The Petaluma (Hero Stories)/Part 4

That night on his way home to do some research, Papa Smurf stopped by Brainy's house in order to ask for his help.

"Brainy, I need to talk to you," Papa Smurf said, chapping on the door.

"Oh, you need my help, Papa Smurf?" Brainy asked, opening the door and sounding very eager of what Papa Smurf had to say to him. "I always knew you would need the help from your favorite assistant. Of all the Smurfs you've smurfed for help; you decided to smurf for me."

Papa Smurf began regretting his own decision; but he didn't show it.

"I need help, Brainy," Papa Smurf said. "Petaluma's forced Smurfette out of her own house and now she's smurfing with Hero and Wonder, I suggested to Petaluma about a gentile pruning in order to smurf more space for her and Smurfette; but she's against the idea."

"So you're suggesting we prune her anyway?" Brainy asked.

"Yes! We must smurf something to help Smurfette," Papa Smurf said.

"I understand, Papa Smurf," Brainy said, pondering. "I'll just go and change."

"Not right now, Brainy," Papa Smurf said. "I'm just smurfing on home to do some research, once I'm finished; I'll smurf back for you."

"I understand, Papa Smurf," Brainy said.

"Excellent! I'll see you shortly," Papa Smurf said, before heading off for home.

Once Papa Smurf had returned to his home, he dug through his books and came across a book about different species of plants. He began to look through the pages.

"Let's see: exotic flowers, rare flowers, talking flowers; there you are," Papa Smurf said, finding the page about talking flowers; with an illustration of a flower that greatly resembled Petaluma at the top of the page. "Ficus Solitarius: This talking flower is incredibly rare, incredibly beautiful and incredibly selfish. It cares only for itself and its own survival; give it an inch and it'll take a mile. Not at the expense of my daughters she isn't."

Papa Smurf then closed the book and began to dig through the closet for some shears. After a few minutes of searching, he found the shears and left to the house to find Brainy. He found him ready and waiting for him outside his home.

"Ready, Brainy?" Papa Smurf asked.

"Oh of course, Papa Smurf," Brainy said, excitedly. "I'm ready to help as much as possible."

"Excellent! We better get smurfing," Papa Smurf said, as they made their way to Smurfette's house. Upon arrival, they noticed Petlauma was in a deep sleep, her vines were all over the house.

"Great Smurfs! You were right, Papa Smurf," Brainy whispered.

"Let's just smurf her a little pruning and then Smurfette can return," Papa Smurf said, as he grabbed a vine and snipped it with his shears; with Brainy following suit.

At the same time in Hero's house, Smurfette was still awake, sitting in a rocking chair whilst cradling Saviour in her arms. The infant Smurfette had already gone into a deep sleep and Smurfette was being as gentile as possible as to not wake her. Suddenly, both Wonder and Smurfette could hear Petaluma calling for help, her plea catching them by surprise.

"Smurfette! Wonder! Help! Help!" Petaluma called out.

"Smurfette! Did you smurf that?" Wonder asked, as she rushed down the stairs still in her nightgown.

"What's smurfing on?" Hero asked, sounding really tired.

"It's Petaluma! What's happening to her?" Smurfette asked.

"I don't know," Wonder said. "But we have to help, let's go."

"Hero! Take Saviour," Smurfette said, sounding desperate.

Hero took Saviour into his arms without saying a word as he watched both Wonder and Smurfette run out of the house at lightning speed. The commotion caused Saviour to suddenly awaken.

"Waaah!" Saviour began to cry.

"Don't worry, my little one," Hero said, trying to comfort her. "Papa Smurf will soothe you."

Both Wonder and Smurfette arrived at Smurfette's house, they noticed the door was wide open, they went inside and saw that Petaluma's overgrown vines were everywhere.

"Oh my smurfness!" Wonder said, in disbelief.

"What are you doing to Petaluma?" Smurfette asked, also in disbelief, as they both saw Petaluma had trapped both Papa Smurf and Brainy in her few remaining vines.

"Your friends snuck into my house to vandalize my vines!" Petaluma said, sounding very angry.

"But this isn't your house; it's Smurfette's," Papa Smurf responded.

"You said it, Papa Smurf," Brainy added. "And this flower takes advantage of any Smurf who'd let it."

"How could you have done this to Petaluma, Brainy Smurf!" Smurfette said, angrily.

"And you too, Papa Smurf!" Wonder added. "We thought you would've known better."

"But, girls, you don't understand," Papa Smurf said, trying to explain their actions. "This flower is selfish, she doesn't care about either of you. She's been using the both of you."

"Don't listen to him ,you guys," Petaluma said. "He's just jealous that I'm yours."

Smurfette and Wonder began to think about what Papa Smurf said to them, and they eventually came to the conclusion that he only tried to help and didn't mean any harm.

"I'm sure Papa Smurf didn't mean any harm," Smurfette said, trying to keep the situation in a civilized manner.

"Yeah, he only had good intentions," Wonder added.

"Well I'm sure I want out of this miserable place," Petaluma said, angrily. "Tomorrow I want both of you to take me back to the forest."

"What?" Smurfette and Wonder said in unision, shocked at what they just heard.

"You don't mean that, Petaluma," Smurfette said. "Surely we can work things out."

"Well I'm sure we can't," Petaluma answered. "Now Out! Everyone Out!"

Both Wonder and Smurfette could only break down in tears as they were forced out of the house; along with Papa Smurf and Brainy, as Petaluma slammed the door shut.

"I always knew that flower was trouble," Brainy said.

"What could've went wrong, Papa Smurf?" Smurfette asked, tears running down her face. "We smurfed to her every need and this is how she repays us?"

"I'm afraid it's just how she smurfs, Smurfette," Papa Smurf said. "Being selfish and snarky is just part of her nature."

"It just isn't fair, Papa Smurf," Wonder said, tears also running down her face. "We did everything right."

"It's just how nature smurfs I'm afraid, my little Wonder," Papa Smurf said. "You two better smurf on home, hopefully you'll feel smurfier in the morning."

Both Smurfettes never said a word as they headed off for home to try and get a good nights sleep.

To be expanded later.