Chapter Twenty Four- Papa's Past

"It was a very long time ago." Papa started his story. "Back when I was with a different family and went by a different name. The Smurfs you know now were not the first family of Smurfs in the world."

"Come on, smurf that little runt into next week!"

"Get him good!"

"Pound him into the ground!"

"You can do it, Baby! Stay strong!"

Baby grunted, wiping blood from his nose. He tackled his opponent again, only to have his red hat pulled down over his eyes and shoved to the ground once more.

"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" Baby's opponent scoffed.

Baby growled and ran forward, only to get a fist to the mouth. His opponent grabbed him and pinned him to the dirt. Baby struggled to breathe against the weight on his chest.

"Fighter! Smurf it off!"

Baby's opponent, Fighter Smurf, looked up to see his father. The yellow-clad Smurf glared down at his son, indicating that he was in serious trouble...again.

"Fighter, get off him." the yellow clothed Smurf requested.

"Yes Papa." Fighter obeyed, grabbing Baby by his scruff and hauling him to his feet. "I was only trying to teach Baby Smurfling here some new techniques."

"Uh huh." Papa nodded disbelievingly. "Luna, dearest, can you take Baby to get patched up?"

A young Smurfette stepped out from behind Papa. Her white skirt, tank top, and ballet flats sparkled in the sunlight. Her rusty auburn hair was braided and went down to her elbows. Her eyes mesmerized all the Smurfs in the village: one was pure periwinkle and the other was pure lavender.

"Sure thing, Papa." Luna nodded. She helped Baby stand and led him to her house. The Smurfs' houses were actually holes or shacks in the trees, so as to keep away from unwanted predator guests. Luna sat Baby down at her table and went to get her things. She pulled out a bowl of water, a washcloth, some bandages, and a bowl of smurfberries. Baby slowly started to snack on the smurfberries while Luna wiped away the blood on his face and arms with a wet cloth. She wrapped his cuts in the bandages.

"You did a good thing." Luna said after a long moment of silence. "You tried to avoid the fight, but when you couldn't, you tried your best to win."

Baby scoffed. "Yeah right. I'm a runt, remember? I'm the smallest Smurf here."

"You're just growing out of your Smurfling stage." Luna protested. "It's not your fault."

"If I were a normal Smurf, my name wouldn't be ridicule and nosmurf would—"

"If you were a 'normal' Smurf," Luna interrupted. "You wouldn't have said the name of our worst enemy when you were a baby, and therefore not be destined for greatness."

"Greatness?" Baby scoffed.

"Might I also add that you are the only Smurf besides Papa that gets to wear a different color other than white?" Luna pointed out.

Baby shrugged, staring down at his red pants. "Yeah, I guess that's a perk."

"There, see?" Luna smiled. Baby looked away, his cheeks burning.

"Well...uh..." Baby cleared his throat nervously. "I gotta go meet up with Brave. I'll see ya around." He hurriedly left, tripping a little and laughing nervously as he did. Luna only rolled her eyes and laughed. That Baby Smurf was certainly an adorable character.

"Hey there, Sorcerer Smurf!"

Baby rolled his eyes as his best (and only) friend came up and slapped him on the back. "Bravery Smurf, how many times must I tell you to stop calling me 'Sorcerer'?"

"Another couple hundred times would be fine." Bravery laughed. "But only if you stop calling me 'Bravery'. Use my nickname."

Baby smiled. "You got it, Brave."

The bulky built Smurf smiled. He looked quite different from the other Smurfs with his rusty red eyebrows and sideburns. He even had a bit of red hair on his head. The only thing missing, as Baby constantly teased, was a Scottish or Irish accent to match his hair. Brave claimed he used to have an accent, but he taught himself to stop talking like that to stop the other Smurfs from teasing him.

"Why would they tease you?" Baby once asked.

"I didn't always have these muscles." Brave had replied.

"Brave was my closest brother and friend." Papa explained. "He was the first Smurf that truly accepted me. It was like we were inseparable twins."

"What happened to Brave?" Archer asked.

"I'll get to that." Papa assured.

"The trick is to move deliberately." Papa instructed. "The speed depends on the spell or potion. Moving too fast could mess up one spell but work perfectly for another."

"Got it." Baby nodded as he watched his father work.

"And if everything works out, you get something like this." Papa tossed a leaf into the cauldron and a cloud of smoke rose up. It shaped itself into a bird that fluttered around and tickled Baby's face.

"That's amazing, Papa!" Baby smiled broadly.

"I'm glad you think so, Baby." Papa nodded.

Baby's face fell and he sighed. "Papa, is it possible to change my name?"

"Why?"

"Because 'Baby' is for...well, babies. I want a real name, like Brave and Fighter and Luna. Why couldn't I get a real name?"

"You will get a different name." Papa assured. "Very soon."

"When?" Baby asked enthusiastically.

"When you're ready." Papa said, patting Baby on the shoulder. "Now why don't you and Bravery Smurf go smurf up some smurfberries for me, hm?"

Baby nodded, and then wrapped his arms around his father's neck, burying his face in Papa's black beard. "I love you, Papa."

Papa smiled and returned the hug. "I love you too, my little Smurf." Baby ran off to grab a couple baskets and Brave. They worked hard all through the afternoon, laughing and talking.

Baby yelped as a cold splash of water rained down on him.

"Oops." Fighter laughed. "Didn't see ya there, runt."

"Why don't you go smurf someone your own size?" Brave snapped. "Like a cockroach? I'm sure you two have much in common."

Fighter sneered. "I ain't gotta problem with you, Bravery. Let's try and keep it like that." He looked back towards Baby. "What do you think you're doing? Hanging around with Luna?"

"I believe Luna is the one hanging around me." Baby said simply. "She is free to be with whomever she wants."

"You better stay away from her." Fighter threatened, shoving Baby. "When the time comes, she's gonna have me for a mate."

"Is that the problem?" Baby asked innocently. "Are you threatened by me being with Luna?"

Fighter growled, clenching his fists. Brave noticed this immediately and stepped between them. "Come on now, gentlesmurfs, let's not get hasty."

"This won't be hasty." Fighter assured, raising his fists.

"Hey you guys!"

Fighter, Brave, and Baby turned to see another Smurf running up to them. "What's going on?" Baby asked.

"Papa's called an emergency meeting!" The Smurf said quickly. Baby, Brave, and Fighter followed the Smurf back to the others as the rest of the village gathered. All of fifty-some Smurfs stood or sat down at the base of a large tree. Papa and Luna stood before them. Luna held a pentagon-shaped box. It was the one thing that everysmurf knew the contents of: the legendary Long Life Stone of the Smurfs.

"Attention my Smurfs!" Papa called. "I've called you here to announce something!" He paused to make sure everysmurf was quiet. "I'm going on a journey!"

The Smurfs' eyes widened in shock and they murmured to themselves. "Why, Papa Smurf?" One called out.

"I want to explore the world." Papa said. "See new things. And I promise I'll be back someday. Until that time," he turned to Luna. "I am putting Luna Smurfette in charge. Guard the Long Life Stone well and rule this family as I would."

"Smurf's honor." Luna nodded.

"Good." Papa shouldered his bag and started walking off into the forest. "Goodbye my Smurfs!"

"Goodbye Papa Smurf!" The Smurfs called. They waved until their father disappeared from sight. Then they went back to their normal routines, talking amongst themselves.

"With Papa gone, who's gonna protect us from—"

"Don't say it!"

"Yeah, Luna can protect us."

"Or Fighter."

"Or Bravery."

Baby sighed. "I'm really gonna miss him."

"We all will." Brave assured.

"But who's gonna teach me magic?" Baby asked as they journeyed back to the smurfberry bushes.

"I'm sure Luna can." Brave noted. "Besides, you've got more serious problems to deal with." Baby cocked his head to one side. "Luna! You gotta confess that you like her quick!"

"All the Smurfs like Luna." Baby reminded him. "She's been our mom since..." Baby went silent. Nosmurf really liked to talk about how Papa's mate, Nanny Smurf, went missing soon after Baby was delivered.

"Yeah, but now we're in a whole new smurf." Brave said. "Luna's our technical 'chieftess'. That means whichever Smurf that marries her will become our new Papa Smurf aka the village leader."

"I don't think we'd have a problem with that." Baby waved it off.

"Oh yeah?" Brave scoffed. "Smurf a look." He jerked his thumb behind them. When Baby looked, he groaned at the sight of a crowd of Smurfs surrounding Luna, each and every one of them holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Smurf me." Baby groaned.

"I tried to get Luna's attention, but Fighter's abuse continued so much that I was afraid to go near her for a long time." Papa sighed. "I never liked Fighter, even if he was my brother."

"How on earth did you live with him for so long?" Johan asked incredulously.

Papa's face fell. "Unfortunately, my breaking point came much sooner than I wanted. One night, I had a vision; a vision that would forever change my life."

Baby woke with a gasp, breathing deeply. His eyes darted around in fear. The other Smurfs. He thought as he frantically scrambled to the door. Gotta tell the other Smurfs.

"Hey Baby!" Brave greeted as Baby ran past. "Whoa! Where's the fire?"

"No time!" Baby shouted. "We gotta call a meeting!"

"Why?" Brave called after him.

"We're all in danger!" Baby yelled.

Brave froze for a moment before running after Baby to Luna's home. They burst through the door, surprising Luna as she was fixing breakfast. When Baby made his request, she almost refused. But the look in his eyes worried her, so she set off a small firework that indicated an emergency meeting.

"What's going on, Luna?" Fighter asked.

"Baby has an announcement to make." Luna called. A lot of the Smurfs groaned. "Hey! Everysmurf is allowed to call these kinds of meetings. Baby, tell us what's happening."

Baby stepped up before everysmurf. He usually hated speaking in front of all these Smurfs. But the situation was so dire that he could easily swallow his fear. "We have to leave the village."

Immediately, the Smurfs burst into laughter and groans until Luna caused an explosion in the air to silence them.

"What are you talking about, Baby?" Brave asked.

"I had a vision last night!" Baby explained. "Mandrake is dying. And he—"

"Whoa, whoa, wait a smurf." Fighter interrupted. "Mandrake? The Mandrake? As in our worst enemy and your first word?"

Baby resisted a groan. "Yes. He's dying and he's planning a final attack."

"We can handle it." Brave assured. "We've fought off Mandrake before and we've even done it a few times without Papa here."

"Yeah, but Mandrake plans to unleash his full power to finally destroy us all!" Baby said frantically. "Using all that power would've destroyed him. Now that he's nearing the end of his life, he thinks he can finally unleash his power! We have to leave before he finds us! If we move, he'll die off before he can hurt us!"

"This is ridiculous!" Fighter scoffed. "Mandrake is a lumbering, stupid, cat/plant hybrid. An accident that never should've happened. What makes you think we have to leave?"

"I've seen what will happen if we don't." Baby insisted. "It's bad; very bad. We have to leave as soon as possible. Mandrake is going to attack tonight, as soon as the sun goes down."

"Yeah right." Fighter scoffed.

"No offense, Baby." one Smurf pointed out. "But I think you may have just had a nightmare."

"No, no I know the difference between a dream and a vision." Baby assured.

"Not a chance." Fighter waved it off. "I think you're acting like a Smurfling since Papa left."

"I'm telling the truth!" Baby snapped. "If we don't leave, we could all be killed! Isn't it better safe than sorry?"

"Forcing the entire village to move isn't practical." another Smurf said. "I think it would be wiser to go to Mandrake's lair and see if he's still there. Perhaps even scout the forest."

"I'm telling you—"

"Smurf up, runt." Fighter snapped. "I say we smurf the forest. Luna, you're our leader. What do you think?"

Luna looked back and forth between Baby and the group of Smurfs. "I want you, you, and you to search Mandrake's lair." She said, pointing to each Smurf she spoke to. "Be sneaky about it. You, you, you, you, you, and you go scour the forest. The rest of you, stay in the forest. Make sure your spears are sharpened in case we need to fight. Go!"

The Smurfs dispersed to do Luna's bidding. Fighter came up, grabbed Baby's shoulder roughly and pulled him to the side. "I don't know what you're playing at, but you better smurf it off. You don't have a chance at impressing Luna with a shpeel like that."

"I'm not trying to impress anyone." Baby frowned. "I'm trying to protect my family."

"Whatever." Fighter shoved Baby to the ground and walked off.

Luna and Brave came up behind Baby and helped him to his feet. "You are very wise. Avoiding a fight like that." Luna noted.

"Yeah, right." Baby almost snorted.

"Were you serious?" Brave asked. "About the whole, 'Mandrake-coming-to-kill-us' thing?"

"I know what I saw." Baby assured. "The sooner we leave, the longer we live."

Luna sighed. "I'm going to smurf up a vision and see what's going on. Why don't you come with me?"

"Sounds good." Baby nodded. He and Brave followed Luna to her home.

A few hours later, the Smurfs returned to report that Mandrake was not anywhere in the forest. Fighter determined he had finally smurfed the dust or left the forest forever. Luna insisted that they be prepared, but not many Smurfs seemed to hear her.

Baby picked at his dinner that evening, eyeing the summer sun as it steadily made its way to the mountains. Brave came over and cast him a sympathetic look. "You doin' okay?"

"No." Baby grumbled. "I—hey!"

Fighter laughed at the now-wet Smurf, having just poured his water over him. "You are so pathetic. What made you think anyone would believe your lie?"

"I am not in the mood." Baby growled. "It was never a lie."

"You're such a smurfhole." Fighter sneered. Brave's eyes narrowed at Fighter's language. "Now listen, runt, I'm only gonna—"

"I have a name!" Baby suddenly stood. "I expect you to know it and call me by it! I don't call you Numbskull Smurf even if you are one!"

Fighter growled. "You wanna be smurfed into next week?"

"I want to be respected." Baby requested. "Like every other Smurf here. And I want to keep my family safe from that stupid monster that constantly threatens to kill us."

"Smurf off ya moron." Fighter scoffed, shoving Baby aside.

Baby growled and finally snapped. He tackled Fighter to the ground. They wrestled and punched each other. The other Smurfs gathered around, cheering on the fight. Baby unleashed everything he could on Fighter, but the latter had the muscle that usually only steroids could give. Baby was completely outmatched. He got the wind knocked out of him, tasted blood in his mouth, and felt like his limbs would fall off from exhaustion and abuse.

"Enough!"

BOOM!

Everysmurf jumped at the explosion right over their heads. Luna stomped forward and yanked the two opponents apart. "Both of you to your respective homes." Luna growled. "Now."

Baby and Fighter glared daggers as they parted. Baby slammed the door closed to his house and kicked a hole in the wall. He looked around, noting how empty the house had become since Papa left. From the moment Baby was born, he lived with Papa to be an apprentice in magic and because he got sick a lot. But he grew to be strong. He knew it.

And now, he knew what he had to do.

Baby grabbed a large backpack from the corner and started filling it with Papa's books. On top of the spell books and journals he put all the powders and potions Papa owned. Baby grabbed another backpack and started filling it with a couple blankets, some bowls, food, and his spare red pants and hat. He slung the bag of books over his shoulder (almost fell over doing it) and dragged the other pack with him. He managed to carefully transport himself and the bags to the ground and started off into the forest.

"Hey Sorcerer!"

Baby turned as Brave jogged up to him, Luna right beside him. "What are you guys doing here?" Baby asked incredulously.

"We're coming with you." Luna said, readjusting the bag on her shoulder.

"Why?" Baby asked.

"Because we wanna live." Brave said simply. He also had a bag on his shoulder. He took the one Baby dragged across the ground and slung it up on his other shoulder.

"You guys believe me?" Baby looked doubtful.

"Listen, I can tell when somesmurf is lying." Luna assured. "Besides, I saw a similar vision in my potion."

"We don't leave anysmurf behind." Brave nodded, smiling. "I'm with you all the way."

Baby smiled. "Thanks guys."

"Come on." Brave jerked his head. "Let's find a cave or something to stay for the night."

Baby nodded as they continued to walk. His face burned when Luna smiled at him. But then Brave cracked a joke and he forgot all about it. They continued their trek until Luna found a large tree that looked safe enough for the night. So the three of them climbed up to the higher branches and secured their bags with a length of rope.

Luna noticed an odd look on Baby's face. "What's wrong?"

Baby sighed. "The other Smurfs are in danger. We should've insisted that they leave." He started climbing down the tree. "We have to go back for them."

"You want to go back for a bunch of moron Smurfs that liked to beat you into the dirt?" Brave clarified.

"They're still family." Baby said as he started back to the village. "And I promised Papa I'd protect our family."

Luna and Brave shared a look before following Baby back through the forest as fast as they could.

Alas, they were too late.

All Baby, Luna, and Brave could do was watch in horror from their spot behind a rock. Mandrake was a large cat, same size and look of a tiger, but was musty green with sickly yellow stripes. His claws were overgrown and he had fangs. He didn't have fur, but rather skin like the stem of a plant. He was currently tearing through the village, destroying the trees that held Smurfs' homes, crushing Smurfs under his paws, and even blowing fire from his mouth. Normally, Mandrake didn't have the fire, overgrown claws, and fangs. But, as Baby deduced, this was what happened when Mandrake unlocked his full power. Meanwhile, Smurfs screamed and shouted, either trying to fight or run. It was all for naught, because Mandrake easily destroyed them all. Bodies flew every time Mandrake swiped his claws. Screams rose up to the sky. Mandrake roared in triumph.

Finally, when the last Smurf had been killed, Mandrake gave a final roar before his body dissolved and blew away into the wind. Luna, Brave, and Baby stepped out slowly, staring in horror. There was blood, broken branches and even more broken bodies. Brave put an arm around Luna as her eyes welled up with tears.

Baby knelt down next to Fighter's body. He gently closed the Smurf's eyes and patted his still chest. Then, Baby stepped back and raised his hands. Magically, everything began to reassemble. Luna stepped up to help him. Together, they fixed the destruction caused by Mandrake and arranged the Smurfs' bodies in neat rows. Brave could only stand and watch, trying to fight his tears. Baby gently pushed Luna away, indicating he wanted to finish it himself. He knelt to the ground and touched the dirt. Steadily, the bodies of his family sunk down into the soil like a mass grave.

Rest in peace, Smurfs. Baby thought as he continued the spell. I'm sorry, Papa.

As the last body disappeared, Baby collapsed onto the ground.