SSBBA: Fresh Jam

Let It Snow

A FEW DAYS LATER...

----

A few days have gone by since the Thistle incident, and the effects of the magentosis have not gone away. The world is still gray and depressed, and so are we. Our businesses have closed due to the lack of customers or will to do anything productive. In my case, I spend my time wandering around town, taking a note on how dull this place has become. I peek at Plum inside her studio, weeping to herself as she does her ballet lessons. 

When I go to Blueberry's place, I see her with her face in a book, but she's not reading it. 

When I visit Orange, I can't even go inside the store, as she has a sign on the door that says: STORE IS CLOSED FOREVER. GET LOST.

When I visit Lemon, she's got her hair under the faucet as she washes her depression away. 

Lemon: What color is a lemon...? 

As we can see, it isn't working.

When I enter Raspberry's boutique, she is laid out all over the floor with various dresses everywhere. 

When I head inside Strawberry's cafe, I find her slouched on her counter, scoffing down some cake. She turns to me and gives me a growl, even though I didn't say anything.

Strawberry: Don't judge me! It's my cake!

She throws a slice at me and I immediately go back the way I came. I find myself in front of the Longface statue, where Berrykin Bloom is. He doesn't seem as depressed as everyone else. I know because he is smiling.

Me: Berrykin Bloom... You're... smiling?

Berrykin Bloom turns to me and pats the spot next to him.

Berrykin Bloom: Come, my boy. Take a moment to hang with the older crowd.

I sit down next to him, but Berrykin Bloom hops into my hands and looks up at me.

Berrykin Bloom: It is always nice to see things from your point of view, dear Dominic.

Me: Well, how about this?

I place Berrykin Bloom on my head and he chuckles slightly as he grabs onto my hair to keep from falling.

Berrykin Bloom: My, my... What a sight... 

Me: How can you be so... happy at a time like this?

Berrykin Bloom: I have been around for hundreds of years. Over that time, I have experienced a lot more than you could imagine. And if I learned anything, it's that you must always maintain a positive attitude. Bad things happen, yes, but if we take the time to find the goodness in them... those bad things won't seem so bad, now will they?

Me: But what if-

Berrykin Bloom: Hush... Those what-if's may plague your brain now... and you might be itching to find answers for them... but they'll never happen. You need to focus on what is happening in the now.

Me: How do you know all this?

Berrykin Bloom: Because I used to ask those questions when I was your age.

Me: Y'know, I never got to ask. How old are you?

Berrykin Bloom starts laughing.

Berrykin Bloom: Oh-ho, Dominic, you are hilarious.

All of a sudden, the winds start to pick up and we feel the atmosphere getting colder. Berrykin Bloom stops laughing and starts gasping.

Berrykin Bloom: No, not yet... That doesn't make sense...

I pick him off my head and holds him close in my arms.

Me: What? Are we under attack?

Berrykin Bloom: No, no, it's just... my senses are telling me that winter is on the way... 

Me: Winter? That's absurd. Maybe it's an early fall.

Berrykin Bloom: Trust me, my senses have never failed. If they say winter is coming, then by the ancient Berrykins, we shall have winter. 

Me: But winter isn't for another couple months!

Berrykin Bloom: That's what I'm saying! This is NOT natural!

Me: We need some more knowledge about this situation.

I turn to the bookstore.

Me: And I know just where to get it.

----

I carry Berrykin Bloom inside the bookstore where Blueberry has her head on her desk, not making a sound.

Berrykin Bloom: Oh... She must be asleep...

Me: Blueberry...

I walk up to her and lean in.

Me: Hello...

I poke her cheek in an attempt to wake her, but Blueberry, in her sleep, grabs my hand and pulls it close to her, clutching it like a teddy bear. I get startled and shake her slightly on the shoulder.

Me: Wake up...!

Blueberry sighs as she speaks to my hand.

Blueberry: Oh, please, my sweet prince... It's the least I can do...

She brings my hand closer to her lips and I try to pull away, but this bookworm's grip is staggering. Berrykin Bloom hops onto the table and simply opens Blueberry's eyes, causing her to scream and fall out of her chair. I back away from her as she looks up at me with a face full of embarrassment.

Blueberry: W-was I...?

Me: Yep.

Blueberry groans as she grabs a pillow from her sofa and buries her face in it. I shake off the awkwardness and sit down on the sofa.

Me: We... came to ask for your assistance.

Blueberry: {muffled} With what...?

Berrykin Bloom: You see, my dear, the atmosphere has gotten colder, and my senses predict that winter is on the rise.

Blueberry: How is that possible?

Berrykin Bloom: That is what we are trying to find out. And your library might just have the answer. 

Blueberry: Well, I'm afraid I can't help you. I stored all of my books in the basement. 

Me: You have a basement?

Berrykin Bloom: Then you must take us there, Blueberry.

Blueberry: I don't really feel like it... 

Me: What? But you're always willing to help when it comes to knowledge.

Blueberry: That's back when I was BLUEberry. Do I look blue to you?

Me: You certainly seem the part.

Berrykin Bloom: The magentosis is a travesty, yes, but if your archives contain even a small piece of information about the matter, then you could be playing a part in bringing the color back. 

Blueberry: You can explore the basement if you really want to... I don't really see the point in doing so, but as long as you keep me out of it, I don't give a hoot.

Me: Blueberry, are you sure? We wouldn't want to exclude you.

Blueberry: I'm positive. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to wash that embarrassing moment out of my head. 

She drags herself upstairs.

Blueberry: The key to the basement is next to the couch...

I want to go after her and try to convince her, but there's no time. I sigh as I grab the keys and turn to Berrykin Bloom.

Me: I guess it's just you and me.

Berrykin Bloom: {nods} Lead the way, my boy.

----

I find Blueberry's basement as I trip over a lock moulded into the floor. Berrykin Bloom smiles as he pats me on the head.

Berrykin Bloom: You found the basement. Excellent work.

I groan to myself as I unlock the secret trap door and I'm starting to get second thoughts as I see just how deep and dark this basement is. It's like the stairway to hell, except it's in Blueberry's house. Then I find the lightswitch and my worries immediately disappear.

{flick}

I hold Berrykin Bloom in my arms as we descend into the basement, which smells like blueberries, as I hoped it would. As I make my way down, my eyes widen at how many shelves there are, containing many more books. There are also drawers and desks galore, filled with scrolls, loose papers, notebooks, etc. I'm not worried about anything being out of place, because this is Blueberry we're talking about. If anyone's basement is organized, it's gonna be hers. Berrykin Bloom hops out of my hands and starts racing through the room. 

Berrykin Bloom: Keep your eyes peeled. There has to be something in here on the magentosis. 

Me: And if there isn't?

Berrykin Bloom: Well, then we can always visit the archive room at the Berrykin Kingdom.

...

Me: Why didn't we go there first?

Berrykin Bloom: You were so excited about coming over here, I didn't want to ruin your good time. 

Me: Berrykin Bloom...

Berrykin Bloom: I suppose you are right. I have an idea. I shall go and explore the archives, while you stay here and look around.

Me: You know what, that's a good plan. Let's go with that.

I hold out my hand, expecting a high-five.

Me: Go team.

Berrykin Bloom smiles as he simply shakes my hand.

Berrykin Bloom: Yes, I suppose we are quite a pair. 

He hops back up the stairs, leaving me to my own devices. I realize I have an entire basement of books to go through, so I decide to pick the sections that make the most sense. 

HISTORY

Well, maybe the history section might have something. I walk over to said section and start scanning through the books. One is about Berry Bitty City's agricultural history, another is about-

I hear a door opening. I turn to see a rectangular-shaped hole in the wall. A hole that was not there before. A hole that does not have any door attached to it. 

I think about going back upstairs. But when I turn, the stairs are gone. I turn back around and see that the hole seems to be getting closer. I back away until I feel the wall behind me. The hole gets closer and closer... until I see something inside the hole. 

Kevin.

Kevin: COCONUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

I watch before my eyes as Kevin starts to bawl in agony. I race inside the hole and scoop Kevin in my arms, but he vanishes. The hole closes up behind me and I am stuck inside the darkness. 

Me: Great...

I hear a familiar evil chuckle in front of me. Even though I cannot see him... he's there. 

Watching me.

I know trembling in fear will get me nowhere. So I have to speak to him.

Me: Tell me... Is this a dream...?

: It doesn't matter...

Me: What are you talking about...?

: Everything you do does not matter... 

Me: You're... making less sense than usual...

: You think this is a game, kid...?

Me: Uh...

: Well... I wouldn't put it past ya... 

Me: Okay...

: You're bein' pulled by invisible strings, Earth brat... Even though you wanna keep playin' pretend... we know the truth... 

Me: You know what...? I don't even care if my life here is a dream or not... I've been living my best life here... a far better life than I had on Earth... And if it's going to end right now, at least I'll have died knowing I did something worth living... 

...

: I do have to kill you... 

I feel myself getting raised in the air.

: But not quite so soon...

Me: Seriously...?

: Don't worry... 

His eyes glow bright red amidst the darkness.

: You'll be seein' me real soon...

---

In a blink of an eye, I am back in the basement. I know because Blueberry has been shaking me nonstop.

Blueberry: Wake up, Coconut! Wake up!

I jolt up and accidentally clonk our heads together.

Me and Blueberry: OW!

We clutch our heads as I feel myself getting really light-headed.

Me: Wh-what happened to me...?

Blueberry: I thought you had passed out.

I notice how red Blueberry's face is... then I wake up completely.

Me: Wait, how did your...

I look all around me and see that the color has been restored.

Me: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!

Berrykin Bloom appears and stands on my chest.

Berrykin Bloom: I have concocted a serum using natural herbs and Berrykin sparkles. It took a few days to make just right, but by golly, we are currently restoring color to this town as we speak. 

A FEW DAYS?!

Me: I was knocked out for days?! How come no one found me before then?!

Blueberry: Well, I finally gained the will to start being a bookworm again, so I came to get all my books, and there you were, on the floor like you were drunk. 

Me: I wasn't drunk...

Berrykin Bloom: Regardless, dear boy, we could use your help to start preparing for the winter season. According to my calculations, due to the amount of energy taken from the world, it left the planet hollow and empty, causing it to spin faster on its axis. 

Blueberry: In other words, we completely breezed through autumn and found ourselves in the beginning of winter.

o-o

....

I manage to get myself off the ground and start dragging myself up the stairs.

Blueberry: Where are you off to?

Me: Bed.

----

TO BE CONTINUED