Morning Watch

Super Crayon Doe stepped onto the observation deck of her fortress, her red cape fluttering in the morning breeze. The four crayon towers stretched skyward around her, each topped with gleaming statues of female deer that sparkled in the sunlight.

"Another beautiful day in Canvas Wood Metropolis," she said, stretching her arms wide. Her glowing blue eyes surveyed the bustling city below, where humans and humanoid deer hurried along colorful sidewalks.

She summoned her giant magic crayon, watching it materialize in her hand with its usual rainbow shimmer. The weapon pulsed with familiar energy, ready for whatever adventure awaited.

But something felt different today. A strange tingling in her antlers made her pause. The colors around her seemed just a tiny bit duller than yesterday, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

"Probably just tired," she murmured, dismissing the odd sensation. Her super speed carried her to the edge of the platform, where she prepared for her morning patrol of the metropolis.

The Gray Morning

Super Crayon Doe soared through the morning sky, her red cape streaming behind her. The wind felt different today, carrying an odd stillness that made her antlers tingle more than before.

She landed on Rainbow Boulevard, the busiest street in Canvas Wood Metropolis. But something was wrong. The famous rainbow crosswalk beneath her feet looked dull and lifeless.

"Hey, watch it!" A woman with short brown hair bumped into her, carrying an armload of colorless fabric. The woman wore a gray work apron and had tired green eyes. "These fabrics used to be bright yellow and pink. Now look at them!"

Super Crayon Doe examined the cloth. It was completely gray, like all the color had been drained away.

"When did this happen?" she asked.

"Started about an hour ago," the woman said, adjusting her ponytail. "I'm Sarah, I run the fabric shop on Fifth Street. First the yellow disappeared, then the pink. My customers are panicking."

More people gathered around them, all holding faded objects. A man clutched wilted flowers that should have been red. A child cried over her deflated purple balloon.

The tingling in Super Crayon Doe's antlers grew stronger. Whatever was stealing the colors was getting closer.