The temptation to release his horde of EEVEEs - 7 in total now, including Pepin - and let them bulldoze through all obstacles that the Safari Zone presented on this final excursion was almost irresistible.

Barnaby resisted this temptation for now, as his little family unit was still in obedience training. Pepin was a masterful guide and leader for them, but even a tenacious EEVEE like him would have a tough time keeping the others in check outside of a controlled training space. In time, they would all work together in harmony.

For now, Barnaby allowed Pepin to once again take the lead. When a STUFFUL emerged to deter their progress it was experty knocked aside and battered into submission with a well-timed Take Down.

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catching STUFFUL

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For the last time in this iteration, Barnaby chucked a Safari Ball at the subdued STUFFUL. Hopefully the last godforsaken STUFFUL he ever had to encounter for the rest of his life.

The same sentiment carried on to their next run-in, wherein Barnaby stopped by a robust stream for a midday snack. Per usual, LUVDISC skipped through the water, practically begging to be caught. Fine.

Once their break was concluded, the pair carried on. They were so close; familiar landmarks were beginning to show themselves, goading Barnaby to continue on his quest.

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catching LUVDISC

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Barnaby could feel himself begin to rush as the sun began setting on the horizon. Perhaps feeding off of this impatient energy, Pepin was also running ahead of him, stopping only to let his training catch up a little before moving onward.

The tiny EEVEE crested a hill and subsequently left Barnaby's line of sight, which didn't really worry the man until sounds of a struggle suddenly boomed through the landscape. Running and peaking over the hill himself, Barnaby had just enough time to catch Pepin slapping a rogue HAPPINY into a tree using Iron Tail.

"Pepin! You scamp. I can't leave you alone for five seconds without you getting into trouble."

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catching HAPPINY

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Finally. Glorious release. Their excursions into the Safari Zone, once so whimsical but having quickly grown tiring, were coming to an end. Barnaby and Pepin rounded a steep corner in the trail, pushed through some brush, and eventually made it to the meadow where all of his EEVEEs had been found

Ringed in orange, evening sunlight, as if sent from heaven itself to free Barnaby from his purgatory, sat a particularly large EEVEE. So large, in fact, that when Pepin ran over to greet it it dwarfed the much smaller Pokémon.

A few treats and more than a few kind, alluring words later, Barnaby captured his last EEVEE. It was done.

For now.

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catching EEVEE

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