Brainy Smurf and Smart Alec Smurf were so alike that they annoyed each other. All night they had been arguing about different theories, experiments and quotes it was almost as if they were talking to themselves about themselves.

The other yellow Smurfs had kicked both of them out of the village just to get some peace and quiet!

Dawn was breaking and all the other villagers had gone to bed much earlier than Papa Smurf, Brainy and Papa Jaune. But the leader of the blue Smurfs did not feel like sleeping he had so many questions he still wanted to ask the yellow Smurfs. But he felt that he would find the answers back home.

Feathers had been roosting nearby in a scrubby tree and she flew down as soon as Papa whistled for her.

"Thank you for your hospitality Papa Jaune we must be leaving as we need to get back to our village before dark. I'm not happy about having to use the weapons but if my future self said it was the only way then it must be," said Papa Smurf with a sigh.

Papa Jaune and some other yellow Smurfs helped to pack a couple of sacks onto Feather's back. "Two pistols and some ammunition as you requested two years ago, you also gave us a sack of special magic powder that will shrink the wizard. There is to be a duel. Only you and the wizard. You said that no-one else must interfere otherwise all would be lost." said the leader of the yellow Smurfs.

"What are all the other pistols for?" asked Brainy. "They are for our own protection against all Humans that wish to destroy us. Papa Smurf said that it was important to keep at least one race of Smurfs alive as soon things would change for the worst for our species. Humans and their animals will bring destruction to the sacred lands of the Smurfs and it will be called progress," replied Papa Jaune and he looked at his blue brothers and fixing his sparkling green eyes on Papa he added "You yourself said that only two of your kind were left. You never mentioned who the second Smurf was."

Brainy looked at the yellow Smurf and gulped "Well I hope it was me, but what about the others do they all perish?" With a sad look on his face the yellow Smurf only nodded.

"We must go now, thanks again for your help. I wish we could have met in better circumstances," said Papa Smurf and he asked Feathers to fly them home. As they soared up into the sky the sun sparkled brightly on the sea and reflected on the white of Feathers body and to the yellow Smurf on the ground. Just for a moment they looked as if they were riding on an Angel.

The two little Smurfs slept all the way back to the Enchanted Forest and once Feathers landed in the centre of the village just as dusk was falling all the other Smurfs came out of their homes and gathered around their leader and Brainy.

"How have things been?" Asked Papa Smurf, he noticed that some of the Smurfs were crying and no-one was cheering their return.

Smurfette came up to Papa and gave him a hug and crying into his shoulder she blurted out "Oh, Papa it was awful! Vanity and Farmer only went to gather some Smurfberries , and now...now they are gone!"

"What do you mean. gone?" urged Papa looking into Smurfette's eyes. But she was sobbing so much now that he could not get her to speak.

Hefty spoke up on her behalf. "Gargamel's traps, they now don't just trap you. They. gulp smurf your guts! It's as if he doesn't care about catching us anymore. These traps are just for killing for the sake of it! If I ever get my hands on him he'll pay dearly I promise you!" spat Hefty growing purple in the face with rage.

Papa looked at all his Smurf family. There were hardly any of them now. Two days ago there were fifty and now only forty-eight remained.

"Everysmurf, listen up! No more foraging in the woods for anything from now on. We have plenty of supplies to last us a few weeks. I want every Smurf to stay in the village and that is an order!"

All the Smurfs looked at Papa with sad eyes and nodded their agreement. As long as everysmurf was in one place Papa had a chance to try and keep them safe for now.

"Now to tell you of our trip to the land of the Yellow Smurfs. They have made a special weapon that will help us defeat Gargamel once and for all. They have asked me to guard their secret with my life and I will honour that trust."

Papa walked over to Feathers who had been patiently waiting for permission to leave and he untied the two sacks from her back "Go Feathers and thanks again. I might need you tomorrow for a special mission," said Papa Smurf and the great bird soared up into the trees to roost for the night.

Papa walked back to the waiting crowd and put the sacks on the floor. He carefully unwrapped each one and lifted one up for the other Smurfs to see. "Wot iz it?" asked Painter Smurf. "It's called a pistol or gun and it shoots pieces of hot metal at great speed, faster than a spell can be cast. This will be our only way to get rid of Gargamel for good before he kills us all." replied Papa Smurf and for emphasis he turned around away from the others and fired up at a branch on a nearby tree. He squeezed the trigger and shot a lump of wood out of the branch, showering splinters down into the undergrowth.

Some of the other Smurfs screamed and hid ,others just stood open mouthed and shouted "Do it again!" So Papa obliged and let off a few more shots and he felt all powerful now that he had this new weapon.

Once Gargamel was cut down to size, he would be able to rid the forest of this menace and he was starting to not feel sorry for the wizard any more.

To be continued...