Hilda looked out upon the bustling city below. The army was growing every day. Just yesterday, an Abomasnow had returned with three Glalie, four Delibird, a Glaceon, and a Cryogonal. Of course, all were welcome as they joined.

Hilda felt somewhat bad for the two Greninja guards. Every new member had to say the city pledge. She knew the mayor wanted every guard to have it memorized but they were sure to have it down by the 120th member.

"Hilda!"

The Mismagius halted as she heard her name. She turned to see a familiar Dedenne running up to her.

"Ah, hello there, Nio," she greeted. "Welcome back."

"Thanks! I came to pick up something you had for Mio and me?"

"Oh, yes! This way!"

Hilda led the Dedenne through the city. She entered an average-sized building. It was the largest the city had to offer, but it wasn't too large. She didn't want to attract unwanted attention.

Hilda pushed a large iron door open. She led Nio into what appeared to be a lab.

"Brian! Get out here!"

A Reuniclus emerged promptly from under a table. He smiled upon seeing the pair.

"I assume you have the tool for Nio?" Hilda asked him.

"I do! All ready to go!" Brian reached under the table and pulled out a large metallic circle followed by a small metal square. "This is a tether. You never know who you might come across and what info they might have. If you think someone can be of use to us, just put this large loop into them." He held up the loop and pressed a button. The loop glowed a neon blue for a moment before the light ebbed away. "There. It's on. Now, this is controlled by this small remote." He held up the square. "You'll be in control of this. This makes it so the target, the loop, cannot travel far away. There's a limit as to how far it can go. Once that limit is reached, the electromagnetic force between the loop and the remote will tighten."

He handed both objects to Nio. The Dedenne took them and nodded in thanks.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Be safe out there!"

Harley stretched as he rose from his spot on the ground. The sun was rising.

"Harley."

The Meowstic turned to Gloria. "Yes?"

"Kasper's gone. Again."

Harley raised a brow. "He can't be. He was with us last night."

"Yeah, well, he's gone now. I've searched this whole area," Gloria snarked.

"By Arceus... he's so dense sometimes. Come on. We'll find him and then find the Pikachu from last night."

Nio walked beside her brother. The Pikachu was fiddling with the loop, inspecting it thoroughly.

"So... what's the point of this thing?" Mio asked.

"In case we run into anyone who might be of use to us," Nio replied.

"Pff... when are we ever going to-"

"Oi. Dedenne."

Both Pokemon stopped as a voice rang out behind them. It was a voice both Pokemon had heard before. There was no mistaking the small hiss that punctuated the words spoken.

Nio and her brother both turned to face the owner. Sure enough, Kasper was there. His hood was covering half his face. Nio's cheeks sparked.

"Listen... I need to ask you something," Kasper said quietly.

"Don't play games. We both know you're here to kill us," Nio snarled back.

"No... maybe any other day, yes, but today... I'm not killing today."

"Don't trust him!" Mio told his sister.

Nio silenced her brother. She was interested in the assassin that stood before her. "Talk."

Kasper only held up a hand. The loop floated into the air. Kasper grabbed it and looked at it.

"Hey! Give that back!"

Kasper looked from the loop to Nio. To her surprise, the Banette pried open the loop and attached it to his waist. He closed it and turned it on before folding his arms.

Nio and her brother stared in shock.

"W-what did you-" Nio began.

"I don't want to fight anymore," Kasper said quietly. "I want this forsaken war to be over, and if that means turning myself in, then so be it."

Nio exchanged a glance with her brother. "Fine. We have some errands to do before we can return back to the city. I hope you don't mind."

"I don't mind."

"Good. Now keep up unless you want to be dragged."

Nio squinted, trying to see through the light of the sun. Her bag bounced with each step she took. Nio's eyes went to the small remote. It was still on and safely secured in her bag. The Dedenne sighed and kept walking.

There was a small tug that made Nio look back. Kasper was pulling on his sachet, trying to free it from a bramble that it had been ensnared on. After a moment of struggling, Kasper growled with frustration and held up a finger. A small blue flame flew towards the bush. As soon as the flame made contact, the bush burst into flames. Kasper pulled his lightly-singed sachet free and scowled at the now-burnt bush.

"Wow. Remind me to not get on your bad side," Nio commented, turning and walking again. "Now, we're close to the city. Act like you don't exist."

"That'll be no challenge for a ghost."

Nio sighed and approached the two Greninja guards. She flashed her badge at the two. They exchanged a surprised glance but let her pass.

"Nio!"

The Dedenne turned to see Hilda approaching. "Yes?"

Hilda was staring at Kasper, who was staring at the ground. "Is that who I think it is?"

Nio nodded. "Yeah, it is."

"What's he doing here?"

"He surrenders."

Hilda stared. "E-excuse me?"

"It's true."

The Mismagius shook herself. "Well, either way, let's bring him to the cells. We don't want everyone to see this."

She turned and floated away. Nio walked after her. She was jerked back promptly. The Dedenne turned to shoot Kasper a look.

"Let's go," she told him.

The Banette's blue gaze bore into her as he began to follow. Nio followed Hilda to the city's storage unit. Hilda opened a door that revealed a room lined with cells. Most of these were empty, although a few held captives.

Hilda opened a cell door and moved aside. Nio walked up to Kasper and turned off the loop. It opened and fell to the ground.

"Don't try anything," Nio warned as she watched Kasper stretch.

The Banette shook his head and walked into the cell, shutting the door behind him.

"Well. I suspected something but never thought it was true."

All three Pokemon turned to see a Blaziken entering the room. He glared at Kasper.

"How and why are you here? Were you captured? Brainwashed? I want answers."

The Banette's blue gaze never strayed from him. "I turned myself in."

"Are you aware of the bounty that calls for you dead?"

"I'm aware of a lot of things. Something as large as that does not surpass me."

The Blaziken clutched the bars. "So why would an ace assassin turn themselves in, knowing how much they're worth? Are you planning an escape? I've heard the aces travel together. Where are your companions?"

"I'll answer. I don't plan to try anything."

"And your companions?"

Kasper sighed. "They don't even know I'm gone."

"Well... either way, you'll be guarded 24/7. Day and night. And since we don't allow prisoners to have items." The Blaziken held out a hand. "Hand everything over. Your hood, your bag, everything."

Kasper shook his head. The Blaziken's eyes narrowed. He opened the cage door and stepped inside. His hand latched onto the Banette's neck. With his free hand, he tried to take off Kasper's hood, much to his chargain.

"No! Don't take that!"

Nio watched as Kasper's struggles became more frantic.

"Lucas-" Hilda began before she was cut off by a loud tear. Kasper stared as a small portion of his hood ripped. It fluttered to the ground. Lucas didn't seem to notice and resumed his pulling.

"Stop! Please don't take my hood! It's all I am!"

"Lucas!" Hilda said sternly.

The Blaziken stopped and turned to face her. "Yes?"

"Stop it," she said. "It obviously means a lot to him. You've already damaged it. If we want Kasper to communicate with us, we have to get him to trust us. You tearing his most prized possession to shreds will accomplish anything but that."

Lucas scoffed and dropped the Banette, who grabbed the torn part of his hood and curled up into a ball in the corner of the cell. Nio was surprised to see his face wet with tears.

"Why are you so attached to that hood?" Lucas interrogated.

"It was a gift from my dead parents! Are you satisfied now that you've ruined it?!" Kasper shouted at him. He lifted a hand and Lucas was thrown out of the cell.

"Why, I oughta-"

"Lucas," Hilda warned. "Leave it go. Let him have his stuff. I'm sure he won't do anything."

Lucas scoffed and exited the room. Hilda shut the cell door and followed, leaving Nio with Kasper. Small sobs would escape the Banette every now and then as he clutched his torn hood to his chest.

"I-I'm sorry," Nio whispered. "About your parents."

Kasper didn't look at her. "Just go away," he said, his voice barely audible.

Nio didn't argue against it. She walked away from the cell, giving a nod to the Conkeldurr guard on the way out.