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Since Cocoa was much more content just to lounge in the sand, Nolan left her at his side, but not before he got both hands and his weight into the nose rub. That got her all relaxed, and the Hippo was dreamily content after the mini-massage. Already knowing what Torkoal could do against steel, and ignoring the fact he had a Litwick, Nolan thought for a moment.
"Electric attacks are neutral on Steel, right? Same with ... uh, Water. Dosu doesn't know any Water moves yet so for my third pokemon I think my Luxio would help close the gap."

He was sure he got it right, and this time let Luxio out of his pokeball. The Spark cat immediately pounced on Nolan with just his front paws, wanting his affection right NOW, not accepting it afterwards like Cocoa got. While he fondled Valor's ears, Nolan considered the types of moves, remembering that Bite counted as a Dark attack. So that only meant Charge, Roar, and Spark were viable in battles against Steel types.
"Okay, Valor. Go use your Spark against one of those Aron ... and Roar the rest away. I want that iron back, just in case."

Valor mewed, and got back down on four paws, shaking out his black mane. Crouching, he picked his target, and then ran explosively towards one Aron near the outskirts. Spark connected as Valor dug his claws in, but it didn't seem to do nearly as much damage as Dosu and Cocoa had managed.
"Another Spark, don't give up!"
The Aron turned around and Headbutted Valor away, but the Luxio was right back against that steel armor with another clawing electric attack. It took about four moves, one Charge in between the last Spark. Then the battle was over, and Nolan had to remind Valor to use his Roar.

Unfortunately, one of the Aron ran with the very last of the metal scrap. But it had done its job.
"I think we're ready. If Dosu or Cocoa damage the third pokemon, Valor can finish it off for sure. He's pretty tough and has good endurance."
Nolan nodded at his Luxio, regaining his faith in his pokemon, and Valor galloped back to his side. They weren't together nearly as good as Des and his pokemon, but Nolan thought they were decent for all being newbies.

Was it time to come clean? Nolan scratched the back of his head while Luxio was licking the sand out from between his paws. It did seem kind of mean to put Luxio into a fight that another pokemon would be extremely better at. Nolan was practically guaranteed to coast through the second gym on type advantages again. Valor had done all the hard work through the first gym battle.

"Well, Torkoal isn't very well trained yet, and it makes me nervous to use a pokemon I don't know. Um, the Litwick that that guy traded me? Eergh, I don't really like Ghost pokemon."
Nolan didn't want to admit a weakness, but it felt stranger telling a lie by not mentioning these things.
"A Haunter killed our neighbor's wife one year, and my mom would tell me stories about Gastly suffocating people. I've seen them around all the time, but only outside of the house. I don't ... I dunno, Ghosts aren't a good match for me."

"I don't really have anything against Ghost pokemon. They're just doing what they're doing, but I'd rather not have a pokemon that can ... that can suck out my soul."
Using his arms for dramatic gestures about his soul being lost, Nolan was wondering if he was starting to sound a little hysterical, or at least strange for not liking a pokemon type when ALL pokemon were incredibly dangerous in their own way. Nolan certainly had heard of pokemon from Saffron who could crush your head just looking at you. He eventually sighed before he got anymore worked up.

"I'm from Lavender, so a graveyard is no problem. I never went out after dark, and I didn't go far on my own. One of my dad's pokemon were always with me, or my older sister or my parents went with me when we traveled to Saffron."
Nolan thought about things for a moment. There was no way he would know about Wickersham, since Nincada had been the only one who had maybe spotted the candle ghost, and the now-Ninjask hadn't told anyone about that. Yet Des was the man he was asking all his questions, so his next one seemed quite logical.
"Have you ... ever raised a Ghost pokemon before? My sister loves Haunters, but my parents forbid us from catching Ghosts. This isn't exactly Kanto anymore, but they'll probably find out someday if I did keep a Ghost. They wouldn't like it."

Despite the cackle, a foot high Candle Pokemon didn't look threatening at all. Even cute. Nolan though wasn't going to let his guard down, nor was he going to follow any will o' wisps out into the darkness. However, so far it seemed like he had just a healthy sense of mistrust for the Ghost pokemon, and not something so far blown as a phobia. His brow furrowed, he got a good look at the Candle, then his gaze flicked up towards Des's one visible eye.
"Eh heh, well, that answers that question. Wait ... I have a Shedinja. Do they seriously do that? Because I only caught it because I thought it was another bug pokemon like Ninjask."

"Wait, what does the Litwick family do to your soul?"
He recoiled slightly from Wickersham, backing up cautiously.

Nolan nodded thoughtfully and lagged behind just slightly. Valor quickly jumped up to follow, and Nolan had to return the sleeping Hippo so she wouldn't be left behind. He hadn't been watching the time himself. It was just that the Ranger's thoughts had mirrored his own about how all pokemon are dangerous in their own way, and the words sounded even wiser coming from another source.
"Y'know, even Dosu, back when he was a Magikarp, he had smacked my father in the face with his tail. Gave my dad a concussion, and we had just been trying to help Dosu. It was right after getting the hook torn out of his mouth."
Nolan hooked his finger and tugged on the corner of his mouth to demonstrate how his Dosu got that huge scar that Argos had liked so much.

Nolan had known from then that Dosu was something special. Quickening his step, Nolan caught up to walk at Des's side.
"What is your Gengar like? Do you still have him? I've seen pictures of them before, but they're still rare even in a place crawling with Gastly like Lavender."

At least Nolan had enough sense not to ask another question about the Ranger's past, but his expression did fall into one mixed of disappointment that he couldn't know, and something like pity and empathy. And here Nolan had just been complaining about Ghosts giving him the willies. His complaints seemed so meager, and it oddly made him feel a tad braver. It wasn't far at all back to the Fort, but with it getting dark, Nolan suddenly thought that a fire pokemon would be a good idea for light.

His choice? Yup, it was his own Litwick, and Nolan again lagged behind while he quelled his shaking nerves. He knelt, offering to let the little Litwick jump onto his hand like he had seen the Ranger do. At first, he wouldn't, but when Valor came by to sniff the flame, that was enough to get him moving. Thankfully this was no murderous monster, and the Candle hopped up when urged.
"Tah-da."
Nolan certainly did have a way with pokemon. With help from the Spark cat. He hoped it might even cheer up the Ranger a little bit if Nolan got over one fear.

"Oh, it just dawned on me." Nolan hurried up again to walk at Des's side, cupping his hand around the Litwick exactly like how one would shield a candle from the wind. "You met Chael before in the Ruins. He described your electric pokemon, and well, said you two met before. Did you offer to help him to get a recommendation into the Ranger Academy? He's a good trainer."

(( Nah, it's just a regular Litwick. I did have a choice with catching one, but I decided that I like the purple over the orange Chandalure. I think the shiny version looks more like a funny pumpkin. ))





Nolan just nodded before when the Ranger spoke about Chael, and it seemed like a fair enough assumption to just ask Chael first.
"I bet that Chael is the type to shoot for becoming the Champion. That is, unless all he wants to do is find his dad. He mentioned something about it the first night we met."

He was sure glad for the extra layer of protection his gloves always gave him, but he was so used to them he nearly forgot he had them. But he made a mental note to make sure to only handle his Litwick with them on. And his resolution wavered when Des warned him about the flame growing too large. But he would be fine, right?
"Wait, so Litwick feed on lifeforce? My ... my life energy?" Nolan's Litwick made a small sound, affirming that, but Nolan didn't yet know what that meant. "That's ... I think that's the same as Gastly, but they'll Lick people to death. Do they burn people up, like how Gastly and Haunter paralyze people?"
To Nolan's credit, he didn't right-out drop the Litwick or hurry to return him to his pokeball. He did hold the Candle a little farther out from his body, just a bit.

"I think the scary thing about Ghosts is that people are among of their prey items too." He laughed, nervously. "Although, I bet Dosu could eat me if he really wanted to. Valor too."