Chapter one: A brand new start
Twelve years had passed. Strawberry Shortcake could certainly not remember the sleepover she had for Blueberry Muffin's eighth birthday, but it wasn't surprising. Can you remember every party you had when you were a child?
For the moment, Strawberry was putting a full tray of cookies in the oven.
-Hurry up, she said to Angel Cake who was, for her part, garnishing with whipped cream a huge strawberry shortcake. "Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Torte are coming!"
-At your beck and call, Angel Cake muttered with bad humor.
Everybody was anxious in Strawberry Land today. It was a "berry" special day: Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Torte were living! The two friends imagine a new kind of business, a beauty salon crossed with a ready-to-were fashion store. They wanted to set up their parent company in Big Apple City, where they would have a bigger customer base. Strawberry Land's inhabitants couldn't let them go without last farewell drinks; furthermore, even if they were now twenty years old, they had kept their taste for surprise parties (or, maybe, it was just a habit that took after their childhood). While Ginger Snap was providing an occupation for Lemon and Raspberry (she absolutely needed a non-flammable hairspray and fireproof dresses in order to always be all dressed up, even when she was making dangerous experimentations, and they were the only ones in Strawberry Land who could help her), Strawberry Shortcake and Angel Cake were baking tens of cakes, Orange Blossom was making fruits juices with the Berrykins, and Apple Dumplin' was decorating the Berry Bitty Café. She was now a beautiful fourteen years old young girl. Suddenly, Strawberry Shortcake heard honk. She rushed out of the Café to see a busted minibus who was parking in front of the tea house.
-As you can see, Orange Blossom said calmly, "Huckleberry Pie's here."
-You should have been more discreet! Strawberry Shortcake said , but she wasn't really upset. Huckleberry Pie was the only boy in her acquaintances, and her childhood friend. He ruled a pet adoption service in the Berry Big City, but his business wasn't flourishing. Strawberry Shortcake hoped he would forget his problems during the party.
Huckleberry Pie wasn't alone. Two young ladies, as old as Strawberry, got out of the minibus. One had blue long hair and was wearing a schoolbag, the other had purple hair.
-Blueberry Muffin and Plum Pudding, nice to see you, Strawberry said.
Blueberry Muffin had joined a journalism school and couldn't stop repeating how her studies were fascinating. Plum Pudding had been hired in a company and was now a professional dancer.
-Where are the two stars? Plum Pudding asked with curiousity.
-They aren't here yet, Orange Blossom answered. "If you're bored, you can fill these pitchers with me, or give Angel Cake a hand in the kitchen."
-And me, what can I do? Huckleberry asked.
-Hide your minibus! Blueberry Muffin cried. "The party must be a secret!"
Finally, the drinks were a success. The cakes were delicious, the juices were fresh, the room was beautiful and Lemon and Raspberry has been sincerely surprised. The two girls were speaking about their projects when Blueberry said to plum Pudding, with a wink:
-By the way… Don't you have a project, too?
-Yes, being a leader dancer, Plum Pudding answered, intrigued.
-Oh please, plum, don't play the innocent. I'm speaking about this, Blueberry Muffin replied, brandishing a magazine from her schoolbag. In the front page, the guests saw a big picture of Plum Pudding holding a bunch of flowers, below the inscription "IS PLUM PUDDING ENGAGED?" written in capital letters. The beginning of the article said: "The talented dancer Plum Pudding had been seen several times in the company of a young man who, apparently, is her biggest fan. One of her workmate told us he used to be present at all her performances and often sends her flowers and letters. We can easily guess he's Plum Pudding's suitor, and we can wonder when they will get married."
-You had a fiancé? Lemon cried; "You're so lucky!"
But Plum Pudding burst into laughter.
-Don't believe these sales pitches! She said between two hiccups. "This boy is Plum Puddin', my twin brother. And he's already engaged with another girl. But he's really my most faithful supporter; it's the only true thing in this rag."
The girls looked at each other, then burst into laughter too until Orange Blossom cried:
-I almost forgot… Lemon Meringue, I've got something I really want to give you.
Lemon stopped laughing and asked, a little bit worried:
-What is it?
-The other day, I was tidying my cellar up when I found it. I guess I took it and kept it with me for year by mistake. This is yours.
The mysterious gift was a shriveled up notebook. On the cover, we could read: "Lemon Meringue's private journal".
-This is my private journal… Lemon Meringue muttered. "I remember it now…"
-Can you explain what does it mean? Raspberry Torte asked with impatience.
The room was perfectly silent now. Everyone was hanging onto Lemon's every words. Lemon Meringue raised her head and said, trying to smile despite her emotion:
-Maybe you don't remember it, but I spent my early childhood in Big Apple City. Orange Blossom was my neighbor. I used to write each day a note in my journal. Then, we met you, Strawberry Shortcake, and we moved to Strawberry Land.
-During the move, I probably accidentally packed Lemon's journal with my belongings and this poor notebook spent fourteen years in a cardboard box, Orange Blossom explained.
When Lemon Meringue caught her private diary, a photograph issued from it. It was just a tiny photograph, in black and white. Lemon grabbed it and passed it along. The picture showed Lemon Meringue, sat down to table, behind a birthday cake. It wasn't difficult to recognize her: she was in the middle of the picture and her hat in the shape of a meringue was easily identifiable. On her left, a dark-skinned little girl was sat: of course, it was Orange Blossom, with an orange blossom above her hat. But they were two other guests, in the picture, that no one could identify: the first one was a cheerful little girl with low pigtails and a pair of big glasses, wearing a bowler hat and a dress which looked like an oversized shirt. The second one was a baby with short curled hair, two ponytails and who was wearing white overalls and a hat in the shape of an apricot. A white bunny was close to her.
-They were certainly other neighbors, Orange Blossom proposed.
On the other side of the picture, Lemon Meringue had written: "My sixth birthday with my friends Orange Blossom, TN Honey and Apricot".
-I remember neither TN Honey nor Apricot, Lemon Meringue admitted.
-Don't worry, me neither, Orange said.
Lemon Meringue wiped her eyes.
-Why are you crying? Strawberry Shortcake asked, shattered. "We told you it's no big deal!"
-No… it's… Thank you Orange. It's like if… I'm going to meet again my origins...
-You're welcome Lemon.
The friends clinked glasses to Plum Pudding's fake engagement, then to Lemon's diary, then to Raspberry's and Lemon's busyness, and then the farewell ceremony started.
-We'll always remember you, Strawberry Shortcake said.
-Even if new fashion designers come in Strawberry Land, we'll keep saying you're the bests, Blueberry Muffin promised.
-You always been ones of my best friends, Orange Blossom sweared.
-When I'll be a leader dancer, my ballet and I will go to Big Apple City to do a special performance in your honor, Plum Pudding promised.
-One day, I'll invent a non-flammable hairspray and I'll make you try it at a prevent showing! Ginger Snap cried.
-And I'll create a new sort of lemon meringue and a new kind of raspberry torte, Angel Cake added. "When my customers will ask me: What is your secret? I'll answer: I made these cakes in memory of two of my best friends. These cakes will make my reputation."
-Don't worry, Apple Dumplin' assured. "I went once in Big Apple City and I found this town was enthralling."
-And if you feel blue and need affection… remember my pet adoption service! Huckleberry Pie shouted.
-Lemon and I will miss you so much, Raspberry Torte finally said. Her emotion was honest, and they were both within a hair's breadth of crying.
But after, there were more hugging and kissing, until a Berrykin noticed there was a good chance that the two girls would miss their plane, so they all crowded in the minibus to go to the airport. On the hall, they were another embrace and backslapping, and then Lemon Meringue glanced at her clock and cried because they were really very late. Strawberry Land's inhabitants waved them while Raspberry and her were running through the tarmac and rushing inside the plane. Its motors throbbed, it started rolling on the runway, and it took off. The plane became more and more tiny, then totally disappeared in the sky. Strawberry Shortcake and her friends stared at the horizon for a long moment. Then, they went back in the minibus and came back to Strawberry Land.
Strawberry Land had never seemed so empty and silent, Strawberry Shortcake thought as she was going in her Café. Blueberry Muffin, too, was particularly demoralized.
-How do you feel, Blue'? Huckleberry Pie asked her.
-I don't now… I'm sad but, in the same time, I have confidence in my friends' success.
Huckleberry threw his arm around her shoulders.
-Why won't we go home? He purposed with a mysterious voice. "Together, I mean. I'll show you the party isn't over yet…"
Blueberry Muffin smiled.
-Great idea. I'll be happy to visit your house…
To be continued…