A Country Pumpkin (Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures)

A Country Pumpkin is the the first episode of Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures Season 5, and 65th overall. Compared to their younger depictions, Strawberry and her friends gained a more mature appearance as 16-year-olds since the series takes place 4 years after the events of the Season 4 finale, with Apple Dumplin, Strawberry's cousin, having gotten a bit taller, more graceful, patient, self-conscious, and wiser than her younger years. It also features newer characters, including those whose names are based on the beverages we drink with two of them being seasonal drinks for fall and winter, and all except one are males. Others, however, have foods named after them, as well. This also marks the return of Huckleberry Pie, and the first appearance of villains from the previous Strawberry Shortcake franchise, with the other two new ones.

Synopsis
When a new girl moved into Berry Bitty City, Strawberry Shortcake and her friends welcome her with open arms as her new neighbor. But that's not the only surprise; one of her best friends is in for the shock of her life as two familiar faces arrive for a berry grand opening to present a special guest and her friend.

Plot
A red ribbon is cut in half...because a bonsai tree house is built in Berry Bitty City. But not just any bonsai tree house; it's a records studio called Cherry Jamz Records, owned by none other than the famous singer herself, Cherry Jam! It has been four years since the grand opening of the Berry Bitty Market and Cherry Jam arriving in Berry Bitty City for the entertainment. And after that, a brief visit by Huckleberry Pie and his dog, Tom Tom. And then after that, the arrival of the Grape Twins, Sweet and Sour, and Apple Dumplin, Strawberry's cousin. Now, here they are; sixteen (except Apple who's just fourteen) and still growing as today is a special occasion for Cherry Jam. This grand opening also marks the anniversary for the making of her music video with her song, "Anything Is Possible". Sweet and Sour Grapes were already given a café of their own, Sweet & Sour Bakery, on their 16th birthday to store their food truck. And by the generous donations from Berry Big City through Huckleberry, the Berry Bitty Café is given an upgrade, with an extra bedroom that also serves as a computer program and repair workshop for Apple since her staying in Berry Bitty City. But little do the Berry Bitty Girls know, there's a berry special surprise for them just around the corner.

The next morning after the grand opening, Strawberry is asked to provide refreshments at Cherry Jamz Radio as a caterer while the Grapes Twins take over at her café when she hears singing on her way to work. That can't be Cherry. She hasn't written a song after the whole fiasco with Mavis Maraschino about not wanting to write another song ever again. Still, it sounded so velvety, gentle, sweet, and not to mention so strong that even a country person could keep with the beat. Who is this mysterious ultimate singer? Strawberry looks around for the source until she saw where--or whom--it was coming from. A girl with orange hair, dressed in country-style clothing, hence the cowgirl boots, with a pumpkin as her hat, on her outfit and boots, and smelled of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, was skipping while humming a tune into the small town and stopping at an area that looks like the perfect spot to...plant a seed? Soon, Strawberry was joined with Orange, Blueberry, Lemon, Raspberry, Cherry, the Grapes Twins, and Apple as they all watch what was going on. The girl drops the seed and covers it with soil, allowing a Berrykin, whom Strawberry did not notice was with her this whole time, to conjure sparkles into the soil, focusing on the seed. In an instant, something happened. A lone vine sprouts from the ground before splitting into five more, and from them, a group of five pumpkins have grown, with the biggest one behind the other four being the main part for a certain purpose. Then, that purpose makes itself known when a window has magically formed slightly below the top with a room inside, which makes it a penthouse of sorts. Next, another window has formed on the two pumpkins in front of the big one, creating a different kind of room with a refreshments barstand on the right side, a salon lounge on the left side, and an entire bistro section with a pumpkin-shaped stage fit for more than one musician between the barstand and a kitchen in the back, making it a restaurant--no, a bar. A medley bar, to be exact. Which leaves the final two pumpkins on each side to turn into private booths fit for four people. And for the few final touches; a terrace to decorate the entrance, making the bar enticing for all walks of life, and the vines detached themselves and turn into fences around the perimeter, leaving an open section for the entrance. When the construction is done, the girl whistles the other Berrykins over...with a movers truck. This could only mean one thing; Strawberry has a new neighbor! The other Berry Bitty Girls have never seen anyone like her before. With a berry big business like that, she could be born into the city life, but she dresses like a true country bumpkin. When Cherry Jam first came to Berry Bitty City, she was dressed like a regular person upon meeting Strawberry for the grand opening of the Berry Bitty Market. After Orange, Raspberry, Lemon, and Blueberry had gotten to know the real Cherry Jam, the former pop star has decided to stay in Berry Bitty City and start her new life as a composer, music writer, music instructor, and for the first time, a music producer for every gifted musician who will want to sing with Cherry, as long as its not for popularity or fortune. Now, it seems like the same could be said about this bitty bumpkin; that is, if she's a real bumpkin.

Seeing that she's Strawberry's new neighbor, the girls decided to give her gifts to make her feel welcome in Berry Bitty City. Strawberry is baking her first pumpkin spice soufflé the way she's baked her strawberry soufflés since the Berry Bitty World Record for Berrykin Bloom; Blueberry has already ordered a collection of Patty Persimmon books and a poster for the neighbor to decorate her room with (if she's the only neighbor); Orange is procuring an assortment of spices, fruits, natural sweetners, and every other ingredient for her to make healthy lattés, frappés, and even milkshakes; Lemon has worked tiredlessy to style her hair in a Southern-belle manner, while at the same time mixing a bottle of pumpkin spice perfume to give the bar an essential fragrance; Raspberry, given the neighbor's sense of style, decides to dress up as bumpkin herself in her honor; Plum has looked through her whole collection of CDs to see if she has any country-style music, including mixed genres, and she's found plenty for the neighbor to dance to; Cherry has managed to find a banjo for the neighbor to play her music, and lucky for her it's pumpkin-themed; Sweet and Sour Grapes, with the help of Berrykin Bloom, began making their first pumpkin spice cider (sparkling, of course) and pumpkin flavored ginger ale should this bumpkin plans on having a party at her place; and finally, Apple Dumplin uploaded a few country-style tutorial videos into her Groove Booties so she can practice all the moves herself in case the neighbor asks to dance with her.

The girls bring their gifts to the new girl's house and Strawberry knocks on the door. The bumpkin answers, and the Berry Bitty Girls shouted suprise, welcoming her to Berry Bitty City and offering her treats, music, special ingredients for her beverages, and souvenirs for memories. The bumpkin thanks graciously for the gifts and introduces herself as Pumpkin Spice Latté, and before anyone can introduce themselves, she's already figured out their names and talent for everything they do to a T, much to the girls' surprise. Plus, she's recognized the five girls from when they were touring with Cherry Jam in Berry Big City. And when she mentioned the Grapes Twins' names from when they were making deliveries in their food truck, she thought their treats are absolutely superb. Also, she's read numerous stories about Apple Dumplin's adventures on the Berry Bitty Web, and was so inspired by it all that she wanted to express her culture to the Berry Bitty World. So, this proves that Pumpkin Spice did grow up in the city life, but she confesses to being a country bumpkin at heart. Now, one would think that with a name like pumpkin spice latté, it'd be a seasonal edition for the Fall. But not this one; she's all about any kind of holiday for any season, and she sure can dance to any kind of music with country flair. And at her medley bar called Pumpkin Spice Cafélonistro, so many people are going to feel welcomed when they come from miles around just to get a taste of the treats and drinks. And the girls are all invited for Pumpkin's corral, as it will be the perfect event for the grand opening, which the girls graciously accept. But that's not the only surprise in store. Pumpkin Spice reveals to Blueberry that a special surprise package is waiting at her doorstep and that the other girls are in for one as well. In fact, Pumpkin already got her special surprise when a guy's voice calls out from outside the bar, but it doesn't sound like Huckleberry's voice. She, however, knew who it was and turns around to see the one person she had wanted the girls to meet. Standing at the doorway is a boy with coffee hair, burnt sienna eyes, and a stocky built slim body frame. It's her best friend and childhood sweetheart, Gingamon Cider. Feeling excited about the news and congratulating them for being in a relationship, the girls help Pumpkin get situated as she directs them to where the food and drinks can go, and debated where to put the decorations.

By then, it was time to call it a night, so Strawberry and the girls bade the couple goodnight and pick up where they left off in the morning. While they were gone, Pumpkin and Gingamon ran to the Berrykin's truck, carried one of the crates labeled "fragile" inside the bar, opening it, and peeked in saying to someone that the coast is clear. Who were they talking to? And why hide it from the girls? If they only knew...

As the other girls turn in for the night, Blueberry sees her Bookstore's lights are on, making her curious but also concerned what is going on. Is someone breaking in? She had to find out. But no sooner had she open the door, Blueberry saw what--or who--her "special surprise package" was; Huckleberry Pie! Squealing with joy, Blueberry just ran into his arms and hugged him, saying how much she's missed him for so long. Huckleberry could only smile and hug back as a way of saying he's missed her, too. But when he pulled back, that smile is replaced with a frown, concerning and confusing Blueberry. What could be wrong? That question is answered when Huck confessed that he should have been honest with Blueberry on the phone when he visited Berry Bitty City. Things were not good in Berry Big City; they were much worse. Blueberry listened as he told his story all through the night...

Strawberry's POV
The next morning, as Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon Cider directed the Berrykins where to place the furniture, Strawberry is baking pumpkin spice muffins and pumpkin spice waffles in the toaster for the early morning so she and the girls can get energized to help out with the Cafélonistro's grand opening when her toaster times out earlier than expected, causing the waffles to pop out in the air that Strawberry didn't react in time to grab a plate and catch them. But in an instant, someone grabbed the plate and caught the waffles just in time before they could hit the floor. A British-accented voice caught Strawberry's attention and she looks up to see a boy with opal white hair and those piercing silver eyes that could melt any girl's heart. But what really stood out are the dimples. How can anyone not be so cute without those dazzling features? The boy introduced himself as Pineberry Smoothie and offered treats of his own to Strawberry as a sign of his entry for applying to work in the Berry Bitty Café and getting to know Strawberry while he's at it. Hearing the way he spoke almost made Strawberry weak at the knees that she was able to compose herself in an instant and answered his questions without a single stutter, but an occasional giggle is fine for Pineberry.

Orange's POV
At Orange Mart, Orange is surveying the shelves to decorate Pumpkin's bar for the corral. As it turns out, she doesn't have any kind of proper necessities to decorate the bar with. She's already checked the Berry Bitty Market, and her own booth doesn't have what she needed, either. What decorations does one use for a corral? Fortunately, Pumpkin gave Orange a business card yesterday when she was helping set up the ingredients at her business. She called the number, and in no time flat, they answered. It was a number for Frappé Landscape & Horticulture from Berry Big City, and the person talking to Orange is Cappuccino Frappé, the owner. While she's talking, a door opens, meaning that somebody is entering her store. She's even started giggling when Cappuccino commented about hearing the name from when she and the girls toured in Berry Big City with Cherry Jam, and complimented on her dancing with the tambourine on-stage being so adorable. While the person walks up to Orange quietly, Cappuccino asked if she was expecting any visitors at some point, only for her to respond no, and Orange realizes that he sounded much closer this time. Then, when Cappuccino tells her to turn around, she obliged and was nearly knocked off her feet when she sees the person she didn't hear come into her store. In front of her is a boy with sienna hair in dreadlocks, chestnut eyes, and a well-toned body frame. It's Cappuccino Frappé himself! When Pumpkin Spice told Orange that Cappuccino has a very likable personality, she wasn't kidding. In fact, he's real a guardian angel for anybody in the Berry Bitty World! And he's more than happy to help Orange with the decorations for Pumpkin Spice's corral at her bar. For Orange, it's a win-win because she'll get to know more about Cappuccino from her own perspective like Pumpkin has.

Raspberry's POV
Meanwhile, at Fresh Fashions Boutique, Raspberry is struggling to come up with designs for the corral that fits the style of the theme. But after last night of greeting Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon, she's already developed artist's block and can't figure out what design fits the theme, and she's made so many that fits her friends' styles to a T, it's taken a toll on her. Plus, her fabrics are all over the place, which makes it much worse. Maybe some fresh air will do her good, and that might help get her creative windows to open again. But when she walked out of her boutique, she noticed something at the corner of her eye. Sitting on the grass is a boy with long tea green hair styled in a braid and top knot wearing a hair adornment in a meditative position with his eyes closed. Curious, Raspberry walks up to him without making a sound, but to her surprise, the boy sensed movement as he held his hand in the air, like he's telling her not to move. How does he know without looking is a question she will never understand. The boy states that he's "almost done". He also adds the magic is in the planning, and he never draws a single line until he is sure. And in an instant, he opens his light green eyes with a smile on his face, drew what he meditated at rapid speed in a sketchbook of his own, and finally showed his work to Raspberry. It's a picture of herself dressed in the same style of clothing as his, but with a different attribute that's suitable for females. It's incredible! He just visualizes the design in his mind, and drew it in a millisecond without missing a step! He's such a talented fashion designer! She was able to snap herself when the boy asked if his work was to his liking, and she admitted that she loved it. Taking it as a compliment, the boy introduces himself as Matcha Latté, a quadruplet sibling of Pumpkin Spice, and asked if he could work with Raspberry, seeing that's she's a talented fashion designer herself. Raspberry accepted the help with no questions asked and shook his hand eagerly...until the moment is interrupted with grumble from her stomach. No wonder she's struggling to come up with designs. She was supposed to be sketching early before going to the Café, but her hunger came earlier than expected. But as the old saying goes, "chivalry is not dead" as Matcha held out his arm for Raspberry so he can escort her for breakfast, and then they can get know each other and give each other fashion tips.

Lemon's POV
But Raspberry isn't the only fashion expert having problems in her own business. At her salon, Lemon struggled to assist the customers because her arms are sore from styling her hair when she and the girls greeted Pumpkin Spice and helping set up the bar for the corral. But the extra work put into it made her arms hurt more, and no matter how many times she tries to rest in a comfortable position, even her body ached from arranging the furniture in Pumpkin's bedroom above the bar. Fortunately for her, the salon is now vacant so she can relax a little more. Then, opportunity knocks. Literally, someone knocks on Lemon's salon door, but Lemon is too exhausted to open it for them, so all she can do is say "it's open". Somebody walks in, but Lemon can't see who it was with her head down, and is still too sore to say anything else. With a look of understanding and sympathy in his lawn green eyes, the person puts down a silver briefcase he was carrying with a lime wedge logo, presses a button, and it turns into a spa massage bed. The person gently picks up Lemon bridal-style and places her on the bed. Lemon then feels something pressing on her back. Confused, she opens her eyes and turns her head to see a boy with a sock beanie cap resembling a lime wedge massaging her back. The boy looks back at her and smiles, apologetically hoping she did not mind this kind of treatment and an aroma therapy to ease the stress. Lemon accepted it and encourages him to continue what he's doing, but not before asking for his name. Feeling grateful, the boy asks her to hire him to work in her salon and she's got herself a deal, introducing himself as Key Lime Chiffon.

Plum's POV
At Sweet Beats Studio, Plum is practicing her square dance to perform at the corral, but even with the music playing, she feels "off-beat", so to speak, without rhythm. She was told by Cherry Jam yesterday that Pumpkin Spice Latté was a natural-born country dancer and did the square dance like a pro when she performed in Berry Big City. But after spending a whole day helping Pumpkin Spice get situated in Berry Bitty City, Plum has suddenly lost her own "inner music", so it looks like she can't perform at Pumpkin's corral. But then, she hears a funky beat outside her studio. It's actually coming from the marketplace. When Plum got there via scooter, she is absolutely floored by what she sees. On the stage, some sort of dance performance with a group of Berrykins watching a boy with a hood over his head and a slate blue mask covering his lower face breakdancing to the music, and the stage is propped with a large blank white canvas. But Plum doesn't remember hearing from either Strawberry or Princess Berryin announcing a rehearsal in Berry Bitty City. Who is this guy? She's never seen this sort of dancing before, except maybe from the Berry Big City dancers, but something tells Plum that doesn't seem like the case. Curious, she walks up to get a closer look. And then, the hooded breakdancer did something unexpected. He takes out...water balloons? Except these aren't filled with water. The liquid's too thick unless...they're filled with paint. With a spin, the boy throws one of the water balloons and it exploded into gold paint. But it didn't splatter all over the place; the white canvas is also drawn with a special marker that either keeps the paint in place or for it to trace along the outline. Even so, the boy's got good aim, but he's not done yet. He throws another water balloon, but this one is filled red paint, and it covers outside of the outline for a background. So, all that's left is to fill the area where the gold outline traced around. He's down to his final water balloon, and it's bigger than the other two he's thrown. Plum just stands there with anticipation, waiting to see how this ends. He backflips, then frontflips, and incredibly, he pulled off a Triple Arabian flip, throwing his last water balloon with his feet! The water balloon hits the empty spot head-on, and the purple paint (boysenberry, to be exact) splatters out perfectly on where the gold outlines the area, creating what the picture is revealed to be; a boysenberry fruit. Words fail to describe this performance, but an applause breaks out and Plum is cheering with enthrallment, it's caught the attention of the Berrykins that they all joined and thought that was the most astounding performance they've ever witnessed. Taking it as a compliment, the boy bowed and lowers his mask and hood to reveal his tekhelet eyes and very short medium dark brown hair with an undercut, eminence streaks and a cinnamon roll-like spiral on the sides of his head. Plum is shocked to the core because she recognized the boy as Boysenberry Roll, Berry Big City's street performer and graffiti artist of Boyz N' Berry Graffiti Studios! The boy in question just chuckled at her enthusiasm and for the recognition of his reputation that he returns the gesture with a shake of the hand and presenting a Gooseberry pie, her favorite. Plum couldn't help it; she just jumped up and hugged him, saying that she loved to have him perform at Pumpkin's corral with her, only to realize she was still hugging him and lets go, apologizing for her outburst. But Boysenberry, given his share of love for dancing, forgave her by saying that it would be an honor to work with a dance instructor like her. After all, they both have ways of finding their inner music wherever they are in the Berry Bitty World.

Cherry's POV
Elsewhere, Cherry is taking a stroll in the berry patch on her way back to her recording studio when she hears a guitar playing...and someone singing? That can't be Huck, though. He couldn't sing a proper note, he can't get a handle on...anything that's new to him since he's stayed in Berry Bitty City to have his pup-mobile fixed up, his acting is horrible, he can't dance, and he freezes at the mention of being on stage in front of so many people. Plus, he was a klutz with the construction equipment until he found Cherry's lucky charm that, because of it, he was made an honorary member of the Society of Extraordinary Engineers. But this other guy--whoever he is--has such a smooth voice unlike any Cherry's ever heard of in Berry Big City. When she got back, the base of the tree house is empty, so where is the singing coming from? Then when she peeked to the side of her tour bus, she can see who was singing by the doorway. It's a boy with very short onyx black hair and a jasmine headband tied around his head, playing a song with his electric sitar that resembles a bit like one of the Odishabazaar Ceramic Kulhar Cups. And he smelled like cardamom, lemongrass, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves...almost like Pumpkin Spice Latté. Could this boy be related to her in some way? While the boy is singing, Cherry felt as if the lyrics are dedicated to the most beautiful person in his life, no matter what she looks like. Is he singing...about her? As he sang, he caught a small whiff of cherry blossoms in the air and when he opened his saffron eyes, he glances to his right and sees Cherry watching him play, smiling. He smiles back and continues his song until he's finished, and he looks back at Cherry, who apologized for unintentionally distracting him from his singing. But he politely tells her not worry, for he does not mind an audience, especially if it's one special person. The boy introduces himself as Masala Chai Latté, another quadruplet sibling of Pumpkin Spice, confirming Cherry's theory to be sound. He confesses that he doesn't just sing for the fame, but also to send a message to the people in the Berry Bitty World who are waiting for answers to come to them. And when not in public, he sometimes sing about what his heart is saying to him. That's what led him to sing about Cherry Jam since her performance with the Berry Bitty Girls in Berry Big City. Cherry had no idea how strong Masala Chai's feelings for her were. Normally, most other people would hang out with Cherry just for the popularity, but Masala Chai is different. In a way, he's exactly like Cherry. Both lived a pampered life in the big city, but at the same time, they go to the countryside to relax and give up the life of fame and fortune. Feeling that she could connect with him on another level, Cherry offers to escort Masala Chai to Berry Bitty Café, which he accepts.

Grapes Twins' POV
At Sweet & Sour Bakery, the Grapes Twins are preparing special concoctions for the corral, but with an interesting twist. For the first time, Sweet Grapes mixed up a certain batch of sauces for Sour Grapes to taste-test. The gothic chef takes a sample with a celery stick and tastes it, her eyes wide as, well, grapes. This is the most well-seasoned sauce she's ever tasted! She asked her sister what is this aromatic yet smoked flavor, and Sweet responded it's a recipe she's read about famous for this particular sauce in Pumpkin Spice's old hometown called honey BBQ, though not as spicy hot as Berrykin Bloom's chili sauce, but it does have some zang to it. Sour, with little to no reluctance, wholeheartedly agrees with her sister and offers another kind of sauce of her own for Sweet to try. This one is different from the one she's tried; not just in flavor, but also in color--yellow, like mustard yellow. Like Sour, Sweet takes a sample with a carrot this time and tastes it, her eyes closed contently for savoring the flavor. This is the sweetest, most seasonal flavor she's ever tasted. Sour confided in her sister she would like it and reveals to her the sauce she's tasted is one of Pumpkin Spice's favorites, the honey mustard. Turns out, the Grapes Twins have swapped out their roles on what assortments to make, be it sweet or seasonal spices. And it worked out for both of them because now they have some special condiments to serve in the corral with Strawberry as caterers. But then, a few voices caught their attention from outside the kitchen and they see two boys entering their café. Apparently, they were "discussing" about the styles of attire and culture. One of them is dressed in Irish-styled clothing, having Shamrock green hair streaked with spring green highlights and emerald green eyes, yet he speaks with a Scottish accent and dialect, and has on Scottish-style accessories like the tartan tam and sash; the other is more of a preppy bad boy with hazel eyes and bronze hair with long bangs swept to the side. The latter, however, sparked a memory in the Grapes Twins' minds. They both knew the boy from when they were doing food deliveries on the road before meeting Strawberry and the other girls. But he didn't seem to be pay any notice because he was busy looking at his clipboard and writing something down on paper, possibly evaluating people's jobs and their tasks. When he walked to the Twins' food truck, Sweet and Sour offered him treats (the same way they did Raspberry and Lemon) and he takes one of each without looking. Taking a bite, he grades their culinary skills and just as he was about to ask for another, his eyes locked on Sour's and everything stops for them. But it was short-lived when Sweet prepped the treats for to go. The boy didn't really want to, but he has to so that he can keep grading everyone else's jobs and tasks...before waving a sad good-bye to Sour. She waved back, but felt more disappointed that she didn't get his name. In the present, Sour still has that disappointed look on her face and Sweet was the only person who noticed it since that day. She didn't like seeing her sister so upset, so Sweet owed her a favor after the birthday present Sour gave her. When the boys sat down on one of the tables, Sweet and Sour greeted them just like they did with Strawberry--without fighting about who's food tastes better this time--before presenting the food to start it off, giving Sour a chance to get the boy's name. But in no less than a second hearing her voice and looking up at her, he instantly recognized Sour since they were kids. Standing up to shake her hands, he finally got the chance to introduce himself as Breadfruit Pudding. Wait, "Pudding"?! That's the same name as Plum's! Breadfruit chuckled at the Twins' reactions, he confirmed that he is indeed Plum's older brother, and explains the reason he's dressed in purple like his sister is so that he honors her, no matter how far away they are in the Berry Bitty World. But the surprise doesn't stop there; the green-clad boy next to Breadfruit introduces himself as Shamrock Shaek, the final quadruplet sibling of Pumpkin Spice Latté. Pumpkin Spice, too?! The Twins were told she has three brothers, but his last name doesn't even match like his other siblinh'! Shamrock agrees with that logic, but admits to being related to Pumpkin Spice, Matcha, and Masala Chai; they just come from different sides of the family. Though, he can't deny his style of attire being a form of a mixed heritage, but the real symbol of his culture is the tartan pattern on the tam and sash, which represents a clan from his family's side. The four-leaf clover is the depiction of his first name, and like his quadruplet sister, he's all about any kind of holiday for any kind of season, not just for Spring. Plus, the way he talks, especially when he was walking in with Breadfruit, no one really understood what he just said. But Sweet did, and she thought the way he's dressed and how he talks is pretty cute, making him blush the color of Strawberry's hair. Sour and Breadfruit could not believe their eyes! Is Sweet Grapes being, well, sweet on Shamrock? He managed to compose himself so he can offer small boxes of his own treats; Rosella Berry Trifle and Marmalade Flourless Blondies. Sweet took a bite of the trifle, and her eyes close blissfully as she savors the flavor just like with the honey mustard. Sour can see where this is going and suggests to Breadfruit they leave her sister and Shamrock alone for a bit, and the preppy bad boy agrees. After all, they got a lot to talk about.

Apple's POV
In Berry Beautiful Meadow, the creation of a Berry Bitty Web page has taken place as Apple Dumplin sets up a digital newspaper called Blueberry Bruit so that Blueberry Muffin can post a blog from her account and write an article about what goes on in the Berry Bitty World, including her reviews on Pumpkin Spice Cafélonistro. Pupcake, now a full-grown Beagle with his ears drooping downwards, and Custard, now a full-grown cat with her white muzzle more noticeable than when she was a kitten, are keeping her company since Strawberry will be busy at the café making preparations for the Cafélonistro's grand opening when they hear something buzzing, making Apple stop in her tracks. It can't be the postal bees or ladybugs because few are either currently working in the postal office at Orange Mart or making deliveries in other parts of Berry Bitty City, and whatever is making that sound is a bit more mechanical than normal. Plus, it's smaller than the bees and ladybugs…and it's close. Very close. When Pupcake and Custard saw the source of the buzzing, they growled at it as they stand in front of Apple, who followed their gaze and realized what the object is. It's a tiny, strawberry-shaped drone with butterfly wings for flight, powered by Wanderberry magic, fueled by sparkleberry juice, and runs on Glimmerberry energy. Apple recognizes the object as the Strawbre Flyer VX, one of the latest, high-end drones in Berry Big City. But so far, no other stores in Berry Bitty City have drones like this because these very models are super rare, they sell like hot cakes faster than Apple could promote tasty treats Strawberry bakes daily. But how did this drone make it to a small town that's mostly common in a cosmopolitan area? When the drone flew downwards, Pupcake and Custard nearly jumped at it, but see how very tiny it is. In fact, it's so tiny, no one but Apple could spot it from a few feet away. Not to mention the drone easily fits in her hands. It's such a delicate work, that very few people could design one that even fits inside a controller that pilots it. Which brings out the question; how did this particular drone know where to find Apple unless…someone is controlling it? Then, realization struck her like lightning. The Strawbre Flyer VX also has a built-in camera that's sometimes used for surveillance purposes, which means that the person who invented this drone might be nearby. But what really caught her eye is the youngberry symbol above it. Whoever invented the drone sure has mechanical engineering capabilities, just like she does. Suddenly, they hear rustling, and Pupcake caught a scent of youngberries in the air. He barks at Apple and points to the direction where the mystery lurker is hiding. She'd ask for help, but with the girls busy with their projects for the grand opening, Apple will have to rely on her own wits and be smarter this time. Now…what would Strawberry do if she were in this situation? She'd trick him, of course. Silently gesturing Pupcake and Custard to play along, Apple pretends to play with the Strawbre drone before putting it down so that its camera is facing the pets and not her walking in the other direction. She stealthily tiptoed around the area where Pupcake sniffed the intruder. As she got closer, she could see a small patch of brown in the leaves. Slowly and quietly, Apple creeps up on him, reaches out for the leaves and pushes them away, exposing who the intruder really is. It's a boy about her age with dark auburn hair, cordovan eyes, and maroon goggles over his head. In his hand is the very controller for the drone he sent out, having the same logo below a monitor, which is how he's been watching her from afar. So, he's the one who invented the latest drone in Berry Big City. After walking back to Apple's quiet spot, the boy took the time to get over the awkward situation they were in and introduces himself as Youngberry Crépe, inventor of the Strawbre Flyer VX and a cousin to Boysenberry Roll. Wait, he's related to the street performer and graffiti artist of Berry Big City?! Just like her to Strawberry Shortcake! And Apple's heard tons of stories about Boysenberry when she was touring in the neighborhoods of Rubosville, his old hometown. One thing's for sure; the guy's got quite a reputation going for him, and it was thanks to his cousin, Youngberry that he's gained an entourage and many supporters of the world for his old neighborhood's liberation from loan sharks who would want to claim it as their own turf for crime syndicates. According to the articles, his face was never visible due to the hood over his head, and there were rumors that Boysenberry may have gone underground (fancy way of saying when someone's hiding in the shadows) because every time the Berry Big City Police arrive, he disappears into the crowd and no one's heard from him since. The last time anyone has seen of him was during the opening ceremony at Berry Big City Bitty Games where Strawberry and the Sweet Beats performed that day. But Youngberry has been keeping track of his cousin's whereabouts and offered him residence in Youngberry's caravan outside the city so that he doesn't get spotted by the police or anyone against the use of graffiti art. Even so, Apple was just lucky to have met someone famous in person during her adventures in the Berry Bitty World and another with the talents she has. That was just the response Youngberry wanted to hear as he confessed that the Strawbre Flyer VX is a gift for Apple and, if possible, as a sign of entry for applying to work with Apple, who confessed that she "feels too young" to hire someone, but is willing to make that exception, only for Strawberry's sake. The last thing she wanted is to keep someone awake with the music blasting in their room or cause a little chaos in the city.

Pineberry's Backstory
Back at the Café, as the customers (mainly Raspberry and Matcha, Cherry and Masala Chai, and Blueberry and Huckleberry) have their breakfast, Pineberry takes the already-made waffles and pancakes outside where Strawberry is waiting; Redbud and Rose Hip, respectfully. Yes, he's taken note by Huckleberry that Strawberry was allergic to the Hibiscus and the Purple Puffpetals, so maybe these new flowers Pineberry provided will be edible enough to not make her sneeze or her nose stuffy. All her years, no one has ever done like this for Strawberry, or be so considerate of her allergies. And like a proper gentleman, Pineberry pulls a chair for her to sit and pushes it back, and he pulls one for himself. They both look and smell so delicious, Strawberry decided to try the Rose Hip waffle first. Pineberry waited with anticipation until he sees the smile on her face, which means that she loves it, especially when she tasted the persimmon powder. And when she tries the Redbud pancake next, her reaction is the same. Just like with the Grapes Twins, Strawberry commends that he has mad baking skills. Taking it as a compliment, Pineberry took her hand and kissed it, making her blush the color of her hat. After calming down, he told his story about what made him go into the baking business. Before coming into Berry Big City, Pineberry started out as a student at a baking school in Sconewall. When he graduated with flying colors, he participated in an exchange program to apply for a job at a bakery in the big city. He can still remember it; the smells, the aroma, the taste of the treats reaching up to his nose--it was paradise. When the opening ceremony of the Berry Big City Bitty Games began, the staff hired him as a caterer, right before the upcoming performance by Strawberry and the Sweet Beats, especially when the mention of Cherry Jam sparked the excitement. At first, he did not know what to expect; seeing Cherry Jam or watching Strawberry Shortcake playing her guitar on-stage. The latter was pretty obvious; when Pineberry heard her sing, he thought she had a voice of an angel, and the fact that she can bake any pastry in the Berry Bitty World as well just makes his heart flutter. In fact, when he was invited to a royal ball by none other than Queen of Berryvania herself, he was nearly knocked off his feet after tasting the Olallie Rhubarb Surprise and the Very Berry Spice Royale. Isn't there anything Strawberry can't do? It's because of her, Pineberry was inspired to create pastries of his own in her honor and pay his contributions to the Berry Bitty Café. Strawberry couldn't help but gush about it; she had no idea her talents would inspire anyone to do anything berry sweet for someone like her. She then asked him if his own cooking aspired him to open his own café in Berry Big City, only for him to respond a sad no, much to her dismay. She asked if it's because his cooking didn't live up to everyone's expectations, but it was the opposite of that, and a much more different matter. Pineberry was working in a bakery and serving Huckleberry one day when an unexpected guest walked in with beetles bigger than ladybugs and bumblebees combined for bodyguards and holding a grape cane in his hand; all signs that tell Pineberry "Purple Kingpin". He was talking to the ladybug manager of the bakery, demanding his cut of payment or he threatens to tear it all down and convert it into a four-story townhouse. Unable to take this treatment, Pineberry walks up to the crime boss with a check in his hand...which is more than what he asked of his cut. Infuriated with the amount, the Purple Kingpin angrily takes it and walks out of the bakery with the bodyguards in tow, but something tells Pineberry that he'll be back to try and take it down again. The manager thanked Pineberry for his bravery, and as a sign of gratitude, she gives him the keys to her caravan for that he can travel anywhere in the world as he pleases. Pineberry tried to refuse in knowing that the manager will lose her business at some point, but she insisted he takes it and confidently states she will have to move onwards and forwards to start over. This gives Huckleberry an idea into handing over his Pup-mobile to the manager, and she is free to modify it in any style she wants. It's just the motivation he needs to see Blueberry again in Berry Bitty City. He may be the owner of Huckleberry's Home for Pets, but he's also an Honorary member of the Society of Extraordinary Engineers, so not only will he be able to build his business elsewhere, but he's also willing to repurpose the caravan and make it suitable for more than six people, let alone four extra. Impressed by this hidden talent, Pineberry accepts the gift and wishes the manager good luck on her moving on to bigger and better things. Jumping back to the present, he finishes his story by saying how he had to burn a few bridges to get an entry into every restaurant he comes to because emailing a resumé will likely put him and Huckleberry at the risk of being tracked by someone (i.e Purple Kingpin) who could be watching his every move. After what happened in Berry Big City, he feels that no matter where he goes in the world, he couldn't get away from the hate. Strawberry felt sorry for Pineberry. She had no idea how scary his life had been, and just when he was starting to enjoy baking in the city, all of that was ruined no thanks to the person who threatened to take it all away. But she was very understanding and offers to let Pineberry stay in Berry Bitty City as long as he likes, silently promising she won't tell a soul. With that, they share a hug.

Matcha's Backstory
After a well-energized breakfast, everyone except Cherry and Masala Chai went back to the task at hand, with Raspberry and Matcha walking back to her boutique to get started on her fashion designs for the corral at the Cafélonistro with his help. Like Pineberry, Matcha tells his story about what drew him into the world of fashion designing. Before moving to and from Berry Big City, he and his quadruplet siblings were born in Pumpkin Grove, their old childhood home. Pumpkin Spice was the oldest of the four (by 4 minutes), making her the Strawberry Shortcake of the family and always looking out for others. When they were kids (about Apple's previous age), Matcha was so shy at the time that he would watch from a distance than join the crowd. He would wander around the forest, finding peace and quiet with himself that he just sat down at a spot and relax his mind, letting his thoughts flow within and without. Then, realization struck him. He discovered how inspiring it felt to create that he would sketch it out and show it to the world. When they reached a certain age to run businesses of their own, the quadruplets went their separate ways with Matcha enrolling in a fashion warehouse in Berry Big City. A couple of months before the Berry Big City Bitty Games, word got around that a talent scout will be bringing someone from Berry Bitty City to become a fashion star and when the name Raspberry Torte struck a chord for him, Matcha is curious to what this person looks like. The day after the talent show from Berry Bitty City, when Raspberry arrived in the big city for the first time, Matcha felt as if his heart was stolen from him. He thought she was a fine work of art between being sophisticated and charmingly rustic. He wanted to go and say hi to her, but due to his shy nature--along with the interference of Mavis Maraschino--he couldn't bring himself out in the open without being seen by the public. So, the day before she heads back to Berry Bitty City to move into Berry Big City, all Matcha could do was leave behind a red rose and a small case with a raspberry card wrapped in raspberry paper. Then, it hit Raspberry. The rose, the card, the necklace she's wearing now--that was Matcha Latté? All this time, she thought it was one of the staff from Berry Bitty Magazine, but it was really Matcha who left her a gift in her hotel room! At least, that's what Mavis wants her to believe, given her atrocious behavior towards her friends. Matcha agrees unequivocally, and when he learned that Raspberry chose to stay in Berry Bitty City, he was saddened about it but understood completely. She wasn't acting the same way like when she first arrived in Berry Big City, and after seeing her in that awful outfit upon departure, he was horrified that Mavis made her wear it per her suggestion. Raspberry apologized immensely that he had to see that and admits to hating it, but the worst thing she's guiltier of is assuming Cherry being jealous of her becoming a star. She was right about one thing; it's hard being yourself when you're a star. But to Matcha, she is a star in his eyes; a fashion star. And it was proven when he saw her again during the Berry Big City Bitty Games. Her style, her outfit, her designs--this is the real Raspberry Torte who had stolen his heart a few months ago, and he was determined to show her that. But instead, all he can do is sneak on Strawberry and the Sweet Beats' tour bus so he can leave his gifts for Raspberry Torte and left before the girls got back and return home to Berry Bitty City. All those times Matcha had been seeing her, he loved what he saw about Raspberry on stage. She has great berry friends, passion for fashion, and exquisite style. And after getting to know her more, Matcha has stopped being so shy around her and spending time with her made him more comfortable and relaxed. Raspberry had no idea how strong this boy's feelings were. Then, she remembered the first time she came to Berry Big City, those very gifts left behind for her and realization struck her like inspiration. How could she not have seen it? She was so focused that she did not notice Matcha in the crowd, smiling at how talented she was on the keytar (the piano was bartered for), and the costumes she's designed for her friends and herself. Matcha wasn't looking for just some inspiration, he was looking for someone; he was looking…for her. And this time, he really meant it; Raspberry has been Matcha's muse since her visit in Berry Big City. She had no idea what to say, only for Matcha to politely ask if she'll say "yes" on a proper date. All she can do is nod with a shy smile and a faint blush on her face.

Cappuccino's Backstory
At Orange Mart, a Frappé Landscape & Horticulture truck is parked next to it as Cappuccino had called it over from Berry Big City to assist Orange. While she's directing the Berrykins where to put the flowers in her newly built greenhouse, Cappuccino explains his backstory on his interest in landscaping and flowers. Originally, he started out as a florist of Macchiato Acres in New Mexicocoa. Whatever the customer asks what flowers to pick for a special person in their life, he would always show them the right one for each occasion. To them, he was like a flower guru and would plant even the most beautiful perennials in their gardens to give their homes a warm glow and beauty that makes every person who walks by them smile. It was a purpose he's contributed over the years and so proud to uphold it. Until one day, it was put to the test when his floral crops are affected by a disease more severe than Plaidus Spotus; the Byzantium Blight. Unlike how the Plaidus Spotus changes the color and texture of the plant, the Byzantium Blight is almost unrecognizable because when it makes contact with the soil, it becomes clear as soon as it's absorbed into the flowers, making its signs unnoticeable once they're in full bloom. Plus, like with snake venom, its essence is highly toxic in any form as it seeps into the body in seconds. But Cappuccino was the first to notice it during an early harvest when his body felt the signs; high fever, aching chills, and minor nausea. The effects overwhelmed him to the point of passing out and he was too weak to move or call for help. Thankfully, Lady Luck was on his side when the Berrykins found him and took him to a hospital nearby. The doctors were kind enough to give him a cure thanks to the soil sample the Berrykins found on him. Cappuccino felt better later on and wanted to express his thanks for saving him, but he was disheartened that he could only salvage what he can from one part of his field that had not been affected by the blight. Eventually, he decided it was not worth it and moved to Berry Big City to start a new life. Everyone in the big city has heard stories about him, his flower crops, and his recovery from the Byzantium Blight in New Mexicocoa that they offered him support and benefits so that he can open a new business and contribute to the society the same way he's done in New Mexicocoa; build a botanical garden. In the present, Orange is both astounded and sympathetic towards Cappuccino. He had a purpose that he upheld for so long, it was nearly taken away from him by an unexpected occurrence that has taken a toll on him as well. If it had been her, she would have gone through the same pain he did and lose her own business as well. But this situation is way different than how she felt about leaving Berry Bitty City. Cappuccino never took anyone for granted after almost losing his crops, and was so thankful that someone helped purify the soil with special ingredients to kill the blight and save the flowers; something that reminded Orange how she once "talked down" to the Berrykins for doing so poorly in her store and came up with a variety of excuses to stay in Berry Bitty City, knowing how long she and the girls will be gone. Thanks to Berrykin Bloom, she is given a reminder of home in knowing that she won't feel a sense of homesickness when she's away. Picking up a flower (a blue iris, to be exact), Cappuccino concludes after settling in, he saw the state of every garden they were in; flowers wilted, soil eroded, and houses close to collapsing. With the help of many Berrykins, and a few construction bees, Cappuccino restored, renovated, and upgraded every house and its garden into a prosperous, peaceful place. And with it came his reward; a flower shop and greenhouse converged into one headquarters called Frappé Landscape & Horticulture. After finishing his story, Cappuccino gives Orange a bouquet of irises (blue, white, and purple) as they remind him of the virtues every person possess; wisdom, trust, hope, and valor. The colors are a beautiful combination to Orange because they reminded her of what Strawberry used to say when things seem out of hand; "Even though we're bitty, we can do big things!" And Cappuccino certainly did make a big difference in spreading his contributions to the Berry Bitty World. Orange said nothing, but instead embraces Cappuccino in a hug, who was surprised by it but hugs back. This is the one flower Cappuccino's truly cherished and never wants to give away. In fact, the scent of blossoms and oranges is the only reason how this girl lives up to her name beautifully that he just feels right at home.

Key Lime's Backstory
At Lemon Salon, Key Lime tells his story when he finished helping Lemon set up diffusers. They reminded him how he assist his clients with the burdens they deal with in their, including one in particular; Cappuccino Frappé. They were like brothers, always laughing and joking around, but they would look out for each other. When he heard of Cappuccino's recovery from the Byzantium Blight, Key Lime procured special remedies for a spiritual healing in purging the disease. But as successful as his business was, he was running out spices and fragrant flowers for his remedies, which is mainly due to the blight affecting the crops. They have been trying to figure out why this happened, but with every flower plucked and fruits harvested, it feels like it's not enough for everyone. But Cappuccino, like a big brother he was to Key Lime, reminded that they will find a way to get through it all and start again, just like Cappuccino did when he was suffering. It helped him relax and as he waited for a parish Berrykin to arrive, Key Lime was attacked...by the very beetle bodyguards who were with the Purple Kingpin when he was harassing the ladybug manager Pineberry worked for. The next thing Key Lime knew, they went berserk; wrecked his spa, scaring off his clients, and even beaten him up in the process just as he was protesting after what they have done to his spa. And he has never forgotten what they have said to him, either; "we don't want your kind around here". Hearing those words hurt Key Lime so badly--emotionally than physically--he can only imagine how many people the Purple Kingpin has threatened to take from them just to get what he wants. And he would have been finished off hadn't Cappuccino come back and scared them off...for now. Lemon felt her heart break for Key Lime after listening to the hardship he's endured and survived. He would have lost everything. When he was being fixed up, the doctors of Berry Big City Hospital did a blood test and found traces of palatinate extract in his system, which is what caused the Byzantium Blight years ago. Fortunately, they have the antidote for it and he was feeling much better. It nearly broke his heart to leave it all behind, but Key Lime believes that by moving on, one can start over and create something new. Lemon could only empathize and offer him a bottle of essential oil called Honey Lemon Purifier, so that anytime he wants to relieve himself of the pain he's been through, he'll just breathe it in and the weight is lifted not just from his lungs, but off his shoulders (metaphorically speaking). All Key Lime can do is smile and hug her.

Boysenberry's Backstory
At the town's gazebo, Plum and Boysenberry are having lunch together after that small performance he did on-stage. She is still in shock and awe upon meeting a famous street performer and graffiti artist in person. Why, she's read tons of stories about his life before coming to Berry Big City, such as how he fought to save his old neighborhood from being bulldozed into the ground. But that wasn't the only thing Boysenberry has done. Back when Rubosville was a small, run-of-the-mill suburban town, the atmosphere is pretty dull, to say the least. There was no style, no art, and no expression on anyone and anything. Boysenberry and his cousin, Youngberry were the only few to express their talents on what they do. But one day, they discovered how they can inspire the neighborhood when they combine their talents. So over the years, Boysenberry does the entertainment with graffiti art and breakdancing, while Youngberry records the action and posts his videos on the Berry Bitty Web, spreading it throughout for all the world to see. Word gets around quickly than one can say "galloping gooseberries", and the next thing they knew, the neighborhood is granted benefits and support to give their town a makeover and bringing the communities back to life once again. But that didn't mean it hadn't attracted unwanted attention in the big city. As the small town began to get on its feet once again, Boysenberry and Youngberry are confronted by a massive group of badger gangsters being led by a stern, business-like, city diva named Raisin Cane. That name struck a chord for Plum. Could she be related to the Grapes Twins? Maybe when she talks to them, they'll have an answer. When Boysenberry asks what brings her to Rubosville, she remarked to being appointed as liason by order of her boss, Purple Kingpin. All the people of Rubosville are fully aware of Purple Kingpin's reputation in the crime world, and the fact he has sent a partner of a liason to survey the neighborhood only just makes things much worse. Raisin's more than a protogé to the boss; she's a professional grifter, meaning that she's likely to swindle, smuggle, and even launder money from under their noses. But Boysenberry knew better than to give in so easily to her threats. Thanks to Youngberry, his drones have recorded the whole thing on ordeal and sent the video to the local authorities of that area so that every police force in the Berry Bitty World know of Purple Kingpin and his accomplices. Raisin, on the other hand, is not too worried about her failed attempt in loansharking; instead, she's got bigger surprises up her sleeve. Why, she already knew of a certain Berrykin with a certain desire to do whatever it takes to get what he wanted. As if on cue, Plum stiffened when she realized which Berrykin Boysenberry's referring to; Berrykin Bertram, cousin of Berrykin Bloom who once grew the rarest chili pepper in the world, the Big Blue Blazer. So, Bertram had help from the Purple Kingpin to better his chances in the hot sauce contest against his own cousin. No wonder why he's winning the Golden Chili every year…up until Berrykin Bloom beat him out of honor, great craftsmanship, a lot of time and efforts, and great love and care. Those previous judges had to have been henchmen of Purple Kingpin's that Bertram was too happy to pay, or even care. When word got around about the rigged contest, the authorities came and arrested the crooks, while Berrykin Bertram is put into custody for unknowingly assisting a crime syndicate to do his dirty work. Purple Kingpin, on the other hand, took the opportunity to claim ownership of Bertram's home and have his soldati (soldiers) find and procure the Big Blue Blazer for its seeds so they can grow a massive number of Blue Blazers using the same method of conditions, without having to go back and forth to Meandering Meadows to grow one rare chili pepper at a time. Berrykin Bertram can sulk in defeat for all the Purple Kingpin cares; he doesn't deserve to reap the rewards with benefits. But what does Purple Kingpin need the Blue Blazer for? Another thing about Raisin Cane that makes her so dangerous; she's a real expert strategist and alchemist in both flower and food crops. Sure enough, Boysenberry learned it firsthand when her badger gangsters approached Rubosville the second time again...and looked more savage than their last arrival. And judging by the blue in their eyes, this is the work of the Blue Blazer. It doesn't just make the perfect ingredient for a spicy hot chili sauce, it also acts as stimulant in the brain that causes the animal (like a badger or a beetle) to lash out on anything or anyone in their way. And after his big performance at the Berry Big City Bitty Games, the police who have been looking for him was just a tip of the iceberg. It was all nothing but a ruse for Purple Kingpin to try and run Boysenberry and Youngberry out of the big city and his old hometown. Even when he has an entourage on his side, Boysenberry still couldn't be seen by the public and risk his cousin's life in the hands of the authorities. So, they left Rubosville, but they had to go separate ways to avoid recognition by anyone who could be associated with the Purple Kingpin until meeting again. In the present, Plum had no words to say. Boysenberry is a street performer, graffiti artist, and a sole rebel? He's a triple threat! She could relate to it, being a danseuse, choreographer, and yoga instructor. But being labeled as a fugitive (she was given a "Word Of The Day" calendar Apple had recommended since Blueberry loaned her a dictionary and a thesaurus) is something she's never considered as an agenda in her career. Boysenberry concluded that the life he and Youngberry grew up in no longer exists anymore. He can only hope that his talents inspire others to fight back and take back what was stolen from them. But Plum remarked that Boysenberry does have a life; an artist. And Youngberry has his as an inventor. Those are the things no one can steal from him or his cousin for that matter. And no matter where they go in the world, they can put their minds to it and make something out of it. All they can do is try. And with that, Plum leans on his shoulder and held his hand, silently telling him that her doors are always open, while Boysenberry pondered on her words and squeezed her hand.

Masala Chai's Backstory
Meanwhile at the Berry Bitty Café, Sweet Grapes and Shamrock take over for Strawberry and Pineberry in serving Cherry and Masala Chai their food while Pineberry assists Strawberry in making pumpkin spice-flavored treats for the corral. Speaking of Pumpkin Spice, Masala Chai tells his story to Cherry about how his sister met Gingamon Cider when they were kids. When Matcha was still watching his siblings, Masala Chai and Shamrock would listen to their quadruplet sister singing as she plants the seeds for the upcoming fall harvest in the making of her pumpkin spice lattés. She began playing her banjo with Masala Chai playing his sitar in harmony to help the plants grow faster when someone walks up to her, causing her to stop and see who it was next to her. It's a boy about the quadruplets' age with a beret on his head. The boy introduces himself and complimented on what he was hearing when he's taking a stroll across the countryside. Pumpkin Spice did the same and tries to apologize for making him lose track, but Gingamon thought it was no bother to him at all. He's already feeling right at home hearing it and didn't want it to stop. Then, he did something unexpected. He offered his hand to her...as an invitation to dance with him. Masala Chai sees this and forms an idea in his head to set the mood for the two by playing his sitar to the song he and Pumpkin were playing earlier called "Cover Girl" (which was the song Cherry heard him play when they met). Pumpkin accepted the invitation and they dance without a care in the world. Just by watching the two, Masala Chai felt a warm sensation in his heart. He didn't know it then, but when he was playing his song, he could hear a voice in his head and it wasn't his; someone else is singing with him. Pumpkin Spice, Matcha and Shamrock Shaek were the few people he loved like any other sibling would love theirs. But this one is different. It's like his heart was telling him that he would eventually experience love unlike any other. When they have come of age, the quadruplets went their separate ways with Masala Chai pursuing his career at the record studio while Matcha was enrolling in the fashion warehouse in another part of Berry Big City. When he's being escorted by a manager, Masala Chai hears someone singing, and in the corner of his eye, there is the ultimate singer in the Berry Bitty World; Cherry Jam. Her voice reignited the same warm feeling he felt when he played his song for Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon. This is what his heart was led him to; his true love. When he settled in his singing booth, Masala Chai can still hear her voice from across the room, completely spellbounded by how angelic she sounded. He was so entranced about it, he almost didn't register a familiar voice in the room with him. He looks around to see Pumpkin Spice in the same room with him! She got promoted, too?! When the quadruplet siblings were leaving Pumpkin Grove, Pumpkin Spice said she wanted open her business somewhere in the big city, but she needed the money to help promote it. Then, when she was surveying every empty building she comes across, she bumped into a familiar face she hasn't seen in a berry long time; her childhood sweetheart, Gingamon Cider. The last time they saw each other, they were just berry bitty kids; but now, it seems that their destinies have intertwined in a way they would see each other again. After that reunion, Gingamon took Pumpkin Spice to a records studio where Cherry Jam sang her first song for her music video, "Anything Is Possible". Word of Pumpkin Spice's musical talent gets around pretty quickly that the producers sent an assistant manager to hire the country bumpkin; Periwinkle Pearblossom. That name sent shivers down Cherry's spine. Periwinkle's one of the managers that's been a pet peeve in her daily life and never leaves her alone to relax just because her producer has a say in the matter. Even though she hasn't met Pumpkin Spice in person until then, Cherry worries how this might affect Pumpkin's daily life more than Cherry's. A few months before the grand opening of Berry Bitty Market, whenever Gingamon takes Pumpkin Spice out on a date after her rehearsals, the Berry Bitty Sweethearts (according to her agents and publicists for Berry Big Glitz & Glamor magazine) get bombarded by the paparazzi, and it's putting a damper on their normal lives that they can't seem to relax everywhere they go, especially since Periwinkle has been following Pumpkin Spice's every move to get the story that will make billions across the Berry Bitty World. But no one seems to realize or notice the stress it's putting on the country bumpkin; she can't spend her quality time with Gingamon that they had to cancel their dates all together. The only one person who notices this is Masala Chai, Pumpkin's quadruplet brother. On every front cover of Berry Big Glitz & Glamor magazine, he caught a glimpse how distressed his sister looked in the picture that it's affecting Gingamon Cider also to see the love of his life so upset. The day before the grand opening, when Cherry was cordially invited to perform at the Berry Bitty Market, Masala Chai took the chance to follow her lead to drive his sister and Gingamon out of the city and relax in the countryside. He's already explained the situation to the agents, managers, and even the producer, and they all agreed to give Pumpkin Spice the best time she deserves, while also taking note on Periwinkle's behavior and act of misconduct unbecoming an assistant manager for invasion of privacy and creating scandalous stories about Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon Cider's relationship hanging in the balance as a means of blackmailing Pumpkin Spice to work for Periwinkle the entire year that they had to fire her. Fortunately, with the money saved up from selling the magazines with real stories, the studio was more than kind to pay Pumpkin Spice with full benefits needed to open her medley bar, with Gingamon Cider as her partner. Before long, the news of the Berry Bitty Sweethearts opening a bar in the big city spread like wildfire that Berry Big Glitz & Glamor magazine want to help promote it to make amends for putting Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon Cider in a stressful situation with the press. Although, that little incident brought up rumors and speculation of Periwinkle's blackmail being part of the method plotted by the Purple Kingpin to smuggle money through Pumpkin Spice and redistribute it to certain markets that have these particular objects; the Blue Blazer peppers. But since she was fired from her job, they have no evidence to prove it otherwise, so that theory is out the window. However, Masala Chai caught a glimpse of Periwinkle out in the public talking to someone riding in a limo, and they gave her a gift as a bribe to come up with the money that will provide supply and demand for purchase of weapons and forensic equipment to distill the Blue Blazer peppers as a bioweapon. So, Periwinkle wasn't really involved in the mob; she was just a liable means to swindle money from the people who buy Berry Big Glitz & Glamor magazine from under their noses. Pumpkin Spice and Cherry Jam were just the bait in her strategy for a scandal story Periwinkle had suggested to the publicists as a cover-up for a much more sinister plot. But when she got found out, chances are that her getting fired from the records studio was just what Purple Kingpin needed to recruit Periwinkle as his underboss for a mob he's running. After Masala Chai, Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon Cider got back to Berry Big City, the paparazzi level eased up a bit so no one will be going after the Berry Bitty Sweethearts for another scandalous story. But that didn't stop a certain surprise about to befall on them. On the night of the Berry Big City Bitty Games, when Strawberry and the Sweet Beats performed for the opening ceremony, Pumpkin Spice and Masala Chai were given invitations to watch the concert first-hand provided by Gingamon Cider for front-row seats when a flash of tea green catches their eyes next to them. Standing on the lower left one seat adjacent to Pumpkin Spice's is their brother Matcha Latté! The siblings couldn't express how happy they are to see each other again. It's not exactly complete without Shamrock Shaek, but this is the best reunion they ever had. When the Berry Big City Bitty Games is coming to a close, Matcha left his gifts for Raspberry, while Masala Chai leaves his own for Cherry; a pink sparkling good luck charm. Wait. The very good luck charm Cherry has been carrying with her to help her sing the high notes...came from Masala Chai Latté? And all this time, she thought it came from one of the hosts in the Berry Big City Bitty Games as a reward for Strawberry and the Sweet Beats' performance. But it was really Masala Chai who left the good luck charm for Cherry. In fact, she still has a piece of it after splitting it in half for her and Huckleberry to have as souvenirs. At his confirmation, Masala Chai revealed that he left the charm for Cherry as a way of wishing her a good fortune and happy life, and may she never have to endure the misfortunes of her daily life. In a way, Cherry has made her own luck twice. Not only was she able to sing her high notes with practice, patience, and confidence in herself, but it also led her to Masala Chai without her knowing she'd be in the same place as he is. And now that they finally got to meet face-to-face, Cherry did the one thing for this endearing gesture; she kisses him on the cheek, catching Masala Chai off-guard. His heart was beating, his face was flushed--he didn't think he'd be the type of romantic for someone like Cherry, or vice versa. But this proves how much she meant to him, and he wanted to show her that in the best way possible that she eventually returned the favor. Now, it seemed he's the lucky one. And after seeing Cherry finally acknowledging his generous gift and special feelings for her, Masala Chai thought of a way to repay that favor; their first kiss. Cherry wasn't expecting that, but she returned it, Strawberry, Pineberry, Sweet Grapes and Shamrock having already left the café to give them privacy and watching the cute moment from the window, silently cheering that they're finally together.

Shamrock's Backstory
After congratulating the new Berry Bitty Couple, Sweet Grapes and Shamrock returned to Sweet & Sour Bakery for the preparation of their berry first layered cake of all time; Carnation Sparkle Royale Surprise. Ever since she and Sour assisted Strawberry in the deliveries of her treats, Sweet thought of the perfect way that'll help Pumpkin Spice's medley bar bring in the whole community together all over the Berry Bitty World; by bringing together the biggest cake in the world inspired by Strawberry's cakes and the Grapes Twins' frostings. And speaking of whom, Shamrock tells his story about what drove him to baking during the time his sister and Gingamon Cider became childhood sweethearts. Every Fall, whenever Pumpkin Spice makes her lattés, Shamrock would smell the aroma of pumpkins and spices being brewed together into the perfect beverage. The recipe she came up with is the perfect combination for the scent of Fall, he wondered how he could complement her talent with his own. Then, it occurred to him. Just recently, Shamrock has been baking a few confections in his spare time while Matcha was off calming his thoughts and Masala Chai played a little music for their sister and Gingamon; Toffee Shortbreads and Vanilla Blondies. He decided to use Toffee Shortbreads for the occasion since they're almost the same colors for Fall, but they will definitely complement with the pumpkin spice lattés. Pumpkin Spice, Masala Chai, and Matcha all approved of this idea, as this is something he was born to do. When they reached a certain age, the quadruplets went their separate ways with Shamrock having enrolled at a baking school in Sconewall, the same place Pineberry Smoothie attended. And when the two met, they were soon teamed up with a task to creating the ultimate layered cake to represent their cultures in the Berry Bitty World. The winning teams to come up with the best cake gets to receive the biggest reward of all; an invitation to a royal ball by decree of Queen of Berryvania. Not only that, the ultimate cake created by each teams gets to graduate and move onwards with a career of their choice. And once the votes were tallied...Shamrock and Pineberry came out on top for first place. Every Berrykin who assisted the other contestants on their confections congratulated them on their hard work and team effort, and the contestants gave them a celebratory lift...except for a certain Bonnie-and-Clyde duo who looked on with disdain and jealousy, while their confection, which had black licorice whips and red and green grapes, is put in 4th place. After graduation, Pineberry and Shamrock were hired as caterers for the upcoming Berry Big City Bitty Games...with backstage passes to boot! And then, fate took an unexpected turn, but for the better. On the night of Strawberry and the Sweet Beats' performance, as he and Pineberry are giving out their treats and backstage passes, Shamrock did a double take on the seats below him, and when got a closer look, he sees that it's Pumpkin Spice, Matcha and Masala Chai in the crowd! As the Berry Big City Bitty Games came to a close, Shamrock took the opportunity to make himself known and surprise his siblings, completing their reunion in a full circle. Even though the quadruplets have been apart for so long, Pumpkin Spice realized that one's dream doesn't feel complete...without someone else in it, or more. After hearing her confession, Matcha, Masala Chai and Shamrock admitted to feeling the same way as they all agreed they didn't have to run businesses of their own; they simply needed each other. Fortunately, their wishes are granted as a certain vehicle with a familiar boysenberry logo on the side drives up to them next to the Sweet Beats' tour bus. Gingamon got out from the passenger's seat and introduced the quadruplets to the person driving it; Boysenberry Roll. The siblings couldn't express how excited they are to meet the celebrity graffiti artist and asked what was he doing all the way from Rubosville. The boy in question was just passing through when he heard rumors of the Berry Bitty Sweethearts hanging about at a concert and had the chance to meet at least one of them in person before leaving, even if it's only brief. So, as Matcha and Masala Chai leave behind their gifts for Raspberry and Cherry, Pumpkin Spice bids her goodbyes and wishing Boysenberry good luck on his fight for the whole neighborhood, while Shamrock was talking to Gingamon about the royal ball he and Pineberry were invited to as caterers. As if on cue, Gingamon revealed to have received his own as well, but as a guest of honor with Pumpkin Spice! This is meant to be a surprise date for her to make up for the previous mishaps in Berry Big City since the whole Periwinkle debacle. Shamrock was made aware of the story from his brothers as they all felt sorry for their sister to go through such stress, and is hoping that this surprise will help her feel better. He then complimented how proud he felt for Pumpkin Spice to have someone so special like Gingamon, and hope he doesn't let her go, which the coffee-haired boy promised. Months after the Bitty Games, around the time the Grapes Twins and later Apple Dumplin arrived in Berry Bitty City, the royal ball is underway as an assortment of desserts baked by Strawberry Shortcake are ready for the tasting; Strawberry Soufflés, Pineapple Sideways Cake, Ollalieberry Rhubarb Suprise, Great Grape Grandy, Gooseberry Geyser, Mucho Mocha Mango Mousse, Nana Num-Nums, Strawberry's Fabulous Fig Frappé, Wanderberry Créme Cookies, Boomberry Pies, and Very Berry Spice Royale. Already, Pineberry and Shamrock tasted the six-layered cake, the former blissfully savoring the flavor just thinking about the very person who baked it. As they went back for seconds, a flash of dark purple caught Shamrock's eye as he looked up to see a boy surveying the table of desserts and writing something down on his clipboard. Immediately, Shamrock recognized him as one of judges who awarded him and Pineberry in Sconewall. The boy was Breadfruit Pudding, Plum's older brother. And when Breadfruit saw him and Pineberry, he never got the chance to properly introduce himself until now. The three officially met with Pineberry admitting that he didn't get to thank Breadfruit for the invitation...and the award for graduation, which he curtly accepted and congratulated the two for an outstanding teamwork and creative thinking on their cake. To Pineberry, however, as appetizing as it seems, it nowhere nearly tops the creativity like Strawberry's Very Berry Spice Royale does, which Shamrock caught on knowingly a long time ago that his friend's got it bad for Strawberry Shortcake. Although, it's not as surprising as seeing Breadfruit of all people invited to the royal ball, but what is surprising is Breadfruit admitting that he wasn't really there as an invited guest, only as a chaperone. For whom? The answer came to them when they heard a couple of voices nearby talking to the Queen of Berryvania, and Breadfruit pulled Pineberry and Shamrock away to avoid being spotted by those two, which confuses Pineberry and Shamrock more. What was Breadfruit spooked about? It was the opposite, actually, but much more complex than that. As the three peeked behind the bushes, they got a good look at the people talking to the Queen...whom Pineberry knew in an instant when they were in Sconewall. They were the same classmates whose cake was put in 4th place, but weren't given a career of their choice or an invite to the royal ball. So,...why are they here? Then, it clicked for Pineberry. Breadfruit is their chaperone, and at that confirmation, he revealed their names to be Raisin Cane and her partner/boyfriend, Licorice Whip. Those names made Sweet Grapes flinch, which Shamrock didn't notice, thankfully. She and Sour had to put up with Raisin's superficial personality and cold behavior; Licorice Whip, on the other hand, is someone you don't want to cross paths with, especially when he's with Raisin Cane. As usual, whenever she's appointed liaison, Licorice was with her as an escort. And even though he wasn't assigned for any assignment crime-related, Breadfruit had to maintain his composure so that he doesn't lash out on the Purple Kingpin for his daughter's sake. When it comes to social media, she knows exactly how to keep him under her control so that her father doesn't get arrested for the crimes he's committed over the years. Plus...Licorice gives bad boy types like Breadfruit a bad name, and given his scary reputation as Raisin's committed boyfriend, he's always on edge. Now that both he and Pineberry are made aware of their roles, Shamrock has to make sure that Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon don't get exploited as the Berry Bitty Sweethearts, or it's Periwinkle Pearblossom all over again. And he needs to figure out how he can help Breadfruit break away from Raisin's clutches, as well. So, Pineberry devised a plan of plans. As the two culinary graduates go to properly introduce themselves to the "Thieves' Repertoire" couple as a distraction, Breadfruit snuck over to the Berry Bitty Sweethearts in exchange for their safety and his freedom from Purple Kingpin's emotional shackles over him. Once he got the two further away from the party, Breadfruit offers to drive Pumpkin Spice and Gingamon Cider across the countryside and enjoy their time together to see the rest of Berryvania, while Pineberry and Shamrock joined them after having gotten away from Raisin and Licorice, the former two telling the thieving couple that Breadfruit had a family emergency and won't be coming back anytime soon, even though it was a little white lie to just get him away from Purple Kingpin. Speaking of whom, ever since Pineberry stood up to the crime boss and was rewarded with transportation to travel around the world along with Huckleberry, Shamrock has been saving up from the jobs he's switched back and forth to provide Breadfruit whatever materials he needs to upgrade Pineberry's caravan and fix up a new pet adoption vehicle for Huckleberry and his dog, Tom Tom to rest in. After giving it some thought about what to do since his freedom from Purple Kingpin, Breadfruit decided to work with Huckleberry as his manager for Huckleberry's Home for Pets, which the latter greatly accepts. And just as they were adding the final touches to their vehicles, Pineberry finds a lone box; a box filled with...kittens! All eleven of them! One of them, an opal white and red British shorthair with silver eyes like his, stares at Pineberry and hopped out, laying on his lap. Just like with Huckleberry and Tom Tom, the kitten has chosen Pineberry to be his owner, who now names the kitten Biscuit. In fact, just thinking about it reminds Pineberry of when Strawberry once named a dog Biscuit, whom Huckleberry now named Tom Tom later on and the dog decided to adopt him instead. And didn't Huck also mention of the girl having a cat along with a dog of her own? Oh, he just knew he's destined to meet Strawberry Shortcake one day! When the others come to see what caused the commotion, they were in awe and touched by the most adorable sight. Already, a few more matches were made; Shamrock gets a Scottish Fold the same color as his hair and emerald eyes named Cranachan, Huckleberry gets a blue and yellow American Bobtail with blue eyes named Cheesecake, and Breadfruit ends up with a caramel Siberian with pale brown eyes named Smoothie. And with a box of remaining kittens just waiting to be adopted, Huck can continue running his business on the road with Breadfruit along for the ride. Luckily, Pineberry ordered a box of packed dog biscuits for the kittens (that is, if cats like biscuits) since they haven't eaten anything for so long, and Shamrock has gathered ingredients for vegan kitty kibbles that are savory-flavored like the biscuits, but mixed with powdered stevia, yam, quinoa, flax and cassava to replace the meat for protein. That's when it hit Pineberry and Shamrock; homemade pet food! Huck's new minivan wouldn't just be a pet adoption vehicle; it will also be a mobile pet food kiosk! And with the ingredients stocked up, Pineberry and Shamrock will be sending out new recipes for Huckleberry to make on his own, with Breadfruit providing supply and demand on the merchandise! Now, that's teamwork all the way, every day! After coming to an agreement that day, Huck's Pet-Mobile is up and running, now equipped with a semi-trailer labeled Biscuits & Kibbles in honor of Pineberry and Shamrock's hard work, talents, and dedication for inspiring Huckleberry and Breadfruit through teamwork. And to celebrate this momentous day, Shamrock brought a special treat for a job well-done; Persimmon Hazel with Honey Waffles. Wait. That's the same delicacy Sweet Grapes created when she and Sour were serving their treats to customers. So, before they ended up lost in the big strawberry patch and after serving Breadfruit treats to-go, the one customer who came to their window was...No way. It was Shamrock?! That explains the huge amount of Strawbrelien money in their tip jar; because Shamrock brought the whole plate of Persimmon Hazel with Honey Waffles when the Grapes Twins were busy with serving Breadfruit. On the other hand, however, Shamrock had no idea it was Sweet Grapes who baked her pastries, which actually helped her lived up to her name. No wonder he felt drawn to the Sweet & Sour Bakery; it was the one spot in Berry Bitty City where the Grape Twins are now residing after their food truck had gotten a flat tire. Now that they have officially met, Shamrock can finally give Sweet Grapes for her sweetest pastries; a lavender and white English Setter named Eclair. He found her when she was just a puppy and Cranachan was still a kitten. Now four years later, here they are as full-grown cat and dog; the latter having waited so long to see her new owner and her forever home. Sweet could not comprehend it all. Shamrock has been such a generous gentleman to give not one, but two meaningful gifts in one day. How could she not realize that? With happy tears, Sweet leaped forward and hugged Shamrock, with him returning the hug. Now if only she had the courage to tell him about Raisin Cane...and another painful subject she and Sour will have to discuss.

Breadfruit's Backstory
And speaking of the gothic chef, Sour and Breadfruit are having a private picnic in Sweet and Sour's Food Truck on the same spot in big strawberry patch where the Grapes Twins had a flat tire. As they are having canapés and dates, Breadfruit comes clean about never tasting anything so edible and very well-seasoned for a long time because he was always busy grading people's performances and their cooking capabilities, he's never gotten the chance to taste the food on account that Breadfruit has been procuring treats for his boss, Purple Kingpin. Sour paled at the mention of the name, but she didn't let it show so that Breadfruit doesn't notice. But the one question that's been nagging in Sour's head is how did Breadfruit happen to come across Purple Kingpin in the first place? That was a question Breadfruit had hoped no one would ask, but unfortunately there's no way to avoid it. So, reluctantly, he tells his story. Before working for Purple Kingpin, Breadfruit wasn't always the bad-boy type; in fact, he's always prepared for every situation that comes to him and brings whatever necessity is needed. Why, some might say he's got a very discerning eye. Whatever he sees catches his attention, Breadfruit is not afraid to call out if something is real or fake. And it was proven effective when he met this street promoter selling "Sensational Spritzers" to anyone who comes to his stand; Johnnycake Cobbler. Breadfruit has never met this person before, and he would have heard about Johnnycake from the news, but his products seemed too good to be true. Normally, whenever the liquid is spritzed out, it would emit an aromatic scent in the air. And Breadfruit was the only person to notice this, so he sneakily borrowed one of the spritzers to see it for himself. But when he tastes the solution in his mouth, the flavor is anything but edible. It's just brown sugar and water mixed in together to make it sound "sensational" when it tastes so...bland, to say the least. Unable to take it, Breadfruit calls out on Johnnycake's Sensational Spritzers to be a fake, and caught a video of Johnnycake mixing the solution in his minibus without anyone noticing. Now that his scam was exposed, Johnnycake attempts to leave premises, only for the police crickets and marshal grasshoppers to stop him in his tracks and apprehend him. Even though most citizens are disappointed about the product, only one person was truly disheartened in seeing Johnnycake's arrest; Whitney Baneberry, his presentation model. Everybody knew how close those two have been, just as much as Raisin and Licorice were since their own style of crime brought them together to begin with. And no matter how many times she was cheered up, Whitney was either too distraught to listen or she could care less about what people think of her and Johnnycake being a couple. There was one person, however, who took notice of Breadfruit's "steely eye" ability; Steve Piemanne, whom people knew him as Purple Kingpin then. Unlike most scam artists, Steve was a professional thief who was not a particular person to take in the sleaziest mercenaries under his wing. He sees in those who possess true potential and flawless capabilities to teach them the ways of thievery and grifting. When Steve offered to hire him, Breadfruit had to keep his skepticism of him to a down-low so that Steve doesn't suspect any sense of hesitation in his body. The task was nothing criminally out in the field, really; it's mainly to organize a crime while providing a cover-up for the next order of business. Thankfully, he didn't have to be out in view of the public where people can see his work. Though, it did nothing to help on the fact that Raisin Cane was walking by his doorstep whenever she's recording videos of herself and posting them on the Instaberry website for social media fame where his chart could be seen. Or whenever Licorice Whip watches his every move so that Breadfruit doesn't screw up the perfect crime or tries to woo Raisin, whom Breadfruit denies having any romantic feelings for. And every time Steve assigned him to watch the mansion while he's out on his daily runs, all of the bodyguards are right where Breadfruit is working! It's not like he did anything wrong...except the occasional sneaking into the kitchen just to get a bite to eat. Luckily for him, Raisin and Licorice were able to let him off easy so that he can stay hydrated and energized while working. And to his surprise, the Thieves' Repertoire couple came clean in admitting that they only pretended to enjoy her father's job to please him, but it's been cutting into their time together as a couple, they haven't gone on normal dates. When Purple Kingpin heard about an exposed scam,

Berry Bitty Girls

 * Strawberry Shortcake (voiced by Anna Cummer)-The titular character of the franchise as owner of Berry Bitty Café and Berry Bitty Market in Berry Bitty City. She's a young, teenage girl with fair skin, freckles on the face, bright green eyes, curly and wavy hip-length red hair, and an hourglass figure. She still has her pink strawberry hat, which is updated with small dark pink diamonds and bright green sequins on the leaf, and her new attire is a red long-sleeved jacket over a sweetheart green tank top with white intricate design, rose pink, ruffled, tiered, tutu-like skirt resembling an inverted strawberry, pink tights, and red mid-heeled boots with white soles.
 * Orange Blossom (voiced by Cymphonique)-One the current residents of Berry Bitty City and Strawberry's best friend as owner of Orange Mart. She's a young, teenage girl with brown skin, auburn eyes, peach lips, curly and wavy, hip-length brown hair, and an hourglass figure. She now has on a peach hairband with her signature flower and orange, and her new attire is an orange, long-sleeved blouse with a white-bordered, orange sailor collar held with a peach tie clipped with her signature flower and orange, a sharp-edged skirt alternating from peach to orange at the knees held by a white-bordered, peach belt with her signature flower and orange as a belt clip, goldenrod tights, and orange mid-heeled boots with white soles and peach edges.
 * Raspberry Torte (voiced by Tabitha St. Germain)-One of the current residents of Berry Bitty City and Strawberry's best friends as owner of Fresh Fashions Boutique. She's a young, teenage girl with fair skin, pink-violet eyes, pale pink lips, curly and wavy hip-length dark raspberry hair with bangs curved from the side, and hourglass figure. She now wears a deep pink jeweled hair clip lined with pastel green resembling a raspberry, and her new attire is a multi-layered raspberry dress with pastel green lacing and lined with raspberry jewels under a purple coat, a raspberry necklace, light pink tights, and purple mid-heeled boots with light pink cuffs and raspberry jewels on them.
 * Lemon Meringue (voiced by Marÿke Hendriske)-One the current residents of Berry Bitty City and Strawberry's best friends as owner of Lemon Salon. She's a young, teenage girl with fair skin, turquoise eyes, neutral pink lips, hip-length blonde hair styled in a braid with bangs curved from the right held by a green hair tie over the shoulder, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a green headband with a lemon wedge, and her new attire is a long-sleeved yellow tunic with lacing at chest that resembles a lemon wedge, white frilly collar and accents, yellow tights, and yellow mid-heeled boots with light blue edges and soles, and green laces.
 * Blueberry Muffin (voiced by Brittney Wilson)-One of the current residents of Berry Bitty City and Strawberry's best friends as owner of Blueberry Books. She's a young, teenage girl with light skin, blue eyes, violet lips, curly and wavy, hip-length dark blue hair with bangs curved from the left side, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a blueberry hair clip outlined in blue on a lavender ribbon bow, and her new attire is a light blue long-sleeved blouse under a flare-sleeved blue cardigan held by a lavender belt with a blueberry jewel for a belt clip, a ruffled, tiered tutu-like skirt alternating from denim to pale blue with blue polka dots at the knees, sky blue tights, and blue knee-high heeled Mary Janes with lavender belt straps.
 * Plum Pudding (voiced by Mae Whitman)-One the current residents of Berry Bitty City and Strawberry's best friends as owner of Sweet Beats Studio. She's a young, teenage girl with faint, tanned skin, purple eyes, pale violet lips, curly and wavy, hip-length purple hair with both bangs curved and short strands curled to the side, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a barrette of three plums outlined in powder blue, and her new attire is a sweetheart, sparkly lavender babydoll dress with a glittery purple yoke on the collar and arms, along with small purple jewels on top of the bodice with a plum jewel in the center, and a tutu-like skirt alternating from glittery lilac, glittery powder blue, and wysteria, lavender tights, plum leg-warmers, and purple ballet slippers tied with straps and decorated with plums.
 * Cherry Jam (voiced by Stephanie Sheh)-A new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City and one of Strawberry's best friends as a musician, songstress and music instructor, and now owner of Cherry Jamz Records. She's a young, teenage girl with fairly, tanned skin, pale pink lips, amethyst eyes, curly and wavy, hip-length indigo-black hair pinned in a partial bun with thick fringes curved from the side while the rest hangs out, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a hair comb with her cherry blossom and two cherries outlined in hot pink, and her new attire is oriental-themed, consisting of a magenta long-sleeved qipao with a purple collar, diagonal light pink trimming, her flower-cherry imprint, and a hot pink pleated skirt, purple tights, and magenta mid-wedged, ballet-style flats with light pink soles.
 * Sweet Grapes (voiced by Andrea Libman)- Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City and one of Strawberry's best friends as chef and owner of Sweet & Sour Bakery along with her twin sister, Sour Grapes. She's a young, teenage girl with fair skin, lavender eyes with pale pink gradience around the pupils, matching lips, curly and wavy, waist-length ombré hair fading from purple at the top to violet, fuchsia and pale pink at the ringlets pulled in a ponytail with bangs curved from the side, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a pale blue hairband with purple paisley outlined in lilac resembling a grape, and her new attire is a sleeveless, white tank shirt under a purple glittering ¾-sleeved bolero jacket, her black horn-rimmed glasses with rhinestones at the corners, a powder blue skirt with white tulle underneath, lilac tights, and powder blue, mid-heeled boots with lilac soles and white tube socks.
 * Sour Grapes (voiced by Rebecca Husain)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City and one of Strawberry's best friends as chef and owner of Sweet & Sour Bakery along with her twin sister, Sweet Grapes. She's a young, teenage girl with slightly pale skin, lavender eyes, a black beauty mark under the right eye, neon green eyeshadow, pale pink lips, wavy neck-length amethyst hair streaked with neon green in a pixie bob style and bangs brushed to the side, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a green paisley hair clip outlined in neon green resembling grapes, and her new attire is a purple, collared, sleeveless minidress under a black long-sleeved jacket with a series of beaded necklaces in black, purple, and neon green with a green paisley pendant resembling grapes, a neon green belt with grapes for a belt clip, neon green jeggings, and black mid-heeled boots with neon green soles and jeweled toes.
 * Apple Dumplin (voiced by America Ferrera)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after adventuring the Berry Bitty World and Strawberry's cousin as a computer systems expert, IT Tech support, and mechanic engineer, as well as owner of Apple Tech: Programming & Repair. Albeit shorter than the Berry Bitty Girls, she's a young, teenage girl with fair skin, freckles on her face, light blue eyes, light pink lips, hip-length dark blonde hair styled in a side braid with bangs curved from the side and long forelocks connected to a long one by her apple clip and tied with a red hair tie, and an hourglass figure. She now wears a red head band with an apple wedge, and her new attire is a white ribbed, ¾-sleeved V-cut blouse under a melon vest with an apple for a broach, a ruffled, tiered, tutu-like skirt alternating from dark yellow to orange-copper gingham at the knees, dark yellow tights, and apple red, mid-heeled boots with dark yellow soles.
 * Pumpkin Spice Latté (voiced by Tara Strong)-The newcomer from Berry Big City and Strawberry's new neighbor of Berry Bitty City, as well as owner of Pumpkin Spice Cafélonistro and a childhood sweetheart of Gingamon Cider. She's a young, teenage girl with fair skin, freckles on her cheeks, amber eyes with citron gradience around the pupils, peach lips, curly and wavy, hip-length pumpkin hair with bangs curved from the side, and an hourglass figure. She wears a hat that resembles Strawberry's, only it's an orange pumpkin with a thick green stem, and her attire is an orange denim ruffled minidress under a white, off-shoulder, long-sleeved crop top depicting a pumpkin, burnt orange tights, and dark cinnabar cowgirl boots with pumpkin latté art on the side.
 * Patty Persimmon (voiced by Kelly Sheridan)-The real genius detective in the Berry Bitty World who only pretended to be fictional to avoid being seen by not-so-friendly faces while posing as the made-up author of her own book series, along with her partner and childhood sweetheart Paul Pomegranate. She's a young, teenage girl with fairly tanned skin, pink lips, slanted blue eyes, curly and wavy, hip-length orange hair pulled in high pigtails with straight thick bangs, and an hourglass figure. She now wears yellow hairbands with persimmon outlined in copper, and her new attire is a short-sleeved orange blouse with white borders on the sleeves and high collar under a burnt orange vest with a white belt held by an amber buckle, her crimson cat-eye glasses with pink gemstones on the corners, a plaid skirt of burnt orange, peach, and apricot with a tawny tulle underneath, dark orange tights, and pink knee-high, mid-heeled Mary Janes with white belt straps and soles. Occasionally, she wears a burnt orange peabody jacket with white buttons and a peach headscarf to maintain her incognito when walking in the public.

Berry Bitty Boys

 * Huckleberry Pie (voiced by Aidan Drummond)-The new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Strawberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Blueberry Muffin, and owner of Huckleberry's Home for Pets. He's a young, teenage boy with fair skin, caramel eyes with orange gradience around the pupils, neck-length, tousled caramel hair, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He now wears a dark blue camo newsboy cap with black-rimmed sunglasses on the bill, and his new attire is a white long-sleeved shirt under a dark blue hoodie with a huckleberry design and a cobalt blue dress shirt, navy blue denim pants with back pockets, and dark blue hi-tops with green insteps and white soles and heel caps.
 * Cappuccino Frappé (voiced by Ogie Banks)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Orange Blossom, and owner of Frappé Landscape & Horticulture. He's a young, teenage boy with brown skin, chestnut eyes, chest-length sienna hair in dreadlocks, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a satin sheen gold headband, and his attire is a black long-sleeved turtleneck dashiki with bronze lining corresponding into a chestnut latté art, goldenrod sarashi, black kaftan pants, and satin sheen gold slip-ons with goldenrod soles and insteps.
 * Pineberry Smoothie (voiced by Vincent Tong)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends as well as a love interest of Strawberry Shortcake, and an intern for Berry Bitty Café. He's a young, teenage boy with fair skin, dimples at the corners of his mouth, silver eyes, opal white hair, and a lean body with slightly, muscular arms. He wears a pineberry beanie cap, and his attire is a white long-sleeved shirt under a red short-sleeved hoodie depicting a pineberry outlined in bright green, a denim blue ¾-sleeved jacket, red denim pants with back pockets, and dark red slip-ons with white soles.
 * Matcha Latté (voiced by Mark Hildreth)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Raspberry Torte, a quadruplet sibling of Pumpkin Spice, Masala Chai, and Shamrock Shaek, and an intern for Fresh Fashions Boutique. He's a young, teenage boy with fair skin, light green eyes, long tea green hair tied in a braid with fringes parted sideways and a top knot above, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a jade green hair adornment consisting of a black rod with red tassels hanging from the end and a gold fanged hibiscus in the center, and his attire is a long-sleeved, oriental-styled celadon turtleneck tunic with white lining under a forest green, sleeveless, diagonally-buttoned, hanfu-like overshirt with gold trimming split in a narrow triangle shape, pastel green sarashi, celadon pants with white lining, and forest green tabi boots with white bandages wrapped around the knees.
 * Key Lime Chiffon (voiced by Dante Basco)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Lemon Meringue, and an intern for Lemon Salon. He's a young, teenage boy with tanned skin, lawn green eyes, neck-length lime green hair streaked with hazel, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a neon green beanie cap that resembles a lime wedge lined in white, and his attire is a long-sleeved neon green turtleneck sweater under a sage sleeveless vest, a black beaded necklace with a lime wedge pendant, white bellbottom jeans, and moss green slip-ons.
 * Boysenberry Roll (voiced by T.J. Smith)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Plum Pudding, a cousin of Youngberry Crépe, and owner of Boyz N' Berry Graffiti Studios. He's a young, teenage boy with a medium dark brown skin, tekhelet eyes, short dark auburn hair with an undercut, eminence streaks, and a cinnamon roll-like spiral pattern on each side, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a slate blue mask that covers the bottom part of his face, and his attire is a palatinate T-shirt under a black sleeveless hoodie with graffiti splotches aligned on the hood in red and gold, white bandages covering from the hands to the forearms, black baggy pants with paint splotches, and red hi-tops with gold insteps, soles, laces, and steel toe caps.
 * Masala Chai Latté (voiced by Alessandro Juliani)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Cherry Jam, a quadruplet sibling of Pumpkin Spice, Matcha, and Shamrock Shaek, and an intern for Cherry Jamz Records. He's a young, teenage boy with olive skin tone, saffron eyes, very short onyx black hair in a bobcut with fringes parted from the right, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a long jasmine headband tied around his head, and his attire is a long-sleeved saffron kurta tunic with jasmine trimming under a Mikado yellow vest depicting a star anise tracing in a white swirl, Indian orange sarashi, saffron skintight trousers, and jasmine slip-on shoes.
 * Shamrock Shaek (voiced by Travis Dresden)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends as well as a love interest of Sweet Grapes, a quadruplet sibling of Pumpkin Spice, Matcha, and Masala Chai, and bartender for Pumpkin Spice Cafélonistro. He's a young, teenage boy with fair skin, emerald eyes, medium-length Shamrock green hair with bangs parted from the right and spring green highlights, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears an Erin green tartan tam with a gold rim, and his attire is a white turtleneck underneath a long-sleeved Shamrock green tuxedo jacket with gold trimming, side buttons, and a four-leaf clover for a brooch, dark green choker gloves, emerald green tartan sash across the shoulder and around the waist, Kelly green denim pants, and black dress shoes. Even though he's dressed in Irish-styled clothing, Shamrock has a thick Scottish accent and dialect.
 * Breadfruit Pudding (David Faustino)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends as well as a love interest of Sour Grapes, a brother of Plum Pudding, and a business manager for Huckleberry's Home for Pets. He's a young, teenage boy with dull tanned skin, hazel eyes, bronze hair with long bangs swept to the side, and a stocky built body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a dark purple ascot with a purple breadfruit for a pin, and his attire is a long-sleeved white dress shirt with indigo cuffs fastened by twin gold cufflinks under a purple, black, and bronze argyle vest, dark purple long-sleeved swallow-tailed jacket, black skintight trousers, and purple slip-on sneakers with white soles, insteps, and toe caps.
 * Youngberry Crépe (voiced by Bumper Robinson)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a love interest of Apple Dumplin, a cousin of Boysenberry Roll, and an inventor, mechanic engineer, and tech specialist for Apple Tech: Programming & Repair. Albeit shorter than the others, he's a young, teenage boy with dark tanned skin, cordovan eyes, neck-length dark auburn hair brushed down with thick fringes parted from the right and three cowlicks, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears maroon goggles with silver lenses, and his attire is a beige polo shirt with maroon O-cut neck and ¾ sleeves under a burgundy sweater vest, a fandango belt with a youngberry belt clip, dark taupe skintight trousers, and purpureus calf-high boots with white velcro straps at the top.
 * Gingamon Cider (voiced by Seth Green)-Another new resident of Berry Bitty City after leaving Berry Big City, one of Huckleberry's best friends, as well as a childhood sweetheart of Pumpkin Spice Latté, and a baristo for Pumpkin Spice Cafélonistro. He's a young, teenage boy with fairly tanned skin, burnt sienna eyes, medium-length coffee hair with bangs parted from the right, and a stocky built body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a sagging mahogany beret hat, and his attire is a short-sleeved cocoa brown hooded tunic with ecru and ochre tribal pattern aligned on the hood, sleeves, and hem under a French bistre cardigan vest, a nutmeg necklace out of a ginger chain, cinnamon red denim pants, and white flats with dark red tips that resemble socks.
 * Paul Pomegranate (voiced by Rob Paulsen)-Another genius detective in the Berry Bitty World who also pretended to be a fictional character to avoid being seen by not-so-friendly faces while posing as a made-up illustrator for the Patty Persimmon mystery novels, along with his partner and childhood sweetheart, Patty Persimmon. He's a young, teenage boy with fair skin, garnet eyes, neck-length pomegranate red hair, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears cardinal red glasses and wine red fedora, and his attire is a poppy red dress shirt with burgundy stripes under a coquelicot red waistcoat with gold buttons, cornell red denim pants, and dark red slip-ons with white soles and insteps. Occasionally, he wears a double-breasted rosewood peacoat with beige buttons and built-in belt to maintain his incognito when walking in public.

Villains

 * Steve "Purple Kingpin" Piemanne (voiced by Eric Bauza)-Known by everyone in the Berry Bitty World as the most notorious crime boss, loan shark, and extortionist as well as an uncle of the Grapes Twins and the father and mentor of Raisin Cane, his partner-in-crime. Albeit taller than the boys and girls, Steve is a slender, muscular man with fairly tanned skin, electric indigo eyes, a hooked nose, and very short royal purple hair with long bangs curved from the right. He wears a dark purple derby hat with three Tyrian purple feathers tied around with a dark violet band, and his attire is an eminence purple blazer suit jacket over a fandango dress shirt with a dark purple ascot with a purple grape for a pin, white gloves with buckled sleeves, burgundy pants, and grape purple dress shoes with amethyst jewels that resemble grapes. Whenever he's out on the streets of Berry Big City, Purple Kingpin carries a gold cane with an amethyst grape jewel at the top.
 * Raisin Cane (voiced by Anne Hathaway)-The Purple Kingpin's protegé, partner-in-crime, and daughter, making her cousin of the Grapes Twins. She's a young, teenage girl with slightly pale skin, light pink lips, lavender eyes, pale purple eyeshadow, curly and wavy hip-length light burgundy hair with the upper half braided with primped bangs and curled eartails, and an hourglass figure. She wears an orange paisley hair clip above the braid with three different colored jewels in purple, pink, and green that resemble grapes, and her attire is a mauveine long-sleeved, swallow-tailed bolero jacket with mauve interior, collar, and cuffs over a hot magenta sweetheart, thigh-length dress with deep pink tulle hanging down more than the dress and a dark violet corset-like belt with a purple grape emblazoned in the center, white funnel gloves with harvest gold buttons, harvest gold tights, and purple loafer boots with amethyst grape jewels. Whenever she's out in the streets of the Berry Bitty World, Raisin carries a parosol umbrella with a golf handle, and dense elaborate laced fabric in lavender and lilac for the middle, and powder blue and periwinkle for the edges.
 * Licorice Whip (voiced by Kit Harington)-The consigliere of the Purple Kingpin, as well as the right-hand man and boyfriend of Raisin Cane. He's a young, teenage boy with pale skin, green eyes, neck-length magenta hair with bangs curved from the right, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears a black gothic, steampunk-themed top hat with a black licorice-themed band held by a black diamond with burgundy feathers to the side, and his attire is a Mountbatten pink turtleneck under a black licorice-themed waistcoat with three dark purple buttons, openings, and silver chains, black thigh-length jacket with dark purple collar and interior, cordovan gloves with silver knuckles, white denim pants, a black steampunk-themed gothic triple-wrapped belt with a silver floral design and a black kite-shaped jewel for a belt buckle, and black riding boots with metal studs along the soles. Whenever he's out on the streets with Raisin Cane, Licorice carries an expandable black baton with braided licorice that also acts as a whip, staff, and cane; however, when it's not in use, it's collapsed into a hilt and clipped to his belt.
 * Periwinkle Pearblossom (voiced by Carly Rae Jepsen)-The former assistant manager of a records studio in Berry Big City before being made the underboss by Purple Kingpin. Albeit taller than the boys and girls, Periwinkle is a slim, voluptuous woman with fairly tanned skin, dark blue eyes, shoulder-length navy blue hair with bangs curved from the side, and an hourglass figure. For her business attire as assistant manager, she wears her hair in a neat bun with a blue violet hair clip, and her attire is a black suit with a cornflower brooch over her blouse that rings true to her name, a pearl necklace with a star aster, black knee-length skirt, and dark blue heels with the periwinkle on the toes. When she got recruited by Purple Kingpin, Periwinkle has her hair brushed down with a cornflower hair barrette with peacock feathers clipped to the side, and her new attire is a slate blue collared, sleeved, floor-length dress with white lining and tulle under a majorelle blue bodice patterned with newspaper articles with the headlines Berry Bitty Magazine, Berry Bitty Mysteries  and Berry Big Glitz & Glamor, a periwinkle cape attached to the front of the bodice the same length as her dress, iris blue belt with capsules full of grape-sized pellets, tropical indigo pantyhose tights, and slate blue knee boots with folded edges. Whenever she's out on the streets, Periwinkle's outfit is magically altered with a shorter skirt and her cape acts as overlayer stopping at the ankles, giving her a pirate-like appearance. She also carries a majorelle blue musket rifle with a built-in slot concealing a reticle above the trigger and her name embossed in chromium blue on the barrel, as well as revolving cartridges for her liquid pellets containing distilled oil of Blue Blazer peppers; however, when not in use, it's collapsed into a revolving pistol and clipped to her belt.
 * Johnnycake Cobbler (voiced by Logan Henderson)-A grand, thieving scam artist hired by Raisin Cane, as well as a supplier, chief engineer and boyfriend of Whitney Baneberry. He's a young, teenage boy with fair skin, neon blue eyes, shoulder-length orange hair with bangs curved to the side, and a lean body with slightly muscular arms. He wears white traditional flamenco-style hat with a purple band and red and green gems dangling along the brim, and his attire consists of a purple, long-sleeved, collared tunic under a long white, V-neck shirt with a jeweled collar like his hat, gold trimming on the ends of his sleeves, collar, and rim, three orange straps with side gems for buttons on the chest, and a green belt bag on his waist, a white cape with gold edges and a diamond print in the center resembling his spritzer bottles and an orange strap attached to two gold epaulettes on the shoulders held by a gold clasp with four red and green gems in a diamond formation, white wrist-length gloves, black pants, and white heeled boots with purple toes and cuffs. Whenever he's out in the streets with Whitney, Johnnycake carries a long golden staff with a diamond-shaped green gem surrounded by multiple red oval-shaped gems in a gold rim. While attempting to promote his products, he magically transforms his staff into a vintage, custom-made golden rolling pin with an argyle pattern of red and green on the barrel, and thin handles with the same gems like his hat and collar.
 * Whitney Baneberry (voiced by Eden Espinosa)-The presentation model for Johnnycake's Sensational Spritzes, as well as a promoter for Raisin's social media campaign and girlfriend of Johnnycake Cobbler. She's a young, teenage girl with pale skin, azure eyes, a beauty mark under her right eye, shoulder-length, curly snow white hair with bangs curved neatly from the left to frame her face closely styled in a centered ponytail, and an hourglass figure. She wears a white baneberry flower-shaped ponytail holder, and her attire is a three-tone, collared, layered, light blue-gray, long-sleeved dress with a scalloped and stitched hem to resemble a baneberry flower, a front slit on the first layer, an ice blue belt with twin celeste chains on the front along with a vivid sky blue gem in the center, and a red oval-shaped gem on the chest under a pale azure, bell-sleeved shrug the same style as her dress, navy blue gloves, pale blue tights, and long, blue-gray wedge-heel boots with cyan frill detailing at the top at the front, alongside Alice blue coloring on the toes and celeste wedged heels. Whenever she's out in the streets with Johnnycake, Whitney carries a long silver-gray staff with a white baneberry flower-shaped gem at the top, along with spiraling sky blue extensions sprouting below it, and a small white gem from the other end. During her promotions, she disguises her staff into a hair stick and wears it in her ponytail.

Pets

 * Pupcake
 * Custard
 * Marmalade
 * Chiffon
 * Henna
 * Scouty
 * Pitterpatch
 * Cinnapup
 * Tom Tom
 * Eclair
 * Bouscotti
 * Tea Time Turtle
 * Honey Pie
 * Peach Rose
 * Cheesecake
 * Meocha
 * Biscuit
 * Mochi
 * Parfait
 * Meowlody
 * Rasmalai
 * Cranachan
 * Smoothie
 * Coco Sheanille
 * Mardi Gras
 * Beignet
 * Macaron
 * Hunter
 * Jujube
 * Bandit
 * Edelweiss