Hat Kid didn't know how to think of her situation. She remembered, the previous nightclub owner, now turned movie director DJ Grooves called her 'expertise' before the shooting of a scene in the Conductor's next action movie. He asked her to arrive to the studio early. Needless to say the kid was tired from her early rise, unlike the dancing penguin who was waiting for her just as promise. Before she even had the time to say 'hi', the penguin immediately bombarded her with words, attention and something about making a choice.
At first, Hat Kid was worrying that DJ Grooves and the Conductor had a fight while she was gone yesterday and she now had to choose between him and the short temper bird. After all, they were sworn rivals and her versatility in roles showed great promise. However, he never mentioned the owl and had a genuine smile on his beck's line.
Before she could ask any questions, DJ Grooves begin to drag Hat Kid through the studio. The first corridors were familiar to the girl, until they took a turn and found themselves in the back stage area. She never went there in the past and she observed her surroundings with a gleam in her eyes. Props, costumes of different shapes and colours, background wall big as the walls themselves, it was overwhelming for the young girl.
''Now, now darling, let's move on,'' the penguin in disco outfit called out to her when she stopped to see a poster of herself in 'Murder on the Owl Express'. She really liked the tense image of herself in her detective costume with the Conductor in the background holding a sharp knife and a CAW agent peeking at them from behind. However, Hat Kid didn't want to hold the penguin for too long, so she calmly skipped to his side.
They wondered for another minute or so, Hat Kid began to lose her patience with the whole walking around. She had other matters to take care of, such as poking around Mafia Town, annoying Snatcher some more and get the Time Piece on top of the giant, baby raven at the Peaks. Thankfully, the groovy avian stopped by a set of doors. The girl sighed of relief, they could finally move on.
''Now,'' the penguin put both of his flippers on the tiny shoulders, Hat Kid flinched at the sudden touch, ''darling. I have dig big with this one, '' he took a feet back and performed a spin before striking a pose, ''I got you an one of a kind treat for you, darling!'' The girl in purple scratched the side of her head, visibly confused, but DJ saw nothing while dancing around, ''I have ears and hands almost everywhere across Bird Country. Years of effort and talents, proved to have come to fruition!'' The space traveller nodded sleeplessly, uncertain how to response properly, ''I got you a deal with...'' He halted in his graceful moves before doing a split and shouting at the top of his lungs; ''A deal with Frosty Frost!''
A moment of complete silence took over the two. DJ Grooves swiftly turned his head at Hat Kid who remained utterly clueless to his announcement. Since her reaction went against his expectations, he immediately got up and almost went to the kid's face. Needless to say the girl's eyes widen up at the sudden close up.
''Do... do you know who Frosty Frost is, darling?'' The last word came out alongside a hint of menace. But Hat Kid wasn't going to be intimate by him and so she answered by a straight forward shake of her head.
Again, silence. However, this time it lasted for a second before DJ Grooves exaggerate reaction.
''WH-WHAAAAAT?!'' Both flippers on each cheeks as he backed away as if the tiny girl turned into a vile abomination, ''Darling, you are pulling my hair here! You can't tell me, you, my diva, never heard Frosty Frost?!''
The question came out such a plaid to her ears. Hat Kid didn't know why the penguin was so... emotional over this. So what if she doesn't know this Frosty Frost guy? It's not like he did anything to her. However, DJ Grooves was visibly disturbed by the news, so she made a effort to recall any mentioning of this individua;. In the end, she shrugged at the groovy director as the atmosphere in the area turned sorrowful.
''Oh.'' That was all it came out of DJ Grooves. He stood there, stuck in a pleading position like a statue. Until he returned to life, rushed at the kid and hugged her. Hard. Also, he was crying loudly. ''Ooooooh, oooooh, ooooooh! My poor, poor darling! I am so sorry!'' While fidgeting to catch a breat through the Moon's resident grasp, Hat Kid was utterly left in the dark as to why the avian was sorry for and why he was trying to strangle her. ''How could I simply left you, YOU, my diva, my star in such a void of naivety and lost!''
Before she turned blue, DJ Grooves released her, leaving the kid taking greedy breathes of fresh air back against the ground next to her hat. ''I know the representative of Frosty Frost said you can only try a few samples, but it is my duty to let my darling know the wonders of our beloved world!'' Hat Kid had sit up by the time the director finished his monologue to his own person. A pair of flippers stood her up, gently dusting her off and placed back her hat.
''Darling, Frosty Frost is a genius of Bird Country,'' he begin his story, while Hat Kid was instantly bored, ''He has made the most delicious, extraordinary of all desserts! Now, he lives upon the promise of happiness to anyone who eats his miraculous inventions of his;'' another striking pose, ''Ice cream!''
Hat Kid's attention was at its peek at the mention of 'dessert'. Through her days on this planet, she did found some delicacies across the countries. Not to forget, Cooking Cat made sure she ate enough before every drop offs. However, she never heard of 'ice cream' before and now she wants to try it out.
''Darling,'' DJ Groove had a flipper over her shoulder while the other pointed at the set of doors, ''behind those doors lays all the flavors of ice cream from Frosty Frost. The best of the bests across the globe! And you, my darling, you get the incredible right to decide which flavor will be advertising our next movie!'' The smile of Hat Kid only represents absolute joy at the thought. All the flavors of a dessert! For herself! ''I'll let you with this,'' DJ Grooves whispered as he slide a golden spoon in her hand, ''and go in, my darling! Let your superior taste decide of the qua-'' The penguin never finished his sentence when a gust of wind almost blow off his 'hair'. The doors before him were swinging violently and the top hat wearing girl was gone. DJ Grooves looked satisfied by the child's resolution. With it, he'll have enough advertisement to last for a year! He mumbled a self congratulation and sat down on one of the spare chair, patiently waiting for the girl to finish her decision.
Unfortunately, it didn't last long.
''DJ GROOOOOOOOVES!''
The penguin didn't bother to even turn at the intense screech. Only one individual can produce such a ear piercing shriek. However, after working in the same studio as him, he developed a nature protection to his voice.
The Conductor took heavy steps as he approached the nonchalant penguin. He couldn't believe his eyes! The over-dramatic penguin was sitting on one of HIS chair! Granted, it didn't have his name, neither placed with the rest of his labelled furniture, but still! Now, it would smell like fish, dirty by moon dust and probably enlarged by the penguin's weight!
''Well, hello there Conductor, darling,'' the afro wearing director greeted with a mocking smile, ''I hear your voice hasn't broke yet.''
''Ya peck neck! Do ya 'ave any ideas on w'at ya sittin' on?!'' The golden owl continued his yelling at the blue penguin.
DJ Grooves barely looked at the chair, until he sat down even further in and made sure he rubbed his back against the chairback. It made the Conductor instantly red by pure anger, mission accomplished.
''Get off me chair!'' The director in black shouted again.
''Now, now Conductor, darling. There's no need to shout, you might disturb a world changing event!'' For once in decades, the penguin did what he was told from an owl, although it was for the best of his star.
''Whut are ya babbling about, peck neck?'' Finally, the Conductor's tone lowered a notch, his wings crossed and his clean shoes impatiently tapped the floor.
''I don't want to rub it in your face, darling,'' but he still was going to do it anyways,''but, unlike a certain lazy bird, I make moves for the world to see my genius!''
The Conductor raised an eyebrow under his feathers, his mind was over the idea of the peck neck to do anything of slight intelligence. Since the owl didn't look angry enough, the penguin explained further of his success.
''I made a sponsor deal with Frosty Frost.''
''Ya pulling me feathers here,'' responded his rival, ''there's no way Frosty Frost woul' even listen to ya.''
''Conductor, darling! Are you underestimate my negotiating skills?'' The director in red laughed it off while the owl sighed from frustration, ''Behind those doors lies over a hundred of different flavors of ice cream made by the one and only Frosty Frost company!''
The Conductor glanced at the set of doors. DJ Grooves always had a hunch to exaggerate his stories, however, this time, he seemed true to his words. Years of listening the peck neck yapping his accomplishments allowed the owl to hear truth over lies. He was about to take a step toward the doors, however the other director stopped him.
''Oh, oh, oh!'' He laughed at the Conductor, ''Don't you think I am going to let you see, don't you darling?''
''So, ya lying?'' His words cut better then his rubber knives.
''No, darling,'' his tone sounded suddenly serious, ''It is just I have a special judge to check which flavor will advertise my next movie.''
For a second, Conductor didn't even bother to know who he was referring to. 'Special judge', what a load of... ''AAAAAAHHH?!'' He suddenly realized who he was talking about, years of detective movies allowed him to make one plus one. Because, he hoped he was making a mistake. ''Do-Don' tell mah it's me lass!''
''My, oh, my Conductor, you catch on quickly,'' he laughed it off while the owl's facial feature suddenly grew dark, ''I told the kid about the ice cream and how delicious they were. You should have seen the sparkle in her eyes! Conductor, darling, are you listening?''
''Oh I am...'' The glamorous penguin flinched at the sinister tone from his rival. That voice, this posture, the Conductor wasn't angry. It wasn't scraping the top of it, he was infuriated. DJ Grooves couldn't recall the last time the owl was this mad. But the consequences of it finished with an Express owl's wing broken, a devastated movie set and a week of intense cleaning. ''Do ya 'ave any idea what ya just done, peck neck?'' Frankly the groovy director wanted to shake his head, but the ominous aura from the owl was thick enough to paralyze his movements. ''Ya just left me lass with ice cream. Hundred of flavors. ALONE! You're da peck neck of all peck necks!''
DJ Grooves was momentarily stunned, until he realized the consequences of his actions. At the wake of his poor choice, both directors ran at the cursed set of door and each opened one in unison. By this time, the owl's aura was gone. Together, they shouted; ''Lassy!'' ''Darling!'' The horrid scene made both birds froze in place.
The room was barely bigger then an average dressing room. The fridges across the walls were all opened, the frigid air released a thick fog covering the floor and partially hiding empty circular container. It remained them of a horror movie they both watched as kids; 'Jealousy in Ice'. The Conductor was the first to make a step, followed closely by DJ Grooves. They made sure to not step in a plastic corpse as they remained vigilant for the kid. ''How many flavors 'hey really give ya?'' The yellow bird questioned. ''A hundred and six,'' replied quietly the blue bird.
They witness the horrors of Hat Kid's gluttony, most of the popular flavors were gone from their empty bodies, but a few weren't even opened, such as 'Worms' and 'Seeds'. The atmosphere was tense, cold and a lingering scent of sweet roamed in the air like a predator. After a minute of searching, the penguin's shaded eyes made contact in horror with a purple accessory. ''Conductor!'' The owl joined him and saw it as well.
A petite figure lied on the ground, not moving, only a faint up and down of her chest signal her living condition. Pieces of dyed frost covered her lips and scattered across her face. They arrived too late. ''Oh, no, darling!'' The penguin wrapped his flippers around her shoulders and shake her, ''darling, my diva, my star! Wake up! Oh, I should have known to not let you with such irresistible treats!'' The owl only watched in terror as he was living a nightmare.
Both gasped when the girl growled in discomfort. Her blue eyes opened up weakly and raised her hand in the air, as if she was trying to catch something. Then, she placed it over her forehead and growled more. In the agonizing pain she was in, Hat Kid found no words to describe the sub-zero effect in her skull. No words were needed for the Conductor to diagnose the child's issue.
''Brain freeze,'' he only declared out loud to all in the foggy room.
The tensity of the situation shifted to a quiet one. That was until the Conductor resumed his shouting, ''Ya broke her ya peck neck!'' To which it was the penguin's turn, letting go of the suffering child, ''I did not! She'll be fine.''
''Ya knew I had a shooting with me lass and ya tried to broke her to sabotage me movie!''
''I certaintly did not.'' A complete lie from the dancing director.
''LIAR!''
''Says who?''
The fight went on. Hat Kid managed to get up by her own, although the numbing of her skull made it harder then it should. She should have known DJ Grooves had a hidden agenda all along. Even if it involves delicious, sweet and creamy desserts. Next time, she'll remember to not eat so much of this ice cream. The girl also made a mental note to give her favourite flavor to the dancing director when she'll recover from her headache.
She made the wise decision to leave the two at their bickering and get ready for the shooting of a scene for the Conductor's movie. Maybe that 'Train Rush' scene is going to pass all the sugar she just ate.