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

A City 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.

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 the 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; 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 Latte, 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 latte, 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 male Australian 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 and dressed in a New Orleans-style clothing with a mahogany beret. 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, Strawberry 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 her "special surprise package" was, or who it 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...

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 fast enough 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 turns around to see a boy with opal white hair and those piercing silver eyes that melt a girl's heart.

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 waist-length red hair, and 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 magenta 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 brown hair, and 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. Germaine)-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 waist-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, waist-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, waist-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 ¾ sleeved blouse under blue cardigan held by a lavender belt with 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, waist-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, strap lavender tank shirt under a purple long-sleeved shrug fastened by a plum broach, layered, tutu-like skirt in lavender, powder blue, and silver, 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, waist-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 pale pink flower 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 jacket, her black horn-rimmed glasses with rhinestones at the corners, a powder 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, waist-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 Latte (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 fairly tanned skin, freckles on her cheeks, amber eyes with citron gradience around the pupils, peach lips, curly and wavy, waist-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 a 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, waist-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, red denim pants with back pockets, and dark red slip-ons with white soles.
 * Matcha Latte (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
 * Key Lime Chiffon (voiced by Dante Basco)
 * Boysenberry Roll (voiced by T.J. Smith)
 * Masala Chai Latte (voiced by Alessandro Juliani)
 * Shamrock Shaek (voiced by Travis Dresden)
 * Breadfruit Pudding (David Faustino)
 * Youngberry Crépe (voiced by Bumper Robinson)
 * Gingamon Cider (voiced by Seth Green)
 * Paul Pomegranate (voiced by Rob Paulsen)