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

Chapter twenty-five : Apple Dumplin's trip

When the sun went done, Apple Dumplin' was still untraceable. However, all the Strawberrylanders had been a part ofthe researchs, even the Berrykins; but with a visiblereluctance, what Strawberry Shortcake noticed. Their Princess had ordered them to do so, but it was most by friendship towards Strawberry Shortcake than by real will to rescue Apple.

-We did all that we could do, Plum Puddin' softly said. "You should call the police now."

They could tell for sure Apple wasn't in Strawberryland. They had gone over all the orchard with a fine-tooth comb, shouting her name, unsuccessfully. The Sheriff tried to be reassuring.

-You know, young girls use to run away. They always spend a night outside, and come back home next morning, she explained to an in tears Strawberry Shortcake. "I bet my life your sister is actually in security at a friend of her. She just doesn't realize how anxious it makes you feel."

-I hope you're right, she muttered.

-You'll see I am. Well, according to your opinion, who would be likeable to have Miss Apple as a guest?

-Apple Dumplin' is extremely close to one of her classmate, Mulberry Murmur, but I can't tell you where she lives, Blueberry Muffin answered (Strawberry Shortcake was unable to articulate anything).

-Thank you, Miss., I'll find it on our server and I'll send someone check if she is over there. Now, the only thing you could do is to come back home and to have some rest. Tomorrow, everything will return to normal.

Apple Dumplin' had left the Café in the middle of the night. This time, Strawberry Shortcake hadn't woken up. It was better like that. Strawberry would tell her off… again. She would force her again to apology towards the Berrykins. Those stupid Berrykins Orange Blossom wanted to educate! In a way, she had served them. What could they do with a school? Why would Orange force them to go to school? Well, thanks to her, they would avoid this torture. So why was Strawberry so mad at her?

Apple Dumplin's first idea had been to join Mulberry Murmur, but she neither didn't know where she lived. Anyway, she had on her pocket some money she had "borrowed" to Strawberry. First, she would go to town. She would decide later. She hesitated to buy a train ticket. This wasn't a good time for being arrested, but she would need every single penny, once in town. She would have to live in unsanitary room, to work hard to buy bread. But at least, she would be free. It would be a great adventure!

The streets were desert when Apple Dumplin' went out of the train. A thick layer of immaculate snow covered the sidewalks. Her new life could begin. Apple was extremely excited… but she had only slept a few hours the previous night, and she felt frozen. She ended her night on a public bench.

When Apple Dumplin' woke up, the first passerby had started to go out. She stretched out, but she was still frozen… and, in top of that, angry. She sneezed. She stood up and decided to wander in the streets. She didn't feel like working for the moment. During a minute, she missed Strawberry Shortcake's cooking… but the Café was some remains of her past life. Her freedom was worthing to sacrify her comfort.

There weren't many things to do in town, when you have nowhere to go and nothing to do. For her breakfast, Apple Dumplin' stopped in a coffee shop to drink some tea and eat some bread, but the rest of the time she roamed in the streets, more to warm up than by willing of visiting the town. People looked astance at her and her big backbag. They had certainly guessed se had no more home. When the night fell, Apple Dumplin' wondered again if she would go back in Strawberryland. She was exhausted, and she could hardly feel her feet, due to the tiredness and cold. She wanted to lie down on a public bench for the night, but she remembered Mulberry Murmur had told her to be wary about the policemen round dancing when the sun gone down. They could arrest her and send her in a homeless shelter. She had to get away from the city center. Apple carefully took a bus in the opposite direction on Strawberryland, in the direction of the suburb.

There were plenty of luxuous houses with big gardens in the suburb. But Apple Dumplin' didn't envy them. People living inside must be prisoners… prisoners of their own belongings, just as Strawberry Shortcake was with her Café. Her, Apple Dumplin', wanted to be free. But for the moment, her freedom was rather uncomfortable. She thought to set up camp in one of these gardens, but she thought later the owners wouldn't be happy to find her, the next morning. They would call the police. Looking for another place, who wasn't totally covered with snow, Apple Dumplin' stopped in front of a strange house. It was big, too, but it had been obviously neglected for the last years. Its frontage was flaking, its shutters were partially unhooked, some of the windows were sealed and the garden was invaded by weeds. However, the strange house was inhabited: a light went through a filthy glass. Eat up of curiosity, Apple Dumplin' slowly approached the door and looked inside. A group of teenagers of her age were sat around a campfire in the middle of a room what had been originally aimed to be a living room.

-Hello? Can I join you? Apple Dumplin' asked.

-Of course, answered the eldest girls. "Come on and warm you up, it's chilly outside."

Apple Dumplin' didn't need to be told once and quickly join the fire.

-What happened to you? The girl asked.

-I ran away. My big sister exploited me and mistreated me.

-You did well.

All the teenagers greeted Apple Dumplin' warmly. They told her their story and even shared with her the food, alcohol and cigarettes they had. Apple Dumplin' thanked them by telling them her adventures around the world, and telling them they could always find food in Strawberryland if they needed to. Maybe they didn't believe her, but when Apple Dumplin' felt asleep in her sleeping bag, she felt, or the first time since years, perfectly at the right place.

To be continued…