Despite agreeing to the fight, none of them made the first move.

  I guess they are leaving me the honor to start things since I am at an obvious disavantage. Four versus one. Any normal person wouldn't have like those odds. Sure, they are children but, at the moment, so am I. Plus I would lie if I was saying that becoming a pokemon did not screw my instincts a bit. Something in the word "battle" was enticing. Very enticing.

  But.

  Choosing to fight and rushing without plans are two different things. I still haven't leanred an attack move. Nor a way to defend myself. Just sleeping. Then so be it. I will win by sleeping.

  I cannot use Rest as I just promised Momma I would be responsible with it, so I guess I will have to mindgames this fight a bit.

  "Ada! Bash! What are you waiting for? The fight already started, were all these claw marks on trees just show? Are you afraid it won't do shit because I'm not a plant type like the trees? Come on, show me what you got. It was your idea after all!"

  Bait set.

  I could see the normal type energy starting to coaslesce around their claws.

  "Tim! Gen! What are you doing in the back? If you let me act freely, don't complain that if I make moves." I added, yawning, but not Yawning. I was preparing a Slack Off instead.

  Bait numero 2 set.

  "Scratch !!" "Scratch !!"

  "Yawn !!" "Yawn !!" They shouted.

  Predictable. My two hot headed siblings rushed me after that taunt, whereas the other two tried to put me to sleep first before my apparent Yawn put them out of the fight too.

  The sudden drowsiness acted more like a pain-killer for the two incoming Scratches. And before any pain could settle in, Slack Off triggered, putting me back in top shape.

  "That's all ? My turn." I said smugly while they were still trying to compute the lack of damage from their Scratches.

  Trying out new moves during a fight is not recommended, but my whole strategy rested on a success for this try.

  My energy started building up and like for Yawn, I conveyed through it the concept of sleep and push it toward my vocal cords. But this time, it is not an invitation to rest, it is a loud statement of me sleeping and making it known to everyone around.

  The move fired and only a disjointed grunt/gasp escape me throat. An akward silence follows.

  Gen, ever the mischivious little slakoth, did not miss her chance.

  "Encore."

  The pieces are gathered, they fell for my plan hook, line, and sinker.

  I feel my body both tense under the move influence, forcing me to repeat my previous action, and relax from the drowsiness reaching its peak.

  As I slip into sleep, I smile widely at my siblings and say. "My win." And just as my eyes finally close, my new move fired again. This time without issue. Snore.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Thanks to my recent experience with Rest, my sleep induced by Tim and Gen Yawns feels oddly similar to how Rest felt. Disconnected but oddly conscient. Unable to move or act by my own volution, yet forced to use move after move because of Encore. Snores in this instance. The vibrations of them rocking me in my sleep.

  Now comes the part of my plan relying on luck. I did all I could to set things right. Baited them to do what I needed. I managed to pull off a new move for the startegy. I know that, unused to feeling pain, they will surely abuse Slack Off to fight the effect of my moves. All that's left is hoping that I can chain Snores longer than they can Slack Off.

  ...

  I opened my eyes to find Ada, Bash, Gen and Tim sprawled on the ground, groaning and on the verge of flaking out. Success!

  "Welp. Looks like I'll be feasting tonight." I chuckle between two streches.

  "Unfair."

  *groans*

  "I demand a rematch."

  "What was that?"

  "Hehe! That was my big brother energy. I get stronger whenver I have to keep younger siblings in check."

  "Really ?" they ask in unison.

  "Nah, I'm screwing with you. Which is a real big brother privilege by the way. Screwing with the younger siblings. I'll explain with the other questions later." I explain. "Anyway, now that you are calmed and listening. I need to ask, why did you wanted to fight ? You could have just settle on an order, each of you asking one question and done rounds until everyone was out of demands ? I would have taken the time to explain things."

  Realization came to them. Eyes widening at the unessecary step they took to get what they wanted and almost putting the object of their desire out of reach in the process.

  "But... If you would have talked either way. Why did you accept to fight us ?" Gen timidely asked.

  "Well... I couldn't really say no when my adorable little siblings come and ask for it with their eyes full of determination, now can I ?" I answered, giving her a pat on the head. "Now come, we're all tired. Momma will be soon be back with dinner and I'm sure you don't want to go to bed on an empty stomach after all that, so you'll have to explain to her why I can't get your shares. And I'll explain everything tomorrow, alright ?" I teased.

  With a collective groan, all four managed to get back up and limped as fast as they could toward the family dinner spot, hoping to get a word first to save their precious oran berry.

  Not that I would have enacted my victor's right anyway. I wouldn't deprive children of their berries. But they will never know that.

  Dinner passed and it was time for bed, but I was again asked by Momma to tak to her alone when the other four were asleep.

  "Lars."

  "Yes?"

  "Did you bully your siblings?" She questionned.

  "What? No! What would you think that?"

  "Then explain why they came begging me before dinner that I shouldn't give all of the oran berries to you?"

  Crap, why do everything come to bite me in the ass. "Weeeell... They kinda chanllenge me to a fight and I did a wager with them to kinda mess with their focus so I could win ?" I answered, hoping that it was the right thing to say. Better be honest, the punishement will perhaps be lesser that way.

  For a bit, only the silence floated around us and her gaze was boring through me, looking for something I may have omitted.

  "I know." she finally said. "I was looking."

  "What? Why did you ask then?"

  "Lars. Just two hours ago, you almost spent yourself into a coma testing Rest. I turn my back and let you play with your sibling and you're trying another move out of nowhere. You're too reckless. What if that one backfired too? And you hurt yourself? or worse, your siblings? You should have brought the matter to me to make sure no accident would have happened.

  You can slow down. You have to. I don't want to see you harmed because you tried to speed through your training. Our people take things slowly but surely.

  And I don't want to punish you more than I already have, so please behave in the future. Ok? If not for yourself, then do it for me." she admonished.

  I just stood there, slowly coming to the terms with how stupid I was. All for what? To flex in front of the littles ones...

  Wait.

  "I am already punished ?"

  "Yes. Since you wanted to rush ahead so much, I'm rushing ahead on responsabilities you'll have to take care of. I gave you some Chesto berries to eat at dinner. You won't sleep before another few hours. Take that time to reflect on what you did and stand guard.

  I'll take a nap to wash away all the stress you've put me through today, you owe me at least that, right Lars?" She said, giving me a bried pat on the head before laying with the clutch to rest.

  Sigh.

  "... No rest for the weary I guess."

  Lars movepool :

  -> Defensive Sleeping : Slack Off, Yawn

  -> Offensive Sleeping : Snore

  -> Defensive Sleeping : Rest