The Rise And Fall Of Smurfy Tower/Part 3

The following morning, most of the Smurfs in the village have gathered together for their breakfast when they noticed who just walked in. It was Empath.

"Sacre bleu, it can't be!" Painter exclaimed.

"But it is him!" Vanity said. "He's finally awake!"

"I hate being awakened," Grouchy said.

Smurfette greeted Empath with a kiss. "Good morning to you, sleepyhead," she said with a smile. "So how was your long rest?"

"It felt like this smurf having to rescue the village was only yesterday, Smurfette, but it has actually been two weeks," Empath replied. "This smurf hopes that there's a good breakfast waiting for this smurf."

Duncan chuckled. "Well, the laddie hasn't lost his appetite, as far as anyone is concerned."

"That was quite a long time to smurf without food, though not as long as Lazy's wintry slumber, my fellow Duncan," Tapper said.

"So, Empath, do you feel ready to resume your duties as the assistant counselor?" Papa Smurf asked.

"Maybe in a few days, Papa Smurf," Empath answered. "This smurf feels like there is still some magic residue within this smurf that needs to be purged before this smurf can operate at full capacity."

"Smurf as much time as you need, Empath, but suffice it to say, it is good to smurf you back with us," Papa Smurf said, smiling.

Just then, a horn had sounded, and Harmony had just entered the dining hall, playing the summons signal. "Hear ye, hear ye, all you Smurfs," he proclaimed in a loud voice. "Handy and Architect invite you to a grand smurfening of the new Smurfy Tower smurfominium."

"Smurfy Tower?!?" all the Smurfs said in unison.

"A smurfominium? Could that possibly be happening?" Dreamy said with some curiosity.

"Smurfy Tower? Now what is that all about?" Empath asked.

"I don't know, Empath," Smurfette answered. "I just know that Handy and Architect have been busy in the forest smurfing something together. Maybe we should find out together."

"This one will accompany you," Polaris said. - Soon a crowd of Smurfs have gathered behind a roped-off area in the forest, standing before something tall that was draped entirely in long red fabric. Hefty stood by the cordon to make sure nobody would cross beyond the ropes until the time was ready.

"Step aside, my fellow Smurfs, step aside," Brainy said as he headed to the front of the crowd behind the ropes. "Could somebody tell me what's smurfing on here? I smurfed up late for breakfast only to find that nobody was left in the dining hall."

"Oh, golly, Brainy, somebody just smurfed up the ropes," Clumsy answered. "Harmony said there was something about a Smurfy Tower, but I have no idea what that is or even means."

"Oh, really?" Brainy sneered. "No silly rope is going to stop Brainy Smurf from finding out."

"Then what about a big Smurf who's going to give you a big smurf for crossing the ropes before it's time?" Hefty bravely stated as Brainy tried to cross over.

Brainy chuckled sheepishly. "Well, a big Smurf, now that is different, and I can respect that," he said as he let go of the rope and drew back into the crowd.

"Hefty, what's smurfing on up there?" Smurfette asked as she looked at the top of the structure.

"Sorry, Smurfette, but I have been smurfed to secrecy," Hefty answered. "You'll have to wait like everybody else until it is revealed."

"Polaris, can you sense what it is that those Smurfs are hiding from the other Smurfs?" Empath asked privately as he stood next to Smurfette and Polaris.

"It would not be prudent to declare what this project actually is that those Smurfs have built before the time, Empath, but this one can assure you that there is no malicious intent on the part of its creators," Polaris answered.

Empath snorted. "Well, this smurf wouldn't think you would be purposely secretive regarding such a building project, Polaris."

"This one is only honoring the actual intent of what its creators wish to reveal this project as, Empath, nothing more," Polaris said.

"Well, come on, Hefty, you can tell us," Greedy said, sounding rather anxious. The other Smurf also voiced similar thoughts, wishing to know just what it is they were seeing.

"Brainy, what's smurfing on here? And what's with this Smurfy Tower that was announced earlier at breakfast?" Papa Smurf asked as he approached the front of the crowd.

"Ask Hefty," Brainy answered in a condescending tone.

"Well, Hefty?" Papa Smurf asked rather insistently.

Hefty found himself in a bind to answer. "Gee, Papa Smurf, I, uh..."

"It's okay, Hefty, you can let them through," Architect called out. Hefty then loosened the cordon ropes so that the other Smurfs could gather round and get a closer look.

Architect then appeared from behind the drapery. "We're ready for the unveiling ceremony. Drummer, if you could provide the appropriate music for the occasion..."

Drummer took it as his cue to start drumming a steady beat to get every Smurf anticipating the moment of the unveiling. "Welcome, ladies and gentlesmurfs," Architect announced as he held a cord in his hand. "I won't smurf you in suspense any longer. Behold, the smurfy future!"

And then with a tug of the rope, and Harmony playing a "ta-da" note on his horn, the drapery fell, and the Smurfs looked and saw that it was a tree that has been converted into what looked like an apartment building that reached into the sky, with a Smurf house perched on its very top. The Smurfs beheld this sight in complete wonder, not knowing what to make of it.

"I call it the smurfominium, but you can call it Smurfy Tower," Architect said proudly.

"Oh, wow, a real smurfominium," Clumsy said. "Uh, what's a smurfominium?"

"Why, Clumsy, that's a simple question to answer," Architect replied, as Handy joined beside him, all covered in grease. "A smurfominium is simply 102 houses all smurfed together into one."

"And it all comes with indoor plumbing, central heating, and a smurfovator," Handy added.

"Well, that certainly sounds very interesting, don't you think, Polaris?" Empath said, intrigued by the description.

"This one would certainly concur, Empath," Polaris said.

"Isn't this spectacular, Papa Smurf?" Architect asked.

Papa Smurf wasn't sure what to answer. "Uh...yes...well, uh...I have never smurfed anything quite like it before," he finally said.

"I can help you pack your things, Papa Smurf, and you can be the very first to move in to your very own smurfominium," Architect offered.

"Well, that's very kind of you, Architect, but I'm afraid that it's just not for me," Papa Smurf said, trying to be gentle with his refusal. "Now, if you excuse me, I have work to do."

To be expanded on.