Strawberry Shortcake
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- This article is about the specific Strawberry Shortcake that features in Kirby: Squeak Squad. For other appearances of shortcake, see Shortcake.
| “ | Today's yummy snack is a sweet, fluffy slice of strawberry shortcake! Time to dig in... | ” | — Part of the opening narration from Kirby: Squeak Squad |
The Strawberry Shortcake (also referred to as Strawberry Cake or just Shortcake) is a particularly lavish slice of cake which first appeared in Kirby: Squeak Squad, where its disappearance serves as Kirby's sole motive to go adventuring in order to reclaim it from the Squeaks who stole it from him. He does not recover the cake until after defeating the game's final boss, when the Squeaks decide to send Kirby a second, identical cake to Kirby as an apology for all the trouble they caused. The cake reappears as a rare food item in Kirby Star Allies.
AppearanceEdit
The Strawberry Shortcake featured in Kirby: Squeak Squad is significantly more decorative than the standard shortcake seen in other Kirby games as a common food item. The base of this cake is made up of 6 layers. The bottom-most layer is made up of a mahogany crust, with the layer directly above it being made up of a lighter color. The layer on top of it is much larger, is white, and has slices of strawberry lain in a wave-like pattern across the bottom. The next layer is similar in size to the layers at the beginning of the cake, yet exhibits a dark brown color. The following layer is the same color as the third layer, yet is missing the red waves and is as large as the layer it rests on top of. The final layer is the same size as the one below it with a bright orange color. The top of the cake is topped with a white, fluffy frosting as well as a singular strawberry, two cinnamon sticks, and bright green leaves, all of which rest on top of the whipped cream, near the back of the cake.
In-game flavor text refers to the cake as "that scrumptious, berry-topped slice of mouth-watering goodness". Its most elaborate depiction can be found at the very end of the game, when it is added to the player's Collection Room as the last piece of treasure.
Game appearancesEdit
Kirby: Squeak SquadEdit
In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Kirby's entire motivation for adventuring is to get back the Strawberry Shortcake, which he believes has been stolen from him by the Squeaks. As Kirby ventures through the world, there is not a single cutscene where the narrator does not mention Kirby's thoughts on recovering the cake, regardless of what else may be happening in the story, and due to several misunderstandings, Kirby gets entangled with King Dedede and Meta Knight along the way. Kirby's desire for the lost cake is so strong, in fact, that whenever he is left alone for even a moment, he will fall asleep and dream of the cake. Kirby does not get his cake back until after he defeats Dark Nebula, and the Squeaks send him a second cake as an apology for the trouble they caused.
Kirby Star AlliesEdit
In Kirby Star Allies, the specific Strawberry Shortcake slice from Kirby: Squeak Squad appears as an extremely rare food item. Its only appearances are at the end of Daroach's section in Dimension III of Heroes in Another Dimension and when Daroach is cooked by the Friend Ability Cook Potluck/Supper Party. Despite its lavish appearance, the cake does not recover any more health than other food items.
TriviaEdit
- Outside of Kirby: Squeak Squad, Kirby's obsessive desire for Strawberry Shortcake is referenced in Kirby's Return to Dream Land's opening cutscene, which depicts Kirby running away from King Dedede and Bandana Waddle Dee while holding a shortcake slice. Additionally, in the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! episode Kirby 3D, a shortcake placed on a remote-controlled toy car is used to lure Kirby into the castle where he is then attacked by a monster.
- Notably, when looking closely at the opening scene for Kirby: Squeak Squad, the entity responsible for stealing Kirby's cake is in fact a Waddle Dee, rather than one of the Squeaks, as would have been expected. It is unclear why this is the case.
- This specific Strawberry Shortcake also appears on a piece of merchandise created for Kirby's 30th Anniversary, a plush of Kirby holding a Treasure Chest which contains a picture of the cake when the top of the chest is opened.
GalleryEdit
Sprite of Kirby eating his cake at the end of Kirby: Squeak Squad
The Strawberry Shortcake in Kirby: The Strange Sweets Island
Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter commemorating Christmas in 2017, featuring Kirby dreaming about his Strawberry Shortcake
Kirby JP Twitter post highlighting the Strawberry Shortcake from Kirby: Squeak Squad appearing alongside Daroach during a Cook Potluck in Kirby Star Allies.
Plushie of Kirby holding a large Treasure Chest, with the Strawberry Shortcake inside. This plushie was created for Kirby's 30th Anniversary by San-ei
"Sponge Cake" figure from the "Kirby Sweet Tea Time" merchandise line, manufactured by Re-ment
Names in other languagesEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | イチゴのショートケーキ Ichigo no shōtokēki |
Strawberry shortcake |
| French | Gâteau à la fraise | Strawberry cake |
| German | Erdbeertorte | Strawberry cake |
| Italian | Torta alle fragole | Strawberry cake |
| Spanish | Pastel de fresa | Strawberry cake |
| Kirby: Squeak Squad Collection Room | |
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