The Smurfocalypse Chapter 117: The Search for the Savant Cure part 18: Crumbling Morals. The Struggle to remain Smurfy in a world that has fallen apart.
The knights had made it safely to Hefty's rendezvous point and set camp as they took the time to individually reflect on the events of the night now that they were not in constant danger. At first none of them spoke to each other at all as though they were allowing themselves a grace period for inner thoughts. Compy was tied to a pole Smurfstorm had made specifically for the purpose of imprisoning him and the Smurfling was still terrified and had begun to sob quietly as he sat at the edge of camp alone tied to a pole like a criminal waiting for whatever fate was to befall him. He wasn't even close enough for the light of the camp fire to reflect off of him. Everything good he had associated with life was gone within the period of just a couple hours if even that and now he was at the fragile mercy of Smurfstorm who had retreated back into her shell only showing the harshest side of her personality as survival instincts overpowered her morals and her judgement despite the good she represents simply by being alive. The rest of the knights sat around the fire in their camp, and Smurfstorm was poking it with a stick without realizing as the weight of the events they had been through went through her mind again.
The others were not unscathed either. Jupiter was still a mess, but was coming down from his breakdown in the forest and was still shaking as the thoughts of Mars' final moments played again and again in his head. Maybe if he had just done what he thought was right Mars would still be alive. Maybe things could have been different between the two of them. He struggles with the idea that he had failed to save Mars' and that he was gone because Jupiter killed him. During their battle Jupiter had come to the conclusion that Mars was not evil, and that with the right amount of care and kindness that Jupiter wanted to show him in his final moments that things could have been fixed. Whether he was right or not didn't matter anymore. Mars was dead and it was all his fault.
"I didn't want to… This isn't right. How can I call myself a knight after what I have done?" Jupiter thinks.
Smurfstorm had her own rush of emotions behind her hardened exterior as she toyed with the fire. To her things were black and white. To this moment she didn't care in the slightest about what they had done using the fact that she didn't know or care about the Raptors and saw them as a threat to destroy simply because they were not residences of Port Saint Smurf and therefore not a member of her group or family to justify the total slaughter that had occurred tonight. It never weighed on her that what happened tonight may have been wrong. To her it was just another struggle that she was relieved she had managed to keep Smurfblossom alive during. The thought of Hefty not returning and dying on Blood Mountain was driving her nearly to tears, but she remained stoic as she let her thoughts naturally flow from the safety of her mind. She couldn't allow herself to truly feel and express her emotions because she didn't want to look weak. If Hefty didn't return it would fall down to her to make sure everyone made it home alive. She had to prepare mentally for whatever tough decisions she'd have to make to ensure this, and if she allowed herself to succumb to her emotions the others would see her as weak and might not trust her in this difficult situation making her end goal impossible to achieve. Now that she was safe it dawned on her that she had sacrificed Smurfblossom for the sake of the mission. There's a good chance her best friend wouldn't be here because of the decisions she made, and for the first time since the Smurfocalypse began Smurfstorm questioned her worth as a friend and as a Smurf in general. What would those who were lost over the year think if they had seen her do what she had done? What would her family back home that she laid her life on the line to protect again and again think if they had seen what she had done?
Smurfblossom being who she is couldn't help but notice that Smurfstorm was struggling. They all were herself included, but she wasn't going to selfishly break when her friends needed her. She looked from across the campfire to Smurfstorm with concern, and then to Jupiter who was still shaking and staring into the fire. Did they not see it? Could it be that they don't understand that they are alive and hope is not lost? Perhaps in this moment it was only her that still clung to hope.
"Stormy?" Smurfblossom finally asked.
"I'm fine… Don't worry about me." Smurfstorm said.
"No your not." Smurfblossom said a look of concern on her face.
Smurfstorm just shakes her head trying her best to deny Smurfblossom's claim, but then Smurfblossom stands up and walks over to her grabbing her by the arm and taking them to the tent furthest away from the campfire before sitting her down inside it and sitting next to her. It was only once they were alone that the tears started to build up in Smurfstorm's eyes. She sniffles as tears go down her cheeks and Smurfblossom wraps her arms around her.
"I left you to die… I left Hefty to die…" Smurfstorm said.
"Stormy…" Smurfblossom said.
"I don't deserve to be your friend." Smurfstorm said.
Smurfblossom frowned as Smurfstorm continued.
"I'll admit it. I'm scared ok? I'm weak and pathetic is that what you wanted me to confess?" Smurfstorm said as the tears continued to flow.
Smurfblossom begins to tear up as well and tightens her embrace on Smurfstorm.
"It's ok to be scared Stormy. It doesn't make you weak remember? You taught us all that." Smurfblossom said.
"What if I never see him again? I never got to tell him how much I love him. How much he means to me…" Smurfstorm said.
Smurfblossom just held her close in her arms and let her let it all out being a listening ear, but it seemed she had nothing else to say.
"Hefty will be alright." Smurfblossom said.
"I have to go back for him." Smurfstorm said.
"Are you sure? That sounds dangerous Stormy, and what if that Mammoth guy or whatever comes back and causes trouble while you're gone?" Smurfblossom said.
Stormy's expression hardens and the tears stop flowing. She wipes her face and stands.
"I can't let that happen." Smurfstorm said.
"We can stay here a little longer if you need to Stormy." Smurfblossom said.
"I can't. I have to keep us safe no matter what." Smurfstorm said leaving the tent.
Smurfstorm leaves the tent and approaches the campfire when she heard Sweepy's voice in the distance. Mammoth and Sweepy had returned to camp and Mammoth's presence had started complications amongst the group. Smurfstorm runs as fast as she can gripping her bow and the moment Mammoth was in sight she drew an arrow from her quiver and aimed her bow straight at his head.
"Get away from us!" Smurfstorm shouted.
"Smurfstorm no! Don't shoot!" Sweepy yells standing in front of Mammoth with his arms spread out defensively.
"Move Sweepy! Now!" Smurfstorm demanded.
"Mammoth saved my life! He's not evil!" Sweepy said.
"I don't care! Step out of my way!" Smurfstorm said.
"Smurfstorm think about this for a moment. We're all tired and we've been through a lot. If Mammoth wanted to kill us he would have already." Farmer said.
"No more killing… No more!" Jupiter finally said.
Jupiter stands and joins Sweepy.
"This isn't us! This isn't who we are! This isn't who Hefty is! We have to stop this now before it changes us forever!" Jupiter said.
"Jupiter…" Smurfblossom said.
"If we fight Mammoth we could die pointlessly don't you see that?! Have you all forgot why we're out here in the first place!? We're here for Handy not to go on a killing spree!" Jupiter said.
"It doesn't change the fact his group killed Timber." Falconer said.
"We killed a lot of them too. It would be well within his right to kill us all, but he's clearly not interested in doing that." Archer said.
"That's because he knows if he does we'll shoot the Smurfling! He doesn't care about us! He doesn't even know us!" Smurfstorm said.
Sweepy's eyes widen as that was all the proof he needed that Smurfstorm had indeed said she was going to execute Compy.
"There was a time not too long ago when we didn't know you either. We didn't know about the things you did, or the problems you faced, or where you came from. We didn't even know your names, but we gave you the benefit of the doubt and gave you a place to live when you had nothing." Sweepy said in realization.
"Was that a mistake?" Farmer asked raising his eyebrows.
"Don't do this Smurfstorm. I'm begging you please don't go down this dark path! There is no escape from the path you're choosing!" Jupiter shouts.
Smurfstorm looks to Smurfblossom in a moment of doubt as though silently asking for her help.
"I don't think its right Stormy, but I'm here for you regardless." Smurfblossom said.
"I'm doing what I need to do to keep everyone safe!" Smurfstorm shouts.
"Then lower your weapon." Sweepy said.
"If Hefty finds out what you did you could be kicked out of Port Saint Smurf, but if you lower your weapon now we won't tell him." Farmer said.
Smurfblossom's eyes widen.
"Oh no… I don't want to be homeless again Stormy." Smurfblossom said.
"I hope she realizes the seriousness of the situation." Archer thinks.
Smurfstorm glances at everyone before slowly lowering her bow and returning the arrow to her quiver. Mammoth who was silent the whole time then speaks up.
"Is Compy alright?" Mammoth asked.
"He's fine. We didn't hurt him. He's tied to the pole back there." Falconer said gesturing to the pole just outside camp." Falconer said.
Smurfstorm looks to ground as she goes through her previous actions and struggles with the side of her that is truly good versus the hardened personality she's developed just to stay alive. It was clear to her the longer Mammoth was there that he might not be a threat, but she didn't trust him. She followed him to the pole where she had Compy tied up, and as he was freeing him Smurfstorm fear that once he had what he wanted that he was going to snap and kill them all. Compy hugs onto Mammoth as though his life depended on it. Mammoth knelt down and returned the hug grateful that Compy wasn't hurt.
"It's ok now Compy… Your safe and I'll never let anything happen to you." Mammoth said.
"I was so scared Mammoth." Compy said.
"I know… I was too. It's ok now." Mammoth said.
"What about Master Raptor?" Compy asked.
Mammoth just stares at him for a moment before responding.
"I don't care. Raptor was a bad Smurf that did things that got others killed just protect silly little red stones. If he had any sort of worth in this world at all my Anzu wouldn't have been taken from me." Mammoth said.
"Doctor Anzu… Miss Terry." Compy said.
"Stego, Triceritops, Amphisaurus, Mars." Mammoth said.
Jupiter looks at the ground as though he were ashamed of himself when Mars was mentioned.
"They're gone and it's all because Master Raptor cared more about the mountain than us." Compy said.
"I think you finally understand what I've been trying to teach you about what is truly important in life." Mammoth said.
As Mammoth and Compy shared this moment together a lot of the group began to realize that the Raptors of Blood Mountain were victims. The only one not convinced of this even the slightest was Smurfstorm who glared at them with a distrusting eye.
"If Anzu were alive today she'd be so proud of you." Mammoth said his deep voice fully expressing his emotions.
Compy forces a smile despite the complicated feelings he's going through. Their moment ends and Mammoth stands and turns to face the group before slowly walking past them with Compy following close behind him.
"Where will you go?" Sweepy asked as Mammoth passed him.
"Compy and I are not welcome here. I understand it must be tough even seeing me. I don't know where we'll go or what we'll do, but I will continue to live in the name of justice." Mammoth said.
They almost reach the edge of the camp before several group members (Jupiter, Sweepy, and Farmer) run to him stopping him in his tracks.
"There's a place where you two could be safe. Why don't you join us in Port Saint Smurf?" Sweepy said.
In response to this Smurfstorm glares at the three of them and shakes her head.
"Port Saint Smurf is all about second chances. We could all live there together there's plenty of space." Farmer said.
"I am flattered, but I don't wish to hurt anyone with my presence. Compy and I were involved in some bad things, and a lot of innocent Smurfs died tonight… It's probably best if we atone in our own way away from those who got hurt." Mammoth said glancing sympathetically at Smurfstorm who coldly returned his gaze.
"It's a rough world out here. Be careful." Falconer said.
Mammoth nods and they continue their walk out of camp. Archer who didn't even like Timber anyway because of the whole false Smurf incident spoke up.
"You should at least spend the night here. If Hefty comes back maybe we can talk to him and try to figure things out." Archer said.
Mammoth stops in his tracks, and Compy yawns as it was well past his bedtime.
"I don't want to cause any more pain." Mammoth said.
"At least stay until morning. We could all use the sleep you can't deny that. Walking through the open wilderness with a tired Smurfling is a death sentence." Archer said.
Mammoth still seems adamant to not spend any more time here, but Archer was right. Compy was exhausted. At the very least this encampment would be a somewhat peaceful place for him to sleep and gain back his energy.
"I suppose we can stay if you all approve." Mammoth said looking to Smurfstorm.
Smurfstorm scoffs and looks away from him causing Smurfblossom to smile nervously.
"She didn't trust us at first either, but she never hurt any of us." Sweepy said.
"Hey! Speak for yourself! She socked me right in the Smurf!" Falconer said with a smile.
Everyone laughs and Smurfblossom playfully nudges Smurfstorm causing her to slightly grin.
"Things will be alright for now. The majority says you'll be alright." Jupiter said.
Mammoth nods and he and Compy return to the campfire. However Smurfstorm would keep her eye on him throughout the night. It was difficult to sleep knowing Hefty was still Raptor or could be dead with Raptor coming after them so no Smurf other Compy was able to do so. Zarus was perched on the top of Falconer's tent asleep. All there was to do now was to wait and see what fate had in store for them.