession of some dieting books that hold a dearth of advice for weight loss. With proper intake monitoring and only a fifteen minute walk per day-“

“Fifteen minutes?!” interrupted Applejack, jabbing a hoof in the air “How in tarnation is a pony gonna lose anythin’ but their minds if all they do is go on scraps an’ mosey around expecting results? If ya’ll think that actually works well, shoot, I’d eat my hat!”

Dash snickered into her salad “I’d pay to see that.”

“Well!” Rarity cleared her throat “What do you propose then Applejack? If the very diet books I myself apply my daily routine to are insufficient?”

“I’m jus’ sayin’ that you’re already prim an’ proper Rarity. The thing is that Twilight needs somethin’ more drastic,” she took a bite of her apple slices “Shee, yur already presshy thin, sho your jush maintin’ yrr figger,” Applejack gulped “but that unicorn –needs- work. Right now she could use a tough trainin’ routine to whip her in shape. I’m jus’ the pony to do it!”

“Waitwaitwait,” Dash stopped tearing at her salad “What do you mean YOU’RE just the pony to help her? What’s your plan?”

“Strength trainin’ of course!” Applejack flexed her foreleg on the table, muscle bulging beneath her orange coat “Everypony knows or should know that muscles eat up energy. The more muscle ya got the more calories it eats at t’keep the muscle alive. So physical labor will definitely whip that girl into shape no sweat.”

“Yeah, for an EARTH pony,” muttered Dash a little too loudly.

“Pardon? Didn’t quite catch that Rainbow,” said Applejack.

“Just because something works for you doesn’t mean it’s gonna work for somepony else,” she said to Applejack, polishing off the remainder of her paltry salad.

“Like ya’ll have anything better to offer?” Applejack replied sarcastically.

“Actually, AJ, yeah I do,” Rainbow Dash sat straight in her seat “Twilights legs aren’t that strong compared to the rest of us. You’re just gonna end up burning her out right off the bat if you make her do your thing. Like, what I’m saying, is instead of that she does athletics, running, jumping, jogging, climbing all that good stuff. I bet ya twenty bits she’d go for MY exercise stuff over yours.”

Applejack scoffed “Oh yeah? Well twenty bits says she drops your routine over mine faster than a spooked jackrabbit.”

“C’mon AJ, once she gets a load of your routine she’ll be begging for something less straining. Doing it my way lets anypony pace themselves at their own rate,” argued Dash.

Rarity sat quietly, watching her two friends as they kicked off a heated argument over different training regimes and tricks. She knew her friends must keep themselves healthy but never realized the varying methods they used nor the different cycles of exercise beyond what her own book instructed her. With new ideas bubbling in her head she made a mental note to contact Applejack later about meshing all their ideas together. Being a pony with business sense perhaps there was some profit to be found in the matter…

Rarity nibbled her sandwich a bit, absorbing everything being said between her two friends.

***

“Okay Spike! Your turn! Your turn! Open wiiiiiide!”

Spike opened his mouth. Twilight levitated a spoonful of the glowing red gelatin, Pinkie Pie watching eagerly. The spoon was hovering directly in front of him now, and Spike darted forth and slurped it down.

“Mm, cherry!” he smacked his lips. Twilight and Pinkie studied his face carefully, leaning over him.

“Nothings happening,” said Twilight glumly.

Pinkie Pie tapped her chin “You think we needed a bigger spoonful?”

The little dragon burped, his stomach rumbling. There was a flash of light and Spikes scales changed from bright green to polka-dotted pink and purple. He hiccupped, a jet of green fire shooting from his mouth.

“I think it worked!” he looked at his arms. The pattern on his body began fading away, but very slowly.

“It lasted longer this time. Excellent,” horn flaring to life Twilight scribbled her observations onto a scroll “You were right Pinkie. Combining magic spells and baking has been really fruitful research. Who knows what kind of applications this form of magic could hold for ponykind?”

“I’m super glad you thought so! Could you believe the CRAZY stuff we could put into out muffins and pies? Oh my gosh my parties will be a million bajillion times as awesome!” she gushed, bouncing up and down in place.

“Definitely up for consideration once we can get some practical spells mixed in with the batter. This is going to make so many breakthroughs in the study of pony magic!” Twilight sighed happily, a half-daydream of fame sifting through her thoughts.

“We should get going right? Since it’s closing soon?” said Spike inspecting the Cakes beginning to wipe down the windows of the storefront.

“Yes, might as well get going right now,” Twilight levitated all three books into her saddlebags. “Pinkie Pie it was fun baking today. Could we stop by same time tomorrow? I have lots of other spells I want to apply to your baking.”

“You bet! Also!” Pinkie Pie rushed into the backroom. There was the sound of frantic digging, some metal pots clanging noisily to the tiled floor. Pinkie returned with a small white square box wrapped in red string.

“Here! I baked these blueberry donuts earlier for you! Had to hide them in case Mr. and Mrs. Cake put them up for sale. Hope you like ‘em!”

Spike watched Twilight eagerly nosing open the small packed box, inhaling deeply she said “These smell delicious! Thanks so much Pinkie! Your food is always top-notch stuff.”

“No problem Twilight!” Pinkie shot her a wide smile, eyes squeezed tight. “You have a good night and be ready for tomorrow Okie Dokie?”

“Bye Pinkie! Bye Mr. and Mrs. Cake!” called Twilight as she trotted through the door, bell clinging softly as she walked outside.

“I wonder why they close so early today…” mused Spike, grabbing a handful of her mane to prevent falling off her backside. Her gait was a little more awkward than it used to be.

Twilight giggled “It’s a Sunday Spike. A lot of the stores close their doors early on Sunday.”

“Why’s that?” he asked.

“Historically it’s a day of remembrance for Celestia after freeing Equestria from Discord, nowadays it’s barely remembered, but still a day for everpony to spend time relaxing together,” Twilight repeated as if reading it off one of her books.

“Oh, okay then,” Spike replied, not really interested anymore. He shifted his tail. Twilight was pretty comfy to ride around on now, but the ride was bumpy despite sitting on her cushy backside. It wasn’t difficult for him to imagine her hungrily gobbling down the donuts he was holding upon their return to the the library. Spike made a mental note to sneak a few before she could ask. The concerned dragon realized lately how big she was getting and that she had never been like this in Canterlot. There was no baker living in their home town as good as Pinkie though.

His ears perked up, a silly smile etching onto his face “I think I hear Rarity…”

Twilight rolled her eyes “You would be able to pick her voice out from a crowd.” She flicked an ear, her head swiveling in his direction “I…think I heard my name…”

***

“It is SO much better than apples. I swear that’s all you eat. Y’know, like, Celery exists and even though it tastes cruddy it’s THE best thing a pony can eat. Hooves down!” Dash slammed her forehooves into the table.

“You spit your bit or something? Rainbow if ya’ll eat something with no energy in it you won’t have energy to exercise in the first place!” Applejack pointed out.

“For your routine, maybe. I think Twilight needs a less physical demanding set of instructions. After all, she’s not trying to bulk up you know. The whole point is slimming down AJ.” Dash grabbed her glass and drank the last of her cola. She turned to the unicorn next to her “You get me right Rarity?”

“I’m not particularly well versed in exercise as I once thought but yes Rainbow Dash, I ‘get your gist’ so to speak,” nodded Rarity, dabbing at her mouth with a towelette.

“Anyway there’s no telling who’s gonna be right in the end. We still have to see if Twilight will go for it you know,” said Dash, wiping her hooves on the white tablecloth.

“Go for what?”

The three ponies at the table flinched. They turned to see Twilight Sparkle standing right behind them. Spike was atop her, a medium sized pastry box under one arm. One thing Rarity could not prevent was her eyes dancing around her stuffed friends fat figure and the hint of sprinkles and icing dangling about her mouth.

“Oh! Uh, nothin’ in particular there sugarcube! Just us havin’ a friendly chat over, uh, early supper right girls!” Applejack smiled nervously, doing a completely horrible job at lying.

“I heard my, well Spike overheard you girls and I heard my name too,” replied Twilight, completely not buying the phony explanation. “Are you girls talking about me?”

“Only a little,” blurted Dash, beyond the point of caring. If nopony was going to kick this off it might as well be her.

“Uhuh,” said Twilight, nonplussed “About what?

“About,” Dash motioned to all of her, “you.”

Twilight rolled her eyes “Yes Rainbow we just covered that. Anything in particular?”

“Darling,” began Rarity, trying to rescue the situation before Dash could bungle it further with her blunt way of putting things, “Over the past few weeks we couldn’t help but notice a…shift in your physical appearance. Applejack, Rainbow and I were just going about ways to help mend the situation you’ve gotten yourself into.”

The change on Twilights face immediately soured “Excuse me?”

“For all intents and purposes darling you can’t be comfortable in the coat you’re in can you?” Rarity winced, trying to find the least offensive way possible to get through to her. “I mean, doesn’t it bother you in the slightest? The weight you’ve put on recently?”

“I…” Twilight worked her jaw “I, well, it’s not something I’ve been dwelling on Rarity. It’s not like I can deny that I’ve been…getting a little chubby.”

“In the name of scientific advancement though! I mean, I’d have to taste test most of the stuff that Pinkie and I have been baking! Moving forward in this practically untapped resource in making indirect magic without the unicorn is completely astounding and I want to actually make a difference and I’ve been gaining weight and her food is so good and I know I don’t get out much and I’m sure everypony that sees me takes one look and…and…” she trailed off, taking short breaths for herself.

“We’re not makin’ fun of you sugar, us three are only tryin’ to put our heads together and look out for you’re well bein’ ya hear?” said Applejack softly.

“It’s okay darling. We just want to help,” cooed Rarity, sidling up next to the lavender mare.

“The right way!” added Dash, sharing a competitive glance with Applejack.

Twilight sat on the cool ground. The ponies gathered around her offering their help and other assurances. Twilight tilted her head up to them.

“I-I know I let myself go. It was just easy…I figured you girls would think of me as gross. Once I started gaining weight working on my project with Pinkie it just happened. I started shying away from you girls,” she tilted her head to the ground, purple fringe covering her eyes. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be sugar. We’re gonna help ya right and proper now! Ain’t we Rainbow Dash?” said Applejack giving the cyan mare a knowing look.

“You bet!”

***

The birds chirped a lively chorus in the early morning breeze. Celestias sun peeking over the horizon and warming the cool Earth a few degrees. The air in front of Twilights face misted as she breathed in the chill air, trotting over to the agreed location set up by Applejack in her orchards. Twilight had taken a hairband and pulled her mane back into a tight ponytail for the workout excersises that her friend had planned for her. Trotting past the leafy apple trees she wondered just what her friend had in store for her.

“Howdy pardner!” said Applejack cheerfully as the chubby unicorn approached. “Ya’ll are looking chipper!”

“This is the first step towards a new me! Or, is it a step backwards to the old me?” Twilight scratched her head, then shook it. “Never mind! So, what are we doing?”

Applejack walked over to the apple tree nearest her “First off we’re goin’ to be settin’ ya’ll up with some good ol’ fashioned apple bucking. Ain’t nothin’ better for workin’ them haunches than a few dozen leg thrusts in a row.”

The orange earth pony turned around and bucked into the tree trunk with the slightest hint of a grunt. A few red delicious tumbled off the branches (along with some leaves) hitting the ground with a few soft thuds.

“Don’t got to tell ya now about no magic right?” Applejack smiled warmly, eyes traveling up to her friends horn nestled on top her forehead “I sincerely doubt that thang up there burns as much calories as physical labor would.”

“No no. I won’t be pulling any magic tricks,” Twilight shuddered, feeling a chill run down her spine.

“Cold?” asked Applejack.

Twilight nodded, the chill passing “How come you wanted me up so early? Any reason in particular?”

“Best way to wake up your body is with exercise sugar!” said Applejack with a strained grin. While her words did hold water it wasn’t entirely true. The early morning excursion in the orchards was also a way to get the edge on Rainbow Dash, who would likely be sound asleep for a few more hours. The Pegasus had agreed to taking turns between routines, but Applejack didn’t want Twilight to be tuckered out and quit on her halfway after Dashs exercise regime.

The early bird always got the worm. Applejack wanted those twenty bits.

“It’s simple enough right? Just kick?” asked Twilight, her friend snapping back to attention.

“Gotta have good form. Line your hooves up so when you kick your legs go straight out. Like so!” Applejack turned around, leaned forwards and bucked both her legs back into the tree this time. Twilight nodded her head, watching her friends’ legs lining straight with her body.

“Alright, here I go then,” she said with a little more confidence. Twilight turned around, tensed up on her legs then bucked.

“IH!” she felt her hooves make contact with the tree bark in a horribly weak thud. Her back hooves slipped against the trunk and her rear sank to the ground.

“Ya gotta snap your legs back after the kick or,” Applejack motioned to her rump “that happens. Try to keep them like a spring, real quick like.”

Twilight picked herself up. Then kicked again, stumbling forwards awkwardly. Then she bucked again. Three times. Four. Five. At the eighth she planted her hooves into the dirt, heaving heavily.

“Just…one…second AJ,” she huffed, trying to catch her breath real quick. Sweat was already forming under her bangs, threatening to roll down her nose.

“How ya’ll feelin’?” asked Applejack tenderly.

“My…hind legs…are on fire,” admitted the unicorn.

Applejack looked pleased “Good! That means it’s workin’. Do a dozen more then follow me after your warm-ups are over.”

The blonde maned mare pranced around a thick grouping of apple trees. Twilight stood there feeling anxious. Apple bucking was a strenuous exercise for any fit pony. Her friend had decided those were going to be warm-ups? The purple unicorn gulped her worries and resumed bucking the tree.

“Eyes open big bro! Ya’ll gotta be ‘ttentive for this exercise ya hear?” Applejack said rounding the corner.

Big Macintosh snapped to attention, the red workhouse stifling a yawn in the process. He had been roped in to this little bet by his sister earlier in the morning. It was supposed to be his day off and Macintosh had been up all night reading and drinking ale. Now he was nursing a slight hangover, feeling extremely tired and bleary-eyed.

“Sure thing sis,” he drawled, not noticing the sprig of wheat he usually chewed falling to the ground.

Applejack stamped her hoof into the dirt “Eyes open! I want t’ win this bet against Rainbow. If ya’ll help me out with her here I’ll split the bits with ya. A lil’ extra walkin’ around money is pretty good isn’t it?”

Yawning, Macintosh nodded his head to the affirmative. His eyelids began drooping low again as his sister pranced back over to Twilight.

“How’s it goin’ sugarcube?” she said brightly.

Twilight looked up to Applejack, panting heavily. Her grape purple coat was slick with sweat, purple fringe glued to her forehead. She gave one final, weak buck at the tree then all but collapsed onto the cool ground.

“Finished…the bucking,” she breathed into the grass clippings.

Applejack tutted, helping her friend up “That’s all well an’ good. Did ‘em all is what counts. Now for your forelegs here me an’ my brother built this real simple doohickey sometime last night. It’s a lot less stressful than your run-of-tha mill pushups.”

Hind legs still burning Twilight followed her around the corner where she’d disappeared earlier. Rounding it she met the contraption that she was talking about.

“It’s…that’s for exercise?” asked Twilight turning her head to Applejack.

“Yessiree! A real beaut’ isn’t it?” said Applejack proudly.

“Well…it sure is something…” Twilight replied trying to sound enthusiastic.

The contraption in front of her resembled a short, fat see-saw. A wooden plank on the end closer to her had two black circles where her hooves were supposed to go. The other end had a tall, thin, rectangular wooden pillar shelved with what looked like square slabs of stone. Big Macintosh was leaning against it, snoring softly.

“UP AN’ AT ‘EM!” yelled Applejack. Macintosh opened his eyes slowly, then righted himself.

“Alrighty now, jus’ plant your hooves right here. Okay good!” said Applejack as she moved her friends hooves in the proper spot. “Now push down to test it.”

Twilight pressed her full weight down on the board, the plank hitting the dirt with an embarrassingly fast thud. She giggled nervously, sighing to herself. Applejack patted her shoulder.

“Don’t ya’ll worry none! I gathered plenty of slate for ya,” she assured. Applejack turned to her brother. “WEIGHT!”

Macintosh turned away from the shelved pillar, bucking one of his hind legs backwards. He missed, bucked again lighter this time, and two slabs landed on the plank.

“Now push on down!” said Applejack, rearing up and demonstrating “Try usin’ your legs and not jus’ leanin’ your body weight forwards okay?”

“Okay, here I go,” Twilight pushed down on the plank. It gave easily. Twilight laughed, feeling a little better. She did it again as Applejack looked on approvingly.

“I think I’m getting the…hang of it!” grunted Twilight at the fifth push.

“WEIGHT!” shouted Applejack.

Big Macintosh jerked his head up, kicking the pillar and knocking another pair of slabs onto the plank. The added load caused Twilight to buckle forwards a little.

“Five sets of five sugar an’ we’ll move onto the next exercise. How ya’ll feeling now?” Applejack asked tentatively.

“My legs are on fire AJ,” she said flatly, pushing the board down a fourth time.

“Good! Means you’re feelin’ the burn,” returned Applejack “Every set we’ll add more slabs to make the previous set easier to do than the first time. This way ya’ll be burnin’ away that fat in no time at all! More weight Macintosh. So soon enough you’ll be lookin’ just as fine as ya’ll was before.”

Applejack wheeled on her sleepy brother “AH SAID MORE WEIGHT YA DOZY DONKEY!”

“GAH!” Macintosh woke with a start, bucking another pair of slabs onto the plank

“Keep ‘em peepers open will ya?” she said less loudly. Macintosh nodded, soon as she turned back to Twilight her went back into a nap. Applejack noticed Twilight struggling “After this set we’ll move on to our next exercise okay?”

Twilight groaned under the added weight. This was now the third set and she was struggling to push the board fully to the dirt. The straining in her leg muscles told her it was definitely working. Even though she felt ready to give out Twilight willed herself through it. All she had to do was get through it. It hurt, but it wasn’t Trying to distract herself she stared straight on at an apple tree, counting the red and green fruit in her mind.

“HEY SIS! SIS!” called out Applebloom running in a trot towards them. The little filly stopped right in front of her siblings, eyes darting between them and the see-saw.

“Whatcha doin’ with Twi?” she asked, sounding puzzled.

“Me and your brothers helpin’ Twilight here shed a few pounds,” she said plainly, obviously a little peeved that she had shown up. “Did ya’ll tell Granny you was runnin’ out here in the orchard?”

“Ah jus’ went an’ finished breakfast ‘fore comin’ out here…” said Applebloom softly, her amber eyes meeting the ground.

Applejack pointed to the farmhouse “Ya’ll march right back to that kitchen an’ you tell Granny where’ you’re goin’ okay?”

“Alright AJ!” bounced Applebloom, dashing off back to the farm.

“HEY! HOLD ON ONE PLUM-PICKIN’ MINUTE!” she darted a few steps after her “Did ya’ll do your mornin’ chores!? Applebloom! Applebloom WAIT! I SAID WAIT RIGHT THERE!”

Big Macintosh woke up, startled, and kicked the pillar again. Four heavy slabs of rock fell onto the see-saw. The dramatic increase of mass drove the slightly raised end straight down and sent Twilights end upwards. The purple unicorn was sent flying backwards into a tree. She slammed into it, a volley of apples falling out and pelting her head. The barrage ended a split-second later; one red delicious lodged directly on her horn.

“Oh! Are ya’ll okay sugar?! I’m mighty sorry about that!” Applejack rushed over, checking her friend over for any cuts.

“OoOoOh…ow…” mumbled Twilight, her eyes rolling in her head.

“Pardon,” apologized Macintosh. He winced at his sisters deathly glare.

Twilight stood up, teetered on her hooves, then sat back down “AJ…I don’t think I’m…cut out for this regime of yours. It’s….oOoOh…just, too demanding for me. Thanks for your help but I think I’m going to try working with Rainbow Dash now.”

Applejacks face fell “Uh…that’s okay, Twilight. I kinda hoped ya’ll would stick with me here but I understand if ya’ll don’t wanna do it.”

“You…aren’t upset with me are you?” asked Twilight, getting back to her hooves.

“Of course not!” lied Applejack through gritted teeth. “I’m sure you’ll have a…less rough time working with Rainbow. Glad I could help you out though in the time being!”

Twilight wiped the sweat from her forehead “Alright…thanks again AJ. I appreciate you helping me out.”

“Don’t sweat it sugar! Ya’ll take care now!” she waved Twilight goodbye behind a phony grin. As soon as the purple unicorn was out of sight the fuming Applejack turned around to her brother failing miserably at hiding behind a fallen log.

“You sluggish sophead jus’ cost me near twenty bits an’ I don’t need to make a bet to know I definitely lost that too!” she growled, feeling a very angry rant coming on.

High above the orchard on a small wisp of cloud a beaming sky blue Pegasus vigorously pumped her hooves in the air.

***

“It’s not that I’m a quitter Spike. I just really couldn’t handle the exercises. I tried my hardest to push through the pain but in the end the whole ‘strength training’ thing was too much for me to handle.”

Twilights’ horn flared to life, a small band wrapping her hair into a ponytail. She took a few deep breaths, lifting her plush posterior off the floor.

“So where are you going today?” Spike asked, getting the door for her.

“Today I’m meeting with Rainbow Dash for some running excersices,” Twilight shook out her legs one by one, then leaned forwards on her forelegs “This should turn out to be far less strenuous than yesterday. My legs still kind of hurt though.”

Spike watched Twilight toddle out of the treehouse. He was happy for her that she was going to focus on dropping the weight, although he had a feeling she wasn’t happy with herself but whenever he attempted to bring it up Twilight would quickly change the subject or avoid it entirely.

With a dustpan in hand he began his morning chores.

***

“I am totally winning this bet! Oh yeah! Dash has got this one in the BAG” Rainbow Dash boasted to herself, already feeling victorious in her gamble. The blue Pegasus had donned a workout headband to pull her own hair back for the imminent routine. She wasn’t content on just watching Twilight do her work. Dash wasn’t a pony that just sat around. She’d be working alongside that pony every step up the way. If she worked herself she could possibly inspire Twilight to work even harder.

She peeked over the fluffy white cloud she had been sitting on. In the distance she spotted a familiar purple unicorn trotting over to the trail.

Definitely in the bag. No sweat.

Kicking of the cloud she nosedived right at Twilight. Unseen from her perch she got within fifteen feet of her dive before pulling up and landing. Twilight didn’t flinch. Otherwise she looked kind of amused.

“Hi Rainbow Dash!” she said brightly. “You look active this morning.”

Dash landed on the ground, folding her wings and striking what she hoped was a particularly awesome pose “Active is MY middle name. Also, it’s like ten right now, I figured you’d need just a little extra time to rest off yesterdays’ workout with AJ. Right now you look pretty good and rarin’ to go!”

Dash jumped up and did a loop-de-loop above her, missing her friends pink blushing face.

“Thanks. So. Let’s get started right? What are we doing?” asked Twilight.

Head turned away she replied “Remember when we all went up this way to the mountain right? To take care of that dumb dragon that was smoking out the town? We’re doin’ the climb today,” she started walking towards the mountain. Twilight followed her pace. “No shortcuts either. There’s no shortcuts when it comes to exercise. This is gonna be one clean run. Up and down.”

Dash looked over her shoulder “Jogging, by the way. Just jogging steady. Easy stuff.”

“Easy?” Twilight thought back to yesterday morning, nervously being reminded on how easy Applejack had made her workout routine sound.

“You bet!” grinned Dash, sounding confident. “This is a total cakewalk. All you have to do is keep going at a steady pace. Your pace. Once you get your groove everything should just get real easy.”

Twilight nodded, feeling her spirits rise as they walked together. They finally reached the trail and Twilight craned her head upward at the mountain. The sheer scale of the thing didn’t bother her and this time the view of the cliff face wasn’t obscured by thick black smoke.

“Okay? So you ready?” asked Dash, spinning to face her.

“I’m ready!” Twilight said.

“What was that?” said Dash putting a hoof to her ear. “GET PUMPED!”

“I’M READY!” she yelled louder, with much more enthusiasm.

“ALRIGHT! LET’S GO!”

Dash blew the silver whistle around her neck. Twilight broke into a steady gallop, eagerly heading up the winding dirt trail. Spreading her wings Dash flitted over and landed next to Twilight.

“We get two breaks each on the way up. No breaks down, because, you know, downhill running is waaay easier,” said Dash. She began trotting a little faster as they turned a corner, going uphill a little faster.

“Sure,” Twilight huffed, already feeling her muscles beginning to tense up. This was already getting difficult for her.

Twenty feet ahead Dash had already outpaced her friend. She took to the air and glided back over to the lagging unicorn.

“C’mon Twi you can do a little better than this!” she exclaimed. “You’re practically walking!”

“Okay,” she replied, enjoying the slight breeze Dash was giving her with those beating wings.

Dash took to hovering above her friend for the next half-hour, giving her support, advice and cheerless looks of disappointment whenever Twilight stopped for a breather. To her credence Twilight was soldiering on despite the toll the trail was taking on her. Her mane was already sticking to her sweaty scalp and her chest heaved with every stepped as she ascended the mountainside.

After a quick five minute break with cool water to drink (and some stretches Twilight poorly attempted) they continued up the mountain. Twlights shoulders fell hard with each step, her haunches burned from the pressure. She could dimly hear Rainbow Dash pushing her onwards somewhere above. Twilight lifted her head up, swallowing the air, trudging forwards along the trail.

“Is…I think the air is thinner up here,” sputtered Twilight in between breaths.

“Oh yeah. We Pegasus ponies don’t really notice when that happens ‘cause we’re so used to it all the time,” said Dash lightly, the tidbit not really registering in her head.

“Didn’t…notice…last time.”

“Psh, of course you wouldn’t really! We had other things to pay attention to remember?”

“Uh-huh.”

“See this’ll build your lungs up. Eventually you won’t even feel this.”

Twilight faltered, unseen “Uh-huh.”

“Like, really, this is nothing Twilight. Just wait ‘till we get to the real fresh air waaay up high past the cave. It’s awesome!” Dash fluttered her wings “View is okay too.”

“Uh-huh,” Twilight missed a step in her jog, nearly faceplanting into a pile of jagged rock. Her hoof impacted the ground next to them, the earth giving a little.

“Ah! Wind shear is strong today too! Feel that breeze in your mane!” Dash exclaimed, landing on a tall rock in the path. The wind whipped her mane and tail around; she spread her wings, tilting them to catch the wind slightly. Twilight just stared at her, woozy as she drank in her friends pose. She worked her mouth a few times, feeling lightheaded. Teetering on her hooves she swerved dangerously to the right of the trail.

Dash had her eyes shut when it happened. The gust of wind had completely encapsulated her attention, her body just tuned for the breeze coursing through her hair, rushing through the primary feathers of her wings.

“Hey Twilight are you-“

CRRRRRRRACK

Dash wheeled around seeing the side of the mountain, already weakened by last weeks heavy rainstorm, break off and sliding down the mountain. Twilight was on top of it, sliding down the mountainside.

“TWILIGHT!” she yelled, zipping after her friend.

The broken slab of rock was sliding along the dirt, gaining speed and uprooting more debris as it tumbled down to the ground. Luckily Rainbow Dash was faster. In less then four second she was coasting right atop the runaway rock.

“Twilight! Grab my-“ she broke off, seeing the unicorn lying on top. Her eyes were half lidded, chest gasping for air. Dash grimaced, silently praying Twilight would be conscious.

“I got ya! Just, don’t worry!” Dash landed on the out of control slab, grabbing Twiligght from the back, behind her forelegs. The ground was coming closer. Dash locked her forelegs tight. In an instant she had pulled her back, wings beating furiously at the air. At the last possible moment she generated enough lift to haul Twilight off, the rock smashing into pieces in the ground below.

“Oh…my, agh!” the Pegasus pumped her wings hard as she could, desperate to slow their landing. Her wing joints were burning, as if they were literally on fire and planning on burning away at the base. With intense effort she slowed down the descent enough that upon landing she only elicited a small plume of dirt from the dust eart.

Energy spent, she let go of Twilight, flopping down next to her friend. Her sore wings didn’t fold to her sides, instead hanging limply off her shoulders as Dash tried to forget the intensity of the strain she just put them through. Absently she made a mental note to bother Rarity about a massage or something at the spa.

“Hey.”

Rolling over, she found her friend regaining conscious.

“Hey Twi,” replied Dash uneasily.

“Thanks…for saving…my skin back there,” she said. Dash sighed.

“No problem.”

“This...I like that…you’re helping me. It’s just, I mean, I want to…”began Twilight.

“Yeah?” said Dash, knowing what was next.

“This…it’s, I almost died,” Twilight tilted her head upwards, studying the sky “I think it was working…a little though…but it was…too much too soon.”

“Rainbow Dash, I’ll try this again with you but, not like this. Okay? Also…not anytime soon either. I think I’m done with mountains as well.” Twilight finally said.

Dash couldn’t help but sigh “Yeah…”

They laid on the ground for a little while. Twilight rolled onto her hooves, took a breath and began walking down the trail. Dash sat up, her wings still feeling quite sore.

Twilight glanced back “I’m going to go get some water, and maybe a salad. I’ll see you later okay? We’ll talk about exercises to try in the future.”

“Gotcha,” muttered Dash dejectedly, rotating her stiff wings in their joints.

The purple unicorn trotted down the path. At the very moment she was out of sight Dash swore loudly, punching the ground around her. The bet was lost. A casual mountain run was supposed to be a shoe-in and she screwed it up because she wasn’t paying attention. She would never hear the end of it from Applejack.

“Although…” she tapped her chin. “She did quit on her first. Hah! Yeah, I should be good.”

Rainbow Dash spread her wings, wiggling her primaries, then shakily rocketed off towards Ponyville.

***

“Darling you shouldn’t have put so much pressure on her right off the bat! We unicorns aren’t quite as physically inclined as your average Earth pony. I’d wager you would have kept her around had you not been so hard on her.”

Rarity sipped her mineral water while Applejack glumly stirred her sparkling cider.

“I was keepin’ things nice an’ easy! My brother with the rocks in his head bungled it all up for me. If he wasn’t up all night I would have this bet no sweat!”

Rarity blinked at her, saying nothing.

“Of course,” she continued. “That didn’t exactly pan out as you’ve heard.”

“Yes, well, I’m sure she isn’t a completely lost cause,” Rarity glanced over to the restaurant doors, voice low. “Not to mention that apparently Rainbow Dash has had less success than she was hoping for.”

“So you heard about that huh?”

Rainbow Dash plopped down next to Rarity in an empty seat. Her fiery red hair was sopping wet and sticking to her face in places. She looked like she’d just dunked her head in a bucket of water.

Rarity frowned. “Must you sit at this establishment in such a state? At the very least you could have dried your mane out.”

“My hair will dry itself eventually. S’not a big deal. Besides, we’re, you know, sitting outside? In the sun? So cool your jets,” said Dash, rolling her eyes.

“Also,” she turned to Applejack “Somepony owes somepony else twenty bits.”

Applejack snorted “I hope ya’ll ain’t referring to that little bet.”

“Well duh! It’s not like we made any other bets I’ve won lately.”

“WON!?” seethed Applejack, her voice rising. “RD you know as well as I do that Twilight high-tailed it out of your lil’ trainin’ exercise! How can ya’ll say you won she quit on you?”

“Pfft. She quit on you first. Besides I’m pret-ty sure she said she liked my routine better,” Dash lowered her gaze. “So cough up those twenty bits AJ.”

“Heck no!” she retorted.

“Yes so! C’mon you can’t sit there and say I didn’t win that bet fair ‘n’ square!” argued Dash, placing her hooves on the table.

Rarity gulped down the rest of her drink. “Ladies…I very much recommend you keep your volume levels-“

“Of ‘course I can! She dropped yours jus’ as fast as she dropped mine!” snorted Applejack, leaning over the table herself. “I don’t owe you squat!”

“Oh YEAH!? I say you do!”

“I reckon I don’t!”

“Ladies, please!” urged Rarity, who was hopelessly forgotten at this point.

“Owe up to your bet!” demanded Dash.

Applejack narrowed her eyes “No way, no how.”

“You lost the bet over Twilight!”

“I most certainly did not.”

“Dude she totally quit on you first!”

“The turned right ‘round an’ quit on you when ya pushed her too hard!”

“Yeah, but she totally quit on you first. Also she’ll probably want my help again.”

“Ya’ll don’t know that!”

“Ladies…” peeped Rarity, her eyes frantic.

“WHAT!?” they both wheeled on the ivory unicorn. Rarity pointed her hoof across the table.

The argument dissipated into uneasy silence. Twilight stood six feet away magically holding a pitcher of iced water and some glasses. Her face was contorted into a hard stare, purple eyes boring into them both.

Applejack was the first to break the stillness.

“Hey there sugarcube…how are uh, you doing?”

Twilight glared at her, eyes shaking.

“A bet?!” she said to the trio of ponies seated at the table. “This whole….thing was just an excuse for you to prove who’s the better coach?!”

“It’s not the true purpose darling!” Rarity chimed in. “Our intentions were true to heart from the very start! This is all for your well being!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack nodded feverishly in agreement. Twilight scowled at them.

“It’s all just a bet. A bet to see who can run me through hoops long enough to collect their bits,” she turned to Applejack, seething “Or am I wrong?”

All eyes went to Applejack as the question hung in the air. The orange mare gulped and screwed up her face into a guilty grimace. Rarity begged with her eyes for her friend to not speak but the honest pony couldn’t hold her silence any longer.

“Ya’ll got us pegged Twi. I’m real sorry,” Applejack finally admitted.

“We’re sorry,” added Rarity quickly, sidling up alongside Rainbow Dash wearing what she hoped was an honest looking smile.

Twilight said nothing for nearly a minute as she studied her friends faces. She set the pitcher and glasses down on the table, then turning to them said “Apology accepted.”

“But…I’m still upset about the whole bet you made behind me back. So I’m going to make my own bet,” Twilight stamped her hoof into the dirt. “I bet both of your bets that I can drop this…weight all by myself.”

Twilight turned tail, heading straight for her library, her tail flicking back and forth behind her plump rear. The three ponies stood there quietly, a little struck by her statement.

“I’ll give her a week before she comes crawling back for help,” said Dash nonchalantly. Rarity glared at her.

“What?” she shrugged. “It’s not like she was going just fine without us in the first place.”

“This didn’t turn out nearly as well as I had initially hoped for. Poor dear,” bemoaned Rarity, setting herself down at the table as Twilight shrank away to the library. Applejack sat down next to her while Dash dispassionately flew off without much of a word.

Applejack drank from her glass “Welp, I’m sure she won’t hold much of a grudge I reckon. We did apologize straight up.”

Rarity absently stared at the library “We’ll just have to see…”

***

4 weeks later

“Got any sevens?”

Applejack scoured over her cards. She looked up with a grin “Sorry sugarcube. Go fish!”

Rainbow Dash sighed, drawing another card from the pile “Wonderful.”

“Looks like you’re pulling dead last again Dashie!” giggled Pinkie.

“You always win at these games anyway,” lamented Dash bitterly, having been bested by Pinkie Pie at Blackjack (perfect 21 every time) and tricked by her impossible to read poker face. Seated outside of Seasonal Delights the three ponies were fritting away their time together for no real reason other than whiling away a cool fall afternoon.

It was also situated 100 yards away from the Ponyville library.

“Enjoying yourselves?” Rarity walked over to the table, a striped pink and purple scarf fashionably hanging off her neck.

“Oh you bet! We’re having loadsafun!” Pinkie Pie jumped up excitedly. Applejack hastily saved a glass of water from tumbling off the table.

“I see…” Rarity said listlessly, sounding bored. She turned to the other two ponies “I suppose neither of you have drummed up the nerve to go and apologize to Twilight after all this time have you?”

“What do we gotta apologize for anyway,” muttered Dash.

Applejack sighed, glancing over her shoulder at the library “Rarity she’s buttoned herself up in there since that little spat as far as I reckon. Spike won’t fess up about her neither when he comes out to pick up food from the market.”

“Poor dear…to think she’s been moping around inside there for so long. She’s probably gone to fat!” Rarity paused, striking a dramatic pose.

Pinkie Pie looked away sheepishly. Rainbow Dash got up from her seat, cards spilling onto the ground.

“Where are you off to?” asked Applejack as the cyan mare strolled past at a brisk pace.

“It’s been waaaaay too long. Raritys gotta point. It’s time to drag her chubby butt outta the library and help her for real now,” Dash marched forwards, her friends tentatively following her lead.

Thirty determined steps later Dash was at the front door of the treehouse, no doubt still locked. Her face hardened into a scowl she banged on the wooden paneling.

“TWILIGHT! YA GOTTA COME OUT OF THERE! This is waaaaay too long to be cooped up inside your place,” barked Dash.

There was no measurable response from behind the door. Rainbow Dash glanced at, who nodded hesitantly, before resuming her knocking.

“C’mon Twi you gotta come out of there. We’ll help you out! Just don’t lock yourself up in there like some sort of crazy pony. All bets are off okay!”

Dash stopped talking. She flicked an ear. There was movement behind the door, hushed whispers, light hoofsteps.

“Hello? Anypony home?” Dash said softly.

Locks clicked and clacked noisily behind the door. Dash stepped back awkwardly, not expecting at all for Twilight to actually come out of her library, much less to respond kindly. Her friends fell in line next to her. After all this time being curious was an understatement. A few other ponies walking by even stopped for a moment, quietly watching the five friends outside the door.

It swung open.

Twilight Sparkle stepped out.

“Hello girls!”

“Twilight!?” her friends gaped.

Sashaying outside into the sunlight Twilight looked about proudly. Free of her library she struck a pose. No longer was she the chubby unicorn everypony knew of 3 weeks ago. Her purple coat glowed with a healthy sheen. The tight muscles in her shoulders and her flanks were clearly outlined as she strutted past her friends. Every round, flabby aspect of her body had been chiseled into one of a lithe athlete.

“Darling you…you look absolutely marvelous!” gushed Rarity, first to break out of the initial shock of Twilights dramatic change of appearance. “To be honest I had thought the worse for your condition since…well, you recall of course.”

Twilight smiled warmly “Thanks Rarity, I appreciate it.” She turned to Rainbow Dash and Applejack (both still agape at their friends new physique) and lowered her gaze.

“I believe that I’m owed forty bits? That was the bet right girls? Twenty each.”

Applejack shook away her disbelief “Golly! Ya’ll look fitter than…well shoot. No sense in stinginess. With that body I’d say you earned it fair ‘n square.”

Applejack threw her twenty bits over to Twilight. Everyones attention shifted to Rainbow Dash.

“A-hem!” Applejack nudged Dash with her hindleg “Best be payin’ up now.”

“…right. Sure. Here…ya go,” said Dash. Twilight levitated the bits, before poofing them away in a flash of pink.

Resuming her smile Twilight trotted away into town. Almost immediately her friends and the spectators filed after her, barraging her with all sorts of questions as to what happened, how she did it and how amazing she now looked.

Spike toddled over to Rainbow Dash and Applejack with a quill and parchment, thought better of it, and ran after Twilight.

“Hehe, well golly! Ain’t that something RD?” said Applejack to Rainbow. “All that hootenanny and she’s looking prime and proper than I’ve ever seen.”

“Uh-huh,” agreed Dash listlessly, watching Twilight shrink into the distance.

“Y’know she’s lookin’ fitter than you I reckon,” goaded AJ.

“Uh-hu-HEY! What’re you saying!?” said Dash snapping to face Applejack.

Without a word but a tip of the hat the orange mare trotted off after Twilight, leaving a very flustered looking Rainbow Dash standing awkwardly by herself in front of the Ponyville Library. She ruffled her feathers. The retort in her mouth died off and was immediately replaced with more disconcerting thoughts.

“I’m not out of shape…” she said to nobody. A branch from a nearby tree rustled in the wing. A cloud passed over head. Rainbow Dash was cast in the shade. She looked around, got her bearings and flew off towards home.