Text Adventure Chapter 50 Log

>Sometimes you think you’d forget your own head if you left it.
>You turn to Pinkie and go through your massive sack.
>Appreciate the innuendo while the mood’s light, always good advice.
>You’re aware that Cadance could be in that aggression state that Tidal Wave was in.
>Going to have to be careful there, but for now, you settle for handing Pinkie the book you found at the library.
[You give Pinkie Pie Equestrian Wildlife: A History of the Evolution of Animals.]
“So you know I didn't forget.”
>Pinkie gasps at the sight of the book and hugs it tight to her.
>”Thank you thank you thank you! Now we can make up for all the bad stuff I did!”
“Pinkie, what you did wasn’t bad, it was necessary, just like I said before. Now, you can read it in time to help the creatures of this world, and combined with some of the vet skills I managed to pick up from Fluttershy, we shouldn’t be killing anymore. In fact, we can help them on the way.”
>She bounces over to you and hugs you around the waist, making you feel like you’re a tub of toothpaste.
“Y-yeah, you’re welcome.”
>Once she’s finished squeeing and begins to read the book, you check for pelvic damage as you leer over at Twilight.
“Hey Twilight, have you found anything else out from researching?”
>”Well, I got down to Wheaties’ house and first off, she told me she misses you guys and feels like she’s missing out. I’d go visit her after we get this stuff straightened out.”
“Oh, noted.”
>You’ve sort of forgotten about Wheaties over the past few days.
>You definitely want to make sure she’s okay.
>”She gave her sample to me and told me her alchemist friend couldn’t find anything on it, so I took it here to the hospital to compare it to the one you gave me with the special instruments here, and I found something interesting.”
>You notice at this point she only has one sample.
>Twilight backs away from the party to give herself some room, and she slowly opens the container.
>The black substance immediately jumps out in the fresh air and rockets straight for Iron, being the closest in proximity, but it stops short in the middle of the air by Twilight’s magic.
>The shadow is levitated to the ground, and Twilight fires at it with a powerful purple-white beam that slams it into the ground, shapes it to the contours of the spell, and seemingly fries it.
>When she picks it back up, the shadow’s life is gone, and it now presides as a black disk.
>”It’s harmless now, so come here and take a look at this surface.”
>You meet each other halfway, and upon exceedingly close inspection, something catches your eye.
>There are jagged shapes on the skin of the dead shadow, and they have a very similar theme to your markings.
>”See it yet?”
“Yeah, that’s really weird.”
>”I don’t know what this means, and if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d have thought your markings were from the shadow. I think whatever this thing is has the ability to copy and mimic other magical qualities. That’s why its corruption is so similar to the old disease that Celestia thought she eradicated… and now its getting its power and life by stealing the runes that the tree gave you.”
>That’s not good at all.
>Bane is getting stronger.
>Now you must avenge your parents- er, wait, wrong hero.
>It’s still really bad, though.
“Anything we can do to stop it?”
>Twilight looks up at you seriously.
>”Find the shadow and destroy it. That’s all we can do, and that’s why we need to get going.”
“Fair point. Everyone ready to go?”
>The party affirms their readiness once they get a look at the shadow coin.
>”Oh, you can have this, by the way. I’ve done my research, but you might be able to do something with it.”
[Twilight gives you Shadow-Infused Rune]
>At this point, Redheart returns, but with another nurse walking with her.
>”Anon, this is Nurse Chrysanthemum.”
>She gives you a happy smile.
>”I heard you’re looking for some supplies, so I got out our cart of surplus. We’re a bit tight right now because of the recent tournament -congratulations, by the way- so as much as we’d like to help you especially with Cadance, we can’t really give things away. We can sell them so we can buy more, though!”
>That’s a fair deal, especially with the huge payout you’ve recently acquired.
“Alright, what do you have?”

[MI AMORE HOSPITAL]
>”There’s everything in this cart, plus a few things in the back.”

-Medkit (“The standard-issue first aid kit.”) [20 bits]
-Supply Medkit (“It’s the same kit, but more portable and less weighty.”) [35 bits]
-Isopropyl Alcohol (“Have to be careful with those wounds.”) [7 bits]
-Roll of Gauze (“One time, my mother used this in stitching and made a gauze t-shirt. I wore it for halloween and pretended to be a mummy.”) [5 bits]
-Needle & String (“For stitching, use with caution.”) [5 bits]
-Set of Bandages (“I hate it when my foal gets into the bandage drawer and pretends he’s really hurt… Can’t say it isn’t cute, though.”) [10 bits]
-Anesthetic (“This helps to ease the pain of more intense injuries, but too much will send them into a coma, so be careful.”) [100 bits]
-Casting Agent  (“Just heat it up and drench gauze in it, keep it slinged, and bones will heal in due time.”) [100 bits]
-Sanitizer (“Always have to be clean and ready for action if you’re going to be messing with ponies’ bodies.”) [5 bits]
-Doctor’s Mask (“Keeps your germs off the patient, a good policy to be followed.”) [10 bits]
-Latex Hoof Gloves (“Oh, seems we don’t have any gloves with fingers at this hospital… But your friends, or Nurse Redheart here could use them!”) [10 bits per pair]
-Doctor’s Coat (You already own this item.) [70 bits]
-Practitioner’s Coat (“It comes with a lot of detailed instructions and special chemicals that can be put to great use by a master in the medical arts.”) [1,200 bits]
-Healing Potion [Small (33% HP) | Medium (66% HP) | Large (100% HP) | Omega (125% Overheal)] {7/14/21/40 bits}
-Mana Potion [Small (33% MP) | Medium (66% MP) | Large (100% MP) | Crystal (33%, used for other functions)] {12/24/36/12 bits}
-Syringe (“You’ll need this to inject any chemicals and withdraw liquids.”) [50 bits per needle]
-Doctor’s Kit (“This is a one of a kind item that usually only hospital heads or wardens possess. It’s a medkit with magical enchantments that really get the job done, and the supplies never run out, a permanent, re-usable medkit!”) [7,500 bits]

>”Is there anything you’d like to take with you?”

-Buy
-Sell
-Talk to Nurse Chrysanthemum



>Inspect Shadow-Infused Rune
[It is the dead remnants of the shadowy substance you gave to Twilight that she pounded into a coin shape. It it cold and sleek in feel, and there are runes on it similar to your own markings. It gives off a very faint magical signal.]

>Inspect Practitioner’s Coat
[The ultimate cloak of medical mastery, you see that it has countless vials and draughts hidden within its many pockets, coming in different sizes for ponies, but there’s one size for minotaurs that fits you. You can’t help but notice the pristine white steam-pressed collar and hoof-sewn buttons. (+25% Overheal on medkits, removes all physical status effects, grants permanent syringe, anesthetic, sanitizer, and comes with a freelance license of medical practice.)]

>You have selected Doctor’s Mask (2), Latex Hoof Gloves, Medkit (5), Medium Healing Potion (3), and Medium Mana Potion (2)
>Total: 220 bits, prefer to pay in gems
>Do you want to buy these items? Y/N



>Y
[You have received 3 Medium Healing Potions, 2 Medium Mana Potions, and a Doctor’s Mask.]
[Redheart has received 5 Medkits, Latex Hoof Gloves and a Doctor’s Mask.]
>You pay with 1 large gem and 1 small gem, with 20 bits change.
>Bit pouch: (3,407 bits, 3 small gems, 6 medium gems, 3 large gems)

>”Thank you, sir, this’ll definitely help us with our next shipment.”
“You’re welcome, I hope it helps.”
>You turn back to the party and see that they’re all ready.
>It is currently 5:00 P.M.
>What would you like to do?



>Use Medium Mana Potion
>66%
>+13 MP<
Anon: [MP: 13/20]
>Use Small Mana Potion
>33%
>+7 MP<
Anon: [MP: 20/20]
[You give Redheart a Medium Healing Potion.]
“Alright, if that takes care of everything, let’s move on to the Palace.
>You get a unanimous cheer of approval, and you wave away at Nurse Chrysanthemum, who waves back.
>Your party returns to the outside world at the lightest cusp of sunset, and you head off for the big palace, seeing that the Crystal Heart is booming with power from the Fair.
>While you’re walking, you look over at Twilight to discuss tactics.
“So, do you have any plans if Cadance is aggressive and attacks us?”
>Twilight’s ears flap down on her head.
>”No, not really. If she wanted to, she could stand hoof to hoof with Luna or Celestia, even if she wouldn’t win. I don’t know what we could do.”
“So long as we find a way for me to touch her eyes, I can remove her corruption. So maybe if she’s sane enough I can just perform a quick physical on her, ask to check her temperature or something. If not…?”
>Twilight perks up again.
>”I may be able to hold her steady for a few seconds with my most powerful binding spell, but I don’t know how long it would hold. I couldn’t counterspell her, so you’d really have to watch that horn.”
>Right, she could turn you into ashes with a single thought.
>As you finally get this realization, your heart starts beating a little faster.
>You really hope she’s alright.
>You need to get your mind off of it.
>You haven’t talked pano e mano with Applejack in a long time, so you slow your pace to meet up with her.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
>AJ pulls back her hat so she can look at you properly.
>”Who, me?”
“Yeah.”
>”I’m doin’ just fine, Anon.”
>Her gaze returns to her front with that quick, curt statement.
>No… she couldn’t still be…?
“You’re sure you’re alright?”
>”I’m doin’ just fine.”
“It doesn’t sound like it.”
>AJ sighs, and looks back up at you.
>”Can ah just ask you somethin’?”
“Shoot.”
>”What in tarnation was goin’ through that mind of yours when you asked our sweet, innocent Pinkie to do whatever it is you were thinkin’? Look, I don’t personally have any stigma about it, ya’ll can do what you want with your uh, private life. But why her?”
>What do you say?



“It was a stupid mistake that I hopefully fixed… Pinkie was sad, broken down by all of the fighting and violence and death, and she tried to fix at least one thing by confessing her feelings to me. It hurt to see her that way, and just saying no would break her heart. I would’ve been lying if I said I didn’t have feelings for her either, so I went with the first thing that came to mind that could make everyone happy, because I like making people happy, it’s kind of my thing. I… I guess I just got too used to everything coming up milhouse to even think about the downsides, and I just made everything worse. I guess I tried to live up to an unrealistic expectation and it blew up in my face, and for all of what happened, I’m truly sorry. I just want to move on from here, and do my best not to ever make a mistake like that again.”
>AJ was silent throughout your explanation, and when you’re finished you meet each other’s eyes in understanding.
>”It’s a tough thing tryin’ to keep everypony happy, I’ll give ya that one. I can’t tell ya how many times I’ve tried to keep the wishes of my family only to have them conflict and all of it just fallin’ apart. But if you were tryin’ to not to hurt their feelings, well, you sure coulda done better. Instead of tryin’ something half of Equestria hasn’t even heard of, ya should’ve just got them both together and just talked it out, let it down easy so it wasn’t just you droppin’ her like a rotten apple.”
“So you’re saying because I didn’t talk to her with Red, she was a lot more vulnerable with what I said?”
>”That’s right.”
“And what you said would’ve fixed everything, no sour feelings or depression or anything?”
>”Notta one, Anon. Like ah said before, dunno how it works in your world, but that’s all you had ta do here.”
“...I’ll come to you more often about stuff like this. You’re definitely more down-to-earth than most ponies I meet.”
>”Ya mean down to Equestria?”
“Er, yeah.”
>”So that’s your world, huh? Earth?”
“I guess so. … If I can recall, we had other names too, like Gaia or something.”
>”Freaky alien words is all I’d understand.”
“Right, right… Hey AJ? Thanks.”
>She smiles at you and tips her stetson.
>”We should talk more. You’re always business, Anon, and ah like that… But loosen up, got me?”
“Yeah.”
>Once you finish with the conversation with AJ, you look back over at Twilight, suddenly getting yourself a new idea.
“Twi!”
>She glances back as you catch back up.
>”Er, Twilight for now. I like you, trust me, I’ve just not had anyone besides my closest friends and Spike call me Twi.”
“Er, sorry. I was just wondering, do you have any enchantments or spells that might change my voice when I’m wearing this doctor’s mask I bought?”
>You could see Twilight’s lips curling in amusement.
>”I do have a spell like that, but it could only affect your actual vocal cords, not a mask. It’s also permanent unless I change it back.”
“Oh. What kind of voice?”
>”Any kind that I’ve heard before. Why, are you interested…?”
>An opportunity to change your actual voice is interesting indeed, but you don’t feel comfortable with making some big change like that without at least taking certain downsides into consideration, especially Redheart.
“Maybe later.”
>”I can enchant your armor or weapons, though. It’s not my forte, but I could put a little more use in them. It’d take a lot of my magic, though, so if you still wanted to do it, ask me after we’re sure we don’t have to fight Cadance… or if we’re alive after we do it.”
>You note the fact that if you’re alive within the next few hours, you can get some free enchantments.
>The Crystal Palace quickly approaches in your field of view, and it wouldn’t be long at all before you stop at the gate.
>Is there anything else you’d like to do before entering?



>You and your party finally approach the guarded gate to the main palace, and they cross their spears instantly, otherwise motionless and silent.
>You motion for Berry to give you the royal pass, and she obliges.
>You then hold it up as you speak.
“My name is Dr. Anonymous the Legendary, inventor of the newly designed F.U.C.K.E.R. with two other patents on the way and winner of the First Annual Crystal Fair Tournament. Me and my teammates have come here to assist Princess Cadance with her condition, and are on important business from Princess Celestia herself. It would be best that we see her without delay.”
>The guards do nothing, and say nothing.
“...H-hello?”
>At this point, Twilight comes out from behind you, and their gaze instantly averts to her presence.
>”Scholar Twilight Sparkle sent by Princess Celestia… He’s with me. All of them are. We have the Royal Pass, so can we go in?”
>>”Of course, Ms. Sparkle.”
>They uncross their spears and the guard on the left snatches the pass from your hand, as you begrudgingly follow Twilight into the Palace.
>As you’re walking through the entrance hall, you hear snickering from the mares and guys behind you.
>Any pride that was wounded just a moment ago quickly becomes replaced with awe and wonder, and surprise only rivaled by the first time you saw the tree.
>The entrance hall opens up into a wide, unbelievably luminated sanctuary of crystal and gems, emblazoned with magical lights and pristine floors, walls, ceilings and everything else with grace you never imagined you’d ever see in your life.
>Redheart, Berry, Gable and Iron join your starstruck gaze as Twilight, Pinkie and AJ lead on ahead without so much as a blink.
“Wait up!”
>As they move forward through the Great Hall, they begin to ascend a flight of stairs near the other end and you follow behind with the others.
>Berry is quite the tourist, it seems.
>”I’ve never seen anything like that! I mean, bein’ born and raised out in Ponyville sort of makes you miss out, but now I want to drink a fruity martini or something out of these crystal goblets. I mean, this floor is so squeaky clean, you can see the glow from my new ring!”
>Iron Will was checking his reflection in one of the hanging ornaments, admiring his coat once again.
>Redheart stays closer to your side, admiring the view with you.
>”You think we can get a place like this with all that royalty cash coming in?”
“That would be nice…”
>You feel a bit guilty since all you can think about now is how much the decorative gems are worth.
>But at least you aren’t taking them.
“Gable?”
>You see a talon throw a gem back into its holster, and a single feather drifting away from the white and brown blur.
>”I didn’t touch anything.”
“Really?”
>”I look with my claws, bonehead, now keep moving.”
>Riiiight.
>The feeling of newness slowly subsides as the seriousness of the matter returns to the mindset of your party.
>As the three lead you through the increasingly higher and smaller balconies, you turn the corner with them…
>And you take back what you said about not ever seeing anything so surprising.
>This is surprising.
>From what you can tell, the hall you just turned to leads into the royal bedrooms, but about halfway in, the entire hallway and all of its walls and floor and ceiling are completely covered in black veins of shadow just like the ones anchoring Tidal Wave’s head to the table back at the outpost.
>”No…. No no no, this isn’t right… CADANCE?!”
>Twilight yells into the hall, but to no effect.
>You feel a sudden shaking on your leg, and you see Pinkie is hiding behind you just like Fluttershy would, a look of intense fear on her face.
>The rest of the party is rather disturbed by this sight, as well.
>But you know what has to happen.
“We have to go in.”
>Twilight looks back at you for a moment, then at the corrupted hallway.
>”It’s too dangerous… I’ll go myself, I have to go see if she’s okay.”
>What do you say?



“I can’t let you do that Da- Twilight. I’m not about to risk you getting corrupted, and besides, I’m the only one who can remove it. It might be dangerous, but we fought a god of rage and hatred, and a huge star bear yesterday. We go together. Now… If anyone wants to hang back, then wait here. Otherwise, suit up.”
>You could tell the majority of them considered actually staying back since you offered.
>But Redheart stays at your side, Pinkie keeps near you, and one by one the rest of them walk up and form a line with you and Twilight.
>
>Except Iron.
>”Er, I’m not sure if I have the appropriate attitude to be a hero and uh, looks like you guys have everything under control, so I’m just gonna go use the uh, bathroom.”
>He walks away proudly like he successfully got away, but Berry has his coat snagged under her hoof, having a bored expression on her face.
>She yanks him down next to him and pushes him forward.
>”You’re going to help us, or so help me I’ll drown you in my rum and give you the dragon’s kiss!”
>”Oooh, that doesn’t sound half bad.”
>She kicks him hard in his shin, and the rest of the party looks to Twilight.
>Twilight herself begins to charge a spell on her horn that begins to take its entire length in a blinding light, and she throws herself forward, a blinding laser beginning to shear off the top, live layer of the shadowy corruption, en masse.
>As in, she’s clearing yards of it by the second as she runs forward.
>The shadow isn’t happy about this, as it begins to reform itself.
>You rush forward to catch up to Twilight as the party follows, and you make it a sizable distance down the hallway.
>But you’re suddenly tripped!
>You fall face flat to the ground as the rest of them fall on your back.
“Ow…”
>Red helps you up, but when you both look up to see where Twilight had gone, the light fades instantly.
>A high pitched squeal attacks your eardrums as a writhing mass erupts from the ground, sprouting arms and claws as a dark violet light protrudes from its eyes.
>You hear another scream, and more and more, as you back up in a tight group with the rest of your party, weapons drawn as shadow entities surround you, now beginning to form legs by pulling themselves out of the mutated floor.
>The only one who can form words anymore is AJ.
>”This… This isn’t good, is it?”
>Their claws extend with a very sharp noise, and one monster in particular clasps its hands together, a black fire beginning to seep from its core.
“No… No it’s not.”
>They rush at your party with bloodlust in their eyes!