It was a nice and sunny day in Equestria. Outside of Ponyville, there was a small farm that had a huge field of corn of different varieties. The owner of the farm is a unicorn that goes by the name "Cornhusk". He was a old geezer with the fur color of orange and had yellow eyes the color of yellow corn. He had hair the color of that of a plain field, as if he made a wig out of those plain fields say most of the fillies and colts that come by his establishment. He has been farming for fifty years in a life that has been passed down from generation to generation. His father and his father's father and so forth, have all been farmers of Equestria. Cornhusk wanted to keep the tradition keep on going for future generations.
Today was supposed to be sales for fresh corn. However, he has been pondering in his studies for the past few hours. He felt as if something was very wrong.
"Something's very wrong. I can feel it. And I bet the beezies know it too. Queen Chrysalis. That evil witch. What's she up to this time." said Cornhusk as he got up from his chair.
He then noticed the pot that his assistant 'Parn' made, was starting to bubble and boil. He then looked over to Parn's direction.
"Parn? Parn! The pot is boiling over!" shouted Cornhusk trying to get Parn's attention.
Parn is a unicorn that has been with Cornhusk since he was a little one. He was found on Cornhusk's doorstep and decided to take him in as a son and as a assistant. Parn had a mane and tail that was the color of ivory. His fur was the color of yellow and his cutie mark is yet to be discovered. His eyes were green as the grass.
"Oh, sorry Cornhusk. I was wondering, could I be a soldier? I don't like doing what I do here. I wanna be on the battlefield fighting off evil."
"Nonsense! You're not ready for that. War isn't a game, Parn. Ponies get hurt." said Cornhusk with concern.
"But I'm not afraid-OWCH!" said Parn as he grabbed ahold of the top handle of the pot, forgetting to cover his hoof with a cloth.
"See what I'm talking about. Hehehehe, if Queen Chrysalis ever returns, you'll have to deal with more than just a burnt hoof. Now go outside and feed Gummy."
"Gummy, Gummy, Gummy. It's always gotta be about Gummy."
"And one day my lad, you may learn why. Anyway, now's not the time for daydreaming, you have chores to do."
"Yes, Sir." said Parn as he walked out the front door levitating the bowl of food for Gummy.
Cornhusk walked back to his studies but stopped halfway to look back towards Parn's direction.
"He's very anxious and so blind to the dangers ahead." he whispered to himself.
Cornhusk continued towards his study and looked through his large set of books.
"Cornhusk doesn't understand. I'm not a little colt anymore. I wanna do heroic deeds for all of Equestria. Not stay around a farm watching over a weird, brain damaged, gator." said Parn as he made it to Gummy's little pond.
"Gummy! Come and get it!" called out Parn.
A little head popped out of the water and stared directly at Parn. Gummy rose from the pond and made it towards the food bowl and started taking little bites of what Parn had cooked for him.
"Is this to really be my life? I want to be a be a soldier. Not a gator keeper. Cornhusk thinks I'm some sort of coward. All I want is a chance and I could be the greatest soldier in all of Equestria." said Parn.
Parn then levitated a large stick from the ground.
"Look, Gummy! I can totally do it! HA!" said Parn as he levitated the stick towards Gummy which didn't make the little gator flinch.
"HAHAHA! I bet enemies would fear me."
Parn then looked towards the ducks at the other side of the pond and ran around it towards them while levitating the stick.
"Run you cowards! HAHAHAHA!" he said as he swished the stick back and forth rapidly, scaring off the ducks.
"Everyone runs from Parn! The-" he was cutoff by a duck that flew from behind him. Smacking him behind the head and making fall face first into the mud.
"Ughhhh..." groaned Parn as he swiped his right hoof across his face cleaning off the mud from his face.
Gummy walked up to Parn covered in mud and crawled up onto his back and sat down.
"Hehehehehehe." giggled Parn.
"Ahem?" said a gruff voice from behind Parn.
Parn got up as Gummy slipped off his back and fell into the mud. Parn turned around and saw Cornhusk looking at him with a cocked eyebrow while tapping his left hoof.
"Still daydreaming, are you?" he said with a cocked eyebrow.
"Oh, it just that- Gummy got dirty." said Parn trying to figure out a way to avoid punishment.
"Uh huh… How long will this daydreaming continue?" said Cornhusk as he swished his tail to and fro.
"Come on, Cornhusk. Will I be anything, instead of being an assistant gator keeper?"
"He's no ordinary gator." said Cornhusk as he stretched out his orange colored hoof towards Gummy's muddy head and patting it.
"Anyway, go clean yourselves up. Both of you are covered with mud." said Cornhusk as he headed towards the house.
"Yes, Sir." said Parn as he levitated Gummy towards a small bath barrel that was the prefect size for Gummy to fit his body in. Parn got into the bath barrel right next to Gummy's and started cleaning himself up before cleaning up Gummy.
After Parn cleaned himself from head to hoof, he grabbed a sponge and started to rub it all around Gummy. As he continued, Gummy then stretched out his head and looked around with horror in his eyes.
"What's wrong Gummy?" said Parn with confusion.
Gummy then thrashed back in forth and was having a panic attack.
"Gummy, stop!!" shouted Parn levitating Gummy out of the bucket.
"Parn?! What's going on?!" said Cornhusk as he levitated the window open.
"I don't know? He' thrashing around as if he's seen a ghost."
"What?! Quickly, bring him in here immediately!" said Cornhusk as he closed the window.
As Parn entered the house while levitating Gummy, he noticed that the whole house inside was dark. All of the doors and windows were shut. The only thing he could see was a candle that was dimly lit. Next to the candle was a bowl of water. Parn then looked at Cornhusk who was flinging his match till the flame disappeared from the tip of it.
"What is all this for?" said Parn.
"Put Gummy down. I usually never use Gummy's powers unless I have to. But it seems that I have to." said Cornhusk in calm voice.
"Powers?"
"Parn, what you are about to witness, you must never reveal to anypony." said Cornhusk as he levitated a staff and stirred the water.
Gummy's eyes were fixated on Cornhusk's staff as it swirled around the bowl.
"Gummy, I do beseech. Knowledge that lies beyond my reach. Troubled thoughts weigh on your heart. Pray you now those thoughts impart."
As Cornhusk took the staff out of the water, Gummy placed his snout into the water. A pink mist came out of Gummy's snout which made the water look almost like a whirlpool from within. Then suddenly a figure appeared onto the water. It had a long mane with holes, sharp teeth, bug-like wings, a bizarre horn, and a crown.
"Queen Chrysalis." said Cornhusk silently.
"What?" said Parn.
"Shhhhhhh! Don't interfere."
The water suddenly turned orange and saw figures that appeared to be a couple of flying dragons. The dragons flew in a circle around the edges of the bowl.
"She seems to be searching for something." said Cornhusk.
The dragons then started fusing together forming into some sort of object. Cornhusk's eyes lit up.
"The Black Cauldron?! What does she want with that?!" said Cornhusk.
"What's the Black Cauldron?" said Parn with a cocked eyebrow.
"It's a powerful weapon, Parn. It has been hidden for centuries, but if Queen Chrysalis could find it and unleash its power, nothing could stand against her."
Suddenly, a green formation appeared in the middle of the water that looked a lot like Gummy.
"That's Gummy!" said Parn.
"Oh no! She now knows." said Cornhusk.
"That's enough!" said Cornhusk as he levitated his staff and splashed water on Gummy's face bringing him back to reality.
Cornhusk went to the kitchen and grabbed a saddlebag and stuffed it with an apple, a glass of bottled water, and slices of bread.
"You must leave immediately. Take Gummy and yourself to a hidden cottage at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Stay there and never come out until I come for you."
"Why should I hide?" said Parn.
"I am the only one that knows about Gummy's power. But now, Queen Chrysalis has discovered it. We must make sure she never uses Gummy to find the Black Cauldron." said Cornhusk ignoring Parn's question.
"I'm not afraid of her." said Parn levitating a leash around Gummy's head.
"Then you are a fool of a took. Untried courage is no match for her wickedness. Remember that. Anyway, time to go now. Take care of yourself." said Cornhusk as he levitated Parn's saddlebag over him with food and water to last the way.
Parn walked up to Cornhusk and gave him a hug.
"Goodbye Cornhusk. I won't fail you."
Parn then let go and walked out the front door with Gummy by the leash towards a path that would take them to the Everfree Forest. As they left, Cornhusk stood at the door and watched as Parn and Gummy walked further away along the path.
"So much, so soon...To rest on his young shoulders."
TO BE CONTINUED...