Detective Duck and the Mystery of the Missing Duckling

On a sunny morning in Willow Pond, Detective Duck was strolling along the water’s edge, observing the other animals. As the best detective in the pond, he had solved many mysteries, from the Case of the Stolen Lily Pads to the Mystery of the Disappearing Frog Hops. But today, he was looking forward to a peaceful day… until he heard a frantic quacking.

Mrs. Mallard, a sweet mother duck, rushed up to Detective Duck with tears in her eyes. "My baby duckling, Dazzle, has gone missing!" she cried. “He was right behind me, and now he’s gone!”

Detective Duck’s sharp eyes lit up, and he immediately set to work. First, he questioned the other animals around the pond, but nobody had seen where little Dazzle had gone. All that was left was a trail of tiny webbed footprints heading toward the far end of Willow Pond.

Detective Duck followed the trail, his heart beating fast. Suddenly, he found something peculiar—a single feather, brighter and fluffier than any he’d seen before. It wasn’t a duck feather but belonged to someone else, someone who had been lurking nearby. As he examined the feather, a shadow passed over him.

Looking up, he spotted a mysterious crane perched high on a tree branch. The crane was known for its flashy feathers and mischievous ways. “I saw a little duckling wander off,” the crane said with a sly grin. “But I thought he was just exploring on his own.”

Detective Duck wasn’t convinced. The trail of footprints seemed to stop suddenly at a bush near the pond’s edge. Crawling under the bush, he found a small, hidden hole leading to an underground burrow.

Quietly, he slipped inside. To his surprise, he found Dazzle, safe but frightened, huddled in the corner. It seemed Dazzle had followed a glittering rock that led him deeper into the burrow, only to get lost. But that wasn’t all—Detective Duck realized the crane had dropped the rock to lure Dazzle away, wanting to play a trick!

Detective Duck gently picked up the little duckling and carried him out, giving the crane a stern look. “Next time, think before you play tricks on others,” he warned. The crane, feeling guilty, nodded and promised to be more mindful.

Back at the pond, Mrs. Mallard hugged Dazzle close, thanking Detective Duck for his bravery and sharp instincts. The animals of Willow Pond gathered to cheer for their hero, and from that day on, Detective Duck became known as the protector of all who lived there.