Serperior and Emboar

He was coiled up already, lounging in a sunny spot near the main mast. Seth the Serperior opened one black eye to look at the boy near him. While he was dressed in a boy's sailor outfit, the silver pocket watch attached to his belt and the diamond pendant around his neck betrayed his origins as nobility. Seth flicked his tongue out, then closed his eyes and showed clear disinterest.

"Aw come on," the boy said. "Wear at least the hat, please? Smokey's wearing the whole outfit."

"And I love it!" the Emboar said, posing with his hands on his sides. He was a large Pokémon too, burlier than the biggest sailor on this ship. Yet he matched the boy with a white and blue sailor hat, a similar colored collar, even white gloves. Not a full 'outfit' as the humans would wear, but quite more than a normal Pokémon would be found in.

And Seth would have none of that. "Too silly," he said.

"Please?" the boy aid. When the snake Pokémon didn't make a hiss of a reply, the boy tried to put the hat on anyhow. Seth flicked his tail to toss it back. The boy pouted, but then got called off by his father, leaving the two Pokémon on their own.

"You could have put it on just to make him happy, Seth," Smokey said, picking up the hat.

"I'll do my duty in protecting him when needed," the Serperior said, not even opening his eyes. "I won't wear tacky clothes while doing so."

Smokey then tossed the hat back at Seth, who flicked it off again. "You don't have to be so serious about it. We're on a trip! You ought to have some fun with us and wear cool things to go along with it. You'd look awesome in sailor gear."

"No thank you. I enjoy lying about in the sun more than what you two call having fun."

After picking up the hat again, Smokey went to give it back to the boy. He wasn't actually their Trainer; their Trainer was the boy's father, who wanted the boy protected while he was being sent to his grandparent's home. There was a war back home, and while the two Pokémon would have been glad to serve with their Trainer, their instructions were to protect the child.

Still, Seth could do more to keep the boy happy. The child hadn't yet realized that this trip could last years, depending on how the war went. He would be terribly upset when he did figure out that his parents weren't coming quite yet. In the meantime, they should be friendly with the boy so that he would trust in their support when he needed it.

And his friend could do more to not be so serious all the time, Smokey thought. That had always been his problem, ever since they were young Pokémon. Still, maybe being around a playful child more often would finally break through his smug shell.

In order to keep the boy safe, they were taking the trip on a merchant's vessel. Their protection against pirates would protect against kidnappers and any enemies of the family wouldn't think to check this ship. While this meant the Pokémon had to help out or keep out of the way of the crew, Seth had found that he was allowed to lounge on the deck provided he was out of the regular paths of traffic and that he kept pests away from the food cargo.

Near his current spot, the boy and Smokey were playing with a ball. They kept moving closer and closer to his spot. When he felt the ball hit his side, he flicked it aside with his tail, but put his head further into his coils. Hunting the ship's cargo hold at night did take up a lot of energy. The ball came back a minute later, so he hit it again. The third time, he heard laughs from the boy, indicating that it was a way of pulling him into their games. When the ball next came his way, he opened his eyes, darted his head out and snatched the ball, then placed it in the middle of his coils and settled back down to rest.

"Aw, give it back, Seth," the boy said, then thought to add, "Please?" He ran over.

"Do you have to be such a spoilsport?" Smokey added.

Normally when dealing with a Fire-type, he would just keep quiet rather than risk taking a burn. But he knew this Emboar, so he replied, "It obviously isn't working yet, but yes."

"Just don't hurt the kid," Smokey said, sounding a bit more serious now that the boy had put his hand on Seth and was trying to lean over and retrieve the ball.

"I won't." He remained still until the ball was gotten, then shifted himself around.

The boy went to start bouncing the ball off a wall, but Smokey had an idea. While making sure the child didn't lose his toy over the edge of the ship, he crept over to Seth. He was currently near the winch holding onto the anchor, but its rope had not been wrapped back up since it was last used. Smokey took the rope and put a loose loop around the end of Seth's tail. Then he went back over to the boy.

A short time later, they were pulling in to another port to trade goods at. "Drop the anchor!" someone called from the front of the ship.

Smokey looked over just in time to see a pair of sailors push the anchor overboard. The loop tightened around Seth's tail and yanked him overboard. While one called out the problem, the other sailor jumped in after. Smokey came over to see if he could help, but as his beard was live fire, he didn't like being in water.

It was only a couple of minutes before they were able to get the Serperior back on the ship. Water beaded off his green scales and Seth had such a look of petty annoyance and ruined dignity that many of the crew laughed. "I am not amused," Seth said, slithering though the crowed to fins a spot to dry off at.

But the boy was very amused. "Hah, the old stuffy snake got dunked!" he said, laughing.

"I just thought you'd appreciate a nice swim," Smokey teased his friend.

"Hmph, so it was you. Why must you be so juvenile?"

"Don't get back to sleep now," he added. "The kid wants to look around town for a bit."

Seth snorted. "It would be safer if he did not. But if he insists, I will come."

One of the sailors went along with them, so it didn't look too odd for a pair of Pokémon to be walking alongside a young boy. This particular city had been spoken of many times by the boy's parents, but that was due to the theaters, operas, art museums, and other activities that adults liked. Although there wasn't much around that aimed to entertain children, the boy seemed okay with sightseeing provided he got to see the cannons that protected the port from invasion by sea. And most embarrassingly, Smokey was still dressed in that tacky sailor get-up.

They were on their way back form that when a pair of thugs with four Pokémon approached them. The latter were mostly bulky Water types, although there was a single Steel-typed Bronzong with them. "Hold it, strangers," one of he human thugs said. "We'll be taking your valuables or taking your lives, and you'd better decide fast."

The sailor stepped him front of the boy, taking his hand to make sure he wouldn't be snatched. "You won't be taking either." He then whistled through his fingers, calling down his bird Pokémon to help out.

After making his beard flame up, Smokey put his fists to his chin to set them on fire. "You're gonna regret picking on us!"

Seth brought up his lower half, but raised his head higher off the ground. "Oh, Smokey, Smokey, how many times have I got to tell you not to give such scum any ideas that they might be a worthy challenge?" Although in a way, it would be. Those Waters could knock the Emboar out easily if they were all allowed to attack him. He might not always like him, but they were partners. Both of them would back each other up in times of need.

"You're gonna pay for that insult!" One of their opponent Pokémon said.

"Not if we demolish you first," Seth replied. And in short order, they did so. The sailor's Pokémon even helped out some by being distractions.

"Are you all right?" Smokey asked, putting out his flaming fists.

Seth snorted. "Of course I'm fine. You were a bigger liability there. But you did do nicely against that Bronzong."

Smokey patted his head before the Serperior dropped his stance. "I'll do my best against any who endanger my family and friends. Even if you are a stuffy old snake."

"Even if you are immature, I feel the same way." He then dropped back down and slithered to the back of the group, to watch for more trouble there. "Now let's get going after that waste of time. I thought I might break my boredom by fighting some tough foes, but no, it has to be shoddy weaklings instead."

"You could always fight me," Smokey offered, leading the group back to the docks.

Seth had to chuckle at that. "Careful offering that to me. I might take you up for it and give you a thrashing."

…

Serperior White entry: They raise their head to intimidate opponents but only give it their all when fighting a powerful opponent.

Emboar Black entry: It can throw a fire punch by setting its fists on fire with its fiery chin. It cares deeply about its friends.

I'm not sure why the gag with the anchor popped immediately into mind with these two... but I had to use it!