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 fourteen: Lemon's and Raspberry's return

Strawberry Shortcake couldn't say she disliked Big Apple City, but she couldn't either deny it was radically different of Strawberryland. In Strawberryland, the only thing you have to do was to enjoy your day. In Big Apple City, everyone was always in a hurry. In Strawberryland, your neighbors are your friends because your friends are your neighbors. In Big Apple City, the persons with whom you use to work all day long are unable to remember your favorite color, or when is your birthday. In Strawberryland, you could always find someone who would listen to your fears, your worries and your doubts. In Big Apple City, you are so focused on your own life that you don't pay any attention to the others. Strawberryland had strawberry patches for as far as the eye can see. Big Apple City had skyscrapers for as far as the eye can see.

Even though, Strawberry Shortcake couldn't say she was unhappy in Big Apple City because she was with all her friends, and Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Torte welcomed them with open arms.

-Let me introduce you my family, Lemon Meringue said. "This is my aunt Edna, she's our manager. This is my brother Lem, he promises to be a talented designer."

-Ada too, Lem said.

-Ada has very little imagination, Lemon sighed. "She does everything Lem does. That's not surprising… They are twins."

-Well, would you like to see our shop? Raspberry asked. "It's beautiful, we decorated it together. You won't be able to get over it!"

Cries of joy answered her. When the group set off, Lem sneaked next to Strawberry and muttered her:

-Lemon's wrong, Ada is very talented too, but he joined back his sister before Strawberry could say a word.

It was impossible to not notice Lemon's and Raspberry's shop. Its frontage was painted with bright yellow and pink, Lemon's and Raspberry's colors. But Strawberry noticed something was wrong with it: it hadn't got any sign.

-Of course, Raspberry nervously explained, "Lemon and I just couldn't reach agreement about our shop's name."

-You should name it quickly, Blueberry Muffin advised, "Or it would cause damage to you. How will you recommend a shop that has no name?"

Lemon Meringue frowned.

-Talking about name…

-Can we visit it? Strawberry cut her, understanding Lemon was going to attack Blueberry.

-Of course you can! Aunt Edna cried.

The shop has three floors. The first floor was Raspberry's workshop (and Edna explained that Lemon and Raspberry had a serious argument about its giving out, due to its strategic position: it was the first thing the customers could see). The second floor was Lemon's beauty salon. It was a good place, too; because her customers weren't disturbed by the cars and the noise coming from the street. Finally, the third and last floor was where they all lived.

-You can't imagine how glad we are to see you again, Raspberry said, offering them tea and cookies. Lem and Ada didn't seem as glad as their sister and their ant, but Strawberry guessed they were just terribly shy.

-Speaking about your sign, I'm sure we will create one for you during our holiday, Orange Blossom purposed.

-Yeah, it would be a good way to thank you, Plum Pudding added.

Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Torte nervously chuckled.

-Well, while on the subject… We wanted to request you for a tiny job…

-It will be berry funny, Raspberry promised.

-The girls have something to tell you, Aunt Edna explained.

Lemon Meringue took a deep breath and said:

-Raspberry, the twins and I planned our own parade to present our very first collection, but we need models…

-I'm sure we're all alright to help you, Strawberry Shortcake answered. "Aren't you girls?"

They were.

Finally, these holidays took a rather unexpected turning point. Strawberry thought Lemon and Raspberry would make them discover Big Apple City, but they spent all the daytime in the store, making alterations and fittings! Moreover, she was quite surprised by Lemon's and Raspberry's behavior. When Strawberry invited her friends, she did it because she wanted to have a good time with them, like having a picnic, and not because she needed their help! However, none of the girl was complaining, even Plum Pudding, so Strawberry didn't say anything.

She had a good surprise with Lem and Ada. One day, when she was alone, they showed her their notebook.

-What do you think of it? They asked in unison.

-It's beautiful, Strawberry said, browsing it. She sincerely thought that. In the notebook, the twins had drawn their own mixed collection, which was extremely different of the one Lemon and Raspberry were sewing: this one was soberer and more adapted to the everyday life. It was clearly destined to children and teenagers, when Raspberry's collection was turn to adults.

-Are you sincere?

-I am always. Did you draw that by yourselves?

Ada twisted into a scowl.

-You think, too, that I have no imagination and I can't do anything else than to copy that I see?

-That's not berry nice from you, Lem said, upset.

-No, it's not what I meant! Strawberry cried. "Your drawings are wonderful. Really. This work suits to a great fashion designer."

Lem and Ada's eyes lit up.

-Why don't you show it to your sister?

Lem and Ada immediately got their straight face back.

-To be honest… Lem started.

-…we need your help… Ada continued.

-…we heard Lemon and Raspberry say how kind and wonderful you are… (Strawberry blushed)

-…so we were wondering if you could…

-…convince them to take our ideas into consideration…

-…if you don't mind.

-It would help us a lot, they both ended.

-I don't mind, Strawberry explained. "But why do you need my intervention?"

-You didn't understand… Lem sighed.

Ada and him grabbed their notebook and started to leave the room. Strawberry, ill at ease, understood she hurt them. Of course, she noticed Lemon hadn't got a good relationship with Ada, but she has refused to admit it; and now Lem was forcing her to see the truth.

-Wait! Strawberry cried. "I'll help you. I'll talk to Lemon Meringue!"

-Thank you Strawberry!

-We knew we could trust you, Ada said, smiling.

In fact, Strawberry Shortcake had no idea of how she would say to Lemon to be more indulgent towards her own sister. She reminded every Lemon's words, and the conclusion was obvious: Lemon Meringue wouldn't accept any ideas that would come from Ada. Why? Maybe Lemon was jealous… but it was ridiculous. Ada was her little sister!

Strawberry bore to stay in the store with difficulties. She felt stressed. She no longer recognized her friends, the rooms were crowded and she couldn't focus on the world she would say to Lemon. On top of that, Lem and Ada were spying her all the time-they just sent her a shy smile when their eyes met, but Strawberry was aware they were impatiently waiting for her to move into action. It was why she used to search her mind to find pretexts to go for a walk outside, in the streets. At the beginning, Orange Blossom went with her, but one day Strawberry told her she needed loneliness to think about her speech, and Orange take it well. Strawberry's favorite place was, without any hesitation, Sentimental Park, a huge park in the middle of Big Apple City. It was her breath of fresh air, the trees and the flowers reminding her Strawberryland where she had so many great times with all her friends, before they grew up and lived their life. Lemon Meringue had changed: she was extremely touchy now, and if Strawberry told her once: "Maybe you could pay more attention to Ada? I think it would be a win-win situation", Lemon could answer: "Well, I know you are an expert in rising up children. Wait… where is Apple Dumplin'? Oh yes, she's grounded because she had terrible marks because you hadn't been able to monitor the way she worked at school. So, you'd better look after your own sister instead of giving me advices!" Strawberry was almost afraid of facing Lemon, but she couldn't either ditch the twins. She was plunging into her thoughts when she bumped into someone… a young boy of her age, with curly brown hair and big hazel eyes.

-Hello, the young boy said (he was absolutely not upset.) "Are you alright?"

-Her… Yes, I am, Strawberry mumbled. "I'm sorry…"

-Oh, don't worry. My name is Peanut Butter. And you?

To be continued…