Hey, if you like this story, don't forget to follow for updates and leave a comment!

  You can also support me and get bonus content through donations here: https://krishnamohany.gumroad.com/coffee. Thanks for reading!

  Max had never been to a swamp before, and now he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to go back. The Swamp of Sadness was every bit as depressing as it sounded, with thick, gray fog hanging low in the air, trees that looked like they were always on the brink of giving up, and the occasional sound of something... weeping? Was that a sound you could even hear in a swamp?

  The path was muddy, and every step felt like it was pulling him deeper into the gloom. Even the jester mask felt heavier in this place, as if it, too, was weighed down by the overwhelming sense of misery.

  Max stopped, staring into the mist ahead. "How does a swamp even get sad? What happened here, a mass breakup of the local frogs' choir?"

  No one answered, of course, because the swamp wasn't interested in jokes. Or anything, really. It just sat there in its sadness, like an abandoned chair at a party nobody remembered to clean up.

  He took another step, and his boot squelched louder than expected. Great, now he was leaving sad footprints. Could he do anything right today?

  Just then, he saw movement ahead—a strange, gloppy figure slinking out of the fog. Max squinted. "Is that... a slime? But it's so... gloomy."

  Indeed, the creature was a large, sluggish slime, its skin a dull, murky green, dripping with what looked like actual tears. It moved slowly, as if the very act of existing was too much effort for it.

  Max raised an eyebrow. "Well, this is a mood."

  The slime, sensing him, perked up—or at least, if slimes could "perk," it did. A sad, low voice bubbled from the slime's depths. "Who... dares... disturb my sorrow?"

  Max groaned. "Oh no, not another overly dramatic villain."

  "I'm Slorbog, Lord of Sadness," the slime continued, its voice dropping even lower. "The land withers under my despair, and there is no joy left in this place. Why do you even bother, fool? Your laughter cannot reach me."

  Max looked at the slime, then back at the path he had trudged through. "Look, buddy, I get it. You're sad. You're really sad. But I'm here to solve that. I mean, I'm the jester. It's kind of my thing to turn frowns upside down."

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Slorbog's slime-y form quivered, as if considering this. Then, with a dramatic splat, he sloshed forward and loomed over Max. "You think a joke can save me? How dare you! There is nothing funny in sadness! Only emptiness!"

  Max blinked, genuinely confused. "Wait... you're sad and mad? That's kind of like... double the sad, right? Which means double the joke potential! I got this."

  Slorbog's eyes narrowed. "I told you, I cannot be defeated by your humor. Not even by the funniest jester in the land!"

  Max scratched his head. "You sure about that? Because I've got a few moves up my sleeve." He took a dramatic step forward and cleared his throat.

  "Oh no," Slorbog moaned, sinking deeper into his slime puddle. "Please, spare me from your misery. I cannot handle it."

  Max gave him a wicked grin. "Too late. I've already got a classic for you." He paused for effect, then held up his hand dramatically. "Why did the jester bring a ladder to the swamp?"

  Slorbog blinked. "What?"

  Max's grin widened. "Because he wanted to take his humor to new heights!"

  The silence was palpable. Max held his breath.

  For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly—Slorbog's entire body shuddered violently.

  A bubbling laugh, one that sounded strangely like a burp, escaped the slime. Then it came again, followed by a snicker. Then a full-on belly laugh.

  "W-what—what was that?!" Slorbog cried between his gasps for air, still giggling. "That was terrible! Awful! But I'm—haha!—laughing!"

  Max stood there, a little stunned at his own success. "Wait, seriously? That's it? One bad pun and you're... laughing?"

  Slorbog wheezed, trying to control himself. "It... hurts... I didn't want to laugh, but it hurts so much... why am I laughing?!"

  Max raised his hands like a victorious athlete. "Because that's what happens when you mess with the Chosen Fool! You can't stop the power of the joke, baby!" He let out a little laugh himself, just because it felt good.

  Slorbog's slimy body continued to jiggle with laughter, his tears of sadness slowly starting to dry up. "I... I... What is this feeling? It's been so long since I felt... joy."

  "That's the magic of humor, my friend," Max said, giving a little bow. "Laughter is the best medicine. And apparently, it works even on the Lord of Sadness."

  Slorbog sloshed about, still laughing, his gloom now gone and replaced with a new, strange energy. "I—I don't know if I should thank you or apologize for being so miserable! But I feel... lighter. Like a weight has been lifted off my slimy shoulders."

  Max grinned. "Hey, anytime! All in a day's work for your local jester. Now, tell me—where's the nearest tavern around here? I could use a drink after that 'slime' of a situation."

  Slorbog, still chuckling, pointed down the path. "A few miles that way. But you might want to watch out for the actual demons ahead. They don't take kindly to jokes."

  Max winked. "Trust me, I'll bring the fun to their dark hearts. One joke at a time."

  With that, Max set off toward his next destination, his mask giving off a faint glow from all the newfound magic coursing through him. He'd saved the Swamp of Sadness with a pun. Not his worst day, he supposed.

  As he walked, he couldn't help but smile. "A jester's work is never done."

  Little did he know, his next challenge would be even harder than getting a slime to laugh.

  But hey, at least it was a start.

  Enjoying the story? Follow me for updates on new chapters.

  If you'd like to support my work, check out my donation page here: https://krishnamohany.gumroad.com/coffee.

  Your support means the world! Thanks!