As he passed through the familiar gates of the Safari Zone, Barnaby had the facilities map up on his ROTOM phone. It was a program that updated every few minutes with information about potential swarms, usual locations for the park's Pokémon, etc.

While he walked, albeit at a CHEWTLE's pace, he started planning his route out. It looked like a large group of CUTIEFLY had recently been spotted at a meadow across the way...

SKIPPING
premium safari ticket [0/4]

☉

“Alright, take a left where Turnpoint Trail meets Oakland Trail...” Barnaby muttered to himself, still assessing the Safari Zone map on his ROTOM phone. There were many ways to get to the CUTIEFLY meadow, but that seemed to be the best one early on.

“A right at Wild Wisteria Trail...” Got it. Once the route was completely planned out, Barnaby’s pace quickened in order to maximize his efficiency. He wanted to be in and out as soon as possible - he was a busy man, after all.

SKIPPING
premium safari ticket [0/4]

☉

Per usual when tromping through the wilderness, it didn't take long for a Pokémon to disturb his concentrated hiking. As Barnaby approached a bend in the trail, a flash of white rushed from the bunched brasses flagging either side of the path. Quick as lightning and without stopping it's continued movement (which included hopping in place), a SCORBUNNY momentarily paused to eye Barnaby.

Whether it was simply curious or trying to size him up as a threat, that didn't matter, because the ROCKET admin calmly but quickly pulled a Luxury Ball from his pocket. He could always use another Fire-type, so why not catch this one?

Lobbing the capsule, a brightly-colored AZUMARILL appeared. Without missing a beat, Barnaby ordered her to use BUBBLE BEAM on the fiery lagomorph.

catching SCORBUNNY
premium safari ticket [1/4]

☉

Not surprising, the BUBBLE BEAM wasn't as quick as some other Water-type moves, given the physics of... bubbles. So the speedy SCORBUNNY was easily able to dodge out of the way. Hm. Barnaby probably should have seen that coming.

"Fine then! Muddy Water, Elaine." This was a much more highly-pressured, propelled attack that burst from the AZUMARILL's mouth. Although her opponent tried to step out of the way of impact yet again, this time one side of it's body was hit, giving Barnaby an opening to throw his first Safari Ball. Naturally, the SCORBUNNY was successfully captured.

He barely had a second to celebrate, however, before a grumbling from behind drew his attention over his shoulder. There, a PANCHAM stood, it's paws on it's hips and an enraged scowl on it's lips.

Why was it so mad? Barnaby wondered, not realizing that the little bear was about to take action in the form of a LOW SWEEP across his AZUMARILL's feet. Not expecting this, Elian fell flat on her back with a pained oof!

"Get up an take care of this nuisance!" Barnaby growled. "Bounce on it!"

catching PANCHAM
premium safari ticket [2/4]

☉

With the PANCHAM effectively squashed under Elaine's weight and captured within a Safari Ball, Barnaby continued on his way. He hoped for no further interruptions, and was granted this small peace until he eventually arrived at his destination.

The meadows were rather dull and barren at this time of year. Pollinators were hidden away in their burrows and nest, living off the nectar they'd collected during the spring. It wouldn't be so easy to find the CUTIEFLY now as it would have a few months earlier. Still, with his AZUMARILL lending a HELPING HAND, Barnaby eventually located a hollowed-out trunk which housed several dormant CUTIEFLY.

While they were unaware, he lined up his shot a threw a Safari Ball into the hole. Surely he'd catch at least one of them this way.

catching CUTIEFLY
premium safari ticket [3/4]

☉

The thrown Safari Ball immediately disturbed the CUTIEFLY within the hollow of the tree, causing them to quickly buzz out and fly off into the surrounding wilderness. When Barnaby looked within, however, he saw his capsule chime, notifying him of his success. Excellent. That was one CUTIEFLY down, at least.

After collecting the Safari Ball, he turned to leave, but stopped when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Checking it, he saw it was a text from Martín del Mar - one that cause a warm grin to spread across his face. He responded with the following message:

i thought i already caught that one? OH... you mean the cutiefly 🤭

pls catch it for me ❤️ promise i'll make it worthwhile

He'd barely sent the text when he felt something bump into his ankle. Looking down, Barnaby saw... a fish? The fuck? On land? Looking closer, he recognized it as one of the new Paldean species that had recently invaded the region. So, a rarity. At least for now.

He nodded for Elaine weaken it enough to be captured.

catching TATSUGIRI
premium safari ticket [4/4]

☉