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Disclaimer: The Elementals and Rachel are the only characters that belong to
me, in this fic. All the others are properties of Peyo. They are being
borrowed without permission and are not intended to make a profit. This is
just for my personal love and enjoyment of the Smurfs, Johann, and Peewit.
(Also, it's been awhile since I've actually seen Smurfs, so a lot of this is
taken from memory, and a bad one at that. So, if there is anything in here
that contradicts the series, keep that in mind)
Another note: This is set a few years after the show had ended so some time
has elapsed since when the series has taken place (for example, Johann was a
page, now he has been promoted to squire, the smurflings are a little older,
etc.)

Johann lunged his sword at an invisible enemy, as he pretended to avoid
his attack. He ducked and then lunged his sword at the invisible legs. He
jumped up and moved backward as if in a dance and then spun around and fired
in the invisible assailant's heart. He then bowed. "Thank you, thank you,"
he said, to the damsel he made believe was watching. "But, I really do it
all for my country and for my beloved." He picked up a flower and sniffed it
and dropped it on the ground. "If she knew I were alive," he muttered.
"Johann!" a familiar high- pitched voice called, as a small large nosed
dwarf ran up to him. "I'm glad I caught you!"
Johann tried to hide his amused grin. " What did you do this time, Peewit?"
The blond jester/minstrel laughed hysterically. "Me? Nothing! Is it a crime
that I want to talk to my best friend without wanting anything?"
Johann fixed him with such a look, that Peewit changed his mind. He knew
Johann too long to put something over on him. "Well, I was at Rachel's
tavern when I played her brothers in cards, and I just might have had too
much ale, so not only did my trick cards come out from my sleeve, but one of
them flew in Rachel's direction."
"So, what's the harm in that?," Johann asked, knowing that there was more to
this story.
"Well, it landed on Rachel's lap, only I didn't see it until I felt around
for it."
"You felt her lap?" Johann asked.
"No, a little higher," the dwarf said with a tone that indicated he wasn't
completely sorry that he behaved indecorously.
Johann sighed. "You know she's going to hurt you!"
"And there's more-" Peewit continued.
Johann held his hand up. "No, I think I've heard enough. What are you
planning on doing about it?"
Piwit laughed heartily. "Why, me, why I'll challenge her brothers in a duel!
I want you to be my witness, even my second if things get rough for them!"
"Here's your chance," Johann pointed at the small blond woman who was being
followed by three large lumbering men.
Peewit glanced over his shoulder fearfully. "Hide me!" he squeaked and hid
behind a wall by the castle.
Johann waved cheerfully at the young blond woman. She was only a few inches
taller than Peewit, (though she was the same age as Peewit's, sixteen) but
she glared at Johann like she would have ripped him apart. She put her hands
on her blue and white dress. Her blond hair curled in a messy ponytail. She
glared with blue eyes that looked on fire and a mouth that was turned
downward. Rachel's brothers contrasted with her. While she was small and
slight, they were tall and muscular. They all looked alike with their bushy
beards, dark hair, and grins that indicated they would have ripped the young
squire in half if their little sister would give permission.
"Johann!" she said sourly.
"Rachel," Johann began civilly.
"Where is Peewit?" she began, "My brothers want to teach him a few things
about how to treat a lady!"
Johann bit his lip from smiling as he imagined Peewit's response. "Bring a
lady and we'll find out." Johann said, "Uh, I'm sorry, he isn't here. I
think he is in the marketplace, yes, I believe that's where he was going."
Rachel looked at her brothers as if to ask if she should believe them. They
nodded and shrugged. She turned to Johann. "All right, we'll check there,
but I'm warning you, Johann, if that lying, cheating, big nosed, loud
mouthed, gypsy touches where I don't want him to touch again, I'll make sure
it will be the last thing that he ever puts his hands on!"
"Yes ma'am," Johann said, as they walked off. "All right you can come out."
Johann said. Peewit climbed out from behind the castle wall.
"Thanks buddy," he said. "Big nosed?" he laughed pretending to be offended
by the young tavern maid's insults.
"It's all right, its what I'm here for," Johann teased. "But, I do believe
its love."
Piwit screwed his face and made gagging sounds. "Forget it, don't cheapen
mine and Rachel's hatred for each other with love!"
The two walked into the castle for awhile chatting about such light topics,
until they bumped into a few knights headed by the king's first knight.
"Good evening, Sir," Johann said politely.
"Good evening, uh, squire," Sir Phillippe said. "I'd love to chat, but
really we are on a mission."
"What sort of mission?" Johann asked curiously.
Sir Phillippe sighed. "Well, if you must know, we are going to Balthazar's
mountain. We believe that mad wizard is plotting to destroy the kingdom."
"Oh, I must go to," Johann said determined.
Phillippe laughed as the other knights joined him. "Really, I think that you
shouldn't. After all you haven't completed your training, yet."
"But sir," Johann said, breathlessly. "I will soon be ready to become a
knight! I need this mission!"
"The only thing you need is to stay here!" Phillippe corrected. "I'll admit
you have proven yourself in countless tasks, but it's too dangerous. Maybe,
next time. Are my saddles ready yet?"
"Yes sir," Johann sighed, as the knights walked off.
"Apparently, he has a squire confused with a page," Peewit said watching
them go. "If only I could fire that guy." He looked over in Johann's
direction, but could already see the squire heading out the door, no doubt
to his horse, Sylvester. "And there he goes," Peewit said. "Where are you
going?"
"If I wait around for Sir Phillippe to give me an assignment, I'll be an old
man of forty!," he said. "I'll find Balthazar myself!"
"Alone?" Peewit asked and then he continued. "Johann, I will pay you several
gold pieces if you don't say, no, we'll do it together."
"No, we'll do it together," Johann said, ignoring the attempt at bribery.
"No thanks," Peewit said. "I'll wait here."
Johann touched his friends arm kindly. "If you don't want to come, you don't
have to. You know I never force you to come, you can wait here."
Peewit grinned. "Are you kidding? I'm going with you. It may be dangerous,
but I'll do it! Balthazar may kill us or turn us into fluffy bunnies, but I
will do it! I have to come it's like we share the same brain. But, tell me
you are not doing this just to show that jerk up, or is there a reason more
feminine?"
Johann shook his head and cringed at the blush that was forming. "No, it is
my duty as a future knight to serve my king."
"Hello, Johann," a soft voice said. Johann and Peewit looked up to see the
red haired princess standing between them.
"Sab-princess, your highness," Johann began, "You look very beautiful."
Sabina was dressed in a red velvet gown. She had long ago stopped wearing
her red hair into two bunches around her ears, but now wore it in a long
braid down to her back.
"Thank you, Dame Barbara thinks that I should wear this for my next suitor,"
she sighed.
"Another one, doesn't that make it the second this month?" Johann asked.
"The third," she corrected. "And Father is getting very disappointed in me.
Both he and Dame Barbara told me that it should be my duty as a princess to
choose a proper husband."
"Still haven't found him," he said. Sabina shook her head. "But, you'll find
him, because he will love you, I'm sure of it."
She blushed as he continued. "I hope you do find him." He said, mentally,
hoping that she wouldn't.
Sabina giggled. "Thank you, Johann, there is a reason you were always one of
my best friends." She smiled and walked away.
Piwit waited until she was out of earshot, before he spoke. "Man, the king
really looks good in that outfit!"
Johann blushed at his friend's well meaning, but too close to home comment.
"Are you coming or not?"

"Oh Johann will you find Balthazar for my father? When you return, I'll
give you a kiss," Piwit said still mimicking the princesse's high voice as
the two friends rode their steeds through the forest.
"Oh be serious, she did not say that," Johann said.
"No, but you probably wish she did," Peewit said to his friend. Johann
blushed a deep crimson. In the four years, that he and Peewit had known her,
Sabina had changed from a close childhood friend into something more. The
young squire would admit only to himself, and to Peewit after the minstrel
pressed the issue too much, that he had fallen in love with the princess.
But, he knew that it would never happen. She was a royal, and he well
wasn't. Even though, he had always respected the king, he knew that it
wouldn't matter how many battles that he had won, and how many tasks he
participated in, the king would never consent. He would be wasting his
breath, so as always he bit his tongue, but secretly he had always hoped
that he could do one thing to impress everyone and then maybe.
As always, Piwit was blissfully devoid of inhibitions and couldn't resist
any opportunity to play matchmaker, so he took out his lute and began
strumming a song that he tried to put words too. His goat, Biquette groaned
and covered his ears in anticipation of the song. "Johann-and -Sabina-what
rhymes with Sabina?"
Piwit reached over and tapped his friend on the shoulder. "Be quiet," Johann
whispered.
"Why do you hear anything?" Peewit asked.
"No, I just want you to be quiet!" he said, "But, we are approaching
Balthazar's place." He pointed up the large dark hill and through the woods.
The wind whistled through the dead trees and storm clouds gathered. "Why is
it that evil wizards don't live in nice sunny homes?" Peewit wailed.
The dark clouds gathered making the forest look like night. Johann rode in
first as Peewit rode behind him. The squire hit at brambles in the way with
his sword, while the minstrel looked around and whistled nervously. "You-you
know what's kind of weird that we have been walking through these woods and
nothing, not that I'm complaining or anything."
Johann nodded. "I know, I feel like we're missing something, like it's-"
"-a trap?" a powerful voice asked. The two young men turned around terrified
at the tall bearded man who stood behind them.
"Balthazar!", Johann said.
"Yes, boys, and I believe that you two are trespassing, so I'll be nice and
let you go," the wizard said smugly.
"Don't be so sure," Johann warned. "The king's army will be coming here any
minute! Until then, you will have to deal with us."
Peewit poked his friend on the shoulder. "Johann, we is you, a horse, a goat
and me. Wait, not me. Forget me!"
"Your little friend speaks wisely," Balthazar sneered. "But if you two
children insist on battling, you will have to battle all of us." He raised
his arms and the sky grew darker as lightning crashed and thunder smashed to
the ground. Johann and Peewit jumped to get out of the way of the lightning.
Where the lightning hit, a skeletal army appeared. The army aimed bows and
arrows at the boys. Johann held up his shield to protect himself and Peewit.
He struck at the arrows with his sword and edged closer to Balthazar. He
alternated between defending and striking, finally getting close enough to
stab a skeleton. The skeleton shrieked as he fell. Peewit stayed behind his
friend using him as a human shield. Johann jumped slightly ahead of him to
get at Balthazar. "Johann, wait up," he called. As Peewit called to his
friend, he felt a sharp pain sear through his shoulder. He screamed as he
fell. The dwarf felt like his right shoulder was on fire.
Johann turned to Peewit as he saw the arrow on his shoulder. "Peewit,
you've been shot."
"I know," Peewit said sarcastically. Johann picked his friend up and put him
on the back of his horse defending himself from the arrows he rode out of
the forest.
When they reached a clearing, Johann leapt off his horse and pulled
Peewit off. He looked pale and drawn. Johann inspected the arrow. "It
doesn't look too bad."
"It feels bad," Peewit complained.
"I mean it didn't break the skin. Now hold still, I'm going to take this
out," Johann looked around. "I wish I had some whiskey or something to calm
you." He picked up a stick. "This will have to do, bite on this." Peewit put
the stick between his teeth as Johann turned the arrow in an attempt to move
it. Through, the stick Peewit gave a slight scream as he took it out. The
squire then cut Peewit's sleeve open and removed his own blue cape. He
ripped off an end to the cape and wrapped it around the wound. "There
finished," he said as he removed the stick from his friend's mouth.
The two sat for a few minutes, until they shook off the fight. After awhile,
Johann stood up and remounted his horse. "I'm going to find a secret way in,
you wait right here," he said.
"Bound and determined is your middle name, isn't it?" Peewit asked as he
remounted his horse.
"Peewit, no you wait right here," Johann said. "You still need to rest."
Peewit struggled to get on Biquette's back. As he did he felt lightheaded
and sick. "No, way, you can't get rid of me that easy," he said as he had
trouble breathing. "It's one for all and all for..." but that was as far as
he got when he fell off.
Johann gasped and grabbed his friend from falling. He felt Peewit's
forehead. It was burning hot to the touch His forehead and cheeks took on a
red color and his teeth were chatting. "It must be the arrow. I'll help you
up." He mounted Sylvester, holding onto Peewit. "We're not too far from
Smurf Village, maybe Papa Smurf has something that could cure you."
"Are you sure you don't want to go back?" Peewit asked. Johann turned to the
forest from which they came.
"Yes, I'm sure," he said determined and Sylvester raced with his two riders
on his back. Biquette looked confused as to what was going on, but he
followed the other horse riderless.

The bell rang throughout Smurf Village, the entire race of little blue
creatures ran out of their homes to see what the fuss was all about. Clumsy
Smurf was the first to see the two human friends ride up and stop. Johann,
gently lay Peewit down on the ground as he ran to Papa Smurf's house
avoiding trampling on any curious Smurf that ran by.
"Howdy, Johann long time no Smurf," Clumsy said. "How ya been?"
"Hello, Clumsy, fine thanks where's Papa Smurf?" Johann asked.
"I'm right here," called a familiar elderly voice. Johann turned to see Papa
Smurf surrounded by some others including three young male Smurfs in
individual clothing, a female little girl Smurf with long red braids and
pink overalls, and an even older Smurf with a yellow suit and a long white
beard, none of which Johann remembered.
"What's the matter?" Papa asked.
Breathlessly, Johann explained all that happened from their journey to when
Peewit was poisoned. "Do you still have the arrow?" Papa asked. Johann
nodded and handed it to the elderly Smurf. Papa inspected the tip carefully
without touching it. When he was through, he looked at Johann.
He motioned him over and spoke sadly in his ear. "Johann, this arrow was
laced with Phoenix Blood, even a slight touch could result in death. In two
days, Peewit will be dead. I'm very sorry."
Johann put his head in his hands and gasped. He couldn't believe it. Peewit
his best friend, the funny little man he had always confided in was dying
and it was his fault! "Please, Papa Smurf, don't let him die. There has to
be a cure, there must be."
"I will consult my books," he said and returned to his house. Johann walked
over to where Peewit lay, he could see the Smurfs had smoothed the grass
down for him. "We thought we would make Peewit more comfortable, Johann,"
Smurfette said.
"Thank you, Smurfette," he said to the female Smurf as a couple of Smurfs
moved to let him sit by his friend's side.
"What did he say?" Peewit asked, his breath becoming slow and labored.
"He said that you've been poisoned and there is a cure, he's just trying to
find out where it is," Johann answered.
Peewit laughed slightly. "You lie about as well as I sing."
Johann took his friend's hand and held it tightly. "Piwit, I swear to you
that I will find a cure for you, even if I have to find it myself," he
vowed. It was the least I could do, since I nearly killed him, he thought.
Peewit sighed and spoke so softly, that Johann had to strain to hear him.
"Johann, if there isn't one or if there is, and you can't find it, it's all
right. I'll understand, you did your best."
"There is one, I swear to it," Johann spoke a lot firmer than he felt.
A few minutes later, Papa emerged from his house. He held up his hand for
silence. "As you know, our friend Peewit is critically ill. He has been
poisoned by Phoenix's Blood. The only known cure lies in the Mountain of the
Elementals." Hushed and frightened whispers fell among the crowd as Papa
continued. "I am warning you that many have tried to reach the Mountains,
but none made it out alive. There are grave dangers, but we could succeed.
Are there any volunteers?"
"I will go," Johann said. After a long silence, Hefty Smurf stood up. "I
will go you need a strong Smurf."
Brainy Smurf then stood up. "You need someone with intelligence, I mean
besides you, Papa of course."
"I understand Brainy," Papa Smurf said grinning slightly.
Sassette then jumped up and raised her hand enthusiastically. "I want to go
too. Can I Pappy Smurf please?"
Papa Smurf almost opened his mouth to object, but then decided against it.
The Smurflings were older now. "Very well, I too shall go."
The four Smurfs and their human friend prepared for their journey. Papa
handed a handkerchief and a vial of yellow medicine to Clumsy, Handy, Nat,
and Smurfette who volunteered to watch over Piwit. "This will wet his
forehead and the vial will bring his fever down. The least we could do is to
make his last hours comfortable."
"You don't think there is a cure, do you, Papa," Handy Smurf asked.
"There is always hope, Handy," Papa said, but they could tell by the tone of
his voice that he didn't believe it either.
"May I see Peewit before we go?" Johann asked. Papa nodded and walked up to
his friend.
Peewit looked paler than before. His breathing was still very slow. Johann
squeezed his friend's hand tightly. "Peewit, there is a cure and we will
find it," he said firmly but his voice took on a softer tone. "I am so sorry
I got you into this."
"Hey, it's all part of being a minstrel and a one-man fan club," Peewit said
brightly. "You'll come back soon?"
"Sooner or later," Johann said.
"Later, always later," Peewit said. The two smiled thinly at the old joke
between them. Peewit chanted in Romany.
He must be delirious, Johann thought, he told me he hasn't spoken Romany
since his adopted parents died when he was six. "What?" he asked.
"May the road be easy on your travels," Peewit said before he closed his
eyes. Johann looked up at the other Smurfs who were motioning to him that it
was time to leave. Johann nodded and squeezed his friend's hand again for
good luck. He mounted his horse, and scooped the Smurfs up. Before they
left, Biquette gave him a mournful cry. "What do you want to come too?" he
asked. The goat nodded and followed them.
The other Smurfs waved at the travelers until they became lost in the
horizon. Clumsy and Nat faced their stricken human friend. "I hope they come
back soon," Nat said.
" I hope so too, Little Guy," Clumsy said, "I hope so too."
Piwit opened his eyes to the horizon. "Please let the road be easy," he
mumbled before he fell fast asleep.

The travel to the Elementals Mountain was a slow sad one. Beyond the
Smurfs occasionally asking Papa if it was much farther (and him growing
angrier whenever they asked) there wasn't much conversation. Johann
occasionally looked over to Biquette as if to see if the body was still
there, and his heart sank each time knowing it wasn't. Papa Smurf pointed at
the large blue mountain. "There that's it," he said. Johann pulled the reins
and jumped off the horse carrying the Smurfs with him. Biquette obeyed as
Johann tied the two animals to a tree to keep them from moving.

"It says that this mountain has four gates and we must walk through to get
the four gifts of the Elementals," Papa said consulting his books. "But that
we must face the dangers of the gates first."
Hefty flexed his muscles. "Okay, we faced monsters before we can take it."
The others nodded as they approached a clear blue river that circled the
entire mountain. "What's this?," Brainy asked. "No boat, no password, how do
we get across?"
Hefty briefly dipped his toes in the water as a crystalline feminine voice
spoke. "To cross this river, Smart One requires a payment."
The six looked around for the location of the voice when the water bubbled
up as though it were being boiled. Suddenly, and opening appeared and a
beautiful Silver haired woman emerged from the water and stood facing them.
Her gown seemed to be made of ocean pearls. She looked at them with clear
aquiline eyes that seemed to come from a dead woman. The travelers gasped,
and the Smurfs kneeled. Dazed, Johann crossed himself whispering, "Holy
Mother, Divine St. John, protect us."
When she spoke it was with a haunting lilting voice that seemed to lure
people to her. " There is no need to be afraid. Welcome, I am the Undine,
Elemental of Water and You are in the River of Emotions."
Papa was the first to speak. He approached the edge of the water and bowed
low. "Great Elemental, my name is Papa Smurf and we are travelers that only
wish to cross into your mountain to cure a dying friend."
"I am aware of that, Wise One," The Undine answered. "And I will allow you,
but as I said safe passage requires a payment." Johann looked down at his
bag and opened it reaching for a few small coins. The Elemental laughed a
tinkly laugh that was both musical and eerie at the same time. "Not that
type of payment, Squire. The payment I require is one of emotions." She
waved her hands around the river as it flowed. "This river carries thousands
of tears from feelings of sadness, anger, and guilt from the souls of Man.
As you can see, it has built up considerably. My only payment is for you to
unburden yourself with the guilt that is buried in your heart. But, only one
traveler at a time. But, it must be the truth tell a lie and you will drown
from your own guilt."
The six travelers formed a huddle after the Undine finished speaking. "What
did she mean Pappy Smurf?"
"It means that we must tell her something that is true and that we haven't
told anyone," Papa said.
"But wait a minute, Papa," Brainy objected. "If we say something we will all
know it." The others nodded.
Papa shrugged. "We must be willing to take that chance. I'm sure there will
be lots of ugly buried things we will find out about each other, before this
journey is over. We must agree now that no matter what happens in there,
that we will understand." The others agreed and Papa smiled."I'll go first."
He caught his breath and walked up to the edge. He glanced straight at the
Elemental who towered over him considerably. He knew exactly what to tell
her. "Great Elemental, years ago when most of my Smurfs were still
Smurflings. I gave an ailing young one a medicine that had poppy seeds. I
didn't know it then, but the Smurfling was allergic to poppy seeds and he
almost died." He bowed his head low to hide his emotions.
Johann looked around at the other Smurfs. They looked as surprised as he
did, except Brainy. Instead the other Smurf bowed his head low.
The Undine nodded. "You may pass, Wise One." A small dry pathway formed
allowing Papa Smurf to reach the edge. He stood at the mouth of a cave
waiting for the others.
The four looked at each other. Before anyone could say anything else,
Sassette gulped and walked to the edge. "Miss Undine, awhile ago my friends
were captured by Gargamel, but it was my fault. See, we were playing near
his castle when we weren't supposed to and the boys got in a trap. I ran and
at first, I didn't want to get help because I was afraid I would get in big
trouble and I was so glad I got away. But, I kept getting' worried about
them, so I said that they were trapped, but I didn't say how. And we freed
them, but it was my fault and no one knew 'cept me." The little Smurf girl
sobbed openly. The Undine smiled kindly as she allowed her to pass. Sassette
ran up to Papa Smurf and he hugged her.
Hefty came next. "Madam Elemental, I am in love with Smurfette. I haven't
told anyone about it until now. I know a lot of us do, but the way I feel
about her is I want to marry her and her to be mine forever. It's gotten to
the point where I feel so angry when the other guys try to be with her. I
want to punch their lights out! But, they're my friends. She doesn't know
how I feel, because she thinks I'm her friend." He bowed his head as the
crossway formed.
Brainy approached the Elemental next. " Oh Ilustrious Phantasm , years ago a
fortuitous chance resulted in conflicting emotions for myself and malicious
feelings from others."
"Smart One, if you wish to unburden yourself speak so I can understand you,"
the Undine answered dryly.
Brainy sighed. "Once when Papa Smurf was gone for a time, we had an election
to elect the leader and I set up a kingdom in which I was supreme ruler. The
others became enraged after I overstepped my bounds. But, as I was king I
enjoyed it I loved being the ruler. I loved the absolute power it had given
me. Why even now, I think back on that time and shudder not because of what
I did, but how it made me feel." Brainy shuddered involuntarily as the
pathway formed for him. When he approached the other side, Sassette smiled
and even though Papa and Hefty welcomed him they seemed cordial, rather than
overly friendly.
Johann approached the Elemental and kneeled. "Elemental, as you know my
friend is dying, but it is my fault. The two of us went up against a
powerful wizard that we had no business going against because of me. I only
did it to impress the people around me, the other knights, the princess, the
king. I wanted...wanted to be a knight to help my country, but my friend is
dying because I allowed my pride to get in the way. It's my fault and I am
so sorry." He gulped as tears sprang from his face.
"You may pass too, Squire," The Undine said. Johann wiped his eyes as he
reached the pathway.
The Undine smiled. "You have all made proper payment. Now, here is your
reward." She put her palm under her mouth and blew them a kiss. Foam
appeared and sprinkled into the open bottle that Papa Smurf held. "You may
continue into the Mountain." The Smurfs and human walked into the Mountain
single file with Johann right behind.
"You know Johann it's just the impending demise of your friend that has
manifested in this guilt that you have projected onto yourself," Brainy
remarked
"Huh?" Johann asked confused.
"It's not your fault, Johann," Brainy said.
"I'm not so sure," Johann muttered, but then he cleared his throat. "How
come when Papa Smurf told that story everyone was surprised but you. Did you
know about it?"
Brainy nodded. "Oh yes, I was that Smurfling."

Nat shyly walked up to the ailing human carrying a small bowl of soup. "Hi,"
he said. "I thought I'd give you something."
Peewit looked quizzically at the gift. It was in a bowl that to the larger
human was the size of a thimble. Peewit almost politely declined, but he
looked at the Little Guy's face. Hell, he worked so hard on it. The minstrel
took a sip as the soup barely touched his mouth. "Thanks-?" He searched for
the Smurf's name.
"Nat," the Smurfling supplied. "You don't remember me, but I remember you."
"Huh?" Peewit was confused. All of the Smurfs he knew had dressed alike, and
there was only one female. So, Nat explained how he, Slouchy, and Snappy
went into the Time Crystals and became younger and then explained how they
made Sassette.
"I did wonder how come there were two Smurf girls," Peewit observed dryly.
Then, he began to cough violently. After awhile his coughing subsided, and
he fell over shaken and pale.
"I'm sorry," Nat said softly.
"It's okay, it happens," the minstrel said.
From her house, Smurfette watched the ailing human. She looked skyward at
the travelers. "Please come back soon," she whispered.
Handy walked by Smurfette's house watching Smurfette look out the window. He
knew she was worried about the others. He was too, but he also felt
something else and he hated himself for feeling this way. He noticed it
every night when he would walk by Smurfette's house just to see her face
through the window, either reading or sewing. He noticed it whenever he
talked to her and he liked to see her smile. He wanted to tell her that he
had fallen in love with her, but he couldn't. For some reason, whenever he
was near her he acted about as shy as well, Bashful Smurf. Besides, he had a
funny feeling that Hefty liked her too. Out of all the other Smurfs, Hefty
was his best friend. How could he interfere with that? But, when Smurfette
was hurt how could he interfere with that? "They will be all right, I'm
sure," Handy whispered. Suddenly, he came up with an idea. He ran to her
flower garden and plucked a white flower from a bush. He cautiously ran to
her doorstop and knocked on it, then ran out of the way. He listened as the
door opened and he heard Smurfette call, "Hello? Hello?" Then, he heard a
small cry of delight and the door close. Handy smiled as he left the outside
of her house.

In the cave, Hefty wiped the sweat that was forming from his forehead as
the group went further and further in the cave. "Is it getting hotter in
here or is it just me?"
Brainy took off his hat to wipe the steam that had formed on his glasses. He
shook his head. "No, Hefty the temperature has reached an accelerated rate
far beyond the standard degrees of normal temperature since we have
descended into this cave."
"Huh?" said his traveling companions.
Brainy rolled his eyes. "Yes, it's getting hotter Hefty."
Sassette hovered too closely to the edge to get a closer look. As she leaned
over, she lost her footing. With a scream she almost fell over the side.
Johann leaned over and gently picked the female Smurfling up. "Thank you,
Johann," Sasseette said sighing as she looked up at him.
"You're welcome, Sassette," Johann said as he put the female Smurf next to
Papa.
The older Smurf couldn't miss the gazing look Sasette gave the human squire.
He rolled his eyes, "Memo to Smurf, watch out they start young."
As the travelers edged further, they came upon a river of lava. The stench
of sulpher and incense was overpowering, so much that it made their eyes
burn and overpowered their sense of smell.
"Would you look at this place?" Sassette exclaimed.
"This must be the home of the second Elemental," Papa observed.
"This is what I always imagined Purgatory would look like," Johann said. How
fitting, he thought.
"Thank you very much Squire," a sardonic voice said. "Do I come to your home
and say it reminds me of a sweltering inferno. Do I visit you and say 'Nice
place you got here. It would just be a lot nicer without the biting demons
and tormenting death?'" The Smurfs and humans looked ahead of them on a
magma rock as three little flames burst on it and danced around the rock.
They drew back in surprise as the flames got larger and larger until they
formed an image. The image fell as they appeared in front of a small orange
reptilian creature. He spread his wings out revealing his small form. He
stared at them through ember eyes that were between three large horns on the
top of his head. He spoke with a sardonic swagger to his voice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Creatures of all Ages, I am the
Salamander and welcome to the Pit of ILLUSION!!!!," The last word echoed
throughout the cave as the reptile looked around. "Was that a bit too much I
never can tell?"
The Salamander floated to the travelers becoming so close to them that they
couldn't concentrate as they spoke. They asked him questions that he seemed
to know the answer to before asked.
Papa asked, "Are you-?" "Yes."
Brainy asked, "Can you-?" "Yes."
Sassette asked, "Is there-?" "Oh, yes!"
Hefty was getting more irritated, "Will you-?!" "No."
Johann asked, "Will there-?" "Wait what was the question again?" "Will
there-?" "Yes."
"How did you-?" the squire asked interested.
"Intuition thing, all of us Fire elementals have it," The Salamander
answered smugly.
"Now, I will help you cure your little Buddy, but first you have to go
through my pit," he said. "The Pit of Illusion copyright 1056 AD by the
Salamander All rights reserved. You will walk through the door individually
or as a group, it doesn't matter you will all see something different even
if you somehow bump into each other. Through that pit you will see terrible
things, your worst fear but it isn't real. Hence the title, Illusion." You
may want to fight it but don't bother you would lose anyway." The others
glared at him as he continued. "Now, remember if you run from it out the
back perfectly okey dokey, but you will not be allowed back in. You may go
in, but single file and remember keep all hands, arms, and legs in the pit
at all times por favor." The five exchanged glances and walked ahead as the
pit swirled around in a fiery cave. Blinking back the heat they walked in.

Johann staggered into the circular firey dome. His mouth felt dry and
his throat felt parched. The more he walked the more he staggered. Part of
him wanted to stop or turn back, but the other part of him remembered that
he couldn't return. I have to help Peewit, he thought. He looked ahead to a
green field. That must be the next gate, he thought as he walked towards it.
He stumbled into the meadow just as a group of peasants were running from a
small legion of knights. The knights stood aside them blocking their view.
Ignoring the Salamander's warnings that the illusions were not real, Johann
kept his hand on his sword hilt and approached the scuffle. Mostly, the
young squire kept his eyes on the knight's commander. He was a tall well
built muscular man in a fine suit of white armour and his horse was a fine
white horse festooned with a red saddle and an emblem that Johann couldn't
quite make out. The man took off his helmeted mask and glowered down at the
peasants. His dark hair trailed down to his shoulders and hung behind his
back and his face was masked with a cold haughty arrogance. Johann felt that
there was something oddly familiar about this man that he couldn't quite
place, though he had never seen him before.
"Attack those peasants! They will never rebel again!," He commanded in a
voice devoid of emotions. At his command, the other knights slaughtered them
one by one. Johann readied his sword to charge at the murdering knights.
The lead knight stopped at a peasant woman who spat in his face.
"Tyrant! Black Hearted Demon!" She cursed.
"You must thank me for saving your soul, Woman!" The man said.
But still the woman ignored him. "I curse you, may you suffer Sir Johann the
Black Hearted!"
The words rang in Johann's heart like cathedral bells. Sir Johann the
Blackhearted. Sir Johann the Blackhearted. That monster, the one who had
just ordered the slaughter of those villagers was him? No, I won't believe
it, he thought.
Sir Johann turned to one of his associates. "Insolent, old Woman. Kill her
and then let's make our way to Smurf Village. Who knows what those monsters
have for us!"
"No!" Johann yelled. He lunged his sword and charged at the other him, but
fell through the image on his face. Johann listened as the clip clop of the
horses died down. He looked up at the retreating knights. This was what he
would become, a self -righteous monster who instilled fear and hatred into
the people. He was suddenly filled with fear and loathing. He would kill
those peasants as easily as he killed Peewit.
"But, I didn't kill Peewit," he said. "He was hit by an arrow."
"He was traveling at your command," a voice seemed too say. "He is dying
because of you. He followed you." Johann nodded, "I know, but I won't let
him down again."
He stood up as he turned to the direction from which he came. "Peewit, I
will come for you," He vowed as he left the field.

Hefty looked through his surroundings. He had left the fiery tunnel and now
overlooked a cliff. How did I get outside?, he thought. Then a scream made
his heart jump. He ran to see the trouble.

Smurfette was dangling by the edge. "Hefty, help me!" she screamed
"I have you, Smurfette!" he reassured her. He grabbed her by the hand and
tried to pull her free. He was surprised that he couldn't keep hold of her,.
"It's all right, I'll rescue you, Smurfette," the strong Smurf promised, but
he puffed as he tried to keep hold. But, the more he struggled with her, the
more he lost his grip on her, the more she slipped from him. Hefty felt limp
and weak as he tried to hold onto her. She slipped from his fingers
"Hefty, don't let go," she begged as he held her by her fingertips.
"I'm trying not to," he said as he looked at the blond Smurf's face as she
fell. She looked back at him with a desperate look as she fell from his
grasp down to the cliffs below.
"Smurfette!" he called. "Smurfette!" He reached down, but all he could feel
was air. Then he sank on the side of the cliff sadly. Smurfette was gone and
he never told her how he felt and couldn't save her.
"I'm sorry Smurfette," he thought as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I should
have told you back at the Village how I felt-" He closed his eyes and then
thought, the Village! Smurfette is still there, he thought, but how did she
-? Then, suddenly he recalled he wasn't on a cliff. "This is some rotten
trick!" he said as he stood up. As soon as he stood, the cliff cleared away
until he was in the cave again. "I have to find the others," he said as he
called to his comrades. "And then I'm gonna give that Salamander the beating
of his life!"

"Hello?" Brainy called as he walked in the dark. He felt along the
walls for a crevice or an opening, anything to tell him where he was instead
of the long corridor he had found himself in, after leaving the fiery pit.
He laughed slightly. If these Elementals believe that I am terrified of the
dark then they don't know that I realize that the dark is just a natural
phenomenon, he thought. He felt along the walls calling for his fellow
travelers, but only receiving an echo in reply. He felt his way in silence,
until he felt a large gap in the floor. The Smurf screamed as he fell down a
hole to the ground below. The force knocked his glasses off of his head. He
stumbled around in the dark for them, on hands and knees feeling for a sign
for the glasses and then hopefully knowing where he was. His hands felt for
the frames and he put the glasses on his head. He looked up at the ceiling
silently thanking Mother Nature that they weren't broken.
A loud bang made him jump. He looked skyward and saw that he had been
thrown into some sort of compartment, a box of some sort. He called for
help, but he knew that no one would be able to hear him. Okay Brainy, you
can think your way out of this, he thought. He jumped up hoping to reach the
top, but barely left the floor before he fell back down.
"Now what do I do?," he thought. A loud rusty squeak resounded from the
walls and ceiling. Brainy tried not to look around him, but his curiosity
overcame him. The walls and the ceiling were closing in on him! Brainy felt
his mouth go dry and his heart pump several beats per second. He raced
around the diminishing room looking for a handle or a trap door any sort of
mechanism. "I can use my brain, I just have to think," Brainy said. "After
all, a closed room can be defined- oh Smurf HELPP!!!!!". Brainy screamed
hoping that someone would hear him, but his voice became more muffled as the
ceiling and walls came closer.

Sassette screamed for the others, hoping to hear another voice, but
she heard nothing. The little girl Smurf tried to follow her friends, but
wound up getting lost. The more she tried to look for them, the more lost
and the more alone she felt. She felt a lump in her throat. Come on, Sassy,
don't be a baby, she thought to herself, just find the others and find the
cure! She sat down on a rock remembering what Papa Smurf once told her about
getting lost and staying where she was until someone found her. She sat on
the rock looking from one end of the cave to the other hoping that the
others would appear.
Suddenly, the rock moved and knocked her over until she tumbled to the
ground. Sassette lifted her head and saw her reflection. She was standing in
a red mirror. She smiled and giggled. The Smurf stuck her tongue out and
made a goofy face at the mirror. Just then, she heard a large hiss. The
mirror turned over and Sassette realized for the first time that it was not
a mirror, but an eye. The other eye opened as the creature stood up on its
eight legs. It was a large spider! The female Smurf stood up and clenched
her fists.
" I ain't scared of you," she said. "It will take a lot more than that to
scare me," she vowed. The spider shrieked and around the room it was greeted
by similar sounding shrieks. Sassette gulped as more spiders rose from the
ground. She stepped back in fear as the spiders approached her. "It will
take something like that," she squeaked. She screamed as the spiders
approached her like they would a meal.

Papa stepped out of the pit into a hallway. Though torches lit the
hall, the Smurf couldn't see because of his height. He called to the others,
"Hefty! Brainy! Sassette! Johann! Is anyone out there?"
"I am Smurf!" called a familiar voice as the hall suddenly became lit well
enough for the Smurf to see. The elderly Smurf then stood face to face with
the tall wizard that he knew and that he hated to well.
"Gargamel, where are the others?" Papa asked.
"I have them in my castle," the wizard said.
"You are lying," Papa declared.
The wizard smiled. "Am I? How do you think I got here, I work with the
Elementals to trap your friends. After all, didn't those foolish boys try to
attack my UNCLE?"
Papa tried to think. Was this a conspiracy between Gargamel and the
Elementals? Did the wizard really have his friends? Would Peewit die now? He
looked squarely at the wizard.
"I don't care," he said. "I will defend my friends to the end."
Gargamel smiled evily. "Would you care to have a wizards duel?" he stuck out
his wand.
"Gladly," Papa said as held his. Gargamel waved snidely letting him go
first.
Papa raised his hands and chanted allowing a gust to blow Gargamel back. The
human wizard raised his hands in mock terror, "Don't hurt me, please!" Then,
he pointed and the wind threw back at Papa only the larger gust knocked the
tiny Smurf off of his feet. "Giving up?"
"I'm just getting Smurfed up," Papa said as he called for some energy. Blue
and purple blasts fell from him his wand and scorched at Gargamel. Once
again, the wizard threw the blasts back sending them in a whirl of magic
that picked up the elderly Smurf. Gargamel smiled and cackled, "Good bye
Smurf."
Papa struggled against the magic in fear. He tried to find a way out, but
the more he struggled the more it squeezed tighter around him like a noose.
"My powers taking control every magic user's worst fear," he said. "I just
have to concentrate. This isn't real. It's an illusion." He kept chanting it
to himself, until he felt the magic fade from him. As his fear and the
illusion died, he felt someone's hand grab him. He stood and faced Hefty.
The two Smurfs embraced as though they had been apart for years. "Are you
all right Papa?" Hefty asked.
"I'm fine, I just had a bit of a scare," the elderly Smurf said.
Hefty nodded. "Me too, have you seen the others?"
Papa shook his head. "Not yet," he said. Papa was about to suggest that they
move on when they felt a sharp steel object poke at them.
"Who's there?" A familiar voice called. The two Smurfs looked above them to
see Johann standing over them.
"Johann, it's us," Papa said. "You've been hallucinating."
Johann blinked at the two small Smurfs. "Hefty? Papa? Is it you?"
Hefty nodded. "Who else did you think it would be?"
"Me," Johann said flatly. The two Smurfs exchanged puzzled glances, but
hoped their friend had recovered from his illusion.
Johann's breath came in short desperate gasps as he looked around the room
and then down as if to be sure that his assailant was no longer present. He
cleared his throat and recovered. "Are you two all right?" The other two
Smurfs nodded as Hefty looked ahead.
"Is that Brainy?" the three of them exchanged glances and then ran to the
direction that Hefty pointed. Brainy lay passed out on the floor, his body
turned into a light blue almost white.
"Is he -?" Hefty was about to ask.
Papa listened for his pulse and smiled. "No, he's fine." He then gently
shook the other Smurf. "Wake up, Brainy."
The Smurf's eyes fluttered open. "Papa, Hefty, Johann are you in this box
too?"
They shook their heads. "It was a dream concocted by the Elementals."
"An illusion?" Brainy asked and looked around as if seeing the tunnel for
the first time. "Why didn't I-?" Did you all realize it?"
They nodded. "Well, Hefty and Papa did," Johann said. "I had a little
trouble."
Brainy looked at the other two Smurfs. "Hefty realized it? And I didn't?" He
felt recovered and a little embarrassed.
A scream fell through the others. The four ran to the scream. Sassette
struggled on the ground trying to fight off an invisible something. "Get
them off! Get them off!" she begged. Papa and Hefty grabbed the little girl
as she fought with them.
"It's us," Papa said. "It's just us." Sassette finally relaxed a little and
then looked around in fear at Papa and Hefty. "I saw these Spiders that were
bigger than me," she said.
"It's all right, it wasn't real," Papa reassured her. The girl sank from
their grasp realizing that she was with the others. When she came upon,
Johann she slightly blushed, but then rolled her eyes. Don't be mushy, she
thought.
"Is everyone all right?" Papa asked. The others nodded as they heard
clapping. They looked around as the tunnel faded away from them and they
fond themselves once again in the Salamander's domain.
The Salamander sat lazily on his rock grinning at the travelers.
"Congratulations, you have all gotten through the second gate without dying
or turning back. I am so impressed." He said with a tone that indicated he
wasn't. "Not many people had usually they become so upset with what they saw
they either die of fright or kill themselves.
I guess I will have to juice up the scares the next time around."
"Why I oughta-!" Hefty raised his fist in an attempt to attack the
Salamander. Papa and Brainy held him back as the reptilian creature's eyes
glowed a murderously red and he blew fire on the Smurf charring him.
"Because of that, I shouldn't hold my part of the bargain, but because I'm a
gentleman I will," the Salamander said. "Now, stick out the bottle."
Papa opened the bottle as the Salamander blew fire at them, the fire became
smaller and smaller until they decimated in the bottle into a red liquid.
"Thank-," Papa began. "Don't mention it," the Salamander said.
Where is-?" Brainy asked. The Salamander pointed at the tunnel below them.
"The third Elemental is through that tunnel down the hall to your left.
Don't touch anything. My sister is anal about her possessions. Buh-bye now."
Without another word he disappeared.
The Smurfs and human exchanged confused glances and followed the
Salamander's directions through the tunnel.

Smurfette left Peewit's side to fill a cup with water. It was a bit
difficult carrying the human sized cup above her small frame. She barely got
in between the mushroom houses when it fell on the ground. She tried to lift
it once again, but it was too hard. Handy walked by.
"Need a little help?," he asked. "There's a trick to lifting these human
cups. You pick it up by the handle," He grabbed one handle and invited
Smurfette to follow suit. They then walked to a nearby stream and filled it
with water. "I hope he'll be okay," she said quickly indicating their ailing
friend. "It would be just awful if they returned and he was.. Or they didn't
make it back at all."
Handy held onto her. "They'll make it back I'm sure."
Smurfette nodded, but more uncertain. "I know, I'm just worried about them
that's all." As they got nearer to the clearing, Handy held onto Smurfette's
hand. She seemed so upset and alone. He took her hand and before she knew
it, he kissed her. Both of them pulled back surprised. "I'm sorry," he said.
"I didn't mean... This isn't the time."
Smurfette smiled warmly. "Do it again." The two small creatures pulled
together and kissed again this time more willingly. Smurfette pulled back
again. "Water, remember?" she said. Handy nodded as the two Smurfs walked
up to the clearing, holding onto the cup but smiling at each other.
They almost approached the human when a loud scream made them jump with
fright. They ran to Peewit's side. The young minstrel was too weak to move
much, but he was tossing and turning in bed as though he were struggling
with something. His whole body seemed to burn. He mumbled in his sleep,
something the Smurfs couldn't understand but knew instinctively the young
man was feeling threatened. "Mama! Papa! I'm scared of the gorgio
churchmen!," he muttered. "Don't let them get me! Please don't go with them,
they'll burn you!" A couple of the Smurfs tried to hold the human's hand,
but he struggled away from them.
"Peewit, it's all right," Smurfette said. "We're here. No one is going to
hurt you."
Handy reached in his pocket and pulled out the vial that Papa Smurf had
given them and tried to pour it in the boy's mouth, but he couldn't sit
still enough. Clumsy, who had been watching snapped his fingers with
delight. The Smurf stumbled into the village to Papa Smurf's house and
emerged with a small brown jar. He held it with both hands taking great care
not to drop it. He was able to run until he approached Peewit's body. He
tripped over the minstrel's feet as powder fell from the jar onto his body.
Peewit struggled for a few minutes, then relaxed seeming to be overcome with
exhaustion. Handy opened the human's mouth and poured the vial into his
mouth. The fix -it Smurf jumped down to be eye level with his friend. "What
was that Clumsy?"
Clumsy dug his toes in the grass in a shy manner before he spoke. "I
remembered once Papa Smurf used that to put someone to sleep. I thought it
would come in handy, but I was supposed to put it in his mouth, though."
The other Smurfs smiled and Handy slapped him on the back. "Clumsy, you
actually did something right." Clumsy blushed and shrugged off his friend's
compliments.

The Smurfs and Johann traveled in silence as they walked further in
the cave and darkness. No one talked about the last gate, because of the
fear they saw. And all were worried about the next one. Would it be as
frightening as the last? They entered into another cave. It seemed to glow
with crystals that were buried in the stones and on the stalagtites and
stalagmites. Papa took out his notes. "This is where the Third Elemental,
the Earth Elemental lives."
Brainy looked around. "Where is she?" The others shrugged. Sasette wearily
flopped on a rock. The rock wiggled from under her and it opened knocking
her on her bottom. "Ow," Sasette said as she looked into the face of a
leather gray creature. Her small face was surrounded by a mass of long thick
gray hair. She stared through piercing yellow eyes and jagged teeth that
looked like shards of rock. She glared at Sassette.
"Listen do I lay my tuchis on your home, do I? Well, do I?," Sassette shook
her head. "All right then keep off of mine!" The creature almost went down
into her underground home, before Papa stopped her.
"Madam, are you by any chance the Third Elemental?," he asked.
The creature glared at him with a ticked off look. "Duh," she said. "But
most mortals don't believe it since I'm the most beautiful." The travelers
exchanged glances and threatened to laugh at the small elemental's conceit.
She then glared at them. "I said, most mortals don't believe it since I'm
the most beautiful!"
The Smurfs and their human companion got the hint. "Yes, very beautiful." "I
want to look exactly like you." "A total knockout." "No one surpasses your
loveliness."
"Thank you," the elemental said. "I'm a gnome and my brother and sister
already clued me in on you guys." She pointed to a cave door to her left and
spoke in a bored voice. "Right through there is the next gate. It's a maze,
so watch out there will be all kinds of tricks to get you lost or kill you.
But, we prefer to kill you. I'm supposed to give you a word of advice, trust
each other. I'll be waiting for you if you get out."
The companions looked at the door. "But-" Johann began.
"But what?" The Gnome laughed. "Look handsome, I know you're sweet on me and
want us to be alone in the dark together, but I'm not that kind of
Elemental. You're just going to have to get your jollies elsewhere." She
dove back into her cave. "I hate it when they get attached to me," she
muttered.
The travelers walked up to the doorway. "I suppose we should go in there,
shouldn't we?" Papa said as he led them into the maze.

The travelers seemed to be walking forever down a long corridor. " I
don't get it," Sassette said as she panted feeling a loss of breath. "I
thought this was a maze, but I don't see any doors or openings, it goes on
and on."
Hefty looked ahead. "Wait, I see one!" he pointed to the far end, at a lit
tunnel. He waved the others to follow him, but he got a little too far.
"Hefty, slow down," Papa yelled, but the other Smurf didn't hear instead he
kept running. When he finally reached the far end he disappeared and
screamed.
"Hefty!" the others yelled.
"We have to look for him, "Johann exclaimed, without another word or
explanation the young squire ran ahead. The others called him back, but
again he would not listen. I failed one friend, I will not fail another, he
thought as he ran ahead. When he turned through the tunnel, he disappeared.
The three other Smurfs caught their breath. "Now what?" Brainy asked.
"We need a plan," Papa said. "Sassette, you wait here. Brainy and I will go
looking for the others." The other two Smurfs nodded, not wanting to argue.
Sassette leaned against a wall trying to catch her breath. She was still
scared, but tried not to show it. Suddenly, she felt the wall disappear.
"Pappy! Brainy!" she yelled as she lost her balance and fell below.
Papa and Brainy ran to the wall, but it had built up. The two Smurfs called
to her, but Papa pulled Brainy aside. "It's no use," he said. "Take my hand,
we'll look for them, but we have to stay together." Brainy held Papa Smurf's
hand as the two walked down the corridor together. When they were halfway
through to the end of the tunnel. Brainy looked curiously at the wall.
"Papa, look some strange writing," he said. The two Smurfs walked up to the
wall to have a better view of the etchings on the wall. Suddenly, they were
hit with a blinding light. Confused, Brainy put his hands to his face and
covered his eyes. It took him a few minutes to reopen them and adjust to the
light. But, when he could see he saw that Papa Smurf had disappeared.
"Papa!," he yelled. He called for the others, but he feared it would do no
good. For now, he was alone.

Hefty fell on the ground in a heap. "Okay, now what have those Smurfing
elementals done now?" he cursed under his breath. He struggled to stand
leaning on the wall for support. He shook his head to shake off the pain.
Remember, he thought, there might be a trick to this. He blinked at a far
off light and saw a light before him. Maybe there isn't, he thought as he
tried to run for it. Hefty kept running and running, but he couldn't get any
closer to the light. It still stayed the same distance away from him. He ran
and ran, until he stopped to take a breath. He rested against the wall.
There has to be a way through this, he thought. Then a light from the other
side filled him. He looked in the opposite direction. Maybe it's closer, he
thought, but then ran to the other side. Again the tunnel seemed endless as
he ran. Hefty sank down on the ground to collapse as he caught his breath.

Papa looked around the strange room feeling as lost as ever. "I must figure
this trick out," he said to himself, "The others are depending on me to get
them safely out," he said ash e turned the corner to a green plant-like
maze. "Okay, shouldn't be as difficult as the Puzzle of '41," he thought.
"Smurf, those were some tough times," he said as he thought for a moment of
where to turn. First, he turned a corner into a passageway. He turned once
more and ran into: a wall. As he approached the wall a loud blaring sound
deafened him. Papa covered his ears in pain. When the noise died away, he
moved again more determined than ever to finish the maze. He turned another
corner to get through the maze. This time it led him down the right passage.
Papa grinned and walked down it, but he came upon two tunnels one that was
more lit and the other darker. Papa rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The Gnome
has something planned in the lit tunnel, so I had better take the tunnel
less traveled, he thought as he walked down it. He felt his fingers along
the tunnel until he came upon another dead end. Once again the loud noises
bored into him. It must be the other one, Papa thought as he ran out of the
tunnel into the other side. He turned to the other side and felt a third
dead end. He covered his ears as the sound rang through the tunnel.

Johann struggled to catch up to Sassette as the little Smurfling ran ahead
of him. "Sassette," he called. "We must stay together." But the female Smurf
ran as if she didn't hear him. Johann ran up to the Smurf just behind her,
and tried to catch her but was blocked by glass. Johann ran his fingers
along the glassy wall, as the Smurf disappeared. He realized the trick,
Sassette was a reflection from a mirror. Johann glowered and punched the
mirror in frustration. Curse those Elementals, he thought.
"Johann, this way," he heard a voice call to him. Johann looked up to see
Brainy Smurf pointing at him. Johann hesitated, but held onto his sword just
in case. He followed the Smurf warily. Just as he approached him, Brainy
disappeared. Johann glowered then looked around his surroundings. He was
completely surrounded by mirrors. " A place that only Vanity Smurf would
love," he joked to himself. Johann turned from one end to another realizing
that there was no exit. "Maybe, it's through one of these mirrors," he
thought as he walked towards a dark mirror. He felt tense as he approached,
there was something in there that he just knew he didn't want to see. He
glanced through the dark colored mirror that barely held his reflection.
Suddenly, his face disappeared and he saw a red haired woman in a white
dress standing next to a tall golden haired man. They recited something in
front of a priest, and then kissed. Johann's heart sank as he recognized his
friend, Princess Sabine. He felt a stab of jealousy at the man, and longing
at the princess. "Your fault for not trying," he could just hear Peewit say.
I don't have time for this, he thought, I must rescue my friend! Suddenly,
the image of the couple disappeared and he saw an even more familiar scene
one where a bunch of Smurfs stood in one area. Johann caught Smurfette
holding someone's hand, but he couldn't make it out. The blond Smurf dropped
the hand and turned away. Johann looked closely, and saw Peewit his dying
friend and he knew. He sensed the young minstrel looking at him with eyes of
disappointment and accusation as life drained from him.
Johann felt a cold sweat, and tense and felt the room spin. "No," he said
desperately. He hit the mirror with his hands and kicked it with his feet to
break through, to no avail. His mind felt devoid of any emotions, but grief
and rage as he beat on it. He finally picked up the blunt end of his sword
and starting beating the mirror with it. He then tried beating at the other
mirrors. He beat at them again and again, feeling like his mind was going
until finally he dropped the sword and sank down on the ground in
exhaustion.

Brainy wandered through an open cavern and looked out. He nearly
stepped his foot off when he realized he was in an endless pit several feet
up. The walls to each cavern had identical openings and were lit by torches
on each side. Brainy cautiously reached over to pick one up and experimented
by throwing it on the ground. The torch fell, but made no sound the lower it
got. Just as I thought, bottomless, Brainy thought sarcastically.
"Brainy," he heard a familiar girlish voice call. Brainy looked down and saw
several feet below on the opposite wall, Sassette.
"Sassette?" he yelled. "I'm up here!"
"I can see that," Sassette said. "How do we get to each other?"
Brainy looked around. "What direction did you come from?" Sassette pointed
to her right. Brainy nodded, "That's where I came from, there must be," He
then looked from the left and whistled for Sassette "There's a ramp on mine
going downward. Is there one on your side going up?"
"Yes," Sassette said. Brainy smiled. "Good, you run on yours and I will run
on mine." He watched as Sassette disappeared into the tunnel. Brainy then
disappeared in his. He ran down the tunnel past the other openings. Then he
turned a corner and counted for the third one and then looked out.
"Sassette," he called. "Are you here?"
"No," a testy voice answered. "I'm up here," Brainy looked up and saw
Sassette was in the same position he was before. He reeled in shock, but
quickly recovered. "Okay, you stay there and I will try to get to you," he
said. "I mean it, remain stationary!" Brainy then ducked into the tunnel
this time climbing up the ramp. He ran through the labrynthine twists and
turns until he approached another wall of openings. He counted the tunnels
until he came to the fourth and looked out and called the girl's name.
"Brainy," she called back. "I hear you, but where are you?" Brainy looked
up.
"Look below your feet," Brainy said. Sassette looked down and saw Brainy in
the opening directly under her.
"Okay, this time you stay where you are and I will run to you," she
suggested.
"Sassette, one bit of advice," Brainy called. "Just go down."
Sassette listened as she ran down the ramp, she ran straight down and then
through the hallway. This has gotta work, she thought, but then when she
looked out the opening, she saw Brainy directly across from her.
"Call me crazy, but I don't think that worked," she said sarcastically.
"We have to think of something," Sassette said. "We went up, down, around. I
stayed, you stayed, but nothing."
"What haven't we done, yet?" Brainy said. He took off his glasses to clean
them, and then put them back on. As he put them back on his face, a thought
occurred to him. He dipped his toe off the cliff and knew that his
hypothesis was correct. "There is one venue we haven't tried, Sassette!" he
yelled.
"What?" Sassette asked.
"Straight across!" Brainy said. From the other side of the cavern Brainy
could see Sassette react in fear.
"But, we'll fall," she said.
"No, we will not," Brainy reassured her. "Trust me, I'll walk to you and you
will walk to me." Despite his words of comfort, Brainy felt a little nervous
himself as he stepped off the side. He stood on an invisible bridge, but
that wasn't reassuring. Brainy took great pains not to look down. He looked
directly at Sassette. "It's all right, Sassette, I assure you," he said.
"The velocity is achieved by a level of suspension. Just walk to me, all
right? But, don't look down."
Sassette was very reluctant as she stepped off. She put her toe off the
side, but couldn't bring herself to move the rest of her body. She gently
coaxed herself off the side. The girl Smurf felt very dizzy, but continued
to keep her eyes on Brainy as she approached him. Brainy walked towards the
female Smurf. Both Smurfs kept their eyes on each other, not daring to look
down once. They ran to the middle and to each other. "We did it," Sassette
said happily as she hugged Brainy. Embarrassed, Brainy drew back.
"Yes, well, we must reassemble with the others," he said as they walked off
the bridge on Brainy's side and out of the cavern.

Sassette and Brainy continued to travel until they reached a wall.
"Now what," Sassette asked.
Brainy was about to reply in the negative when he heard the sound of loud
cursing in both Smurfian and English. The two Smurfs exchanged glances
knowing who it was. "Hefty!" they both yelled.
Hefty looked up from trying once more to approach the end of the tunnel, but
again it didn't work. Hefty banged on the wall and cursed glad that Papa
wasn't there to hear him. Then he heard someone call his name. "Who's
there?" he called.
"It's Brainy and Sassette," he said. "Hefty, your voice is getting louder
when you reach this area."
"So?" Hefty asked.
"There must be a hidden compartment near where we are, walk right on
through," Brainy observed.
There was a long silence in the air then Hefty's voice re emerged this time
with suspicion. "How do I know it's you?" he asked. "And not a trick."
Brainy gritted his teeth, but then thought of an idea. "Who else knows you
sleep with a teddy bear at night?" There was an even longer silence from the
strong Smurf. The only sound that could be heard was Sassette's giggle. Then
the voice reemerged. "All right it is you, Brainy," Hefty said. "What do I
have to do?"
"Feel through the wall where you hear our voices, there should be an uneven
spot and just walk on through."
Hefty felt for the wall for any uneven spots, but so far all he felt was a
smooth even surface. Finally, he felt a part where one side of the wall was
larger than the other. "I found it!" he yelled. "Here I come!" He said and
then jumped through.
Brainy and Sassette ran to the friend. Hefty clapped their hands delighted
to see them again. Brainy motioned forward. "Come we still have to find
Johann and Papa." Then he turned to Hefty an amused grin on his face.
"Excellent, Hefty Mr. Muscles would be very proud of you."
Hefty blushed with embarrassment as Sassette laughed uncontrollably. "Don't
you be telling Smurfette about that Mr. Muscles stuff," he demanded as he
followed them out of the hall.

Papa stood in the middle of the maze trying to recover his aching head.
His head hurt from all of the rings that emerged every time he got through a
wrong wall. Through his own luck, he was able to get through the center of
the maze, but knew that he would never be able to get out. He even tried
using magic to open up the maze, but any spell it did closed up immediately
after to make him more lost. He tried to think of any other means to come
through, but came up short.
Suddenly he heard voices call his name. "Papa Smurf!"
He called out, hoping it was not a hallucination. "My little Smurflings?"
He then heard three cheers. "Yes, Papa it's us!" Hefty yelled.
"Where are you?" Sassette asked.
"I'm through this maze and I'm trying to get past the exit," Papa told them.
"Papa, will you follow the sounds of our voices?" Brainy asked.
Papa almost stepped forward, but then a thought entered his head. What if
it's an Elemental trick? Papa looked to the passage just as determined. I
have to trust the other Smurfs, that they wouldn't fool me, but if it is a
trick I will have to be on my guard. He almost moved when another thought
stopped him. Oh Smurflings," he said.
"Yes!" They all shouted.
"How can I follow the sounds of your voices if you don't talk?" he asked.
There was another silence, then he heard Hefty yell. "Are you much farther
Papa Smurf?"
Papa smiled at the old joke, among himself and the other Smurfs. He turned
the corner and walked past a passage. "Not much farther my little
Smurflings," he said.
"Are you much farther Pappy Smurf?" Sassette said as Papa went through
another opening. "Not Much farther my little Smurflings."
"Are you much farther Papa Smurf?" Brainy asked as Papa went straight ahead.
Their voices were getting stronger and he was getting closer.
"Just a bit farther my little Smurflings," he said.
"Are you much farther Papa Smurf?" all three Smurfs yelled in unison as Papa
turned the last corner through the exit.
"I'm far!" he yelled as the other Smurfs ran up to hug him. "Is everyone all
right?" he asked. The other Smurfs nodded and began telling their adventures
in unison when Papa held up his hand. "Slow down, remember we have one more
member of our party to find," he said.
Sassette looked into a nearby hallway. "Hey, what are all of those mirrors
for?" Sassette asked. The other Smurfs followed the female Smurf down to a
mirrored hallway. The mirrors were so bright they practically blinded them.
The Smurfs blinked to get adjusted to the light. When they recovered, Hefty
pointed to the other side of the mirror. "It's Johann!" he yelled. The
others looked in the direction he pointed and saw their human friend. Johann
walked as though he were hunted. He jumped at an invisible assailant and
dove to attack but felt for nothing.
"What's wrong with him?" Sassette asked.
"He's fighting a war inside himself," Papa said. "I haven't a moment to
lose." He looked through the mirrors at a possible catch or ability to walk
through, but found none. He then thought of something. "Maybe it didn't work
in the maze, because it was my struggle!," he said. He then further
explained it to the puzzled Smurfs. "Maybe, if I use my magic to help Johann
it will work." He then opened up his bag and poured some powder onto the
mirror and recited. "Powder of life, help fight this vision/Give our friend
some magical intervention." Just then the mirror glowed a golden and felt
like water. Papa gingerly put his hand through it.
Johann reared back in fright. He had seen images of the many monsters and
demons he faced and now this seemed like another hallucination. He felt his
mind slip even more, but heard a familiar voice call his name again. Go
away," he yelled. "You are an enemy!"
"Johann, it's Papa Smurf," Papa said. "Just walk through the glass. We have
to help Peewit, remember?"
"He's dead, I saw him," Johann said.
"We assure you that he is not dead," Papa said. "You have to believe that we
would never hurt you." Johann looked closely at the passageway. What they
said seemed to get through to him. He warily stepped through the glass and
onto the other side. He looked down at the Smurfs. "It is you," he whispered
desperately." All of you." He felt himself slowly return to reason.
"Yes, the Gnome's magic tried to divide us, so we couldn't trust each
other," Brainy said.
"Aww geez, you figured it out, " complained a voice. Suddenly the image of
the mirrored hall dissolved and the traveling companions found themselves in
a cavern with rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires jutting out of the
walls. The Gnome glowered at them and reluctantly tossed them a pouch of
powder. Papa caught it with his hand and put it in the jar with the other
gifts.
The Gnome glared at the travelers. "All right you got what you cam for what
more do you want a medal, a date with me? My brother lives up there at the
highest peak, but I should warn you, his is the worst gate yet!"
"I'm sure we can handle it," Hefty resolved, but with slightly less
conviction than he felt when he started the journey.
A low gutteral sound like a laugh came from the Gnome's throat then burst
out as a guffaw. "Sure you can," she said. "You can handle it!" She cackled
as she dove back into her underground home.
"We'd better go," Papa said.
"After you, Papa Smurfs," Brainy said looking up at the dark cave that
howled from the wind.

The travelers walked up the tunnel a bit more, they seemed to go higher
and higher. The wind blew around them, sometimes knocking them over but they
were able to stand still. They atruggled as the wind beat against them, but
finally they reached two pathways. "Which one is it?" Sassette asked.
"Why don't we throw Brainy in and find out," Hefty joked. Brainy glared at
him, and sniffed.
"Actually, there is a much better way, do you guys see what I see in the
left tunnel?" Papa pointed. His companions peered through the tunnel to see
what he was referring to. "Light!" Sassette yelled. "Eaxctly," Papa said.
"Wait it could be another trap," Johann reminded them.
"Yes, stay together," Papa said. "And I mean together!" The Smurfs and
humans stood so close to each other as they walked through that there was
almost no room to breathe. The wind continued to get louder and softer as
they walked towards the light. The Smurfs and the human walked over a narrow
ledge that reached to the end below.
They were so used to darkness, that by the time they got to the end the
light over powered them. Papa smiled. "That's it, we reached it!" They
walked on the large jutting in front of the opening and were about to go
through when Papa felt something stop him.
"What is it?" Johann asked.
"I can't get through," Papa remarked "We're being barred."
"What did those Smurfing Elementals do this time?" Hefty glowered.
"Get you to your next gate," remarked a deep male voice that seemed to fill
the entire cavern. Wind below and the cavern rumbled as the voice spoke and
little gusts of wind appeared smiling and frowning at their visitors.
"Welcome to the last gate, " the voice continued. "I am the Sylph the Air
Elemental and congratulations, not many visitors would reach the last gate.
I am quite pleased. I know what you want and I know why you are here and I
will grant you your request and allow you to go free, but the way is barred
until you have fulfilled my request."
"And what is that request?" Johann asked warily.
"My only request is to let you go one of you must agree to be sacrificed!,"
the Sylph said. He waited for the gasps of surprise and shock to continue.
"We don't like it when you reach the end without paying the ultimate price,
but now we leave it up to you. It is all a matter of choice, one for the
life of the others." The voice and the wind dissipated and eventually died
down.
"What does that mean?" Sassette said weakly.
"It means that one of us has to stay here, so the rest of us can leave,"
Hefty said.
"Not just stay the instructions are very clear," Brainy said. "One of us
must die."
"How can we do that," Sassette asked. "It isn't true is it?" She turned to
Papa Smurf hoping for a denial.
Papa looked at the little girl wanting to preserve her innocence wanting to
tell her that it wasn't, but he knew. "Yes, I'm afraid it is."
"I'll do it," Johann said wearily. The others looked at him. "Let me do it,
I got you into this as well as Peewit. Let me do it!"
"No," Brainy said. "We have to think this through logically over who is the
most expendable."
Hefty glared at him. "As long as it's not you is it?" He was ready to
explode. "I can't believe you do you really listen to yourself when you
talk? You are trying to decide on someone's life! But, since when do people
or Smurfs matter to you, Mr. All Powerful King Smurf?"
Brainy glared at him and advanced towards Hefty. Papa held him back, but he
still pushed forward. Brainy spoke in a loud and clear voice. "At least I'm
not on this mission just to impress a female Smurf who will probably ignore
me anyways for my best friend!"
That was it. Hefty ran towards Brainy and the two fell into each other
fighting and cursing at each other. They rolled on the floor as Papa,
Johann, and Sassette tried to stop them. Papa tried picking them up, but
they would start up again. As they fought they stayed nearer to the edge
right where Sassette was standing. "Look out!" they yelled, but the force of
their fight knocked both themselves and Sassette over and with a scream they
fell off the ledge.
Papa and Johann ran to the edge calling the three Smurfs names. They reached
their arms down trying to feel for them, but it was no use. Papa stood up
straight. "Leave them, there's nothing you can do," he said.
"But Papa," Johann objected.
"No, Papa I will try to retrieve them with my magic, if I fail it falls to
you Peewit, needs you. If I fail, you have to go." Johann nodded and stood
back reluctantly. Papa opened the bag and sprinkled some magic down the side
and called in a loud clear voice. "Friends that have fallen, return to my
sight/Magic release them and give them the power of flight."
Johann and Papa stood for a few minutes as a loud roar filled the cavern
below. A deep blast of wind emerged from the bottom. The gale knocked Johann
to the side as he called for the Smurf. When he stood again, he saw that
Papa stood still like a statue.
"Papa," Johann yelled running to him. He tapped him, but he was frozen. He
sighed feeling alone and in despair.
Suddenly, he felt someone watching him, a presence behind him four
presences. He faced them with burning eyes and in anger. "Go ahead," he said
firmly. "Either let me go or kill me. I have let my friends die in vain, is
that what you want? To see how far I would go? That I would let them die, is
that you wanted? Very well I did it, so just kill me now! We have been
nothing but pawns in your sick games. That's all it is to you a game, just
to see us suffer by your own devices. Well, the game is over and you lose
because I will not go. I will die, but I will challenge you!" He stood at
the ledge his sword ready waiting for the inevitable.
Suddenly, a laugh rumbled through the cave as the ground shook. The Sylph
spoke again. "Well done, but I must tell you, you do not suffer by our
devices but by yours." A light blared through the tunnel as four shapes
appeared. Brainy, Sassette, Hefty, and Papa were alive! They looked around,
dazed but happy. One of the Sylph's minions appeared in front of the
visitors and blew a small silvery liquid into Papa's bottle.
"You may leave us, but you will never forget this place," the Sylph warned
them as another light blinded them and the Smurfs and Johann suddenly found
themselves outside of the mountain with Sylvester and Biquette neighing and
bleating their delight at seeing their friends again.
"We must return home, we haven't a moment to lose," Papa said as Johann
unhitched the animals and picked up the Smurfs. They rode away into the
woods.

Smurfette and Handy watched the young human sadly. Peewit had long ago
stopped being delirius, instead he just slept devoid of any strength. His
breathing was coming in less and less, and he was as pale as a ghost. The
two Smurfs watched the horizon somberly, but more out of habit now than
anything else. They didn't hold much hope that Peewit would make it by the
time they returned.
"Do you see anything Clumsy?" Handy asked watching the Smurf on the tower.
Clumsy looked through the Smurfiscope hoping to catch sight of them, but so
far saw nothing. He was about to reply in the negative when he heard horse
hooves racing from far away. Clumsy's ears perked up. Could it be? He picked
up the telescope and looked through hoping beyond all hope. He never saw
another image that made him happier! He whooped with delight. "I see them,
they're coming!" he hollered. The Smurfs ran out of their homes in delight
as Clumsy tumbled out of the tower. Smurfette and Handy ran hand in hand to
greet the travelers.
Johann dismounted and let the Smurfs down. Papa handed him the bottle as
he ran to sick friend's side. Smurfette ran to each friend. She hugged them
with delight. "I was so worried about you," she said.
"We were worried about you too," Hefty said holding her tightly.
Johann reached Peewit and held him up by one arm. "Let him drink and then
put it on his wound," Papa said to him. Johann put the liquid into Peewit's
mouth. He then opened his friend's shirt slightly and dripped the liquid on
the wound. Nothing happened and Johann and the other Smurfs bowed their
heads in silence. Suddenly, the wound disappeared and Peewit started to
regain his breath. His pale color became rosier as he opened his eyes. He
looked at his friend and gave him a weak, but impish smile. "What took you
so long?" he said lightly. The Smurfs cheered and hugged each other.
Hefty was about to kiss Smurfette, when he saw Handy lean over and kiss her.
Hefty looked at them sadly. Johann and Peewit stayed a few hours longer
until Peewit was feeling well enough to ride. When, they left the other
Smurfs wished them good-bye as they rode off in the horizon. Hefty watched
them leave and then watched Smurfette and Handy walk off hand in hand. He
looked away sadly when he heard someone clear his throat to get his
attention. Hefty turned to see Brainy. "What is it?" Hefty asked.
"I wanted to apologize for what I said in the mountain, they were spoken out
of error," the intelligent Smurf said.
Hefty looked up and grinned. Brainy didn't have to translate that line. "No,
it was my fault. I was way out of line."
"Blame on both sides I suppose," Brainy said. "And I am sorry that your
affections have not been returned."
"It's all right," Hefty said. "I'll be fine."
Brainy smiled. "Would you like to join me in a glass of Smurfberry juice and
I can help you with some advice on how to win her?"
Hefty eyed him skeptically, but then shook his hand. "You're on!"

The male Smurflings walked up to Sassette. "So what happened in there?" Nat
asked.
"Yeah, did you see any monsters?" Slouchy added. "Come on, tell us," Snappy
agreed.
Sassette grinned and gathered her male companions around. "Well when we
reached the mountain there was this real pretty lady....." Papa watched as
Sassette told the story and his Smurfs return to their normal activities. He
then went inside to record the adventure in his journal.

Johann sat on a gray bench in a trimmed garden and sharpened his sword
with a flint stone. Occasionally, he looked up to see Sabine brushing her
red hair and humming to herself, unaware that she was being watched. He and
Peewit had returned to the castle to hear the news that when the knights had
reached Balthazar's lair he had disappeared again leaving no trace that he
had been there. That news didn't bother Johann at all, but something kept
entering his mind.
"I thought I might find you here," said a merry voice. Johann looked up to
see Peewit staning next to him. The minstrel sat beside him with a concerned
look on his face. "You know for a guy who just saved his best friend's life,
you look bluer than our buddies. Would you rather I had stayed dead?"
"Peewit, don't joke about that," Johann said. "No, I'm all right."
"You don't sound all right," Peewit said. "What's the matter?"
Then Johann told him everything that had happened on the journey. Peewit
shuddered audibly at the fire gate and clicked his tongue at the mention of
the earth gate. "What if they are right?" Johann asked. "What if I am the
kind of monster they said I am?"
"No, you're not," Peewit said just as determined. "Listen, I have known you
for what six years now? They've only known you for two days. They don't know
the real you like I do. Would the guy that they were talking about go
through that kind of Hell for his best friend? I don't think so."
"But, you followed me," Johann said. "I forced you."
"No you didn't force me, I'm came on my own," Peewit said. "When you want me
to come with you, I do because you're my friend and because I want to. Okay,
sometimes you have to persuade me a little more, but I do because I care
about you. It's my own choice, got it? So, don't go taking the credit for
it! Maybe, they were warning you telling you what you could be if you don't
watch yourself. But, I know that won't happen."
"How do you know?" Johann said.
"Because I know you," Peewit said. Johann smiled for the first time in two
days, but couldn't find anything to say. Peewit cleared his throat and rose.
"Come on enough of this gloom and doom stuff. Let's go to Rachel's! I'll
buy."
Johann stood up next to him. "All right, but what if her brother's are still
there?"
Peewit gasped and stammered. "All right, you go into Rachel's ahead of me."
They walked out of the garden and into the village feeling happier for the
first time in days.

The End.