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 thirty-one: Huckleberry Pie's back (part 1)

Huckleberry Pie arrived in the afternoon. Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Blossom and Angel Cake were waiting for him resolutely. Strawberry's intention was to put the blame on him for his lack of manners, but he looked so desperate when he got out of his van she forgot the reproaches she wanted to make him.

-Strawberry, I'm so sorry, he moaned before they could say a word.

-What happened to you? Strawberry asked kindly.

-It's a long story… (I'm so stupid!) Before telling it to you, can I let the pets get out of the van?

-You brought your pets HERE?! Angel Cake cried, horrified.

-I had no solution left… (What a fool I am!)

-Be a man for a change! Orange Blossom ordered. "Stop apologizing and scourging you. It's purely useless! Do something useful. First, let your poor animals stretch their paws, and then tell us calmly your story. Let's go to the Café, we'll be better there."

Once more, Strawberry Shortcake admired Orange Blossom's skills of leadership. Without panicking, turning mad or feeling pity for him (unlike they all did), she had managed to take things in hand and sooth Huckleberry Pie; and she was only twenty-years old. She will do great thing later. And her, Strawberry Shortcake… she had a Café, but she gave it up. She did this for Apple Dumblin's good, and, anyway, she didn't want to make an international career. So, why couldn't she ignore this feeling of frustration growing in her heart?

The Café looked awesome. With the animals playing outside and its clean hall were the young women were gathering around an old friend they hadn't see since a so long time, who could imagine they were all living a crisis?

-All that I wanted was to offer the best conditions of life for those poor pets, shamefully abandoned by their owners… Huckleberry started.

-Don't be so grandiloquent and get down to business! Angel Cake impatiently sighed.

-Shh! Let him talk!

-I thought my animal sanctuary wasn't big and comfy enough for them. So, I did work, I bought new furniture… The problem was I hadn't enough money to pay them. I got loans, and I thought I would be able to repay it quickly… I increase the adoption's charge, but it scared off my customers… On the other side, I took all the pets I could find in… and, of course, I had to feed them, wash them, warm them up… Quickly, I found myself flat broke. On top of that, my creditors were growing impatient. They started to chase me up daily to get their money… The money I hadn't… I bet them to give me more time, but they didn't have any of it. It came to the point that I hardly dare getting out of my house, for fear of meeting them! It's when I asked you to lend me money.

-Well, and I suppose you're here to ask us to lend you more? Orange Blossom asked, a bit sourly (she perfectly know how to control her budget, and she couldn't understand how Huckleberry Pie ended by losing his shirt).

-The money you gave me wasn't enough to repay them, and I knew it. So…

-What? Strawberry asked.

-I decided to attempt the impossible to pay my debts.

Huckleberry Pie broke off again. Apparently, he was coming to the most painful part of his story.

-I thought I had anything left to lose…

-Carry on, Strawberry Shortcake encouraged him.

-I mortgaged my animals shelter, a.k.a my house…

Orange Blossom moaned.

-Well, there's everything left to play for! Strawberry cried, trying to seem reassuring. "Try to delete this mortgage. You can't take the liberty of losing it; but I'm sure you'll find a way to earn the money you need by other means."

Huckleberry Pie shook his head.

-No Strawberry, it's not so simple.

-So, what's up? Angel Cake cried. "Can't you be clearer?"

-I took all the money with me…

-Yes?

-I went to the casino…

-Huckleberry Pie… Please… Tell us it's a joke… Orange Blossom muttered.

-And I bet you lost everything? Angel Cake stung.

-I thought it would be a good idea! He whined.

An oppressive silence followed this last declaration. No one wanted to believe what they had heard, until Orange Blossom decided to break it.

-Well, let's recap: You have lost your house and all your savings, you are overburdened with debt, and you can't go back to the Berry Big City at risk of being pursued by your creditors. Am I right?

-Strawberry Shortcake, you are the only person who can get myself out of this bad situation! Huckleberry begged.

Of course, Strawberry Shortcake wanted to help her friend. But she must admit she was out of her depth. These financial questions weren't her specialism, and she couldn't picture what Huckleberry Pie's situation was and what was precisely threatening him. This time, she couldn't help.

-I hope you didn't forget you have one creditor here, too, Angel Cake harshly said, "In the person of the Berrykin Princess".

Huckleberry Pie lengthily moaned. Apparently, he did.

-I'm sure she will be indulgent, Strawberry Shortcake said, trying to comfort him. But everybody in the room knew that indulgence wasn't what Huckleberry Pie needed.

Strawberry Shortcake and Orange Blossom tried to come to an arrangement with the Berrykin Princess. They told her that, due to an unhappy experience, Huckleberry Pie wasn't able to repay her yet, but he was determined to pay his due and was precisely here to reach a compromise with her.

-I must admit a human his stronger than a Berrykin, she finally said, "And winter is coming to its end. If Huckleberry Pie help us to plow the ground in order to make our orchards ready for the springtime sowing, we would be square."

-We are extremely grateful for your understanding, your Majesty, Orange Blossom said.

-We can assure you Huckleberry Pie will be alright, Strawberry Shortcake added.

The same day, Huckleberry Pie asked where Blueberry Muffin was.

-You know she's at the college, Strawberry Shortcake answered, avoiding to look at him in the eyes.

-I went to the college in which she is registered, but they told me it's been four month she hadn't take a course there.

-So, she must be travelling, Strawberry replied, trying to hide the guilt in her voice.

Blueberry Muffin hadn't been against Huckleberry's coming, but she had clearly said she refused to see him or talk to him.

-Blueberry, why are you so angry with him? Strawberry Shortcake has prudently asked.

Blueberry Muffin has lengthily sighed.

-I'm not mad at him, but I don't want him to know he's about to have a baby with me, she has explained. "Do you think he would be a good father for this poor child?"

Taking the last events into consideration, Strawberry Shortcake agreed with Blueberry. Huckleberry was supposed to be an adult, but he was still so irresponsible, so reckless!

-I also think my baby hasn't to pay the price of my own mistakes, Blueberry has added. "I want her to have the best feasible life, a life I can't offer her. Entrust her to a host family is the best thing I can do for her."

What could Strawberry Shortcake answered?

To be continued…