When she had called, the assistant seemed more than happy to take the booking. Apparently she was expected.

Di had a little apprehension about actually taking the trip up to the Planetary Governors mansion. At the gate her ID was checked and after waiting a short while she was let inside, escorted into the house by another member of staff who waddled their way along in front of her. The mare was brought into the lobby and asked to wait while she fetched Farthest Reach.

Di took the time to look around, the house could be described as sprawling really. The huge entry foyer was as large as her place on its own. She had no idea how many other rooms dominated the estate but she knew it took up a huge amount of land right at the tip of the main city. The place always seemed like its owner to be expanding too. New wings and rooms being enlarged always seemed to be going on. She wondered if the house ever truly reached a finished state.

After a short while, through the double doors at the end a pad entered the room hauling on top of it the gigantic and utterly immobile Farthest Reach. He had gained in size since she had last seen him, when he had his fat face broadcast to pads around he colony during the gluttony celebration. She guessed he was about to break ten thousand pounds with a few more meals.

“Ah, you made it. Good to see you again Diamond Dozen.” he said, bringing his pad to a stop just in front of hers.

“Di is fine thank you sir.” she replied.

“Sir, please. No need for titles. Just call me Farthest Reach. That will do.” he said, rotating his pad around and presenting his enormous rear to a rather unflattered Di. “Follow me, I have a banquet room we can use for this. One of many.” he said, taking off down a corridor of the house, Di thought it best to oblige and follow.

The pony was not kidding when he said banquet room. Inside piles of food stacked high on the tables almost as far as the eye could see took up a huge portion of it. Maids stood by, a large cluster of them, making sure the food was perfect. Each pony parked themselves at the table and as soon as they did, Di was being offered and even fed treats. She was having a hard time speaking in fact due to the amount of food that was being thrust upon her. It was amazing she thought that Farthest Reach actually got anything done if he spent so much time eating.

“So why did you ask me here?” Di finally managed to get out between mouthfuls. Again she thought it rude to refuse the food. It was rather delicious also.

“Ah yes.” he replied, waving one of his chubby hoofs slightly to indicate to his staff to stop feeding him and that he needed a moment to speak.

“I’ve been keeping a closer eye on your business than you think. I understand you had some rather drastic measures taken recently just to stay afloat against competition.” Farthest Reach said, taking a moment to rest and eat to let Di reply as one of his staff pushed a dessert between his lips which he quickly devoured.

“Ah. I see nothing escapes you.” Di replied. “Indeed, we’ve had to reinvent ourselves a number of times now. I keep hoping each one will be the last…” she confessed, just managing to get her words out before yet another piece of food was pushed her way. Di thought she was experiencing the ultimate buffet. She had never been fed so quickly before. She watched as Farthest Reached waved his hoof again indicating he needed to speak.

“Indeed, indeed. Well I’m hoping so too. You are part of a huge fast food corporation but you do good for the citizens who want nothing more than to pig out. Eating is such a wonderful thing. It completely distracts them from the other issues facing the colony.” he said, taking a moment to grab a quick mouthful of food before continuing. “I could bore you with them all but I don’t think that’s really necessary. The point is Sleipnir needs Blubber King as much as you need the job you hold Di.” Farthest Reach finished, going back to eating.

“What are you proposing?” Di asked.

“A strictly verbal agreement. My informers tell me although each new reinvention of the brand brings more customers back they quickly tire of what’s on offer. You’re trying to combat that with various days that cater to particular customers no?” he asked.

“Well yes, I assume you know what they are?”

“Yes I do, a novel idea. It will work for a time but again I think after a while your customers will tire of it and go looking for the next eating sensation. Whether that come from a competitor or you end up having the reinvent Blubber King for the umpteenth time. I think you’d get bored of constantly changing your restaurant to cater to the whims of the populace.” Farthest Reach said. Di raised an eyebrow. Clearly the Planetary Governor was well informed. He seemed to know quite a bit about her business and how he was operating it. She wondered if one of her staff was passing information along. Something to keep in mind.

“Anyhow, my proposal.” Farthest Reach continued after having another small break for food. “I - UUUURRRRRPPPPP! - oh, excuse me.” The Governor stopped for a moment as his multiple folds rippled due to the huge belch, taking a moment to compose his form before carrying on. “I propose a plan to stop you having to keep reinventing yourself, like I say strictly verbal and effective as long as I am in power. My re-election is coming up and I need strong backers from the public food sector to promote me. I’d like you, your staff and your restaurant to show it’s really behind me to stay in post as your leader. Perhaps a special burger in aid of me, some flyers, staff saying good things about me to customers. My ponies will be able to work out the details with you later. I just want the populace to know Blubber King backs Farthest Reach for Planetary Governor. I even thought of a slogan ‘Blubber Supports Its King’ he said with a grin on his face.

“Okay, but what do we get in return?” Di asked. “That’s a lot to ask to make sure your tubby gut gets what it wants.” Di said with an equally large grin back between bites of food.

“I can ensure your Marketeers never return, no matter how dire things get. I can also ensure customers continue flooding through the door and cement your business as the fast food chain to visit on the colony. How does that sound?” was all he said, letting one of his maids push a donut between his lips.

Di only needed a moment to think. A little promotion to ensure those creeps never came back and they had a healthy supply of customers? It seemed like a no-brainer. She’d be set for life.

“Done.” was all she said, being fed another cake by a maid. In the short meeting she was certain she’d gained a few hundred pounds easily. The food was amazingly rich. It was no wonder Farthest Reach was pushing five figures of flab.

“Splendid! Like I say I’ll have my staff ponies meet with you to discuss the finer details, but you’ve made the right choice Di.” The Governor said, artificially raising a glass using a small drone to lift it, unable to do so himself. He had magic but he was too lazy. “To many happy years of Blubber King. Cheers!” the joviality in his voice ringing clear as two glasses clinked together and they drank. Afterwards Di had another five minutes of idle chit chat and eating before Farthest Reach had her ushered out by his staff.

As she headed home, she wondered exactly how he’d keep ponies coming with little to no changes to the menu. As he had pointed out ponies tired quickly of samey foods unless it was something well established. Fast food had to fight to survive. But Di was getting older, she was also getting tired of corporate breathing down her neck constantly. Even though it was still work, any sort of respite that could come from this would be heaven. She didn’t want to know the details of how Farthest Reach would achieve his plan but her own mind was already ticking over how she’d let her staff know. The election was approaching.