User blog:NightmareAura/The Doll by FodoraFox

I step in between them and my family. I've grown tolerant, almost appreciative, of Mamono since retiring, but things like this makes me glad I still kept my old trinket. Quickly, I pull out my pendant of the Goddess and hold it up. It let's out a huge flash of light that stuns the Doll and other Mamono.

The light engulfs me and when it's done, I'm standing there in full armor or gold and white. In my hands are my trusted sword and shield with the pendant resting around my neck. I glare at the trespassers while my eyes glow with annoyance and anger.

"W-wha...?" the Doll stutters, as the other Mamono start shifting back away from me. As they shift back, I take a step forward.

"Had nothing happened, I wouldn't have mind you living in this house as long as my daughter was happy. But instead, you invite this group and threaten to hurt my family," I say, closing in on the intruders.

"Stay back!" the Doll shouts, with the other Mamono charging towards me.

I steady my breathing, mentally preparing my body for work I haven't done in a long time. As one pounces, I block her with my shield and push her away. Another I catch and slam her into the wall. Others I use my sword to block teeth and claws and knock them out with the broad side of the sword.

I quickly deal with the group and mentally chuckle at how I still had it. But I keep my stone face and approach the Doll who had been sitting and cowaring away from the action. I come up to her and place the tip of my sword under her chin.

"D-do you p-plan on killing m-me?" the Doll asks.

"There are two reasons why I retired: one was because my daughter was born and I felt I should be there for her, and two was because I never had the heart to hurt Mamono in the first place," I explain. The Doll expression starts to relax until I push her head up with my sword. "But I'm not against punishing those who dare try to hurt my family!"

I brind the sword up to get rid of this nuissance once and for all, until I feel something grab on to my leg. Thinking it's one of the Mamono from earlier, I'm about ready to strike until I see it's my daughter holding on to her leg.

"No, don't hurt her Daddy!" my daughter cries, squeezing my leg tighter. Confusion clearly platered on my face, I kneel down to eye level of my daughter.

"But she tried to hurt us. She's very bad," I try to explain to her. She shakes her head and lets go of my leg and runs over to embrace the doll.

"She's not bad! Maybe she just needs to be taught!" My daughter states. She gives me a determine look while the Doll she's embracing still has a look of fear.

I...I can't argue with my daughter when she gets like this. I release my armored state and return to my normal, casual clothes. I kneel down to my daughter and the Doll, rubbing my daughter's head and giving the Doll a stern look.

"My daughter seems to really like you. Are you going to betray this trust with something like this again?" I ask the Doll who shakes her head furiously. "Good, I'll be keeping an eye out. And you, young lady, you make sure to teach her well."

"Yes, Daddy! Come on, let's get ready for bed!" my daughter exclaims, taking the Doll by the hand and pull her along. I catch a glimps of the Doll who seems to actually be smiling with tears building up.

My wife walks up to me, avoing to Mamono sill laying unconscious on the floor. "Should we really keep her here?" my wife asks.

I pull her in close and plant a kiss on her head. "Don't worry, I'll be keeping a close eye on the Doll. Besides, maybe our daughter will surprise us."

"Will she be okay?"

"Yeah, she's marked with the symbol of the Goddess. We'll keep an eye on it as well so the Demonic Energy doesn't break it."

Most of the rest of the night was calling the police and getting them to clear out the Mamono that were in the house. I made sure not to mention anything about the Doll.

The next morning, my daughter comes in crying and saying her doll is gone. She then hands me a note that read:

''I'm sorry for the trouble I caused. When your daughter protected me and you sparred me, I didn't know what to do. I spent the majority of the night thinking about things and realized I didn't deserve to stay.''

''Thank you both for showing me kindness that I have never known. Hopefully, my next own will show me love and kindness, too.''

As I read the note, I conforted my daughter and said that she did a good job with teaching the Doll how to be good. She didn't really understood what I meant, but I'm sure she'll understand things better when she's older.

And strangly, a small part of me actually hopes the Doll finds happiness, too.