Gargamel's First Catch

"The Smurfnapper" is a story event that takes place in the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series. It is considered the canonical point in this universe when the Smurfs first encountered Gargamel.

Plot Summary
Gargamel, who had first settled at the edge of the Smurf Forest, sought the creation of the Philosopher's Stone to change base metals into gold. In the listed formula for the creation of the stone, it required the use of a Smurf, which he had no idea at this point what a Smurf actually was. Through studying a book of legendary forest creatures, Gargamel discovered that one of their favorite foods was sarsaparilla, which gave him an idea of how to capture one.

The following day, Brainy and Nabby were both going out into the forest to collect walnuts for Papa Smurf when they came across a sign pointing toward a sarsaparilla field, attracting Nabby's attention since he enjoyed eating sarsaparilla leaves. Ignoring Brainy's advice, Nabby followed the signs leading to the sarsaparilla field until he found himself inside a trap. Brainy was unable to free Nabby from the trap before Gargamel found the captive Smurf, so instead he followed the wizard from a distance and overheard his desire to use the Smurf for the creation of the Philosopher's Stone, with the intent that he will become rich and powerful.