Kurama: Yes, that is very dark. The emotions he will go through are reflective of the ones I went through. Not long after I met my friend, through no fault of his own I must add, that's about how I felt, and of course because this is based on me, the phrase, "and then things got worse," will be in effect not too long from now. It will get better, but it will get a good bit worse before it gets better.
Anyways, I'd have had this up earlier, but it was hunting season and we did out annual Deer Camp. Me and one other guy downed one. I'm four for four with my muzzleloader, and between all of us we're something like ten for ten. If we've taken a shot with a muzzleloader it has resulted in a kill.
The short phrase had silenced Ben. He stood there with his mouth slightly parted as he stared at the tall fox. Those words... that was a horrible sentence. One that could only come from a long time of pain and misery. His view of this Zoroark immediately went from viewing him as a total psychopath, to viewing him as someone in desperate need of help. He liked to help people, even those who maybe didn't deserve it. "W-What did you say?"
Logan's voice came out as emotionless as it had when he stated his desire for death. "You heard me. I wanna die." Ben would've considered the possibility that this was a ploy to garner sympathy and leeway, but the words had been said so matter-of-factly, that despite all the sarcasm and jokes that had come from Logan, Ben couldn't help but believe him. He was being 100% truthful for once. Ben was shocked. He seemed so sure of himself and confident most of the time, how could a creature with such an aura of authority be so depressed?
"Wh-Why do you... What happened to you?" Logan turned his head to face directly away from Ben, and again spoke in a somber voice.
"Nothing... I... I'm not saying anything about it. Good night." With that, Logan unmade one of the beds, crawled under the covers, and threw them over his head.
'I never thought I'd see him act like that. He needs help. He may be mean, but... he doesn't deserve death. Logan, I swear, I'm gonna figure out what's wrong, and I'm going to fix it. I think you've shown me your real face, for just a moment, but I think that was the real you. Vulnerable and unsure maybe, but, perhaps kind and caring. I want to see more of what you're really like, because I don't think you're that bad. I'm gonna fix you Logan.' Heavy with emotion and a feeling of responsibility, he crawled in the other bed, and after some time, fell asleep.
January 4th, 2019. 7:00 am.
Ben woke up slowly to the smell of sausage. He slowly rolled over and looked at the other bed. Logan was munching on the sausage part of sausage biscuits, as well as actual sausages. The buns of the biscuits were just kind of strewn about the room, including a couple on top of Ben's bed. "You really have no self control do you?" He was actually hoping to get a smart ass response, it would mean Logan was back to quote unquote normal.
"Not a tiny bit fuckwad." Yep, he was back to, well, not really himself.
"Well I've still got to eat, so we're gonna head back down to the lobby." Ben threw his pack on, fed Oshawott while he himself was eating. They were receiving stares from the people and Pokémon who had been there when Logan had nearly beat the raccoon to death. they didn't risk saying anything though. When they were both finished, Ben saw the nurse on duty and informed her he was moving on. She marked the room down as vacant and they left the building.
When the duo walked outside, Ben noticed a gathering around the town square. "Hey Logan, does that seem odd to you?" Logan gave a nod. "I think we should check it out. What do you think?" He gave another nod as his eyes were narrowed in suspicion. They walked over to the crowd.
Logan began pushing his way through the crowd. "'scuse me pardon me not sorry outta my fucking way."
Ben followed him. "Sorry about him. Please forgive him. He didn't mean it. I apologize."
They made it to the front of the crowd and glanced upon the actual town square. "HEY FOXY SIT DOWN!" Someone had screamed after the tall Zoroark had blocked his view.
"IF I COME BACK THERE YOU'LL END UP IN THE HOSPITAL!" And that was the end of that discussion.
There were a pair of gaudy banners set up and a number of people in, "Really fucking stupid outfits," as Logan put it. A couple minutes later they parted and a green haired man in a, "Really fucking stupid robe," walked to the front. "Logan we need to work on your tact."
"Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Ghestis. I am here representing Team Plasma." Logan opened his mouth, presumably to remark about that being a, 'Really fucking stupid name,' but Ben gave him a soft elbow in the side and asked him to please be quiet. "I am here today to discuss with you the idea of Pokémon Liberation." This sent some murmurs through the crowd, which he didn't listen to as he continued. "On the outside, I'm sure it appears to you all that humans, anthros, and Pokémon are all equals."
"Equals? Are you f-" Logan had been about to presumably cuss him out with every word in the book, but he was silenced as Ben's webbed hand covered his mouth.
"Nope! Nope nope nope nope nope we are not doing this! You are going into your ball!" Ben pressed the button against Logan's side and he was sucked into the device. All eyes were immediately on Ben, those that had line of sight to him anyways, including Ghestis and Team Plasma. He blushed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck. "He has a very bad attitude problem. Please continue."
Ghestis narrowed his eyes. "As you can see though, Pokémon, even anthro Pokémon, are not treated as equals, and are subjugated and confined. I believe my point has been proven for me so all I'll ask is that you consider releasing your Pokémon so that we may all truly be equals."
With that, a pair of Team Plasma members grabbed the banners and without another words, they all walked away. The crowd looked to Ben for a few minutes before beginning to disperse. All but one, a second green haired man, dressed more normally, whose haircut reminded Ben of a normal Zoroark, just a bit shorter.
"It's an interesting idea I must admit. Name's N." He held his hand out towards the otter. Ben took the handshake.
"Ben. Is it really just N?" He nodded. "Okay. Not gonna judge."
N gave a small smile. "You know, I have a very unusual gift. After living my whole life with them, I've discovered I've actually gained the ability to speak to, and understand, Pokémon. I'm curious to see what your Pokémon think of you." 'Oh no.' Ben could tell where this was going, but before he could stop him, N had already grabbed on of the Pokeballs from Ben's belt. Logan's. 'Oh sweet merciful God, this can't possibly end well.' N pressed the button and sent out the Zoroark, who faced Ben.
"Hey asshole." He noticed N. "Who's this dickhead?" N took a step back at his... colorful language.
"OK... so he's the one who almost interrupted Ghestis. He's... mean."
"Yeah I was really hoping you wouldn't meet him. As I said, serious attitude problem."
N regained his composure. "Um, ok. And you are?" Logan gave the simple one word response of his name. "Ok, Logan, what do you think of Ben?"
Ben covered his face with his hands. "Well he's a better man than me. Haven't really known him that long so I can't tell you much. Kinda clueless though." Ben picked his head up. That wasn't so bad.
"Hm. I suppose that's a good answer. Anyways, Ben. I'd like to see what your Pokémon can do, and how well you train them. Would you like to have a battle?"
Ben smiled. Now this was his language. "You're on!" He grabbed Oshawott's ball. "Now let's see what you can do against-" His hand was stopped before he threw the ball. Logan had a solid hold of his arm.
"I don't think so Ben. I'm gonna handle this one." Ben's smile dropped.
"Um. I don't think that's a good idea Logan." He looked to N for help.
"I'd like to see how well this Zoroark can fight. I don't have him with me, but I actually have a Zorua, so having a battle against its evolved form would be nice."
"N I REALLY think this is a bad idea!"
"Oh come on how bad could he be?"
Ben sighed loudly. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Logan popped the knuckles his claws were attached to and dropped into a very low fighting pose.
N threw his Pokeball and a Purrloin emerged onto the battlefield. "Ok buddy, I don't think we're gonna win this fight, but please give it your all." The catlike Pokémon gave a cheerful meow and got into a fighting position of its own.
Logan gave a dark grin. "You may have the first move. I don't think you'll get another."
"Okay Purrloin, Zoroarks have low defenses, so use Scratch!" The small feline ran at Logan and leapt up, leading with its claws to attack. It didn't connect as Logan reached up and grabbed its neck.
"Oooooh nooooo." Ben knew what was coming. He fumbled to grab Logan's Pokeball, but it was too late. Logan slammed the Purrloin into the ground repeatedly. Loud cries of pain came from it the first time before it passed out, but Logan continued to slam it into the dirt.
N yelled out in concern for his loyal companion. "STOP STOP!" He ran over and nearly reached Logan when Ben was able to recall him. N knelt down by his now bleeding Pokémon. He picked him up and cradled him. He looked to Ben with anger in his eyes. "I don't know what that thing is, but it's not a Pokémon. I've never seen any Pokémon, anthro or no, act like that. Get that, thing, under control." N turned and walked away.
'Well that couldn't have gone any worse. I really need to help him with his attitude. I hope it's whatever that happened to him that's making him behave like that. Otherwise... well, let's just hope it doesn't come to that.'
