Chapter eight: Where are you, Strawberry Shortcake?

I could describe Princess Langwidere's distress when she had seen Evy's empty bed. I could say that she had burst into tears and begged her guards to find her beloved daughter. I could say she had started a research operation in the entire kingdom and threatened to death the kidnappers. I could add she had raised her army and sent her ambassadors to the neighboring kingdoms. And I could also explain that Princess Langwidere had totally lost sleep, her appetite, and her passion for her appearance because the only thing she was thinking about was Evy's disappearance.

In reality, Princess Langwidere had been upset when her guards told her her daughter wasn't in her room anymore. But it wasn't because she was worried about Evy, it was because she knew she would be force to search her, to give new orders to her guards, to organize the researches, and to make a speech about it, to prove her people she was a responsible princess, able to deal with a kidnapping. But it would be terribly boring, and she would have less time to dress up. At the beginning, Langwidere thought it was funny to be a mother, since her daughter was quiet and made no disturbance. Now, she understood how it could be difficult to live with a child, especially if this child was your successor, so in danger if being kidnapped in exchange for a ransom. Princess Langwidere didn't want to pay a ransom. She would have less money to buy new clothes.

Children were really constraining.

-Good morning Evy, Princess Glinda said nicely.

Princess Evy grumped in response. The room where she had slept was comfortable, but not as luxurious as her room in Ev; so she had decided she had spent a terrible night.

-I brought you some fresh clothes, Glinda added.

Evy glanced at them. She had taken no luggage when she had left Ev's palace, she had no dresses hers here. Glinda had chosen one of her dress, who was, of course, less finely crafted than Evy's one.

-Those rags are good for a beggar, Evy said with disdain. "I won't wear it."

During the breakfast, Evy said Oz's food was disgusting and refused to taste a single morsel. Glinda had to summon her patience to bear her. Lately, Glinda tried to explain to Evy was she was in Oz's palace, but she refused to listen to her.

-As I said, a Berrykin I had never seen before had settled in Oz two weeks ago. He said Princess Langwidere had adopted a mysterious little girl. When he had described her, I had recognized you, so I had gone to Ev to see if that girl was Strawberry Shortcake-you, I mean.

Evy plugged her ears.

-I can't hear your lies anymore.

-Of course, I immediately recognized you!But you acted so strangely, and you used to be called "Evy". I think you had suffered a brainwash and you don't remember anymore who you really are. Look at where you are! You act like a spoiled-rotten princess; you are selfish, haughty and fickle instead of being altruistic, friendly and generous.

-Nice story, Princess Glinda… If you are really a princess, whose I doubt. I know what you really are: you had kidnapped me to force my mother to give you a huge ransom… or maybe you want her crown?

-Evy, you know it's wrong…

-Who are you really, Glinda? Are you a power-hungry lady's maid? A spy, maybe?

Revolted, Glinda left the room to meet her "workmate", the Wizard, a young boy name Huckleberry Pie.

-Strawberry Shortcake refused to trust me. She doesn't even want to listen to me. What could you do?

-Hmmm… I don't know, Glinda. You are the princess, you have the magic powers.

-But you are the wise guy.

Huckleberry Pie though a moment.

-Maybe… I could try to hypnotize her.

-Will it works?

-We have nothing to lose.

Glinda and the wizard entered back the room where Evy was waiting for them.

-Evy, this is Huckleberry Pie, Oz's wizard.

-Is him a schemer, like you?

Glinda sighed. Huckleberry took a pendulum out of his pocket.

-Look at the pendulum, he ordered, "and listen carefully to my voice."

At first, Evy didn't trust him. What was him trying to do? But he had an agreeable voice and she felt she was falling asleep.

-…Try to remember your oldest memories…

Evy was surrounded by young girls of her age, it meant about eight years old. They were very busy, they were weeding a field and watering strawberries patches. Even if they were completing a chore, they were chatting and laughing, as if it was funny.

-Raspberry Torte, pass me the watering can, please.

-Watch out, Apricot, you're shuffling my flowers!

-Apple Dumplin', you must taste this strawberry. It's yummy, isn't it?

-Thank you Angel Cake.

-Coco Calypso and Seaberry Delight won't believe their eyes when they'll see our strawberry fields!

-Look at all we've done today. We can be proud of ourselves, can't we Strawberry Shortcake… Strawberry Shortcake? Strawberry Shortcake, are you okay?

Strawberry Shortcake jumped and opened her eyes. She felt like if she had been asleep for a while.

-Princess Glinda? Huckleberry Pie? What… What am I doing in Oz?

To be continued…