It was a nice day. The cool wind and upturned leaves on the trees along the trail hinted at future rain, but for now the sun was shining and the birds sang songs of a secret world.
Long dead fall leaves crunched under over-sized rubber boots as the tired old rodent sauntered slowly along the old, yet secluded beaten path, as he had every day for the past seven years. He absentmindedly hummed a soft tune, lost in thought as he often was.
Finally the wooden path ended and opened up into a vast field, with a hill nestled in the center of it. From here, Megavolt, these days more often referred to simply as Elmo, could easily see his best friend, sitting atop the hill peak. Elmo smiled tiredly, and continued his journey upward to meet with said friend.
Quackerjack didn't move, or even seem to notice the rodent's approach. Elmo wasn't surprised. He sat down in the cool grass beside the jester. Still, no indication was given that Quackerjack acknowledged him at all. Elmo let out a purposefully loud sigh.
"I uh... seen Bushroot the other day. He's aging pretty well! Not like 'ol Darkwing, what with his walker and all... aheh. Heh." starting conversations had always been hard for the brain-fried villain, and now that old age had set in, it hadn't gotten any easier. Still he tried. But his attempts went unnoticed. Quackerjack didn't say anything.
"... You're still not talking to me, huh?" The silence that followed was all the answer Elmo needed. He felt the tears prick the corners of his eyes and his heart turn leaden in his chest.
"It's been seven years, Quacky! SEVEN YEARS! I said I was sorry! I haven't STOPPED saying I was sorry!" And for seven years, Elmo had been able to keep in the tears. For seven years, he was able to make idle conversation and keep his best friend company, even while being completely ignored. But a dam can take only so much before it shatters. The tears began to flood down the ex-villain's face as he wrapped his arms around the solid slab of stone that stood upright atop the hill; the only proof that the jester had ever existed at all.
The grave had been neatly tended ever since Megavolt had buried his best friend here seven years ago. Elmo seldom remembered to do the simple necessities in a day, such as eat, bathe, get dressed, turn the stove off, or even swallow his own saliva, but he always remembered to come visit Quackerjack, every day, and to keep his grave looking nice. But Quackerjack never even so much as said 'thank you'.
Elmo let loose his heavy heart, that had been needing to breath for so very long, and sobbed loudly as he clutched onto what was left of his partner in crime for dear life. Images danced behind the sobbing rodent's closed eyes. Fading memories from a slowly deteriorating mind. There, Quackerjack was whole again. He wasn't so silent anymore. He was happy... he was smiling, and he loved Megavolt. In what was left of the fried villain's mind, was the carnival-land paradise that his life had been when Quacky had been in it.
When the sky finally let loose two hours later, Elmo was still holding the stone in a lost lover's embrace. Although the driving rain burned his skin and shorted him out, he was in a place where the pain just couldn't reach him.
His heart was warmer than it had been in years, as he looked into the joy-filled face of his partner in crime. His wide, insane, beautiful smile that Elmo had missed so much shone brightly, and mischief-filled eyes danced with glee, as Quackerjack skipped ahead of him. They were going to the candy store.
"Come ON, Megsy! Stop being so slow!" he heard Quackerjack call out, clear as day. It was followed by those insane giggles that Megavolt had missed so much. And Megavolt started to run, and followed his friend. Like he always had. All the while, from far away, his heart knew and yearned for the day he would follow him again.