"So I said to the Wobuffet, 'Wynaut?'!"

"Of course," he replied, not really listening.

"But it gets better! As it turns out, the Wobuffet has a buddy – a Magikarp, right?"

He was answered by a halfhearted agreement. "Mhmm…"

"He sells furniture, and I asked him, 'Does your friend sell Magikarpets?'" Turtwig burst into laughter, his voice echoing down the dark halls.

"That's hilarious."

"You're not listening are you?"

"You're a real card…"

"I knew it. Why don't you ever like my jokes, Bulbasaur? It's not like they're bad."

The bulb Pokemon agreed absently. "I see."

"You're still ignoring me!" Turtwig complained. "C'mon Bulbasaur! Throw me a berry – we've been friends for how long?"

His friend turned to look at him. "Months. Years. I don't know any more, but regardless, we need to find our client. You do remember who our client is, right?"

Immediately, the turtle's legs straightened and his eyes focused. "Male Chingling with one eye slightly bigger than the other. Has a limp – or something like that, and should be somewhat dazed," he rapidly said, not even missing a beat.

Bulbasaur accepted this with a light nod. "But do you remember why he's here?"

"Some other explorer team ganged up on him when he didn't pay the promised amount and dumped him here," the Turtwig replied smoothly. "The team has gone rogue and, consequently, may still be wandering around these caves. Mission rank – four stars."

"Good, Turtwig," Bulbasaur complimented before continuing down. "You can be smart if you want to be."

The turtle was still for a second, digesting his friend's comment before crying out indignantly, "What's that suppose to mean? I'm smart all the time, aren't I?"

"Sometimes I wonder."

A small sigh escaped him. "Sometimes I wonder how we even became friends."

"Indeed, but at least you come in handy as a meat shield."

"Hmph. At least I've got enough muscle to fight back. Look at you – your solution to everything is leeching it. Where's the fun in that?!"

Bulbasaur scoffed. "I don't see the point in having fun when you're saving lives. Be realistic."

"I am – but you can't take a joke. You're the most un-funny Pokemon I've met with no sense of humor!" Turtwig argued, setting his foot down forcibly.

He sighed and continued walking. The little turtle can be so stubborn at times."Humor isn't going to save lives-" he managed to get out,

"Watch out!" The little turtle tackled his partner to the ground just as a blaze of fire scorched where Bulbasaur had stood.

The grass Pokemon immediately dropped into a battle stance – their feet gripping the ground with tiny roots. Turtwig acted first, shooting sharp leaves from his shell while Bulbasaur's leech seed took cover in them. Both struck their enemy – a Magmar, and in an instant, the flame Pokemon had been struck and securely bound by the seed's parasitic vines. Everything took place within less than two seconds.

"New record," Turtwig breathed, the late rush of adrenaline pumping through his small body. "What can you tell from it?"

Small vines from his friend's bulb reached out – hovering over the Magmar's unconscious body. It was easier if he could make direct contact, but that wasn't really possible unless he wanted some bad burns.

"He has two other friends…" Bulbasaur said, sweat rolling off his scaly skin. A wave of nausea was working its way through his stomach, but he managed to force it down. This was just a small price for the power he had. "They're patrolling the area in a pair."

Turtwig frowned. "D'ya think we can get past them and get Chingling before they notice?"

Bulbasaur – enlivened by the action gave an uncharacteristic response despite his nausea. "And miss all the fun?"

~ * ~

They clashed with the other two not much later. Bulbasaur against Starmie and Turtwig versus a Pidgeotto. Needless to say, they were at a disadvantage.

"Not a good matchup but we've fought worse, right?" Turtwig commented cheerfully. His body was tense – readying for attack whether it be from him or the enemy.

Bulbasaur smirked. "Compared to the Master of Time? A walk in a park."

The battle launched with the tried and true tactic – leaf and leech. The seeds were blown off by the Pidgeotto before they could take root, but its ally was not easily let off. A tangle of parasitic leaves wrapped itself around Starmie, rendering it immobile. With one foe down, the two launched a team assault on Pidgeotto.

"You have the grace of a deaf Zubat!" Turtwig insulted, throwing razor leaves one after the other. "And your mother looked like a Muk and probably smelled like one too!"

Through all of his partner's shouting, Bulbasaur noticed the Starmie breaking free with a series of rapid spins – the vines were shaken off and it began to approach them with as much threat as a mad Scyther. The bulb Pokemon quickly assessed the situation and formulated a plan. As the Starmie was nearing, Turtwig and Pidgeotto none the wiser, Bulbasaur rolled to the side.

He literally planted his feet into the ground, a vine snaking out of his bulb going straight for the flying Starmie. At the same time it wrapped around one of its pointed edges, his roots had taken place, anchoring him down firmly. He was all set – and ready to deal the final blow.

Bulbasaur was not a strong Pokemon by himself. His cunning made more than enough for it. The little bulb Pokemon swung the Starmie around – its momentum carrying it in a full circle, giving him time to redirect its course…

Straight at Pidgeotto.

And it struck – squarely as the bird had been far too distracted by the Turtwig's insults. As the rogue pair slumped to the ground, Bulbasaur pulled out his roots and strode carefully to his panting ally.

With a crooked smile, the little turtle said, "I told you I was being realistic – humor can save lives."

"That was just luck and timing."

"That's what they all say."

~ * ~

Requested by PandaPandaka.

(AN): Playing with a whimsical personality was interesting, and I had fun making puns. Anyone else? :3