Now that I have gotten the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in my town's local theater production of The Wizard of Oz, I'm going to be very super busy with practice and the rehearsals that I may not be able to work on chapters, but I will try to do more as soon as possible.
Since Smurf Village was in the path of the Black Shards and Gargamel's hovel could be next, the Smurfs, Gargamel and Denisa had to camp out near a cave.
That afternoon, Denisa played with the Smurfs while Gargamel and Azrael were distracted with their argument on "what to have for supper" and she didn't mind that a bit.
"I'm so happy that you can play with us, Denisa" sighed SmurfLily.
"Playing with you guys is better than to sit around all day." admitted Denisa.
"Yes, Gargamel can be frustrating" said Papa Smurf. "But, the truth is he wasn't always like this, Denisa. He was just like you."
Denisa was confused. How can my uncle be just like me?
Papa Smurf could see where Denisa's curiosity would mean to tell her the truth.
Having to know the truth long before, Smurfette nodded her head to Papa Smurf, urging him to tell Denisa.
"A long time ago before you even born" started Papa Smurf.
"Gargamel was a happy, little boy who was mistreated by his father and bullied by his peers at wizard school, but was very much loved by his mother. It wasn't until he was a young man when he first met us and tried to use six of us to make gold."
Gold? thought Denisa. Why would he use the Smurfs for gold? They're so cute!
"We freed ourselves and Gargamel swore he would get us one day" Papa Smurf continued.
"One day, the Smurfs and I was out gathering smurfberries and that's when we heard screeching, shouting. We went over where the wizard school was and we found Gargamel fighting with a man."
Gasping, Denisa had come to believe her uncle is a murderer.
"But, he didn't kill the man" assured Smurfette. "The man was a cat kidnapper."
"The kidnapper wanted to harm Azrael, who was outside waiting for Gargamel for school to be over" added Hefty.
"So what happened?" asked Denisa.
The Smurfs weren't sure how to explain it to her, but Papa Smurf was sure that Denisa was old enough to understand.
"Azrael tried to fight his kidnapper, but he was not able to" he said.
"The poor cat was meowing so loud that Gargamel came out and he got mad and fought the cat thief. The fight was momentarily stopped by the headmaster, who pulled Gargamel out of danger."
Denisa was unsure how to picture her "uncle" as a hero when he hates the Smurfs. Papa Smurf continued his story.
"But when the cat thief went to attack him, Gargamel disarmed him and used a sleeping spell he studied on to put the man to temporarily sleep. Though he saved his cat friend, it caused him to flunk wizard school. Because of that, he lost the trust of his fellow wizards and his mother."
Now having to hear the full story, Denisa was completely heartbroken, tears in her eyes.
"And now, the only friends he has are Azrael and the vulture" Clumsy said, sadly.
All this time, why didn't he say anything? Denisa asked to herself.
The Smurfs sighed sadly and went off to play, but Denisa remained. Papa Smurf approached her.
"I'm sorry my uncle hates you guys" she said, sadly.
"Some people are born into a life of cruelty and Gargamel wants power to prove himself worthy" replied Papa Smurf. "But, there are times that I pity him in situations where he is not himself or if he's in danger."
All Denisa could do was sigh sadly. She felt sorry for Gargamel deep down, but she hated him for the things he called her.
"Looks like we Smurfs aren't the only ones" said Papa Smurf, understanding Denisa's conflicted feeling. "Just remember, Denisa. Even though he won't admit it right off, Gargamel does love you."
"He doesn't love me" sighed Denisa. "All he ever said to me was that I was a pain and a muggle."
Papa Smurf knew that Denisa is struggling with her mother sick, so he left her alone to think.
Meanwhile at Gargamel's hovel, Monty was ready to find Gargamel and Azrael, but then he noticed that there were muddy mongoose tracks coming from the bridge.
Monty squawked confusingly.
It wasn't raining last night, but it looked like whatever it was, it swam through the river and it was dripping wet.
He flew over to the bridge and sniffed the footprints.
Hmm... thought Monty. These paw prints smell like the master's smelly feet.
The vulture carefully followed the paw prints to the hovel, but it seems like it just stops just there.
Shaking his head, Monty flew off into the distance.
Back in the forest, it was nightfall and the Smurfs and Denisa returned to the camp where Gargamel and Azrael found firewood and dinner: fruit from the river and a nice, plump chicken.
Azrael ate some piranha from the Swamp of No Return while he and Gargamel were searching for food.
The Smurfs had some of the remaining smurfberries in their bag.
"Hmm, this is good" Denisa said. "I haven't had good food in a while."
"That's good" smiled SmurfWillow.
"Back at my mother's, we were served by servants. I guess this might be the only time that I dine this way."
Some of the Smurfs were upset by the fact that Denisa will be returning home to her mother once she's better. But, Hefty decided to lighten the subject.
"You know, Denny" he said. "Maybe if you want once everything is back to normal, you can visit us anytime you like. We can make do whatever kind of fun we like, play smurf ball, go smurf boarding..."
"Play dress up" added SmurfBlossom.
"You know you name it."
Denisa laughed and smiled brightly.
"I'd like that" she said.
Gargamel, however, wasn't in the mood in talking.
In his mind, he was unsure of Denisa playing with the Smurfs with him being their enemy. Yet, maybe Denisa isn't so bad after all. Then, he got up and placed Azrael in Denisa's arms.
"Hey, Gargamel, where are you going?" asked Clumsy.
"To get more firewood" moaned Gargamel.
To the Smurfs' and Denisa's surprise, Gargamel sadly walked farther into the forest, without Azrael.
"But, we already have firewood" complained Grouchy.
To be continued...
Sad backstory isn't it?
Let's hope that Gargamel and Denisa will learn to get along.