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Des watched as Nolan looked a little downhearted after losing two Pokemon before finally sending out the Gyarados. Des smirked and closed his eyes. "Good choice. A Fire/Ground type can't do much against a Water/Flying type." he said.

Des already had Vulcan's Pokeball out when the Numel was sent flying back from the Return and thus called back the camel while she was in mid-air. He swapped the Pokeball for Blue's ball, then sent out the Manetric. The Electric dog wagged his tail, looking up at Des.

"Blue, use Spark." he said.

With a bark, the Electric-type ran towards the Gyarados, electricity crackling around his body from the static build up from both running and his excitement.

Gage doubted that Blyse had much more for him, so he didn't turn back onto Route 1 once he exited the forest. Well, since Blyse was no good on trades, that means the next logical step up was showing up at the Fort. That was where the second trainer badge could be won from the League. So stands to reason that the trainers there would be better than the common rookies from the city by the ocean.

Adjusting his knee-high kickin' boots again, Gage was prepared for another walk, although, this one wasn't that far from the forest, so long as he kept to the path. Etura was pretty nice to walk through, yet that opinion of Gage's started to change as he got closer and closer to the desert. It was hot. It was sandy and bright.

Houndour, panting in the heat, was the first to sniff out the pokemon battle by the Fort, and he barked, once, alerting Gage of what lay ahead. Adjusting his sunglasses, glad to have them, the trainer picked up the pace towards the Fort, and what he saw was a much better - although, he had mixed feelings on that one. He recognized the Team Celestia admin, but he said nothing to Des so as not to blow his cover. Hands in his pockets, Gage found a good spot to watch the rest of the battle as an observer, but he was starting to wonder about the kid with the Luxio.

Maybe he had something good to trade? Houndour sit dutifully at Gage's side, and they both waited for the battle to come to a conclusion.

This was getting frustrating, Nolan gritting his teeth now as he watched Valor suffer and become paralyzed by the wave of electricity. He wanted to hit something to make himself feel better. Nolan had no idea that pokemon battles were seriously this complicated. He'd make a little move that he didn't think was that big of a deal, and yet the Ranger always had something to say about it - something to correct him in, or something to inform him with. He'd never even heard of the ability Lightningrod before this.

For Valor, every step was a bigger challenge than the last, but it was the Spark cat who refused to give up, wanting his human to just be happy. Nolan had Valor's pokeball in his hand, just in case it was too much to watch anymore. But Nolan gave the next move anyway,
"Valor," Damn, he wished that Valor hadn't embarrassed him like that, "Use your Bite attack."

Valor snarled and forced his muscle to move despite the pain, rushing forward and leaping at the electric dog to pounce and attempt to bite the scruff of its neck.

Nolan was looking a little peeved. It was expected, after all. The boy only had a single successful hit and he was already down two Pokemon and a third incapacitated but still fighting. The Luxio came at Blue with a Bite, managing to get onto him from the side. Blue whined a little from the lion's fangs.

"Blue, Bite back. Use the difference in weight to try to pin the Luxio to the ground." he said. "Even if he's biting you, the Paralysis should be hindering his jaws too so he can't effectively hold onto you."

With surprising ferocity (after all, Blue was a wolf-dog from an independent line of other wolf-dog Manectric), the Discharge Pokemon broke free from Valor's Bite and lunged at the lion in an attempt to sink his teeth into his neck (a little ineffective, considering the mane and also the Intimidate Ability). He would then try to use his weight to push the lion over and stop it from being able to effectively attack.

Oh?

Well, that was unexpected. The Luxio having Roar was not foreseen, and Blue ended up disappearing back into his ball. Hmm... who would come out now?

...Tch, Cloud9 ended up coming out. The only reason why he even carried the bird around was so that he could get an Altaria, which was part Dragon and a halfway decent counter for Dante's Dragons. After that, it would stay in the box. Well, better make due with what he was given.

"Cloud9, use Take Down."

Since Valor was already out, the Swablu didn't suffer from Intimidate and thus kept all her Attack power. The bird swooped down to slam into the Luxio with a full-force hit. It was a bit reckless with the recoil, but hopefully it would keep the lion cub down so she wouldn't risk getting hit with a Spark."

(RNG roll for Pokemon 1-4. Pokemon order on Profile, with Vulcan the Numel taking the place of Skulltula the Ariados on the list. Numel is KO'd, so list is Sharpedo, Litwick, Zangoose, and Swablu in that order.)

Gage's right eye twitched. He smoothly flicked his sunglasses back down over his eyes and his expression became a mask. Oh man, the temptation to steal that Luxio was palatable. It was the perfect opportunity, a paralyzed weakened pokemon with its trainer walking off in an emotional fit. That is, if it wasn't for Des there.
"Cute kid." Was all he said dryly.
Houndour chortled and snorted.

Standing up, Gage brushed off the sand from his pants, but he was carefully watching where the two trainers went. If both of them left that Luxio alone, it would be sure that it was going to be gone when they came back.

"Honestly? Right now I'm hunting for rare trainers. The kids in Blyse thought I should be practically giving away my pokemon just because they want 'em. Thought I'd have better luck lurkin' in the Fort."
Gage grinned.
"But nah, I'm hoping to find a really good Trapinch out here. Then I'll just need a couple more to finish up my team. I've been doing pretty good for myself."
At first pretending to be humble, he tilted his head towards his Houndour for emphasis, his eyebrows raised. Normally the Dark Pokemon were about two feet high, but this rogue brute was already nearly the size of a Houndoom, muscular, rugged, and just under four feet tall.

"Just some intensive training for my newbs, and soon I'll be wiping the floor with trainers too."
Gage paused in his thought when that kid's Luxio started to make noise, crying out for its trainer. He snorted and Houndour now growled, a deep rumbling threat, but the Luxio wouldn't stop making that horrible yowl. It must have recovered some, because it was starting to walk out after the footprints in the sand.

"Hey, I'll be right back. I'm gonna go see if that kid has anything worth trading for."

"I tell you what, you look like you need some help, kid."
Gage was grinning again, putting on his handsome smile and friendly act. It was easy to smile because he was obviously making the teenager uncomfortable just by talking to him. Gage quickened his step and walked beside Nolan.
"Next badge is the Bullet badge. How about I lend you one of my fire pokemon to help you beat it? But I expect some collateral in turn."

He let that sink in, and the kid hesitated but then nodded excitedly, a twinkle in his eye. Gage now really laughed, just a chuckle. Nolan replied,
"Sure, I mean, if you seriously would! That would help so much."

And so, Gage waited while Nolan healed up his pokemon, and they got to the trade machine to make it official. Gage played it cool when Nolan offered up his shiny Trapinch as 'collateral', and Gage knew right away he wasn't going to be trading the pokemon back. This was too good, this kid too hilarious. No wonder Des had been playing around with him.

With the new Trapinch in hand, one step closer to his favorite team, Gage thanked Nolan and wished him good luck. He didn't even tell the kid what he had traded him, only that it was a Fire type pokemon. Idiot. Gage beat a hasty retreat back outside, leaving Nolan behind in the Pokecenter to go sneak past Des. Y'know, just in case, having had lied about meeting back up.