Chapter 13: A Smurf Community
"Here is where we take the smurflings to unwind after dinner," Brainy explained as he opened a door.
Hefty and Toughette walked past the older smurf and stepped into a very spacious room that was obviously set aside as a huge playroom for youngsters. Toys of all kinds scattered all over the floor, as well as bookcases lined up and down the walls.
"Usually, five days out of the week during the day Brainette and I teach the smurflings in small groups reading, writing, and arithmetic." Brainy continued, leading Hefty, Toughette and the rest of the adult smurfs.
They each took notice of the different smurflings, who were either playing board games on the floor, horse playing nosily, or simply sitting on their soft beanbag chairs out of the way, reading a favorite book quietly but avidly.
"Don't forget us Brainy," Snappy spoke up with a chuckle, "We each take turns in teaching the smurflings a little of what we know."
Nat nodded. "Yeah, for example I would take a group of smurflings out into the forest and teach them all about nature," he said proudly. "Speaking of which, you two are more then welcome to join us tomorrow. It will give you the chance to become familiar with the new territory."
"Ah, sure…" Hefty and Toughette chimed in unison, not looking entirely too certain just yet what they really wanted to do.
Suddenly, and unexpectedly something came scooting toward Brainy and the rest of the adult smurfs. It was a small, strange-looking box made out of some unfamiliar material. It does not look like metal, but it was a shiny red color, and has black wheels attached underneath it. It zoomed at top speed, going around, and around the surprised adult smurfs without stopping. The noise it made sounded like an army of bees.
"Whoa! What is that…?" The panicky Hefty yelped. Before the other smurfs could stop him, Hefty quickly stomped on the noisy fast-moving object, flattening it like a pancake.
Slouchy flinched, and then let out a little sigh. "That was a toy, Hefty."
"Hey!" A little voice cried out. "That was mine! You broke it!"
Hefty blinked in surprise as young Tech Smurfling came walking angrily over to him with a mean glare. Sheepishly, the strong smurf lifted his foot. The once shinny red toy lay crushed beyond repairs.
"Uh, gee, I'm sorry. I-I-I-I…" Hefty stuttered helplessly.
Tech bent down and picked up his broken toy with one hand. In the other hand, he held a small remote control. Again, he gave Hefty another rude glare. "I spent all week building this race car, and you killed it with your big fat foot!"
"Awe, Tech, Hefty didn't mean to do that." Sassette reassured the little smurfling in a soothing voice.
"Yeah, little fella, besides the damage doesn't look that bad," Snappy spoke to Tech with enthusiasm, "Come on - I'm sure that with my help it will look even better and go twice as fast."
"Well…" Tech looked up doubtfully to Hefty. The strong smurf tried to look apologetic by giving the young smurfling a nervous, crooked smile.
Tech scowled. "As long he's not around to break it again." The smurfling commented acidly before walking away with Snappy.
Toughette flinched at the expression Tech was giving Hefty. "Ooh, not a good first impression," she said sympathetically to her mate.
"Tell me about it." Hefty groaned, feeling even guiltier about breaking a smurfling's toy.
"Don't feel too bad, Hefty." Brainy said positively, "Tech, as well as most of the smurflings here, does inherit a lot of their original personalities from the days of the Old Village. Much like Handy Smurf would, Tech, himself, will soon forgive you for this incident."
"I-I don't know. Everything is so different." Hefty pouts, "These smurflings are different. How will I ever get used to all of this?"
"Well, it will take time," Brainy stated, "But like Snappy mentioned earlier these smurflings can be a real handful. I admit myself in losing my temper a few times with some of the antics these smurflings pull off."
Slouchy snickered, "only a few times, Brainy? What about last week?"
"What happened?" Toughette asked, suddenly interested.
"Oh nothing really," Nat tried to contain his snickering, "Just that a few of the smurflings decided to start a food fight while the rest of us stepped out of the dining hall for only a moment."
"I swear, you turn your back for a split second and havoc rains with them." Sassette exclaimed, raising her arms above her head in mock exasperation.
"No doubt Boomer must have started that chaos." Brainette growled, shaking her head disapprovingly.
"You really have it out for that little smurfling, don't you?" Sorcerette raised her eyebrow with amusement at her elder.
"Let's just say I don't tolerate misbehavior from anyone." The smurfette elder clinched her teeth as she spoke.
"That's true," Toughette smiled warmly, knowing there will always be a part of her bespectacled sister that would never change.
"So what did you guys do?" Hefty asked with a wide grin as he could not help but find this story amusing.
"Well, of course we all rushed in, and as soon as we did Brainy got hit in the face with a cream pie." Sorcerer Smurf laughed. The other older smurfs hooted in laughter.
"I can see that happening," Hefty joined in with a chuckle.
"Oh, very fu-Skater!" Brainy suddenly barked at one of the smurflings rolling by on his skateboard.
The little smurfling was in the middle of doing one of his board tricks when he turned his head sharply at the sound of his elder calling out to him. As he did, he lost his balance and the skateboard slipped out from under his feet, causing him to land rather unceremoniously on the floor on his little blue tail.
"Man I had to bail on the huge kicker!" The little smurfling grumbles loudly as he gets up, dusts himself off, and picks up his skate board.
"Skater Smurfling!" Brainy scolded, "What have I told you about skating on that board inside the community?"
"Oops, sorry warden." Skater Smurfling replied sheepishly.
"Warden?" Toughette asked Sassette.
"It's a slang word for 'parental figure'…I think." The grey-haired braided elder replied with a hint of uncertainty.
"I want you to go and put that thing away," Brainy said sternly to the young smurfling, "You will be able to play on it tomorrow afternoon."
"Ogey." Skater Smurfling nodded glumly he shuffling off with the skateboard under his arm.
"Alright, so you weren't kidding about the new form of talking that smurfling does." Hefty shook his head wonderingly.
"Slang talking isn't that difficult to understand," Sorcerer said with a shrug, "I can teach you a few neat phrases if you like."
"Not right now, Sorcerer." Brainy interrupted before Hefty could answer.
Brainy was about to motion the others to carry on touring the rest of the playroom when a loud screechy noise echoed across the room. Many of the smurflings, including all the adults quickly clapped their hands over their ears and grimaced in pain.
"Arg! What is that horrible racket?!" Toughette hollered to Brainy and Brainette.
"That would be Jammer!" Brainette shouted back, flinching at the same time at the sound of a dreadfully off-key wailing on guitar strings. From a corner, not too far away a certain young smurfling strummed furiously on his small metallic guitar.
"You mean that smurfling is the reincarnation of Harmony?" Hefty cried out, clinching his teeth together.
"Ah, but there is good news with the instrument Jammer Smurfling is playing!" Brainy grinned.
"Yeah, what's that?" The strong smurf groaned, trying to press his hands harder against his lobes to block out the ear-splitting noise.
With a smirk, Brainy walked over to an amp that attached to Jammer's guitar. He reached for a knob and turned it counter-clockwise. The noise immediately died down, and the silence afterwards was incredibly blissful.
"It has volume control." The red-capped smurf announced, adjusting his glasses and looking quite pleased.
"Hey, that is just smurfy!" Hefty cheered happily, taking his hands off his ears.
"Yeah!" Toughette nodded her head in agreement.
"Huh…?" The little smurfling looked down at his soundless guitar in puzzlement. He looked up to see his elder watching him with his eyebrow raised.
"Awe, come on Elder! I need to practice!" He whined to Brainy.
"I know… You need a lot of practice, but not tonight, Jammer." Brainy answered him patiently. "Tonight you are to keep this off, is that clear?"
"Why?" The smurfling whined again.
"Because our Protectors are not used to the new form of music you and the other smurflings enjoy yet. I've already instructed that to you remember?"
"Oh yeah…" Jammer let out a small sigh and gently placed his guitar down.
"Aw, cheer up, little one." Toughette cooed to Jammer Smurfling, "I'm sure someday you will be a fabulous, er, musician."
At this remark, Jammer perked up with a big grin. "Gee, you think so?"
"Eh, sure…why not. It's a new world. Anything's possible." Toughette shrugged cheerfully before walking away with the rest of the adult smurfs.
"Then again, if he's anything like Harmony, it would take another lifetime before he could play in tune…" Hefty whispered to his golden blond girlfriend. Toughette responds in a fit of giggles.
"Elders!" A little female voice cried out. The older smurfs looked over to see a little brunette smurfette in a velvet dress came running toward them. Following closely behind her were her two playmates, a blond smurfette and a nicely dressed smurfling.
"What is it Valvette?" Sassette asked in a resigned voice.
"Yeah, why the frantic expressions?" Slouchy said with a grin.
"Oh, you have to help. It's a matter of life and smurf!" Valvette cried in distress. She placed the back of her hand to her forehead, as if she was about to faint.
"Really? How so?" Brainy asked, raising his eyebrow in suspicion.
"Like, totally, this is the worst fashion disaster in history!" The little smurf in fashionable clothing whined in a panicky voice, waving his arms frantically.
"I doubt it, but continue…" Brainette rolled her eyes with a sigh.
"This Sweet Teen article states that autumn colors are now in effect for this season of top of the line in wardrobe." The little blond smurfling spoke out. She waved the magazine up in the air so the elder smurfs could see.
Brainette frowned. "I'm sorry; I fail to see the urgency to your complaint." She huffed, placing her hands on her hips and looking steadily at the three agitated youngsters.
"Look at us, Elder Brainette!" Valvette cried as she tugs at the clothes on her body, "We are still in our summer fashions!"
"I don't get it…?" Hefty said, looking sideway at Toughette and shrugging in bewilderment.
"Neither do I," Toughette shrugged back to her boyfriend.
"Hellooo! We are the most stylish smurflings of this community. It is our duty to keep ourselves in the latest fashions, or we are just not cool!" Valvette shouted loudly.
"Oh, I could just cry right now!" The little blond smurfette said with tears in her eyes.
"It'll be ok Enamorette." Nat knelt down and placed a hand on the weepy smurfette's shoulder.
"Gee, why don't you smurflings make some pink dresses and be happy with that?" Toughette declared exasperatedly.
"Pua-leeze that was so last season!" Valvette groaned haughtily, taking on a snobby valley-girl pose and flipping her hand off to the side.
"Oh forgive us…guess we are a little old-fashioned." Brainy shrugged as he gave Hefty and Toughette a knowing look. "That is how most smurfs and smurfettes from our days handled their fashion crises."
At once, the strong duo instantly recognized Valvette, Smurfette, and Vanity in each of the three anxious smurflings. They were unable to stop themselves from grinning from ear to ear.
Just then, Hefty has a bright idea. "Why don't you two go find Sewette and Tay - er, I mean, Designer Smurfling and go make up your own styles of clothes?" He suggested, correcting himself as he remembered that Taylor Smurf had now evolved.
"That's a really good idea, Hefty!" Brainy nodded in agreement. "You hear that smurflings. Why don't you go try out your creative skills with Sewette and Designer? Bet they are eager to try their new sewing equipment we got for them last week!"
"I suppose so," little Vanity Smurfling sighed, not looking too thrilled at the idea. The three smurflings walked off with a disappointed look on their youthful faces.
"You know, Sorcerer and I could have just conjured them a new wardrobe with our magic, Elders," Sorcerette mentioned, wriggling her fingers. This small movement caused little speckles of light to dance magically off the fingertips.
"Maybe, but they need to learn how to do things on their own, Sorcerette," Brainette stated patiently, "You don't want them to be too dependent on your powers."
"You don't seem to mind us using our powers to ward off dangerous humans." Sorcerer grumbled.
"That is different; you and Sorcerette are destined to be protectors and, one day, leaders to these smurflings." Brainy added with a solemn nod.
"Awe, gee, not too much pressure there, Elder." Sorcerer scoffed sarcastically, crossing his arms in a huff.
"You have a lot to learn, Sorcerer, and a whole life ahead of you yet." Brainy said in a most unusually serious manner before turning abruptly and walking away.
It is the way his intelligent older brother spoke that seemed so alien to Hefty. There was a hint of hurt in the tone of his voice, not to mention a bit of tension that suddenly sprang up between Brainy and Sorcerer.
Hefty watched with a puzzled frown as Brainy limped towards some other smurflings playing a board game. Again, Hefty pondered on what could have happened to his brother that caused him to limp like that.
He looked over to Sassette, Nat, Slouchy, and Brainette; the four of them are shook their heads sadly at the small outburst Brainy and Sorcerer just had. Hefty then turned to Sorcerer and Sorcerette.
Sorcerette let out a sigh as she too shook her head, a bit exasperated, than rolls her eyes skyward. Sorcerer still has his arms crossed. The young magical smurf looked away from the rest of the smurfs, obviously in a sulking fit.
How Hefty wished Papa Smurf was still around. The Late Smurf Elder would know how to handle this situation between Brainy and Sorcerer.
Suddenly, a little female's voice let out a yelp. Hefty instantly turned in direction where the cry of distress came from.
"Aaah! You ripped my paper!" A little redheaded smurfette screeched at a cranky looking smurfling, "Get away from me you dimwitty-smurf!"
With a growl and a mutter, the smurfling did as told and walked away from the scowling young smurfette. Sorcerer instantly smiled warmly at the little smurfling, apparently forgetting his fight with Brainy.
"Hey Moody," Sorcerer winked at the small frowning youngster, "How's my little buddy…besides getting into trouble with your little girlfriend back there?" He teased, jerking his thumb towards the little redheaded smurfette.
"She is not my girlfriend!" Moody snapped. The smurfette glared rudely, and stuck out her tongue at him. Moody's scowl deepens. "I hate redheads." He muttered gruffly under his breath, crossing his arms.
Hefty instantly smiled as he recognized his brother, Grouchy, in the smurfling's facial expression.
"Oh, come on…Somehow I don't believe you. I see how you look at her sometimes. Oh yeah, I do think she's your girlfriend." Sorcerer teased again.
"I said she's not my girlfriend!" Moody Smurfling growled loudly.
"Ok, so maybe you are right, and she is not your girlfriend. But that won't stop me from tickling you…"
Before Moody Smurfling could react, Sorcerer swiftly grabbed the little smurfling, and began tickling his belly. Moody burst out in a fit of giggles as Sorcerer tortured him mercilessly. No matter how much the young smurfling wriggles, Sorcerer refuses to let him go even for one second.
Hefty chuckled at the scene. How ironic that Grouchy would care so much for Baby Smurf, a long time ago…and here in this new world it is Sorcerer, formerly Baby Smurf, taking care of a younger Grouchy who is now known as Moody Smurfling.
A sudden feeling of someone looking up at him came over Hefty. He glanced down and saw a little smurfette standing at his side with braid blond hair. She wore a light pink dress and a white sweater with a red cross on it. There was something familiar about her, but Hefty could not yet place a finger on it.
The little blond smurfette noticed a scar above Hefty's left eyebrow, and flinched.
"That owie on your face looks like it must have hurt." She finally said.
Hefty gently ran his fingers over his scar, acknowledging the worried and compassionate expression on the little smurfette's face.
"Yeah, I was badly hurt a long time ago," He replied, "Fortunately someone I knew helped heal me." The strong smurf realized the Red Cross on her white sweater looked similar to Nursette's cross back in the old village. "You wouldn't by chance know how to heal wounds too, would you?" The strong smurf asked the little blond smurfette.
"Yes in fact," the little smurfette cheered proudly. "I'm learning from Elder Brainette and Elder Nat. Someday I will be a Nurse."
"Let me guess," Hefty asked with a wink, "Is your name, Nursette?"
Her little jaw dropped down. "How did you know?"
"Oh, let's just call it a lucky guess."
Hefty paused when he heard a puzzling sound. He stood up and noticed that Toughette also had a questioning look towards the unfamiliar music. The two of them wondered towards the sound and saw it was coming from a strange box. It sat between two smurflings who are sitting up against the wall at the end of the hall.
In front of them, was a large blue mat - on top of the mat, a little blond smurfette with her hair done up in half-bun, half-ponytail arranged into a half dozen tiny braids started to dance oddly to the music.
The little blond smurfling spun, and moved her arms in a snake-like fashion before sliding her feet so she moved backwards. She stopped to do a back flip, and then the splits.
One of the smurflings that stood nearby stepped forward. He wore a chain necklace with a silver 'R' attached to it. The smurfling bounced his chin to the beat of the music as he prepared to recite his rhyme.
There is no doubting it,
Dancing is a part of her art, she's so fluent
So all you smurflings let us jet
There is no one better here than Jazzette.
Jazzette rolled on her back in the center of the mat like a T-top. She slowed to a stop, ending up lying on her side in a finishing pose.
Toughette clapped furiously once the smurflings ended their rap and dance.
The dance itself looked like a circus performance - none the less, Toughette was much entertained, even enthralled by this little show. Rapper Smurfling and Jazzette look up. They both took a bow as Hefty too joined in the applaud.
"Yo! Yo! There are Protectors in the house!" Rapper cheered happily.
"Thank you, Protectors, you're too kind." Jazzette said modestly.
Toughette stopped clapping and made a grim face at been called a 'protector'.
"Er, Protector, huh?" Toughette said, blushing slightly, with an added careless shrug, "Why don't you just call us Hefty and Toughette instead, ok?"
Rapper nodded, and at once, he declared loudly for all to hear:
Attention to all Smurflings in this Community
Those who fear danger we can feel the serenity
Trust me now there is no need to fret
We have our Protectors, whose names are Hefty and Toughette!
"That is so cute." Toughette chuckled, clapping again as soon as Rapper finished. "I never heard someone recite poetry like that before."
"Hey smurflings, can I borrow your stereo for a bit?" Sorcerer called out as he walked over. "I want to show Hefty and Toughette a bit about the new way we listen to music!"
"Sure Sorcerer." A sleepy looking smurfling chirps as he pushed his stereo out closer to the young magical smurf.
With a flick of his wrist, Sorcerer suddenly has a CD booklet case flash in front of him. After thumbing through his collection, he pulled out the CD he was looking for. I he put the round shinny disk into the player and instantly a loud blaring sound came out.
"Now this has to be one of the best remakes ever," he declared, "This song is called 'Land of Confusion', and the group singing it, is Disturbed."
"I'll say…" Hefty groaned as he covered his ears from the dreadful noise.
Sorcerette giggled. "No, he means that 'Disturbed' is the name of the group that is playing this song." She explained, joining the group.
"Well, they certainly named themselves well, didn't they? They sound very disturbed." Toughette choked in a sarcastic tone. She flinched at the noise coming from the medium size box.
"You're funny, Toughette." Jazzette laughed.
The strong, golden-haired smurfette smirked at the young Jazzette. "I'm glad you liked it kiddo."
Brainette walked over to Brainy. Smiling, the two of them gazed silently as a growing crowd of smurflings - along with Sassette, Slouchy, and Nat - gather around the mat to watch as Sorcerer and Sorcerette pull Hefty and Toughette up in order to teach them new dance steps.
"So what do you think, Brainy? Do you feel Hefty and Toughette will get use to everything?" The intelligent smurfette elder asked her mate.
"Well, it is too soon to tell, Brainette," Brainy answered quietly, "This is only their second day in this new world."
Brainette nodded in agreement. The two elders once again focused on the smurfs dancing on the mat.
Hefty and Toughette stopped trying to follow Sorcerette and Sorcerer Smurf's crazy moves. Every time they attempted to mimic the young magical duo's dancing poses, the two strong smurfs could not help but break out in laughter. As they laughed, it becomes contagious, the surrounding smurflings and adult smurfs joined in a good giggle.
"Still, it is good to hear them laugh again." Brainy sighed absently with a smile.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
AN HOUR AND HALF LATER…
"So I take it you tell the smurflings a story of the Old Village every night?" Hefty asked, reflecting the moments before preparing the smurflings to get ready for bed.
Brainette, Sassette, Sorcerette, and Toughette have already taken the little smurfettes to their quarters. Snappy and Nat are on kitchen duty, and that leaves Slouchy and Sorcerer to help Brainy and Hefty get the little smurflings ready for bed.
"Pretty much every night we tell a story of the Old Villages, both the Smurfs and the Smurfettes. It is a way of telling them of our history, Hefty." Brainy explained calmly.
"I suppose I can understand that," the strong smurf nodded, "but what else do you do with these smurflings besides teaching them basic math, reading, and telling stories about our past…?"
Before Brainy could answer his curious younger brother, an unexpected flash of light takes them by surprise. Startled, the tough smurf could not help but jumps in panic.
"What was that? Lightning...? Inside...?" Hefty cried, looking wildly around.
"Wow, zat picture will make ze perfect masteurpiesa!" A little smurfling with a French accent exclaimed happily.
Hefty spun his head down at the smurfling holding a digital camera in his little blue hands.
"What?" He exclaimed.
Brainy attempted to suppress a chuckle, unsuccessfully.
"Hefty, this is Photographer Smurfling and he just took your picture with his camera." The elderly smurf explains with a smile.
"Here, have a look." Photographer chimed proudly as he held up the back end of the camera to Hefty.
When Hefty leaned in closer, he was amazed to a clear image of him and Brainy talking.
Hefty's jaw drops open in astonishment. "It's so life like…," he gasped.
"Yo, Photographer, cool shot little bro!" Sorcerer declared, holding hand held up for the little smurfling to give him a 'high-five'.
"Well, you know, I felt a certain inspiration to capture ze monument." Photographer chirps, obliging Sorcerer by slapping his little hand up at Sorcerer's adult palm.
"Monum… Oh, don't you mean moment? Capture the moment?" Sorcerer corrected the smurfling.
Photographer makes a face. "Zat's what I zaid, sheesh!" The smurfling sighed, rolling his eyes skyward.
Sorcerer chuckled, "Ok little guy. Let's get you to bed now, shall we?" He said as he escorted the protesting Photographer across the room.
"Ok, that was interesting…" Hefty smirked, watching idly as Sorcerer and Photographer make it to one of the beds lined up in a row.
"Come one Hefty, we have other smurflings to tuck in." Slouchy mentioned as he addressed the remainder smurflings running around the room.
As Brainy hobbled by each he bed, he inspected the smurflings as they hopped into bed. He suddenly stopped to give a suspicious glare to one of the smurflings not yet tucked in his bed
"Skater, Skater, Skater…" Brainy began in a lecturing tone.
Skater sat at his small desk, doodling something on the paper. He turned around and gave the elderly smurf an annoyed look.
Undeterred, Brainy continued, "That is not the proper way to store your skateboard for the evening, Skater! Someone could trip over it when they walk past your bed!" He scolded sternly, pointing down at the board on wheels sitting dangerously close to the walkway of the room.
"Now you know where it is supposed to go. Get up and roll it under your bed like a good little smurfling." Brainy added.
"Dude, you're harshing my mellow." Skater groaned, but he does as he is told, getting off his chair to push his skateboard under his bed anyway.
"Skater, I'll harsh more than that if you don't get into your bed right now." Elder Brainy demanded.
"Chill, Warden, I gotta get my jamjams on first."
"Fine." Brainy sighed.
"Jamjams…?" Hefty tried to hide a snicker, but failed.
"He means his pajamas Hefty." Slouchy explained with a grin.
Hefty nodded. "I kind of guessed that." The strong smurf snorted.
"Dude, these wacked out styles are totally on the hook!" Skater Smurfling cried with a disgusted sneer as he pulled an adult smurf's jacket and hat out of his drawer. The style of the wardrobe looked like something right out from the 60's.
Brainy stared at them with a stunned expression. "Where did you get those…?" He demanded. With a swift motion, he reached down and began a tug-of-war with Skater Smurfling over the jacket.
"Come on, Brainy and Sorcerer has this side covered," Slouchy suggested hastily. "You and I can begin on the other side. These smurfligns over here still need to be tucked in."
"Alright." Hefty nodded again, with yet another attempt to cover up his snickering.
It took the four adult smurfs a half hour to help the rest of the smurflings put their pajamas on and tuck them into bed. As they did so, Hefty walked past Tech Smurfling. With a smile, he leaned over to speak to him.
"Ah, goodnight Tech. Sweet dreams."
"Harrumph!" Tech huffed. With an abrupt movement, the little smurfling pulled the covers up over his face so he would not have to look at Hefty.
Hefty felt hurt by this. It was clear that Tech was still angry with him for breaking his remote control toy earlier. With a gulp, Hefty retreated away from Tech's bed and towards the other smurfs who are waiting by the door to leave the room. Brainy smiled reassuringly at his younger brother as Hefty joined them.
"Ok, goodnight smurflings!" The elderly smurf called out to the young smurfs in their beds.
"Goodnight, Elders! Goodnight Protector!" The smurflings called back in a sleepy tone just before Brainy turned out the lights.
"Er, goodnight smurflings." Hefty responded with a hint of uncertainty.
Without another word, he followed Brainy, Slouchy, and Sorcerer out of the room and down the hall.