The Smurfocalypse Chapter 116: Mammoth Smurf of the Golden Sun! The Benevolent Warrior of Justice!
Through the burning forest runs a Smurf on a mission against time. Mammoth Smurf known locally as Mammoth Smurf of the Golden Sun, former warrior of Blood Mountain is 400 years old. Mammoth grew up in the peak of Blood Mountain's society where he lived a normal life for centuries working a job where he fixed and built crates for his fellow Smurf, a simple hard worker who valued the lives and wellbeing of the Smurfs he considered family. Settling down with his life long friend and eventual wife Anzu at the age of 250. The two of them had a simple yet happy life together in the forest surrounding Blood Mountain. Both of them were known for sharing everything they possibly could with the community and helping those in need or in stress. A few months after the Smurfocalypse began Vanity would publicly murder Anzu in cold blood in front of the entire village as an example to what could happen if Raptor didn't give up the bloodstones. Anzu being a doctor needed medicinal herbs and was ambushed and caught when she was alone before a heated argument between Vanity and Raptor led to her violent beheading in front of the entire village. Losing his wife of several hundred years in the most tragic and graphic way possible caused his Smurf essence to ascend and he joined the ranks of the few Smurfs to ever exist that could be considered Arisen. The Raptors of Blood Mountain had a conflict with the blackhearted that greatly differed from Hefty's. Vanity needed the Smurfs of Blood Mountain so that he could find the bloodstones and alter his body so that his regenerative abilities would basically make him indestructible forming a tension between him and Raptor that went beyond just attempting to mindlessly slay everyone.
Not long after this Raptor changed and became colder in enforcing his beliefs and formed the Raptors of Blood Mountain which Mammoth joined for sole purpose of protecting others and carrying out his sense of justice that had been taught to him early in life. The force was assembled to protect the bloodstones and the mountain from evil, but Mammoth had different ideas of what they should be protecting that are similar to Hefty's. He would often prioritize the safety of the Smurfs rather than the mountain or its bloodstones and was seen as a hero among those whose respect he had earned only to see most of everyone in his life die as Vanity became fed up with Raptor and started picking Smurfs off to get him to cave. Mammoth would eventually injure Vanity to the point where he was pushed away from the mountain and never returned as by the time Vanity had the power we saw him have against Hefty and the necessary army to be a threat to Mammoth Hefty was already plotting the destruction of the blackhearted. His motivation to save Sweepy is an expression of pure good intentions as even to this moment Mammoth values doing what is right in the grand scheme of things.
He walks cautiously through the burning forest keeping an eye out for Sweepy. He faintly remembered that Sweepy that was wearing large armor like himself other than that he knew at the very least to look for a Smurf. Just narrowly escaping a falling tree that could have ended his journey, he leaps over the burning trunk and continues on when finally through the thick smoke he sees a figure propped up against a rock in a seated position and approaches it.
Meanwhile Sweepy was not in good shape. He had somehow climbed his way out of the fissure after regaining consciousness and had taken his potion, but the smoke was too much even for him. He was essentially boiling alive in his armor while smoke filled his lungs with every breath. He tried to find the others, but has now reached a state where he could barely stand. He figured this was the end of his life, and that he would never see the others or go back home ever again. Not wanting to roast alive or be crushed he removed his helmet and took the pocket knife Tracker had given him at the beginning of the story and was prepared to shove it into his own throat to spare himself any further suffering when he saw something that made his heart jump. It was one of the Raptors of Blood Mountain. Immediately his sense of duty returned and he shakily stood and grabbed his mace and shield that was leaning against the rock next to him and readied his stance. If he was going to die he was going to die fighting for his family. Mammoth said nothing as he stood there. He didn't reach for his own weapon, he didn't resort to intimidating banter, just watched and waited.
"Come to finish me off have you?" Sweepy shouts.
The aura of Sweepy's Smurf essence begins to surround him as he prepares for a final stand, but then it shorts out and falls to one knee and begins deeply coughing. Mammoth slowly approaches him and he looks up and grits his teeth as Mammoth gets close enough for him to attack. Sweepy swings his mace at Mammoth, and Mammoth outstretches the trunk on his armor and wraps it around the mace before yanking it out of Sweepy's hand and tossing it into the distance.
"We have to get out of here…" Mammoth said finally, his deep voice a contrast to the sounds of burning wood surrounding them.
"We? There is no we! You're the enemy! Now tell me what you've done to my family!" Sweepy said.
"Everyone is safe. Hefty ordered a retreat and they have already escaped." Mammoth said.
"So then… Why are you here? Why are you risking your life?" Sweepy asked cautiously.
"Some Smurf had to save you." Mammoth said.
"But after all we've done why would you risk your life to save me?" Sweepy asked.
"Because it's the Smurfy thing to do. Now get up! We don't have much time!" Mammoth said.
Sweepy just sat there and looked at Mammoth not even sure what to think at the moment before Mammoth grabs him by the arm and pulls him up.
"Come on! I know a secret way out of the forest!" Mammoth said.
Sweepy still cautious follows Mammoth as they navigate what's left of the forest. As they travel Sweepy's finds himself unable to continue. He collapses in a heap of armor on the ground the mere touch of his armor painful as it has become very hot. Mammoth turns around hearing him hit the floor with a clang of his armor and jogs to him.
"Sweepy right? You have to get up! If we stay here any longer we'll both be dead!" Mammoth shouts.
"I-I can't… It's too hot. I can't move." Sweepy said.
Mammoth goes to grab Sweepy again and burns his hand trying to do so.
"We have to get you out of that armor." Mammoth said.
Sweepy once again feeling like his armor is getting in his way nods without question.
"I have an enchanted dagger that could cut the armor off me." Sweepy said.
"Well don't just tell me about it show me!" Mammoth said.
Sweepy retrieves the armor shredding kris and removes it from his sheath. Mammoth swipes it out of his hand and violently stabs him in the chest plate moving the blade down in a straight line down the middle and prying it apart exposing Sweepy's bare chest. He then does the same to other parts of his armor and frees him from it before grabbing his canteen and opening it using the last of his own water to splash Sweepy in the face in an attempt to cool him down.
"I know this looks bad, but this isn't the end! We will make it!" Mammoth said.
As they spoke a nearby tree gave way and began to crash down right where they were located. Mammoth hastily shields Sweepy with his own body while generating his Smurf essence. The purple aura flaring up around him quickly.
"Gold point!" Mammoth shouts.
The moment he shouts his entire body is encased in gold and the tree trunk defiantly smacks against his body.
"I can't hold it much longer! You need to escape!" Mammoth said.
Sweepy's eyes widen at Mammoth's strength before he scoots out from under the tree trunk leaving Mammoth in peril. Mammoth grabs the tree trunk with his tusks and throws back his head to give him more wiggle room, but only for a few seconds. Just long enough to make the tree hit the ground between them.
"Come on!" Mammoth shouts.
Sweepy nods and leaps over the trunk before they take off running again. The two Smurfs take off dodging the obstacles of the forest until they got to a part that wasn't completely on fire. There was a special path Mammoth frequently traveled in his job that led out of the woods. He was going to take Sweepy down that trail before fire consumed it.
"It's just down this path!" Mammoth shouts.
With a long sprint they make it out of the forest into a nearby field and at last they are safe.
"Where are the others?" Sweepy asked.
"I'm not entirely sure… Hefty merely told everyone to go where you all set up camp last." Mammoth said.
"I know where that is. I think I can handle myself from here, but thanks for saving my life." Sweepy said.
Sweepy goes to walk off and Mammoth's words echo as he raises his voice.
"It's not that simple Sweepy Smurf…" Mammoth said.
Sweepy turning raises an eyebrow.
"Your group has my young apprentice and is holding him hostage… If we don't show up together he'll be killed." Mammoth said.
Sweepy remains cautious his distrust returning.
"I don't believe you… If you follow me there will be trouble." Sweepy said.
"Please! He's just a Smurfling! He's likely scared. Think about it Sweepy. Remember what is was like to be a Smurfling? I have to go! They threatened to kill him!" Mammoth said.
"kill him? Kill a Smurfling? Who would do such a thing?" Sweepy asked.
"The Smurfette in the green dress told me she would execute him if we didn't go back together." Mammoth said.
"Smurfstorm said that?" Sweepy asked, his eyes widening.
"I wouldn't lie about this… I just want my apprentice to be safe. Please help me as I have helped you." Mammoth said.
Sweepy now faced a moral dilemma. Not even an hour ago he had just killed Amphisaurus Smurf and now one of the Smurfs he deemed responsible for Timber's death had not only saved his life, but has come to him for help. His duty as a knight is to be a protector, and save others. Could he walk away from Mammoth considering what they've been through and just not help him?
"If what you're saying is true… Then we have to get there as soon as we can." Sweepy said.
"Thank you Sweepy Smurf." Mammoth said.
The two of them then begin the long trek to Hefty's established rendezvous point. Sweepy was a mixture of grateful, cautious, distrusting, and there was some regret to allowing this. However Papa Smurf would have helped, so Sweepy will too.