Strawberry Shortcake Joins the Berry big top

== Introduction and Finding the DVD ==
Strawberry Shortcake is a well-known brand that has expanded throughout the years. It was pretty popular with young girls and is still going on with an animated web series today. There were various versions of the franchise that came and went. 
One popular example that not only appealed to kids but gained an adult audience was the one from 2003. It was pretty competent with the messages it taught and was quite fun to watch at times.
However, despite all this it knew it was made mainly for little girls, so it never did anything dark or very great to make these episodes intriguing for more critical people. However, there was once an attempt to make this show more adult oriented that I have discovered.
I recently found A Strawberry shortcake (2003) DVD at my local library. It wasn't very long, only 3-4 episodes long. For one reason or another I'm not sure of, I decided to borrow it.
I put it in expecting nothing more than a pleasant distraction. I was right for the most part until I found a secret episode in the extras titled “STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE JOINS THE BERRY BIG TOP”. I had never seen an episode title like this before, not even on the internet. So, I’ve decided to watch it. 
When this episode started, I was met with a strange message. “Warning. This episode was considered too inappropriate for live T.V. If you have children watching this, we advise that you don’t let them watch this without supervision. Viewer discretion is advised.”.  
== The Episode begins ==
The episode started with the normal theme song. And for anyone wondering this is one of the seasons where Strawberry Shortcake was younger. Not when she starts wearing the sweatshirt. Once the song ended it showed Strawberry and her pets Pupcake, and Custard running down a path.
“Strawberry, slow down. Oranges house isn’t going to run away.” Custard said panting behind the two. But Strawberry was still running exceedingly and said “I can't help it, Custard! Orange blossom has an all-new circus set! This is going to be the best playdate ever!”. Pupcake barked happily behind her.
They made it behind Orange Blossom's tree to see her on a trapeze set with a net at the bottom swinging on a bar onto a nearby platform. The trio applauded her from the ground. “Oh, hey Strawberry.” Orange said, waving to them. “Hey orange! This trapeze you have is very high.” Strawberry said back. “It is.” Said orange “It can be a little scary and take a little practice but then it becomes really fun.”. 
“I want to do something really exciting!” Strawberry looked around then found a big post with a ladder that stretched even higher than the trapeze orange blossom was on. She smiled and climbed up it. Custard was walking up to it and saw her climbing up. She tried to tell Strawberry Shortcake it was too dangerous, and it didn't have a net, but she was too high up to hear.
Once she was at the top, she was met with a small platform with no handle rails to grab onto and a tiny black rope reaching out to the distance. She stepped back looking worried and pale trying to grab onto something to keep balance. When she failed, she fell on the floor. 
She stopped for a minute then slowly tried to regain composure. After a few moments she got back up and approached the rope. She looked straight and took a deep breath before spreading her arms out and stepping on the wire. She took some uneasy steps until eventually beginning to wobble and losing her balance. Her foot slipped off and she tripped looking down. The screen showed the ground she was below and did the double effect they use to portray dizziness in cartoons. 
Orange blossom, Custard, and Pubcake ran up to the post and saw Strawberry in her struggle and gasped. Strawberry looked all sweaty and was freaking out. She looked like she was going to have a panic attack. “Hold on Strawberry!” Orange Blossom said from the ground “I'm coming, just don't move!”. Orange Blossom began to climb up the ladder.
Once Orange Blossom got to the top she called out “Strawberry! Just carefully turn around and walk back.”. “I don't know if I can!” Strawberry said in fear with her eyes shut tightly. “Don’t worry.” Orange blossom responded “You can walk back. Just think about it as walking to your house from your gate”. 
Strawberry Shortcake began to turn around struggling to do so. Then she started to walk back to the platform she started on. Custard and Pubcake were on the bottom staring in fear. Honestly, this alone was pretty suspenseful for a show like this.
Strawberry reached the platform and hugged Orange Blossom with tears in her eyes.  “There there,” Orange blossom said, patting her on the back. “I didn't plan on using the high wire, so I never bothered to finish setting it up. But I didn't think of anyone else. Sorry.”. “I went up without thinking.” Strawberry shortcake said, shaking and squeezing Orange.
 
“Well, I'm sure I can finish making sure it is safe with some help. Are you interested?”. Strawberry nodded and gave a small smile with some tears in her eyes.  
The next scene was them fixing the high wire and putting the net at the bottom. Once the scene concluded orange blossom suggested they had enough excitement for a while and offered lunch which the gang agreed to and ran into the treehouse in excitement.
As they all got inside the camera panned up to reveal a berry bird sitting on a branch. One of the show’s villains, minions who is known as the pie man. Once seeing everything the two were doing it flew off into the sky. 
 
== Enter the pie man ==
The scene then faded to the pie man all soaking wet carrying a big pile of trash using a giant cloth up to Sour Grapes who is his sister. “Well, I told you couldn't make a submarine without going to college first.” She started. “Oh, be quiet!” The pie man said back “How was I supposed to know that wood and wallpaper wasn't a good substitute for ballast tanks?”. 
Just then the berry bird came flying in. “Ah! My beloved berry bird.” The pie man said, “Tell me, what information do you have on strawberry shortcake today?”. “Bwack! Playing, circus!” The bird crowed “Playdate!”. “Ah useless!” The pie man said, throwing his hands “Why would anyone want to be in a dumb circus? All those children laughing and having a good time. And that cheerful music. Eck!”. 
 
“I agree,” Sour grapes said, crossing her arms ``And besides, that kind of work is way too dangerous. For one those scary animals that can tear you apart into pieces. Then swinging on those trapezes entrusting yourself to the other person. I’m definitely afraid of heights. And if that's not enough there's a long rope at the very top, they expect you to walk across. Working there is a death trap waiting to happen''.
As the pie man was hearing sour grapes rant, he slowly developed a devious smile on his face “Get the phone!” He said immediately turning his head to her “I need to call some old friends.”. “Whatever for purpee?” Sour grapes asked. “We’re going to have our own playdate with Strawberry Shortcake.”.  
The scene cuts back to Orange Blossom’s treehouse with the two running around. “Hey strawberry,” Orange blossom said, “Race you to taffy hill.”. “You're on!” Strawberry said then the two stormed away from the house with custard and pupcake watching. “Oh well…” Custard said to pupcake “I guess we have to follow them.” Then the two ran after them.
The scene showed them racing for a while until they came up to a giant beige tent. Outside walked a boy in a red suit and hat looking depressed. 
 
“Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys of all ages.” he said in a sad Italian kid's voice “Come to the great bell peppers circus. The greatest show on earth.” He then sat down on a nearby rock.
“It doesn't sound all that great,” Orange blossom added. “It’s not,” the boy said “I don't have any performers to be in my show. They claimed they got into “Law school”.
Strawberry looked at Orange Blossom and asked, “are you thinking what I’m thinking Orange Blossom?”. “What?” Asked Orange Blossom “That we join the circus? Are you sure that's a good idea?”. “Of course!” Said Strawberry shortcake “Isn’t it your dream?”. “Well yeah… But…”. “Then let’s do it! We can even invite our friends!”. 
“You can really do that?” Said the boy “I, bell pepper, would be glad to have you all in my show.”. “Tee hee” Strawberry giggled, "Come on Orange! This will be so much fun!” she said before running off. “Wait! Strawberry!” Orange Blossom said following her. 
Pupcake ran in the scene with Custard Slowly coming in behind him looking exhausted. “Finally,” Custard said out of breath. Just then Strawberry and Orange ran past them. Pupcake followed them as Custard looked at the screen with a defeated look.
Once the four left Bell Pepper walked behind the tent. He looked up and was met with the pie man. “Well, how did it go?” He asked. “They took it. They're inviting their friends too.” Bell Pepper answered looking more menacing. “Ah excellent.” Pie man sneered whisking his mustache “Those fools have no idea of the trap they are falling into”. 
“Hey pie man!” A raspy southern voice said from behind them “How are we going to sabotage them?”. The pie man turned to a man wearing a horse mask and a butcher outfit in front of other men in butcher outfits and different animal masks. “No.” he said in a stern voice “We aren't going to simply kill them. We want them to have a fair chance. To have the pleasure of watching them fail.”. 
“Now listen up!” He then said walking up to a chest “You each have an important job to do.” He opened the chest and got out a devil costume which looked really similar to the fire clown enemies from the SNES game "Batman Returns". “You there,” he pointed to a man in a pig mask. “You will be the fire clown.” He threw the costume at him. 
“You,” The pie man then pointed to a man in a cow mask “You will be an animal tamer.” He threw a top hat and whip at him.
He then pointed to two men in a chicken and Pigeon mask “You two will be jugglers.” He said throwing them clown clothes.
Finally, the pie man got a biker suit and threw it to the man in the horse mask and said, “And you will be one of the bikers.”. “And what will you do?” The man in the horse mask said. “I will be setting up the equipment” The pie man answered, “I’ll be sure to make this show very exciting.” He said with a wicked grin while reaching back into the chest and getting a purple book that had that magic spell book feel to it.
The next scene wasn't much to talk about. Basically, Strawberry and Orange invite their friends to join the circus and then practice their acts. 
== The Show begins ==
Eventually the scene transitioned to the night of the circus. In the bleachers were some of Strawberry Shortcake’s friends Huckleberry pie, Some of the pets, Raspberry Tart, Strawberry’s baby sister Apple Dumpling and Sour Grapes among other blacked out figures. “This circus can’t be that good.” Huckleberry said eating popcorn.
“Gee Purpee, what did you mean by giving an “Exiting show” and wanting the pleasure of watching them fail?” Sour grapes asked Pie man hiding from underneath the sets. “You’ll see…” Pie man whispered to her.  
Back from the performance curtain, orange blossom wearing an acrobat costume and Ginger Snap wearing a biker's outfit were looking at the crowds, seemingly nervous. 
“Wow…” Orange Blossom said meekly, “There sure are a lot of people.”.
Ginger Snap began to speak Fastly “There sure are a lot huh? I feel really queasy and nauseous, I feel really sick too.”. 
Strawberry came from behind her wearing her normal sunflower hat with a big green flower and white makeup around her lips wearing a yellow tie. She looked out the curtain before letting out a nervous gulp.
“W-well… this tent is berry big with so many people watching… I feel scared too, guys, but don't worry. This will be fun. Bell Pepper even promised there will be safety precautions for the show.”. 
 
“Strawberry, I look ridiculous.” Custard walked in complaining wearing one of those clown collars and scratching her neck. “Don't scratch so much Custard You’ll mess up your outfit” Strawberry said getting to her level.  
The scene then cut back to the main part of the circus with the lights dimming down and Bell Pepper coming to the center. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Children of all ages, Welcome to Bell Peppers Incredible and amazing circus! For our first performance let's give it up for our All-star butcher parade!”. 
The scene then showed the curtain with the butcher men coming out wearing their costumes while loud music began blaring out. It showed them parading around the center for a while as Bell Pepper began to sing a song about loud noises and unusual figures. Usually, the songs in this show are more energetic and happier but this one was a lot more weird, loud and scary and used instruments not in the original show. 
During the song the butchers were doing a lot of things for the audience. One example was the pig was breathing fire to Raspberry Tart making her flinch which went out before it reached her of course. And the horse went up to Apple Dumpling and scared her causing her to cry which he responded with by scoffing at her and calling her a coward. Once the song concluded the butchers all ran back into the curtains. 
 
== The Motorcyclists ==
Bell Pepper then said, “And now… presenting Ginger Snap the biker who battles scorching flames!” The crowds cheered as Ginger was holding a motorbike in front of the curtain looking even more scared than ever. 
Strawberry approached her, putting her hand on her shoulder and telling her “Don’t worry, you'll do great.”. Ginger Snap smiled at her and rode her bike outside.
Just then Strawberry noticed her sister crying from the seats “Oh apple dumpling, what's…” As she began to walk out to greet her a giant hand grabbed her arm. She turned around to see the man in the horse mask beside a huge motorcycle.
“Hold on kid.” He said to her “It’s not your act yet.”. Strawberry tried to say, “But that baby is really-”. The horse interrupted “If she chooses to not be happy in the circus that's her problem. If you choose to violate the show you will be a bad apple. And we will have to deal with you.” Strawberry just froze with a frightened look on her face. The horse just looked at her for a good minute before driving out.  
Back outside a giant metal cage with an obstacle course was shown. Ginger drove down the path to a loop de loop. She went through with ease and the crowd cheered. 
“And now my dear sour grapes,” Said Pie man “You will see this show truly be great!”. As Ginger Snap was riding to the narrow beam over a pool of water The horseman came riding after her. He started throwing metal steaks at her as she avoided them. “Hey! What's the deal huh?” She tried talking to him. But he said nothing.
As she approached the next obstacle, she saw shark fins coming out of the water. She had a pale look on her face and shut her eyes tightly as she zoomed across.
Then the horseman drove right next to her and pulled out a chain swinging it around. He then whipped it towards Ginger barely missing. “Watch where you're swinging that thing you could have hit me with!” She tried telling him. “Wait… were you…” Ginger said, this time speaking more slowly. The horse began swinging the chain again as Ginger Snap was looking terrified and increased speed passing him.
She then made it to a tiny ramp with a flaming hoop in front as the Horseman tried to ram into her. But she sped up and escaped making a big flip through the hoop.
When she landed, she breathed fast and heavily for a while before calming down. “Oh my gosh…” Strawberry said, “This seems really scary...”.
Ginger then went up a large ramp and drove up. The horseman then stopped his bike and pulled out a bow, torch some arrows. He set the arrows on fire and started firing at her. The arrows all missed and hit the ramp setting it on fire. 
When Ginger got to the top, she looked down at the flaming structure with sweat and a look of anxiety on her face. She looked across and saw the horse man on an identical parallel ramp. Her face looked even more intimidated, but she knew there was no going back now so she shut her eyes and revved up her bike. 
As she began to drive off the horse got a jousting lance and drove even faster. As the two met Ginger ducked below the horse's lance and landed on the other side. The horse himself crashed his bike into the flaming ramp causing an explosion. Once the dust settled the Horse man was shown floating to the ground with a parachute. As the applause was given Ginger went back to join the others from behind the curtain then collapsed on the ground.
 “Ginger!” Strawberry said, trying to pick Ginger up. “I…Could…Have…Died…I…” Ginger whispered, shaking this time speaking even slower. “What's going on?” Strawberry asked “Bell Pepper said this was going to be safe for all of us. I need to talk to him. Hey… Where's Angel Cake?”. Just then Bell Pepper announced to the audience “And now, presenting our juggling trio!”. 
== The Jugglers ==
The scene then showed The Chicken and Pigeon men standing with Angel Cake wearing a yellow clown outfit with makeup and a red nose. The Bird men began juggling balls over Angel Cake. She was trying to get a ball to juggle but they were too fast. 
“Hey!” She shouted, “I need to juggle too!” She began to jump as the two teased her. Then one of them threw a ball at her face “See” the chicken man said in an angsty teen voice “You're no good why should you juggle?”. 
The people in the audience began to laugh and point. “It’s not funny!” Angel Cake yelled, going up to them and stomping her feet. “Heads up!” The pigeon said in another angsty voice, throwing a ball at the back of her head. The chicken then threw a bowling pin at her then the Pigeon threw a small cube at her. They then threw a few more of those objects at her. 
“Stop it!” Angel Cake screamed, turning around at them in a pout. “Juggle!” The Pigeon said, throwing a bowling pin at her causing her to fall over. They then pelted her with tomatoes while juggling with one hand. “He said juggle!” The chicken said. They both threw the remaining objects they had with her. And finished off by dumping a big bucket of tar on her and pouring a bag of feathers on her.
As the people continued to laugh at her she saw herself on the big monitors behind the bleachers then began to tear up then sob. Huckleberry saw all this and didn't seem to be enjoying it. “Wow… That didn't seem very funny…” He thought out loudly. Raspberry, Apple and the pets also saw this feeling bad while Angel cake ran back into the curtain crying.
 
“Angel cake…” Strawberry said approaching “Are you okay?”. “I don't want to talk!” Angel Cake said. “But Angel…” Strawberry tried to put her hand on her shoulder. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” Angel cake snapped, turning around then running away crying. 
 
“Oh my god. Did you see her?” The Chicken asked the Pigeon. “Yea,” The Pigeon said, chuckling “What a joke”. 
“Hey you two!” Orange Blossom said approaching them “You two need to apologize to Angel cake for doing all that!”. “Doing what?” They asked. “You guys were really mean and humiliated her in front of all those people.” Strawberry added “That wasn't nice.”.
“The world ain't nice!” The Pigeon said “She should have been more capable of doing her act. Has she even taken her rehearsal seriously? I doubt it.”. “She was!” Strawberry said, “She put in just as much effort as all of us.”. “I’ll handle this strawberry.” Orange Blossom interjected. “Not yet…” The Chicken said “Now it’s time for your act” he pushed her outside to the stage. 
== The Acrobat ==
 “And now…” Bell Pepper began “It’s time for the flying trapeze act. Featuring our daring young Orange Blossom!”. Orange Blossom climbed up a trapeze which was now in the performance. Once she got to the top the scene then played a variation of “The daring young men on the flying trapeze”. She grabbed the trapeze bar and looked down at the net on the ground and then to the other side then to the crowds. She looked to these places looking more panicked each time the scene showed her face. After a minute of this she let go of the bar and climbed back down and ran to the curtain while being heckled by the audience. 
“I’m sorry…” She said to Strawberry “I just can’t do this!” Then she ran off before she could say anything to her. Strawberry tugged the curtain to see Bell Pepper.  
== The High wire Walker ==
 
 
“Well, I guess Our flying lady would rather be grounded.” He said as the figures in the background laughed. Then Bell pepper continued “While she goes down how about we go up. Higher and higher. To meet Strawberry Shortcake as she walks the high wire!” He then approached the curtain to Strawberry.
“Bell Pepper,” She told him “We need to talk.”. “It’s time for your act Strawberry.” Said Bell Pepper “Sorry we removed the safety net but it’s pretty pointless where you will be.” He then dragged her out onto the ladder. “But…” Strawberry said but was soon interrupted. “Enough. We can’t have two cowards tonight. I’ll look bad and you won't want me to be a loser, do you?” Bell Pepper then walked off. Strawberry said nothing and began to climb the ladder.  
For some reason the ladder was covered in mud which got on her shoes on while she was trying to climb her way up. Some of it was even falling on her face. 
When she got to the platform her shoes, hands, and face were all covered in the mud making her slip around if she walked to fast. And the scene showed something that was quite unsettling for a show like this. It was her standing with a small parasol in her hand on a platform at the top of the tent with a long brown rope also with mud all over where the whole circus could be seen with the whole screen darkened with a spotlight shining on her making this look more like a horror movie then a kids show. Strawberry was looking on with sweat all over her face and her mouth shaking violently.
Honestly this scene alone was pretty messed up. I couldn't possibly imagine how kids could feel letting alone little girls to see this scene.
Eventually she calmed down and began stepping on the rope. Unsettling circus music began to play as she slowly did her act while whimpering and wobbling. Her foot slipped on a spot with mud causing her to scream loudly and have the crowd gasp. But she managed to get her footing back and continued. 
The man in the pig mask was watching from below and began shooting fire from the ground right next to Strawberry. She looked directly at it seeing the fire clown's face laughing manically. Strawberry had a pale look and gridded her teeth. The pig then breathed fire around the ground causing it to start burning. This was followed by him pointing his pitchfork up to Strawberry who was looking straight ahead in fear she wasn't looking down, but she knew what was going on.
 
“Isn't she amazing, Sour Grapes?” Pie man asked his sister who was looking on in fear “In fact… I say I'm a huge FAN!” He then pushed a button on a remote he had in his hand then a curtain where Strawberry was opened to reveal a giant fan that started and created big gusts of wind causing the rope to shake hard and strawberry to lose her balance. The fan eventually stopped but it would come back on without warning throughout Strawberry's performance.
Eventually the music became part of another song that was more eerie and creepy than the ones that would normally play on the show and was both scary and sad with Strawberry Shortcake singing about how afraid she was and how much danger she was in, how scary everything looked, sounded like and smelled to her, and how she regretted joining the circus and wanted to go home. 
Once the song ended the fan came back on blowing the harsh winds once again. Strawberry was leaning towards the gusts to prevent falling to the other side. “Oh, I can’t look!” Sour grapes said, covering her eyes. “I can!” Pie man said starting with a sadistic grin on his face. 
After the fan turned off again Pie man sent out some berry birds to get into Strawberry’s face and fly around her as she tried to shoo them away. The birds dropped their black feathers on her face, blinding her. She scratched her face with her hands violently to get all the feathers off. She seemed like she could get her focus back now.
But then she sniffled. She inhaled a couple of times before letting out a big sneeze causing her to accidentally look down. The screen showed her point of view with the ground she was below and did a spiraling dizzy effect with the colors turning blood red. An off-key guitar string sound effect played to add to the suspense.
Now Strawberry was whimpering very loudly and struggled to not fall at a dramatic rate. “HELP ME!” She screamed out “I'M GOING TO FALL!”. “Nobody can help you!” Bell Pepper called out to her “You need to get to safety yourself!”. 
The fire clown then shot its flames to the beginning of the rope setting it ablaze. The flames quickly went up to Strawberry. She could hear the demonic laughing all around her and began to freak out. Then she quickly realized that what Bell Pepper said was right and her face turned from one oof fear to that of determination. 
“I can do this… I can do this…” she began to say to herself "...Just like walking to your house...". Then she started to walk slightly faster trying to avoid the flames catching up to her. But she was still slipping on the mud and wobbling on the way. 
When she was near the end the fire was right on her, so she shut her eyes tightly and flipped straight ahead ignoring all the risk it can cause. By luck probably she made it to the platform. The crowds cheered Strawberry on, but she wasn't feeling the thrill, and her face could show it. She ignored the applause and climbed down to run behind the curtain and curl up next to a box and tear up. 
 
“Drat!” The pie man said, snapping his fingers “I thought that would surely do her in.”. “Can I look now?” Sour grapes asked, still covering her eyes. “Yes.” Pie man sighed. “Oh Purpee” Sour Grapes said uncovering her eyes “This whole circus is bad for my heart. I don’t know how much more I can take.”. Pie man then smeared again “Don’t worry. We’re soon to be approaching the big finish”.
The scene then showed Strawberry crying next to the box she was next to. “Strawberry…” Custard said approaching her. “Th-That was really scary.” Strawberry said sniffling “I don't feel so good.”. Custard nuzzled her head to her hip then sat on her lap to comfort her. Strawberry patted Custard on the head and gave her a light hug.  
== The Animal tamer ==
The light moment was soon interrupted by a loud sound and the scene darkened again. “Now presenting… The courageous animal tamer! As he tames the ferocious pink tiger with a bite trap that can break steel, Venom which has no known cure, and has the urge to slaughter anything that moves.” He then pointed to a flaming hoop between two blocks “Now,” he said, “Bring out the beast!”. 
Custard looked outside and hid her face in her paws, shaking in fear. “It’s okay,” Strawberry said, holding her “You don't have to if you don't want to.”. “Oh yes she does!” The man in the cow mask grabbed Custard by the neck and dragged her away. “NO!” Strawberry screamed running after them. “Hold on!” The man in the chicken mask said, grabbing her by the arm. Strawberry tried getting free but the man in the pigeon mask grabbed her other arm.  
The cow man then took Custard to the stage who was wiggling to get free. The people apart from Huckleberry, Apple, the pets, And Raspberry looked on in horror thinking she was some sort of monster. She was then thrown on one of the blocks. “Stay back!” Bell Pepper instructed the audience “This is a dangerous killer straight from hell!”. “No, she’s not!” exclaimed Strawberry “She’s a nice scared little kitten with a big heart!”. “Shut up!” The man in the pigeon mask said. 
“Don’t let it get me Purpee!” Sour Grapes said, cowering behind the bleacher thinking Custard was an actual monster. Pie man just looked at the camera with that “This is what I deal with” expression.
Custard looked at the flaming hoop, sweating, shaking, and crying. The cow man then cracked his whip near her and shouted “JUMP!”. The whip sound caught me off guard with how loud it was. I had to turn down the volume it was that bad. Custard backed away, shaking even more. “JUMP YOU FOUL DEMON JUMP!” The cowman screamed while continuously cracking his whip with the same loud sound. “No… please…” Custard whispered to him. “IF YOU DO NOT DO AS YOUR TOLD I WILL TEAR YOU APART SO YOUR WON'T HURT ANYONE ANYMORE!”. When Custard tried to jump off the box the cowman struck her on the top of the head and screamed “NO! DON’T YOU DARE GO AFTER THOSE INNOCENT PEOPLE!”. 
I was shocked with what I just saw. I even rewinded the disk a few times to make sure I just saw what I did.
“Stop… please… You're being too loud… It’s upsetting me.” Custard whispered again. “DO AS YOUR TOLD YOU HORRIBLE CREATURE YA! YA! YA!” The cowman was whipping even louder this time. 
“STOP IT! GIVE HER BACK! GIVE HER BACK RIGHT NOW!” Strawberry was screaming louder than I’ve ever heard. She sounded real as in a real kid screaming and crying. The two bird men were still holding her. “Stop trying to get away!” The Chicken yelled “The audience is finally entertained!”. “I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE AUDIENCE!” Strawberry shouted trying to pull out of their grab “I CARE ABOUT CUSTARD!”. 
“I SAID…” Just as he was about to whip again Custard began to jump through the hoop. However, the cowman was already in motion “JUMP!”. The whip hit Custard right on her paw causing her to scream in agony and lose focus. Her tail brushed on the hoop and caught on fire for a second. 
When she landed, she started to cry like an actual child “OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW! MY PAW! IT HURTS SO MUCH!” She started sobbing loudly. “CUSTARD!” Strawberry yelled, breaking free from the men's grip, running up to her and picking her up.
“OW! OW!” Custard yelled “You are crushing my paw!” sobbing even more. “Oh Custard,” Strawberry said sadly “Let me look” She held her paw up and what I saw left me speechless. Custard’s paw was completely split into a realistic looking deep cut with red and black blood gushing out like crazy. “Oh...” Strawberry said “It’s really bad. Here, let me stop the bleeding”. Strawberry pulled a long white bandage out of her pocket and put it around the wound while Custard cringed. “Come on Custard.” Strawberry said quietly, picking her up “Let’s go home.”. 
 
“Where are you going, Strawberry?” Bell Pepper said going up to her “The show’s not over yet.”. “You're going to have to finish this on your own Bell Pepper.” Strawberry said coldly “We’re tired”. “Tired?” Bell Pepper asked, “Everyone's waiting”. “It’s too dangerous for us.” Strawberry continued “We don’t want to continue getting hurt for other people's enjoyment. It’s scary.”.
“Of course it’s scary.” Bell Pepper said, “People don't get to see this every day.”. “We joined because we thought it would be fun. Orange Blossom really wanted to do her act, but you scared her into thinking something would happen just like Ginger Snap and Angel Cake.” Said Strawberry. “Strawberry…” Bell Pepper said, reaching his arm out to her. “NO!” Strawberry shouted followed by a long silence “We need to go. Sorry.”.  
 
“But Strawberry…” Bell Pepper said flatly while Strawberry turned around “If you leave now… You’ll miss the grand finale!” He continued saying as his face turned into a giant grin with jagged teeth and big diabetic eyes. Strawberry noticed the people in the background melting away with the circus leaving a black background with only a few pieces of equipment and the entrance remaining. Bell Pepper let out a maniacal laugh and sunk into the floor.
== The grand finale ==
“Stwabewwy!” Apple Dumpling cried out to Strawberry. Strawberry tried to run to her, but the black tar swallowed her up. Soon she saw all her friends being swallowed up screaming for help. Sour Grapes just jumped out from her seat.
Pie man appeared behind her and chuckled “Well Strawberry, how do you like my magic show?”. “Pie man?” Strawberry asked, looking behind her “It was you?”. “Mm indeed,” Pie man answered, “And now let me present to you the goldebel!” a hole opened up from the ground revealing a purple monster crawling on all fours and had horns all over, sharp knife-like claws, jagged teeth, pure white eyes, and green goop drooling from its mouth.
“Such an animal even scares me.” Pie man said, “With a bite trap that can break steel, Venom which has no known cure, and has the urge to slaughter anything that moves.”. “But wasn't that the same thing that was said about that pink tiger?” Sour Grapes asked, “Get some original material”. “Oh, don't ruin this.” Pie man said back.
He then pointed up to the air to reveal Ginger Snap and Angel Cake caught in a net suspended below the Goldebel. Strawberry looked up in horror “Don’t worry guys I'm coming!”. But the Pie man grabbed her by the shirt “Oh, you're the star. You're going first!” He then threw her into the pit making her drop Custard. Strawberry grabbed onto a black seam from the pit. The scene showed the seam Strawberry was grabbing onto ripping slightly.  
It then cut to orange Blossom sitting next to the tent with her head buried in her arms. “Oh… I'm such a coward. Strawberry did this for me, and I didn't even do it.”. Just then Orange Blossom heard Strawberry yelling for help. “Strawberry!” She said, “She’s in trouble!” The scene then showed her running back into the tent entrance. 
When she got in the entrance closed behind her and she saw her friends dangling from the pit. “How am I going to save them?” She thought to herself. She then saw the net was connected to a rope that was tied to a trapeze bar. The scene then cuts to Pie man looking down at Strawberry laughing at her “Well Strawberry, it seems like now you will be lunch for Goldie!” Just then the horse shot a flaming arrow at the rope supporting the net “And your friends are the special dessert!”. 
“Not if I can help it!” Orange Blossom said off screen. Pie man looked up to see her holding on to a trapeze bar then swinging on it. “Stop her!” He shouted to the Butchers. The butcher threw knives at Orange Blossoms spot before she swung away.  
She grabbed onto the other side of the burnt rope swinging Ginger Snap and Angel Cake to the other platform. “Are you guys alright?” Orange Blossom asked. “We’re alright yeah!” Said Ginger Snap “But Strawberry is still in trouble we need to do something!”. Orange Blossom Handed them the piece of rope and said “You guys pull her out with this. I’ll Distract Pie man and his friends.”. 
Ginger Snap and Angel Cake climbed down then the scene cut to the seam Strawberry was grabbing onto ripping even more. The Chicken and Pigeon ran up to Ginger and Angel, but Orange threw bowling pins at them “What's the matter? I thought you two could juggle.” Orange Blossom teased. “Why you little!” The Chicken said, “Just wait till we get your friends!”. “Why don't you come up here and get me then?” Said Orange Blossom. 
 
“Strawberry!” Angel Cake said, throwing the rope net down to her “Grab onto this!”. Strawberry tried to reach out, but the seam ripped causing her to shriek and grab back on. “Come on Strawberry, you can do it!” Ginger Snap said. Strawberry Shortcake slowly let one hand go off the seam.
The horse and cow then came in on a motorcycle towards them, but Orange Blossom jumped on the cow’s head and knocked behind the horse causing them to spiral out of control and crash with Orange jumping off on time.
Back with Strawberry Shortcake she was struggling to grab hold of the net. The monster was just looking on with a death stare on its face. And the seam was pulling her down until it was close to breaking.
Then the pig came out with his pitchfork trying to strike Orange, but she was flipping and dodging away. When the pig tried to stab her, she stepped away and grabbed it and aimed the weapon at him causing him to run away.  
Angel was holding on to Ginger Snap’s legs as she was into the pit holding the net as low as she could. When Strawberries seam was just inches away from ripping, she lunged herself up and grabbed onto the rope net. “I got her!” Ginger Snap said then Angel Cake slowly began to pull them out. Pie man tried to push them off, but Orange jumped in front of him holding the pitchfork in front of him. The black background then turned back to normal, and Raspberry, Apple, the pets, and Huckleberry applauded them. 
Pie man got on his knees and begged for his life. “Why would I strike you?” Orange Blossom said to him “you're the star of the show.” She then ran into the curtain then ran out pulling out a giant cannon and threw the pie man in.
“And now for our real grand finale! Pie man the human cannonball! “. The cannon was aimed at the sky then fired Pie man straight out with him screaming “EHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGG!” ripping a hole in the tent. “Oh Purpee! Wait for me!” Sour grapes shouted running after him.  "Let's get out of here!" The Butcher animals said running away.
Everyone began to applaud Orange Blossom for her bravery and calling her the true star. Orange Blossom smiled and thanked them all. After that the characters seemed like they were about to sing a song but were soon interrupted with Custard and Strawberry walking onto the screen then fainting. “We’ve got to get them to a hospital stat!” Ginger Snap said.
The scene then transitioned to Ginger, Angel, and Orange sitting at a hospital hallway. A nurse character that looked like an adult version of the characters with blond hair came through the door. “So how are they huh? Are they alive, Will they walk, Will they-” Ginger began to talk quickly but was soon interrupted by the nurse. 
“There okay. Your friend just needs rest. But your cat, however, has a fracture in her paw bone. She’s very lucky that it didn't completely break. Otherwise, we would have to amputate. It will be some time before she can walk on it again. She also has a first degree burn on her tail. Poor little thing. How did this even happen?”. 
 “Uhh…” Orange Blossom thought for a second. Ginger Snap interrupted explaining the whole event lightning-fast transitioning to Strawberry lying in the hospital beginning to sing a song about how it's fun to be in the circus, but it is always nice to be at home with your loved ones close to you as she and Custard were spending their time in the hospital then going home singing with their friends. After the song the scene faded to black, and the credits played like normal.  
== Aftermath ==
I really enjoyed this episode. Personally, I thought this episode was a nice way to make Strawberry Shortcake seem more mature with good writing and adult themes without resorting to shock value. I can also appreciate the voice actors' part in this. You can really tell that they put their best effort in this one episode.
After a week I had to bring this DVD back to the library. Recently I borrowed it again and tried to upload the episode but unfortunately it turned out to be damaged and would cut out anytime I tried to play the episode. Kids these days. There is nothing about this episode online so now I have no way to watch this episode let alone show it to you.
But not all hope is lost. I recently got in contact with the episode's producer who wished to remain anonymous. They want to get this episode released to the public for everyone to see someday but for now are unable to due to wildbrain obviously refusing to let their brand be associated with something so dark.
He still wants to use this episode in some way. I remember him saying something about making a comic about it but I don’t know. Hopefully we will be able to see this again. But only time will tell.
 written by Shine Caroline
 
Category:Lost episodes
Category:Lost media
Category:DVD
Category:TV
Category:Lost Episodes
Category:Strawberry Shortcake