The Smurfocalypse Chapter 63: The Formula of Strength
The sun rose calmly once again above the port town waking the Smurfs with the morning light. Hefty was just finishing up his intense workout routine when he heard a knock at his door. Hefty lowered the heavy weights he was lifting down onto the mat and went to answer, and who should he see but Brainy Smurf.
"Brainy… What are you doing here? Come to give me a lecture?" Hefty said.
"Not this time. I have something that can help you and the knights with your training." Brainy said.
This got Hefty's interest and he invited Brainy in to sit down as he grabbed dumbbell, sat down across the table from Brainy, and continued to pump iron. Hefty's muscle mass was ridiculous He was lifting a twenty five pound dumbbell with one hand with ease. Twenty five pounds of solid iron probably isn't much for a human, but keep in mind these are Smurfs that are only a few apples tall. Brainy's eyes just widened as he watched Hefty pump iron.
"Alright Brainy, out with it. I don't have all morning. I'm taking the knights to the plateau to train and gather Jokey Box materials." Hefty said.
"Remember that time Bigmouth stole all of our food for the winter, and I made that formula that made me a Supersmurf for two hours?" Brainy asked.
"You want me to rely on magic over hard work and training to fight the black hearted?" Hefty asked.
"The formula only lasts a couple hours. I was thinking maybe keep the formula on you and use it in an emergency." Brainy said.
"Out of the question. I don't need magic to fight, and neither do the others. We will build our strength through training and exercise." Hefty said.
"I'm not saying to rely on the formula. I'm saying the strength it gives you could be useful in an emergency." Brainy said.
"And I'm telling you we don't need magic to solve all our problems." Hefty said.
"Hefty please be reasonable. Papa Smurf left us these important books for a reason." Brainy said.
"It just feels dirty to fight with magic. No offense to magic users." Hefty said.
"You honestly think those monsters are going to fight fair? You could each take a vial to the plateau and train with it. The side effects aren't as harsh as the addicting potion of instant health." Brainy asked.
"I don't know…" Hefty said.
"The potion gives you the power of flight there could a strategy to this Hefty. I've been doing some thinking, and I really think it'd be a good idea to consider it." Brainy said.
"If we could master the power of flight it could give us an edge…" Hefty said.
"Maybe take the time you're on the plateau to think about it. I want you to have this. Alchemist and I made some of the formula yesterday." Brainy said handing Hefty the vial of magic liquid.
Hefty tucked the vial safely into the pocket of his pants.
"Just sprinkle it onto your body. No need to drink it it's not that type of potion." Brainy said.
The amount of strength this potion could grant the strongest Smurf in the world could be of legendary proportions. An army of Supersmurfs would be a force like no other in the Smurf world. For some reason Hefty was hesitant to use the formula in training, but perhaps he would change his mind when he felt the power it gave him. Brainy did his part to help Hefty just as Papa Smurf requested, but in the end it is ultimately Hefty's decision. Hefty had a choice to make simple as it was his pride was getting in the way. Imagine working out and exercising for decades only for some Smurf to hand you instant strength in a bottle.
"Is there enough for the other knights?" Hefty asked.
"Naturally." Brainy said.
"Go ahead and give the knights some too then. They'll need it to keep up with my training." Hefty said.
"Will do." Brainy said as he stood up.
Hefty sat the dumbbell on the table effortlessly once finished and then stood up as well.
"It's a two day journey on foot to the plateau. I should get the knights ready." Hefty said as he and Brainy left the hut.
Hefty assembled his forces, and Brainy distributed the formula to each one. Even Clockwork could presumably benefit from this formula as it does not require use of a stomach to activate. The knights gathered their weapons and supplies they would need for the journey. However their armor was in terrible condition and they would have to leave their respective armors behind for repairs. The Smurfs gathered at the front gate to see off the brave knights.
"I'll fix your armor up for you, and hold down the fort until your return." Handy said.
"That sounds Smurfy. Thanks a lot." Hefty said.
"No. Thank you Hefty. For all you do." Handy said.
"It's tradition in my tribe to wish a Smurf good luck before they leave the village. So good luck, and may the spirits be with you." Coconut said.
"I appreciate that Coconut… Thank you." Hefty said.
"Good luck knights!" Tracker said.
"Good luck knights!" The other Smurfs said almost in unison.
"We'll be back in two weeks. In the meantime see if you can build one of those weapons. The ones that you put on the walls to fire down on enemies." Hefty said.
"A ballista?" Brainy asked.
"Or whatever." Hefty said.
"I'll need Smurfs to tend to the fields while I'm gone. Remember spring crops only. I left you a list." Farmer said.
"And remember that our plan for wood is to take apart the furniture in the human houses." Timber said.
The Smurfs opened the large front gates to the port and the knights along with Zarus the falcon exited the port town and started their long journey to the plateau. Handy had a list of responsibilities Hefty had left him to use as a reference for when the work started. Hefty put in work orders for siege weapons they could use to defend the port when the demons returned. Hefty was not convinced Vanity would keep his word and show up alone.
"Alright Smurfs we have a long day of work ahead of us. Fetch your tools and meet me at the first house near the gate." Handy said.
The crowd parted and the Smurfs went to prepare for work. What Handy was going to have them do was basically gut all the human houses in the port for resources they could use. Scavenging resources was only what part of the village would be doing. There was the matter of the farm to tend to as well, and work would be distributed equally. The exception to this was if a Smurf had duties to tend to in their primary field of work they would be excused from this chore list until they were free to help out.