A/N:

I can't apologize enough! I'm so sorry, I have not abandoned the story, it is still going and I will have it finished in the next seven days I promise you! Never again will I leave you handing for so long. I am so so sorry. I have no excuse. I take all blame and annoyance. I am so sorry. But I promise that I will never leave you guys in the middle of a story. I started so I'll finish, You've all supported me and the least I can do is finish this for you. I am so sorry!

I cupped Sassy in my hand and held her outwards as she guided us through the forest towards the others. According to her, they were all caught up in the explosion just like ourselves. But I guess since they were smaller and lighter they ended up blasting off a lot further than we did. That explains why GIR ended up with the Smurflings anyway. Dib and Zim followed close by, one with interest and the other out of dislike of being left behind. Take a guess which one is which.

"Does the blue pest actually know where it is going or are we doomed to wonder this infernal forestry forever?" Zim demanded.

"Hey! I'm not a pest!" Sassy protested, "And I know exactly where I'm going! It's… uh… Hey! Hey! Lookit! It's just up ahead!"

We all looked up to where she was excitably pointing. As far as we could see, there was just a large mass of shrubs and trees. But as we got a little closer, we saw that they formed a circle of sorts, a large clearing in the centre that seemed with hundreds of large mushrooms. Dib and I exchanged a look. Those mushrooms looked very brightly coloured, and some of them were… smoking? Little blue figures moved here and there between them. Very familiar blue figures at that made me sigh with relief. Dib's eyes widened so much I swear they almost became bigger than his glasses.

"Is that… what I think it is?"

"Well if ya think it's Smurf Village then you're right! If you think it's something else then nope sorry!"

"It's… bigger than I thought it would be." I admitted.

"It is a fungus patch." Zim huffed, "You have seen that your pets are alright now let us return home!"

"We don't know how to get home without their help, Space-boy." Dib rolled his eyes.

"Lies!"

"Hey! Hey everyone! Look who I found!" Sassy cried, scrambling over my fingers to I had to struggling to stop her from falling right off.

Some of the Smurfs up ahead turned at the sound of her announcement. We approached the edge of the village as they swarmed towards us, some of them grinning and waving, others looking anxious which was understandable. I lowered to my knees, laying my hands down to Sassy could jump off safely and ran right into Smurfette's arms. Dib joined me on the ground, looking more than a little uncomfortable at having the little creatures around us again. Zim gritted his teeth and backed up a few paces, holding GIR in front of him as some sort of shield.

"It's about smurf yeh showed up, ladies an' lass!" Gutsy announced, the first to jump into action.

"But how did you get here?" Handy asked, "That portal should only have smurfed us and Gargamel back."

"I told you it wasn't ready…" Brainy muttered.

"Thank smurf you're alright! Whoops…" Clumsy said, tripping on his own feet and bumping into my knee, "Hi…"

I chuckled and held out a finger to steady him, "I could say the same to you. We've been looking everywhere for you guys!"

"Mothering again…" Dib whispered musingly before turning to the others, "Where are we anyway? What happened to that Gargamel guy?"

From the crowd, Papa came forth and smiled in his signature fatherly manner, "It is good to see you all safe and sound, I was smurfing to get worried about you. Are you alright?"

"We're fine but where are we?" Dib repeated, "We were in my basement one minute and… back in medieval time the next!

"Calm yourself, Master Dib, I am still trying to figure that out myself."

"Zim refuses to be calm at a time like this!" Zim announced irritably, "Zim wants to go home!"

I rolled my eyes. Don't get me wrong I kind of wanted to go home too, but when were we ever going to get this chance again? Papa seemed to understand, "You are in our home, but you don't have to worry, I've been smurfing up a spell that might help you get home again. And also something that might protect us against Gargamel."

The thought of that man made my skin crawl, "I didn't see him come through the portal. He could be anywhere…"

"Not anywhere, Miss. Amy, but wondering the forest trying to find us." He corrected, "But there is no need to fear."

"Zim fears nothing." The alien snapped.

"Except water, and dogs, and bees, and -"

"Silence, Dib-monkey!"

I sighed and gave Papa an apologetic look, "Sorry, you were saying."

"I was smurfing that there is no need to fear, should you feel fear." He added looking at Zim pointedly, "We are home, and here we know how to defend ourselves."

"Yeah," Hefty smirked, punching his fist into his palm, "We have that old wash-out smurfing after us almost everyday and he ain't won yet!"

Well that was true… I nodded to show I understood, "But, what do you have planned this time?"

"You said something about a spell?" Dib asked eagerly, obviously still as fascinated with this magic concept as I was.

Papa smiled with a nod, "Come into the village and I shall show you."

We followed, treading carefully and found ourselves kneeling carefully around one of the large mushrooms, the windows wide open for us to see inside. This appeared to be Papa's workshop, inside was like a library, shelves and cases filled with numerous tiny books. On the other side of the room were little vials and jars filled with unidentifiable items and liquids. Papa stood in front of a large cauldron of sorts, carefully picking and choosing his actions carefully as he put some of these items inside, letting the smoke and mist change colours. The sweet fumes made my eyes glaze over a little like last time, but I tried to stay focussed as Clumsy of all Smurfs was perched on my shoulder.

Zim shook himself, the spell making him a little woozy too, he kept giving little grunts of dislike and flinching whenever a Smurf came too close to him, "Just what exactly is this meant to do?"

"He just explained, lizard…" Dib muttered, blinking rapidly to clear his head.

Papa spoke a little louder so we could hear from inside, "I'm afraid I don't have the ingredients to smurf you home, but this spell should have the energy to drain some of Gargamel's powers. That way I should be able to smurf enough magic to send you back."

"Really? You can do that?" Dib asked as Papa started collecting strange looking vials, "Is this similar to the last time or is there another method to it? Scientific or is this another primary Smurf skill? How does -"

Fan-boy rant… Again… I exchanged a look with Clumsy, he just shrugged. Zim however, was not only quick to interrupt, but also seemed practically livid, "So in order to get away from the loud, obnoxious being, we have to go and find the loud and obnoxious being! Have you the miniaturized brain worms?" Zim exclaimed.

I smirked at Dib, indicating to the alien, "Sounds like every other day to be honest…"

"Pretty much yeah."

Clumsy covered his mouth to hide a laugh, resulting in him overbalancing and teetering forward into my waiting hand. I guess I had just grown used to being on high alert for small beings getting in trouble. I rolled my eyes good naturedly as he chuckled sheepishly. Oh god, Dib was right, I am mothering… "So, uh, how exactly are we going to get this magic from Gargamel?"

"Yeah, he doesn't exactly seem the sort to just hand it over." Dib added.

"That's where we smurf in." Brainy said, clambering up onto the back of Dib's knuckle to make himself noticed, "Gargamel is after us, but he also wants to get rid of you, oh no offense."

"None taken." I shrugged.

"All taken." Zim glowered.

Brainy deflated a little at the look, but continued when Dib lifted his hand up to give the Smurf more of a platform, "All we need is to smurf Gargamel into heading our way, and the best solution I can smurf up is using us Smurfs and possible one of you as.. well, bait."

"What!" Zim cried, outraged, "Take the Dib, he's not going to be missed!"

I elbowed him sharply, but I had to admit I was a little reproachful to the idea, "What do you mean by bait?"

Papa emerged from his mushroom, a large bottle of violet smoke swirling inside. He put a hand up as if to calm us, "Now we're not going to push you in any danger. In fact I wasn't even smurfing about using any of you in such a way."

"Ha!" Dib snapped pointedly at Zim.

"But if one of you were to volunteer it would be most helpful."

"Ha!" Zim returned.

I looked at Papa worriedly, "Look, we want to help ,and we will but… I'm not sure I'm comfortable with being bait, not just us I mean you guys too. Gargamel's just…"

"I play with the dress man!" GIR suddenly announced, returning from his game with the Smurflings, "The dress man gots a shiny head…"

"Perfect!" Zim cried, "GIR you're going to lure the human in the dress to his doom, you may not return and I wish you luck with your mission."

"Okie dokie!"

"Zim!" I interjected, "You can't do that to him, he doesn't know what he's-" I was abruptly cut off by Zim hissing warningly at me. I arched an eyebrow, "…You did not just do that."

GIR lay down on his front to look at Papa with a wide grin, "When cans I play with the shiny head man?"

Zim huffed, "Sooner the better…"

"What is your problem, Space-boy?" Dib snapped.

"Zim wants to go home!"

I facepalmed, looking at the Smurfs almost desperately, "Okay, if no one's going to get hurt, then go for it. Just make them stop!"

It turned out that their plan for bait was simpler than I thought. It was quite literally have GIR and Gutsy go into the woods, get Gargamel's attention and then run like hell past a tree where some of the other smurfs were waiting in the branches to pour the spell on him as he passes through. To be honest I was kind of wondering where the net was going to be. What was this, a Scooby Doo cartoon? Well I wasn't really one to talk, after all I'm the one who came up with filling a box with blue dolls to trick the wizard not a few hours ago. And look how well that one turned out… I swear my life was starting to sound like some bad tv show!

Dib and I were standing behind the tree where the Smurfs were poised for ambush. Zim was standing a few paces back, not wanting to be anywhere near the stuff that was going to be poured on the wizard. To be honest I didn't blame him. If that stuff made is dizzy and sleepy while it was being made, who knew what it was capable of when it was ready to go. But I wasn't going to miss this show for anything! That guy had threatened me and my friends and broken into my house, I wanted to see some payback in action.

"Ready? I think I hear them up ahead." Dib whispered.

True to his word, the sounds of robotic cackling, pounding feet and the taunting cries of a Scottish accent echoed from the trees. I nodded, "I just hope this works."

"It's not the strangest plan we've been part of."

"That's what I'm worried about…"

"AGH! Get off of me!"

We span around to see Zim splayed out on the floor, wrestling and struggling with an angry orange cat, both yowling and clawing at one another. God I hate that cat… Dib backed up, "Oh great!"

I winced, "If Azrael's here then…

From a few yards away, the angry cries of an elderly man coursed through the air, "Get back here with my Smurf you mechanical monster!"

"Gargamel…" I muttered, dread growing in my chest.

"Come and get me yeh baling lump!" Gutsy mocked from the distance.

"Release me you disgusting creature!" Zim cried.

I jumped forward, praying that the original plan with Gargamel was going to work. But this cat was really ticking me off! I tried to get it's attention but it only hissed at me before returning to try and claw at Zim's eyes. The alien writhed desperately, seething in rage. I really didn't want to touch the thing, but there was no other way. I gritted my teeth and lunged, grabbing the animal around the middle and tried to lift it from Zim's body.

"Get off!" I snapped as it dug it's claws into Zim's shirt.

"Amy! Get away from that thing!" Dib exclaimed, "It'll attack!"

"It's attacking anyway!"

"Be gone with you, earth-vermin!"

Azrael squirmed, claws slashing at its new target. Me. I leaned my head back, thankful that he had let Zim go. I gasped as a claw caught my cheek, a sting complaining on my skin. My hands jolted and the cat leapt free, landing on the grass and turning to crouch facing us, lining up its next attack. Dib grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, Zim jumping to his feet and backing away. The cat looked ready to pounce, when something caught its eye. He quirked his eyes and looked past us almost in disbelief.

We turned just in time to see GIR sprinting with a gleeful grin on his face past the tree, Gutsy perched in his head with a taunting look in his eye. The robot kept running like it was the best game he'd ever played, waiting for his pursuer to catch up. And he was. Gargamel crashed through the woods, pushing branches and shrubs aside as he chanced them. The wizard was so close to getting into the target zone. But then he just had to look over and spot us. He skidded to a halt and sneered at us.

"Well well… Just the interfering little children I wanted to see."

"Zim is no child! Zim shall rule you when-"

"Enough with the yelling, green one, you are most annoying."

"At least someone agrees…" Dib muttered nervously.

Gargamel took a threatening step closer. His hands started to spark and crackle where he gathered his magic warningly, "Tell me, where is your little minion taking my Smurf? I know you know where the village is!"

The three of us tried to back away, only to be stopped by a patronizing hiss from the feline. We were trapped. Come on guys, he's right there just throw the potion already! "W-We- don't know anything!" I tried, but apparently failed.

"Lying will not get you anywhere!"

"Oh yeah, come here and say that!"

My eye widened, "Dib! What're you doing?"

He ignored me, "That's right, keep walking!"

"Silence, Dib-monkey! It will be I who destroys you, not this human wretch!"

Gargamel took another step towards us. Raising his hand to form his attack. Oh god this was going to hurt. He sniggered, eyes glinting evilly as he closed in. The sparks grew. He took his aim. And I closed my eyes. But… the hit never came. Instead the sound of shattering glass and the faint howling of the wind filled my ears. I peeked my eyes open, my vision filled with an inky blue smoke. It swirled around Gargamel, trapping him. The bottle lay smashed on the ground, the Smurfs poking their heads out from the leaves with triumphant grins.

Thank god for that… I sighed with relief, leaning against Dib for support. That was too close! Gargamel coughed and swatted at the smoke. It swarmed around his hands, collecting the sparks and magic before rising into the air, coiling into a bottle that Papa held from the branch. Once the smoke cleared Gargamel was still spluttering. Azrael yowled and rushed to his master, trying to get him back into focus.

"Back to the village Smurfs! Quickly now!" Papa announced.

No need to tell us twice. Before I knew it a crowd of blue was scampering through the shrubs. Me and the boys tore after them. Gargamel was going to be angry when he got his senses together and I did not want to be around when that happened.

"Won't Gargamel come after us?" I asked to anyone who could answer, "The village sin't exactly far from here!"

"True," Jokey answered with a giggle, "But no one can find it unless they already know where it is!"

"Papa's magic." Brainy clarified, adjusting his glasses as we all slowed to a stop on the outskirts of the village, gasping for breath. I dropped to my knees, my heart hammering a mile a minute. Where was my asthma pump when I needed it!

"Did…" Dib panted, cheeks red, "Did it work?"

Papa held up the sparkling vapour in the vial, "Like a charm."

"Oh no! Your face!" Smurfette gasped, a little over dramatically as she peered up at me.

I touched the side of my face where Azrael had scratched me, it still stung and it left a faint little dap of blood on my fingertips. I gave an smile to ease her and rubbed the red onto my jeans, "It's only a small cut, barely that. It's fine."

"Nice work taunting the ol' geezer into stepping forward, laddie." Gutsy grinned at Dib, returning with GIR, "Smart smurfing."

"Uh, thanks…"

"What about Zim?" the alien cried, "Zim fought with that monstrosity of a pest and he gets no gratitude?"

"All that matters is it worked." Papa reassured, "And we're safe."

"But-But!" Dib cried, "He's still out there, and you're okay with it?"

I nodded in agreement, "It's not safe with him around guys, you know that. He'll constantly be hunting you down!"

"Oh now why does that sound familiar?" Zim shot an icy glare at Dib.

Papa chuckled and beckoned me closer, I lay my palm flat next to him to climb onto and lifted him to eyelevel, "Miss. Amy, how do you smurf the morals behind the boys behaviour?"

"What'd you mean?"

"They pursue one another, why are you okay with that?" he challenged softly.

I'm sure I've already explained this before, but where was the harm in going over it again? "They kind of need each other." I explained, lowering my voice so that only he could hear, "Zim needs someone to challenge him or else he's got no motivation; and Dib needs someone around who can act as proof that his theories are right. It's a win-win without anyone actually beating the other."

"So you're smurfing that things won't be the same without the challenge or the excitement?"

"Pretty much."

He nodded, "Unfortunately, and yet thrillingly, Gargamel and my Smurfs are in the same position as them."

I could understand that in some twisted sense. Gargamel needed the Smurfs around for his theories, and the Smurfs needed him around so that they could, well, keep an eye on him I guess. To stop him if things get too far. Really, things weren't that different.

"So… you really are okay with it?" I asked again knowingly.

"Smurf-alutly."

"Huh…" I looked over at the squabbling pair, and had to admit, things just wouldn't be as fun without the game of cat and mouse, "I like your thinking, Papa."

A/N:

Again I'm so sorry, not only for the long wait but for this crappy chapter. I understand if you're angry. But I promise to have the final chapter up in the next seven days. I love you guys so much and I feel terrible about making you wait like this. I'm so sorry!