Legend has it, that long ago…
In the mystical land of prydain, set in the middle hemisphere of europe. There was once a dark king so cruel and so evil, that evan the gods stood no chance against him, since no prison could hold him, The forces of Heaven and Hell joined together to cast him alive into a crucible of mold and Iron, there his demonic spirit was captured in the form of a great Black Cauldron.
For uncounted centuries since, The black cauldron lay hidden, waiting, while the ever warring factions of evil searched for it, Knowing that whoever possessed the Black Cauldron would be able to raise an army of deathless warriors.
And with them, rule the world.
Caer Dallben, Saturday, three days after the events of the Season 1 episode The Southern Air Temple.
In the mystic land of Prydain, The bright sunny sky shone down on the little haystacked cottage overlooking the small stream and farm land in front of it.
A squirrel passed by and stopped to look before entering the hollow in the tree, while the birds flew around and sang to the beautiful day, while inside the cottage, a sleepy cat opened one eye drearily to the murmuring of his master.
"There's something wrong." Dalbun told himself. "I can feel it in my bones."
The Cat stretched out and lept off the book he was perched on, then made his way to the table his master sat at, as he talked to himself.
"Hmm, the fair folk know it too, and you don't see any of them around." Dalbun continued. "No more than you see the good fairy in a tizzy, Heh like that could ever happen."
Dallbun was an old man, portly and beardless, with gray bushy eyebrows, a small muttlet around the head that left the top of it bald, and dressed in a worn dark red vest over a red tunic with worn purple homespun gloves, He sat at his desk and pondered to himself, all the many questions in his head as he spoke them all aloud.
"That bright light." Dallben said, ignoring the "meow" of the cat as he looked down into his book. "If it's true the Avatar has returned, The last airbender, surely the villain factions would be more alert to this, or the Royal Council."
Dallben made note of his words in the book. "I must take Council with Merlin with this, and the good fairies too. The Villain factions might respond soon, Grimhilde, Jargafar, Frollo… The Horned King." Word the letters' takeover of Ancient Egypt had become well known at this point and this was a most troubling thought indeed, So far though, He had just stopped there.
Dallben shook his head as he got up and stroked his chin. "That Black Hearted Devil… What's he waiting for?"
As Dallben poundered his questions, the cat continued to mew out brushing against his legs to get his attention.
"Yes, Yes, I know you want your Breakfast Cat." Said Dallben, then he heard the sound of CLANG CLANG coming from the forge outside.
A young 13 year old boy with red hair hammered away to the forge he was working upon, He wore A green vest over a yellow long-sleeve shirt, green pants, and brown boots, His name was Taran, He wanted to make a sword, But the farms hand Coll charged him with the more practical side of his education, horseshoes, It was Horseshoes all morning and Taran's arms ached all morning from the strain.
"Horseshoes." He grumbled. "Damn Horseshoes!"
He turned his gaze to Coll who watched him critically. "Why does it have to be Horseshoes Coll?!" The boy whined. "We don't even have any Horses!"
"Lucky for the Horses." Laughed Coll, He was a somewhat tall man with a graying black beard, he glanced at Taran's "Haniwork."
"I could do better at making a sword." Said Taran. "What if the war's over and I never had a chance to fight?"
"Hmm, And a good thing too." Said Coll Sternly. "War is not a game me lad, People get hurt."
"But I'm not afraid." Taran insisted. "And I know I could make a sword of my own, watch." Taran got a pair of tongs, flung a strip of red-hot iron to the anvil and began hammering away as fast as he could.
"Wait, Wait!" Cried Coll. "That's not the way to do it!"
Taran couldn't hear him over the pounding of his hammer, Sparks sprayed the air as he did, the metal twisted and buckled under the strain, until the iron sprang from the tongs and fell to the ground, Taran picked up the iron and stared in dismay.
"Well… I'm surprised you didn't injure yourself there." Coll remarked.
"Looks like a sick snake." Said Taran glumly.
"As I tried to tell ya." Said Coll. "You were going about it all wrong."
"How?" Asked Taran. "What did I do wrong?"
"Everything." Said Coll. "You have to strike from your shoulders and loosen your wrists, You'll hear it when you get it right, there's music to it." He took the piece of scrap from Taran and flung it into the furnace.
"Besides." Said Coll as he wiped his brow. "The metal here is not for weapons."
"Yeah…" Said Taran glumily.
"Ah chin up lad." Smiled Coll. "Swords aren't made in a day, Besides, this is only practice you know."
Taran removed his Apron as he and Coll left the forge. "I just wish I had my own sword, then I could go out and perform heroic deeds, For Prydain, instead of forging horseshoes or pampering livestock."
A flock of passing gease all glared at Taran, one even shooting up a middle feather.
"Dude, Fuck that guy." Said one in his native goose dialect.
"Why does he always whine all the time?" Asked Another.
"It's like he's from a crappy Disney movie." A Third Geese said.
The other geese started in the last geeses direction.
"Oh come now Taran." Said Coll. "Why would you wish for that? We have no battles at Caer Dallben."
"Well we don't have any horses either." Taran said, folding his arms.
"Oh come off it." Said Coll ruffling Taran's head. "I told you, It's for practice."
"Well…" Taran said. "I am aware of that I told you, But I just want to be a warrior, not a farm hand."
Coll shook his head. "You'd just be afraid."
"I wouldn't." Said Taran. "All I need… Is a bit of practice and I could be one of the greatest heroes ever, Like Lyze of Kiel or Captain America."
As he said this, He picked up a stick and waved it around as if it were a sword! Then turned to the Geese.
"You challenge me?" He asked, as if they were enemy soldiers. "Run you vile cowards!"
And Taran jumped after the Geese as they
"Surely you know how to fight with a sword Coll." Said Taran. "You were a Warrior too."
"Well, I held a sword once or twice in my life." Coll shrugged.
"So there you are then." Taran smirked.
"What?" Asked Coll.
"Just play along." Whispered Taran, before mock addressing his adversary. "His Majesty, The Horned King, So we meet at last."
Coll rolled his eyes and decided to play along. "That we have, Young warrior." Coll then held out a stick of his own and held it taut to Taran's own "Weapon." "Now you will die!"
They set about thrusting and parrying each other, Taran was sure he had the better of Coll, But the bald man spun away with an amazing lightness of his feet. Then it became Taran's turn to ward off the blows.
"Ahah!" Cried Taran. "Bow the Horned King's mercy child! I will feed your carcass to my gwythaints!"
"Taran of Caer Dallben never surrenders." Declared Taran. "For the glory of Prydain!"
Just as Taran was about to land a blow, A small "Ahem" was heard and Coll suddenly stopped, Taran turned around and saw Dallben standing there with a bowl of Porridge.
"Ah, Dallben!" Taran said, before he suddenly tripped and fell into a puddle of mudd.
Dallben shook his head. "Hmm, Not quite the blade for a hero." He observed, looking from Taran to Coll. "Really now, I am surprised at you."
Coll gave a sheepish shrug as Taran scrambled to his feet. "I-It wasn't his fault Dallben." He said. "I egged him, It was just a game."
"I didn't say I was surprised at you, Taran." Said Dallben. "Still dreaming of adventure."
"Well… yes." Said Taran as he wiped some more mudd off. "I just wanted to learn a few bits about fighting… you know just in case."
"I understand Taran." Said Dallben. "In the use of weapons there must be a certain skill, but wiser hands than yours will determine when you should use it."
"But Dallben." Said Taran. "I can't spend my whole life as a farm hand."
"Well you might as well." Said Dallben. "If you want to reach manhood in one piece, We have enough trouble on the horizon as it is."
"What trouble?" Asked Taran. "Nothing bad ever happens here?"
"Perhaps not." Conceded Dallben. "But if the rumors are true… and the villain factions power separately grows, that could spell trouble…"
"Is it getting that bad?" Asked Coll.
Dallben nodded. "Well…" He stopped himself before looking back at Taran. "Well if there is, It may not need to concern you Taran… I hope now I was just coming out to feed Hen Wen, You can handle that for me can't you? Coll and I need to discuss things."
"Hen Wen, Hen Wen." Grumbled Taran as he took the Bowl. "It's always Hen Wen."
"And one day you might understand why that is." Said Dallben. "And don't worry Coll's not in trouble are you."
"Wouldn't dare to think." Said Coll innocently. "Though I might expect a few slaps on the wrist."
Dallben laughed, before handing the boll to Taran. "Right, now off to your duties Taran."
"Yes Sir." Said Taran as he watched the two men go back inside, before walking off to his chores.
Dallben took a look back. "Hmm, He's so anxious for glory, and so blind to the dangers ahead."
"At that age weren't we all Dallben." Said Coll, as they closed the door behind them.
Taran walked sulkily over to a nearby pen with the Bowl. "They just don't understand." He muttered to himself as he kicked the pen gate open. "I'm not a little boy anymore, I could be doing heroic deeds, For Prydain." Taran placed the Bowl in front of the small house where Hen Wen slept. "Not waiting hand and foot on a spoiled-Hey!"
The bowl suddenly slid out at Taran's feet moments after he kicked it inside, Taran gave a rueful shake of his head.
"Oh, Sorry Hen." He apologized. "I didn't mean it."
Hen Wen was the only pig at Caer Dallben, and one of the most valuable animals on the farmland, or at least, Valuable to Dallben, something Taran couldn't really understand why.
She came out of the little pen house and looked at the porridge before looking up and smiling at Taran.
"You'd better eat it." Taran chided. "Dallben made it especially for you."
Hen Wen looked at the porridge before taking a bite of the porridge, she reeled with disgust at the taste. "Hm, Dallben must have boiled it over again." Taran said to himself, he then looked over at the cottage. "What do he and Coll talk about in there? Ah well, No use thinking of it now, maybe I'll still be making horseshoes and tending pigs, when I'm as old as Dallben."
He looked to see Hen Wen was already slowly eating away at the porridge, much to his surprise. "Oh wow… You uh… you really chewed through that didn't you?"
Hen Wen spat out a few bits disgustedly as she gulped down the rest.
"Well sorry you had to eat that Hen." Said Taran, He then noticed a drawn bath nearby. "How about a nice bath, just to help you digest it better."
Hen Wen oinked eagerly as Tarn picked her up and placed her in the bath, He then picked up a bucket of water and poured it all over her, Hen Wen reveled in it.
"Ha, ha, You like that don't you?" Asked Taran.
Hen Wen dried herself like a dog as Taran laughed again.
"Now for the part you like best." He said as he got a brush and began scrubbing Hen Wen's back. She snuggled down and closed her eyes as the soothing feeling of the brush eased her. But then, she slowly began to open them again, Hen Wen felt a strange sensation come over her, She looked around before shooting up in alarm!
"Hey come on Hen!" Said Taran. "I haven't finished scrubbing your back!"
Hen Wen quickly looked around frantically before almost jumping out of the tub, But Taran quickly caught her and kept her restrained as best he could as she thrashed about in the tub!
"Hen! What's the matter? Calm down! Stop it please, what's the matter!"
Hen Wen then jumped out of the bath and nearly ran off, Only for Taran to grab her and hold her back, At that moment, Dallben opened a window.
"Taran!" He called out. "Now what's going on?!"
"I-I don't know!" Said Taran as he struggled with Hen Wen. "Something's wrong with Hen Wen!"
"What?!" Dallben asked, But then he suddenly realized something. "Oh goodness, Quickly Taran! Bring her inside! Coll!"
Moments later, Coll and Dallben had fetched a basin of water and set several candles around it, Just as Taran had managed to calm down Hen Wen and brought her inside the cottage.
"Dallben, Coll, What's going on?" He asked. "What's all this for?"
Dallben quickly shushed him. "Put Hen Wen down in front of the basin, I've never used her powers unless I have to, But now I fear I must."
"Powers?" Asked Taran as he did as Dallben said. "What are you talking about?"
"Taran." Said Coll. "What you are about to see, we should have told you long ago."
Dallben got out a long crutch and stirred the basin with it as he chanted a rhyme.
Hen Wen from you I do beseech.
Knowledge that lies beyond my reach.
Troubled thoughts beyond your heart.
Pray you now those thoughts in part.
Hen Wen was entranced by the ritual, she sleepily dipped her snout into the swirling water, Her eyes suddenly turned pink as whips of shapes formed in the whirlwind of images, Taran could make out various shapes, Hear sounds that Taran found unfamiliar to him, As if the history of the world was right before him.
"Dark Nation fire everywhere Commander, We're pinned down!"
"He will go to the Eastern Air temple to complete his training."
"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL!"
"Greed is our enemy, Once it starts you will always want more."
"The Guardians were victorious! The Owl kingdoms were Free once more!
"Maximan… was missing…?"
"MOM?! DAD?!"
"What are all those voices?!" Asked Taran.
"Shh!" Dallben hushed. "Don't interfere, we must focus…"
The swirling imagery in the whirlpool morphed into a single figure, mounted on a charging horse.
"Ah… The Horned King." Said Dallben.
The image changed to two circling Gwythaints. "He is searching…"
Once again the image changed, this time into the form of what looked like a large cauldron.
"The Black Cauldron!" Gasped Coll. "So that's it!"
"The Black Cauldron?" Asked Taran.
"An awesome weapon Taran." Said Dallben. "It's been hidden for centuries, but if the Horned King could find it, And unleash its power, nothing could stand against him."
The images then showed the aforementioned tyrant's face clutching the Cauldron before changing again, this time into the shape of a running pig.
"That's Hen Wen!" Cried Taran.
"He knows…" Said Dallben. "Stop! Enough!"
Dallben then slammed his staff into the basin, splashing water and breaking Hen Wen out of his trance. Hurriedly, He began to gather up food, while Taran and Coll attended Hen Wen. "Taran, you have to get out of here at once! Take Hen Wen to the hidden cottage at the edge of the Forbidden forest, hide there and never bring her out until either me or Coll come for you?"
"Hide?" Asked Taran. "But why? this is all happening so fast, since when did Hen Wen have powers? Why do I have to hide Hen Wen with them? What do you mean I should have been told all this years ago?"
Dallben and Coll stopped what they were doing and looked at each other.
"Taran." Said Coll. "Hen Wen is an oracle pig, With the power to see into the future and observe the past and present, She's the only one in existence, A power bestowed onto one such as her is a rare occurrence."
"Rare Occurrence? You mean like a… A mutation?" Asked Taran.
"No Mutants are completely different." Said Dallben. "Anyway, Hen Wen was once held captive by dark forces because of this power. Until Coll rescued her and brought her here."
"And we have kept her hidden here ever since, making sure no one, Not even you could find her or learn of her abilities." Explained Coll, as he tied a leash around Hen Wen.
"But now." Said Dallebn as he filled up a hapsack. "The Horned King has somehow discovered her, We must make sure, He never uses her gift to find the Black Cauldron."
"I'm not afraid of the Horned King." Said Taran boldly.
"Then you are a very foolish lad." Said Dallben. "Untried courage is no match for his evil, just remember that."
Coll handed Taran the Hand Sack and the lead to Hen Wen too.
"Take care Lad." Said Coll. "Keep Hen Wen safe."
"And remember, get to the good fairies." Said Dallben.
Taran hugged Dallben, then Coll.
"Goodbye for now Dallben, Coll." He said as he began to walk off with Hen Wen. "I'll keep her safe."
And with that, Taran walked out the door with Hen Wen, moving through the farmyard and off into the great unknown beyond, Dallben and Coll stood by watching him go from the door.
"Ah… so much, so soon, to rest on his young shoulders." Said Dallben sadly.
"We can't help that now, Dallben." Said Coll. "Time may be short, we must contact the rest of the wise faction soon."
"Yes, you're quite right Coll." Said Dallben. "Do you think Taran will be alright by himself? We did send him on a long journey after all."
"Meh, what's the worst that could happen?" Asked Coll.
(Cue Benny Hill Theme.)
And thus began Taran's series of events that led him to losing Hen Wen to the Horned King's gwythaints, meeting a fury little weirdo, leaving him to team up with a wayward freedom watch scout team to break her out, getting captured with three of its members, breaking out again with a Princess and a Bard, finding out the Prime commander of the Freedom watch was killed and Caer Daythl was destroyed by another dark tyrants army, stopping a radical anti-fire nation terrorist group from flooding a fire nation village that should totally be set in the earth kingdom but ended up in europe for some reason and finally, splitting from the scout team to find his pig with the help of the Princess, The Bard and the Fury thing. (See Crossover Legends Season 1, Episodes 13, 14 and 15.)
Present day.
"Well that kind of brings us to now doesn't it?" Asked Taran.
"...Yeah that really helps give some perspective." Said Eilonwy.
Quest for the Black Cauldron, A story of Crossover Legends.