Chapter 17: Dressing Up

ONE YEAR LATER, AFTER THE SCEPTER OF FAITH INCIDENT

Over the past two years living with the smurfettes had been quite an adventure for Hefty. Together he had faced off Ogres, Banshees, and tricky Sprits with them. The most recent adventure was when he, Toughette, Brainette, Cowgirl, Tattlerette, and Mama Smurf set out to find the ingredients needed to get Gloria out of her 'lost' trance. Hefty felt bad when he caused the Scepter of Faith to fall into the boiling caldron, ruining the spell and losing Gloria's soul. While Mama Smurf studied every book on the scepter, a few smurfettes were assigned to take care of Phoebe. Over the months the cat has learned to respect and appreciate the little blue helpers.

The journey had been difficult, but nothing that Hefty hadn't gone through before with Papa Smurf and the other Smurfs back home. After they succeeded in gathering the ingredients, Mama Smurf and Brainette teamed up and cast the incantation to bring Gloria's soul back into her body. Every other day since then, Mama Smurf visited Gloria to see how she was healing. Gloria had calmed down quite a bit, and decided to stay away of conjuring up spells of any kind for a long while.

Hefty had been very impressed on how a village of female smurfs lived. Although there have been some similarities, each smurfette does have their own distinct hairstyles that separates them from the other. In the smurf village there has only been three smurfettes that he knew. There was the ever so lovely, Smurfette with long blond hair, and the young smurfling, Sassette with red braided pigtails. Later came along Nana Smurf. A smurfette that was very close to Grandpa Smurf's age.

For as long as he could remember, Hefty always played the part of a hero. He would rescue anyone who was in danger, especially females. How irony had taken his life around. This time it was not only just one smurfette that played a part in saving his life, but a whole village of smurfettes.

This defiantly was one smurf that will be forever grateful to these smurfettes. He was grateful for their help, their hospitality, for everything. Lately, the smurfettes were looking forward to one event that only happened once in every few years. They call it the 'Blue Moon Ball'. During the day the smurfettes set up the entire village with beautiful and creative decorations. Afterwards they get all dressed up in long well designed gowns for an evening of dance and celebration. This will be one event that Hefty had been looking forward in seeing. He was also interested in meeting one of the smurfettes human friends, King Randolph, that will be coming for a visit later this evening. Ever since Randolph was a young prince, he appreciated the aid the smurfettes gave him, so he would come for any of their special celebrations.

After helping some of the smurfettes decorated the village, Hefty decided he should get ready himself for the evening. Basically all he needs to do is get washed up, and put on a black tie that Sewette had made for him.

On his way back to his mushroom house that the smurfettes built for him, he spotted Toughette storming out of Mama Smurfs house. Curious on what could be wrong, he caught up to Toughette.

"Hey, Toughette? What's wro…?" Before Hefty could finish his question, Toughette grabbed hold of his arm. With one firm swoop she flips him over her shoulder.

"Ow!" He yelped when he landed with a hard thud. "Ok, you are in a bad mood today. May I as why?" Hefty asked while laying flat on his back with his right arm slightly twisted, in Toughette's grip.

"Does everything have to have a reason with you?" She snapped back.

"Well, it does help me understand you better." Hefty replied as he struggled to get in an upright position.

Toughette let out a frustrated sigh before speaking. "Fine!" She huffed. "I just had a talk with Mama Smurf. Apparently she told me that I have a problem with my temper." She paused to see the knowing smirk in Hefty's face. Toughette made a grim look before continuing. "Ok, so I got a little upset when Valvette refused to help set up the stage and I threw a hammer at her. I did purposely miss, like I would really want to hurt that prissy smurfette. But Mama Smurf, who saw the whole thing, thought that wasn't very smurfy of me to do that. Now she expects me to have counseling sessions with her every week." Toughette then softens her expression and looks down at Hefty. "You don't think I have a problem with my temper, do you, Hefty?" She asks sweetly.

Hefty nervously smiles at Toughette. "Er, before I answer that question, you don't suppose I could have my hand back first?" In the two years he had lived with the smurfettes, he learned quickly to not underestimate Toughette's strength. Besides that, his hand was now really starting to hurt being in the position it was in.

Catching on to Hefty's plan, Toughette smugly smiles and tightens her grip causing Hefty to wince. "No." She said with a purr.

"Well, heh, in that case. No, Toughette, you don't have a problem with your temper."

"Gee, thanks." Toughette smiled. She started to loosen her grip on Hefty's hand.

Taking this opportunity, Hefty jerked his hand free from Toughette. He nervously chuckled as he rubs his sore wrist. "Ah, sure. Whatever."

Toughette's smile faded, "What's that suppose to mean?" She said placing her fist firmly on her hips.

"Oh, ah…" Hefty quickly thought of a way to sooth the situation. He looked Toughette right in the eyes then smiled. "Did anyone ever tell you, you look adorable when you get angry?"

"Harrumph. You're just saying that." She said with a half smirk.

"You know Toughette, I think it's safe to say there is no other smurfette quite like you. And trust me, that is a complement."

"Ok." The golden haired smurfette sighed. "I'll accept that." She said relaxing a bit more.

"Anyway, I gotta get cleaned up. I'll see you at the Blue Moon Ball tonight? I'm kind of interested in seeing what you look like all dressed up." Hefty told her as he started walking away.

"Dressed up?" Toughette paused. "Right, that is what we smurfettes do for the Blue Moon Ball. We dress up." She nervously bit her lower lip before walking off in the opposite direction.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

A FEW MINUTES LATER…

With a regretful sigh, Toughette stepped up to the home of the only smurfette that could possibly help her get ready for the Blue Moon Ball. She was almost hesitant to lift her hand up to knock on the door, but she closed her eyes and lifted her hand to the door. After Toughette wrapped on the door three times a female voice called out from the other side.

"Just a minute." Valvette sang.

Toughette shakes her head wondering if it was too late to walk away while she still could. But as soon as Valvette opened the door the moment of escape was gone. The beautiful smurfette stood already dressed up with her Ball gown on. Tonight Valvette chose to wear a long purple dress with puffy shoulders and long sleeves.

"Oh, it's you," Valvette said coldly. "What do you want?"

"Ok, here it is. First I want to apologize for throwing a hammer at you earlier. It's just you get me so angry sometimes," Toughette explained, while at the same time trying to stay calm. "But that's not the real reason why I'm here."

"Really? So, why are you here then?" Valvette questioned with her arms crossed over chest.

Toughette again sighed heavily. "I need you to help me get ready for the Blue Moon Ball." She said with a shy quiet voice.

"Toughette?" Valvette's face suddenly lit up with excitement. "You have no idea how long I have waited for this moment." She quickly ushered Toughette inside. "You know I don't think you have ever entered my home since I redecorated last. What do you think? I designed it myself."

As Toughette entered Valvette's home she panes the room with her eyes. The walls had been painted with a soft rose color. Different paintings of Valvette also covered the walls. Pink doilies and cushions covered pink tables and chairs. On the table sitting on a doily, sat a vase with pink roses in it. The curtains that hung around the window frames bore pink hearts all over them.

"It's, uh, pink." Toughette said trying not to sound disgusted with the sight.

"Don't you think its just smurfy?" Valvette purred.

"Yeah, whatever. So what do I need to do to get ready for tonight?" Toughette asked in order to change the subject quickly. She personally wanted to get this moment over with as soon as possible.

"Right. We have a lot of work to do, so lets get started." Valvette clasped her hands together in anticipation. "Now lets see." She brings the tough smurfette up to the large smurf size mirror. "Hmm, first thing we should do is get you cleaned up and get a dress picked out for you. Since you don't own one yourself, you may borrow one of mine."

"Gee, thanks." Toughette said sarcastically.

"Come over here and pick out a dress for yourself." Valvette gleefully took Toughette to her wardrobe closet. She opened it and pulled out a number of beautiful gowns all that have different colors and designs. "Hmm, how about a nice pink dress?" Valvette asked holding the pink gown up in front of Toughette's body.

"Uh, I don't smurf pink." Toughette quickly refused by pushing the dress away from her.

"Ok…" Valvette absently tosses the rejected gown over a nearby chair. "How about a red one?" She asked holding up the next dress.

"Too much like Mama Smurf…" Toughette said in a monotone voice.

"You're right. And besides that, it clashes with your eyes." Valvette agreed. "Um, maybe a green one?"

"Valvette look, none of these dress fit my style." Toughette cried pushing away the green dress.

"But Toughette, you're going to have to choose one of these dresses if you want to look good tonight." Valvette pleaded.

"Fine. I pick that blue one over there." Toughette huffed pointed to one of the dresses still hanging in the closet.

"My baby blue dress?" Putting the other dresses aside, Valvette reaches for her blue one. She holds it up to Toughette and smiled. "You know, this one might work for you."

"Oh goodie." Toughette rolled her eyes skyward. "Now what do we do next?"

"Lets get you out of that jumpsuit and washed up."

Moments later Toughette came out from the other room wearing a slip, a corset around her waist, and matching heels to go with the blue dress. She struggles to walk in the shoes for it was basically the first time she has ever worn high heels. "Valvette, how am I supposed to walk with these?" She complained.

"Oh, honey. You'll get use to them. Ok now, hold still while I tighten your corset." Valvette said walked up behind Toughette.

"Oh SMURF!" Toughette coughed loudly, while Valvette yanked at the corset's strings as tight as they could go. "What are you doing? How the smurf do I breathe?"

"Take shorter breathes." Valvette suggested. She then reaches for the blue dress and threw it over Toughette's head. After making sure it was on straight and no wrinkles were visible, Valvette smiles approvingly. "Ok, now lets do something with your hair."

"My hair? What's the matter with my hair?" Toughette panicked. As far as she knew, Toughette has never allowed anyone to touch her long golden hair for any reason. It has been the only thing feminine about her that she appreciated.

"Nothing, Toughette, it's just in a stringy mess, and you do want to look your best tonight, don't you?" Valvette purred while holding up a brush. "And besides, I've always wanted to brush your hair. It's just so lovely."

"Well, I do wash and brush it out every night." Toughette bashfully admitted as she pulled out her hair band, letting her hair flow free from being in a ponytail.

Valvette directed her to sit on a stool in front of her makeup table. Toughette bit her bottom lip nervously as Valvette moved the brush up to her hair. Valvette noticed her tough sister's reaction, and softly smiles. "Relax Toughette, I promise I'll be gentle."

After the third stroke from the brush, Toughette soon realized that she was enjoying having someone else comb out her hair. "That does feel nice." She softly admitted.

"See, I told you." As soon as Valvette finished combing Toughette's hair, she placed the brush on her dresser. She lifted Toughette's face so she may get a better look at her features. "Next we put on the makeup."

"Makeup?"

"Trust me, Toughette, I'm a professional." Valvette grins. She picks up a soft puffy bristle brush and begins applying her facial colors on Toughette with it. "A little eye shadow, a little blush, and lipstick… There done. Now there is just one thing to add."

"What's that?"

"Your hat." Valvette grabs the baby blue smurf hat that went with the dress and carefully places it on Toughette's head. "Yes, now come and have a look at yourself." Valvette gently tugged at Toughette's arm over to the big mirror so Toughette can see her whole new look. "My don't you look lovely. Almost as beautiful as me…almost." The beautiful brunette gloated.

"If you say so, but if anyone says anything about me being in a dress I'll pound the smurf out of them." Toughette growled while shaking her fist in the air.

Valvette lets out a defeated sigh. "You can put a smurfette in a dress, but you just can't get her to act like one."