Plump Pony (The Thunderstorm III)

Pinkie Pie was leaving Sugar Cube Corner, humming her "Smile" song, hopping to the beat. Everypony that heard her hum started to smile and join in. Pinkie's charisma lifted the spirits of the Ponyville residents and made them forget about their concerns. A filly that lost his balloon started to tear up, but as soon as he heard the pink pony's melody, he started to chuckle and smile wide. Nopony could pass Pinkie without giving at least a smirk.

Octavia, who was humming her own tune, passed the hyperactive pony. She turned around and smirked.

"Too busy to say 'Hi', are we?"

Pinkie spun to face Octavia and gasped. "Oh no! I'm sorry, Octavia! I was just so super wrapped up in my song that I didn't see you walk by. You know my 'Smile' song, don'tcha? Here, lemme start over -"

"It's quite alright," giggled the prim pony, adjusting her bowtie. "You're known to be quite active."

"Well, there's just sssooooo much for me to do and there's sssssooooo little time! I've got places to go, ponies to see, things to do, sweets to eat - "

Octavia cleared her throat and let out a small chuckle. "Well, yes, I can tell. You, uh, you DO like to eat your sweets."

The pink pony nodded furiously. "Uh-huh! I absolutely love cakes and jellybeans and cupcakes and taffy and -"

"Yes, yes, like I said: it shows."

Pinkie cocked her head in confusion. "What are you blibber-blabbering about, Octavia? You're not making any sense!"

Octavia sighed. "It means that -" she motioned to her stomach with her hoof and puffed her cheeks out. Pinkie cocked her head even further to the side.

"Do you have a tummy ache? Are you going to be sick?"

The ponies were taken aback for a moment. Then a brown pegasus answered, "Sure, cutie pie, you can try."

"Actually, my name is 'Pinkie Pie', silly rabbit!"

The orange earth pony gasped while the red pony's eyes widened. The two whispered to each other for a moment, leaving their friend

and their challenger perplexed. Finally, the red pony spoke up and asked: "Are you really Pinkie PieLaughing nervously, the grey pony replied, "Pinkie, I don't know how to say this without offending you but you're starting to get -"

Before Octavia could finish her sentence, Pinkie Pie darted over to a group of ponies near a coffee shop. They were taking turns stuffing marshmallows in their mouths;

they were playing 'plump pony', one of Pinkie's favorite games, and it was a game that Pinkie won almost every time. She ran

"Oooohhh! Are you guys playing 'plump pony'? Is it alright if I play a round or two or four?!"?"

Pinkie nodded furiously.

"The one-and-only Pinkamena Diane Pie? The Plump Pony Champion of Ponyville seven years in a row?! NO!"

"That's me: Plump Pony Champ times seven! Now... who wants to take me on?"

The red and orange ponies shook their heads, absolutely refusing to challenge the pink powerhouse. However, the brown pegasus laughed and then slammed a fresh bowl of marshmallows onto the table. He smirked then flicked his eyebrows up in a provoking manner; Pinkie giggled, and then placed a single fluffy marshmallow into her mouth. She uttered the phrase 'plump pony' with ease, then slid the bowl over to her opponent.

"Yeah," remarked the brown pegasus, "on the West Coast we do things better. I'm a five-time plump pony champ in Los Pegasus.

And if five seems too little to you, know this: we not only do things better - " he grabbed two marshmallows and shoved them into his mouth, then said 'plump pony' - "we do things harder on the West Coast." He pushed to bowl back to Pinkie. "Your move."

Pinkie Pie was a little shocked, but she recovered. A malicious grin was pinned across her face. She took the bowl and put two more marshmallows in

her mouth. They were warm and they started to stick to her teeth and inside her cheeks.

"Plump pony... P-Ville, represent."


A tiny crowd gathered around the two plump pony players. The red and orange stallions had lost count of how many marshmallows each contender had in their mouths.

The West Coast pegasus was struggling to fit another marshmallow into his mouth, while Pinkie toyed with him and added an additional ball of fluff in her mouth. Sweat

pouring down his face, hoofs on the table, the brown pegasus had no choice but to spit out everything in his mouth. A large, white blob of paste landed on the table with

a loud thud, making some ponies in the crowd squirm in disgust. Pinkie, knowing that her victory was secure, swallowed every marshmallow in her mouth with great ease.

"WOO-HOO! That's how we do it in Ponyville!"

The pegasus was still spitting up the white paste, cursing in between.

Pinkie held out a hoof. "Put 'er there! You were the most challenging challenger that ever challenged me!"

Smacking her hoof away, the angry pony shot Pinkie a dirty look. "Fat bitch," he muttered.

Pinkie's smile was slapped off of her face momentarily. The smile reappeared, but it came back weak and quivering. The crowd - including the orange and red earth ponies - either gasped or muttered between themselves.

"Did he just say that? No way he said it!" "No way!" "Ouch, that's harsh." "Prick." "What a jerk; Pinkie's plump not fat."

"Wow, that's a low blow." "What a sore loser...she's not that fat." "She's a little chubby, that's all."

The orange earth pony addressed his friend. "Dude, Mack, that was uncalled for. Show some respect, bro."

"Yeah, come on," said the red earth pony, "don't be a sore loser."

Looking up at a smiling Pinkie (her eyes were getting a bit damp), he reluctantly held out his hoof to shake, grumbling. "Sorry," he said. "Good match." However, his eyes were narrowed and said another message completely.

"It's no," Pinkie started slowly, "no p-problem at all. You were just upset." She broadened her smile. Mack, the pegasus, snorted and turned away.

"I just got here about a day ago from Los Pegasus and I'm staying for a little over a week. Pick a time and place."

Mack and his two friends walked away. The crowd dispersed. Everypony left the coffee shop and only Pinkie Pie remained. Suddenly, the earlier conversation with Octavia started to make more sense.

Well, yes, I can tell. You, uh, you DO like to eat your sweets.

Uh-huh! I absolutely love cakes and jellybeans and cupcakes and taffy and -

Yes, yes, like I said: it shows.

Pinkie Pie looked down at her stomach and pinched a roll of fat in between her hooves. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she hiccupped from trying to hold in her sobbing. After a while, she let out her pain and ran crying back to her house. The phrase 'plump pony' scratched against her mind and the taste of marshmallows wrapped around her tongue. Pinkie's full stomach jiggled while she ran; this made her cry even more.

She ran to the bathroom and stared at the mirror. She had bits of marshmallow around her mouth. Her eyes were glassy and overflowed with tears. Taking a hoof, Pinkie lightly touched one of her cheeks; the pink pony in the mirror did the same. Pinkie turned to the side and surveyed her stomach, which bulged slightly; the pony in the mirror copied the movement and Pinkie gasped, then covered her mouth. More tears poured from her eyes as she moved her face in closer. She uncovered her mouthand muttered: "Plump pony.

The mirror-pony mimicked her.

"P-plump..." Pinkie Pie struggled with her words. "Plump... p-p-pony."

Still, the pony in the mirror copied her every movement.

Turning to one side, Pinkie sucked in her belly, hoping somehow that it would stay trimmed. She struggled the first time, then she successfully sucked in her stomach and even managed a small smile. Still, Pinkie could only hold in her belly for so long and soon, she exhaled, the pudgy stomach landing with a small plop. Her smiled quickly gave way to a large frown and her puffy pink hair deflated. A few sobs eked their way out of her mouth; Pinkie let herself cry again.

The bathroom was filled with the young pony's sobbing. Several long moments passed and Pinkie caught eye with her reflection. There it stood, looking right back at her, complete with a condescending smile. It opened its mouth and the voices of Mack, Octavia, and some of her friends came out:

Fat bitch.

Yes, yes, like I said: it shows.

Pinkie, you're the only pony I know who can eat more muffins than me.

You know, Pinkie, I don't think that it's such a great idea to have sweets almost every day. Have you ever read some of the ingredients in some of your favorite candy? I don't want to sound preachy... but Pinkie, I think that you should cut back on some of the food you eat.

Well hey thar, Pinkie! My, ain'tchu lookin' well fed? Come on, parndner! Wanna have some apple pah?

Dahling, if you keep consuming all of those little sweet cakes, why, you won't even be able to fit into this lovely dress I made for you! It's The Grand Galloping Gala, Pinkie. I want us ALL to look our best!

Um, Pinkie, maybe you shouldn't eat that much cake before we have lunch, I mean, if that's okay with you... I'm sorry, I don't want to be rude.

Hey, save some for the rest of us, Pinkie! Gosh! This was worse than when you nearly drank all the cider!

Picking up a bar of soap at the bathroom sink and launching it at the mirror, Pinkie Pie fell to the floor and continued to sob even harder. Managing to pick herself up,she walked slowly to the toilet, picked up the lid, and stuck a hoof down her throat. Some of the day's contents emptied into the toilet bowl with a splatter; Pinkie kept one hoof on her belly, hoping to feel her roll of fat disappear with her meal. Another retching motion and even more splattering followed. More tears flowed from her eyes. Pinkie continued this pattern until she was certain that her stomach was empty. Afterwards, she fell to one side and cried for several hours.


"So what's your problem, you little prude? Huh? What is it? Tell me!"

Rainbow Dash was in a drunken stupor, prodding her hoof against BonBon's face and chest. The cream-colored pony was backed into a wall, looking frantically for a way out. Her breathing became shallower as the belligerent pegasus shouted insults and lightly - but hostilely - slapped BonBon's face, driving tears into her cheeks. A crowd was gathering around the two ponies, but nopony did anything. Rainbow Dash continued to harass her target.

"Whassamatter? You can call me a 'bitch' from a distance, butcha can't even... can't even say it ta me right here, right now? Come on, you prim, prim little 'bitch'! Throw up your hooves!"

A voice called out behind. "Ah'm ya Huckleberry." Rainbow Dash turned to see her friend AppleJack stomp from the center of the crowd. The orange earth pony took off her hat and gave it to a random gawker to hold, then proceeded up to the drunk pegasus and BonBon, who was shivering like a scared rabbit. Rainbow Dash narrowed her bloodshot eyes, sizing up her new threat.

"Jus' what in tarnation do ya think yer doin', Rainbow?" AppleJack demanded. "Ya know that BonBon ain't muchuva fighter. And ya smell like rum; you should go home and get some rest. NOW."

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Ya know, I think that I can take ya, even dr-drunk."

AppleJack inhaled harshly through her nose. "I knew that Ah'd hafta knock ya out. Yer too stubborn, especially after drinkin'. Ya sure thatcha wanna do this, Dash?"

"Pony trash," muttered Rainbow, as she swung her hoof and smacked her friend across the cheek. AppleJack reeled back a couple of steps, and then recovered. She sprang forward and uppercutted the mouthy pegasus with her left arm. Rainbow Dash reeled back into the wall; BonBon had already run to safety. A few shots to the stomach made Rainbow keel over a bit, but she returned the favor by punching AppleJack in the chest. AppleJack fell to the ground and Rainbow Dash started to kick her, but the orange pony blocked the blows. Reaching up and grabbing Dash's leg, AppleJack pulled her friend to the ground; the two ponies wrestled for a bit. Finally, Rainbow Dash stood up, AppleJack having her in a headlock. Using her wings, Dash boxed her antagonist's ears. AppleJack's grip loosened and Rainbow used this opportunity to elbow her friend in the stomach, sending her to the ground yet again. AppleJack got up quickly and right-hooked Rainbow Dash, knocking her off balance. Rainbow tried to regain her balance, but AppleJack right-hooked the blue pegasus two more times, sending her to the dirt.

Rainbow Dash slowly lifted her head from the ground.

"Ya sober now?" asked AppleJack, chest heaving and face bleeding.

"Go to hell," replied Dash, stumbling over herself to stand up. "I betcha liked doing this, didn't ya? Yeah, you're j-justa dirty redneck pony who likes to fight and, and drink."

"Pot calls the kettle black! What's gotten into you, anyways, Dash? Why are you actin' like this?"

The pegasus pony spit out some blood and then wiped the corner of her mouth. "I've realized that I don't have any friends. E-everything is just horseshit."

AppleJack's eyes started to water. She walked over and put her arm over Dash's shoulder. Strangely enough, Dash let her do it. Smile on her face, the orange earth pony started to explain to her friend her thoughts.

"Look, Ah really am sorry that Ah fought ya and beat ya down, but you was actin' foolish, Rainbow! If Ah was in your position, Ah'd expect ya ta do the same... that's what friends do! We're honest with each other and we let them know when they're actin' a fool!"

Unfortunately, these words had no effect on the drunken pegasus. What came out of Rainbow Dash's mouth next caused AppleJack to let go of her friend back away.

"Yeah," muttered Dash, "ya beat me down like Granny Smith beats you."

AppleJack's jaw dropped. Her breathing became harsher and her smile disappeared. Rainbow lifted her eyebrow and gave a half-cocked smile. She still stumbled over herself a little.

"What?" she asked in a voice like a whisper. "You didn't think I knew - or other ponies knew - what was going on be-behind closed doors at 'Sweet' Apple Acres? I remember you constantly coming into school with bruises or, or cuts and black eyes... 'Oh, a tree branch hit me in the face' or 'An apple fell on my head'... And, and now that your Granny is too weak to hitcha, she decides to put you down verbally, because you let her, huh? Why weren't you honest with me then? Aren't you the Element -"

"Stop it right now," said AppleJack, tears on her face.

"- of Honesty? You're quite the little hypocrite, aren'tcha?"

"Stop it."

"It felt good getting out all of that repressed anger, didn't it? Want to do it again? I'm game. I'll -"

AppleJack stomped her hoof on the ground. "Ya want me ta be 'honest' with ya? Fine! Ah hope that Ah never see you again! Yain't no friend of mine and ya never will be! And don'tcha ever step foot in Sweet Apple Acres again."

AppleJack walked away from Rainbow Dash. She grabbed her hat back from the random gawker and ran out of town, tears flying from her cheeks. The crowd dispersed; some of the members shot Rainbow dirty looks, some muttered angry words, some did both. Ultimately, everypony left without doing anything, and once again in her life, Rainbow Dash was drunk and alone.


AppleJack arrived at Sweet Apple Acres to find a very angry Granny Smith standing in front of the barn. She was tapping her hoof on the ground impatiently while Big Mac and Apple Bloom stood behind her, both with concerned looks on their faces. Blushing and lowering her head, AppleJack slowly walked up to her grandmother and started to think about what she was going to say.

"Get into a fight, did ya?" asked Granny Smith.

"Y-yes ma'am," said AppleJack. "Ah'm sorry."

Walking over to the injured earth pony, Granny Smith raised a hoof and smacked her granddaughter over the head. AppleJack's knees buckled slightly. A whimper came from Apple Bloom's mouth, but Big Mac covered it up before Granny could hear it.

"Ah hope thatcher not to hurt ta pick them apples, gurl! By Celestia, if yer parents were still alive, they woulda died o' shame if they knew you was some stupid brawler. Shee-it. We have a stupid fighter" - Granny pointed to AppleJack - "a mute moron" - she pointed to Big Mac - "and a crybaby!" - she pointed to Apple Bloom, who was beginning to sob. Rolling her eyes, Granny Smith walked into the house.

"No supper for you, AppleJack! Now get ta pickin'!"


Dear Princess Celestia,

I'm writing this letter to let you know that I am formally giving up on being the holder of the Element of Honesty. I realize that this will be detrimental to the group, but I feel that if they keep me, I will be a liability. I am very sorry to let you, my friends, Ponyville, and all of Equestria down. Please forgive me for doing this, but I feel that this will be for the best.

AppleJack


A day passed. Spike was cleaning the bookshelves and Twilight was reading through a book about Minotaur culture. Suddenly, Spike belched very loudly, green flames erupting from his mouth. Turning around, Twilight saw a scroll land on the floor and, picking it up, opened it very casually; Princess Celestia would send updates about Canterlot once in a while. The unicorn filly's eyes opened and she dropped the scroll.

"What's wrong, Twilight?" asked Spike.

Twilight began to read the letter:

My Faithful Student,

In less than a week, two of your friends have relinquished their positions as keepers to their respective Elements. Right now, I am very busy with royal affairs, but I realize the severity of this situation and I will address it as soon as I possibly can. Expect me around midnight tonight.

Your Just Ruler of All Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi,

Princess Celestia


"This is bad, isn't it, Twilight?" asked Spike.

"Yes," replied Twilight, "it is very bad, Spike."