The fish near Dazzle Beach have lost their color, and Hercules wants you to help find out why. Aquatic Musings is his Level 4 friendship quest in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and it runs from a strange catch on the shoreline to a face-off with Ursula inside the caves. Below is the full sequence of actions needed to clear it.
Quick answer: Reach Hercules friendship Level 4 and finish The Grecian Urn, fish a Grayscale Trout near the Cursed Cave, cook the Divination Meal, confront Ursula in the Mystical Cave, then craft a Sea Glass Mirror and reposition it to reflect light at her cauldron in the Cursed Cave.
Requirements to unlock Aquatic Musings
Two conditions must be met before Hercules will offer this quest. The fastest way to raise his friendship is to hand him his favorite gifts each day.
- Reach friendship Level 4 with Hercules.
- Complete his Level 2 quest, The Grecian Urn.
Once both are done, talk to Hercules anywhere in the valley to start. He explains that unusual fish have appeared near the Cursed Cave on Dazzle Beach and asks you to investigate with him.
Catch the Grayscale Trout near the Cursed Cave
Cook the Divination Meal
Merlin asks you to cook the Grayscale Trout into a Divination Meal, which should reveal who is behind the colorless fish. Gather these five ingredients, then use any cooking station.
| Ingredient | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Grayscale Trout (x1) | Fished from the golden ripples near the Cursed Cave. |
| Bell Pepper (x1) | Grow from Bell Pepper Seeds sold at Goofy’s Stall in the Forest of Valor, or buy a grown one from the same stall. |
| Oregano (x1) | Forage on the ground around the Plaza, near the fountain. |
| Butter (x1) | Buy from Chez Remy in the Plaza after unlocking his restaurant. |
| Lemon (x1) | Pick from lemon trees in the Glade of Trust or the Forest of Valor, or buy from Goofy’s Stall. |
After cooking, open your inventory and interact with the Divination Meal. It plays a vision showing Ursula tampering with the statue of the Muses. Talk to Hercules afterward, and you learn she has been draining inspiration from the valley.
Enter the Mystical Cave and confront Ursula
Craft the Sea Glass Mirror
Merlin asks you to build a Sea Glass Mirror to reflect light inside the cave. Collect the materials below, then visit any crafting station and select the item under the Hercules quest icon.
| Material | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Sea Glass Fragment (x1) | Already obtained from the bottom of the Mystical Cave. |
| Garnet (x2) | Mine from rock nodes in the Peaceful Meadow or the Plaza with the Royal Pickaxe. |
| Glass (x5) | Craft each piece from 5 Sand and 1 Coal Ore. Dig Sand on Dazzle Beach and mine Coal Ore from rock nodes anywhere. Kristoff’s Stall sometimes sells Glass. |
Hand the finished Sea Glass Mirror to Hercules, then follow him to the Cursed Cave in Dazzle Beach.
Reposition the mirror and free the Muse’s Light
Inside the Cursed Cave, Hercules distracts Ursula while you handle the mirror. Wait for him to bait her and run back, then move the Sea Glass Mirror pillar so the light beam from the cauldron lands on it.
Interact with the mirror to shift its position. Move it twice to the right, once more to the right, then twice to the left to line it up with the beam. Repeating the alignment as Hercules taunts Ursula breaks the light free from the cauldron.
Walk to the pool of water near Ursula and pick up the Muse’s Light, then open your inventory and interact with it to release it. Color returns to the valley once it is set free.
How to confirm the quest is complete
Speak with Ursula and Hercules one last time after releasing the Muse’s Light. The conversation about her foiled plan closes out Aquatic Musings, and you receive a Marble Muse Statue along with a large boost to your friendship with Hercules. If the quest does not end, make sure you fully aligned the mirror with the cauldron beam and picked up the Muse’s Light before talking to Ursula.
