Kasper fidgeted with his hood. He almost regretted turning himself in. Following the struggle with the Blaziken, he had completely hidden himself in the comfort of his hood. The Conkeldurr guard seemed to take pleasure in bothering the ghost. Kasper was constantly disturbed by the pounding of concrete meeting iron.

From what he had overheard, it had been two days since his arrival. That was hard to believe. It felt like an eternity.

Kasper didn't bother looking up when he heard the footsteps of someone walking closer. He knew who it was.

"You awake in there?" the Dedenne called softly.

"Nope."

There was a soft chuckle that was muffled by Kasper's hood. "Is now a bad time? I had a few questions."

Kasper looked up for a brief moment. He surveyed the Dedenne for a moment and shrugged. He got up and moved closer to the door.

"I see you fixed your hood," the Dedenne said, pointing to the small spot where Kasper had sewn the torn part back on. "How did you manage that?"

"I've had experience with needles," Kasper replied, still not looking at her.

"Sorry about Lucas. He doesn't trust anyone."

Kasper shrugged. He wanted to tear the Blaziken limb from limb, but that wasn't the Dedenne's business.

"Do you mind me asking a few questions?"

"I would've stayed in the corner if the answer was no."

"Thanks. Remember the night my brother jumped you and your friends?"

Kasper nodded.

"Well, if I remember correctly, you injected him with poison. I don't know if that's the cause, but my brother is very sick right now. Can you tell me what poison you used and its effects?"

Kasper had to debate with himself for a moment. Wasn't it treason to tell this Dedenne his information? Besides, if the Pikachu died, that would be one less Pokemon Scizor would have to deal with.

The thought of the Bug/Steel-type made Kasper shudder. He never liked Scizor or Frisk for that matter. After all, he had no respect for someone who took everything away from him.

"Are you worried about betraying Scizor?" The Dedenne seemed to read his mind.

"No. Scizor can go burn to death," Kasper hissed, the venom in his voice surprising both himself and the Dedenne. "It's only Arbok venom. It's supposed to be used for weakening, not killing, but if not taken care of properly, it can kill within days."

"How long before it kills?"

"About five days. As I said, it's mainly used for weakening opponents. If I wanted to kill him, I would've used Nidoking poison."

The Dedenne let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Is there a cure?"

Kasper nodded. "Easily cured with Pecha berries and nectar."

"Thank Arceus. Thank you. I have one more question."

"Shoot."

"Who did you travel with?"

The thought of Harley and Gloria made Kasper regret his choices. He missed them. Yes, Harley could be a bit apathetic, but he was a pleasure to be around once you got to know him. Gloria seemed like she hated him, but Kasper always enjoyed the satisfaction she radiated when he let her take shelter in his hood.

"I'd prefer not to say," Kasper answered quietly.

"You miss them, don't you?" the Dedenne said. "I may not be a Psychic-type, but I can read people pretty easily."

Kasper reluctantly nodded. He hated admitting when someone else was right.

To his surprise, the Dedenne reach through the bars and patted Kasper's arm. The Banette's blue eyes stared at her paw that was gently stroking his hood's velvety material.

"I understand how you feel. Not exactly, but pretty close. I would miss my brother if I was ever separated from him. I'll tell you what- tomorrow, we'll go take a walk. Just the two of us." She gave him a smile. "Consider it my treat."

Kasper gave an eye roll. "Yeah, because they'll let an assassin roam the forest with a citizen."

"No one will know. The cells are locked to everyone but a select few. If we leave tonight, we should be able to sneak out unnoticed. I know a secret entrance I use if I ever want to have a little me time."

"Do I have to wear the restraint?"

The Dedenne shook her head. "I won't force you to. I trust you enough to not kill me."

"Why do you trust me?" Kasper asked, confused.

"I don't know. Just a gut feeling, I guess." She withdrew her paw and waved. "I'll be back tonight. Cya!"

Kasper watched her leave. He chuckled as soon as he heard the door shut. Either that Dedenne was a fool or had a death wish. No one let an assassin free, especially in the dead of night and alone. Kasper looked at his hood. The place where the Dedenne had stroked it was a bit messy. Kasper traced the area around it with a finger and looked to the window. It was approximately noon. Kasper curled into a ball and slowly fell asleep.

"You what?" Mio asked. "Are you crazy?! He's an assassin! He'll kill you in an instant!"

Nio sighed. "I know he's an assassin, Mio. But I trust him."

The Pikachu gave her a look. "You trust him? Of all Pokemon? Nio, if you do this, you'll be breaking so many rules, it'll be unbelievable."

"I know, but he seems lonely. I thought it'd be nice to give him a break of the cell. Plus, if we're nice to him, maybe he'll begin to trust all of us."

Mio groaned. "Well, you did get him to reveal what poison he used and how to cure it. That's a start, I guess."

Nio handed him a wooden bowl and spoon. "You're lucky, you know. Don't do that again."

"Do what?"

"Piss off the assassins? They're experienced killers. You heard the Meowstic. They will not hesitate to kill you given the chance!"

"They did last time."

"It was the middle of the night. They were caught off guard."

Mio rolled his eyes. "So, what do you plan to do with Kasper?"

"I told you. We're just gonna take a walk."

"Is he going to wear the cuff?"

"If he wants to. I'm not forcing him."

The Pikachu dragged a hand over his face. "Your funeral."

Nio closed the door to her hut quietly. It was the middle of the night. Everyone should be asleep. Nio scampered towards the storage unit. She easily slipped through one of the cracked open windows.

The Dedenne made her way to the basement. She ran past the sleeping Conkeldurr guard, tsking quietly. Nio counted the cells under her breath.

She came to a stop in front of Kasper's cell. She peered into it. She could barely make out the Banette's form in the moonlight.

"Hey!" she whisper-shouted. When there was no response, she picked up a rock and threw it.

"Ow!" The rock made Kasper jolt awake. He looked around tiredly. "What the-"

Nio tapped the bars, attracting his attention. She gave a small wave.

"You actually came?"

"Of course I came!" Nio said. "What, did you think I would flake out?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I didn't!"

Kasper made a noise that resembled a "Huh".

"Come on. We only have a few hours before the sun rises." Nio turned away. She turned back after a moment to discover the Banette hadn't moved. "Coming?"

"I can't slip through the bars."

"You're a ghost. Can't you phase through?"

Kasper shook his head. "Tried that already. They're built so Ghost-types can't phase through."

He demonstrated by walking up to the bars. His hand turned intangible and he slipped it through. Immediately, a blue barrier knocked his hand back.

"Weird. Lucas must've added that recently," Nio mused. She walked up the door and unlocked it. "Let's go."

Kasper tentatively pushed the door open. He watched it swing open and stepped out into the open. The Banette stretched for a moment. Nio smiled as she observed him. She had seen this exact ghost in wanted pictures. There, he was made out to be a menace. The Dedenne had always assumed he was a monster. In-person, however, he seemed to resemble any other Pokemon.

The Dedenne walked towards the jailer. She walked past him and observed the ground. After a moment, she pointed to a slab of cobblestone.

"Can you lift that for me?" she asked Kasper.

The Banette nodded and did as he was told. Nio thanked him and peered down into the inky black darkness below. Without hesitation, she hopped down.

Almost instantly, gravity took hold. She plummeted down for what seemed like forever. She eventually landed in a lake of water.

"Come on down! It's safe!" she called back up. She began to swim for the shore that wasn't too far off. The Dedenne shook herself as she climbed out of the lake.

A splash behind her signified Kasper's arrival. The Banette surfaced and made his way towards the shore. As soon as he reached it, he took off his hood. Nio was surprised. No one had ever seen Kasper without his hood. Heck, only a few had seen his entire face, as his hood was usually covering half of it.

"Why are you staring?" Kasper asked, looking at her.

"Y-you're normal," Nio replied, still astonished.

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Everyone has their theories about your true appearance." Nio couldn't believe it. Kasper wasn't the assassin everyone made him out to be. With the exception of three small slashes on his left arm, Kasper seemed totally normal in terms of appearance.

"May I ask what that is? On your arm?" Nio asked, pointing to the slashes.

"Hm?" Kasper followed her gaze. "Oh, that. I got that a long time ago. It's... kind of personal."

Nio smiled. "We'll talk about it later. Follow me. There's a tunnel we can take to exit the city."

The Dedenne walked into the gloom. The cave in which the pair were in thinned out to a small passage. Nio had no trouble with it but she witnessed Kasper phasing in and out of existence as the tunnel became smaller in size.

"You can phase through it," Nio told him. "If you want to."

Immediately, Kasper reduced his density. The only sign he gave of his presence was his soft footsteps.

The two eventually came to a large opening. Nio breathed in the fresh forest air. Kasper reappeared by her side, staring at the forest with dreamy eyes.

"Pretty, right?" Nio asked.

Kasper nodded. Nio giggled and took the Banette's hand. Her fingers wrapped around his clawed ones. Nio was surprised to discover them sheathed.

Nio shook herself out of her thoughts and began to walk. Kasper let her guide him as they walked.

The bright moon illuminated the entire forest. Nio could make out the light of nocturnal Pokemon. The songs of Kricketot and Kricketune was the ruler of the forest in terms of sound.

Nio eventually stopped as she entered a clearing. She let go of Kasper's hand and sat down on the grass. Kasper joined her. Nio giggled as she watched the Banette play with the grass. Kasper let the soft blades slip through his fingers multiple times.

"So... tell me. What's it like working for Scizor?" Nio asked, gaining Kasper's attention.

The ghost sighed. "Terrible. I'd much rather be out here than there."

"Then why do you stay? Why follow his orders if you hate it so much?"

"You wouldn't understand."

An uncomfortable silence came over them.

"You wanted to know about my injury, right?" Kasper asked. "I'll tell you."

"What? No, you don't have to!" Nio gasped.

Kasper silenced her. "I want to.

"Before I became an assassin, I lived in a swamp with a bunch of Pokemon. I used to live with my parents in a cave, but I was kidnapped as a Shuppet. My mom died fighting. I have no idea what happened to my father. I was kidnapped by a Zangoose. He bought me to the swamp. They were recruiting Pokemon to fight against Scizor. Most of the Pokemon they asked declined so they decided to kidnap children."

"Why?"

"They didn't know anything. The leader of the swamp, a Toxicroak, wanted as many children as possible, hoping he could teach them their skills so they could fight. I was one of the many children who were kidnapped. Anyone who resisted was killed. Some select few were chosen to be trained in separate areas of combat." Kasper looked up at the sky as he recalled the story. "I was chosen to be trained in poisons. My teacher was a Zangoose. For years, I stayed there. It became my home and its inhabitants became my family. I even evolved while there.

"One day, the leader told me I was ready for my final assessment. I was told to bring him three items within a day. If I did that, I would pass. I was sent into the nearby forest alone. While I was wandering, I accidentally stumbled into the territory of a wild Ursaring. She had cubs and I was too close. She attacked me. I managed to give her a small dose of Ekans poison, but she was immune to it. Her desire to kill me clouded her mind. She chased me up a large tree. I dodged most of her attacks, but she used my hood to her advantage. I managed to escape by slipping out of my hood. After a small struggle, I injected her with Nidoking poison, but not before she got me. The branch she was on broke and she fell. She dragged me down with her and got me again. I spent the rest of the day sleeping in a tree.

"When I woke up, I only saw a swarm of fleeing Pokemon. The forest was being burned down. I ran back to the swamp to find it absolutely destroyed. A group of Bug Pokemon saw me and captured me. They took me to Frisk, Scizor's second-in-command. She deemed me important and took me to Scizor. He liked the idea of a ghost trained in poisons and had me trained to become an assassin."

Nio watched the Banette, astonished by the tale. "I-I'm sorry..."

Kasper looked down at the grass. Tears began to leak out of his eyes. He let them fall onto his hand.

Nio observed the crying Pokemon. He had lost so much. He didn't deserve the life he was forced into. He didn't deserve to be hunted. He didn't deserve to be locked up in a cell for the rest of his life.

Nio stood up. "I'm going back. You can leave."

"What?" Kasper asked, looking up at her.

"You heard me. You don't deserve any of this. I'm not going to be the one to force you back into that cell. You can go."

Kasper stood up, eyes emotionless. "Thank you."

"Kasper?"

Both Pokemon froze as a voice rang out behind them. A male Meowstic stepped into the open. A Murkrow was on his shoulder.

Nio gasped. "Harley and Gloria..."

"Look at that! We're famous!" Gloria cawed.

"Infamous is a better word," Harley muttered. "Nice to see you escaped prison, Kasper."

"I didn't. This Dedenne here let me out."

Nio flinched as all three gazes went to her.

"Hey, that's the same Dedenne that was with the foolish Pikachu!" Gloria exclaimed. "She let you out?"

Kasper nodded.

Harley laughed. "How foolish. I say we kill her. Can't have her telling everyone else about this sighting, now can we?"

"No!" Kasper yelled. "Don't kill her!"

Everyone stared at him in surprise.

"Kasper... you're not rebelling, are you?" Harley asked in a menacing tone.

"O-of course not! I just think a dead body would attract more suspicion!"

Nio yelped as she was lifted into the air via telekinesis. All three assassins stared at her.

"Well, if you're not a rebel, then prove it." Harley thrusted her towards Kasper. "Kill her."

Nio stared at the Banette, almost pleading. His blue eyes were wide with panic.

"Fine."

Nio's heart sank at the answer. Harley laughed and dropped her. A sickening feeling washed over her as she realized the other two had never expected him to do it. She faced Kasper weakly. The Banette opened his bag and pulled out a needle. His free hand enlarged as shadowy energy formed an enormous claw. Behind him, Harley watched with a neutral expression. Gloria was watching with interest, a large smile on her face.

Kasper shot forward and took a swipe at Nio. The Dedenne dodged the attack and returned fire with a half-hearted thunderbolt. Kasper easily dodged it and held up his hands. His shadow enlarged and rushed at Nio. It materialized into an inky form of the Banette and took a swipe at her. Nio hit the ground as Kasper's shadow sneak retreated.

Nio growled as she picked herself up. A beam of pink light formed on her hands. She shot it at Kasper.

The Banette cupped his hands together and a ball of sludge formed between them. Kasper threw the gunk shot at an angle. The two attacks combined, resulting in an explosion. A thick smoke swept over the area.

A small metallic object flew through the smoke. It pierced Nio in the chest. The Dedenne felt her energy rapidly fading. She stared weakly as Kasper emerged. His eyes were dark. Nio winced as his claws wrapped around her tail. She was lifted until she was eye level with the Banette. Kasper slowly raised a hand, ready to finish the job.

"Dark Pulse!"

A stream of dark energy hit Kasper in the back. Nio was freed from his grip as the Banette went flying. Nio was relieved to see Hilda emerge from the trees. Lucas, Mio, and Brian were next to her.

"Well. If it ain't Scizor's aces," Lucas said. "Long time, no see."

Harley hissed. Gloria took to the sky, her talon guards gleaming in the moonlight. Kasper got up slowly and lifted a hand. Nio yelped as she was dragged telekinetically towards the three assassins.

"Get them!" Lucas yelled, charging at them, his foot blazing. Harley unfurled his ears and a blue barrier stopped the attack.

Hilda's gems glowed and she shot another dark pulse at Kasper. The Banette intercepted it with a shadowy orb. The two attacks exploded in contact.

Mio grabbed onto Nio's outstretched paws. The psychic from Kasper pulled against the two. Brian's eyes glowed and an additional psychic began to pull the two.

"Kasper! Gloria! It's time!" Harley shouted. His companions nodded and moved closer to him.

Gloria let out a piercing caw and a stream of dark rings flew into the air. Harley's eyes glowed and the energy began to swirl, forming a circle. Kasper's free hand burst into flames as well as shadows. He shot a shadowy orb at the circle, flames streaming out of it. Harley shot a green orb as well. All the attacks combined, forming a huge combination of energy.

Nio was jerked back. She let out a cry of pain as Gloria's talons dug into her back.

"Fire!" Gloria yelled.

Kasper jumped into the air, his claw enlarging to a size Nio had never seen before. He hit the swirling orb at Nio's friends. Shadows formed around the assassins. Nio had time to see the terrified looks on her friends' faces before the phantom force engulfed her entirely.