The forest was quiet. Almost too quiet. There were no songs of birds or rustling of the grass.

There was a blinding flash no one was there to see. Jade and Kasper appeared, with the former looking calm and collected and the latter looking frantic.

"We're here," Jade said.

"And where, exactly, is 'here'?" Kasper asked, looking around at the barren forest.

"Eh. No clue. I just picked a place where no one would find us."

Kasper facepalmed. "Why do you always get us into these messes?"

Jade slapped the Banette's back. "You know me, my good friend. Anyways, we have to continue your training."

Kasper groaned. "Fine..."

Jade faced off against the Banette. "Let's go. No holds barred."

"This is stupid," Kasper muttered. Nonetheless, he fired a Gunk Shot at the Gardevoir.

"If it's so stupid, why'd you attack?" Jade asked, redirecting the attack with Psychic

"Because I want to get this stupid disease or whatever under control!" Kasper shot a flurry of flames at Jade.

"Good! And Will-o-Wisp? When'd you learn that?"

"I've known it since birth."

"Well, keep that move for special occasions. And how's your ghost moves coming along?"

Kasper cupped his hands. Shadowy energy began to form an orb. Kasper fired the orb a moment later.

Jade barely dodged the fast-moving orb. "Ah. I see you've regained Shadow Ball. Well done. How'd you do it?" She retaliated with a Moonblast.

The attack was intercepted with another Shadow Ball. Kasper shrugged. "Eh. No clue. It just happened."

Jade snickered. "10/10 intelligence points."

Kasper fired a Psychic blast at her. Jade responded with one of her own. The two telekinetic forces collided and exploded. Smoke billowed through the forest.

Jade wafted away the smoke. Kasper was nowhere to be seen. She narrowed her eyes.

"Where are you?"

"Hello."

The voice came from behind her. Jade whirled around, Moonblast at the ready. Her attack hit thin air.

"And goodbye."

Jade turned to see a poisonous sludge ball speeding toward her. The Gardevoir didn't have time to counterattack and took the hit, which sent her stumbling back. Kasper emerged from the ground, smiling slyly.

"You tricky bastard! How'd you do that?" Jade asked.

"Well, turning intangible comes naturally to ghosts."

Jade smiled as she got up. "Good to see you're getting your touch back. But I'm not finished yet."

She began to glow with a blinding light. As the light died down, Jade smiled, psychic energy radiating off of her. She had also experienced some physical changes. Her dress was longer and resembled a bridal gown. In addition, her 'hair' grew longer as well.

"Like the new look?" she asked a surprised Kasper. "Mega Evolution does that to you."

To her surprise, Kasper nodded. "I've heard of it before. I've just never seen one."

Jade snickered. "Well, now you have. Only a few Pokemon have this ability." Her smile widened. "Your kind is one of them."

"Really?" Kasper asked, surprised.

Jade nodded. "Yep. Banette can Mega Evolve. Your hood was styled after a Mega Banette."

Kasper gazed at his hood and zipped half of it over the left half of his face. "Awesome. I can't wait to see one."

Jade chuckled. "Y'know, for someone your age, you're awfully childish."

"It's genetic." Kasper charged a Shadow Ball in one hand and a Gunk Shot in the other. "Now, are we gonna do this or not?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" Jade rushed at the Banette, a Moonblast in her hand. Kasper shot his Shadow Ball. As soon as the shadowy orb left his hand, another replaced it.

Jade dodged the attack with newfound speed. "You're gonna need more than combos to take this down!"

She dodged Kasper's fired Gunk Shot and grabbed the Banette with Psychic. After shaking the ghost, she flung him into a tree. The tree toppled over. Kasper turned intangible before it hit.

Jade continued her relentless assault of attacks. "Getting tired?"

Kasper skidded across the ground from a point-blank Dazzling Gleam. He winced as she followed up with Toxic.

"If this is too much, I have no idea how you managed to survive this long!" Jade yelled, growing increasingly angry. "You're one of the last Ghost-types on the planet and you're an ace! If you can't take this, you will never be able to survive a full-fledged war! It's coming, you know."

Kasper pulled himself to his feet. "Ok, Jade, stop. You win. The poison will be the death of me."

Jade narrowed her eyes. "We're not stopping. Not now." She charged another Moonblast.

Kasper blinked before sighing. "Fine. You asked for this."

Jade smiled softly as Kasper's eyes changed. Underneath his hood, his scar glowed.

"Ah, so you've gone feral. Good. Now we'll see what you're capable of."

Kasper growled and charged at the Mega Gardevoir, electricity sparking off his body. Jade dodged the attack and blasted Kasper against a tree once more. The Banette turned intangible.

For a moment, the battlefield was silent. Jade listened carefully.

A nearby bush rustled and Jade fired a Psyshock at it. She smiled as Kasper appeared to dodge it. The Banette fired another Shadow Ball, which Jade intercepted with a Moonblast.

The two were still going strong when the sun began to go down. The once-lush forest was now just a crater after a Psychic/Shadow Ball had collided and exploded. Jade and Kasper stood still, neither of them moving for an instant.

Jade smiled as Kasper fell over. She reverted to her normal state and walked up to the defeated ghost, a Pecha Berry in hand.

"You did well," she told him, handing him the berry. "The poison is the only reason we're not still battling."

Kasper chuckled and took the berry. "Yeah, no. I knew the poison was there, but it wasn't doing any damage. If anything, it helped me out."

"How so?"

"How did it feel when you got hit with a Gunk Shot?"

Jade thought for a moment. The poison move was already powerful against a Fairy-type like her, but Kasper's Gunk Shots were almost devastating. "Pretty painful."

Kasper nodded as he pulled himself up. "Indeed. I've learned that poison as a status only gives Gunk Shot more power. It doesn't affect me at all. But this is only when I go feral. If it's a regular battle, the poison will work normally."

Jade stared. "When did you learn that?"

Kasper grinned. "While we were battling. I knew as soon as it happened. I just never let it show."

Jade smacked the ghost lightly on the arm. "Tricky bastard."

"I aim to please."

Harley kicked a rock in frustration. When the stone didn't move. Harley unfurled his ears and threw the rock into the distance. The rock ricocheted off a tree and came flying back at him. Harley ducked and the rock embedded itself back into the mud bank with a dull thud.

Gloria watched from a tree, amused. She enjoyed watching Harley throw temper tantrums. It was the most emotion the Meowstic ever displayed at one time.

From the bushes, Jade and Kasper watched as well, snickering. The pair had been attracted by the rock. After hitting Jade on the head, it had been redirected with a very powerful Psychic.

"Does he do this often?" Jade asked.

Kasper shook his head. "Nope. It's priceless when he does do it, though. It's like watching a movie."

Gloria had noticed the pair and fluttered over, landing on Kasper's head. "Come to see the show?"

"Don't tell him we're here," Jade said in a brisk tone.

The Murkrow chuckled. "I wasn't planning on it."

Jade ducked as a stick came flying at her. It whizzed over her head and landed in the river flowing nearby. "What's he so mad about?"

"Everything. This mission, his injuries, that Blaziken." Gloria tsked quietly.

They turned back to Harley as the Meowstic let out a scream of mixed emotions and pulled a tree from its roots. Said tree was then thrown into the lake the nearby river flowed into. The tree hit the water with a huge splash and sank to the bottom.

Gloria shook herself as the three were drenched in water. "When he gets like this, it's best to leave him alone."

Kasper sighed, taking off his hood and wringing it out before putting it back on. "Nah. We might want to go talk to him before he tears apart the entire forest."

The Murkrow nodded. "Fair point."

Kasper stood up and turned to Jade. "I'll be back."

The two emerged and slowly approached Harley, who was busy cursing quietly under his breath.

"Harley?"

The Meowstic turned, bloody murder in his eyes. "What?"

Gloria and Kasper exchanged a glance.

Harley picked up a rock and threw it into the lake. "I'm waiting."

"Are you done throwing your temper tantrum?" Gloria asked. Harley hissed at the question.

"I'm not throwing a temper tantrum."

"You kind of are..."

The Meowstic clenched a fist and unfurled his ears. Behind him, a rock was reduced to rubble. This action made the cliff the rock was a part of also collapse. Kasper and Gloria stared at the landslide that disappeared into the lake.

"I. Am. Not!" Harley yelled.

"Alright, alright, don't kill us," Kasper muttered, hands up. He gazed at the Psychic-type with concern. "Ok, but seriously, what's wrong?"

Harley sighed, attempting to calm himself down. "I have no clue. Everything's been so stressful lately."

His comrades nodded in understanding. Harley turned away from the two and gazed at the large lake. He could barely make out the forms of Water-type Pokemon swimming beneath the surface.

Gloria put a wing on the Meowstic's shoulder. "Look, we get it. There's so much happening at once. It's been Arceus knows how long since we left. As far as we know, the other assassins could be dead."

"Not helping, Gloria."
"Let me finish. Everyone could be dead, our rooms could be destroyed, your mementos could be lost..."

Kasper sighed. "What Gloria is trying to say is that you're too focused on everything. Focus on here and now. You'll feel a lot better."

Harley gazed at the pair. The other two assassins were always calmer than he was. Gloria only really cared about something when it involved her or her friends. Kasper didn't seem to care at all. It puzzled Harley.

"Why is it so easy for you two to be so happy at a time like this?" Harley asked softly.

"Just because we look happy doesn't mean we are," Kasper replied. Gloria nodded in agreement.

"Harley, none of us are happy. We've lost almost everything. Our families, homes, and just about everything else. The only thing we still have is each other. If we lose that, then we truly lose everything." Gloria landed on Kasper's head and moved his hood so it revealed the ghost's entire face. "Look at Kasper. Do you know why he wears this hood?"

"Because it was a gift from his parents and could very well be the last memory he has of them?"

"Well, yes, but there's another reason."

"It's because I'm afraid." Kasper's voice lacked its usual energy.

Harley gazed at the Banette, confused. "Afraid of what?"

"A lot of things." Kasper's eyes traveled to the ground. "I'm scared of so many things. It's hard to call myself an assassin. Assassins are usually depicted as ruthless. I'm anything but that."

Gloria raised a talon and took the guard off. "Underneath these guards are the talons of a Murkrow who lost everything she had. I never knew my actual parents. It's something that's haunted me since I was old enough to learn it."

Harley stared. The info he had just received seemed to show a completely new side to his companions. His... friends.

"Thank you," Harley said. He couldn't bring himself to say how he truly felt.

Slow applause made the three look up. Jade stepped out of the shadows, clapping. Her eyes were red, evidence of crying.

"Oh my Arceus, that was so sweet," she choked out, wiping an eye. "In all my years, I've never heard anything so emotional."

"Are you crying?" Kasper asked, snickering.

"Shut up! It was emotional and I get emotional very easily!" The Gardevoir sniffed and attempted to regain her posture. "Either way, I can tell you three are troubled spirits. You've somehow made me pity you."

"Wonderful," Harley muttered.

"Shut it and let me finish. I'm going to help you."

"How so?"

"Training," Jade declared.

Kasper shuddered. "Oh no."

A sly smile spread to Jade's face. "As you can tell, it's not something to be taken lightly. First session starts now." The Gardevoir disappeared. After a moment, she returned with a megaphone. She held it up to her mouth. "Drop and give me 20, maggots!"

The megaphone amplified her voice. Gloria and Harley winced at the volume but did as told. Kasper, on the other hand, folded his arms and gave Jade a grin.

"Why are you standing there, that includes you too!" Jade pushed the Banette down to the ground and stood over him. Kasper groaned but did the exercise.

The rest of the day was nothing but relentless training. Jade made the assassins fight each other as well as her. Gloria had been reluctant to attack Kasper, resulting in the ghost spiking the Murkrow into the lake rather quickly. Harley had destroyed his companions in battle easily, though Kasper's hood had gotten snagged on a tree branch and had hindered his movements. Jade made mental notes of their progress.

"One last battle before night falls," the Gardevoir declared.

"Seriously?"Gloria groaned.

"Yes, seriously! In fact, I want you and Harley to battle Kasper and I."

"Why do I have to battle with you?" Kasper asked.

Jade gave him a light smack. "Because you know my strategy by now. They don't. Now shut up and get into position."

The Banette rolled his eyes but did as he was told. Jade joined his side and got into a battle stance. On the other side, Harley copied her.

"You know what to do," Jade told Kasper.

"Cloak and dagger?"

"Cloak and dagger."

Harley's eyes narrowed as he watched Jade and Kasper nod to each other. "They're planning something. Be wary."

Gloria nodded. "Got it!"

"Ready?" Jade called.

"Ready."

"Well, let's get started then!"

Almost immediately, Harley unfurled his ears and blasted Kasper into a tree. Jade caught the Banette and tossed him with her own telekinetic force. Kasper's body sparked with electricity. Gloria dodged the attack a second before it hit.

Harley, meanwhile, focused on Jade. He fired an Energy Ball at the Gardevoir. Jade retaliated with a Moonblast. The two attacks collided mid-air.

"AGH!" Jade let out a surprised yelp as Gloria divebombed her and began clawing at her face. Harley grinned and fired another Energy Ball.

Before it hit, it was redirected into a tree. Harley's eyes narrowed as Kasper emerged from the ground, grinning.

"Hey, buddy. Can't let you do that."

Harley smirked. "I've been wanting a go at you. Let's see what you've got."

Kasper and Harley ran at each other, charging Shadow and Energy Balls respectively.

"Harley! I could use some assistance!" Gloria called, dodging a Moonblast from Jade.

Harley dodged another Shadow Ball. "I'm trying! Someone's making it hard!"

Kasper chuckled and phased into the ground again. He reappeared above Gloria and bombarded her with shadowy orbs.

"When did you gain Shadow Ball back?" the Murkrow managed to get out.

"I dunno." Kasper shot a few blue flames at her. Gloria abandoned her attack on Jade to dodge it.

Gloria landed beside Harley, worriedly eyeing her opponents. "We're going to need a strategy to defeat them."

Harley nodded in agreement. "They're good. They use their abilities to aid their partner. I'm worried about this 'cloak and dagger' strategy they talked about."

"I don't think we have time to worry. We need a plan and we need it fast."

Harley's eyes narrowed. Kasper and Jade were both smirking. Their postures were loose and relaxed. It was unusual. Harley had never seen Jade battle, but he had seen Kasper in combat. The Banette was never relaxed. Combat seemed to be the only thing he took seriously.

"What's with the worried looks? Jade asked. "Scared?"

Harley scoffed. "You wish."

Jade turned to her ghost partner and held out a hand. "Shall we dance?"

Kasper gave her a smile and took it. Jade's smirk widened and she began to twirl with Kasper. The ghost was able to keep up with the Gardevoir's graceful movements.

Harley's eyes never left the two. He tracked their every movement like a Mandibuzz. This proved to be hard as the pair sped up.

Jade winked at Kasper and took the Banette's other hand. She lifted the ghost with Psychic and threw him into the air. Kasper smirked down at Harley and Gloria as he phased out of existence.

"Follow him," Harley told Gloria. "I'll deal with Jade.

Gloria nodded and took off, disappearing into the cloudy sky above. Her eyes scanned the clouds. The only noise was the distant thunder coming in.

On the ground, Jade continued dancing to whatever beat was in her head. She barely noticed the rain that had started.

'Rain Dance?" Harley asked, arching a brow.

Jade smiled at him mysteriously. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Harley sighed and unfurled his ears, using his psychic energy to uproot a tree and fling it at the Embrace Pokemon. Jade countered with a Psyshock. The tree exploded, scattering debris. Jade then fired a Moonblast at her Meowstic opponent.

Harley put up a protective barrier between himself and the incoming projectile. The Moonblast slammed against the Protect, although the barrier wasn't even fazed. Harley charged up an Energy Ball and fired it at Jade, who responded with another Moonblast. The two attacks collided and destroyed more of the forest.

Gloria looked down at the dust cloud that had gathered. She shook her head and focused on her surroundings.

A Shadow Ball whizzed by her head. Gloria snapped her head to look at the direction it had come from. She caught a glimpse of Kasper's wide smirk before the Banette disappeared into the clouds.

By now, the light rain had escalated into an all-out downpour. Thunder clapped violently. Harley could occasionally make out Gloria's outline when lightning flashed. He could also vaguely see Kasper's. The Banette was behind the Dark/Flying-type. Harley dodged a Moonblast from Jade and shot a Shadow Ball at the sky.

Kasper snickered as he snuck up on Gloria, electricity sparking from his body. As he raised a claw, he was hit by a shadowy orb. The Banette lost his posture for a moment and fell to the forest floor. The Thunder hit its intended target. Gloria's body danced with sparks for a moment before falling as well.

Jade looked up at the sky as she grabbed Harley and held him in a headlock. Another flash of lightning lit up the sky. She could make out the forms of the other two assassins.

Harley wrenched himself free and followed her gaze. His eyes widened. He turned to Jade.

"Throw me," he commanded. Jade gave him an astonished look but obliged, picking Harley up with Psychic and throwing him towards his companions.

The fur that wasn't plastered to Harley's skin fluttered in the whipping winds. The Meowstic's eyes were narrowed. The downpour never gave up in its relentless assault.

Harley could see a familiar Murkrow's outline growing closer. Harley outstretched his arms.

He cursed as his hands closed around air. Harley dropped to the ground, eyes scanning the sky. He saw no sign of Gloria or Kasper. Harley sighed and returned to Jade.

"Well?" the Gardevoir asked, tapping her foot impatiently

"Well, we have to go find them."

Jade groaned. "Great."

Gloria's eyes flickered open. The sun hurt her eyes and the Murkrow closed them again.

Gloria opened her eyes as she realized something. She got up in a hurry.

Kasper was lying nearby, unconscious. Gloria flew over to him and shook him violently. "Wake up!"

Kasper muttered something and slapped Gloria's wing away. The Murkrow sighed and slashed the Banette's face.

"I'm up, I'm up!" Kasper yelled, eyes wide.

"Took you long enough," Gloria said with a smirk.

"Shut up." Kasper dusted himself off as he stood up. "And we are where, exactly?"

"Well, if you look to your left, you can see multiple trees accompanied by flowers. This type of environment is usually called a forest," Gloria said, making her voice deep and adding a small accent to it.

Kasper smacked her. It wasn't rough, but it wasn't meant to be playful either. The ghost folded his arms.

"Not funny."

"I don't know about that. I liked it."

The two assassins immediately got into defensive positions. The forest ambiance was the only noise.

"You have no reason to worry. I mean no harm." The voice was feminine and seemed to come from every direction. The assassins didn't dare make a move.

"Who's there? Friend or foe?" Kasper called out, a needle in his hand, poised to strike.

"Well, you could consider me a friend, but you could also say I'm a foe."

"What is Arceus' name is that supposed to mean?"

The bushes rustled behind the pair. Before either of them could turn, Kasper was tackled from behind by a white blur. The blur was revealed to be an Absol. She pinned the Banette down, smirking.

Gloria cawed angrily and fired a stream of dark rings at the Absol. It was meant as a distraction rather than an attack. The Absol took the hit and turned to glare at the Murkrow.

Kasper took his chance. The Absol hadn't pinned down his legs. The Banette kicked her off and into a tree. The Absol got up and began to melt, much to the assassins' surprise. The Absol took the form of a Weavile and flexed her claws.

"A Ditto, huh? Classic," Gloria muttered.

The Weavile smiled. "Darn. You got me. Yes, I am a Ditto. I was sent as a mercenary to kill any assassins I see. If only I came a bit earlier. I could've peacefully gotten the job done when you were unconscious."

The Weavile lunged for the two. They both dodged her wicked claws. The Weavile had deemed Kasper the first target and was relentlessly swiping at him. Kasper dodged her attacks and attempted to inject her with poison. However, as soon as he got close, the Weavile would change her tactic and defend herself.

Gloria copied the Weavile and relentlessly swiped at her with her claws. The Weavile could somehow both dodge the Murkrow and attack her Banette target at once. She dodged a jab from Kasper and launched multiple shards of ice at an incoming Gloria. The ice froze the Murkrow's wings and she plummeted to the ground. The Weavile then turned to Kasper and pinned his against a tree, her claws digging into his hood and pricking his skin.

"And here's half of my debt paid," she purred, raising her other claw to finish the job.

Kasper's eyes narrowed. He quickly took a needle and jabbed it into the Weavile's skin. She laughed. "Nice try."

Her claws came down on nothing but wood as Kasper phased through the tree. The Banette then reappeared behind her. The Weavile turned and was elbowed in the face. She staggered back, snarling.

"You can't escape me! I, Dia, will kill you!"

Kasper ran over to Gloria and melted the ice around her wings. He pulled her up. "We gotta go!"

"I know, but- duck!"
Kasper barely dodged a wicked tail slap. The Weavile had shapeshifted into a familiar Normal-type. The Ditto, in the form of a Cinccino, grinned.

"Let's cut to the chase. I know you hate me. I trashed your home, killed your friends, and have abused you and your friends for years. But I can help you. You just have to help me."

"I'm not falling for your cheap mind tricks," Kasper snarled, taking a swipe at the Ditto. She dodged and disappeared into a tree. Kasper kept his guard up as he picked up Gloria. Her left wing was broken.

There was a small flapping noise nearby. Kasper gave Gloria an apologetic look and threw the Darkness Pokemon into a tree. The Murkrow groaned.

A large shadow began to encircle Kasper. The Banette looked up to see a Braviary charging him down, talons poised to strike. Kasper went intangible and the Braviary's talons closed around empty air.

"You can't escape me!" the Ditto's voice was raspy. She whirled around and sank her claws into Kasper's chest. The Banette reappeared, snarling in pain and fury.

"Dia, you're such a genius," the Ditto purred to herself. Still in the form of a Braviary, she reached down and wrapped her talons around Gloria. Dia began to ascend. The forest grew smaller and smaller.

Kasper reached for his sachet. Dia's talons hadn't pinned his left arm down. The ghost felt around, desperately searching for a certain poison.

Satisfaction flooded through him as he found it. Kasper slashed at Dia's underbelly.

"Hey!" She looked down.

Without hesitation, Kasper smashed the needle in her face. Dia screamed as the poison hissed. The Braviary fizzled and disappeared. The normal Ditto appearance was revealed. Dia began to fall, unconscious. Gloria and Kasper fell with her, as they were no longer in Dia's grip.

Out of the three Pokemon, only Kasper was conscious. The Banette looked down. The ground was approaching rapidly. Kasper flung himself at Gloria and wrapped his arms around her. Kasper's hood whipped wildly as the pair's speed increased. Kasper closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact that would end his life.

It never came.

"Well, that could've been very unfortunate, don't you think?"

Kasper's eyes snapped open. The ghost's form was outlined with a blue hue. The two assassins were suspended mere inches from the ground.

The glow faded and Kasper hit the ground. A silhouette was all he saw, outlined against the sun before he passed out as well.