Episode Seven: Draw Me Like One of Your French Ants!Soundtrack: Buy Somethin' Will Ya!
Alright, no more screwing around, it's time to get down to BUSINESS.
I've got to see a certain mayor about a certain key to a certain shack so I can get to a certain sanctuary to save a certain world!

My, my, how the tides have turned! Tell me, Officer, does it sting, having to thank me like this?

You're letting me make a speech now?
I LITER
ALLY JUST DID THE POL
ICE'S JOB FOR THEM.

There you are!
COUGH UP THE KEY, MR. MAYOR

Yes, OK, thank you, I know I'm great, THE KEY, IF YOU PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT THANKS I APPRECIATE IT CAN I HAVE MY KEY NOW

YOU'RE WELCOME. THE KEY.

I see you've finally caught on! By golly, I must remember to be more clear about my intentions next time!

I'd really like to know what someone less great than me COULD do with a key to a shack that would send the city into pandemonium.
On second thought, maybe I shouldn't ask. Pokey has a pretty vivid imagination.

As much fun as it would be suing the Mayor in the event that something does happen, I feel like he won't give me the key if I say no.

Right, I forgot that "smart" means "conned into complying with this idiot".
Soundtrack: Key Item Fanfare
Ha ha ha! You just forfeit your collateral! See you in court, Mr. Mayor!
Soundtrack: Onett Theme
Welp, looks like I better head home...
OR.....

Well, THIS is a dilemma! If only I had some sort of device designed to unlock things....

It's a long shot, but it just might work!

WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW!

Yup, I opened the door all right.

Oh, thank goodness, I could really use some lu-HEY
THIS DOESN'T INCREASE MY LUCK
IT JUST PROTECTS ME FROM PARALYSIS
TAKE IT BACK
(He does not take it back.)
Soundtrack: Apple Kid's Theme
Well, I would have preferred some ACTUAL luck, but this will have to do.
WOW, it's a dump in here. The bed even has springs poking out of it!
How long have they been living here again.....?

I arrive in front of the Giant Step Cave via a convenient hole in the back of the shack!
Adventure awaits!
Soundtrack: Dangerous Caves
Whoa, that's some pretty eerie music.
OK, Giant Step Cave is officially renamed TARDIS Cave. There's no WAY it's this big on the outside.
Soundtrack: Oncoming Foe
I don't have to travel too far into TARDIS Cave before I'm bum rushed by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Mouse....deer.
Soundtrack: Battle Against a Weak Opponent
And apparently Rudolph got over his cold before entering the battle! Probably used those Kleenexes with Aloe & E, like on the commercials.
LSD Meter: OK, I can physically feel the orange of that background, but I think it has less to do with the drugs and more to do with the fact that it's INCREDIBLY OBTRUSIVE.

Whoa, Rowdy Mouse indeed! I think we all just need to settle down here!

OK, well, I didn't mean THAT much!

That's better! See how much nicer this is when you're not going bat crap insane on me?

Farewell, Algernon.....

Umm..... What am I being attacked by?
Soundtrack: Battle Against a Weird Opponent
I.....what?
LSD Meter: I....WHAT?!?!?

Oh, geez, they're pushovers! Remind me to buy all my bats pre-salted from now on, I mean LOOK AT THIS

I can't believe it. An enemy more pathetic than Yes Man Junior. Incredible.

HEY, THAT'S MY GIG!
Looks like he still needs to brush up his skills, though!
Soundtrack: You Gained a Level!
Whoa, those things gave a TON of experience!
Since that was such a pathetic battle, I think I'm gonna count this one as a pity level.
Which I think means we're evened out again.... Sigh.....
Soundtrack: Spell Learned
This.....this is it.
Yes.
THIS IS MY DESTINY.
I UNDERSTAND MY CALLING.
IT'S ALL SO CLEAR NOW.

Yay, more drugs! But due to the properties this sandwich bestows(It temporarily makes you run faster....yay....), it's apparent that it is in fact laced with speed, instead of LSD! ....Unless they're the same thing. Which just goes to show how much I know about the drug I'm addicted to.
Anyway, my inventory can't handle too much more, and I'm not a huge fan of speed, so I discard it.

Hey, wasn't there supposed to be a new enemy in here? I could have sworn you could find it in this room. I'm going to head out and back in for a second.

Aha, there you are! Let's see what we've got her-
Soundtrack: That Was Easy!
Wait, seriously?!?!? I'm ALREADY OP for this dungeon?!? Are you kidding me?!?!?

Well, that's OK, I guess. There's more up here, anyway. For the purpose of this experiment, I WILL analyze this creature!

OH COME ON
REALLY
SHEEEEEEEEESH
Soundtrack: Battle Against a Weird Opponent
THERE you are, you sneaky little runt!
I still can't believe I had to get into a double battle just to fight one of these things on-screen....
LSD Meter: Less trippy than the Attack Slugs BY FAR.

Well, you don't seem to be causing me TOO much trouble, and I don't want that Rowdy Mouse SMAAAAASHing me too much, so I'll just leave you there for n-

OH WHAT IS THIS

WHAT IS THIS

OK, this is quickly getting out of hand!
Soundtrack: You Win!
Man oh man, those things were nastier than I expected!

And yet, perseverance once again bears rewards!

HEFTY rewards!

Ah, so THIS is where the mice keep their cold relief!
I KNEW it was just Kleenex!

This is almost no different than fighting just one.
I wonder who told them I'm handing out butts for free today?

PRO STRATEGY LIFEUP BEFORE YOU BUTTERFLY

The butterfly lights some incense and draws the curtains closed.
"Now just close your eyes and lay down there on the table", she says.
I do so, and she proceeds rub the knots out of my aching back.....
OK, that's enough of that.

IT'S LIKE PAIN IS THEIR DRUG
AND I AM THEIR SUPPLIER
THEY PAY ME THROUGH THE NOSE FOR MY SERVICES

But I thought I already had that.....? You know what, never mind.....
(Healing is different than Lifeup because it treats status effects)

Huh, maybe Frank WAS here before! Or at least one of his goons was.
Hope they weren't looking to come back for this!

Hey, I don't remember taking out the cartridge and putting in Donkey Kong, Jr.!
(YES I KNOW DONKEY KONG JR. ISN'T ON SNES)

Before I continue, I think I'll take a bite out of that LSD Hamburger I...uhh....FOUND.....yep.

You're now aware that this room is shaped like a pencil. Seriously, go back a few frames and look!
Soundtrack: Sanctuary Guardian's Challenge
Man, it's about time too!

So then.... is it still called Your Sanctuary? Or is it called My Sanctuary now? UGH, WHATEVER

YES I WILL GLADLY TAKE THE ENIGMATICALLY NAMED SANCTUARY FROM YOU
Soundtrack: Oncoming BossSoundtrack: Sanctuary Guardian
Titanic Ant? MORE LIKE TITANIC CAN'T!
OH THAT'S FRESH!!!This celebrity's almost TOO easy!
CELEBRITY BOSS BATTLE #4: VS. LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACCOMPANIED BY BILLY ZANE AND FRANCES FISHERFor this dramatic reenactment of James Cameron's Titanic, I will be playing the role of Rose.
Now then, FIGHT BEGIN

Oh, Jack! It seems my pompous fiancee and overbearing mother have come to take me away from you! They could never understand our love!
That's why I hired Celine Dion to express it through song!

Yes! I understand your pain, dearest! I feel it just as you do!

Hurry, Ms. Dion! Sing!
NEEEEEAAAAR........FAAAAAAAAR.....WHERE EEEEEEEEVER YOU ARE
I BELIEEEEEVE THAT MY HEART WILL GO OOOOOOOOOON
Look, Jack, it worked! My mother and Cal finally understand the depths of our love!

But the pain of losing those so dear to me!

OH NO JACK THE SHIP IS SINKING
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY

SOMEHOW I HAVE FOUND THE STRENGTH FOR MY HEART TO GO ON
AND I HAVE YOU TO THANK, JACK
(I can't BELIEVE I pulled that off! OK, quick explanation. About how I survived with 0 HP. Not the weird Titanic RP thing going on, I have no idea what's happening there. Your HP in Earthbound is a rolling counter, meaning that you don't lose all your HP from an attack immediately, so you can pull off crazy stuff like that!)

No, Jack, no! Don't shield me from the cold! You'll surely die!

I can't bear the pain of losing you Jack!

You've grown so pale! STAY WITH ME JACK

JACK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Soundtrack: You Defeated the Boss!
I'll never let go.......

Jack leaves me one last gift before he sinks beneath the waves with The Ship of Dreams.

Well, that settles that! Let's head out of the pencil room and see about that big footprint!
Soundtrack: Welcome to Your Sanctuary
It's.....not much more than I expected. Honestly, a real steppe would have been more exciting.
Soundtrack: Your Sanctuary-Giant Step
I take a steppe toward the Step and OH MY GOSH I'VE BEEN BLINDED. WITH SCIENCE. ER, MAGIC.
Soundtrack: A Flash of Memory
While my retinas heal after the initial singeing, the Giant Step reminds me of HORRIBLE MEMORIES.

FRESH JAMZ GET

My eyes are still in searing pain, but hey, my HP and PP have been restored!

Presumably after hearing the commotion upstairs, the monsters in the cave decide they want no part of it and run away, surrendering immediately upon capture!

I could have at one point, but it's a little iffy now.
But hey, it's cool, the Mayor say I could come her-

Did you listen to a word I said?

Yeah, sure, JUST AS SOON AS I CAN SEE AGAIN
Soundtrack: Home Sweet Home(Pollyanna)
Mom once again uses the infallible cure of shooting me up with Kamak and sending me to bed.

ACK
VOICES IN MY HEAD
I'm starting to think all these years of LSD usage may present some problems for me!

OH WELL THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW
I'm heading straight to rehab tomorrow morning.

.....Oh, it's just Wry contacting me with her mind. Much less worrisome!
On the next episode, I answer the dream call on my way to the next Sanctuary!