No he couldn't be! They let out the breath that they hadn't even known that they had been holding when they saw him move. Painfully attempting to push himself back up as the beasts continued to growl threateningly. He was covered in blood from the new wounds that were freshly painted on his beaten and bruised flesh. It took them a minute to recover from their shock. Only when his attempt to stand was a failure did they rush to help him. The beasts lunged.

This was it. This was the end that I had been fighting so hard to prevent. In the end it was inevitable. I was bound to die here. I brought this on myself. I had the chance to flee and I chose to stay. How could I even consider fleeing an option? Not here. Not this planet. Not this town. This place I would protect until my last breath and it seemed that my last breath was near. I nearly yelped at the pain that was now coursing through my body as I attempted to push myself back up. My muscles gave out on me, causing me to fall to the cold and bloodied pavement. The pavement that was stained with my own blood. The growling beasts lunged. I could hear their claws rake the pavement, making a rather annoying sound. This was it. The end of the line. I closed my eyes tightly as memories of the town flashed in my mind. I wanted that to be my final thought before I would fall to the hands of the beasts. I waited. I was greatly surprised when instead of more pain rushing through me I heard the sound of claws on steel. I struggled to look up to my saviors. I blinked trying to hide my surprise when I saw the two knights standing there. Their backs to me. Blades raised defensively toward the beasts that seemed just as surprised that their attacks had been blocked.

These two were standing there in front of me even after I ordered them to stay and wait. They were protecting me from the beasts even though I had practically threatened them. More of that loyalty that I didn't even feel that I had earned. It didn't make any sense in my mind. They would put their lives on the line like this. No. This wouldn't happen. It wouldn't happen. Not here. Not now. Not ever. Not if I could help it. They would not die for me. Sure it sounds stupid. Let them fight, right? But they were already wounded from creatures that were sent here for a reason I still would rather not admit and it hurt to see them fight for me like this. In the condition that they were in. I took in a slow breath as I willed myself to speak. Trying to sound like I still had some strength left in me.

"I thought I told you two to stay with the others." I mentally cursed the weakness in my voice. How was I suppose to convince them if I couldn't even convince myself?

"Please forgive us, but we couldn't just wait and let you be killed." One of them spoke, but I was a bit too… disoriented I guess you could say to actually tell who said it.

"Besides we had some back up come along." I could practically hear the smile in their voice. "They're safe."

They were safe? That was good, but that didn't exactly define the state of the two idiots in front of me. They were definitely not safe and that in in itself scraped the whole goal of what I did. To keep them all alive and safe, but no they had to show up didn't they? The beasts started to move in like before. Looking for an opening I'd assume. I had to stand. I had to fight. I Had to, but I couldn't. I couldn't stand up. No matter what I tried I couldn't stand up anymore.

"Just stay down. We've got this."

No! No they didn't! They wouldn't understand until they were half dead! The beasts attacked and just like that I felt useless. I couldn't do anything to help them. They would get killed in the end. These beasts weren't ordinary. They were strong and they had a better chance of getting killed. Not the other way around. Yet I couldn't do anything. Just watch the two struggle to fight them. Struggle to stay alive and protect me at the same time. No they couldn't do this! Was I… Was I panicking? No I couldn't. Not now. Panicking got you killed, but they couldn't just-!

"No! You idiots! Run! You're going to get yourselves killed!"

The desperation in my voice was so clear, but I didn't care. They couldn't just do this. They couldn't throw their lives away now. They had so much to live for. They couldn't just die here.

"Yeah we could die, but we have to try. 'Never give up without a fight' remember?"

Oh wow they were using my own words against me. Now this situation was almost unbearable. If this situation was frustrating enough before it sure was now.

"That doesn't matter now!" Did I seriously just say that? It seems that I did. "How can you expect to protect this planet let alone this town if you die now?!"

"What about you?!"

Me? What about me?

"If staying alive is the key then how do you explain this?! Going out alone and almost getting killed?!"

Oh. I had my reasons. Reasons that I rather not voice to them. I stayed silent and they seemed to have a triumphant air about them for a second before the next beast lunged. I flinched in a very out of character way at the sound of the claws on metal. Come on! Stand up! You have to! They'll die! Get up! Get up now! I placed my free hand on the cold bloodied ground in a heavy, exasperated, drained way. I almost let an even more out of character whimper as my muscles strained to push myself up.

"Stay down!" One of them cried as the sound of claws scraping against metal sounded. "You can't fight like that anymore!"

I… I couldn't do it. What happened in that short time? That I would be left like this. Being defeated by pain and resorting to practically begging the two to ditch me and stay alive. I was going to die and they were going to get dragged down with me. This was the end of all of our lives. Those persistent knights were too loyal for their own good. I had to do something. Something had to be enough to convince them. There had to be something that I could say that would get them to ditch me.

"You can't die for me!" Come on think. Say something. "You can't just-! We'll all die if you stay! If you run you'll at least live!" Horrible argument but it was something. All I could think of at the moment really. The two just continued to fight like they hadn't heard me. Idiots… I have to.

"Letting me die would be better for this world…" I sighed heavily. More of that crushing silence. Outside the fight anyway. "Nightmare would have no reason to be here if I was would solve the problem."

"So? It would 'solve the problem' if we had just let that thing take you before too. You think that we're just going to ditch you after all you've done for us-"

"I'm Not who you think I am!"

That seemed to stop them for a second. However they seemed to just ignore it like before. For the love of- What did I have to say that would get them to just leave?! They were going to die and it was going to be all my fault. All of my muscles tensed painfully. No. Run! This is your chance! The two were confused. It was obvious though they had helmets to cover their faces. Anyone would be confused really. The sound of a whistle and then the attacking beasts stopping their attacks. The two looked back. They tensed like they were preparing to get hit or something. A mixture of fear and rage shown in their body language. That was how I knew. It was either a tough beast that cast its cold shadow over me or him. Either way we were all screwed. Them more than me however. That I knew. I didn't even try to look back. I knew I couldn't and I knew that if I did I wouldn't like what I saw anyway. So I just held my breath with some hope that it wasn't what I thought it was. WHO I thought it was.

"No. What is he doing here?" I could barely hear the question. That confirmed my fear and crushed any hope I had then.