Chapter 5 - v.

Ben tilted his head back as a small Munchie sprinkled a few smaller chips in his mouth. The growing worry was that The Munchies didn't seem to have a stopping point. They kept showing up and offering, no, demanding food being fed to him. He slept it off the first night, they came back the next morning. He tried taking it slow, they funneled milk in him that made him hungry. He wanted to rest on the couch, they're now feeding him lunch. What was the end game? Ben paused his eating for a moment and another long winded fart escaped from beneath him.

"That was a good one, nice and long. Like a trumpet blurting out a song," Munchies giggled as they turned the tray for easier access to the rest of the subs.

"So, um. After lunch what's the plan guys?" Ben asked between mouthfuls. "Maybe go out and see a movie or something?" Ben wondered if he could even escape this fattening scenario, but they did mention someone was hiring them to feed him. Who was it he wondered? Could it really be?

"Hush now, Ben! Why go out?! There's so much fun we can have in this house!" the Munchies giggled ominously, two more carrying a pot of mac & cheese in from the kitchen.

Ben moaned defeatedly, realizing there was no way to escape and no one was coming to hel-

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Three raps at the door.

"Ben?? You home??" came Ben's sister Natalie's voice from behind the door. "Hello?"

Ben's eyes went wide and he froze in shock. He took a breath to reply but a buttery roll was shoved into his mouth, like a ball gag. "Don't say anything! She can't know! Or we'll be forced to make her grow!" the Munchies threatened. Ben's brows furled into pathetic concern.

"I know you're in there, man. Your car's still here!" Nat accused.

Ben's face went flush with fear. For the first time, the Munchies were looking a little mean, as if they were angry to be in the current predicament and blamed Ben.

Just then, the door unlocked and in walked Nat. "Sorry, I let myself in. I still have that key from when I watered your plants."

Ben's heart sank, but he glanced around and noticed the Munchies had disappeared. He became mildly relieved.

"Hope you weren't sleeping!" Nat said, setting down her bag and removing her shoes, not yet noticing her brother looking like a bloated hog on the couch. "Just thought I'd stop by and- ugh. What is that smell?" she asked, covering her nose. She looked around, fanning her face until she finally laid eyes on her brother. "Oh my god! Ben?! What happened to you??" She rushed to his side and knelt by him, taking in her brother's new plump form.

"Nat!" Ben gasped as he heard the Munchies rustle from behind the couch, though the usual high pitched laughter was now replaced by a faint growl and the rubbing of gritting teeth. Ben's mind was swarming with what to even do. How do you explain you've more than doubled in weight overnight? Would she notice? He didn't notice it in the morning, though he didn't exactly have a grasp on how the Munchies magic worked. "It's not what you think. I didn't want you to see me like this..."

"I'm gone for four months and look what happens," she sighed as she placed a palm on his plump cheek. That's right, she was on a continental retreat he remembered. Ben turned his jowls to his sister as he could see her visibly appalled, disgusted, and a bit intrigued at the mount of flesh anchored to the couch. "Mom was saying you were feeling a bit depressed but I never imagined it would be this bad. God, you're about as big as that cow of an ex you had, no offense," She softly apologized realizing bringing up past girlfriends wouldn't help his 'depressed' state of mind. The Munchies collectively growled even louder at the comment as even Natalie heard the commotion. Ben panicked. "What's that noise?"

"Nothing!!! It's nothing, it... Uh, it's just... well..." Ben stumbled as he tried to think of an excuse quick. He leaned to his side a bit and shriveled up his face as Natalie leaned back a bit before hearing a trombone-like sound blaring into the room. PPPPRRRUUUuuummmpppttthhh Ben let out of his rear before he leaned back and gasped at the exertion. "I've been a bit gassy lately... I can't... control them as easily anymore."

"Oh... my God," Natalie winced as she fanned the air around her face. She still couldn't believe Ben let himself go like this. With no love in his life, struggles at the job, and all the beer bottles and food wrapping scattered on the ground, it’s no wonder he ballooned up as big as he did. Look at him, he hasn't even gotten bigger clothes to fit him better.

"Sorry," Ben silently apologized as Nat grabbed his plumped wrists and pulled him up into a sitting position and tried ignoring the smell.

"Let's get you up and about, exercise would do you some good. Go and take a shower while I get this place cleaned up." Nat groaned as Ben gulped. He didn't want her sticking around afraid of what the Munchies might do with his back turned. Nat tightened her teeth and squinted her eyes shut in the attempt of helping lift him up as Ben struggled to stand before he felt a few plump grips grab his shoulders and pull him straight back down. Nat stumbled back and look to her brother as he panted.

"Um, I'm still kinda tired sis," He blushed. His eyes grew wider as he watched a Munchie exit a room and dash straight towards the kitchen.

"So what, you're just going to sit on the couch all day. Ben, it's already freaking noon." Natalie said as she tried to take charge in a helping sister sort of way. Soon a loud clattering could be heard as one of the frying pans hit the floor. "I swear to God if you have rats in here Ben," she huffed as she turned and walked into the kitchen out of Ben's view. Ben gave a quick sigh before he felt his arms pulled back against the cushions and a cold bread roll stuffed past his lips. The Munchies began to speak.

"Natalie is lucky to have you as a caring bro, but our task is to make your body grow." The group of monsters hissed.

"So listen wise and listen well, or her body will be the one to swell." Their rhymes were always adorable and cute but now they sounded like a cursing threat.

"If she doesn't leave and soon sets sail, we'll feed her until she's as big as a whale," the Munchie to his right ear spoke.

"You think it’s bad if she outgrows her blouse? After our work her gut will reach both sides of the house." The left one finished.

"Make her leave and go away, or there's no telling how much she'll weigh.
And if she decides to ever come back, Good ol' Nat will become twice as fat!"

"Just a mixing bowl that fell off the counter. Looked like it was full of some sort of batter," Nat explained as she came back into the living room.

Ben shrugged. "Guess I need to get better about cleaning up after making a big breakfast," he bashfully admitted, relieved she didn't find much worse.

"You need to get better at taking care of yourself in general, tubbo," Nat scolded. "How did this even happen? I only saw you a few months ago."

"Uhh, I felt a little prick on my thigh earlier. Maybe I was stung by a bee and this is, y'know, like an allergic reaction or something?" There were hushed giggles from behind the couch.

"Maybe you were stung by a bee? You know, Ben, when people get stung by a bee, they tend to notice. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised at your size you barely felt it," Nat joked.

"Well I wasn't this big before the bee sting!" Ben defended himself, but then toned it back a bit. "You know, assuming that's what it was."

"Ben," Nat said, kneeling down and getting face to face with him while he remained stationary on the couch. "This isn't a bee sting. I know the difference between swelling from a bee sting, and swelling from too many cheeseburgers. This is definitely the latter."

More hushed giggles. Ben blushed. Suddenly, another muffled, groaning fart poured from his padded rear. Nat stood back up and covered her nose and mouth, speaking behind her hand. "Oh god, Ben! Not only do you look like a pig, you smell like one too!"

"Hey!" Ben shouted, surprising himself. "That's enough! Look, I know I'm a little out of shape..." more giggles. "But that doesn't mean you can just come in here and make fun of me!" He suddenly realized he might be able to chase her away and spare her a fate like his.

"Ben, I'm just-" Nat calmly began to reply before Ben interrupted her.

"No, I know what you're doing! You think you can just come in here and tell me how to live! Get out! Now!"

"I don't need your help, I don't need your advice. I don't need anyone coming into my life, seeing something wrong with it and trying to fix what's not broken," Ben said as he tried to hold back tears. He was never this aggressive to family but if she only knew the dangers of sticking around she'd understand. "If I disgust you so much then just leave. I just want to be left alone. That's all I want, now get out and don't come back."

Nat huffed and sighed as she stormed to the hall and picked up her bag. She began slipping on her shoes before she turned back. "I'll give you some time to cool off. I'll always be here to help you up, and when I'll be back I'll help you put the pieces of your life together again." Natalie stormed off as Ben heard the door close shut. The Munchies gathered around and cheered and waved as the sister was gone. Ben turned his head and looked out the front window to see her backing her truck out of the driveway, and he almost yelled once he saw two small Munchies in the back seat waving and buckling up for safety.