Last Time on My Little Raisin:
>Escape from Private Suite by tricking guard into thinking Raisin had locked herself in the bathroom; snuck passed him
>xXx Guard saw Sweetie’s disguise xXx
>Sneak out, realize that you do not have the key to lock the door; hurry down stairs and hide in alcove
>Pegasus guard flies on passed you, reports your ‘escape’ to Princess Celestia
>**Correctly navigate back to main hallways**
>--Stumble into Rich Couple of unicorns; chatter with them, told them that you are Lady Velvet and Lord Tackweld’s daughter—
>(Successful Roll) Guard attempted to arrest Sweetie Belle; Rich Stallion stamped got in the way and told the guard off
>Travel toward the docks, see the White Chest
>Mention that the box is pretty; would like to have. Rich Stallion asks if he can buy it
>(Successful Roll) One of the guards recognize you. Rich Stallion is able to bail you out, still under the impression that you are Lady Velvet’s kid
>Rich Couple runs off to airship; tells you that you are welcome aboard anytime
>Use leverage against one guard to convince him to leave; he goes to investigate the East Wing of the castle in search of ‘Raisin’
>Ask the remaining guard if you can help him in some way; suggests that you get him the right paperwork for Archæus to take the White Chest off his hooves
>**Tell Sweetie Belle to destroy or otherwise separate Archæus from his glasses
>xXx Head to the East Wing to collect legitimate paperwork xXx
>**Turn back, create a fast forgery, present to guard**
>Guard is pleased; knows it’s a phony, but as long as the chest falls under the watch of Archæus, he’s okay. Happily trots off, Archæus is extremely irate that his glasses are missing
>Attempt to talk to Archæus to get him to leave; he explodes and starts blindly searching around for you, mistaking you for Sweetie Belle
>Sidestep angry old pone, stare at magnificent White Chest
*Asterisks represent good actions, xXx represents bad actions
With her escape route to the right, Raisin (currently disguised as ‘Amethyst’) pours over the White Chest that she is sure contains her beloved Adanemzurai. While Archæus, the angry old Archives Keeper, bats his hooves with reckless abandon toward Princess Celestia’s throne room doors, Raisin ponders just how this White Chest is going to relinquish its brilliant gold treasure to her. Raisin knows that she’s running out of time; with the evening sun hanging over the far West mountains, she needs to find a way to get herself, Sweetie Belle, and the Adanemzurai to the Castle in the Sand… and fast.
Sweetie Belle comes back in from the gentle breeze out on the airdock balcony. She looks down the hall towards the Throne Room, watching Archæus flail wildly as he approaches the giant, extravagant doors at the hall’s end. Just as she’s about to comment on the strange sight, she turns her head toward you. Your gaze stays fixated on the White Chest.
“Umm… Amethyst?” She cracks her voice. “…are you okay?”
"Yeah, I'm fine"
You quickly run up to the side of the White Chest, the presence of the Adanemzurai sending a gentle wave of peace throughout your body. With giddy anticipation of being reunited with your vitreous golden box, you hop up to attempt opening the Chest.
The White Chest is covered with a series of small gears and rods on its lid. The engineering is marvelous, to say the least, but your eyes seem to gaze passed all the mechanics. You can see the faint rectangular aura of the Adanemzurai within your reach, but this complicated looking lid is in your way.
"She's so close..." You mutter to yourself.
Quickly, you wave your hooves up in the air. "Sweetie! Stop that guy!" You whisper yell to her.
"Umm... excuse me! You're going the wr-" Archæus immediately interrupts her. "You! How did you get over there?! Little brat!" He flips around, charging back your way.
Inventory check:
As you examine the lid, you try to look passed all the intricate machinery and find the 'keyhole'. If the guards can open this thing up, then surely there's a simple solution to this puzzle.
Upon the lid, there is a rainbow shaped indentation on a large, drawn out stone. It looks significant in some way. There are tons of gears around it. In one of the rods, you see a small gold pin sticking out of it.
As you examine the lid, you blink a certain pattern to Sweetie Belle. She nods, seeming to understand this odd code. "Follow me, old timer!"
"WHAT?! How DARE you! Insolent, insipid hoof biter!" The Archives Keeper falls for the trick like he was born yesterday. Sweetie and him take off down the hall toward the Southern Suite.
You can hear the distant taunts of Sweetie Belle as she leads Archæus around the Castle and up the Southern Suite tower. You carefully and quickly withdraw a quill from the Glass Jar you've set beside the White Chest. You know that you haven't much time until a patrol shows up... or the dumb guards on the airdock balcony peek inside to see what you're doing.
You take the sharp quill and prod at the nearest hole. As it disappears into the chest, you can feel it come into contact with something. You're not sure what, but it seems like this something can move around a bit.
You leave the quill inside the hole, keeping a close eye on it. You quickly kick off one of your horseshoes and place your hoof into the indentation on the White Chest. At first it doesn't seem to do anything, but you give it a press. The stone moves down and clicks.
"Alright... looks like we're getting somewhere..."
The quill doesn't move at all, but the gears on the chest seem to have come free.
You keep your hoof pressed firmly down inside the indent. You decide to give it a little jiggle left. The stone doesn't seem to want to turn this direction but only a little; the gears jitter around. Seeing them move, you give the stone a little turn to the right. The gears all start to spin; a large bar towards the top of the chest moves.
As this bar moves, the golden pin seems to catch on another bar. You're not sure what the function of it is.
"Hmmm...."
You can still hear Sweetie off in the distance. It sounds like she's finally coming back.
Before you continue fiddling with the box, you look back over your shoulder to check for the old, grumpy archives pony. He doesn't seem to be following Sweetie Belle anymore. She trots back up to you, her nose held up high in the air. "Hello, my lady."
"Where's the old pony at?"
Sweetie laughs softly. "He knocked himself out in the bridge alcove! The poor old guy ran into a wall." She giggles to herself. "Boy, was he ever mad..." She sits down to watch you tinker with the chest. "Well, c'mon! Let's get our stuff back!"
You stop turning the stone for a moment. Noticing the pin catching, you crank back the large bar so that you can get a hoof on the small, obstructing pin.
The pin feels like it's attached to a spring. You give it a little yank while keeping your hoof pressed firmly down on the button. With a twang, the pin comes flying out, a small spring attached to the end of it.
"...well, okay, I guess that works."
Saying a quick, quiet prayer, you carefully turn the stone key and watch the gears. The top bar slides to the right, dodging the other bar now that the pin is missing. As it slides all the way to the right, you feel in your gut that something terrible is about to happen.
The box clicks. Then a few more clicks. Then, a small flurry of clicks. You jump back.
Suddenly, the lid shutters and jumps up a notch. It opens up slowly... you can feel Her radiant beauty glowing in the waning sunlight.
"Wh.. What was that?" One of the guards on the balcony flips around.
Sweetie's eyes open up wide. "Hurry...!" She whisper yells to you from the other side of the lid. "Grab our stuff and let's get out of here!"
You pull your beautiful dress off quick and rush up to the chest. There She sits... the lustrous golden sheen of the Adanemzurai, finally released from her mechanical prison. You throw your dress into the chest, wrapping it around the Adanemzurai and tying the dress into a small ball. The Golden Box is now safe. Even through the dress bundle, you can feel Her calming allure wash over your body. Your focus increases tremendously, though you don't quite have your 'normal' vision with Her.
"Rai...Amethyst!" Sweetie Belle looks really nervous. You quickly withdraw the bundle and shut the box. A guard is approaching from the balcony. He looks surprised.
"Oh, hello there officer." You put on your most charming, rich pony accent. "How are you?"
He starts to make an approach. "Aren't you the... you're Velvet's daughter, right?" He stops. "Whatcha got there, wrapped up in your dress?" He approaches carefully. You see him tap one of his buddies as he enters the doorway.
You give the guard a smile, then look right at Sweetie Belle. "And I just simply cannot believe how intricate and... complicated this design is." You chortle, containing your nervousness by utilizing the calming effects of the Adanemzurai. "Don't you see why I wanted it so, Writesalot? Something this beautiful simply MUST be part of my fancy... uh... chest collection."
Sweetie Belle looks around with a blank expression. Suddenly, your idea hits her like a sack of bricks. "Oh! Yes, of course!"
The guard clears his throat still approaching. "You seem to be hugging that bundle pretty tight. Care to show me what's in there?"
You scoff at the guard. "This dress? Wearing your dress bundled is the newest fashion. I doubt a pony of, less refined, tastes can appreciate it. Would you like to help me bundle my friend's dress too?"
The guard just rolls his eyes. "I suppose... I mean, you're probably carrying that 'sophisticated' Glass Jar and those 'exquisite' Quills in there...
Your eyes dart to the side, noticing that your writing supplies are all at the base of the White Chest. You slide them over to the side a bit, keeping them behind the chest.
"Alright, whatever... you kids really shouldn't be loitering around during this crisis anyhow. Amethyst, my dear, you look almost exactly like our criminal. I'd suggest you go back to your mother's suite before a guard hassles you... or worse, arrests you." He seems to calm down, shaking his head as he goes back to his post. His friend punches him in the shoulder.
Sweetie Belle breathes a sigh of relief, then gives you a look. "Bundled dresses? New style?" With a slight pause, she continues, "...really?"
With the White Chest in front of you, the Adanemzurai in a bundle on your back, and your mane still styled up pretty enough to pass as a wealthy pony, you're currently guard free. Where do you wish to proceed to?
You motion for Sweetie to run over to the chest. "Rai... err... Amethyst... did you find our stuff?"
You look around a bit, then give out a small, white lie. "I found some of the stuff we lost... c'mon, bundle up your dress like mine."
Sweetie looks kind of disappointed. "Awww... do I have to?" She tugs on one of the frills by her shoulder. "It's sooo pretty..."
"Yes. Off. Now."
With a hesitant sigh, she peels the little dress off and bundles it up, stuffing the Glass Jar and all of the writing supplies inside the small bundle. She slings the bundle up on her back to match yours. Before you head out of the airdock doors, she stops you. "Nose up!"
As you exit the door, the guards give the two of you a look. One mutters, "...seriously? I just don't get it." You can see the mountains far off in the distance... and a nearly setting sun. The landscape looks gorgeous down below, but the height gives you a bit of vertigo. It also reminds you of when Sally was tossing you around in the air... you get butterflies in your stomach, but the Adanemzurai seems to eliminate them quickly.
Looking over the chariots, you vaguely remember on of the 4 chariots parked here was the one you arrived on. Sweetie Belle comments, "so, do you think our stuff is still in one of these?"
You remember to keep your nose held high as you walk passed each one. You cast them each a glance, carefully looking over them to see if there's anything inside. One of the guards comes up to bother you.
"Excuse me, miss. I know you're mother is high class super-important, but we must ask you to step away from the chariots at once." He nods towards one of them. "These may or may not contain evidence obtained from recently transported, extremely dangerous criminals."
You scoff. "I was simply admiring their construction. I'd expect better from Canterlot's finest... these look like flying breadboxes."
"Just keep your distance." He rolls his eyes. As he walks away, you can feel him staring at you from the very corners of his eyes.
You're very close to the edge of the platform. A breeze runs through your mane.
GAME INFO: From his current position, the guard, you, and Sweetie Belle are all behind the 4 chariots, safely out of sight of the two guards by the airdock entrance. You have little room to navigate on the edge of the airdock; the edge looks like a rather sizable fall, nearly a mountains height to the ground.
You see that this lowly, sharpsighted guard is all alone on this side of the chariots. The Adanemzurai hums against your back, soothing you as the giant expanse of land far, far below doesn't seem to scare you as much as you know it normally would without Her. You get a clever idea.
"Sweetie Belle... help me out here. Talk to that guard for a bit... I'm going to control him."
Sweetie Belle backs away from you. "Y...what?!" She gets a good distance away. "Wwwait a minute... that... you got that thing with you?!" She looks about, avoiding looking off the edge. She huffs and puffs. "I thought you found some of your stuff in there!"
"I did. I found the Adanemzurai."
Sweetie looks like she's panicking a bit. "It is true... Raisin, you are cursed..."
You shake your head, the Adanemzurai influencing your movement slightly. "No, I'm not. We need to get out of here, Sweetie. Capturing that guard is the only way we're going to be able to do it."
Sweetie looks unsure of herself. You put a hoof on her shoulder. "Look, we've been through so much together. You're like... my best friend." You give her your saddest, widest eyes. "I would never do anything to hurt you or anypony else."
Sweetie Belle shuffles in place. "...I don't know..."
"Listen, just talk to that guard for a bit and She'll control him like that other guard back in Ponyville. After we defeat our despicable King, She'll release him and he'll fall asleep. No harm done!"
She kicks her hooves about, but reluctantly looks up to your eyes. She's getting teary. "Are you sure everything's going to be alright?"
You give her a soft hug. "We promise."
Sweetie pulls away for a moment. "...'we'?"
You shake your head. "C'mon, just go talk to him for a bit. It'll be over really quick."
Sweetie navigates around you, then walks up to the guard. "Um... hi." The guard and her strike up a conversation.
Suddenly, you feel compelled to abort your bag saving mission. You follow up behind Sweetie Belle and give her little tail a nibble. "Writesalot, I believe we've wasted enough time out here?" You walk towards the massive, luxurious airship down the dock a ways. "Come. Let's not keep our company waiting."
As you and Sweetie head off, the guard keeps a close watch on you. "Goodbye, ladies..."
Sweetie seems confused, but tags along behind you. As you begin to ascend the bridge into the airship, a stronger gust blasts your mane. You can feel your hair 'pop' into it's natural shape.
"Oh, bother and befuddle! Simply rubbish, this wind." You immediately start to primp your untamed, wild mane into the richer pony shape with one of your hooves. You stop and roll your eyes, putting on a show for the guard that's moving toward the airship.
"Writesalot, fix me." Sweetie Belle grabs your dress bundle off your back, then hops on up. You feel the cold of the wind against your coat now... you're again separated from your Adanemzurai, if even by a few extra feet.
"At once, Lady Amethyst." She pushes her hooves into your mane, roughly pushing and primping it as you enter into the airship. As soon as you enter, the Rich Stallion comes up to the door.
"Ah, if it isn't..." He stops. "Girls, whatever happened to your lovely dresses? Those guards didn't dirty them up with their grubby hooves, did they?"
You look over your shoulder instinctively. The guard seems to be gone, but you're certain you can hear his wings flapping not too far off.
Quickly, you decide the compliment the couple on their fine taste in airships. The Rich Stallion puffs up his chest a bit.
"Oh, it was quite an expensive affair... but it was worth every single bit. Your father deserves even more, I dare say. This ship has been the most comfortable air deringible that I have ever had the honor of setting sail in." He stops for a moment. "But... do tell, those guards didn't set a hoof on you, did they? If they did, I swear by Celestia I'll have them-"
"Honey, now... they're just servants. No need to be upset." His wife enters the room from the outside deck."
"We're alright, but the guards certainly are a fine bunch of ruffians. So... uncouth." vSweetie Belle almost laughs, but maintains her composure.
"Do you have a room where we may freshen up a bit?"
The Rich Stallion lets out a haughty laugh. "But of course! Downstairs, on the right. There's a guest bedroom all made up and ready for you. Make yourself at home, Amethyst... and Amethyst's friend."
GAME INFO: The current time of day is mid-evening. The sun is nearly out of the sky. Also, the entire ship has many windows located everywhere. Thankfully, the bedrooms have privacy curtains.
You decide to head on downstairs with Sweetie Belle to the cozy guest bedroom. As you stamp on downstairs, the Rich Stallion calls out, "And if you girls are hungry, we have hoof-picked greens from Germaney on the deck!"
You and Sweetie Belle tuck away into the room. Quickly, you shut the curtains on your window. The room goes almost totally dark. You look over Sweetie Belle, making sure the Adanemzurai is with her. She relinquishes both bundles onto the bed as you wrap a hoof around her shoulder.
"Okay, so here's the plan..."
END OF DAY 17