Submitted: 2/17/2020

Word Count: 843

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   It was the early evening. The sun was dipping below the horizon, mixing the sky with light pink and blue hues. Stars were barely visible as all the pokémon started going to their homes.

    The buizel was close behind his father, dried tears crusted at the edge of his eyes as he watched his father gingerly count his poké. They both walked in total silence, one in pain and one in triumph.

   A guard, an Electabuzz, kept a close eye on them, making sure they head home safely.

   It was instructed themselves to protect the vulnerable and small due to the tension growing. Just like Asher said, starvation was going to tear the society apart, but they had the strongest will to go against their instincts to hunt.

   Jonathan was pleased with having the Electabuzz being with him because he got to show off all the coins he had to the electric type. The Electabuzz rolled his eyes as Jonathan started to babble on about his riches. He looked behind to see Markus still down in the dumps. He offered to talk with the buizel, but he refused.

   In fact, Markus wasn't in the mood to talk at all. When they finally reached home, he darted into their hut made out of mud and sought the comfort of his nest. He closes his eyes, trying to fall asleep to forget about the day. Yet, his mind kept at him with thoughts. He tried to shook them off, but his mind always floated back to Naomi's poor fate and how he wanted revenge against the dark type.

   He knew there was some way to beat him, to make his words untrue about his home's fate. And then he forged an idea. His mother was a leader, the one who created this civilization. Her leadership had preserved it, but without her help, it'll start to crumble. Maybe he and his father could take her place.

   It sounded a bit out there, but he had to give it a try, to save his beloved home. 

   And so he hopped out of his nest and run upstairs of the hut to his father's nest. Jonathan was busy organizing his poké when his son came up to him. He greeted him with a smile, interested to see why his son wanted his attention. "Oh? I thought you were off to take a nap. What do you want?"

   "I know what to do," Markus started.

   "To do what what exactly?"

   "To restore our community. If we both try to lead, we can help everyone. We just have to find out how."

   "Me and you? Leaders? Markus, you're so silly. Do you honestly believe that will?"

   "Yes, wholeheartedly!" The buizel shouted. "R-, mom might not be here anymore, but we can put ourselves in her footsteps." 

   "Son, no matter how hard we try, they won't listen to us. Why should we even bother? You heard what Asher said. Pokémon are going to start turning on each other out of hunger."

   "So you're just going to lose all hope? Just like that? Abandon the only place we call home?" Markus couldn't believe it. He knew his father could be selfish, but not to this extent. 

   "Ah, precisely!" Jonathan cheered. "I'm going to leave this place. Travel far until I come across another community that's stable and uses poké. Your mother has spoken of places similar to this, and so all is well."

   "You're just going to replace it all? Just like that?!" Markus barked, furious beyond belief. He glared at his father, scrunching up his snout as he growled. "We can be leaders! We can do this!"

   "Markus, can we really? Do you have any experience in being a leader?" Jonathan questioned sharply. "I sure as hell don't. Yeah, I was with your mother when she first ran this community, but I never took lessons since I was minding my own business."

   The buizel's thinking came to a halt. He was right, he had no experience in being a leader. He knew his father could potentially be one. Actually, he scrapped that thought. His father was way too full of himself to even be one. 

   "Y'know what? Keep you shitty poké and leave! I'll lead my community by myself if I have to!" He suddenly ran out of the hut, dashing across the ground on all fours.

   The Electabuzz resting his back against the hut near the entrance perked up once he saw Markus running away. "Hey, wait! It's not safe to go out at this time of day!" The electric type tried to catch up with the buizel, but he was far too bulky to maneuver through the bushes and trees as quickly as him.

   'I'll do it. I'll do it! I'm not losing hope! Not losing to Asher!,' Markus screamed in his head as he mindlessly continued to run. In some way shape or form, he was going to lead his beloved home to a bright future. As tears of anger pricked his eyes, his heart burns with determination.

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✦ A u t h o r ' s N o t e ✦

Alrighty! Markus is determined to save his community, but will he be able to keep it under control during these desperate times? Stay tuned!

✦ N e x t  U p d a t e ✦

Friday