Ok, let's get started with the next season. Fated. This will start to open up more into the relationship between Logan and Ben, and Logan's attempts to change his ways, as well as his hesitancy to do so, for reasons that will be explained now.

February 7th, 2019. 10:30 pm.

As Logan finished telling the story, tears were quite clearly falling from his eyes. His breath was coming out heavy, and his voice was shaky. He felt as if it was happening all over again. Killing someone who he had grown to care about after the traumatic experience of getting beaten out of his territory and nearly dying. "A- after that, I gathered up whatever food I could find, and then I just ran. I didn't know or care where I was going... I just wanted to run away. I think I ran all the way to Lostlorn before I stopped, and by then I was so exhausted I just fainted. When I came to, and calmed down, I made a decision. I would never go through that pain again. I would never go through the misery of losing someone I care for again, and I knew just how to do it. From that day forwards, I acted horribly to everyone and everything I met. I made myself so unappealing to be around that no one would ever want to be friends with me. Over time, me acting that way, changed my personality to where that's just how I was. It became a way of life. I took to heading to Route 1 as I believed I would never get thrown out of my territory again because the Pokémon there were so weak. Then, well, you know the rest." Ben looked at him, his own eyes glistening. That was a very dark story. It made him feel very sorry for the fox in front of him. Without hesitation he threw his arms out and hugged the anthro Pokémon. Logan's breath caught in his throat for a moment. "Wh- what are you..."

"I can't imagine how hard it would be to do that, and for a Zoroark, that had to have been much worse. I wouldn't say that condones what you've done, but I think it can be... understood. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

Logan looked down at Ben for a moment, and then pushed him away. "Don't apologize. I'm the one who did it all. I do not need nor want your pity." Just like that, he had gone from being vulnerable, to going back to his "usual" self. He didn't like feeling vulnerable. The moment he realized he had let his guard down, he put it right back up. What Ben had done with Logan so far was the metaphorical equivalent of drilling through the ice around his heart, but he had only cleared one small section. He still had a lot of ice to get through before he had the "real" Logan entirely exposed.

"I can still feel bad for you, and I do. I want to help you."

Logan showed his teeth, but Ben was now sure this was more bark than bite. "I don't want your help. Goodnight." With that, Logan crawled under the covers of the bed he was sitting on, and turned the light off. Ben sighed and did the same with his bed.

'You say you don't want help, but I think that's a façade. You just don't want to get close.'

February 8th, 2019. 7:00 am.

Ben woke up to the smell of sausage. He looked over to see Logan eating sausage links and the meat of biscuits much like he had once before, but this time the buns were neatly thrown into the trash, and Ben even found a few intact biscuits on the table by the beds. "I got you breakfast. Don't thank me, it's nothing." Ben looked at the food next to him and picked it up.

"Thank y-"

"I said don't thank me." Ben knew what he said, but after so long of not being shown kindness, granted a large part of this was due to his own actions, but Logan would need this kindness if he was to get any better. Ben ate relatively quickly and they left the room. Ben was eager to challenge the next gym. Perhaps a bit too eager, as not long after they left, Ben realized something.

"Oh shit, I forgot my backpack! Wait here! I need to go get it!" Ben didn't wait for a response as he ran back into the hotel. Logan stood there for a few moments, before he heard a voice that he knew.

"Logan? Logan is that you?" Logan looked over and saw a Pikachu sitting on a bench. His rather short vulpine ears perked up a small bit as he recognized this Pikachu. He walked over and sat next to him. It had been a while since he used Pokespeak, but it WAS his first language, with English following close behind, so he still knew it.

"What are you doing here Chuck?"

"Ah I got captured. There's a reason why Pokémon not normally native to a Route don't tend to stay there long. A lot of people start gunning for you. Trainer is using the restroom right ow. What about you? Why are you here?"

Logan gave a small huff. "I got caught too." Chuck opened his mouth, but Logan shut him down quickly. "Don't say a fucking word. Anyways, you seem much braver. Normally you wouldn't say a word to me unless I asked you a question. Largely because I threatened your life if you annoyed me. What's changed?"

"Well having a trainer has really given me a lot of confidence as I've gotten stronger. Anything can change. Us Pokémon know that better than anyone."

Logan gave a sigh and looked down at the ground. "I haven't changed. Not a bit. I'm still a bad man." This caused Chuck to put on a more serious face, and he placed one of his paws on Logan's knee.

"Just because you haven't changed, that doesn't mean you never will. You're still young. You've got plenty of time." This prompted another sigh from Logan.

"I made an attempt on my life last month after I got drunk. I should be dead already."

"Listen... Logan... I know you. No matter what happens, you'll face it like a warrior. That's what you are, and you know it."

Logan picked his head up enough to look Chuck in the eyes, a feat for someone with Autism. "That's all I am. It's all I'll ever be. A fighter, and a killer."

"Well then so be it. Live your way, and die your way. Just make sure of one thing. Don't compromise. Do what makes you happy first and foremost. Make a choice, and stick with it." Logan took a deep breath. This was a problem for him. He didn't know what would make him happy anymore. He thought being alone would, and yet he couldn't deny that he'd become somewhat attached to Ben, and enjoyed his company. Speaking of Ben, he'd finally retrieved his backpack. When he saw Logan, looking down as he was, he decided to just get him and go.

"Come on Logan, we've got some ground to cover before we reach then gym." With that, Logan gave Chuck a small wave, and then got up to join his trainer.

'Don't compromise huh? Do what makes me happy first? What does make me happy? Have I really allowed myself to become so twisted that I don't even know what makes me happy anymore?' He shook his head. 'Just forget it. Focus on the here and now.'

The walk to the gym was quite a hike. This city was massive, and with all the traffic, it took even longer. It had been an hour, and they could now see the gym in the distance. However, a loud yell caught their attention. "SOMEONE HELP! THAT MAN JUST STOLE MY PURSE!" It was an older lady from the sounds of it, and Logan's sharp vulpine eyes caught sight of an anthro white fox likely in his mid 30s running away from said voice. Nobody around did anything due to the Bystander Effect. They all assumed someone else would do something since there were so many other people around. No one did though, except for one. Logan's eyes locked onto the other fox, and he bolted towards him on all fours. He wasn't holding back now, and his powerful limbs propelled him forwards to his top speed quite quickly. Logan nearly collided with several people as he ran, and the only reason he didn't was due to his kind's high Speed stat. It didn't just make him faster, it enhanced his reflexes. He did bump a couple, but lightly enough that he didn't knock them over. The scenery around him was a blur as he locked onto his target, who saw him, and ducked into an alleyway. Logan reached it just a couple seconds behind him. He sprinted forwards, breath heavy, heart pounding, and got behind him. He flicked his right hand forwards and tripped the fox up. He faceplanted, and the purse fell to the ground. The would be criminal rolled over and wiped his face of the gavel and blood. Logan stood over him.

"H-Hey man I-I was just kidding. Really. No need to get violent!"

Logan grabbed the scruff on his chest and yanked him off the ground to eye level. "Oh there is plenty of need to get violent. This isn't the wild. You don't get to prey on innocent people here. Maybe I need to forcibly teach you that lesson" Logan pulled his right hand back, curled into a fist.

"LOGAN STOP!" Logan's eyes snapped over. Ben had caught up and was looking at Logan with pleading eyes. "You don't have to do this. Just stop. He's caught."

Logan looked at the fox, who had pulled his knees up to his chest in fear, despite being help in the air. Logan let out a sigh, before shoving him muzzle first into the wall next to him. "He's unconscious, but he's gonna have a hell of a headache in the police station." Logan let his unconscious body fall to the ground. Ben let out a sigh. He'd gotten through to him in time. Ben gave a quick call to the police, who said they'd have someone there in a few minutes, and they left the alley once Logan assured Ben he'd be out for a couple hours at least. They then located the elderly human and gave her the purse back.

"Oh my, thank you nice young men!" She looked to Logan. "You especially. You're such a kind soul."

Logan shook his head. "I know nothing about kindness. I don't deserve your thanks."

She gave his arm a squeeze. "Don't be so hard on yourself. A bad person wouldn't have given chase so quickly." This was answered with a small sigh from Logan.

"Well, maybe you're right. Still, you don't know me. Ben's the nice one. Thank him."

She turned to his lutrine owner and extended a hand, which Ben shook. "Of course. A Pokémon like this must have a kind trainer. Thank you so much." She reached into her wallet and handed Ben a hundred. "Both of you, thank you for your kindness."

With that, they parted ways. Ben thought to himself. 'She's right. Logan acted without hesitation. No bad person would do that. There's no doubting that there's good in you.'