The High Cost Of Smurfing/Part 5

Back in the village, the Smurflings decided to visit Vanity in the infirmary, which made Vanity seem very surprised. "Oh, my little dears, why would you want to pay your big brother Vanity a visit?" he asked.

"We just want to see you happy, that's all," Sassette said.

"We heard that you got sick and decided you needed company," Nat said.

"You didn't happen to be smurfing on those glowberries in the forest like I was a day ago, were you?" Snappy asked.

"No, it was something far much worse, and something you should smurf away from," Vanity said.

"If it's smurfed you in the hospital, it's probably for the best that we don't smurf whatever it is you were smurfing," Slouchy said.

"I wish Periwinkle would visit the village soon, and help you smurf better, Vanity," Sassette said. "She's so beautiful, I could only wish that I could be like her."

"Yeah, but she's too much like Vanity, in love with herself," Snappy said.

"That doesn't mean she can't grow beyond herself, Snap," Nat said. "Who knows what she's capable of smurfing if given the chance."

"Well, we can still hope for her visit sometime soon, if that would help Vanity fully recover," Slouchy said.

"I don't think I deserve all the attention I'm smurfing right now, but I appreciate you Smurflings for trying to help cheer me up, believe me," Vanity said.

"Vanity, Smurfette has brought Polaris Psyche here," Doctor informed him.

Vanity nodded slightly, understanding. "I need to be alone with Smurfette and Polaris, my little darlings," he said to the Smurflings. "I'll see you later, hopefully."

"Sure, Vanity," Sassette said. "Come on, Smurflings, we'd better give him some time alone with Smurfette and Polaris."

"Just smurf in there, buddy, you're going to smurf a whole lot better," Snappy said encouragingly before the four departed.

Smurfette and Polaris came close to Vanity's bedside. "This one came as soon as possible, fellow Vanity," Polaris said. "Just what is it that you need to tell this one about?"

"I know who it is that lured me into the habit of smurfing pixie dust while I was visiting Periwinkle, Polaris," Vanity said.

"You know?" Smurfette said, sounding curious. "Tell us."

"I don't remember his name or his face, but he was the one who showed me how the pixies make pixie dust," Vanity said. "He tried to show me a sample which he smurfed was for...personal enjoyment."

"Would you mind if this one probed your mind to discover the full identity of who it was that introduced you to this habit?" Polaris asked.

Vanity nodded. "You're certain you're going to find out through my memories?"

"This one cannot be certain of what this one will find, Vanity, but hopefully what we will discover will bring some things to light," Polaris replied.

Vanity sighed. "Just smurf ahead. I don't seem to have much to lose anyway."

"Just relax and let this one enter into your mind," Polaris said. Vanity closed his eyes and relaxed while Polaris placed two of his fingers on Vanity's face to enter directly into his mind.

There was a rush of images that flashed through Polaris' mind as he sifted through the memories of Vanity's mind. And then he saw Vanity with Periwinkle, enjoying their visit together as she showed him all around Pixitopia, showed him all the various designs and fashions she was creating, and just generally enjoying their company together.

And then came a memory where Vanity was being escorted through the pixie dust refinement facility where he saw how pixie dust was made. There was a pixie with Vanity whom Polaris didn't recognize from Papa Smurf's memories of the pixies. This one led Vanity through the facility, showing the various processes in which the pixie dust was made. And then after the four the two of them were alone together in the office of that pixie.

"It's all very interesting, Scullcap, but this tour is starting to tire me out," Vanity said.

"Then perhaps you would like something as a pick-me-up before you return to Periwinkle," Scullcap suggested.

"Do you have tea or acorn brew on hand?" Vanity asked.

"No, but I have something much better than either of those things," Scullcap answered. He then produced a handful of pixie dust in his hand.

"Pixie dust? But I thought you pixies only use it for magic," Vanity said.

"This special variation of pixie dust is made in a special away that gives you an energetic boost, where you feel like you can do anything," Scullcap said.

"But how do I take it?" Vanity asked.

"The only way you can safely ingest it is by inhaling it," Scullcap said.

"Uh, I don't know about it," Vanity said. "Papa Smurf said that I should be careful trying substances that I don't know about."

"Papa Smurf isn't here to tell you anything," Scullcap said. "You're in charge of your own life now here. Just take a try and see for yourself. It won't hurt you."

Vanity reluctant took a pinch of powder and sniffed it up his nose. The memory suddenly became a bit more vibrant as Polaris experienced the same euphoric experience as Vanity did. Then Vanity sniffed the rest of the handful out of Scullcap's hand, and the euphoric experience was further heightened.

"Oh, sweet mother of Smurfness, this is better than acorn brew," Vanity said, reeling from the experience.

Scullcap smiled wickedly. "Shall I give you a few more samples before you go?"

"Oh, yes, please," Vanity said.

Then another being stepped into the memory, this one vaguely resembling a troll. "I think we have ourselves a customer, boss," the troll said.

"I know we do, Wild Dagga," Scullcap said. "Make sure our customer has what he needs before he returns to our dear Periwinkle."

"Yes, boss, right away," Wild Dagga said before he departed.

The rest of the memory became vague from that point on, but Polaris sensed that he had all that he needed to know. He removed his hand from Vanity's face, feeling a damp cold sweat throughout his body.

"Polaris, what is it?" Smurfette asked, noticing Polaris' reaction. "What did you discover?"

"Someone among the pixies has given Vanity this substance to imbibe on, and he isn't working alone," Polaris answered. "We got to find who it is this pixie was working with and expose his complicity or else things will be for naught."

To be expanded on.