Rangi grumbled vaguely as the pair walked through the Safari Zone. His little cheeks sparked with agitation, but Cap just laughed at him. "You're in the bar all day with me," Cap said. "You've gotta get out and see the world sometimes." Rangi pinned him with a withering glare and furrowed his brows. He did his best to look intimidating and very upset with his current situation but truth be told he just looked cuter. Cap bit his lip to keep from laughing. A tiny laugh behind him, almost like windchimes, caught Rangi's attention. Cap squeaked and ducked as the Raichu threw an (albeit tiny) Electro Ball his way. While it missed Cap, it did hit the source of the source of the laughter. The Dreepy cried out, zooming over to hide behind Cap's elbow and unleash a flurry of what Cap could only imagine were insults at Rangi. "Okay, okay!" Cap put his hands up between the two Pokemon, pulling out a Safari Ball and offering it to the Dreepy. "Here, you'll be safe from him in here."

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With the Dreepy safely contained in his new Pokeball, Cap motioned to Rangi to continue on. The Raichu churred unhappily, brows furrowing. Cap had brought him here for a good time—to blow off steam—and now he was taking away all the fun? Rangi planted his little feet, cheeks sparking.

"Really? You're throwing a temper tantrum?" Cap stopped and crossed his arms, laughing. "Look, we're here for relaxation, not fights." Rangi did his best to cross his arms, too, mirroring Cap's posture but with an annoyed slant. Cap threw his hands up. "Well shit," he said. "We didn't have to come all the way out here for battles. We could have stayed in Slateport and called someone to come battle. But nooo, I try to do something fucking nice for you and this is how you treat me. Fine." Rangi trilled as if to say Fine.

A nearby Sobble trailing its finger in the water made the perfect target. Cap gestured, raising his eyebrows at Rangi. "Well?" Rangi grinned and balled up his fists. With a sizzle and a spark, he unleashed a brilliant Electro Ball. The attack struck the Sobble in the back and sent it flying into the water where is disappeared.

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Rangi was somewhere between looking very full of himself and vaguely annoyed that the fight hadn't gone on longer. Cap threw his hands up and sighed. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

Rangi growled which, Cap had to admit, was more cute than intimidating. The grin on his face betrayed him, and Rangi's cheeks sparked. Cap couldn't help but laugh at that. He'd been shocked more times than necessary to understand that the Raichu's pride was easily hurt, but it was just so hard to take him seriously sometimes. He raised his hands in a half-apology, eyes scanning the horizon for a proper challenge for the little electric rat. A buzz in the grass caught his attention. A Scyther was slicing through the grass, scaring out bug Pokemon to eat.

Cap gestured at it. "There we go," he said in a low whisper. "That one won't be a pushover." Rangi grinned, balling up his little fists again. Electricity gathered around one as he leaped, and struck out with a Thunder Punch. But the Scyther was too quick, even when taken by surprise. It dodged to the side, using Double Team to generate copies of itself around Rangi. The Raichu growled, eyes flicking between the buzzing Scyther forms. His cheeks sparked and he unleashed a wave of Thunder that spread out in a ring. Cap had to duck to avoid getting caught up in the electricity. Scyther, and all of its doubles, wasn't so lucky.

It fell to the ground, seized up by electrocution, scythes twitching helplessly. "Not bad," Cap said as he got up and dusted himself off. He pulled out a shiny new Safari Ball and tossed it at the downed Pokemon. Rangi, for his part, was doing his fair share of gloating.

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"You feeling better now?" Cap asked Rangi as he pocketed the Safari Ball. The Raichu grinned, a motion that was more baring his teeth than it was anything. "Greaaat. You good with the relaxing part of this day now?" Rangi rolled his eyes, but churred happily. "Good. Let's go." The pair found their way to a serene spot where the river running through the Safari Zone looped itself into a soft U shape. Cap settled down onto the soft grass, patting a spot for Rangi to join him. The Raichu hesitated. That looked boring. Cap gestured at him, patting the grass again. "Come on, you gotta learn to slow down sometime." Rangi huffed, but eventually complied. Cap leaned back and stretched himself out in the grass as the Raichu curled up under his arm. It wasn't long before the gentle breeze and the babbling of the river had lulled them both to sleep. They were so comfortable there on the bank that neither noticed when a Tyrogue wandered up, leaned over them with a squint, and then wandered away with a huff.

skip

Cap awoke to the smell of something burning. He yelped, scrambling to his feet. The sound and motion roused Rangi, too, who mumbled sleepily. "Get up," Cap hissed, casting around for the source of the acrid smell. It wasn't long before he caught sight of a Chimchar a short distance away, rolling happily in the grass. The greenery smoked and caught in the wake of its firey tail, but the Chimchar didn't seem to notice or care. It hooted with delight and somersaulted, throwing handfuls of dirt and leaves into the air. Cap nudged Rangi, finally waking the Raichu. "It's gonna burn the whole Safari Zone down," he said under his breath. It was a long walk back to the gate, and Cap didn't much feel like becoming a rotisserie Rocket today. "Take it out quick."

Rangi, bleary-eyed and still not quite apprised of the situation, surprisingly complied without much more cajoling. He lashed his tail, darting forward with Agility so as to sneak up on the unsuspecting Pokemon. When he was close enough—just at the moment that the Chimchar realized something was amiss—Rangi leaped into the air. Electricity coalesced around his tiny fist, and he slammed it into the Pokemon's body in a shocking Thunder Punch. The Chimchar let out one pitiful squeak before collapsing rigidly to the ground, completely paralyzed. Cap quickly tossed his last Safari Ball before darting over and stomping out the smoldering patches of grass.

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