Chapter 5: Our Home, No More
It has been a full day since coming back from Gargamel's. The surviving smurfs were still finding it hard to accept all of this to be real. They decided to camp across from the smurfs that still sat by the rock inside of the energy shield.
The smurflings huddled together by the fire pit, and napped while Brainette warmed up the soup. Brainy sat in silence under a tree, lost in his thoughts. Toughette cuddled with Hefty as they sat opposite from Handy and Nursette. Not knowing what else to do, the strong smurfs watched as their friends slowly die.
Nursette had passed away sometime just after dawn. Toughette had not stopped crying since. Handy Smurf kept his arm around his beloved mate. He was very sad to lose her, but he was too weak from being so sick that he could not cry.
Hefty hated to feel this helpless as. He wished there was something else the he could have done. If only there was a way to turn back time, and prevent Gargamel from creating the spell. He would even sacrifice himself if everyone in the Village could live again.
"Hefty…" Handy finally said weakly, looking up at his best friend.
"Yeah, old buddy?" Hefty responded, trying to give him a brave face.
"For all it's worth…I'm glad we got to be best friends…"
Hefty tried to think of what to say back, but nothing seemed to want to come out.
"I don't have any regrets, even when you told me about you and Toughette burning down Gargamel's house." Handy attempted to smile, but he is too weak to hold it.
Slowly Hefty lost his brave face as his tears began to fall. Still he was unable to say anything to Handy at this time.
"Do me a favor pal…?" The carpenter smurf softly asked.
"What?" Hefty sniffled back some of the tears.
"Don't give up on life. And don't forget about us. We will all live as long as you stay alive to remember."
"Handy…?" For the first time Hefty was afraid. He can sense Handy is nearing the end.
"Just promise me…" Handy whimpered.
For a moment, Hefty chocked on his words, "I-I promise…" he finally said.
Hefty turned to his left where Brainy was sitting and saw fresh tears falling down his cheeks before bringing his attention down to Toughette, whom was also in tears once more. The strong smurf looked over his shoulder to see Brainette, and the smurflings. The four young smurflings had awoken from their nap and was standing by Brainette. They all watched in horror knowing what was about to happen. Slowly Hefty turned back to Handy.
"We all promise…" He said tearfully.
"Thank you…" Handy sighed before bowing his head forward.
Sadly, the smurfs could do nothing as they watch Handy take his last breathe.
"Handy…?" Hefty gasped. Slowly he released Toughette to get up, and jumped at the magical shield.
"Handy…?" He repeated himself. "NO! HANDY!" The strong smurf wailed historically as he kicked, and punched at the shield until he fell back. He covered his face with his hands as he sobbed.
Toughette, being the closest to him, took Hefty into her arms and held him as tight as she could. Even Brainy crawled over to wrap his arms around the strong smurf. The smurflings also rush up with tears streaming down their faces to support the others. Brainette allowed a few tears to escape, but tried to stay strong, nonetheless. Her mind wondered on how long the shield would remain standing. The spell could not stay up forever, could it? Brainette was sure it would end soon, and when it does, what would the future hold for her and the other smurfs.
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The ten surviving smurfs stayed camped by the shield for the next few days. They did not do much of anything. Mostly quietly sat as depression took over all emotions, even Babette and Baby Smurf kept quiet. Everything around them seemed to remind them of the days when the Smurf Village was alive.
It hurt them to think that never again will they hear Papa Smurf, Mama Smurf, and even Nana and Grandpa Smurf's words of experience and wisdom. They will not get to hear Jokey's insane laughter, and practical jokes of exploding presents anymore. Never again, will they smell, or taste any of Greedy and Gingerette's cooking. They will never get to see anymore of Painter and Craftette's artistic creations. The soft beautiful singing of Melody is absent, as well as Harmony's off key attempts to make music with his trumpet. Even Poet Smurf's magnificent poems, and Ballette's graceful dancing - never be performed again.
Hefty and Toughette walk back from gathering more kindling for the campfire. One their way, the strong smurfs pass Farmer and Cowgirl's vegetable garden. The ach in their hearts starts stinging once more. How they missed Farmer and Cowgirl, and the way would work together to grow the finest veggies the smurfs and smurfettes ever seen and tasted. Seeing the Vegetable Garden also reminds them of Floraette's exotic flower garden. Thinking about flowers reminded of Smurfette and her innocent appeal towards life. Hefty and Toughette also realize how much they would even miss how Valvette and Vanity bragged on how they thought that they were the most beautiful pair of the entire Village.
As the strong smurfs walk up to the campsite, they notice Brainy sitting against a tree near the tent. He was hugging his legs up to his chest and resting his head on his knees as he cried. Obviously, he was still very much upset over seeing their fellow smurfs dying right in front of them.
Hefty and Toughette drop the kindling by the burning campfire before passing Brainette as she stirred a pot of soup.
Brainette face shows barely any emotion, it was as if she had simply shut down. Hefty could not help but to admire her strength with all that was happening, but at the same time he worried about her health. Even he has to let out his grief once and a while, or he will feel like blowing up inside. Toughette also showed her concern over her sister's sudden behavior. She tried to talk to Brainette, kind of how Mama Smurf would talk to her about her temper, but the tough smurfette failed every time she tried to get through to her. Both she and Hefty share a look of concern to each other before they moved forward to the smurflings and Puppy at the other end of the camp.
"How are you smurflings doing?" Hefty asked in a soft tone.
"I wish I could say we are doing ok." Nat Smurfling honestly replied.
"We understand. All of us are finding it hard to believe that this is real." Toughette acknowledged as she sat down in between Nat and Snappy. She wrapped her arms around them and pulled them close to her for comfort.
"What will happen to us now?" Sassette asked Hefty as he sat in between her and Slouchy Smurfling.
"Well, we will follow Handy's wishes and keep going. No matter how much it hurts us." He answered, putting his arms around Sassette and Slouchy, pulling them close to his warm chest.
"Do you think we will stay living here?" Snappy Smurfling piped up.
"I don't know, Snappy. I don't know." Toughette responded with a blank expression.
Brainette peered over to where Brainy sat. He was holding his glasses with one hand while rubbing his tired puffy eyes with the other. Her neutral face softens before she turned over to the strong smurfs cuddling the smurflings and leaning against Puppy's warm furry body. She brings her attention down to the sleeping babies beside her. Brainette's mind wondered back to the day they left the Village.
It had started out being a trip to study some rock minerals growing high up in the mountains, ended up mourning due to the disaster that befell the village.
Brainette sighed, and turned to her tough sister.
"Toughette…" She called out in a soft but firm tone. Toughette raised her head up to the smart smurfette.
"I could use your help in handing out bowls of soup to everyone. I am going to take this one to Brainy." The smart smurfette announced as she poured some of the soup in a bowl.
"Alright." Toughette nodded before getting up to start filling each bowl with even portions of soup.
Brainette walked over to Brainy. She stops just a few feet from him.
"Brainy?" She spoke in a low semi-timid voice.
Slowly the smart smurf put his glasses back on his face to look up at her. He saw the bowl of steaming soup in her hands then turned away.
"I-I made soup…" Brainette said, unsure of what to stay to him. Brainy let out a heavy sigh than rested his head on his crossed arms over his knees. He does not even try to look back up to her.
"Come on Brainy. You need to eat something."
"I'm not hungry." He responded in a flat tone.
"But you need to keep up your strength. Believe it or not, the others are going to be depending on your leadership as well as mine to get through this difficult time." She explained, hoping that would bring him out of this funk. She held the bowl out to him.
Brainy shot her a look. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something. How he would love to tell her to drop the strong emotionless act. He could tell that all of this was eating her up inside. If only she would let out her grief. She had to be missing her sisters as much as he was missing his brothers, especially Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf. Brainy let out another sigh, knowing that it was pointless telling her anything. She was as stubborn as he was. He simply turned away from her again to stare blankly over to the dead silence of was once a lively Smurf Village.
"Um, ok…I-I-I'll just leave this here and you can eat it at your leisure then." Brainette said, finally taking the hint that he did not want to talk to her. She placed the bowl of soup right beside Brainy, and then walked back to the campfire.
Brainette stopped to take a few deep breaths in order to control herself from crying. The smart smurfette bit down hard on her lower lip to create pain as a distraction over her grief. How she wished she could hear Gosipette's babbling about anything, even if half of the words she spoke didn't make much sense. The thought of hearing her voice would be a comfort right now.
Gradually, Brainette looked over her shoulder. She let out a soft sigh of relief as Brainy had picked up the bowl of soup and started sipping from it. With a small smile, she continued to head back to the campfire. Brainette poured herself the last bit of soup for herself, and sat across from the other smurfs.
Brainy did not realize how hungry he really was until he tried to take another gulp of soup, but got nothing. He looked down at the empty bowl in his hand with a frown.
As he set the bowl down beside him, a strange noise caught his attention. Brainy turned to the energy shield. At first, nothing happened. It behaved as it did when the smurfs returned home. Brainy started to turn away when the shield flickered as well as made a static sound. Realizing something was not right with this; he got up and ran to the camp.
"Smurfs! Smurfs!" He shouted to the others. Each of them looked up with a stunned expression to see Brainy moving and talking again.
"What is it, Brainy?" Hefty asked.
"It's the shield… Something is happening to it…" Brainy struggled to get out in between breaths.
All the smurfs got up and follow Brainy back to the tree where he sat. They watch in horror, as the invisible shield became weaker by the second. Suddenly without warning the static flicker of the shield stopped, the smurfs were quiet. Finally, Brainette took a step forward. Wryly she lifted her hand to touch the invisible shield only to find out that it is no longer there.
"The shield… It's gone…" She gasped, taking a couple of steps back.
The others also stepped back. They had not forgotten that the Village could still be infected with the deadly plague.
"Vanishing toad-warts, so are Handy, Nursette, and Clumsy!" Sassette pointed at the rock where they last lied.
"W-W-What's going on here?" Toughette nervously took a few more steps back.
"I wonder if this is part of the spell Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf cast." Brainette pondered.
"You mean, once the shield disappears, so does every smurf that was trapped inside it?" Brainy assumed.
"Precisely." Brainette nods in agreement.
"S-Should we go in? You know, to see if there are any survivors?" Hefty asked with caution.
"Not without the necessary precautions." The smart smurfette told him.
"Brainette has a point. The deadly virus could still be lurking. We will put on the gloves we used when we studied the rock minerals. Plus I think we should use some kind of cloth to cover our nose and mouths so we are not breathing in the virus - just in case." Brainy suggested.
"What about us?" Slouchy Smurfling asked, addressing him and the rest of the smurflings.
"Stay here and watch the babies." Brainy ordered.
"But," Snappy began to protest.
"Brainy's right," Hefty said, cutting the young smurfling off. "You four will be safer if you stay in the camp. And besides, someone has to stay to watch over the babies."
"What will you do if you there are any survivors?" Nat Smurfling asked.
"Don't know…" Toughette answered him, as she put on her gloves. "Guess it will depend on the condition they are in if we do find any smurfs or smurfettes left."
After Brainy, Brainette, Hefty and Toughette put their gloves on, and they have covered their nose and mouths with a clean cloth, the four of them bravely entered the dead Village.
It all seems so wrong to be walking through the Smurf Village without seeing all the other smurfs and smurfettes there. The four surviving smurfs got as far as the water well in the center of the Village before they realize that no one else was around.
"They are all gone. Every single smurf and smurfette are gone…just us only survive." Toughette finally said in disbelief.
"Yeah… All that remain now are the memories." Hefty blinked back some of his tears.
"I don't like to say this, but I just don't feel safe living here anymore." Brainette commented.
"I hate to agree smurfs, but she does have a point." Brainy nearly choked on his words when saying that.
"You two think the virus still may be floating around?" Toughette felt uneasy with her surroundings as well. Like the smart smurfs, she too could not look around and call this place home anymore.
"That is a possibility." Brainette responded with a nod.
"S-So what do we do?" Hefty shrugged.
The smart smurfs were both silent for a moment as they thought of a solution. Finally, Brainy Smurf took a deep breath.
"I say we gather as much memorabilia of every smurf and smurfette in the Village. The larger wagon beside the windmill is what we can use to carry them. We can also use the smaller wagon we used when we went camping too. Brainette and I will find and use a spell from Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf's books that will sterilize the items from ever being carriers of the virus. And after…" He paused, unsure if he could finish his sentence. His heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces.
"After…we should burn down the entire Village. We don't want any other species in the area to become infected with this contagious plague, and wiped out thanks to Gargamel's spell." Brainy finished saying in an emotional tone.
Again, there is a pause. All four surviving smurfs looked to each other as they thought about what Brainy said.
"Ok. Let's get started." Hefty finally said.
It was obvious that this had to be the toughest thing Hefty, Toughette, Brainy, and Brainette had to do in their young lives. Neither of them believed that only five years ago the smurfettes moved into the Smurf Village. Everyone was just getting comfortable with the new arrangements, and now it all been swept away. They went into each house and took out at least one item that meant so much to the smurf or smurfette that owned it. For some it was easy. Vanity had one favorite mirror, Valvette had a few favorite dresses, Ballette loved to wear her ballet slippers, and Poet had his favorite writing feather along with a few of his best poems.
Hefty and Brainy could not decide which of Handy's tools and inventions should come, so they picked a few that held the best memory they had of him. Of course, they held back on taking Handy's larger inventions due to the fact they would be too heavy for them to carry. Toughette and Brainette had a similar problem in choosing the best paintings and carvings Craftette and Painter Smurf did.
Brainette placed a few of Craftette's best sculptures and wicker baskets carefully into the smaller wagon. She was startled when five similar shaped rocks were dumped into the wagon beside the wicker baskets.
"Ah Brainy? Those are rocks." She said, pointing out the obvious.
"Yeah, so?" Brainy responded flatly.
"Well rocks are not considered a treasure that a smurf or smurfette could possibly have meaning for."
"They were Clumsy's rocks, ok!" Brainy snapped angrily at her.
"These are five of his most favorite ones from his collection. This white one is the one Klutzette gave him as a gift two years ago. I may have been a bookworm like you, but at least I paid a little more attention to my fellow smurfs then you did with your fellow smurfettes!" He finished before storming away.
Brainette was stunned. He had never talked to her like that before.
"This isn't easy for me either, you know!" She finally shouted back to him. Brainy said nothing as he continued to walk away.
While the others continued to grab more memorabilia from the other houses, Brainette went into Tattlerette's home. The fiery redheaded smurfette had paper scattered all over the place. If Tattlerette were here, Brainette would certainly talk to her about fire safety and proper organization. The smart smurfette let out a sigh knowing that would never happen. She was gone. Smurfed away like the others. Brainette walked up to Tattlerette's desk. On the desk sat the latest 'Daily Report' written by Tattlerette. Curiously, Brainette leaned over the flyer and began to read it:
Tattlerette's Daily Report
June 12, 1503
Dear surviving readers,
I am sad to say that this will be my last report. On May 29, 1503, four of our brothers and sisters, along with our precious smurflings, set out on a journey to the mountains. It was on May 30, 1503 that it started. Tracker Smurf came back, bringing a very sick Wild Smurf with him from one of his hikes. According to my recourses, Gargamel was the one that created this virus and gave it to poor innocent Wild. Not long after, Tracker, and the rest of the smurfs and smurfettes started becoming sick too. The situation got more serious when the victims of the plague started to smurf. The first that had smurfed were Wild and Tracker.
Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf worked day and night to find a cure, but sadly, they could not find one. It was soon afterwards that Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf had announced that the Smurf Village was doomed. They told us that in order to protect the rest of the forest from becoming ill, they would create a magical energy shield to keep the sick in and the healthy out. As soon as the virus smurfed us all, the energy shield, as well as the entire residents of the village will disappear with it. This will ensure the protection of the species, and our surviving smurf brethrens.
This morning word got around that Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf both smurfed. There was not a dry eye in the village for those that still remained. The spell they used to create a powerful energy shield had drained them. Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf both knew the consequences of what would happen after conjuring that great spell, but also they knew it was the only solution.
Not long ago I heard a trumpet being played. By the sound of it, the player tried to sound in tune, but a few notes were indeed off key. As the music played, you can feel the emotion of sadness and grief in it. Harmony Smurf played for every smurf and smurfette in the Village to attempt to keep up spirits, or it could have been that Melody has lost her battle to the virus. What the reason why he played it, it was a comfort to hear some activity in the quietness of our Village. I admit that Harmony has certainly improved over the years since Melody and the rest of us smurfettes moved to the Smurf Village. It is a shame that our lives here could not be longer.
The Village now is once again silent. I sit at my desk while my beloved Grouchy lies asleep on my bed. As many of you might know, Grouchy and I have had an odd relationship. How he always seem to love annoying me with his 'I hate this' and his 'I hate that' phrases. Yet, I have always enjoyed his company. Even if at times, he would hardly say anything at all to me.
Just before coming down to write this report we spoke. We reminisced on the time I felt I had to cover one of the most dangerous stories. Grouchy, for some reason felt I should not go alone to Hogatha's castle to report her plans in taking over the witch's council. It turned out that it was a good thing that he came along with me; otherwise, I may not have been able to survive to write that story in my Daily Report.
Moments after talking about that day, Grouchy started looking weaker. He motioned for me to come closer. I took a wild guess, and said that he was going to tell me that he 'hates being sick'. He smiled. It was a weak and tired smile, but seeing him like that warmed me up inside. It was not often that I got to see him smile. Grouchy shook his head as to tell me that that was not what he wanted to say. Again, he motioned for me to come closer. I leaned close enough so he could whisper in my ear 'I love you'.
Those words will stick with me always. Soon after that, he fell asleep. I knew his end was near, as the same goes with me. That is why I felt it important to write this report.
My dear surviving readers please stay safe. Smurfs would not fully smurf as long as we are never forgotten. Our spirits will always be with you.
Love,
Tattlerette.
Brainette was surprised when a teardrop landed on her hand. Before she realized what was happening, she collapses on the floor with uncontrollable sobs. The smart smurfette never cried so hard in her life. For some reason one of Tattlerette's Daily Reports had actually pushed her over her emotional limit.
The date on the report made her realize that her sister wrote it two days before they arrived home. How weak and tired Tattlerette must have felt, and yet, she still wrote a lot down. Thanks to her, Brainette now has a better understanding what happened while she and the others were away. However, it still did not make her feel any better about it.
Brainette automatically started hugging herself in hopes it would get herself under control, but no such luck. It turned she only cried even louder. She could only imagine if Brainy saw her now, how he would love to say 'I told you so'. The most upsetting thing was, she knew he was right in not letting her grieving out.
Meanwhile outside, Toughette just put some more personal items that once belonged to some of her fellow smurfettes in the smaller wagon when she heard crying coming from Tattlerette's house.
"Brainette?" She whispered.
The tough smurfette walked in a quickened pace up to the redheaded smurfette's home. The door is already half way open. Toughette gently pushed the door open more before walking in. She saw Brainette rocking herself back and forth down on the floor. She was crying so hard that it sounds like she is having problems breathing.
Toughette knew that Brainette was bound to break down eventually. Apart of her seemed relieved that she was now beginning her grieving. Toughette, quietly kneeled down beside her and wrapped her arms around her.
"It's ok, Brainette. Let it out. Let it all out." Toughette spoke softly into the smart smurfette in the ear.
It would be a good ten minutes before Brainette finally calmed down and she and Toughette got up from the floor. Without saying a word to each other, Brainette grabbed Tattlerette's last Daily Report before the two of them left the house.
Toughette and Hefty Smurf finished packing the two wagons. They brought Puppy down from the camp in order to prepare him in his special collar to pull the larger wagon, while the two of them planned to pull the smaller one.
It was not long until Brainy and Brainette joined them. The two smart smurfs each carried five books, except Brainette, who carried six.
"I thought you two were finding a spell to cleanse and protect our memorabilia?" Hefty asked, placing his fits firmly on his hips.
"We did, but we also realized that we didn't get anything to remember Mama Smurf and Papa Smurf with." Brainy explained. He placed the books in what little space the smaller wagon had left. "I managed to grab a few of Papa Smurfs memoirs and favorite spell books."
"And I got a few of Mama Smurf's best herb and spell books. One thing that I have noticed is that you didn't want to save any of your Quotation books, Brainy. I hope you don't mind that I went and grabbed this one." Brainette said, holding up one of the Quotations of Brainy Smurf books.
"It is one of my favorites of the series you have written." She added, giving the book a little hug.
Brainy gave her an odd look. 'Is she trying to make me feel better by trying to flatter those stupid books?' He thought. He finally shook his head at her.
"Whatever. Let's just get this spell over with so we can finally leave this place." The smart smurf replied coldly.
Brainette carefully put the book in the wagon with the other treasures. She turned to Brainy, and uncovered a beaker that conjured up in Papa Smurf's lab.
Brainette places her hands over Brainy's before beginning the incantation.
"*Abstergo plaga tutis." Brainy and Brainette chant at once.
The liquid inside the beaker turned to vapor. It surrounded every item on top of the two wagons. The wagons, and everything on them, glow for a few seconds before looking normal once more.
After bringing the wagons outside of the village, the smurfs turned to their former home with a frown. They each lit up a torch and start burning all the houses, including the windmill, and Dreamy's ship. It was very difficult for them to do this, but deep inside they knew it had to be done in order to protect the other species of the forest.
Once everything has been set on fire they come back to rejoin the smurflings. Finally, Hefty, Toughette, Brainy, and Brainette can now take off their cloth masks and gloves. They watch the entire Village being engulf in flames. Each one of them shed a few tears, especially the smurflings.
"Well, there goes the second place we called home." Toughette sighed as she leaned up against Hefty for support.
"Come on. We should get going if we want to get as far from here as we can before dark." Brainy announced.
Puppy struggled a bit with his extra load, but he managed to keep up with the other smurfs. Hefty and Toughette pulled the smaller wagon along side with Puppy. Sassette and Nat both carry the babies on their backs; while Slouchy and Snappy carry both their backpacks and Sassette and Nat's.
Brainette stopped after walking half a mile to look back. She pulled out a small pouch she attached to her belt and poured a powdery substance onto the palm of her hand.
"*Abdo…" She whispered before blowing on the powder. The powder floated up and over the wagons tracks and footprints, they were all creating along the dirt trail. Almost instantly, the tracks disappeared. Brainette turned to catch up to the others.
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* Latin words used for the spells…
abdo : remove / hide, conceal.
abstergo : to wipe off, clean away.
plaga : plague
tutis : protected, safe, secure.