The Smurfocalypse Chapter 120: The Pluto Special Part 2: Kepler is Crumbling! The Smurfocalypse begins!
Table of contents:
(Finishing up part 1 because I uploaded it prematurely)
The Magic Town of Runeword
Pluto's Birthright
Part 2 table of contents:
The Rough Trail
The Fallen Star
Pluto had opened her gift and she found much to her delight that it was another doll. She made her way back home just in time to see Titan standing outside the door to the hut with his arms folded. Her smile immediately faded.
"Pluto… We're going to have to have a long talk. You know that right?" Titan said.
"I'm sorry… I tried my best I promise." Pluto said.
"And what if you're best isn't enough? You think this worlds going to care?" Titan asked.
Pluto tries to blurt an excuse, but Titan stops her.
"I had friends when I was your age that made some of the stupid choices you sometimes make. Do you remember where they are?" Titan said.
"The graveyard…" Pluto mutters.
"Yeah, do you want that? Do you want to die? To never see any of us again, or play with your toys or eat your favorite foods?" Titan asked.
"No…" Pluto said.
"Then you need to shape up. When I lose a wrestling match what do I do?" Titan said.
"You train, you study, and you adapt." Pluto said.
"That's right. Try it more often will you? You're scaring Star she thinks you're not going to come home one day." Titan said.
Pluto still standing there looking a child being scolded says nothing.
"Now let's go. We're going on a trip." Titan said.
Pluto and Titan pack some things they'll need into a cart and Titan grabs the cart pulling it with ease as he walks out of the village. There was forest for as far as the eye could see. Consider the forest is a Smurf's natural habitat, they have natural green thumbs, and they can live long enough to see a patch of saplings turn into a forest. On this planet where the most intelligent life is a Smurf the land is theirs to warp and shape as they please. Once they got out of the land they lived on and experienced bare wilderness in between they came across an actual road indicating they were getting closer to the town. They were in Runeword jurisdiction now. The roads were taken care of, signs were up notifying how much more they needed to travel, there were clear signs the area was being maintained on a regular basis. Due to being united under one leader and their constant explosive population Smurf life on Kepler was way more advanced with things going on that wouldn't happen on Earth for quite some time. As they approached the buildings the familiar glow of electric lights shined, there were variants of the Smurfless Wagon parked on street corners. Street lights that turned on at night, television, and Runeword was the town that made a ton of magical devices that made life easier. Pluto didn't care about that as much as she cared about the magic toys that move on their own. She currently has her face pressed up against the window of a store front watching several of them interact with each other.
"Later Pluto. We have something to do first." Titan said.
Pluto groaned and followed Titan further down the street. The magical town filled with vibrant colors, lights, and sounds was so stimulating Pluto could barely pay attention to the book she was reading as they walked down the sidewalk.
"Titan there's a big word in my book." Pluto said.
"Sound it out." Titan said as he walked in front of her.
"Sym pathy? What is that?" Pluto asked.
They reach the crosswalk and some Smurf driving a Smurfless Wagon decided he wasn't going to stop and kept coming. Pluto never being in this situation before was lost in her book. Titan grabs her by the arm and yanks her out of the way as the Smurf nearly plows her over. Shocked the Smurf slams on the breaks.
"Great Smurf! Watch where you're going jackass! You could have hit her!" Titan shouts.
"Titaaaan that's a swear." Pluto said with a glare.
"Tch, wastelander trash… You're lucky you didn't damage my wagon." The Smurf said as he sped off.
Titan wore red but wasn't the leader of the planet that would be Emperor Smurf, but laws allow each town, group, or village to have their own leader justifying his taste in color. The group could be as little as two Smurfs, but if they live outside jurisdiction of any of the towns or villages in Titan's case living off the grid they can decide amongst themselves who is to be leader. This preserves what would be primitive laws on Kepler allowing a community to have a local leader despite the establishment of a planet-wide united government being run by a single emperor. Leaders have special privileges and Titan is no exception especially considering his celebrity status.
"Be more alert Pluto." Titan said.
Pluto nodded and returned her book to her bag. Eventually they came across a street corner where a large hut stood that by its design was clearly one of the many laboratories built around the city. Titan parks the cart outside and takes Pluto's hand leading her inside.
"What is this place Titan?" Pluto asked looking around once they stepped inside.
"It's a lab. Kind of like where Nova lives, but larger." Titan said.
They go up to the counter and the receptionist, a Smurfette around Titan's age dressed like a business woman asks Titan for proof of citizenship in order for him to receive the services he came here today for free. Titan was a citizen of Runeword. He had several citizenship cards in fact, Titan needed to be a registered citizen of the towns and villages he wrestled in to avoid having to do hard labor for the right to wrestle. So long as a Smurf has a citizenship card they can enjoy everything the corresponding town or village has to offer for free. There is no currency or economics in this society. Only an honor system that due to the nature of Smurfs has been in place since the planet was united under one leader. Titan retrieved a wallet from his pocket and opened it flashing the purple Runeword Citizenship card as well as his red Leadership card.
"A member of my group needs Runeword's services today." Titan said gesturing to Pluto.
"Is she a citizen of Runeword?" The receptionist asked.
"No. She's never been here before." Titan said.
"Then I'm afraid only the benefits of the Leadership card applies to her." The receptionist said going through her handbook of policies and showing Titan.
"I see… That'll do." Titan said.
Titan was hoping to milk this place for all it was worth and get Pluto a checkup too. Looks like that's not happening. Titan looked her over silently.
"She seems healthy enough." Titan thought.
"The Professor will see you shortly. Please have a seat." The receptionist said.
Titan and Pluto both sit in chairs not far from the counter. Pluto quickly gets bored and starts fidgeting.
"Titaaaaan I'm bored." Pluto said.
"Patience is important Pluto. Even in these situations." Titan said.
They waited for what seemed to Pluto to be forever. Then finally the door in the back opens and an elderly Smurf around eight hundred years old in a lab coat comes out with his hands folded.
"Titan?" He asks.
Titan stands up in response.
"Professor Plasma… It's been awhile." Titan said with a smile.
"Come in, come in." Plasma says gesturing to the back room.
Titan and Pluto both enter the lab and Plasma closes the door behind him. The lab resembled a science lab for the most part due to the alchemy setup, but this was no lab of science. Magic and alchemy was the only thing being studied extensively in this room.
"Your very fortunate today Titan I don't have other appointments." Plasma said.
They all sit down and then the professor begs the question as to what brings Titan into his lab. Titan gestures to Pluto who's in her seat not necessarily even aware of why she's there.
"This is the youngest member of my group. Her name is Pluto." Titan said.
"Oh? So this is the Smurfling all those wrestling fans have been talking about? The one born when you were having problems with radiation?" Plasma asked.
"Yeah this is her. Weird how fast she grows up isn't it? Last time she made a public appearance she was so small I doubt she remembers it." Titan said with a nod.
"Well hey there Pluto." Plasma said.
"Hi." Pluto said looking up at him with a smile.
"Pluto was born with something pretty weird and I just want to know if you know anything about it." Titan said pointing to Pluto's wrist watch.
"Ah yes I see. Most unusual… We are not usually born with such things." Plasma said inspecting it at an appropriate distance.
He repositions himself real quick reaching for a tome that looked older than he even is and then sat to face them again.
"It could be some form of ancient magic." Plasma said as he opened the tome his gaze now focused on it.
"Ancient magic… Sounds powerful!" Titan said with excitement.
"Magic? You mean me?" Pluto asked gesturing to herself with her thumb.
She pictured herself wearing a magician's outfit that was way too big for her pulling a species of heavily irradiated rabbit from a hat.
"Nuh uh!" Pluto said.
"May I see the watch up close please?" Plasma asked looking up from his text having finally found the correct page.
"I don't know." Pluto said.
"Go ahead Pluto let him see it. He won't steal it." Titan said.
"Well… Ok." Pluto said.
Pluto takes off the watch and hands it to the professor. He examines it and taps the screen causing it to glow blue displaying the time digitally and he nods and mumbles to himself thoughtfully his inner thought leaking out as he toys with the tap screen while glancing at his book.
"The Star of Pluto… According to this ancient text this makes Pluto a Star User." Plasma said.
"A Star User?" Titan asked.
"Ancient warriors born under a certain star, or a mechanical Smurf large enough to be piloted. It resides around Pluto. It's on the list of the known Star mechs, but Pluto is in a different solar system… How in Smurf's name was it positioned just perfectly so that she would be born with it here?" Plasma said.
"So… Wait what are you even talking about professor?" Pluto asked.
The professor fills Pluto and Titan in on the lore of the Star Mechs and goes over the basic concepts. He tells Pluto that she's going to have to come up with a phrase, a thought, or a desire strong enough for her to able to call upon it. The entire time Titan is flipping out proudly showing Pluto off talking about how great she is and how he knew she was special. Pluto smiles and puts her watch back on seeing the device in a whole new light.
"Pluto is going to be the strongest Smurfette to ever live!" Titan said excitedly.
This was new and exciting for her and she was appreciating the special attention and praise, but little did she know The Star of Pluto and her were going to be close for the next eighty years of her life as it was now Titan's newfound obsession to train Pluto to be a warrior.
"I can't believe it… My little Smurfette, a Star User. An ancient powerful warrior!" Titan said with pride.
Pluto folds her arms and smiles the confident smile she had alone in the forest returning.
"What else would you expect?" Pluto asked.
Titan turns to her and grins.
"You want one of those magic toys now?" Titan asked.
"Yes please!" Pluto blurted out immediately.
Titan throws back his head and laughs putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Alright then, what are we still sitting here for then? Let's go get some goodies!" Titan said flashing his Runeword card.
"Yes!" Pluto shouted excitedly jumping up from her seat.
Titan spent the next few days treating Pluto to a lifestyle he never got to experience growing up. They had carbonated drinks, Pluto got a sharper looking yellow outfit, and of course she got that magic toy. They traveled around the town and enjoyed most of what it had to offer before packing their things and going home. However Pluto's life would change as she grew further and Titan's expectations for her were sky high. This was one of the last happy memories she had with Titan before he would begin to push her away stepping down as a parental figure and instead being like a coach, or trainer while still of course being a friend. Titan would rush her personal growth to make her someone he could see as an equal as quickly as possible, and Pluto would rise to meet his expectations proving to be remarkably talented in fighting and survival while also retaining the education he wanted for her and becoming smarter. Eighty Earth years passed on Kepler and life was different for Pluto.
Part 1 End
Part 2
The Rough Trail
Pluto is now a hundred and thirty years old, and she and Titan are fighting with swords in a patch of woods outside the village as is a part of their training. Pluto had now grown to be the Smurfette we know her as physically switching to wearing white making her dressed the same too. She charged Titan with her sword and let out a war cry as she attempted to slash him across the chest only for him to trap her in a sword lock. Titan pushes back with all his strength causing her to skid across the forest floor slowly. She glares at him and hawks a loogie right in his face causing him to flinch allowing her to skillfully disarm him. Titan goes for her legs and she leaps high into the air and with a flip lands on the forest floor behind him stance ready. She wastes no time charging him and with no mercy attempts to slash him across the back only for Titan to grab his sword and meet her strike.
"You're getting better." Titan said.
"Every day…" Pluto said with a confident smirk.
As they fought the most unsettling and horrible storm either of them had ever seen was clearly coming in as the sky was darkening.
"That doesn't look good." Pluto said looking up at the sky through the tree line.
"We better call it quits for today." Titan said.
Little did these two know this was no normal storm. This storm would begin the end of the world as the two of them understand it. As they ran back to the village the wind was picking up and getting so strong that Pluto was afraid she was going to be carried away.
"This storm is insane!" Pluto said.
"And it hasn't even started yet." Titan said.
"We have to get to the storm shelter!" Pluto shouted pointing to the shelter in the distance as they approached the village.
The two of them sprint to the storm shelter and get inside to find the shelter is lit and sitting around the lantern is Star, Poltergeist, and Nova.
"Oh good… You're all safe." Titan said with a sigh of relief.
"This may be the most powerful storm in the planet's history." Nova said.
"There's no promise we'll actually survive even if the storm doesn't kill us." Poltergeist said.
Star flinches at those words her expression showing her fear.
"Smurf up assholes." Titan mutters through gritted teeth as he approached Star with Pluto right behind him.
They both knelt down to comfort her.
"Yeah Smurf up assholes." Pluto spat in their general direction before turning her attention to Star.
"Are you ok Starshine?" Titan asked.
"I'm just scared…" Star said.
"It's ok Star. We're here." Pluto said hugging her.
They spent the entire night in the shelter under the ground as the world they knew was ravaged by a massive storm. None of them could sleep due to the noise alone. The sound of wind, rain, thunder, lightning strikes, and the forest falling apart was overwhelming for them due to their sense of hearing and they couldn't even really verbally enjoy each other's company. Eventually the storm stopped and was accompanied by unsettling silence. Titan opens the hatch to the storm shelter and they step outside for the first time immediately noting the destruction.
"Everythings gone." Titan said with disbelief as they walked through the ruined village and forest.
They make it further down the street and Pluto feels visibly sick as she sees the state of her house.
"Aww come on! I just moved into that! It was my first hut!" Pluto said with frustration kicking a broken mirror into the rubble.
"We can't stay here Titan." Nova said.
"I know…" Titan said.
He felt Star tighten her grip on his bicep and she whimpers as tears form in her eyes.
"Shh… It's ok Star." Titan said holding her closer.
"What are we going to do Titan?" Star asked.
"I don't know… We're going to have to travel north. Maybe another place survived the storm." Titan said.
"No… NO!" Star said finally breaking down.
"One of the larger towns must have made it." Poltergeist said.
"It's the only chance we have." Nova said.
"But I can't Titan!" Star shouted.
Pluto just took the situation in. She personally had no idea what to make of any of this. She watched the adults talk and tried to follow along with what she needed to do to help. After much debate they decided to grab what little they could salvage and form a caravan to travel north to see if any other Smurfs made it, or if there was a place to live. Poltegeist built a handcart out of the remnants of a hut and they packed what little they could find into it before beginning their journey.
"Don't worry Star… If anyone gives you trouble I'll kill them." Titan said.
Star still hadn't said much. Just was trying to get over her anxiety. They had her sitting in the cart in a space big enough for her to sit as Titan pulled it.
"I'll take the right side!" Pluto shouts sprinting to the right side of the cart and drawing her sword.
"I have the left!" Nova shouted with a twirl of his staff.
"I'll watch our backs…" Poltergiest said removing the morningstar from his belt.
"You're being protected at every angle Star." Titan said reassuringly.
The further they got away from their home the more they realized this hit the planet on a larger scale. The wilderness in between them and Runeword was vast yet Titan remained alert the entire day wary of other Smurfs off the bat out of fear they'd hurt Star. They travel until the sun is almost down and set camp in the middle of the forest. Star had been a mess all day. Titan would give anything for her to be alright. They sat there in front of the fire after the others had gone to sleep.
"I'm so scared Titan… What if something happens to one of us?" Star said.
Titan put her arm around her and pulled her closer.
"Hey. It's going to be fine. Have faith in me." Titan said.
There was a pause and then Star finally spoke.
"No matter what happens to us… I'll always love you." Star said.
"I love you too Star. You're my Starshine. I'll give my life to keep you all safe if I have too." Titan said.
They take a moment to enjoy each other's company. Eventually Star falls asleep in his arms and Titan pulls back his leg and kicks a full bucket onto the fire putting it out instantly before leaning back against the tree they were leaning against and falling asleep.
The Fallen Star
The next morning it was storming again. They woke up to the sensation of being rained on with lightning cracking off in the distance. There was an ominous fog all around them limiting their vision.
"Everyone try to stick together!" Titan shouted as they traveled leading Star by the hand as he pulled the cart with the other displaying his incredible strength.
They traveled rather uneventfully. That is until they reached Runeword jurisdiction. That's when they saw something that made their skin crawl laying in the middle of the street as though it were deliberately planted there for travelers to come across. The village was visible in the distance.
"What in the hell is that?" Poltergeist asked.
It was the corpse of a Smurf-like creature wearing ragged grey clothes with charcoal skin and empty eye sockets laying in the middle of the street with a spear sticking out of its chest.
"What's what?" Star asked.
"Shh… Don't worry about it Starshine." Titan says kissing her cheek.
"It's like a monster from right out of a story…" Pluto said daring to get closer.
Nova steps up and kneels down to examine the creature.
"It's like it's one of us, but it's not…" Nova said.
"Whatever it is it's not friendly." Titan said.
Pluto looks back at Titan. Everyone was soaked and the storm wasn't letting up. They needed shelter.
"What do we do Titan?" Pluto asked.
"We have to find a place to wait out the storm." Titan said.
"What if there are more of these things in town? What if one of Runeword's crazy experiments went horribly wrong and these things are everywhere?" Nova asked.
"We'll use it as a distraction to get Star to safety." Titan said.
"No normal magic made whatever this thing is…" Poltergeist said.
"So? I'm not afraid of whatever the hell this thing is. Looks pathetic." Titan said nudging the creature's head with his foot.
Star kneels down letting go of Titan to get an idea of what everyone might be talking about.
"Looks like a pathetic weakling right Pluto?" Titan asked.
"I mean… It does, but we've never seen one alive." Pluto said.
"Ah yes! You're right Pluto we should be more cautious." Titan said.
"Over confidence could get you killed." Nova said.
"I don't think I want to see one alive." Poltergeist said.
Meanwhile Star was inspecting the creature with her hands her expression showing fear and discomfort as she gets a mental visual of what it might be that everyone is talking about. She stands up not verbally expressing her opinion, but grabs her right elbow with her left hand and narrowed her shoulders. Before showing her discomfort by hugging her own waist.
"Are these things really real?" Star asked.
"I'm sorry, but we have to believe they are Star." Pluto said.
Titan comforts Star as Pluto mentally prepares herself for what could be her first life or death battle. She knew the day would come eventually, but she never thought it'd happen so suddenly. The chose not to heed the clear warning and chose to continue down the street passed the creature and entering the town. The once peaceful and flourishing magic city now laid mostly in ruins. They walk amongst the ruins in disbelief. The dead laid unburied around them killed either by the storm, or having been slain one way or another.
"Great Smurf… It's worse than we thought." Nova said.
"Is there anyone left at all?" Poltergeist asked.
Pluto stared at a dead body of Smurf and as she did a part of her innocence died. All the scary things she was told happens in this world was actually true, and if one is not careful they could die.
"No way… How much longer until that's me?" Pluto thought looking at the body.
"Was it someone you know?" Poltergeist asked curious as to why Pluto was focusing on that corpse so intently.
"You have to remember Pluto has never seen that before…" Titan said.
"I'm fine Titan. For real don't worry about me. We have to get Star to safety." Pluto said.
She met Titan's gaze with a sense of duty in her eyes.
"Right." Titan said with a nod.
They get further into the town and begin to hear the sound of a struggle in the distance. Through the storm the sounds of lasers going off could be heard echoing throughout the town. Emperor Smurf's police force was trying to regain control of the situation. Titan knew it would all be over if they spotted Star. He thought quickly as he scanned their immediately surroundings.
"We'll hole up in there for now." Titan said pointing to a store in the distance.
The group all went inside this little store on the street corner that looked like it offered food with a kitchen in the back. The storefront was smashed in and everything had been taken, but they had no choice but to occupy it. Pluto didn't even have time to focus on her growling stomach until it dawned on her food was made here at one point. She puts her hand to her growling stomach. It's not healthy for a Smurfling to go without food like this. If this keeps up her body weight will drop into a dangerously low number.
"I'm not going to hold everyone back just because I'm still small. Titan will find food soon." Pluto thought.
They go far into the back of the store where the storage was and closed the door behind them.
"We'll stay here until they're gone." Titan said sitting on a crate next to Star.
They sit and wait the situation out. Minutes turned to hours and nothing changed. It was still storming and the mist wasn't letting up. The sound of lightning striking nearby caused them to instinctively jump. Pluto was sitting on a crate. She wasn't even tall enough for her feet to touch the ground and she was absentmindedly swinging her legs as she said nothing. She struggled with fear, but knew if she showed weakness the others could lose faith in her. Pluto's journey to being seen the way she is now, as an equal was tough.
"I have to fend for myself now… Titan isn't going to baby me anymore." Pluto thought.
They hear the sounds of footsteps stepping through puddles outside and Star grips Titan as though her life depended on it. They all looked towards the source of the sound and Pluto's eyes narrowed. She flung herself from the crate landing on her feet and looked back at the others putting her index finger to her mouth before slowly sneaking her way out to the main room of the store. This was her chance to prove herself. She took advantage of her small size and sneaked skillfully through the storefront until she made her way towards the smashed in window. She pressed herself against the wall with her right hand on the hilt of her sheathed sword and quickly peered outside. That's when she saw the creatures from earlier. Several of them were wandering the streets. Some of them had weapons as they searched for survivors with malicious intent. She took a moment to observe them. They behaved as though they had nothing in their souls at all as though the only reason they existed was find something alive and kill it their expressions blank as they shuffled about. Pluto flinches and cups her hand over her mouth stifling a scream as one walks right passed the outside of the building and disappears once passing by the window.
"I can't let them hurt Star…" Pluto thought.
There was only one thing she could think to do. She had to use herself as a distraction. Pluto closed her eyes and took a deep breath savoring the exhale as she mentally prepared.
Pluto runs to the back of the room and then charges the window throwing herself out of it and rolling into the street.
"Hey assholes! Over here!" Pluto shouted.
Hearing the commotion inside the others give their input.
"What the hell is she doing?!" Nova asked.
"She's going to get us all killed…" Poltergeist said.
Pluto quickly forms a fist in her right hand and thrusts it towards the sky as she was now center of attention.
"Star of Pluto! Make me big and Strong!" Pluto shouts as the demons begin to close in on her, the screen of her watch glowing brightly.
"Pluto's not giving up without a fight and I stand by her, we can't sleep tonight knowing the area isn't secure!" Titan said standing.
"No!" Star said tugging on Titan's arm.
Titan turns to Star.
"It's ok. I want you to stay in this room and no matter what happens you don't come out until I get back ok? Can you do that?" Titan said.
Star nods slowly.
"I love you." Titan said hugging onto her.
"I love you too Titan." Star said hugging him back.
"Stay quiet and stay hidden." Titan said as he exited the room with Nova and Poltergeist.
Stars lips quivers slightly as she sits in the corner of the room in between two large crates. She pulls her knees up to her chin and shakes as she covers her ears once the fighting starts. Tears go down her cheeks as her mind flashes to the day she was blinded the haunting memory pushing her on the verge of a mental break. She was hiding just like this when it happened.
The Star of Pluto crashes down into the street damaging the asphalt under it and Pluto leaps into the back the door closing behind her. She positions herself into her seat pushing aside one of her sopping wet braids that had stuck to her face causing it to drape over her torso with the other one before drawing her sword and inserting it into a drive just below the control panel consisting of hundreds of buttons. Upon her sword disappearing into the drive a massive sword appeared on the back of the mech in a suit that reflected the weapon she had inserted and Pluto masterfully takes the controls and draws the sword.
"Come at me!" Pluto shouts.
The demons obviously had no clue what to make of the Star of Pluto, but knew there was a Smurfling inside of it and therefore were drawn to it. As Pluto easily carved her way through them she noticed more were coming drawn by her presence alone it seemed. None of them had anything close to the power they needed to damage her. Titan stares in awe with a sense of pride as Pluto cuts down a small group of them right in front of his face with no mercy. Nova rushes out into the street and skillfully opens a tome in his right hand chanting an incantation in ancient Smurf as bright glowing orbs begin to surround the air above Pluto. A hoard of demons came rushing towards her at every direction and Nova thrusts his staff outward towards her causing the orbs to shoot lightning onto the hoard sending them flying and leaving behind scorch marks in the street.
As they fought they pushed the demons that approached them further away from the store, but little did they know a certain someone had made their way to Kepler and was watching their every move from afar. Vanity observed them fight and took note of the indestructability of the Star of Pluto. He was nowhere near powerful enough to take on four skilled survivalists. They were different from the Smurfs he had killed in the town. They weren't scared or defenseless. This could be a problem indeed. The demon put his hand to his chin and gripped it as he thought of way to get back at them when he came up with a thought and he grinned a sinister grin as his eyes moved from the fighting to the store he noticed they were staying in, and then disappeared through a dark portal that opened slowly under his feet. Pluto and the others were unaware they were being manipulated and continued to fight off the demons until they were a block away from the store. Then they finish the last of them and Titan, Nova, and Poltergeist take a moment to catch their breath as Pluto starts curling and straightening her actual fingers her joints sore from the endeavor.
"I think that's all of them." Nova said.
"Yeah we should get back to the stor-" Titan said, his voice being overwhelmed by a lightning strike that struck so close to where they were the earth around them seemingly shook.
"The store!" Pluto shouts.
"Great Smurf… STAR!" Titan said as he sprinted down the street towards the store leaving everyone else behind.
Titan reaches the store and steps inside through the broken display window and kicks open the door to the storage room.
"Star?! Star!" Titan said frantically searching the room.
Titan's blood went cold in his veins when he saw blood on the wooden floorboards.
"Great Smurf… STAR!" Titan shouts running out of the store onto the street his shoes splashing into a puddle.
Titan frantically searches the area going a little further into the woods when he sees something that bring relief to his heart. Standing in the distance was Star. She had her back to him, but her blond hair was a contrast to the scenery confirming it was her.
"Starshine… What are you doing out here? You had me scared to death." Titan said walking towards her.
Once Titan was close enough Star turned around quickly to face the source of his footsteps, and it wasn't exactly her. The creature that met his gaze had charcoal colored skin like the things he had just fought yet it resembled her perfectly in every other way even having its eyes closed. Titan stared in disbelief at first.
"Star?" Titan asked.
The creature sort of growled at him and looked as though it didn't know for sure where he even was. He watched as it shuffled around a bit still trying to process the horror of this extremely tragic situation before finally he began to shake and he couldn't hold a straight face as he fought back tears desperately biting his lower lip trying his best not to lose it, but then it came towards him with its arms out as though ready to attack and he shoves it to the ground and screams before starting to cry harder than he's ever cried in his whole life. He watches it get up and come at him again and he shoves it away again before running off back towards town. This particular demon may look familiar, and that is no mistake. Vanity watched the entire thing from afar and smirked snickering to himself before going to swoop up his trophy. He was going to make this one the strongest just to spite Titan.
"Titan?" Pluto asked.
"Stars dead…" Titan said.
Pluto's eyes widened her expression warping into both disbelief and sadness. Titan falls to the ground in a seated position and starts to loudly cry and Pluto never having ever seen him like this knew it wasn't a joke and tears formed in her eyes as she whimpered before raising her head to the sky and beginning to loudly cry as well. She falls to her knees and buries her hands in her face. Star by all intents and purposes was like a mother to her. They would be broken for a long time.