Morning in the Fortress

Creative Crayon Buck stretched his arms as the morning sun streamed through the blue windows of his fortress. The four crayon towers cast long shadows across Craft Room City below.

"Another day to protect creativity," he said, adjusting his black sunglass goggles.

He walked to his control room, where colorful screens displayed the city's activity. Everything looked peaceful. Humanoid deer walked alongside humans down the busy streets, heading to work at art studios and craft shops.

Buck summoned his giant light-blue crayon, feeling its familiar weight in his hands. The weapon glowed softly in the morning light.

His phone buzzed with a text message. Buck read it quickly, his antlers twitching with concern. The message was from Maya Chen, owner of Rainbow Art Supply.

"Buck, something strange is happening. Three of my customers called this morning. Their crayon boxes are completely empty. Not broken or used up—just empty. Like the crayons vanished overnight."

Buck's cape fluttered as he moved to the window. Down in the city, he noticed something odd. The usually bright murals on building walls looked faded and incomplete.

The Wrong Buck

Buck leaped from his fortress window, his cape streaming behind him as he soared toward Rainbow Art Supply. The streets below buzzed with worried voices.

"My daughter's art project is ruined!" shouted a human woman.

"The mural contest is tomorrow and we have no supplies!" called a humanoid deer from the sidewalk.

Buck landed outside Maya's shop just as she rushed out, her curly black hair bouncing. She was a young woman in her twenties with brown eyes and paint-stained overalls.

"Thank goodness you're here, Buck!" Maya said, then paused. "Wait. You're not Buck Martinez, the famous artist, are you?"

Buck blinked behind his goggles. "I'm Creative Crayon Buck, the superhero."

Maya's face fell. "Oh no. I've been texting the wrong number all morning. I meant to contact Buck Martinez about emergency art supplies for the contest. His number is one digit different from yours."

Before Buck could respond, a small red parrot flew overhead, squawking loudly. "All gone! All gone! The crayons are all gone!"

Buck watched the bird circle frantically. Something was very wrong in Craft Room City.