CHAPTER 1 - Revelations and Goodbye

FOCUS: Ginger Snap

2008

It seemed like another normal day in Cookie Corners. Ginger Snap hummed a little tune as she put on her gloves to receive a freshly baked batch of cookies from her cookie machine. Her black ponytails hung straight from her head as she set a tray for the cookies that slid gently onto the tray.

Upon collecting all six of the cookies, Ginger set the cookie tray down onto a cooling rack…until her pet, Chocolate Chipmunk rushed in, chipping frantically.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Calm down Chocolate Chipmunk! What's the matter, girl, what's the matter?"

Chocolate Chipmunk pointed to the direction of the factory entrance, chitting anxiously. Sliding off her gloves, Ginger rushed over to the factory door, and opened it.

There, standing at the doorway, was a serious-looking officer. He was a sharp and respectable figure, with a dark blue attire and hat, yellow badge and black belt. He eyed Ginger Snap curiously through his black shades.

"Oh, hello there, how can I help you?" Ginger was very confused at what a police officer was doing on her factory doorstep.

"Are you Miss Ginger Snap?" the officer questioned.

"Yep, uh-huh, you betcha, that's me!" The officer suddenly raised an eyebrow, and Ginger immediately calmed down. "Sorry…"

"I'm from the Animation Rescue and Archive Board and I'm here to inform you that you have to leave Strawberryland immediately."

For one moment, Ginger Snap thought she was hearing things, or it was Huckleberry Pie playing a prank.

"What? Leave Strawberryland? But I live here. Why would I need to leave?"

"It's..complicated." the officer began. "But you must come with me for your own safety and protection.

"Huh?! Wha-What's going on? What happened? What did I do?"

"Nothing. You're innocent. But you must come with me. We know it's difficult…but we were given strict orders to do this."

"Who ordered you to do this? Where are we going? I ain't gonna go anywhere! I'm staying here!" Ginger was standing her ground, and as far as she was concerned, nothing was happening to where she had lived all her life.

She really is one tough cookie, The officer thought inside his head.

"As I said, I work for the Animation Rescue and Archive Board, known as the APAB for short. The Hasbro corporation is, apparently-"

"The who? I haven't heard of this Hasbro corporation."

"They have purchased the whole of Strawberryland."

"Oh, come on! What? Who sold this land to this Hasbro company? It ain't fair! I'm not leaving! Nuh-uh, nuh-uh! You can't make me!"

The officer sighed. "They are planning to revamp and reincarnate the entirety of Strawberryland into this thing called Berry Bitty City in 24 hours. Please, you must come with me to prevent yourself from dissolving away from existence."

"Dissolving away? Are you nuts? Listen, I ain't going anywhere with you. This place is my home, and I'm not leaving it. If they plan to do this, we'll stop them!"

"You can't, Ginger…" A familiar voice came from outside, but choked up.

Ginger stepped out of the factory, turned to the side of the officer, who kindly stepped out of her way, and saw…

"Angel Cake? Peppermint Fizz? Rainbow Sherbet? Huckleberry Pie? What's going on?"

Angel, Peppermint, Rainbow and Huck were standing behind a navy blue minibus. To Ginger's left, there was another navy blue minibus, and standing beside it were six other girls. Three of them were Banana Candy, Caramel Corn and Lime Light. There were also three other girls Ginger had never met, Coco Calypso, Seaberry Delight and Annie Oatmeal. All their pets were with them.

"Hasbro-is-is...They're gonna do something horrible to this place. We're the only safe ones. They haven't told Strawberry, Orange, Lemon, Blueberry, Raspberry or Plum!" Angel Cake sniffed.

"We're the only safe ones." Rainbow added.

"Safe ones? Wait, you mean they've told you but not Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte or Plum Puddin'? Why haven't they told them?" Ginger felt her hands grow cold.

"Because…" the officer began glumly.

"What do you mean 'because?' What's going on?" Ginger was trying to control her temper and avoid all signs of frustration.

"Because they're…" Peppermint Fizz piped up. She didn't want to reveal it either. "Because they're gonna be part of the reincarnation." Ginger felt her hands and legs shaking. "P-part of the reincarnation? What are you talking about?!"

"Please…" the officer pleaded with her firmly but kindly. "Pack your things and follow me."

"Wait, what? They're gonna destroy Strawberryland and then reincarnate it? This whole time they were planning all this? And if we don't leave, we're gonna disappear? I ain't leaving! Not a chance!" Ginger was trying not to look worried now, but her frustration was fading away.

"Ginger, you HAVE to! Or you're gonna die!"

"Huck, you're only trying to scare me. What do you mean, literally die? You mean, literally die?" Ginger felt her body quiver in fright, but her voice still sounded strong.

"YES!" Everyone shouted, staring bewilderedly at her.

"Wh- No, no, that can't be. You can't be serious. This is all happening 'cause Hasbro bought the place?"

"YES!" Everyone couldn't believe that Ginger Snap would be this tough to convince at times. Heck, even Peppermint Fizz was easier to convince earlier.

It finally dawned on Ginger Snap how very real the situation was. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! H-h-how long do we have before this happens?!"

"As I said, in 24 hours." The officer replied, looking at his watch.

"No…no, this can't be happening! Are there any more safe ones?"

The officer checked a list and marked off Ginger Snap's name. "Only two more. Does anyone know where Apricot lives?"

"The outskirts of Strawberryland!" Angel and Ginger said together.

"Ah, just nice. We need to pick up Apple Dumplin' as well. Does anyone know where she is?"

"I think she's with Apricot from what Strawberry texted me." Lime Light called.

"Thanks." the officer nodded to Lime before turning back to Ginger. "Now, Ginger, I recommend you go pack your things now, but only take what you value the most."

A few minutes later, Ginger emerged from the front door of her house, where the minibuses were waiting. She carried two luggages each in her hand, and a saxophone case and telescope in her left hand. Chocolate Chipmunk came out with two small bags of her own as well. The officer kindly opened the door of the minibus for Ginger and she and Chocolate Chipmunk stepped in.

Once Ginger and Chocolate were safely on board with Angel, Huck, Peppermint and Rainbow, the officer shut the door, climbed into the front passenger seat, nodded to the driver, and Ginger Snap and her friends were driven away, with the second minibus following behind.

As the minibuses drove out onto the main pathway, Angel patted Ginger Snap's shoulder as the latter looked sadly at her home for the last time. "Well…" Ginger rambled sadly. "This is it. Goodbye, Cookie Corners. Goodbye, Strawberry Shortcake. Goodbye, Strawberryland...I never thought it would come to an end like this…"

"At least we still have each other." Angel smiled at her.

This provided Ginger great comfort.