"I don't want you to stay, Xephos. If you do, I will certainly turn you into an experiment as I have done myself. Don't you understand? I'll hurt you. Hurt you badly."
"I'll let you."
"No. I promised to protect you and I can't keep that promise in such close quarters. Honeydew would kill me."
"But he's not here anymore."
Lalna tensed up, "I know, but the promise is no less valid."
Xephos sighed and seemed to get upset, "He'll forgive you, Lalna."
"I said no."
"Please," Xephos begged, "I can't... I can't take it anymore. I don't want to be alone. I'll do anything. Even be torn apart. Just don't make me go back to that empty factory again."
"Xephos..." Lalna watched the man fight his tears. "It's better to be lonely than... than what I would do to you."
"No!" He exclaimed, "It wouldn't! At least you'd be there with me!"
"I can't."
"You can! You're the only one I have left! Everyone else is dead!"
Lalna twitched, "I know that! Did you think I'd forgotten?! Did you think I'd forget those pain ridden expressions as they urged me to keep fighting?! All of them... One after another... That's why I won't touch you. I'll never pull you into this."
Tears ran down Xephos's cheeks, "How can you say this, Lalna?... Everyone gave their lives to cure this plague and all of them have died. It's not just some promise, is it, because no one in their right mind would allow so many to die and save one. This damn curse will keep continuing if you don't try all you can. Please, I'm asking you to use me. If I am your last chance, then take it!"
The scientist shook with panic and fear. He didn't want to hear this. "N-No! I can't do it!"
"Lalna!" Xephos took hold of his shoulders. Lalna looked straight into his eyes. "You don't have a choice!"
Tears finally streamed down from Lalna's eyes and as he stared into his fate, he felt all the pain rush in. All his despair seemed to consume him. The death, the tragedy, the sadness... All of it hitting him straight on. He knew this truth all along and it was finally time to accept it.
"I never did..."
The villagers rejoiced, the plague had been cured. The scientist celebrated for his achievement but that same scientist all alone in his castle had lost everything... everyone. All his friends... dead. The plague had been cured but nothing could cure the void in his heart. The one that was left by the overwhelming realization that the only man he loved had given his life for it. Everyone had been saved... Everyone but the scientist.
A/N: So, I sat down to write something happy. This isn't happy but I hope you guys enjoy (?) it anyway. I do read all your reviews even if I can't answer them. Also, I'd like to add that if you have any story ideas, I'd love to give them a shot. Thank you for reading and being awesome. (and putting up with me too.)
Based on this prompt: "Imagine Lalna is trying to create a cure for a serious plague which has affected several villages and has now infected some of the Yogs. Xephos volunteers to be the test subject for the cure, though Lalna persists that the process is very dangerous, and they should really get a testificate or anyone else to sacrifice themselves but Xephos insists there is not enough time.
Through the process, all seems to be going well, then it all goes south very quickly. Too quickly for Lalna to stop. During this, Xephos dies. Struck with grief, Lalna sets about fighting the plague with everything he has available, fighting despair at every turn. Yogs dropping all around him as he struggles to find the cure.
In the end, he finds it, having lost all of his friends."