DISCLAIMER: This licence isn't mine. The opinions express by the characters are not mine. I do not support nor encourage the illegal acts or words present here. I can make a distinction between fiction and reality and I trust in my readership's ability to do the same.

Chapter twelve: Surprise!

Strawberry Shortcake's biggest weakness was her generosity: She always wanted to make everybody happy. Actually, she knew she hadn't really make Apple Dumplin' happy, and she was tempted to lift punishment, but Angel Cake kept reminding her it was "for her sake".

-You know, if you never punish her, your sister won't have any limits and will turn into a real little delinquent.

One day, an event really put Strawberry's will through the mill. This event was a letter from Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Torte-they missed their and invited Angel Cake, Apple Dumplin' and her to meet them in Big Apple City. It's not necessary to explain why Strawberry was so wavering.

-I can't go to Big Apple City and leave Apple alone in Strawberryland! Strawberry explained to Angel Cake.

-She's grounded.

-I know, but who will look at her? I perfectly know she would pop to her friend as soon as my back will be turned.

-I don't like her friend… What's her name?

-Mulberry Murmur.

-Well, that little Mulberry hasn't got a good influence over her. You can't tell me Apple's behavior hadn't change!

-I noticed that Angel, but what can I do?

-Please, Strawberry! Forbid her to see Mulberry.

-Apple is a young girl now; she needs friends of her age. And she is rather mature. If Mulberry goes too far, Apple won't follow her.

-If Apple is so mature, why don't you dare leave her alone?

-I won't leave her alone because I'll stay with her.

Angel Cake shook her head.

-My dear Strawberry Shortcake, let me remind you it's Apple who's grounded, not you. You deserve these holidays… unlike your sister. So, you'll find a babysitter and Go to Big Apple City with us, in order to see your friends you hadn't saw since three months.

-But Apple…

-Apple is old enough to understand your decision. Don't feel guilty about her. She's young; she'll have other opportunities to have fun… without you. If Apple really wanted to go with us, she would have had better marks. And… it will teach her a lesson! Next term, she will be more hard-working.

Apparently, Angel Cake convinced Strawberry Shortcake, who tried to find someone who will say yes to look after a bad-tempered (and grounded) teen. Every human in Strawberryland was going to big Apple City, too; she ruled out the Berrykins, they weren't authoritarian enough; and the bees were too busy. Strawberry was ready to give up, when Angel Cake sent secretly a distress help to their old friends, now living in other cities. Finally, Plum Pudding brought the solution: Lemon and Raspberry hadn't invited her brother who agreed to host Apple Dumplin' for a few days. The icing on the cake? His girlfriend and he were both students and determined to help Apple to catch up.

-You couldn't find a better agreement! Angel cried. "Finally, Apple will get a change of air, in a way she'll have holydays too. Hey, I hope that ten days far from this little pest will make her return to normal."

-I sincerely hope it, too, Strawberry said. "But I have not reached the hardest part yet."

The "hardest part" was to announce to Apple she wasn't only supposed to study during all the holidays, but she'll receive too private lessons every day from two students. Of course, Apple didn't jump for joy! She screamed, stamped her feet, shouted insults, accused Strawberry of being a torturer, said she would prefer to die instead of having private lessons, threatened everyone to have her revenge, threw her schoolbag through the staircase, made all customers flee the Café and finally locked herself in her room. The idea of running away was stronger than even in her mind. Mulberry was right, her sister didn't like her. She started to pack her backpack, but reconsidered. No, she couldn't leave Strawberryland right now, not after this dispute. Strawberry was certainly on the lookout. She needed to wait a little bit, just to ask Mulberry for last advices and plan her run away with her.

-Have you got a means of getting around? Mulberry Murmur asked.

-No. My sister refused to buy me a scooter.

-Uh, that's problematic.

-But my sister has one! I could… "borrow" it?

-Apple, you're clever. Would you find the key?

-Of course.

-Well, remember it: Wait for the last day of school before running away, or it would be suspicious. You have to make your sister believe that you resign yourself to follow her plans. Don't even try to leave your house during the daytime. Only bring the bare necessary with you. Switch off your phone and don't forget to put a pillow under your blanket, to pull the wool over everybody's eyes. When could you escape?

-My sister goes to bed with the lamp. She's always asleep at 11 p.m.

-So, don't take any risk and try to borrow the scooter at midnight. Meet me at the Berry Big City station, where I'll be waiting for you. Then, we'll both take a train to the Sundae Mountains!

Definitively, it was a great plan, thought Apple Dumplin'. She was going to go skiing all holidays long with her best friend, and when Strawberry will find her, she would be so relieved to see she was safe and sound she won't even put the blame on her for running away. Mulberry Murmur was a genius.

Apple Dumplin' was (almost) in a good mood when she came back to the Café after school. She was even puckish. Noticing a muffin on a table, she grabbed it and made short work of it. Unfortunately, it was the muffin Berrykin Bloom was dividing up fifty-fifty for the Princesses Emerald and Tourmaline. They immediately burst into loudly tears.

-Correct me if I am wrong, but this cake wasn't yours, Berrykin Bloom said with an irritated voice.

-You, shut up, Apple stung (what immediately soothed the babies). "Aren't you dead yet?"

Berrykin Bloom was just about to answer when the little princesses started to chant "Shut up, shut up, shut up…" It was the first human words they had ever learnt and they were berry proud of repeating them, even though they had no idea of what it could meant.

-I entreat you, don't say that, he begged. "Your royal mother will be terribly wrathful if she hears that… She will banish me…"

Emerald and Tourmaline stared at him and shouted in unison:

-Shut up!

-Pathetic, Apple sighted, and she locked herself in her bedroom. But this incident hadn't tarnished her joy. In two day, school would be over. In two days, she will be far from Strawberryland…

To be continued…