Hello. Once again, throwing the disclaimer out there: I do not own The Smurfs at all; they belong to Peyo. Aria is my OC character; she belongs to me. Now that that's out of the way let's get to it!

It's been a few weeks since Aria became a part of the village and she's settled in quite nicely. Every Smurf did their best to help her feel like she belonged. Tailor Smurf made her a bunch of clothes, including a lavender nightgown, so that she could wear something different now and then. Brainy Smurf, despite his suspicions at first, grew to like Aria and has even taken time out of his days to teach her the village's rules. Aria picked up quickly as Brainy was impressed to see that she was a fast learner. At the same time, Aria helped out around the village however she could, and has surprised many smurfs with more of her amazing talents. She helped Papa Smurf with some of his potions, demonstrating her knowledge in chemistry and magic; she showed Greedy some new, healthier recipes that were a massive hit in the village, and assisted Handy in his handiwork. Her usefulness made many of the Smurfs ask themselves, "what can't Aria smurf do"?

When Aria wasn't helping out, she was either by herself singing, spending time with Smurfette, or sharing stories about her adventures with the smurflings. At the moment, Aria was telling them about the time she nursed an ill baby bird back to health while returning it to its family. She was saying, "Since it was so small, I had to carry it around for a while since it was still too young to fly. With time and care, it got better and grew up a little bit. One day, I found a chickadee nest with a mother bird that looked sad. I climbed the tree and showed her the baby, and she became happy because her baby was safe and sound. It thanked me, and while it was a tearful goodbye, I was happy because the mother and baby were reunited, which meant more to me than anything." The smurflings clapped, as Snappy says, "Smurfaroo! You sure are caring," as Sasette added, "And brave! Probably the bravest Smurf in the village! Tell us another story, please"! The rest of the smurflings pleaded as Aria laughed, saying, "Ok! Ok! Now, let me think...I know. This is a story that amplifies one of my favorite traits: bravery. It happened a while back when I was a smurfling just like you four."

However, before she could tell the story, Papa Smurf came by, saying, "All right, my little smurflings. You have work to do," which made them groan in disappointment. Aria cheered them up by saying, "Don't worry, smurflings. I'll tell you the story later. Promise." That made them smile as they went to do their chores with Farmer smurf. Once they left, Papa faced Aria, saying, "It seems the smurflings are a fan of your stories, Aria." That made her beam as she said, "They do, and they're both exciting and true"! She got up and went to see if there was something she could do when she noticed Hefty lifting some weights. She went up to him, saying, "Smurfing up those pythons Hefty"? He blushed, but smiled brightly while saying, "You betcha." Aria them smirked, saying, "I believe I owe a smurf an arm-wrestling match. What do you say? Want to take me on"? Hefty placed his weight down before facing her, saying, "You smurfed yourself a deal! I'll take you on."

They both went to a picnic table and sat on opposite sides, preparing for their match. This caught the attention of some of the other smurfs as they went to see the game. Brainy acted as the referee as with the three counts, he let go and allowed Hefty and Aria to begin their match. Hefty tried with all his might, but somehow, he was unable to push down Aria's arm. Meanwhile, Aria kept her arm pushed up against his as surprisingly, it wouldn't budge. Hefty asked in mid-grunt, "Are you even trying Aria"? She responded with, "I will be honest with you; I'm not even trying. Only because I'm afraid if I do try, I might smurf your arm by accident." Hefty kept pushing with little success as he said, "Go right ahead, I can take it"! Aria was hesitant but responded with a, "Ok, but you smurfed for it, Hefty." At almost the speed of light, Aria pressed Hefty's arm down against the table, much to every Smurf's shock. Hefty pulled his arm back and winced in pain as Aria said with a small frown, "I am so sorry Hefty! Are you ok"?! To her surprise, Hefty was smiling as he said, "I'm great! You're a lot stronger than I thought! No smurf has ever been able to beat me before! Don't worry about my arm because I'm fine, promise. Great match, Aria." He rose her arm up, signifying her victory, as the other smurfs cheered.

Aria then went to see if Smurfette wanted to go for a walk down by the river when a shout caught her attention. Running towards her was a frightened Sassette as she ran into Aria's arms, almost crying. Aria did her best to calm the scared smurfling down as she said in a calming voice, "There, there Sassette. It's ok. It'll be ok." Once Sassette seemed to calm down, Aria then asked, "Now, what's got you smurfed to the core"? Sassette said in a shaky voice, "W-we were working on Farmer's field, and then, I-I tripped on my braids and landed in the water basin. I was ok, but Farmer saw a-and he said...he said..," but Sassette couldn't seem to finish her sentence as she hugged Aria tighter. Aria picked up the little smurfling as she says, "It'll be ok. I'll talk to Farmer and see if we can get this sorted out." Smurfette came by, seeing what happened, as she asked, "Is everything ok"? Aria looked at her, saying, "It appears something happened at Farmer's field that made him say something to Sassette that scared her. I'm going to see if I can talk to him." Sassette looked at Smurfette, saying, "Please come with us, Smurfette! it'll help a lot." Smurfette nodded as the trio went to Farmer Smurf's field to clear this mess up.

Meanwhile, the boys were tilting the soil while Farmer was picking walnuts when he saw Smurfette, Aria, and Sassette coming towards him. He climbed down his ladder while saying in his country accent, "Morning ladies. What can I do for you"? The first thing he noticed was Sassette, who was scared in Aria's arms, holding onto her braids tightly. Aria asked him, "Sassette came running to me earlier smurfed badly, saying that something happened that made you say something to her that's made her terrified. May I ask what exactly was it that you said"? Farmer gave a solemn look as he said, "I didn't mean to scare the poor thing. Let me explain. Earlier, she and Nat were moving hay barrels to the end of the fence. However, she tripped on them braids of hers and done landed in my water basin. I saw and held back my laughter and said, "You ought to be more careful or else one of these days, some smurf will cut them braids off." I meant it to be a joke; I didn't think she'd take it so literally."

Smurfette glared at Farmer, saying, "You didn't think she'd take it literally? She's a smurfling Farmer! She's younger than we are; there are still some things she doesn't know yet"! Aria calmed Smurfette down before saying, "Look, Farmer didn't know better. If any other Smurf was in his place, I'm sure they would've made the same mistake. Farmer, you have to watch what you sometimes say, whether you mean it one way or another. Otherwise, saying the wrong thing can lead to some terrible misunderstandings." Farmer had a sad look on his face as he says, "I know that now, but it was what happened afterward that's made me feel worse than a sobbing smurf. Right at the moment that I said the joke, Barber Smurf came by, hearing what I said, and asked if I could bring little Sassette by his place once we finished up the farmwork. Me and my big mouth ended up saying yes, and the minute he left, the minute little Sassette done got up and ran. The other smurflings tried to call for her, but she was long gone." Sassette looked up at Aria, saying in a frightened tone of voice, "Now, Farmer gots to take me to Barber, and I just can't face it." Aria thought hard for a minute before an idea formed in her mind. She faced Smurfette, saying, "Smurfette, can you and Farmer go to Barber smurf and tell him about this misunderstanding? Meanwhile, I will try to help Sassette."

While Smurfette and Farmer left to see Barber Smurf, Aria and the smurflings went into the forest. Sitting on a rock, Aria had Sassette on her lap, and the boys were sitting around her. Slouchy asked her, "How are you going to help Sassette feel better"? Aria smiled, saying, "By telling you guys the story I was going to say earlier." Sassette looked at Aria confusingly, asking, "How's a story supposed to make me feel better"? Aria responded with, "Because, believe it or not, I was once in the same position as you. Not in the same situation exactly, but I felt the same way you are feeling now: terrified." The smurflings gasped, as Snappy said, "You? Terrified? That can't be! You're the bravest Smurf in the village." Aria chuckled, saying, "I wasn't always brave. When I was little, I would still live in fear. Too afraid to venture far and see what's out there. Then, one day, something occurred that changed all that.

You see, one stormy night, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up getting caught in a rock slide. Boulders were on top of me, and I was severely hurt. On top of that, my hair, which was long at the time, was stuck under one of the boulders. So basically, I was trapped and doomed to be smurfed by sunrise. Then, I notice through a crack that there was another set of rocks about to fall, but on some innocent creatures who were unable to escape in time. I thought I was terrified, but seeing all those creatures scared, too afraid to move, I realized that if I didn't do something, then they would be smurfed too, and they wouldn't get to be with their families. That was the moment I knew that now, I couldn't be scared. I used a sharp rock to cut my hair and free myself and found an old rubber band, putting it up in a ponytail. As hurt as I was, I was able to get out of the rock pile. I hobbled towards the creatures and was able to get them out of there just as the second pile of rocks started to fall. That night, seeing all the animals safe and sound, I also felt something inside me. For the first time, I felt what it was like to be brave, and I loved it. It made me want to help others who might have felt or is feeling the same way. After I recovered, I grabbed my guitar out of my hiding place and started walking, letting fate decide where I went.

So you see Sassette, even at my lowest and most timid, I found the courage to be brave, despite how scared I was. I know that what Farmer Smurf said was only a joke, but imagine what would happen if you did have to cut your hair. Would you still be as scared as you were before"? Sassette thought for a minute before saying, "Not really because I would do my best to be brave just like you." Aria smiled, seeing that Sassette was feeling better as the other smurflings applauded for the story. Snappy said while getting up, "Wowza! I can't believe it! You smurfed danger in the eye and beat it"! Aria chuckled, saying, "Well, I'm glad you liked the story, but do you understand the moral"? Slouchy asked, "What's a moral"? Aria continued with, "Basically, the message the story produces." Sassette nodded, saying, "I understand, and thank you, Aria." Aria smiled, saying, "You're welcome. Now, why don't we go back to the village and see if Smurfette and Farmer got to clear this up with Barber"? The smurflings nodded as they started to walk back to the village.

Back in the village, the group met up with Smurfette and Farmer, who were able to talk to Barber and clear the misunderstanding up. Farmer went up to Sassette and said, "Little Sassette, I'm sorry. I will be more careful with what I say from now on." Sassette smiled, saying, "That's ok, Farmer. I forgive you." Seeing the two Smurfs reconcile made the rest of the group smile. Smurfette faced Aria and asked, "How were you able to help her calm down"? Aria just shrugged and said, "I guess I'm just a good listener," as she winked and smiled at the screen.