A/N: Here we go guys! Chapter ten! hopefully these chapters are posting correctly, I've been seeing some strange stuff..
(Chapter ten: Parade Calamity)
Fedora couldn't believe what had transpired today, and it wasn't even over yet! They still needed to see DJ Grooves for his movie shoot- So Hat kid and Fedora quickly went back to the ship. However, when they arrived they were greeted by a very, very frantic Cat. "What in god's name happened to y'all?!" Cooking cat had step out of the kitchen when she heard their return- but froze when she saw them like they are. The cat rushed to the two of them, while the Mafia boss and Rumbi looked from afar.
Making sure that the small child was alright first, she checked Hat kid over, and found that she was physically fine, but her mental took a number of hits as she held onto the Cat. Fedora tried to think of an easy way to explain to the cat what happened.. But then their feline friend turned over to her and gasped. Slowly taking Fedora's hands closer to herself to see the extent of the damage, but stopped she the girl flinched from the pain.
"Tell me. Exactly. What happened." The cat demanded, worry on her face.
Everyone was in the kitchen now, Hat kid sitting on a counter-top slowly drinking juice with a far off expression, Mafia Boss on Rumbi sliding about because Rumbi had actually never been in the kitchen before, and Cooking Cat was tending to Fedora's burns on her hand. Her stomach and leg, despite her entire foot being on fire, only suffered what looked like a sun burn. The amnesic was thankful that the suit she wore on a daily notice was thick in fabric, and took most of the attack.
"Ow, ow- OW!" Fedora was doing her best not to mover her hands while Cc took care of her, but whatever she was applying to her hands stung. "it sting really bad!"
"I know, dear- but trust me" the cat looked up to her "I am a chef, and a chef has to know how to deal with burns." That was true, if you got burned, you'd need to immediately know how to deal with the situation, Fedora guessed- during Cooking Cat's earlier years of cooking, she had burnt herself on many occasions. Though, Probably not as bad as the slick hatted girl's case. When she was finally done, Cooking Cat stepped away with anger in her eyes, Fur standing up, and tail flickered about-
"Oh! Show me where that bird is! I will give him a piece of my mind!" The cat stated, clearly frustrated at what she was told.
Hands now wrapped up, Fedora looked to them, then to their agitated cook. She softly smile, and looked at everyone. How they were all gathered in the room, it reminded Fedora of a family- or what she thought a family was. Cooking cat reminded her of a very angry mother, did she and Hat kid get adopted by a cat?
"Hey, Fedora.." Hat kid spoke up from her sitting spot, she asked a question that had been going through her mind ever since they came back "do you think... This will all end up as another MG situation..?" The child eye's were fixed onto her drink in her little hands "do you think he found out.. About what the time pieces do? Is that why he's angry at us?" Her eyes started tearing up "I don't want to lose another friend like that.."
Fedora stood up, she wasn't sure, but now that she thought of it, it could have been- but the older girl refuse to admit that to her. It's clear that Hat kid cared about Mustache girl, the red hood was literally her first friend here. To find out that another friend hated her for having known about the rewind abilities the hourglass had, Fedora thinks Hat kid wouldn't be able to take betrayal "Listen kiddo, I'm sure he's just going through some things.. Maybe it was just a one time ordeal." She tried to reassure the kid.
"I know it's going to be hard here on out, but we shouldn't show DJ that we're feeling down when we see him later." Fedora smiled, but Hat kid shook her head.
"No!" The child said a little to loudly "I don't want you going out there like that! You're hurt!"
"It's just my hands, I'll be fine if I don't touch anything." The older girl calmly talked to her.
But the child wasn't having any of it. "You always say that!" Hat kid shouted at her "you always say you're going to be fine, or that you're 'okay'! But you always end up getting even more hurt!"
"They're minor injuries! I'm not going to die from them!" Fedora slightly yelled, but calmed once she saw how much the kid wanted her to be safe, she sighed "Okay.. Fine- look, I'm still going down-" she saw that Hat kid was going to protest again but stopped her "BUT! I won't be in the action, I'll sit on the sidelines, as you wish." Then she bonked her forehead against hers "there's no way I'm going to leave you down there on your own kid."
Hat kid grabbed onto Fedora's neck and hugged her, then she let go when the older girl back off. "Besides, I don't think I'm visually fit now to star in one of DJ's bright movies setups." She smiled, trying to lighten up the mood in the room.
Fedora the turned her head over to the Mafia boss, he made a noise like he was going to say something about that, but she stopped him "one word out of you, and I push you off Rumbi and watch you roll."
He stayed quiet the the reminder of the break.
The two girls arrived back on the moon, and as they fell, they heard loud cheering. Down, way far below them, was a sea of many, many birds! All chanting, and jumping when one spotted the two land on a far rooftop. Hat kid and Fedora have never seen so many beings in one place before! Sure, there were a lot of Mafia men at their celebration party, but that seemed like a small get together compared to this!
The two know for a fact, that falling down there will be hectic, and should probably avoid the edges if possible.
DJ Grooves, who was on a larger roof, saw them and waved them over. The two carefully made their way over, via phone lines- cautious about the electricity still running through them. Finally, on the larger platform where DJ stood, and with a couple of others birds, Hat kid approached the disco penguin with a small smile.
"Hello, Darling! Welcome to the largest studio set you'll ever see!" He smiled at the two, and noticed how far off the older girl was. "Darling, darling! What are you doing over there? Come on over here!" But he stopped when he saw the state of her clothing.
"Sorry, DJ- I won't be joining in on this one." Fedora scratched her neck, but flinched from her pain "We- uh.. We got into a predicament at Conductor's movie set." She said, feeling that she shouldn't tell him what really had happened at this moment. He however, noticed her hands bandaged up, but he didn't think he should bring it up.
"But darling, you two have to be together..!" He didn't sound forceful at all, but took another good look at her. "We're about to start recording The big Parade, the movie that'll take the breath away from audience world wide! You two were going to be stars together! But.. I guess the little darling will have to go in alone."
"I can do it!" Hat kid said, proudly puffing her chest out- showing she's going to be strong for both Fedora and herself.
DJ Grooves chuckled at the little kid "Marvelous, darling!" He leaned down from his stilt shoes "now, listen closely dear- for this movie, we'll need to use our special prop! It'll pop out at the very end!" He informed Hat kid, pointing up at a party ball hanging from a rope, she was about to move but DJ called out to her. "But wait Darling! Your current outfit really isn't fit for a parade. Turn around, There's a present behind you two!"
Fedora and Hat kid turned around, and as he said, there was a present right there! Fedora was pretty sure that wasn't there before.. Maybe the smaller Penguins brought it just now?
"Wait.. Both of us?" Fedora questioned.
Hat kid ran over to the box, she really did like getting new things. DJ nodded to the older girl, "why, yes darling! I had planed you two marching together, leading the Owls here" the Penguin pointed to the music band behind him- those were the same Owls Hat kid saved from the blue time rift! Guess they're showing their thanks "the little darling was going to be the bright adorable one, with Red and white! While you were going to be the dark mysterious one, with your colors of course! Green and black!"
Hat kid was already in her outfit- did she change right here?! Fedora mentally shook her head, the kid's outfit was indeed Red and white, with yellow trim to it- and the child held up Fedora's outfit she was meant to wear. It was Green where the red was supposed to be, and black where the white was- the yellow trim still the same. He really did plan this far, and the outfit honestly looked nice to her.
She could at least put on the new coat and hat for now. The little owl marching hat was.. Just to adorable to not put on. Come to think of it, This was a lot more thought then just a trench coat she had received from the Conductor..
So, the two had their newly equipped clothing, and Hat kid was ready.
"So, sorry to hear you're not feeling up to it, but I still wish for you to at least be in the movie somewhere!" He looked around in thought. Some place where she can stand, and still be seen.. "Ah! Over there, darling!" DJ pointed to the yellow float he had that was going to be moving. "Make your way over to the float and wave! Or gracefully stand! Do as you wish!"
Fedora nodded with a smile, then looked back to the kid "as he said kiddo, I'll be over there, alright?" Hat kid ran up to Fedora and gave her one last hug before they headed different ways. "Be careful now! You hear?"
Hat kid walked right back up to the bird in charge, and he smiled at her "you look great darling! Now, don't worry this movie is really easy." He started to inform about what she needed to do "keep moving around and the band will follow you. Just don't bump into them!" Hat kid nodded, "And keep and eye out for goodies! The audience loves a good parade and will throw treats your way if you get near them."
Hat kid look excited about that, and really couldn't wait to start!
"The parade lasts a while;" he warned "Nothing we can do to speed it up. We'll let you know once we've got enough footage. Don't lose spirit!" DJ Grooves cheered for her. Then he jumped away to his float, lined with various musical instruments- two piano boards, a drum set, and his turntable that gives him the name DJ Grooves. "Good luck, Darling!"
Once the music started playing, the kid was off, skipping around with then band right behind her. Fedora watched, the float she was on started moving, and she smiled. Her first parade- on the moon. She couldn't hold in the excited laughed bubbling in her throat, and cheered out,
"I LOVE this place!" Earning a louder cheer from the crowd below.
Hat kid laughed, and danced about- doing little tricks and got some of the attention on her. She didn't hold back when she knew the birds would be right by her, following her every step. Some birds down below started throwing roses, or small goody bags at the two girls. Maybe a couple of hats at Fedora when she waved.
'Why hats?' Fedora wondered, holing up a little fedora hat, But she still kept smiling. 'Guess it's better then the alternative'
Once the small child made an almost full round about, DJ Call out to Hat kid "It's time to turn the heat up in this movie!" Though poor choice in words Fedora and Hat kid thought "Darling! Can you please turn on the pyrotechnics?" The kid was excited to see fireworks.
So that's what she did, made her rounds and one by one, she turned on all the levers on different building tops- everyone cheered when the music kicked up, and the sparklers lit up the rooftops! Though, it looked like some of the Penguins were getting hit by the sparks.. Hat kid worried if they were okay.
Now, some of the tops were being lit up as the two girls saw and admired, but it seemed a little to dangerous to even step on the ones that went off, limiting the only floor that kept them away from the crowd. Hat kid needed to be patient and watch what happens.
A little more time passes, Fedora finally sat down for a little while, and she watched Hat kid adorably pass by, jumped on the yellow float she was on, and jumped away. The older girl laughing at her when someone threw a bag of candy Hat kid's way, and listened to the child squeal. Best treat bag ever.
DJ once again called out, a big smile on his face to see the two girls having so much fun. "This movie need more action!" He cheered out "Darling, turn on the firework cannons for the big firework show!" And DJ could have sworn he saw a glint of wonder and joy on the child's face, already starting her way over to the power button on the different float.
Already heading to the first one, she stomped on it, watching the huge missile of a firework take off- the two girls have never seen a rocket that big before! Definitely bigger then the one that Mafia guy had ridden. Hat kid continued to move on, and Fedora watched on hoping to catch a rocket exploded in the sky. However, something seemed off, instead of going directly into the sky- the rocket changed paths! Hat kid was just about to hit the next button when Fedora saw it was heading right towards the unsuspecting child.
"KID, WATCH OUT!" Fedora yelled, catching the DJ's and Hat kid's attention, the second button was clicked, and DJ turned around to see what was going on. He witnessed the child almost get blown away from the blast of the firework rocket! "DARLING!" He yelled out in fear.
The kid ran a little faster, and the crowd kept cheering, thinking this was apart of the parade. The owls behind her were also panicking, but they kept playing with calm hands. Hat kid kept going, to scared to stop.
Fedora yelled out to the disco bird "DJ! What's going on?!"
"I don't know, Darling! That is NOT supposed to happen!" He panicked for the child.
"Well then, make it STOP!" She yelled back
"I CAN'T!" Grooves stressed, pointing to the ball in the sky "everything doesn't end until the party ball opens up! It's on a timer, I have no control over it!"
Anxiety built up in the two older beings as they watched Hat kid scramble about trying to turn on another Firework launcher, Fedora was frantically wondering why! On Hat kid's side, she was thinking she could maybe redirect some of the rockets into one another, and that she did! The heat seeking fireworks slammed into one another and exploded with fiery lights, but the blast still knocked the kid around.
Finally, looking at the timer, DJ Grooves shouted "it's finally time to release the prize! Quickly darling, grab it!" He yelled to her, and Hat kid hurried. Fedora, also on her way over- now that she was finally close to a rooftop, she watched the kid grab hold of the Time piece that fell. The launchers were shut off, but two rockets were left and they started furling right towards the kid! In what seemed like a split second, Hat kid looked back at one of the rockets, shock and awe on her face. Fedora came rushing the moment she stepped onto the rooftop the kid was on, dived for her. Once both to the ground, Fedora covered the kid from the explosions that went off when the rockets had hit one another.
And that was it.
The parade was over, and relief flowed through DJ.
He hurried over to the girls, flippers clearly shacking "oh, OH! my little star! Are you alright?" He checked the child over, the kid nodded, she to was shaken but- okay. "I will find who ever sabotage those rockets, and make them pay!" DJ backed off, looking around rather angry.
This was the first time the two girls actually saw him mad, and when he noticed the two looking at him, he then cleared his throat. "Sorry about that darlings, I honestly have no idea what just happened!" He was back to his calm self.
"I hope all that destruction didn't mess up your movie.." Hat kid looked down, and this bothered Grooves- the kid worried about his movie when in reality she should be worrying about herself! He lifted her chin to look at him.
"Darling, darling- listen to me," he had taken off his sunglasses, little beady eyes filled with content "after what just happened right now- I honestly don't care if I win or lose. You're safe. That's what I care about."
Hat kid didn't notice she was crying until Fedora crouched down next to her and put an arm around her. "Oh, my darlings" the three had shared one of the most memorable group hugs Hat kid had ever experienced. The embrace made her wail out, she had cried much today- but this one? It made her feel better.
It made her feel so loved.