The Reluctant Dark Knight/Prologue

Johan’s a boy with a golden heart as most have come to realize after meeting him: his devotion to serving the King and his friends is unmatched, but for a time he was their greatest foe. Hard to believe, understandably, and the story is compelling. There’s rescue, celebration, trickery, sorcery, sorrow, sword fights, and Peewit’s awful singing, but what most didn’t know is that there was a young lady who took part in saving him.

Please note I mentioned no romance above because there was none at the time that all of this happened. They were close friends, but nothing more.

This girl, named Falla, turned out to be from a castle on the other side of the forest where the Smurfs lived. She ran away several weeks before first encountering Johan and Peewit: on her stallion, Gentile, she crossed paths with the King’s knight while searching for a place to rest after a day of riding. He, on the other hand, was delivering some ingredients to Papa Smurf when he overheard her talking to her horse about her not being lost. Classic denial.

Peeking behind a wide tree, he asked, “Young lady, what are doing here?” Startled, she jumped to her feet and placed her hand over her saddlebag while he dismounted Bayard. He took a few steps closer with his hands raised, continuing. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, miss.” She looked about his age – a tad shorter – with light brown hair of outgrown bangs and the back tied into a ponytail. Her outfit consisted of a sharp-cut, short-sleeve dress of ivy and spring green, and lavender that reached just above her knees; it was separated into a top and bottom piece by the triangle-cut light purple belt. Light green tights matched her sleeves, and on her feet was a pair of dark maroon walking shoes with purple round buckles on the front.

“Who are you and where do you come from?” she replied, relaxing her shoulders. With a bow, the boy introduced himself with his left arm over his chest and smiled.

“I am Sir Johan, royal knight to the King, friend of the Smurfs, and foe to all who dare threaten them,” he stated proudly. He straightened up and added, “Pray tell, who might you be?” Falla hesitated to answer, but his eyes reflected a gentle strength that she hadn’t seen in quite some time.

“My name is Falla,” she began, crossing her arms, “I came from the kingdom on the other side of this forest and have no intention of going back.” Johan’s smiled vanished; he was visibly puzzled with one hand on his side and the other placing the index finger against his chin.

“Why not - were you banished?”

“No, I ran away,” she corrected. She approached him directly, pointing to the middle of his chest, and with a scolding tone added, “Now don’t you try telling me to go back, and don’t try to take my back home because I’m not going back at all. I left my home because I wanted to, and I trust that you’ll respect my wishes, Sir Johan.” He held his hand over the spot she’d pointed at and nodded – it seemed to please her having him submit so willingly.

“In that case, lead me to your kingdom. I want to ask the King if he will let me stay,” she finished, taking her horse’s reins. Likewise, Johan remounted Bayard and turned to the Smurf Village’s direction, telling her, “I must deliver something to the Smurfs before we return. It won’t take long.” He gave the horse a soft kick and they trotted several feet before she cut in front of them – her face was stern, rather confused.

“What are Smurfs?” she inquired. As he proceeded around her, he smiled and gestured for her to follow, saying she should meet them. She agreed after a pause, looked back in the opposite direction, and then caught up to his side; it was shortly afterwards that she grew fond of the little blue creatures as he had and started their friendships, along with the other members of the castle – through Johan, she bonded particularly well with Peewit, his goat Biquette, and Princess Savina. It was merely days before she called this kingdom her new home and the King welcomed her, offering the position of being a seamstress or the blacksmith’s apprentice.

Now you may be confused about a princess being given these types of job opportunities. Did I fail to mention her being one, and that she kept this information a secret? I suppose I did. Well, in any case, she told no one about her real status for two reasons, which I will now withhold until later; all in due time, curious curios. For now, let us begin with the true story at hand – the time when Johan turned evil…