Since they had arrived home, Rotunda had made her prime maid rather busy.

As soon as the ship had touched down and the massive mare departed, she had been eager to show her friends how much she had gained on her little trip away. The fruits a secret, with Rotunda intending to keep them that way she had some plans. The first one was to have a small party with her closest friends back at home, to show off her gain. Rich ponies were like that, they relished the chance to one up each other.

Cherry herself had been busy running errands to make sure everything was ready for this evening. She had not had to move herself too much on the trip as her mistress had mostly kept herself occupied, but now she was firmly back to work. She had forgotten just how...difficult it was to move quickly with such a massive body. The maid pony verging on immobility, she tried her best as she scuttled around town to keep her uniform in one piece, lest her gigantic stomach or quivering cheeks snag or get stuck on something that would rip it to pieces instantly. She was just back from getting a small amount of supplies Rotunda had requested, mostly ingredients for food that the maid now had to whip up. She waddled her way into the kitchen and laid the ingredients out. Ready to work.

“Back so soon?”

Cherry craned her head around, it was one of the many staff that Rotunda employed. A young stallion. He was searching around one of the many fridges for something.

“Well, it was only a short trip. What are you looking for Duster?” Cherry asked, observing as he clumsily went from shelf to shelf speedily looking for whatever it was he was after.

“A can...whipped cream? The mistress requested one.” he replied. Duster, or Duster Sleeve to give his full title had only been in Rotunda’s employ but a few months. He was eager to try to impress. With the salary she paid her staff it had already started to take a toll on the young stallions physique. He could afford to eat at Blubber King every day if he so chose.

“Ah, third shelf towards the back. Usually anyway.” Cherry said, busying herself with making the food for the party. “Whipped cream, on its own?” she asked.

“She said she just wanted it, didn’t say why. I figure she was hungry.” Duster replied, finally finding a can and pulling it out. “Thanks Cherry.” the stallion said, trotting off back up the stairs and out the kitchen, leaving Cherry alone to work. It was curious. Perhaps Rotunda wanted a quick snack before the party. There was only a few hours to go.

Cherry finished her preparations and laid the food out. She also made sure everything was in place for her mistress to have the evening she had requested. Already, the first of her guests started to arrive. Cherry answered the door dutifully. Honey Drops and Sugar Tart had arrived.

“Hello Cherry, good trip with Rotunda?” Honey asked, with Sugar following her in behind her.

“Looks like it. Gained a few hundred pounds have you Cherry? I must speak to Rotunda, she treats you far too well.” Sugar said, following on the conversation. Cherry herself went red, the two mares she had just greeted laughing a little.

“I think that answers that, ah - a buffet. We’ll just keep ourselves fed whilst we wait for Rotunda. How is she anyway?” Honey queried, piloting herself immediately over to the food Cherry had spent the afternoon preparing.

“Quite well. I shall let her know you have both arrived. She is expecting some more guests but she was eager to see you both.” Cherry said, walking up to a wall and pushing a small button set within it. Part of the houses built in communication system.

“Both of us? I am sure there are far more important ponies…” Sugar said.

“She considers the two of you some of her closest friends.” Cherry replied slightly deadpan, as if she was surprised herself she had to let the two of them know this. Perhaps it was another one of their games. Whatever it was she had never cared too much for it.

At that moment, from atop the stairs leading down into the room, Rotunda appeared. It had been a little while since she had seen either Honey or Sugar, but both stopped their eating to stare at the small mound of blubber piloting its way towards them.

“My friends!” Rotunda said excitedly, through triple quivering chins. There would have been a hug, instead she just settled for gently piloting her pad into both Honey and Sugar so they could feel her fat press against them.

“By Celestia dear, you’ve...well you’re spilling over your pad.” Honey observed, watching as Rotunda jiggled and wobbled her way backwards slightly to pull out of the ‘hug’.

“I know, wonderful isn’t it? I weigh over six thousand seven hundred pounds. With more to come.” she grinned, making her way to the buffet as Cherry waddled behind her, dutifully climbing up onto her folds as the pad Rotunda was on dipped slightly to accommodate the extra weight. It was Cherry’s job to feed her whenever she desired, the mare too fat to reach for food herself.

“Did this all happen on your trip?” Sugar asked, slightly in awe of her friends mass.

“Why yes! The resort was amazing, as much food as I could eat. I even made a friend.” Rotunda replied between mouthfuls.

“I must get the name of that resort, looks like you had a whale of a time.” Honey said, poking fun at her friends new size. “That pad under you...well I can’t even see it anymore. It must be struggling.” she said.

“A new one is on order, able to support even more mass. I shan’t be stopping gaining soon. You just wait girls. Before long I’ll be even fatter than Farthest Reach.” she boasted. Cherry climbed down from her mistress, she was in full swing now of her enjoyment letting everypony know that she was bigger than they were. The doorbell had rung again, Cherry let a few more of the expected guests in then vanished to the kitchen to prepare more food. Once again, she found Duster rooting around for more supplies.

“More whipped cream?” she asked, he was at the same drawer in the fridge.

“Yes but...for me this time.” Duster confessed. “She devoured that can in mere seconds. What an appetite! I just...I want to be as big as her.” the stallion said, his words stopped as Cherry pushed the door closed in front of him to the fridge, making him quickly withdraw his greedy hooves.

“And you will be Duster...in time, but stealing is no way to get there. The money is good, use it to buy food. A single can of cream might not mean much right now, but it’ll build. You’ll lose your job when she finds out and then you won’t be able to afford anything. Is that what you want?” Cherry said, leaning her weight onto Duster to try to press her point home.

“...N-no. I uh, I guess I can wait.” Duster replied, looking a bit sorry for himself. He put the can he had taken back in the fridge. “You’re right. See you after the party Cherry.” the stallion said, trotting off to complete another task. He had plenty to be getting on with besides stealing.

Cherry sighed. She knew his thoughts, she had similar ones when she had started the job. But it was never worth it, besides he’d learn that Rotunda would reward him in time. For now, it was back to the party. She expected her mistress wanted more feeding, as well as more food.