Chapter seven: A new threat
For the first time since her arrival, Strawberry Shortcake could say she was boring. Mashed Hazelnuts wasn't back yet from her lab work, and Plum Puddin' and T.N Honey had homework, so they couldn't play with her. So, Strawberry was wandering in the playground and glancing at a group of pupils who was studying a nest in a tree.
-I really don't know why they enjoy being here, Strawberry said to Custard. "They never play like the normal children use to. I bet they forgot how to do so."
-You are in a boarding school for exceptionally-gifted children, Custard yawned. "They don't live like us."
Strawberry Shortcake didn't answer.
-Strawberry?
Strawberry Shortcake wasn't listening anymore. If her body had stayed in front of Custard, her mind was gone. But she wasn't dreaming. She was feeling an incredible rage-anger and frustration, too. She as looking for something she couldn't find. And she wasn't looking anymore at the pupils. She was now in the middle of the forest, and she wasn't walking: she was flying level with the ground.
-Strawberry Shortcake! Wake up! I'm talking to you.
-He's coming here, Strawberry muttered.
-Who's "he"?
-This horrible police officer. He's furious against me. He wants to find me. He wants his revenge, and he won't let it go until he lays hand on me. I know it. I was in his mind.
Custard shivered.
-Do you think he's near?
-I don't know, but we'd better stay inside.
-Walls won't stop him, Custard moaned, but she was secretly hopping they would.
Strawberry Shortcake and Custard rushed inside the building.
-And now, what shall we do? Custard asked.
-You, go in my room and stay with Pupcake and Apple Dumplin'. Whatever happens, try to stay together. I know you don't really like Pupcake, but, please, make an effort. As for me, I'll see if I can find our gifted friends. We'll need their intelligence to defeat him.
The first place visited by Strawberry been the library. She thought it was a proper place for two students who were looking for somewhere to do their homework, but they weren't here. Secondly, Strawberry took a look in the laboratories. After all, T.N Honey and Plum Puddin' were both scientists, and they would and been in their element. But they weren't here.
-They are certainly in one of the study rooms, Strawberry thought.
There were a lot of children in the study room, except the two ones Strawberry was searching.
-Where can they be? Strawberry wondered angrily. "It's not the moment to play hide and seek!"
As Strawberry was hurrying in the corridor, she bumped into someone.
-Can't you be more careful? The person cried.
-Mashed Hazelnuts! I'm glad to see you, even if you're angry.
-Strawberry Shortcake? I was looking for you since at least one half hour!
-And I was looking for T.N Honey and Plum Puddin' since at least one half hour, and I haven't found them yet. Why do you want to see me?
-I've got a very important thing to say you. Did you check their room?
-I don't. I don't know where they live.
-In the third floor, with all the scientists. Follow me.
Strawberry Shortcake had been given a room in the fourth floor, with the budding writers and the philosophers. Every boarder had his own bedroom, as big as a broom closet. For Apple Dumplin', a second bed had been added in Strawberry's room.
-So, what's this great new? Strawberry asked as they were going up the stairs.
-All the people you brought from "Oz" were in containment since that day, because we couldn't tell what the disease they were suffering for was, and if it was contagious, do you remember? We had the result of their medical examination this morning, and I just learnt them.
Strawberry Shortcake held herself back from shaking Mashed Hazelnuts. She had the answer she was waiting since four days!
-So, what happened to them? She asked as quietly as she could.
-Apparently, the plants with which they had been in touch for the previous days release highly toxic emanations when they decompose, which caused a serious intoxication to your friends.
-It is grave?
-Uh… quite, yes.
Strawberry Shortcake froze.
-But if it's treated in time…
Strawberry cut her.
-So, you're saying my friends are dying and we can't do anything?
-I…
-You've been waiting idly since all this time and now it's too late?
-Wait…
-I TRUSTED YOU! I TRUSTED YOU AND YOU BETRAYED ME!
-Listen…
-YOU' RE A MONSTER, HAZLNUTS! YOU'RE ALL MONSTERS HERE! I HATE YOU ALL!
Mashed Hazelnuts slapped her.
-Are you okay? She asked.
Strawberry Shortcake didn't answered, too shocked to shout again or cry.
-Listen. We didn't stay idle and it's not too late. We'll help them to evacuate these toxic gaz by giving them oxygen assistance. We'll save them, Strawberry, I promise.
-And they'll be better?
-They will.
-Hazelnuts?
-Uh?
-I'm sorry.
-Don't worry. But the real good news is we can visit them now!
-No kidding?
-No kidding. Let's tell that to our two lovebirds.
-You mean Plum Puddin' and T.N Honey?
-Themselves. Hadn't you noticed they are in love?
Strawberry Shortcake hadn't.
When the "two lovebirds" learnt the news, they left their homework without a second of hesitation and they all walked toward the school's hospital.
-Maybe I should inform Custard, Pupcake and Apple Dumplin' of it, Strawberry said.
-Babies and animals are forbidden in this area, except if they are the patients, Plum Puddin' explained.
The hospital was the school's infirmary, equipped for treat the most serious case. To be honest, it was the general headquarter for the doctors' apprentices, who could practice under the watchful eye of their teachers.
-Does someone know where they are? Strawberry Shortcake asked.
Before Mashed Hazelnuts could answer, a surgeon interrupted them.
-Hi kids. What are you doing here?
-We're looking for… Hazelnuts started.
-Anything special, Strawberry quickly completed. "Hazelnuts makes us discover this place; after all, she uses to spend all her afternoons here."
-That's right, T.N Honey added.
-You're awful liars, the surgeon said kindly.
Strawberry stood gaping.
-You're searching the girls you'd rescued three days ago, aren't you? They are in this corridor, in the third room in your left. You can see them, but they're still unconscious.
The "guests" from Oz had been gathered in the same room, wearing oxygen masks. When the group entered the room, two young doctors were giggling in looking at the tiny Berrykins.
-Can you leave us alone? Mashed Hazelnuts asked curtly.
-Don't take on airs, the biggest one said as they left the room.
Hazelnuts stayed quiet until she was sure they were alone.
-And now? She finally asked. "What are you going to do?"
Strawberry Shortcake wasn't sure. She had been waiting for this moment for one week, and oddly she was now disconcerted. She knew her friends were bad, but imagine them was easier to bear than to see them with her own eyes. They looked so frail, especially the Berrykins.
-Everything will be alright, Hazelnuts said, as if she had guessed Strawberry's thoughts.
-Thank you.
-Gosh!
It wasn't Hazelnuts' voice.
-Strawberry Shortcake? Plum Puddin' asked in a trembling voice. "How do you use to call this girl?"
He was paler than usual and was staring at Princess Glinda.
-She's Glinda, the Princess of Oz, Strawberry answered, surprised.
-No, she's not.
-She is!
-Strawberry… She's my twin sister.
-I bet my life this girl's my old neighbour Orange Blossom!
-Wait! Hazelnuts shouted. "What's happening here?"
-I'm not sure to understand, Strawberry muttered. "Plum pretends he's Glinda's brother and T.N Honey knows the cowardly Lion."
-I am! Plum said angrily.
-Orange Blossom was one of my best friends before, T. cried.
-Stop it now! Strawberry cried. "You'll explain us, quietly, how you met them."
-The girl you call Glinda is my twin sister, Plum began. "Her real name is Plum Pudding."
-I met Orange Blossom when I was five years old, T.N Honey added. "I had just arrived In Big Apple City and I didn't know anybody in town. Orange been my first friend here…"
-Plum Pudding and me, we lived together in Strawberryland.
-When you came in Big Apple City for a bake-off, Orange Blossom decided to go back to Strawberryland with you. I followed her, with Lemon Meringue, Apricot and some other guests.
-One day, when we were six, our teacher noticed we were gifted, so she sent us in Pumpkin School, my sister, T.N Honey and me.
-But, apparently, Plum Pudding wasn't happy here…
-She wasn't. She loved to learn by playing, this school was too unimaginative for her.
-So, she decided to leave.
-It had been very difficult for her. Plum Pudding felt like if she had betrayed me, her classmates and her teachers. When she left the school and came back to Strawberryland, most of her friends had moved, and anyone remembered her. She had to start a new life in a new town, meet new people, frequented a new school… I bet she suffered a lot.
-At the beginning, she visited us, but she believed she wasn't a welcome guest.
-My sister had lost all her self-confidence! I think it's why she fled and created an imaginary world, where she was a powerful princess.
-Maybe she believed she was in her proper place, here?
-And other people followed her.
After this explanation, the room stayed quiet. Then, Strawberry Shortcake broke the silence.
-How did it happen? She muttered.
-What an unbelievable story, Hazelnuts said as they left the hospital. The night was falling, and the lights out was near.
-I'm sure it's true, Strawberry said.
They passed a group of students who were returning to their room.
-Don't go out, they advised.
-Why?
-All the outings are forbidden due to the presence of a suspect guy around here.
-Oh no, Strawberry thought. "He found me."
To be continued…
