The Prisoner Of Stone/Part 1

Empath's personal journal.

''It is the annual celebration of Smurfy Friendship Day, a day when the Smurfs celebrate the friendship that formed when the various clans of Smurf had joined together as one to build the Smurf Village, becoming one people with a single place to call home. It also happens to be the birthday of the cherub known as Cupid, whose mission in the world is to spread love among all creatures so that they build families together. It is believed that Cupid had a hand in the creation of unity among the various Smurf clans to form a bond that cannot be broken, that they would first and foremost see each other as brothers and sisters of the same people known as the Smurfs, despite what clan they may have come from. It is a bond that has lasted for hundreds of years, and this smurf hopes that it will continue to endure for the next hundreds of years to come.''

''Like Valentine's Day, Smurfy Friendship Day is celebrated with the creation of heart-shaped gifts, cards, and decorations that the Smurfs send to one another, either as a sign of friendship, or more recently, as a sign of romantic pursuit. While this smurf doesn't mind having to compete for the affections of Smurfette, this smurf has noticed that the boy Smurflings are also interested in Smurfette in the way that Papa Smurf says young boy Smurflings are interested in older female Smurfs, and that Sassette feels the same way about this smurf. It is rather flattering that Sassette seems to want this smurf to love her just as much as Smurfette does, even though the differences in age makes it impossible for this smurf to reciprocate her feelings in the same manner. This smurf hopes that she and one of the boy Smurflings would someday fall in love with each other and become soulmates.''

''This particular Smurfy Friendship Day is the first one which Grandpa Smurf has celebrated in years since he left the village to embark on a 500-year journey throughout the entire world, only to return years later to see his son as a Papa Smurf of a whole village of Smurfs. This smurf hopes that this will be the best Smurfy Friendship Day that he will have with his grandchildren, and that it will make him feel as young as he did when he briefly turned back into Smurfling Pan at the time when he revisited Smurfling Island to restore power to the Neverstone.'' - Polaris Psyche went throughout the village on his usual security rounds and saw that every Smurf was busy helping to celebrate Smurfy Friendship Day, treating it as a birthday party to Cupid the cherub. Streamers with red and pink hearts were strung around the houses near the center of the village, while Smurfette worked together with Sassette and Grouchy to create more streamers with red and pink paper and a ball of string, while Empath was watching them. There was an atmosphere of joy as the Smurfs were singing the Smurf song while they were doing their work.

"Oh, Empath, I have a feeling that this is going to be the best Smurfy Friendship Day we ever had," Smurfette said as she cut some more hearts.

"It's hard to believe that the Smurf Village was formed on the same day that Cupid was born in the land that he came from, Smurfette," Empath said. "It's even harder to believe that Cupid would be so busy spreading love around the world on what is his birthday."

"If you're somebody like Cupid, how could you think of not wanting to smurf the love that you have on the day that you're born?" Smurfette said.

"This smurf only wishes to be like Cupid, to be able to spread joy and love wherever this smurf would go, Smurfette," Empath said. "Not that this smurf would want to be seen wearing wings and a diaper all the time."

"Oh, I think that you'd look real cute as a cherub, Empath," Smurfette said. "You just have to not be ashamed of how you smurf as a Smurf, because that's what I think a true Smurf is whenever I look at the other Smurfs."

"This smurf knows how much you like to look at the Smurfs...and if that's what you find appealing, then this smurf won't stop you from looking at them that way," Empath said.

Sassette turned to look at Grouchy cutting hearts from a folded piece of paper. "Admit it, Grouchy, even you of all the Smurfs here like Smurfy Friendship Day," Sassette said.

"I hate...to admit it," Grouchy said, smiling slightly as he unfolded the heart streamer he created.

Polaris Psyche moved on from there to see the boy Smurflings hiding behind a house, each with a heart-shaped card in his hand. "Quick, while Smurfette is not looking," Nat said, as he peered around the corner and saw that the coast was clear.

They rushed out of hiding and went the doorstep of Smurfette's house to lay down the cards they made for her. "Won't Smurfette be surprised when she smurfs these?" Slouchy said.

"I think that she's going to like mine the best of all, Slouchy," Snappy said.

"That's what you smurf every year, Snap," Nat said.

"So I'm hopeful that she's going to smurf me the biggest kiss of all," Snappy said. "I can't help it if I happen to be her greatest admirer besides Empath."

"You can keep dreaming of Smurfette smurfing in love with you until the cows smurf home, Snappy," Slouchy said. "You're still too young for her anyway."

"All those years smurfing on Smurfling Island and all anybody can smurf us as is just young Smurflings," Snappy said. "If only we can someday be suddenly as old enough to be adult Smurfs as Empath."

Polaris Psyche continued walking until he came to the speaking mushroom, from which Poet was doing a recital of his latest work in progress to a small crowd of Smurfs. "And thus, this Smurfy Friendship Day, our love we gladly give away." Poet said with some honest feeling behind the recital. "Well, how do you like it, Smurfs?"

"Oh, it's so beautiful, it just smurfed me to tears," Weepy said as he was bawling his eyes out.

"But that's what you always say to any poem that Poet recites to us, Weepy," Brainy said.

"What can I say? I'm just a sentimental Smurf who can't help feeling the way I do," Weepy said.

"Cupid should be so delighted with the poem when he hears it at the party, Grandpa Smurf," Papa Smurf said as he and his father stood around the mushroom to hear the recital.

"Speaking of Cupid, we should get his present ready, Papa Smurf," Grandpa Smurf said.

"I haven't forgotten about that, Grandpa Smurf," Papa Smurf said. "This year is going to be a special gift to the one who makes the gift that keeps smurfing all year round."

"What time is he going to arrive?" Smurfette said as she walked with Empath and Sassette while carrying the hearts she had cut out.

"Why, this afternoon, Smurfette," Papa Smurf answered. "It's going to be a smurfy celebration of his birthday as well as that of the entire village."

"Well, we should be finished by then, although we still need to collect flowers for the centerpiece," Smurfette said as she turned to look at Sassette.

"I'm the right little Smurfette for the job," Sassette said. "I'll get started on smurfing it right now." The four adult Smurfs watched as Sassette headed straight for the forest, eager to do her part for Smurfy Friendship Day. "Leaping lovebirds, I just love this day."

To be expanded on.