Chapter Text
“HARMONYYYYY!!!!” a smurf yells.
“Uuuuuuuuurgh......” another groans, putting his pillow on his head.
“Why is the day night...?” one asks, all drowsy.
“Ah, sorry...” a sheepish voice answers.
“Everyone, SHUT THE SMURF UP!”
It is night on the Smurf Village. Well into the night.
The reason for all this commotion is quite simple : an ear shattering noise, also called Harmony playing music, was heard, waking up everyone in the village. Now, everyone is used to Harmony's lack of harmony, but he usually limits himself to the day, making this strange decision of playing in the middle of the night really annoying for everyone.
Luckily, after presenting his excuses, Harmony closes his window and goes back to sleep.
The next day, everyone seems a bit tired. While most were able to go back to sleep, they still had to wake up early to prepare everything for the music festival -a tradition starting this year that takes the place of the Annual Concert of the Great Orchestra-, and didn't get their full night. Some weren't able to go back to sleep at all, too annoyed at being woken up and mumbling complains instead of sleeping, or too excited for the day to come to be able to rest. The only ones who seem alright are Lazy, Brainy, Great Smurf (who denied all use of a sleep potion), and Harmony. Of course the one causing the nuisance is immune to it.
Despite that, as the day goes on, the smurfs forget their tiredness, too energized by the evening to come, everyone daydreaming about how they will look on stage, playing music. That's it, until Harmony can be heard practicing his trumpet.
As mentioned before, the smurfs are used to the sound by now, having accepted it as part of life. But after what happened that night, no one was willing to hear more. So they tell Harmony to go play somewhere else in the forest.
Harmony refuses, and his music is still being everyone's problem.
That evening, the festival is a success. On stage, smurfs and bands go after the other, everyone wanting to participate. There will be jokes about Grouchy's amazing performance on the triangle in Vanity and Smurfette's band, comments on the Smurflings new song, and even appreciation for the Great Orchestra and its interpretation of « The Ride of the Valkysmurfs ». But as the festival reaches its end, some smurfs can't help but notice something's off.
« Wait where's Harmony’s act ? » one smurf asks.
« You're right, we haven't heard him yet… » another answers.
Oblivious to their surroundings, the two little smurfs keep talking.
« Do you think something happened ? It's strange he wouldn't participate… »
« You're right, he's been smurfing all day for this ! »
« He better shows up, I don't want to have been smurfed awake by his music for nothing… »
« I don't think you'd miss much… maybe he's sick ? Can you be sick if you smurf too much trumpet in one day ? »
« I don't know, maybe ? »
« Maybe his music has been affecting his health ? »
« I don't think so, no, » a new voice interrupts them.
Frightened, the two smurfs turn to the new arrival. While looking the same as all the others, they can still see the light of the lanterns reflect differently on some parts of his skin, as if tiny scales covered these spots.
« Hi Lantern ! Hi Curious ! » the newcomer starts. « What are you smurfing about ? »
« Hey Apprentice Smurf… you surprised us ! »
« We were talking about Harmony not showing up, » Lantern explains.
« That's what I thought… » Apprentice says. He looks uncomfortable, his hands clasping in front of him, then behind him, then in front of him, again and again, slightly rocking back and forth, suddenly very interested in the sky.
« What happened ? »
There's not much, just a sigh. Then, like finally ripping a bandage off :
« IgotupsetandtoldHarmonytostopplayinghisstupidmusicbecauseitsbadandannoyingandnoonewillwanttohearhimatthefestival »
« What ?! » Curious exclaims.
« I know it isn't very smurf, but I really couldn't smurf this sound any longer ! I think I smurfed him, and I don't know what to do ! »
« Apprentice, calm down, I'm sure you have a very good reason for whatever you did, but I didn't smurf a word of it ! »
« Oh. »
« Could you smurf again ? » intervenes Lantern.
« Alright. » Apprentice takes a deep, calming breath. « Harmony was playing his trumpet near me, and I got so smurfed by him, that I started to yell mean things to him. I may have smurfed that no one wanted to hear him at the festival.. ? »
« Oh no. »
« So I think I smurfed him, and now Harmony isn't playing. Apparently Handy saw him hesitates entering the stage, before he smurfed around and left, all smurfed down. »
« I mean, good for my ears, but bad for him, » says Lantern.
« We should check on him, » Curious offers.
The other two agree, and they go together to Harmony's home.
Curious is about to knock on the door, when they hear it. The sobbing.
It's so surprising, they don't know what to do. It feels too intimate to interrupt.
« Are you alright… ? » Curious dares.
The sobbing stops. No answer, until a small sniffling starts.
« I'm fine, don't worry… » Harmony's weak voice answers.
« Are you sure… ? »
« Yes, it's. It's allergies. » Another sniffle. « You can go. »
The three smurfs look at each other, unsure what to do. Eventually, Lantern shrugs, and a silent agreement is passed.
They leave, and enjoy the end of the festival, ignoring the nagging guilt in the back of their mind.