《The White Knight Chronicles - A Series of Short Stories》 Downfall.A ¡°Look Mommy! It¡¯s the White Knight, he¡¯s here to save us!¡± The little girl broke away from her mother to run to me, her loose blonde braids were bobbing with each step she took. Contrary to the looseness of her hair, were her white knuckles that had trapped a teddy bear. ¡°Are you here to save us White Knight?¡± Her teeth were heading in each and every direction, except where they were supposed to be. What the fuck to do you think kid? The first thing that came to my head, as tempting as it may be to say, would do more harm than good. As annoyed, stressed, and tired as I may be, I can¡¯t go snapping at civilians, let alone four year olds, because I¡¯m a little grumpy. No matter how bad I want to¡­ ¡°Yes I am little girl.¡± The beginning sounds of a herd began to grow in the distance. Looking to where it was originating from, my eyes meet those of the horde. Blue eyes, green eyes, white people, black people, brunettes, blondes, tall, small, fat, male, female, and other. From what my eyes are able to make out, it seems, just about every conceivable type of person is representing their people in the group. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say this is an inclusivity parade. However, I was briefed about the group while I was in transport to the location. From what I was informed, it is known that the group has already been attributed with a million in property damage and at least four civilians have been m****red thus far. Milestones. Whether or not this is the result of someone using their power for nefarious means, or a postmodern super virus that promotes diversity and inclusivity- I have no f**king clue. All I know is that this is a threat, and it has to be contained, if not exterminated.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Apparently, there has been claims that individuals with powers are amongst those in the mob. Hence why I am the one they sent to deal with this. The four dead civilians were slayed for refusing to join the mob, and for taking action against them. The pictures that My muscles were listening to my thoughts. No conscious order had to be given for my hands to draw my sword. Somehow, someway, each hand knows when to draw, or sheathe, the blade. With my sword in hand, I stood before the barricaded doors of the shopping mall, directly in the path of the horde. What had started out as a small group of ten people storming a grocery store, a little less than two hours ago, has now become a mob of 200 people who were desperately trying to raze the city to the ground. ¡°Mr. White Knight?¡± My cape began to pull my right shoulder back towards the little nuisance with the pig tails. What is she doing!? Where the hell is her mother?! WHY? Just, why? ¡°Yes little lady, do you need something?¡± Standing behind me with my cape in hand, she was alone with tears streaming from the corner of her innocent eyes. Her little legs shaking uncontrollably, her teddy bear brought close to her chest was gasping for air as well as attempting to comfort the girl. The sound of the horde¡¯s steps grew louder, car horns were being set off. They are in the parking lot, I don¡¯t have time for this. Where could her mom have gone? Why would a mother leave her child alone, especially in this situation? Looking around, my eyes were unable to yield any results. Except that the parking lot was filled to the brim with cars, and a horde comprised of an unknown mix of homo sapiens and homo apo. ¡°Where has your mother gone little lady?¡± The little girl pointed straight up in the air, following her finger¡¯s path, a fireball in the shape of a human hung high in the sky in the center of the parking lot. What the hell? ¡°Mommy is so scary when she gets mad! I don¡¯t like mad mommy!¡± Like the holy spark of God, the flaming figure began to grow brighter and double in size with each passing second. As the flame grew, the form began to morph. The feet and hands were merging and contorting into three phalanges with hooked talons replacing what were once nails. The flame¡¯s glow was intensifying to the point I could no longer look at it without risking the loss of my vision. What the hell is going on? Downfall.B ¡°Hey little lady,¡± I hadn¡¯t notice the little girl grasping my leg while I was memorized by the bright light, ¡°What is your mommy doing?¡± Her frown and quivering lip was enough for me to know her answer, ¡°Your mommy is going to hurt them?¡± Nodding her head, she pressed her face as deep as she could into the armor plating on my leg. Her trickling tears were making their down my leg to the cold pavement beneath our feet. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. How the fuck did I end up on baby-sitting duty? What kind of parent negates their kid like this? The footsteps of the horde pounding against the payment ceased, leaving only the blaring nuisance of the car alarms to fill the air. The horde was stood united, forming a semi circle before the burning mother. ¡°JOIN US OR PERISH! WE CANNOT BE STOPPED! WE ARE THE TIDE!¡± The words came in unison, a harmonious orchestra of voices with varying dialects and tones. The Tide. Fitting, but pretentious. Whoever organized this murderous ensemble clearly has taken a sociology course or two. The words of the Tide had scared the little girl to her core. No longer being able to control her nerves, she began to violently shake on my leg. ¡°Little la-¡° Before I could get the words out of my mouth, I felt something climb up my other leg, plopping itself on my left shoulder.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Listen up buttercup,¡± my gaze met the beady black plastic balls of the teddy bear. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, it exhaled a plume of smoke into my face, ¡°You need to man up and save the day.¡± What the fuck is going on? How the hell does he smoke? Is it even a teddy bear? Is it even a he? ¡°I¡¯m sorry what?¡± The teddy bears furry stubs removed the cigarette from its lips, releasing one long drag as it did, ¡°I get it you are confused, and I know it is shocking to be talking to a teddy bear. We don¡¯t have the time to ease you into this. So, right now, you need to shut the fuck up and listen.¡± With its other empty stub, it pushed my head downwards to the little girl. ¡°You see that,¡± the little girl fused to my leg, wailing in terror, began to hyperventilate, ¡°That little girl, or ¡®little lady¡¯ as you call her, is your biggest priority right now. You must keep her safe.¡± The surprising force of the teddy bear¡¯s stub pulled my face up, holding my face so close to its face that my helmet touched his nose. Eskimo kissing a fucking teddy bear. What¡¯s next? Getting my taxes done by a unicorn? ¡°If you fail to do so,¡± taking one more ungodly puff of the cigarette-no doubt to build the suspense to drive the point home-exhaled straight into the open slits on my face, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you myself. Capeesh?¡± The raw smoke billowed in my mouth, scorching my nose and throat, drawing the air out of my lungs. Despite the absurdity of a fluff filled teddy bear attempting to threaten me with its second hand smoke, its words were primal. Do something, or die. The purest form of a threat. Short, simple, and, surprisingly, effective. It was time to decide... Join. Or. Perish. Live. Or. Die. A. Or. B. I''m choosing option C... FIGHT.