8:00PM at Hau’oli City Shores, as nighttime falls over Melemele island the Xerowan family received an unexpected late visit. Cottswold had stopped by her friend’s house to make a last-minute delivery before heading back home to the Berry Farm.

“For the last time Plump Fluff, I’m not here for a sleep over!” Cott said adamantly with a grumpy expression “I’m only here to deliver your berry supplies for the week!” Cott said with a mildly annoyed, but also playful tone as she dropped down a box with a large quantity of various berries, custom picked by Bree so that Eva can snack on them, as an alternative to sweets. This was currently part of the program everyone developed to keep Eva’s weight in check.

“YAAAAY great friends bring yummy berries!” Eva said with an overly eager and cheerful tone. She then gave Cott an inescapable hug, showing that Eva was learning from her mother the art of giving bear hugs. Cott being an Amaura, could handle Eva’s bear hug without any strain, no matter how hard the plump Fennekin squeezed. Cott of course sighed with a gentle smile and returned the hug in kind. Noni standing in the room gave a very small chuckle disguised as a smirk.

“Yeah, yeah, I sure did I guess” Cott chuckled as she unwrapped her arms from Eva, but the silly Fennekin as still hugging on tight.

“Eva, I gotta go!” Cott said impatiently.

“If I don’t let go, you can’t leave. So, you’ll just have to stay!” Eva said mischievously as she held on to Cottswold and rested her chin on Cott’s belly to look up at her and stick her tongue out playfully. Cott groaned but then grinned as an idea popped into her head.

“Okay then, if you wanna play dirty, then lets play!” Cott suddenly wrapped her arms around Eva again, but this time she lifted her into air and carried her across the room.

“I’m still holding onto you Cott! You’re just making this more fun!” Eva said confidently but then Cott stopped at the bedroom door and continued to hold her off the ground (Eva still clung to her) and Cott looked around behind her and she winked to Noni.

“Lets see how you handle this Plump Fluff!” Cott grinned down at Eva as she tightened her own grip on Eva so that she couldn’t move.

“I don’t get it, I’m nice and cozy here? I’m happy to stay right here all nigh-” Eva was cut short when she heard a distinctive “POP” from a plastic container being opened from the other side of the room, beyond Eva’s sight. Eva suddenly caught the sweet scent of cookies in the air followed by the sound of bite taken from one.

“Wha- what! Noni? Are you eating a cookie!?” Eva asked as she started to desperately wiggle out of Cott’s arms so she could look past the Amaura’s body to see her sister. But Cottswold wasn’t letting her go.

“Yes…” Noni answered blankly after swallowing the first bite “I managed to save one of the cookies I made and have kept it securely hidden in an airtight container, until this moment” Noni explained as she took another bite. Eva struggled to try and get Noni into view, but Cott was too strong and her efforts were for naught.

“What’s the matter Plump Fluff?” Cott said teasingly “Why don’t ya just use telekinesis to grab the cookie?” she taunted and Eva huffed grumpily up at her.

“You know I need to see where the cookie is before I can make it float!” Eva exclaimed as she continued to struggle “Just a little peak!”

“Let me go home, and I’ll let you go” Cott said calmly with a smirk.

Eva finally gave in as her arms went limp and she pushed her face into Cott’s torso, saying in a muffled voice.

“Youf winff! (you win)”

Cott chuckled, put Eva back down, and the goofy Fennekin shuffled around Cott to face Noni who was hiding the cookie behind her back.

“Oh come on Sis! Lemme see it!” Eva excitedly, and as fast as she was capable, waddled over to her sister, meanwhile Cott laughed and made her exit saying-

“Well see ya later you two” Cott bid farewell to the twins and left. Eva looked back and solemnly waved goodbye.

“Bye Cott!…” But she quickly perked up when she remembered the cookie “Oh yeah! Let me see that cookie!”

Noni gave a slight smirk as she glowed and levitated into the air beyond her reach, while still keeping the cookie out of sight.

“Oh, come on Sis! I know I’m supposed to take it easy on the sweets, but maybe… just a bite? Pleeeeeese!” Eva turned on the puppy eyes, but Noni was merely teasing and in a rare moment, she giggled at the sight of Eva below, and it grew into a short burst of laughter.

“You’re laughing!” Eva said happily surprised. Noni soon lowered back to the floor and her laughter quickly faded as her emotional control was restored.

“That felt… nice” Noni said with a sigh “I have gained better control over my emotional receptivity over the past few months, as such, I am capable of allowing my defenses down in brief bursts”

“It was so nice to see you laughing” Eva grinned but then her belly grumbled reminding her of her target. Noni heard this loud and clear and held the cookie (with two bites less) out in plain view.

“Oh!” Eva licked her lips almost drooling. “Can I have the rest of the last cookie? Please?” she pleaded and Noni handed it over with a little smile.

“I was going to transfer it into your ownership anyway; I merely wished to enjoy myself in Cottswold’s plan of escape” Noni explained as Eva quickly devoured the cookie and sighed contented as she clearly enjoyed it.

“Ahh! That hit the spot! It’s a shame you don’t make these very often?” Eva said licking her lips of any remaining crumbs.

“If I indulged your want of my specialty cookies with more frequent production, they would no longer be special… and it would undoubtedly undo our efforts to prevent your currant proportions from exceeding a manageable limit” Noni once again over-articulated and Eva blinked in confusion.

“Huh?” Eva responded and Noni sighed in amusement and then repeated herself, but in a more straight forward way.

“If I made my special cookies whenever you wanted them Sister, they would no longer be special, and having those cookies too often would undo all the work we have done to keep you from getting too fat” Noni finished and Eva replied-

“Oh, I see! Why didn’t you just say it like that in the first place?”

“I find it comfortable to speak with advanced articulation, but… it is clear that my extensive vocabulary is perhaps somewhat… over-excessive? I will endeavor to be more comprehensive… more clear in my speech, if that is more convenient?”

“Well, I’ve always liked how smarty-pants you are Sis” Eva replied with a giggle before adding- “But I guess I wouldn’t mind being able to understand what you mean, without asking you to dumb it down all the time”

“I can say without ego, that I am indeed the most intelligent one between us. But it is clear to me, that your wisdom and compassion surpass mine” Noni complimented and Eva smiled with a little blush. But then Noni added-

“At least, wisdom in matters that do not involve food” She blankly joked and Eva blew a raspberry in response.

“In my defense! It’s my tummy that is to blame for mistakes over sweet goodies, not me” she playfully argued.

“Flawless logic as always Sister” Noni sarcastically noted as she picked up the box of fresh berries that Cott had delivered and walked over to a cabinet that sported a lock.

The cabinet was a recent addition to Noni’s side of the room, and she used it to hold the excess supply of berries for refilling Eva’s knapsack. Having them locked up like this however, had become a necessity, because a few weeks previous, Eva had eaten the delivery of the usual “one week’s worth” all in one go. Not intentionally of course, she simply lost track of how much she was eating at the time until she reached into the box once more to find it empty.

After that, Noni took responsibility of the berry delivery and distribution, and made sure Eva did not touch the berries until they were secured.

“It is fortunate that you have incorporated less sugary berries into your diet so as to… “mislead” your stomach away from much more fattening consumables” Noni opened the cabinet as she spoke and put the majority of the berries inside as she added- “Miss Bree’s ingenious plan to supply these berries, has contributed to a… much needed improvement to your eating habits. In any case, I’m almost ready to depart for the night, and I will be visiting the Night Side Café” Noni finished unpacking and storing the bulk of the berries and then locked the cabinet.

“Ghost types are fun and friendly, I wish I could meet more sometime!” Eva said and giggled happily.

“I’m sure you will meet many more in time” Noni said as she picked up Eva’s knapsack and refilled it with the remaining berries she had allocated and then placed it upon Eva’s nightstand.

“Thanks Noni! Always nice to have some berries nearby for when I get those “peckish” moments in the night” Eva hopped joyfully, but as she did, Noni took notice of something.

“Sister, your paunch… or belly, is protruding out from beneath your pajamas significantly more than has been the norm lately” Noni pointed at Eva’s belly bringing attention to it clearly being plumper than usual.

“Huh, I guess you’re right sis, that’s funny” Eva said, and patted her belly with her trademark cheerful chuckling.

“Eva, it is highly unlikely that a single cookie could have had such an excessive effect on your body mass, which would lead me to assume… that there must be additional consumables that you have somehow gained access to?” Noni asked with suspicion and Eva looked slightly nervous.

“Ummm… maybe” she said fidgeting awkwardly.

“Sister!”

“Okay! Well, you know that big Arbok lady who works with Cott’s Mum, well she has a little brother named Durian, he’s a pretty pink Sneasel” Eva said cutely.

“I am aware of whom you are referring to, please explain his involvement”

“Oh right! Well, since everyone was making sure the house was mostly empty of sweets and candy… I gave some of my money to Durian so he could… buy me some?” Eva shrugged with a silly grin.

“Durian, as I understand, is unaware of your current situation. But you knew that… very… crafty, dear sister” Noni said in a somber sternness.

“Sorry Sis, I just really had a craving for doughnuts that day, and they were on sale!” she said happily as she patted her belly.

“You do not seem too concerned sister, do you not recall the previous instance in which you went overboard with your consumption? your walking aid buckled from your increased weight and you were effectively rendered immobile for a month.” Noni replied with mild concern.

“Oh don’t worry, Cott’s mom taught me how to lose some weight by taking long naps, she called it hiber- hibe… hibernation! That’s the word! so it’s fine” Eva assured her sister.

“You know sister, I’ve been curious for a while. How do you… feel, about being overweight?” Noni asked with genuine curiosity.

“Oh…. well, you see, umm…” Eva paused for a moment and scratched the back of her head before continuing.

 

“Well, the thing is, we all know our mommy inherited Snorlax overeating genetics from our grandaddy, and those also passed on to big Sis Pitt and then also me. I overeat not just because I like sweets a lot, but because my body needs more food than normal newmons. We’ve heard the doctors give me and mom that explanation several times already.” Eva explained with an unnaturally calm tone.





“We are well aware. That is the reason as to why everyone around you is always patient and supportive with your overwhelming eating habits. It is understood that you do so out of necessity rather than gluttony.” Noni reassured her sister.

“Yeah, but something I’ve never shared with anyone, not even mom is…. Actually, I kinda like being chubby.” Eva paused for a moment. “Everyone’s always going on how I’m super cute as a chubby girl, my tummy’s is like a soft warm marshmallow, and everyone always wants a warm hug from me, I’ve learned to like my plump self as part of who I am” Eva giggled a bit nervously.

“That is about the response I would expect from you. You were always someone who enjoys being cute and giving out affection to others, if anything your affection is rather contagious to others” Noni joked a bit and added- “Plus I have grown so accustomed to your being plump, that I… as odd as it may sound, would not appreciate your hugs with the same enthusiasm”

“Hehehe, you’re not wrong about that one sister, and you’re right! Being pudgy does make hugs WAY better!” Eva replied jovially. “Actually, now that we’re on this topic, I’ve been curious about something. What would you be like if you had also inherited mom’s super eating genetics like I did and you were also big and plumpy like me?” Eva asked with a goofy grin and her tail wagging a bit.



Noni paused a moment at Eva’s question and then replies-
“I suppose I may have had a passing curiosity now and then, as to how I would feel, if like you or Pitaya, I were to be plus sized… But there are several factors that make that an impossibility” Noni explained.
“What do you mean, impossible?” Eva asked.


“While you and our big Sister have Mother’s genes, I have inherited Father’s metabolism. You yourself Eva, know that Father is capable of matching Mother’s consumption rate, and yet he never gains any weight”
“Oh yeah!” Eva exclaimed and added “He even ate all the cupcakes I made, when I asked him to test all the different types I was trying”


“It is true that I also could manage such abundance…” Noni paused a moment looking slightly uncomfortable before continuing. “But as I am half ghost type, like most ghosts, I feed upon emotions as my primary sustenance. I focus on only absorbing positive emotions, and while negative emotions are a powerful source of energy for a ghost-type, they are also like a poison that can cause stagnation in a ghost’s psyche… my teacher has warned me to never indulge in such emotions… no matter how tempting such consumption may be”


“Wow, I never knew it was so complicated for you” Eva said with sympathy. Noni sensed what she had said had left Eva feeling a bit concerned for her and moved over to give her a hug.


“Hey! Noni, I’m okay, I was just feeling a little… sorry for you that’s all!” Eva said realizing that Noni noticed her concern “But I’m not gonna complain for the hug” She said with a chuckle as she wrapped her arms around her sister and hugged her back.

“I simply… do not want you feel upset for me” Noni released Eva from her hug and in a rare moment as she sat up to face Eva, she smiled brightly.
“I am fine, because I have you, our family and our friends whenever I need you all”
“Sis… you’re smiling so big!” Eva said excitedly.
Noni regained her composure and the smile disappeared.
“My self-control is improving and I can… express myself more often without letting stray emotions influence me” she explained.
“Wait! You didn’t answer my question!” Eva exclaimed suddenly making Noni blink.
“Please clarify?”
“Even if it may be impossible, how would you feel if YOU were pudgy?” she asked determined and Noni gave a small smirk.
“I would not mind, but my lifestyle and training would not permit it to happen. As it would hinder my abilities” She explained and Eva sighed saying-
“Finally, but you know… I’m kinda glad you’ll never be plump like me”
“How so?” Noni asked curious.
“Because then I wouldn’t be able to get my arms all the way around you like this!” Eva said as she hugged Noni again, and she too followed suit putting her arms around Eva in turn.


“A well-established point Sister”