>The unmistakably loud sound of steel wheels grinding against rail, followed by steam breaks letting out vapor, signalized another train stopping at the Ponyville station
>Hot air rose from the wheels, making its way to the frozen stalactites forming at the edge of the station's awning, giving small droplets of water a chance to escape their icy prisons, aiming for the heads of many unsuspecting passengers leaving the wagons
>These few, unfortunate people, already tired of the excruciatingly long ride, poured from the doors into the station with grumpy faces and quiet complaints
>However, contrasting the cold weather and foul mood, a single dot of warmth stepped out of the train
>That was no other than Sweetie Belle, her winsome smile persisting despite the many layers of clothes making it incredibly difficult for her to move, let alone carry her own many pieces of luggage
>To her those were mere details, things she could just brush it off in comparison to what was really important: she was finally back on Ponyville
>She took a long, deep breath, even the air of her hometown holding a nostalgic feeling she longed for months
>After a grueling semester at the Manehattan University of Arts, the much-anticipated winter break was finally there, and all she wanted was to come back to the familiarity of the town she grew up in
>And, above all else, she was ecstatic to see her old friends and family again, and no amount of small inconveniences would ruin a day she waited so long to arrive
>"Yoo-hoo, Sweetie Belle! Look over here! We were waiting for you!"
>Though not able to pinpoint the exact origin of the voice calling out for her due to the noisy crowd and echoey station, she knew exactly to whom it belonged: her sister, Rarity
>And it felt like music to her ears
>She stood on her tiptoes, scanning the crowd for a voluminous purple lock
>It was an easy way to spot her sister she discovered as soon as she finished growing, thanks to Rarity's love for four-plus-inch high heels, adding to her already impressive natural 5'10 height
>Quickly locating the known lock of hair, she made her way towards it, though not without bumping into people and getting yelled at as she did
>None of that really mattered to Sweetie, whose smile widened as soon as she saw Rarity, and along with her, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, her two best friends
>The moment their eyes met with Sweetie's, the three girls rushed towards her, overwhelming her with a tight group hug
>Sweetie dropped everything to the floor without even noticing
>She was home
>"I'm so glad to see you guys again!" Exclaimed Sweetie
>"So are we!" Replied Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in unison
>"It's great to have you back, dear." Said Rarity, picking up Sweetie's bags from the floor. "Here, let me help you with that. You girls catch up while I go look for a cab."
>"Thanks."
>Scootaloo and Apple Bloom soon joined her, picking up the rest of the luggage and making their way to the station's entrance
>"So... c'mon, tell us! How are things in Manehattan?" Asked Scootaloo
>"Yeah, and don't spare us any details!" Added Apple Bloom
>"Ugh, it's so hard, you don't even know! I couldn't even begin to tell you how much I underestimated how difficult things would be."
>"Aw, that's kinda sad to hear. Are you at least having fun sometimes?"
>"Oh, yeah! Don't get me wrong, AB, I love acting and singing, and it turns out I'm pretty good at dancing too. It's everything else that drains me."
>"Like what?" Scootaloo cocked her head
>"It's just that, between the fun stuff, there's just 'theory of this', and 'theory of that', and they change topics like crazy, you can never get used to anything." Sweetie sighed, but quickly held her head high again. "But that doesn't matter! For the next three weeks, I can have my much deserved rest, knowing things are gonna be just like I remember them!"
>The three girls found themselves at the street in front of the station, standing in the snowy sidewalk
>There was a single cab left, and they were quick to notice Rarity standing by it, talking to the driver
>"Sorry miss, no can do. I'm waiting for someone else to show up."
>"But my sister just got back into town from so, so far away! She's too tired to wait for the next cab to arrive. Besides, you can't expect me to stand here in the snow, all by myself, with all this luggage. What if someone robs me?"
>"Look, I know it's unfortunate, but I can't help you."
>Rarity let out a very exaggerated sigh
>"Oh, well, I guess we'll have to wait. I guess I can share some of my pieces of clothing with her, to make sure she doesn't catch a cold..."
>Her overdramatic tone was obvious, and her gestures even more so
>She took off her scarf, holding it with one hand and covering her eyes with another
>"I cannot believe I'll have to choose between my own warmth and my sister, just because we were unlucky!"
>Rarity took a deep breath, and let the air out in small increments, feigning crying
>This performance had a secondary objective, one that, peeking through her glove, Rarity noticed had had the intended effect
>Without her scarf, she was revealing the smallest hind of cleavage
>Her pose, ridiculous as it was, pushed her sizeable, F-cup chest forward, making the buttons on her overcoat strain, while making sure the driver wouldn't think she noticed if he stared thanks to her covered eyes
>The small exhales made it so her breasts would bounce ever so subtly
>And, following the driver's line of sight, this showed Rarity she had him in the palm of her hands
>She grinned slightly, confident he wouldn't be looking at her face in a million years, before leaning into the window with sad eyes
>"Are you sure you can't make an exception?"
>This pose, too, made it sure to draw attention to the now even more pronounced cleavage line on her overcoat
>"I-I suppose it wouldn't be too much harm to leave for a few minutes."
>"Ah, thank you!" Rarity jumped, her smile coming back as quickly as it left
>She looked over to her left and waved to the girls to come over
>"Over here! I found a cab!"
>Sweetie rolled her eyes with a smile
>She couldn't help but be amused at her sister's display
>With all of Sweetie's baggage safe on the trunk, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom made her way back to Sweetie, as Rarity left with the cab back to her house
>"So, do you have anything in mind? Anything in particular you really missed?"
>"Besides everything?" Sweetie laughed. "Come on, I just got here, you guys really are gonna make me decide what to do?"
>"Well..." Apple Bloom said. "We're gonna ask you first, but we did kind of have something in mind."
>"Yeah?"
>"Yeah!" Exclaimed Scootaloo. "I don't wanna say too much, but we may or may not have mentioned to a certain pink-haired party animal that you were coming back to town."
>"Aw, really? You guys are the best!"
>Sweetie hugged them both, feeling the nostalgic sensation of their group hug
>Except something didn't feel quite right this time
>She took a step back, looking at Scootaloo with uncertainty in her eyes
>"Hey, uh, Scoots... are you taller?"
>"Me? Oh, yeah, I did gain a couple inches while you were away! Pretty cool, right? I guess I'm a late bloomer of sorts."
>"Yeah, haha, that's great for you." Said Sweetie, her voice cracking just a little
>"She did? Damn, I couldn't tell." Said Apple Bloom, resting her elbow on top of Scootaloo's head
>"Ugh, get off, you show off!" Scootaloo complained
>Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle couldn't help but laugh at her rage
>"So, Sweetie," continued Apple Bloom, "ready to go? I'm sure the familiar taste of Pinkie's cupcakes is just what you need. We're gonna make sure things are just like you remember them, just like you wanted."
>"Yeah..." Sweetie held a slight smile. "I'm sure. Thanks"
>"No problem! Let's go Scoo- Scoots?"
>Apple Bloom looked around for a second, only to find Scootaloo many feet away from them
>"Those freakishly long legs are just for show?!" Scootaloo yelled from a distance. "Come on, last to get to Sugarcube Corner pays for a round of cupcakes to the others!"
>"What?!"
>"You cheater!"
>The three girls laughed as they ran, heading to the town's bakery
----------
>Rarity read a book by the heater on her workroom, trying to keep herself from falling asleep
>Sweetie Belle was still out partying, which forced Rarity to push through her tiredness as she waited for her sister to get home
>Her eyelids felt heavier by the minute, and the wintry temperature was doing her no favors
>She reached for the teacup on her desk and took a sip from it, hoping some lemon tea would help her stay awake for just a little longer
>A wish that would come true in a twisted way, as, in her drowsy clumsiness, she ended up spilling the tea all over herself
>"Ack!"
>Rarity jumps out of her seat, startled by the sudden lukewarm liquid travelling down her body
>Inspecting her attire, a low cut, dark purple nightgown and a pink, fluffy bathrobe, it was obvious it was too soaked for comfort
>"Great." She sighed. "And it had to be my cozy gown, too. At least another bath might help me stay up a while longer."
>She slid into a pair of fluffy slippers, matching in color with her robe, and made her way to the bathroom, where she began heating up water for the bathtub
>Her mind was already relaxed, showing her mind's eye pleasant images and sensations of a warm bath
>Such thoughts weren't long for this word, as a knock on the door interrupted her vivid imagination
>"Rarity?" She heard Sweetie's muffled voice coming from outside. "Are you still up? I don't have any keys on me!"
>"Thank Celestia, finally." Rarity murmured to herself before moving towards the entrance. "Just a moment, Sweetie!"
>Opening the door, she was met with the image of her sister enveloped in even more layers of clothing than when she saw her earlier, barely mobile, and still shivering
>"Oh, thank Celestia you're s-still up. Sorry for t-t-taking so long."
>"It's no big deal. I should've expected this and brought you the key when you arrived." Smiled Rarity. "Now come in, we don't want you catching a cold now, do we?"
>"Right, s-sorry. As f-f-fun as everything was today, it's freezing outside!" Noted Sweetie, dusting some remaining snow off her shoulders before getting in. "S-Speaking of which, how aren't you freezing?"
>"Your big sister is very particular with temperatures, Sweetie. I guarantee all my boutiques will have very thick walls. Doubly so for the one that doubles as my home!" Rarity laughed. "You'll be glad to know your room is no exception. Now follow me."
>Rarity led the way upstairs to the guest room, where Sweetie was happy to find the bed she was going to sleep in ready and waiting for her
>"I can't thank you enough for this." Sweetie said, throwing herself into the oceanic bed
>One of the many things she really appreciated about her sister's home was how large and comfortable the beds were
>She used to sleep in this very room when she stayed over as a kid, and, somehow, it didn't look much smaller as an adult
>Nor any less comfortable, for that matter
>Even through her clothes, she could feel the softness of the mattress
>And, especially after a full day out in the cold, the warmth of the room was impossible for her to miss
>She could fall asleep right then and there if she wanted to, and everything seemed to compel her to do just that
>"Busy day today, huh?"
>Snapping back to reality, Sweetie rose her head, reminded that her sister was still there, to see her leaning against the door frame
>"Oh yeah! The girls and I did all kinds of crazy things today. I guess I forget how over the top Pinkie can be, and I mean that in the best way."
>"She does like to go all out with even the smallest of celebrations." Rarity giggled
>"Tell me about it, I'm spent!"
>"You're not the only one. I hope we can spend some time together tomorrow."
>Sweetie couldn't help but notice Rarity's pleading expression
>"Though... I still have some energy if you want to spend some time together right now."
>Rarity made her way to the bed and sitting down beside Sweetie
>"I'm not even sure *I* have any energy left today, buuut... I'm not gonna skip an opportunity to talk to my little sister after so long." She chuckled, then looked at Sweetie. "I missed you."
>"I missed you to." Sweetie smiled back
>"So, how was your day? The girls were going on and on for a few weeks about how they had all these crazy plans ready for when you got back, so I can only imagine. I hope it was a blast."
>"It really was! We went to the party, then bowling, then we had a snowball fight, and then we went back to Sugarcube Corner to rest and Pinkie decided to throw *another* party, just for the hell of it! Can you believe that?!"
>"That's Pinkie for you." Rarity chuckled. "Well, your friends did spend a while planning this, too. Don't let them know I told you this, but they did voice a couple worries about you replacing them while you were away."
>"Are you kidding me? No one could replace them! Most things I'm hoping to do during break would lose all that warm, nostalgic magic without Apple Bloom and... and Scootaloo."
>The change in tone and expression from Sweetie Belle did not go unnoticed by Rarity
>Her previously cheery smile slowly faded at the mention of her friend's names
>It was exceedingly clear that something was bothering her
>But the bags under Sweetie's eyes also made clear that she wouldn't be in the best state of mind for a conversation like that this late into the night
>She decided that, even if she was worried about Sweetie, it would be best to not unearth these troubling thoughts further, even if it meant having to hold back on her worries for another day
>"You know, it's getting pretty late. I should be heading to bed soon. After today, I'm sure you yourself is dying to get a good night of sleep, too."
>"Yeah, I guess you're right. I guess I should take a shower first, though. I've been wearing this for *way* too long already."
>"Sounds good. You still remember where the bathroom is?"
>"Yeah, of course." Sweetie laughed. "I've been out of town for six months, not six years."
>"Well, it felt like six years for me."
>Rarity gave Sweetie Belle a hug before walking to the door
>"If you need anything, just ask."
>"Thanks, Sis. Good night."
>"Good n..."
>Rarity couldn't help but notice the look on Sweetie's face as she rummaged through her luggage
>She couldn't just leave her sister feeling down like that
>Luckily, she knew just the thing
>"You know what, Sweetie? After such a hectic day, a shower seems like such a substandard option. Say, how does a nice, warm bath on the bathtub sound like? I can get things ready for you in a jiffy."
>"That sounds lovely, but... I don't wanna bother you too much. You look pretty tired, too. No offense. I'm sure putting on some comfy pajamas will do."
>Rarity looked at Sweetie as she pulled some very beat up looking pair of pajamas from one of her bags
>A pair she remembered making herself, and giving Sweetie many years before as a gift
>"Oh, please, this old thing is far from the standards of relaxation you deserve. I assure you, preparing a nice bath for you will be no problem at all. Besides, I cannot pass up such a good opportunity to spoil my little sister. Those don't come up all that often anymore."
>"Hey, don't insult these, they are very comfy! Buuut if you insist on the bathtub thing..." Sweetie smiled
>"Splendid! I'm gonna make sure everything is just like you liked when you were a kid. You want nostalgic? I'll give you nostalgic!"
>"Thanks, Rarity. You're amazing."
>Taking Sweetie's warm smile as a sign of a job well done, Rarity smiled back and left the room
>Sweetie began undressing as soon as her sister left, happy to finally get rid of her constricting getup and go back to a more manageable amount of clothing
>After peeling off a couple layers of clothing, she noticed her reflection on a full-length mirror in the corner of the room
>Such mirrors were very common throughout the public and private rooms of the boutique, a consequence of the seamstress career choice
>However, at that moment, its only purpose seemed to upset Sweetie, now far too aware of its existence to look away as the rest of her clothes hit the floor
>After getting down to just her bra and panties, her smile had vanished, giving way to her previously downcast expression
>She palmed her B-cup breasts
>"Too amazing, sometimes." She sighed
>"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity yelled from downstairs. "The water is ready. There're a couple towels for you in your room, in the closet. I'm going to bed, good night!"
>"Thanks again! Good night!" Sweetie yelled back
>She grabbed the towels and headed for her long-waited bath
----------
>A curtain of vapor welcomed Sweetie Belle to the bathroom
>The warm humidity was as snug as it was inviting, and the feeling only got better as she approached the water
>Sweetie submerged the entirety of her body into the bathtub, her head popping out of the water a second later just to let out a long sigh of relief
>The water enveloping every curve of her body made her feel like this sensation moment existed specifically for her
>And, especially after dealing with the lukewarm showers of her dormitory for so long, this truly felt like a godsend
>She closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself feel her muscles relaxing and her skin taking in the pleasant warmth
>If she didn't know about the angelic bed waiting for her, she would've slept right then and there
>After a short while of enjoying those sensations, she ultimately decided against letting her whole body wrinkle and grabbed a bar of soap
>A decision that would slowly dissipate that good mood she was building up
>Her hand travelled all over her body as she washed herself, making Sweetie increasingly aware of its shape
>And she despised it
>She made an effort to take her mind out of that, but simple act of looking down made such a task impossible, as the clear liquid gave her an eyeful of her naked body in its entirety
>"Just like when I was a kid, huh? Way to rub it in..."
>Sweetie punched the water, grunting in frustration
>"Ughhhh, why?! Why did she have to get taller?"
>All the calm and relaxation in the world wouldn't be enough for her to get away from her own thoughts
>Sweetie Belle was not an unattractive woman, that much she knew
>However, she didn't see herself as particularly attractive, either
>She couldn't convince herself to, not while having such a clear picture of what "beauty" looked like imprinted in her mind for so long
>Rarity
>Since she was a kid, Sweetie Belle had considered herself lucky to be Rarity's little sister
>Despite their ups and down, their relationship endured through the years, and she felt that, at the end of the day, her sister was a good role model
>But Rarity's dedication and incredible career weren't the only things she admired about her sister
>She also had always looked up to Rarity in terms of beauty, clearly remembering fantasizing, as a kid, what she would look like when her body finished developing
>But, as puberty came and went, it was clear that her fantasies would remain just that
>Her B-cups, perky as they were, couldn't hold a candle to Rarity's Fs
>Her face was, as she would always hear, very "cute", and she despised it
>She knew she looked somewhat childish for her age, in no small part thanks to a layer of baby fat on her face and body that refused to go away no matter how much she exercised, which sentenced her to a lifetime of hearing the word "cute" whenever someone wanted to compliment her looks
>And, while that was far from an insult, she couldn't help but think her sister wouldn't ever be described with that word
>Rarity was "pretty", she was "mature", she was "gorgeous", she was "hot"
>But the final nail with the coffin was her height
>One thing Sweetie always admired was how her sister would always stand out from the crowd
>She was confident, she was talented, and she was beautiful
>All attributes that seemed incredibly amplified by her monumental 5'10 frame
>And Rarity seemed to agree about her height being the most important factor to make her stand out
>Sweetie remembered all manner of ways Rarity used to "cheat" her height when she needed to get someone's attention
>Heels, posture tricks, clothes that called attention to her upper body, and sometimes even enchanted items if she ever felt like "looking" taller wasn't enough
>The countless times Rarity used her height to her advantage made Sweetie's anticipation for her own big growth spurt to finally arrive all the more agonizing
>An agony that only got worse as the years went by and the realization she was going to be stuck with a meekly 5'2 height dawned on her
>But, even with such a clear example of superiority in her mind, she at least had help coping with her insecurities, thanks to her friends
>Sure, Apple Bloom may have taken after her own sister, growing up to be 5'9 with very generous hips
>But not Scootaloo
>As far back as Sweetie could remember, Scootaloo had been just as short as her, which helped her cope with the insecurities of a height given by a very stingy puberty
>But now, thanks to her friend's surprise growth spurt, all those insecurities Sweetie had buried away came back with a vengeance
>Such thoughts, after having her relive those moments in her head, took her back to just a few minutes earlier
>It seemed like a whole day having to look at her newly tall friend wasn't enough, as the universe seemingly was hellbent in shoving her insecurities in her face
>"Doesn't she feel cold?" Sweetie complained, remembering the brief exchange with her sister. "The least she could do is not expose half her tits when it's this cold."
>Sweetie looked down again, looking at her own breasts
>"Oh, who am I kidding? If I had those, I wouldn't want to cover up either!" Her voice cracked in anger. "She even smelled like lemons; how can I compete?"
>She punched the water once again
>"It's not fair!" Sweetie cried. "What did I do to deserve this?"
>"Oh, I wonder. Whatever *did* you do?"
>Sweetie jumped at the unexpected response
>She stood on the tub, startled, aggressively pointing a bottle of shampoo she instinctively grabbed at every corner of the room
>"Who's that?! S-show yourself!"
>"Look at you. So impotent. So scared. So small."
>Despite its calm, enticing, feminine tone, the words drilled into Sweetie's brain
>"Shut up! Who are you?!"
>"Someone who sympathizes. I can't help but look at poor, little Sweetie Belle and pity this wronged soul."
>"Y-you know my name?"
>"Of course, small one. And so much more, too. I know everything you are thinking... Everything you're feeling..." The words echoed ever closer. "Especially how you feel about your friends... How you wish you could be as tall as they are..."
>"That's not... I don't..." Sweetie tried not to seem like, whoever this was, wasn't getting to her head so easily, but her attempts simply ended in whimpering
>"It's only natural for someone in your position to deny the harsh reality when it's thrown at your face like this, but, no matter what words you mutter, I know you know I'm telling the truth."
>"No! Y-you're lying..."
>"Is that so, small one? That tear rolling down your cheek tells a different story."
>"Shut up! Go away!" Sweetie yelled angrily. "And stop calling me small!"
>"Perhaps you prefer tiny? Minute? Petite?"
>Each word spoken felt increasingly closer to Sweetie, going from annoying, to discomforting, to painful, to agonizing
>"Diminutive? Minuscule?"
>"Stop! Stop. Please stop." She pleaded repeatedly, each one quieter than the last as the insults drilled deeper into her mind, until all she could bring herself to do as agree with a whimper. "You're right..."
>"It's a shame, really... Wouldn't everything be better if you could be just a few inches taller?"
>While it was clearly the same mysterious voice saying these things, its tone had shifted to a much friendlier one
>"What do you mean?"
>"Please, get back in the water and I'll tell you. You look awfully cold, exposing yourself to this freezing weather like that."
>The voice was now much closer and more soothing
>Familiar, even
>Against her better judgement, Sweetie sunk her body back into the tub
>"Thank you." The voice continued, "Letting the elements get the best of you would prove quite the obstacle to your bodies development."
>"I guess, but it's not like any 'development' is gonna happen anytime soon. Not everyone can be a late bloomer like Scootaloo."
>"No, not everyone can... but we are not talking about everyone, are we? Maybe *you* can."
>Before Sweetie could say anything, a dim blue light coming from the bathtub caught her attention
>Looking down, she saw something happening with the image of her body on the surface of the water
>It distorted and rearranged itself right in front of her, creating the illusion of a much curvier and longer body
>"Pretending I could look like this helps a little bit," Sweetie let out a weak laugh, "but I think I need more than a trick of the light to feel better."
>"I agree, my dear, a mere mirage cannot solve any problems. And that is why this does not have to stay a trick. Take a good look at the water. You just have to trust me and, as long as you do not mention this to anyone, I can turn this illusion into reality."
>In the back of her mind, Sweetie knew that there was something fishy going on
>But the way the voice said those words to her, combined with the enticing image before her, made her request strangely compelling
>"Alright..." She answered, her voice still filled with uncertainty. "What do you want from me?"
>"You need not worry, what I require from you is simple." Said the voice, with a hint of eagerness. "All you have to do is close your eyes, relax, and take a deep breath."
>Sweetie Belle did as she was told, and closed her eyes
>Letting her body completely relax in the water, she then took a deep breath
>The moment she did, however, she felt like she was inhaling a really dry, thick cloud of smoke, nothing like the steam coming from the tub
>Immediately, she started coughing, any notion of relaxation quickly going what the window, in favor of a feeling of suffocation
>She felt her body getting weaker, and everything was going dark
>Her body slowly inched forward, barely holding its own weight
>Sweetie couldn't see or feel anything for a moment, and her mind went blank
>A second later her face hit the water, and she woke up startled
>"Ah! What the hell was that?!" She asked as soon as her throat let her
>She looked at her surroundings, noticing she was still in the bathroom
>"Ugh, did I really fall asleep in the bath?"
>She took her hands out of the water, examining her fingers to see her fingertips wrinkled
>"Yup, I did. Great."
>Frustrated, she quickly got out of the bath, put on a towel, and made her way upstairs
>After drying herself, she put on her old pajamas
>Thanks to the mirror in her room, the usually comfortable, roomy clothes served as another reminder of her underdeveloped body
>"It's been so long... why can't I fill this out yet?"
>With a heavy sigh, she laid on her bed and closed her eyes
>"I wish that could've been more than a dream."
----------
>Sweetie Belle slowly opened her eyes as the warmth of the morning embraced her face, a welcome change from the freezing evening of yesterday
>She sat down on the bed, a herculean effort in itself, as her body practically melted into the mattress, thanks to its overwhelming softness
>She stretches and yawns, her body feeling great after what might as well have been the best night of sleep of her life
>Maybe that was an exaggeration, she thought, but after six months sleeping on an old buck bed, it sure felt like it
>As if the beginning of her day wasn't good enough, she soon felt the faint smell of bacon coming from the kitchen
>She hopped out of bed and made her way downstairs to the kitchen, where she found a plate of bacon and eggs waiting for her on the table
>"Good morning, darling!" Said Rarity from the stove as she fried a couple more bacon strips. "I was gonna wake you up when I was done with these, but since... you..."
>Rarity's cheery tone slowed down to a stop as she looked at Sweetie Belle
>She stared at her sister for a while, with a dumbfounded expression
>"Um... Is there something wrong with me?" Asked Sweetie, breaking the awkward silence
>"Well, no wonder you were wearing that ludicrous amount of clothing yesterday." Rarity finally spoke. "Unless you bought new clothes, the ones you had when you left really wouldn't do the job all that well nowdays, huh?"
>"Wouldn't do the job?" Sweetie asked, confused. "Rarity, what are you talking about?"
>"Why, your frame of course! I can't believe I didn't notice it yesterday!"
>"My...? Woah!"
>Sweetie glanced down at herself, and was shocked
>Instead of the roomy clothes she went to sleep with, the pajamas she was wearing were tightly hugging her figure
>And it wasn't only a matter of tightness, as she quickly gathered by noticing her sleeves weren't quite reaching her wrists anymore and, as it was of particular notice for her, her midriff had a couple exposed inches
>Sweetie Belle, despite her best efforts to stay in shape, seemed to be cursed with a very persistent layer of baby fat, which meant she had to deal with having the slightest paunch on an otherwise skinny body
>"Woah indeed! If you had told me about this before, I'd have a fully revamped wardrobe waiting for you already!"
>"I-it's not like that... I don't..." Sweetie stumbled through her while frantically pushing the rem of her top as to try and hide those pesky inches of skin
>Rarity chortled
>"Come on now, I didn't mean it that way." She shot a playful look at Sweetie Belle just in time to see her face reddening. "You look fabulous."
>"You're just saying that."
>"I wouldn't have made breakfast like this if I didn't think so, would I? Speaking of which, dive in, or it's going to get cold."
>Sweetie smiled and sat down
>"Don't mind if I do!"
>Now, with the table helping her cover up, she could finally forget about her suddenly undersized clothes and concentrate on what really mattered: that delicious-looking plate of bacon and eggs
>And her first bite confirmed the taste was as divine as everything else about that breakfast
>All those concerns about her figure were quickly thrown out the window, and she attacked the plate with gusto
>"So, Sweeite, I was wondering: how was your day yesterday?" Asked Rarity, joining her sister at the table
>Reminded of Sweetie's reactions the night before, Rarity hoped she would be more willing to open up after resting
>"We talked for a bit, but I wanna hear all the juicy details." She continued
>"Eh, it was gooth. Lotsh of parying, lotsh of eating."
>"Uh-huh..." Rarity stared at Sweetie as she stuffed her mouth with her food between syllables. "But I mean... nothing in particular that you find worth mentioning?"
>Sweetie stopped mid-bite, dropping a piece of bacon that was half-hanging from her mouth
>"W-what do you mean?" She asked, a look of concern overtaking her face
>Bingo
>"You looked rather bothered yesterday when we talked. Is there something you wanna talk about?"
>"Oh, that's what you mean!" Sweetie's face lit up again, and she got back to stuffing her face. "I guessh I wash jusht tired. I woke up feeling great today."
>It seemed like Rarity missed the mark on her question
>Whatever bothersome feelings were brewing inside Sweetie's mind seemed to still be there
>Still, she asked herself, given Sweetie's... enthusiasm for her breakfast and generally great mood, was this really the best time to bring that up?
>No, she ultimately decided
>If Sweetie can enjoy her day as to forget those feelings, then she should try to avoid such a topic, rather than bring it up
>"My, my, I'm so f-flattered you like my cooking this much!" She noted, partially to change the topic, and partially because she was perplexed at the voracity with which her sister attacked her meal
>"It'sh sho gooth!" Exclaimed Sweetie, between bites. "I dunno, I jusht woke up sho hungry today."
>"After yesterday, I can't blame you, really." Said Rarity, taking a small bite of her own omelet as Sweetie finished devouring hers
>"Woah, let me tell you, compared to what I got used to in Manehathan, this last night of sleep, now the food, it's all making me feel like a princ-BUUURP."
>The two sisters just stared blankly at each other for a moment, before breaking into laughter
>"Ok, ok, maybe not *quite* a princess." Added Sweetie.
>"Maybe not. Though, given how you described your dormitory in your letters, you don't have to be one to deserve better than that."
>"Tell me about it. Welcome to MUA where you will have the time you'll remember for the rest of your life." Sweetie said, sarcastically, frowning. "After all, you will never forget our rock-hard mattresses, or our showers that get lukewarm at best, or your inconsiderate colleagues even if you tried!"
>"Ugh, I don't even wanna imagine it." Rarity cringed
>"Right?! And the toilets-"
>"Sweetie! Please. Still eating here."
>"Right, sorry." Sweetie chuckled
>The moment of silenced caused by Sweetie's untimely comment was all she needed to finish downing her breakfast
>With a look of joy on her face, she let out a long sigh of satisfaction
>Rarity took that as her cue
>"You know, I hope you like this look of content on your face, because I'm planning on keeping it there for a while."
>"Huh? What to you mean?" Asked Sweetie
>"Your complaints about college aren't falling on death ears, my dear, and, while I may not be able to fix everything, I can fix something that is certainly isn't helping your situation."
>"And what would that be?"
>"Your clothes, darling. I'm sure your classes are hard enough as they are, but going through them with misfitting clothes is a travesty!"
>Sweetie watched as Rarity overdramatized the problems she had to face in university
>She had clearly practiced
>"So I was planning on spending the whole morning with you, completely renovating your collection of clothes! If we get started now, we might even be halfway done before lunch!"
>"Before... Oh shoot!" Exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "I was supposed to meet with the girls at the gym this morning!"
>"O-oh, I see." Rarity murmured, disappointed. "Well, I hope you at least have the afternoon free."
>"Oh, yeah, totally!" Sweetie yelled as she dashed to her room to change
>In a jiffy, Sweetie was already in her winter getup, quickly making her way to the door
>"Oh, Sweetie, before you go, would you mind if I got your..."
>The front door slammed as Sweetie Belle left in a rush
>"...measurements?"
----------
>Sweetie ran as fast as her clothes let her
>"Please still be there, please still be there" She murmured to herself
>Soon enough she could see the gym, as well as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom waiting by the entrance
>"Yes!" Sweetie waved. "Hey girls! I'm here!"
>"Yeah, finally!" Complained Scootaloo. "What took you so long?"
>"I was talking to Rarity and lost track of time." Apologized Sweetie Belle
>"That's perfectly fine, you two need some time to catch up on each other too!" Said Apple Bloom. "Ignore Scootaloo, she's just being a pain in the behind for no reason."
>"Hey!"
>"No, no, it's ok, that's on me." Sweetie interrupted. "Sorry for keep you gals waiting."
>"You know, it's fine. Now ca we get inside already?" Complained Scootaloo. "I'm freezing out here!"
>The three girls went into the gym, and soon Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were on their workout clothes, stretching in the locker room, waiting for Sweetie Belle to finish peeling her many layers of clothing
>"I'm *so* ready for today. So, Scoots, Wanna bet on how many more reps I'm gonna do than you?" Apple Bloom taunted
>"Yeah, sure..."
>"You- wait, what did you say?!" Apple Bloom shot a quick look at her friend, weirded out by the lack of reaction to her provocation
>Though, following Scootaloo's sightline, it became very obvious why she got ignore
>The girl seemed to be in a trance as she watched Sweetie undress
>"So, uh, girls," Said Sweetie "where can I leave my stuff? I don't really ha ve a locker."
>"Oh, right, we forgot about that." Said Scootaloo, getting back to earth. "I guess I have some space on mine, but..."
>She looked at the immense pile of clothes beside Sweetie
>"I got you." Added Apple Bloom. "There's no way two lockers aren't enough."
>A good fifteen minutes and many failed attempts at fitting her clothes in the lockers, Apple Bloom was reconsidering her words
>"Come on..." Scootaloo complained, giving a hard push against her locker door. "And, done!"
>"Finally." Added Apple Bloom
>"Sorry..." Sweetie muttered
>"Don't, worry, but, uh..." Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie. "Where are your workout clothes?"
>"My...? Oh!"
>Sweetie looked at herself, noticing she was wearing only her pink underwear
>"Shoot, I left Rarity's in a rush. I think I forgot my workout stuff there."
>Apple Bloom groaned
>"Really? You sure you didn't have any workout gear in all that?" She gestured to the lockers
>"I know, sorry again." Sweetie apologized. "Maybe you can lend me a spare change of clothes?"
>"I doubt my clothes would fit you. Maybe Scootaloo could lend you something. If she gets out of her trance, anyway."
>They both turned to Scootaloo, who was staring intensely at Sweetie Belle
>"Geez, Scoots, you could be more subtle." Teased Apple Bloom
>"Huh? What are you.." Scootaloo reddened, realizing what she was doing. "N-no, you got it all wrong! I was not... I.. Uh..."
>"It's ok Scoots, I don't mind." Sweetie reassured
>"No, really it's nothing like that! It's just that... is it just me or you look taller today?"
>Apple Bloom let out a laud belly laugh
>"I've heard some weak excuses in my time, but yours might take the cake, Scoots!"
>"No, really, I-"
>"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you have your reasons. Can you just drop the act and help her out?"
>"Ugh! You know what, fine. I'll lend her my spare clothes, if that will shut you up. I'll just have to..." Scootaloo gulped. "Get it in my locker. Though I really don't want to."
>"I'm sure you don't." Asked Apple Bloom. "I bet you would complain if Sweetie were to exercise like that."
>Apple Bloom and Sweetie laughed
>"I don't- It's not- Ugh! Just help me with this stupid locker, would you?"
>Scootaloo finally worked enough courage to open the door
>At the slightest opening an avalanche of clothes fell onto Scootaloo, burying her under all manner of coats and jackets
>"Sorry. Again." Sweetie winced
-----
>After another series of attempts to stuff Sweetie's things into the locker, the three finally got to the exercise room
>The room was as big as it was packed, and there were mirrors all over the walls, a fact that was clear as the regular were clearly indulging themselves in their sculpted figures
>Sweetie was no such case, and her black and purple exercise bra and yoga pants, matching Scootaloo's, made her want to look away from the mirrors, if anything
>The clothes felt just a little tight, which was to be expected of a borrowed attire, but she couldn't help but think that her weight had something to do with that
>"Dibs on the bench!" Scootaloo declared, interrupting Sweetie's thoughts and eagerly making her way to the only available weight bench
>"Hey, no fair!" Complained Apple Bloom
>"Yes fair. Now, would you be nice and spot me, AB?"
>"Sure thing."
>Sweetie stood by, stretching, as Scootaloo laid on the bench and Apple Bloom set up an 80 lbs. barbell for her
>As soon as Scootaloo began lifting, Sweetie's eyes widened
>She couldn't help but feel jealous of her friend's lean body and her ability to stay composed as she lifted something almost as heavy as herself
>"I wish I could be that strong." Sweetie thought
>"How do you know you are not?" A voice asked, coming from inside her own mind
>"Ahhh!" She let out a sharp scream
>Scootaloo quickly got up and, along with Apple Bloom, ran towards Sweetie to check on her
>"What happened? Is everything ok?" They asked
>"I, um, I'm fine, sorry. Just pulled my leg a little too hard there." She lied
>"Careful there, an injury during your winter break would suck." Said Scootaloo
>"Yeah, don't push yourself too hard. We don't mind if you keep doing light exercises like you're used to, ok?" Apple Bloom turned to Scootaloo. "Now, can you spot me, Scoots?"
>"What?! Who said I was done?"
>"That sweaty forehead did. Come on, you already did three sets, it's my turn."
>"*Only* three, thank you very much."
>"With those baby weights it's 'only' alright." Mocked Apple Bloom, sitting down on the bench. "Now stop pretending you weren't done and come here."
>"I'm just following the routine Dash gave me, alright?" Said Scootaloo, trying to push Apple Bloom off the bench. "I'm supposed to focus more on reps than weight."
>"Stop it! I wanna exercise today, too."
>As the two bickered, Sweetie Belle's mind was somewhere else entirely
>"What was that?" She thought
>"Have you forgotten about me already?" Asked the voice. "And after I gave you a wonderful gift, too. How inconsiderate."
>Connecting the dots, Sweetie finally realized it was the same voice from the night before
>"So that really was all real." She thought
>"Yes, and I can see you quite enjoyed my gift this morning."
>"Gift... So you were the one who made me grow!"
>"Indeed, as I promised you last night. And yet... you are not quite satisfied yet, are you?"
>"No, no, I am, this is great!"
>"Humility or not, I can tell you are not being honest. Do not lie to me, little one. Remember, I know how you really feel."
>Sweetie sighed
>"It's just that I'm taller than Scoots and all but... that's kind of it. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be complaining, it's just-"
>"No, no, my dear, you should. You can tell something is not as it should be, and that is not something you should ever keep to yourself. You deserve better. You deserve the best. Why should you be contented with so little?"
>"I... guess?"
>"That is right. You clearly noted you are not strong enough, so let me give you another gift. I need you to get on that bench."
>"What do you mean 'get on that bench?' For what purpose?"
>"For you to lift some weights, why else?"
>"What?! But I never lifted a barbell in my life, much less something that hea-"
>Suddenly, Sweetie Belle felt a jolt of electricity running down her spine, making her muscles tense up
>Thanks to that, her back was feeling pretty uncomfortable, so she shifted to a relaxing position
>Or so she tried
>Panic took over her mind as she started feeling her body moving by itself, outside of her control
>"What is happening? Help!" She tried to scream, but could only do so inside her own mind
>"...aaaand ten!" Sighed Scootaloo, putting the barbell back on its rack
>"Finally. I can't believe I let you convince me to let you do two more sets." Complained Apple Bloom. "Now let me put some real weight on this bad boy."
>"Actually, Apple Bloom," interrupted Sweetie Belle, "do you mind if I go first?"
>The two girls stared at each other and then at Sweetie
>"You? Lifting?" Questioned Apple Bloom in disbelief. "Since when?"
>"What? Do you think I cannot lift? That I am not strong enough?"
>"It's nothing like that, cool it." Scootaloo interjected. "It's just that you never seemed to have an interest in that."
>"There is a first time for everything, is there not. So, Apple Bloom, are you going to spot me or not?"
>The two girl's jaws dropped
>"Sure, I guess." Apple Bloom finally answered, taking a few seconds to gather an answer. "Hey Scoots, can you help me remove one of those plates for her?"
>"That much is fine, thank you." Said Sweetie Belle in an annoyed tone
>"Are you nuts? You're not gonna hurt yourself."
>"I am, Scootaloo, thank you for you input." Sweetie said in a flat tone, laying on the bench as she did. "Now Apple Bloom, will you help me?"
>"Sheesh, ok, we're just worried."
>Sweetie put her hands of the bar, mimicking Scootaloo's previous posture, and then, as suddenly as before, she felt another jolt on her spine
>The uncomfortable sensation magnified, and she could fell her fingers getting looser on the bar
>She shifted on the bench, trying to find a better position, only to realize
>She could control her body again
>"What the hell was that?!" She yelled in her mind
>"You seemed uncertain, so I gave you a little push."
>"You possessed me! Don't you think that's a bit more than a li-"
>"Sweetie?" Asked Apple Bloom. "I'm ready when you are."
>"Oh, of course, sorry."
>She held her grip tight on the bar, afraid to lift such a heavy weight over her head
>Noting Sweetie's distress, Apple Bloom put her hands over hers
>"You know, it's ok if you changed your mind, we don't really mind."
>"No!" Sweetie yelped. "No, really, I can do this."
>"See?" Echoed the voice in her head. "You do want this, just needed help realizing it."
>"I don't! I just don't want you making me do things again! Ever!"
>"Ok, so... again, ready when you are." Said Apple Bloom
>"Sure. This is fine!" Sweetie audibly grunted. "Let's do this."
>Taking a deep breath, she took the bar off the rack and held it in the air
>...For about a second before the bar slowly approached her face against her will
>Apple Bloom reacted in time, holding it before it hit Sweetie's face
>"Now, sugar cube, what did I tell you? You should start small."
>"It's not that, it's just... I think I hurt my back."
>"No way, let me see it." Said Scootaloo
>Both her friends examined her back for a minute
>"You seem fine, luckily. But really, listen to us next time."
>"Alright, I'm sorry."
>"It's ok. Now scram!" Said Apple Bloom. "I've been dying to get some exercise all morning."
>Sweetie got off the bench, and immediately the voice in her head complained
>"What do you think you are doing?"
>"My back hurts, give me a break."
>"But your gift-"
>"Later, alright? Besides, Apple Bloom really wants to lift. There's no harm in waiting."
>"Alright, you two girls had your fun, but now it's my turn. Scoots, can you get me the usual plates on that side?"
>"Sure thing."
>Sweetie watched her two friends loading two more plates on each side, a pair of 50 lbs. and another of 25
>She kept looking, dumbfounded, as Apple Bloom got on the bench and started lifting the 230 lbs. bar
>Apple Bloom's reps were slow, but steady, and, given the bulging muscles of her arms, it seemed like she was putting some real effort
>"Phew, now that felt good!" Said Apple Bloom, sitting on the bench. "You take a good look at that weight, Scoots. That's how much you can lift if you train hard enough."
>"Ugh, shut it, would you?" Scoffed Scootaloo
>"Poor, misguided girl," whispered the voice to Sweetie, "thinking that much weight is impressive. You should show her some real strength."
>"What? Are you nuts? I barely held the barbell before, and that was much lighter."
>"That was also when your back was hurt. But we do not feel any pain now, do we?"
>Sweetie Belle had not paid attention, but the discomfort she felt before did indeed go away at some point
>"Besides," the voice continued, "I have given you a gift before. You have no reason to distrust me."
>"I... you know, ok, fine."
>Sweetie approached Apple Bloom nervously as she got up from the bench
>"Hey, AB, would you, um... mind if I try again? My back is feeling better."
>"Already, huh? Sure, I'll take a few plates off for you."
>"Actually... I was hoping to try with that much weight."
>Apple Bloom's face sunk at the comment, and she gave Sweetie Belle a serious look
>"Look, I know you're excited to try, but there's no way you can lift that much. You just started, slow down."
>"No, really I think I can-"
>"No." Said Apple Bloom, looking down at Sweetie. "You're gonna hurt yourself really bad if you try. You almost did already. Let's do something else."
>"Yeah, I agree. You gotta take it easy." Added Scootaloo. "Now let's go. We had plenty of exercise already."
>"Fine..." Muttered Sweetie Belle
>The three friends were halfway to the changing room, when Sweetie turned around and sprinted towards the bench
>"Sweetie, no!" Both girls yelled
>But it was too late for them to stop her
>Sweetie laid on the bench
>She picked up the barbell from the shelf
>And she was holding it in the air
>She really was holding all that weight, she couldn't believe it
>Not only that, but, to her surprise, it felt extremely light
>"Sweetie are you... Are you actually lifting all that much?" Asked Scootaloo, as her and Apple Bloom approached the bench, too
>"Yeah! I told you guys it would be fine. Now, would one of you please spot me?"
>They looked at each other, incredulous, before Apple Bloomed stepped up and got into position
>"Alright," Sweetie said to herself, "here I go."
>And so, Sweetie did her first rep
>To her surprise, it took her barely any effort at all to do so
>As soon as her arms were back in their original position, she felt a pleasing wave of warmth cruise through her body as she did
>Feeling a lot more confident, she continued the exercise, each repetition making her feel that pleasurable warmth all over her body
>Soon a full set became two, then three, then four
>Finally, at five sets of five, she felt the pleasant sensation dying down
>She put the bar back on the rack, and put a towel on her forehead, only to realize she didn't even break a sweat
>"You know what, Apple Bloom? You were right. If this is this light, what Scoots is lifting can't be that much weight after all." Smiled Sweetie
>"Look, uh, Sweetie. I'm all for taking digs at Scoots, but there's more pressing matters for us to talk about right now."
>"Oh?"
>"Yeah," added Scootaloo, "like how did you lift all that?!"
>"I don't know. Guess I'm a natural!"
>"That's not how it works at all!" Exclaimed Scootaloo. "There's no way you can lift this much. Apple Bloom I get, but I can't even see your musc-"
>Scootaloo flinched as she looked at Sweetie Belle's stomach
>Noticing where her eyes were, Sweetie looked in the mirror, and her smile grew
>The noticeable layer of fat that haunted her all her life was all but gone, even leaving her with a hint of abs for her troubles
>And the changes didn't stop there, if the spillage coming from under her sports bra was any indication
>She quickly got up to stretch her back, indulging her eyes in the image of her reflection
>"Wait, never mind that!" Uttered Apple Bloom. "When did you get this tall?!"
>Apple Bloom's comment made Sweetie Belle take her eyes off herself
>Looking over at her friends, it was undoubtful that she had indeed grown quite a bit, being at eye level with Apple Bloom, if not an inch taller, and having to look down to make eye contact with Scootaloo
>"I... uhh..." Sweetie panicked. "Don't know what you two are talking about...?"
>"Oh, come on! Cut the crap, Sweetie." Protested Scootaloo
>"Yeah, what do you mean you 'don't know'? You were clearly much smaller when you got here today. And what's up with this insane strength?"
>"Just tell us, Sweetie." Added Scootaloo
>With her friends cornering her, Sweetie didn't know what to say
>She felt another jolt on her spine, and, just as before, she couldn't control her body anymore
>"Everything is fine! Nothing you saw was cause for alarm! This is how things should be!"
>Instead of her normal voice, what came out was powerful, booming voice
>Her friends seemed to be as startled as herself about such a voice coming out of her
>And, just as fast it happened, she felt the jolt again, and she was back in control
>"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Sweetie tried apologizing, stopping when she saw her two friends staring blankly at her
>"Sorry about what?" Asked Apple Bloom, confused
>"Huh?"
>"You know, you're acting a little weird today, is everything ok?" Asked Scootaloo
>"I... I guess so, yeah."
>"You know," said Apple Bloom, "it's really getting cold. How 'bout we just go home?"
>"I'm with you." Replied Scootaloo. "But we're still gonna grab a pizza tonight, right?"
>"Yeah, you bet, Scoots! You wanna come, Sweetie?"
>"Sure! Where is it?"
>"Oh right, Pinkie started doing pizza nights every Monday at Sugarcube Corner a couple months ago. Guess you wouldn't know about that."
>"Sounds fun!" Sweetie exclaimed. "I'm down."
>The trio soon left the gym and parted ways
>As Sweetie walked home by herself, she took the opportunity to talk to her new friend
>"So, what was that all about?"
>"Just a little trick I picked up some time ago. You should try it sometime. When you are big enough, you can be confident and direct, and people will be very eager to give you whatever you want."
>"When I'm... big enough?"
>"Indeed. That is a nice side effect of getting bigger. People simply respect you more."
>"Well, they did really obey your order, no questions asked. They seemed really eager to change the subject, too."
>"Do you see? When you are this big, you can just demand things from people. How do you think your sister got to where she is?"
>"What are you saying?" Sweetie asked, indignant. "Her success comes from hard work and persistence."
>"Don not be so naive, little one. Sure, those things helped her, but at the end of the day, success belongs to those who take it."
>"That's-"
>"Not true? Search your feelings, you know I am right."
>"No, you are not, how could you ever say something like that?"
>She couldn't hear any response
>"Hello? Don't ignore me!"
>Still, nothing
>Perhaps this was for the better anyway, she thought, as she was far too upset at the voice's last comment for any productive conversation to happen
>In the silence of her own mind, Sweetie spent the rest of her walk home reflecting on those very same words
>As reluctant as she was to admit, the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like what the voice said made sense
>A lot of Rarity's success came down to her being assertive when she needed to be, and she knew her size would be a powerful source for that amount of confidence
>Still, she couldn't quite shake off the feeling that something about that was not right
----------
>"Rarity, I'm back!"
>Sweetie's words were met with silence
>Walking past the boutique and into the kitchen, she noticed Rarity was nowhere to be found
>"Now, where could she... Oh, right! Of course she's not down here."
>She made her way upstairs, and, just as suspected, she could already hear the muffled sounds of a sewing machine working
>"As much of a workaholic as ever." Sweetie thought. "Might as well let her know I'm back."
>She knocked on the door to workroom, and the machine slowly halted its noise
>"Is that you, Sweetie?" Asked Rarity, her tone indicating excitement. "Come in, I have a surprise for you!"
>As she opened the door for the workroom, Sweetie was met with the image of her bag opened beside Rarity's work desk, and her clothes scattered all over the room
>"I hope you don't mind, Sweetie, but I wanted a head start on that wardrobe update of yours, so I spent the morning measuring your old clothes."
>"So, you just went through my stuff without asking?"
>"Oh, don't worry darling, I didn't see anything I shouldn't." Rarity winked. "But if it's too much trouble, I think this little surprise will make it up to you."
>Rarity reached for a couple tickets on her work table, and held them towards Sweetie Belle with a wide smile
>"I hope you're free this afternoon, because I got us two vouchers to the spa! Isn't this exciting?"
>"Oh, what do we have here?" The voice inside Sweetie's head spoke. "Looking through your bags without your permission. Making plans for your day without asking if you are free. I wonder why she feels justified on those actions."
>"Shut up!" Sweetie replied in anger
>"What?!"
>A shiver went down Sweetie's spine
>That was not the mysterious voice
>She looked at her sister's face, and saw the most soul crushing combination of shock, heartbreak, and puppy-dog eyes on her sister's face
>"I-I mean, shut up! I can't believe how awesome this is!" Sweetie stumbled through her words, but was successful enough for that look to turn into a much more manageable face of confusion. "Really, thank you so much! I hope these weren't too expensive. I don't wanna be a nuisance."
>"Pfff, there's no expense too big for a quality time with my favorite sister!" And just like that, Rarity was back to her normal self. "Besides, these were free."
>"Oh? How come?"
>"Well, I may or may not have mentioned to the girls at the spa you were coming to town this week, and, as an early Hearth's Warming gift, they came here earlier with these! Aren't they lovely?"
>"See?" The voice continued. "All she has to do is demand, and people will happily give her presents. And she is wise to accept those offers. She understands the truth that she can just do these things. After all, she is bigger than these people. Just like she is bigger than you."
>"Ok, I get it." Thought Sweetie, annoyed
>"Do you now? Perhaps you would like another gift then?"
>"Sure, whatever makes you shut your nonexistent mouth." Sweetie agreed, immediately feeling a heating sensation building up on her chest
>"But enough about the spa." Continued Rarity, leaving the tickets on the table. "Now that you're here, would you mind help me with your clothes? I do need to take your new measurements, after all. So, could you please stand by the tape on the wall?"
>"Yeah, sure thing."
>"Ok, let's see..." Rarity took a good look at Sweetie, picking up her notepad and writing something down. "My, my, it seems you grew quite a lot. You're 5'8 Sweetie!"
>"Woah, really?! Already?"
>"Really! It seems like you're taking after your big sis, huh?" Rarity joked
>"Yeah, seems like it." She answered, paying only half-attention as she tried adjusting her suddenly-tight clothes
>"Now, would you please take off that igloo worth of clothing so I can get your proportions?"
>Sweetie happily obliged, each layer she peeled from her torso making her feel that much more comfortable
>Getting down to her exercise clothes again, she called Rarity, who was paying attention to her notepad
>"Alright sis, I'm ready."
>"Excellent! Now let me get my taaaaa..."
>Rarity stopped right on her tracks as soon as she saw Sweetie Belle, dropping her pencil on the floor and trying to find the right words as she stared
>"You ok there, Sis?" Sweetie Belle asked, confused
>She followed her awestruck sister's stare, and looked down at her chest
>"Oh my." Gasped Sweetie, only able to let these two words escape her mouth before joining her sister in surprised silence
>Her breasts were unbilievably massive, making Scootaloo's top look like a joke
>They were spilling from it from every conceivable angle, clearly stretching the material to its absolute limit
>"I, er, hmph, suppose I really am needed!" Babbled Rarity, finally breaking the silence. "This old top of yours won't do at all."
>"What?" Asked Sweetie, still entranced by her own boobs. "Oh, sorry. These aren't mine they are Scootaloo's."
>"Still," said Rarity, maintaining unbreakable eye contact with Sweetie's comically undersized top, "I doubt yours would fit, either. You might be close to needing one of *my* sports bras."
>"Really? I think I might be past them, too."
>That comment finally broke the stare contest between Rarity and Sweetie's chest
>Now, her eyes were too busy shooting daggers at Sweetie Belle
>"I-I didn't mean it lik-"
>"No, no." Interrupted Rarity, in a sharp tone. "We're gonna measure you and discover that right now. After all, we're here to do precisely that, aren't we?"
>Sweetie nodded, slightly taken aback by Rarity's tone
>"Good. Now, arms up."
>She did as she was told, and soon felt a measuring tape wrapping itself around her chest, underneath her breasts
>After hearing the sound of pencil on paper, the same tape moved to the fullest part of her breasts
>"Now let's see..." Rarity muttered under her breath, a hint of anger being noticeable even in spite of the low volume
>"I, um, am really excited to know my cup size!" Said Sweetie, trying to make small talk to break the weirdly tense atmosphere. "After I left, they just started growing and gro- Ow!"
>A sharp pain spread on her chest as Rarity pulled the tape a tad too tight for comfort
>"Hey!" Sweetie complained. "That hurt!"
>"Oh, I'm so sorry." Replied Rarity with a sarcastic tone. "Perhaps you can let me concentrate instead of chatting?"
>"Alright, geez. What's gotten into y- Ow!"
>"Darling, please."
>Sweetie mumbled some complaints to herself, afraid for the well-being of her newly-huge chest
>In her silence, she could hear Rarity, who was still wrapping the tape around her chest quite tightly, muttering a few things herself
>"This can't be. This has to be wrong."
>There was a minute of silence as Rarity simply stared back and forth between the tape and what she wrote in her notebook
>"Um..." Sweetie Belle reluctantly spoke. "Are you done with my bust?"
>"I feel done."
>Another minute passed before Sweetie spoke again
>"So, uh, are you gonna take my other measurements?"
>"What? Oh, oh, right of course." Rarity replied, as if she just broke out of a trance
>Finally, the pressure around Sweetie's chest was no more, allowing her a sigh of relief
>Rarity wrapped the tape around Sweetie's waist
>Almost immediately, Sweetie could hear her sister giggle
>"Is everything ok there?"
>"Hohoh, it's nothing darling." She slid the tape down to Sweetie's hips, and let out another giggle. "Really, barely anything."
>The pencil swiftly wrote down Sweetie's other two measurements onto the notebook
>Sweetie finally looked at Rarity, and she seemed conflicted
>Rarity expression changed rapidly as she read the page on her hand, going from frowning to smirking as she her eyes scanned the notebook from top to bottom
>"So, what's the verdict?" Sweetie asked
>"Well, um..." Rarity scratched her head, still looking at the page. "The good news is that I can salvage all your pants and shorts. The bad news is that you're gonna need to get rid of aaaall your tops."
>"That bad?"
>"Uh-hum, I'm afraid so."
>"Well... maybe I can borrow some of your clothes on the meanwhile?"
>"Absolutely not!" Rarity yelled
>Sweetie didn't respond, being far too startled to do so
>Rarity looked at her sister and sighed
>"Sorry, I didn't mean to be so loud." Rarity closed her notebook and placed it at her desk. "You know, I think I need some fresh air, I've been in this room for a while now. Why don't you meet me in the boutique in a few minutes? I'm sure we can find something for you to wear."
>"Y-yeah, sounds good. Sounds great, really!"
>"Alright. See you in a bit."
>Sweetie waited for Rarity to leave the room before picking up one of the many shirts scattered on the floor
>"What gotten into her?" She thought
>"She got a taste of her own medicine, little one."
>"I don't think that nickname works anymore." Sweetie replied to the voice as she struggled to put on one of her old shirts. "And what do you mean by that?"
>"I mean exactly what I said. You did not do anything, and yet, she felt threatened. You are far too big for her to feel comfortable now. In fact, she may know that her time on the throne is coming to a close."
>"Well, 'far too big' seems right." Noted Sweetie, looking in the mirror how one of her bigger older shirts now exposed her waist and formed an obvious curtain dangling below her tits. "But why would she feel threatened?"
>"Why not take a look at her annotations? I am sure you are bound to find your answer there."
>Sweetie, with a touch of reluctance, did as she was told
>She flipped through the pages until she found the latest measurements
>As she read, her eyes widened
>Height: 5'8
>Bust: 38 in - H-cup
>Waist: 27 in
>Hips: 30 in
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