Smurfnip Madness/Part 1

It was the day of Lazy's birthday during the second year that Empath was completely free from living in Psychelia, and most of the Smurfs were busy preparing for his birthday party, even though some of them didn't like having to prepare anything for a Smurf that normally didn't pull his own weight. Nevertheless, they knew how important celebrating a Smurf's birthday was in their culture regardless of who that Smurf was, so they also chipped in to make sure the day would be special for Lazy.

Empath was with Smurfette and Polaris Psyche observing all the activities that went on in the preparation for Lazy's birthday when they noticed Lazy himself was just sleeping, paying no attention to anything that was going on around him.

"I wonder what Lazy is dreaming about right now for his smurfday party, Empath," Smurfette said as she looked at Lazy peacefully sleeping.

"Knowing him, it's probably a smurfday party where everybody is high on smurfnip and the cake they're serving has relaxing herbs mixed in it," Empath said.

"This one does not understand Lazy's fascination with an herb that has intoxicating and hallucinogenic properties to it, Empath," Polaris said.

"Smurfnip is a special kind of flower that makes Smurfs feel good when they smoke or ingest it, Polaris," Empath said. "That's part of the appeal, while the hallucinations that it produces is the other part that makes Smurfs like Lazy feel addicted to it."

"I wish Lazy wouldn't always be thinking of smurfing herbs, Empath, especially smurfnip," Smurfette said with a hint of distaste in her voice.

"This smurf wishes the same thing for him as well, Smurfette," Empath said. "Unfortunately, breaking the addiction to smurfnip is something that he has to have the desire for in himself. Nobody can force Lazy to give up the smurfnip if he's not interested in giving it up for anything in the world."

"If only it were the case that addictions would be so easy to break, Empath," Polaris said. "There are times when this one still has the cravings for the medication that the Psyche Master has put all Psyches on to make them obedient to his will of not expressing emotions."

"I wouldn't think that the Psyche Master would ever have the Psyches smurf anything to make them obedient to him," Smurfette said.

"It is called psychelium, Smurfette," Empath said. "This smurf remembers what it's like to be on the medication, because it made this smurf feel like a zombie. All this smurf could feel was the sensation of full clarity as this smurf was unable to express any kind of emotion. It was supposed to help Psyches suppress their desire to express emotions, but honestly it made this smurf feel like a drug addict."

"Oh dear," Smurfette said. "How did you manage to smurf this medication's hold on you?"

"Eventually over the years, as this smurf became more accustomed to expressing emotions with my fellow Smurfs, the effects of psychelium started to weaken, and the Psyche Master was trying to increase its potency without trying to kill this smurf in order to make it effective again, but to no avail," Empath said. "Nevertheless, there were times when this smurf felt as if this smurf needed the psychelium to make this smurf feel stable even among my fellow Smurfs."

"That's terrible, Empath," Smurfette said. "It's a good thing that you don't seem to have any need for it now that you're free from living in Psychelia."

"This smurf is still working with Polaris to help break the psychelium's addictive hold on his life, even if he still wants to maintain not wanting to express any emotion in his daily life, Smurfette," Empath said.

"What Empath says is correct, Smurfette," Polaris said. "As painful as some things about living in Psychelia are, this one cannot easily give up the desire to live such a life devoted to rational thinking and logic over emotion."

"I just want you to know, Polaris, that I still care for you as a friend, and if you need my help for anything, I will see what I can smurf for you," Smurfette said, smiling.

Suddenly the three of them could hear the sound of a dog moaning in pain. "Great Ancestors, that sounds like Puppy," Empath said. "And whatever he's experiencing, it doesn't sound good."

Soon they saw Puppy limping to the Smurf Village with his eyes green and half-closed, barely able to make his way home. "Oh dear, what has happened to him?" Smurfette asked, her heart going out to him.

Empath and Polaris both scanned him with their minds-eye. "He has been affected by an intoxicating substance, Smurfette," Empath said as he finished his scan. "He has been breathing in the fumes of smurfnip."

"Smurfnip?" Smurfette said. "I wouldn't think smurfnip would have any effect on dogs."

"This intoxicating substance must be potent enough to make Puppy feel sick, Smurfette," Polaris said. "It will have to take our combined efforts to clear up the effects so that he will be functioning normally again."

"Polaris is correct, Smurfette," Empath said. "Don't worry, Puppy, you'll soon be feeling much better."

And so both Empath and Polaris focused their minds-eyes on healing Puppy of the effects of the smurfnip he inhaled. Soon Puppy was more alert and feeling better again. He licked both Empath and Polaris to show his gratitude.

"The Smurflings should have been smurfing over Puppy to make sure something like this doesn't happen," Smurfette said. "How could they be so careless?"

"This smurf senses that the Smurflings may have caused Puppy to become sick through the inhaling of smurfnip, Smurfette," Empath said. "Puppy, can you take us to where the Smurflings are right now?"

Puppy barked out an answer that sounded like he was reluctant to go back to where he inhaled the fumes, but was willing to help find the Smurflings.

"We might as well follow Puppy and find out the reason for the Smurflings' negligence in their care of the animal, Empath," Polaris said.

"I don't think I'm going to like what I will see what the Smurflings are smurfing right now, Empath," Smurfette said as he followed along with Empath and Polaris as they let Puppy lead the way into the forest.

To be expanded on.