Raisin Quest 3
Day 11

Recap:

>Stopped singing to the Treasure Seeker Fanatic, watched her get turned to stone by the Cockatrice
>Huddled up and waited for the Cockatrice to leave
>Headed down the path, found Sweetie Belle injured in a bush. Rarity had vanished.
>Put Sweetie Belle in wagon, continued onward to the base of the mountain trail
>Scouted ahead of the team because Scootaloo was too chicken to do so herself
>Came to a plateau, saw two ponies standing on the other side
>Sang to ponies, discovered that they were Rarity and the derped out filly Fluttershy lost
>Chanted to a dead tree
>Saw a gap in the trail, told Applebloom to cut down the tree to make a bridge
>Gigantic stone bird flew by on patrol, caught the group by surprise
>xXx Decided to try and utilize the mysterious box to attempt to control the giant stone bird xXx
>xXx Raisin lost her mind, player unable to control Raisin… xXx
>APPLE QUEST TIEM > Player assumed control of Applebloom
>**Took Raisin’s explosives, threw them at the giant stone bird. Bird was defeated**
>Rushed the team out of the plateau due to an impending avalanche
>All ponies accounted for; group hug and attempt to restore Raisin’s mind
>Rarity runs off ahead of the group
>**Used Marshmallows as earplugs to stop the derped out filly from rushing off to the Castle**
>**Traveled to the Castle in the Sand**
>Used a stone to distract guards, assumed cardboard box disguises from hammerspace, snuck into the Castle
>Distracted guards inside the Castle with rocks, got most of team to the Grand Staircase
>**Went back and rescued the scared filly**
>Looked into treasure room; tempted to search through treasure
>Sitting on steps, trying to determine next course of action
>Decide to investigate the treasury to see what may be inside
>xXx Have Pinkie jump onto the puzzle tiles xXx
>**Let Strawberry show you how to safely traverse the tile puzzle trap**
>Safely reach the treasure room
>**Raisin relinquishes Golden Box**
>Tell Strawberry to go and find the key that opens the box
>Stop Strawberry from entering Tezel’s Throne Room
>xXx Open the box yourself xXx
>**Dump out Piece of Granite**
>Formulate a plan to attack Tezel
>**Send Pinkie in to distract Tezel…**
>xXx Have Pinkie deliver the Golden Box directly to Tezel xXx
>(RIP) Pinkie is crushed, Tezel has the Adanemzurai(RIP)
>**Destroy the Crystal Phonograph**
>Tezel goes into a rampage; escape with remaining party members
>Escape from Throne Room; watch as two guards are assaulted by King Tezel
>Go back into Throne Room to assist one of the guards; avoid looking at carpet
>Lyra and Rarity come running into Throne Room; gigantic stone lion is chasing them
>**Save Guard; he stays inside the Treasure Room to stall the stone monster**
>xXx Run through main hall toward the entrance xXx
>**Have Rarity fix up Hayseed, give Hayseed to Raisin**
>Tezel comes back into his castle, namedrops on his fancy golden box, the “Adanmenzurai”
>Attempt to hide; Tezel finds the group
>Tezel takes the group outside to smash under the Titanio
>Regain control of Raisin, group hug before…
>HUG HAYSEED! PREVENT PERMADEATH!
>Back in town, you thank Celestia for being alive. Give Scootaloo a big hug, continue along to fetch Sweetie Belle (and give her a hug as well)
>Head into Library, obtain Twilight’s Earplugs
>--Send a letter to Princess Celestia telling her about the Adanemzurai --
>Head to the Town Square in search of Rarity
>Tell Sweetie Belle to give Rarity the Earplugs, Scoots to get some Elixir off of Pinkie while you fetch some grapes from Dad
>Obtain Grape Basket, look for your friends. Spike runs up to you with a letter in hand
>Read the letter. Princess Celestia asks you to confirm that you heard the name correctly
>xXx Confirm that you heard Sally tell you about the Adanemzurai xXx
>Scootaloo comes up behind you, hyper-active from consuming Snakeoil Sally’s Miracle Elixir
>Rarity and Sweetie Belle are heading into the Town Square; Rarity has equipped the Earplugs and is now focused
>Received a reply from Princess Celestia
*Asterisks represent good actions, xXx represents bad actions

Standing at the edge of the busy Town Square with the royal parchment in hoof, Raisin reads over Celestia’s orders. Surrounded by her dearest friends Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Spike, Raisin ponders over her next course of action with extreme care. With her Royal Highness Princess Luna due to meet with the young adventurers soon, Raisin takes a few moments to consider her options before devising a strategy for this beautiful, sunny morning.

SYSTEM INFO: We are currently using an death-triggered reload system. You have 2 lives; to save your progress, you can hug Hayseed. Hugging Hayseed no longer loads to your previous save. You must die to reload.

Princess Luna isn't due to arrive for almost an hour, from what you determined in Celestia's letter.

Getting your wits about you, you decide to divvy up your team and start heading out. Knowing that the derped fillies are going to be coming around any time now, you tell Sweetie Belle to begin singing.

"...what should I sing?" Sweetie looks at you in confusion. You hum your way through the melody that you learned on Sally's Stage the other night.

"...why am I singing again?" Sweetie Belle seems a bit lost. Scootaloo immediately pipes in, fluttering about. "OhcomeonRaisinThatSongIsSOOOOOOAnnoyingWhyW-" You hold a hoof up to her mouth and tell her that you're gonna need her help to check something.

"Scoots, could you go to Sugar Cube Corner quick and find out..." You lean in to whisper. "...ask the Cakes how Pinkie manages to keep from crashing after drinking so much elixir. I have a feeling you're going to want to know that little bit of information yourself."

Scootaloo nods. "AlrightSureWhateverLETSGO!" Scootaloo buzzes off, leaving in a blur. Pinkie bounces after her, following the speedy orange Pegasus to Sugar Cube Corner.

You make sure that Sweetie Belle is singing the melody before you start heading out. In a matter of moments, Sweetie is surrounded by a small gathering of fillies. Rarity and her look rather surprised.

"Lead them off to Sugar Cube Corner, Sweetie Belle. I've gotta go check on something... suspicious." You give her a nod. She nods back, keeping up the melody. She trots off with the fillies in tow.

"YOU DON'T NEED ME FOR ANYTHING, DO YOU DEAR?" Rarity shouts. Several members of the crowd turn to stare at the vociferous pony.

You look toward the tree, seeing that the small clearing is currently empty.

You motion for her to follow you. She gives you a soft smile and starts heading your way. You lead her toward the small alleyway. She looks about curiously as you enter the quieter divide between the buildings.

You stand next to the tree that you know Sally has been jamming her ill-gotten treasure into. Off in the distance, you see that odd Unicorn from last night talking to one of the guards. She seems to press him about something.

You look up into the tree, seeing a few glittering objects hanging up in the branches. Rarity's eyes gleam. "RAIS-" She catches herself when she notices your face scrunch. "Raisin, look at all that gold!" She whispers excitedly.

Looking about, you do not currently see Sally's horrid disguise making a cameo yet.

You motion to Rarity to lower her head. Carefully removing one of the earplugs, you begin to tell her that you need to grab a rectangular golden box from the tree. All of the other stuff is not necessary.

"Ugh.. there's that song again..." She immediately scrunches up her nose in disgust. "Oh. Right. Yes, the golden box..." She looks like she's having trouble focusing. "I can pull that down, no problem." Her eyes are starting to unfocus.

You keep your head on a pivot, looking for Sally. There's no sign of her yet.

You plug up Rarity's ear once more. She shakes her head quick, letting her eyes readjust. Using her magic, she pulls a brush out of her bags and fixes her mane quick. She scans the branches for the Adanemzurai. You can't help but notice how drawn to the other treasure she is. "...are you sure all you need is a little box? I'm seeing so much beautiful gold up here..."

You assure her that you only need the golden box. It's what the Princess is coming to town for. Rarity sighs in disappointment. "Oh, alright. I'll find it... eventually... behind all this other treasure... I'm sure." She prods around the branches for a bit.

You continue to look about. Suddenly, your eyes meet up with Sally's dorky pony costume at the end of the alleyway. She stares back, dumbfounded.

"Ah-HA! Found it!" Rarity begins to withdraw the small golden box from the tree. "Is this it, Raisin?" She jiggles the box, hearing the Piece of Granite rattle around inside. "What's inside? More treasure?"

You continue to stare down Sally. She's frozen in place.

"Don't open it Rarity. Let's go back to the town square now."

Rarity shrugs. "Well... alright, then, darling..." She looks positively confused. "Remind me again why we're only taking this..."

Sally interjects. She slowly approaches the two of you, whistling the song that you know controls the derped unicorns. Rarity doesn't so much as take notice. Eventually, she sees that you're staring down the alleyway. Her eyes narrow down and she retracts in shock, bumping into the tree. "eeeEEEAHGH WHAT IS THAT?!" A pair of gold necklaces fall from the branches, landing on top of Rarity's horn and a few around your neck.

Sally, again, looks confused. She pulls off the hood to her costume, squinting toward the two of you. "...earplugs? Seriously? That works?" She shakes her head. You see her eyes fill with a desperate though angry demeanor. She bounds toward the two of you.

As Sally bolts toward the two of you, Rarity pushes her back up against the tree. You stand firm, not budging an inch. Sally doesn't seem to relent in her charge. Suddenly, the Griffin freezes in place, a soft aura of blue magic surrounding her body.

Rarity's horn shines brightly. She starts to breathe again, trying to catch her breath. "S..Sally?! What are yo-"

Sally's talon is just inches away from the Adanemzurai in your hooves. "You stupid kid! You have no idea what kind of danger you've got in your hooves right now!" The griffin struggles to get out of Rarity's magical grip. She squirms and jitters. It's straining Rarity's ability to keep her still.

Sally's eyes shrink a bit. "Kid, put that back up there. NOW."

"You know why I'm taking this box already, Sally. Yes, I know I'll probably get myself killed, and yes, I know what this box really is... but I've gotta take a chance." You speak sincerely.

"Purple, you have no clue what you're doing. That artifac-"

"The Adanemzurai."

Sally stops. She stares at you, bewildered. "...how... how did you..? Where did you hear that name from..?"

Rarity turns to look at you. "WAIT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? WHY DO YOU LOOK SO CONFUSED?" She yanks on one of her earplugs instinctively. Suddenly, she loses control of Sally.

Sally gets up to her feet. She doesn't attack. "Fess up. What's going on here?" She leans in. "How much do you know?"

You casually walk up to Rarity and hold up her earplug. "Don't worry about it, I've got this." You pop it back in. Rarity looks at you, worried. "...What's going on?"

You tell Sally that you're pretty sure you've figured it all out. You know that the box is important and is the key to helping you crush up some rocks. You make sure to emphasize that you don't want any of her treasure, taking off the gold chains around your neck. She picks it up and chucks it into the tree, continuing to listen.

You carry on, telling her that you know she's a good griffin and she only means to protect you, but you've gotta do this. It's for the future of Equestria.

Impressed, Sally nods her head. "You know, kid. I admire your tenacity. I know that you know a lot more than what you care to share, and that's fine." She throws her hood back on. "And you know what? If you really want to kill yourself, just go ahead and pop that box open. I bet the thing carries a terrible curse." The griffin turns around and starts heading back to town.

Immediately, she covers up your mouth. "Okay, okay. I got it. Don't say anything.

You call out as the griffin starts taking her leave. "Hey, Sally... I think it'd be smart to get out of town. Never know if... well, you know, someone else knows about what we know about. Like the Princess, for example."

Sally doesn't turn back around, but you can see her nodding her head. "You never can be sure of these things anymore, can you?" A small bag drops out of her costume and hits the street with a jingle. She heads straight for her stage.

Rarity looks over to you and toward the bag of coins. "...what did you say? How did you do that, Raisin?" Rarity is genuinely impressed. You can hear someone approach from behind the tree.

"Do you know of the Castle in the Sand?"

You think quickly. Turning to face the Treasure Seeker, you do your best to cover up the Adanemzurai. She turns her head as you move, but her gaze soon turns toward Rarity. The derped unicorn walks up to Rarity and lowers her head, staring at the chains around her neck.

"Oh.. umm... yes... do you like them?" Rarity recoils, trying to regain her personal space. She clears her throat. "Pardon me, do you mind?"

You start humming the song. The Treasure Seeker melts into a stupor. Tranced, she shuts her eyes and listens to the sweet melody escape your lips. Rarity is utterly confused. She looks toward you, to the bag of coins in the alley, to the Adanemzurai, then up to the swaying unicorn that you're singing to. She shakes her head, then glowers. "...okay. That's it. I can't do this anymore." She stands up, yanking some gold out of the tree. "IF YOU NEED ME, I'LL BE AT MY BOUTIQUE NOT BEING WEIRD." Rarity walks off, carrying a stack of golden treasure on her back.

The afternoon sun hangs above your head. Luna is expected at any moment now, you figure.

You decide to let the confused unicorn head on back to her house. Obviously, your current actions make little to no sense to any of the ponies, so it's reasonable that she's fed up with your weirdness.

You continue to sing the melody and keep the Treasure Seeker under it's hypnotic spell. You reach for the Adanemzurai to put it in your bags, but you realize that you have no room in your bags to hold another item.

Inventory check:

• Raisin: CMC Cape, Boots, Hayseed, Stompstarter, Rocks, Vial of Glittering Sand

  GAME INFO: Money would take up a single slot in your backpack.

Without a second thought, you decide that the Rocks aren't really all that rare. You fish them out of your bags and dump them on the ground, all the while singing your alluring melody to your tranced audience. Quickly, you fill the empty back with the Adanemzurai. It barely fits, but fits well enough to be hidden from view.

With the Adanemzurai safely in your bags, you look back toward the Town Square. Rarity is taking the long way home, avoiding a majority of the crowd. Their eyes quickly snap to see the hoard of treasure on her back. You move toward the town square, kicking the bag of coins behind a garbage can. You figure that garbage day isn't for a few more days; you can fetch it tomorrow morning when this is all over.

As you head into town, you just catch of glimpse of Sally sneaking out from behind her stage. She turns her head and meets your eyes one last time. Without a gesture, she turns her eyes to the road and walks off. She's not wearing her usually eccentric gettup; nobody even notices her leave.

The town square is still bustling, but you do not see your friends anywhere. You keep your eyes to the sky, waiting for the Princess to arrive.

You keep up your chipper melody, leading the Treasure Seeker back towards Sugarcube Corner. You can see your dad looking out from his stall. He stares for a moment, then pretends to ignore you while adjusting a sign for the Grape Stall. As you continue, a small derped filly ends up joining your party. She seems awfully familiar.

You soon find yourself outside of Sugarcube Corner. You notice that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are just standing around. The fillies aren't in sight. Scootaloo buzzes over to you, waving her hooves.

Pinkie bounces out of the bakery. "..Oh? Hey, where'd they all go?" She looks about.

Sweetie Belle looks really sorry. "Uhm... they're going to be okay, right?

You ask Scootaloo if she tried singing to them. She has a beaming smile. "WellYeahOfCourseSweetieBelleWasGettingREALLYTiredSoITookOv-" You put a hoof on her mouth.

You ask Sweetie Belle for her bag of Marshmallows. She smiles. "Um... okay! We brought that bucket of grapes over to snack on as well..." You tear into the bag and start inserting Marshmallows into the ears of the derped unicorns. There's only two with you at the moment.

You plug up the Treasure Seeker. Her eyes start to focus. Immediately, she jumps back with a certain fear in her eyes. "WHERE AM I?! WHY CAN'T I HEAR ANYTHING?!"

Pinkie bounces up to the mare. "You're in Ponyville, silly! Took you long enough to find out you're somewhere where you weren't!" Pinkie smiles.

"WHAT?! ARE YOU TALKING? AM I DEAF?! WH..." She reaches for her ears, but you stop her from pulling the marshmallows out. The pony is very scared. You pop a set of Marshmallows in the other fillies ears. She snaps out of her trance, then looks about. "Uh... what... WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY AM I IN PONYVILLE?" She's pretty calm.

You encourage Scootaloo to eat some jam. "BLEEECH!

You shout to the two that they were poisoned by Sally's Elixir. They recoil in shock. "ARE YOU SERIOUS? SHE'S BEEN CAUGHT, RIGHT?!" The Treasure Seeker pony looks appalled.

You tell them that the Marshmallows in the ears are the only cure you know of. If they want to get better, they need to keep them in their ears for at least 2 days. Pinkie nods in approval. "Or at least until Raisin breaks the Crystal Phonograph again!" The other ponies look at her funny. She just gives them a cute smile and trots back toward the bakery.

The unicorns seem rather calm. You're certain the others are probably wandering around in town again. As you ponder how you'll recollect them, you hear a blast of trumpets from the Town Square. Sweetie Belle looks up. "Oh! That must be..." She yawns. "That's the Princess, I bet."

You tell the others that you're going to meet up with the Princess and see what she has to say. You ask Pinkie and Scootaloo to keep their eyes open for the other fillies that wandered off; they must be found. "A-Ok, Raisin!" Pinkie gives you a little salute as she starts prowling around, keeping her nose to the ground. Scoots buzzes about, holding a hoof above her brow. Sweetie Belle shrugs. "I'm gonna tag along with you, okay?"

You tell Sweetie to watch the two 'recovering' unicorns. Sweetie looks kind of bummed, but nods. "Okay..."

Quickly, you make your way back into the Town Square. You are met with the royal visage of a rather tired looking Luna. You start to wonder why Celestia didn't come herself; her sister has probably been up all night. Luna's voice booms over the market.

"Citizens of Ponyville! We have come to meet with a young filly named 'Raisin'! Is she in town?" The atmosphere of the market is completely broken by her incredible volume. You wander up the street. Luna holds up a small photo, blinks a few times, then looks back up to you. "Raisin! Come! We have much to discuss!" Your dad looks down at you, then up to the Princess. He shakes his head, then goes back to bowing to her majesty.

Luna steps down from her royal chariot. She directs you toward the Town Hall. A small platoon of guards stand outside the door as the Princess rushes you inside.

"Raisin... our loyal subject... now that we're in private, I must ask... Do you know where the Adanemzurai is located?" Her tone is much softer. "It's crucial that we secure it at the Royal Archives in Canterlot. It's the only way we can stop something terrible from happening."

You tell Luna that there is a group of fillies wandering around the town that have been put under some sort of spell. You think it might be related to the Adanemzurai.

"Fillies? Under a spell? Can you elaborate?" She looks at you with grim concern.

You explain that the fillies don't seem to respond to anything other than some 'Castle in the Sand' nonsense.

"Siren Sand... this is definitely Tezel's doing." Luna responds immediately. "Don't worry; I'll take care of this immediately." She leans her muzzle up with a scowl. "Wedge! Vicks!"

Two guards come dashing in. Luna barks an order out. "Round up all of the fillies and foals in town at once! Time is of the essence!" They dart out of the door.

Luna lowers her volume again. "They'll be safe under the watch of my guards. It is critical that we find that Golden Box. Do you know where it is, Raisin?" Luna presses. "Where can we find the one you called 'Sally'?"

You decide to hoof over the Adanemzurai to the inquisitive Princess. You tell her that you found it up in a tree outside of town and that Sally may have stowed it up there for safe keeping.

Very carefully, Luna lifts the box out of your grasp. "This... this is it. This is the Adanemzurai. Well done, Raisin... you found it." She carefully sets it down on the floor.

"So... I was wondering... what does this thing do, anyhow? I couldn't open it-"

"NEVER. Never open this box. I'm glad you didn't try to." Luna looks down at it again. "The Adanemzurai is a dark, cursed item that forces ponies under the influence of the box's owner."

You continue with your questioning. "So Tezel owns the box, correct?"

Luna shakes her head. "No. The owner of the box is whoever is inside of the box, part of the box..." She looks at your confused expression and continues. "...which could be any part of the pony that's trying to use the box. Hair, eyelashes, hoof chips..." Luna taps it, hearing the rattling stone inside. "...which, from the sounds of it, Tezel put something in here already..."

You ponder another question to ask the Princess. You can hear a bunch of fillies outside of the door now.

"How would you even be able to open it without setting it off? Wouldn't Tezel be trapped in the box if he opened it?"

Luna nods her head. "He would be... unless he's got the right key." She flips the Adanemzurai over very slowly, exposing the underside to you. "In this 'Castle' that Tezel has made his residence in, there should be a few pedestals that will accept this connection... pending he didn't destroy them all." She sets the box back down. "But that doesn't matter. With the box in hoof, Tezel is nearly powerless."

"Is there a way to defeat Tezel? Like, for good? Some sort of weakness?"

Luna carefully picks up the Adanemzurai, heading toward a massive chest in the middle of the room. It's covered in royal symbols. "Tezel cannot be defeated... as far as we know. That's why he was simply banished from Equestria." She tucks the Adanemzurai into the chest. "He can be tossed, smashed, crushed, and blown to pieces... but he just keeps getting back up. Granted, much smaller, but over time, he regains his giant form. We do not know how to stop him once and for all." She smiles. "But, without the Adanemzurai, he cannot remotely control any of his abominable creations! This will keep him from forming an army under his command!" Luna nods to you. "You've saved Equestria, loyal citizen."

You can hear the clamoring of young fillies outside.

Quickly, you try to get one more question in before she packs up and leaves. "Princess... I saw a notch in Tezel's crown that Golden Box would fit perfectly into."

Luna stops. "...you 'saw' Tezel's crown?"

"Sometimes I see things. I don't get it but they are almost always true. Tezel can still control his stone creations without that box, but he does need it to activate his current creation. If he doesn't get the box he may go berserk and kill and the Unicorns he currently has under his control."

Luna looks you over. "...you cannot possibly have the gift of foresight... not at such a young age..." Luna stamps her hoof on the floor. The giant box begins to float. "Tezel has never worn a crown nor a distinguishing mark of royalty, of that I'm certain. Whatever visions you are having are not of the future."

Luna lowers her head to you. "Regardless, you have done an incredible service to your kingdom this day. Again, Raisin, you have saved Equestria from mortal peril. If there is ever anything you desire, feel free to voice your requests through Twilight... when she's found, of course." The Princess looks at you with some concern. "There has been a lot of missing unicorns lately."

As the doors open up, a small rush of fillies and colts come barging in, followed by guards. "Vicks, keep these children safe until we return with the counter-curse to Siren Sand." The silent guard nods his head.

You're now in a small sea of fillies and foals. "What's going on? Why are we here?"

You shout above the noise of the fillies. "Princess! Wait! I really CAN see into the future! I can prove it!"

She stops before she gets to her chariot. "...go on, then."

You tell Luna that there is a gigantic stone pony being carved out of a mountain by Tezel as you speak. He's using all of the missing unicorns as slaves to carry out his work. A pegasus could easily confirm this.

"Oh! Don't forget about the Crystal Phonograph!" The Princess stares down at a small, pink fluffy mane. Pinkie squeaks and slinks out of the Town Hall.

Luna is reluctant, but decides to entertain your 'visions'. "Alright, loyal servant." She nods to one of her guards. In an instant, he bolts to the sky.

While he goes to confirm what you've seen, you go on to explain some of the other things you saw at Tezel's fortress, including some of the random stone statues he has guarding the place. You also describe the stone bird. Luna maintains a certain callous expression.

The pegasus returns. "Your Highness... I tried flying over the mountain ranges, but a giant stone bird is watching over them. I could not get close." Luna looks at you in disbelief.

"Perhaps you do have the gift of foresight..."

END OF DAY 11