Chevaleresse

I guess I was kind of using the two interchangeably; I assumed Dusk set up a base of operations there.

Well, Sarcus is pretty much wandering aimlessly around the base, just getting a feel for it, so it'd be good if you just happened to run into him.

Nope, me again. Flux once more.

I know right? Btw, are you finishing that post?

Flux again.

ZZZ Pokelord.

Metagross.

Is anyone besides Flux currently in or returning to the base?

I'll give a few of these a shot in my free time. Let me get home before I decide which ones.

Sarcus chuckled and walked over to the contented Dark-type. "Someone looks like he's enjoying himself." Absolution looked up at Sarcus and barked a happy cry, then settled back down. "I'll leave you to that, then." Turning to the breeders grooming his Absol, he gave them a small bow. "Thank you for making my friend comfortable. Could you just let him out after you're done? He'll be able to find me." He walked back to Lucas. "About what you said, about working with those people. Maybe it would be a good idea to have someone with a bit more moderation working with them? Plans can get out of control without a voice of reason to moderate them. While I'm not sure I would work well with them, I may be able to provide that reason." After saying this, he looked down abashedly, realizing he sounded more than slightly arrogant. "If you think that's a good plan, of course. " He cringed inwardly at how pretentious he still sounded to himself.

That's how I did mine. (Even though I have GIMP.)

"Only 83%? Did I really pay that little attention?" Sarcus said to himself. He was still miffed about what Jake had said about his Ralts, and this only added to his frustration. Evidently, he wasn't the only one dissatisfied with their score. He noticed the younger boy slamming his fist down on his paper. He seemed pretty bent about it, which gave Sarcus a small amount of satisfaction. He knew he shouldn't be thinking negatively about Jake already, but Sarcus was not known for levelheadedness.

Still here, CST.

Sarcus sighed. "I meant a teacher." The Ralts looked down at the implied scolding. "I don't suppose you can help Grace out, can you? If not, could you go get a teacher?" ((Short posts, I know.))

"You might not want to-" Sarcus started to say. "OW!" Grace yelped. "-pet him. His entire body is made of blades." As Grace started to heal her hand, he noticed her rapidly tiring. "Uh, are you okay? Emerald mentioned that healing magic could be kind of difficult. I'll just find one of the teachers to do that for you." The Pawniard looked rather abashed. "It's alright, bud, you can't really help it." Sarcus looked back at Grace with concern. "Gallant, can you please go get someone?" The Ralts looked back at him nervously. "Absolution, go with him." The two trotted off in the direction of the closest classroom.

Spheal.

Sarcus dragged himself from his dwelling in town up to the academy, partners following in a similar state. That was one reason he related to Dark-types in particular; he loved the night. The cool light of the moon, giving plain landscapes surprising beauty, the crisp, cool night air, the quiet that lay over everything. Unfortunately, this love had impacts on the rest of his life. In a phrase: NOT a morning person. Groggily, he noticed Grace and the kid from yesterday walking into the building. Perking up slightly, he hurried inside the academy, catching up to Grace. "Hey, Grace. Meet my new friend, Blues." He guestured to the Pawniard trailing behind him. The small Pokémon was tired from the walk to the academy, so Absolution was encouraging the Steel type forward.

(Previous day) After the school day ended, Sarcus slipped out of the stream of people leaving the academy to head to the forest. Because he wasn't particularly accustomed to the area, he stuck near the village, where it was easier to find his way back to the place he was staying. He still had a few hours before he needed to get to bed, and he needed to train his partners. He wandered about aimlessly among the widely spaced trees, battling the occasional wild pokemon. He was careful not to hurt them too badly, though, just fighting until they were frightened off. This continued for a few hours, until he heard a loud crack and a frantic cry a short distance away. He walked quickly but cautiously toward the source of the noises, which continued as he moved, until their source came into sight. He saw a small, red Pokemon being chased about by a much larger and apparently very angry blue pokemon. Neither one was familiar to him, so he hid behind a tree, urging his Pokemon behind it, and pulled out his Pokedex. As it booted up, he quickly flipped the volume down to the minimum. He didn't particularly feel like being punched by an upset Fighting-type. The machine told him that the small one was a Pawniard, a Dark-Steel type, and the large one was indeed a Fighting type called Sawk. He briefly wondered where the Pawniard's parents were, until another loud crack sounded. The Sawk had punched the ground inches away from the Pawniard, who cried in sheer terror. He had an idea. Leaning down toward Gallant, he whispered, "Confusion." The small Psychic type nodded, then looked intently at the Sawk. It jumped, and shouted angrily, stopping its assault to look about angrily. Please please please please please please . . . Sarcus thought nervously. It finally glared at something unseen toward the mountains, and charged off. Sarcus walked up to the small Pokemon, which was sitting on the ground, still crying occasionally. He walked toward it, and lifted it gently. Well, he tried to, anyway. "Ow!" Sarcus gasped, drawing back his arm. Upon closer inspection, the Pokemon's body was made entirely of sharpened blades; something Sarcus wished he had noticed earlier. "Hey, buddy." The Pokemon looked up. "How's it going?" The steel-type took a couple nervous steps back. "It's alright, bud." He looked back at Absolution. "You know I'm a nice guy, right?" The Absol gave him a look, but walked up to the other Dark-type anyway. After a couple minutes, the two seemed to reach an agreement. "Everything's settled then?" Sarcus turned back toward the village, with three Pokemon in tow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ((Give me one second to write the next part.))

We'll assume Orpha has been going to her classes, doodling pictures of herself and Grace disemboweling Sarcus together.

How about we just assume he was wounded during the raid and he's spending time in recovery?

NOOOOOOOOOOOO Just kidding, though it'll be nice to have you back.

A small portion back in his ancestry. How powerful are the pokemon in the forest, anyway? I would assume there are a variety of strengths present, but is this getting scared away by a level 20 or getting torn to shreds by a level 60?

Sarcus breathed deeply, and let the breath out slowly. He felt almost abashed about his previous state of mind, but overwhelmingly relieved. A bit wary that this might still be a trap, he steeled himself. "Team Dusk. I think you are, quite simply, brutal. I've seen a great deal of unneeded pain and suffering caused by your members. Your people have almost wantonly killed, ending dozens of lives simply because they stood in your path. You terrorized a number of young girls for simply being in the wrong place. You kidnapped me, and my partner, and kept me in a state of pronounced psychological trauma. However, you're the only ones who have the heart to stand up, and change this mockery of a world we now live in. I would be honored to join you." Sarcus stood, and extended a hand, the pressure of anxiety still heavy on his chest. "Now, where is my Absol? And the girl you took in with me?"

By team I meant pokemon. Sorreh.