Tis the season to be spooky! I figured I start this up to celebrate Halloween. So hope you enjoy x)
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Hat Kid wiped her forehead, carefully finishing her costume using the sewing machine. It was Halloween night and she had to be prepared for what she's up to today.
To her surprise, no one really has celebrated the holiday before! They've heard of it, but since there weren't too many kids around at the time, it'd probably be pointless to celebrate. Now that Hat Kid is in town though, there's a good reason too. Besides, it's more than just getting sweets. It's also about the scares.
So, Mafia Town was going to be open for Trick-or-Treating. Mu seems to doubt the Mafia would even think of giving out candy since "everything belongs to the Mafia," she would state in a mocking tone. But Hat Kid was going to give them the benefit of doubt.
DJ Grooves and the Conductor are having a horror film showing at their studio tonight as well. Now, Hat Kid wasn't all on board with watching a horror movie, but she can't turn down a movie night with snacks.
Finally, Snatcher's preparing more traps to try and scare Hat Kid. He's not open for other visitors, but he seemed eager to try and scare the hat off her. She was up for the challenge though.
Hat Kid offered Mu to join her on her Halloween adventure, but Mu declined. She had plans against the Mafia that involved scare pranks and egg throwing. Hat Kid could only wish her luck that she won't get caught.
"There we go." Hat Kid held up her costume dress. It looked like a witch's dress, only with a small badge/button that looks like Snatcher. The dress was black with a purple sash that has a gold belt buckle in the middle of it. Her purple and white knee-high socks and black shoes would go great with this as well. For her hat, she sewed a new top hat that had black and white stripes with a purple sash and bow instead. She also has a broom from her closet to finish the look.
Excited, Hat Kid went to her room to change. She took a good look at herself in the mirror and smiled brightly. "This night is gonna be fun." Grabbing a Time Piece, she headed to the hatch and jumped down to the planet, making her way to Mafia Town.
The sun has already set. Hat Kid was more than ready to get started. She went up to one of the houses with the lights on and knocked, paper bag in hand. A Mafioso opened up and looked down at Hat Kid.
"Trick or treat!"
The Mafioso tilted his head. "Why is little child dressed funny?"
"It's Halloween. You dress up, knock on the doors, and say 'trick or treat.' Then you give me candy." She holds up the bag with a small smile.
"But Mafia doesn't have candy. Only fish." Hat Kid frowned.
"Oh, alright." The Mafioso closed the door and Hat Kid sighed. Well, first house was a bust, but that doesn't mean the others are too, right?
...Nope. They were. When she went from house to house, she was either denied candy or given fish, which she threw away. Who wants dead fish on Halloween night?
Hat Kid sighed and leaned against the wall, looking down at her empty paper bag. So much for her sweets.
But maybe the horror movie filming will be better. Conductor and DJ Grooves may have snacks too! With that though brightening her mood, she held her Time Piece and made her way to Dead Bird Studios.
"You guys are in costumes too?" Hat Kid's eyes lit up, seeing DJ Grooves in an astronaut suit.
"Well, I am at least, darling. The Conductor said it would be 'childish' to do so."
"You're never too old for dressing up for Halloween."
"True, darling. Now come on. The movie will start soon." Taking Hat Kid's hand, DJ Grooves led her in. They arrived in the theatre where some Express Owls and Moon Penguins were already seated. The Conductor could be spotted on the Control Booth balcony, setting up the projector and film.
Hat Kid waved to him and the Conductor looked down, waving to her with a small smile. DJ Grooves and Hat Kid then sat down together in the middle row of the theatre. The film then began to count down, getting ready to play.
The Conductor quickly joined Hat Kid and Grooves, sitting next to Hat Kid on her left. Hat Kid then leaned over to the Conductor and whispered, "So, what's this movie called?"
"Nightmare on Elm Street."
...Oh dear.
Hat Kid had a hard time watching through this. A never-ending nightmare, being chased by some crazy murderer. Not to mention the blood. So much blood. Hat Kid was actually a little thankful she didn't get any candy...at least yet. She felt sick enough without it.
Her eyes were closed through over half of it. She heard a few screams from the crowd at times and even DJ Grooves looked nervous. Conductor quietly snickered.
"Are ye actually scared, DJ Peck Neck?"
"O-of course not, darling."
Hat Kid was thankful for when it was over. She was shaking like a leaf and seemed a bit jumpy. DJ Grooves and the Conductor looked at each other, noticing this.
"Lassie? Are you okay?"
"It wasn't too scary, was it darling?"
Hat Kid didn't want to seem like a scaredy-cat. She shook her head no and faked a tiny smile, "N-Nah. It wasn't scary at all."
The two bird directors looked at each other a little concerned but decided to take her word for it. Hat Kid said her goodbyes to them and made her way to the last location: Subcon Forest.
Entering the forest suddenly seemed scarier than usual. Stupid scary movie. That murderer was fake. He won't come after Hat Kid. ...At least as long as she's awake.
Hat Kid shook her head, getting that thought process out of her head. She went up to Snatcher's tree and looked in. No sign of the grumpy guy. She looked down the path to Subcon Village and decided to head there. Maybe he's building traps there.
As she walks through, a couple howls were heard. Hat Kid took a breath, reassuring herself it's probably the wind. She kept her focus straight as she walked down the main path to Subcon Village.
Then she heard a twig snap behind her. She gasped and turned around, broom ready. She was starting to tremble. Hat Kid growled under her breath. "C'mon, Hattie. Keep it together already. Freddy isn't coming for you."
She froze though when she heard singing. It sounded like a haunting lullaby. She then gasped, seeing a shadowy figure behind the trees, staring right at her. She didn't hesitate. She ran like her life depended on it, which it probably does for all she knows.
As she kept running, she spotted the village ahead. A relieved smile seemed to show as she got closer. But then a tarp swept up, encasing her and hanging her from 10 feet off the ground. Much like what happened when she first came to Subcon Forest.
The only difference is as far as Hat Kid knew, she was in serious danger. She rapidly began whacking the tarp with her broom, hoping to tear it open somehow.
But she then froze when she heard large footsteps. She remained still, quietly praying that whatever was possibly chasing her will leave her alone.
Boy was she wrong.
Suddenly, claws scratched a part of the tarp open. Not enough to drop Hat Kid off from it, but enough to have her scream. Another tear, dangerously close to her. Hat Kid's breathing got a bit more rapid as tears showed in her eyes.
One more tear and now she was free-falling. But that did not last. She landed in a large shadow hand, which closed around her, sealing her vision from the outside world. Hat Kid tried hitting the palm of the hand, panicking now.
A dark chuckle was heard as the palm opened up. Hat Kid looked up at the monster that grabbed her and froze.
It was Snatcher. A bit taller and bigger than usual, but still Snatcher. He had a smug grin showing as his yellow eyes looked down at Hat Kid's trembling form.
"Looks like I win, kid." He then laughs, shrinking back down enough so that he was now holding Hat Kid with both his hands underneath her shoulders.
"Oh my god! You should've seen your face! You were so terrified!" He laughed a little more, but then stopped when he heard her sniffle. He looked down at her and realized...she was crying.
Hat Kid was quietly crying, rubbing her eyes. She literally thought she was going to die. Die by some crazy murderer in a never-ending nightmare. A giant one at that. She wanted to be mad at Snatcher...but she couldn't be. She asked for this. She asked to get scared. Now she's just upset with herself for getting scared when it was Snatcher the whole time.
Snatcher looked to the side awkwardly. The kid's crying was really bringing down the mood. He wanted to scare her, yeah...but not...cry.
"Hey, kid. ...It's alright. You're fine, aren't you?" Hat Kid just continued sniffling, trying her best to calm down. But geez, the kid was still shaking like a leaf. Snatcher sighed and held her close, putting one hand underneath her and the other on her back.
Hat Kid buried her face into his chest, sniffling. She clung onto the fluff of his neck, hoping now he won't let go. She felt him flinch. His eye is probably twitching as well. But she didn't care.
Snatcher internally groaned. She was probably going to get snot all over him now. He was tempted to pull her away, but looking down at her trembling form...he couldn't. Not like this. So he sighed and endured it, gently rubbing her back in comfort.
Eventually, she finally calmed down, only slightly sniffling and rubbing her eyes to dry her tears.
"You done now?"
Hat Kid quietly nodded. Snatcher sighed, seemingly with relief, and begins to set her down. But her eyes widened as she grabbed the fluff of his neck once more, shouting, "NO!"
"OW-kid, what the hell?"
"P-please...don't leave me…" Hat Kid didn't want to be alone. Not after all that.
Snatcher sighed and lifted her back to his chest. "...You want to go back to your ship?"
Hat Kid quietly nodded.
"Okay." Snatcher looked up, then flew up to space, holding Hat Kid close. As they headed to the ship, Hat Kid looked down, disappointed with herself about tonight. No candy, a terrifying movie that's probably going to haunt her dreams...if she even sleeps, and a seemingly near-death experience worse than Vanessa's manor after that horror film.
Snatcher entered Hat Kid's ship, opening the hatch and closing it behind him. He then sets her down and says, "Alright kid. Go get in your pajamas or whatever."
Hat Kid shook her head no. Snatcher knew why this time. "I'm not going anywhere. Just go get in something comfortable."
She hesitated, but nodded, taking Snatcher's word for it. She quietly went to her room and began changing into her usual pajamas.
"Tonight stinks. I was hoping for scares that I would laugh off and sweets. But all I got was terror and no sweets."
She sighed, finishing up on changing. She rubbed her eyes and headed back out to the Main Hub. But when she got there, Snatcher was gone. Her eyes widened.
"Snatcher…?" That jerk! He actually left her after saying he won't! Angry tears showed in her eyes as her fist clenched up, but she sighed, releasing the tension on her hand. She looked down and quietly hugged her arms, walking back to her room. She may as well try to sleep and forget about this night. ...Maybe forget about celebrating it next year too.
But she stopped when she heard knocking at her hatch. She turned around right before she entered the hallway to her room. What she saw shocked her.
Snatcher was there and he brought her friends! Cooking Cat, Conductor, DJ Grooves, and Mu. Hat Kid ran to the hatch and opened it, letting everyone in.
"Wh-what are you guys doing here?"
Cookie spoke up first. "Snatcher here told us you were feeling down so we wanted to check on you."
Conductor then stated, "Why didn't ye tell me and Grooves that you can't handle scary movies, lassie? We could've played something else!"
Hat Kid looked down. "I just...wanted us to have a happy Halloween together…"
Snatcher then replied, "Kid, if we're gonna have a happy Halloween, every one of us has to be happy. That especially includes you since you insisted we celebrate the holiday."
Cookie then rubbed Hat Kid's cheek, drying her tears. "And the night isn't over yet. How about I make us some sweet Halloween treats and we can have a Halloween party."
DJ Grooves then spoke up, "That's a wonderful idea, darling! There can be dancing and fun!"
Conductor crossed his arms and said, "Hard pass on that, ye peck neck. But we can watch a movie too. Of yer choosing this time, lass." He looked to Hat Kid with a small smile.
Mu then added, "Yeah, no need to go trick or treating when we can have fun here."
Snatcher smiled a little as he looked down at Hat Kid, "Sounds like a plan, kid?"
Hat Kid looked at all her friends, all willing to make up for tonight's disaster by doing something new and fun. Snatcher especially. She was especially shocked by the fact he called everyone here to help cheer her up.
She smiled warmly as she rubbed her eyes with her sleeve. She could never ask for better friends...or family. "Yeah. That sounds fun."
Everyone sat together in front of Hat Kid's TV with sugar cookies that were frosted and baked to look like pumpkins. Well, except the Conductor and Snatcher. Snatcher never needed to eat and Conductor didn't really like sweet things. Hat Kid rested between Cooking Cat and Snatcher as the Conductor started preparing the movie Hat Kid picked out: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Whether it was a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie didn't matter to Hat Kid. She liked to think they were both since they talked about both holidays.
As the movie played, Hat Kid looked at all her friends sitting with her. She smiled warmly as she leaned against Cookie's side, snuggling into her blanket more. Cookie wrapped a paw around her, smiling as well.
"Best Halloween yet."
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Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone! :)
