While Narcissus was busying himself with the acres of wildflowers, Cap was happy to take in the view. On the other side of the path, out of some very conveniently-placed tall grasses, a Squirtle trundled its way into view. Cap waved a hand to get Narcissus' attention before pointing at the wild Pokemon.

"Narcissus, toss some Toxic Spikes around it!" The Nidorino rolled his eyes and pinned Cap with a pitiful look. Cap frowned. "Just... fuckin'... c'mon, man do the thing." Narcissus groaned (Cap could almost hear the fiiiine in his voice) and practically dragged himself out of the group of flowers he'd been lounging in. He arched his back, flinging a staggered ring of venomous spines around the Squirtle, who croaked unhappily. Cap sighed, but stared down the Squirtle. "Might as well stay nice and still," he said as he tossed the first of his Safari Balls.

As soon as the Pokeball struck the Squirtle, Cap realized he hadn't thought through these Toxic Spikes very carefully. The Pokeball shook and stilled, and then just... sat there. Cap glanced over to Narcissus, who was back to rolling in the flowers already.

"How, uh, how long do these spikes last?" Narcissus paused briefly to shoot Cap an incredulous look. "Yes I know I was the one that told you to do it. Why didn't you tell me it was a bad idea?" Grimacing, he made his way over to the circle of venomous spines. He picked his way into the ring and knelt to pick up the still Pokeball. At that moment, a rustle in the grass caught his attention. A tiny white and green figure toddled out of the rushes not a stone's throw from where Narcissus was lolling happily on his back. Cap froze. "Narcissus," he hissed. "Narcissus, do the thing. I know you hear me you giant-eared asshole." Cap couldn't help it; as he got to the end of the sentence his voice raised and he was practically shouting the words giant-eared asshole. To his dismay, the Ralts perked up, squeaked, and bolted back into the grass.

Cap wasn't sure how long he stood frozen in the ring of venomous spines, staring silently at the spot the Ralts disappeared. Maybe if he was quiet enough it would come back. No matter how still and mute he was, he couldn't make up for Narcissus' happy grunting. He'd smashed a Nidorino-sized flat spot in the wildflowers by now. Cap sighed, resigned, and finally carefully picked his way out of the toxic spines. He pocketed the Squirtle's Pokeball and gave Narcissus a gentle swat on the ear. The Nidorino grumbled, but once he realized that his flowers were already mashed, he jumped up to toddle after Cap.

Might as well take in the rest of the scenery; no sense in wasting the cost of admission. As they passed by a deep stream, a school of Barboach leaped from the water. Something bigger was clearly chasing them, just below the surface. A crackle of electricity encased one of the Barboach as it disappeared beneath the glassy surface, and then the stream was still again.

As much as Cap wanted to be frustrated with the loss of the Ralts, the scenery did its best to calm him. Between the babbling of the stream beside him and the warm current of air that gently brushed the tops of the grasses, he simply couldn't stay mad. What started off as what could only be described as a pouting tromp soon gave way to a stilted walk which gave way to the casual stroll he'd entered the Safari Zone with. Narcissus, for his part, was perfectly content. He practically pranced through the grass as he followed a few feet behind Cap. His delight didn't waver even when he trod on a very-not-grasslike clump of grass that let out a muffled squeak.

The serenity of their walk was quickly interrupted again, but Cap couldn't be disappointed by this one. A little red fin appeared from the grass, followed by a tiny wavering form.

"I knew it," he said, just a little too loudly. The Ralts perked up, and Cap could only imagine that it was pinning him with a look. Cap froze. A desperate part of him wanted Narcissus to do something, anything of his own accord. Instead, it seemed he was all-too happy to have his own play time; he snuffled at a brand new flower, completely ignorant to the despair of his trainer. Just as Cap was about to move to do... something, the Ralts' attention turned to Narcissus. It toddled over, seemingly completely unaware of the human in its midst now, and regarded the flower that Narcissus was so delicately sniffing. The Ralts looked it all over, practically shoving the Nidorino out of the way to get to in. Narcissus frowned, suddenly aware of his space being invaded. Cap could see him ramping up with Focus Energy before he struck with Poison Jab. That was all it took and the Ralts flopped to the ground, unconscious. Cap only hesitated for an instant, frankly surprised that he'd even seen Narcissus act on his own like that, before he tossed a Safari Ball.

"That was a pretty good one, buddy," Cap said as he picked up the Safari Ball. The Nidorino probably had no idea that he'd helped his trainer, but Cap figured that any sort of positive reinforcement was a good idea. Maybe he'd actually make that sorry Pokemon into a real contender some day. For now Narcissus was already back to sniffing flowers and happily rolling in the grass. Big dumb oaf. As Cap watched, the grass just to the side of his Nidorino began to darken and wither. The phenomenon spread out from a central location, and as Cap followed the wave of death, he caught sight of just the cutest floating teacup in the epicenter. Satisfied with Giga Draining the blooms, it began to float to another patch. Narcissus, at just about this time, noticed the flowers around him had died.

Cap squeaked as he saw the Nidorino's brow furrow, juggling with Narcissus' ball and the last Safari Ball in his pocket. Before he could recall Narcissus, the Pokemon shot out a circle of Toxic Spikes, trapping the Sinistea in place. The poison alone wouldn't do much damage, but it was enough of a deterrent that the little ghost turned to Cap and frowned. "Only one way out," Cap said, and tossed the last Safari Ball.