Serena gawked at the looming giant before her. Her view was completely filled by the tan skin and cascading brown hair, and she smelled the enticing aroma of sugar and comfort food.

"Wait... Shauna... How?" was all Serena could stammer.

"Heh, I'm a bit bigger than you now, huh?" chuckled the other girl. Serena still had trouble taking in the huge image of her friend, seemingly blown out of proportion, her belly dwarfing Serena's by a large margin.

"How did you get like this? I ate so much this week, but you... you..."

"I know, I know, I've really let myself go," Shauna winked at her friend, "I'm actually more surprised that you haven't gained more. Diantha was helping you, wasn't she?"

"What? No, she just came in every day or so."

"Really... That's odd. She gave me advice on gaining and gave me fat-storing berries as soon as I agreed to the contract."

"You agreed?!" Serena exclaimed in surprise. "You do know that you have to be immobile if you do that, right?"

"Look at me! I'm already there!" Shauna moved farther forward on her chair, revealing to Serena the full shape of her body. Her huge belly was nothing in comparison to her enormous rear, with her thighs bursting out of the sides of the seat. Shauna had multiple rolls of flesh hanging from her knees and legs, which spread out smoothly across the front of the seat; Serena assumed her upper thighs were the same, although she couldn't tell since they were nearly covered completely by her friend's oversized stomach.

Finally, as Shauna leaned back again, Serena saw something even more shocking. She had originally assumed that the seat was flat on the bottom, but as Shauna moved Serena noticed that her chair was actually curved like a bowl at the bottom, meaning that Shauna was supported by a backside at least the size of two large beachballs. There was no doubt that Shauna's weight kept her from moving even a step unassisted, and Serena thought to herself that even if she could, the amount of flab on her legs would prevent any walking anyway.

"Wow... I mean...wow. You... How? Why?" Serena was left stammering, not knowing what to say. "I... I'm so sorry..."

"What for?" Shauna inquired, "I thought you would congratulate me, actually."

"But you're immobile!" said Serena, gesturing to her own huge body. "I can still walk slowly, and it's already frustrating! How do you enjoy being like that?"

Shauna reached down over her thigh with a meaty hand and patted her venusaur. "You answered your own question! Walking is frustrating. Riding is fun!"

"Whatever... Can you just help me up? I need to go meet with Ash and my friends... I told them that I'd meet them at the Shalour city gym today so we can continue on. Also... I need to leave quickly so I have time to pick up some lunch. It's been almost two hours since I last ate!"

One vine whip and a few embarrassed chuckles later, Serena was on her feet and being led to the exit of the hotel. "So, you're sure you don't want to stay here another day? I can't get you anything for the road?" Shauna pestered her friend from her seat, with her venusaur keeping good pace with Serena's trudging footsteps.

"No, thank you. I guess I'll see you around? Good luck on your performer career." Serena wished her friend well, even if she took a different path than her.

"Thanks! You too. If you ever need help, just give me a call!"

Serena embraced Shauna is a warm hug, then released her ryhorn and slot got on. The poor pokemon shuddered for a second, trying to adjust to the weight, but after a few moments it grunted and took off at a brisk walk. Serena watched the crowded avenues from her comfortable saddle as she rode down the streets of Shalour. She blushed a little at the curious stares of passerby, fascinated by the sight of such a huge girl randomly riding down the road. Serena noticed judgmental stares and a few looks of disgust, but for the first time also noticed looks of admiration. She felt flattered at that attention, and especially noted the mesmerized looks from many men, and some women. She could only hope that her friends would fall into the category of admiration and not disgust.

Serena got the answer to that question sooner than she expected. Around one block away from the gym, she heard a gasp of surprise from behind her. A blur of blond hair sped past her and she found herself looking into the too-close face of Bonnie.

"Wow! Serena, you look huge! In a good way! How did you grow that much just this week? Did you really see Diantha? Did you see all the plus-size fashion shows going on now? What about–" The whirlwind of questions halted momentarily as Clement pulled his sister off of Serena, who giggled and waved to her friends.

"Hello to you too, Bonnie. Umm... I guess to answer that... I know, thanks, I ate a lot, yes, and yes." Grinning, she turned to see Ash meeting up with Clement and addressed him. "Um... Hi, Ash." She had no idea how to address the issue of her weight to the trainer she secretly liked. "How's it going?"

"Great! We've all had a fun time at Shalour, and you look like you have too." Ash playfully poked at Serena's side, causing her to stifle an involuntary ticklish reaction.

"Oh... Yeah...I guess I am a lot bigger than last week. It won't slow us down when traveling, though, I promise!" Serena replied.

"No problem! Speed isn't a problem. And besides, you look great! I think the weight looks nice on you." Serena let her mouth fall open in surprise at hearing Ash's complements. "I guess this really puts you at the front of the current style in pokemon performers, huh?"

Serena composed herself, letting out a sigh of relief that Ash was accepting. That only left Clement against her gaining. "It sure does! In fact, I noticed a lot of people admiring my size, and while I don't want people watching my pokevisions because they think I'm pretty, it certainly can't hurt to be fashionable with this current plus-size trend!"

Everyone agreed, including Clement. The young scientist adjusted his glasses and then spoke. "I've been studying this recent wave in expanding waistlines, and I've concluded that these berries you're using to enhance your gain are perfectly healthy. I owe you an apology, Serena. Looks like you knew what you were doing all along."

Serena felt relieved at having all her friends' support. "It's ok. You owe me a milkshake, though, next time we stop! Which is right now!" She spotted an open bakery and pointed to it, demanding that they sample it.

"Serena, we're having lunch in an hour with Korrina!" Ash protested.

"So? That's an hour away... And besides, I can't wait to see the look on Korrina's face when she sees that that I'm just as big as she is!"