For the past three days, the smurfs have been enjoying SmurfAggie's company. Every night was like a party at Aria's mushroom as the two smurfs shared jokes and told funny made-up stories. At the same time, Aria got to learn more about Aggie and her abilities and objects. For example, in her homeworld, she was a human, and how the dust she used on her before was called pixie dust, which enabled anything it touched the ability to float in the air. At the same time, SmurfAggie taught Aria and some of the other smurfs about humans and what they are like back in her world. At the moment, the two were strolling through the village as SmurfAggie was showing Aria her dimensional remote. She explained, "This remote was given to me by my father. With a push of a button, I can travel to any world you can think of." Hearing this impressed her as Aria asked, "Can you enter a world full of monsters"? With a push of the big red button, a portal opened up, revealing on the other side, a world that had all kinds of monsters: vampires, werewolves, mummies, even zombies. Once Aggie closed the portal, Arai was able to recover from her shock and say, "That was so awesome! You're so lucky your father gave you such a rare gift"!
Aggie smiled with a blush, saying, "Thanks." Aria then sighed, saying, "I wish I had a family like that." Aggie comforted her, saying, "I'm sure you'll remember soon. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know." Aria gave a small smile as Smurfette joined the two, saying, "Smurfy morning, you two! How are you ladies doing on such a smurfy day"? Aggie told Smurfette about how Aria felt as Smurfette suddenly felt terrible for Aria, saying, "Oh my. You poor thing. It must be hard not being able to remember your past." Aria shrugged, saying, "I try to get by, but it's always hard, and the dreams I have don't make it any easier." When Aggie asked what kind of dreams Aria had, she explained, "Well, it's weird, but...I imagine myself as a tiny smurfling, about Sassette's size. My outfit is different too because, in my dreams, I'm wearing a yellow dress like your dress Aggie. Right along with my go-to red bandana and a pair of yellow shoes. I'm also wearing a yellow hat, and it has a red four-leaf clover on it. I'm hanging out with another smurfling my age, but about two days older, but how she looks is unclear. All I can make out is some weird purple scarf or shoulder boa, a bow and arrow, her short dark blue hair and bangs that resemble mines, and a hat with ear flaps. We seem to go on fun adventures in a mysterious, colorful, abundant forest, and we seem to be extremely close. I don't know why I keep having that kind of dream, but...I have felt a strong connection with it."
Smurfette was speechless as Aggie thought to herself for a minute before saying, "I wonder. If you're having those kinds of dreams at night, maybe those "dreams" are memories." Aria was shocked as Smurfette said, "It might be possible. We should ask Papa Smurf and see what he smurfs of this." With that, the trio went to Papa's mushroom to ask him about this predicament. Inside, he was reading an old spellbook when he heard a knock on the door. The trio of girls walked in as Smurfette said, "Hi Papa. We wanted to ask you something." Papa gave a friendly grin, saying, "Of course. Now, what seems to be on your minds"? SmurfAggie went first, saying, "Aria says that she struggles to remember much about where she came from, her family, and most of her past. However, at night, she seems to have vivid dreams about herself." Aria took over, saying, "In these dreams, I'm in another village as a tiny smurfling, and I'm with another smurfling around my age. However, who the other smurfling is, I don't know. I feel a strong connection with them somehow, and Aggie says that I am somehow capable of remembering in my sleep. Is that normal"?
Papa listened closely to what she said as he responded with, "Well, it sounds to me like your memory is foggy, but at the same time, gives clear visions to you. Tell me, aside from your dreams, what else can you remember by yourself"? Aria thought for a minute before saying, "Well, I remember that as a baby, I was brought to a village by a stork. I also remember that when I was still a smurfling, I was swept away by a huge tornado. Other than that, the only other thing is that the words "storm" and "willow" seem to hit me close to home, but I don't know why. That's all I can remember." After hearing her answer, Papa went to his workbench and looked in another spellbook, saying, "It seems you struggle with remembering deep memories. Luckily, I know a memory potion that should help you get some clarity in your mind." He then went right to work, creating the memory potion, creating it in no time flat. He brought the brew over and gave it to Aria, saying, "Drink this, and your memory should be restored instantly."
Aria looked at the bottle and downed the liquid, sticking her tongue out from its bitter taste. After giving the empty bottle back to Papa, he asked, "Now, tell me what you can remember now." Aria closed her mind and thought hard, trying to search through her mind for her memories before saying, "I remember...I have an older sister and a younger sister. Their smurfs, like us, but female smurfs, and they look a bit like Aggie, with subtle differences. The older one...she's the smurf I see in my dreams, but I can't seem to remember her name. The younger one, she's pretty cute and seems to be dedicated to helping others. Unlike the older one, the younger one, who looks two days younger than me, her attire is about the same except her hat has no ear flaps. She wears a brown vest, she has a lily in her hat as well, and her dark blue hair is in multiple pigtails. I can't remember her name either. I remember...a village with trees, bright, beautiful flowers, and pods, which must be houses. Someplace called...Smurfy Grove"? Aggie gasped as she said, "No way! That's the village I'm staying in"! That made everyone surprised as Smurfette smiled and said, "Oh, Aria! It's working! you're beginning to remember your home."
Aggie smiled too, adding, "Think more! What else can you remember"? Aria thought again as she said, "I remember...a smurf...she looks a bit like you, Papa. I think she's the leader of smurfy Grove. Her name...smurf! I can't remember her name either"! Aria looked discouraged as Papa placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, saying, "It's alright, Aria. What matters is that most of your memory is returning. Tell me, is there anything else you can remember"? Aria thought one last time before saying, "I remember...an old stone wall? That's about it for me." Papa considered this as he says, "The only stone wall we know is the wall that blocks off the Forbidden Forest." Aria asked curiously, "What's the Forbidden Forest," and before any smurf could answer, Brainy Smurf came inside, saying, "Did some smurf ask a question? No need to be smurfed anymore! The Forbidden Forest is as it's called: a forest that any smurf is forbidden to enter." When Aria asked why, Papa interrupted Brainy, saying, "Because it's too dangerous. There are strange things out there, plus, it's too close to Gargamel's lair."
The smurflings were coming by to ask Papa a question when they overheard what everyone was talking about as they hid and listened quietly. Hefty noticed their behavior as he came over and asked them, 'What are you smurflings doing," but they pulled him in and shushed before they listened closely. Aria then said with a determined look, "Then, we need to go to the Forbidden Forest"! Every smurf gasped, as Papa said, "No! It's too dangerous! You could get hurt or smurfed out there." Aria frowned, saying, 'But if I don't go, how am I supposed to get answers"? Smurfette frowned too, saying, "But for any smurf, it's too much to conquer. What if you do get hurt"? Aggie then grew determined, saying, "Then, I'll go with her! I have my magic and weapons to help defend ourselves just in case." Papa sighed before saying, "While it's a nice offer. I'm afraid it still would be too risky." Aria grew frustrated as she stormed out of Papa's mushroom and went right into her mushroom, slamming the door incredibly loud. Smurfette grew concerned as she said, "I'll go talk to her," but Brainy stopped her, saying, "No. Let her take some time to smurf down a bit."
Hefty and the smurflings were also concerned for Aria as Snappy said, "Smurfaroo, and I thought I could snap like that." Sassette looked at Hefty and asked, "Will she be alright"? Hefty smiled, saying, "Don't worry, Sassette. She's a tough smurf. She'll be fine...I hope." The rest of the day, Aria didn't come out of her mushroom, not even for dinner, which started to make her friends concerned. Inside, Aria did her best to calm down. However, her determination to find her home and family was making it hard. With a heavy heart, she made a bold choice and started packing her bag up with everything she had/received. She hid her backpack under her bed, her mission dead set. Then, she laid on her bed and went right to sleep, hungry, and all. Aggie came by later, bringing a plate of food for Aria, and as Aria was tempted to wake up and eat, she was persistent as Aggie left the plate on the dresser. As night fell and every smurf was asleep, Aria woke up and quietly jumped out of bed. She grabbed her bag, passed Aggie, who was sleeping on the floor, and took one last look in the mirror before quietly sneaking out.
Aria looked around and tiptoed out of the village without any smurf catching her. She quickly ran through the forest, trying to see where the fabled stone wall was. She soon came across it, and to her, it was enormous. A small hole that seemed to be glowing caught her attention as Aria took a deep breath and prepared to enter. However, a branch snapping caught her attention as she turned and readied a bow and arrow to shoot upon contact. She looked around before smirking, saying, "Hefty, I know that's you." Hefty glumly came out with his pack from behind a rock, saying, "S'up Aria"?
"Brainy."
"How in smurfdom did you do that," Brainy exclaimed while coming from behind another rock.
"Smurfette."
"Hey, Aria," Smurfette said while coming from behind a bush.
"SmurfAggie, you too."
SmurfAggie landed on the ground after hiding on a tree branch, saying with a sheepish grin, "Didn't expect to see you out there."
"I assume Clumsy followed you, Brainy"?
Clumsy fell from another tree branch, saying, "All good."
"The smurflings too"?
The smurflings came riding on Puppy as they all flashed nervous grins.
Aria came up to them, saying, "What are you guys doing out here"? SmurfAggie said as they joined up with her, "I had a feeling you'd do something like this, so, I gathered Smurfette and Brainy up, and we agreed to accompany you. Hefty and the smurflings heard our conversation and wanted to join as well." Aria smiled before saying in concern, "I want to do this by myself." Hefty then spoke up, saying, 'But Aria! The Forbidden Forest, it's dangerous to be in there alone, even with magic, no offense Aggie." Aria then said, "I have to try, at least." Sassette then said, "Well, we're Team Smurf," as Snappy added, "And we stick together no matter what," with Slouchy adding, "Yeah." Aria felt deeply touched as she said, "I can't ask you guys to come with me." Smurfette smiled and said, "We didn't ask," as Clumsy added, "We volunteered," as Brainy finished with, "Besides, when do we ever get to go on an adventure like this? Think of all the research I can smurf up out there"! Seeing them all wanting to help made Aria happy as she said, "I'm glad you guys are coming with me. now, let's go through this hole and prepare for what's out there."The group all looked at the wall one last time before entering the hole one by one, ready for whatever came their way.
Disclaimer for ahead of time- I do not own Smurfs: The Lost Village or The Smurfs in any way or form. Till next time my fellow readers.