Shut the Duck Up

The Golduck gasps from seeing a large globe of blue fire cannon at him, which he jumps quickly out of its burning path to crash into the shallows of the waters next to you. The blue duck shakes his head of the dizziness before rising up with that typical cocky look. "Hah! Ya missed-oh shit." He boasts, but is cut short to see you standing before, which even leads to you kicking him onto his back. "Uoughk?!"

You tower over him, even with your injured leg to glare down upon him. It was the duck's belief that you were going to punch through his head. It wouldn't be far from what you wanted in defense of Jackal. His eyes shrink back as he holds his hands up in defense. “Hey, hey, hey now, whoooa there! Uh, uh, let’s not try anything th-GHCK!” You silence his plea when you stomped a hindpaw against his chest.

He coughs out dryly, breathing with great difficulty as he continues to try and beg; “N-Now, qhhck, I know we started off on the wrong foot, but I-AAACK!” You ironically stomped again. “Stop, hhrk, doing that and let me explain…!” He exclaims out with a wheeze; eve his eyes roll up. You debated on lifting your leg, but he at least gulps with fear and holds his hands up again to dwindle his struggles, “H-How about I...uh, pay you back? F-For the troubles I gave ya! What's yours is mine, h-hahah...? Whadda’ ya say?” He suggests while whimpering a bit. His smile was the fakest smile you ever saw, but you knew he felt true fear. You wouldn't take him up on the offer, but as long as he understood not to attack you.

Using your uninjured leg, you powerfully kick the Golduck out of the pond and into a tree. The quacking gremlin crashes into the trunk of it with wood breaking behind his back. Jackal gets up with a pained strain, irritated as usual, but disoriented. “Ugh…what...the hell was that red light earlier?” He groggily mentions before grunting in the aches of his muscles.

“Let this Golduck explain it to you.” You answer him with a glance towards the perpetrator.

The duck pops out of the wooden debris, raising his fist fiercely into the air as he yells, “I have a name you know-ACK!” You had kicked a stone on the ground that struck him square in the head. He hits his back against the tree again and snarls. Suddenly, his break grins maliciously and his hands pose towards his noggin. "Ohh, hoho, you fucked up now! This time, I ain't gonna miss. Prepare to get roasted, ya mangy mutt!" The ruby of his forehead begins to glimmer a bright light, revving up with a charge sound. You tense up to defend Jackal, all before it fires...!

...

A red spark spits out, only making it forward about a couple of centimeters' distance before fizzling out entirely.

...

You stare at the Golduck. The smile from his beak is still there.

The Golduck stares at you, only to then go cross-eyed to glance up at his forehead gem. The smile fades.

A strange silence fills the lake-space, to where you were unsure if that was supposed to be his attack, or if this was a joke. He breaks the quiet with a ranting bellow of, “What the hell happened to my jewel?!?” This wasn't a joke, at least, not one set up by him. “What kind of bullshit is this?! What have you done? I’ll be a mockery! A joke! A goddamn fraud to all Golducks!”

He screams and overreacts, stomping his webbed talons about on the ground and clinging both hands over his forehead. It seems the stone you kicked at him hit the red gem, breaking it unintentionally. Good luck, all things considered. The duck hardly even seemed to be a threat now.

His words begin to blurt out of his mouth rapidly, “Why did it have to be me, of all Golducks to be burdened with the shame of a broken jewel? Oh the fucking humiliation I’ll have to sustain over the long years of my life! No more impressing women, no more exhilerating ruptures of power, no more one-shotting dumbass visitors. All of this just because I was just hungry?! Tr-Truly there is no god!"

The duck's rambling suddenly subsides and his bodt freezes. He perks up a finger, looking at...nothing really, lost in his own world. "But wait. Maybe it’ll grow back? Maybe it’ll grow to an extensive size, larger and grander than any other! My head shall burst the finest lights, beaming down anyone who stands in my way!” His arms lift as he raves to justify his loss. "Th-That's right, I'll-" Your hand slams down on the top of his head, halting his rant.

For you, this guy was really annoying. He just tried killing you and changed his mood all because of his own ego. You get to at least get a good look at the Golduck though. He was only shorter than you by a good bit, but he did seem to have a good set of years on him. His middle looked soft while his tail was a bit heavy and swings. His upper body was far stronger, with the arms notably flexive. He wasn’t worth standing around and beating up. It was time to leave.

1. Question him about the swamp!

2. Eat the Golduck! *