Smurfocalypse Chapter 17: Black-Hearted Part 1
After Doctor's surgery, Handy was left to rest, as all Doctor could do was wait until the morning to see if he would make it. Doctor retired to his bedding for some very much deserved rest as the grounds around him were protected by Gutsy and the night watch, Gutsy personally guarded the medical tent containing Sickly, Doctor, Clumsy, and Handy inside resting and recuperating. There were nearly 50 tents set up in camp but in absence of Papa Smurf and the defenseless, many tents remained empty, this would be put to good use by Gutsy, he ordered a section of the watch to go with Timber into the woods and gather wood which was poorly formed into the shape of a Smurf. Gutsy then would set these wooden Smurfs inside the empty tents in a sleeping position and leave a light source burning inside the tent so as to fool attackers, in other words, the decoy strategy. With multiple decoy tents set up around the borderline between camp and the woods, it was a safe bet that should there be a attack that the decoys would be first. With the defense play drawn out in their heads, the night watch continue to patrol camp.
Farmer was guarding one of the decoy tents with Sweepy. Now up to this point Sweepy hasn't been mentioned often so one may wonder why he was chosen to be a knight of the Smurf Table. Well, Instead of broom he now carries a mace of the same length, the cloud of dust and smoke that constantly surrounds him gives him a slight advantage in battle. Sweepy wears chain mail same as Gutsy, and has a shield the same exact size in length and width of his body, the only disadvantage of that is that he is still not completely use to the weight of the shield. And finally my reason for choosing him as a knight: Considering his profession he must have some courage in his heart, therefore in times of need he volunteered unlike Farmer who was drafted, but no doubt has what it takes to answer the call of duty (Visit the forum for an interesting detailed list of each knight, how they came to be in the Table, and what their abilities and rank are). Timber had the tent adjacent to Farmer and Sweepy's tent.
Everything seemed to be going normal, the night watch job was actually peaceful for once, nothing around but the soft glow of fireflies and the sounds of the summer forest. The armored Smurfs watched over their campsite quite successfully and without conflict. It was anout time for the nightly ambush but the question lingering is: where and how will they strike? Little do they know, a massive amount of demons had risen from the open chasm and was headed their way. This massive demonic army was lead by a very powerful demon.
The mysterious entity led the forces towards the Smurf's campsite with intention of Smurf genocide, as the moon crept its way up into the sky, trouble came further and further towards the Knights of the Smurf Table. This will be by far the greatest challenge they have ever faced, the unsuspecting Smurfs carry out their night watch with no complications, Gutsy remained suspicious whereas the others were relieved that no attack was bestowed upon them. But all in all, the night had been a peaceful one. It was approximately 6 bells when it all started, The night watch was just about to turn in and enjoy a well earned rest as Hefty had gotten up ready to start his shift. A rustling in the bushes caught their attention as spears were lunged at them, the spears were unable to harm any Smurf. And out of the brush came the horde, they were large in numbers.
"To arms!" Hefty commands, the night watch groaning tiredly at his order.
The Knights assembled as Hefty ordered formation, they approached the horde with everything they had, making sure they never got to the medical tent, to protect the medical tent is the key, Clockwork Smurf proved to be a fine addition to the Knights, the little wooden Smurf charged the demons head on, grabbing them by the throat and snapping their necks in a short, easy movement. Clockwork grabbed a demon and busted it in half over his knee like a twig, blood splattering everywhere, staining his complexion.
"Tuffy! Gutsy! Hold your positions!" Hefty ordered amidst the chaos.
Tuffy and Gusty were stationed on top of a tent where they threw barrows full of rocks onto the unsuspecting horde as they passed within range. An axe flies right past Hefty's ear, almost hitting his head and strikes a demon in the back behind him that was making a run for Doctor's tent. Hefty looks for the source of the axe to see Timber jumping down from the branches and striking a very large human sized demon in the head, it fell backwards, crushing many of its own kind to death in the process. Sweepy was rushing threw the center of the horde with his shield up, bashing them out of the way until he felt a blow to his helmet from behind. His helmet made a noise similar to the one made when a metal bucket is placed over your head and then hit with a baseball bat full force. Sweepy swung behind him with his mace, bashing the brains out of his adversary and critically wounding many demons that were in the way. Clockwork would throw his kills onto a pile that was taller then the tents and rising and on the top of the pile you see Wooly swinging a dead demon with many spikes on it attached to a rope, he defeated a couple demons that were approaching him.
"There are to many Hefty!" Gutsy says, panting.
"You Can't be exhausted already! What will happen if we fail?" Hefty says.
"Hefty… Gutsy is right! We cant Smurf them much longer!" Farmer says, chopping the head of a demon as he speaks.
"He is right you know.. You can never hope to defeat us!" A voice said from atop the trees.
"I didn't know they could speak!" Hefty says.
"They cant Hefty… but I can!" The voice says.
"Who are you?! Show yourself!" Hefty demands.
"Ha, ha. As you wish." The voice said as a figure falls from the treetops and lands on its feet just in front of Hefty's face.
The figure looked as though it were struck by lightening and had a slightly cracked mirror on a belt around its waist. It stood as tall as a Smurf and smelled of decay. The figure stared Hefty in the eyes as Hefty went for his sword.
"Don't humor me… You cannot hope to defeat me." The figure says.
"Wanna bet?!" Hefty screams.
"Listen.. I came to make a deal with you.." The figure said.
"Why should we listen to you?" Hefty says.
"Take a look around you Hefty…" The figured says with a smile.
The knights were at sword point and exhausted after hours of fighting and the medical tent was surrounded.
"No!" Hefty says.
"Relax Hefty.. I'm a reasonable Smurf.. Just hear me out.." The figure says.
"Smurf?! Your NOT a Smurf!" Hefty says.
"Not anymore.." The figure says.
"What are you talking about?!" Hefty says.
"Tell you what Hefty.. I will call off my forces for 50 years if you promise to make a deal with me.." The figure says.
"Your ignoring my question!" Hefty says.
The entity is not pleased, it gets up in Hefty's face and spits as it screams.
"I don't think YOU are in much of a position to be asking the questions!" The entity screamed.
"Listen.. Forfeit to me the one you call Lazy Smurf.. And I will not attack a Smurf for 50 years.. Now mind you have 100 years bad luck.. I can take away 50 for one Smurf sounds like deal to me don't you think?" the figure explained.
"Wait? What would you possibly want with Lazy Smurf?" Hefty asks, puzzled.
"Does it really matter?! I will kill every last one of them while you watch helplessly if you do not cooperate!" The figure said.
"I have half the mind to Smurf you in the face!" Hefty says.
"Try me! I'll kill them all!" The figured hissed.
Hefty had to face a difficult decision. Could he really trade the life of one of his fellow Smurfs? And what choice does he have? Who is this mysterious entity that commands a force large enough to overthrow the knights? And what in Smurf's name would he want with a Smurf as worthless as Lazy?! A large piece of the plot falls into place in our next chapter! Don't miss it!
