Polaris' Smurfy New Life/Part 2

Some Smurfs have gathered around outside the infirmary after Empath and Papa Smurf have entered into it with Polaris. "Can somebody tell me what's smurfing on here?" Brainy asked.

"It's Polaris, laddie," Duncan answered. "He just smurfed to the ground for no reason after me and him were sparring together. I just hope that the dear boy is all right."

"Gosh, Duncan, is it really that serious?" Clumsy asked.

"Of course it's that serious, Clumsy," Brainy answered. "Why else would Papa Smurf come to the infirmary with Empath unless it's something that could be life-smurfening?"

"Oh dear, is Baby Smurf all right?" Smurfette asked.

"Baby Smurf's fine, lassie," Duncan answered. "The Smurflings are smurfing care of the little darling right now. All I'm worried about now is our pale-smurfed friend and what's smurfing on with him."

"Well, that's not going to smurf well with my complexion if anything does happen to Polaris," Vanity said as he glanced into his mirror.

"And it's surely not going to be funny at all," Jokey said, sounding just as worried as everybody else.

"I hate not-funny-at-all situations," Grouchy said.

Tapper joined the group outside the infirmary. "I was busy smurfing in my tavern when I have smurfed in my spirit that I had to be here right now," he said to Duncan.

"Well, laddie, your prayers are certainly welcome in this situation," Duncan said. "Polaris had just smurfed down to the ground after our sparring session, and there was nothing wrong with him before that."

"Great Smurfiny Crickets, that's what I was smurfing in my spirit," Tapper said. "Empath must be worried that this could mean the end of his friendship with Polaris."

"We're going to find out what it is and see what we can smurf to help our friend out in any way possible, Tapper," Duncan said.

Tapper nodded with understanding. "We can only pray, my friend." - Polaris slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying on an infirmary bed, with Empath and Papa Smurf standing by him. Somehow he felt weak, as if even trying to move was taking a good deal of effort. "What...what had happened?" Polaris asked.

"You fell down after your sparring session with Duncan, Polaris," Empath answered. "This smurf had sensed that it was a very serious situation and this smurf brought you to the infirmary as soon as possible."

"Where's Baby Smurf?" Polaris asked. "This one was watching over him today and..."

"The Smurflings are now watching over Baby Smurf at this moment, Polaris," Papa Smurf answered. "He'll be fine, but he's just as worried as the rest of us are about you."

"So why did this one just fall down after a sparring session?" Polaris asked, curious to find out.

"This smurf had just thoroughly scanned you while you were unconscious, and has found out...that you are dying," Empath answered with some difficulty. "It seems as if every part of your body is beginning to shut down. At this rate, you have only a few days to live, maybe even less."

Polaris sighed. "Then it has begun. It is the degeneration."

"What do you mean, the 'degeneration'?" Papa Smurf asked.

"The Psyches are given a degenerative disease that's been implanted into us from the moment we were created by the Psyche Master, Papa Smurf," Polaris explained. "We can only live outside the collective conscience of the Psychelian community for about a year, after which time our bodies begin to shut down and we perish."

"So the Psyche Master allowed you to live with us in the Smurf Village...only so you can die a year later?" Papa Smurf asked.

"That is exactly what Polaris is saying, Papa Smurf," Empath said, realizing it for himself. "This whole thing is my fault. This smurf should never have given Polaris any reason to want to leave Psychelia in the first place."

"You should not blame yourself for what you have shared with this one all those years we have been together, Empath," Polaris said. "Somehow having to leave Psychelia to be with you seemed like...the inevitable thing to happen."

"We're not going to let you leave to join the Ancestors just yet, Polaris," Empath said. "We're going to find a way to beat this and make sure you're still living past today and tomorrow."

"This one is prepared to join the Ancestors, Empath," Polaris said. "The only thing this one needs is time to say his farewells to all the friends this one has made in the Smurf Village over the past year."

"Polaris, we are going to find a way to let you live," Papa Smurf said resolutely. "Just try not to smurf away from us before we can find it."

Polaris nodded. "This one understands and acknowledges, Papa Smurf."

To be expaned on.