Is There A Doctor In The Village?/Part 5

"So it was you three who set off who find the black rose in order to cure Papa Smurf," Polaris said. "That is quite an interesting trio that would join together for such a cause as that."

"Even this smurf was amused to find that out, Polaris," Empath said. "This smurf can understand if it was Hefty or Tuffy or even Tapper who would team up with Duncan and Smurfette, but Grouchy seemed like the most unlikely of heroes."

"I agree with you, Empath, but Grouchy was still brave enough to smurf along with the two of us," Smurfette said. "Anyway, we were smurfing for where the map said that the Castle of Evil Spirits was located when we encountered a strange being near its entrance."

Then Polaris saw the point in Smurfette's story where she, Duncan, and Grouchy were heading for the Castle of Evil Spirits. Duncan was leading the way since he was holding onto the map, and was armed with a sword in case they would run into anything that would require its use.

"I hate having to travel a long distance to smurf this castle," Grouchy said after a while of walking.

"Well, according to this map, we should smurf the castle right in the middle of a big lake," Duncan said.

"You must be worried about losing Papa Smurf, Grouchy," Smurfette said. "I can understand how you're smurfing right about now."

"I hate that possibility, Smurfette," Grouchy said. "And I hate not knowing what caused him to be so ill."

"Don't you worry there," Smurfette consoled. "Dabbler and the other Smurfs will be smurfing after him until we find and smurf back the black rose."

"I hate to think about Dabbler Smurf right about now," Grouchy said.

Soon the three of them found the big lake. "Michty me, there it is," Duncan said as he noticed a castle sitting on an island in the middle of the lake.

Smurfette and Grouchy saw the castle for themselves. "Oooh, it's so creepy," Smurfette said with a shiver going down her spine. "Look at all the bats surrounding it."

"I hate bats," Grouchy said.

"But the question is, how do we smurf inside?" Duncan asked. "The bridge that connects to the mainland is smurfed to pieces."

"Well, maybe we can smurf there by swimming," Smurfette suggested.

"Don't do that," a gravelly voice spoke from behind her. "The lake is filled with creatures that would devour you. I would suggest that you hop from rock to rock to reach the castle."

The three Smurfs turned to see who it was that spoke, and it turned out to be what resembled a humanoid frog wearing a sorcerer's robe. "And who are you supposed to be, laddie?" Duncan asked.

"I am an old knight," the frog being explained. "Magnificus the magician once cast a spell on me to seize this castle. Who are you, and what are you seeking here?"

"We're Smurfs, and we must smurf the black rose from the castle to cure Papa Smurf," Smurfette explained. "He's very sick, and if he doesn't get cured soon, he could smurf away."

"Oh, I see," the knight said, looking at the three Smurfs to scrutinize their purpose. "Well, you've demonstrated your courage, but you'll need weapons to defend yourself from the creatures that haunt this castle."

"That's not a problem there," Duncan said. "I'm already armed with a sword."

"I'm afraid that your sword will be of no use against them, brave one," the knight said. He then handed Smurfette a sword that looked like it had seen better days. "Here, take this...it is a magic sword that will help you combat the forces of evil."

"Oooh, a magic sword," Smurfette said as she looked at its misshapen blade. Already she could feel its power coursing through her, as if it was alive somehow. "Thank you, Sir Knight."

"And for you, bearded one, take this," the knight said as he handed Duncan a small bag. "These are magic explosive seeds that are effective against evil spirits, but not against ghosts."

Duncan looked at the bag rather suspiciously. "I'm not sure how this would smurf of any use, but I'll have to smurf you at your word."

"At the top of the keep," the knight warned, "you'll find a genie who will protect you against the ghosts. Be sure to use him when it is absolutely necessary."

"Aye, that we will, laddie," Duncan said. "Thanks for the advice."

"So what are we waiting for?" Grouchy said, sounding impatient. "Let's get smurfing already!"

"Hold on there, Grouchy," Smurfette called out as she saw Grouchy already hopping from rock to rock.

"Aye, don't be smurfing so fast," Duncan said as he and Smurfette followed after him.

But Grouchy didn't stop or slow down. He continued hopping until he found himself slipping a rock and falling into the water. Immediately, a plant-like monster rose up to the surface and headed straight for Grouchy.

"Oh no!" Smurfette cried out. She and Duncan quickly hopped toward the rock that Grouchy was climbing onto for safety. "Go away, filthy monster!" She hopped up and struck the monster's head with the blade of the magic sword. Instantly the monster disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Grouchy spotted another plant-like creature emerging from the lake. "Duncan...behind you!" he called out.

Duncan turned only to be grabbed by the creature's tendrils and wrapped so tight by them. "Let go of me, you smurfed creature," Duncan shouted as he struggled to get himself free.

Smurfette reacted by hopping up toward the creature and swinging the magic sword several times. The creature was sliced up into many pieces, weakening it to the point where its tendril snapped off and withered, freeing Duncan.

"Aye, you've got the spirit of a Smurfswoman within you, lassie," Duncan said, sounding grateful. "Now let's hurry and smurf across before the other monsters smurf us."

"I hate monsters," Grouchy said as he and Smurfette followed after Duncan.

They soon reached the shore of the island, only to find themselves with another problem. "The bats are attacking us," Smurfette said as she saw a cloud of bats swooping down towards them.

"Hurry, lassie, this way," Duncan said as he saw a crack in the castle's wall that was big enough for the three of them to enter. Smurfette and Grouchy followed, with Grouchy being the last who barely escaped the bat attack.

"That was close," Grouchy said as soon as he was inside. "And I hate when things are close."

"So now where are we?" Smurfette asked as she looked around.

"Those stairs must smurf to the cellar," Duncan said as he hopped down onto them. "Follow me."

They soon reached the bottom of the stars, where they saw what appeared to be a big chest lying dormant in the cellar. "Gee, do you suppose we might find the black rose in that chest, Duncan?" Smurfette asked.

"Only one way to find out, lassie," Duncan said, pulling out his own sword and using it as a lockpick to open the chest.

"I don't think we should be opening it," Grouchy said with some foreboding.

Soon the lock was picked, and the chest opened only to reveal something else inside...a ghost that resembled a bedsheet with eye holes. It made a fearsome scary noise as it raised itself up from inside the chest.

"I...I...I HATE GHOSTS!!!" Grouchy shouted as he and Smurfette quickly hopped back up the staircase.

"Let's smurf up top to smurf the genie," Duncan said as he hopped up the stairs faster, overtaking the lead.

They soon reached the top of the stairs, where they stopped to see where they were now. "It's the weapons room," Duncan said, noticing the shields and the suits of armor standing quietly. "The stairs to the keep are here."

"Keep smurfing...the ghost is still following us," Grouchy said, looking behind him.

As they quickly headed for the other set of stairs, Smurfette noticed something. "The suits of armor...they're smurfing over us!" she cried out.

To be expanded.