Hefty, The Luckiest Smurf/Part 4

Traveler noticed a tear welling up in Empath's eye. "You appear to be sad that Smurfette would now give her heart to another Smurf instead of you because of your absence in this timeline," Traveler commented.

"This smurf wants Smurfette to be happy regardless of who she intends to marry, Traveler," Empath said. "It's just not easy to see that she would soon turn her affections toward another Smurf, particularly Hefty."

"Hefty is one Smurf that this one has observed has a continual rivalry with you over receiving the full affections of Smurfette," Traveler said.

"Hefty is correct in his statement that he has known Smurfette for much longer than this smurf has known her," Empath said. "This smurf would want to see Hefty's happiness be fulfilled by whatever it may cost this smurf."

"Even if it's at the cost of your own happiness of being with Smurfette for the rest of your life?" Traveler asked.

"What this smurf wants to see is how this smurf would fare in Psychelia, having no knowledge of what has transpired between Hefty and Smurfette in the Smurf Village," Empath requested.

"That is what this one was intending to show you, Empath, in the hopes that you would not take your sacrifice of your future happiness lightly," Traveler said.

And in the next instant, Empath and Traveler appear in Psychelia, watching as Empath in the alternate timeline continued to go through his daily routines as a Psyche, with all his memories of being a Smurf seemingly erased. Empath could see that his alternate self didn't appear to be anything different in his behaviors from his fellow Psyches. "From what this smurf could sense, this smurf's alternate self appears to be...content," Empath observed.

"But this one senses that something within your alternate self is going to change how your fellow Psyches would perceive you, that your life in Psychelia will be much different because of this change," Traveler said.

As the two Smurfs continued to watch, the Psychelian instructor Adonis was leading a class in a physical exercise routine where they were to watch his moves and to emulate them. Empath was one of the students in that class.

"Remember, fellow Psyches, that your body and your mind must be in sync with one another, that a well-functioning body cannot exist without a well-functioning mind," Adonis said as he was going through the routines.

It was during the routines that Empath felt himself doing something different, which started with his making rhythmic grunting noises. "Uh-huh...uh-huh...uh-huh...uh-huh...uh-huh..."

"Psyche Student 1137-K, your vocalizations are becoming a disruption," Adonis warned. "Please control yourself and return to your lessons or this one will..."

"Uh-huh...uh-huh...uh-huh...uh-huh...uh-huh...," Empath continued to grunt as his movements now changed to just simply crouching up and down. The Psyche students that were with him recoiled and stood apart from Empath as they saw that he was no longer acting like a Psyche.

"Master Adonis, Empath is now acting like a savage being," one of the students cried out.

"Remain calm and do not provoke him, fellow Psyches," Adonis said. "This one will summon the Guard Elite to take him into custody where they will discover..."

Suddenly Empath hopped his way past them, with his grunts now getting louder. It appeared unto the other Psyches that Empath wanted to escape into the forest for some unknown purpose.

Soon the Guard Elite spotted Empath as he was hopping through Psychelia. They quickly raised up their energy staffs and blasted him with a powerful force that incapacitated him.

A Psychelian Medical officer appeared on the scene and did a brief examination of Empath. "This Psyche appears to have a physical condition that's affecting his behaviors," the medical officer said as he finished his examination. "We must bring him to the infirmary where we could make a full analysis of the situation." - Empath and Traveler watched as Empath's alternate self was brought to an examination chamber, where he was not only stripped of his restraining cuffs but also of his bodysuit, wearing only a ceremonial loincloth. Asclepius and Caduceus, the chief medical officers, handled the examination while Cassiopeia, a student working as an apprentice, monitored Empath's condition. From what anyone could sense, Empath's rhythmic grunting and movements did not cease.

After an hour of examination, Asclepius discovered what was wrong. "This Psyche is suffering from a condition of a sudden increase of hormones, which is driving him with a desire to mate with someone."

"Psyches should not even have this desire," Caduceus said. "This condition would only be inherent in savage creatures that cannot control their base desires."

"We are dealing with the prototype Psyche who has been raised among us as a Psyche, Caduceus," Asclepius said. "It would seem natural for this prototype to behave in ways that are not entirely befitting of a true Psyche."

"But what would happen if we do not treat this condition, Master Asclepius?" Cassiopeia asked.

"If his blood pressure continues to rise without any resolution to this situation...his condition is very likely to cause him to die," Asclepius said.

"Great Ancestors," Cassiopeia said. "We must find a way that we can restore Empath's normal Psychelian behaviors."

"We can try forcing Empath to enter a meditative state where he can mentally work to exert control over his own body's desires, Cassiopeia," Caduceus said. "But should that plan fail, we must come up with other options to use."

"This one understands, Master Caduceus," Cassiopeia said.

And so Traveler and Empath watched Cassiopeia make an effort by using the intercom system to communicate with Empath's alternate self and get him to start meditating so that he could calm himself down and exert control over his own body's desires. Empath seemed to comply as he now sat on the floor with his legs folded and his hands clasped together, closing his eyes as he tried to focus on controlling his breathing. For a while the meditation seemed to work, but then the medical staff noticed that Empath was starting to sweat greatly from the amount of effort he was trying to put into controlling his urges, until suddenly he broke out of the meditative position he was in and resumed his rhythmic grunting and movements.

"His condition is getting worse, Master Asclepius," Cassiopeia said. "This one senses that he will suffer complete heart failure in thirty minutes."

Psyche Master, we are not able to get Empath to exert control over his body's desires through meditation, Asclepius reported through telepathy.

I have sensed Empath's condition since it has started, Asclepius, the Psyche Master responded. ''It would seem that there is no choice but to proceed with physical bonding. Cassiopeia would have to be the one who will be Empath's mate.''

This one understands, Psyche Master, Ascelpius said. He then turned to Cassiopeia. "You will have to go in there and physically bond with Empath in order to quell his desires, Cassiopeia."

"That is a very unorthodox suggestion for a solution that this one is uncertain of its consequences," Cassiopeia said.

"This order comes from the Psyche Master, Cassiopeia," Asclepius said. "You must do whatever he says or else you will be held responsible for Empath's termination from this life."

"This one understands and acknowledges," Cassiopeia said. As she approached the door to the examination room, her cuffs were removed from her ankles and wrists. "This one is ready to begin."

After Cassiopeia entered the room, she saw Empath crouched down and could feel the immense pain he was going through. "Empath Psyche," she gently spoke as she touched his shoulder.

Empath turned to see who it was. "Smurfette?" he asked.

"It is Cassiopeia Psyche, one of your fellow students," she answered. "This one knows the pain you are suffering from, and this one wishes to help you purge this desire from you. Whatever you want this one to do for you, this one will permit it."

Empath slowly reached out and touched Cassiopeia's face, feeling all around and through her hair. He pulled her close to him and kissed her on the lips.

Cassiopeia wasn't sure how to feel after the kiss. Part of her felt like she was being violated, and part of her felt like she wanted more. She reached out and embraced Empath to pull him close to her as they kissed again.

Asclepius and Caduceus continued to monitor Empath and Cassiopeia while having the windows to the examination room closed, as they felt it inappropriate for them to watch the physical bonding taking place. The activity inside the examination room seemed to go on for hours, but as the medical officers noticed and have sensed, Empath's hormonal levels and blood pressure were dropping steadily.

Then suddenly, Cassiopeia reported, "The physical bonding has been completed. Empath's normal Psychelian behaviors have resumed."

Asclepius and Cassiopeia met both Empath and Cassiopeia as they exited separately from each other through separate doors, both dressed in their Psychelian bodysuits. Both Empath and Cassiopeia appeared to be expressionless, but as the Empath and Traveler who were watching this alternate timeline could sense, they both felt somewhat different from how they were before the physical bonding happened.

"Return to your resting quarters, and the Psyche Master will decide what he will do with you both," Asclepius instructed.

"This one understands and acknowledges, Master Asclepius," Empath and Cassiopeia responded together.