In the story, the two witches were looking for a scroll that would lead them to the lost city, where the scepter is located, when Nosey, Brainy and Clumsy were captured by them. Soon they found the scroll and took the captured Smurfs with them, along with Papa Smurf and several others, to follow the instructions on the scroll that would lead them to the lost city. Gargamel, overhearing the witches talking about the scepter, wished to claim it for himself and followed the witches to the border of the lost city, then took their broom and the captured Smurfs with him as he flew over the wall of fire surrounding the city. The witches would create another broom and use it to fly over the wall of fire themselves.