"Where in the smurf's name could that lass be?" Gutsy growled, his eyes scanning the forest as he marched forward with the Smurfs following behind him at a slower pace.
Each of them were sharing their enthusiasm for meeting a new Smurfette, excluding Brainy and Grouchy, of course.
"Can you believe it? Who'dve thought there'd be another Smurfette around here," Handy exclaimed.
"Golly, won't Smurfette be happy about this? And Sassette, too!" Clumsy regarded. The other Smurfs nodded in agreement. Well, he, Handy and Vanity were. Gutsy had his intense focus on the path ahead, Grouchy was being grouchy and Brainy…well, Brainy still had his doubts.
"However," Brainy stated irritably. "As I've said before, there is logically a one in a billionth chance that-"
"Smurf up, Brainy!" Everyone, save for Clumsy, yelled. Even Gutsy yelled, for nearly no Smurf in the village could ignore Brainy's voice no matter how hard they tried. That's how annoying it can get at times.
"I seriously hate this Smurfette," Grouchy spoke for the first time about the Smurfette, huffing and crossing his arms. That statement was not unusual coming from Grouchy, but it was still a bit of a shock.
All the Smurfs turned to him with perplexed expressions.
"How can you possibly hate her?" Handy asked. "You haven't even smurfed her yet!"
"If she's enough to have Gutsy drag us all out here, I don't have to smurf her to hate her."
"Ye know, lads?" Gutsy started, shaking his head in annoyance. "I didn't exactly ask ye all to come wit' me."
Gutsy suddenly stopped, which caused all the other Smurfs to stop as well.
"Now what?" Grouchy grumbled.
Gutsy narrowed his eyes at the object he saw ahead. It was leaning against a tree with no owner over it in sight. It was the basket the Smurfette had. The one she used to collect all the Smurfberries she was picking.
"Aye, lads! That's 'er basket!" Gutsy cried before charging toward the basket. The others wasted no time in following their brother.
"Ugh! Finally!" Vanity huffed at Grouchy. "I was getting tired of looking for that Smurfette!"
"I hate that Smurfette!" Grouchy complained as if nosmurf heard him the first time.
As Gutsy reached for the basket, rope constricted around his ankle and forcibly lifted him into the air. His eyes widened and he yelped as he swung and dangled from the well hidden trap.
"Gutsy!" The Smurfs cried as they watched their friend and brother swing from the trap wildly.
As Gutsy swung to one side, something else snagged around his ankle. Gutsy looked up, thinking he was stuck on a tree branch or something, but was surprised at what he saw.
A delicate, feminine blue hand had a shockingly strong grip on his ankle. The Smurfette had a fist on her hip and a smirk on her face.
"It's about time you caught up," she said.
She cast a glance at the other four blue creatures, who looked shocked and horrified at her.
"And I see you've brought some friends."
"That I did," Gutsy growled now infuriated at the Smurfette. "Now let me go!"
The Smurfette's smirk grew as she replied, "With pleasure."
With that, the Smurfette pulled down on Gutsy's ankle and released her grip, sending him upwards with an alarming amount of force.
One would think that a Smurf would be completely terrified of that. In fact, any Smurf would, but not Gutsy.
He roared and hollered in excitement as he felt the vine leave his ankle. He quickly caught onto the branch of a nearby tree and hopped down to the lower branches to the ground, then ran to rejoin his fellow Smurfs.
The Smurfette raised her eyebrows at his companions as if she were asking 'Is he normally like this?'
"He sure likes the extremes, doesn't he?" she asked leaning back against the tree next to her.
The other Smurfs didn't know how to respond or what to think of her. After what happened to Gutsy, Vanity was hiding behind his mirror, Brainy and Handy had ghastly expressions, Clumsy had a shy smile with arms behind his back, and Grouchy still had his signature scowl. He did, however, had a sliver of fear gleaming in his eyes.
"Dat was great!" Gutsy cheered now trotting to the side of the Smurfette. "Let's do it again!"
"Glad to hear you had fun," she chuckled and turned to the others. "Are they alright?"
Gutsy frowned at her and turned to his friends.
"Hey!" Gutsy shouted clapping his hands. "Scardey Smurfs! Quit stadin' around an' come over 'ere!"
Smurfs? What are Smurfs? The Smurfette thought as she racked her brain for an answer. For a reason, the word sounded familiar to her, but she just couldn't place it.
The Smurfs shook out of their daze and slowly made their way to Gutsy and the mysterious Smurfette. Only from then, they were unsure of what to do from there. So, Gutsy felt it was up to him to start things off.
He turned to the Smurfette with a proud stature and stuck out his hand.
"The name's Gutsy. Gutsy Smurf at yer service, lassie," he greeted with a confident smile.
The Smurfette hesitated for only a second before she held her hand out for him to grab. His grin broadened as he shook her hand heartily.
Surprisingly, Vanity was the next Smurf to make the first impression.
"Darling, no offense, but you look absosmurfly atrocious."
It was never said he was going to make it a good one, at least.
"Well, with being thrown into a forest you're not familiar and no idea how you got there, I guess I didn't have the smurfing time to get myself dolled up," the Smurfette spat sarcastically.
This got a look of surprise from all of the Smurfs. Never had they heard a Smurfette speak like that. Then again, Smurfette and Sassette were the only Smurfettes they ever knew or met.
Gutsy rolled his eyes and said to her, "De numptie there es Vanity. Don't mind'em. He's always been a Smurfa Donna."
This caused the Smurfette to giggle. She also noted that this "Gutsy Smurf" was one that was worth trusting. She could tell they would be good friends.
"That's Vanity the numptie and beautician extraordinaire to you, Gutsy," Vanity scoffed admiring his reflection as he did a horrible impersonation of his Scottish brother. "But Smurfa Donna…I'm rather smurfy with that."
Clumsy saw that the Smurfette, however, wasn't dangerous at all. Sarcastic and just a bit short-tempered, but she seemed nice if you did whatever it was Gutsy was doing.
He went to introduce himself when he felt something grab onto his arm and yank him back.
"Clumsy, Clumsy, Clumsy," Brainy lectured shaking his head. "Papa always says we should never smurf to strangers. Especially stray Smurfettes."
Brainy said that last part with great distaste while throwing a suspicious glare at said Smurfette. She responded with crossing her arms and throwing an even more ferocious glare back at him. So much more that he flinched a little.
"Golly, Brainy," Clumsy said innocently. "She doesn't look so bad to me. 'Sides, when we smurf her, she won't be a stranger anymore."
"He's smurfed you there, brainiac," Grouchy smirked.
"Fine!" Brainy growled now hardening his glare at the Smurfette. "What's your name, then?"
Brainy crossed his arms and waited impatiently as the others turned to her, eager to hear the name of the new Smurfette.
"Uh, well…" the Smurfette began as she thought about what to do.
"Well, we're waiting," Brainy said irritably. This earned him a punch in the shoulder, compliments of Grouchy. Even he had to admit that was rude of Brainy to be like that.
"Will you smurf some manners, Brainy!" Handy hissed. He turned to the Smurfette and said in a kinder tone, "Go on."
Looking around, she saw that most of them had a much more friendly expectancy towards her. So, she figured she could trust them enough to give them the truth.
"I-I don't know. I can't remember much of anything," she said nervously.
The others gasped at her response and looked at each other, not knowing what to do about that situation.
"Humph. I smurf that very hard to believe," Brainy scoffed rolling his eyes.
The Smurfette frowned and growled, "Look brainiac, all I know is that I somehow woke up in this forest, got hungry, went to pick some berries, and that's when I met the Blue Kilt Wonder over here!" She ended jabbing a thumb at Gutsy.
Grouchy snickered and repeated, "Blue Kilt Wonder. That's a good one."
"Well, it looks like you're in need of a temporary name then, huh?" Handy said. The Smurfette only shrugged her shoulders.
"I still think she's a stray Smurfette," Brainy grumbled inaudibly.
"How 'bout Swifty? You were pretty fast when I found ye," Gutsy laughed reminiscing the chase he gave her not too long ago.
She shook her head, obviously not liking the name.
"How 'bout Clever?" Clumsy inquired.
"How is she clever?" Brainy shouted angrily.
"Alright, one more thing from you and I'm smurfing the blue out of that hot-aired head of yours!"
The Smurf's eyes widened at the Smurfette's outburst. It wasn't exactly unexpected for it to happen, it was just not expected for it to come from her.
Handy and Clumsy were just shocked since she looked pretty nice just a moment ago.
Gutsy and Grouchy were surprised, but had smirks on their faces that said, "At least we're not the only ones."
Vanity's expression was hard to read, but he must've been terrified since he held his mirror in front of his face for protection. Brainy shrunk behind Vanity in an attempt to hide himself from the Smurfette's wrath.
The Smurfette's expression held anger before it turned to confusion as she turned to Clumsy and asked, "What made you think of Clever?"
"Well, uh, it was mighty clever of you to make that there trap," he said pointing at the Smurfette's booby trap.
She couldn't help but feel proud at the comment. Alright, Clumsy was definitely another one here that would be a good friend.
"Humph! Any Smurf could do that," Brainy scoffed from behind Vanity. Crafty shot him a murderous look and he shrunk further back.
For the first time, Crafty noticed what here trick had done to Gutsy's forehead. There was a large, open scrape and a big, blue bruise was beginning to form.
She whistled in surprise and said, "Wow. Sorry about…well…uh," she pointed to her forehead.
Gutsy knew what she was talking about and laughed heartily as he replied, "It's no problem, lassie. I've gotten a lot worse on me noggin den dat. I've gotta admit it, though, dat was some pretty crafty thinkin' ye did."
Gutsy suddenly put a hand to his chin and thought. "Hey. How 'bout Crafty, eh?"
That name actually intrigued the Smurfette. It complimented pretty much everything about her. She loved to invent new things, and she was a quick and sly thinker. It was perfect for her.
"I like that. I think that name'll do."
The Smurfs, excluding Brainy and Grouchy, cheered.
"See, Brainy? She's not a stranger anymore!" Clumsy chirped happily.
"Hmph! We'll see what Papa Smurf has to say about this," Brainy grumbled stomping in the direction of the village.
Crafty gave them a serious look and said, "What makes you think that I'm going back with you?"
The Smurfs turned to the Smurfette in shock. Was she being serious?
"Well, do you have anywhere to go? Do you have anywhere to go?" Handy asked.
"The answer to both is I don't know. I just came here to get my basket," Crafty replied slinging her basket onto her shoulder.
"But you're injured!" Brainy protested. "And Papa Smurf always says that-"
"Okay, I thought you wanted nothing to do with me!"
"True but…"
Crafty just tuned him out for the rest of his speech, if there ever was an end. She could see that the others were doing the same.
What will smurf this Smurf up?
Crafty poked Gutsy's arm to get his attention. He looked at her and she motioned for him to come closer. He stepped forward and she whispered, "How do you smurf him up?"
Gutsy chuckled and grinned with a gleam in his eye that said, "Thought you'd never ask."
He put up a finger in a "watch and learn" fashion. He then turned and eyed Brainy as the lecturing Smurf turned his back to him. Then he went and kicked Brainy straight into the air with a painful yelp.
Crafty whistled in admiration, "Good to know. Well, I should get going."
"Are you sure? You don't need a place to smurf for the night?" Handy persisted.
"I'm fine. Really…" Crafty wanted to finish, but didn't know the Smurf's name.
"Handy. Handy Smurf," he introduced holding out a hand.
"Handy," Crafty repeated shaking his hand.
She went to turn and walk away when she felt a hand firmly but gently came down on her shoulder. Gutsy gave her a pleading look and she sighed.
"Look. I'll be fine. If it makes you feel any better, I'll come find you as soon as anything bad happens. Smurf's Honor."
As she went on her way, the other Smurfs hesitated in letting her go like that, but they weren't just going to take her back by force. That would just be wrong.
They turned to go back to gather their berries and head back to the village before it got completely dark.
Clumsy, being in the back of the group, heard a dull thump from behind him no more than a minute later.
"Crafty?" He asked looking over his shoulder. She was nowhere in sight. He decided to check on her, just so he knows she's alright.
Grouchy noticed that his brother had stopped and went back the other way since he was closest to Clumsy. He only rolled his eyes but decided to follow.
"CRAFTY!"
Grouchy jumped at Clumsy's cry and rushed to see what had happened.
"That was not funny, Gutsy!" Brainy lectured adjusting his glasses from when he hit the ground.
Vanity and Handy snickered from behind Gutsy and he only shrugged and stated, "What can I say? De lassie wanted a demonstration."
Their snickers became howling laughter as Brainy glared at all of them. "And where are Grouchy and Clumsy?"
"What're you smurfing about? They're right…behind us," Handy ended, but looking behind them to see none of them were there.
"Guys! Smurf your butts over here! NOW!" Grouchy screeched on the top of his lungs.
Not even bothering to wonder why Grouchy had yelled like that, the remaining Smurfs ran to the source of his scream. They were surprised to find that, when they came to the edge of a slightly steep hill, there were Grouchy and Clumsy next to an unconscious Crafty.
They slid down the hill and circled the injured Smurfette.
"What in Smurf's name happened?" Gutsy yelled.
"I dunno! I just smurfed a noise and found her like this!" Clumsy stuttered obviously terrified.
"Then what the smurf are we waiting for?" Grouchy relieved the Smurfette of her basket and slung it over his shoulder.
Gutsy, being the strongest Smurf there, scooped Crafty into his arms.
"C'mon, lads! Let's get smurfin'!"
They ran and ran as fast as their legs could be forced to.
"Clumsy! Brainy!" Handy called to the two Smurfs ahead of them. "Smurf to the village and get Papa and Doctor! We'll catch up!"
"PAPA SMURF! PAPA SMURF!"
The Smurfs that weren't inside their mushrooms stared startled and curiously at their brothers as they rushed through the village. Some even had looks of concern.
"Papa Sm-Whoops!" Clumsy yelped as he crashed into a Smurf. He turned sheepish as to whom he crashed into.
"Oh! Hehe…Hi, Papa…"
Papa Smurf stood and replied, "Hello, Clumsy."
Under normal circumstances, Papa Smurf would've only been a bit irritated at Clumsy's clumsiness. But the look on his young Smurf's face told him he had a reason to be rushing.
"Is something the matter? What happened?"
Brainy interrupted their conversation by running through and pounding on Doctor Smurf's door, "Doctor! Doctor!"
The door opened and Doctor poked his head out. He sighed as he asked, "What is it this time, Brainy?"
"Injured *pant* Smurfette *pant* in the forest!"
Doctor's eyes widened and he grabbed his medical kit as he inquired, "Where?"
Brainy pointed to the forest and said, "There! The other Smurfs are smurfing her here as we speak!"
Doctor nodded, "I'll get a bed ready."
Doctor rushed into the infirmary inside his mushroom to prepare for his newest patient.
"Is that what you needed to tell me, Clumsy?" Papa asked staring wide-eyed at Clumsy.
Clumsy said nothing but nodded rapidly.
Twigs snapping in the bushes nearby could be heard clear from the three Smurfs as Gutsy, Grouchy, Vanity, and Handy rushed through the village. They were all a blur to the Smurfs that saw them running to Doctor's mushroom.
"There! There she is, Papa!" Clumsy cried.
"Here! In here!" Doctor ordered as he stepped aside to avoid the stampeding of Smurfs.
"Set her in that bed there," Doctor pointed to the bed closest to a window.
Gutsy gently set Crafty on the bed. Doctor then shooed everyone back as he began his examination.
He 'mhmm'ed as he checked various things such as her heart rate, broken bones, wounds, etc and wrote them down on his clipboard. The tension never faded as the Smurfs watched Doctor do his work.
Papa felt tugging on his arm and he looked down to see Sassette with the other Smurflings gathering around.
"What's going on, Pappy?" She asked innocently.
"It's nothing to be concerned about, my dear. You and the others smurf back to your mushroom," Papa gently ordered.
"What's smurfing on in there?" Snappy asked as he tried to poke his head through the crowd.
Papa shushed them as he motioned for them to be quiet and come forward. He knew they already knew too much to be told no. They would find out one way or another, so he decided to do it in the one way that would disturb the Smurfette the least.
The Smurflings stepped through and froze as they saw the Smurfette lying in a bed. They looked at Papa in disbelief and he only nodded.
"Is that…a real Smurfette?" Slouchy asked.
"Or is it Gargamel's?" Nat finished. "I know we didn't smurf her up."
"I don't know, my little Smurflings," Papa answered. "What I do know is that she's hurt and needs our help."
Brainy huffed and muttered, "She's a stray Smurfette, you know? She's nothing but trouble."
This, again, rewarded Brainy with a hit from Grouchy. Brainy should've been quieter with his comments.
"Tell me, Smurfs," Doctor finally spoke. "Was she like this when you found her?"
"Aye. She was," Gutsy answered, seeing as he was the first to find her.
"I see. So, she didn't have any further injuries after she fell?"
"Uh…no. Gosh, she didn't," Clumsy said.
"Well, then. Besides her current wounds, she is only suffering from mild exhaustion."
"Uh…Doctor?"
"Yes, Clumsy?"
"She smurfed that she couldn't remember things. Not even her own name!"
"Great Smurfs!" Papa gasped. "Well, it's a good thing you smurfed her when you did."
"Gosh, but don't worry, Papa Smurf! We gave her a name! It's Crafty!"
"Again, how is she crafty?" Brainy asked aloud.
Again, there was a smack on Brainy's head as Grouchy smirked and replied, "Just look at Gutsy's forehead. That has to be enough proof for you, Brainiac!"
Papa looked at Gutsy and gasped, "Gutsy! What happened to you?"
Gutsy shrugged and playfully remarked, "That Smurfette and a tree branch, dat's what. Went and knocked me out good and cold. She's a crafty one, ain't she?"
The Smurflings giggled and Sassette asked, "Pappy? Can I help? Can I?"
"Me too!" Snappy said.
"Us too!" Slouchy and Nat said.
"Actually," Doctor began. "I do need some help with tending to her wounds. How about you four get some water and some rags so we can get started?"
The Smurflings ran out of the infirmary to do as they were told.
"Papa, I'm sorry to ask this, but I'm out of the Smurfroot ointment I need to put on her wounds," Doctor trailed off.
"It's no trouble, Doctor. I'll smurf up some more," Papa walked back to his mushroom to make the medicine.
"Right, now we'll just need a set of clean clothes. Brainy, Clumsy? Why don't you two see if you can get Smurfette to lend a nightgown?"
The two Smurfs nodded and ran for the pink mushroom of Smurfette.
"Vanity, why don't you go get Tailor so he can smurf up her clothes?"
Vanity sighed dramatically, "Fine! If I have to!"
Vanity then strutted off in the direction of Tailor's mushroom.
"Handy? I think a new mushroom is in order."
"I'm already finished," Handy held up a blueprint of a large mushroom. He figured since she loved to invent, much like himself, that she'd like a workspace in her mushroom.
"Yeah, but something smurfs me she's not gonna like the color pink, if you catch my smurf," Grouchy grumbled. Frankly, any of the Smurfs that had met her know that simple fact.
Handy scoffed, "I know that!"
He then ran off to his mushroom for some furniture assembly.
"Gutsy? Grouchy? Could you get some Smurfberries so we can make some paste for her injuries?"
"No problem. We already got'em," Gutsy said patting the leafy basket on Grouchy's back.
"Oh! Well…good. Let's get started."