The Smurfocalypse Chaper 92: Sanctuary for All

Hefty and the knights return to the port with tears in their eyes mourning the loss of Handy Smurf. Hefty returned to his hut and locked himself inside not even caring to notify the others that the battle had been won. For the first time in his life Hefty was truly beside himself as he now had to contemplate a lifetime without his best friend. Meanwhile in the clinic however, rejoice was being shared between Psychiatrist and Doctor who through their collective genius had preserved Handy's life. Coconut had tearfully arrived at the clinic with baby Elaeis who was badly hurt and wouldn't stop crying due to the pain of his wounds. However there was even good news to be found in this tragedy.

"Baby Elaeis will be just fine Coconut. There's no sign of broken bones or internal injury aside from these bruises." Psychiatrist said.

"I'm so relieved, but what about Handy?" Coconut said as she looked to the bed Handy was occupying where he lay unconscious.

"That's another story entirely… Provided he ever wakes up again he will be unable to hear or speak, and what's worse he may never work again." Psychiatrist said.

"But then… He is alive?" Coconut asked.

"He's alive, but he's suffered severe brain trauma." Psychiatrist said.

"Someone should tell Hefty…" Coconut said.

"I will have a talk with Hefty. It's best a professional handles the situation." Psychiatrist said.

"I know this will be hard for you to do Coconut, but I want Elaeis to stay with me for a few days so I can make absolutely sure he will be alright." Doctor said.

"It's ok… I trust you. I'll get his things and bring them here." Coconut said.

Psychiatrist makes the trip to Hefty's hut and knocks on the door. What greets him is a very emotionally vulnerable Hefty.

"Psychiatrist… Is there something you need?" Hefty said.

Psychiatrist's eyes widen when he saw the battle worn Hefty Smurf answer the door. Hefty was covered in wounds from head to toe and was still panting hard from fatigue from the fight.

"Hefty! Your wounds!" Psychiatrist said.

"I refuse to touch that potion anymore… The addicting properties nearly destroyed my life." Hefty said.

"Hefty there's something I need to tell you." Psychiatrist said.

"Save it! Can't you see I'm in mourning?" Hefty said.

"It's about that Hefty. Handy is alive!" Psychiatrist said.

"Handy is alive?" Hefty asked.

"You must come with me to the clinic immediately." Psychiatrist said.

Hefty quickly left his hut and followed Psychiatrist to the clinic. They arrived just in time to see Coconut and Pluto arrive with Elaeis' possessions. The baby Smurf was still in pain and crying when Hefty got inside.

"Mister Hefty!" Pluto said.

Hefty looks around the clinic and notices Elaeis was in one of the beds being treated by Doctor.

"What's going on here?" Hefty asked.

"Hefty… It was an accident! I didn't mean to drop him! Some Smurf pushed me and-" Coconut said.

"I'll deal with you later Coconut." Hefty said as he approached the bed Handy was resting in.

Coconut's eyes widened and she stared at Hefty her eyes filling with tears once again.

"You're mad at me!" Coconut yells.

Before Hefty could react Coconut storms out of the clinic with her hands over her face sobbing.

"Mister Hefty please understand. I was there when it happened!" Pluto shouts.

"Just be silent." Hefty said not taking his gaze off of Handy.

Handy's head was heavily bandaged from his recent brain surgery and was unresponsive in the bed.

"Doctor let me help Elaeis." Pluto said.

"What would you know about anything?" Doctor asked.

"I know ice can soothe the pain of bruises. I've been through battle a lot and have been hit several times. My Smurf Essence can generate a cooling sensation that should ease the pain." Pluto said.

"Very well. Use your Smurf Essence to treat Elaeis." Doctor said.

Pluto steps up to the crying baby Smurf and visible Smurf Essence begins to envelop her hands. She then lifts Elaeis' shirt and runs her cold hands up and down the baby's back gently again and again providing a cooling sensation just as she claimed which eased the baby's pain and caused him to stop crying.

"Handy…" Hefty said.

"I'm afraid he can't hear you Hefty. The bullet destroyed the part of his brain responsible for hearing capacity." Psychiatrist said.

"Can't you speak to me in a way that I can actually understand?" Hefty asked.

"He's deaf." Psychiatrist said.

"So then he'll never be able to hear? Ever again?" Hefty asked.

"I'm afraid not. He won't be able to speak anymore either." Psychiatrist said.

"Why would he have done such a stupid and reckless thing?" Hefty asked.

"Titan would have broken your legs if he hadn't." Pluto said.

"So then he did it to save me?" Hefty asked.

"That's what can be assumed Hefty." Psychiatrist said.

Hefty grasps his stomach and doubles over grunting in pain. He was holding onto the bed post of Handy's bed to support himself so as to stay standing.

"Hefty I thought I might find you here. You need to take your potion." Alchemist said.

"I refuse. I will not take that magic into my body ever again." Hefty said wincing.

"Then I must insist that you stay at the clinic." Doctor said.

"That's fine with me. I'll stay here and rest up, but Alchemist I want you to give my share of the Potion of Addicting Health to Handy so his brain can be healed." Hefty said.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple Hefty. The potion will heal his wounds, but a part of his brain has been completely destroyed. Not even the powerful magic of the Potion of Addicting Health can restore parts of the body that have been completely destroyed." Alchemist said.

"So then… Handy has to live the rest of his life like this?" Hefty asked.

"Not if I have anything to do with it." Brainy said as he enters the clinic.

"Brainy!" Hefty said.

"There could be something in one of Papa Smurf's books that could restore Handy's brain to its original condition." Brainy said.

"And you're sure of this?" Hefty asked.

"Sure? Not quite, but I will tirelessly study Papa Smurf's books until I find a solution." Brainy said.

"Brainy…" Hefty said.

"No need to thank me Hefty. It is for the good of Port Saint Smurf that Handy returns to working condition." Brainy said straightening his glasses.

"Doctor I'm going to go make some ice for Elaeis." Pluto said.

"Pluto… Thank you for being so kind." Hefty said.

"Anytime Mister Hefty! You can always count on me!" Pluto shouts as she leaves the clinic.

"Leave everything to me Hefty. I'll find a way to fix things. There has to be something in one of Papa Smurf's books." Brainy said.

Hefty nodded and Brainy left the clinic to begin his research. Hefty gets into one of Doctor's beds and pulls the covers up over him. The road to recovery for Hefty would a long painful journey both mentally and emotionally. A couple of months pass and Port Saint Smurf experiences a technological crisis without Handy. It is now mid-June and summer was upon the Smurf's as life progressed. While Handy never got out of the clinic Hefty and Elaeis did and returned to their lives. Coconut was allowed to continue to be Elaeis' guardian, and work continues as normal in Port Saint Smurf. Jupiter had his stitches removed, and for his valiant effort to lay his life on the line for the port he was granted citizenship and now resides in Equilibrist's old hut as one of the group.

With life in Port Saint Smurf thriving with the exception of the complications related to Handy not being able to work Hefty decided that there was enough space in the port for others that were less fortunate to have another chance at being a part of a village once again. Hefty had signs made and had Smurfs travel to different parts of the surrounding area to place these signs. These signs read "Port Saint Smurf: Sanctuary for all". In the coming days following the placement of the signs Smurf refugees from all over Europe whose lives were torn apart by the blackhearted flocked to Port Saint Smurf to seek a new life under the leadership and protection of Hefty Smurf whose reputation spread fast across the Smurf world as being the strongest Smurf in the universe. Brainy continued to research and decipher Papa Smurf's books every day for eight hours a day trying to find a solution to Handy's problem, and was getting closer and closer to finding a way to fix Handy's brain. Among these new arrivals were some familiar faces that would now be calling Port Saint Smurf their home.