I Love You, Handy.
Chapter 29. And just in time for the holidays too!
"... You're right. Already everysmurf said that they want them back. The only one who still didn't say anything is you!" Smurfette yelled.
"Yeah, if you feel that guilty about everything, why didn't you tell anybody sooner?" Shini demanded. "All you did was NOTHING all this time! And now after so many months you come to us and tell us that you feel sorry for what you did?"
"I... I couldn't find anyone else to turn to..." the eldest replied with despair. "All this time, I felt as if every one of my Smurfs would disown me for what I had done. I figured the only option I had in mind was to avoid any contact from them... And I knew for a fact from there on, it was stupid of me to have to succumb to that for any reason."
"Well..." Ashli soon begins to speak as she gets up from the sofa. "...seeing that you never once thought about how we all desperately needed you when we were going through that drought crisis this summer; I guess that does makes you feel pretty stupid, huh?"
"Ashli is right!" the brunette Smurfette with the rectangular glasses cried. "Did you even notice that nobody helped Farmer on the fields anymore? Everyone who asked for help from you just got ignored!"
"...We were lucky when the rain finally came..." Smurfette nodded.
While the girls were putting some sense into the leader, back outside, Clumsy was passing by until he hears everyone discussing from inside Smurfette's house. And as he hears them from outside the house, he decides to take a look inside through the window without being seen. The little young Smurf took a good look while he saw Ashli standing from the sofa who was now feeling angrier than before. She glared at the old man with the white beard, sitting across from them until she continued on with her rant.
"And another thing I might add before anything else... not only Farmer had problems with the crops, but he also had one other thing settling on his mind. And that was trying to show his true feelings until I had realized, he had fallen in love with me. And you know what... I happen to love him too! And guess what? We're dating! Big smurfin' hoorah...! But you don't care! I was afraid that after Hefty and Handy's secret was discovered, you would've probably forbid anyone else to fall in love! And now there's a chance that they may not come back because they're afraid that you will reject them for the love they have for one another!"
Ashli was now in a rage of terror after she had finished her sentence and panted, feeling all shook up from the inside out. Clumsy had become a little shocked, seeing Ashli being in so much rage from Papa's neglection as he witnessed the scene. Shini soon pulls on Ashli's arm, so she would sit back down on the sofa again to calm herself before anything else happened.
"...And I had some problems too, even months after Hefty and Handy escaped..." Smurfette said. "But I didn't really had anysmurf to talk to, except Vanity. I was too afraid to tell you about it... And I knew you wouldn't have cared anyway... All you did was... well... nothing..."
As Papa stared blankly at the three girls sitting across from him, he finally stands up from the armchair and just looked down. He soon felt deeply ashamed and didn't know what else to do. All he could do was close his eyes and sigh until he looks back up to them. They all waited for his response and what he had to say for himself. Clumsy, still curious, listened in from outside the window as the leader in the crimson hat and pants finally spoke.
"I am deeply and gratefully sorry for everything that I had caused... I shouldn't even be here to tell you now that I know I that everyone is against me. Some leader I turned out to be... and after all that, I deserved for what I did. I'm sorry to waist any of your time..."
He then turns to go leave as he reaches to the front door. Before he was about to head his way out, he turns his back to them one last time and said, "And by the way... I was able to do something right for you. But you all don't have to thank me for it. However, I will tell you... I was the one who smurfed the rain to put an end to the drought..."
Smurfette suddenly became surprised after what he just said after the other girls too became truly shocked. "...It was you..?"
"But... I thought..." Shini stuttered.
"Papa..." Ashli looked to him after she was calm from earlier and started to worry.
"But you all don't care anyway..." the elder Smurf replied. "And another thing... all those months after losing two of my eldest children, I have thought about wanting them back here... with my blessing..."
And after he finished, he soon turns away sadly as he opens the door to let himself out until...
"Clumsy...?"
Papa reacted surprised to see he was there all of a sudden, standing right in front of him. The young Smurf with his hat drooping slightly to his brow looks at him with tears in his eyes. The old leader could see the true sadness in his eyes until he suddenly embraces him quickly and begins to cry.
"...Papa Smurf...!" Clumsy cried into his father's embrace.
All the girls who were witnessing this tearful scene just looked up to them and seen Clumsy crying in Papa's arms. Ashli suddenly decides to get up, feeling awful for the way she reacted earlier and walks up to them. Shini joins as well until Smurfette joins in last as they all walk up to them.
"...Aww, Clumsy..." Papa says to him as he holds him tighter.
Clumsy didn't say anything as he cries more. Both Shini and Smurfette all looked sadly at the poor little Smurf as Ashli slowly comes up closer to Papa and Clumsy.
"Shhh... shh..." the old Smurf shushed softly to him. "It's alright..." Papa then rubs his back soothingly and closes his eyes before he said anything else. "Everything's going to be okay... I'm here for you..."
The dark-haired Smurfette had then placed a hand gently on the back of Papa's shoulder while he was still soothing Clumsy. And then when he felt her presence close by, he turned and saw her with tears filling her eyes. And as she started to cry, he embraced her with one arm while was still hugging the little Smurf. The brunette with the small rectangular glasses looks at them until she also embraces Papa and begins to cry as well, along with Smurfette joining in too. Their embrace had lasted for a brief 2 minutes until Ashli and the other girls soon let go, letting Clumsy and Papa have their moment a little longer.
"Please, Papa... Tell us everything will be as it used to be soon..." Clumsy spoke softly.
"...I promise you... It will be..." Papa said to him truthfully, "Everything will be as it should once we get our Smurfs back..."
"Really...?" Clumsy said, looking up to him. "You... you want them back too...?"
The old leader with the white beard looks back at him and soon cracks a little smile. "...Yes... A family isn't whole without everyone. And I know they need us just as much as we need them... especially their father."
Clumsy then smiles back at him and nods as he holds him tight, feeling really happy now that Papa too wanted Hefty and Handy home.
"...Then please let them come home as soon as possible...!" Smurfette cried.
"But... we still haven't gotten their letter yet from Wolke..." Ashli reminded.
"Wolke...?" the papa asked, turning to the three Smurfettes.
"Ohh... yeah... Wolke is my little smurfberry bird," Shini explained. "We, um... we always wrote letters to Hefty and Handy, and Wolke was so nice to deliver them. We also always got letters back from them."
"Oh, so that's how you all been able to communicate?" Papa wondered, "Brainy didn't tell me about this bird you speak of."
"Well, we always were afraid to talk to you about everything because we thought you would have gotten angry with us..." Clumsy said in a soft, innocent voice.
"And we figured if we had, you would've had him locked away so we'd never hear from them again..." Ashli added.
Papa then begins to chuckle a little after what she said. "I would never do such a thing like that, especially to another living being..."
"But you said you would've had Hefty taken away by Chef and Baker..." Ashli recalled. "What about that...?"
"I honestly wasn't thinking straight that day..." Papa sighed lowly. "I just got so caught up on things between them I... I feel as if I put you all down... Not only that, but the cost of having Gutsy's life almost taken away... And I am to blame for leaving him there without doing anything because it was my responsibility in the first place..."
"Well... I took him home after I ran back to him," the Smurfette with the German accent recalled. "And I was shocked as I saw what Chef did to him... But in the end I was also happy that nothing worse happened..."
"And I'm relieved that they actually apologized for what they did to him," Ashli added on as she continued. "Gutsy and Farmer and I went to go find a few Smurfs after the last letter we got from Hefty, saying he that didn't want to come back after what happened." Before she continued, she put her hand behind her back nervously. "...There were a few things going on with him and Handy as to why we had all pitched in to write a long letter saying we wanted them both back..."
"...Yes, I actually remember Brainy telling me what had happened when he smurfed to me about it," the father replied.
"Brainy still likes to tell everything, hm?" Shini said with a snooty look.
"I just hope everything is smurfy again and that they made up with each other," the Smurfette with the long, golden tresses said.
"Hopefully Wolke will return soon..." Clumsy nodded.
"I'm sure with the letter you all smurfed back to them; they'll be together in no time," Papa replied with a light smile. "Hefty may be pretty sensitive at times and doesn't want to show his feelings to anysmurf. However, he will only show it when no one else is around besides me since I know him very well."
"Speaking of... when you mentioned to us earlier that his love was far more advanced, what did you mean by that...?" Ashli asked curiously.
Before he could answer her question, a knock came at the door all of a sudden.
"Oh?" Smurfette soon walks to the door and opens it and sees Gutsy standing there along with Shini's smurfberry bird in his arms. "Hello Gutsy!"
"Gutsyyy!" Shini cries happily and jumps to him until she sees Wolke in his arms. "You brought Wolke!" she gasped with excitement.
"Haha, I did!" the Scotsman said, happily. "The little fellow just smurfed here too and hasn't stopped chirping! I think we got some really good news from-"
But before he could finish, he suddenly pauses and sees Papa standing right in the middle of the room. Shini looks at Gutsy curiously and then to Papa. She then turns to look back at Gutsy with a happy smile.
"Everything is okay," she said as she takes his hand. "Please come in!"
Gutsy still looks blankly at the proud leader while he had the bird in his arm and comes in. Papa looks to the Smurf with blue and white kilt worriedly while everything was quiet for short moment.
"So, uh... what's going on here...?" Gutsy asked after he turned to Shini.
"Papa just told us that he feels truly sorry for everything he did," she replied.
"And he... he wants Hefty and Handy to come back as well."
"He... he does...?" Gutsy reacted surprised with his eyes wide open.
Ashli nodded and smiled at him. "Mmhm. Not only that, but he also helped in ending the drought this summer. He really did do something for everyone after all."
"Yeah, Papa still cared for every one of us, even if he didn't show it the whole time," Smurfette said.
"And he said everything will be as it used to be once we get Hefty and Handy back!" Clumsy cried happily.
The Scotsman Smurf couldn't believe what everyone had said while he was still surprised and shocked. He then looks to Papa and says to him, "...Is this all true...? You want them to come home...?"
Papa looked to him and nodded slightly with a smile. "Yes. And I am willing to accept them for their relationship. No Smurf should be judged just because two Smurfs are in love with one another. And with the love and compassion that my boys have for each other; I am truly happy for the both of them."
"Isn't it smurfy?" Shini said, nodding and smiled at Gutsy as she soon hugs him. "Now let us see what they wrote back!" She then looks at Wolke and pets his head before she was about to untie the letter from his leg. As she was about to, Papa stops her for a moment and walks up to them.
"Wait... Before you do..." he spoke as he continued, turning to Gutsy. "Gutsy...? What happened that day between you, Chef, and Baker was the most unsmurfiest case I had ever witnessed... And I just stood there while you took the fall... As much as I blame myself for everything; I just wanted to tell you how truly sorry I am. I should've known better... And what you did that day for Hefty and Handy was very noble of you before I would do anything about it. I just hope that you can forgive me for everything I had caused all those months ago..."
After listening to his sincere apology, Gutsy looks at him surprised and then looks at all the others who too listened in. Shini had then took Wolke out of his hand and smiled at him, waiting for his reaction. Gutsy soon turns back to Papa as his eyes started to tear.
"Papa... I... I..."
"It's okay..." Papa spoke softly and begins to embrace him tenderly. "You don't have to say it..."
"...I forgive you..." Gutsy's voice broke as he shut his eyes tight. He holds him tighter as tears begin to stream down his face, relieved that he no longer had to suffer what had been smurfed that day.
"Nahww, Gutsy..." Shini said to him.
Then all of a sudden while Papa and Gutsy bonded, Wolke flies out of Shini's hands as he lands to sit down on Papa's head, chirping happily.
"How cute...!" Ashli said as she couldn't help but giggle.
Papa looks up as he sees the little bird and chuckles wholeheartedly. "I think he seems to like me very much, hehe."
Gutsy too looks up to the bird on Papa's head and smiles. Afterwards, Wolke then jumps off his head and flaps his wings excitedly in front of Papa's face.
"I guess he wants you to open the letter," Shini giggled.
"Hehe...! Alright, arlight. Let's see what our Smurfs wrote back to us."
Papa soon unknots the string tied around the bird's leg and unrolls the letter. He looks over it before he was about to read what they responded back while the others waited for him to read it.
"So, what'd they say?" Ashli asked feeling excited.
"Hmm... From the looks of the handwriting, Handy has written this..." Papa mentioned, "However, I do see Hefty's handwriting as well written at the bottom."
Wolke then sits down on Papa's shoulder, making himself comfortable as everyone reacted that both Smurfs wrote back to them.
"They both wrote the letter? So they are back together again!" Smurfette cried, happily.
"Please read it to us, Papa!" Clumsy said, feeling really happy and excited all at once.
"We're all itchin' to find out what's been smurfing with them!" the Scotsman with the reddish-brown sideburns cried.
"Alright. Let us see what they said..." Papa soon clears his throat and begins to read the letter as their voices were heard over his.
To our family,
Thank you. Thank you all so much for your support! I don't know what would've happened if we wouldn't have gotten your letter that day. You really helped us a lot! Everything is smurfy again between Hefty and me.
If Smurfette is not reading this, please tell her that I accept her apology! I never really thought about how it is like to be the only girl among all us males... But I'm so glad that everything is alright with her now again.
You have no idea how happy we were as we read that everyone wants us to smurf back home. We always thought we weren't welcome anymore... But now we're more excited than ever. The only thing is that we still don't know how Papa thinks about everything... I just wish he would understand us...
Speaking of wishes: Have you all seen the blue moon a few days ago? It was the night where Hefty and I made up again. And you know what? A month ago when we saw two shooting stars, Hefty actually wished for a blue moon! Now I just hope my wish will also come true. I wished that we would celebrate the New Year with our family at home again.
Hey, guys! Hefty here! You wouldn't believe the reaction when Handy came smurfing for me after I had left. I had thought for sure this was the end for both of us. And after the last letter I smurfed, I figured I was going to get a long unsmurfy response after what happened. Handy wouldn't smurf not one word to me for weeks. But in the end, you all really helped us get through. And I can't thank you all enough... especially Smurfette. I'm so glad everything is better between her and me. And I too accept her apology.
You're all probably wondering when we'll be smurfing back home. Well, we're still not quite sure since we have so many of our belongings. And since some of you came to visit us months ago with our stuff, it's going to be pretty hard since we would have to make several trips back a forth unless there's another solution. But for now, I think we'll smurf with whatever we got and then maybe get some help in smurfing our things back home. Heheh... I know for sure that Grouchy doesn't want to go through lugging my weights again, he'd smurf if he would have to do that all over!
Anyway, both Handy and I are as smurfy as always. We are running pretty low on our food storage, so we're smurfing up in what we have left before we can skedaddle back home. As Handy mentioned earlier... we're still pretty concerned about how Papa Smurf feels about all this. We both still love him very much and think about him every night if he's ever thinking of us. And I know he can't stay mad at us forever because we are all still a family. And we hope once we return that he'll accept us for our relationship no matter what he says. I love Handy just as much as he loves me back. And nothing in this world will ever separate us as long as our hearts are one.
I guess you can say this will most likely be our last letter. And I mean it this time. By the time you all smurfed this letter, we'll be getting ready to head home. And just in time for the holidays too! Hopefully we can all celebrate together again with everyone just like old times.
Goodbye for now! And we all love you very much! We can't wait to see you soon!
With much love,
Hefty Smurf and Handy Smurf.
"They're coming home soon..."Clumsy said smiling widely. "They really are coming home soon?"
"From the looks of how they are maintaining, they'll be back right before the first day of December," Gutsy smiled.
"That is great news! They're finally coming home!" Ashli cried happily as she then hugs Clumsy hastily.
"Hehehe!" Clumsy laughed when he hugged her back.
"Ahwww, I'm so happy, I could explode!" Shini cried after she had jumped into Gutsy's arms.
"Oh, this is just smurfy!" the Smurfette said, wholeheartedly.
Wolke then chirps happily on Papa's shoulder and flaps his wings, excitedly.
"My boys..." the elder sighed with relief. "I'm so happy that you're alright."
Ashli then hugs Clumsy a little while more until she gives him a sweet kiss on his cheek. After she had kissed him, the little kid-like Smurf blushes a little and puts his arm behind his head shyly.
"Oh, Papa, they will be so happy when they see that you now accept them too...!" Smurfette said.
"Yes. Yes, they will be," Papa replied turning to her with a smile. "However..."
"Ohh... what is it now...?" Gusty impatiently asked while Shini was still in his arms.
Papa looks to all of them and says, "However... I don't think I want them back too soon..."
"What...? Wh-what are you saying...?" Ashli asked feeling very confused. "What do you mean...?"
"You said you want them back too...!" Shini called out. "How much longer do we have to wait now?"
"Yeah, and they said that they'll be already getting ready to smurf home..." Clumsy implied.
"What I mean is... instead of waiting for them to come home, why don't we go there ourselves to bring them back here?"
"...You would do that?" Smurfette said as she smiles at him.
"Ahwww...!" Shini then smiles and holds Gutsy tighter. "That would be even smurfier!"
"Not so tight there, lass...!" Gutsy strained as he was about to lose his voice.
"Ohh, sorry!" the brunette cried as she lets him a little loose.
"So, you want to go there and bring them both back home?" Clumsy had asked, facing the leader himself.
"Why not?" Papa replied with much enthusiasm. "After all, we all want them here before anything else happens. So why not bring them back sooner?"
Wolke begins to chirp more happily at the idea of Papa's smurfy suggestion.
"That sounds just smurfy!" the Smurfette with the long ebony hair exclaimed happily.
"Aye! What are we waiting for?" the Scotsman bellowed.
"Then let's quickly get some of the storks together!" Shini said, "We need to help Handy and Hefty to get all their stuff back home!"
"Wait, wait! Settle down!" Papa Smurf called out to everyone. "All of us just can't leave the village all of a sudden. And besides, I'll only need a few Smurfs to come with me until we discuss on how we will smurf their things home. In the meantime, we'll get them back here first before anything else."
"...Ohh..." they all responded in unison.
"And who do you want to smurf with you?" Smurfette asked.
"Well... it depends who smurfed and saw them last," Papa suggested.
"Well um... Gutsy, Shini, Grouchy, and I were the last ones who saw them months ago," Ashli admitted. "It was during the time when Brainy and Clumsy were with you when we went there."
"Ah... I see..." the leader said.
As Papa soon decides on who he might take to come along, Clumsy walks up to him and asks, "Oh! Could I come with you, Papa?"
"Hehehe, I don't see why not," Papa smiled at him.
"Hooray!" And with much gratitude from the young, klutzy Smurf, he jumps up and hugs Papa hastily.
"And who else?" the brunette asked.
"Gutsy? I need you too."
"It would be my pleasure!" he said with a smile.
"Alright. I think I'll take three more to smurf with me." The old Smurf soon began to ponder on who he might take until he had the idea hit him. "Since Grouchy also went with you, I'll ask him to come along. Now that just leaves two left. But who should come along...?"
"Oh, oh!" Shini frantically waves her hand and jumps nervously, hoping she could tag along.
"Oh, Shini... I would love for you to come... however; I need you to stay here and help get things set for their return."
"Nahwww..." she reacted sadly.
"And me, Papa?" Smurfette asked, worriedly.
"It's too risky where we'll be going," Papa warned, "So I think it's best that you and Ashli stay behind too."
"But wait a minute!" the dark-haired Smurfette halted. "But I'm the one who actually knows the way! I use to live where the boys are right now!"
"Yeah, we still need somesmurf who knows the way and lead us there," Clumsy said.
Suddenly while this was going on, Shini in the background was shaking Gutsy in a loony rage. "I need to come with youuu!" she yelled.
"Shini! Calm down, lass!" the Scotsman cried as he starts to feel dizzy from being shook.
"So, why won't you take me...?" Ashli demanded to the leader. "At least let me tell you where they are. They're in Smurf Paradise. It takes about maybe at least two hours or less to fly there, and days on foot. It's right pass over the mountainside after you pass over a city where there is a village of people. And just to let you know, the weather never changes. It's always spring and summer in between all year long. That's probably another good reason why they want to come back home. So there will be snow around Christmastime."
As Ashli finished explaining what Papa needed to know to where the boys were; she soon suddenly listens to the German Smurfette's rant while she was complaining to Gutsy about not going with the others.
"... It's not fair that you can go but I can't...!" she cried, turning around crossing her arms.
"But Shini, dear, you know I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to my little pride and joy now, do ya?" Gutsy said to her. "And Papa thinks it's best if all you girls stay behind. Remember what happened on the way back the last time...?"
As Shini thought about what happened the last time, she began to realize and gave up in bitter defeat. "...Okay okay..." she said turning back to him. "I guess you're right..."
Ashli had been staring at the two this whole time until she suddenly snapped out of it and turned back to Papa. "So... did you get all that? Do you know exactly where they are?"
"Of course I do," Papa responded positively.
"And where they are living right now is my old house where I use to stay before I smurfed here. It's right across a huge crystal lake on the other side of the land in the woods."
The proud father soon smiled at the young Smurfette with her long black hair and took her hands in his. "Thank you," he said. "Now I know where to find them thanks to your help."
"Now are you sure you don't need me or the girls to come with you?" Ashli asked.
"It won't be necessary," he replied. "But I do appreciate the offer. All I want you and the others to do is get everything set for when we return with our Smurfs safe and sound."
And with what, Ashli smiled and nodded at the old, noble leader until Gutsy walks up to him. He asked, "So, when you think we'll be headin' out to bring them back?"
"I'm so excited I could head out right now already!" Clumsy cried with glee.
"I think first thing tomorrow will be best," Papa decided on the plan. "Besides, we have to let everyone know that we'll be smurfing to bring them home so they can prepare for their return."
"I think that's a smurfy idea!" the Scotsman exclaimed. "I'll go smurf everyone the good news if that's alright with you?"
"Of course it is!" Papa chuckled. "This is big news for everyone here!"
"Great! I'll go smurf the word out right away!" And as Gutsy was about to leave he turned to Shini. "Care to join, love?"
"Na klar!" she said, smiling at him. "Let's tell everysmurf about it!" She then walked up to him as they were about to head out.
"So, Papa, do you still have any idea who else could come with you?" the blonde Smurfette asked.
"Hmmm... I'm not quite sure..." Papa said as he pondered, stroking his hand against his white beard.
As soon as Gutsy and Shini were going to leave, Farmer and Greedy showed up at the door all off a sudden when Gutsy opened it.
"Great Smurfs!" the Scottish Smurf jumped and held onto his heart. "Ya almost scared me right out of my kilt!"
"Oh, we didn't know you were here!" Farmer chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that!"
"What's up?" Greedy asked while he was eating a pink sugar-frosted donut.
"We were just about to smurf everybody some great news! We-...!" Shini as then cut off after Greedy seen Papa Smurf there and choked on his donut.
*COUGH COUGH*
"Greedy!" the Scotsman cried as he patted his back. "Easy there, lad..."
"You okay, pal?" the farm boy spoke worriedly for his friend.
"Yeah yeah, I'm fine..." he coughed and soon whispered, "What is Papa Smurf doing here...?"
"Papa...?" Farmer had then turned and saw he was there with the other Smurfs.
"Oh, Farmer!" Ashli had not realized he was there until she walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek with a smile on her pretty face. "Please, do come in! Don't worry, everything's okay."
"Aye!" Gutsy nodded. "We were just about to head out to tell everyone that we're bringin' the boys back tomorrow!"
"The boys...?" Farmer asked curiously when he turned to Gutsy and suddenly gasped. "You mean... they're comin' home?"
"Uh-huh!" the brunette nodded and smiled.
"No way!" the short, unfit Smurf cried as he looks to Papa and then back to them. "You're not kiddin'?"
"We're not!" Shini giggled.
Then the young, ditzy Smurf walks up to them and says, "Papa said he wants to bring them home! And Gutsy and I will come with him!"
"Aww man... I wish I can come along...!" Farmer said. "Ever since Ashli told us about this place, I've always thought about smurfin' on there someday!"
"Yeah, me too," Greedy agreed as he munched on his donut. "I'm sure there are lots of nice fruits around everywhere!"
"Sounds like some Smurf is beginnin' to be thinkin' healthy for once besides cakes!" Farmer replied, smiling to him.
"Hey, I like everything as long as it's eatable!"
Clumsy then had an idea as he turned to Papa and smiled asking, "Couldn't they come with us then?"
Before he answered, Papa turned to both Greedy and Farmer. "Well, seeing there's nobody else, why not? I can use your help along the way."
"Yes! Wooo! Alright!" the country farm boy cheered and suddenly picked up Ashli and kissed her on the lips. After receiving the kiss out of nowhere, Ashli looked to him surprised with her face a flushed and smiled.
"Then I guess that just leaves Grouchy left to come for the ride," Gutsy added. "Shini and I will tell him once we tell everyone about the plans. We'll be smurfin' ya!"
"Yes! Hurry now! We have to tell everybody!" Shini cried as she pushes Gutsy out of Smurfette's home finally along with letting herself out.
"Hehe, now I'm excited!" the chubby Smurf said as he turns to Papa. "And you... you suddenly want them back?"
"For the past few months, I've wanted to have them back here after all the trouble I have cause," Papa explained. "It's just not the same without our two best Smurfs around. And since it's getting close to the holiday season, what's there to celebrate if we can't all celebrate together?"
Soon after, Farmer puts Ashli down and walks up to the elder slowly as he begins to speak. "Papa... I can surely understand the problems you have gone through since they left. I know the feelin' of hidin' yer feelings, not wantin' to show how much you truly care for 'em. It's just like how I felt when I couldn't let my emotions show for the gal I love." He then turns to Ashli as he continued. "I was so scared and caught on things, 'specially with them crops witherin' away our food supply, that I just couldn't tell her the truth thinkin' she wouldn't like me..."
After the country farmer finished, Ashli walked up to him slowly and placed her hand gently on his arm and said, "And today, not only this girl likes you, but she also loves you very much..."
She then smiled beautifully at him as Farmer turned himself towards her and took both hands in his. He smiled back as he looked deep into her dazzling, purple eyes with his eyes hooded.
"And it was all worth it..." he spoke softly to her.
Ashli's eyes began to glisten as she gave him a soft kiss on his lips while Farmer kissed her back as well.
Smurfette soon began to sigh and smile at them, knowing how happy she was for the two. But yet, she felt that she still didn't have a special someone of her own just like they did... especially Gutsy and Shini. "You two are just the smurfiest together. You're so lucky you both found your true love..."
After they both broke the kiss, Ashli turned to her and let go of Farmer. She then walked up to the Smurfette as she began to talk to her.
"Well... maybe someday... you will find that one special Smurf who'll love you just as much as you love him. Hefty told me once when we visited him and Handy that I should follow my heart and listen to what it's telling me. And that I'll know when the time is right... Just like me and Farmer. Who knows? Maybe that special someone is nearby and you don't even know it."
The little black-haired Smurfette then smiled at her as Smurfette with the golden tresses smiled back and nodded. "Thank you, Ashli..." she said to her. "I will listen to what my heart tells me in future..."
Afterwards, Ashli begins to hug her tenderly as the other Smurfs watched and smiled at them. While she was embracing her, Farmer walked up to the girls until Ashli let go of Smurfette. She turned to him as he took a hold of Ashli's hand and said to Smurfette, "You should always have faith in yerself, sugar. And remember, we're all here for you."
"Thank you so much, my friends," Smurfette smiled at Farmer. "You're the best."
Clumsy looks a while at them smiling until he looks back to Papa and said, "I'm sure I can't sleep tonight, now how excited I am!"
"When will we leave tomorrow?" Greedy asked as he finished his donut already.
"First thing when the sun dawns," the older leader replied. "So I should expect some of you who are coming with me to get a good night's rest."
"You don't have to be worryin' 'bout me Papa. Just as long Ashli doesn't keep me up half the night!" Farmer guffawed.
"Farmer...!" Ashli giggled as she blushes uncontrollably and nudges him a little.
"I hope you two are behaving yourselves..." Papa warned, giving them a light chuckle.
Soon both Ashli and Farmer looked to Papa Smurf and began to laugh nervously, eyeing each other. Smurfette couldn't help but laugh at what was going on as everyone else pretty much knew what the point here was.
"Okay okay, I think no one really wants to know what you two are doin' at night!" the hungry Smurf chuckled.
The southern Smurf didn't say a word but blush bright red as Ashli begins to giggle more at him.
"Well, I think we're all set here," Papa pointed and cleared out. "Once you three and others wake up in the morning, I want you to come over to my place so we can prepare for our travels to... What was it called again?"
"Smurf Paradise," Ashli reminded him with a bright smile.
"That's right, thank you," he said to her as he turns back to the others. "You got that?"
"You can always count on me, Papa," Farmer replied.
"Yes! Ohh, like I said before, I'm sure I won't be able to sleep tonight...!" Clumsy cried.
"Me neither! Can't wait until tomorrow!" Greedy exclaimed.
"Then it's settled," Papa agreed. "I guess I should smurf on out so I can tell some of the others about tomorrow."
And as soon as the proud leader was about smurf his way out, Ashli couldn't help but remember what she wanted to ask him before. "Wait...! Please don't go... There's something you still haven't done yet."
"Oh...?" Papa wondered, feeling puzzled as he turned back to her. "What is it...?"
"It's about Hefty..." she answered. "Um... what were you going to say about his love being very special...? I... I really wanna know since you brought it up earlier."
"Oh right, you haven't told us yet!" Smurfette remembered.
"Hmm?" Greedy wondered as he takes a cookie out of the little pocket in his hat and eats it.
"Hm...? Was there somethin' I missed here...?" the country Smurf asked.
"Oh, yes... Now I remember..." Papa soon spoke, "Well, I've got some time to spare. Since we're all here, why don't we all sit down as I tell you all about it."
And as they all agreed in wanting to listen to the story; Farmer turned back to Ashli and takes her by her hand and walked her over to the sofa. Ashli then sat down as Farmer sat right along next to her. Smurfette joined in and sat next to the two as Ashli rested her head on Farmer's shoulder comfortably. Clumsy decided to sit down in the armchair that Papa was sitting in earlier before he smurfed here, ready to listen to what Papa had to tell. And as for Greedy, he looked around until he realized there was nowhere else to sit. However, he decided to take one of the couch pillows from where the others were sitting and sat down on the pillow on the floor. Now that everyone in the room were all sitting, Papa stood right in the middle of the room, looking and gazing at each Smurf ready to listen about their beloved friend, Hefty Smurf.
"Alright... Now where do I begin..." the old Smurf in the red hat and pants thought where he had left off. "Ah, now I remember..." He then clears throat and begins to tell them his story. "As some of you already know, but I will repeat it anyhow, both Hefty and Handy came from the same stork 100 years ago. For those who may not have known, they were the first two Smurflings before you all smurfed here. Hefty was the very first Smurfling brought to me until a month later, Handy was the second."
"Wow... that's just unreal...!" Farmer said, amazed by Papa's words. "Hefty and Handy were the first two Smurfs before us...?"
"Yes, and they're also your eldest brothers as well," Papa continued. "However, the stork who had brought them to me never returned. As time went by, more baby Smurfs had all smurfed here by different carriers, one by one. And none of the same ever came back with another basket just like the first one. Which leaves me to say that the stork that had brought both Hefty and Handy separately were really brothers... by true blood."
"Wow... real brothers...?" Clumsy said feeling surprised from all this. "And you're sure these two are the only ones who are blood-related?"
"Yes, Clumsy," he replied turning to him. "I am quite sure. I've double checked every single one and in total, 96 different storks came and left me with all of you today."
"Golly, that's amazin'!" the farmer cried. "You were able to tell ev'ry one of 'em apart! What are the odds?"
"Shh...! Honey, let him finish..." Ashli smiled at him.
"Hehehe... Anyway..." Papa proceeded on, "...You all know that each and every one of you all hold a very special gift from within. You know what your skills best qualify you in and how you are all able to help out one another with that special gift you possess. Earlier, I had mentioned to the girls that Hefty had a very special gift. And it's not his strength that I'm talking about. Well... it is kind of as you can say, but there's something even more from within him... As I mentioned before, he was known for having a big heart. He would know how to express his feelings and show how much he cared for all his Smurfs and me. However, there were times when he felt sad and didn't want to show his true feelings to anysmurf, thinking that the others would consider him 'soft. But whenever no Smurf was around, Hefty would come to me in private and tell me what was on his mind. This has happened many times before when he was just a child and felt he didn't want to cry in front of the others. He would restrain himself because of who he is in not having to lose his pride, especially with his name implied. But as time went on, I told him... I told him that it was okay to let those feelings show and that it was completely normal for him to cry. He did end up taking my advice and felt good about himself later on. And when Hefty and Handy were both still Smurflings along with the others, I had notice that when Hefty was feeling unsmurfy, he would let himself have a shoulder to cry on while he was with Handy. As kids, they both had a very special bond. They both understood each other like any sibling would and always watched out for one another. And yes, you can say that Hefty's special gift was showing his inner feelings. It had made him feel stronger over the years and it had become one of his biggest strengths of all. He may have been brought to me with the ability of his strength, but the love deep inside his heart made his strength grow 10 times more! He loved his family very much and would do anything to make sure that nothing bad would happen to any of us. However... as time went on... he felt something was missing when he and the others had reached adulthood..."
"...Something was missing?" the chubby Smurf listened to him while he ate some more cookies.
"Like what...?" the dark-haired Smurfette asked.
"Well..." the elder continued, "...there was something on his mind that made him want to change his appearance... So, from there on when he became an adult, he decided to get that heart making you all recognize today on his arm." "I don't know how he got it..." Papa sighed. "He never told me or any other Smurf. I would have thought Painter had something to do with it, but I know that he couldn't possibly do anything such as that. Maybe some other Smurf may have smurfed it for him. I don't know who, but it's very possible that one of my Smurfs know how to do such a thing with permanent ink. And I think I know why he got what he wanted too..."
"Hmm, right... now that you mention it... I've never asked him where he got that heart from," Clumsy said.
"No one really knows where his heart marking originated from..." Papa sighed again. "But from what I know is that the reason why he smurfed it was because he loves his Smurfs very much. I remember asking him why he got it... And he told me the exact same thing I just told you. I guess the real reason why he got it was to show how much he really cared for me and for all of you. His heart was much stronger than his physique. And I can see from within, he's really shown how strong his love truly is. With his strength and his courage, he's one true Smurf, and would do anything to keep me and my Smurfs safe. Especially from any danger or from Gargamel smurfing us. I guess you can say... he's like the protector of the whole Smurf Village. And I believe that's why he decided to get his heart to prove that he can do much better for his family, because we are still one..."
"Wow..." Ashli said all awestruck with her eyes focused on Papa.
"Maybe he will tell us someday where he got it from..." Smurfette smiled.
"I'm sure he will," Ashli replied looking to her and then looked back to Papa. "That story sounds really interesting! I never really knew about his heart on his arm. Actually, when I met him for the first time when he found me, I had thought the rest of you had something like that other than him. Hehehe..."
"Really?" Greedy asked.
"Now I imagine Greedy with a cupcake on his arm. Hehehe!" the Smurfette giggled.
"You think it would look good?" he wondered as he looks at his arm.
Farmer then looks to him and chuckles saying, "I say it would suit you on the count of how it resembles to ya!"
"And look at me! I've had this star-like marking on my forehead when I was just a baby!" Ashli said as she starts to giggle. "It seems pretty intense that Hefty and I have something in common! Hahaha!"
"You mean, you were born with this marking?" Clumsy looked to her and asked.
"Of course, I was," Ashli replied, feeling the mark in the middle of her forehead as she proceeded. "My mother had the same marking as mine before she passed away seven years later when I was just a child. I guess you can say I'm kinda special in a way. I don't really know why I have this... but I think it has to do with something that I will find out someday. I think I may have a special gift from her other than wizardry and magic on my father's side, which I hardly use..."
"Wow, that's interesting!" the young dim-witted Smurf said.
"Heheh... Yeah... you can say that," Ashli blushed a little.
"That sure sounds like an amazing story," Papa spoke as he walks up to her. "Hopefully someday, you'll be lucky to find what that marking upon your brow will truly show and discover what special gift your mother has smurfed you."
"Thanks, Papa," the little Smurfette with her long, black hair smiled at him. "My mother was really special. Unlike my father... I hated him for what he's done to me after I had lost her. But... if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have become a Smurf today. I would've been dead by now! And I'm amazed that you guys can live pass a lifetime! And... I have to say Papa... I REALLY love you more as a father than how my real father took care of me..." And then very soon, tears had started to form and her voice was starting to break. "You truly are... the best father I would've ever wanted... father... who loves ALL his children..." Before she could finish, her tears begin to stream down her face. "...Just like your first two children..."
"Oh, my dear child..." Papa said softly, looking to her worriedly and soon hugged her bracingly as he rubbed her back. "You are more than welcome to be part of this family... You, Shini, and many more we may smurf later in the future... I will always love you and every one of my Smurfs I hold close to my heart... especially my two eldest Smurfs..."
And while Ashli cried softly and hugged Papa in his embrace, Farmer begins to stroke Ashli's hair as he soothed his beautiful girl.
"Nahwww..." As Clumsy seen this, he soon stood up from the armchair up and walked up to them, hugging them both.
"Oh! A Smurfhug!" Greedy said as he got up from the pillow and walked over, also hugging them as well.
"Hehehe!" Smurfette too also does the same and hugs the other Smurfs.
As Ashli suddenly sees them all hugging her, she stopped crying and began to smile little. She knew that deep down that they all loved her very much, no matter what she had gone through all those years. "Aww... you guys... I love you all very much."
"And we love ya too, sugar...! But I love ya more!" Farmer chuckled as he hugged her while everyone else was still hugging the little Smurfette. Ashli then looked to him and smiled as she nudged her head against his lovingly.
While everyone still embraced in their smurfy Smurf hug, Greedy hugs a little longer until he stops. "Boy... all this sitting and listening to stories made me feel hungry." He then begins to feel inside the pocket on his hat until he realized there was nothing left in his pocket. "And I'm out of cookies..."
"Shini and I brought some more cookies over here earlier for Smurfette," AshIi said, turning to him and smiled. "You're welcome to have some if you like."
"Really?" he asked excitedly and looks to Smurfette.
"Yes, they're right over there," Smurfette giggled as she pointed to a little cupboard nearby.
"Thank you!" Soon, the hungry Smurf runs to the cupboard and grabs some cookies as both Ashli and Smurfette begin to laugh.
Farmer chuckled and then let's goes of Ashli from hugging her. He looked on over to his best friend, grabbing a few cookies for himself and then turns back to Ashli. "I reckon, I'm gonna make sure once the boys return, Hefty will smurf him into good shape," he whispered to her. "He really needs the motivation to stay away from all them sweets, heheh!"
"Oh, Farmer..." the Smurfette with the purple eyes said as she pushes him a little with her shoulder and giggles. She then turns to Clumsy while he was still hugging her. She smiles at him until she turns to Papa and said, "Thank you... for everything..."
"There's no need," Papa smiled back and chuckled. "I'm thankful for having you here making things a whole lot smurfier. And of course, Shini, hehehe..."
Ashli smiled feeling truly grateful to have such smurfy friends like the ones she had now. Although while she was still being embraced from the others; she suddenly begins to feel a little hot from them cramping in on her. "Um... it's getting a little warm with all you hugging me... heh..."
"Oh! My apologies, dear..." the elder Smurf let go of her.
"Sorry!" Clumsy cried letting go of her too and soon turns to Papa. "Oh! Papa Smurf? Will we smurf a celebration once Handy and Hefty are back?" he asked and smiles at him"
"Of course! That's why I wanted to tell everysmurf to prepare once we come back with them tomorrow."
"Golly, that's a smurfy idea!" the country Smurf said. "We haven't had a celebration in so long!"
"Great! Then we shouldn't waste time!" the Smurfette spoke out. "We should already begin today to prepare everything for tomorrow."
"A celebration you say? Smurfy! That means lots of food!" Greedy pointed out as he munched on one of the cookies.
'Yes, there will be now that we have plentiful to go around for the next few months and all winter," Papa added.
"Yeah... Boy I tell ya, it wasn't easy gettin' in the rain after goin' through that crazy drought," Farmer remembered. "But I'm glad it's all over."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Clumsy smiled. "Let's see if Gutsy and Shini already told everysmurf about it. And then we can start to prepare everything already!"
"Boy, I can't wait 'til tomorrow! I better go smurf out with the rest of the harvestin' before anything else!"
"Wait, Farmer...!" Ashli then suddenly stops Farmer before he got up to head back to the fields as he turns to her.
"What is it, shug?" he wondered.
"There's something you should know..." she began. "Remember how you said that you thought that our love was what brought in the rain that day we shared our first kiss?"
"Erm... yeah, I remember. Why ya ask...?"
And before she could reply, she turned to Papa for a second and then back to Farmer and smiled. "Well... It was really Papa... who had brought in the rain this whole time... He answered for you and for everyone else who were worried about our water and food storage."
Shocked and surprised, Farmer's eyes began to widen and turned to the great elder still in shock. "Y-y-y-you...? You really smurfed the rain after you said 'No'?"
"Yes... It was me," he replied, smiling at him and nodded. "I did it for all my Smurfs. I just couldn't let you all suffer after what has happened."
The southerner didn't know what to say as he became speechless and still was very surprised. He suddenly stands up slowly as he looks to their father and takes his corn-straw hat off. His eyes then started to glisten and said to him on a soft tone, "Thank you... You have no idea how much this really means to me... I owe ya a great gratitude for what you have done for me and for us all..."
"There's no need," the Smurf with the white beard responded wholeheartedly. "It's what a Papa has to do to keep things in order and everything smurfy. All I ask for return is for everyone's happiness."
After what he had said, tears started to stream down Farmer's face and smiled at him. He soon smurfed a little closer to him and begins to hug Papa Smurf tenderly. "I love you Papa... Thank you for everything..."
"And I love you, my son..." he replied hugging him back. "I love all of you..."
And as they both shared their moment, Ashli smiled at them as she placed her hand close to her heart. Greedy, after he had taken a few cookies from earlier walked up to them and placed his hand on Farmer's back, smiling at him. The countryman turned his head to him and smiled back as he wiped his tears away from his eyes. Ashli then stood up from the sofa and walked over to Farmer as he looked to her and smiled as she smiled back. She then takes a hold of his hand in hers gently and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. After she kissed him, she looked up to his bald head and giggled a little and soon rubbed his head a bit. Farmer blushed slightly and then put his hat back on and then pulled her close to return the kiss on her sweet, soft, lips. The lovely Smurfette with her white high-heeled boots blushed deeply as she kissed him deeper and soon breaks the kiss as she gazed into his eyes.
"Oh, Farmer..."
The country Smurf smiled sweetly at her until he turned back to Papa. The leader had smiled at him and gave out a small chuckle and said, "I'm very happy for the both of you. And may your love last a lifetime..."
"Thanks Papa," he nodded and smiled.
"Thank you," Ashli smiled as he blushes a little.
"So Farmer, did you wanted to smurf anything on the fields today? I could help you," Greedy insisted.
"That'd be smurfy!" he replied turning to him. "I can sure use the help from my best friend."
Greedy then smiles at him as Smurfette got up from the sofa as well and walks up to Ashli asking, "Hey Ashli, what about we smurf some nice decorations for tomorrow?"
"That would be smurfy!" she said to her until Shini's smurfberry bird Wolke begins to chirp happily. "Oh!" Ashli had forgotten that he was still there and figured Shini had took him. As she looked down to the blue bird she picked him up as Wolke chirped more excitedly. "I think he wants to help too!"
"He does?" Smurfette smiled and looked to Wolke. "That would be really smurfy of you!" she said as she pets him sweetly, making him chirp more.
"And I will help you too!" Clumsy tagged in.
"Sure thing, Clumsy!" Ashli said to him happily. "Just be a little careful because tomorrow is going to be very special once you and the boys depart to retrieve Hefty and Handy back here."
"Don't worry! I'll be very careful this time!"
Ashli then starts to giggle until Farmer turns to her as he was about to leave. "I'll smurf ya on later, sweetheart. I'll see you tonight," he said to her and kisses her cheek.
"I love you, Farmer," she smiled and blushed slightly.
"Right back at ya, sugar!" he returned her love and then turns to Greedy. "C'mon, Greedy! Let's get a smurf on!" And with that, Farmer hurriedly walks out of Smurfette's house to get back to work.
"Okay!" Greedy soon turns to the others as he follows Farmer outside and said, "Smurf you all later!"
"Bye Farmer, bye Greedy!" Smurfette called to them.
"Bye, boys!" Ashli called too as she waved goodbye.
"Well, since you three are going to be busy, I'll leave you to do your thing," Papa said to the remaining three Smurfs left. "I'll go tell the other Smurfs about tomorrow and have them prepare for the celebration."
"Alright, Papa!" Ashli spoke. "We'll see you later. And thank you for everything."
"Anything to keep my Smurfs happy and smurfy."
"Bye, Papa!" Smurfette and Clumsy said in unison as they all watched him leave to walk outside.
"Okay then, let's see how smurfy we can decorate the village for tomorrow," the blonde Smurfette said with a smile.
"I wonder if there's anything smurfing around in what we can use?" Ashli pondered. "'Cuz we're gonna need a whole lot of smurfy decorations for our boys once they see the surprise! Now all of a sudden for some reason, I feel like Jokey... Say..." She then snaps her fingers as she soon smurfed an idea. "Why don't we all smurf to his place and see what he's got?"
"Yeah, Jokey always has smurfy ideas for surprises and stuff!" the young Smurf agreed. "Even if they mostly end with an explosion..."
"Then let's smurf him a little visit," Smurfette decided.
"That's great!" Ashli cried. "Let's just hope he doesn't have anything in store for us once we get there... haha!" Wolke then chirps with laughter after what she just said. "Heh, you think it's funny huh, little guy?" she laughed with him as Smurfette giggled with them.
"Alright then, let's go."
Smurfette soon finally walks to the front door as she left her mushroom. Clumsy smiles and follows her until he suddenly trips over the carpet, but quickly stands up again and walks outside.
"Hahaha, oh Clumsy..." Ashli said to him, walking out with them as Wolke flies out of the house, following them.
As they all smurfed on over to the jokester's place, Papa had seen them walking out as they rushed on over there. He smiled as he saw them go and turned his head to look up at the sky. He let out a deep sigh as he watched the clouds fly by and hoped for wherever Hefty and Handy were that they were safe from any danger now that they had each other.
"My sons... I can't wait until we will finally meet once again. You two will be in my prayers tonight. Please take care of each other until I come for you... Papa's coming to take you back to your family... I love you both very much and wish for the best of you once you're back safe and sound... I love you, my Smurfs..."
