Remaining Anonymous/Part 2

Empath visited Papa Smurf late at night to discuss Anonymou's dilemma. The village leader paced back and forth while listening to his son explain everything he tried to help Anonymous overcome his situation.

"I can sympathize with Anonymous' situation with wanting to be somebody, Empath, but you should know that becoming somebody important is not something that is always going to happen to a Smurf as soon as they want it to," Papa Smurf said.

"This smurf understands that, Papa Smurf," Empath said. "But what this smurf doesn't want to see is Anonymous feeling like he doesn't belong among his fellow Smurfs because he feels like a Nobody among his peers. There's got to be some way that we can rectify that situation for him."

"Well, me, Hefty, Brainy, Clumsy, and Greedy are going to be smurfing on a fern-smurfing expedition tomorrow, and that would sound like the perfect opportunity for Anonymous to truly find who he is among the Smurfs," Papa Smurf said.

"This smurf is aware of that particular event, Papa Smurf, and this smurf thinks it would be a great opportunity for Anonymous to find himself," Empath said. "But there's just one thing this smurf wants to ask of you about this plan."

"Oh?" Papa Smurf said. "Just what is it, Empath?"

"This smurf knows that you want this smurf to stay behind and watch over the village while you are gone on this expedition, Papa Smurf," Empath said. "But this smurf is wondering if you would allow Polaris Psyche to take over that role while this smurf accompanies you and the five other Smurfs on this expedition, to continue providing counseling for Anonymous during this expedition."

"Hmmmm," Papa Smurf said while stroking his beard, trying to think. Empath waited in silence for Papa Smurf's response. Then Papa Smurf said, "Very well, then, Empath. I will allow you to join us on our expedition, and for Polaris Psyche to take over your duties in the village while we are gone."

"This smurf appreciates your willingness, Papa Smurf," Empath said, sighing with some relief.

"However, your job will be specifically for counseling purposes only, unless we happen to encounter something in our journey that requires your specific smurf of skills to deal with," Papa Smurf said. "Do you understand?"

"This smurf understands and acknowledges, Papa Smurf," Empath said. - The next morning, Anonymous woke up from his house, still feeling the disappointment that he felt from the previous night. Clumsy met him as soon as he left the door of his house. "So, Anonymous, how did you smurf with Empath trying to smurf you a new name?" Clumsy asked.

"It's just no use, Clumsy," Anonymous said in a sad voice. "Empath tried to smurf me some good examples from three of my fellow Smurfs, and I just couldn't smurf a candle to any of them. I feel like I'm just going to give up."

"Gosh, Anonymous, you can't give up now," Clumsy said as he and Anonymous walked together. "I'm sure that we can find you a smurfy new name somewhere."

"I wish I can believe you, Clumsy, but I feel like I don't want to look anymore," Anonymous said.

They soon ran into Brainy, Hefty, and Greedy, all three of which were wearing backpacks on their backs. "Well, I've been smurfing all over for you, Clumsy," Brainy said as he held a backpack in his right hand. "Papa Smurf wants you to join us on our overnight fern-smurfing expedition."

"That sure smurfs like fun, Brainy," Anonymous said as Clumsy took the backpack and placed it on his back. "I only wish that I could go with you."

Just then Papa Smurf showed up with Empath. "I was hoping you would smurf up, Anonymous, because I think a smurfy hike is just what you need to smurf your mind off your name."

"Oh, gosh, Papa Smurf, I just don't know what to say," Anonymous said as he took the backpack from Papa Smurf and put it on his own back.

"You can thank Empath for that, Anonymous," Papa Smurf said. "He talked to me last night about your situation, and decided that he's going to join us on our expedition to continue providing counsel for you."

"Oh great, now we have to smurf along with old star-face smurfing with us," Hefty said, rolling his eyes.

"Well, if Papa Smurf thinks that Empath can be useful to us and to Anonymous on our expedition, Hefty, then who am I to argue against such wisdom?" Brainy said.

"I only hope where we're smurfing on this expedition will be somewhere that we can smurf a lot of good food to eat," Greedy said, licking his lips and rubbing his stomach.

"So who's going to be watching the village while Empath is with us, Papa Smurf?" Hefty asked.

"I have appointed Polaris Psyche to smurf over Empath's duties while we are gone, Hefty," Papa Smurf said. "I can trust that the village is in safe hands during our absence from it."

"You can rest assured, my fellow Smurfs, that this village will continue to remain in 'safe hands' while Papa Smurf and Empath are gone on this expedition," Polaris Psyche said as he, Smurfette, Tapper, and Duncan McSmurf showed up.

"Aye, and if anything smurfs out of hand while Empath and Hefty are gone, we're going to smurf those young pups in their smurf," Duncan said.

"But hopefully we won't need to resort to such measures, my fellow Duncan," Tapper said.

Smurfette came close to Empath and kissed him on the cheek. "You take care of yourselves while you are gone, Empath," she said sweetly. "Don't let me catch you hearing of any trouble that you may smurf yourselves into out there."

"There's nothing you need to worry about, Smurfette," Empath said. "Even though this smurf is only coming along for counseling purposes, this smurf will make sure that our team of Smurfs will return home safely."

"It's time to get ourselves smurfing, my little Smurfs," Papa Smurf prompted. "We'll smurf the rest of you later."

"Safe journeys and may the luck of the Smurfish be with you, Papa Smurf," Tapper said as he, Smurfette, and Duncan waved goodbye.

"May the Great Ancestors guide and protect them on their expedition," Polaris Psyche said quietly, also watching the seven Smurfs depart.

To be expanded on.