The Smurfocalypse chapter 38: The New Papa Smurf Part 2 Brains for the Brawn
Hefty was going to be put into the spotlight for sure. The other Smurfs would see him wearing Papa Smurf's hat and he would have a lot of explaining to do. What made this especially strange was that Doctor had told him Papa Smurf wanted the fact he was awake a secret just before the visit. Was this a sign that it was alright to tell the others? How else would he be able to explain how he got the red hat? Hefty understood that the Smurfs were currently scattered throughout town probably pinpointing the location of their huts and/or workstations. This was the first day since it had been agreed that the village was safe and nearly every Smurf was outside despite the cooler weather. He would have to explain it to them when they would unite as a village to eat later tonight. For now Hefty remained in the living room of the house.
About three doors down in the town's library, Brainy was doing everything he could to try to figure out what the odd creature was that crawled out of Modest Smurf's head. The Human sized books were heavy and they were a pain for Brainy to carry around, but he had been up since sunrise determined to solve this mystery. There were still so many things unknown about Modest Smurf. The entire situation made little sense at all, and then to discover that weird creature made things even more odd. Brainy knew very little about Modest Smurf the two of them rarely interacted and Modest wasn't from Papa Smurf's village. Yet it seemed at some point he was allied with Balthazar? Brainy tended to an itch on his chin as he turned the page of a book. Whatever the creature was it seems humans have no clue what it is either as the spot he was sitting at had two piles of books. One pile of book was twelve books high and the other three. These books were various insect books varying in length. He shook his head, closed the book he was currently reading, and tossed it onto the stack making it thirteen books high now.
"The humans probably have never seen anything like it either…" Brainy said to himself.
Humans wouldn't know the difference between a situation like this and an ordinary every day case of murder anyway. For something like this to happen in a Smurf village is a different story. He needed Papa Smurf's help, but as far as Brainy knew Papa Smurf was in an unknown state of condition from which he would possibly not recover. Brainy stood up and abandoned his books upon thinking of Papa Smurf. There was a book in the aisle he was attacked in that laying on the ground not far from where he found him. Papa Smurf was interested in that particular book, but why? It just made the book just that much more interesting to Brainy, and he'd simply have to take a look himself.
"It must be important if Papa Smurf showed interest in it." Brainy thought.
The table of contents displayed quite the interesting content indeed. There was a section for magic, magical creatures, magic objects, and of course magic potions. Brainy figured he'd skip everything else in the book at the moment to find and focus on the magical creature section. Brainy flipped through the pages seeing creatures they'd recognize and encountered over the years before all this began, and then he finally found it. The magic parasite that can be implanted into the brain of either a living being or a corpse. Obviously this would mean Balthazar used this to control Modest. By destroying the creature Hefty had cut all ties Balthazar had to the Smurfs. Hefty didn't realize it, but he had saved everyone by simply stepping on a bug. Had the parasite and Balthazar made contact ever again the current location of the Smurfs would have been revealed and there would have been another attack.
After burning through his entire morning and a good chunk of his afternoon he had accomplished what Papa Smurf could have done in mere seconds. The point is though is that he actually did it by himself without Papa Smurf's help. He needed to find Hefty and show him what he had just found as well as share his theory about Balthazar using the creature based off it basically announcing its alliance with him. Brainy's biggest problem though is getting his peers to actually listen to him. Would he even be able to get Hefty's attention?
By this time a few hours had past and it was almost dinner time, and that fact was beginning to become more apparent as Brainy's stomach was growling. He decided to head back to the house to look for Hefty. On the way he passed by Farmer who was on patrol in his armor wielding his scythe. Even though they had agreed Port Saint Smurf was safe Hefty was still making sure everyone was safe.
"Have you seen Hefty?" Brainy asked.
Farmer just grateful that's all Brainy said, just shook his head and kept walking. Brainy was heading towards the house when he was met half way by Doctor who stopped him.
"I've been lookin all over for you." Doctor said.
"I said I would be in the library if any Smurf needs me." Brainy said.
"You said a lot of things this mornin we had to throw ya out of the house." Doctor said with a sigh.
"oh right… that. Why are you suddenly interested in me? My checkup isn't until December." Brainy said.
"Papa Smurf is awake an he sent me to get you. He wants it kept a secret so don't shout an he says its very important." Doctor said.
"Of course Papa Smurf would come to me when it's important and I knew all the long Papa Smurf was going to be just fine." Brainy said.
"Are ya done?" Doctor asked.
"Yes yes now come on we can't keep Papa Smurf waiting." Brainy said.
Brainy and Doctor went back to the house where Hefty was still hanging out and Chef was in the kitchen tending to his stew. They passed Hefty and Brainy made eye contact with him, but chose not to say anything at the moment as he was lead through the kitchen and down the hall into the bed where Papa Smurf was recovering.
"Papa Smurf I knew you'd be fine all the long even when some of the others feared the worst and-" Brainy was interrupted.
"That's nice Brainy, but I'm here to discuss something important with you." Papa Smurf said.
"Would it happen to be related to Hefty wearing your hat?" Brainy asked.
"Times have changed and I chose to pass leadership to Hefty." Papa Smurf said.
Brainy's eyes widened and he looked as though he were insulted.
"You what?! You chose Hefty over me?!" Brainy asked.
"Calm down Brainy I have my reasons for doing this. Hefty is going to need your help with advice and decision making. You're the only Smurf I can depend on to be able to help Hefty in this way." Papa Smurf said.
"But I just don't understand. Why Hefty?" Brainy said.
"Hefty has grown as a Smurf. He's kept us alive for months traveling in lands we've never explored before. He's risked his life to fight for our safety and the others have noticed. He is deeply respected whereas you can hardly gain anyone's attention." Papa Smurf said.
"How am I going to get Hefty to understand and listen to a word I say?" Brainy asked.
"I will talk to Hefty about this personally. Until then I need you to promise me you will try to get along better with Hefty." Papa Smurf said.
"Of course I promise. I actually have to talk to him about something very important." Brainy said.
"Oh? What is it?" Papa Smurf asked.
"Modest was being controlled by a magic parasite, and I suspect Balthazar was involved." Brainy said.
"Balthazar? Can you prove this?" Papa Smurf asked.
"Timber and Hefty both heard him admit to being allied with Balthazar." Brainy said.
"I Suspect he was behind the attack at Uncle Smurf's village as well. If he finds us here he will attack again." Papa Smurf said.
"What will we do Papa Smurf?" Brainy asked.
"That's exactly what I am going to figure out next. Until then I need you to cooperate with me and help out Hefty whenever he needs it." Papa Smurf said.
"Of course Papa Smurf." Brainy said.
"I have one more Smurf I need to see and Doctor is pushing me to get some rest so I'll have to dismiss you for now." Papa Smurf said.
"Who?" Brainy asked.
"The third member of your team." Papa Smurf said with a grin.
