“Excuse me! Gonna need another batch of strawberry-peanut-butter smoothie after this one, please!” Sunset called out, making sure someone behind the counter heard her loud and clear.
 
“Are you sure you wouldn’t want to drink out of a coconut, darling? Surely, you can’t deny the aesthetic!”
 
“Thanks, but I’d rather just stick with the food processor bowl,” Sunset explained before taking another huge swig. “It cuts out the middleman.”
 
Rarity simply chuckled. “Well, you’re certainly not wasting any time from stuffing yourself. At this rate, you might finally outweigh me soon enough,” she teased before taking a sip herself.
 
“Yeah, I know. I just barely hit 900 pounds, this scooter is starting to struggle, and yet I’m still getting bigger.” Sunset shrugged as she stared down at her fleshy body before glancing over towards Rarity’s own massive frame. Funny enough, she had just noticed their butts were squished up together. Even though she knew Rarity was still about a hundred pounds heavier, that weight difference was barely distinct anymore. “Wow. I am… pretty huge, huh?”
 
 
Hearing her friend’s sudden hesitant tone, Rarity turned to her. “Are you okay?”
 
“No, I’m fine. It’s just that… you’re right. Pretty soon, I’m gonna be bigger than you. Which means, I’ll be too big to really do, well… much of anything. This week might really be the last time I can actually go out. Who knows how long until that can happen again?” Sunset pauses to take a large gulp of smoothie, allowing a moment to steady herself a bit. “I don’t know. I just thought I’d be ready for what’s coming, but now it’s just around the corner. It’s kinda overwhelming, really. I don’t know how you did it considering how big you were just a couple months ago.”
 
“I see.” Rarity nodded “Well, to be honest, it wasn’t an easy experience. In fact, it felt very isolating. Just laying around and eating may sound like paradise, but it won’t be long until you start feeling trapped in this endless cycle. Then it’s just a matter of waiting until that cycle stops and you can start regaining some sense of control again.”
 
“That must’ve been scary. Not just for you, but Fluttershy must’ve gone through the same thing. Probably even Applejack, too!”
 
“Oh, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Friends were always there to help, of course,” Rarity reassured with a grin, to which Sunset gave a knowing smile back. “Especially Applejack. You know, she visited me every day. Whether it was to bring extra food, or sheets, or to simply talk.”
 
“Yeah, you’ve mentioned that part a few dozen times.” Sunset chuckled.
 
“R-right,” Rarity blushed. “But anyway, it also helps to have family around the house most of the time. I seriously cannot thank them enough for putting up with me.”
 
“That’s…” Sunset breathed, “that’s all good to hear at least. Thank you, I guess I really needed to get that off my chest.”
 
“Just remember, darling! We’ll always be there for you, no matter how hard things get. Cheers!”
 
“Cheers.”
 
TINK!
 
Though Sunset did genuinely feel a little more level-headed after that talk, it also helped her realize that she will have to address another problem very soon. One involving her own current living situation.
 
Turns out, having an apartment to herself hasn’t been as ideal as it used to be.