Golden Fruit

The Golden Fruit (aka Magic Fruit) is a fruit that grows on the Tree of Life on an island in the Swamp of Tamir.

Background

In the middle of the joyous celebration welcoming the return of Prince Alexander and the rescue of Rosella, King Graham collapsed onto the throne room floor of a massive heart attack. To save her father from death, Rosella was offered the chance to go to Tamir where there grows a magic tree that bears but one fruit every one hundred years. The tree is hidden in a swamp within the Impossible Mountains. To reach the swamp, Rosella had to enter a waterfall, pass through a troll-infested cave, and cross a hidden chasm. Then she had to cross the deadly swfvamp and get by the king cobra that protected the fruit tree. After defeating Lolotte and saving Genesta, Rosella was returned to Daventry with the fruit. One bite of the fruit cured her father and restored his vigor.

No story has been told of what the Royal Family did with the rest of the fruit, and it is unknown if it could be preserved for preventing future tragedies or not.

Physical characteristics

It is a glistening golden fruit that resembles a gourd, although its not clear if it has all the physical characteristics of a gourd (extremely resilient against rot and decay). The fruit is described as appearing to be a glistening fruit, luscious-looking and delicious. It's also unclear if the fruit itself can possible last 100 years on the Tree of Life itself, before a new fruit is formed (or if it only lasts a day or two or perhaps a year out of the 100 years it takes for a new fruit to grow). Nor is it explained how resilient the fruit is after its been removed from the tree itself. The only rules set for is the vague description that it fruit grows but once a century.

The effects from the fruit are described as a fruit that cures all ills, bestowing perfect health for many years upon the one who eats it. In fact its so potent that only one bite cures mortal wounds or fell magical disease.

The full effects of eating the fruit are unknown, at least from the perspective of someone who has eaten the whole thing they have the feeling of vigor and vitality coursing through their body, giving them boundless energy and the wonderful glow of good health. Eating the entire fruit might even be enough to bestow immortality on the person, although this is not confirmed, it is at least known it will give the person perfect health for many years to come.

The fruit is given a number of descriptions such as the enchanted fruit, the magic fruit, the wondrous fruit, the magical fruit, the magical healing fruit, or the healing fruit because of its abilities.

Titles and nicknames

• Golden Fruit
• Magic Fruit

See also

• Magic Fruit
• Ambrosia
• Pomegranate
• The Apple
• Magic fruit (KQGS)

Behind the scenes

In KQ4, Rosella can complete the game without having retrieved the fruit or can eat the fruit herself. In either case, after returning Genesta's talisman, a more tragic alternate ending to the game will be triggered resulting in King Graham's death since he did not receive the fruit to heal him.

The Official Book of King's Quest Third Edition, also refers to the fruit as the Golden Fruit.

In the biblical story of the Tree of Life the tree was actually able to confer immortality on those who ate from its fruit. Those living near it could eat from it constantly as it bared much fruit in the garden of Eden.