Sunnyside waddled along to work, the thought of a new shift usually didn’t excite her much but today was different.

Today was something special, something that she hadn’t experienced ever while working for Blubber King before.

New Product Launch Day

It had all been kept very...secret. That was the only real word for it she had decided. Even Di her manager, usually the most open pony she knew didn’t even speak a word about what was coming. The employees, including Sunny had begged her to reveal even the smallest of details. All she had said was.

“It’s big.”

Even the marketing campaign that had gone out on holo-screens and other mediums through the empire had been vague. All it had told ponies was today was the day that something new was coming, and they just had to order “The New Item” on the menu. Of course various ones had tried their luck coming to the registers and trying to sweet talk the staff. Sunny had lost count of how many stallions and even mares had tried to bribe her to release information about whatever was coming, usually in the form of a free meal. All she could say was “Sorry, even I don’t know.”

Today was the day though, Sunny had gotten in a little early and had obviously volunteered for the morning shift. She was dying to know what this fantastic new item was. She walked in and put her saddlebag and other items in her locker, quickly slipping on her apron and waddling as fast as her chubby legs would move her into the kitchen. Di and a few other members of staff were already there. She could even make out a line of customers outside the doors, clearly they were excited as well.

“Ah Sunny, we’re just waiting on a few more but I’ve told the others about the new product we’ve been keeping under wraps. You’ll all be serving the usual hungry customers who are waiting.” Di said with a small smile, she could see the other staff members already lost in thought at what they had just been told.

“It’s a hot dog.”

Sunny blinked and tilted her head a little. That was it? She could tell her thoughts and lack of reaction were reflected in her boss’s next words.

“Sorry a little underwhelming. It’s different to a standard hot dog. The company has been developing it for a while and they’ve obviously just planned to release it today. It comes in three sizes. Regular, deluxe and gut-buster. However the thing that is getting ponies excited is that each different size has a guaranteed amount of gain that comes with it. Well, it will get ponies excited when they know what about it.” Di said proudly. She passed Sunny the updated menu with the new item on, the advertising certainly was sharp. Plenty of pictures and the details below.

New at Blubber King! Our speciality hot dog! Comes in three sizes, what’s different about our dog? You’re guaranteed to gain with every bite! Order now!

Regular meal, 1 dog, 1 portion of fries, 1 drink: 3 bits. 25ibs gained guaranteed!
Deluxe meal, 1 jumbo dog, 2 portions of fries, 1 drink. 7 bits. 50ibs gained guaranteed!
Gut buster meal, 1 gut buster dog, 4 portions of fries, 2 drinks. 12 bits. 100ibs gained guaranteed!

Weigh yourselves on our new in store scales if you don’t believe us!

Sunny looked up. Scales? She didn’t remember any scales in the store before...oh. They must have put them in overnight. Where some of the seating had been placed for the refurbishment now there was a couple of sets of massive scales.

“I assume that’s part of the promotion?” Sunny asked Di, pointing a hoof over at the scales.

“Sure is. Oh flip the page over. There’s something additional.”

Sunny turned the page over with her hoof as instructed. There was the remaining regular items she was used to. But below that some sauces.

Our new sauce range! Perfect for your gut buster dog! Also guaranteed to make you gain!

All sauces 1 bit, or double up for an extra bit for triple the gain! 1 packet = 2ibs gained if completely consumed, double deal = 6ibs gained if completely consumed.

Tomato, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Ranch, BBQ and Zesty! More flavours coming soon!

“So new hot dog meals and sauces, all geared towards gaining.” Sunny said, already licking her lips. Whoever had dreamed this up in corporate was clearly a genius. They knew what the population wanted. She was surprised nopony else had this idea already.

“That’s the whole idea. Pull ponies in because if they know they are trying to hit a target weight then this will easily let them figure out what meals they need to eat to get there. No more guessing and just scarfing down as many cakes as you can. Although I’m sure plenty will do that anyway.” Di chuckled. It was about ready for opening time. “Sunny you’re on the fryer again. Probably be more orders for that today. I imagine quite a few lone ponies ordering gut busters wanting their four portions each. The rest of you on the till, when they ask for The New Item as those oh so wonderful ads have been telling them don’t forget to explain what it is and what sizes it comes in.” Di barked down the line, she gently eased her pad back a little to be behind the registers. No longer did she have to manually open the front doors, it was all remote operated from her pad.

“I’m opening the doors, as per normal. Be ready.”

The doors opened, Sunny already working her fryer as she anticipated a horde of hungry customers. They waddled, hovered or heck, some even rolled their way in as they immediately began queing at the counter. First in line was a stallion who had clearly been waiting a while, he had an olive coat and teal mane. He was very overweight, but not so much so he needed a pad. He also had a rather fetching goatee. Sunny glanced at him up from the fryer, she thought she recognised him. The pony serving him rattled off the promotion and new items. He grinned for a moment.

“Two gutbusters please. Table 14.”

“Are you dining with somepony else or yourself?”

“Just myself. I always order the largest menu item.” He said, before waddling his way over to his table and plonking his chubby rear down at his seat with a big grin on his face. Di had noticed Sunny had stopped and hovered over to her.

“Somepony you know?”

“I think so. When I was younger we used to go to a place in town to eat sometimes. It was called Lupin’s Lair of Lard. I remember the meals being very tasty. The inside always had the same decoration though and I thought it was unusual. Olive walls and a teal roof. I knew the owner was a stallion too but...I wonder.”

“You know drones don’t have to take the meals. Want to serve him his? You can ask. I can look after the fryer for five minutes.” Di said, almost pushing Sunny with her pad. “Take one of the serving saddles.”

Di fiddled with her at-hoof controls and instructed the meal to be left at the end of the line rather than go into the drone pickup area. Sunny looked at the two gutbuster meals, almost overflowing from the trays. He had ordered a few sauces too. Clearly wanting to gain a fair amount. Over 200ibs in front of her, she picked it up and took it over to his table. The stallion looked up with a small smile.

“No drone service? Is this part of the promotion too?” He asked, genuinely curious.

“Sorry um...is your name Lupin?” Sunny asked, she wasn’t quite sure how else to put it.

“Sure is, well. Lupin Quill if you want the full name but Lupin is fine. Do I know you?” The obese stallion said as he started to dig into his meal, the fries were disappearing fast.

“No um, I just wanted to say your food is really good. I have fond memories of eating there as a filly.” Sunny said with a small smile.

“Ah! You’ve been to my place! How’d you know it was me?”

“The coat and mane, it’s the same colour as your walls and ceiling. I always remember that.” She replied. The stallion just grinned through a mouthful of food.

“I thought that might give me away at some point. Well if you ever want to come back again, you’re welcome. Although with food this good I don’t know. I had to check it out. Pays to know your competition.” He said. “Thanks for delivering the meal.” Were his final words before he buried himself again in the food. Sunny trotted away and back to the fryer.

“Well?” Di asked, she seemed just as curious.

“Yeah, it’s him. The owner I mean. He complimented the food, said it was good. He wanted to know what he’s up against.”

“Well, makes sense.” Di replied. “Good business sense. Anyhow he seems satisfied.” Her ear twitched as she heard a huge UUURRRAAAPPPPP!!! erupt from the table the stallion was sitting at, the food clearly getting to him. Di hovered away to keep an eye on her other employees.

Sunny had a thought, maybe she would head back there at some point. For now though, the place was buzzing and customers were still queuing out the door wanting food. She got back to work as she dumped another batch of fries into the fryer.