Encumbered

Story by Xcel-Zero for me.

Elly and Antonis had been marching in the hot sun all day, they had received important work from the capital and their journey was a long one. The next stop upon their trip was the fort city of Highguard, a bustling market town at the crossroads of the kingdom. There, they could resupply before the dangerous trek through the dark forest of the south.

"We've been walking forever..." whined a spiritedly young woman, blowing the bangs hanging from her cropped blond hair from her face as she sighed.

"How do you think I feel? My armor is twice as heavy, and hot, as yours!" Replied her companion. Every step the the ganglyyoung man took rattled, punctuating his point.

"Oh, pfft, quit crying."

"I'm not the one one..." Was all he got out before stopping. Antonis could only smirk and roll his eyes, he knew the arguing was futile, and so the pair pressed on.

---

The streets of Highguard were filed with the hustle and bustle of travlers and merchants alike. Elly lead the way through the city, stopping at each stall with a glimmer in her eye as she sifted through the many wears on display. Antonis followed a few paces behind, trying to rein in the compulsions of his excitable accomplice. Eventually their path through the city had lead them down a small and dingy alley; an old man with an air of mysticism about him stood by a rickety makeshift stall near the end.

"Let's uhh, lets go back that way." Elly relayed in a hushed tone while tugging on Antonis's cloak, there was something about the geezer that made her skin crawl. The old man had already locked gaze with Antonis though, beckoning him over.

"Friends, please, right this way." He began to rasp his sales pitch. "I'm just a timely old wizard, but I have many fine trinkets for sale that might be helpful to fine young adventuring sort such as yourselves."

"Well..." Antonis started...."We could look I suppose..." He shot a sympathetic look to Elly, who merely glared back at him with a "Hrumph!"

The old man opened his robe to an assortment of jewelry and trinkets. The duo perused a cavalcade of shotty gear; overpriced greens and blue with narrowly a helpful stat or enchantment to speak of. After a few minutes of looking, Antonis eventually spoke up.

"Uhhh, I don't think we'll be taking anything today, but tha..."

Elly, frustrated that Antonis hadn't heeded her council regarding the strange man, had already become bored of the polite charade they were playing. She stood with her arms folded and her head turned, a stubborn expression plastered upon her face.

'Must Antonis be so polite to every wackado we encounter?'she mused as she began to impatiently tap her feet. She turned back to her traveling companion, prepared to fire him another fierce look, when something gleaming in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Out of the many bobbles the old man had on display, she had apparently glazed over this one in her apathetic attempt at social niceties. A resplendent emerald, set in a modest golden bracket and married to a dainty golden chain hung in one of the far corners of the old man's dreary cloak. Her face lit up as she peered at the beautiful gemstone. It's stats were low, and she had never herd of the curious enchantment it booasted, encumbered was it? Even so, it seemed to be emitting a warm, nurturing light. Almost as if it were glowing. It was a modest yet dazzling piece, and all the annoyance she had felt melted away and was replaced with but a single thought: It's so...pretty!

"I want it!"

Antonis and the elderly salesman both looked from their conversation to see Elly's outstretched finger pointing at the verdant pendant. "What?!" They responded in unison, the old man's comical expression looked as surprised as Antonis's.

"I want it! It's pretty!"

"It's a green! Vendor Trash, plus it's stats are garbagefor you." Antonis retorted loudly. He had apparently dropped all pretenses of social grace as the elderly salesman, clearly still within earshot, watched them converse.

"I. Want. It." She repeated firmly, contorting her face into as fierce a frown as the little mage could muster.

"It's. A. Green!" Antonis growled right back, now wearing a frown of his own to attempt to contend with hers. They stood glaring at one another for a moment, neither willing to budge. Elly, sensing this avenue was going nowhere quickly decided on a different approach. In a flash she darted her eyebrows upward, making her expression into an adorable pout. Antonis tried to remain steadfast for a moment before rolling his eyes and letting loose a sigh.

"But It's a green!" He reiterated once more, his voice filled with desperation this time. Elly knew she had only to remain staring at him.

"Fine dammit! Fine..." He sighed again, turning back to the old man in defeat. "Uhh... how much for that one I suppose?"

It's not for sale I'm afraid" He grimly responded. A look of relief washed over Antonis, while Elly hung her head, dejected that after all that she would walk away empty handed. "It's a reward for any adventures brave enough to take on my quest" he continued.

"Oh no..." Antonis mumbled.

Elly whipped her head back up, the gleam returned to her eyes. "We'll do it!" Antonis shock his head, but made no further reservations. He had accepted his fate at this point, and knew any further struggling would be an exercise in futility. With one final, hefty sigh he looked to her and said "Well, lets be off then I suppose."

---

It was nightfall by the time the two returned to the streets of Highguard, her streets still alive with all sorts of adventures, vendors, and pub-goers alike. Elly bounced forward with a jovial spring in her step, while Antonis dragged a few paces behind her. The luster of his armor had dulled significantly, coated now with scratches and scuffs from the many beast they had encountered along the way to fulfill the old mans quest. They returned to the dingy alley at last, the sparkle of triumph blazing like star in Elly's citrine eyes.

"Here you go old man, the item, as promised." Antonis moaned,tossing a brown sack containing the spoils from the pair's outing. The timely old wizard examined its contents to his satisfaction, before handing Antonis the glittering necklace that had sent them on the journey. It had naught graced Antonis's hand for a second before quickly being snatched away by Elly, who had been bouncing on the sidelines with barely contained excitement. Without a moment's hesitation she clasped the lavished ornament around her neck.

"Well, how does it look?" She squeakedout proudly while striking a pose "and don't just use this as an excuse to stare at my chest mister!"

"What chest?" Antonis snorted back, a bit of the energy returning to his fatigued face.

"Hey!" She huffed, pursing her lips and glaring at him with an exaggerated sulk. It was all Antonis could but surrender a smile.

"You look wonderful, of course. It's very fitting." He chuckled as he shook his head, he was reminded that for all the effort and exertion something about seeing the energy in the tiny mages eyes when she was happy that made it all worth it.

"Dawww, thanks! You nerd." she teased, now sporting a knowing grin, "Now comeon! We have to get to the next town before tomorrow!"

"Well we would already be half way there by now ifSOMEONEhadn't sidetracked us!"

They began their playfully bickering once more as they walked off. They made their way through the city, the necklace glowing softly into the cool night air. Elly was far too excited to notice a curious new status effect had taken hold of her.

Encumbered.

---

"I don't feel good." Elly pouted, breaking the silence of their long trek through the foothills.

"Well," Antonis sighed, "What's wrong now?"

"My tummy hurts!" She playfully whined. Truthfully it wasn't pain that had brought on this sudden outburst but rather a sort of, pressure. She had been feeling it since departing from town.

"Well I told you not to eat too much of that bear meat." Antonis smirked, "I said, Elly, don't eat too much of that bear meat. If you eat too much of that bear meat your going to look up at me later and say: Antonis, My tummy hurts!" He continued on, raising his voice to mockingly mimic hers.

"Shut up!" She playfully snapped back, "I was hungry...ohhh" Her hands shot down to her stomach. The pressure had continued to mount, and while still not... painful per-say it was uncomfortable enough to begin causing concern.

"Are you alright?" Antonis asked, his voice now filled with concern rather than the playful tone that was so indicative of their normal dialogue.

"Yeah, I just feel a a little... bloated is all." she said, trying to convince herself as much as her companion. Antonis wasn't quite convinced, but knew well enough when Elly was too proud to admit something was bothering her. He figured if something was really wrong, she would let him know.

Elly tried her best to march on resolutely, but she couldn't help but squeeze her stomach tighter and tighter as the walk continued. "Are you sure you're okay?" Antonis renewed his inquiry with growing alarm. Elly just shook her head back and forth. There was definitelysomethingwrong, but she had no idea what it could be. "Well, do you want me to carry you?"

"No!" She protested, putting on her bravest face to meet his concerned gaze.

Antonis simply raised an eyebrow before scooping her up with a smug smirk. "That's quite enough of that little lady."

"Nuuuuuuuuuuooooooooo, put me down." She pretended to whine, but really at this point she was happy to be off her feet.

"Have you gotten heavier?" Antonis blurted out, clearly straining a bit more than he anticipated to carry the dainty mage.

"Hey!" She glared up at him, "Don't be calling ME fat just because YOU are a weakling!"

"Maybe..." He chuckled, but still... he couldn't help but think she was more...dense, then he last recalled.

---

Opening her eyes, Elly could see the piercing moon shine it's light through the tops of the trees. She noticed a the faint green light emanating from the gemstone adorned to her chest and recalled the events of that day. The strange old man who had given her the necklace and the adventure required to attain it. Feeling the strange pressure overtake her body, and finally drifting to sleep whist being carried. She rubbed the drool from the corner of her mouth before stifling a yawn.

"Oh good, you're awake." Antonis said, his gaze locked in frontof him down the narrow forest path.

"How long have we been walking?" She asked.

"We? Ha! I've been walking for a few hours, you haven't walked anywhere little Missy. You'll have to do something nice for me later."

"What?! You got to carry me this whole time, that's all you get!"

"That's...That's not something nice dammit!"

"Oh you know you love it, plus I'm small, so quit your complaining!" She teased.

"Hmmm, well seems someone feels well enough to walk on their own." He said before dropping her back to her feet.

She stood up and stretched her arms out over her head, when she noticed something peculiar. A particular fullness in her abdomen, she looked down, and saw that her belly was bloating outward ever so slightly. She curiously pressed her hand down against the skin of her stomach, and was surprised to find it taut and unyielding, with a particular warmth behind it. Her top, which usually had no trouble containing her modest chest also felt pulled a bit snug, her breast pushed tightly together to form a bit of cleavage, something the petite mage was a bit bewildered to see. The necklace sat glimmering just above, drawing the eye to her new accentuating features. She still felt a bit of the pressure from before, but there was something different about it now. It felt much less intrusive, more as if it was a natural part of her being, she couldn't quite explain it.

Antonis looked over with a puzzledexpression, "Are you okay now, Elly?" The concern creeping back into his tone.

"Yeah I'm fine, I told you earlier I was just a bit bloated, look!" She turned to him and pushed out her tummy for emphasis. "Heh, almost looks like I'm uhh...pregnant, ha aha ha!" she trailed off in an awkward laugh, a slight blush creeping across her face.

Elly a bit if a secret, a little fantasy she kept hidden from the world. She desperately wanted to be pregnant, to swell huge and heavy with child, to feel her skin stretch underneath her fingers as her form grew and grew. She couldn't help but take little opportunities like this to live out her fantasy, even if it was only in her head.

Antonis stared dumbfounded for a moment, before turning his head away to cough, or choke rather. "Yes, with a bear perhaps..." He muttered as he quickly regained his composure.

Finally taking the chance to rest his weary feet, Antonis collapsed down onto the grass. "I need to rest Elly, can you keep watch?" He had barely finished his sentence before falling asleep.

Elly let out a small little sigh. She didn't even have a chance to protest; that's not that she wouldn't have done it of course, but she never liked to miss an opportunity to tease Antonis. She peered down at her hapless companion. She couldn't believe he had carried her all this way; unnecessary, but sweet. He was always putting himself out for other people; clearing out bandit camps near towns, finding someones stolen family heirloom, helping cats out of trees...so many cats. It was usually to Elly's great annoyance, but there was also something about his sincerity that she found enduring enough to put up with it all. Perhaps it was just nice to know there were still some people stupid enough to be selfless left out there.

"You dolt..." She giggled, A small smile creeping across her face "The worlds going to eat you alive one day."

She eventually plopped down on a nearby log, her chin resting on her arm. She gazed out into the darkness for a spell, until finally succumbing to the urge to yawn. Antonis may have been the one exerting himself, but a comfortable bed he was not. She pulled at her top, which felt even snugger now than before, if she didn't know any better she could swear her breast were plumping up before her very eyes... not that she would complain about that of course. Her eyelids started to grew heavy as her mind wandered back to her taboo fantasies. She imagined her middle starting to rising before her very eyes, pushing outward with each breath. She softly caressed her growing stomach, feeling it round out further and further from her slight body, eventually pushing out too far for her hands to wrap around. She could feel her breast fighting against her top, stretching the delicate fabric to it's very limit. The necklace, her necklace, sat atop the now massive robs of her swelling chest, giving off an radiant glow into the night air. Even as her legs began to struggle under the intense weight she couldn't help but think 'More...I still need more'. From behind, a pair of muscular arms wrapped around her, caressing her swollen form. A small coo escaped her lips as the mysterious hands explored her expanding body. She turn to look at the mysterious partner now embracing her, it was...

it was...

---

Elly awoke with a start to the sounds of birds chirping. Her face was beat red, and she felt a certain dampness that she couldn't attribute to the cold forest floor; the effects from the burning memory of her vivid dream still wracking her body. A realization pierced through the erotic fog that had taken her brain. "Drat, I must have dosed off on watch." She huffed. She began to push herself up off the ground when she felt a...resistance. She stared blankly down at herself for a moment, attempting to process what she was seeing. Her belly, having ballooned outward during the night, now filled her lap. Her jest of being with child the night before seeming mockingly more authentic now as the weight from her newly engorged middle pressed down on her waist.

"This... this can't be happening!" She she cried out. Giving a slight pinch to her side to make sure she wasn't still lost in a rapturous dream, she could only concedeshe was stuck in a frighting reality. Having the fascinations she did, Elly would often watch and stare at other pregnant maidens as they rounded out, studying their supple forms wishing it to be her own one day. She looked down at her own bump, mimicking a girl in her 6th month of pregnancy, perhaps a bit more even. She ran her hand up and around the ample curves now adoring her body. The newly stretched skin was so sensitive, and her soft caress sent a wave of sensual pleasure up her spine. Her hand continued to run up the couture of her body, past her breast, now large enough to be pressed tightly together to form a small canyon that her necklace fit snugly in between.

The necklace...

The effect...

ENCUMBERED.

Elly brought her hand over her mouth as the realization set it. It must be the necklace causing the alarming changes in her body! She reached quickly and began to fiddle to undo the clasp, but they wouldn't budge. Becoming frustrated she attempted to lift the chain up and over her head, but the pendant would not budge. Finally she attempted to just pull the chain completely apart, but the metal would not give. No matter what she did the chain held fast and strong, and the vibrant emerald still adorning her expanding chest.

"No..." She meekly whispered as she realized there must be something more arcane at play. This necklace was not coming off by normal means. Elly was a fairly powerful mage, but there was not a single spell she could think of to remove the artifact from her neck. She sat in stunned silence for an hour, than two; simply watching as her waistline expand further and further from her tony frame. The feelings of pressure from the night before still pressed against her bloated middle and breast, but more and more that feeling became indistinguishable from the lush sensual joy she felt from her voluptuous, overstretched body, creating an erotic cocktail she was feebly trying to resist. By the time Antonis began to stir, her body had surged to even more absurd proportions, now resembling a woman who could at any moment be ready to bring her child into this world, and yet she could still feel more growth as her stomach ebbed slowly forward.

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaah....Elly?" Antonis yawned as he picked himself up from the brush and twigs "How long did you let me sleep? We have a long way yet to go you know, so I hope you're not too tired."

He scanned around the overgrown path looking for his partner, finally spotting her sitting in a rather peculiar position by a nearby stump.

"What are you doing over..."

"Back Away!" She blurt out, her face scarlet as she turned and tried to cover herself best she could. "DON'T LOOK AT ME!!!"

Taken aback by her outburst, Antonis blinked before pressing on. "What is it now?" he said, taking another step, "We don't have time for games, we're already running behind!"

Elly was mortified, she couldn't let Antonis see her like this! There was nowhere to go though, her mind scrambled for any kind of escape or distraction but nothing came to her.

"Come on now....what... what the?" Antonis had now wandered close enough that he could see the reason Elly was sitting in such a curious fashion. He stared dumbfounded for a moment, sweat beads forming across his brow before looking up to meet Elly's embarrassed and frightened gaze.

"Isniffdon't knowsniffwhats happening to meeheeheeeeeee" The bulging mage began to cry, her wildest dream having become a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

"What...what are you playing at!" Antonis said, leaning in as if in a daze. Almost instinctivelyhe pressed a hand against her swollen middle.

"Ugnnh"

The soft moan took both of them by surprise. Antonis snapped his hand back and looked away in embarrassment, realizing now what he had done; while Elly clasped her mouth with both hands to deafen the sound, her face practically glowing red.

"It's just... really sensitive." She murmured, almost inaudibly.

"I uhh, I'm sorry." His gaze directed down, "So... it's real then?" He eventually stammered out.

Elly couldn't help but notice the strange turn his body language had taken. He must have been disgusted by it all, she was sure of it. She felt tears once again well up, unable to keep them at bay she began to sob once more. Antonis leaned down close, and looked into her eyes.

"We'll fix this I promise, okay?"

She simply shook her head yes.

---

Elly spent the morning explaining to Antonis about the necklace, and try as he might he could not remove the enchanted jewelry from her neck either. Eventually he decided to go back to Highguard and find the degenerate old coot who was responsible for Elly's predicament. Each hour that dragged by was taking its tool on the spritely young mage, she absentmindedly drummed her fingers along the sides of her growing belly. Looking down at it, she mused it had to have been large enough to carry at least two babies at this point. Of course she wasn't quite sure of just what exactly was actually happening inside her gigantic middle. It was at that moment when she felt a new and curious sensation. A gentle fluttering, coming from within the fleshy sphere and pressing softly outwards. She brought her hand over to feel the disturbance, when she felt another along the other side of her massive orb. And then another. She began to press and massage her belly, now bustling with obvious signs of life within. She couldn't believe it, another alien feeling to add to the list of others she had felt this day; but just as with the rest, she couldn't help but note how... good this felt.

The gentle rubbing of her hands became a sensual kneed, her hand couldn't resist wandering lower down the taunt curve of her belly, towards her nethers. Suddenly becoming hyper aware of every bit of growth her body was undergoing, she let the erotic wave of pleasure sweep her away. She closed her eyes as her face ran red hot. The knowledge that every second ticking by pushed her stomach further outward sent her into a frenzy. She bit her lip as the wave after wave of pleasure started to crash over her, she tried her best to remain quite but a soft moaning started to fill the forest air. A powerful feeling of pressure from deep within broke through her erotic haze for a moment, but it only added to her excitement. Her breath shortened to a pant as the pleasure surging within her grew to unbearable levels. Finally she recalled the feeling Antonis's hand across her bare skin, it was if she had been struck with lightning. She began to cry out in release as her mind and body were completely lost in erotic bliss. Catching her breath, she looked down once more at her fertile swell, for a moment, she couldseeit grow. She sat paused, hand on her head, trying to regain her composure.

"Why..." She thought....

"Ngghh, why does this have to feel so....good." She said to herself, her hands gently beginning to kneed her delicate body once again.

---

"Elly? Elly! Where are you?" Antonis called into the darkened forest, his trip had taken him the whole day proper, so he had to search by torchlight for his overburdened companion.

"I'm....I'm here..." She called back from the darkness. He made his way over to the source of the sound. The light from the torch kissed her delicate skin as he approached, leaving no question that the curse had progressed significantly since his departure.

"My Gods Elly, are you alright?"

The once thin and delicate woman had become truly massive in the time since Antonis had departed. Sitting on the stump, her burgeoning belly filled out her lap completely, spreading her legs apart to make room for its incessant march outward. Her now ample bosom sat perched on top, pressed dangerous tight in her now inadequate top. The necklace glowing faintly all the while, nestled between the growing orbs it was responsible for.

Elly pondered his question for a second. On the one hand, she was practically pinned down by the incredible weight of her out of control body, playing host to a mysterious brood that had invaded her belly. On the other, nothing had ever felt quite so...incredible as this. She was living a fantasy, and every bit of her hypersensitive body was crying out in pleasure.

"I uhh... I'll survive." She eventually managed to muster. "Did you ...find a cure?" She hesitantly asked, almost afraid that Antonis had been successful in his mission.

"I'm afraid not," He said, looking down. "But I did find some information that can help us. There is a Wizard who lives in a tower in these very woods, he may have a way to undo this..." He stopped again before becoming flustered. "This....terrible, uhh, curse."

Elly looked away, even with all the intense pleasure welling inside her, a gentle sadness overtook her. 'Antonis must be disgusted by all this' she reasoned, her expression shifted to one of shame.

Registering the pained look on her face, Antonis grabbed his torch with grim determination and started back into the night.

"I'll find that tower, don't worry, just be safe while I'm gone."

"No!" Elly burst out.

"No...uhh. You've had such a long day don't be ridiculous, rest, we can find the tower in the morning" she sheepish finished, not sure if she truly meant it or was simply trying to buy herself more time.

"I'll be fine." He said, taking another step away into the bleak and murky woods.

"You're just going to leave me all alone again, likethis?" She moaned, arching her back for emphasis, "What's wrong with you!". Anger welled up as she continued to chide him in a desperate attempt to get him to stay. Was he so appalled, so disgusted at her new form?

Antonis finally relented with a sigh. "If you're sure you'll be okay until the morning... First thing tomorrow I'll sort this out though, I swear to you."

He took his position across from her, steeling himself for a short rest.

"Wait," she whimpered softly "You don't have to... move so far away. Could you, maybe, sleep nearby, just for tonight? Please...I...I feel so vulnerable."

Antonis got up and moved over to Elly before gently laying down beside her. "Of course, if it's what you desire, I'll be right here for you." he said, resting a hand softly upon her shoulder.

Elly meekly looked down at her gravid body once again, the feelings of sadness threatening to overtake her completely as she choked back her tears once more. "Thank you, I'm sorry, I know you must be disgusted by all this." She softly cried.

"What? Elly, no I..." He said, bringing her gaze up to meet his own. "I'm not in the slightest, you're more beautiful than ever, I swear it." His tone soft and reassuring.

"You're just saying that..." she looked to the side.

"No really- I- err, in fact..." He trailed off, once again, a look of shame plastered on his face.

"You...you what?" She pried, curiosity now piquing.

Antonis clamped his mouth shut and looked away.

"You..." She continued. With a small gasp, a thought dawned on her. "No..." She locked eyes with him, before grabbing his hand and pressing it firmly to her firm bulging stomach. "Do you...like this?"

Antonis just hung his mouth open, any response escaped him. Elly began to softly rub his hand upon her skin, the ignoring the intense feeling of pleasure it gave her for the moment. She was still staring directly into his eyes, almost as if she was peering into his soul. Finally, the slightest twitch in his eye when one of her brood brushed against his hand told her all she needed to know.

"You..DO! You like seeing me like this! You..you pervert!" She began to tease. She couldn't believe it, all this time and she never knew!

"Pervert! Pervert!!" She began to smugly laugh. Antonis pressed his hand over his eyes, covering his grim expression. Elly ripped his hand right back down and rested it on her belly once more, her eyes bore directly into his again.

"Hey, wanna know a secret?" She whispered with a seductive stare. "I like it too."

---

Elly waited at the base of the tower, as determined as she could be sometimes 500 stairs was simply too much for her in her current condition. It had taken all of their combined might to lift her from the forest floor this morning, and walking had been quite a struggle for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the gargantuan bulge now handing down from her center. Fueled by lust and magic, Elly had grown to a preposterous size, her hands constantly rubbing what she could still reach of her bountiful restless middle. Her breast inched closer and closer to her chin, pressed on by their own incredible growth and the growth of the orb beneath them. She gingerly cooed while talking to the inhabitants of her incredibly bloated mound. Finally she herd the rattle of Antonis's armor as he made his way down the steps.

"Well..uhh." He sheepish shuddered.

"Well, what? Out with it!"

He pulled a small vial out from inside his cloak. "This should...undo the effects." He said as he held it out for her to examine. She took a moment to scan at the murky violet liquid.

"Oh, I see."

She looked back up at him, and saw the unmistakable look of disappointment in his eyes.

"You want to see me even bigger... don't you, you little pervert!" She mocked.

"Madam!" Antonis did his best to look incredulous "Perish the thought!"

Elly waddled over to him and grabbed him by the cloak, pulling his face into range of hers. The make out session was cut suddenly short by the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. Antonis shot his eyes open, and saw the liquid from the vial seeping into the dirt beneath them. He shot a concerned look over to Elly, but was surprised to see a sultry expression peering back at him. He hung his jaw for a moment, befuddled, before Elly finally spoke up. With a catty giggle, all she had to say was,

"Opps!"