Quack belly laughed and thumbed her tail on the ground as the children ran circles around her. The moment her tail hit the road they all screamed and two kids lined up at the 'start line'. The start line being a crudely drawn line with some chalk. Kids around here never got to play like those in Westward. They were always tailing their important and sometimes snobby parents, that was until Quack cam to town.

"ANNNNNNNNND GO"

The two kids rocketed off their peers whooping and hollering as the two racers traded the lead back and forth. Ducky yelled along with them cheering and clapping as the race finished. The winner went to their peers with their chest puffed out with pride. The loser sheepishly walked back Duck walked up to them and ruffled their hair. 

"You did great! With enough practice you'll be as fast as me."

With a wink they ushered the kid back to their friends. Then they heard a voice stand out from the rest. 

"How is that supposed to make people feel better? We've never seen you run. You're probably slow as a snail."

The arrogant voice belonged to the 'fastest' runner, they called him, Jared. Jared sucked. He was a gloater, prideful, and someone who tends to put down others in an effort to seem higher. Whether he realized it or not. It didn't help that Jared was naturally quite fast as he is a cheetah beastman. Quack squinted their eyes in irritation. 

"Well Jared that's just it, you've never seen me run, so you can't know if I'm as slow as a snail."

They huffed and crossed their arms. Having said all this they actually weren't sure that they were faster than Jared. He was a blur on their makeshift course, undefeated after having raced some older children and even adults. However most of the adults started off much slower trying to be nice but quickly tried to make up the gap realizing how fast the little bugger was to not seem so lesser. The other children had been snickering at Jared as usually most adults would play along something about building confidence. Saying something like 'not like a snail but I'm sure you'd beat me anyway haha!'. Being challenged in front of everyone made Jared prickle so he lashed out. 

"Well anyone with a stupid name like 'Quack' can't have any talents! Like your parents were warning everyone that you're a stupid idiot slow snail!"

Duck was just going to roll their eyes it's not the only time their name had been brought up. They also didn't want to deal with Jared's bratty attitude and just get on with playing. However the loser of the last race piped up their face red and puffed. 

"DUCKY IS MUCH FASTER THAN YOU! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW! THEY AREN'T A STUPID IDIOT AT ALL!"

The child had little tears peeking at the corners of their eyes. Quickly Quack went over to them and vigorously rubbed their cheeks. Slightly stunned they looked up at her, no trace of tears to be seen. Just what she had wanted, her valiant defender couldn't be embarrassed in front of their friends who had been looking on with shock. Ducky smiled and ruffled their hair at them before turning back and putting her hands up. 

"ALL RIGHT! Smack talk isn't really my thing, but you wanna see some real speed Jared?"

Going up to Quack, Jared crossed his arms and answered haughtily. 

"I'll show you some real speed."

With that the merfolk clapped their hands and rallied the children. 

"YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"

They screamed with excitement clearing the way to the start line. Children of all ages started to pop up out of nowhere, all eager faced. Quack was a frequent flyer with the group of children but mostly as a playful mediator or new game maker. Even friendly with some of their parents which is how they knew so much about Jared's antics, and how it is affecting the other kids. They were all queued up at the line Quack looking forward trying to build confidence to race a child and Jared snickering while his tail twitched. There was a screech from the sidelines. 

"1...2...3... ANNNNNND GO!" 

Off they went like horses on a race track. Quack holding nothing back laughed as she ran her hair whipping around her face. However her joy was short lived as she saw Jared and her were neck and neck. How utterly annoying and a little worrying. 

"Too late to get scared now Quack!"

Was he really taunting them right now? In the middle of their race? Not even trying to fully focus on running? Ducky prided themself on being a good pirate, but that didn't mean she couldn't be a petty pirate. 

Duck pushed herself more than she ever had including any time she had been running from the law. Their calves burned like a thousand suns, their hair fell like little razors as it violently whipped their face and shoulders. Still she pushed forward not for a moment did she falter even when she got a stitch in her side. Even as her tail bounced off the road repeatedly with every tread surely scraping the tip open wider and wider with every slap. They couldn't let their brave knight down and they couldn't let Jared down either. Yes he was annoying but no one had ever really been able to set a goal for him. No one that could drive him to turn his superficial hobby into a passion! Not want to win so he can be liked by everyone but want to win because he wants to be the best at whatever he does or chooses to do even if it takes practice. 


There were screams, and cheering. She looked back just to see the finish line, and Jared. Quack had crossed the line first only a few paces before Jared. They had won! Laughing she skidded to a stop and spun around to pump her fist in the air which only caused the children to erupt again and they ran to meet the two racers. On the other hand Jared looked completely and utterly devastated trying his best to ward away his tears. Duck went over and took him in their arms lifting him up above the sea of oncoming children, smiling brightly they said. 

"You did great! With enough practice you'll be as fast as me."