Okay, this is the last chapter of part 1. My buddy and I have divided the story up into parts (and as you can probably tell right now: they're fairly small).

It might be a while before either of us posts more but patience will be rewarded in the end.

In the meantime... it's time for things to take a darker turn.

Legacy of One

Part 1, Chapter 4

Renegade wandered into a vast, empty field on the island, looking around a little forlornly.

It's so lonely… and I'm feeling so cold this evening…

He crossed his arms as if trying to warm himself against the cold. He then glanced up at the darkening sky, the sun in the slow process of setting.

He sighed, his usual depression asserting itself and he dropped to his knees, slumping into his sadness.

So empty… so cold... what am I doing? I… I don't know what to do…

Vector, meanwhile was wandering nearby, enjoying the night-air, which was actually comfortably warm.

Such a nice night tonight. I like how warm it is around here. It feels so nice. I could definitely call this home.

Looking around in the dimming light of the setting sun, he noticed the small, pathetic-looking figure on the ground… Renegade.

A wave of contempt and revulsion washed over Vector, overriding his usually-friendly demeanor.

He's here too? Maybe I should go talk to that sorry, sad runt.

He turned and started towards Raid, who was continuing to huddle on the ground, absorbed in his lost thoughts and hugging himself.

Vector came to a stop, glaring down at him.

"So, Renegade… I meet you again. And how do I find you? Nearly curled up, looking completely pathetic." He growled, his tone anything but friendly.

What's this guy's issue anyways? Always sad, always hurt. What is he looking for, attention!? Pathetic. Worthless.

There was no other word for the feeling flowing through Vector than simply disgust.

Renegade's fur bristled a bit as the words broke over his ears.

"Vector…" He sat up and looked at Vector with those mournful eyes, "What brings you to say such things to me?"

"Shut up! You know quite well!" Vector spat harshly. His own outburst gave Vector pause though and he backed off slightly, breathing and calming himself. When he spoke again, his anger was much more restrained, though there was still considerable contempt in every word.

"Don't play dumb with me… and wipe that sad look off your face, it's disgusting and pathetic." Vector said, his tone quite icy, "And while you're at it, how about you stand up?" he added, his words calmer, but no-less sharp.

Renegade blinked and then slowly stood up, sighing and looking down more at his own feet than Vector.

"Look… I'm not seeking any trouble tonight, please don't look to fight me…" he said, his tone mildly pleading.

"Look up at me. Right now." Vector snarled, "I can't believe you are disrespecting me by not even having the gall to look me in the eyes…"

Renegade whined as if the words themselves were a whip lashing him over the head for his disrespect.

"Sorry…" he then lifted his head up so he was making eye-contact with Vector, who was looking more and more sickened by the sight before him.

"You're so pathetic…" he sneered, "Just letting me walk all over you here. Do you have no pride?" he then thrust out a paw and shoved Raid with a scoff of "Gutless"

Renegade simply stumbled back a step and then stepped back to where he was.

"Please, don't do this."

Vector shook his head with silent incredulity.

"You're just a sad… wretch of a pokemon. You aren't even lifting a paw in defense! Pathetic." Vector continued, then leaned forward, speaking in a whisper that was practically a hiss.

"What do you treasure most, Renegade?"

Renegade swallowed hard as Vector leaned closer and he blinked when he heard the question.

"I… Raine. That's who I treasure most in the world." Renegade answered timidly, "It's the feelings between us that I treasure the most." He said, a yet-unnamed fear starting rise up in his chest.

Vector's grin held a cruelty that made the night seem ever-colder to Raid.

"You wanna know something? I used to care for her a lot myself, but you already knew that." Vector said briskly… his tone quite frosty, "Hell, I used to think she was my world! But you want to know what else, Renegade?"

Renegade's entire frame was shivering now, not from cold, but from fear.

"Wh- what?" He asked, though he didn't really want to know.

Please, don't… Say what I think you are about to say...

Vector chuckled in a sadistic manner.

"I, my friend, am going to rip her straight out of your blasted, cowardly heart." He declared, "Why she chose something so pathetic as you over me to begin with, I can't even comprehend." He added, his tone carrying an undercurrent of withheld rage, "But, alas, I'm going to take her away… I'm going to kill her."

Tears welled up in Renegade's eyes as various confused emotions flooded through him. Fear. Terror. Confusion… and rage.

"N- no…" He managed to say, "Y-you won't… That's not possible." The words seemed almost automatic… but no less true to him. "You'll have to kill me before you get to her… I'll fight you, and I'll if that's what it takes to save her."

In his current state-of-mind, this was likely the most determination Renegade had ever shown.

Vector's grin didn't fade though. He looked highly unconvinced in fact.

"Really? Are you now?" he responded with a soft, mirthless laugh, "Good luck, you pathetic wretch." He punctuated the last word with a hard shove that left Raid sitting on the ground.

Vector then turned away and started off.

"I'll see you again, Renegade!" He called back, "But for now, good bye!"

Renegade remained where he was. Part of him wanted to get up and go after Vector immediately… but another was far too scared to even try. He remained where he was.

After several moments, he finally broke down, crying and sobbing in a fetal position.

"No… no…"

What am I going to do? He… can't kill her, not her…

His thoughts were in chaos and it wasn't until the moon was high overhead that he finally started to rise. He was still sobbing and coughing as he tried to stem the flow of tears.

"No… I'll fight to my dying breath… before I let him do that… I have to…"

He was unsteady on his feet… but he started out of the clearing.

He couldn't see it… but the fur on his head was glowing with color… and his eyes were a kaleidoscope colors.

Every color of the rainbow.

I can't let it happen.