The Choices We Make is a quest that tests both the player's ethics and morals, with different rewards based on the choices that the player makes.
The story focuses about Red Cross, who has been receiving suspicious packages from Halite. Meanwhile, Proper Procedure suspects her of using dark magic.
Quest initiation[]
The quest can be started by speaking to Red Cross near the Crystal Kingdom's Hospital in the Crystal Kingdom and agreeing to help her with an "off the record" task, upon which she will tell the player to get a package from Halite who is located at the north edge of the Crystal Kingdom.
Journal: I've agreed to deliver a package to Red Cross, a doctor working at the Crystal Kingdom Hospital. It can be picked from the unicorn Halite, who's located at the North edge of the city.
- Talk to Halite.
Getting the package[]
When talking to Halite, she reveals that she has been making a formula for Red Cross for a while now which does nothing. She explains that the substances in the formula are rare and should trigger a magical effect. She further explains that she does not know what the effect of the formula is and does not want to be involved in anything shady. She then asks the player to tell Red Cross that she might not making the formula anymore before handing over the player the package.
Journal: After talking to Halite, she gave me Red Cross's package. She wants me to tell Red that she may stop making the formula for her; I hope that Red isn't too upset by the news.
- Talk to Red Cross again.
Returning the package to Red Cross[]
Upon talking to Red Cross, Proper Procedure interrupts the player and mentions that he suspects Red Cross for malpractice. He suspects that Red Cross is using dark magic on a terminally ill young earth pony with an unknown disease. He explains that Red Cross worked long and hard to find a cure but was stumped. However, one day the disease's progress halted. Since then Red Cross have been receiving mysterious packages, while he had heard of reliable equipment in the pathology labs suffering from malfunctions. He then asks the player to find out what Red Cross have been doing with her packages and report back to him, which the player can agree or disagree to help him.
Regardless of the player's choice, the player can choose to change their mind later on when talking to Red Cross again.
Agreeing to confront Red Cross:
Journal: Proper Procedure, a surgeon who works at the Crystal Kingdom Hospital, claims that Red has been feeding a dark magic potion to a sick patient. I've agreed to confront her regarding the issue when I deliver her package to her.
- Actually talk to Red Cross again.
Not agreeing to confront Red Cross:
Journal: Proper Procedure, a surgeon who works at the Crystal Kingdom Hospital, claims that Red has been feeding a dark magic potion to a sick patient. I dismissed his plans about 'standing by and doing nothing', and decided not to intervene.
- Actually talk to Red Cross again.
Finding the truth[]
When confronting Red Cross, she accidentally reveals about her son. The player can pursue Red Cross to find out more about her son or just give her the package.
Confront Red Cross[]
If pursued, she would reveal that the ill young earth pony was her son and she had no choice to resort to dark magic which halted the disease. She explains that she found a old forbidden alchemical text and gave the formula to Halite since she has no experience in alchemy, while using the equipment in the pathology labs to prepare the solution. She then offers the player 1000 bits to keep the information a secret. The player is then given a choice to either keep it a secret and accept the bribe, keep it a secret but not receive the bribe or telling her to not to buy them off.
By agreeing to keep the information secret and accepting the bribe, she will pass 1000 bits to the player. If not, she will be grateful for the player's kindness. Alternatively, the player can choose to tell her not to buy them off, which she will plead with the player again before ending the conversation.
Agreeing to keep the information secret and accepting the bribe:
Journal: I gave Red Cross her package, and confronted her regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding her. Apparently, she was using a combination of alchemy and dark magic to keep her ill son alive. In her attempt to keep it a secret, she offered me a large sum of 1000 bits, and I accepted it in exchange for keeping quiet about it. I can't tell Proper Procedure what Red Cross has done.
- Talk to Proper Procedure.
Agreeing to keep the information secret and refusing the bribe:
Journal: I gave Red Cross her package, and confronted her regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding her. Apparently, she was using a combination of alchemy and dark magic to keep her ill son alive. I've decided to keep quiet about this when I return to Proper Procedure.
- Talk to Proper Procedure.
Refusing the bribe:
Journal: I gave Red Cross her package, and confronted her regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding her. Apparently, she was using a combination of alchemy and dark magic to keep her ill son alive. All that remains is to decide whether or not to tell Proper Procedure the truth.
- Talk to Proper Procedure.
Don't confront Red Cross[]
Alternatively, the player can also choose to not confront her about her son and just hand her the package.
Journal: I decided not to confront Red Cross regarding the mysterious circumstances that she's been involved in. All that remains is to decide whether or not to tell Proper Procedure the truth.
- Talk to Proper Procedure.
Quest completion[]
After handing Red Cross her package, return to Proper Procedure to update him on the outcome of the confrontation.
Confront Red Cross[]
By talking to Proper Procedure again, the player can choose to either tell him the truth, or that Red Cross refuses to tell them anything or that they did not confront her.
Telling the truth[]
If the player chooses to tell Proper Procedure the truth, he thanks them and mentions that the matter will be resolved as soon as possible. The player will then gain 500 XP in all talents for completion of the quest.
Telling Proper Procedure the truth after agreeing to keep the information secret:
Journal: I told Proper Procedure the truth of what Red Cross has been doing, even though I told her that I would keep quiet. He thanked me, and said that he would see to it that the matter was 'resolved as soon as possible.' I wonder what will happen to Red Cross now that I betrayed her.
Telling Proper Procedure the truth after refusing the bribe:
Journal: I told Proper Procedure the truth of what Red Cross has been doing, even though I told her that I would keep quiet. He thanked me, and said that he would see to it that the matter was 'resolved as soon as possible.' I wonder what will happen to Red Cross?
Not telling the truth[]
Alternatively, the player can choose to not tell Proper Procedure the truth, in which he will be disappointed and mentions that he would continue to watch Red Cross for any mistakes she might make. The player will then gain 600 XP in all talents for completion of the quest.
Telling Proper Procedure that Red Cross refuses to tell them anything:
Journal: I lied to Proper Procedure, and told him that Red wouldn't tell me anything. He said that he would continue to watch her for any mistakes she might make. Halite will eventually stop making the formula for her, so I hope that Red Cross finds a better solution to her problem soon.
Telling Proper Procedure that they did not confront Red Cross:
Journal: I told Proper Procedure that I didn't confront Red Cross; he seemed upset, and is determined to keep watching her for any mistakes she might make. Halite will eventually stop making the formula for her, so I hope that Red Cross finds a better solution to her problem soon.
Don't confront Red Cross[]
If the player does not confront Red Cross, only one dialogue choice is available, which is to tell Proper Procedure that they did not confront her. The player will gain 600 XP in all talents for completion of the quest.
Journal: I told Proper Procedure that I didn't confront Red Cross; he seemed upset, and is determined to keep watching her for any mistakes she might make. Halite will eventually stop making the formula for her, so I hope that Red Cross finds a better solution to her problem soon.
Trivia[]
- The name of the quest reflects on the choices the player has to make throughout the quest, which will result in various different outcomes.
- If the player talks to Red Cross again after completing the quest, she will mention in one of the dialogues that if she had listened to her father's lectures, she maybe would have studied alchemy, and tells the player that "the choices we make determine our future".
- In Open Server Event 11, the quest contained various bugs, which have since been fixed as of the Open Access Release.
- If the player refuses to help Proper Procedure in confronting Red Cross, they will not be able to complete the quest as no further responses will be given.
- If the player talks to Proper Procedure at any point during the quest, choosing not to confront Red Cross about the package or not agreeing keep the information secret, the quest will be reset the next time they talk to Red Cross, allowing the player to complete the quest from the start and earn the rewards again.