The chill of KYUREM's artificial winter still stung at Barnaby's exposed skin. How long would this unsettling cold blanket Hoenn? Would it pass with the coming of the Spring months? Pulling his coat tighter around him, the ROCKET admin had his doubts.

The Pokémon seemed to have the same doubts as well. He'd traveled fairy far into the park and had yet to see another living creature. Perhaps he wouldn't experience any interruptions before making it to his destination this time? That would be a dream.

SKIPPING
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And a dream it turned out to be, in terms of that hope being a figment of his imagination. How could Barnaby assume he'd be able to travel through the Safari Zone without interruption? There were always wily Pokémon running around, adamant about getting in his way. Case in point:

An overtly curious CHINGLING floating at his feels for the better part of a mile. Not hostile, just friendly, apparently. It chimed along to his footsteps, keeping beat with him in a jolly sort of way. Admittedly, it was rather cute.

"Are you going to be my little hiking buddy on this trip, little one?" Barnaby asked with a smile in his voice, casting his cobalt gaze downward to appraise the Pokémon at his feet. It seemed to understand, as it perked up a bit and nodded it's entire body in response.

"Alright. Keep up, then." He said before quickening his pace.

befriending CHINGLING
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Hm. Perhaps taking this CHINGLING along with him wasn't such a bright idea. It was cute, but it was also kind of loud. Not surprising, with each step a chiming sound echoed out from the center of Bell Pokémon.

"Could you be a little quieter? You might scare the rare Pokémon away."

SKIPPING
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The CHINGLING tried it's best to abide by Barnaby's request, but being a sentient bell kind of lent one to being noisy... anytime one needed to move. So yeah, the chiming sounds pretty pretty much continued at the same annoying level.

However, instead of scaring Pokémon away, it apparently intrigued some enough to check out what was going on. From the brush a juvenile PANCHAM emerged, flicking the twig in it's mouth around in a contemplative sort of way. It stared at the CHINGLING-Human duo, and Barnaby stared back. The CHINGLING just kind of dumbly looked off into space, not really paying attention.

It's negligence would be it's downfall. Faster than Barnaby thought possible for a bipedal bear, the PANCHAM rushed forward and grabbed ahold of the CHINGLING... then immediately started booking it.

"Hey!" Barnaby bellowed, caught off-guard for a moment. In the time it took him to release his NINETALES, the little bear had already toddled back into the brushy undergrowth.

"After it, Fleur!"

catching PANCHAM
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Chasing after a Pokémon through thick, sticker burr-ridden brush hadn't been at the top of Barnaby's to-do list today. Or ever. But damn it, the little CHINGLING had grown on him and he wasn't about to let it get eaten by an insufferable bear.

"Disable!" He called out to Fleur once the PANCHAM was in view. They were only offered a split-second of opportunity before the foliage engulfed the thief once again. Luckily his NINETALES was an expert markswoman.

The PANCHAM tumbled to the ground - momentarily paralyzed - which sent Barnaby's CHINGLING spiraling off into a bush. He beckoned Fleur to fetch it, which she did without question; within seconds the Bell Pokémon was shivering in his palm... scared, but safe.

"Let's get you into a Safari Ball, hm?" He lobbed a second one at the PANCHAM, too.

While Barnaby was storing the capsules in his bag, an annoying buzzing began ringing in his ear. Looking up, he saw a tiny CUTIEFLY investigating his exposed forearm. It seemed oddly curious about the sweat that had started to bead there. Did it want a taste?

"Fine." He agreed with an annoyed huff while extending his arm out.

catching CUTIEFLY
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"Alright, alright. That's enough, you." Barnaby sighed, waving his arm to try and shoo the CUTIEFLY away. He needed to catch it, after all, not offer himself up as a meal. A quick Safari Ball later and that annoyance was done and dealt with.

Still, there was quite a bit of time left before the sun set below the horizon. Why waste his time in the park by going back early? Besides, it wasn't often that Fluer got to venture out of the penthouse.

"You you like that, mon fleur?" He purred, stroking the top of his beautiful NINETALES' head. Her nine tales swayed happily behind her - an obvious sign of approval. So, they ventured further into the wood.

Eventually the duo stumbled upon a pond surrounded by thick underbrush. Scattered around the banks were foraging TATSUGIRI of varying colors and patterns. One stood out from the crowd, however - a bright orange fish with yellow bars going down the length of his back. Despite the several dozen TATSUGIRI there, it was the only one that looked like that.

"Eh, why not?" Barnaby questioned to himself before gesturing for his NINETALES to go fetch it.

catching TATSUGIRI
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