Rayman Legends Adventures in The Black Cauldron/Script

Since we last left our heroes, they had helped defeat a renegade knight named Ruber and saved the life of King Arthur of Camelot; now they were in the land of Prydain, to help a young boy named Taran in what would most likely be the hardest task of his life...soon the group looked among their new surroundings as they were suddenly whisked off into a brand new adventure.
"Welcome to Prydain," Sid warned them with a carefree grin, "I'm proud of you for helping out Camelot like you did so."
"Heh...no problem..." Joanie muttered, "well...this was before you were born?"
"Yes," Sid replied, "I wasn't even a thought. Can you imagine a world where I didn't exist?"
"I'd like to see that," Joanie smirked a bit mischievously.
"We can check that out later," said Alec, "big mega-heavy quest, remember?"
"Right. Right," Joanie muttered.
"Shouldn't be too far away now," Sid warned them as he led them along, "I guess it's better this fashion than me sending you in one of Zelda's inventions and having to stay behind to operate the machine."
"Think you can warn us a fast little backstory," Joanie asked.
"Well, I guess I could do that," Sid said before clearing his throat, "ahem! Legend has it, in the mystic land of Prydain. There was once a king so cruel, and so evil, that even the heavens feared him. Since no prison could hold him, he was thrown alive into a crucible of molting iron. There his demonic spirit was captured, in the form of a grand black cauldron. For uncounted centuries The Black Cauldron lay hidden, while evil men searched for it. Knowing whoever possessed it, would have the power to resurrect an army of deathless warriors. And with them, rule the world."
"Woah...cool voice," Alec exclaimed, "very Lord of the Rings-esque."
"Thank you," Sid crossed his arms as his voice changed from narrating that before he cleared his throat and sprayed some throat spray in his mouth, "I think I might be catching a bug though."
"Are we there yet," Patch asked.
"We'll know it if we see it," Sid replied.
Soon they walked along for a bit, ending up in some sort of countryside and soon looked over to see what looked like a little cottage.
"Well, there it is, children," Sid pointed out for them.
"Perfectly fitting for a town in the Middle Ages," Darla noted.
"You're not afraid, are ya, Dimples," Joanie snickered.
"Of course not," Darla replied calmly. "After all, I've faced worse with the Sailor Guardians," she shivered slightly, "just so long as I don't need to end up meeting Mistress 9."
A question mark burst up over Lionel. "...Who," he asked.
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't really know her either since I hadn't met her yet," Darla replied, "they say she's the Sovereign of Silence...The Dark Messiah...,,The Messiah of Silence...she sounds like she could be worse than Queen Beryl."
"This broad sounds like an entire carton of rotten eggs," Alec replied, "we found your back, boy."
"Thanks," Darla said, "I guess I'll see the next time I see Serena and the others."
The group nodded from that as they continued to travel together.
"Um, sir, is that it," Joanie asked, pointing to an upcoming place.
"That's right, Joanie," Sid nodded as he recognized the place instantly.
"Ah...I take it this is familiar to you," asked Jesse.
"Well, mostly from my parents' books," Sid replied.
"Hard to believe you weren't alive in this time," Joanie remarked.
"Jesse's father knows a pretty big deal of it as well," Sid said before knocking on the door, "in fact, your target might seem a little familiar if you meet him."
The others wondered what he could had meant by that.
Inside the cottage.....
"There's something wrong," an elderly man said, which awakened his tomcat who soon yawned and stretched, coming down at him, "I can feel it in my bones. Huh...the Fair Folk know it as well. You don't see any of them around! The Horned King! That black-hearted demon! What's he waiting for?"
Then the tomcat jumped in front of him and meowed.
"Yes, yes, Cat, I know you want your breakfast," the man warned his tomcat. "But just now, THINKING is more reluctant," he heard the knocking and looked over, "ah, yes, yes, come in. Come in!"
"Ah...thank you," said Jesse as he and the others stepped inside.
"Um, good morning," the man greeted them, "what have I done for you?"
"Excuse me, Mr. Dallben, these are my personal students," Sid introduced, "Jesse, Joanie, Gertie, Alec and Darla. They were wondering if they could meet Taran."
The group looked confused at first, but went along with it since it was part of their adventure/mission.
"Ah, yes, yes, he should be taking care of a certain someone for me, he was around earlier though..." the man named Dallben replied, looking around before looking past the window as in the fireplace, a pot seemed to be boiling over. "Oh, Taran! The pot is boiling over, Taran," he saw Taran staring out the window, lost in a daydream.
"Oh, Dallben, I was just thinking....." said the boy, "what if the war's over, and I never had a chance to fight?"
Dallben was now looking at old maps. "Huh...and a nice fact as well," he replied, "war isn't a game, people get hurt!"
Joanie looked between Taran and Jesse as she felt like she was seeing double somehow.
"Well, that's Taran," Jesse remarked to himself.
"Yes," Sid sniggered, "I think you two need a lot in common."
"But I'm not afraid! Ouch," Taran frowned, reaching his hand out in protest, only to touch the boiling pot, burning his finger.
"Then he's one of Jesse's ancestors," asked Alec, "not surprised..."
"Oh, sure, I thought perhaps I hit my head in the time-space continuum or something," Joanie said, clutching her head a bit since she noticed that Taran and Jesse looked similar in appearance.
"Aha! There you are," Dallben chuckled to the boy, "if the Horned King ever returned, you'll have a grand deal more to concern about than a burned finger."
Soon Taran stuffed out a spoonful of whatever Dallben was cooking, smelled it and swiftly turned his face away in disgust. Then he set it in a small bowl. The cat, hoping it was for him, attempted to eat it and turned away in disgust, as well.
"No, no, no, no," Dallben warned his pet, "cat, that is not for you, it's for Hen Wen."
"Hen Wen, Hen Wen, it's always Hen Wen," Taran complained.
"And one day, my boy, you may learn why," said Dallben, "now, no more dreaming, you have chores to do."
"Yes, sir..." Taran said, disappointed, and he set away to feed Hen Wen.
Dallben sighed. "He's so anxious, and so blind to the dangers ahead..."
"I think I know what ya mean," Joanie replied with a glance to Jesse.
"Hey," Jesse frowned, "I don't blindly run into danger!"
"You've always been impulsive until it comes to adventures," Joanie snickered, "sometimes I wonder how we're even yet alive today."
"...At least I try to do something," Jesse replied, "half the time you just run off!"
"Hey-hey, be civil, you two," Alec urged, "we're in a guesthouse."
Then the two muttered to each other like bickering siblings.
"Let's go meet this Hen Wen," Alec suggested, going out with them.
"Alright..." Joanie and Jesse replied, going after along with Gertie and Darla while Sid stayed put.
"Look, look, Cat, you're in luck," Dallben beamed as he checked the pot, "just enough left for you!"
"Lucky you," Sid sniggered to the cat who felt a bit unlucky in comparison.
The cat backed away.
Meanwhile, Taran was outside, moping around about what little he had in life. "Dallben wouldn't understand...I'm not a little boy anymore," he griped as he kicked a stick, and walked over to the flock of geese and trampled across the bridge. Then he kicked open the gate to Hen Wen's pen. "I should be doing heroic deeds for Prydain! Not waiting hand and foot on a spoiled––hey!"
The bowl was shoved back out from the barrel right at his feet.
"I guess Hen Wen doesn't like it," Joanie shrugged.
"Oh, alright, Hen, I didn't mean it," Taran laughed.
A small cute pig came out of the barrel and looked at the food.
"You'd better eat it," Taran warned the pig, revealing it to be Hen Wen, "Dallben made it especially for you."
Then Hen Wen took a bite, and swallowed hard, and backed apart from the food.
"Well, Taran, you wanna be a hero," Jesse asked.
"Yes...more than anything, but Dallben doesn't understand," Taran replied.
"Um...well...can't you speak to your parents about this," Darla wondered.
"I don't have any," said Taran, "Dallben is all I need."
"Whoof...harsh, man," replied Alec.
"Did I do something wrong," Darla asked in worry.
"It's alright, Darla, you didn't know," Gertie soothed.
"Is this to be my life," Taran huffed. "Pampering a pig! I'm a warrior, not an Pig-Keeper. Dallben thinks I'd be afraid, but I wouldn't. All I need is, is, is a chance! And I could be a famous warrior," he walked out of the pen with Hen Wen and the others following, but saw a stick and picked it up, pretending that it was a sword, "look at me, guys! I can do it! Ha!"
"Oh, Sir Taran," Jesse greeted as he bowed.
"Truly, your grandness is boundless," Alec added as he took a bow as well.
"No, no, we're not worthy," Darla said with a curtsy.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha," Taran laughed. "Even you're afraid," he turned to the geese, "you challenge me? Run, you cowards!"
Soon the geese ran away in a fright.
"You see, guys," Taran grinned as he had fun.
"Yes, we dare see," Alec chuckled.
Soon a goat came out and then looked at Taran.
"There you are," Taran snickered to the goat. "His Majesty, the Horned King! Well, we meet at last! Ha," he took his stick and rustled it between the goat's horns with a laugh.
"Just take it from me, Taran," Jesse advised, "war is hell."
"He's right," Alec nodded, "I've never been, and I'd like to keep it that fashion."
"Well, I'd yet like to go," Taran replied.
"I wish you do," Jesse said calmly.
"Even the Horned King shakes with fear," Taran laughed to the goat, "you see, guys? EVERYBODY runs from the famous Taran of Caer Dallben!"
Then Hen Wen squeaked as she saw the goat ready to butt Taran.
The goat succeeded in doing so and sent Taran and Hen Wen flying through the mud, while the geese 'laughed' at them.
"Prydain's finest warrior, draws his last breath," Taran gasped as he began to cough before collapsing on the ground.
"Oh, dear," Darla said in worry.
Alec discreetly pointed at Taran, lifting him out of the mud and spin-drying him faster.
Taran hid a small snark as he got to have some fun until a large shadow came over him and the group. "Dallben!"
"Huh...not quite the blade for a hero," Dallben remarked.
"I was...it's just we were...uh, Hen Wen got dirty," Taran stammered as he tossed his stick off and began to brush the mud away from Hen Wen.
"Then I dare see," Dallben replied, "another dream, Taran?"
"But, Dalben," Taran cried out in despair as he brushed mud away from his own face, "won't I ever be anything but an Assistant Pig-Keeper?"
" She's a special pig, Taran," Dallben said as he rubbed Hen Wen's belly, "now give her a nice bath!"
"A special pig," Joanie commented, "I guess she's 'Some Pig'."
"That's a little further," said Alec.
Taran sighed as he picked Hen up and carried her to the basin where she had her baths. "Well, Hen, it looks like I'll yet be an Assistant Pig-Keeper, even if I'm as old as Dallben," he remarked. He set her down, and poured a bucket of water on her. "You like that, don't you," he asked as he began to scrub Hen Wen's back, "now for the part, you like best..."
Then Hen Wen settled herself down, but soon a worried look overcame her face, but that face turned to terror. Hen Wen jumped up, and squeaked madly.
"Woah! What's gotten into her," Darla wondered.
"Hey, c'mon, Hen, I haven't done scrubbing your back–" Taran warned the pig, only for her to sprawl and squeak crazily like she was freaking out over something, "Hen, what's the matter? Calm down, Hen! Stop this! Please, wait, what's the matter?! Hen Wen!"
"Taran," Dallben called out, opening the shutters of the cottage because of the noise, "what's going on?!"
"I-I don't know," Taran replied, "there's something wrong with Hen Wen!"
"WHAT," Dallben sounded frightened now, "oh, faster, lad, bring her inside!"
Inside the cottage, Dallben lit a candle and set it next to a basin filled with water.
"What's that for," asked Taran.
"Put Hen Wen down," instructed Dallben, "I never use her powers unless I need to. But now I must!"
Taran and the others looked in confusion. "Powers?"
Dallben turned to them. "Taran, what you all are about to see, you must never reveal to ANYONE," he instructed.
He plunged his oak staff into the water and recited these magic words: "Hen Wen, from you I do beseech......knowledge that lies beyond my reach...damaged thoughts weigh on your heart...pray you now these thoughts impart..."
Hen Wen looked a bit dizzy. She dropped her snout into the water and images appeared.
Dallben read the images. "The Horned King..." he whispered. Taran gasped and stifled a cry. "Csendes. Don't interfere," he turned back to the images, "he's searching...the Black Cauldron! Then that's it!"
Taran looked baffled. "The Black Cauldron?"
"An awesome weapon, Taran," Dallben explained, "it's been hidden for centuries, but if the Horned King should find it, and unleash its power. NOTHING could stand against him."
Taran looked at the images and gasped in surprise. "It's Hen Wen," he exclaimed.
Dallben realized something horrible. "He knows..." he turned to Hen Wen. "Stop! Enough," he warned her.
Hen Wen swiftly backed apart from the water. Dallben was more frightened than ever.
"Man, this Horned King guy must really like bacon or something," Darla commented.
"Hen Wen is more than a mere pig," Sid replied, "stop laughing, Joanie."
"I didn't say anything," Joanie defended.
"Oh, I expected you to compare me to the pig," Sid said, scratching his head, "anyhow, you guys should go with Taran to hide Hen Wen."
"Huh...sounds like a plan," Alec replied.
"But, uh...where do we go," Joanie asked, "where will we go?"
"You must leave here at once," Dallben urged Taran and the other children, "take Hen Wen to the hidden cottage at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hide there, never bring her out, until I come for you!"
"Hide," Taran asked, "but why?"
"Only I knew the secret of Hen Wen's power, but now the Horned King has discovered it," Dallben replied urgently, "you must make sure he never uses it to find the Black Cauldron!"
"Right...keep-away for the fate of the world," asked Alec, "I think I can dig it!"
"This sounds pretty intense," Joanie commented.
"I'm sorry, Joanie, but you know my rules," Sid snickered, "you can't back out now if you're apart of the problem."
"But this Horned King guy," Joanie replied, "he sounds eerier than you and King Sombra put together!"
"Big deal," shrugged Alec, "we've faced a literal monster who devoured planets like popcorn!"
"Yes," Sid sniggered, "why you chickening out, Joanie? I thought you were brave and bold like Batman."
"I guess just imagining what this Horned King guy is working me up a little bit," Joanie replied.
"Look...we'll be alright, I promise," said Alec, "since we said the vows, that was a promise we'd get through everything together, be it nice or naughty."
"Oh, boy..." Joanie sighed a bit.
"Huh," Taran huffed, "I'm not afraid of the Horned King!"
"Then you are a very foolish lad," Dallben warned Taran, "untried courage is no match for his evil. Just remember that! Now, now off you go, my boy and take care of yourself!"
"Farewell, Dallben," Taran replied before walking out the door with Hen Wen and his new friends, "we won't fail you!"
"So much. So soon," Dallben remarked to himself, "to rest upon his young shoulders!"
"Yes," nodded Sid, "farewell to them all....."
Meanwhile, Taran, the others and Hen Wen were walking through the forest.
"A psychic pig," remarked Alec, "and here I figured I'd seen everything."
"Gosh, Hen Wen! I never knew you could create visions and things like that," exclaimed Taran, "I thought you were just an ordinary pig. I had no idea you were so...special. Dallben's going to be glad he put his trust in me! Just you wait and see!"
"Alright, buddy, let's take it easy now," Jesse said, "let's not get too carried off."
"Besides, we yet have a long fashion to go," Darla added.
"You're right, guys," Taran replied as they walked Hen Wen before stopping at the stream to get a drink. "Now, don't go wandering about," he scolded Hen Wen, "and don't you worry! Keep close to me and no one will do you any harm. Not while I'm around."
"I knew pigs were smart, but not enough to get visions," Joanie commented to the others.
"Well, this movie was made in the 80's; the decade of horrifying children through animation," replied Alec, "then it's gonna get a little hectic."
"And I won't let The Horned King get close to you, Hen," swore Taran. "I'll protect you," he gazed into the stream and saw himself dressed in golden armor, bowing to a crowd, while a voice glorified him.
"Taran of Caer Dallben, the biggest warrior in all Prydain! A true hero!"
Taran took a few bows as he daydreamed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you all! But without the help of my pig, Hen Wen here, I--"
"Uh, dude," asked Alec, now covered with dirt, "Porky took a powder."
"We tried to stop her, but she didn't listen," Joanie added.
"Oh, really," Taran asked.
"Yes, it was conveniently off-screen while you were in your own little world," Joanie replied.
"What?! Oh, dear," Taran cried out in grief and soon went to go after Hen Wen as she was his responsibility.
Soon the others went to follow after Taran to go and find Hen Wen.
"Hen," Taran called, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "HEN WEN!!"
This yell was so loud that it echoed across the forest. Darla became a bit hesitant because of the forest looming around, but heard a branch snap. Taran flattened himself against a tree.
"Is that you, Hen," Taran asked, walking forward, and pulled out an apple. "Look what I've found. C'mon out, here's a lovely, juicy..." he was suddenly pushed to the ground, and something scrambled after the apple.
"What the hell is that," asked Alec.
"Whaha! Oohhhh!!!! Grand Prince give poor starving Gurgi munchings and crunchings," said the creature, "nice apple! Nice Prince, nice apple! Oh, boy! What a juicy apple!"
"Is that a Gremlin," Joanie wondered.
"I don't think so," Jesse replied.
"Hey! No, you don't," Taran frowned at Gurgi, catching him by the scruff of his neck, "I didn't give you that apple, you took it!"
Then Gurgi bit him on his hand and went to hide in a nearby bush.
"Ow! Hey! Hang on, you hairy little thief," Taran demanded, "come back with my apple!"
"If you don't give Taran his apple back, you'll be very sorry," Gertie warned the whatchamacallit.
Gurgi came out of hiding.
"Give it back," Darla warned him.
Gurgi opened his hands and/or paws, but the apple wasn't there.
"C'mon, the apple! Where is this," asked Jesse.
Gurgi shook his head. "Uh, ah! Gurgi has not seen the apple--oops," he exclaimed as the apple had rolled out behind his back, and he jumped on top of the apple to hide it.
Taran frowned. "Give it back, I warn you! C'mon," he ordered.
Gurgi tossed the apple about in his hands and looked at it like his heart was going to break.
"C'mon; the apple, let's have it," Taran said again.
The hairy little creature took a huge bite out of the apple and handed it to Taran.
"You horrible greedy fact," Taran spat, "you should be disgraceful of yourself!"
"Oohhhh!!!! Poor miserable Gurgi deserves fierce smackings and whackings on his poor tender head," Gurgi sniffled as soon as he appeared to be weeping before hugging Taran's legs, "all is left with no munchings and crunchings! Forgive poor Gurgi!"
"Oh, stop that sniveling," Taran frowned a bit, "we're not going to hurt you."
"We're actually looking for Taran's pig," Darla added.
"You wouldn't have happened to see her anywhere, have you," Gertie asked.
"Piggy," Gurgi asked before forming himself a bit to look like a pig, "round, fat piggy? Big snout!"
"Yes, yes," Taran replied.
"Curly tail," Gurgi added.
"That's her," Taran grinned from that, "that's Hen Wen!"
"Uh, no," Gurgi said, crossing his arms in denial, "Gurgi has not seen piggy! No!"
"What is this, a Bugs Bunny cartoon," Joanie deadpanned.
"Wrong company," replied Alec.
"Oh, never mind," Taran moaned, stuffing the apple into his vest, "no warning where Hen Wen is by now!"
Then Gurgi followed him, hoping to get the apple. "Oh, Master, Master," he spoke up, "now Gurgi remembers! Yes! Yes! Clever sharp-eyed Gurgi saw the piggy run, right through the forest!"
"You have," Jesse asked, though in deadpan.
"Uh-huh! Uh-huh! I saw this! Uh-huh! I saw that," Gurgi said, pulling Taran by his hand. "Come! Gurgi will find the lost piggy! Then we'll be friends forever," he jumped on Taran and began to search his vest for the apple, "munchings and crunchings in here somewhere!"
"Hey, cut that out," Joanie frowned, trying to catch a hold of Gurgi.
Alec zapped the creature to stop his movement.
"Thank you," Joanie said from that.
Soon they heard a high-pitched squeak, which made all of them freeze.
"What was that," Joanie wondered.
"It's Hen Wen," Taran gasped to the others, "she's in danger!"
"Then we need to find her," Alec exclaimed.
"Farewell," Gurgi said as he ran away and hid for cover.
"Some help he was," scoffed Alec.
"Hen Wen! Hen," called Darla.
Taran and the others came to a clearing and saw Hen running from a griffin, a type of winged dragon. The griffins swooped over Hen, trying to catch her.
"Sheesh..." Joanie's eyes widened from the creature.
"Hen Wen," Taran cried out in despair, "Hen Wen, watch out!"
Soon Hen Wen ran madly across the field, but the creatures were yet after her.
"Watch out," Taran yelped, "c'mon, hurry up, Hen! No! Don't! Hen, hurry up!"
Soon the griffin caught Hen Wen and began to carry her away.
"No! Don't! Stop! No," Taran frowned as he pulled on the Griffin's tail.
"Cut it out, you brutes," Joanie snapped at the creatures, trying to muster out bravery.
"Yes, leave her alone," Jesse shouts as he swats at the creatures.
The other griffin seized Taran and dropped him to the ground as they flew off.
"No! Come back! Please, wait," Taran shrieked, "no! No! Come back!"
Taran ran through some thorn bushes, and climbed up a rocky hill, only to see, at the top, the griffins flying off to the Horned King's castle.
"Oh, dear..." Alec gulped.
"Hen Wen...I must get her out of there," Taran exclaimed in fright.
"Oh, dear! Grand Lord," Gurgi panicked as soon as he appeared, "not go in there! Forget the piggy!"
"What are you doing here," Joanie frowned at the little fluff ball.
"Gurgi come back to be your friend," Gurgi replied.
"Friend? Huh! You're no friend," Taran frowned before he then gave in, "why, you run off if I.....oh! Never mind! I promised Dallben I'd keep Hen safe! I need to go!"
"And we're going with you," Gertie replied.
"Aye," the others nodded.
Soon Taran began to walk toward a castle as a lightning bolt flashed overhead, making Taran back off in fear.
"Well...this is it..." Joanie said, "you coming, Fluffy?"
"Me? Go in there? Oh," Gurgi panicked a bit, "no, no! It's a horrible place!"
"Just as I thought," Taran huffed to Gurgi. "You're no friend! You're just a...a...a miserable coward," he took the apple out of his vest and looked at it. "Here, this is all you wanted," he threw the apple at Gurgi and it hit the ground.
"If Grand Lord go into evil castle, poor Gurgi will never see each other again," Gurgi exclaimed, "no! Never!"
Taran climbed a wall, and saw a beam of light, having found a window. Taran tore apart the branch that blocked the window, and he climbed inside. Looking around the strange hallway, he silently got up, and began to search for Hen Wen.
"Man, this place is even giving me chills," Joanie commented.
As soon as they rounded a corner, Taran heard a snort. Carefully, Taran looked around to see a guard sleeping, his head resting on a table, the snort being from a snore. Then the group huddled closely together as they swiftly slipped past the guard, but turned back to make sure they weren't seen. Then the guard dog saw them and barked viciously at them.
"Eek," Darla squeaked, making Jesse catch her and cover her mouth as they hid for refuge from the sleeping guard.
Then the guard awakened, but instead of looking to see what the dog was barking at, the guard yanked the dog's leash. "Shut up, ya thick-skulled dolt," he grumbled, "always barking at nothing! Alright, might as well make our rounds!"
"That...was close..." sighed Alec as they kept going.
Taran incidentally pushed open a hidden door. The group looked into a large dining hall, with a throne at one end. The henchmen were celebrating the capture of Hen Wen. The henchmen shout out bloodcurdling threats at each other, at Prydain, and at a dwarf called Creeper. Creeper had just been trying to snatch a little supper for himself, but the henchmen wouldn't allow it. They tripped Creeper, who landed hard on the ground. Just then, a chilly wind shot through the dining hall that stirred the wall hangings. Everyone became deadly silent, and all the candles and torches blew out. A small explosion occurred at one end of the hall, and there stood the Horned King himself. Creeper hurried over to the throne and began to dust it.
"Welcome, Your Majesty," said Creeper, "we're celebrating our success! I-I-I mean, your success! We have made no mistakes this time!"
The Horned King seated himself and began to drink the wine Creeper poured for him. The group hid for shelter as they took a look at the Horned King, who seemed quite intimidating.
"Bring in the prisoner," Creeper commanded.
One of the henchmen brought out Hen Wen, all chained up.
"There, Sire! This is the pig that creates visions," Creeper warned his superior before looking to Hen Wen, "alright, Pig! Show His Majesty where the Black Cauldron can be found! Go ahead, show it!
Of course, Hen Wen refused to do so.
"Heheh, stubborn little fact, isn't she? Heheh," Creeper chuckled.
Then the Horned King caught Creeper and threw him to the ground.
"Why yes, Sire. You're quite right! I'll take care of it at once," Creeper responded from that as soon as he shoved Hen Wen's face into the bowl of water where they wanted visions to be seen, "the Black Cauldron! Where is this? Show us, swine!"
Hen Wen yet refused, but Creeper caught a lump of hot coal.
"I warn you," Creeper warned, "the King's patience is short!"
"Why, the nerve of these creeps," Jesse glowered.
"No! Don't! NoooooOOOO," Taran yelled as he fell from his perch and landed on the floor; the Henchmen ran over to capture him and the others.
Taran picked up a broom and pointed it at them. "Get back! Or I'll, I'll--" he stammered.
One of the henchmen looked at Taran and laughed; he took his sword, and with one swing cut the broom into a million pieces. Taran looked at what remained of the broom in disbelief. The henchman picked Taran up and pointed his sword at Taran's stomach.
"Release him," ordered Creeper.
The henchmen looked at Taran, but threw him over past Hen Wen. Taran tried to calm her.
"Hen Wen! Oh, Hen Wen," he said, "there, there."
The Horned King glowered. "I assume, my boy. You are the keeper of this oracular pig..." he asked.
"Erm...yes, he is..." Joanie said, feeling chills around her body.
"Y-Y-Y-Yes, sir," Taran added, looking a bit frightened out of his wits.
"Then instruct her to show me the whereabouts of the Black Cauldron," The Horned King demanded.
"Oh, sir! I-I can't, we promised," Taran replied.
"Very well, in that case, the pig is no use to me," The Horned King said as he shattered his glass in his hand.
Creeper began to laugh madly and caught Hen Wen.
"What are you going to do," Taran cried out in grief as he tried to stop him, but he was seized by one of the Henchmen. Then he saw Creeper place Hen Wen on a chopping-block. "No! You can't! Don't!"
Soon the axe was raised.
"No! Stop," Taran cried out in despair, "I'll make her warn you!"
"That's better," The Horned King approved.
"Now, get on with the visions, pig," Creeper snapped.
Taran sighed mournfully. "Hen Wen, from you I do beseech......knowledge that lies beyond my reach...."
Creeper pointed and jumped like a demented kindergartner. "Look! Look, sire! It's working!"
The Horned King's eyes widened. "The Black Cauldron! Then it does exist for sure," he got up from his throne and walked toward Taran. "Yes. Where is this? Show me. Show me," he roared, lunging at Taran.
Taran cried out in grief and backed off, spilling the water where visions were taking place. The water hit the Horned King's 'eyes' and he shrieked in fury and pain. Taran scrambled to his feet and picked up Hen Wen.
"Let's duck out of this crazy place," Jesse exclaimed.
"C-c'mon, Hen," said Darla as she picked up the piglet and ran for it with the others.
"After them! Get them! After them," Creeper shrieked.
Taran ran as he carried Hen Wen in his arms. The others began to follow Taran on the road out as they really had nowhere else to really go as the henchmen chased them. The griffins, who had been chained to one of the beams, soon flew after Taran. Because they were so strong, the griffins tore the beam right off the wall, forcing the Henchmen to give up the chase for the few seconds that the beam took to get ahead of them. Taran, who, was running for dear life with his new friends, were almost caught by the griffins. If it wasn't for the beam catching in a doorway. The henchmen were on the chase again. Soon the group ran into the kitchen, where a cook was cutting meat with a rather large knife until soon he saw them.
"Alright, this way then," Darla said, running one fashion, only to run into Creeper, "gah! You?!"
"Bwah," Creeper shouts before Darla punches him in the face.
Creeper groaned from that.
"I'm sorry, not sorry," Darla frowned.
Soon the knife was coming for them, but luckily, they missed it.
"Heh...I guess that's what they call a close shave," Joanie remarked weakly.
"Yes," Alec remarked as they continued making a run for it.
"Got ya now! Pig Boy," Creeper called out, flying over Taran and hitting the cook.
Then Taran and the others ran into the next hallway, seeing that the henchmen were closing in. Taran led the others through a door and locked it behind him. As Taran turned around, he saw that they were at a balcony and dead-end. Taran looked over the battlements and noticed that it was an easy jump to the moat.
"The moat," Taran warned the others, "it's our only chance!"
"Here, Taran, I'll take Hen Wen and we can go first," Jesse suggested.
"But, Jesse--" Joanie spoke up.
"Don't worry about me, but we must go," Jesse said before soon he took a hold of Hen Wen before soon he walked backwards and began to run toward the balcony and soon jumped high in the air and went to land in the water down below.
"Gangway, watch out below," Alec shouts down to them.
"Swim, Hen," Taran called out, "swim!"
"You as well, Jesse," Darla added.
"We're coming," Taran said, about to go in after the two, only to be caught from behind.
"Hey," the others complained about that.
Soon Taran was dragged backwards as Creeper had caught his legs.
"Now I've got you, Pig Boy," Creeper laughed as he dragged Taran over to the Horned King, "I caught him, Your Majesty! I caught the boy!"
"But you let the pig go, didn't you," The Horned King growled as he caught Creeper by his throat.
"I wasn't my fault," Creeper choked out until he was thrown to the ground.
"Throw these children into the dungeon," The Horned King demanded.
"Dungeon," asked Alec, "you pug-ugly scrotum-faced geek!"
"Let's try not to make him any angrier than he already is," Darla suggested fearfully.
"Little late for that....." shrugged Alec as they were taken away to the dungeon, hearing the frustrated warrior shout his name.
Soon the group was all shown in the dungeon. There was only a small grating that gave them light. Taran was feeling that he had failed his quest, and broke his promise to Dallben. As Taran sat, the words that he once said and heard haunted him.
"You must make sure he never uses Hen Wen to find the Black Cauldron," Dallben's voice said.
"I won't fail you, Dallben," Taran's voice added, "look at me, guys, I can do it!"
Taran shook these words out of his mind, looked around him and picked up a rock about the size of his hand and hit it against the dungeon wall, and began to weep. The voices no longer bothered him.
"I can't believe it," Taran said with a sob, "I don't believe it."
"Man, how are we gonna get out of here without Jesse," Joanie began to sulk.
"What am I, bacon grease," asked Alec, "I'll just teleport us out of here!"
"And you didn't do this already because..." Joanie drawled out.
"Because we were busy speaking and everyone seemed to forget I could do that," Alec replied.
"I just thought if you could, you'd get us out of here in 10 seconds," Joanie shrugged.
"Ah. Well, alrighty then," said Alec, "everyone gather around."
Then everyone came around Alec to get going out of the dungeon. As all hope looked lost for Taran, one of the flagstones got pushed up and moved to the side. A bright ball of light came up from the hole the flagstone was covering. The ball of light AKA a bauble floated around in midair, prohibiting light for the beautiful young girl that climbed out of the hole. The girl had long golden hair that reached down to her waist and had blue eyes. Along with her was a redheaded/brunette haired girl with blue eyes as well.
Taran watched the bauble with distrust and curiosity. "Yes, yes! I--" he began to speak.
The blonde cut him off. "You're being held a prisoner, aren't you," she asked.
"Yes," Taran said, yet watching the bauble.
"We've been held against our wills, as well," the redhead replied.
The bauble floated in front of the group. Taran touched the bauble with his hand. The bauble flickered, but the light came back and madly circled around the group, who had jumped back in fear.
"Guys," Taran alerted, "it lights up!"
"We see that," Gertie replied.
"Why of course, it's magic," the redheaded girl chortled.
"Oh, I hate this place," the blonde girl pouted a bit, "I do hope there aren't any rats in here. Oh, not that I really mind them you know, but they do jump out at one so!"
"Who are you," Joanie asked the two girls.
"Oh, of course," the blonde girl replied, "I'm Princess Eilonwy."
"And I'm Mary Ruth Youngblood," the redheaded girl added.
Joanie gasped from that other name, trying to keep calm, but it was hard to.
"Wait a second, we haven't even teleported yet," said Alec as they landed a few feet apart.
"Are you a lord....or a warrior," Eilonwy asked Taran.
"Er, no, I'm, uh, an assistant pig-keeper," Taran replied.
"Oh, what a pity," Eilonwy replied, "I was so hoping for someone who could help us escape!"
"Oh, well, if you want to come with us, you may," Mary Ruth added.
"Gangway," Alec shouts as he and the others suddenly materialize in a ball of shining blue energy, but fall.
"Huh..." Joanie snickered as she was able to get out without a scratch.
Jesse grinned proudly as Darla was able to come about, unhurt.
"Knock-Knock..." Alec coughed.
After all introductions were made, the group teleported out of the castle shortly after.
Joanie felt strange around the redheaded/brunette girl.
"You alright, darling," Mary Ruth asked her.
"Oh...yes, I'm fine," Joanie replied, "it's just...uh...I'm ready to get going."
"Well...alright," said Alec, "perhaps we can get an explanation. C'mon, let's get moving!"
Soon they ran along together to get back on track with help from their new friends.
"Now's your chance to become a true hero," Darla advised to Taran.
Taran and Eilonwy sneaked past the castle doors and stopped around the next corner. Now Eilonwy noticed that Taran had a sword.
"Where did you get that sword," asked Mary Ruth.
"Uh, back there," replied Taran.
Eilonwy put 2 and 2 together. "You mean..." she began to say.
"Well, he's not going to use it," Taran replied.
Suddenly, they heard a dog barking and a voice pleading. They went to see who it was.
"You're making a horrendous mistake," the pleading voice begged, "I'm not a spy! I'm a bard! I sing! Uh, I entertain! Oh, careful sir, these are the hands of an artist!"
"This'll hold you," the guard frowned.
"Now, look, you seem an intelligent sort of chap to me," the bard replied.
The guard looked at him with an expression that said "Duh!".
"I assure you I had no idea who owned this castle! I just happened to be passing," the bard begged while looking to the dog, "oh, he's nice! What's his name?"
The dog tried to bite the bard, but the guard led the dog astray.
"Down! You don't realize who I am," the bard said, trying to make up a little song with a harp until a string broke, followed by more. "I shall sing of your dastardly deed! I'm Fflewddur Fflam! Minstrel of minstrels! Balladeer to the grandest courts in all the land! Well, so you've forgotten! I've sung in some of the finest courts! Well, I'm only waiting for an invitation! Oh, silence! Why do you judge every word I say? Oh! What's that," he saw a skeleton of a former minstrel chained to the wall, "HEEELLLPPP!!!"
"We should help...that guy..." Jesse said, attempting to even say the bard's name.
"Flam," Alec managed to say.
"Right," Jesse nodded as they went to do just that.
"Oh, hello," said Eilonwy, "we'll have you untied in a moment. I'm Princess Eilonwy. And you are in bad danger, aren't you?"
Fflewddur blinked. "Danger? Don't you know where you are? Haven't you seen him," he asked.
A noise stopped their conservation. Fflewddur was half freed with one hand yet tied up.
"Pig Boy's escaped! Look in there," said a henchman from behind a door.
"We've been discovered," Taran cried out in despair.
"You? Oh! Grand Berlin," Flam yelped. "Run! Run! Make haste," he said to himself, "make haste? I must save myself!"
Soon Taran, Eilonwy and the others ran for dear life. Taran would have made it across the parapet if he hadn't tripped on a flagstone. Eilonwy, not seeing Taran's fault, kept on going. Soon Mary Ruth looked over in worry. As Taran got up, he realized that the sword was gone. Taran looked around him and saw that the sword had fallen in the ditch that was aside the parapet. Hearing the Henchmen, Taran jumped into the ditch and caught the sword, crawled underneath one of the arches of the parapet. The Henchmen passed over him, without being seen. As they were gone, Taran climbed on the parapet and searched for Eilonwy.
"Princess," Taran called out for his newest companion, "Princess Eilonwy!"
"Get the sword, boy," Mary Ruth warned Taran.
Clutching the sword, Taran rounded a corner and ran into one of the Henchmen, which roared. "There's a stranger here, Pig Boy. You little scut," he snarled.
With a single blow with his hand, the henchman sent Taran sprawling. He took out his axe and swung at Taran, missing him only by a hair! Taran caught hold of a beam to help him get on his feet. The Henchman swung again, missing Taran. but his axe was caught in the beam. Taran saw that his only hope was the sword, where he caught it and held it to fend apart any blows the henchman would bring upon him. The henchman had pulled his axe free of the beam and was going to chop Taran in half, but brought his axe down on Taran's sword. There was a bright light as the two weapons clashed. The henchmen's axe shuddered and shattered into a million pieces. Frightened, the henchmen backed off. Taran realized that the sword was magic, and he laughed madly as he got up and swung the sword around. Eilonwy and the others walked in on the scene and looked at Taran like he'd gone crazy.
"...What exactly am I seeing here," asked Alec curiously.
"Madness if I need to guess," Darla replied.
"Erm...are you alright," Eilonwy asked Taran.
Taran turned around and looked at Eilonwy. He seemed different now, like he had some bravery that was unleashed by the Magic Sword. "Oh, sure! You're safe," he said.
"Why, of course! I--" Eilonwy began to reply.
"C'mon," Taran warned her as soon as he pulled on her hand, dragging her behind him as he ran through the castle with the Magic Sword in hand, trying to find a road out of here, "I'm going to get you out of here!"
"Hey, buddy, wait up," Joanie called out as she followed after.
"Yes, we exist as well," Alec shouts.
"There they are," said one goon, "stop them!"
Taran pulled Eilonwy up a flight of stairs with the Henchmen close behind them. "Faster! Up here," he explained.
Eilonwy shrieked as she saw one of the Henchmen coming at them with a sword ready to strike. Taran held up the Magic Sword and swung at the henchman. With a burst of light, the Magic Sword shattered the other sword and threw the henchman over their heads and smashing into the other henchmen behind them.
Eilonwy looked at the sword in awe. "Taran, the sword," she exclaimed.
"Grand Belin," gasped Fflam.
They all looked up to see Fflam running for dear life with a savage guard dog right behind him.
"HEEEELP!!!! Murder," Fflam cried out in grief, "get DOWN!!"
Soon Taran and Eilonwy came to a storeroom filled with wine barrels.
"I should probably whip this out as well," Martin said as he brought out the Sword of Harmony just to be safe before they continued to follow after.
"Keep going, Princess," Taran advised, as he took the magic sword and split open the wine barrels. He followed Eilonwy, caught her hand and dragged her through the courtyard.
Everyone had seen them by now and they all are on the chase.
"Taran," exclaimed Mary Ruth.
Creeper pointed. "There they are!"
Taran, Eilonwy and the others found the drawbridge, but they were trapped.
"C'mon! Get them," bellowed Creeper.
Eilonwy gasped upon seeing this. "Oh, dear! Taran," she exclaimed.
Creeper cackled. "We've had you now, Pig Boy!"
One of the Henchmen threw an axe and it almost hit Eilonwy.
"Ah! Taran," Eilonwy exclaimed, "do something! Use the sword!"
Taran, who was trying not to get hit with the spears that were being thrown at him, swung at the chain holding up the drawbridge. The chain broke from the touch of the Magic Sword. Creeper and the Henchmen backed off in fear.
Suddenly, Fflam appeared with the guard dog yet behind him. "Make room! Make room," he cried out in despair, "step aside! I've never hurt you! Get, get out of my road!"
The drawbridge was lowered and Fflam tried to cross it, but the guard dog was caught hold of the seat of Fflam's pants.
"Let me down, you brute," Fflam begged.
"Run, guys! Run," Taran cried out in grief.
The gate came down, tearing Fflam's pants as he ran away, holding up what was left of them. "Why didn't you warn me you had a magic sword," he asked Taran.
"You never asked," Jesse replied.
Meanwhile, Creeper was climbing the staircase to the Horned King's room, hesitant about what the King would do to him. "It wasn't my fault! That's it! That's it! I always get blamed for these facts! I'll just warn him....and if he gets mad.....oh, OH," he muttered. "I'll just straighten him out! That's it! I'm not going to get kicked around for this," he silently knocked on the Horned King's door, "Sire...?"
The Horned King's voice boomed in a creepy whisper. "You bring news of the pig......?"
"Not exactly, Sire," Creeper replied. "It's the pig-keeper, sir and his friends....they're...oh...they're..." he whispered. "They've escaped..." he tried a little bit louder now, "they've escaped!"
The Horned King signaled Creeper to come to him.
"Oh, sire! Allow me," Creeper said before he started to gag himself, "is...is that enough?"
"Sure. He'll find his pig," the Horned King replied before commanding, "send the griffins to follow these children!"
"Oh, yes, sire," Creeper obeyed. "Oh, yes! By all means, sire," he left the room, laughing madly.
Elsewhere in a glade, Taran was polishing the Magic Sword, Eilonwy was sewing the tear in Fflewddur's pants made by the Guard Dog, and Fflewddur stood behind a bush with his boxers on, making up a song about himself. "The world will applaud me, its praise will reward me...and I, Fflewddur Fflam...will find fame!~"
"There...almost done, Fflewddur," said Eilonwy, "huh...it's not too nice, but it'll hold for a while."
"Yes, I shall sing of your deed," said Flam.
"It would be better to sing of our heroic escape," replied Mary Ruth, "weren't you a bit frightened, Fflewddur?"
Fflam scoffed. "A Fflam frightened? Ho, ho! The word is not in my vocabulary!"
"Jesse, I thought you were with Hen Wen, how did you get here," Joanie asked her best friend.
"I managed to get out of the moat and I came looking for you from there," Jesse replied, "I'm sorry about the pig though."
"Well...at least you're alright....." Joanie said before hugging him, "I love you, ya jerk."
Jesse grinned a bit as he polished his sword.
"Oops," Mary Ruth said to Fflam as his harp seemed a bit busted.
"At least we made it out," replied Alec, "now we have to destroy this Black Cauldron fact."
"Did you feel afraid, Taran," Darla asked.
"I wasn't afraid," Taran defended.
"Not afraid," Elionwy replied, "why, we were running for our lives!"
"Well, I got us out of the castle, didn't I," Taran said to her.
"You," Mary Ruth replied from that, "I'd say it was the sword's magic."
"But it takes a grand warrior to handle a sword like this," Taran warned the girls.
"But, yet, it is a magic sword," Joanie reminded him.
"Huh," Taran huffed, "what do a bunch of girls know about swords any matter?!"
"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Expert Swordsman," Alec replied sarcastically, "I forgot about the many battles you've been in! Face it! Without that sword, we'd be mincemeat!"
"Here now, now, folks..." Fflam said to the arguing ones.
"Well, at least I don't keep speaking about it FOREVER," Eilonwy retorted to Taram, "oh, you're so...so BORED!!"
"Princess Eilonwy," Fflam cried out in despair.
"How dare you take his side," Eilonwy huffed, throwing Fflam's pants in his face.
"Well, I really didn't mean t-t-to interfere," Fflam spoke up hesitantly.
"Silly girl," Taran scoffed, "even if she is a princess! Why you must take HER side, Alec?"
"Because she at least has experience," said Alec, "all you've done is imaginary fights with a stick! This is the REAL DEAL!!"
Taran gave a bit of a growl as soon as he and Eilonwy walked, separate from each other.
"Well, uh...are you really Mary Ruth Youngblood," Joanie asked the other girl.
"Yes, I am," Mary Ruth replied, "I'm trying very hard to keep my frustration in check even though your friend hurt mine. Horrible facts tend to happen if I get upset enough."
"Well, wouldn't be the first time that sort of fact happened," replied Alec.
"This should be interesting," Mary Ruth sniggered, "you know something I don't?"
"Uh..." the others paused.
"Well, you're just with Princess Eilonwy..." Joanie said, "don't you, uh...have a family?"
"I'm afraid not," Mary Ruth said softly, "my parents disappeared after I was born."
"Hey, at least you had parents," shrugged Alec, "but at least, you don't let it bum you out. I know I sure don't."
"I'm fine either fashion, though sometimes I need to wonder where I came from," Mary Ruth said, "I think I found out why they left me since I was about age 6. That was until I discovered myself a bit...Eilonwy's the only real friend I ever had."
"Well, I can guarantee that though you are an unwanted girl now, you'll soon become the most needed woman in my--erm...in the future," Joanie warned her out of consolation and support.
Alec nodded in agreement. "Yes! You've had lots to live for, then no sense doubting your worth," he added.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," Mary Ruth remarked.
"Sure," Alec grinned.
"I'm sorry of Elionwy hurt you in any fashion though," Mary Ruth said, "I wish she'll turn around though, I'm not sure about your friend, Taran."
"Oh, it's fine," said Alec, "Eilonwy seems like a nice person. Oddly enough, she's more qualified to be a warrior than Taran..."
"Huh...that's what I always warned her..." Mary Ruth snickered, "just know that I'm not a girl afraid to get down and dirty."
"Then I've heard," Joanie said to herself distantly.
"Glad to know that," nodded Alec, "because with the Horned King out to find us, it won't exactly be squeaky clean."
"You're warning me...." Joanie moaned a bit.
Soon Taran decided to go to apologize to Eilonwy. He found her leaning on a willow tree, weeping. "Hello," he greeted sheepishly.
Soon Eilonwy saw Taran and brushed off her tears. "Hello. Fflam is right, you know," she said, "we are going to need to work together. And we'll find your pig. I wish it's reluctant."
"Thank you for getting me out of the dungeon," Taran said to her.
"Oh, we couldn't have done it without you," Eilonwy admitted.
"But at least we're all safe," Taran said.
Just then, a cry of panic proved him wrong. "Aahhhh!!!! Grand Berlin!"
Taran turned in shock. "Fflewddur!"
Fflewddur was sprawled on the ground. Gurgi was sitting on him, robbing Fflewddur of all his belongings.
"Help, murder, hurry up," the man lamented.
Gurgi chuckled to himself. "Ha, ha! Gurgi's lucky day," he picked up Flam's hat, "wow!"
"Yes! Keep it! It's a gift," begged the bard.
Gurgi picked up Fflewddur's harp. "Oh, this! Gurgi want this," he said.
Fflewddur wasn't in much position to argue. "Take it! I wish you've murdered for less! Ugh!"
Gurgi tried to pull the harp apart, but the string was around Fflewddur's neck. Practically choking Fflewddur, Gurgi gave one last pull until Taran and the others arrived at the scene with the Magic Sword drawn.
Taran frowned. "Gurgi!"
"You again," Joanie asked the creature, "what have you done?!"
"Master! Uh, uh, old man...FALL DOWN," Gurgi said to Taran before switching to Fflewddur, "get up. Get up!"
"Well! Oh, really," Fflewddur complained as he brushed away his harp, "who is your pungent little friend?"
"He's no friend of ours," Taran replied, "he's just a coward and a thief."
Then Gurgi took off Fflewddur's hat and gave it back. "Huh! Too big anyhow!"
Eilonwy joined her new friends to see Gurgi. Gurgi fixed his hair for Eilonwy.
"You're charming," Elionwy grinned to him.
"And pungent as well," Gurgi replied to her.
Alec scoffed. "About as charming as a snake in the grass, perhaps."
"Well, what are you waiting for," asked Taran.
Fflewddur brushed himself away. "Yes. Yes, exactly! Toddle off! Toddle off," he scolded.
Gurgi scoffed. "Huh! Gurgi go," he started to walk off, but saw Eilonwy's footprints, "tracks? TRACKS!! Gurgi remembers! Saw piggy's tracks!"
"You did," Joanie asked.
"Today," Gurgi nodded.
"Today," Taran replied, "wait a moment!"
"You'll try anything," Fflewddur warned.
"Oh, you're both horrid," Elionwy huffed, "he just might know."
"Pretty ladies come as well," Gurgi asked, pulling on Eilonwy and Mary Ruth's dresses.
"Well, I--" Elionwy paused.
"Yes! Yes! Yes," Gurgi beamed to the girls, "follow Gurgi! Follow Gurgi!"
"You'd better be warning the truth, ya little furball," Joanie frowned.
"Gurgi not lie," Gurgi promised, "not this time."
Jesse seemed to narrow his eyes before following after the others.
"You're suspicious of him as well, right," asked Alec.
"Huh...a little bit...." Jesse replied mysteriously.
"Don't be blaming ya," replied Alec.
The companions followed Gurgi to a small pond, where Gurgi proudly showed Taran Hen Wen's tracks.
"You see, master," Gurgi warned Taran out of emotion, "piggy's footsteps! No lie."
Taran checked them out. "Oh, sure. They look fresh," he said.
Gurgi set out crossing the small stepping stones on the pond. As soon as he was in the middle of the pond, all the stepping stones disappeared, except for the stone Gurgi was standing on. That stone began to spin and sink into the water. The pond turned into a whirlpool sucking Gurgi in.
"Yah," Gertie yelped before she went to pull in Gurgi to safety.
"Gertie, careful," Darla cried out in despair.
Taran came to join, but he was not strong enough. was is pulled in with Gurgi and Gertie.
Then Eilonwy caught hold of Fflewddur, trying to pull out Gurgi and Taran. "Oh, Taran! Give me your hand," she called out.
"We're doomed," Fflam panicked.
Soon these two fell into the whirlpool next. Taran, Gurgi, Eilonwy, Gertie and Fflewddur and sucked into the depths below.
"What to do," Darla cried out in grief, "what to do?!"
"Go after them...." a voice warned Darla from her special brooch.
"Gangway," Alec exclaimed as he jumped in after.
Darla gulped a bit. "I'm not sure if going in is a nice idea."
"Oh, of course it is, Darla," Jesse grinned innocently, "and who knows better than your big brother?"
"Huh...I guess you're right...." Darla admitted.
"C'mon, then," Jesse replied as he and Darla dived in, leaving only Joanie and Mary Ruth.
"There's something really weird about your friend..." Mary Ruth said to Joanie, "doesn't he seem strange to you?"
"You really want me to respond that," Joanie replied.
"Either fashion, jump in, Girly Girl," Mary Ruth sniggered a bit, playfully hitting her arm.
Joanie held her arm before rubbing it from that as she took a deep breath and soon jumped in after her friends.
The whirlpool settled, leaving the group on the floor of an underground realm. Exhausted from the whirlpool, they slept as some young "locals" observed them.
"How did they get in here," asked a boy.
"Ha! Old Doli's whirlpool broke again," said another.
"I think they wake up soon," said a little girl, "we'd better warn King Eidilleg."
"No, silly," said the second boy, "you know we're not supposed to be up here!"
"Oops, we are going to be in danger," said the girl.
"Not me," said the boy, who turned invisible.
"Me either," the girl added.
A man had come to inspect how the fixing of the whirlpool who was known as King Eidilleg. Doli, Eidilleg's grumpy, hot-tempered, sharp-witted servant, was trying to fix the whirlpool.
"Oh, yes, I see you fixed that," King Eidilleg remarked.
"Ye-ee-ee-es," Doli replied. "If I get...this pole...up here...I'll be done! Sure! Yes, it should work," Doli beamed to his superior, "it's PERFECT!!"
Then the structure suddenly broke.
"Catch that pole," Doli called out.
"Ugh! I have it," Eidilleg said before the entire fact fell apart.
By then, Eilonwy had woken up. "Aren't you all darling," she exclaimed.
Alec yawned and cracked his neck. "Sure, if you like that sorta fact..." he replied.
"Oh, uh, hello," said the small man, "I'm King Eidilleg of the Fair Folk and this..."
"How in the blazes did they get in here," asked Doli as the entire structure collapsed on them.
"I thought I warned you to fix the whirlpool," said the king.
"I fixed it! I did fix it," Doli protested, "it was perfect!"
Eidilleg scoffed. "Evidently, not fully perfect! It's supposed to keep them OUT," he retorted before he turned back to our heroes, "uh, can I be of any service?"
Doli grumbled under his breath. "Is everything that happens around here MY fault?!"
Eidilleg continued questioning. "Are you here on a friendly visit," he asked.
"And I suppose it's my fault that the pig's here, as well," Doli groused.
"Wait, did you say pig," Joanie asked hopefully.
"Hen Wen," Taran added.
"Oh, she's your pig," Doli replied, "oh, SURE!! One less fact for old Doli to concern about!"
"Oh, Doli," Eidelleg called out to him.
"What now," Doli moaned from that.
"Would you hurry up and fetch the pig," Eidelleg demanded.
"PIG," Doli moaned as he flew away and took off his hat and kicked it, but saw some young fair folk chortling at him, "HEY, YOU CHILDREN!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
"Oh, oh, Mr. Doli," the little girl said, "I just want to see the pretty lady."
"Alright, but you watch yourself, ya' hear," Doli warned the girl.
All the Fair Folk went to see the visitors.
"I cannot believe my eyes, Your Majesty," Elionwy said before laughing as the Fair Folk swarmed around her.
"Um...greetings...friends..." Joanie said sheepishly.
"Alright, small fries," said Alec, "just chill. We're all pals here."
"Watch it! Watch it," Doli warned the children.
Hen Wen came running through, trampling over Doli, eager to see Taran.
"Oh, Hen," Taran beamed to the pig, "thank heavens you're safe!"
Hen Wen landed on Taran's lap, and he petted her, though she seemed confused around Jesse for some reason who stared blankly at her.
"Warn me, is the burning and murdering, yet going on up there," Eildilleg asked Fflewddur.
"You're referring to th-th-that joke on humanity, the Horned King," Fflewddur replied.
"Well, no one ever stands UP to him," Eidilleg defended.
"We've seen him, and if he finds the cauldron, he'll murder us all," Joanie replied.
"Oh, dear, oh, dear," Eidilleg replied, "he'll never find it! No, no! It's safely hidden in Morva."
"What the heck is a Morva," asked Alec.
"Not what...where..." Eidilleg replied, "it's not too far from here, but it's also the hiding place of The Black Cauldron."
"Well, that's a plus," Darla grinned hopefully.
"Well, at least I think it is," Eidelleg said before calling out, "oh, Doli! Is it?!"
"Ye-ee-ee-es! Is that my new job," Doli responded, "remembering where the cauldron was last seen!"
"Oh, he'll know right where it is," Eidilleg said to the others, "you'll see!"
"If we could get to the cauldron first, and destroy it," Taran exclaimed hopefully.
"Oh, it isn't right, Taran," Elionwy replied.
"I think he has a point," Joanie said, "if we find the Black Cauldron and destroy it, it'll stop that Horned King guy."
"Please, come with me," asked Taran, clutching Eilonwy's hand.
Eidilleg pondered. "Well, I never thought of Morva! That's a hard place to get to," he said.
Doli nodded. "Ye-ee-ee-es!"
Then Eidilleg had an idea. "Why, you can take them," he said.
Doli looked like someone had just spit in his lunch. "What?!"
Fflewddur blinked. "You mean we're trusting our lives to-to-to him," he asked.
Doli flew crossly to him, as Flam hid his face behind his harp.
"And what, is wrong, with me," Doli asked frustratedly.
Fflewddur tried to verbally backtrack. "Oh! Ah, nothing! Splendid choice, in fact! Heh, heh." he replied as another string on his harp broke.
"Shall we then," Jesse asked.
The Fair Folk turned invisible and lifted our heroes to the exit of the realm.
"Oohhhh," Gurgi oohed.
"Please, wait," Taran suddenly called out, "Hen Wen."
"Don't worry," Edilleg replied, "we'll get her home safely!"
"Thank you, sir," Taran said with relief, "be nice, Hen!"
"I know where the Marshes of Morva are, then follow me," Mary Ruth warned the others.
"Nice idea, M. R.," Alec beamed.
Mary Ruth nodded to that.
"Yes...onward to the Black Cauldron..." Jesse hid a bit of an eerie snicker.
We now view an area that resembled a swamp. A eerie mist covered the ground. We see Taran, Princess Eilonwy, Gurgi, Fflewddur Fflam, Doli and the group who was sitting atop Fflewddur's hat. Eilonwy was stepping carefully, where she won't dirty herself. Fflewddur, who was looking worse for wear, seemed to be exhausted.
"Welcome to the Marshes of Morva," Mary Ruth warned the others.
"Oh, such a dreary place," Elionwy remarked.
"Let's see what it looks like from up here," Taran said, walking to a small ledge, overlooking the marshes.
"Well, uh...Mary Ruth, how do you know this place," Joanie asked.
"Honestly, I've had dreams about this place several times," Mary Ruth said, "I found out though from Angharad and Geraint that they swore that someone leave me on their doorstep from this exact place, like I was perhaps born here."
"Ooh...sounds foreboding," replied Darla.
"I think we're lost...." said Eilonwy to Taran.
"Are you sure this is the right place, guys," Gertie asked Doli and Mary Ruth.
"Yes, we're sure," Doli replied gruffly.
"Well, if you ask me----aahhhh," Fflam replied before walking over a small ledge.
"Fflewddur! Doli," Elionwy cried out in despair.
"Are you alright," Taran asked.
"Hey! Watch out, you big clumsy oaf! Look wher--oops," Doli frowned before seeing a cottage where a certain artifact was hidden, "welcome to Morva."
"Yes," Mary Ruth nodded in agreement.
"Well, someone must live here," Taran collected as he walked up to the cottage.
Gurgi panicked. "Gurgi not like this place! Uh-uh! Noooooo," he shrieked.
Eilonwy was looking in a window. "It seems empty. Perhaps we should have a look," she suggested.
Taran was now trying to push the door open with Jesse. "If I could just....get this...door open," he groaned. The door opened, and they looked around.
"How will we ever find the Black Cauldron in a place like this," asked Eilonwy.
"It must be here somewhere," exclaimed Taran as the search began.
Eilonwy and Mary Ruth looked in the drawer, Taran and Atticus looked in a cabinet, and Alec, Darla and Gurgi looked behind a door. Taran opened a chest and myriad of frogs jump out heading for the door. Eilonwy shrieked in terror.
"They're only frogs, Eilonwy," replied Taran.
"Those were people," exclaimed Doli.
"You mean they were turned into frogs," exclaimed Darla.
Gurgi suddenly jumped on Darla and shook her madly.
"Oh, master! Come faster! Gurgi finds the wicked Cauldron! Faster! Gaster! Follow Gurgi," he exclaimed.
"Gah! Get off of me," Darla cried out in grief.
Soon Gurgi led the group into the next room. "Behold, Master," he proclaimed.
"The entire room is complete with cauldrons," Taran gasped in realization.
"Sure...then how do we find out which one is the Black Cauldron," Joanie asked with a small huff.
"I don't understand! Why would, why would anyone want so many..." said Eilonwy.
"Ah! Thieves! Thieves," said a voice.
The group returned to the main room, a small explosion lit it and three women appeared.
"Someone stole all our frogs! You evil, nasty people," exclaimed one, "you shall all be turned into frogs and eaten!"
Another was feeling Alec's arm. "Nice and tender," she said.
"Hey, watch the merchandise," Alec retorted, pulling his arm apart.
Mary Ruth's eyes widened from the three women almost like she knew them somehow.
"So nice to meet you ladies," Fflam said, going to get away, only for a hand to reach out and pull him, "uh, farewell!"
"Wait! My, aren't you the handsome one," the woman sniggered, hugging him as he felt quite shocked.
"Who? Who," Fflam gulped, "m-m-m-m-m-me?!"
"Oh, honestly now," the woman snickered, "don't you find me irresistible?"
"Now, now, let's not get hasty....." Mary Ruth warned the three woman.
"Yes," said Jesse, "let's think this out!"
"They're right," another woman replied. "Enough of this lovesick nonsense," she turned Fflewddur into a frog.
"Grand Belin," Fflam cried out in despair before trying to jump off.
Then the woman tried to catch him, but Fflewddur was too fast. "We're going to have toad stew," she huffed.
Suddenly a pot filled with boiling water appeared under Fflewddur; he fell in and Orgoch stuffed him up with a spoon and was about to eat him, until Orwen pushed her off, causing Orgoch to drop Fflewddur.
"You're not going to eat this one," said Orwen, changing him back and hugging him once more, "come here, love! Can anyone here perform marriages?"
Fflewddur sounded utterly frightened. "Marriages," he exclaimed.
"That sucks," Joanie remarked.
"You love-struck witch," Orgoch snapped, changing Fflewddur back into a frog, but since Orwen was hugging him, Fflewddur was caught between Orwen's breasts.
"That sucks even more," Joanie sniggered.
"Where is he? Where'd he go," Orwen cried out for her "true love" in grief. "Yoo-hoo! Where are you? Don't go! Now look what you've done! He's gone! I'll never forgive you for this, Orgoch! Never," she cried.
Fflewddur managed to free himself, and he jumped away.
"Oh, there you are," Orwen spotted him, changing Fflewddur back, and all three witches laughed together.
"Enough," Taran snapped, "we've come for the Black Cauldron!"
"Did you hear that, sisters," Orddu asked.
"Why, no one has asked for the Black Cauldron in over 2,000 years," Orwen replied.
"It's a trick," Orgoch huffed, "we're not going to let them have it, are we?"
"It's not a trick," Mary Ruth frowned a bit.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me," said Orddu. "Maybe I might interest you in something else; a kettle, a crockpot, a skillet, a teapot, a bucket, a jar, a platter," the pots, skillets and pans floated around Taran, "see anything you like?"
The Magic Sword glowed and suddenly seemed to take on its own life. It shattered the pots and pans, and got Orddu's attention. "I don't believe it! I've never seen a sword like that," she shrieked, "I've had to have that sword! Listen carefully, we'll trade the Cauldron for the sword!"
Orwen looked baffled. "But what have they done with the Cauldron, Orddu," she asked.
Orddu snickered. "Nothing! That's the point. Don't you see? We'll end up with both! The sword and the Cauldron," she turned to the group, "it's decided then, you shall have the Black Cauldron."
"You mean, you'll give it to us," asked Jesse.
Orddu laughed at that. "That's not what I said," she said, "you weren't listening. We never give anything apart! What we do is bargain, trade!"
"Well, you'll not have my sword," Taran replied.
"Or mine," Jesse added, holding the Sword of Harmony close.
"May I ask you ladies to perhaps consider this magnificent harp," Fflam offered.
"A harp," Orddu scoffed. "If we want music, we send for the birds. What have we done with a simple harp," she saw Darla's brooch, "ooh...what's all that then?"
"Uh, I'm sorry, ma'am, but this is my most prized possession," Darla said, holding onto her Sailor Guardian brooch protectively.
"Yes, and ya can't need it," Alec added.
Orddu growled a bit.
"I'm sorry..." Darla whispered, "but I promised Serena."
"These swords look nice though," Orgoch said, looking over Jesse's shoulder.
"Back off, ya broad, or you're ribbons," Jesse threatened.
"Jesse..." Joanie asked as that sounded a bit unlike Jesse to say something like that.
"Hey, they threatened the sword," replied Alec, "it's just not done."
"But wait! Gurgi will trade his munchings and crunchings," said Gurgi, as he held out an apple core.
Orddu looked on in disbelief. "Who would want...?!"
Orgoch stopped her. "Hold it, sister! Not so fast," she caught the apple core and ate it.
Taran waved his hands. "Alright! I know what you want!"
Orddu looked on, curious. "Ye-ee-ee-es?"
"No, Taran! No," exclaimed Eilonwy, knowing what was about to happen.
Taran turned to Eilonwy. "It's our only chance," he said, before turning to Orddu, mournfully, "here is my sword. Take it!"
"This is your own choice, duckling," Orddu warned, "remember, with this sword, you could be the biggest of warriors!"
"A weapon is only as nice as the one who holds it," advised Alec.
"Yes," Taran warned the witches, "I offer you my dearest possession, in exchange for the Black Cauldron."
"Agreed! We have made a bargain," Orddu smirked.
The three witches disappeared with Taran's sword. The cottage began to fall apart as the wind blew it apart. Stools, chairs, pots and pans flew side-by-side. Then the cauldrons took off.
"Gangway," Darla cried out in despair as she ducked down.
Soon Mary Ruth used her own magical powers to protect them all from the chaos.
Our other heroes laid on the ground to keep out of the road of the cauldrons. Just as they thought it was over, a small earthquake took place. Then the Black Cauldron was pushed up from under the ground where the cottage had been.
"You know these hags," Joanie asked Mary Ruth.
"Yes, they often exist that I'm not really a witch like them," Mary Ruth huffed, "I ain't taking any of their shit though or showing any signs of weakness."
"Sure," Alec nodded.
"I wish I could be brave and strong like you," Joanie whispered to her future grandmother.
"You are, Scuzzlebutt, you just must look for it deep inside yourself to let it come out on its own," Mary Ruth said, forcing the perky goth up to her feet as soon as the Black Cauldron was shown.
Joanie seemed to grin from being called "Scuzzlebutt", even if others found it to be an embarrassing nickname, she didn't care.
"Heh...Scuzzlebutt..." Alec chuckled, "I've heard worse."
"The Black Cauldron! It's ours," Taran exclaimed, as he walked toward it and he heard the laughs of the witches. He looked up to see them watching him from the clouds.
"I say, what funny little ducklings," remarked Orddu, "don't they know the Black Cauldron is indestructible? Now listen carefully, the Black Cauldron can never be destroyed. Only its evil powers can be stopped!"
"Then there is a fashion," Taran's eyes lit up, "but how?"
"A living being must climb into it on his own free will," instructed Orddu.
"They're right," Mary Ruth warned the others, "well, who's up for it, right?"
"Gurgi is bold and brave," Gurgi proclaimed, "he will climb into the evil cauldron!"
"However, the poor duckling, will never climb out ALIVE," Orddu added.
"Yikes," Gurgi gasped from that.
"Now look here, Madame, don't forget we have an agreement," Fflam reminded the witches.
"Yes! You said we could have the Cauldron," Elionwy added.
"That's how they get ya," Mary Ruth remarked.
"Of course we said you could need the Cauldron," Orgoch replied, "it's not our fault you can't do anything with it! Not even little old Mary can help ya!"
"Farewell, goslings," Orddu said before disappearing with her sisters, "and remember, we always keep our bargain!"
"Ugh...I hate these three...." Mary Ruth grumbled.
"They remind me of.....my cousin's other aunts......" Joanie replied, speaking about Wendy's aunts who were on her father's side of the family.
"That's right," Alec nodded.
Night arrived, and our heroes sat around a campfire. Fflewddur was tending the fire with a stick. Eilonwy and Gurgi sat next to Fflewddur. Taran sat with the adventure group with Doli sitting on his shoulder. All of them were unsure about what they should do with the Cauldron, they pondered their problem.
"What a bunch of blundering misfits," Doli huffed. "Things never work out if you're dealing with people," he faced Taran, "you can go back to feeding pigs! I've had it! Farewell!"
"Oh, Doli, don't leave," Gertie frowned, but it was no use.
Doli turned invisible and flew back to the Fair Folk realm.
"Yeesh...with friends like that, right," shrugged Alec.
"Fantastic," Joanie deadpanned.
"Doli's right. It's my fault," Taran said, "I let you down! Without my sword, I'm nothing! I'm just an Assistant Pig-Keeper!"
"Look, you are somebody," Eilonwy consoled him, "you must believe in yourself! I believe in you."
"You, you do so! And I think that you're----" Taran replied before soon he held her hands. "Uh, I mean...that is--" he drew his hands off in embarrassment.
"Yes, Taran," Elionwy replied hopefully.
"Is he going to confess some feelings," Joanie asked in shock.
"This early," asked Alec, "....probably not...."
Jesse seemed indifferent to the situation.
"I'm warning you, he's been acting funny since after he jumped into the moat with Hen Wen," Joanie warned Gertie and Alec, "I've known Jesse longer than any of you, then I think I know since something's up."
"That's unfair," replied Alec, "maybe we ought to ask him?"
"Yes, I guess..." Joanie said, "hopefully soon though."
Gertie nodded from that as that sounded nice enough.
"He does seem different somehow..." Darla replied, "also, I don't remember him bringing the Sword of Harmony with him."
"That's another best point," Gertie had to admit.
However, but before anything else could happen, some griffins came swooping around the cauldron.
"Whoops! Danger," said Gurgi. "Farewell," he scurried away into the woods.
Alec shrugged. "Saw that one coming....."
Taran turned to the group. "Faster! We can't let them find it," he instructed before the Henchmen burst out of the brush holding spears.
"Pig boy," they shout as they surround our heroes.
Soon Taran, Princess Eilonwy, Mary Ruth, Fflam and their friends were taken back to the Horned King's castle––minus Gurgi, who had fled at first sight of the griffins. The King's courtroom was filled with the lifeless skeleton warriors.
Creeper was on a platform with the Black Cauldron, yelling out orders. "Get a move on! Careful now! You! Tie them up over there and get that cart out of here," he shrieked, before turning to our heroes, "oh, I'm sorry. I've ignored you. You did come for the Black Cauldron? Sure, then climb right in! It'll only cost you your life!"
"No thanks, uggo," Joanie retorted as Creeper saw the Horned King coming.
"Oh! Everything is ready, sire," Creeper exclaimed to his master.
The Horned King snickered at his apparent victory. "My, such a brave and handsome crew! A pig-boy, a scullery maid, some would-be heroes and a broken-down minstrel! Maybe it may interest you to see what fate has in store for you," he laughed. "Now I call upon the army of the dead! The Cauldron-Borne," he caught one of the skeletons and put it in the Black Cauldron, "arise, my messengers of death! Our hour has arrived!"
The Cauldron began to shake and started leaking blood. It spat a huge ball of fire and produced a green mist that settled over the rotting skeletons. The henchmen wanted to get a closer look, until suddenly the skeletons spring to life, now the Cauldron Born, who made their road to the entrance of the castle.
Jesse didn't seem to do anything to help as he seemed to snigger.
"Jesse, what's wrong with you," Joanie complained.
Jesse chuckled a bit. "This is better than I thought it would be~..." he said, "especially with you coming near The Horned King and Richie isn't here to help any of you."
"Hey, wait a second," Alec put two and two together, "only a villain would say that...but then you're NOT THE REAL JESSE!!"
"Took ya long enough, Piggy," Jesse snickered.
"AYE, DON'T CALL ME PIGGY, YOU BUTTMUNCH," Alec snapped, "then who are you? One of Sombra's illusions? Evil counterpart? Defective duplicate?"
"No," Atticus sniggered before he was shown to be another warlock teen, though a bit younger than the main adventure group with short brown hair with lime-green eyes, "consider this a message from my darling Mrs. Jumbo."
"Fairy Godmother," the group asked.
"Yes," the warlock teen snickered, "Sid's the name. The Queen of Hearts's favorite nephew."
"Sidney," Joanie asked, "I guess your parents really wanted a girl."
"Sid, you idiot! Sid," the warlock teen frowned from the misnaming. "I wish I could stay, but I should get back home to let Aunt Sarah know how perfectly her plan worked out for me to test it out while she called in the Horned King for a favor as that pig and your so-called best friend were captured by him," he sniggered as he went to leave via smoke cloud with a wicked laugh.
"Oh, dear, you don't, you little troll," Alec snapped as he conjured a magic-proof vacuum and sucked up Sid. Shortly after, he corked the vacuum shut. "You wanted to see the Cauldron's power? Then here! Ya had yourself a front-row seat!"
"You can't do this to me," Sid's voice muffled.
"I think he just did so," Darla snickered.
"You know, you're kinda cute for a mortal," Sid's voice said, "perhaps if ya let me out, I'll forget all this ever happened, then you and me can go see a movie. How about it, Doll Face?"
"Ugh! Not on your life," Darla grimaced, "especially after you impersonated my big brother!"
"Yes, and our best pal," Alec added as he frustratedly shook the bag up and down like a snowglobe, "take THAT, you little degenerate!"
Soon Sid shrieked out in misfortune.
Soon we see Gurgi entering the castle through the water gate, watching all the rats scurry off.
"Oh! It's horrible," Elionwy gasped.
"My phantom warriors have come to life," The Horned King smirked, "all dead from centuries past! Never has anyone created an army like this! Go forth, my deathless warriors! Destroy all in your path!"
"Come, Sire! We can get a better view from above," Creeper suggested as he led the Horned King to the balcony overlooking the drawbridge.
While Creeper led the Horned King to the parapets above, Taran, Eilonwy, Joanie, Gertie, Darla and Fflewddur looked hopelessly at one another while Alec gave Sid a taste of laser-guided karma.
"Oh, Taran," Elionwy frowned, "I'm afraid it'll soon be over for us."
"I-I hadn't planned it to end like this, Eilonwy," Taran replied.
"Oh, I wish I'd stayed a toad," Fflam sulked.
"Question, though," said Lionel, "where are Jesse and Hen Wen? Start speaking, or I make with more shaking!"
"I ain't speaking," Sid said.
"Uh, Alec, if I may," Darla spoke up to step in before she brought out a special scepter.
Alec pondered. "Well...alright, then," he replied, "I'm nothing if not fair."
"Moon Power Make-Up," Darla called out, twirling her scepter a bit, turning it into a Moon Staff as soon as she turned into Sailor Moon and shot the vacuum at Sid to give him more pain until he would spill the beans.
"AAUUGGHH!! What was that," Sid cried out in despair.
"In the name of the moon, until you warn me where my big brother is, I WILL PUNISH YOU," Darla frowned.
"Feisty...I like that..." Sid sniggered.
"Guess if you won't speak.....perhaps I'll put some bees in there," Alec snapped his fingers, and soon the vacuum was filled with bees.
Sid yelled out.
"No! Not the bees," Joanie snickered a bit cockily.
"Ugh...that is so lame...." Sid moaned.
"SPEAK," Joanie demanded, "you're only making it worse for yourself!"
"Perhaps I put porcupine in there," said Lionel in a Russian accent, "and fire ants, and wasps, and--"
"WELL, FINE," Sid snapped, "he's rotting in a dungeon where The Horned King sent him after that fat pig was captured along with him at the moat."
"And that Sword of Harmony," Joanie asked.
"A little fact called Illusion Magic that Flora taught me from an old friend of hers who came from The Wasteland," Sid replied.
Alec scowled frustratedly at him. "Just for that...you get an old-fashioned trip to the Gray Area," he remarked.
"No luck! I can't go there," Sid cried out in grief.
"Perhaps if we're lucky, Sergeant Slater will be there as well since Winifred was forced to go to Magic Boot Camp with that mess and her witch's license," Joanie remarked.
"I'm sorry, you should've thought of that BEFORE you messed with my friend," Alec retorted, "or perhaps I ought to leave you in Troll Valley! You know they just love to bash witches!"
"Either fashion, you deserve to be sent off...you slug..." Mary Ruth glowered, "if my powers were more developed, I'd make you wish you never met me."
"Yes, well, you're just a wannabe," Sid snorted, "you'll all surrender to Nanny! Especially you, Red! No one wants you around and no one ever will!"
"LEAVE MY GRANDMOTHER ALONE," Joanie snapped out of it, having seen enough of Mary Ruth being spoken down to before she gave Sid a fast kick, sending him flying in the air.
"Pipe down, you little snot," Alec added, before blasting him off, "hope you like Trolls, because they sure won't like you!"
"Alright then..." sighed Gertie, "we need to find Jesse and Hen-Wen, and then stop the Cauldron!"
Mary Ruth held onto Joanie's arm before she ran away.
"Oh, uh...hey, Mary Ruth," Joanie said to her.
"Then you are from the future," Mary Ruth snickered.
"How...how did you know," Joanie asked.
"Witches have a special sense that reminds them of people they know in the future until they end up time-traveling back into the past," Mary Ruth sniggered, "thanks for sticking up for me like that. I think I really needed it."
"I love you, Grandma," Joanie said softly.
"I love you as well, Scuzzlebutt," Mary Ruth grinned, hugging her before snickering firmly, "now let's go get your friends back."
"Yes, ma'am," Joanie saluted.
And then, the group headed down to the dungeon as the chaos raged above their heads.
Jesse played a crystallized harmonica as he felt trapped as he was unable to break himself out.
"Jesse," Joanie's voice muffled, "that you?"
"Joanie," Jesse replied, "how do I know that's really you?"
"Um...uh..." Joanie stammered, "alright...my complete name is-----"
There was a bunch of loud noises in the background, which muffled out her voice.
"Joanie," Martin beamed, "it is you! Unfortunately, I can't break out. I don't know why I can't though, something's blocking my god strength somehow."
"It was Widow Tweed's wretched little nephew who did this," replied Alec, "hang on, though; we'll have you out in two shakes of a tyrannosaurus tail."
"Oh, you guys...thank you," Jesse said with strong relief.
"Think nothing of it, old chum," Alec replied as he turned the wall into wrapping paper and tore through it, "anything for a friend!"
Soon Jesse came on out. "Well, Minnie has a nephew," he asked.
"Apparently his name is Sid, but I feel like we won't have to concern about him for a while," Joanie replied before hugging her best friend.
"Huh...I'm so glad to see you guys again," Jesse beamed.
"You and me both," Alec replied, "that Horned King creep activated the Cauldron, and now we need an undead army to tangle with!"
"Oh, boy..." Jesse sighed, "I guess we're in for a Walking Dead fact..."
"Looks like it," Joanie shrugged.
Soon they dashed out of the dungeon and all wore brave faces, though Darla felt hesitant about fighting the undead.
Suddenly, Taran heard a loud breathing sound. "Gurgi? Gurgi, is that you," he asked.
At once, the hairy little creature showed himself. "Master," he exclaimed.
"Oh, it's you," muttered Alec.
"Gurgi, what are you doing here," asked Taran.
"Gurgi sorry he always runs off if there's danger," said Gurgi, "he untie everyone! Then we leave this evil place!"
"Well, get on with it," replied Fflam.
"Yes! Get on with it," Joanie's voice said before showing her and the others, "I'm sorry...fell asleep watching Monty Python."
"Nice boy, Gurgi," Taran warned Gurgi as he was now free. "Eilonwy, you go with Fflewddur, Jesse, Joanie, Darla, Alec, Gertie and Gurgi. I must stop the Cauldron," he started climbing to a balcony that overlooked the cauldron.
"Oh, but Taran, that's impossible," Elionwy said. "Why you'd be---" she saw Taran ready to throw himself into the Cauldron. "Taran!!"
"I'm sorry, guys," Taran said.
"No, Taran, you don't need to do this," Darla yelped.
"My mind is made up," Taran replied; he readied himself but Gurgi stood in his road.
"Wait, master! Gurgi not let you jump into Cauldron," said Gurgi.
Taran frowned. "Gurgi, get out of my way," he warned him.
Gurgi backed up almost to the edge of the balcony. He almost fell in until part of the cobblestones gave room. "Please, master," the small creature begged, "not go into evil Cauldron."
"If I don't, we're all lost," shouts Taran firmly, "out of my road!"
Gurgi was in tears by this point. "No! Gurgi not let his friend die," he sniffled as he approached the edge, "Taran has many friends......Gurgi has no friends."
"Gurgi, no! Don't jump! Please, wait! Don't," exclaimed Taran, but it was no use, "noooooo!"
The hairy little creature had thrown himself into the cauldron, giving his own life to save everyone else.
"Wow..." Jesse whispered.
"He...he did that for us....." Darla added.
"I never knew he'd have it in him," Joanie gasped.
Alec bowed his head. "And to think...I was so rude to him......" he replied in surprise.
"I know," Joanie replied with a bit of a torn voice.
The fire and the green mist were suddenly being sucked back into the cauldron. Outside, the Cauldron Born were staggering and falling into heaps and becoming dusty skeletons once more.
"Sire! Sire, look," Creeper alerted, "something's wrong! What is this, sire? They're...they're DYING!!"
"It can't be," The Horned King scowled, seizing Creeper by his throat, "this had better not be your fault!"
"It needs another body, Sire," Creeper suggested.
"Yes," The Horned King replied, "YOURS!!"
Taran, Eilonwy, Mary Ruth, Fflam and the others dashed throughout the corridors and came to the main room where the Cauldron was madly sucking up all the mist and fire, destroying all the evil that it has created.
"Get Eilonwy out of here. Hurry up," Taran warned Fflam.
"Taran, I, please, I--" Eilonwy protested.
Taran wouldn't hear it. "Go ahead! Go with Fflewddur," he said to himself, "perhaps there's yet a chance, for Gurgi..."
"For Gurgi..." the others repeated a bit.
Suddenly, the Cauldron gave a mad onrush of air. All the torches blew out and Taran was being dragged toward the Cauldron, hungry for more innocent lives. Taran saw a iron handle on the wall. Desperately, he reached for it and held on tight. Then the Horned King charged downstairs from his balcony above with Creeper in his clutches.
"No, Sire! Please, wait," Creeper cried out in despair.
"Get up," The Horned King demanded to the Cauldron Born, "come alive!!"
"Maybe they're only resting, Sire," Creeper said hesitantly before looking to the Cauldron Born in a panic, "DO SOMETHING!! My life is at stake!"
"Get up, you fools! MURDER," The Horned King snarled as Creeper suddenly spied Taran holding onto the iron handle, doing his best to keep himself from being sucked into the Black Cauldron as the others began to help him out a little.
"Look! Sire, look," Creeper soon blabbed it all, "it's the PIG BOY!! It's HIS fault! Yes! He's the cause of it! And these friends of his!"
The Horned King tossed Creeper apart from him as he moved toward Taran and his friends, promising himself that they would be the next victims of the Black Cauldron. "You've interfered for the last time..." he snarled.
Creeper cackled with glee. "Go for the throats, Sire," he whooped.
"Now, Pig Keeper...you shall all die," shouts the Horned King frustratedly.
"He's mad..." Darla shivered hesitantly.
"Perhaps you should go first, Pig Girl," The Horned King mocked her.
"No thanks, how about YOU," retorted Alec.
Taran kicked himself off and tried to escape.
"What's this," asked the Horned King, as the Cauldron sucked in a gigantic amount of air, causing the villain to move closer the Cauldron. "No, you'll not escape," he seized Taran and looked him in the eye. "You will satisfy the Cauldron's hunger," he tossed Taran toward the Cauldron.
Taran, too weak to move, laid silent. Pleased with his work, the Horned King made his road toward the staircase leading to his balcony. Taran, seeing that he was leaving, crawled astray from the Cauldron. Eilonwy, Mary Ruth and Fflewddur watched hesitantly from a parapet above. The Cauldron was not pleased seeing its revenge escaping; it made another huge onrush of air, causing the Horned King to slip closer to the Cauldron.
"This isn't looking best for you," Jesse snarked, "huh...this adventure feels a bit short. Is it just me?"
"Guess you just had fun with it," Joanie said to him.
Soon the Horned King realized what the Cauldron was doing. "No! You'll not need me! My power cannot die," he cried out in grief as he realized it was now useless. "Curse you! No! NoooooOOOO," he was holding onto the Cauldron, trying to pull himself off. "AARRGGHH," he deteriorated in a flash of light and was gone, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "STEELE!!"
This yell was so loud that it echoed across the chamber. Creeper had watched from a parapet above. "Oh, dear! H-How horrible! Poor sire! H-He's gone," he lamented until he realized that his boss was gone and he was not going to be punished whether or not was it his fault. "He's gone! Ha! He's gone! Ha, ha, ha, ha! HE'S gone,~" he sang happily as he hobbled off.
Then the Cauldron's onrush of air had stopped. Now it had turned a molten gold and was causing the floor to collapse.
"Celebrate later," said Alec, "time to GO!!"
"Fflewddur! Mary Ruth! Eilonwy," called Taran as the group ran through the crumbling castle.
"Over here! Hurry up," Eilonwy shouts.
Taran grinned. "Thank heavens you're safe! C'mon, Fflewddur! Hurry up!"
They ran throughout the crumbling castle. Pillars crumbled before their eyes and the floors behind them started collapsing.
"For sake's alive," exclaimed Fflam.
They came to a spot where the floor had split. Taran and Jesse jumped over first, then Alec, Darla, Gertie and Eilonwy, next Mary Ruth and Joanie. Fflewddur didn't like the idea.
"C'mon, Fflewddur," Taran encouraged, "jump!"
Fflewddur made it safely across and they bolted down a hallway. They came to the sewer of the castle, where a boat sat waiting.
Eilonwy pointed. "Taran. Look," she exclaimed.
Taran grinned. "Sure! Get in," he picked up a pole, "here! Your turn, Fflewddur!"
Fflewddur started pulling them toward the exit until he noticed a locked gate blocking their path. "Oops! Danger," he cried out in despair.
"Oh! We can't get through," Elionwy yelped.
"I-I'll try to open the gate," Taran suggested as he jumped out of the boat, into the water.
"I'll help out," Jesse said, going to join him.
"Be careful, guys," Elionwy and Gertie cried out in grief.
Soon Jesse and Taran broke the rusty chains easily and opened the gate.
"There we go," Jesse said, "alright, gang, now push the boat through!"
"C'mon, Fflewddur! Hurry up," Elionwy yelped.
With Taran and Jesse yet in the water, they helped push the boat through the exit until they were being helped out.
"Nice job, lad," Fflam grinned until he suddenly saw that the ceiling was going to give room. With one final heave, he pulled Taran and Jesse into the boat. "Watch o-o-ou-u-ut-t-t," he shrieked.
Soon the others yelled out as this was it. The ceiling caved in just as the companions make it into the exit tunnel. A huge wave of water flushed them out of the castle and capsized their boat. The castle exploded, the towers crumbled and the rubble sank into the bubbling water. Taran, Princess Eilonwy, Mary Ruth, Fflewddur Fflam and the others barely made it out of the castle. As Fflewddur pulled the boat to shore, Creeper laughed with mad joy that the Horned King couldn't punish him. Creeper managed to free a griffin, and they flew off, never to be seen again. The castle crumbled to bits.
Soon the group made it to shore as Darla hugged up against Gertie, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"It's alright, Darla, it's over..." Gertie soothed.
"Look," Taran pointed out as soon as he saw something. It was the Black Cauldron, happily bubbling about atop the water, for it had its fill on lives, and its evil was joyous about it.
Taran and Jesse rushed through the water, but stopped. A wind picked up and the clouds rolled in, carrying familiar laughter. "Gurgi," the two gasped to each other.
"Why is the poor duckling so mournful," Orgoch asked.
"Yes, he had what they wanted and he's yet not satisfied," Orddu added.
"Just what do you think you're up to, ladies," Fflam asked.
"Oh, we have business with your little hero," Orddu replied.
"Hero," Taran replied, "Gurgi was the hero!"
"That's right," Jesse added.
"The only fact that mattered to you was the Cauldron," Orddu replied, "but now it's of no use to you. Then we'll just take it, and be on our road!"
"Why would we do that since we never gave anything off, hags," Mary Ruth scowled.
"Yes," Alec added.
"We bargain, we trade. Remember," added Fflam.
"Ha, ha! Did these old ears hear the word 'bargain'," asked Orddu, "huh...?"
Fflam nodded. "Yes, madam! These old ears heard right!"
Orwen gushed with glee. "Ohh! I adore a voiceful man!"
"Oh! Pull yourself together, madam," exclaimed Fflam, "I say! Out with it! What is your offer?"
Orddu put two and two together. "No! Not the--"
"Then I'll do it," said Orwen, and the sword magically appeared in front of Taran, "a magnificent sword for a warrior!"
Taran reached out for it, but suddenly drew his hand apart. "I'm not a warrior......I'm a pig-boy. What have I done with a sword," he asked.
"Absolutely nothing," Orddu remarked, taking the sword back.
"But I will trade," Jesse spoke up.
"Jesse," the others asked in worry.
"YES..." all of the three witches chorused.
"The Cauldron for Gurgi," Jesse replied.
"Oh, dear," Orwen gasped.
"It's not possible," Orddu added.
"Just as I thought, ladies," Jesse snarked knowingly, "you've had no real power! Admit it! Admit it!"
The witches were insulted by Jesse's remark. They disappeared into a whirlwind and circled around the Cauldron.
"We have made a bargain," Orddu said.
"What have you done," Darla yelped.
"Trust me," Jesse replied.
The wind funneled in front of Taran, Eilonwy and the others. Suddenly, it disappeared and the silent body of Gurgi laid on the ground. Taran silently walked forward and picked up Gurgi's corpse. He turned around and faced his friends.
"Oh, Taran..." Eilonwy sniffed.
Taran's eyes filled with tears and he hugged Gurgi's body before he swiftly turned away. 
Suddenly, a little paw slipped into his vest as if in search of an apple. "Munchings and crunchings in here somewhere..." said a familiar voice, hearing the frustrated Horned King shout his name.
Taran was surprised. "Gurgi! Y-You're alive," he exclaimed.
"He's alive," exclaimed Eilonwy.
"Welcome back, you hairy little mug," Alec chuckled.
"Grand Belin! He IS alive," exclaimed Fflam.
"Fflewddur! Fflewddur! He's alive," cheered Mary Ruth, before turning to Joanie, "not bad, Scuzzlebutt. We did it."
"I'm alive," Gurgi laughed as he danced around with Alec, "Gurgi's alive! Look! Look! Look! Touch me! Oh! Ho, ho!"
"I warned you it would all work out," Jesse grinned.
"You big nerd..." Joanie said, though she looked grateful that he helped out like he did so.
Jesse grinned bashfully from that.
"Oh, Gurgi," Elionwy guffawed, "you clever little thing!"
Gurgi was between Taran and Eilonwy who are hugging him. He flashed a crafty grin and pushed Eilonwy and Taran together, which resulted in a kiss. The others shared a laugh from that.
"C'mon, Gurgi," Taran grinned, "let's go home!"
"Oh! Gurgi's Happy day," Gurgi ran forward and caught Taran's hand as the boy looked at Eilonwy and held out his hand to her before she took it.
Then Eilonwy held her hand out to Fflam and he took it.
"Grand Belin! Ha," Fflam beamed.
"Let's go see Dallben," Darla suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Alec replied as he pointed, zapping them all to Dallben's dwelling.
Back at Caer Dallben......
"Wow, that was fast," Tim warned Jesse, Joanie, Gertie, Darla and Alec as he kept track of the time of since they were gone to until they came back.
"You did well, my boy," Dallben beamed as Hen Wen seemed to be grinning at what she saw.
Taran, Eilonwy, Fflam and the others waved as Tim and the group vanished back to the present day, back in the living room.
Executive Producer
DENNIS DESHAZER
Supervising Producer
& Director
JIM ROWLEY
Senior Producer
JEFF GITTLE
Producer
BEN VAUGHN
Writer
SHELDS FREEMAN
Consulting Producer
LINDA HOUSTON
Educational Specialists
MARY ANN DUDKO, Ph.D.
MARGIE LARSEN, M.Ed.
Performance Director
PENNY WILSON
Production Designer
BOB LAVALLEE
Music Director
JOSEPH PHILLIPS
Cast:
Barney's Voice • BOB WEST
Barney's Costume • DAVID JOYNER
BJ's Voice • PATTY WIRTZ
BJ's Costume • JEFF BROOKS
Cast:
Emily • HANNAH OWENS
Jeff • AUSTIN BALL
Kim • ERICA RHODES
Stephen • CHASE GALLATIN
Me-Ma • CATHY MSINGI JONES
Pop-Pop • JIM PONDS
Production Manager
CHARLOTTE SPIVEY
Associate Director
ERIC NORBERG
Art Director
ELIZABETH SAGAN VELTEN
Wardrobe Supervisor/Designer
LISA ODETTE ALBERTSON
Lighting Designer
KEN CRAIG
Lighting Director
LOWRY G. PERRY
Stage Manager
JENA ATCHISON
Post Production Supervisor
BOB DAUBER
Technical Operations Supervisor
RANDY BREEDLOVE
Editors
VICKIE STERLING
MCKEE SMITH
Audio Director
DAVID BOOTHE
Production Audio
RON BALENTINE
Make-Up Design
JEANIE L. D'IORIO
Manager of Music Services
LISA ARBUCKLE GREIF
Manager of Talent Services
JULIE HUTCHINGS
Script Supervisor
CATHERINE REYNOLDS
Original Barney, Baby Bop
and B.J. Costumes by
IRENE COREY
DESIGN ASSOCIATES
"I Love You" lyrics by
LEE BERNSTEIN (BMI)
Melody Traditional © 1983 Shimbarah Music (BMI)
Produced by The Lyons Group
and Connecticut Public Television
For Connecticut Public Television
Executive in Charge
LARRY RIFKIN
The names and characters Barney,
Baby Bop, B.J., Stella the Storyteller,
Scooter McNutty, Miss Etta Kette
and Booker T. Bookworm are
trademarks of Lyons Partnership, L.P.
This picture has made the jurdisction of I.A.T.S.E.-IA, affiliated with A.F.L.-C.L.O.
No. 27724 Motion Picture Association of America
Dolby Stereo in Selected Theaters
Barney and B.J., "Barney & Friends"
and the Barney and children logo
are Reg. U.S. Pat & Tm. Off.
Executive in Charge
RICHARD C. LEACH
Barney and the Backyard Gang®
and Barney & Friends® were
originally developed by
SHERYL LEACH,
KATHY PARKER
and DENNIS DESHAZER
Copyright © 1985 Lyons Partnership, L.P.
All rights reserved.