Chapter 6: The Black Year, Part 1
"Come Azrael," Gargamel hissed to his cat as they trudged through the Enchanted Woods, " We have searched all week, so chances of us finding some left over smurfs are very much possible by now. And when we do find them we will have our revenge for destroying our home." The evil wizard chuckled.
Oh, I'll fry a few,
And I'll pickle a few,
And I'll serve a few real cold.
Then I'll Toast a few,
And roast a few,
And boil six smurfs for gold.
Gargamel sang with mad look in his eyes.
"Mer-ow." The orange cat purred with a nod.
As they near the boundary of the forest, Gargamel stopped briefly to sniff the air. "Do you smell smoke?" He asked while scratching his head.
"Meower-ow." Azrael shrugged. They move again, and soon they emerge from the Enchanted Forest into a clearing. In an instance, they stop in astonishment at the unexpected sight that greeted them.
"What's this?" The crusty old wizard gasped. He stood dumbfounded in front of what used to be hundreds of mushroom-shaped houses. They are now nothing more then piles of smouldering ash and rubble.
"I don't believe it!" He choked. "Could this be the Smurf Village?" He stepped forward to take a closer look to make sure his eyes were not deceiving him. Once he was convinced this was for real, he started to grin with glee. "Hmm, It would appear that someone, or something already has beaten us in setting fire to the smurf's home. Oh, well. Anyone for some well cooked smurfs?" Gargamel cackled as he smacked his lips together.
"Meow!" Azrael nodded eagerly.
The evil wizard and his furry companion started searching through the ash and burnt lumber, pushing back some of the debris in hopes of finding some charred smurfs to eat. Disappointment hit them when they discovered there are no smurfs to found. With desperation, Gargamel scurried from one ruined mushroom-shaped house to other, picking them apart down to last piece but with no success.
Finally, Gargamel stopped in the middle of what is left of the tiny village. Throwing up his arms, he lets out a frustrated cry.
"Gone! Everything is gone! Not a single smurf left! How is this possible?" The befuddled wizard wailed.
"It is possible because you have failed, as usual." A sly, dark male voice spoke from behind.
Gargamel twirls around to see who it was and does a double take when he saw the figure peering at him from behind a nearby oak tree. "You!" He hiccupped, recognizing the newcomer instantly.
The mysterious figure sniggers nastily. Stepping from behind the tree, he walked toward the old wizard and stopped a few feet in front of hm. The dark creature was lean and about the same height as crotchety old wizard. Over his midnight-black garments, he wore a reddish brown cloak with the hood pulled over his head, which shadowed most of his face. He spook again in a voice, which sent chills up the wizard's back.
"I do not understand. I did you this favour by just handing over a book that certainly never would come to you cheap. It was a gift, and this is how you pay for my generosity? By letting some these pathetic blue insects survive?" The cloaked newcomer growled angrily.
Gargamel gasped. "Survive? Y-You mean there are still some smurfs left? But how? Where are they now? Is there enough to at least make gold? Or maybe even a stew?" The wizard asked nervously, yet with a hint of excitement.
The stranger threw up his gloved hand to forestall Gargamel. "Do not bore me with such ridiculous questions!" He said coldly.
Gargamel, however, kept on talking. "P-Please, I have done what you asked. This is only a set back. I'll find the smurfs that survived and crush them. Just tell me which way they went," Gargamel pleaded, shaking his fist with emphasis.
"Meow!" Azrael nodded in agreement.
"NO!" The stranger bellowed, causing Gargamel and Azrael to jump, "I require no more use from you, or any of the other humans I found with hatred in their hearts! Your days of being my pawn have now come to an end!"
"A-A-A pawn?" Gargamel did not like the sound of that.
The cloaked man raised his bony, hairy hand up to Gargamel's head. His long and sharp black nails appear like tiny daggers, aiming directly at the evil wizard's eyes. Eerie green mist drifted from his claws and seeped right through the dark eyes of Gargamel.
"Time to forget everything I have ever told you about smurfs," the dark man intones, "All the lies I have spoken about being able to turn them into gold, or being able to eat them. Sleep now, and once you awaken you shall rebuild what's left of your life."
As Gargamel toppled onto the ground in a dreamless slumber, the cloaked figure turned his attention toward Azrael. The orange cat quivered at the sight of him especially with those eyes that have a malevolently glint to them.
"The same goes with you too, feline." The stranger growled, pointing his bony finger at him. Green mist drifted toward at Azrael, seeping into his eyes as well. Azrael dropped in a hypnotic slumber beside his master.
Satisfied that the wizard, and his mangy cat were taken care of, the dark figure viewed the burnt village around him. Again, he raised his hand up and swept it sideways. A creepy and mysterious wind blew sharply; causing the charred mushroom homes to blow away into the sky and disappears over the treetops.
"I alone will deal with these surviving blue bugs." The stranger growled before letting out an evil chuckle. Two glowing red eyes appear beneath the dark shadow of his cloaked hood.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
THREE MONTHS LATER…
The first raise of the morning sun crept upward from behind the eastern mountain. A lonely smurf sat in front of the mouth of a cave. He watched as the sun slowly made its appearance. This is what this bookish smurf liked to do every morning ever since their journey away from the Old Smurf Village.
Brainy Smurf removed his glasses from his face in order to rub the lingering tiredness out of his eyes. He put his spectacles back on before looking over at the other smurfs still sleeping on their beds of straw. Over the past few months, Brainy has been able to memorize everyone's routine every morning. He himself is usually the last one to go to sleep, and the first one up to greet the sunrise. The next two smurfs after him to wake up are usually Hefty and Toughette, of course. As Brainy watched, the sunlight crawls up to their faces, the two strong, young smurfs begin to stir. With a stretch and a yawn, Hefty and Toughette got up and walked out of the cave.
"Morning." Brainy greeted them calmly as they passed him by.
"Morning." They both mutter sourly back at him, still not quite fully awake.
The bespectacled smurf watched as Hefty and Toughette prepare to do their customary morning exercises. However, instead of going for a jog, which was their usual morning routine, they start with stretches then onto practicing their combat skills with the wooden staffs.
Brainy has not really watched them spar back home. Now, it has become a part of his morning ritual to watch as they clash their staffs together. It seemed to Brainy that Hefty and Toughette are practicing even harder each day. Quite possibly Hefty and Toughette understood that they were now very vulnerable out in the open. No magic from beneath the destroyed Village could protect them. Because of this, the tough duo has taken it upon them to be the protectors of the small group of smurfs no matter what the cost.
Of course, Brainy worries that they could be overdoing it with their daily practices. Even so, Brainy knew that it was important for Hefty and Toughette to be in top shape, and ever ready for action, just in case they ran into some unknown danger.
As Hefty and Toughette took a short break from their practice to catch their breath, Brainy turned once more to the rest of the slumbering smurfs. The next one to wake up was Brainette. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes before placing her pink-rimmed glasses on her face. Brainy absent-mindedly watched her as she yawned and stretched her arms out at the same time. He made a mental note on how pretty she looked with her hair down first thing in the morning.
Not wanting Brainette to know he was watching her, Brainy turned around to face the field once more. Hefty and Toughette have resumed their sparring practice. Behind him, Brainette, still sat in her bed, and tied her hair up in two pigtails. Afterwards she straightened up her bed and headed over to the now-cold fire pit to start it up. She then began to prepare breakfast for the group.
Hearing Brainette rustles around Brainy looked back into the cave and noticed the smurflings and Puppy are finally starting to wake up. At last, he got up from his rock, and walked slowly over to where the smurflings were.
"Snappy, Nat, let's go get some berries for breakfast." The bespectacled smurf ordered as he picked up a few baskets from their smaller wagon.
Without saying anything, the two smurflings simply nod as they got up to follow Brainy out of the cave.
"While they go get our breakfast, why don't you two go get me some more kindling for this fire?" Brainette said to the remaining smurflings still in their beds.
"Alright." Sassette sighed, still rubbing her eyes.
"Ok." Slouchy agreed with a wide yawn.
As Sassette and Slouchy walk out of the cave, they noticed Hefty and Toughette taking a swipe at each other with their staffs, trying to cause other to trip and stumble. Never have the smurflings seen their self-vowed protectors so focused in their practice. They stop to gaze, half with interest and half with dread, knowing of their own practices later this morning after breakfast.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
AN HOUR LATER…
All ten of the surviving smurfs and Puppy were sitting in a circle just outside of the cave, eating their breakfast of berries and porridge. Puppy ate from his own special dog bowl with food the smurfs have always fed him, which consisted of chopped vegetables and fish. The smurfs usually took this time to discuss and plan the safest path to take on their journey. The older smurfs acknowledge that they have no idea where they are going, or what to do once they get there, but one thing is certain; the place they will eventually reach will be safer then the Old Village.
Brainy, as usual starts up arguing with Hefty and Toughette about which direction to take, Brainette sat quietly to one side, doing a little calculating on her abacus. The smurflings just sit and listen to their elders discussing their destination. How they wish they would stop traveling! It was not natural for even the most athletic smurfs to travel so far and for so long. According to the stories, Grandpa Smurf shared with them, even the long-bearded elder had to stop at one location only after two days of hiking. It still hurts so much just thinking about Grandpa Smurf, knowing that they will never hear his stories anymore. The smurflings continued to eat in silence their while the adults decide if they should go northeast or west over the large mountain up ahead. At the same time, Brainy and Toughette share their porridge with the babies.
Brainette finishes making one last adjustment on her abacus before looking up at her fellow smurfs still arguing heatedly.
"Hold it," she announced, and the other smurfs quickly stopped bickering to look at her intently. Even the smurflings and Puppy look at her, too. "According to my calculations winter will be approaching soon." Brainette continued, "Even if we do make it over the mountain before the first snowfall, we still would not be prepared for the cold weather. I suggest we make this cave as our shelter for this winter."
"I second that notion!" Snappy quickly agreed, waving his hand high above his head.
"I third it!" Sassette cried out next.
"Yeah, us too!" Both Nat and Slouchy crow at once.
Brainy, Toughette, and Hefty look at each other before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine," Hefty said wiping away the plan that he had drawn on the dirt with his hand. "Starting after breakfast I will take Slouchy, Snappy, and Puppy along with one of the wagons out to get firewood. Brainy, you and Brainette are in charge in getting our food supply stocked, and Toughette you can focus on training Sassette and Nat on their self-defence. In an hour, I will switch Snappy and Slouchy for their training, while I take Sassette and Nat hunting for more winter supplies. We can continue this routine till winter begins."
Toughette, Brainy, and Brainette take a moment to think over Hefty's plan.
"Agreed." They all nod simultaneously.
"Aw…" the four young smurflings whine. Although they are relieved to be staying at this cave for a time being, they are definitely not looking forward to all the hard work they will be doing.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
A month and a half pass by, and as predicted the freezing winter storms came. The surviving smurfs had never worked so hard in their own lives to prepare themselves for the next few months of cold weather. They made sure that the wood and food gathered would be more then enough to last. Brainette even created a special gutter to gather fresh water from the fallen snow. For entertainment, the smurfs use a deck of cards that they saved from the Old Village. Brainy and Brainette decide to focus more in studying the spell books they rescued from Papa Smurf, and Mama Smurf's laboratories. The bespectacled duo even collected special herbs for protection spells and medicine just in case any of the other smurfs got sick during this winter storm. They also took this opportunity to brush up on their Latin and to teach it to the smurflings, too. Hefty and Toughette continued the martial arts training with the smurflings as well near the entrance of the cave.
All too soon, Christmas came.
It has not escaped them that this is the very first Christmas without the rest of the smurfs and smurfettes. The surviving smurfs had decide not to let the pain of the loss of their beloved ones dominate their every day lives. Instead, each night they would gather around the fire pit with hot coco, and tell heart-warming stories of the old days as cheerfully as possible. The smurflings treasure these stories most of all, especially when the adults shared their tales according to their earliest memories when they were smurflings themselves.
One evening, as the smurfs sat reminiscing about past Christmases, Puppy stood guard near the entrance of the cave. For some reason he seemed to be somewhat spooked by something from outside. The past few days Puppy would sit for hours and just stare out in the white blanket of falling snow. Every so often, he would let out a growl to whomever or whatever that was lurking outside. This strange behaviour has the other smurfs a little bit mystified, for no matter how hard they looked they could not see what is troubling their beloved pet.
"Puppy, this is the fifth time today you growled at the snow. Is there something out there boy?" Nat Smurfling finally asked. The young smurfling patted there nervous pup reassuringly on the foot.
Puppy turned to the young smurfling and whimpered. He instantly turned his head quickly to stare steadily out of the cave once more. Curious, Nat followed the young dog's gaze. With a gasp, he suddenly took a few steps back. He could not see anything, of course, for it was dark outside. However, he was able to sense something was very wrong.
"What's wrong, Nat?" Toughette asked softly, walking up to the quivering smurfling with a blanket wrapped over her for warmth.
"T-T-There's something out there," Nat stuttered fearfully, pointing out towards the darkness. "I-I-I can feel it!"
The blond smurfette focuses her eyes, trying to see what Nat saw into sheer blackness. She was not able to see anything but a sheet of white, and she only heard the whistling wind blowing through the trees.
Toughette shook her head. "I'm sorry, Nat. I don't see anything," she told him. "Why don't you and Puppy come sit with the rest of us by the fire? We are going to make another pot of hot coco soon." As she herds the young dog and smurfling towards the rest of smurfs gathered around the fire, Toughette took one last glance outside. A mild sense of uneasiness washes over her, causing her to shiver. She tightened the blanket around her body more before following her own advice.
Outside, the howling wind blew even harder, driving the snow onto the ground. Within the dark depths of the surrounding forest two glowing red eyes appeared. A soft eerie chuckle blended nicely with the wind.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Another two months roll by without any unusual occurrences. The restless smurflings decide to go out and play a bit with Puppy in what is left of snow before it all melted away by springtime's warm sun.
Snappy, Slouchy, Sassette, and Nat were quite glad that winter was finally ending. Soon they will not have to go running in the field without getting cold feet from the snow. Puppy was also anxious in seeing the green grass again. The only thing that Puppy and the Smurflings were not looking forward to was the fact that the adult smurfs still planned to continue moving up the long path they had considered taking before winter came. For now, the smurflings will take advantage of their free time to play fetch with Puppy, mostly just to get a little exercise after being cooped up in a cave all winter. Baby and Babette sat near a patch of snow behind them. The two youngest smurfs cooed as they played happily, making snow sculptures with their bare hands.
Brainy and Hefty stood in front of the cave, watching the smurflings, while the smurfettes were inside preparing lunch and at the same time, packing most of their treasures and camping supplies back onto the wagons.
"Looks like the weather is getting warmer. If this keeps up we can start moving out by the end of next week." Brainy rambled, "What do you think, Hefty."
Hefty did not answer. Brainy turned his head and looked at his brother with concern. The strong smurf stared intently at the smurflings as they played. Brainy was able to tell that there was a lot on his mind.
"Uh, Hefty..." The smart smurf waved a hand in front of his face. In an instant Hefty jerked back to reality. He gave an irritated look at Brainy.
"What?" He huffed.
"Did you hear what I said?" Brainy asked.
"No." Hefty growled.
"I said, 'we can start moving out by the end of next week'. How does that sound?"
With an exasperated sigh, Hefty rolled his eyes before replying, "I don't care when we leave, as long as it is soon. This place is starting to give me the creeps."
"Yeah, I know the feeling. It seemed like something was watching us all winter." Brainy nodded. A scream caught both smurfs their attention.
"PUPPY!" The four smurflings shouted in pure horror.
Brainy and Hefty exchanged quick glances. Hefty turned around to the cave entrance and yelled, "Toughette, there's trouble!"
Toughette did not waste any time. She grabbed two bo staffs leaning up against the wall, and tossed one of them to Hefty. The two of them rush grimly over to where the smurflings screamed, ready for a fight. Brainy and Brainette follow behind their strong companions, carrying a few magic pouches they made up during the winter storms.
The smurflings were already scurrying frantically toward their fallen furry friend. The babies cried out at the top of their lungs, fearful of the creature that attacked Puppy.
"What's going on?" Toughette called out as soon as she and Hefty entered the scene.
"He just came out of nowhere and attacked us!" Snappy explained his voice shaky.
"If it weren't for Puppy we would all have been smurf-cakes!" Sassette sobbed.
"Wait! Who attacked you?" Hefty asked, trying to make sense of what the smurflings were saying.
"Him!" All four smurflings point up to a stranger in a reddish brown cloak, half hidden in the woods.
Slowly the stranger lifts his head to expose his glowing red eyes. He makes an eerie chuckle that sends chills up the smurfs' spines.
"Whoa!" Brainy and Brainette gasp as soon as they caught up to Hefty, Toughette, and the smurflings.
"W-Who are you?" Toughette demanded the stranger, trying not to sound frightened at the sight of his glowing red eyes and his eerie laugh.
"Who am I?" The creature repeated the question with a laugh.
He brought his bony hands up to his hood. Slowly he pulled it back to exposes his face, which was very scary to behold. His very thin, bluish-grey skin wraps tightly around his skull. Reddish-brown with bits of grey hair matted at the top of his head and down the sides of his face. It looked like he had not combed his hair in centuries. His red eyes, which once glowed brightly under the hood, now dimmed to a dull reddish hue. He grinned broadly, revealing sharp, yellowish fang teeth.
"I am the last thing you loathing creatures will ever see. I am Asmoday!"
"Creepy caterpillars, who is this guy!" Sassette quivered.
"Loathing? What did we ever do to you that made you hate us so much?" Brainy asked sharply. He and the other three adult smurfs hastily gathered the smurflings, and pushed them back away from the creature and toward where the babies were.
"Nothing really. You just exist." Asmoday said coldly.
Brainette turned to face the demonic creature. "I-I don't understand. You are a demon…I can see that. As far as any of us know, we have no quarrel with you," she spoke, forcing herself to look steadily and bravely at him. "If I know my demonology, you cannot do anything to us unless someone conjures you, or if anyone has done something to have you want to get involved. Now just because we exist, as you put it, is not enough to have you to want to destroy us." The intellectual smurfette pointed out.
Asmoday sniggered nastily. "You're right. It is not the reason of you just existing. It is because a pathetic human created you, centuries ago. It is unnatural for mortals to play God and create living creatures, and that really makes me angry!" The demon hissed. He pointed his boney figure down at the smurfs, and declared, "After I deal with the likes of you it is just a matter of finding the nest where you worms originate from, and destroy that too!"
At that statement, the smurfs blinked in astonishment and confusion, especially the bespectacled smurfs.
"W-What?" Brainy was beside himself. What did the demon mean by that?
"Is it possible? You little blue insects have no clue of what your history is?" Asmoday grinned with amusement at the expression on their faces.
Brainy tried to cover up his confusion. "Of course we do. Papa Smurf told us all the time!" He lied. How he wished his elder were here right now.
"Oh really, he never told me." Hefty said glairing at his brother.
"Or me either." Snappy added, frowning.
"Yeah," the rest of the smurflings whined.
"Brainy, I don't think even Mama Smurf or Papa Smurf knew of our proper origin." Brainette honestly admitted, shaking her head regretfully. Brainy trembled, looking as though he was on verge of collapsing.
Just then, Toughette stepped forth.
"We may not know of our history, but this demon will soon be history for hurting our Puppy!" Toughette growled angrily, raising her staff up. The golden blond smurfette looked over to see if Puppy. Relieved that he was indeed still breathing, but at the same time, she was worried that his injuries looked very serious indeed.
Hefty nodded grimly. "I'm with you, Toughette." He said, preparing himself for battle along with his girlfriend.
"Aw, how sweet." The demon chuckled sarcastically as the tough smurfs advance bravely toward him, wielding their staffs. "Just think, I hadn't created that fateful storm smurfs and smurfettes would never have been reunited."
The smurfs gasped loudly. Both Hefty and Toughette stopped, looking flabbergasted at him. "What are you talking about?" Hefty said in a state of shock.
"Oh, I suppose I could bring you up to date of what brings us here today. You know, before I officially make you all extinct." Asmoday mockingly placed his finger on his chin.
The smurfs stood silent, unsure how to react to any of this.
Asmoday began reciting as though he was reading a storybook to a little child. "Thousands of years ago a mysterious storm took the original smurfette and baby smurfette away from the original smurf and baby smurf. You can blame me for that." Asmoday proudly admitted. "I recreated that very storm that swept one of you smurfs to the Smurfette Village. And as for the volcano that destroyed the Smurfette Village," he chuckled, "guess you can blame that on me too."
"Why you-" Toughette hissed through clenched teeth. She stepped forward, ready to fight their attacker.
"Hold it! Let's hear what else he has to say." Hefty said, stopping her with one hand.
"Yes, my little fiery-tempered blond one. You will die soon enough, at any rate," The demon smirked with confidence.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but why did you go to all that trouble to separate the smurfs and smurfettes only to reunite them thousands of years later?" Brainy asked.
"Good question." Brainette nodded approvingly to Brainy. She in fact was about to ask that very same question, Brainy just happened to beat her to it.
"I admit it; I just like toying with you lower life forms," the demon remarked carelessly, "That is why I made my game more interesting during the past twenty years when I confronted many humans that drowned themselves with hatred and greed. I believe you all know them Gargamel, Hogatha, Balthazar, Chlorhydris, and Gloria. All pawns of my greatest evil," he paused to gauge the smurfs' reaction. They merely look at him and do not say anything, so he continues. "However, thanks to the Sceptre of Faith, Gloria re-found her true nature and stopped trying to destroy the smurfettes. I confronted all of them; told them great lies of fortune and fame if they were to hunt and capture all you." The skinny, hairy demon seems to glow with pride as he openly admitted to his crime.
Brainette had been thinking hard. She glanced up at the demon with a puzzled look on her face. "You mean the lie that six smurfs would make gold, and six smurfettes would make diamonds?"
"Now you're catching on." He applauded the young bespectacled smurfette. "Although, some of the humans I found, like Chlorhydris for example, just hated anything to do with love. Once I told her that you blue bugs were nothing but loveable creatures, she made her life's goal to do what she could to destroy that love in all of you. That in itself amused me."
"So, let me get this straight," Hefty started to recall everything he just heard.
"You are the reason why Gargamel and all the other crazy humans have been trying to track us down?"
"Precisely." The demon nodded proudly.
Sassette started shaking her head as she absorbed all of the information. "Because of you, Pappy Gargamel got all of our friends sick, and now they are gone!" Sassette burst out tearfully.
"Why little one, I am the one that gave that foolish human Guland's book of Plagues and Diseases," The demon let out an evil laugh, "You ever thought for an instant a person like him could ever afford such a generous gift?"
"It's because of you that we lost our home, and our fellow smurfs!" Hefty growled angrily.
"That is correct. Now you will join them!" Asmoday said as his eyes glowed redder by every second.
"NOT SMURFING LIKELY!" Hefty screamed as he swung his staff at the skinny demon.
Asmoday quicker then Hefty anticipated. With one fluid motion, the demon grabbed the staff before the smurf struck him. While Hefty was still clinging to the other end of the staff, the demon flung the strong smurf back to the other smurfs, knocking Brainy down with him.
"Are you two alright?" Nat Smurfling asked anxiously as he and Slouchy helped Hefty and Brainy to their feet.
"I'll be fine…I think," Brainy said, rubbing his aching head.
"Good, because I want you and Brainette to stay here with the smurflings!" Hefty barked, grabbing his staff and preparing himself to fight the demon once again.
"But-" The scholarly smurf tried to argue.
"Hefty's right, no matter what, stay with the smurflings. In any sign of trouble, take them and run as far away as you can." Toughette said, taking her place next to Hefty's side.
"Get him good, Hefty and Toughette!" Sassette cheered. So saying, she began to throw her fists into the air, as if trying to punch someone.
Brainy felt as if his heart had just jumped up into his throat. Hefty was his only surviving brother from the village. The two of them may have had their differences, but they could still tolerate each other to a certain extent. He knew that this demon was strong. Heck, from what Papa Smurf has ever told him about demons that they are bad news.
"Be careful," The bespectacled smurf whispered to his strong brother and a friend.
Hefty looked right into Brainy's eyes. He did not say anything, just stood there, and what appeared as if he was studying the features on Brainy's face. Brainy just happened to notice a hint of fear in Hefty's eyes as well.
"Just stay with the smurflings, Brainy." The strong smurf warned before running in the direction of the demon.
"I don't like this, Toughette." Brainette told her blond sister.
"You heard Hefty. Stay with the smurflings!" The tough smurfette barked gruffly before joining her boyfriend into battle.
Babette and Baby Smurf once again howl in tears. Brainette and Brainy Smurf pick up the frightened infants and cuddle them as they themselves worry about their fellow brave smurfs fight.
Hefty and Toughette rush up to Asmoday. Toughette went for her fake-out move. She made it look as if she would swing the staff up towards the demon's head, but instead she did a leap spin kick to his knee. Even though Asmoday was about the same height as Gargamel, the kick still caused him to lose balance long enough for Hefty to step in to slam his staff hard onto the demon's back.
The smurflings cheer wildly to see the evil monster fall down to his knees. Brainy and Brainette both smile, but they still worried for the outcome of this fight.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Asmoday shows his disapproval through the glowing redness of his eyes. He clinched his yellowish fang teeth together, and let out a blood-chilling growl.
Hefty and Toughette are not surprised that the demon was getting back up, nor do they flinch from their fighting stance. They prepared themselves for any unexpected moves Asmoday might make.
The unexpected was exactly what they got. Asmoday threw up his arms and swung them down, creating a gust of wind outward from his body. The breeze was so strong it knocked Hefty and Toughette right off their feet. Asmoday then struck out, snake-like, at the closes smurf. Hefty attempted to dodge the large bony hand, but he was not fast enough. The demon backhanded him so hard that the tough smurf went flying a two feet before bouncing on the ground once then rolling over twice.
"Hefty!" The four smurflings cry out in terror. Brainy and Brainette look at each other in dismay. They felt lost. A part of them wanted to help their strong brother and sister, but at the same time, they knew their job was to stay with the smurflings.
Toughette gasped when she saw Hefty lying motionless, out of commission. She glared at Asmoday with an angry growl. She would not stand aside while an evil deity harmed her beloved ones.
Twirling her staff over her head, Toughette again prepared her next attack. She lunged forward, bringing the staff down hard on Asmoday's arm before he could cause another gust of wind that would push her back again.
Asmoday felt the stinging pain, but recovered quickly. He plunged his good fist into the ground, creating an invisible force that knocked Toughette back. Asmoday took this opportunity to backhand Toughette in the face. He hit her with such force that it sent her flying into a tree, knocking her out cold.
The demon cackled triumphantly and prepared to give the final blow to finish the smurfette off.
"NO! I cannot do this! I can't just stand here idly and watch that demon destroy our friends!" Brainette cried out, practically throwing Babette into Brainy's arms and leaving him to hold both babies as she rushed out toward the gloating monster.
"Brainette!" Brainy tried to stop her, but it is all in vain. Having his hands full, he could not grab hold of her to prevent her from heading right into the danger.
"Incolumitas tutela contego!" Brainette shouted, jumping in between the motionless Toughette and the laughing Asmoday. Quickly, while still chanting the magical words, Brainette pulled out a small, wooden object from her pink skirt pocket. Opening it, she took out the emblem shaped as a "T" from Mama Smurf's lab. At once, an invisible shield springs up and surrounds her, and her fallen sister, protecting them both from the demon's attacks.
At first Asmoday froze, stunned that the smurfs would carry such magic. He soon after grew a smirk on his face, realizing that their attempts were utterly futile. For the more, he attacked. The more he struck, the weaker the spell would become. He grinned once more, and renewed his attacks.
"Augeo tutela contego!" Brainette again blurted out, realizing her invisible shield was starting to fail at an alarming rate.
As the demon predicted, the protective shield failed. This now left both smurfettes vulnerable to him. With a nasty chuckle, Asmoday created a powerful gust of wind, knocking Brainette back and knocking her against the same tree Toughette had crashed into, leaving her unconscious.
Meanwhile, Hefty regained consciousness. Taking one look at what was happening to Toughette and Brainette; he quickly got up with his staff in his hand, and started to run furiously toward the demon. Before Asmoday could strike down on the smurfettes, ending their lives in a merciless way, Hefty jabbed his staff down with all his strength onto the evil demon's foot.
Asmoday crowed in agony. He was shocked that such a small creature managed to cause him so much pain. The demon grew angry…VERY angry. He was getting tired of 'playing around' with these blue insects.
"Enough of this!" He growled, eyes glowing pure red.
The boney demon raised his hand high above his head. With one swipe, he used his sharp black claws to slice through Hefty's staff. The force of the hit happened so fast and hard that it caused the strong smurf to fall back on his tail. Hefty quickly jumped back up, but before he could regain his balance Asmoday clasped both of his hands - quick as lightning - around his little blue body.
Never had Hefty felt such intense pressure on him. He could hear his bones being crushed slowly as breathing becomes harder and harder to do. In utter desperation, Hefty lets out a yelp of pain.
"Brainy! We have to do something. This demon is going to smurf them!" Snappy cried desperately, pointing at the horror in front of him.
"You're right," Brainy said grimly. He would want to lose another brother to this monster. With a strong sense of what he must do, he turned to the four smurflings.
"You smurflings stay here with the babies." The scholarly smurf told them quietly, handing Babette and Baby Smurf to Nat and Slouchy.
"But Hefty said…" Slouchy started to say, looking frightened.
"Slouchy, please! For once just listen to me!" Brainy ordered. Before the smurflings could say another word, Brainy turned away and ran bravely up to rescue Hefty. He reached into his pouch he had tied around his waist, and pours some sparkling sand onto the palm of his hand.
"Adflicto affligo prodigium!" Brainy hollered as he threw the powdery substance at the demon.
The spell took effect almost instantly - causing the demon to be temporarily blind.
Asmoday roared in agony, dropping Hefty from his grasp in order to rub the sand out of his tearing eyes. Hefty landed with a hard thud and a grunt. Gasping, He struggled to regain his breathe as Brainy rushed up anxiously to him to see if he was ok.
With flashing glowing red eyes, Asmoday recovered from Brainy's spell. Growling menacingly, he took a step forward, towering over the two smurfs. Brainy looked up and reacted in pure reflex.
"Noceo pello pepuli pulsum!" Brainy's voice nearly cracked as he again cried out yet another spell, tossing more sandy powder at the demon. To his surprise, the spell worked. Asmoday vanished in a puff of smoke and was gone. Brainy gawked shortly at the empty spot where the demon had stood. Shaking his head, Brainy then took this opportunity to kneel down next to Hefty.
"Are you ok?" The bespectacled smurf asked tentatively.
Hefty looked up to see his young brother. "Brainy?" He coughed, blinking and still barely being able to breath. Suddenly, he spun his head around frantically. "W-Where are the smurflings?"
"They're safe, trust me." Brainy assured him. "The demon is gone, but I have a feeling he may be back. We need to get the smurfettes and get out of here."
Hefty hesitated, then nodded. "Ok."
Hefty allowed Brainy to help him from the ground. They scarcely took two steps when the creepy cackle echoed in the meadow once more.
"You think you insects can be rid of me that easily?" Asmoday's voice thundered.
At that moment, Brainette and Toughette start to regain consciousness. Hearing his voice, they sat up and frantically look up and around as did Hefty and Brainy when the demon's voice boomed over their heads. Where is he? They wonder apprehensively.
Meanwhile, the smurflings and the babies huddled together, frightened as what this fearsome creature might do next. Without warning, Asmoday reappeared just behind them. The adult smurfs noticed him right away, and their expression on their faces turned to a look of horror. The fierce creature of the underworld smirked at the older smurfs before disappearing again, taking the smurflings with him.
"NOooo!" The smurfs cried out in desperation. They scrambled over to the spot where the smurflings used to be. It is too late. Sassette, Nat, Slouchy, Snappy, and the babies were gone.
Latin words:
adflicto affligo : to injure, weaken, discourage, damage, break.
augeo : to increase, strengthen
contego : to cover, shield, protect, defend.
incolumitas : safety
noceo : do harm, inflict injury.
pello pepuli pulsum : to hit, beat / exile, drive away, banish
prodigium : monster, unnatural thing.
tutela : protection, guard.