|
Author
|
Topic: "The Magic Flute With Six Holes" -- the full story
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:23 AM
Here's my adaptation of the classic story "The Smurfs And The Magic Flute" as adapted into the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series.
-----
Chapter 1
One day in the Smurf Village, Empath, Smurfette, and Polaris Psyche were together in the forest with Narrator and Piper, the four of which were listening to Piper playing a tune from his flute. None of them said anything to each other as they sat in rapt attention, letting Piper perform his music without any interruptions whatsoever, not even Empath and Polaris communicating with each other using telepathy.
When Piper stopped playing, he asked, "So how do you gentlesmurfs like it?"
"Oh, that was one of the most beautiful tunes I have ever smurfed from you, Piper," Smurfette said with a sigh.
"There is a noted exuberance and expressed happiness in your music, fellow Piper," Polaris said.
"So does that mean you like the music, Polaris?" Empath asked.
"It is just simply an observation of the performance of the music, fellow Empath," Polaris said. "However, this one is curious about Narrator also being with us to listen to the performance."
"I just happen to be interested in the type of music that Piper plays, Polaris," Narrator said. "While most of the other Smurfs may enjoy the new styles of music that have been produced since the Smurflings came out with 'Smurfbop' some years ago, there are some Smurfs like me who just like the older and simpler styles of music that you can't find anywhere else."
"And besides that, the flute has always been my favorite instrument," Piper said. "I could feel my spirit dancing everytime I play it, just like the magic flute that we have."
"Oh, I know what you mean, Piper," Smurfette said as she stood up and twirled around and around.
"This one has heard about this magic flute of yours," Polaris said. "It is a legendary musical instrument that can make whoever listens to its tune dance, as this one can recall."
"It's not just legend, Polaris, it is real," Narrator said. "We have even used it some time ago to get Gargamel, Azrael, and Scruple out of the forest. It is a musical instrument so powerful that we have to be careful who we let use it, including the humans."
"From what this smurf heard about the flute, it had almost cost our friends Johan and Peewit their kingdom when it fell into the wrong hands," Empath said.
"Oh, indeed it almost did, but then we smurfed up another flute for Peewit to use, and now we have both our flutes back and safe among us, away from that nasty man Matthew McCreep," Piper said.
"This smurf heard that this was how we met Johan and Peewit," Empath said. "This smurf and Polaris would be eager to hear the complete tale of how this happened with the magic flute."
"Indeed this one would find it truly fascinating," Polaris said, agreeing with Empath.
"Oh, please, Narrator, tell us the story," Smurfette pleaded.
"Well, since we have some time before we need to go back into the village for anything important, let me tell you everything that I can remember and be a witness to, which happened five years before you returned home, Empath," Narrator said.
As Narrator told the story, Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw what appeared to be a jousting tournament in session. He knew from books that jousting was a sport that humans of nobility engaged in, that they usually lasted until one opponent successfully knocked the other off his mount. Sitting in a booth were two people Empath had recognized from his fellow Smurfs' recollections: the elder man in royal robes and a crown who was called King Audric, and the younger smaller person in a green tunic and red hat who was called Peewit. King Audric was entertaining a middle-aged woman by the name of Lady Arnica on the day that the jousting tournament took place.
Peewit watched eagerly as the two contestants in armor rode toward each other on their mounts, with their lances aimed toward each other. And then suddenly, as they got close, one of the contestants unseated the other in a single blow.
"Hurray!" Peewit shouted. "I won the bet! Sire, I believe you owe me a few sovereigns."
King Audric looked bored and frustrated, and then realized Peewit was looking at him, expecting to pay up on the bet that was made. "Oh, very well, Peewit," he muttered, handing the young man the sovereigns.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Peewit said. "These will be put to good use."
Then Lady Arnica noticed a young man with dark hair cut in a pageboy style, dressed in armor and being seated on his mount. "Your Majesty, who is that handsome young man?" she asked.
"That would happen to be Sir Johan, my good lady," King Audric answered. "He will be wearing my colors today at the tournament."
"Sir Johan looks rather young to be a knight," Lady Arnica commented.
"He's actually a squire, my good lady," King Audric explained. "But he's proven himself to be worthy of the title, and so he stands in my court with the honors of knighthood. Today his opponent will be Lord Spottlebottom, the black knight."
Lady Arnica noticed the big bearded man in black armor being seated on his mount. He had a look of sneering confidence on him that made him feel sure that he was going to win the contest.
"I would like to place a bet," Lady Arnica said. "Ten sovereigns on the Black Knight."
"Ten sovereigns it is, my lady," King Audric said. "I hope that your champion succeeds."
Then with trumpet sounds, Sir Johan and Lord Spottlebottom took their places on the field and charged at each other. The next few moments were suspenseful as both the king, the lady, and Peewit watched. And then suddenly, Sir Johan successfully unseated Lord Spottlebottom in a single blow, causing his armor to shatter into pieces.
Lord Spottlebottom felt his head reeling from the impact of hitting the ground. "You know, I should have been a dancer," he muttered to himself.
"Hurray! He did it!" Peewit shouted. "You really showed him that time, Johan!" He hopped down from the booth in order to greet his friend.
Lady Arnica was about to ask a question when the king gave her a look, which indicated to her that she needed to pay up on the bet. "Who is that strange young fellow?" she asked as she paid the king the sovereigns.
"His name is Peewit," King Audric answered. "He's the court jester and entertainer. He likes to play music, but the problem is that he can't sing. So I have hidden his mandolin."
Soon Peewit emerged from a tent carrying a mandolin
"OH NO!!! He's found it."' King Audric shouted, clutching at his crown as if ready to tear it off his head.
"And now, noble ladies and gentlemen, in honor of the triumphant victory over Lord Spottlebottom by my dearest friend Sir Johan, I shall play for you and for my friend a little composition that I call 'The Ballad Of Friendship'," Peewit announced before he started playing. In a voice that sounded like a young boy going through the growing pains of becoming an adult, he sang:
Listen to me and I'll sing you a song.
It shouldn't take long to sing you a song.
Listen now and I'll croon you a tune,
A magical tune of friendship.
Oh, I never pass up a chance to perform
A strum on my harp or blow on my horn.
Now gather 'round as I serenade
A magical ballad of friendship!
As Peewit played his tune and started singing, the people started departing from the tournament one by one: first with the peasants, and then the stable hands with their horses, and then with the armor bearers, and then with the people serving the refreshments, then the guards, then all the nobles and royalty. And as Peewit continued to play, the sky turned dark and it started raining. Undeterred by the gradual loss of his audience, Peewit continued to sing:
Friendship, friendship, that magical thing!
It makes me dance, it makes me sing!
Friendship, friendship, let everyone know...
I found a magic of friendship!
Johan was the only person still out there in the tournament grounds with Peewit. After removing his armor, he grabbed his cloak and escorted Peewit safely into the castle, where they would both go to their separate rooms.
"You liked my song, didn't you, Johan?" Peewit asked.
"Well, you see, Peewit, there was just...," Johan started to say.
"You don't have to say it," Peewit said, believing he knew what his friend had to say. "There was just something about the music that really made you feel all warm inside. I could feel it when I was playing."
"That's at least how you can put it," Johan said, unsure if he really wanted to be very honest. "Well, have a good night and sleep well. I will see you again in the morning."
"You have a good night's rest, Johan...you've earned it," Peewit said as he raced into his room.
It was now morning, and King Audric was resting peacefully in his bed, lost in slumber, when he was suddenly awakened by a knock on his door. It was Sir Johan.
"Sire, there's a traveling merchant calling for you in the courtyard," Johan said.
"A traveling merchant?" King Audric said. "What does he want?"
"I don't know, Sire, but he insists on talking to you personally," Johan answered.
"Oh, very well," King Audric sighed, realizing that he wasn't going to get anymore rest for the morning. He dressed himself in his royal robes and followed Johan to the courtyard where the traveling merchant waited.
"Your Majesty, thank goodness that you're here to meet with me," the merchant said. "My name is Ezlo, and I'm looking for a young man who resides with you by the name of Peewit."
"You've come to the right place, then," King Audric said. "What is it that you wish to do business with him for?"
"Oh, I just happen to be the person to sell him some goods that he might have an interest in," Ezlo said.
"I'll have somebody send for him at once to meet you," King Audric said. He then turned to a guard. "Please bring Peewit here to the courtyard at once."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the guard said, as he left his post to go inside and fetch Peewit.
"Tell me, Ezlo, these goods of yours...they wouldn't happen to be food, would they?" Johan asked.
"Oh no, young man, what I have to sell wouldn't be fit for anyone to eat, for they would certainly cause indigestion," Ezlo said. "Here, let me show you a sample of my goods." He pulled a sack from his wagon and laid out before King Audric and Johan what appeared to be musical instruments. "There! And I also have a harp, a lute, a psaltery, a vielle, some other instrument, a big one. I don't know what it's called, but it sure makes a lot of noise."
King Audric and Johan watched as Ezlo demonstrated each of his products. "You came all the way here to my kingdom...to sell musical instruments?" King Audric asked after the demonstration ended.
"But of course, Sire," Ezlo said. "I have heard that this Peewit has an interest in music, so I had..."
"You wretch!" King Audric said. "Pack it all up at once!"
"But, Sire, I don't understand why you want to me to go so soon," Ezlo said. "Is there a problem with..."
"Uh, Peewit is just not interested in your goods today," Johan said, helping to pack up Ezlo's belongings. "He regrets to inform you that he's...got all the instruments that he needs."
"But why would you not let me hear from him directly?" Ezlo said, sounding confused. "I'm sure that there must be a good reason for..."
"There is a good reason," King Audric said. "If you don't leave here immediately, I will have you arrested for trespassing, and you will be hanged!"
Ezlo gulped. He grabbed his sack, placed it back on his wagon, and got his horse to gallop as quickly as possible to get him out of the castle.
"Well, so much for Peewit's visitor," Johan said. "Now we'll have to tell him that..."
"Tell me what?" a voice from behind him asked. Johan and King Audric saw that Peewit had just arrived in the courtyard. "I heard that there was a merchant here. Where did he go?"
"Oh, Peewit, I'm sorry we couldn't keep him here for much longer," King Audric said.
"He was in such a hurry that he had to inform you that it will take some time for him to return," Johan said.
"Oh...well, that's unfortunate," Peewit said. "By the way, Johan, what did you think of the Ballad Of Friendship that I played for you yesterday at the jousting tournament?"
"Well, you know, honestly, I was thinking...," Johan said, fumbling for what to say.
"I know what you're thinking, that it wasn't my best performance," Peewit said. "And I finally realized why it was so. There was a note in the melody that I was playing wrong with my mandolin, and so I spent the night wondering what it is that made the melody sound like that, and then by morning the answer came to me."
"Oh, please, Peewit, tell me what you discovered," Johan said.
While Johan was talking to Peewit, King Audric noticed something on the ground near Peewit that was plainly visible: a small flute. He slowly walked over toward the flute to discreetly pick it up before Peewit would notice it.
"You've got to hear how it sounds now, Johan," Peewit said as he started to turn.
Suddenly the king fell onto the ground, right on top of where he found the flute. "Sire, are you all right?" Johan asked, sounding concerned.
"Oh...me? Of course I am, Johan," King Audric said. "It's just that...I'm feeling rather tired, and since it's a nice day this morning, I was thinking of taking my rest here."
"Your rest here, Sire?" Johan said. "You sure this is what you want?"
"Of course this is what I want," King Audric answered in a demanding tone. "And now I would like for my royal pillow to be brought down here so I can be comfortable taking my rest here."
"Then I shall go to your bedroom immediately to get it, Sire," Johan said.
"Not you, Johan," King Audric said. "I want Peewit to do this. Peewit, would you please go into my bedroom and fetch me the biggest pillow on my bed? I would like to rest here."
Peewit looked at King Audric rather strangely while considering his request. "Well, all right, Your Highness, if that's what you want, then I shall go get the big pillow from your bedroom."
"Thank you, Peewit, that is what I want very much," King Audric said, sounding as if he was eager to rest.
Johan watched as Peewit headed out from the courtyard and went inside. Meanwhile, the king tried to communicate through hand signals what it was he was hiding, but Johan didn't understand what it was the king was trying to say.
"He's gone inside, Your Majesty," Johan said.
"Good, now help me up from the ground," King Audric said.
"Are you sure you didn't want to rest here?" Johan asked as he helped King Audric up onto his feet.
"Oh, don't be foolish," King Audric said sharply. "If I really wanted to be out here resting in the courtyard, I wouldn't be trying to hide this little item that I have found."
The king handed Johan the item. "It's a small flute. Where did it come from?" Johan asked as he took a good look at it before handing it back to the king.
"It's probably something that the merchant dropped on his way out," King Audric said. "Not that it matters. The important thing is that we must destroy it before Peewit notices it."
"A good idea, Your Majesty," Johan said as the both of them headed inside. "There's something oddly strange about the flute that I noticed."
"Whoever made this flute must have been a poor craftsman," King Audric said, also looking at the flute. "It only has six holes in it."
"Now who would make a flute that only has six holes in it?" Johan asked, wondering.
"It probably was made for a child as a practice flute, or maybe some kind of toy," King Audric said. "Anyway, we'll never know for sure who made this flute, or why. And I'm sure Peewit will thank us for disposing of this flute before he even tries it."
"I'm sure the entire kingdom will thank us for disposing of this flute, Your Highness," Johan said.
"My hearth in the bedroom shall make a good place to make sure the flute is burned up, Johan," King Audric said as they both entered the bedroom. Johan watched briefly as the king threw the flute into the roaring flames.
"Sire, look out in the courtyard," Johan said, standing at the window. "It's Peewit."
King Audric joined Johan at the window and looked down at the young entertainer with the king's pillow, looking rather upset. "I have a sneaky suspicion that Johan and the king played me for a fool," he muttered loudly.
Johan and the king laughed at the scene before they turned away from the window. But then they both saw that thick green smoke was coming from the king's hearth. The king fainted at the smell of the green smoke.
"Oh no!" Johan said, carrying the king to safety out in the hall. "Guards! Servants! Somebody! The king's bedroom is on fire!"
Peewit heard Johan's cry and joined the guards and servants in passing buckets to douse the flames coming from the hearth. Peewit was at the head of the line, taking each bucket and emptying them onto the flames. Then he was given a pitcher, and he smelled what was in it. "It's wine." He then drank most of the contents from the pitcher and dumped the rest onto the flames. "It's good wine at that."
Johan was with the king out in the hall, trying to resuscitate him when he came to. "Oh...what happened to me?" King Audric asked. "Why did I pass out?"
"There was green smoke coming from your hearth, Your Highness," Johan said. "The servants are trying to put out the flames right now."
"Sire, the fire is out in your bedroom," one of the servants said as they left the room to return to their places.
Soon a young woman with orange hair and a pink royal dress appeared. "Uncle, is everything all right?" she asked. "I heard that there's a fire in your bedroom."
"I am fine, my dear Savina," King Audric said in a reassuring voice. "We have just taken care of a little emergency before it became a big one."
"Princess, there was thick green smoke in your uncle's bedroom, but we're not sure what caused it," Johan said.
"Thick green smoke?" Princess Savina asked, curious to know. "Not some kind of poison spell cast by an evil magician, I hope?"
"If that was the case, I would sure like to know who it was so I can stop him," Johan said.
"Johan! Princess! Your Majesty! Look what I found in the fire!" Peewit said, racing out of the bedroom carrying a small object in his hand. "It's a small flute, and the strange thing about it is that it only has six holes. Now I wonder who's the idiot who thought of burning this thing up in your hearth, Sire."
King Audric looked sideways at Princess Savina with a somewhat fierce glare as she tried to stifle her laughter.
Peewit looked at the flute rather intently. "I could sure make some great music with this flute...if only this thing can play. Let me try it out to see if it works."
Before the other three could say anything, Peewit put the flute to his mouth and blew into it, but instead of music, a cloud of thick ash came out and covered the other three.
They started at Peewit rather upset while he looked at the flute. "You know, maybe this flute could use a bit of cleaning first," he said.
"Peewit, please hand over the flute," King Audric said firmly.
But Peewit took the flute and started to walk away with it.
"PEEWIT, GIVE US THE FLUTE!" Johan shouted as he saw Peewit now run away with the flute.
Princess Savina sighed as she looked at herself. "Well, it looks like I'm going to have to clean myself up to be presentable again. If you'll excuse me..."
After Princess Savina left, Johan and King Audric talked among themselves. "It looks like Peewit's found another instrument to torment us with through his music, Johan," King Audric said.
"Majesty, that flute should have been burned up in your hearth, but it wasn't," Johan said. "And that thick green smoke that came from the hearth after you threw it in...it can't be just a coincidence."
"You're suggesting that this flute is bewitched or something?" King Audric asked.
"It's certainly no ordinary musical instrument, Sire," Johan said. "I can only wonder what else it's capable of doing."
"Maybe it will make Peewit into a better musician," King Audric jested, as the both of them laughed.
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:26 AM
Chapter 2
In Peewit's room, the young entertainer had run a cloth through the narrow channel of the flute to get all the dust and soot out of it. "There, it's clean," he said. "Now let's see if it even plays."
He put the flute to his mouth again and played. He was amazed at what came out of the flute.
"Incredible!" Peewit said. "Not only does it play a good tune, it also makes me an instant expert at playing it. If only all my other instruments can make me sound this good. I've got to show it to somebody."
He went out of his room and found the first person in the hallway. "Lord Chancellor, I've got this flute that you must hear me play a tune from," Peewit said, sounding very eager.
"Yes, well, make it a short tune, then," Lord Chancellor said, sounding rather disinterested.
Peewit started playing, and as soon as he started playing, the Lord Chancellor noticed that his feet started moving, and then so did the rest of him as he was dancing out of his own control. "Stop! Stop!"
Peewit noticed it as well and stopped playing the flute. "Hey, what are you doing, Lord Chancellor? Is this some sort of joke?"
Lord Chancellor found himself panting. "Honestly, Peewit, I don't know what came over me. The music from that flute made me feel like dancing."
"Right, the music from my flute made you dance," Peewit said in disbelief. "That's the last time I'll ever play a tune for you, you charlatan!" He walked away from the Lord Chancellor muttering to himself. "He was just putting me on...making me think that this flute must be made of magic...I'm not buying it..." But then he stopped and wondered about something. "But...what if it's true...that this flute did make him dance? Is it possible? I mean, it just made me an expert at playing it, so what if..."
He turned to see an old woman in a green robe and a white flowing headdress walking past him. "Well, if it isn't that old sourpuss Dame Barbara," he said to himself. "She's too regal to ever engage in anything that she sees frivolous, like dancing. She's going to make Princess Savina an old woman before her time. Maybe she needs a little something to liven her spirits."
"Uh, excuse me, Dame Barbara, may I have a moment with you?" Peewit asked, approaching her.
Dame Barbara stopped walking and turned to address Peewit. "I have very important business with the king, young man. Please make it quick."
"I was just wondering if you would like to listen to a tune that I can play with this flute," Peewit offered.
"You stopped me just so you can perform a tune with a flute?" Dame Barbara said. "Young man, this is not the time or the place for..."
Peewit immediately started playing, and as soon as he did, Dame Barbara's feet started moving, and so did the rest of her, dancing out of control. "Help! Someone! Please!" she cried out.
Peewit stopped playing when he noticed that the music made her dance as well. "What do you know?" he said, looking at the flute. "This flute must really be a magic flute if it can make this old prune dance as well as Lord Chancellor."
Dame Barbara barely had time to catch her breath when Peewit again played the flute, and again she danced and danced until he stopped. "Good for nothing scamp! I'll complain to the king!" she hissed as she raised a fist at Peewit while watching him run off.
"Oh, this is going to be great," Peewit said. "I can imagine what kind of fun I'm going to have with this flute."
And so Peewit went throughout the castle, playing the flute here and there and watching people dance. He saw servants dropping their baskets. He saw cooks dropping their food. He saw scribes scrawling all over the place in their books. And most of all, he saw the guards stumbling over themselves with their spears and helmets as he waited for their rhythmic approach and then started playing the flute. He laughed at all the mayhem he had caused along the way.
And then he saw an old man with a beard and a cane, and decided to make him dance. But as he played his flute around him, he noticed that the old man kept walking, not affected at all by the flute's music. "Oh no," Peewit groaned, looking at the flute. "I can't make people dance to its tune anymore."
"Uh, excuse me, sonny, I can't quite hear what you're saying," the old man said. "You need to speak up."
Peewit then realized that the old man was hard of hearing. He grabbed a nearby stool and got up on it to play the flute's tune directly into his ear. Instantly the old man was also dancing.
"Yep, it still has the magic," Peewit said, smiling to himself as he left the old man puzzled.
In King Audric's throne room, Dame Barbara was telling the king what she experienced in the hall, while Johan and Princess Savina were with the king listening to her.
"I swear to you, Sire, when that scoundrel started playing that flute, I could not stop dancing," Dame Barbara said, sounding very agitated. "It's like the devil himself was in that music."
"Dame Barbara, surely you must be imagining things," Princess Savina said.
"I am not lying, young lady!" Dame Barbara shouted. She then turned to the king. "You've got to do something about Peewit and this flute of his. Surely this will mean nothing but trouble for all of us."
"Calm down, my lady," King Audric said. "I'm not sure what harm a little music from his flute will do to anyone, besides possibly giving someone a terrible earache."
"Peewit's music being able to make someone like Dame Barbara to dance? Well, that's a first for him," Johan said.
"Sire! Johan! Princess! This flute...it's magic!" Peewit shouted as he quickly entered the throne room.
"IT'S HIM! THAT LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER! DON'T LET HIM PLAY THAT FLUTE!" Dame Barbara cried out as she raced out of the room through another door.
King Audric watched in amusement as Dame Barbara left the room before he turned to Peewit along with Johan and Princess Savina. "Peewit, what's going on? Why is Dame Barbara acting so hysterical?" Princess Savina asked.
"And what's this all about, this flute being magic?" Johan asked, not believing what his friend said.
"It's true...I can play a tune from this flute without any effort, and it makes people dance," Peewit said. "Listen!" And as he played a tune from the flute, Johan, King Audric, and Princess Savina all danced uncontrollably. "You believe me now, right?"
King Audric found himself catching his breath. "I can see now what's making Dame Barbara so worried."
"That's fascinating," Princess Savina said. "I didn't think that a flute like that can make you so good at playing music."
"Peewit being able to play music like that is truly remarkable, whether he can make people dance to his tune or not," Johan said. "But for an instrument to make people dance automatically when it's being played...I wonder what purpose it even serves."
"I don't know, but it sure makes for some amusement around here," Peewit said. "You can't believe what I was seeing all over the castle when I was playing the flute. People all serious with their busywork suddenly dropping everything to dance at the drop of a hat. Maybe this thing can be used to improve morale around here."
Suddenly they could hear the guards approaching the throne room, with its captain entering. "Guards, seize this young man!" the captain shouted, pointing toward Peewit.
"You want to arrest Peewit?" King Audric asked. "For what reason?"
"Sire, he has disturbed order and has brought shame and discredit to our unit with that fiendish flute of his!" the captain of the guard said. "I want to have this man thrown into prison!"
"Well, if you want me, I'm all yours...come and get me," Peewit proudly said. He then said, "Sire, Johan, Princess, please cover your ears." He started to play the flute again, and all the guards danced and danced as the music played on and on. And then the four of them noticed that the guards started falling one by one until none of them were left standing.
King Audric, Johan, and Princess Savina unplugged their ears as soon as the music stopped. They saw the fallen guards on top of each other in a heap. "By the gods!" King Audric said. "Are these men dead?"
Johan checked one of the guards and noticed he still had a pulse. "Thankfully no, Your Highness...they're just passed out."
"But how did this happen?" Peewit asked. "I only played a tune from this flute."
"But it's a tune from a magic flute, Peewit," Princess Savina said.
"So let me understand this," King Audric said, pondering the situation. "If a person dances for too long while listening to the flute's music, they become exhausted and will pass out."
"That would be my understanding as well, Sire," Johan said.
"So I can make people dance to the flute's music until they drop," Peewit said, sounding pleased with the discovery. "This is even better than I expected. This will be really fun."
"Fun? Making people dance until they drop?" Princess Savina said in a bewildered tone.
"That flute is dangerous!" Johan said. "Peewit, give me that flute right now!"
King Audric and Princess Savina watched as Johan chased after Peewit, who ran out of the throne room with the magic flute. "Uncle, I have a very bad feeling about this flute," Princess Savina said.
"You're not the only one, my dear," King Audric said with a sigh. "Oh, what kind of deviltry have we brought upon ourselves? Who else might know about what this magic flute can do?"
"Who else would know about it indeed," Narrator said. "While the king and the noble squire had to deal with the jester and the newfound toy he had smurfed, the traveling merchant named Ezlo had stopped at a tavern for the night and was busy showing the innkeeper something that might interest him."
As Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette watched, they saw Ezlo in the tavern with the innkeeper, showing off his goods. "A vielle? A horn or maybe a viol? Just choose which one you want...they're well-crafted and well worth the price, a real bargain." He picked up one of the instruments to demonstrate. "Look at this vielle...it's a gem worth its weight in gold. I'll let you have it for 99 cents. What do you say?"
The innkeeper looked at the vielle and then said, "I prefer something small and less complicated...like a flute, for instance. Would you happen to have one?"
"A flute?" Ezlo said. "It's your lucky day, because I just happen to have one. And what a flute it is, a real marvel. Not even expensive at that. Wait, I'll show it to you." He then looked through all the musical instruments that he was displaying and noticed something. "Oh no! Mamma mia...I think I have lost it! What a terrible shame, because it was a unique piece with only one flaw in it, that it had only six holes."
"A six-holed flute?" the innkeeper said. "That's something I would like to see for myself."
"Hey, innkeeper! More ale!" one of the customers shouted.
"Coming!" the innkeeper replied. "I'm sorry, but I have to tend to a customer right now. Perhaps a little later."
As Ezlo watched the innkeeper go to get the glasses of ale, a big burly man with a beard approached him from behind. "Tell me, friend, I heard that you had a six-holed flute."
"Huh?" Ezlo said to the burly man. "Oh, yes, I did. Unfortunately I lost it. Why?"
"I'm very interested in original instruments," the burly man said. "You can't remember the place where you lost it?"
Ezlo thought for a moment, and then said, "Oh, yes! Yes, I remember now! It must be at the king's castle...King Audric, I believe. It must have fallen out when they made me leave in such a hurry."
"King Audric's castle?" the burly man said. "Aha! And who sold you this flute?"
"Er...nobody did, sir," Ezlo said. "I happened to have found it in the cottage of a sorcerer. The villagers had just burned it down or something. There wasn't anything left except a few charred beams. Suddenly I noticed that there was a strange green smoke rising from a pile of ashes...yes, thick green smoke! Intrigued, I went to look, and that's where I found the flute. Intact. Everything had burned except for that flute. It's weird, isn't it?"
The burly man was thinking of something in his mind when he replied, "I bet that it must be."
"Well, I can't worry about things that I lost now, can I?" Ezlo said. "I'm sure another instrument like that will turn up somewhere sooner or later. Say, may I interest you in another instrument? I have some beautiful ones that you can buy at a price you can afford."
"No thank you," the burly man said. "Have a good night." He then went over to the innkeeper to talk privately to him. "Have my horse saddled before tomorrow and show me the road that leads to King Audric's castle."
"You're seeking an audience with the king?" the innkeeper asked.
"That's all you need to know," the burly man said.
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
|
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:31 AM
Chapter 3
"This human with the beard and moustache would be Matthew McCreep, if this one can interpret the story correctly," Polaris guessed.
"Indeed you have, Polaris," Narrator said. "He wasn't the evil person that Gargamel would be toward us, constantly smurfing after us to make gold or to eat us or to destroy us, whatever he plans to smurf. But he was evil enough toward Johan and Peewit and the king that he would eventually be plotting to take over the kingdom. But that was with someone we have yet to talk about."
"But mark my smurfs, Matthew McCreep befits his name smurfectly, in everything that he smurfs," Piper said. "I wouldn't want to see him smurfing through our forest anytime soon for any reason."
"Me neither, Piper," Smurfette said with a shiver. "Ooooh, it makes me feel just as frightened as hearing the name Gargamel."
"So how would this Matthew McCreep meet up with Johan and Peewit?" Empath asked.
"It was through a banquet that the king held in his dining hall, Empath," Narrator said. "A group of minstrels were going to perform that night before the king, and Matthew McCreep managed to get invited along with the minstrels, claiming to be part of the act or something. Nobody among the guards bothered to check if that was true. But nonetheless he would appear just as the royal court was enjoying themselves with the minstrels playing one of their songs...which, of course, Peewit continually tried to join in and sing along."
And as Narrator continued the story, Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw the royal court at the table, enjoying the meal that was set before them, when the minstrels started playing. "Hey, I know this song," Peewit said, eager to join in. "Fellows, wait for me, and we can sing together!"
The song that the minstrels sang was this:
When as the Good King ruled this land,
The second of that name,
Besides the queen, he dearly loved
A fair and comely dame.
Most peerless was her beauty found,
Her favour, and her face;
A sweeter creature in this world
Could never prince embrace.
Her crisped locks like threads of gold,
Appeared to each man's sight;
Her sparkling eyes, like Orient pearls,
Did cast a heavenly light.
King Audric, Johan, and Princess Savina watched as Peewit made one attempt after another to join the minstrels, only to be kicked off the stage with each attempt. "Peewit never gives up trying to be the main performer, does he?" Princess Savina said with some amusement.
"He may be trying to impress you, my lady," Johan said.
"I have a feeling that he is, Johan, but all the same, he still is too young for me," Princess Savina said. "Maybe when he's older, I might find him to be handsome."
"Princess Savina, you should never be talking about courting those who are beneath your royal station," Dame Barbara said with a hint of distaste in her voice.
"Dame Barbara, I wasn't really thinking about...," Princess Savina tried to say.
"We will not discuss this in public any further," Dame Barbara said. "Johan and Peewit are your loyal servants, and they should be treated as such. Do you understand?"
Princess Savina sighed. "Yes, Dame Barbara, I understand."
"Cheer up, my dear," King Audric said to Savina. "Dame Barbara may be strict, but she's only looking out for you to be the best princess because she cares about you, not just your station as a princess."
"I know that she does, Uncle," Princess Savina said. "I just wish that sometimes she wouldn't be so strict."
"I know Johan and Peewit are your friends, but you know the time will come when you'll have to let your friends go and embrace the future that your royal position will lead you to," King Audric said.
"Whatever the future holds for me and my friends, I just want Johan and Peewit to be happy," Princess Savina said with a smile.
Peewit left the dining hall, deciding that he was going to give up trying to join the minstrels in their singing. On his way to his chamber, he ran into a big burly man wearing a beard.
"I couldn't help but notice you were trying to showcase your talents as the court entertainer," the burly man said. "It must be such a big burden for a little man like you to carry."
"Oh, that's nothing," Peewit said. "I know that I'm a better entertainer than the minstrels that were hired."
"Well, allow me to introduce myself," the burly man said. "My name is McCreep...Matthew McCreep...and I happen to be a traveling entertainer. Some may call me 'Oily' McCreep, but that's only because there has been some...unfortunate circumstances. The king was very kind to have me as his guest for the night, because of all the people here, I wanted to see you most of all."
Peewit found himself surprised. "I didn't think that my reputation as the court entertainer would travel far beyond the kingdom."
"You must be too humble to admit it, because your name...Peewit, isn't it...is what I've been hearing ever since I traveled this way," McCreep said. "One of the things I'm interested in is unusual musical instruments, which I hear that you possess."
"An unusual musical instrument?" Peewit said. "I have many kinds of instruments, and I am the master of them all. But there's one instrument that I have that sets them apart from all the others."
"And pray tell, what kind of instrument is that?" McCreep asked.
"It's a magic flute that only has six holes," Peewit said, speaking as though he didn't want anyone else listening in.
"A magic flute with six holes? That's not possible!" McCreep said.
"Oh, it's very possible," Peewit said. "And what's even more unusual about it, is that it can make people dance when you play it."
"Oh, come now," McCreep said. "You expect me to believe that this six-holed flute can make people dance?"
"You can believe whatever you want, McCreep, but I'm telling you the truth," Peewit said. "You have to see this for yourself."
McCreep made it look like he was pondering the suggestion. "Very well, then. Let me see this so-called magic flute of yours."
Inside Peewit's bedchamber, some small beings were moving around hiding underneath the entertainer's Viking helmet on a bookshelf.
"Are we close to it?" one of the beings asked.
"I can barely smurf where we're smurfing with this helmet," the other small being answered.
"The sooner we can smurf the flute, the sooner we can smurf out of here," the first being said.
"Wait a minute...I smurf something," the other being said, feeling around another object.
"Is it the magic flute?" the first being asked.
"Smurfs like it, all right," the second being said. "Let's smurf it before that human smurfs back."
"Wait a minute...somebody's smurfing," the first being said.
"Oh, smurf it all," the second being said, lowering the helmet so as to appear still.
Peewit entered the bedchamber with Matthew McCreep following him. "There it is...all the comforts of home, and I can practice my music without disturbing anyone." He went over to the shelf to pick up the magic flute when he noticed something. "Hey, how did my helmet get over there from where I last seen it?"
"So may I see this famed magic flute of yours?" Matthew McCreep asked.
"Oh...here it is," Peewit said, showing him the instrument. "There isn't any flute like it throughout this kingdom...not that I have noticed any that are like it, but you won't find one that will make people dance to its tune."
"Hmmm...well, I'll believe it when I hear it," McCreep said, daring Peewit to prove it.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Peewit said, and then he started playing the flute, and Matthew McCreep danced around uncontrollably until he stopped playing it. "So do you believe me now?"
"Very interesting," McCreep said after catching his breath. "Would you mind if I test this out for myself?"
"Hmmm...I don't know," Peewit said, pondering the request. "It's not something that I would give to just about anyone for them to try out."
McCreep sighed. "I understand, then. You don't trust me with your musical instruments. Then my journey here was all for nothing. I would figure that you would allow a fellow musician a try with your flute, but I must have been mistaken." He turned toward the door, making it look like he was going to leave.
"Oh, I'm sorry, McCreep," Peewit said. "Let me offer you this...I will let you try out the flute, but you must promise me that you'll stop playing when I tell you. Is that a deal?"
McCreep turned back toward Peewit, sounding delighted. "Why, certainly, my young friend. Anything for a fellow musician." Peewit handed McCreep the flute, which he briefly examined. "Tell me, what kind of tune would you want me to play with it?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter, because that flute makes anyone who plays it an expert," Peewit said.
"Really?" McCreep said. "Then I must give this a try."
"Nobody but us Smurfs knew what happened in Peewit's room when Matthew McCreep had visited him," Narrator said. "But over the course of the night, Peewit's visitor had vanished, and we left without the magic flute. It was by morning that anybody would notice what smurfed place."
Then Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw that on the following morning, Dame Barbara was working diligently on a tapestry, trying to concentrate on her stitching while listening to noise coming from Peewit's chambers. She tried to ignore it as best as she could until she heard a loud crash.
"That little urchin!" she fumed. "I'm going to visit him and let him know how much of a disturbance he's causing!"
She left her chambers and headed straight for Peewit's, entering without knocking. "Young man, I should let you know that..."
She paused as she saw that Peewit was all tied up and gagged, knocking over things just to get someone's attention.
"What happened?" she gasped. "Here, let me untie so that you can tell me..."
She loosed the gag over Peewit's mouth, and suddenly she heard, "WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS THAT THIEF?"
"Peewit, what thief? What are you talking about?" Dame Barbara asked as she removed the bonds from Peewit's wrists.
"HE WAS HERE LAST NIGHT! HE STOLE MY FLUTE!" Peewit shouted as he removed the rest of his bonds. Dame Barbara ran out of the room in fear as Peewit went and grabbed a battleaxe, ready to use it on someone.
"I KNOW YOU'RE HERE SOMEWHERE! COME ON OUT AND FACE ME LIKE A MAN, IF YOU DARE!" Peewit shouted, racing through the hallways.
The people in the hallways ran for cover as Peewit was wielding the battleaxe, voicing his threats.
"You rascal! You thief! You swindler! Try to get me to dance, will you? I'll make you dance...at the end of a rope!"
King Audric was just coming out from a door at the bottom of the stairs when Peewit ran straight into him, dropping the battleaxe. "Peewit! What is all this commotion about?"
"Sire! That Matthew McCreep...he stole my magic flute!" Peewit said.
"Oh, how unfortunate, my child," King Audric said. "Well, I'm sure we'll get another instrument for you to play with."
"But Sire, you don't understand," Peewit said.
Just then, Johan and Princess Savina appeared. "Peewit, what's going on? Why were you shouting threats throughout the castle?" Johan asked.
"Are you all right?" Princess Savina asked.
"No, I'm not all right," Peewit said. "Matthew McCreep stole my magic flute."
"Which I'm sure is nothing for us to worry about," King Audric said.
"But Sire, that flute is a magic flute," Johan said. "If it's capable of putting people to sleep just by playing it for too long, imagine what somebody like McCreep might do with it."
"We have to stop this McCreep before he uses the flute for his evil purposes, Uncle," Princess Savina said.
"You're quite right, my dear," King Audric said. "Johan, I want you and Peewit to search throughout the land, to find that flute and get it out of his hands."
"But Sire, we have no idea where he may have went with the flute," Johan said.
"We're wasting time," Peewit said. "He could be using the flute right at this moment."
"You'll just have to ask people if they've seen the man with the flute," King Audric said. "Go on, the both of you."
"I wish that I could come with you and find that scoundrel, Johan," Princess Savina said.
"Now, now, my young lady," Dame Barbara said as she appeared. "You know that your place is within the castle, not beside these two adventurers. Let them do the job that is befitting of their stature while you attend your station."
Princess Savina sighed. "Yes, Dame Barbara, I understand."
And soon, Johan was racing out of the castle stables with his horse Bayard and Peewit with his goat Biquette. They were determined to find Matthew McCreep wherever he went with the magic flute and put a stop to him.
"And so Johan and Peewit traveled the countryside for three weeks in search of Matthew McCreep," Narrator said. "They asked everyone from great lords to humble serfs if they have smurfed him. In each city, town, or hamlet, they asked the inhabitants. But though Peewit was able to smurf them a detailed description about the man and the flute he was smurfing, the response is still the same: nobody has smurfed Matthew McCreep."
"And all the while, the thief was going into people's houses, the merchants, the bankers, anybody that had money on them," Piper said. "He was playing that magic flute and making people dance to its tune until they smurfed, and then he would smurf away with their valuables. The people were helpless, and during all this we were trying to smurf the flute away from McCreep, but there was no way he would let us smurf it."
"It is unfortunate that neither you nor Johan nor Peewit were able to get the flute away from this thief," Polaris said. "When did they finally come to cross paths with him again?"
"Oh, it was on a road that Johan and Peewit were smurfing on, and they met a person who was just smurfed blind of the last two cents he was smurfing," Narrator said. "He was able to match the description of the man to the one whom they were seeking, and just as it happened, he was on the same road they were traveling on."
"This smurf would like to see what happens next, Narrator," Empath said, eager to hear the story continue.
And as Narrator continued the story, Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw Matthew McCreep in a wagon loaded with all the valuables he collected from the villagers, counting up the gold coins in one of the bags, when he started hearing voices behind him. "There he is, Johan!" Peewit called out.
"Stop, thief!" Johan commanded as he and Peewit got closer.
Matthew McCreep saw them approaching and pulled his horse to a stop before he pulled out his magic flute. Bayard and Biquette bucked and tossed their riders off as they started to have the uncontrollable urge to dance. He continued to play until the both of them were unconscious.
"Nice try, gentlemen, but I don't think either of you will be taking me in anytime soon," Matthew McCreep said with a sinister chuckle before he goaded his horse to ride off.
Bayard stood still in the street after Matthew McCreep departed, but Biquette started to buck Peewit around, even launching him in the air with a headbutt in order to get him to wake up, but there was no response. Then Biquette saw a body of water nearby and picked Peewit up with her teeth to carry him over to the water and drop him in there. There was stillness that lasted for a moment, and then Peewit arose from the water awake and alert.
"Johan! Johan! Wake up! Matthew McCreep had just escaped!" Peewit shouted as he went over to wake up his friend.
Johan arose to see that Matthew McCreep was gone. "Where did that thief go, Peewit?"
"I don't know, but if we can get back on our mounts, we might still be able to catch up to him," Peewit said.
"But then what, Peewit?" Johan asked. "As long as he still has the magic flute, he can just put us to sleep again and make his escape. We need another plan in order to catch him."
"Oh, if only I haven't found that magic flute, Johan," Peewit said. "Oh, if only there was a way we can make that flute lose its power..."
"Lose its power," Johan said as he was thinking over the last three words his friend said. And then it came to him in a flash. "Peewit, maybe there is a way that the magic flute can lose its power."
"There is a way? But how?" Peewit asked.
"I don't know, my friend, but I do know that Homnibus the enchanter might know," Johan said. "We need to see him right away and ask if he is able to know of a way. What else can we do?"
"Right, Johan!" Peewit exclaimed. "That was a brilliant plan that I had all along! Let's go see the wizard!"
"And so Johan and Peewit smurfed back on their mounts and traveled to see Homnibus the enchanter, who would eventually become friends with Papa Smurf over the years since the two of them met," Narrator said.
And as Empath and Polaris watched, Johan and Peewit arrived at a small cottage in the countryside. They knocked at the door and waited, only for a young man with a bowl-shaped haircut to answer. "Yes, how may I help you?"
"We would like to see your master, Homnibus the enchanter, if you please," Johan said.
"I will inform him of your arrival," the servant said. "Please wait here while I get him."
Johan and Peewit waited at the door for a few minutes until an old man in a blue robe and a very long white beard appeared. "Johan! Peewit! You seem to be here on urgent business!"
"It's a dire situation, Master Homnibus," Johan said. "It concerns a magic flute that Peewit had found."
"Yes, and this thief named Matthew McCreep now has it, and I want it back," Peewit said.
"I see," Homnibus said. "Come inside and tell me more of this magic flute that you have found."
Johan and Peewit entered and sat in the main room to tell Homnibus all about the magic flute they have found, what it looked like, what it was able to do. Homnibus listened intently to everything he was told.
"Yes, I do know of this particular flute you were talking about, gentlemen," Homnibus said.
"But do you know how to get rid of its magic?" Johan asked.
"That part I do not know," Homnibus said. "But I do know that the Smurfs may know."
"Smurfs? Who are these Smurfs?" Peewit asked.
"They're an isolated community of people who made the magic flute, for purposes that only they would know for certain," Homnibus said.
"But where would we find these Smurfs?" Johan asked. "Is there a map or something that leads to their community?"
"Their village, as the legends say, lies in a remote forest located in a region known only as the Cursed Country," Homnibus said. "It is so isolated that nobody knows for sure how to get there, and even if you could get close enough, you would need a Smurf to guide you the rest of the way, so I'm afraid that you won't get there on foot or by horse."
"But there is a way to get there, Master Homnibus, isn't there?" Peewit asked.
Homnibus looked intently at the ceiling while thinking of Peewit's question. "There is a method that I can try, but it isn't without risk. I'm not sure how well it will work, but if you're so intent on finding the Smurfs..."
"Please, Master Homnibus, we must find a way to reach them," Johan said.
"Very well, then," Homnibus said. "Come into my laboratory and I will explain what the method is all about."
Johan and Peewit followed Homnibus into his laboratory where they sat down together on the same bench while Homnibus looked through his books. "You see, the method that I have in mind is a technique used by sorcerers to travel to distant places called hypnokinesis."
"Hypno-what?" Peewit asked, not sure what it is all about.
"Hypnokinesis," Homnibus said as he found the book he was looking for. "What that means is that I will use hypnosis to put you two to sleep and..."
"Sleep?" Peewit said. "I don't want to go to sleep!"
"Let him finish, Peewit," Johan said.
"You will go to sleep here, and then in your sleep you will travel through the spirit world until you reach your destination, at which point you will become physical again," Homnibus explained. "You will be in two places at once, here in my laboratory asleep and there in the land of the Smurfs awake."
"Is there a danger to using this technique, Master Homnibus?" Johan asked.
"I'm afraid there is, Johan," Homnibus answered. "You see, your spirit self can only remain in a physical form outside your body for a few days, after which there is the danger that you will become permanently separated from your body and your physical form outside your body will vanish completely. In other words, the two of you will die if you do not reunite with your bodies."
"Wow, now that sounds really dangerous," Peewit said. "There's got to be some other way you can use."
"This is the only way that I know of, young man," Homnibus said.
"We have to try it, Peewit, for the sake of our people and our kingdom," Johan said. "I'm willing to take the chance, Master Homnibus."
"And so will I," Peewit added.
"Then just sit still and relax while I begin the process," Homnibus said. "Stare deep into my eyes, and listen to my voice."
Johan and Peewit sat relaxed and staring intently and directly into Homnibus' eyes. As the enchanter continued to speak the hypnokinesis spell, the two of them could see the pupils of the old man's eyes getting larger and larger, as if they were being drawn directly into Homnibus' piercing gaze.
Then everything became a swirly mass of sparkling light and colors as Johan and Peewit fell asleep, and in this mass they found themselves drifting through time and space, unsure of where they are going. They could hear the sound of a hundred tiny voices all singing a cheerful song together which neither of them have heard before, all of them speaking in a language that was foreign to their ears. It felt like time had stretched on into infinity, that this tunnel of light and color was extending itself far beyond where they could see it end.
And then the sounds and the color suddenly ended, and there was nothing but empty silent blackness.
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:38 AM
Chapter 4
"Peewit, open your eyes," Johan said.
Peewit did, and saw that he and Johan were in a very strange and yet beautiful forest. "Where are we?" he asked.
"If Homnibus cast the spell correctly, we should be in the Smurf Forest," Johan said.
"Hmmm...I've never seen this kind of forest before," Peewit said as he got up from the tree that he and Johan appeared next to. "But where are these Smurfs?"
"I don't know," Johan said. "Maybe we should look around the forest for a house or something."
Peewit yawned and decided they should do that. "Hello...Smurfs! Where are you?" he called out as he and Johan walked through the forest.
After a while of walking, Johan said, "I don't see any sign of them, Peewit."
"I don't see them, either. Do they even know we're coming?" Peewit asked.
"If that magic flute came from them, they must be looking for it just as we are," Johan said.
"Hey, why don't you smurfs look where you're smurfing?" a voice said from behind a bush.
"Did you say that, Peewit?" Johan asked as he stopped to look where the voice came from.
"Honestly, Johan, I didn't," Peewit said. "I just heard it from somewhere nearby."
"But I don't see anyone nearby except you," Johan said. "Anyway, we need to keep looking for the Smurfs."
"That's what you're smurfing for?" the voice said again. "Then maybe I can help."
"Okay, whoever you are, show yourself right now!" Peewit demanded.
"There's no need to smurf like that," the voice said. And then as Johan and Peewit watched, a small blue-skinned humanoid figure no taller than a human hand, wearing a white floppy hat and pants, emerged from the bush. "Oh, it's you two. We've been smurfing for you ever since you smurfed the magic flute."
"Wait a minute...you're a Smurf?" Peewit asked, looking incredulously at the small figure.
The Smurf laughed. "That's me. You must have smurfed from far away, for no one can smurf our forest unless it's through magic. We've been smurfing all over for that flute, which that smurf McCreep has now smurfed."
"What are you even saying? I can't understand you!" Johan said.
The Smurf looked puzzled. "Oh, I see that you don't know Smurf. Well, smurf with me and I will smurf you to someone that can smurf in your language."
"My guess is that he wants us to follow him," Peewit said.
"Then we might as well, Peewit," Johan said. "Maybe someone among them knows how to tell us plainly about the magic flute."
And so Johan and Peewit walked through the forest, carefully following the Smurf they have found. "Are the others about as tall as you are, Smurf?" Peewit asked.
"Oh, yes," the Smurf answered. "Of course, everything in our forest is big. We happen to be the only smurfs that smurf the right size."
"So what happens if something big attacks you and your...uh, fellow Smurfs?" Johan asked.
"We usually smurf with it together," the Smurf said, "but most of the time we rely on Papa Smurf, who smurfs his magic to smurf us from danger."
"This Papa Smurf is your father?" Peewit asked.
"He's every Smurf's father, and we're his sons, all 98 of us," the Smurf answered. And then they saw a clearing up ahead. "Here's the village. We're smurfed."
Johan and Peewit saw the village that the Smurf led them to...and like the Smurf they have found, it was also small, and filled with about a hundred of little blue people that looked almost identical to the Smurf they have found, also wearing a white hat and pants. The village looked like a patch of oversized mushrooms made into houses.
"Fellow Smurfs, look at who I've smurfed," the Smurf said. "It's Johan and Peewit, the two humans who smurfed the magic flute."
The Smurfs all gathered around Johan and Peewit to get a closer look. Most of them acted as if they have never seen beings like Johan and Peewit before. And like the Smurf, they were also talking in the same language that neither Johan or Peewit understood.
"What's all this commotion smurfing on, my little Smurfs?" an older voice broke in. Johan and Peewit saw another Smurf approaching that was much different from the others, wearing a red suit and a white beard.
"It's Johan and Peewit, Papa Smurf," one of the Smurfs answered. "They've smurfed here from the world of humans smurfing for the magic flute."
"That's Papa Smurf," the first Smurf said to Johan and Peewit. "He's called 'the great Smurf'."
"'The great Smurf', eh?" Peewit said. "Then I wonder how tall 'the greatest Smurf' is."
The other Smurfs stepped aside to let Papa Smurf approach the two humans. "Welcome, Johan and Peewit, to our village. We've been waiting for you to come and were hoping that you would help us."
"Yeah, like have you smurfed the magic flute yet?" one of the Smurfs asked. And the others also chimed in with a similar question.
"Please, my little Smurfs, let me handle this and don't smurf around them," Papa Smurf said, trying to get the other Smurfs under control. He then sighed. "Those Smurfs...just because they're 150 years old, they think that they're all grown up."
"They're all 150 years old?" Peewit asked. "Then how old are you supposed to be?"
"Well, according to my last birthday, I became 542 years in chanterelles," Papa Smurf answered.
"542 years old?" Peewit said, amazed. "Well, you sure don't look it!"
"Let me show you two around the village," Papa Smurf said. "It isn't often that we have visitors like yourselves, so please watch your step. I'll make sure my little Smurfs will not get underfoot by accident."
As Johan and Peewit followed Papa Smurf around the village, Johan prompted, "Peewit, ask Papa Smurf about the magic flute."
"Just a minute, Johan," Peewit said. "I have a question, Papa Smurf. These Smurfs all seem to look alike, wearing the same white hat and pants unlike yourself. How is it that you're able to tell each other apart?"
"That's simple, Peewit," Papa Smurf said. "Like you humans, each of us has a name, and our name indicates who and what we are, whether it's a personality or a profession. Take for example this Smurf right here." He pointed to a Smurf wearing a chef's hat who is working in the kitchen. "His name is Greedy, because as the village cook, he likes to eat whatever he cooks for us...sometimes more than his fair share for everybody."
"Looks like somebody you have something in common with, Peewit," Johan noted as he and Peewit saw Greedy in action.
Peewit snorted. "I bet I can outeat that Smurf anyday."
"And those two Smurfs out in the field," Papa Smurf said, directing Johan and Peewit's attention to them. "The one with the hoe is Farmer, and the other with the quill and scroll is Poet. You can pretty much tell what they're supposed to be just by their names. Farmer likes to do farming, and Poet likes to do poetry."
"And who's that Smurf in the field, that's just sleeping with his shovel?" Peewit asked.
Papa Smurf frowned. "That's Lazy, doing what he normally does. He hardly does any work around the village." They watched as another Smurf appeared with a giftbox in his hand, placing it right next to Lazy before walking off. Lazy then fell to the ground and landed right on the giftbox, which exploded, waking him up afterward.
"Ha ha, very funny, Jokey Smurf," Lazy muttered.
"Ooh, a prankster Smurf," Peewit noted. "Looks like we're going to be the best of friends."
Johan rolled his eyes at the thought. "I'm very sure you will be."
"And over there is Handy working on an invention," Papa Smurf said, directing the humans' attention to the Smurfs he was speaking about. "And with him is Clumsy, who just has a habit of making a mess of things. And this one is called Festive Smurf, because he likes to party. And this one right over here is called Grouchy...who unfortunately doesn't talk much." He waited for Grouchy to respond. "Well, aren't you going to say hello?"
"I hate saying hello," Grouchy said.
"Ah, these must be the two humans who are smurfing for the magic flute," a Smurf with a pair of glasses spoke. "I'm sure you would want to know about me, the smartest Smurf in the village. My name is Brainy Smurf, and my job is to elucidate, elaborate, and illuminate my fellow Smurfs to the wonders of morality and wisdom, which most of them tend to be lacking for reasons I can't fathom. You see, Papa Smurf happens to be the wisest Smurf of us all, and my duty as a Smurf is to emulate him as much as possible to be an example for my fellow Smurfs to follow, because every great leader needs to have a disciple who can learn from them, and I just happen to be that kind of Smurf who can learn all the virtues of proper living as a Smurf, and besides all that, I am well-educated in all manner of studies that leave me as the envy of the entire village, and furthermore..."
The rest of Brainy's speech was cut short when the Smurfs passed along a mallet to the Smurf closest to Brainy, who then bonked him in the head with it. Peewit laughed at the sight.
"As you can see, Brainy is the Smurf who loves to talk, much to our annoyance," Papa Smurf said. "And over here, bending this bar of iron with his bare hands, is the Smurf known as Hefty."
"They don't call me the strongest Smurf for nothing, folks," Hefty said, which he demonstrated by breaking a table in half with a single hand chop.
Johan laughed. "I'm sure that Smurf could be plenty useful, Papa Smurf."
"So how do they get their names, Papa Smurf?" Peewit asked. "Do they get them when they're born, or is it after they exhibited some character traits?"
"Yes...and yes," Papa Smurf answered. "That may sound very confusing to you, but it makes a lot of sense to us. You must be in need of some refreshment after making such a long journey to reach our village."
"Actually, Papa Smurf, I'm quite fine, thank you," Johan said.
"Well, I could sure use some refreshment," Peewit said.
Papa Smurf laughed. "My boy, you've come to the right place in our village. This is our tavern, which is where the finest in sarsaparilla ale is served. We also serve raspberry juice here, which I'm sure you'll find to be the most tasteful."
Peewit noticed a Smurf coming out of the tavern wearing a green tie and green-striped vest. "That Smurf sure looks a little different from the others."
"Smurf o' the morning to you, my fellow humans," the Smurf in the vest greeted. "The name is Tapper Smurf, and I'd be happy to smurf you gentlesmurfs."
"Two glasses of raspberry juice for our guests, Tapper," Papa Smurf said.
"Smurfing right up, Papa Smurf," Tapper said, going into his tavern. "I would invite you to smurf right in, but I'm afraid I'll have to smurf you outside."
"That's all right, Tapper...I'm sure we can manage," Papa Smurf said.
A few minutes later, Tapper appeared on the balcony of the tavern with a tray containing two Smurf-sized glasses and a bottle of raspberry juice. "Here's to your health!"
Johan and Peewit carefully took the two small glasses, which were smaller than a thimble, and drank its contents. "That went down rather quick," Peewit said.
"We don't normally smurf anyone bigger than ourselves around here, I'm sorry to say," Tapper said.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Tapper," Johan said, handing the glass back to him. "We appreciate it."
"Now what is so special about this magic flute, besides that it can make people dance, that you Smurfs are so eager to know where it is?" Peewit asked.
"It was made by our ancestors to cure a condition among humans that is best known as 'Monotone Melancholy', Peewit," Papa Smurf said. "It's supposed to make listless people more lively, and it isn't meant to be played for long periods of time, as I'm sure you're aware of by now. The last sorcerer who used this flute was a friend of mine named Alderic, who heard of the legend of the flute. He had his house burned down not long ago, and I was afraid that it was going to be lost forever or worse when I heard of it."
"I can see why it would be so important for you to retrieve this flute, Papa Smurf," Johan said.
"But can't you do something to the flute, like remove its power completely?" Peewit asked.
Papa Smurf sighed. "Unfortunately, there isn't anything we can do to the flute once it's been made. According to our books, the magic flute is made with a special kind of wood and sealed with a coating that prevents it from ever being destroyed."
"The green smoke from the king's chamber," Johan realized.
"That's just great, Papa Smurf," Peewit said. "You make a magic flute that can't be destroyed, and you can't even remove its power."
"That's why we were trying to get it out of your hands, Peewit, as well as McCreep's," Papa Smurf said. "However, there is one thing we can do...we can simply make another magic flute. That way, you can fight McCreep on equal terms, and get the flute he stole from you back from him."
"It's really that simple?" Johan asked.
"But how long will that take for us?" Peewit asked.
"It's been a long time since the Smurfs last made a magic flute, so I will have to look it up in my books," Papa Smurf said. "Follow me to my laboratory, and I will try to find your answer as quickly as possible."
Johan and Peewit followed Papa Smurf to his laboratory, where he spent a good deal of time looking through his books for the answer about the magic flute.
"That's really strange, that all these Smurfs are Papa Smurf's sons, Johan," Peewit said. "I wonder how they would even reproduce."
"There doesn't seem to be a female among them, Peewit, so I wouldn't know for sure," Johan said. "Maybe they're all just created male through magic or something."
"Yeah, like a stork brings little baby Smurfs to this village from a secret garden that grows them like plants or somewhere else," Peewit said. "This Papa Smurf must have had his hands full trying to raise them all at once by himself."
Johan chuckled at the thought. "However he was able to accomplish that, my friend, he seems to be wise enough to keep his little Smurfs in line as a happy family."
After an hour or so of the two humans waiting, Papa Smurf came back out with the answer. "It should take us no more than a few days, and that's with the entire village working together," Papa Smurf said.
"A few days?" Peewit said. "Who knows what McCreep would be doing while we are waiting!"
"It's a chance we have to take, Peewit," Johan said.
"I'll have Tracker and Dreamy keep an eye on McCreep while we are busy," Papa Smurf said. "For now, I will summon the Smurfs together and tell them that this is a matter of urgency and cooperation."
Soon Johan and Peewit had to plug their ears as they heard another Smurf with a horn, whose name was Harmony, sound an alert for the Smurfs to gather together.
"My little Smurfs, we have a grave situation that requires the entire village to participate in," Papa Smurf said while standing on a mushroom in order to get his little Smurfs' undivided attention. "Our friends from the outside world need to have a new magic flute to be smurfed in a few days in order to smurf the flute from Matthew McCreep, and so I'm going to need every Smurf to smurf their part so we can get this job smurfed in time."
"You can count on us to get smurfing on it, right, Hefty?" Handy said.
"Just show us which tree we need to smurf, and we'll get smurfing," Hefty said.
And soon every Smurf among them raised up their voices to say that they will help.
"All right, then smurf your gear with you, and follow me into the forest," Papa Smurf said.
As the Smurfs went to get their axes and other equipment, Papa Smurf turned to Johan and Peewit. "You might as well join us, since this is going to be a long process, though I honestly don't know what either of you can do while we're busy," he said.
"Just one question, Papa Smurf," Peewit said. "Why do you need to chop down a whole tree? Can't you just make a new magic flute from a branch or something?"
"You're not going to tell me how to make a magic flute now, are you?" Papa Smurf said.
"Just saying that it seems pretty wasteful for you to chop down a whole tree just for a small flute, that's all," Peewit said.
"Listen, there are some things about the way Smurfs do things that you humans will never fully understand, such as how we make magic flutes, but chopping down a whole tree is how we have been making flutes, so if you would kindly allow us to do it our way, since we know what we're doing, we will not have to get into such an argument where I wouldn't be making for you a magic flute," Papa Smurf said. "Do you understand?"
"So you just want me to be silent and not say how you should make a flute and all that?" Peewit said.
"Peewit, Papa Smurf and all the other Smurfs are going out of their way to help us," Johan said. "Do you want us to leave here empty-handed just because we can't get along with the Smurfs?"
"Uh...no, of course not," Peewit said, realizing that he would be better off keeping his opinions to himself. "Just show us the way, Papa Smurf, and we'll stay out of your hair...your hat...whatever."
"Well, I can see that you're being reasonable with us, Peewit," Papa Smurf said. And then he saw his little Smurfs all carrying axes and other equipment for chopping down trees. "All right, my little Smurfs, let's smurf!"
"And so all the Smurfs in the village followed after Papa Smurf into the forest to find the perfect tree that they can get the wood for the magic flute from," Narrator said. "Soon enough, they found the tree, but before any of them could start chopping, a few Smurfs found a nest of baby birds on one of the branches, so the Smurfs worked together to move the nest from that tree over to another. And then the work started."
"Oh, thank smurfness that the Smurfs took care of those baby birds before they started their work," Smurfette said.
"This one would feel the same way as Peewit, that chopping down a whole tree just for a small flute seems pretty wasteful, fellow Narrator...that is, unless there's something about doing so that has yet to be revealed," Polaris said.
"This smurf is certain that Papa Smurf knows what he's doing, Polaris," Empath said. "It may not make a whole lot of sense at first, but over time the meaning will be made clear...sort of like how Tapper gets with understanding prophecy."
"Unfortunately, Peewit wasn't willing to just smurf and wait for us to get the job smurfed, so he decided to grab an axe and start smurfing, but of course he found out that humans are just too big to smurf with our axes," Piper said. "So we had to have him smurf down with his partner."
"And while they were sitting down, Tapper was with them the whole time to keep them company," Narrator said.
As Narrator continued the story, Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette both saw that Johan and Peewit were sitting there bored and impatient, watching the Smurfs slowly working on chopping down a very big and thick tree while singing songs to keep themselves focused.
"Would you mind if I asked you what you two smurf as far as you do in your village?" Tapper asked as he joined them. "I haven't smurfed far beyond the forest to really see anything in a human village."
"You mean what we do?" Johan answered. "Well, you see I'm a squire who's in training to be a knight, and my friend here is a court jester and entertainer. He tries to keep us entertained with his singing, to the best of his ability."
"Oh, I'm definitely the best singer in the kingdom, Johan...the rest of the people just haven't confessed the truth yet," Peewit said. "Is it your job to talk to people who visit your village, Tapper?"
"I wouldn't be a good bartender if I'm not good at that, my young friend," Tapper said. "My friend Duncan...the one with the sideburns and the kilt...he's more of a fighter than a talker. But he sure loves to tell many a tale about the giants he has smurfed out in the forest."
"You Smurfs all think we're giants?" Johan asked.
"It's all how you smurf at things, isn't it?" Tapper said. "I don't suppose you see many people in your world who are no more than three apples tall now. But your friend here...how did he have the name of Peewit?"
"Truth to tell, Tapper, I only look like I'm 12 years old, but that's because I've been this way for the past 30 years or so," Peewit said. "I don't remember my original name, since it's been so long that I've been stuck with a curse that left me like this. Johan finds me living out in the forest, back when I was called 'The Goblin Of Boulder Wood', and that's what I thought of myself for a long time until then."
"I'm sorry to hear that you've been stuck with a curse, Peewit," Tapper said. "You must not like having to watch other people grow up instead of you."
"Yeah, and with all these beautiful women that I meet, there's not a single thing that I can do about my size," Peewit said. "Oh, how often I would dream of someday marrying Princess Savina, who just sweeps me off my feet everytime I meet her."
"You're lucky to even have females around where you are," Tapper said. "All that we have is just us Smurfs in the village, but sometimes that's all that we really need for company."
"There's not even a single female Smurf?" Johan said.
"Not a one, my fellow Johan," Tapper said. "We just have Vanity, who always likes to look at himself in the mirror and always likes beautiful things. But none of us are that...interested in him in that sort of way, and neither are we like that toward each other, which I think is very unnatural and unsmurfy, though some of your people might disagree."
"Maybe someday you can visit our world...well, the entire village can visit our world...and see what it's like for yourselves," Peewit said.
"Only if Papa Smurf will allow it, Peewit," Tapper said. "The thing is, we're not supposed to let humans know that we exist, because it would mean the end of our world. That's why the only way you can find the Smurf Village is through a Smurf guiding you here. We...just like living our lives in privacy in the forest."
"I guess that means there won't be a lot of visits from us, then," Johan said. "I would understand that if I were the same size as you."
"It's not that bad living as a Smurf in the forest, my friends," Tapper said. "We may be small and we may talk strange to you and we may like being private, but I wouldn't trade my life as a Smurf for anything else in the world."
"Looking at them work together and singing songs together, Tapper, I could see why you would be so happy out here away from humans," Peewit said, as he watched the Smurfs continue to work on cutting down the tree well into the evening.
"Okay, laddies, let's all smurf together in the song we all sing while we smurf," Duncan called out to his fellow Smurfs as he kept hacking away with his ax.
And so together the Smurfs began to sing:
La, la, la la la la, sing the smurfy song.
La, la, la la la la, smurf it all day long.
La, la, la la la la, smurf along with me.
La, la, la la la la, simple as can be.
Next time you're feeling blue,
Just let this song begin.
Smurfy things can come to you,
So smurf yourself a grin.
La, la, la la la la, now you know the tune,
La, la, la la la la, you'll be smurfing soon.
Johan and Peewit didn't mind the song at first, but when they started singing it over and over, the two of them ended up covering their ears, hoping that the singing would end.
"Well, I certainly didn't think that the Smurfs would be this happy to work all night like this, Johan," Peewit shouted over the singing.
"Now you know how the rest of us feel when we have to hear your music all the time, Peewit," Johan shouted back.
Nosey and Chatty were working together in one spot when they noticed Johan and Peewit's reaction. "Smurf at those two giants over there with their ears covered," Nosey said to Chatty. "I wonder why they're not smurfing along with us."
"Maybe those two giants don't like to smurf music where they smurf from, who knows," Chatty said.
"But if they're after the magic flute like us, at least one of them must really like smurfing music," Nosey said.
Chatty sighed. "If being a giant means smurfing like them, then I'd rather be a Smurf than smurf whatever it is that those giants smurf."
"Yeah, I don't think I can fully understand those giants anyway," Nosey said as he and Chatty returned to their work.
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:46 AM
Chapter 5
"And so the Smurfs worked all through the night while Johan and Peewit slept," Narrator said. "It was by morning that the first part of the job was all done."
As Narrator continued the story, Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw that Peewit was startled by the sound of a large tree falling, causing him to be suddenly awake. "Huh? What was that?" he said, looking around.
"Peewit, look," Johan said. "The Smurfs have worked all night to cut down the whole tree." And sure enough, Peewit saw that the entire tree was cut down.
"Good work, my little Smurfs," Papa Smurf said. "As you can see, my human friends, the importance of cutting down the whole tree is so that we can get to the heart of the tree, which is where we get the wood for making the magic flute. Any other part of the tree just simply wouldn't do."
"So I see," Peewit said, stretching and yawning. "So how long do you think it's going to take to get the wood from the heart of the tree into the shape of a flute?"
"Oh, it should take us a whole day, since this requires a fine skill to make a perfect flute," Papa Smurf said. "But we will try to get the work done sooner, since you need to go after Matthew McCreep."
"Do you need me to do anything to help speed things along?" Peewit asked.
The Smurfs just looked at him with a glare that said that they didn't.
"All right, all right, I get the meaning," Peewit said. "I'll just leave it in your hands."
"Papa Smurf, look! Up in the sky!" one of the Smurfs called out.
Johan and Peewit looked and saw two Smurfs on a crane coming down for a landing in front of Papa Smurf. "Tracker! Dreamy! What's going on?" Papa Smurf asked.
"Bad news, Papa Smurf," Tracker said. "We still haven't smurfed the magic flute from McCreep. Even worse is that he plans to smurf for the coast so that he would ensmurf for foreign lands."
"What is that Smurf saying?" Johan asked.
"My guess is that they haven't gotten the magic flute from McCreep," Peewit answered.
"Indeed that's what he's been saying, Peewit," Papa Smurf said. "And even worse is that McCreep is planning to head for the coast so that he would embark for foreign lands. It will be impossible for us to get the magic flute from him at that point."
"So we've got to be able to stop him before he goes that far, Papa Smurf," Johan said, pounding his fist.
"I'll let the other Smurfs know how urgent this is," Papa Smurf said. "Tracker! Dreamy! Return to the sky and see what else you can smurf from McCreep."
"Yes, Papa Smurf," they both said in unison before hopping back on the crane and flying away.
"And so the Smurfs worked hard to extract enough wood from the heart of the tree to make a new magic flute, and then shaped it in the form of a flute," Narrator said. "The work was still difficult for the two humans to endure watching, but now they were becoming hopeful that it would be accomplished sooner than they had time to remain in physical form apart from their bodies in Homnibus' hovel."
Then Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw as Johan and Peewit continued to wait that Peewit was now listening intently on how the Smurfs were talking to each other, how they tend to use the word "smurf" for other things besides who they are. Then he had a flash of brilliance that he had to share with his friend.
"Hey, Johan," Peewit said very excitedly, "I found out the secret to their language. You just simply change the words to 'smurf'."
"Really? It's that simple?" Johan asked.
"Just watch! I'm going to ask that Smurf for a glass of water." Peewit then turned to a nearby Smurf and said, "Hey, Smurf! I would like you to please bring me a smurf."
"Okay," the Smurf said as he went to get the "smurf"
"You see? It's that simple!" Peewit said to Johan.
Johan laughed when he saw that the Smurf brought Peewit an axe. "Here you smurf!"
"No, no. I asked you to bring me a smurf," Peewit said.
"That's what I brought you...a smurf," the Smurf said.
"Not that kind of a smurf. The kind you smurf like this." Peewit tried to make a drinking gesture while the Smurf looked at him all puzzled. "I MEAN A GLASS OF WATER!"
"Oh, a smurf of smurf!" the Smurf said.
"That's what I've been saying, isn't it?" Peewit asked.
"No, no," the Smurf said. "You said you wanted a smurf."
"Of course I did," Peewit said. "I said it right the first time."
"No, you said you wanted a smurf, and so I brought you a smurf," the Smurf said.
"But that wasn't the smurf that I wanted you to smurf," Peewit said.
"Well, if you wanted a smurf, you should have said a smurf and not a smurf," the Smurf said. "A smurf is not the same thing as a smurf. Smurf it?"
Peewit was getting really irritated. "Aaaah...smurfity smurf smurf smurf!"
"Well, there's no need to smurf that kind of language!" the Smurf said before he walked off with his nose in the air.
"It looks like you're better off smurfing to them in your own language, Peewit," Johan said.
"Har har, very funny," Peewit said, not sounding amused. "I thought I'm supposed to be the comedian around here."
And so by late afternoon, the Smurfs were finished with the shaping of the magic flute. Papa Smurf let Peewit hold it so he can examine the work. "It's just like the one I had...except lighter in color," Peewit said.
Papa Smurf laughed. "That's because I haven't coated it yet with the mandrake juice solution, which gives it its magical properties. Once I have that done and it's dry, it should be ready for you to take back to wherever it is you came from."
"Oh good," Peewit said. "Once I have this, I can test it out on my friend Johan."
"You think I'm going to let you test that flute out on me, Peewit, you have another thing coming," Johan said.
"Oh yeah?" Peewit said. "And how are you going to stop me? With this flute I can keep you dancing until you drop."
"Please, Peewit, if you're going to use the flute at all, use it on Matthew McCreep," Papa Smurf said. "But once you get the flute from him, I will have to ask you to make a promise to return both flutes to us."
"Return both flutes?" Peewit said. "You can't just let me have one of the flutes?"
"No, we can't, if Matthew McCreep's use of the flute has taught you anything," Papa Smurf said.
"Papa Smurf is right, Peewit," Johan said. "We will promise that whatever happens, we will give both of the flutes back to the Smurfs. Is that right, Peewit?"
Peewit groaned at the thought of having to make that kind of promise. "Oh...sure, Johan, I promise."
Then Festive Smurf approached Papa Smurf to tell him something. "Papa Smurf, before Johan and Peewit leave with the magic flute, I was just wondering..."
"Yes, Festive Smurf, what is it?" Papa Smurf asked.
"Well, it's just that we've been smurfing all night and all day to make a magic flute, and so for all the hard work that we smurfed, I was wondering if we would have a little farewell party for our guests," Festive said.
Papa Smurf looked at all his little Smurfs and noticed how tired they became from the work on the magic flute. They all looked like they were in agreement with what Festive was suggesting.
Papa Smurf sighed. "All right, Festive, I will make the announcement." He then turned to the rest of the other Smurfs and said, "My little Smurfs! Because of all the work that you have smurfed into making the magic flute, I declare that tonight there shall be a party in honor of our guests Johan and Peewit before they leave."
"HURRAY!" all the Smurfs shouted with glee.
"I hate hurrays!" Grouchy said.
"Oh boy, there's going to be a farewell party," Clumsy said. "Gosh, it makes me wonder what I'm going to wear."
"Oh Clumsy, you know that Smurfs don't need to wear anything except the clothes on their smurfs for any reason," Brainy said.
"So what are we waiting for?" Greedy said. "Let's smurf back to the village and help smurf this party ready!"
"Last Smurf there is a rotten Smurf!" Hefty said, and so all the Smurfs except for Papa Smurf and Tapper rushed back to the village.
"Is this common among you Smurfs to always have parties, Tapper?" Peewit asked.
"Not all the time, no, my fellow Peewit, but it is part of what makes us Smurfs, that we all like to celebrate our achievements together," Tapper answered.
"We'd better get back to the village so I can get the mandrake juice solution ready for coating," Papa Smurf said. "Hopefully it won't take too long for it to dry because I don't want to keep you waiting."
"A party sure sounds like fun, even if it's with a group of people no more than three apples tall," Peewit said.
Johan sighed. "The sooner we can get our hands on the new flute, the better."
By early evening, the farewell party was underway. Greedy made all the cakes and goodies for his fellow Smurfs, including himself most of all, to enjoy. Tapper supplied the drinks. Festive supplied the lanterns and decorations. A few Smurfs supplied the music. Jokey supplied the fireworks which they saw going off in the air in spectacular displays. And the rest of the Smurfs supplied the dancing and games that they played with each other.
Johan just sat near the outskirts of the village, waiting for the magic flute to be ready, while Peewit was with Greedy testing out the food. "I've never tasted these kind of berries before, Greedy," Peewit said as he ate one of the cakes. "What are these called?"
"They are called smurfberries, and they are the most smurfiest things you have ever tasted," Greedy said. "Of course, I have never seen a human before who likes to eat smurfberries."
"Yeah, well, I think I'm becoming a smurfberry addict right now," Peewit said. "So you're the biggest eater in the village, am I correct?"
"Me and my brother Nabby are the biggest eaters, Peewit, but I like to think that I can eat him under the table any day of the week," Greedy said.
"Really?" Peewit said as he looked at the other Smurf eating cakes from another table and constantly stuffing himself full.
"Of course, the thing my brother likes to do is sneak away with food when I'm not smurfing," Greedy said, looking at Nabby with disgust.
"You know, I think me and Nabby may have something in common when it comes to sneaking food from the kitchen," Peewit said. "Have I ever told you of the time that I have..."
"Look!" one of the Smurfs shouted. "Papa Smurf is bringing out the magic flute!"
Every Smurf stopped what they were doing, and Johan and Peewit turned to see Papa Smurf arriving at the scene of the party with the magic flute. They all gave applause for the work that was completed.
"The magic flute is now ready to use, my little Smurfs," Papa Smurf said. "I shall now let Peewit have the honors of holding the flute so he and Johan can take it back with them."
"It shall be my pleasure, Papa Smurf," Peewit said. He reached out to grab the flute from Papa Smurf's hands, but then he noticed something strange. "My hand! It just passed through the flute! I can't grab it!"
Johan felt something strange. "Peewit...I'm starting to feel really tired..."
Peewit also felt the same sensation. "Papa Smurf...I can't...keep my eyes open..."
"Johan, Peewit, what's going on?" Papa Smurf asked. "Why are the both of you fading away?"
"Johan...Peewit...you must return...," a voice called out that only the two humans can hear. And instantly Johan and Peewit fell asleep and disappeared from the Smurf Village.
"Papa Smurf, Papa Smurf, what are we going to do? How will we smurf the flute to the two humans now?" Brainy asked as he watched the humans disappear.
"This looks like somebody was smurfing a spell of hypnokinesis, Brainy," Papa Smurf said. "We will track down the origin of where the spell was originally smurfed. With any luck, we may be able to find Johan and Peewit, wherever it is they have smurfed from."
"I hate wherever it is they have smurfed from," Grouchy said.
"Johan! Peewit! Wake up!" a familiar voice called out in the blackness.
Johan and Peewit woke up and found themselves in the chamber of Homnibus' hovel where they fell asleep. "Huh? What are we doing back here?" Johan asked.
"Why did you pull us back?" Peewit asked Homnibus.
"I have been worried that you have been gone for too long outside your bodies," Homnibus answered. "I had to pull you back or else your spirits would remain trapped outside your bodies, and you would have perished."
"You pulled us back too soon, Homnibus," Johan said.
"Yeah, we were just ready to get our hands on another magic flute from the Smurfs," Peewit said.
"I'm terribly sorry that I did that, my young friends," Homnibus said. "However, now that I have pulled you back, I cannot send you both back to the Smurf Village right away. The effort would be tiresome, and there's a greater risk that I would lose you both."
"You can't send us back?" Johan said, sounding very surprised. "Then how are we going to get the flute now?"
"Can't you at least try to send one of us back?" Peewit asked. "I'll be the one you can send back there."
Homnibus sighed. "It's a risky venture, but I could summon enough strength to send at least one of you there. Please sit down and I will give it a try." Peewit sat down again. "Now look deep into my eyes...you are getting sleepy...you are no longer...in your body..."
But as Peewit stared into Homnibus' eyes, the enchanter's own eyes were getting heavy until he himself was falling to the floor. Johan caught Homnibus before he hit the floor.
"Great, Peewit, now you've caused Homnibus to fall asleep," Johan said with some disgust.
Homnibus' servant came into the room and noticed that his master is unconscious. "Johan, Peewit, what has happened to Master Homnibus?" he asked, sounding concerned.
"He was trying to recast the spell of hypnokinesis, and he fell asleep," Peewit answered. "I swear to you that I didn't mean for this to happen."
"We must get him to his bed so he can rest," the servant said as he helped Johan carry Homnibus to his bedroom.
Peewit looked plenty worried. "Oh, how are we going to get our hands on the magic flute now? And where has that thief gone this time with mine?"
"As for Matthew McCreep, he was heading for an old associate that he used to work with," Narrator said. "His name was originally Lord Mumford, but in recent years he was going by the name of Earl Flatbroke because of his unsmurfy wasteful lifestyle."
As Narrator continued the story, Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette saw Earl Flatbroke talking to one of his servants in a demanding tone. "I don't give a flying fig for what they'll say...let the taxes be increased! Have those who refuse to pay their taxes be thrown into prison and have all their belongings seized!"
"You're playing a dangerous game, my lord," the servant said. "The serfs have already been taxed enough as it is. If you keep increasing the taxes, they will complain to King Audric, who will launch an expedition against you and dispossess you of your fief."
"King Audric! Oh, why doesn't that old man ever mind his own business? I swear that if I were king, Audric would be in the dungeon as my servant!" Earl Flatbroke said as he paced around the room trying to think. "I need money!"
"You do?" a voice broke in, as a bag of money was tossed at the earl's feet. "Catch!"
Earl Flatbroke turned to see who was at the door and recognized the person. "Matthew McCreep!" He told his servant to leave him alone so he could have a private talk, and after his servant left, he grabbed Matthew by the collar of his tunic. "You crook! I told you never to set your foot here again!"
"Why?" McCreep said. "Are you afraid that I'll talk about the things we've done together...like how three months ago I attacked a caravan of rich merchants crossing your lands, and that you, the once noble Lord Mumford, got your share of the spoils from me?"
"Shhhh...not a word about it from you," Earl Flatbroke said, letting go of McCreep, fearful that anybody else would hear. "So what is it you want now?"
"Oh, just to propose a deal," McCreep said as he helped himself to a drink. "You're a fighting man, Flatbroke, but you can't start any wars because you're ruined, burdened with debts, and you can only afford a few poorly equipped soldiers. On the other hand, if you had a good enough army, you could attack the lords in the vicinity and your little fief will become a powerful province...powerful enough to even overthrow King Audric."
"To have that kind of an army, McCreep, I will need gold to pay for soldiers and equipment," Flatbroke said.
"Exactly," McCreep said. "And it just so happens that I have some...a whole lot of gold, actually. So here's what I propose to you: I'll give you the money necessary for you to get that army up and running. You invade the country and we'll share the lands that you conquer. What do you think of that?"
Flatbroke stroked his beard while thinking. "Intriguing, but I need to see for myself the amount of money that you have before I will commit myself to this deal."
"Of course," McCreep said. "The money is hidden in a nearby forest. I will show you just where it is."
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:51 AM
Chapter 6
"Meanwhile, Johan and Peewit were waiting for word from Homnibus' servant Oliver, to know what his condition is and when he would be well again to perform the spell of hypnokinesis," Narrator said. "They knew that the longer they waited, the less time they would have to get the magic flute back from Matthew McCreep."
As Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette listened to the story, they saw Johan and Peewit waiting outside Homnibus' bedroom until they were soon joined by Oliver. "Well? Is he awake?" Johan asked, eager to know.
Oliver sighed. "He is, but unfortunately he is rather feverish. He must have overdone it, so I made him take a sleeping pill. Tomorrow morning, when he wakes up, he should be feeling better."
"Tomorrow morning?" Johan said, not believing what he was hearing.
"That's all that I can do," Oliver said. "You can wait here until he recovers."
After Oliver left to go into the kitchen, Peewit let out a groan. "By then we'll never get our hands on the magic flute."
"And we were so close," Johan said, sharing what his friend was feeling.
Just then Oliver had let in a young lady wearing rider's clothes. Johan and Peewit recognized who it was. "Princess Savina? What are you doing outside the castle?" Johan asked.
"I figured that I would join you to see how you were doing in trying to get the magic flute from McCreep," Princess Savina as she joined Johan and Peewit sitting at the table.
"If only you were with us to the place that we went in order to get another magic flute, my lady," Peewit said. "There were these little blue creatures called Smurfs, who were the ones who made the first flute."
"Smurfs?" Princess Savina asked. "What were they like?"
"They were the most friendly beings we have ever met, Princess," Johan said. "We were in their village for two days waiting for them to make another magic flute that we would use against Matthew McCreep."
"That is, until Homnibus pulled us back too soon," Peewit said. "And now he's got a fever and he won't be better until tomorrow."
"That's terrible," Princess Savina said, her heart going out to Homnibus and her friends. "I just wish there was something I can do to help you."
"You should return to the castle before Dame Barbara notices that you're gone," Johan said.
"If I'm going to be a princess, I would rather be helping my friends than sitting on a throne in the castle doing nothing," Princess Savina said. "I'll deal with whatever punishment I may get for leaving the castle, but being beside you two is where I feel to be the most important place in my life."
"You're more than welcome to stay with us for the time being, Princess," Peewit said. "All we can do now is sit and wait for Homnibus to awaken."
Meanwhile, out in a hidden part of the forest, Matthew McCreep was showing Earl Flatbroke the valuables he had collected from the villagers that he had stashed away.
"Coins, thousands of coins," McCreep said as Flatbroke looked at and inspected all the valuables. "Gold, silver, jewels, precious stones. My cart's full of them...enough to make a nice little war."
"Oh, McCreep, you really outdid yourself this time," Flatbroke said with a big smile on his face.
"So that leaves me wondering, how many soldiers do you have for now?" McCreep asked.
"Uh...about five hundred," Flatbroke answered. "But with money, I can raise an army of three thousand men."
"No, that's too few," McCreep said. "We need to have at least ten thousand. Here's what we're going to do: I'll leave you a portion of the money to equip your three thousand men. With the remainder, I'll go abroad to recruit mercenaries whom I'll bring back here."
"Very good," Flatbroke said. "When do you leave?"
"Immediately," McCreep said. "I'm planning to embark tonight from the port of Terminac."
Unknown to either of them, two Smurfs were overhearing the conversation from the branch of a nearby tree. "This doesn't smurf good," one of the Smurfs said.
"We have to tell Papa Smurf about this," the other Smurf said.
Back at Homnibus' hovel, Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina continued to sit and patiently wait for the wizard's recovery when Oliver came running into the room, sounding very frightened. "Johan! Peewit! Come quick! There are these little blue creatures outside! They're calling for you!"
The three humans got up from the table to look outside. "Good heavens!" Johan exclaimed as he recognized what he saw.
"The Smurfs!" Peewit exclaimed, seeing all of them arrive from the storks they were riding.
"We have the flute with the six smurfs," one of the Smurfs said, holding the magic flute.
"You can smurf after Matthew McCreep now," another Smurf said.
Princess Savina was amazed by the sight of the Smurfs. "Oh, they are such adorable little creatures," she said, reaching to grab Clumsy and kissing him on the cheek.
"Gosh, I've just been kissed by a princess," Clumsy said, staggering from the effect of the kiss.
"I hate being kissed by a princess," Grouchy said.
"Papa Smurf, how did you manage to find us?" Johan asked as Peewit received the magic flute and kissed the Smurf who was holding it.
"It took a little while for me to discover who it was that cast the spell of hypnokinesis on you, and as it turned out, it was this wizard that I met years ago named Homnibus," Papa Smurf said. "I knew that he would become the great wizard that he must be today if he was the one who was able to send you into our forest with that spell. The question now is, what happened to him? Why did he not send you back so you could get the flute?"
"He wasn't able to because he came down with a fever, Papa Smurf," Johan said. "By the way, does the flute work now?"
Suddenly Johan and Princess Savina were dancing as they heard Peewit playing the magic flute. They looked at the young entertainer, a bit upset. "I should say that it works, Johan," Papa Smurf said with a chuckle.
"Very well, then," Johan said as he and Savina picked themselves up from the ground. "Now that we can go after McCreep, do you know where he is?"
"He was heading towards the castle of Lord Mumford, Johan," Papa Smurf answered. "A Smurf is waiting there to show you which way Matthew McCreep is headed next. Good luck."
"Thanks," Johan said. "Come on, Peewit, let's go."
"Just a minute, Johan," Peewit said. "Papa Smurf, it may be a good idea to have a Smurf waiting for us to tell which direction McCreep is heading to, but the thing is, none of us are able to speak in Smurf to understand what he might say."
"You're right, Peewit," Papa Smurf said, realizing it for himself. "In that case, I will have to come along with you."
"Then let's get going," Princess Savina said, as she and Johan got to their horses and Peewit called out for his goat Biquette.
"Papa Smurf, we want to come with you," Hefty said as the three humans prepared themselves for travel.
"No, Hefty, this is too dangerous," Papa Smurf said. "I will need you to stay here and make sure that the Smurfs are smurf and safe. I will go there alone to help our human friends in any way possible."
"But Papa Smurf, I want to come with you," Brainy said. "Surely my expertise in the study of geography will..."
"I have smurfed up my mind, Brainy," Papa Smurf said. "I want you to be a good little Smurf and follow Hefty's orders. Is that understood?"
Brainy sighed. "Yes, Papa Smurf, I will do what you smurf."
Then Papa Smurf hopped onto the saddle of Johan's horse Bayard as the Smurfs watched the three humans head down the road on their way toward the castle of the man previously known as Lord Mumford.
"This is the first time in my 542 years that I have even ridden on a horse," Papa Smurf said.
"Just hang on tight, Papa Smurf," Johan said as he brought the horse to a full gallop.
After a long ride across plains and forests, Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina could see the castle sitting on a high hill in the near distance. "There it is," Princess Savina called out.
"And there is our Smurf lookout," Papa Smurf said, as he noticed the Smurf sitting on a tree branch looking over the road.
The three humans slowed to a stop to hear the Smurf speak. "Quick! Smurf along! Matthew McCreep is smurfing to Terminac to smurf abroad!"
"What's he saying?" Johan asked Papa Smurf.
"He says that Matthew McCreep is heading to Terminac to head abroad," Papa Smurf answered.
"I happen to know where Terminac is from my study of maps," Princess Savina said. "Follow me."
"The Princess has been studying maps, Johan?" Peewit asked.
"There's no time for us to talk about it, Peewit," Johan said. "If she knows the way to Terminac, we might as well let her go before us."
Johan and Peewit allowed Princess Savina to take the lead as they followed behind her.
Meanwhile, at the port town of Terminac, the captain of a sailing ship was watching one of his men carry aboard some chests full of Matthew McCreep's stolen valuables. "That's the last chest, Mr. McCreep," the captain said. "We're going to able to set sail soon!"
"Good," McCreep said, eager to get himself going.
"Raise the main sails! Cast off the moorings!" the captain yelled after the last chest was brought on board.
Soon the sailing ship was heading underway, picking up wind as it was leaving the harbor. Matthew McCreep just smiled, knowing that soon he was going to help Earl Flatbroke become a powerful force to take on King Audric.
At that point, Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina had just rode into town and reached the docks. "There is his cart," Johan pointed out.
"But where is that Oily McCreep?" Peewit wondered.
"Let's ask that fisherman if he has seen someone like him," Princess Savina suggested.
The three humans got off their mounts and went over to the fisherman. "Hey! Do you know where he is, the man who arrived with that cart?" Johan asked.
"Yeah, this big man that has this ugly mug for a face?" Peewit added.
"Yep, I have seen him," the fisherman said. "He had just boarded that ship right over there." He pointed to the ship that had just sailed out of the harbor.
"Quick! Is there another ship we can board that we might be able to catch up to him?" Princess Savina asked.
"I'm sorry that there isn't, young lady," the fisherman said. "There are only slow little fishing boats. It's no use even trying."
"Do you know where it's heading, sir?" Johan asked the fisherman.
"I'm sorry that I don't know," the fisherman said.
"Well, that's just great," Peewit said. "Some help you are, working out here in the docks and you don't even bother checking who is going where around here."
"Peewit, take it easy," Princess Savina said. "If he doesn't know, then he doesn't know."
"But someone in the village must know where the ship is heading," Johan said. "We should split up and ask everyone here if they know about the ship. Someone must be at least willing to talk."
"I'll make them talk, all right...with a little tune from my magic flute," Peewit said.
"No, Peewit, don't use the magic flute on them," Princess Savina said. "Wait until you get to McCreep and then use it on him."
"Oh...all right, Princess, for you I will do that," Peewit said as the three of them went off in separate directions.
"And so the three of them spent all day asking the people about the ship that had left the port and where it was headed," Narrator said. "By evening, however, all they came up with is nothing."
As Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette listened to the story, they saw Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina join together at the docks, looking like they have accomplished nothing.
"It's no use, gentlemen," Princess Savina said. "Either nobody knows or nobody is willing to tell."
"We did our best, and that's all that we can do," Johan said as they sat down together on a rock.
"It's too bad that this magic flute can't do anything more than make people dance, Johan," Peewit said. "I wish that I would have one that would make me master of the seas, master of the skies, master of all the creatures on the earth, master of all that can be surveyed...and most of all, master of my own destiny."
"I would prefer you to be the master of music, Peewit, if you were to be the master of anything," Princess Savina said.
"You really think that about me, Princess Savina?" Peewit asked.
"I really think you can be a great musician, if you're willing to give yourself a chance," Johan said.
"But if I give up this flute, I would no longer be as great as I am now with it," Peewit said.
"You can be a great musician without the flute, Peewit," Princess Savina said. "I just have a feeling that you will."
"Johan! Peewit!" a voice called from behind them. The three humans turned to see who it was and recognized the speaker.
"Papa Smurf, where did you go?" Johan asked.
"I was searching for the Smurf who followed Matthew McCreep here," Papa Smurf said as another Smurf joined him on the post he was standing on. "I hoped he would know where the ship was heading. Unfortunately, he doesn't know a thing. On the other hand, he has informed me that McCreep has made a pact with the man called Earl Flatbroke, whom I believe is also Lord Mumford. He's going to bring back an army of mercenaries to invade the country."
"Then all is not lost," Johan said, sounding encouraged. "In that case, Flatbroke must know where McCreep has gone to."
"Let's go find that wretched man, Johan," Peewit said as he started to head for his goat. "If he refuses to talk, I'll just play him a little tune until he starts singing."
"Peewit, wait!" Princess Savina said. "He could tell us that he doesn't know a thing, or he could send us the wrong way. There's little chance that he will tell us the truth."
"But I think there is a way that we can get him to lead us there," Johan said. "Here's what we will do..."
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
Vic George The ND Guy
Super Smurf
Member # 300
Member Rated:
|
posted 10-12-2021 01:55 AM
Chapter 7
"And so as Johan began to put his plan to action, Earl Flatbroke was in his castle counting up his part of the money that Matthew McCreep had given him when he was given a message," Narrator said.
As Empath, Polaris, and Smurfette continued to listen, they watched Earl Flatbroke sitting at the table with his portion of the money, counting up all the coins with a gleeful look on his face. And then there was a knock on the door. "What is it? Who's there?" he called out.
He got up to open the door, and saw that it was his servant. "My lord, a young boy had come and brought you this parchment. He told me that it was very urgent."
Flatbroke received the parchment from the servant, then he broke the seal and opened the parchment to read its message:
My lord, our plot has been discovered! I cannot explain to you what happened, for my ship is going to depart. Come rejoin me as soon as possible. A fisherman is awaiting you at Terminac. Be quick about it, or else all is lost. Matthew McCreep.
Earl Flatbroke became fearful upon reading the message. "Ho! My boots! My travel clothing! Have my horse saddled right away!" he called out to his servant.
And so the earl rode out in the middle of the night to his destination. It was a quiet night at the port of Terminac when Earl Flatbroke arrived to meet the fisherman. "There he is," the fisherman whispered.
"I am Lord Mumford," Flatbroke addressed himself. "I believe you are the fisherman who is waiting for me. Is your boat ready to set sail?"
"Yes, my lord," the fisherman said. "We can raise anchor right now and set sail immediately."
Flatbroke boarded the vessel, and the fisherman raised anchor to set sail across the water. "Head toward the west," Flatbroke ordered.
Unknown to Flatbroke, Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina had disguised themselves as sailors on board the fisherman's boat. "He's taken the bait," Savina whispered.
"Remember, keep a low profile and don't tip him off that we're following him," Johan whispered to Peewit and Savina.
"Right, Johan," Peewit responded, keeping his voice low.
The ship sailed across the water for three days, heading in the direction that Flatbroke had sent it in. Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina continued to keep themselves unnoticed so as not to arouse suspicions. But on the third day, Peewit didn't look all that good.
"Ohhhh, I'm so sick," Peewit said, clutching his stomach. "For pity's sake, stop this boat from tossing around so much! I think I'm going to die!"
"Of course, of course," Johan said, responding to Peewit's groanings with indifference.
"What do you mean, 'of course, of course'?" Peewit shouted.
"Oh, I mean, no way, no way," Johan said, looking at his friend as if he just got kicked in the butt.
"Let me take care of Peewit while you talk to the fisherman," Princess Savina suggested.
Johan nodded and went over to where the fisherman was steering the rudder. "Is everything okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine, but I can't say the same for old Earl Flatbroke," the fisherman said. "I mean, look at him. For three days, he's worried about the message he received. If only he knew that you sent it to him..."
"Shhh, he might hear us!" Johan warned, speaking in a low voice.
"Aye, mum's the word," the fisherman said.
Earl Flatbroke stood at the bow of the ship, looking rather upset. He was wondering what could have happened that led to their plan being discovered, and also why the ship is so slow reaching its destination. And then soon he saw a shoreline up ahead. "Ah! At last!"
The fisherman's boat pulled into the island port's harbor and then was docked. "Wait for me here," Earl Flatbroke said to the fisherman after he got out of the boat and started heading into the town.
Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina watched for an opportune time to slip out of the boat. "Come, Peewit, we mustn't lose sight of him," Johan said as he got out of the boat. "Do you have the flute?"
"Right here with me, Johan," Peewit said as he also climbed out.
"I'll stay here with the fisherman to make sure you two return safely," Princess Savina said. "Whatever you do, be careful."
"Good luck, maties," the fisherman as he watched Johan and Peewit head into town, following after Earl Flatbroke.
Johan watched Flatbroke carefully making turns through the narrow streets of the island port, making sure that neither he nor Peewit were noticed. "He's turning right, Peewit," Johan said.
After his turning right, Earl Flatbroke found the door of a tavern that Matthew McCreep was staying in. Johan and Peewit soon passed by the same place after Flatbroke entered.
But then Johan stopped and looked around. "Blast it! Where did he go?"
"He's probably gone inside a house," Peewit said. "Come on, let's check behind us."
Inside the tavern, Matthew McCreep was talking to a shady bearded man. "Here are a thousand gold coins to equip your men," McCreep said to the bearded man. "You'll get the rest at Earl Flatbroke...I mean, Lord Mumford's castle."
"McCreep!" Earl Flatbroke shouted, getting his partner's attention. "I need to have a word with you in private."
Matthew McCreep took Earl Flatbroke to a secluded corner of the tavern to talk. "What are you doing here?" McCreep asked, trying to keep his voice low. "I was in the middle of making negotiations..."
"Negotations?" Flatbroke said. "You told me in a message that our plan has been discovered."
"What do you mean, I told you this?" McCreep said. "I never sent you any message."
"Oh, yes, you did! Look!" Flatbroke said, showing him the parchment.
McCreep read the contents of the message. "I certainly wasn't the one who wrote this message!"
"Then who did?" Flatbroke asked, sounding very angry. "And for what?"
"We'll find out from the fisherman who brought you here," Matthew McCreep said as he put his hat back on. "He must be in league with whoever sent you this message."
The two of them left the tavern and headed back toward the dock, but just as they were about to turn a corner, Johan and Peewit were also about to turn the same corner and met up with them.
Peewit and Matthew McCreep recognized each other and suddenly pulled out their magic flutes. As they began to play, Johan and Earl Flatbroke started dancing and dancing until they became so tired that they passed out.
The two flutists dueled with each other across town, constantly playing their flutes in the hopes that either of them would capitulate and fall under the other's musical spell. As they played, the various townspeople began to dance out of control: the fishermen, the cooks, the bakers, the washer women, the smiths, the people in the tavern, even children. There was no escape from the music as the two continued to play on and on.
After a good while, though, Peewit and Matthew McCreep began to tire out, getting exhausted from constant playing. Their music slowed until the both of them removed the flutes from their mouths in order to catch their breath. Then Peewit suddenly put the flute to his mouth and played a short tune to make Matthew McCreep collapse.
Peewit exhaled a great sigh of relief as he got the other flute from McCreep. "Thank goodness that it's all over," he said to himself. And then to his fallen opponent, he said, "Now tell me, what kind of tune would you want me to play for you?"
Later on, on board the fisherman's ship, Matthew McCreep and Earl Flatbroke were tied to the ship's mast while Johan, Peewit, and Princess Savina looked at all the stolen goods they have retrieved, with the fisherman looking in amazement.
"Blistering barnacles, there's a good fortune here," Johan said. "Luckily we managed to get it back before those two bandits used it for their sinister plan."
"I will sleep easy tonight, knowing that my uncle's kingdom is now safe," Princess Savina said, smiling.
"And now, we have two magic flutes...one for me, and one for Johan," Peewit said excitedly. "Now we will have double the fun."
"Absolutely not, Peewit," Johan said. "We made a promise to Papa Smurf that once we have the flutes, we will return them both to the Smurfs."
"Are you crazy?" Peewit said. "Without the flute, I will never become a great musician."
"You're willing to risk breaking a promise just so you can become a great musician with a magic flute?" Princess Savina said.
"Peewit, look at what happened just because of one magic flute," Johan said. "Cities were ransacked, and the entire country was almost invaded. Is that worth keeping one of the flutes for yourself just to be a great musician?"
"Ohhhhh...I still want to keep just one...just one of the flutes," Peewit groaned.
"No, Peewit, we made a promise and we're going to keep it," Johan said, sounding resolute. "Both those flutes are going back to the Smurfs, where they will not hurt anyone."
Peewit looked at Princess Savina for her opinion on the matter. "As your princess, I could order you under the authority of my uncle King Audric that you keep your promise and return both flutes to the Smurfs," Princess Savina said. "But as your friend, I will only say you should do what is right."
Peewit looked rather conflicted over what he should do. Then he said, "If we both made the same promise together, then we should both return the flutes together. Johan, you may have one of the flutes to turn over to the Smurfs."
Johan took the flute that Peewit gave to him. "Thank you, Peewit. I knew that you would see reason."
Then Peewit went to the fisherman to speak privately with him. "You wouldn't happen to have a piece of wood about the size of a hand and a knife?" Peewit asked discreetly.
"Oh, sure I do, matie," the fisherman said. "Wait here and I will find you one."
And throughout the long trip home, Peewit was carving what would become his own flute, being careful to not let anybody see what he was doing. He was secretly planning on swapping a fake flute for a real one.
Three days later, a few miles from Terminac, the Smurfs were waiting near a rock beside the road when one of the Smurfs saw a wagon coming toward them. "Papa Smurf! Papa Smurf! There they are! They're coming!" one of the Smurfs shouted.
The Smurfs hopped down from the rock as the wagon came closer, revealing its driver to be Johan with Princess Savina sitting beside him. His horse Bayard and Princess Savina's steed were trailing behind the wagon. "So how did it go, my friends?" Papa Smurf asked.
"Success, Papa Smurf!" Johan said as he pulled the wagon to a stop. "We brought back McCreep, Flatbroke, all the valuables, and the two flutes."
"HURRAY!" the Smurfs all shouted together.
Several Smurfs hopped into the wagon to look at the two humans that were tied up and being brought to justice. "Well, I'd sure love to give these smurfs a big fat smurf in the smurf for what they've been smurfing," Hefty said.
"I hate big fat smurfs," Grouchy said.
"But where's Peewit?" Papa Smurf asked, curious to see that Peewit wasn't with them. "Nothing's happened to him, I hope?"
"He's fine, but he's just trailing behind, doing something rather suspicious," Johan said.
"He'll show up, Johan," Princess Savina said. "He's not going to break his promise now."
A short distance away, Peewit was sitting on Biquette putting the final touches to the fake flute he created. He looked and saw that there was no difference between the two, so it will be easy to swap. He then hid one of the flutes in his tunic as he saw that he was approaching the wagon.
"...and when I awoke, Peewit had tied up the two bandits," Johan said to Papa Smurf just as Peewit was arriving. "We made them bring aboard the stolen money, and here we are."
"Bravo! Excellent work, my friends," Papa Smurf said. "Now everything can return to normal for the time being. The thieves will be judged, and the money will be returned. And now I will ask the both of you to return the magic flutes so that nobody else will use them for evil."
"Of course, Papa Smurf," Johan said. He reached into his tunic and pulled out the flute that Peewit gave him. "Here you go."
"And here you go," Peewit said, pulling one of the flutes from his tunic, as he and Johan both handed them over to Papa Smurf.
"You are both very wise and honorable for human beings," Papa Smurf said. "Had any of you thought of keeping one of the flutes, there would be nothing but more trouble."
"You know, that's exactly what I was telling Johan just the other day, Papa Smurf," Peewit said, catching Johan off-guard with his comment.
"If only I could tell my uncle about you Smurfs...but I doubt that he would ever believe me, and Dame Barbara would think I was inventing childish fantasies," Princess Savina said. "I hope that this will not be the last time we will ever see you."
"Who knows when our paths will cross again, Princess?" Papa Smurf said. "For now, though, it is time for us to return to our village. May the spirits of the Smurfs be with you on your journeys."
"Goodbye, Papa Smurf...goodbye, fellow Smurfs," Johan said as he watched the Smurfs hop onto a flock of storks and then fly away.
Peewit and Princess Savina also waved goodbye to the Smurfs, but then behind Johan and Savina's backs, Peewit slowly pulled out a third flute, ready to play a prank on his friends.
"Those magic flutes will never make anyone dance again, Johan," Princess Savina said.
"Now that's what I call music to my ears, my lady," Johan said, agreeing with her.
Then suddenly the both of them heard music that sounded like it came from a magic flute. Johan and Savina looked behind them and saw that Peewit had a flute in his hand. "PEEWIT!" they both shouted.
Peewit looked and noticed something. "No...it can't be...this isn't right...I...this is supposed to be one of their flutes...but I gave them the real flute instead!"
Johan and Princess Savina watched as Peewit threw a tantrum right then and there. "Well, so much for Peewit trying to pull another joke on us," Johan said, smiling at Princess Savina.
"Oh, poor Peewit," Princess Savina said, laughing at the scene.
"And that, my friends, is the complete story of how we met Johan and Peewit, and also how we got the magic flute back from Matthew McCreep," Narrator said. "I hope that you found the story entertaining."
"You have done an incredible job in telling the story, fellow Narrator," Polaris said. "This one commends your efforts in the accurate presentation of detail."
"This smurf definitely enjoys hearing the story, Narrator," Empath said. "This smurf only wishes to have been there in person to experience it firsthand."
"Me too," Smurfette said. "I would have loved to have been there to help my fellow Smurfs stop McCreep and Flatbroke."
"It would have been a completely different story if you were in it, Empath," Piper said. "But what a story that would have been smurfed. My wish is to have been there to see Peewit and McCreep smurfing with each other with the flutes."
"A musical duel," Empath pondered. "Who would have thought of that idea?"
"When did you Smurfs started seeing the two humans again?" Polaris asked.
"About a year later, when the dragon Fafnir smurfed our village with fire and his master Monulf captured us and made us smurf in his diamond mine, Hefty and Smurfette escaped and contacted Johan and Peewit about the danger," Narrator said.
"And they arrived with the king, who was captured by Fafnir," Piper added. "Fortunately, they managed to find him and us in the diamond mine, Johan had Monulf captured, and Papa Smurf used a smurfing of Homnibus' magic water stick to make Fafnir smurf out water instead of fire."
"A dragon that breathes water instead of fire," Empath pondered again. "This smurf would surely like to see that for myself, if you would spare another afternoon for telling such a tale, Narrator."
"This has certainly been a fun afternoon smurfing a story with you three, but now I have important things to smurf care of in the rest of my day," Narrator said as he got up and started walking. "I'll smurf you all later."
"Would any of you care to listen to a tune before we have to smurf back to the village?" Piper asked after Narrator had left.
"Is there any particular tune that you would want to listen to, Polaris?" Empath asked.
"This one will leave the choice in the discretion of the flutist, Empath," Polaris said. "You may play whatever it is you want to play, Piper."
"If you insist, but I warn you, if you start dancing, it might be because the music is magic," Piper said with a laugh.
"Well, I will certainly start dancing," Smurfette said as she got on her feet.
And then Piper started playing a really happy tune, which Empath and Polaris sat and listened to together while Smurfette danced.
--------------------
VIC GEORGE -- Westfield, MA, USA
"Cat and mouse games really aren't much fun for us mouse types" -- Empath from "Empath The Bandit Smurf"
Posts: 4103 | From: Westfield, MA | Registered: Mar 2003
|
|
|
Subscribe to the BlueBuddies RSS Feed.