Chapter 10: To Taking Back, Part 2
Return to present day
Hefty and Toughette sat with a stunned look on their faces. They held a piece of carrot close to their mouths for about two minutes. They had listened avidly to Brainy telling the tale of the smurfs' search for the Beetle Gem. Never in their wildest dreams would Hefty and Toughette ever imagine their smart siblings overcoming such odds on their own.
To make sure Brainy told the truth, the strong siblings turned to Brainette and looked questioningly at her. Brainette smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, that is how it happened," She reassured them.
"Wow," Hefty gasped.
"It sure does sound like you two have been on quite the adventure while we were, um, sleeping." Toughette mused. She took a bite of the piece of a carrot and chewed for a while before swallowing. "One thing's for sure is that scorpion you ran into defiantly sounds like something I would not have liked to meet!"
"Yeah," Hefty nodded in agreement.
He too bit down on the carrot in his hand and leaned back against the soft comfortable cushions of the couch. In fact, the arm of the couch was so soft it may be use it as a pillow. His eyelids grew heavy as he blinked a few times.
After he let out a big yawn that seems to have suddenly snuck up on him, Hefty again turns to Brainy and Brainette. "So what happened after that, Brainy?" He asked, quickly recovering from the yawn.
"Are you sure you two want to hear the rest tonight? You both look very tired right now." Brainy inquired, raising one eyebrow at his younger strong brother.
"Tired? I'm not tired!" Hefty fibbed, shaking his head negatively at the very idea.
"Me neither. We want to know what happened next!" Toughette demanded.
Brainy and Brainette glance at each other with the look of uncertainty.
Brainette took in a deep breath. "Alright... On our way back from Egypt we ran into another human that was related to a former enemy of the smurfettes…"
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Flashback
1689 – Northern Romania
None of the other smurfs was more relieved to be out of Egypt than Sassette was. Sassette smiled at her three best friends, Slouchy, Snappy, and Nat. They all came to her rescue when the scorpion attacked her in the desert, and she was grateful for them.
The six smurfs stopped walking when they heard a mob of angry humans ahead in a small village
"Kill the witch!" A man shouted.
"What's that?" Slouchy asked, surprised.
"I don't know, but it sounds like something we should avoid," Brainy said uneasily, trying to lead his group away from the source of noise.
"No, wait. I want to see what's going on." Brainette declared before she ran off to investigate.
"Brainette, hold on!" Brainy cried out in dismay. He reached his arm out to try to stop her, or at least slow her down before she would get into trouble.
However, the rest of the smurfs decided to follow Brainette. To Brainy's annoyance, they scurry over to the edge of the road. The stopped, and stood side by side with Brainette as they peered through a bush to see what was going on.
What they saw was a huge crowd of angry people gathering in one place in the midst of a village - men, women and children. They seemed to be jostling one another while throwing rotten fruits and rocks at a young woman who is cowering on the road with the people surrounding her. Brainette eyed the girl carefully. There seems to be something familiar about her. She almost looks like someone she once knew a long time ago.
"She's a witch!" One of the villagers cried out spitefully.
"She must be burned at the stake!" Another one hollered out from the crowd. Many of the other villagers cheered at that idea.
"Wait! Stop! I didn't do anything wrong! Why are you doing this?" The young woman pleaded desperately. The mob paid no attention to her pleas or her innocent tears.
"This is horrible! They are going to kill her!" Brainette shouted anxiously. "We have to do something! That and they are using the wrong phrase. It is called Wiccan, not Witch!" She added angrily as she stomped her foot to the ground.
Brainy had caught up and joined his fellow smurfs. "What can we do? There is a whole village of insane humans up against one girl, and we are only six smurfs, three apples high," he explained logically.
"Yeah, how on earth will we ever stand a chance in rescuing her?" Slouchy nodded, agreeing with Brainy.
Brainette shook her head. Without saying a word, she kneeled down. She swung her backpack from her behind over to the front. She then pulled out of the bag her ruby half of the Beetle Gem.
"Brainette, no!" Brainy cried in a panicky tone, "We don't understand the power of that Gem yet. There can be so much that could go wrong if we try using it now!"
"Relax, I'm not that insane." Brainette groaned, rolling her eyes at him.
The intelligent smurfette reached back into her backpack and pulled out one of Mama Smurf's old spell books. She carefully but quickly turned the pages until she came to the section she was looking for. Next, she pulled out the wooden 'T'-shaped object she had used when Asmoday first attacked the smurfs. She quickly studies the words in the book before turning towards the mob that has just tied the poor girl to a stake.
"Appello ventosus tutamen tutaminis insons insontis lamia!" Brainette chanted, holding the wooden 'T' high above her head.
Immediately a gust of wind blew directly down at the village, and through the angry mob. The startled men and women all look around frantically. They seem to know that this was not a normal wind. Witchcraft has to play a part in this.
It isn't long before the spell starts to drain the energy from Brainette, leaving her feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Her arm that is holding up the wooden emblem begins to waver and she is about to lower it.
A blue hand suddenly grabbed hold of Brainette's. Surprised, she glanced over to see Brainy standing right next to her. He gives her a wry look that said 'I'm helping you, but doesn't mean I have to like this idea'. She smiled at him with a nod. Brainy raised the wooden 'T' back high above Brainette's head. Over the years, these two have found out they were much stronger when they cast spells together. Glancing down at the next phrase of the spell in the book, he prepares to speak with his beloved mate.
"Animus tutamen tutaminis insons insontis lamia! Autus conforto ventosus! Labores solis exsilium contemno!" The two smart smurfs chanted in unison.
With that said, a dark shadow unexpectedly covered the sun. Feeling panicky now, most of the crowd begun to flee the scene in terror. It was not long before all of the villagers were gone, having decided to find a safe haven somewhere else. In their haste, they left the girl completely alone, still tied to the stake.
The young girl knew that magic was involved in creating this sudden blackness and the strange wind, but who would be powerful enough to create such things? Movement on the ground caught the young girl's attention, and she looked down. Six little blue creatures walked up to her. Surprised, she gave them a puzzled look. Something about those tiny people tickled her brain.
"I may be mistaken, but you are smurfs, are you not?" The young girl finally asked.
"Yes we are," Sassette replies, looking curiously at her, "How did you know?" While she was speaking, Nat, Slouchy, and Snappy quickly climb up the stake to set the girl free. She leapt down from the stake with a big sigh of relief.
"Well, let's just say my family is familiar with the stories, especially with the Smurfette Village." The young girl said with a grin as she dusts herself and crouched low enough to get a better look at the smurfs.
"Really...?" Brainette said, raising an eyebrow suspiciously, "Your family wouldn't be familiar with Gloria O'Conner would they?"
The young girl let out a little chuckle. "To put it simply, Gloria just happens to be my Great-Great-Great Grandmother."
"That is why you seem so familiar to me." Brainette exclaimed, snapping her fingers in recognition. "You look just like Gloria, only younger."
Suddenly Snappy appeared at the side of the older smurfette, "Uh, I hate to break up this odd reunion, but the humans are returning," Snappy announced, jerking his thumb toward the village behind them. A glow from burning torches was visible, as well as murmurs of the angry mob, advancing toward them. "I suggest we get out of here while we can!"
"I agree," Brainy said, nodding his head emphatically.
"You better come with us, child," Brainette told the girl kindly, "It is no longer safe for you to stay here by yourself."
The girl nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Ok, follow me, please. We'll go to my cottage - It is just a couple of miles from here." The young girl said. With that, she trotted off into the forest with the smurfs following her.
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"Um, nice little place you have here." Snappy said in the utmost literal sense.
The cottage was indeed tiny. In fact, it seemed more like a small shed than a cottage – small even to the smurfs by their standards. There was barely enough room to put a little table with a plate and cup with a fork on top. In the corner sat a pile of hay with a blanket lying on top of it. Obvious that would be where the girl slept. In this small space, even the smurfs are starting to feel claustrophobic just standing in the middle of this place.
"I know it's small, smurfs, but it is my home," The girl replied. There was a hint of hurt in the tone of the young girl's voice. She walked over to her straw bed and sat cross-legged on it with a sad expression that she could not seem to hide.
Brainette caught the girl's tone and stepped up to her. The intelligent smurfette placed a friendly hand on her bare foot that poked out from under her ragged long grey dress. "Where are your parents, child?"
"They're…not here." She whispered before she turned away from the brunette smurfette.
"Where are they?" Slouchy asked, shrugging his shoulders to indicate he did not have a clue.
"They died four years ago. I was only twelve when it happened," The girl answered tearfully.
Each of the smurfs look to each other with the same thought in mind. They knew how this girl felt in losing her family. The pain of losing the Old Smurf Village and most of their beloved ones still stung sharply in their hearts.
The smurfette pushed her pink-rimmed glasses up against her face before looking up again at the girl. "What is your name, child?"
"It's Melanie." The young girl replied softly.
Again, the smurfs looked at each other. It was as if their thoughts were melding into one. Once more, Brainette looked up at Melanie.
"Melanie, we don't feel you are safe to live here anymore."
"But this is my home. Where else am I going to go?" Melanie asked with fresh tears in her eyes.
"You can come with us," Sassette said in a friendly tone.
"Well, we will have to discuss it with Joseph first," Brainy spoke up, "But I'm sure he would be more than willing to welcome you to our home."
Melanie blinked, unsure if this was for real. "I-I wouldn't be imposing, would I?" She asked worriedly.
"Of course not," Sassette chirped cheerfully, "Trust us; we know what it is like to lose a family. We would be honored if you come with us."
"If we are going to leave, I suggest we do it now before the villagers discover this place and make things worse for us!" Brainy said in a worried tone.
Melanie finally made up her mind. "Ok, but let me grab something first." The girl got up and grabbed an object from the corner of the room. The smurfs saw her pick up something wrapped in a blanket. It was a stick-like object with something bulging at the end of it.
"What is that?" Snappy asked curiously.
Melanie looked a little shy and clutched the object tightly close to her chest.
"It's a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation right back to my Great-Great-Great Grandmother. I can't just leave it behind." So saying, she followed the smurfs across the meadow, leaving her old shed forever.
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After hearing her woeful story, Joseph accepted the young Wiccan into his family right away. A year later, Joseph and his family started a school for young Wiccans and Wizards in a section of the castle. Melanie instantly became one of Joseph's top students.
When Joseph asked Brainy and Brainette to some classes, neither of them could not resist. As the two smart smurfs taught classes to human students during the day, and at night, they studied the Beetle Gem in order to control its magic.
Weeks turned into months, which turned into years. Melanie eventually married a Wizard student from her class. Together, they raised two daughters, and three sons.
Generations after generations roll onwards. It saddens the smurfs to see their human families grow old faster than they did. Soon their dear friends would pass away with age, but not before wishing the smurfs success with their mission in getting their fellow smurfs and babies back.
Melanie kept her own mother's word and passed down the heirloom that her mom gave her and her mother before her down to her own oldest daughter. She would also give her the same speech her mom gave her. Always know that you can use this sacred object when the moment calls for it.
All those years, Brainy and Brainette are still teaching a class or two in their spare time at Joseph's school with his grandchildren who are now mature adults. Eventually, Brainy and Brainette started to show their age with little gray in her hair and in his beard.
Slouchy, Snappy, and Nat no longer have the 'shaven clean' look anymore. Snappy has a dirty-blond color mustache and beard, Nat is growing a chestnut brown one while Slouchy sports an amber-colored beard with no mustache.
After the classes, and at times with the occasional help from their friends, the bespectacled older smurfs would continue learning how to control the Gem, degree by degree. Every time they manage to control just one aspect of the Gem, the better they got. It was slow going, but each time they mastered one or two aspects there would be a celebration throughout the whole castle.
This went on for many more years, until 1848…
"Do you feel that, Brainy?" Brainette asked her mate eagerly one afternoon while she was standing beside him, holding half of the Gem locked together with his.
"Yes I can," Brainy affirmed with a nod.
They both felt, for the first time, the harmonious vibration that had connected deep within their body and soul. The magic of the Beatle Gems had finally accepted them as its masters, and was integrating with their energy. This was a great victory for the older smurfs.
"It only took us a hundred and fifty-nine years, but I think we have finally and fully mastered these Gems." Brainy said in an excited tone.
"Let's go tell the others before we go rescue Hefty, Toughette and the babies from Asmoday." Brainette happily nodded.
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The two older smurfs were standing at the cave they never thought they would see again after so many years. Old fears creep up inside them, practically paralyzing them as they try to get their bearings straight. They had been waiting this moment for 343 years.
Having cold feet was not an option. The baby smurfs, and their brother and sister were depending on them. Brainy and Brainette were glad they left the four younger smurfs back home - this was a task only the older smurfs could even hope to accomplish.
It took them a moment to realize that the cave seemed quiet. Brainy and Brainette looked at each other before deciding to enter the cave together. The two older smurfs noticed the familiar torches burning on each wall, causing each shadow in the cave to dance.
Deep within, they found the throne room. On each side of Asmoday's throne stood Hefty and Toughette in their crystallized prison.
Off in the corner the two babies are lying on the ground facing the throne, frozen within the crystal that formed around them. Quickly Brainy and Brainette glanced in all directions around the cave. To their relief, there is no sign of Asmoday. Now, the challenge is to whom should they set free first - Hefty and Toughette, or the babies?
"I think we should free the babies first." Brainette finally suggested.
"Any particular reason why?" Brainy, curiously asked.
"Just call it a hunch," Brainette replied. "If something goes wrong, and we have to cut the rescue short, at least the babies would be out of the clutches of this evil demon. That is how Hefty and Toughette would want it anyway." Brainette added in a sober tone.
Brainy said nothing, but nodded reluctantly in agreement. Both he and his mate walked over to Babette and Baby Smurf.
The youngsters curled up in a fetal position within their glassy prison. Each of the older smurf pulled out their half of the Beetle Gem. They pause, looking down thoughtfully at the baby smurfs once more.
"You ready?" Brainette asked after a moment, holding her Ruby half of the beetle close to his Sapphire half.
"Sure," He answered her, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.
Brainette tried to sound as confident. "Then let's do this."
With a deep breath, the two intelligent smurfs began a special spell they have spent the last 159 years studying.
"Babette and Baby Smurf," Brainette started in a chant, holding out her right hand to the babies, and holding the Beetle Gem with her left hand.
"The youngest smurfs of the Old Village," Brainy added while raising his left hand up to the sleeping smurflings in the crystals and holding the Beetle with his right.
"We release the curse that has trapped you, so awake now!" They chorus at once.
The two-part, dual-colored beetle reunited as one and began to glow brightly; the eyes of the smurfs holding it glow as well… A strong wind mysteriously blew inside the cave, causing the crystals surrounding the babies to melt away.
As more of the crystal melted away Baby and Babette started to stir, showing signs of life. With a whimper, the smurflings flail their limbs around. Brainette and Brainy took this opportunity to put the shove the Gems into their backpacks before rushing over to the babies. With one scoop, the tiny smurflings were safe in their arms.
At last both babies open their eyes. Curiously, they look at the elderly smurfs. Their eyes widen, and their bodies stiffen almost instantly with shock. Apparently, the babies had not recognized these older smurfs. At once Babette and Baby Smurf both start screaming in terror, overcame by all the strangeness around them.
Both the older smurfs start rocking the babies in an attempt to reassure them.
"Shh, it's ok little ones; it's us, Brainy and Brainette." Brainette cooed in Babette's ear.
"If I remember correctly this memory loss should be only temporary." Brainy stated, thinking back to what Asmoday said when he freed the smurflings.
"CHEATERS," Boomed a loud scary voice. "YOU BETRAYED OUR BARGAIN!"
Startled, the older smurfs jumped. Asmoday stepped out of the shadows unexpectedly, and advanced rapidly toward them.
"Brainy! We have to get the babies out of here!" Brainette cried out in a panic.
"B-b-but what about Hefty and Toughette?" He shouted at her, obviously distressed. After all his fear of facing the evil demon again, Brainy was very reluctant to leave his strong brother and his mate behind again.
"We will come back for them. I promise." She said hurriedly, pulling out her ruby half of the Gem once more, and held it out toward Brainy.
"Alright," Brainy slowly nodded as he pulled out his sapphire Gem. Together the older smurfs joined the halves together, all the while cradling each of the wailing babies in their other arm.
"The powers that be; take us home!" The older smurfs chant loudly.
In a quick flash, they disappeared along with the screaming babies. Asmoday stopped the moment the puff of smoke cleared, and gnashed his teeth angrily.
"You think by finding yourself a powerful emblem will enable you to steal my trophies! He shouted in the air.
"I will find you and destroy you!" Asmoday's baleful eyes glowed fiery red. "Very well, I will finish what I have started. Death will become you, you putrid worms, no matter where you are!" The demon roared so loud, the walls trembled around him.
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The instant Brainy and Brainette returned to the castle all the Wizards and Wiccans gathered quickly and anxiously around them. They combined all their magic to form a protective beerier to prevent Asmoday from entering the castle. Asmoday hollered angrily into the night, but became dormant. That, however, did not stop the smurfs and their human friends from worrying.
Baby and Babette had become priority, more so then Asmoday. The smurfling babies had not stopped crying since their rescue from the cave.
For a long while all the surviving smurfs tried everything to help the babies feel safe and loved. However, nothing seemed to have worked. If anything, the babies only cry even louder.
"Smurf-a-roo, what a disaster," Sassette cried in desperation.
"Yeah, how are we going to get Baby and Babette to stop crying already?" Snappy griped, covering his ears to block out the loud screaming.
"But we've tried everything." Slouchy protested anxiously.
"Everything, but singing to them…" Brainette trailed off as though an idea had struck her.
"Singing...?" Nat's ears twitched. "We haven't sung anything since…since the days of the Old Village!"
"What makes you think singing will help now?" Snappy asked throwing up his arms in frustration.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try, young smurfs," Brainy chided, "But what song should we sing?" He said, looking at Brainette questioningly.
After thinking about it for a moment, Brainette raises her head and smiles.
"I remember a song Mama Smurf used to sing to me and my sisters when we were smurflings," she recalled fondly of her younger days. "Perhaps that might help this situation. The song is called 'A Smurfette's Lullaby' I wonder if I can remember all the words…"
Brainy puts a hand on her shoulder to show that he supported her. "Give it a try Brainette."
"Ok," She nodded to him. With a deep breath, Brainette begins to sing.
Hush little Ones,
Don't you cry.
I am here to wipe those tears dry.
Open your hearts,
Let me in.
Trust that Love has always been.
When you ask me why, this is what I say…
With joy in your life,
Friends at your side,
You can always feel safe when you sleep.
That's why they call it a Smurfette's Lullaby.
Brainy and the others look at each other with a smile of hope as the babies' screaming started to grow quiet. Eventually it dwindled to a soft whimper. The babies look straight at Brainette as she continued the lullaby.
Free your thought of hate,
Free your mind from fright,
Know that you are in my arms tonight.
Look at life with a grin,
Trust yourself with me,
The world is there for you to see.
When you ask me why, this is what I say…
This time Brainy and the others joined in the chorus of the song. The babies are now calming down and it looks as though they are about to drift off to sleep in Brainy and Brainette's arms.
With joy in your life,
Friends at your side,
You can always feel safe when you sleep.
That's why they call it a Smurfette's Lullaby.
That's why they call it a Smurfette's Lullaby.
Finally, with hardly a peep, the babies were sound asleep.
"It worked. They're sleeping." Brainy chimed.
"That was the most beautiful song I have ever heard." Sassette gushed, sniffling with a tear running down her cheek. The other smurfs nodded in silent agreement.
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The next evening Brainy and Brainette debated on what the best strategy could be in defeating Asmoday. For at least thirty minutes, they argued in the library. Sitting beside the crackling fireplace, Baby and Babette looked up briefly at the bickering couple.
A frown appeared on their little blue faces. They hated it when Brainy and Brainette argued. What was worse, the babies are bored. They look past their elders and saw two brand new teddy bears sitting on the table, wearing cute little smurf hats.
The babies natural instincts over whelmed the younglings. They lifted their hands and wriggled their fingers. Sparkles of magic dust danced from their fingertips, much to their surprised delight.
They watched as the sparkles float across the room, toward the teddies and danced around them. Gradually the two stuffed bears rose up from the table and floated back towards the babies.
"We need to do something, fast!" Brainette said in exasperation, "We can't just sit in this castle forever, especially if we want to get Hefty and Toughette out of that cave."
She paused when she realized that Brainy was not even looking at her. "Brainy? Brainy?" The intelligent smurfette snapped.
Brainy kept looking avidly upward. He seemed unaware that she was speaking to him.
"…Brainy! What are you looking at?" She demanded, slamming both fists on top of the book in front of her.
Brainette was rewarded with a brief glance from her mate, but he was too stricken with shock from what he was watching high above them to respond. He swallowed before coaxing Brainette to looking up by jerking his index finger upward.
Carefully, Brainette followed the direction up toward the ceiling, and did a double take.
The two intelligent smurfs watched, transfixed, as the teddies glided over their head. They continued gliding through the air towards the fireplace. Slowly the little teddy bears in smurf hats gradually descended and into the babies' hands.
To the bespectacled smurfs' surprise, they realized that it were the babies who caused the teddy bears to float. The older smurfs could see that the babies' fingers are glowing with pure magic.
"Did you know they could do that?" Brainette asked in astonishment, whipping her head back to Brainy.
"No. I had no idea." Brainy replied, looking just as surprised, "There ware no smurf that I knew of that could do that… Not even Papa Smurf himself." He added with confusion written on his face.
"Something tells me there was more of a reason why Asmoday wanted these babies as his trophies," Brainette assumed, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Brainy nodded. "I agree. Protecting these babies is more important now than ever. We need to get rid of Asmoday once and for all!" He emphasized by slamming his fist into his hand.
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Brainy and Brainette made sure the four other smurfs stayed at the castle with the babies, while they trudged forward to their destiny. They even requested their human families and students to stay in the castle too, just to be safe.
Both the elderly smurfs stood watching the forest intensely for any signs, even a tiniest movement. Any moment Asmoday would certainly show himself. Brainy paused to think back when he was only 150 years old. He had been ashamed of himself for being such a coward. Never in a million years did he ever imagine going up a demon in order to save his friends. He wondered if he would even survive going up against Asmoday this time. No. He had to survive. He made a promise to himself that he would get Hefty and Toughette back.
A loud thunderous growl brought Brainy's attention quickly back. Brainy wished that the butterflies in his stomach would just go away. He had a problem concentrating on the spells he and Brainette studied in order to defeat Asmoday, if possible.
The smart smurf elder wished for some of his stronger brother's bravery and strength. Panting with nervousness, Brainy tried desperately to control his quivering. In the corner of his eye, he saw that Brainette was having the same difficult challenge in appearing braver then she was.
Suddenly, with a terrifying roar Asmoday stormed through the bush just at the edge of the forest.
"Now I shall finally destroy you little blue bugs!" The demon's voice boomed across the large clearing.
"I'm afraid it won't be as easy as you think, Asmoday!" Brainy retorted with boldness that he did not know he had.
In an instant both Brainy and Brainette pulled out their greatest weapon, the Beetle Gem. They locked the Ruby half with the Sapphire half together.
"Beetle Gem, work your magic! Strike this demon down with a lightning kick!" Brainy and Brainette chanted.
A bolt of purple lightning struck down Asmoday, knocking him down on his back. He raised his head and glowered at the smurfs.
"If that is all you little blue worms got then you are in for a really rough time." The demon snarled with glowing red eyes.
Asmoday stood to strike back. He created a guest of wind that sent Brainy and Brainette hurtling back off their feet.
The two intelligent smurfs quickly get their bearings and rush to each other before the demon attack again. Again, they connect the two halves of the Gem.
"Beetle Gem, with strength on our side; bring Asmoday down and take him for a ride!" They both chant loudly.
A powerful ball of energy formed above Asmoday before it grabbed him off the ground. It swung him around the field. The demon crash-landed at the other end of the meadow.
In frustration, Asmoday got up on his feet and charged toward the smurfs. Before they could react, the demon slammed his fists hard down on the ground. This created a brief but violent earthquake, knocking both Brainy and Brainette off their feet once again.
As Brainette landed on her tail she accidentally dropped her Ruby half of the Beetle Gem. She looked up and quickly moved to one side just as Asmoday leapt toward her. The evil demon slammed his fists down right on top of the Ruby half of the Gem. A loud crack from the Ruby echoed across the field.
"And now, time for you little blue bugs to finally be out of my hair!" Asmoday growled, looking triumphantly down at Brainy and Brainette.
"Faith be my strength! My power is my own! Turn this demon into stone!" An unexpected female voice cried out from behind the smurfs.
A flash of bright light flew pasts over Brainy and Brainette's head, and hits Asmoday squarely on the head. In a flash, the monster turned into stone.
"Where…?" Startled, Brainy looked over his shoulder.
"Amber? What are you doing here?" Brainette gasped upon recognizing the girl. The Great granddaughter of Melanie approached them from within the forest.
Brainette gasped even louder when she recognizes the object in Amber's hand. "And…where did you get the Scepter of Faith?"
"It is a family heirloom," Amber explained with blushing cheeks. "As far as I know it has been in my family from way back to the time when my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Gloria, lived."
"How is that possible? I saw that scepter been destroyed with my very own eyes." The bespectacled smurfette exclaimed, her jaw hung open in disbelief.
"I guess this Scepter is pretty difficult to destroy," Amber explained sheepishly. "According to the legend the Scepter reappeared to my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother one day, and each time she tried to get rid of it the Scepter kept coming back. Finally, she gave up trying to destroy it, and kept it in her possession for the rest of her life. She handed it down to her daughter, and her daughter passed it to her daughter and so on until it finally came to me."
"B-b-but isn't that Scepter dangerous?" Brainy stuttered nervously, "I-I mean, I've been told that it was, er, is a very dangerous magic emblem."
Amber nodded once. "Only if you don't know how to use it properly it can be, well, deadly," The young human female stated seriously. "Thanks to all the Wiccan lessons, and note books that have been passed down with this Scepter, I have gained knowledge on how to control it."
The statue form of Asmoday began to shake violently. It seemed the demon was trying to get out of his stony prison.
"Uh-oh," Brainy quivered, "We need to do something before Asmoday breaks free."
"Break? Hmm, that gives me an idea," Amber pondered. She waved her Scepter from side to side. "Scepter of Faith, hear my call. Send Asmoday to all corners of the world; his rein will now fall!" She chanted.
A magical glow surrounded the statue demon. Suddenly, like an exploding firecracker, it shatters into a thousand pieces and shot into all directions of the world.
"There, with any luck Asmoday will never be assembled by anyone. He won't bother you smurfs ever again." Amber said proudly, holding her Scepter close to her chest.
"I don't know how to thank you, Amber." Brainy cheered happily. "Even though you disobeyed us in coming out here…" He began to scold her in a lecturing tone. However, Brainette quickly hushed him and turned to addresses to Amber herself.
"Yes, you have used that Scepter well. Gloria would be proud of you if she were here to see you now." Brainette praised the girl most sincerely.
"Really? Gee, thanks Brainette!" Amber could just dance with glee at that remark. It felt as if she had been waiting all her life to hear that from Brainette.
"Now that Asmoday is defeated, we can go back to his cave and… Oh no!" Brainette shrieked in dismay as she saw her Ruby half of the Beetle Gem. It had formed a large crack from when Asmoday slammed his fist against it.
"What is it, Brainette?" Brainy asked with concern.
"The Ruby half - it has been damaged during our fight with Asmoday!" Brainette cried, looking quite distressed.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Present Day
"…It was at that moment that we knew getting you free would not be possible. That is, unless we could get the Beetle Gem fixed." Brainy was saying, leaning back in his chair.
"Um, Brainy?" Brainette murmured softly to her mate sitting next to her.
"Once again, we are back in the library studying away to find something that could repair a broken magical stone…"
"Brainy," Brainette repeated in a slightly louder, but still polite tone.
"It wasn't till we met someone that told us about a Medicine Man that lived in Africa that…"
"Brainy!" Brainette finally spoke up in a sharp, but restrained tone that did sound like she was screaming at him.
"What is it Brainette?" Brainy asked impatiently, sitting straight up and turning quickly to face her.
"Shh…" With a twinkling in her eyes, she inclined her head in one direction, inviting Brainy to look towards the couch. Sure enough, both Hefty and Toughette have fallen asleep.
"Well, that's just typical." Brainy grumbled, "Every time I tell a story, they conk out!"
Brainette tried to stifle a giggle, but failed. "I don't think they fell asleep because they thought your story was boring, Brainy. They really did try to stay wake. I knew that jet lag would catch up to them sooner or later!"
She got up to walk over to the hallway closet near their bedroom. She pulled out two warm, fuzzy blankets before heading back to the couch.
"I know. But still, it's just like them to fall asleep during my speeches." Brainy grumbled.
The elderly smurf then got up with the assistance of his can to help Brainette cover Hefty and Toughette with the blankets. Brainette stopped to glance down at the slumbering younger smurfs. Her forehead wrinkles with concern.
"Do you think they will be able to fit in with this new world, Brainy?" She asked, not even looking over to her mate.
Brainy paused to think for a moment before answering.
"They are young smurfs yet, Brainette. I'm sure if we give them time, they'll catch up with all the new technology around them," He answered thoughtfully.
Brainette could not help fretting. "I know, but they seemed so confused, not to mention scared of everything. I've never seen them like that before."
Brainy sighed. "Well, there is still so much we need to show them, but that will have to wait till tomorrow, after we get them cleaned up and changed." Brainy was about to add something more before a surge of pain stung him in the middle of his back. He stiffened up with a grimace. "Uhh!"
"Your back is bothering you again?" Brainette noted with concern.
"It's just a little spasm. No need to worry," Brainy assured her, trying to shake off the pain.
"I worry, because your back muscles never had a chance to heal right." His beloved mate responded with a serious tone in her voice.
Brainy looked up at her with a soft smile. He could not help but to enjoy the fact she indeed cared so much for him.
"I'll have some aspirin, and sit down for a while." Brainy looked down at his watch and realized how late it was. "Hm, it's bedtime. You should go down and check to see if the others need your help."
Brainette raises her eyebrow. "You sure you're going to be ok up here by yourself?" She wondered as she walked over to the kitchen.
"Of course," Brainy nodded reassuringly. "Besides, someone has to stay here in case these two wakes up, and start wondering again."
"Ok," Brainette chuckled lightly and reached up into the cupboard. She pulled out a small bottle that says 'Aspirin' on it. "Do you have enough tea, or would you like a glass of water?" She called out before taking the bottle to Brainy.
"I have enough tea, thanks." He answered back, looking into his cup she had handed to him earlier this evening. Carefully, Brainy settled down into his comfortable chair, wincing as he did so.
Brainette returned, gave him the aspirin bottle, kissed him on the cheek and left the room. Brainy took two aspirins, and with the rest of the tea, he gulped them down. He then picked up a book from the same table where his cup of tea sat. Before he started reading, Brainy looked up again to Hefty and Toughette as they slumbered peacefully on the couch.
'Finally one less worry, one less burden to carry on my shoulders,' he thought happily. It has been too long…Brainy thought this day would never come, but it has. Hefty and Toughette were back, safe and very much alive. The elderly smurf smiled broadly before he turned the page of his book, and began to read.
Latin words:
Animus : courage, vivacity, bravery, will, spirit, soul.
appello : to call, name, summon.
Autus : increase, enlargement, growth.
conforto : to strengthen much.
contemno : to think meanly of, despise, condemn, hate.
exsilium : exile, banishment.
insons insontis : guiltless, innocent.
Labores solis : eclipse of the sun.
lamia : witch, vampire.
tutamen tutaminis : defence, protection
ventosus : full of wind, windy, breezy.