Smurfocalypse Chapter 52: The Forest Part 2: The Harvest
It seemed as though right about the time he finally got to start planning to plant his spring crops that Farmer had to answer the call of duty once again. Farmer was originally one of the Smurfs that was drafted as a knight. This was not his choice originally to be out here doing this kind of stuff. Over time Farmer has come to terms with the fact that there were others at home that were depending on Smurfs like him that had developed the skills to fight. Nowadays there was currently only seven of them protecting the entire community. All attempts to train Smurfs with Smurf guns how to shoot them accurately were called off before they could even begin by Hefty who was concerned that by chance humans, or demons would hear them. Without Papa Smurf's powerful magic aiding them they were not an invisible community anymore and could be found and observed by the naked eye of any living thing that has them.
It was a big risk settling in Port Saint Smurf. It was definitely high risk high reward though as every Smurf was happy to live there and no Smurf wanted to leave. This included Farmer which was another reason he was motivated to put an end to this conflict. The knights risk their lives because they believe in Hefty, and they believe in Port Saint Smurf. The Smurfy bond they share as comrades in arms give them strength. The sun rose up in the sky promising the end of night. The knights woke up to the peaceful sounds of life in the forest. If only it could always be this way, just like it used to be. Those days were long gone. Few places on earth are safe when you are being hunted so persistently.
"Ok knights listen up! Today everything we hold dear is on the line. The safety of our fellow Smurfs, our very way of life, and our home Port Saint Smurf! Let's get in there and drive these bastards out of our forest so we can claim its resources for the village!" Hefty said.
"The others will sleep better at night knowing these monsters will not be around." Timber said.
"For Port Saint Smurf!" Archer yells with pride.
"For Port Saint Smurf!" The others said in unison.
"And should we die today... We will do so with courage and honor! We will fight until our last breath, and die an honorable death fighting for what's right. We will not be the hunted!" Hefty said.
The knights collectively cheered and then were dispatched as Hefty planned. He would send them out alone with faith he will see them all again tonight well, victorious, and perhaps with information of their surroundings. Hefty no longer had to hold their hands in battle. These were seasoned warrior Smurfs specializing in unique weapons, armor types, and skills. They were no longer the ragtag team Hefty assembled last year at Gargamel's hovel. They were champions who have been through fire and war, and yet live to tell the tale. The greatest fighting force in the known Smurf world, The Knights of the Smurf Table.
Farmer continued to walk through the woods quietly. His chainmail armor made it slightly easier for him to navigate the terrain through stealth than those of the knights with heavier armor types. Eventually the sound of the other's moving about was gone entirely and Farmer found himself isolated in unfamiliar surroundings. Moving quietly and scythe raised cautiously, the peaceful sounds of the forest were suddenly haunting and ominous. Farmer wasn't sure when, but combat was obviously inevitable. Where would they come from? What sorts of weapons and skills would they have? This and many other questions went through the simple farmer's head as he kept to the shrubs and briar. In his armor the thorns were powerless to defend the briar from Farmer. Navigating the briar made Farmer feel safe amongst the thorny plants. They concealed his form quite well or so he thought. As he walked it seemed he was being followed. There was a sinister figure watching Farmer from afar atop the trees. The briar was a nice place to hide, but Smurfs were not gifted in natural camouflage. Their natural blue skin made them stick out like a sore thumb to seasoned hunters and predators.
The sound of a war horn brought Farmer to a stop, and caused his blood to freeze. Almost immediately he was surrounded by the smurf-like demons most of which had spears. Looking around he noticed some of them were female and had unkempt long hair. They had a higher pitched shriek. Farmer was immediately charged from every angle but from above causing Farmer to instinctively jump after sheathing his scythe. He grabbed onto the thorny briar plants and was swinging from one to the other as though they were vines. His chainmail gloves protected his hands from being torn to shreds by thorns. A spear whirled past his head, the blade scraping against his helmet causing a sickening metal scratching against metal sound right in his right ear causing him to lose balance and fall. A demon wasted no time tackling Farmer while he was down. The creature proceeded to attempt to jab Farmer with a dagger, but Farmer grabbed hold of the demon's wrist with both hands and pushed the blade aside after a little test of strength between him and the creature. Farmer shoved the creature off him and rushed for the spear that had been used against him just moments before. He unfortunately had no time to draw his scythe. Farmer used the reach of the spear to keep his armed opponent at bay.
Farmer was still being pursued all this time by demons, but because the battlefield was right in the center of a large briar patch it was slowing down his enemies as they either mindlessly ran through the thorns in a blind rage caring not the damage they take, or were cutting through them strategically with their weapons. All around him were these creatures. Farmer looked to the trees to see the female figure with the war horn just staring down at him with an unsettling yet warm looking smile on her face. Her eyes appeared shut which just made her look even happier. She wore a long black dress that revealed only one of her legs, and had well kempt long blonde hair. She'd be beautiful if not for the fact she was one of these things. Farmer's attention was redirected to repeated high pitched shrieks coming from the briar. Much to his horror a female 'smurfette'-like demon ran at him. Its white dress was torn and it had multiple cuts and scratches from sprinting through the briar to get to him. It had long auburn hair and it was matted with mud. It was shrieking at the top of its lungs and yelling as though enraged and it had a mouth full of fangs and a cold dead stare. There was no life or soul in its eyes yet it resembled a Smurfette except for the dark charcoal colored skin, the fangs, and lifeless look in its eyes.
Farmer readied the spear and simply threw it right at the terrible being rushing at him. The Spear struck the demon and it fell back, but much to Farmer's confusion it rose back up. He quickly drew his scythe and swung it with all his might separating the dagger demon's torso from the rest of its body. By this time the red headed Smurfette looking demon charged again with the spear still sticking out of its chest. Farmer's eyes widened then he readied his scythe.
"Looks like I'll just have remove your head then!" Farmer shouted.
Farmer charged the running demon and drew back his scythe before swinging the blade with all his strength removing the head right off his deranged opponent. The headless body ran a step forward towards him and hit the ground. It was finally dead, but his battle was not over if he ever wished to survive.
The demons had cut through the briar. There was at least ten of them running at Farmer. Farmer charged them scythe at the ready, and was going from demon to demon just removing their heads in a quick motion.
"Time for the harvest!" Farmer exclaimed as he swung his scythe causing a demon's head to fly.
Farmer's battle in the briar patch wasn't much too difficult. The result was Farmer surrounded by blood and decapitated demon corpses. He was being watched the whole time by the demon that had blown the war horn. Once the battle was over, and Farmer had come out on top he looked to see if it was still there. His little spectator had disappeared. The adrenaline was still strong in his body. He was hot as hell in that helmet, but dared not take it off in this dangerous place out of fear for his very life.
"So we have a pretty decent sized briar patch, but I'm not sure this is useful information. I'll let Hefty know anyway, but what is with that strange demon in the tree and these new Smurfette demons that just don't seem to die unless they are decapitated?" Farmer thought to himself.