Hello again! Early update; This one is a little shorter, but I may add on to it as I pull more inspiration from somewhere in this empty noggin of mine. This short story is based off of Episode 50 of Season 6 of The Smurfs, called The Essence of Brainy.

I wanted to do something on Brainy's self-reflection a little more, a scene that would relate more to his arrogant nature, but I still wanted to pull from the actual series. Well, I lucked out! Anyway, R&R, and enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING.

After a long day of watching life around them dissipate and seeing the natural complexions return, the Smurfs were all glad to have Brainy back.

For about 2.5 seconds.

"Brainy, are you my ol' buddy again?" Clumsy asked, unsure if Brainy was really himself again.

"Clumsy, Clumsy, Clumsy, as much as I like you, you do ask the silliest questions sometimes."

All day, Brainy had been this pale, hollow, empty shell of his former self, devoid of character and personality. Now he was smiling, sarcastic, and a total nerd (just as he had always been), and Clumsy was glad to see it. Through the quirks and the pain, he wouldn't have his brother and best friend any other way.

"Oh! That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me!" Clumsy said dopily, giving him a big hug, which normally he wouldn't have shrugged off. Apparently, the reverse spell had brought back more of something than Brainy could place- sensitivity.

"Thats.. That's the nicest thing I've ever said to you?" he almost cried. It was like looking into a mirror through his brother's eyes, and he saw a monster in his reflection. He was horrified. "Y-you mean, I'm this big-shot, all-around jerk with no consideration for other smurfs' feelings?!" He was scared, mostly at how on the great big earth he never recognized his foolishness before. "H-how do you smurfs even live with me? How do I live with myself?! Ugh, who am I?"

He looked at Papa Smurf with a shaken gaze and a tired expression. Everysmurf around him was speechless.

"Papa.. Have I always been like this?"

"Well Brainy, not after today."

Like being hit by a speeding truck doing 80 on the interstate, Brainy felt his entire system collapse; everything inside him just crumbled to pieces. His heart, his emotion, and his train of thought was put on hold and his breath into overdrive as he thought over and tried to remember the last ten to twenty years of his tiny life.

"I.. I am so sorry…"

"Ah, Brainy, don't worry about it! We all like to pick on you sometimes when you're a little bossy, but it's not like it's every day." Hefty said, standing nearby. "Welcome back home, my friend. We've missed you."

"We have?" Greedy asked absentmindedly while biting into another one of his famous cupcakes.

"GREEDY!" the entire crowd erupted. Brainy, hearing and believing his worst nightmare to be true, let a tear go.

"If you guys liked me so much better before, why didn't you just leave me that way?" he whimpered.

"Brainy, that is NOT true," Papa corrected sternly.

"We've missed you Brainy, and we wouldn't change who you are for the world!" Smurfette added as she gave him a small kiss on the cheek. He blushed, still not accepting their words.

"I… I have a lot to think about," he said between sobs as he ran through the crowds on his way home, now that he remembered where to go.

"BRAINY!" Papa called after him, in fear of the emotional disaster this was turning out to be.

…

Brainy thought of all the random things he's said, so outspoken, and for so long. He realized how much of a fool he was, and tried to imagine it from the others' perspectives. He shuddered at the thought.

How could he have been that way for so long without hearing himself? Had he gotten that bad?

It was a wonder he was even allowed to speak. It was a wonder he hadn't said anything he seriously regretted just yet- Oh wait -he regretted everything. Every. Last. Word.

He personally vowed after that moment to be quiet, and when spoken to, to be helpful and polite. He wouldn't be the annoying blabbermouth everysmurf took him for. Even so, they hadn't been wrong. He couldn't blame Greedy for his honesty.

It is the best policy, Papa Smurf always said- He was doing it again.

From now on, he would be as close to his foreshadow than ever, making it a part of him. If he could learn to say the right things at the right time, maybe the others would take him seriously for a change.

He unanimously decided it was his wisest decision.

This may soon be updated, so stick around! Farewell, readers. Adieu!

-PG