Smurfocalypse chapter 50: The New Year

Papa Smurf was gone, and he was never coming back. Papa Smurf's wisdom, magic, and alchemical abilities were lost forever along with him. However Balthazar was gone as well, and with Balthazar gone the last of the major antagonists that plagued the Smurfs and their society's progression for years were no longer around. In a village protected by towering human walls and the sea the Smurfs were safe from demons in Port Saint Smurf. In a land free of predators the Smurf's thrived under the leadership and protection of Hefty Smurf.

As life in Port Saint Smurf progressed winter turned to spring, the days got longer and warmer and the snow melted. With the extraordinary talent of the young prodigy Coconut aiding the construction crew the village was built by the time scarf season was over. There were no longer any Smurfs using the human structures, most of the wood was gone, and the day would soon approach where they would need set out and look for some sort of place to mine. It was still unknown what dangers awaited them in the woods in the area. On the other side of the wall from the cemetery there was a patch of woods. They had no idea how far it stretched, but Hefty had plans to have that area explored. There were Smurfs like Tracker with survival skills that are willing to work outside the walls now that life seems to have stabilized and every Smurf was feeling safer, but Hefty cautiously still wouldn't allow any Smurf to leave the port except himself.

The time had come to begin tilling what would be the field they'd grow the majority of if not all of their food in, and Farmer was more than happy to be back to working the fields. They decided to grow the food near the far western wall furthest from the sea as possible; closer to where the human fields were but still inside the walls. He had some field hands with nothing better to do accompanying him. It was Farmer, Tracker, Equilibrist, Mango, and a whole lot of dirt. Farmer had them tilling rows with hoes and Mango's feet were all dirty. Now that the cold weather was over he and Coconut returned to wearing their tribal clothes. Mango was shirtless with his orange tie-dye swim trunks and sandals. He wore an orange tie-dye cap over his bald head. This was Mango's general clothes. Working in sandals? Not a problem for a tribesmurf. Traditional shoes have yet to be invented back on the islands and Mango being the Smurf he is, is quite set in his ways and actually prefers his sandals. He'd wash his feet off in the ocean later when he got home a process he was clearly used to doing a lot as the skin on his feet was very dry.

The speed at which Farmer could till dirt was incredible. His strength from being a knight, wearing that heavy armor, and swinging around that scythe for as long as he has been has strengthened him and boosted his work performance. As they worked Mango heard a sound he hadn't heard in a long time. The sound brought joy to his heart. It was the sound of quacking. Mango looked up to the sky and smiled widely as he saw Duck returning to him.

"He's back… He's finally home!" Mango shouted as he dropped his hoe and ran excitedly.

Duck landed and Mango ran to him and hugged onto him tightly. He took the rope he had around his waist like a belt off and formed it into a lead. Duck lowered his head and allowed Mango to put on the lead. It was as though he were putting a leash on a dog.

"I've missed you so much." Mango said as he finished setting up the lead.

Duck quacked happily in response.

"Wait until you see the special shelter I made for you." Mango said as he led Duck down away from the fields and across town to the beach.

Although he was unable to understand Duck, there was a special place in Mango's heart for the white feathered creature that hatched from the strange looking egg that washed up on his beach that fateful morning three years ago back on what then was just known as Mango Island. The beach and dock area was slightly populated. There were a small stretch of huts going down the beach, but the most unique ones of course were the tropical Smurf huts that Mango, Coconut, and Dreamy lived in. Using her own unique style of building the adolescent Smurfette had constructed both Dreamy and her own huts single handedly, she didn't allow any other Smurf to touch them making them her own creation. Whereas a traditional tropical mushroom hut was just basically a yurt with a fancy roof unless the occupant was wealthy and/or ran a business from home, Coconut's huts were homier with more rooms, and a second floor with a balcony which were luxuries enjoyed in Port Saint Smurf by every Smurf. Back home Coconut built furniture and vacation huts mostly for wealthy business owners like her friend Grapefruit Smurf the muscular blacksmith who made her frying pan, and was originally chosen to accompany Dreamy on his quest to seal the caves. She did the same here adding a splash of culture to the average Smurf's home.

Mango's mushroom hut was orange and yellow, Coconut's was cream and brown, and Dreamy's was a navy blue with white spots on the 'cap' roof. Coconut built Dreamy a nice sturdy porch with a single step which she built for herself as well as Mango. Dreamy's door had a ship's wheel on it. Next to Mango's house was a large duck shelter painted red. The shelter was taller than any of their huts. Inside was a spot for a nest, and a place where Mango had set a blue food bowl. Mango lead Duck inside and showed him around the shelter. It was a big place and it made Duck feel safe and snug just standing inside it.

"I trust you'll want to build your own nest, but I gave you plenty of space." Mango said.

Duck quacked and lowered his head to Mango telling him he no longer wanted the lead on him. Mango removed the lead and Duck quacked and left the shelter. Duck wandered over to Coconut's hut as the duck explored the new Smurf village. Mango followed closely behind him fastening the rope back around his waist. They continued down the street and eventually spotted Psychiatrist and Secretary walking by. They were dressed more casually this time with Psychiatrist being shirtless with solid green pants and a green Smurf cap. Secretary was wearing a white sundress, white heels, and a white Smurf cap. Her long brown hair was down, and she had locked arms with Psychiatrist and had her head on his shoulder. She was just about as close to Psychiatrist as she could get and was still giggling from something funny he had said when they spotted Mango and Duck.

"Morning Mango." Psychiatrist said as they passed each other.

"Morning." Mango replied with a nod.

"Ooh is that your duck?" Secretary asked.

Mango grinned.

"Sure is. He just got back today I'm showing him around." Mango said.

"Sounds great." Psychiatrist said with a smile.

They parted ways and then the sound of a tiny fist knocking on a tiny door gained their attention. Coconut was knocking on Dreamy's door. She was back to wearing cream and brown colored shorts and a t-shirt. The brown colors were arranged in swirls with cream being the base color of all her clothing except her sandals which were solid brown. One large swirl on the front and back of her shirt, a few small ones on either side of her shorts, and two for her cap. Her cream colored hair was up in a long ponytail and she was tapping her foot impatiently as she waited.

"Dreamyyyyy you can't just sleep all morning! You promised we'd go for a walk!" Coconut said.

The door opened and Dreamy stepped out causing Coconut to squeal with excitement. She grabbed Dreamy's hand and quickly led him out to the street.

"C'mon let's go!" Coconut said.

Coconut giggled as she ran Dreamy was following her and they passed right by Duck who just quacked at them as he continued down the street. In the distance Fisher could be seen casting a line out into the ocean from the docks. Mango didn't even want to think about what he must be doing wrong this time. As Duck waddled along Mango followed and they'd pass all the different Smurf huts as they made their way through the town.

"Hey, did you happen to catch the weather report today?" Archeologist asks as Mango passes him.

"No I didn't read The Daily Smurf yet today." Mango said.

"Me neither. Darn. Well it looks nice enough out." Archeologist said with a shrug and walks off.

"What do you think Duck? We have a nice set up here don't we?" Mango asked.

Duck quacked in response.

Duck stopped at the well and curiously peaked down into it. The pre-existing well dug and fashioned by the town's previous residences was the only human structure still in use within the walls.

"Thirsty?" Mango asked.

Duck quacked and nodded.

"Me too. Let's get a bucket of water." Mango said as he started to head back home to fetch a bucket.

Mango turned and unsurprisingly found Duck beginning to wander. He whistled and Duck turn to him.

"Here." Mango said as he undid the rope around his waist and started forming it into a lead again.

Mango fastened the lead onto Duck and the two of them returned to Mango's hut to grab an empty bucket.

Meanwhile Coconut was extra excited to hang out with Dreamy today because she was going to show him a flower she deemed really pretty that she has never seen before. She continued to run holding tightly onto Dreamy's hand and forcing him along. They stopped near the wall by the cemetery actually passing the two headstones on the way there. Only two headstones you ask? That, and the stone statue of Papa Smurf built in the center of the land they deemed the graveyard. This wasn't the only statue of Papa Smurf in the village either, but it was the much more natural looking one. They were by no means small either. They were of such height they had required scaffolding to craft. The village could only afford to make three of them. One downtown by the well, one by the house they had all stayed in together, and one here in the center of the cemetery capturing his likeness so accurately they even included the scars on his abdomen where he had been stabbed.

Coconut led Dreamy to the wall and let go of his hand.

"Why are we stopping here?" Dreamy asked.

"Shh!" Coconut said putting her right index finger to her mouth.

She then looked around making sure no other Smurf was in the area before putting her hands on one of the bricks in the wall and pushing it. Dreamy's eyebrows raised as he observed Coconut pushing the brick. It wasn't so much because of her strength as it was alarming that there was a flaw in the walls they relied on for protection.

"Coconut what are you doing?" Dreamy asked.

"I want to show you something great." Coconut said.

"We're not supposed to go outside the walls. Hefty says it's dangerous." Dreamy said.

"Oh Hefty thinks everything is dangerous. I grew up in the jungle I know danger when I see it." Coconut said as she pushed the loose brick out of the wall.

Dreamy was just glad he had his sword on-hand in case Coconut managed to get them into trouble. Fighting with one arm that wasn't even originally his dominant arm is not an ideal situation for him to be in. They both stepped through the hole in the wall and out into the forest. They were immediately surrounded by trees.

"I'll be a hundred and forty years old in the month you call April. Did I tell you?" Coconut asked.

"Really? You're that old?" Dreamy asked.

"Uh, Yeah!" Coconut said.

"Where are we going anyway?" Dreamy asked.

"Oh it's not far." Coconut said as she ventured forward.

Dreamy cautiously followed her. It was true that Coconut was experienced with living in a dangerous world. It really came to no surprise to him that she showed little fear walking through this uncharted forest.

"The woods here are so different I still can't get over it. No parrots, no monkeys…" Coconut says as her voice trails off.

"No poisonous snakes." Dreamy added.

Coconut laughed.

"There! See?!" Coconut said as she pointed towards a small bed of simple white windflowers.

"Flowers?" Dreamy asked.

Coconut walked passed the flowers and stood on the opposite side of the bed from Dreamy who was facing her. Behind her was a hollow log

"I've never seen this kind before…" Coconut said as she leaned down and put her hands on her knees.

"You're such a girl Coconut." Dreamy teased.

"Hey! Don't make fun of me Dreamy. I really want one for my Smurfday. I hope your listening Dreamy." Coconut said.

"Um… Ok? How do you expect me to get you one? I can't work a shovel." Dreamy said.

Coconut's smile disappeared as that reality hit her.

"You know what? You don't have to dig it up, but you're going to come with me when I come to get it ok? You have to help me find a spot for it too. I want to spend my whole Smurfday with you." Coconut said.

"I… Ok." Dreamy said.

Coconut smiled.

"I love my present Dreamy. Thank you." Coconut said.

Dreamy had turned around and began walking back to the hole when Coconut felt something brush against her backside and her eyes widened.

"Who just Smurfed my butt?" Coconut asked.

When she turned she felt her heart jump. Standing three apples tall and resembling a Smurf, a creature with charcoal skin wearing tattered grey Smurf clothes and carrying a sword was standing behind her. The demon resembled a Smurf like the ones encountered within the town when Hefty routed them to make the port safe. Its eyes were just empty sockets with a small glowing red bead in the center. It had claws on its hands that were curved like a cats likely allowing it to scale trees, and had a mouthful of fangs. Coconut's eyes widened and she let out a blood curdling scream which immediately gained the attention of Dreamy.

"Coconut!" Dreamy screamed.

The demon let out an otherworldly screech before swinging its sword with all its might at her. Coconut screamed and fell backwards onto her butt. She was using her legs to kick herself away, scooching across the forest floor as she was pursued. Her heart was pounding and her blood was cold in her veins. Coconut had never been so scared in her life. Dreamy drew his sword and immediately rushed to her aid.

"Coconut I'll fight it off! Run back to the port!" Dreamy said.

"I can't just leave you! How are you going to fight?!" Coconut replied.

"I'll think up something just go get Hefty immediately!" Dreamy said as he swung his sword at the demon.

The creature leaped back avoiding the attack. Coconut took off running as fast as her little legs could carry her. She literally dove through the hole in the wall and tumbled into the grass on the other side. She then took off and was screaming Hefty's name as loud as she could as she ran through the town. Dreamy was still locked in combat with the demon this was not the morning he had hoped for at all.

"You know? You're a real buzz kill." Dreamy said.

The demon replied with another screech as it swung its sword. Dream parried with his own sword his body jolting from the recoil. His iron leg wasn't going down any time soon. Dreamy would be difficult to knock over. He retaliated with a swing of his sword to the demon's gut but yet again it dodged his attack.

"How about I start getting serious?" Dreamy asked with a smirk.

The demon raised an eyebrow and Dreamy quickly lunged forward and sung his sword at the demon's chest causing a gash across its bare chest. He then took a step forward and attempted to impale the demon's stomach when it leaped high into the air above Dreamy and latched onto a tree. It had its sword in its mouth and didn't seem to even be able to feel pain as blood just freely flowed from its untended wound. It kicked off the tree and flew through the air towards Dreamy knocking into him and sending him tumbling across the grass. He landed close to the flowers, but did not step on them. He quickly dashed forwards and once again swung his sword at the demon but the attack was countered. The demon lifted its own sword blocking the attack and then swung its sword towards Dreamy.

As Dreamy fought Coconut made her way to Hefty's hut and began pounding on the door. Hefty answered.

"What is going on out here?" Hefty demanded.

"Demons! In the woods! Dreamy's out there! you have to help!" Coconut said.

"Damn it! I thought I told you all to stay inside the port at all times!" Hefty yelled as he grabbed his sword and shield.

"This way!" Coconut said as she ran back towards the cemetery. On their way they passed Timber who was cutting up the last of the wood into smaller pieces and noticed the commotion.

"Timber! You're with me!" Hefty commanded.

"I'm on it!" Timber said as he grabbed his wood cutting axe and followed.

Dreamy was holding his own against the demon, but they were locked in a stalemate. A stalemate that was put to a quick end when a hatchet whirling through the air struck his opponent in the back of the head killing it instantly. It fell forward with a thud. Timber and Hefty had arrived just in time.

"Hefty! I-" Dreamy began.

"I told all of you to stay inside!" Hefty said.

"But Hefty." Dreamy tried again.

"You know what Dreamy? I don't really want to hear another one of your stories. Get the hell back inside the port." Hefty said.

Dreamy's eye narrowed as he glared at Hefty before taking off.

"Hefty? Are you alright?" Timber asked.

"Why wouldn't I be alright? I'm just Smurfy." Hefty said.

"Hefty you've been being very harsh lately. It isn't like you to be so hard on us." Timber said.

"It's just… Ever since Papa Smurf left us the stress has been piling up." Hefty said.

"I think you should see Psychiatrist about your anger issues." Timber said.

"I don't have anger issues." Hefty said.

"You have anger issues Hefty. Please contact Secretary." Timber said.

Hefty deeply sighed and sheathed his sword.

"I don't have anger issues… Let's go home. Now I have to figure out how the hell we're going to get the demons out of our woods." Hefty said.

Timber just looked at Hefty with a genuine look of concern.