Power Hungry 2: Princess Hanako (Patreon)

Princess Hanako was hungry.

Her royal posterior was perched upon a stool inside of a shop, patiently waiting as the smaller woman behind the counter described her display of culinary confections. Hanako had been making a concentrated effort to look at the girl rather than the treats. She was a good listener. She was very tolerant of others, listened to them speak and could oft give something of a reassuring vibe to them.

Her tummy, however, was not so patient. Hence, her attempt to focus on the baker rather than the dozens of delights within her hungry reach. Hanako’s fingers drummed atop of the surface of her round belly, ignoring the squelching movement beneath her dress and its low roar of hunger. Hanako refused to pay herself any notice, and behaved as if the noise had never happened.

So, to the people around her, it never did.

The vendor stumbled in her words. She was a spectral woman with long white hair that was tied back into some sort of self-containing braid, her eyes an enrapturing scarlet, and her ornate apron a hue of crimson to match. She rubbed the side of her temple. “I-I’m sorry,” she said, turning back to the princess, “I seem to have lost what I was saying.”

Hanako smiled, and nodded. She brushed the right side of her hair out of her right eye and quickly glanced over the counter before her eager eyes caught on a grand yet fluffy looking piece of chocolate. She dabbed her finger onto the glass “You were telling me about these, um, ‘chocolate coated s’mores,’” she read from the display with her voice as light as air. After a seconds hesitation she added, “And were offering me a free sample.”

The modest damsel squinted before hopping in place and ruffling the sides of her apron. Glimmering shards of multi-colored sprinkles tumbled to the floor.  “Oh! Yes, right. Sorry, here!” She reached for the lid to the glass display and jammed her fingers. “Oh, darn,” she muttered before fumbling for a moment with the latch. 

Hanako noticed that her hands were shaking. She knew the poor girl must be nervous, she’d felt the emotion so often herself, but she believed in her heart that the girl would improve.

And so, again, she did.

The girls hands became steadier, reaching into the glass opening and withdrawing a bundle of not one, but two of the large paper-wrapped confections. Hanako’s stomach bubbled with raised spirits. She swayed from side to side on her seat, smiling gratefully and making a conscious effort to show her teeth in an amicable grin whilst receiving the treat. The stool beneath her stout frame creaked ominously, but she quickly directed a moment of concentration to believing the stool could hold her weight. She had lost too many good seats because she didn’t believe hard enough.

“These,” the girl said with confidence in her voice as she placed them into portly hands, “are one of my best creations. I make these all myself, using mucilaginous marsh-mallow roots.”

Hanako unwrapped the top treat. Her tummy cooed and she felt herself holding her breath. It was even larger than the one on display, almost as large as her palm. Her mouth began to water and she forced herself to swallow, trying to temper her appetite, before she realized she’d begun to stare. “I’m sorry,” she looked up to the baker, “it looks… delicious. Umm, you said roots though?”

The girl laughed, waving her hand, “Please, please, eat it.”

Hanako nodded, and ducked her head down to bite, feeling the tiara shift on her head. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, the front door of the shop was launched open, and there was a menacing sound of slicing metal as an armor clad behemoth began to unsheathe its sword. 

The girl behind the counter shrank like a frightened mouse with a nervous eek, though Hanako remained in her seat. Her mouth could wait no longer, her appetite would not be dismayed. She bit down onto the creamy sweet. 

Chocolate began to melt the moment it touched her tongue, followed by an explosion of sugary goop that burst around the edges of her plump lips. Freed from its chocolate imprisonment, the infusion of marshmallow fluff spread over her lips and into her mouth with the force of an eruption.  Fireworks alit on the left side of her body, racing outwards from her belly as a sensation of felicity spread from the core of her royalty. She moaned, overwhelmed, into the sticky goop, and felt her body sigh back into the chair. Her round rear smothered it beneath her as tension was sucked out of the root of her being.

Hanako breathed, and opened her eyes. She saw the baker standing before her, looking confused and intimidated, and remembered herself.

She sat up a little straighter, pulled the fat treat away from her lips, and tried to ignore how sticky her mouth felt as she chewed before swallowing. “It’s quite good,” she said, before raising a few chunky fingers to her mouth. They came away with white nectar. “You wouldn’t happen to have some water, would you?”

“U-umm,” the girl responded, eyes going from Hanako to the door.

The atmosphere grew sharper with the sound of the blade being pulled entirely free of its scabbard. 

“Water! Yes, we’ve got water!” the girl shouted, hurrying through a curtain. 

Hanako turned to the entrance, raising the delicacy to her lips once more. She bit down slower this time, avoiding the explosion of sap onto her lips, and looked upon her champion.

The obsidian armor of her knight never seemed to look right in such broad daylight. The black metal didn’t shine nor shimmer. It was as if instead of reflecting the rays of the sun it absorbed them all instead. Set into the metal, deep markings of purple were intertwined with pure silver and met in the center of the bearer’s chest, surrounding the engraving of the Ikezawan Empire. A violet doe beneath a pale silver moon.

Chainmail glittered upon their arms, leading to obsidian wrist guards and dark black gauntlets. In their hand was a black blade. Hewn from the same mineral as the armor, the blade was wielded by the champion of the Ikezawan Empire. Hanako’s champion. The knight held the sword in both hands, and lowered it to rest with the point down towards the ground.

Hanako could feel her champion’s eyes from beneath the winged helm, though they were hidden in the dark shadow. 

Taking another bite of her s’more, she used her free hand to shift the silver tiara upon her head.

When she’d finished, her knight shook their head.

Hanako grunted, standing up from the seat. Her belly rolled over her legs until they thunked onto the floor. Without the power of her belief holding it, the seat promptly collapsed. Hanako ignored it.

The sensation of sweets caused her to be aware of her body. She could feel the rise of her belly and breasts with each breath, knew she breathed deeper now than she used to, and moved far less. Her legs hugged each other in the center, fat round thighs smothering one another while her calves buldged over the top of her purple leggings. She patted her belly, which abundantly shook while she dusted some chocolate crumbs that had fallen on top of her and straightened the creases while munching again into the product. 

She held the s’more in her mouth now, fighting the desire to chomp into it by rolling her tongue through and lapping at the marshmallow center. Hanako then raised her hand and withdrew her tiara from her head. She took special care to align the center amethyst jewel with the tip of her forehead before laying it back upon her crown.

The knight nodded, satisfied. They spun the blade with a ceremonial flourish, sheathed it, and made to leave.

Hanako cleared her throat and the knight froze before turning and standing in the center of the door smartly.

Hanako’s gait across the shop was slow, which spoke highly of her power. She had the chronology to be gradual, to step to her own pace rather than hurry about. It was something that she had picked up on from walking with Lilly, during those last weeks before Hanako had taken her first bite of cake…

Hanako willed her mind back to where she stood. Her tongue unconsciously skated over her lips, and she felt the slightest pang of nervous tension return before she put it into its place. There would be time for cake, but that would come later. She needn’t think about that. With Lilly, there would always be a second serving.

“Are you well, lady?” the figure asked.

Hanako nodded, “Yes. I am fed.”

“By one chocolate?”

Hanako nodded once more, patient. “Would I lie to you?”

“No, I do not believe,” was the immediate reply.

“Neither do I,” Hanako said. She then extended the other paper-wrapped confection. “Take this, and have of it,” she instructed, “I feel you will need the energy today.”

“Yes, lady.” The knight took the treat, bowed, and retreated into the din of the town square. Hanako closed the thick wooden door behind them, cutting the noise of the assembling crowd. It was sure to be a busy day.

“Um… excuse me?” asked a soft and timid voice.

Hanako turned around to see the baker girl. She was almost as tall as Hanako, but she couldn’t have been older than her late teens at most. Her skin was flawless, as pale as fresh dough. In her outstretched hand she held a half filled glass of milk. The other half seemed to have been spilled down the front of her apron, showing her slender frame behind her dirty uniform.

Hanako made a reflexive effort of will. She believed. Then, she cordially took the full glass of milk from the girl’s hands. “Thank you,” she said, taking the container. She inclined her head this time with control, and her tiara remained fixed in place.

The girl was looking at her hands, and at her apron, with awe. “How did you… do that?”

“How did I do what?” Hanako smiled, then went on, “That is a lovely apron. Is it from here?”

The girl plucked at her apron with her fingers. “O-oh, um, no… it’s mine.”

“It matches your eyes,” the princess noted, before finally taking a sip of her milk. She drank deeply, allowing the liquid to flow over her lips. She could feel the marshmallow ambrosia float with the milk down her gullet before spreading into her wide stomach. When she looked back, the girl was looking towards the door. Her eyes were nervous, twitching, and obviously wanting to ask something. Hanako had faith that the girl would say what she wished.

After another moment, she spoke. “That was the Obsidian Knight, wasn’t it? The solder of Ikezawa Island?”

Hanako sighed a long breath. “Yes,” she answered.

“And that would mean that… you’re Princess Hanako,” the girl connected.

Hanako smiled. She was patient. “I am.”

“You’re the Princess Hanako, who comes to visit Princess Lilly and is going to be at the banquet tonight.” the girl said.

Hanako nodded.

The girl bit her lip. After a moment, she said, “I can’t tell if I should try to find my boss or if I should… umm, do you want more… samples?” The girl asked, fidgeting. It reminded Hanako of a long time ago.

While the thought of more sweets was enticing, Hanako was more interested in the baker. An idea began to take form in her mind, and she placed one hand upon her hip. It sank into her comfortable amount of flab. “Seeing as you know who I am, may I ask your name?”

The girl blinked. She brushed a hand over her ear and shifted her weight so she was standing straighter. “Umm, I’m Garnet, ma’am.”

Hanako felt herself squelch her face, and sighed heavily. Ma’am. Oof. She ignored it… this time. “Was it for your eyes?” she replied, walking to the side and looking at the girl.

The girl seemed taken aback. She didn’t respond for a moment. “Yes,” she finally said. She stood still as Hanako circled her. Hanako could tell she was trying to tremble, but Hanako believed that she wouldn’t, so she couldn’t.

She ended up in front of the girl once more. Leader of the Ikezawa Empire, close confidant of Princess Lilly, and second taster of the cake, she reminded herself. She was royalty. 

Hanako’s dress grew longer, then. Her arms were covered with black material and purple lace, her legs with sharp looking purple pants and on her feet she wore black flats. On her head, her amethyst diverged into three separate pieces, with the center one growing into a large impressive oval. The silver tiara thickened, growing with the jewels, and became it became her crown.

Her stomach and legs felt heavier, and inside her mouth she could taste the leftover taste of Black Forest Cake. Her voice had become a drop deeper. “I would have thought Ruby to be a more familiar name,” she said inquisitively. 

Garnet, red eyes dilated and deep, stood as smartly as her champion had. “M-my mom, had told me, uhh…” she swallowed, “she used to say we didn’t have enough money. For jewelry.”

Hanako felt something resonate inside of her. She noticed something, then. “Used to?” she intoned.

Garnet took a deep breath. A small tremble shook her shoulders as she did. Hanako raised a hand and laid it onto the girl’s shoulder. Garnet’s eyes were sparkling, wet. Hanako settled. She didn’t believe she was making the right choice. She knew it.

“Garnet, would you like to come with me to the castle tonight? I’d be interested to hear how you make those delectable treats, and what else you can do.”

Garnet took in a breath, eyes straight forwards. “U-uhh… Madam Crêpesly, I mean, my boss, she asked me to… to…”

Garnet was interrupted by a small, quiet voice. “Y-you… you’re an orphan… Aren’t you?”

Garnet turned. Standing at her side was a small and slender girl, one just younger than herself. She wore little more than rags, through which Garnet could see the impression of her bones, and her purple hair was a matted mess and the fringes were blackened or, in some places, drastically shortened. Down the entirety of her right side ran fresh, angry, red and purple scars. There were dark creases of sleepless nights beneath her purple eye, and her expression was stained with grief and pain. Her crown was nowhere in sight.

The front door crashed open, splintering the frame and coming free of its hinges. The obsidian blade flashed through the air, clearing the upturned dust with a single swipe. Garnet stood in terror before the knight, the soldier, of the Ikezawan Empire. 

“Ah, good,” Princess Hanako said, squeezing Garnet’s shoulder and moving forwards to her champion. Her dress was light, and Garnet could see her abundant flesh bulging over the tops of her stockings rub together as she walked. “I was hoping you’d come in soon, I would like you to help Miss Garnet with her things. They shall be moved to our carriage, and then she will be joining us at the palace for our luncheon.”

The knight sheeted their sword and bowed their head without question. They turned to Garnet, and Garnet was shocked at the feminine voice that spoke from inside.

“Where are you staying?” they asked.

“U-upstairs. Madam Crêpesly is… letting me use… pay rent…” she marveled. The Obsidian Knight approached her. The barer of the armor and the blade stood more than a head taller than the girl, and their face was entirely obscured by their helmet, though Garnet thought she could see a hint of a gleaming eye inside. “You’re the Obsidian Knight…” Garnet said, struck.

“My knight,” Hanako said. “My one, and only.”

Garnet had her things packed away quickly. She hadn’t much to bring. A couple of shirts, only two pairs of pants, her apron, and a couple of books. Hanako leant her one of her traveling cases and, with the knight sliding the door back onto its frame and Hanako promising she’d find Madam Crêpesly at the banquet and refund her for the extra sweets Garnet had bagged up and for the door, they were off to the Hanako’s carriage, and then to the palace.

As they grew closer to the area, Garnet could see the slight change in Hanako. She was breathing deeply, and seemed to be walking slower. Garnet was desperately trying to think of another reason for it than ‘well she’s fat’ when Hanako stopped and took in a deep, long, breath, right before the turn onto the bridge of the palace entrance.

“Do you smell it?” she asked the Obsidian Knight. “Black Forest Cake. She’s having it baked, as well, rather than harvested. I do hope she remembers the Marshmallow Cheesecake…” she trailed off, before looking to garnet and smiling. “You may have noticed,” she said, patting her tummy, “but I have a fondness for marshmallows.”

“It may have come up,” said the Obsidian Knight.

Hanako giggled into her hand. She swung one of her thick legs up behind her other and tapped her toes to the ground, holding up a hushing finger. “Come now, the wind is changing,” she said, and the smell of cherry blossoms began to fill the air. “I’m beginning to feel rather hungry.”