In Smurf Village, the Smurfs were cleaning the snow off their mushrooms and decorating with flowers. It was their favorite time of the year: the First Day of Spring. They would celebrate and sing all day long.

Papa Smurf and Smurf Willow watched over their little Smurfs, boys and girls. They were very proud leaders.

Later that morning, the Smurfs were picking smurfberries for lunch.

"Ah" sighed Papa Smurf "Nothing like a morning to pick smurfberries."

"Do you do this smurfberry picking this late in the morning?" asked Smurf Blossom excitedly.

"No" answered Smurfette. "We actually come here once in a blue moon."

As soon as they finished gathering smurfberries, the Smurfs returned to the village and had their annual Springtime Feast.

"This is quite a smurfy meal, Baker Smurf" said Papa Smurf.

"Thank you, Papa Smurf" replied Baker Smurf. "I have been loving this job for a hundred years."

Once lunch was finally finished, all of the Smurfs resumed their daily activities. Everyone, expect Hefty and Smurfette.

It didn't take them long for Papa Smurf to finally stop them at the log entrance to the village.

"Well, I know two Smurfs who have some explaining to do" he said.

"We're only going Smurfboarding, Papa Smurf" answered Hefty.

"Yeah" agreed Smurfette. "Just me and Hefty"

Papa Smurf chuckled to himself and then nodded his head.

"Just don't get into trouble and stay away from the Forbidden Forest" he said in a fair, but firm tone.

Smurfette and Hefty laughed as they left as Papa Smurf stood, confused.

"Be safe" he whispered.

But, Papa Smurf then decided to take "a stroll" to watch Hefty and Smurfette. It was a long walk to follow their footsteps, but it was worth it.

He hadn't gone far until he came to the meadow and saw...

"Gargamel?"

"Go away" sighed the wizard sadly.

He was sulking inside a net, hanging on a tree branch. The same tree where Azrael's assumed burial would took place.

But, Papa Smurf approached Gargamel carefully.

"I'm surprised to find you here, but aren't you supposed to attempt to capture us?" asked the old Smurf.

"No, not today" answered Gargamel. "I trapped myself for the day until nightfall."

Not wanting his enemy to stay inside the net too long, Papa Smurf freed Gargamel and gave him an apple.

"Is something wrong?" asked Papa Smurf.

"Well, Papa Smurf..." Gargamel sighed. "I'm tired of these nightmares that keep coming to me at night."

Papa Smurf understood what Gargamel was saying, but he wasn't sure why it's happening and he wasn't going to ask his enemy how he got them.

"Just try not to think of it" Papa Smurf finally said.

"I'm trying, Papa Smurf" answered Gargamel. "I just have one question, do you Smurfs think I'm a monster?"

"Gargamel, you're not a monster. You're a human being who is..."

"Who is what? Ugly? Smelly? Evil?"

"No, Gargamel, you just don't understand life like you used to when you were younger and didn't chased us."

The poor wizard nodded his head slowly.

"Look, the problem is that..." Gargamel said softly, he stopped in mid-sentence. "No, no, I'm not telling you."

"Tell me" replied Papa Smurf.

"NO!" yelled the wizard angrily. "Even if I wanted I could, but I can't! It's too painful to explain!"

"Oooh, what's going on over here?" asked a voice.

Papa Smurf and Gargamel looked over to see a Smurf with a pair of binoculars spying on them from the bushes.

"None of your business, Nosey Nose!" growled Gargamel.

"Well, alright, wizard" answered Nosey Smurf.

Then, he spoke with Papa Smurf. "You need to come back to the village, Papa Smurf."

"Why?" asked Papa Smurf, confused.

"Well, it was Jokey's fault"

"WHAT?!" screamed Papa Smurf in shock.

"Yep. He blew up Handy's mushroom with one of his surprises."

As Nosey left, Papa Smurf thought it over.

"I'll be right there, Nosey" he called.

Before he could go with Nosey, Papa Smurf gently touched Gargamel's arm.

"You know what, Gargamel?" he asked. "Even without magic provided by Smurf essence, you are powerful than you think you are."

As soon as Papa Smurf left him, Gargamel walked over to the pond and stared at his reflection, thinking of what Papa Smurf said to him.

Sure, he hated the Smurfs ever since he first met them, but he knew deep inside that he felt guilty, but he still wanted to prove his worth to the world.

You are powerful than you think you are... without Smurf essence? he thought to himself. I don't think I am powerful without magic.


When he got back to the castle, Gargamel was going through the potions that expired. The ones that were worthless, he smashed the vials against a bucket and the liquids in the bucket were disposed over the bridge.

However, a loud slam on the door startled him.

"Uh, uh, won't you come in, whoever you are" he stammered.

Azrael and Monty gasped and spun around towards the door.

"Forgotten about me already, Gargamel?!" screeched a loud voice.

Azrael meowed fearfully and ran up to the tower.

"Oh, hello, Mummy" whimpered Gargamel.

When she approached Gargamel, his mother could tell that her son wasn't feeling well.

"Are you being a quitter again?" she asked rudely.

"No" moaned Gargamel. "Having those dreadful nightmares again. And they're getting worse every night."

Hearing this, Gargamel's mother cocked an eyebrow.

"And then, I wake the entire forest with a loud scream" he continued.

"A loud scream?" scoffed Gargamel's mother.

"When I gave birth to you on the day you were born, it was so painful and I screamed loud enough for the mountains to create an avalanche."

Monty rolled his eyes and then flew off.

Upstairs, Azrael quietly chuckled at his master's mother's comment.

"I wish that you would treat me with respect like you did before Father left us" Gargamel exclaimed nervously. "You're treating me like everyone else! Treating me like I'm nothing."

Then, he threw himself on a chair with a heavy huff.

Gargamel's mother was taken back by her son's attitude, but she didn't to upset him either.

"I'm sorry, Gargy" she said. "There is nothing I can do for you. But, there is something you can do for me."

She gently lifted her son's head with her hand.

"You have a godniece."

"What?" asked a shocked Gargamel.

"A godniece. She's six and a half years old and her mother is recovering from an illness. I can't take care of her. But, she will feel happy with you. I want you to be extra nice to her, she's going through a hard time as we speak."

Gargamel was baffled of what his mother had told him. He has a godniece?

"But, I can't babysit, Mummy" he said nervously.

"Too bad" his mother answered. "Your her only family left other than me. She has to stay with you."

A child I don't know staying with me? thought Gargamel. Oh, sure, what's the worse that could happen?

"Fine" said Gargamel.

"Good" replied his mother, getting to leave. "Be ready for her when I bring her over in three days."

The door slammed shut and Gargamel was left in the dark once again.

"I just hope this godniece doesn't give me trouble like the Smurfs do" said Gargamel.


To be continued...