Chapter Thirty Three- Archer's Greatest Battle
"Just my luck!" Gargamel muttered bitterly. "I finally get a hold of that rotten little Smurf, and she breaks through my spell!" He flopped down onto a rocking chair. "What is it about that Smurf that's so great?"
BANG BANG BANG!
"Gargamel!" Gutsy shouted from outside.
"Git yer sorreh Smurf out 'ere!" Farmer chimed in.
Gargamel groaned. He stomped to the door and threw it open. "What do you wa—" He paused when he noticed the entire village plus three humans standing outside his hovel. "Uh...if you're here about that little Smurfette—"
"Where is she?" Vanity snapped. "You better tell us or we'll smurf you to the next smurf!"
"She should be back in your stupid village!" Gargamel snapped. "Now go away!"
Gutsy darted in and kicked Gargamel's foot. "If you don' let 'er go, I'm gonna—"
"What makes you think she'd come here?" Gargamel demanded.
"She's run away." Snappy shouted. "And if you hurt her in any way—"
"Now listen up!" Gargamel interrupted. "I don't know where she is! She hasn't returned since I sent her out."
"Then where would she go?" Sassette asked.
"Somewhere she'll never be seen again." Hefty said.
"Someplace outta th' way." Farmer added.
"If she goes suicidal, she might go someplace secluded." Clumsy said.
"No, Archer would smurf out with a bang." Brainy insisted. "She would fight first, then die."
Gargamel froze. He gulped. "Um...I think I have an idea of where she might be."
Archer looked ahead at the dark, looming castle surrounded by a glowing orange moat of what Archer assumed was lava. She took a breath and continued down the black path. Jagged rocks jutted out from either side of her, like swords. She arrived at the drawbridge and looked down. Sure enough, Balthazar had changed the water in the moat to molten magma, like a volcano. Archer took a breath and crossed the drawbridge. She jumped when a large, lizard-like creature rose from the moat of lava, snarling at her.
"Easy now, take it easy." Archer soothed. She reached into her quiver pocket and pulled out some smurfberries. "You hungry? Want some berries? I'm sure they taste better than me."
The moat monster sniffed the berries and then licked his lips. Archer tossed the berries into the air and the moat monster snapped them up. He purred and rubbed his nose against Archer's head. She laughed and patted his snout. She turned suddenly when the doors of the castle creaked open. She gave the moat monster one final pat before slowly making her way through the doors. The moat monster rumbled sadly in his throat as he watched his new friend disappear.
"Hurry!" Smurfette called.
"We'll never make it in time!" Smartette cried. "She's too far ahead!"
"There's still a chance!" Don Smurfo insisted. "She can-a fight for quite a while!"
"Be it much farther, Papa Smurf?" Miner asked worriedly.
"We're almost there!" Papa called. "Come on!"
Archer looked all around as she made her way into the castle. The place was certainly elegant, but it was also dark and radiated with wickedness. She found herself glaring hard at nothing in particular. She looked ahead and found some stairs. She started climbing, following her gut instinct that told her Balthazar was up there.
"Is it much farther, Papa Smurf?" Dreamy called.
"Just keep running!" Papa snapped. "We're almost there!"
"We'll n-never reach her i-in t-time!" Scaredy gulped. "A-and even if we do, w-we have t-to face B-Balthazar!"
"Leave dat ta me!" Gutsy growled. "He'll pay if he hurts my lassie!"
"We go together!" Papa insisted.
Archer cautiously approached the large oak door, waiting for any movement. Suddenly, the door swung open.
"Enter!" A cruel voice shouted.
Archer stood tall and marched inside, the door slamming shut behind her. She looked ahead and saw the evil wizard Balthazar himself. He was just like how Smartette described: regal robes, sharp black facial hair, dark eyes, and an overall evil look to his face. Perched on the throne he rested upon was the raven.
"You're either very brave or very stupid." Balthazar sneered. "You tamed my moat monster with a tiny bite of food. You walk in here cautiously yet casually. Your only weapons that I can see of are a bow and a quiver full of arrows." Balthazar rested his elbow on the armrest of his throne and propped up his head. "What do you want?"
"My name is Archer Smurfette." Archer introduced. "Though I do not look it, I am very close to the end of my life. In the past, I was a great warrior, and I wish to leave this world doing what I love."
Balthazar nodded amusedly. "And how am I supposed to help?"
Archer stared hard into the warlock's eyes. "I want a fight. To the death."
"Papa Smurf!" Brainy shouted. "Up ahead!"
Everyone skidded to a halt as they arrived at Balthazar's castle. Some of the Smurfs looked around fearfully for the moat monster, but the beast never came.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Gutsy demanded. "Let's go!"
"Don't we need a plan?" Poet asked a little nervously.
"I got a plan." Gutsy growled. "I'm gonna march in dere and smurf him into next week!"
"Gutsy, let's not overreact." Papa soothed.
BOOM!
Everyone jumped as an explosion rang out. Their heads whipped around to the castle, where bright lights exploded atop a large platform raised high up in the middle of the castle.
"That is-a not good." Don Smurfo shook his head.
"Alright, this will sound strange, but I'm with Gutsy." Papa admitted.
"Everysmurf!" Handy shouted. "Charge!"
The Smurfs shouted and cheered as they stampeded across the drawbridge. They were forced to skid to a halt once more when they saw all the rooms.
"Now what?" Smartette asked.
"Gutsy, Don Smurfo, Farmer, and Smartette: you come with me." Papa ordered. "The rest of you, spread out! I'll send up a red firework if we need to get out fast and a green one if we beat Balthazar."
"Yes Papa Smurf!" The Smurfs chorused, saluting to their father.
"Come on!" Papillon urged as she, Oliver, and Aleron ran off.
Papa and his group of Smurfs sprinted up the steps, each of them praying that everything was smurfy.
Archer dove aside as another blast sailed over her head. She sent electricity from her fingertips, only for Balthazar to redirect it into the stormy sky. The warlock returned a blast of lightning that Archer absorbed and sent back.
"You can't fight forever!" Balthazar laughed. "You will die by my hand!"
"Bite me!" Archer snapped. She fired an arrow, but Balthazar knocked it aside. Archer ran to one side as Balthazar sent fire after her. She tucked and rolled, the heat from the fire blowing against her skin like an oven. She launched a burst of wind from her palms and pushed Balthazar back a few feet. He growled and summoned a sword from midair, telekinetically throwing it towards Archer. She bent backwards, the sword narrowly avoiding her nose. She had to remind herself that she couldn't win; she had to let Balthazar blast her to dust. Now how to do it? It was easy to provoke Balthazar into a fight, but how to provoke him into doing something specific?
"Balthazar!"
Archer and Balthazar looked up in surprise as Papa, Gutsy, Don Smurfo, Farmer, and Smartette stood at the door. The boys glared at Balthazar as Smartette kept her concerned gaze on Archer.
I'm okay. Archer mouthed. Get out.
No. Smartette mouthed, shaking her head.
"Step away from her!" Papa ordered.
"Or what?" Balthazar taunted.
"Or I shall slice you to-a ribbons!" Don Smurfo declared, raising his saber.
"An' we're gunna give ya such a beatin' ya'll will firget 'ow ta walk!" Farmer raised his hoe threateningly.
"You fools don't stand a chance!" Balthazar laughed. "I will destroy—OUCH!" Balthazar snarled in pain as he yanked a tiny arrow from his cheek.
"Smurf outta here!" Archer urged, pushing her family towards the door. "Go!"
"Not without you!" Gutsy said firmly.
"Just go!" Archer snapped.
They jumped as the door slammed shut and a fireball hit the spot they were just in. Smartette felt a sense of deja vu and turned to Balthazar. Instantly, her eyes widened in shock. She was so shocked that Archer had to tackle her to the side before Balthazar roasted them. Archer managed to stop their tumble before they could roll off the wall and into the flaming moat below.
"What the Smurf is wrong with you?" Archer snapped.
Smartette stared towards Balthazar again. "That's the man from my dreams."
Archer looked down at the moat, feeling guilt for not telling Smartette. But when she saw the lava filled moat, she suddenly got an idea of how to end this. She pulled Smartette to her feet. "Get out of here. All of you."
Smartette finally snapped out of it. "We came here to save you. We're gonna smurf you home."
"No." Archer said firmly. "Get. Out."
"But—"
"GO!"
Archer grabbed Smartette by her hair and dragged her to the door, throwing her into Farmer and knocking them to the ground. Archer ran back towards Balthazar, currently trying to fend off Papa and Don Smurfo.
"Hey you fat old bag of dust!" Archer shouted. "You want to kill me?"
"Archer!" Don Smurfo shouted. "No!"
Archer jumped onto the ledge, feeling the heat from the lava moat against her back. "Smurf me with your best shot and leave them alone!"
Papa and Don Smurfo rushed towards Archer, but Balthazar telekinetically lifted them off the ground and sent them crashing into Farmer and Smartette.
"You want to die, Smurf?" Balthazar demanded.
"If you dare to try and kill me." Archer said defiantly.
"Fine!" Balthazar shouted in rage. "Die you filthy little wretch!" He launched a blast towards Archer.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Archer took a breath, preparing herself for what would happen next. There was no way she would just let Balthazar kill her; he wasn't going to let him have satisfaction and there was no guarantee that the blast would incinerate her. She waited and waited for the blast to come so she could jump down and land in the lava moat below. The only things she hoped for were that the death was quick and the Smurfs got out safely.
Archer jumped as the blast came inches away. It sailed over her head as she fell down towards the lava. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to know how far or close she got.
Archer didn't get far (at least she didn't think she did) before she became wrapped in a warm embrace and her decent halted. She opened her eyes and slowly looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw Gutsy holding a vine with one hand and his free arm wrapped around her.
"Gutsy?" Archer breathed. "What're you—"
"I love you!" Gutsy said hurriedly, straining a little from the pull in his arm. "I know you would do anythin' ta protect us, but I would do anythin' to protect you! I've never met somesmurf like you!" He gripped the vine tighter, gritting his teeth from the strain.
"Gutsy..." Archer breathed.
"I want ta marry you!" Gutsy blurted out.
Archer went silent.
"Dat ring I gave you!" Gutsy continued. "I was gonna propose ta you and I choked!" He sighed. "All I want is ta live de rest of my life with you."
Archer stared into Gutsy's warm blue eyes, awed by his words. She pulled herself up and planted a kiss on his lips. Gutsy blinked in surprise, but pulled her in close.
The moment was interrupted when they heard a SNAP! They looked up and noticed the vine snapping. Gutsy held Archer close as the vine continued to break under the weight. Archer clutched Gutsy's sash. The vine snapped, and they fell down towards the moat of molten lava. Archer and Gutsy hung onto each other, thinking they would die for sure. But they were saved when something grabbed Gutsy's sash. They looked up to see Farmer's hoe hooked onto Gutsy's sash, Farmer holding onto his hoe, Smartette holding onto his ankles, and Don Smurfo holding onto Smartette's ankles. The small chain was pulled up to the window they were under and back to solid ground.
Papa pulled Archer into a hug. "Don't ever do that again."
Archer gladly returned the hug. "I make no such promises."
The Smurfs laughed. "We should get-a out of here." Don Smurfo encouraged.
"We blocked th' door so Balth'zar cain't git us." Farmer said. "It won' stay fir long."
There was an enraged shout and an explosion.
"Too late." Smartette groaned.
"We have to get everyone out of here." Archer urged. "Now!"
Papa sent a red firework into the sky. The Smurfs, when they saw the light, dropped what they were doing and made a break for the doors. Balthazar, when he realized more Smurfs were in his home, stampeded down the stairs. Papa and Archer set fire to the ground in front of him while Farmer, Gutsy, Don Smurfo, and Smartette ran past them to join the fleeing village of Smurfs. Gutsy hung back until Papa and Archer could catch up. He took Archer's hand as the trio ran. Archer looked back and realized Balthazar would chase them all the way back to the village. He was different from Gargamel or Nemesis. Balthazar had darkness all the way to his core. He would get what he wanted or die trying.
I so don't need this. Archer growled.
When the three Smurfs reached the gate, Papa turned and sent a blast into the ground. Vines sprouted up and started wrapping around Balthazar like snakes. Archer grabbed Papa's arm and shoved him and Gutsy past the gate. She fired a couple arrows at the rope holding the gate up, forcing the metal gate to fall and cut off her exit.
Gutsy banged against the iron. "What are you doing?"
"Stopping Balthazar." Archer said firmly.
"Archer, you will die!" Papa said.
"Trust me." Archer assured. "Just go." She turned and ran before the boys could protest. That didn't stop them from shouting after her. When Archer reached the door to the castle, she turned back and stared at her father and her lover. She stared at them, drinking in their image to always remember them. When she noticed Balthazar catching sight of her, she knew there wasn't much time.
Archer made a fist and put out her pinky; she pressed her fist to her chest. Then she crossed her arms across her chest in an X. Finally, she pointed to Gutsy and Papa.
I love you.
Archer disappeared inside the castle as Balthazar came after her.
"We hafta go after her!" Gutsy urged, banging against the gates.
"Get the Smurfs a safe distance away." Papa ordered as he ran to the edge of the drawbridge.
"What?" Gutsy asked.
"Something tells me you don't want to be too close to this place." Papa said. "I promise I'll smurf Archer back, but stay away from here."
Gutsy hesitated for a moment before turning and running off. Papa jumped onto the wall and started climbing the vines up the castle walls.
Archer dodged blast after blast that Balthazar sent. When his raven tried to snatch Archer, she whacked him out of the air and to the ground with her bow. Archer continued to run until she reached the platform she previously battled Balthazar on. She waited for Balthazar to come up before launching another spell. Vines grabbed Balthazar's limbs and suspended him into the air.
Archer drew an arrow, standing tall and proud. She started speaking a spell, softly but strongly.
"Donnez-moile pouvoir, donnez-moi la force
Montrez-moi lemoyen de détruirecettebaseennemie
Laissezcette flècheprendre vers le basde ces murs
Que celuiqui vità l'intérieur deleur savoir
Personne nefait malà ma famille."
As Balthazar cut the vines that held him, he noticed the obsidian arrowhead glow bright white as Archer repeated her chant. She continued to chant, even as she pulled back her arrow and aimed it. Balthazar finally cut himself free and ran towards her. Archer fired her arrow.
The arrow pierced the ground and exploded on impact with a loud and reverberating BOOM!
A/N: I bet you really hate my cliffhangers by now, huh? Well, I'm afraid I can't help with that. It's my mark: I'm famous for cliffhangers and near-death situations. Only a couple chapters left! Then I'm starting a side story and a version of the Smurf movie with Archer and Smartette in it.
Oh, just so you know what the spell is, from French to English:
Give me power, give me strength
Show me the way to destroy this enemy's foundation
Let this arrow take down these walls
May the one that lives within them know
No one hurts my family
Don't bother entering it in Google Translate. Tried that, and it came out weird. Stay tuned! The last few chapters are coming out tomorrow!