Empath and Polaris on their journey to rescue the time-lost Smurfs discover a Magic Mirror that transports them into a Mirror Universe where the Smurfs are red and evil and Gargamel, their enemy, is a good wizard.
This story provides examples of:
- Are We There Yet?: Mirror Universe Gargamel does this to Empath and Polaris when they go back inside the cave where they first entered that world through the Janus Mirror.
- Asteroids Monster: Mirror Universe Gargamel destroying one of the Mirror Universe Clockwork Smurfs causes it to divide and reform into two Clockwork Smurfs, albeit of the same size.
- Bad Guy Bar/Den of Iniquity: Tapper's Tavern in the Mirror Universe Smurf Village is this, where gambling, smoking, fighting, and immoral relations are allowed along with the drinking of very bad sarsaparilla ale.
- Better than Sex: Mirror Universe Greedy says that eating his chocolate cake is better than sex...not that he thinks that sex is bad.
- Big "SHUT UP!": Mirror Gargamel yells "QUIET!" at the Mirror Universe Smurfs when they are captured and then boast that they will find a way out and make Gargamel pay for his attack on them.
- De-power: Mirror Universe Empath was depowered by Mirror Universe Psyche Master, to prevent him from ever using his mental abilities again.
- Depraved Bisexual: Most of the male Smurfs are hinted to be this by their interactions with each other.
- Dream Intro: Or rather, a Nightmare Intro, as Empath sees himself and Polaris being put on trial by Papa Smurf and then summarily being punished by an alternate version of himself.
- Evil Twin: The Smurfs in the Mirror Universe are all evil counterparts of the Smurfs Empath and Polaris know of. Gargamel and Scruple are the good counterparts of their normal evil selves.
- Facial Markings: Mirror Universe Wild has cat-like tattoo markings on his face.
- Fantastic Drug: Besides smurfnip, the Mirror Universe Smurfs also use pixie dust, which a Smurf from that universe snorts up his nose like cocaine.
- Fate Worse than Death: After the Mirror Universe Smurfs are defeated and captured by Mirror Universe Gargamel, he decides to subject them to a punishment worse than death to prevent them from harming others. He therefore seals them away by using the Key of Chronos that he has in his possession to open a portal that puts them in a never-ending time loop.
- God of Evil: Mirror Tapper worships the evil counterpart of God, as Empath discovers by reading the Book of Evil, that universe's counterpart of The Bible.
- Magic Mirror: The Janus Mirror, which appears in both universes as a gateway.
- Mind Rape: Mirror Empath likes to subject his victims to this, especially with Mirror Smurfette, who dislikes him.
- Mythology Gag:
- The Mirror Universe Smurf Village has a high wall surrounding it, much like the Gray Smurfs in "The Smurf Menace" and the Smurf Village ruled by King Smurf in "King Smurf".
- Mirror Universe Narrator mentions the Niceties, which are supposedly the Mirror Universe counterpart of the Naughties from The Smurfs 2.
- No Time to Explain: Normal Traveler says this when normal Empath and Polaris see him break into their prison in the Mirror Universe Smurf Village and ask how he is able to do that.
- Parental Incest: Mirror Papa Smurf and Mirror Smurfette are married to each other.
- Post-Rape Taunt: Mirror Empath to Mirror Smurfette after his Mind Rape: "Was that good for you, Smurfette? It certainly was for me."
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Mirror Poet's comment to Mirror Painter: "What I smurf is true art, Painter. What you smurf all day is what I call por-no-gra-phi-a."
- Really Gets Around: Mirror Smurfette is married to Mirror Papa Smurf, but shows little interest in her marriage as she flirts around with her fellow Smurfs.
- Restraining Bolt: Mirror Universe Papa Smurf cast a spell on his wife Smurfette that would cause her to melt if she would ever leave the Smurf Village or Papa Smurf.
- Senior Creep: Averted with Mirror Gargamel, as he has a full head of hair, a full set of teeth, and appears to be only around thirty years old.
- The End... Or Is It?: The end of the story reveals that one Mirror Universe Smurf has escaped being sent through time.
