Chapter 4: How it Began
Toughette and Hefty Smurf ran around the corner and down the hall - they wanted to get as far away as possible from the strange smurfs. The same questions flooded their minds. How will they ever get home? Is there even a home to get back too? Where were Mama and Papa Smurf, and the other smurfs?
Finally, they stopped to catch their breath for a moment. The two strong smurfs also use this opportunity to get their barring straight. Using their eyes, they tried to find a possible tunnel that would lead them outside.
"What kind of smurfs keep demons trapped inside a wall?" Toughette panted, thinking back to the strange room they had just escaped.
"Who cares? Let's just find an exit and get out of this crazy place!" Hefty replied, slightly out of breath.
Toughette suddenly leaned forward, groaning, and clinching her stomach. Hefty reacted by grabbing her shoulders so she would not fall over.
"What is it, Toughette? You are not going to be sick again, are you?" The strong smurf asked.
"I don't think so. My stomach just hurts that's all. What I wouldn't give for one of Mama Smurf's medicines right now."
"Yeah, me too." Hefty nodded, holding his stomach as well.
"You don't look all too well either. Are you going to be ok?" Toughette wondered, looking up at him with concern.
"I'll hold till we can find a way to get out of here." He said, taking her hand and lead her down the hall once more.
The strong smurfs sprinted in a slower pace than before. Toughette trotted a few steps behind Hefty. Normally she would be at a steady stride along side him. She stopped suddenly when a tiny noise caught her attention. Toughette paused as she tried to tame her breathing in order to hear it again, but nothing happened. The tough smurfette narrow her eyes down another dark hall behind them, and yet, was unable to see anything either.
"Hefty?" She finally turned back to call out to her mate.
"What?" He stopped to look back at her.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"There was a noise. It came from down that tunnel over there." Just then, the same sound echoed once more. "There it is again!"
"I-I didn't hear anything." Hefty muttered, as he was distracted looking down the opposite direction. "What did it sound like?"
"It sounded a bit like someone or something…giggling."
"This is just another reason for us to get the smurf out of here, Toughette, too many weird things happening." He again took Toughette's hand into his, and they both headed around the corner, only to meet a dead end.
"Great!" Toughette groaned. "I think I saw a light down the other tunnel. We could back track, and -"
"Toughette, wait." Hefty barked, cutting her off.
"What?"
"Look." He whispered hoarsely, guiding her eyes up with his blue finger to a sign above the door at the end of the tunnel.
Toughette looked up, and read the letters above the doorframe.
"Smurf History Museum?" She raised her brow, curiously. "You don't suppose we might find some answers in there, do you?" The golden blond smurfette asks.
"Maybe, come on…" Hefty nodded before he took the lead.
They were once again surprised with how this world worked when the doors suddenly magically opened sideways. Cautiously, the strong smurfs entered the room. The young smurfs jumped slightly when they heard the door had closed on its own. They wondered if the room itself was alive. The strong smurfs waited for a moment to see what else might happen, but nothing did. Slowly, Hefty and Toughette started to look up and around their surroundings.
The room itself was huge. It had stairs just ahead that lead to different levels that spiral upward to a glass ceiling. The Glass roof gave the room natural light, but that was not what caught Hefty and Toughette's interest. All around the room, and up along the other levels had displays of ancient artifacts from the Smurf Village. Laid out along one of the walls of the first level were semi faded paintings boxed in glass that the two smurfs recognized to be Painter's works. In front of the paintings, protected also in glass cases, were smurf sculptures, and wicker baskets that only the hand of Craftette could create.
As Hefty and Toughette began to walk around the museum they saw more artifacts that were once owned by their friends, including some of Handy's favorite tools he used, as well as a few of his smaller inventions from the sting-a-ling right down to his Smurf Drill. Hefty had to smile when he saw that and remembered when Handy used it for the first time. He had to trap real bees inside the contraption in order for it to work.
Hefty's smile faded when he noticed Clockwork Smurf. The painted wooden frame of the smurf android was faded away. It was obviously not operational anymore due to the fact his gears had rusted out a long time ago. Hefty wondered why Handy Smurf was not able to care for his prized invention.
The captain's hat that Dreamy Smurf wore was on display too. Beside it was the wooden sculpture of a smurfette mermaid that once sat on the bow of the S.S. Smurf. Even Cowgirl's favorite lasso was also incased in protective glass beside Farmer Smurfs favorite Hoe.
Toughette walks past some more items in glass. She gasps knowing that they all once belonged to her sisters. From Mama Smurf's herbs and spell books, to Ballette's dancing shoes, to even a few of Valvette's favorite dresses that she, and Sewette designed. All displayed in protective glass.
Toughette stopped at a flyer that was laid out, ready to read. On the top of the flyer, it read 'Tattlerette's Daily Report'. Toughette narrowed her eyes through the glass in order to read some of the faded words. Her eyes start watering as she covered her mouth with her hand. Something about this flyer suddenly had her realizing what happened to the Smurf Village.
Hefty walked with his jaw hung down at all the old things from his village. From Grandpa's walking stick, to a few of Papa Smurf's best spell books and memoirs, right down to Poet's best poems in display glass. He grazed his hand over a glass case of Clumsy's favorite rocks. It was at this moment that he too began to remember.
Eventually the strong smurf made his way to where his mate stood, still glancing down at Tattlerette's Daily Report.
"H-Hefty." Toughette whispered softly.
"Yeah Toughette?" He responded, in a barely audible voice.
"I think I remember what happened to us…"
"Me too…"
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Flashback
1503 – DEEP IN THE FORESTS OF EUROPE
Toughette and Hefty Smurf sat beside a riverbed as they dried off Babette and Baby Smurf. The strong smurfs had just finished giving the babies a bath in the river.
"There, that outta do it. You're all clean now, Sweet Pea." Toughette cooed to Baby Smurf. Baby Smurf responded by giggling in baby babble.
"Yeah, bet it feels good to get all washed up after a hard morning of playing in the mud." Hefty chuckled sarcastically. He lifted his hand to tickle Babette under her chin with his index finger.
"Speaking of cleaned up, I wonder if Brainette, Brainy, and the smurflings managed to get the camp site packed so we can get home." Toughette wondered.
"Hmm, good question. Let's go find out." The strong smurf said. He got up with Babette in his arms and headed towards the camp.
About a quarter mile away from the riverbank the other smurfs and smurflings were just packing up the rest of their equipment, and camping gear. Puppy sat happily, as he watched his beloved family of smurfs pack up their things. He himself wore a special strap that allowed him to pull the wagon sitting beside him. The smurfs used the wagon to carry some of the heavier equipment.
"Smurf-a-roo, these bags can get really heavy." Snappy Smurfling whined as he dragged a duffle bag of camping gear.
"Tell me about it." Nat Smurfling huffed as he too struggled with Sassette in rolling up the last sleeping bag.
"It sure would be nice to have some grown up assistance here, though." Sassette grumbled as she shot a glare up at Brainy.
"Yah." Slouchy Smurfling added, throwing a finished packed bag over his shoulder.
"Careful with that bag Slouchy. I have some very important rock samples that I want to analyze with Mama Smurf later." Brainette warned the young smurfling.
"Hurry it up, Smurflings; Papa Smurf left me in charge to make sure our camping trip is on schedule." Brainy Smurf ordered.
"Who left whom in charge?" Brainette said with a raised eyebrow to Brainy.
"Oh," he chuckled sheepishly, "I meant to say, Papa Smurf and Mama Smurf left us in charge, of course."
"Of course," Brainette nodded approvingly. She jotted down on her note pad and checked off another item that needed to be complete in the preparations to leave the campsite.
"Here's the last bag!" Snappy sighed, tossing a duffle bag full of pots and pans in front of Brainy and Brainette's feet.
"Excellent. Good job, smurflings." Brainy praised.
"Haven't you smurfs got everything packed yet?" Hefty called out from the edge of the field.
"As you can see we have. We've just been waiting for you two so we can get these bags lifted into the wagon." Brainette calmly stated.
"Oh, I see. You two wait for the brawn to come and do the work that the brains could not." Toughette teased. She and Hefty look at each other with a smirk before turning back to Brainette and Brainy.
"Fine," They both sighed in unison.
"Here make yourselves useful, and hold the babies while we pack the wagon." Hefty told the smart smurfs.
After handing the babies to Brainy and Brainette, Hefty and Toughette went straight to work lifting up the heavy bags. Hefty took one and tossed it over his shoulder. He also grabbed another one, and started dragging it along as he headed for the wagon. Toughette picked up one heavy bag and carried it over her head with both hands, and walked behind Hefty.
"I have to admit, regardless of Toughette's sarcastic wit this has been a fun, and educational camping trip." Brainette said.
"True. I wonder if the Village has missed us during the two and a half weeks we were away." Brainy asked.
"Us maybe, but you? That's another story…" Snappy Smurfling chuckled at Brainy. The other smurflings joined in on the joke with a good laugh.
"Ha, ha! Very funny." Brainy grumbled.
"Charming." Brainette smirked at the young mischief smurflings.
"Ok we got a day's hike back to the Village so let's get smurfing, smurfs." Hefty called out to everyone.
Both he and Toughette made sure the wagon to Puppy's special collar was fully secure. After Brainette and Brainy Smurf help put the babies in their baby slings before strapping them onto the strong smurf's backs. Brainy and Brainette, as well as the smurflings, put on their backpacks before everyone headed out of the valley and towards the direction of the Smurf Village.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
All ten of the young traveling smurfs were becoming quite tired after their long hike. Even Puppy is feeling the strain after hulling heavy cargo for many miles. Only a few more miles and they would be home eating fresh smurfberry tarts and sipping herb tea.
Without warning both Babette and Baby Smurf began to cry.
"Awe, come on you guys." Toughette whined. "That is the third time you two started crying since we left the camp site." She glanced over her shoulder to Baby Smurf, whom was strapped on her back.
"Yeah little squeakers" Hefty added. "What's the matter?" With a concern look, he turned his head to Babette on his back.
"Hmm, how peculiar," Brainette pondered aloud. "We've changed them, fed them, and yet they are still showing signs of discomfort."
"You don't suppose it could be they are starving for some stimulating intellect to help build their fast growing minds?" Brainy suggested. Everyone, including Brainette, turned to give him a look as if to say 'are you joking'.
"They could be just tired from the long journey away from home?" Nat Smurfling suggested. Brainette nodded, agreeing with that possibility.
"Or perhaps they are just upset that they had nothing else to look at during the entire trip home other then Brainy." Snappy Smurfling joked, jerking his thumb up at Brainy. Once again, everyone started to laugh, except Brainy. He merely sulked.
"That's it I'm going to go tell Papa Smurf on you. Then you'll be sorry." Brainy huffed. He began to pick up his pace, passing Hefty and Toughette and straight down the path ahead.
"Oh brother, Brainy," Hefty rolled his eyes in annoyance. "You take things way too personal sometimes."
"Oh, just you wait. One day I will be running things, and the way of the Smurfs will be different. None of this making fun of Brainy Smurf, oh no… And further more…" Brainy suddenly stopped instantly, as if he had bumped into something - like an invisible wall. The impact caused Brainy to fall onto his back.
The sight of Brainy fall made everyone laugh at him again. Brainette however, seemed more interested in what Brainy had bumped into more then him falling on his back.
"Walk much, Brainy?" Toughette laughed.
"Not funny, Toughette." Brainy scowled. He rubbed the side of his head that smacked into an unseen force. "I bumped into something."
"Invisible goose-bumps, I don't see anything." Sassette scratched her head.
"That seems to be the point," Brainette hummed. She stepped casually until her hand was able to feel a smooth surface. Tilting her head slightly, Brainette caught a gleam from the invisible sheild. "I would say this invisible wall has been put up by magic. But why is it blocking entry to our Village?"
"You don't suppose if we walk around it that we might be able to find away to pass this thing, do you?" Toughette asked.
"Maybe - There is only one way to find out." The smart smurfette said before following the invisible wall around the village.
Hefty decides to do the smurfy thing and help Brainy back up to his feet before following the smurfettes.
"Awe, more walking?" Slouchy Smurfling whined before trailing behind of the other smurfs.
Almost twenty-five minutes have passed, and the smurfs were nowhere near in finding an opening, nor were they able to see any of their fellow smurfs, and smurfettes. The traveling smurfs began to worry.
"Where is every smurf?" Brainy whined.
"That's a good question. I haven't seen anyone since we have started going around this thing." Hefty responded with a baffled look on his face.
"Do you think an evil sorcerer or something trapped the smurfs inside?" Sassette asked.
"If I were to estimate on the origin this shield, Sassette, I would say that it was created from the inside. Being that said it could seem that the smurfs and smurfettes were trying to keep something out." Brainette said in a monotone voice.
"But does that have to include us? W-W-What if this thing that was attacking the Village is still here? We could all be in danger!" Brainy cried in a panicky tone.
The other smurfs all start to look around at their surroundings in a wary way.
"Brainy…?" A weak, but familiar voice called out from inside the invisible shield.
"C-Clumsy?" Brainy said, once he notices his best friend crawling out from behind a large rock.
"I thought I heard your voice, Brainy." Clumsy smiled. His face looked pale, and sunken in.
"Clumsy, what happened? Where is every smurf?" Hefty called out to him.
Clumsy's smile faded into a frown. "They all got very sick. I'm not doing to well myself. But I sure did miss all of you." He said, trying to bring himself to smile again, but found he is too weak to make the smile last.
"Clumsy. How is it that everyone got so sick?" Brainette asked, kneeling down at his level.
"It is a viral plague, Brainette." A female voice spoke, also in a weak tone.
Everyone looked up to see Nursette and Handy Smurf walk up to the same where Clumsy sat. Their movements were slow. Both of them were pale looking with their faces sunken in, much like Clumsy. Each of them barely had enough strength to make the short journey from the tree closest to the Village to the rock beside the energy shield. Once they reach the rock, both Handy and Nursette leaned against it for support.
"Nursette? Handy? Boy, you two don't look so good." Toughette said with a serious look on her face.
"Yeah. What kind of virus could do this to you, not to mention the entire Village?" Hefty added.
"And what is with this invisible energy shield? Why can't we come in and talk to Papa Smurf and Mama Smurf?" Brainy asked.
"Papa Smurf and Mama Smurf created this energy field so that no one could come in or get out of the Village." Nursette explained weakly.
"Why?" Toughette nearly shouted. Her voice already sounded emotional.
"Because this virus is already killing us, and Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf didn't want any of you to become infected as well." Handy explained.
"How did this happen?" Nat Smurfling asked. He and the other smurflings are on the verge of crying along with the two babies.
"It started shortly after you guys left to go camping, and study rock minerals." Handy Smurf began. "Tracker Smurf was out on one of his nature hikes when he found Wild Smurf. Apparently, Gargamel had sprayed Wild with something, and just left him. After when Tracker brought Wild Smurf back to the Village he himself started becoming sick." He stopped to rub away the tears from his eyes.
"While Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf struggled to find a cure the rest of the Village started getting sick too." Nursette continued. "Whatever was in the stuff that Gargamel sprayed on Wild, it had spread fast, and with no mercy. Mama Smurf, Papa Smurf and I all agreed that it was a Plague, but what kind we didn't know." She paused to shake her head in disbelieve. "Within only a few days the worst began to happen." Nursette stopped as tears started falling down her face.
"What?" Brainette asked with petrified eyes.
"Everyone was starting to s-s-smurf." Handy sniffled as tears ran down his face, barely even able to say the words.
The smurfs on the other side of the shield took a step back in shock.
"No! You're lying!" Snappy cried out in disbelief. Handy's word stabbed him in the heart like a knife.
"I wish I was, Snappy." Handy sobbed.
Brainy is so stunned that he could not feel his legs anymore. He collapsed in the very spot where he stood, right in front of Clumsy, whom was also crying out of sadness and fear.
"W-What about Papa Smurf and Mama Smurf?" He asked, fearing what the answer could be.
"As soon as they realized a cure was unattainable in their own books. Everysmurf had become so sick we did not have the strength to go to Gargamel's and get one from there. Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf decided the only other option was to create this magical shield. We worried on how fast this thing had spread to every smurf and smurfette and feared for you smurfs' safety. Not only that, but we worried that it could spread to our friends in the forest too." Nursette said in an emotional and very tired tone.
"Where are Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf now? Is there anyway for us to see them?" Brainette asked.
Nursette, Handy, and Clumsy shook their heads in sorrow.
"Shortly after they had cast this spell they became very weak. The virus was able to take over their system faster..." Nursette stopped, not wishing to explain further.
"Y-Y-You mean, they're…" Brainy chocked.
Handy slowly lifted his head up to Brainy. "…Gone…" He finished for Brainy, before lowering his eyes once more in grief.
"No. This isn't happening." Hefty growled in anger and grief. This feeling was beyond anything he has ever felt before. He stopped to think for a moment then turned to Handy and Nursette.
"You said that Gargamel spayed Wild with something, right?" The strong smurf said in a forceful tone.
"That's right." Nursette nodded slowly.
"Then it is to Gargamel's we will go!" Toughette stated, slamming her fist into her hand. "We will force him to hand us the cure. We may be too late for most of the smurfs and smurfettes, but at least we can try to save you and any others that may still be alive."
Both Toughette and Hefty slid the whimpering babies off their backs. They give them to the smurflings to hold.
"You four stay here with the babies." Toughette ordered.
"No way! We want to come too!" Snappy cried out in protest.
"Look we need you to stay here and not only look after the babies, but to stay with Handy, Nursette, and Clumsy." Hefty explained the smurflings. "Brainy, Brainette come on. We don't have a moment to waste!" He shouted.
"Hefty and Toughette are right, Brainy." Brainette said, taking hold of Brainy's arm. "If there is a possibility that Gargamel has a cure, we can use it and save our friends."
Brainy looked up at the smart smurfette with a lost expression on his face, all feeling left his body. The news about Papa Smurf was too much for him to handle.
"It's ok, Brainy. I'll be here beside my favourite rock till you get back." Clumsy spoke softly.
"C-Clumsy?" Brainy whispered. He looked up at his dying friend.
"Do you know why I chose this to be my favourite's rock, Brainy?" Clumsy asked, trying to keep a smile on his face.
Slowly Brainy shook his head, "no Clumsy, I don't know why that is your favourite rock."
"Because this is the rock you stand on to give your speeches." Clumsy blinked heavily as he spoke.
Seeing Clumsy struggle to stay awake brought Brainy back to reality. He jumped up from the ground and prepared himself to run.
"Hang in there Clumsy. We will go get the cure." He said, feeling confident.
"I'll be here, Brainy." Clumsy nodded, but was not able to open his eyes any longer.
What Brainy and the others did realize as they ran to Gargamel's was that Clumsy had already lost the battle to the virus. The smurflings watch nervously as his head slumped forward, while the rest of his body became limp and lifeless.
"I-Is Clumsy sleeping?" Sassette finally asked.
Handy and Nursette peer over to where Clumsy was sitting. Handy instantly started crying, knowing all too well that he will not be waking up from this sleep.
"Yes, little Sassette, Clumsy is sleeping." Nursette answered, placing her tired arms around Handy Smurf.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
The smurfs ran all the way over to Gargamel's castle without even stopping to catch a breath. They did stop, however, to scan the outside for any activity. All seemed quiet around Gargamel's home.
"I don't see Azrael anywhere." Toughette panted.
"There's a good chance that he and Gargamel are not home right now." Hefty said, also a bit out of breath.
"Good then that means we can get in there, grab the cure, and get back to the Village in order to save the others without having to deal with that evil wizard." Brainy suggested.
"Agreed." Brainette nodded.
Not wasting another minute, the four smurfs run up to the window closest to the ground. They climb up, and enter the empty dingy home.
"Let's spread out and find a book that would contain a spell that created the plague." Brainette commanded.
Everyone nodded before they rushed off in four different directions.
Hefty ran up to Gargamel's bookshelf. He glanced up at all the books. Shaking his head, he knew there is no time to climb up the shelf and search all the books. With that in mind, Hefty went behind the shelf. He leaned his back up against the wall and with his feet; he started to push the shelf, causing it to rock back and forth making most of the books to fall. Some of the books nearly lands on top of Brainy.
"Would you be careful, Hefty?" Brainy shouted at him.
"We don't have time to be careful, Brainy; we need to find that cure!" Hefty yelled back at him.
Brainette climbed her way up Gargamel's table and started thumbing through a book that was already open on top. She had to pause for a bit, however, when she notices that the book was very much new, and in better condition then the other books that were on the shelf. Brainette lifted the cover to read the title of the book. "Guland's Book of Diseases and Plagues".
'Guland? That is a name of a demon.' She thought to herself before skimming the pages of the book.
Toughette opened up one of the books that fell from the bookshelf Hefty shook. She began to skim the pages in hopes to find something. Hefty and Brainy did the same.
Brainette continued to flip through the pages of Guland's book until one page in particular caught her attention.
"I found it!" She shouted.
"The cure?" Brainy asked hopefully.
"The spell that created the viral plague, "Brainette rephrased her previous statement. Hopefully it will also contain a spell that may cure it." The smart smurfette explained.
"Well, what does it say?" Hefty asked impatiently.
"It is called 'The Blucroditius Disease' in other terms it is known as the 'Blue Plague'. It can affect any creature, even magical creatures with catastrophic consequences. Once one of any particular species is infected, it can spread to any other of its kind just by exchange of touch, or even breathe. Almost instantly that anyone is infected by this disease will suffer aches around the body, fatigue, slight disorientation, muscles deteriorate which can causes the victim to become too weak to move, sweating, and lose of fluid... Well that explains the pale and sunken in look on the smurfs faces… The infected victim will also experience rapid deteriorate of their inner organs as well. In a matter of days to even weeks all will result in death and extinction of the entire species." Brainette read aloud.
"Does it say anything about a cure?" Toughette called up to her.
Brainette thumbed down the page to skim over the rest of the description, and spell. Her face suddenly grew tense. She started to flip the pages over to see if the spell continued further on the next page, then flipped back to the first page she was on.
"No! This isn't right!" She shook her head in disbelief. Again, she looked over the page that described the disease.
"Brainette? What is it?" Hefty asked demandingly. Toughette climbed the table, and ran up to her sister.
"There is no cure…" The smart smurfette choked. "There is no cure…" She repeated in an even less audible voice, looking up from the book and to the other smurfs.
Brainy, once again, instantly goes numb as Brainette uttered those words. "No," he gasped.
"I-I don't believe you." Toughette shook her head. "You're lying! Read it again! There has to be a cure!"
"I did already! Five times! And I'm telling you there is no cure!" Brainette shouted back in defiance. "I hate to say this smurfs, but Gargamel has won. Even if there was a cure, it is already too late for every smurf. Most are already smurfed, and the others we just saw before coming here are not far in joining them. We are what's left of the Smurfs and Smurfettes. Us four, and the smurflings." It was hard to say it, but Brainette knew it was true.
Hefty was so overwhelmed with emotion that he could not think straight. His body trembled with grief and anger. Gradually, his eyes turned from shocked, to grief, right to shear anger. Hatred filled up inside. He felt himself loosing control.
"Brainy…" Hefty sounded calm and yet cold at the same time.
Slowly Brainy broke out of his thought to look up at his strong friend.
"What Hefty?"
"Take the smurfettes, and get out of here." Hefty's eyes became dark as his body grew tense.
"W-W-What are you going to d-do?" Brainy never thought he would be afraid for Hefty before. He was not acting like himself at this moment.
"Just do as I say, Brainy!" The strong smurf growled fiercely threw gritted teeth.
"Hefty… Listen, what ever you are planning please don't do it. It's not worth it." The smart smurf pleaded.
"Like smurf it isn't! Now take the smurfettes and get out of here!" Hefty's thunderous voice seemed to echo through Brainy's body, causing him to jump back a few steps.
Both Toughette and Brainette jump off the table, Brainette ran up to Brainy, as Toughette went right up to Hefty.
"Look Hefty, what ever you are planning on doing I'm going to help." She told him directly to his face.
"No Toughette, this is something I have to do on my own." He said, trying to push her away. As usual, Toughette was too stubborn to follow his wishes.
"Not a chance. I lost most of my sisters because of Gargamel, and his evil spell as much as you lost most of your brothers. I am helping you!" She spoke forcefully in return.
"Alright." Hefty caved with a nod. He turned towards Brainy and Brainette. "You two get out, now!"
"B-B-B-But…" Brainy stuttered.
"You heard him! Get OUT!" Toughette demanded.
At first Brainette and Brainy Smurf were reluctant to leave, but quickly realized that their strong siblings were at the point of non-reasoning. The two smart smurfs back away slowly towards the very window they used to get in. Brainy and Brainette took one more look back at Hefty and Toughette before jumping out.
Hefty and Toughette watch as the smart smurfs leave. As soon as they were officially out of sight, the two strong smurfs look back at each other. Toughette watched as Hefty turned away to knock over a tube shaped container. Long stem matches used to light up the fireplace scatter out from the container all over the floor. Hefty picked up a few of the matches before heading to a shelf that carried glass beakers. The beakers had ingredients that Gargamel used for his spells. One by one, Hefty tossed the beakers off the shelf. He watched each one fall and shatter as they hit the stone floor.
Catching on to what Hefty was doing, Toughette grabbed a few of the long stem matches before running up the stairs to Gargamel's bedroom. Once she reached the top of the stairs, Toughette began knocking down the wizard's bedside table, and a wooden chair. Toughette went up to the closet at the end of the room. She glanced in and saw all of Gargamel's spare clothes. With a cold stare, Toughette lit up one of the matches against the stonewall.
"This is for all the smurf and smurfette lives you've destroyed." She said in a hatred-filled growl.
Bringing the flame up to Gargamel's wardrobe, she watches as every single black gown quickly burns into nothing. Toughette turned to start lighting the chair, bedside table, and even the bed itself. She stopped when she saw Azrael's cat bed.
"This goes for you too, Azrael." Toughette said hotly. She lowered the lit match on the dry straw mattress. The bed instantaneously engulfed in flames.
She continued to watch as the flames quickly reach the ceiling. The straw roof did not even stand a chance against the raging fire. The tough smurfette realized the area was becoming too hot for her to handle. She turned and headed back downstairs, setting each wooden step on fire as she went.
As soon as she reached the bottom step, Toughette noticed that Hefty had already set the shelves, and all of Gargamel's books on fire. Toughette threw down the old lit match, sparked up the other one in her other hand. She used it to set the long table in the middle of the room up in flames. Hefty joined her as soon as she lit the fourth table leg on fire.
They stood in silence, looking into each other's eyes with no emotion. Both were breathing heavily. The roar of the flames became louder, and dangerously closer to the two strong smurfs. As if they were able to read each other's minds, Hefty and Toughette tossed their lit matches on top of the broken glass beakers. The spilt chemicals and other ingredients instantly caught on fire, almost acting like gasoline. Hefty took Toughette's hand and they ran out of the house before it caved in on itself.
Brainy and Brainette watched, frozen in shock as their enemy's home gradually turned to ash and rubble. They were relieved to see their friends jump out of the window, but became concerned with the look of uncaring written on their faces. The two strong smurfs did not even flinch, or turn to watch Gargamel's castle was nothing more, but a smouldering mess.
"By doing this to Gargamel's house, does it help you two feel better?" Brainy shouted sarcastically.
Finally, a little emotion came back into Hefty's eyes. They begin to swell with tears as he shook his head. "No." He replied honestly.
Toughette suddenly felt an overwhelming weight of guilt and grief. She covered her face with her hands as she began to cry uncontrollably. Brainette wrapped her arms around Toughette to comfort her.
The smart smurfette was as upset as the others about all of this, but she kept in most of her tears, barely. Brainette felt she had to be the strong one now. Knowing that Mama Smurf was gone, she would be next in line as leader. Even though Brainy was also destine to lead the smurfs, right now he is too unstable to fulfill his duties, not that he ever was fully capable.
"I say it is time we get out of here." She finally stated calmly. Toughette, Hefty, and Brainy all nod in agreement. The four of them slowly made their way back into the forest.
Hefty trailed behind. He stopped to hide behind a plant when he heard Gargamel coming up along a nearby path towards his house.
"Come, Azrael. We have much planning to do if we want to find our now dead smurfs." The evil wizard cackled. Gargamel paused once he saw the rubble that was once his home.
"MY HOUSE! My beautiful house!" Gargamel howled in anguish. "Everything is gone! Everything I ever owned! All GONE!"
With a vengeful growl, Gargamel cried, "The smurfs must have done this, Azrael. Some may have survived the plague. How could this have happened?"
Hefty watched Gargamel kicking, and slamming his fists onto the ground like a child that had his toy taken away. Tears swelled up even more as he also listened to the old wizard wail over the loss of his home.
"I HATE THOSE ROTTEN SMURFS!" Gargamel shouted through his tears.
"The feeling is mutual, Gargamel…" Hefty muttered to himself before turning away.