Chapter Two

Papa Smurf was accosted with questions from his little Smurfs the moment he stepped outside Smurfette's house.

"How is she, Papa Smurf?"

"What's wrong? Is Prince Theodore all right?"

"What's wrong with Smurfette, Papa Smurf?"

"Has that unsmurfy Morlock returned?"

"Will she be all right in time for dinner? I'm baking her favorite: Greedy's Smurftacular Smurfberry Surprise!"

"Would she feel smurfier if she had her portrait painted, Papa Smurf?"

Papa Smurf raised his hands to stem the tide of inquiry. "Please, my little Smurfs! Please!" he shouted over the din. Slowly, the concerned noise died down. "Smurfette has just had a long day. She needs a good night's sleep. She should be her old smurfy self by tomorrow. There's nothing wrong with Prince Theodore and Morlock is still safely locked up in Theodore's dungeon. There's nothing to worry about. So, please, all of you, continue about your business and don't worry about Smurfette. She just needs to be alone for a while."

Gradually, the concerned crowd dispersed. Soon, only three Smurfs remained.

"Are you certain that's all it is, Papa Smurf" asked Hefty. "She's just tired from her trip?"

"Well—" Papa Smurf started.

"I've never known Smurfette to get that emotional just because she was a bit fatigued," Brainy added knowledgeably. "It usually takes a great deal to get her that upset, like the time Jokey fell overboard from Dreamy's ship and we all thought he'd smurfed the bucket."

"Um, yeah!" Clumsy agreed. "That's right, Papa Smurf. If it's one thing Smurfette's not, that's a crybaby!"

Confronted with the unconvinced, expectant looks from his little Smurfs, Papa Smurf broke down. "All right, I'll tell you what's really the matter. But, I don't want the whole village to know, so I don't want any of you to reveal what I am about to tell you. This especially goes for you, Brainy."

Brainy looked shocked behind his glasses. Hefty seemed to be chuckling behind his hand, but he might have been yawning.

"What!" Brainy exclaimed. "Why me, Papa Smurf?"

"What's bothering her is very personal, and if she knew I'd told anysmurf, she would likely be very upset. I know how you like to talk, Brainy, and I'm warning you not to tell anysmurf what I'm about to say."

Brainy nodded, chastised. "Yes, Papa Smurf."

Papa Smurf gestured for the three young Smurfs to follow him.

"Come with me to my lab, I'll tell you there."

Once in his lab, Papa Smurf had the three Smurfs take a seat at his long, wooden table. He leaned forward and spoke rather conspiratorially. The concerned Smurfs leaned forward as well, in order to hear him better.

"My little Smurfs, I am very concerned about Smurfette."

Hefty's eyes widened. "Why, Papa Smurf? What's wrong?"

Papa Smurf sighed, then sat back. "I fear Smurfette may be in love with Prince Theodore."

"What!" the three young Smurfs chorused, equally aghast.

"But, Papa Smurf," exclaimed Brainy. "Prince Theodore is a human! How could she be in love with him?"

"Well," Hefty pointed out, "Handy's in love with that mermaid, Marina."

"But that's different," Brainy objected. "They're both magical beings! And, at least they're the same size! But, a Smurf and a human? It's unthinkable!"

Papa Smurf shook his head. "She's heard today that Prince Theodore is going to announce his engagement to the Lady Xolynda tomorrow. She's very upset. I don't think she realized herself until this moment how deeply she cared for Theo." He sighed. "I must admit, I fear I am at a loss as to how to deal with this situation."

Brainy stared at him, his eyes, already magnified by his glasses, at least twice as large as usual. "You, Papa Smurf?" he asked, as if unable to believe his ears.

Papa Smurf made a sad attempt at a chuckle. "Yes, Brainy. If I'm not mistaken, poor Smurfette is in for a great deal of pain. I think she realizes a relationship between herself and Theo is utterly impossible, but still-"

Just then, he was interrupted by his front door bursting open, followed closely by a panting Smurf with a hoe.

"Farmer Smurf! What's wrong?" Papa Smurf exclaimed. Farmer never left his beloved fields before sunset without very good reason.

"Papa Smurf!" Farmer panted. He'd obviously run there all the way from his fields. "Gourdy's gone missing!

"Gourdy? Your genie?"

"Yes, Papa Smurf! I can't find him anywhere! I checked my house, the fields, I even went to the melon patch and rubbed his gourd. But he's gone, vanished!"

Papa Smurf stood, concerned. "Where do you think he might have gone? Have you said anything to upset him lately? We all know how desperate he is to please."

Farmer sighed, deeply. "I know the little fellow's a bit of a pest, but since he's stopped trying to grant me wishes, he's been almost a help to me in the fields. I thought we were becoming good friends. I can't think where he's gone!"

Papa Smurf looked thoughtful. "This is very strange. Do you think he might have been smurfnapped?"

"But, who would want Gourdy?" Farmer asked. "He never gets anything right!"

"Yes," Papa Smurf admitted, "but only we know that. A genie is a very highly prized being. If some unscrupulous person—" Papa Smurf's head snapped up.

"Farmer, where did you see him last?"

Farmer thought hard. "Well, the last I saw of him he was headin' toward the house in search of a trowel. He wanted to help me smurf some weeds from the smurfberry patch. But, when he didn't return, I started to get worried."

Papa Smurf looked worried himself. "Then, we must start a search. I wouldn't like to think what could happen if Gourdy's magic fell into the wrong hands. A genie's magic is so deep and so powerful, none of my spells can counteract it."

Brainy swallowed nervously.

"We must organize a search party," said Papa Smurf, "and comb every inch of the village. Also, we must send a scout party to Gargamel's hovel. If he's not there, we'll try Balthazar's castle or Clorhydris's."

The five Smurfs rushed from Papa Smurf's house and right into—

"Gourdy!" Farmer exclaimed. "Where in smurfness have you been?"

Papa Smurf was deeply relieved. From the day Gourdy's gourd had appeared in Farmer's melon patch, the little genie's presence had made him very nervous. He was such a kind, well-meaning soul, though, that he had decided to allow him to stay. Now, he was starting to rethink that previous decision. The power of a genie, in the wrong hands, could be disastrous to the Smurfs.

"Oh, Master!" the tiny genie said happily. At his full height, he barely reached Farmer's shoulder, even with his turban. "I meant to get back to you, but I guess I forgot."

"What in smurfnation are you talking about, Gourdy?"

"A wish, Master, a wish! One of your friends needed me to grant them a wish. She was so upset, I couldn't refuse her. And, it's been such a long time since I've had a chance to really stretch my powers, I couldn't resist. I hope you're not mad I was gone so long."

Farmer turned a confused glance to Papa Smurf. "Do you know what he's smurfing about, Papa Smurf?" he asked.

Papa Smurf was so upset, he ignored the question. Brushing past Farmer, Brainy, Clumsy, and Hefty, he grasped the little genie by the shoulders and demanded, "Who did you grant this wish for, Gourdy?"

Taken aback by the vehemence of Papa Smurf's question, Gourdy stuttered, "S-Smurfette."

"And, what was her wish?"

"Oh, erm, well, she asked me not to tell anyone."

Papa Smurf glared at him, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Gourdy..." He stretched the name as though it were taffy.

The tiny genie raised his hands in defense against the glare. "All right, all right! I'll tell you! Geesh! Just, let go of me, will you? You're rumpling my tunic."

Papa Smurf loosened his grip and Gourdy stepped back to a safe distance. Straightening his tunic, he said, "Well, when she rubbed my gourd she was in a terrible state. I know Master doesn't like me granting wishes, but she was so upset! So, when she asked me to make her human and send her to Prince Theodore's kingdom, I couldn't refuse her."

"She asked you to what!" the gathered Smurfs exclaimed, completely shocked.

Gourdy was starting to look sheepish. "Well, she asked me to make her human and send her to Prince Theodore's kingdom. Gee, I didn't think you'd all get so mad! I thought it was a rather silly wish myself."

"How could I not have seen her?" Farmer berated himself. "I was in the neighboring smurfberry patch the whole time! And, what would make her do such a thing!"

Papa Smurf put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It isn't your fault, Farmer. I should have expected something like this. Love can make someone act in very strange ways."

"Love?" asked Farmer. "Smurfette's in love?"

Papa Smurf sighed. "I'm afraid so. With Prince Theodore."

"Oh, my smurfness!" Farmer exclaimed.

"Don't tell anyone Farmer," Papa Smurf warned. "This must be a secret between just us six. If we manage to get Smurfette back safely, she'll never be able to live it down if she finds the whole village knows what she's done."

"But, how are we going to get her back, Papa Smurf?" asked Brainy. "How will we even recognize her?"

"First," said Papa Smurf, "we must know more about the nature of this wish. Gourdy?"

Gourdy shuffled his feet in their curly-toed shoes. "It's not really that big of a deal," he said quietly. "Just your basic, run of the mill transfiguration wish. And, like all wishes concerning love, it's got plenty of conditions attached."

"What do you mean?" asked Papa Smurf.

"Well, for one thing, the Prince has to recognize her, and tell her so, before midnight tomorrow. And, she can't tell him who she is outright. He has to guess it for himself. If he doesn't, then Smurfette will change back into a Smurf at the stroke of midnight."

"And, if he does?" asked Hefty.

"Well, then she remains a human for all time, of course," Gourdy said, as if this were common knowledge.

"But, Papa Smurf!" exclaimed Brainy. "This is horrible! Theodore's certain to recognize her for what she is the moment she opens her mouth! Who else besides a Smurf would use the word 'smurf' as often as possible and in every part of speech?"

"Brainy's right for once!" Hefty agreed. Brainy shot him a superior glare which Hefty ignored. "Theo's in love with Lady Xolynda! He wouldn't marry Smurfette! If we don't get to her before Theo recognizes her, she'll be stuck as a human for the rest of her life!"

"And," Brainy added, his voice wavering slightly with concern, "humans have a considerably shorter life span than Smurfs!"

At this sobering thought, a disturbing hush fell over the small group. Papa Smurf turned to Gourdy, who was now looking even smaller and more sheepish than he had before.

"Gourdy, is there any way to reverse this wish?"

Gourdy made large swirls in the dust before him with his shoe. He didn't look up at Papa Smurf. "Not unless she rubs my gourd and wishes to be a Smurf again before midnight tomorrow. She's not my Master. If she doesn't rub my gourd, I can't do anything for her."

"Could I wish she was a Smurf again?" Farmer asked. Gourdy looked even more uncomfortable.

"Well, not really, Master. This is her wish. Another's wish can't interfere with it. Even yours, I'm afraid."

Clumsy looked to be on the point of tears. Hefty pounded his fist angrily into his palm. "I can't just take this smurfing down. What are we going to do, Papa Smurf?"

Papa Smurf turned to Farmer. "Farmer, I need you to find Nat and tell him to bring Feathers to the clearing by the Great Oak. Then, you may go back to your fields with Gourdy."

"Yes, Papa Smurf," said Farmer, and he raced away into the distance.

"Brainy, Clumsy, Hefty, come with me."

He led them into his lab, where he started flipping through the worn pages of his largest spell book.

"There's only one way we can get to Smurfette without Prince Theodore becoming suspicious about her true identity," he said.

Brainy looked shocked. "You don't mean—"

Papa Smurf nodded soberly. "Yes, I do."

"But, Papa Smurf! Be reasonable! Surely you don't expect me to-"

"I have to, Brainy. You three are the only Smurfs who know everything about this situation. You know I wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't absosmurfly necessary."

"Do what?" asked Hefty, annoyed that he hadn't been able to figure out what was going on as quickly as Brainy apparently had. "What's smurfing on?"

"Um, yeah, Clumsy added. "What are you two talking about?"

Papa Smurf sighed and turned back to his spell book. "You tell them, Brainy."

Brainy turned his nervous gaze to his friends. "If we go to Theodore's castle as we are and try to find Smurfette, the prince will realize there's something different about her. If he should catch us with her, or spot us hiding from him, he would start to get suspicious. There are very few humans who know about our existence, Theodore knows that. After all, he's one of them! If he realizes Smurfette knows us, he'll naturally wonder why. He'll want to know who she is, where she's from. And, Theodore's smart. We won't be able to fool him for long. Therefore," Brainy swallowed, "we can't go into the castle as Smurfs."

"Uh, what do you mean, Brainy?" asked Clumsy, confused. "If we're not going as Smurfs, what are we going as?"

Brainy looked to Papa Smurf, who nodded. Brainy swallowed again. "Humans," he said.

Hefty was scandalized. "What!" he exclaimed. "You can't be serious, Papa Smurf! Humans!"

Papa Smurf sighed. "I'm sorry, my little Smurfs, but it's the only way to get her back safely without rousing suspicion. You could pretend to be her brothers, or her personal guards. Noble ladies do not travel unescorted, and if Smurfette has set her sights on marrying Prince Theodore, she must pretend to be of noble birth. Your presence there as humans should help to stop questions, rather than start them."

Hefty sighed. "You're right, Papa Smurf" he admitted. "But, I still don't like it."

"You don't have to like it, Hefty. Just remember, you're all doing this for Smurfette's sake. She's very upset right now, she doesn't know what she's doing. We can't blame her for making such a foolish wish, we can only help her see reason. Ah, here it is," he said, smoothing down the page he'd been looking for. "Come closer, you three."

"Surely, you're not going to change us in here, Papa Smurf," said Brainy incredulously. "Why, we'd break the roof! Not to mention all the talk it would cause in the village!"

"No, Brainy. I'm going to give you a copy of the chant. When you get near Prince Theodore's castle, I want you to find a safe, out of the way place and perform this spell at once."

He turned to his shelf of wizarding supplies and started emptying containers into a small, leather satchel. When he'd finished, he gave the bag a good shake, then handed it over to Brainy, along with a rolled up sheet of parchment. "This spell should last as long as Smurfette's wish, until midnight tomorrow. Just follow the instructions on the parchment, Brainy, and all should be well."

Brainy nodded.

"Papa Smurf!" came Farmer's voice from outside. "Feathers is all ready and smurfing to go."

"Very good, Farmer. Thank you for your help. Just remember to smurf a closer eye on Gourdy from now on."

"I will, Papa Smurf, you can smurf on that!"

Papa Smurf turned back to the three nervous Smurfs with him. "All right" he said. "It's time to go. Good luck, my little Smurfs! Please bring our Smurfette back to us safely."

The three Smurfs nodded bravely. "We will, Papa Smurf."

Papa Smurf watched them go with a heavy heart. This unorthodox plan was an admittedly desperate measure, but surely, this was a desperate time.

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