- A Veluson Thanksgiving -
It was a windy morning on the Veluson estate and the girls were doing their usual daily things... Well, that is if this was any regular time of the day. In actually, they are preparing for Thanksgiving and subsequently another encounter with their Kalosian cousins. To say the relationship between them was strained would be an understatement. For a long time, there has already been a rivalry between the two matriarchs, Anastasia and Ruth, and their distaste for each other has seemingly been passed down to their daughters. Some would be friendly to each other while others are often openly hostile to each other. Cora and Hilda are considered to be the black sheep of their respective families; Rather than listening to their own mothers, Cora follows on her aunt's footsteps and strive to be the most sophisticated one out of her sisters while Hilda was a tomboy that regularly rebels against her overly-controlling mother on a daily basis. Overall, it's a rather screw-up family but it gets worst.
During Erma's adoption, things flared up intensely between the two sides, with much of Anastasia's daughters in favor of Erma while most of Ruth's daughters strongly oppose her mere presence. Even Hilda, who had been in favor of Anastasia, did not like Erma as it felt that her spot in family was just taken. Nowadays, while Ruth's daughters has accepted the fact that a deformed shiny Eevee was now their relative, they wouldn't hesitate to push her around when given the chance. And as much as she like eating around the dinner table at Thanksgiving, Erma is not looking forward to seeing her cousins at all.
In her room, Erma was just done editing her video for the day and was now uploading it to MorphTube. It was on time, much to her temporally delight. Afterward, she went on to go and watch some videos when someone knocked on the door. As she had her headphones on, she couldn't quite hear it. The same person knock again, but Erma still didn't notice. Eventually, they just barge into the bedroom uninvited and tap on Erma's shoulder, leading to her to turn and look at the person in question. Thankfully, it was just Nyxie.
"Oh, thank Arceus. It's just you. Thought you were one of them," Erma said.
"Um, one of who?" Nyxie ask, becoming slightly distracted from what she come for.
"Err- Um, never mind... So, what brings you here, Nyx?"
"Well, Sylvia wants you to do a few taste tests for her since everyone else is busy. Normally I would volunteer but being round isn't exactly my ideal future."
"Fine. Not like I got anything to do" she said begrudgingly as she and Nyxie walk over to the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, Sylvia was working hard on doing most of the cuisines and pastries. Just looking at them made Erma hungry to eat them for real and not for some taste test but had to restrict herself to save room for her sisters.
"Ready for the taste test, Erma?" Sylvia ask with a smile. "I wanna make sure that these taste good enough for the rest of the family. They're very hard to pleased, you know?"
"Of course, Sylvia. Who wouldn't?"
"Umm, me?" Nyxie suggested, raising her hand up like a nervous child.
"Oh right, we forgot to tell you about them," Sylvia noted as she went over to Nyxie's side. "Erma, I'll go explain the whole thing to her while you go do the taste test."
"Sounds good to m-" Before Erma could finish her sentence, Sylvia realize that she would live Erma alone with all the food and interrupted her.
"Actually, now that I think about," Sylvia then pulls out a huge microphone out of nothing much to Nyxie's surprise and yelled, "Velvet! Could you come over, please?!"
A few moments later, a rather busty Espeon Pokémorph dressed in a white dress you commonly see in films about a possessed girl came into the kitchen, and she was not in the mood for the sole reason that Phrona has caught herself last night trying to escape the house and was forced to sleep the night with her twin sister. And then Phrona unintentionally transformed into Britney during the night and the whole situation went from less than ideal to hell on earth. "You called?" the Espeon sister grumbled.
"Yeah, could you like watch over Erma so she doesn't go around and eat up everything?" "You do realize that you're asking a half-asleep night owl to watch a person who's well-known for eating past her limits right, Sylvia?"
"Well, it's not like you got anything better to do then just - oh, I don't know - watching those documentaries about plane crashes and whatnot."
"Grrr, Fine! I'll watch over Erma while you do... your thing," Velvet said as she took a seat on a nearby chair and watch over Erma, who chuckled nervously as she grab a vanilla-flavored cupcake.
Meanwhile, Nyxie and Sylvia went into the living room where the latter would explained to the former about her family's relationship with each other. Sylvia explain that her cousins could be split up into two categories; those that they get along with quite well and those they don't. Heather, Sierra and Dessa are part of the latter for their passive aggressive attitude to their cousins and even their own sisters at time. Meanwhile, Arian, Kaida, Rita, Raven and Chrys are the nicest ones that Sylvia and her sisters get along with and often giver them aid in their time of need. Despite being on the former category, Hilda tend to fluctuate into being a friend or foe depending on any given issues, like the whole Erma situation years prior.
Once Sylvia was done explaining it, Nyxie couldn't help but feel a perplexed about it, "But I still don't get it. Like aren't family supposed to get along? 'Cause yours does't sound like it." "I know it, but everything doesn't have to perfect. You understand?"
"A-A little," Nyxie said nervously. She still tried to make sense of the whole situation but still couldn't wrap her along around it. A Family that doesn't get along with each other for the most part? How could just a thing existed? Nyxie thought to herself. "So, shall we get back to-" Before Nyxie could finish, she accidentally bump into the Espeon librarian. "U-Uh, sorry, Miss Sakura," she apologizes, nervously.
Sakura glare daggers at her before speaking to the Sylveon sister. "Have you seen Erma? She's late for our teatime."
"Oh, she's currently helping with taste-testing so I don't think she would have time to hang out for the rest of the day. Especially when our cousins show up," Sylvia giggled, much to Sakura's slight frustration. "But you could hang out with Nyxie here. I'll sure she could use some company."
Like I wanna waste any more of my time with that thing, the Espeon librarian grumbled to herself. "Sorry, but I prefer to spent my time with someone deserves my attention rather than someone who doesn't." Sakura then walk away from the duo.
"Gee, what's her problem?" Sylvia uttered out loud to no one in particular. "Well, let's get back to the kitc-" Before Sylvia could finish her sentence, Phrona then came along pulling Velvet by her right ear with Erma walking alongside her. Erma was still eating her vanilla cupcake, or maybe have gotten another one, and is certainly enjoying it. Velvet on the other hand, was in a horrible condition. Her eyes were redder then before, she looked exhausted and was particularly dead on the inside.
"Hey, Sylv. I think you do made a mistake making Velvet watch over Erma," Phrona said. "I went to go check up on Velvet since she wasn't in our bedroom and I saw her trying to haphazardly make coffee while Erma was sneaking in another cupcake or two."
"Well excuse me for wanting coffee so bad!" Velvet complained.
"You know, sometimes I wonder why we're evolved into what we are now."
"Well, I don't fucking know!" She yelled as Sylvia covered Nyxie's ears.
"Look, Velvet. Let's save this talk for tomorrow. You're starting to look like a ghost and not in a good way."
"Looking like a ghost is a good way!"
"Yeah, for you. You need some time to rest before they get here."
"Pff. Relax, the others won't come in like an hour or two. We have plenty of time to-"
And then come the knocking. It sounded like it was coming from the front door. Erma look at the time and groans, "Aw shoot. Here we go again." She then turn to Sylvia and Phrona and said, "Sylvia. Tell mother our aunt has arrive. Phrona, take Velvet to bed." The two nodded as the former went to look for Anastasia while the Umbreon sister carry her twin up to her bedroom, much to her protests.
Erma herself was able to walk away from the front door when she turn around and saw Nyxie reaching for the door knob. She raced over to the Shiny Eevee maid and pull her hand away from the doorknob.
"What are you doing?" She whispered.
"I-I was just opening the door," Nyxie replied nervously.
"Normally we do but when it comes to them, we don't. We just let our mom do it while the rest of us make a run for it," Erma hastily explained as she tried to take Nyxie away from the door but to no avail. Nyxie reached for the doorknob once more and this time, she opened it. Despite this, Erma manages to pull Nyxie out once she've done so but it was too late.
In front of the two were Erma's cousins, all or whom were Evolutions that Nyxie has never seen before. All of them were of unique colors but the matriarch, Ruth, remain largely the same. If anything, she look like a big fluffy Eevee with a big fluffy tail but she'll smack you if you said it. As Erma step back in fear, something she rarely if ever shown, the Eeveeon matriarch glare daggers at the two shiny Eevee.
"Hi, I'm Nyxie. Nice to meet you," Nyxie said with a genuine yet nervous smile.
"Who is this?" Ruth ask bluntly.
"S-She's a maid. We just happen to look similar," Erma hastily explained as she pulled Nyxie away from Ruth and closer to her side.
"Figures. Guess I have to ask my sister about this," Ruth said as she walk away from the duo, much to Erma's short-lived relief. Following her came the ones she've been dreading, the Heather, a Ground-Type Anubeon, and Sierra, a Rock-Type Obsideon. And as expected, they stare at the newcomer with distaste in their eyes as they walked away, followed by Dessa, a Poison-type Toxeon and Arian, a Steel-Type Chromeon. They didn't took much interest in Nyxie but did took a glance at them. As she look back, Nyxie failed to realized that someone was just about to stomp her foot. Nyxie let out a small yelp right as Hilda, a Fighting-type Brawleon, step on her. As she quickly rub her feet, Rita, a Flying-type Nimbeon, went over to her side.
"So sorry about my sister. She's just jealous, that's all," Rita said as she smiled at Nyxie. "Jealous? Jealous of what exactly?" Nyxie ask, confused.
"Well, let's just say that she doesn't like her mother," Answered Chrys, a Bug-type Motheon. "Like at all. Like she much rather prefer to have Auntie Annie be her mother than our mom. So when she adopted Erma, you could've only imagine how jealous Hilda must've been."
"Yeah, it's best to just avoid her," Raven, a Ghost-type Yureon, whispered to her eye. Nyxie recoiled in shock as she heard Raven's raspy voice. "Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you on accidentally. But don't worry. Just be glad I didn't overdo it like Kaida here," she laugh, much to one she mentioned's chagrin.
"Oh come on! Did you really have to mention it?" Kaida, a Dragon-type Wyveon, cried out.
"Well, you did made Arian almost lose her voice so it's pretty hard to forget about it," Chrys said.
"Ugh, fine. I'll be with Sylvia if you'll need you," Kaida said as she raced over to find the Sylveon sister. Following them, Chrys and Raven walked away to go look for Samantha. Rita then walked away after waving goodbye and now the two shiny Eevee were left alone.
"Phew. That was stressful," Erma sigh.
"Well, I don't get it. I don't really see much hostility between you guys," Nyxie noted. "Yeah, but that doesn't stop them from toying with me," Erma said. "Look, let's just to go to my room. Things should be safe there," She then took Nyxie to her room.
When the two returned to Erma's room, Erma went ahead to turn on of her gaming console and began playing one of her games as per usual. Nyxie meanwhile was laying around in bed, not doing her usual work. The reason she isn't doing the work is because the others are doing it for her. Not because they wanted to but so that Nyxie could avoid the wrath of some of their cousins, Heather and Hilda in particular. Overall, Nyxie was feeling anxious to back to working but she knew she could get into trouble she did and so remain in bed. However, this subject of family has bring into the Eevee maid's mind a question that she has often thought about: where are her parents?
Despite having some vague memories of them, everything else is in uncharted territory and Nyxie really wants to find about what happened to them. She then thought about Erma's birth family and considering how two look the same, she wonder if they have the same parents; and if so, could they be twins?
"U-Umm, Erma?" Nyxie aks nervously.
"Yes, Nyx?" Erma took off her headset and turn around to see Nyxie who was now sitting on the bed.
"D-Do you- Um, do you think that-" Nyxie stuttered, not wanting for her question to sound weird. Just as Erma's patience was beginning to wain, she blurt out hastily, "Do you think we're related?"
Erma pause for a moment, thinking about how to respond to Nyxie's question. While it was plausible that the two could be sisters given the evidence, it's also possible that the two just happen to share the same face and are actually stranger. After a while, Erma was about to respond when she got a phone call from one of her sisters. "Um, a moment please." Erma then answered the phone, talked with her sister for a bit and then end the call. "Well, looks they need me for something," Erma signs as she got up to her chair. "Take care, Nyx," she said while she walk out to the door, leaving Nyxie all alone in the room.
Despite disappointed that she didn't had her question answered, Nyxie was secretly glad that it wasn't because of what if the answer wasn't what she wanted to hear. Regardless rather than following Erma, she remain in bed waiting for the shiny Eevee sister to return back to their room.
Minutes went by, and Nyxie was beginning to feel anxious. Without Erma nearby, she felt lonely and scared, worried about what could happened next. Unfortunately, her worries would soon become truth.
After roughly thirty minutes went by, Nyxie was staring at a picture of Erma and her family when someone open the door. Thinking it's Erma, Nyxie put the picture back where she found it and turn around expecting to see Erma. Instead, it was a tall Anubeon with a maroon tank top and a pair of khaki shorts and heels.
"Bonjour, my name is Heather Veluson. You must be the maid I've heard from my cousins," she greeted quite warmly, offering up her hand.
"H-Hello, I'm Nyxie," she said as she shook hands with the Anubeon sister. "Nice to meet you."
"Same," Heather said. She then look closely into Nyxie's face, which concerns the latter greatly.
"Um, what is it?"
"Oh, just wondering."
"About?"
"About how you and Erma look so similar? Like you're both practically twins or something."
"That's what I-"
"And yet, you're both different. Her colors are dull while yours is vibrant. She has that misshapen ear while you have no imperfections. Basically, you're perfect in every way that Erma isn't."
"Well, I wouldn't say perfe-"
"If anything, she should be the one serving you, not the other way around. It's honestly criminal, isn't it?"
"No, it's not. I'm perfectly content with being the maid here."
"Well if she's really is your twin, then why was she abandoned?" Heather ask with a cheshire smile. After having no response from Nyxie, she answered, "Maybe it's because you're so perfect that they decided that you're all that matter and dropped the other one because who honestly needs her."
"M-My parents would never abandoned her like that," Nyxie retorted back fiercely yet stuttering, sounding like she was about to break.
"Oh, please. You're only just saying that because you were probably told the truth. Heck, they probably just spoil you rotten so that you wouldn't bother to even have the slightest hint about Erma's mere existence."
"P-Please stop. Y-You're making me very uncomfortable right now," Nyxie said, raising her voice slightly. Just outside the room, the Espeon librarian overheard the conversation when she was walking down the hall in search of Erma. Sakura then pause and ponder if she should intervene or not.
"Really? Well, then perhaps you should've kept silent when I told you about how you and Erma look so much alike and so different. But alors, here we are."
"Look, I just wanted to know why did you look at me like you did."
"Like I said, I notice how you look like a perfected version of Erma," Heather said, unintentionally making Sakura gag from the other side of the door.
"Yes, but you also told me that Erma should've been the maid, that my parents abandoned her just because they had me, and that I was spoiled rotten. Stuff I don't need to think about," Nyxie said.
"Oh, isn't that the truth? Having people pampered you to death while you remain oblivious to everything? Or worst, knowing fully well about it all and just not giving a damn? But oh wait, you wouldn't remember a single thing because from what I'm told. But then again, maybe that amnesia of yours was just a facade. A facade of what you truly are!"
"N-No! Y-You're wrong! Do you have any idea what you're talking about?" Nyxie screamed, covering her ears while closing her eyes tightly.
"Oh, stop it already. We know that you're no different than the other shiny scums I've dealt with aside from Erma! Admit it!" Heather exclaimed, much to Nyxie's anxiety. At this point, Sakura couldn't bare to hear it anyway and barge into the room, glaring at the Anubeon sister.
"Um, who are you? Her mother?" Heather ask calmly.
"No, but I can't bare you tormenting this child any longer!" Sakura exclaims. When Nyxie look up at the Espeon librarian, she felt like she knew her from somewhere but how is a mystery." If you ever speak to her like that again, expect to lose your breath in the morning," she threatened.
"Look ma'am. I was just trying to see if she's..." Heather paused as she tried to think about what to say next. She then look at the stern look on Sakura's face before deciding, "Err, never mind. Not worth my time explaining it to you lot. See y'all at the dinner table," she said as she walk out of the room, leaving Sakura and Nyxie alone.
Despite having mixed feelings towards the shiny Eevee maid, Sakura still felt that it was her duty to stand for justice. She glance over to the shiny Eevee maid and saw a face of fear and confusion invoked by the Anubeon sister's mean tactics to falsely exposes her. Sakura couldn't help but feel relived when Nyxie got up and hug the Espeon librarian but then she remember something. This Eevee, while possessing her blood, was not her original child and she wanted to spend as much as she could with her original child. And so, without much thought, Sakura pull herself out of Nyxie's grasp and walk out of the room but not before giving Nyxie a small, light kiss on the forehead.
Now alone by herself again, Nyxie felt scared, worried about who might come after her next. She rushed over to her bed and cover herself with the blanket so that she could hide from Erma's cousins. Of course, she was aware that not all of them are bad but felt it would be better off if she was out of their way. Soon, a door open causing Nyxie to quiver in fear. Unfortunately, that gave away her position and the intruder caught it. They walk over to Erma's bed and gently tap on it, leading to Nyxie to recoil from fright.
"Oof!" The person yelped.
"Sorry!" Nyxie apologizes as she look over the person. She was expecting it to be Erma coming to comfort her but alas, it wasn't. Instead, it was a Sky Blue-tinted Eeveelution with green eyes and light blue cloud-like wings. From what Nyxie could recall from her conversation with Sylvia, it was a Flying-type Eeveelution which one of Erma's cousin, Rita, was one, and the nicest ones out of the bunch, if not a bit overly-positive at times. "Um, are you Rita by any chance?"
"Positive! And you must be Nyxie, correct?"
"Y-Yes."
"Say you sound a bit nervous, why's that?"
"Well, I'm just afraid and a bit confused after a-ar- talking with one of your sisters."
"Yeah, Heather has those effects on anyone she talks with. No idea why she has it though," Rita said. "But don't worry about it, you'll get better once the dark clouds clears up."
"Thanks, Rita."
"No problem. Say, wanna be friends?" Rita ask.
"I-Isn't it too early to start being friends? Like we just met each other and I-I've already friends with Erma."
"It's alright. Everyone wants a friend of some kind and you are no exception. You can take as much time as you like," she argues. "Actually, it's no surprise that you're both friends, given your similarities."
"B-But she's a gamer with a career and I'm just a simple maid."
"Look Nyxie, that doesn't really matter. What matters is how you both act to each other. If you're going to think that you're both two totally different beings, then I don't know what to say. For me, being positive always outweigh the negative. That's how I got by."
"U-um, thanks," Nyxie said, slightly speechless from Rita's dialogue.
"No problem. Anyway, I'm off for dinner. Care to join?" She offered.
"I-It's already starting?" Nyxie replied.
"Of course. It wouldn't be nice if we left you out. You're family to us," Rita said as she walk out of the room. Nyxie took so time to think about it, wondering if she should join the others. She was worried that being near Erma's cousins but then remember that Erma would be there. She wanted to hang out with Erma more often and this was her chance. After some time, Nyxie came out of bed and followed Rita over to the dining hall.
At the dinner table, it was quiet as the two families were waiting for Rita to come back with Nyxie. Sakura and Mavis were also offered a seat at the table and both opted to be seated near Erma, but Sakura was forced to be seated alongside Sakura. While it was clear that Sakura did not enjoyed this arrangement, she prefer to keep quiet about her complaints for the time being. Needless to say, things was beginning to feel a lot awkward between the two families. Cora and Dessa were glaring daggers at each others, Sierra and Velvet were doing the same, Heather and Phrona are about to get into an argument if Rita and Nyxie doesn't show up any second no-
"We're here!" Rita exclaimed as she and Nyxie arrived at the room and took their seats which is conveniently between Hilda and Erma, which thankfully diffuses a possible situation between the two. For a second or two, Ruth took a glance at the shiny Eevee maid and turn to Anastasia with a stern look on her face.
"So, care to tell me about this one?" Ruth ask.
"Well she's one of our new maids, thought I'm sure you could've figure it out on your own, sister," Anastasia answered.
"Yes, but what made you want to get a maid?"
"... Well, truth be told, I didn't really wanted to have a maid, let alone three. Originally, I wanted to go ahead and find her family if they've survive but then Erma suggested that we keep her," Anastasia explained.
"And what made you want to have her?" Ruth ask Erma, who was slightly taken aback.
"Well, we couldn't just leave her while she lost her memories. Nyxie needs someone to look after her while she's recovering."
"She looks fine to me," Ruth retorted. "Tell me, Erma. Why are you keeping here."
"O-Okay, truth is I just can't help but think of her as my little sister. Sure, we may not be related but that does not matter. Like I am adopted but that doesn't change what I have with my family, or even Mavis."
"True..." Ruth said. "Well, I guess we should start eating right about now."
After saying their prayers and expressing what thankful they are for, the family has finally began to eat through the dinner that Sylvia created, catered to each to one's liking. Of course, since Sylvia was the one who made them, everyone was probably expecting a surprise waiting for them but to their surprise (or lack there of), there was none. Or at least, none for the moment as someone like Sierra or Cora were expecting the effects to come at a later time. Either that or their paranoia is just messing with them.
Anyway, once dinner was served and the family fed, there wasn't really much to do except play and talk with one another. Sakura, being Sakura, decided to go back to library and finish this book she was reading. Nyxie was also tempted to followed Sakura. As she've spend time with the Espeon librarian, more memories of before the crash. And even more of them were about her time and her mother, whom she was beginning to remember quite fondly. Her mother had the same physical characteristics as Sakura and Nyxie was wondering if Sakura was her mother. She wanted to ask Sakura about it but then thought back to what Erma had say before dinner. Nyxie went over to Erma, who was chatting with Mavis. She gently tap Erma on the shoulder, who then turn around.
"Hey, Nyx. How it's going?" Erma greeted the shiny Eevee maid warmly.
"Erma, about what you earlier... A-Am I really like a sister to you?" Nyxie ask Erma nervously.
"Well, yes. Why are you so unsure?"
"I-It's just that- Oh, I don't know how to say it... I don't really think we could be sisters. I mean, we're both act different and we have different experiences. Like, you're a gamer and I'm just a maid."
"Are you kiddin' me? Sure, we may have our differences, but you still hang out with me, right?" Erma ask, to which Nyxie nodded. "Being different doesn't change anything about us. I mean, look at the triplets. Cora's a control freak, Belle's a timid athlete and Kate's a drama queen, and yet that doesn't stop them from getting along... For the most part," Erma said. "Regardless of what we may have, we're still sisters."
"Not to mention you both look similar," Mavis added.
"T-Thanks a lot, you two," Nyxie said as she sit down next to Erma. Just then, Sierra, who was eavesdropping, decided to tuned in.
"Actually, since you too look so similar to each other, you could hypothetically be in fact related to each other. Whether as distant cousins or twin sisters," Sierra said, startling Nyxie who then hid behind Erma. "If you like, I could conduct a blood test to see if you are related or not once I get back to Kalos."
"Look, Sierra is it? I appreciate your altruism but I think that-"
"We'll take it," Erma said, interrupting Nyxie.
"Good, I'll need your blood then," Sierra said as she pulls out two syringe, one for each sister. She then uses both to suck out the blood from both Erma and Nyxie, the latter of whom wincing in acute pain. "My apologies," she said as she went to put the blood samples somewhere safe.
"Ow," Nyxie rubbed her forearm. "Why did you do that?"
"Trust me. The sooner we say yes, the sooner she'll leave us alone," Erma said, leaving Nyxie slightly confused. The two Eevee began to converse with one another for a while thereafter and the two were generally enjoying each other company. Mavis was listening along to the conversation, though she did answered some of Nyxie's questions about Erma's early years much to the latter's chagrin.
Meanwhile, in her and Mavis' bedroom, Sakura was sitting down on her bed thinking to herself. She pulls out a photo and signs. It was a picture of her back at the hospital after she gave birth to Erma - the original Nyxie, and was then cradling her like she was her sweet and innocent angel. She thought about that night and how that child was kicked out of the house by him and was replaced with that "perfect" child without her knowing it at all. She couldn't fathom that while she was tending to the young Nyxie's need, Erma was left to rot in a textile mill with only that human girl for company. Sakura constantly blames herself for not realizing something was wrong but as the tears stream through her cheeks, she couldn't help but feel thankful. At least my little Erma is safe and sound, she thought somberly.
Then, she thought about the other Nyxie. Truth be told, she felt sorry for leaving the young shiny Eevee to fend for herself after these four years, as well as leaving her trapped inside their own mansion at Korkerd for most of her childhood. But as her anger still clouds her judgment, she still thinks that Nyxie is still to blame for what happened to Erma alongside her husband, as the young shiny Eevee was distracting her from her real daughter.
As she continues to ponder about her life, someone slowly open the door. Sakura turned around to see her roommate, Mavis, entering the room. She was somehow half-asleep and she swaying back and forth, as if she was going to collapse.
"Are you okay there or-?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I just got a little doozy from the food we eat," Mavis explained. "Anyway, I just came to let you know that the others are leaving. Well, if you want to say goodbye or-" Before she could continued, she paused as she notices the picture that Sakura was holding. From the glimpse, she could see a much younger Sakura cradling a shiny Eevee newborn. She also notices how the shiny Eevee's right ear was blend.
"What is it?"
"O-Oh, nothing. Just looking at that picture of yours."
"It's none of your concern, Mavis," Sakura said as she turn back to look at the picture. "Just give me some privacy."
"Okay, see you later, Sakura," Mavis as she slowly exits the room, closing the door.
Back at the living room, Erma's cousins was already beginning to leave for the trip back home. As part of tradition, the Velusons would have to travel to the Kalos region in time for the holidays and remain there until New Years. As the girls packed up their stuff, the Anubeon sister walk up to Nyxie, who just forgotten about their encounter earlier that day.
"Um, hi," Heather greeted.
"Oh, it's you."
"Yeah, I know we haven't gotten on the best foot first time but I would to apologizes for making you feel uncomfortable earlier. I just thought that you were one of these snobby rich shinies that I've deal with on consent basis."
"Apology accepted," Nyxie accepted as Heather went off with her family.
As Erma's cousins leaves the mansion, Mavis finally shows up.
"Um, where have you been?" Erma ask.
"I went to go get Sakura but she was busy with something," Mavis said. "Though not sure if staring at a picture for days on end counts as being busy."
"Oh, make sense. Well, night, Mavis," Erma said as she and Nyxie left the living room to go into their bedroom and sleep for the night. Anastasia then walk over to Mavis.
"Sakura always seem to be in her own world, doesn't she?"
"Yes, Miss Veluson."
"Hmm. Well, I hate to be intrusive and did you happen to see what was on that picture? Just a bit curious." Anastasia ask. Mavis thought about it for a moment and while she did want to tell Erma's mother that she may have found the shiny Eevee sister's birth mother, she did not felt that it would be right to tell another's secret.
"N-No, I haven't. Unfortunately," Mavis responded.
Anastasia sighs, "Why am I not surprise?... Well, if you need me, I'll be in my room," the Glaceon matriarch said as she left the room, leaving Mavis by herself. Of course, Mavis would've like it as the peace and quiet gave her some time to think after it. She thought about the picture she saw and then remember about her time taking care of Erma during those nine years back at the mill. After a few moments, Mavis snapped out of her trance and walk to the maids' bedroom to sleep, where Sakura was already asleep.
Author's Note: So sorry for the very late Thanksgiving special. I've been dealing with a lot of issues lately, mostly due to both school and writer's block. There should be a Christmas and a New Years stories coming out in the next couple weeks though at this point, I'm not even sure about it.
Anyway, we've finally enter the final stretch of the "Tale of Two Sister" arc as we wait for a month in-universe and a week for Sierra to confirm or deny the possibility that Erma and Nyxie are in fact sisters. Though, considering Nyxie is a clone, I wonder how the two would react to it. Not sure if Sakura and Mavis would join in as someone needs to take care of the Veluson estate while they're gone but I'll think of something in the few days I have left before Christmas.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts and opinions down below in the comments. If any of you got any suggestions on future stories, then feel free to do so in the comments down before. Until then, I'll see y'all next time!