As Mario and co. entered the lair, they found themselves climbing up steps that led to a massive hole.
"Wait it's just a big empty hole!? How disappointing," Olivia groaned. "Where's the Earth Vellumental? We've come so far to see you,"
"This is weird, surely the Earth Vellumental HAS to be somewhere in here right?" asked Starlight. Olivia hovered over to the edge of the path and looked down.
"Hold on,what's that?" she asked. Curious, Mario, Starlight, and Spike walked over but not before the rocks beneath them gave way, and they fell. Thankfully, Starlight used her magic to break their fall and they landed several inches above the ground before impact.
"Thanks Starlight, you really saved us there," said Mario.
"Heh, guess you could say we're even now," she chuckled. Olivia soon rejoined them with an embarrassed expression.
"So I'm not the best judge of footing as we've just learned," she said. "Sorry Mario I'd teach you how to float if I could,"
"No don't worry about it, Starlight broke our fall it's all good," said Mario.
"Anyway, I was looking down at this odd green spot before you fell down," she said. "What do you think it is?" Mario was about to respond when the ground beneath them began to shake. Mario, Starlight, and Spike quickly jumped away as the dirt and rocks began to crumble as a large turtle emerged from the ground. The turtle looked in their direction and let out an angry roar before shaking off the remaining rocks off it's shell.
"Is that?' asked Spike.
"It's the Earth Vellumental, and it's made of origami!?"Olivia gasped. "Eek it's so cool!" she approached it trying to get a closer look but was immediately pushed back out of fear as he roared at her. "Oh no, I don't think it's very friendly right now, probably because it got all folded up,"
"Oh sweet Celestia, please don't tell me we have to fight it," said Starlight.
"Sorry but i don't think we have a choice right now, here it comes!" Mario braced himself as they were dragged into another battle. However this time, Mario found himself standing on the outside the rings instead of being in the center. The Earth Vellumental stomped it's feet in aggression as everyone watched in awe.
"Wow! This Vellumental looks just as powerful as I hoped it would! That shell looks super sturdy, it's body must be well protected,makes those little legs look kinda vulnerable, doesn't it?" said Olivia.
"Hey doesn't something seem different?" asked Spike?"
"Oh yeah this is our first boss battle, I've been itching to try one of these!" said Olivia. "The Earth Vellumental is in the center this time, your attacks won't reach from way out here,"
"I suppose we'll have to get closer then," said Starlight.
"Hm I can see a bunch of tiny arrows dotted all over the rings, do you think we'll have to use those to move?" asked Spike. As the group is discussing amongst each other,Mario noticed a Nintendo Switch on the ground which displayed a bird's eye view of the arena.
"Where'd this come from?" Mario asked holding up the Switch.
"it's probably used for boss fights,look this time we can see what's going on," said Olivia
"Probably because in regular battles we can just observe the enemies up close and personal," said Starlight.
"Well anyway if Spike's hunch is correct then we'll need to start at the beginning, you know how to slide and rotate, try and place an arrow in front of you Mario!" said Olivia. He nodded as he begin rotating the rings with the joy cons while looking at the screen. Once he placed an arrow the panels lit up showing a red line that indicated the path that was being created.
"I knew it," said Spike.
"So essentially, he'll be moving in one direction after stepping on an arrow until he hits another arrow or reaches the center," said Starlight.
"Well it seems like there's already a path leading to the Vellumental but how are we going to attack?" asked Olivia. Mario looks at the Switch screen again and sees there was a panel with a gloved fist icon on it.
"That looks like an action panel, should we try and place that at the end of the path?" asked Spike.
"Worth a shot!" said Olivia. "Mario try placing that panel at the Vellumental's front feet. He tilts the joycon's stick so that the rings rotate until the action panel was at the end of his path. Upon doing so, the panels lit up as Mario began moving on the path he created until he reached the center. "Way to go Mario you made it to the Earth Vellumental, now it's time to attack let's see, different attacks are probably going to affect different areas,"
"Remember in the tour how it said that the shell is impervious to damage?" asked Starlight.
"Good point, you should know what to do Mario!" said Olivia. He nods as he raises his hammer and slams it down on the Vellumental's claws as it yelps and retracts it into it's shell.
"Haha it worked!" Spike cheered. But the Vellumental instead turns towards Mario angrily as it inhales.
"Uh oh, I think the Vellumental is winding up for an attack, try to guard Mario!" said Olivia. He quickly raises his arms to shield himself as the Vellumental coughs up three streams of dirt. Knocking him back out of the arena. "That's it Mario, you still took some damage but it could've been a lot worse!"
"Pfft, bleh I got some dirt in my mouth," said Mario as he spit off to the side. He quickly got to his feet as Starlight and Spike rushed over to his side. He pulls out the Switch again and sees that the rings have reset.
"Ok let's see, why don't you try aiming for the right front leg?" suggested Olivia. Mario studies the rings and begins forming a path towards the Vellumental's front leg. Once the path was complete, he makes his way towards the center and slams his hammer down onto the Vellumental's leg. After it retracted it's limb it turns towards Mario while inhaling.
"Brace yourself!" Starlight warned. Mario quickly shields himself as the Vellumental coughs up another three streams of dirt knocking him back out of the rings.
"Are you alright Mario?" Spike asked as they rush over to him. He gives them a thumbs off after dusting himself off.
"Great looks like you got the hang of boss battles, remember to think about timing and targeting your attacks," said Olivia. "Those other panels look interesting too, you should see what happens when you walk over them, now let's go win us a boss fight!" Mario was about to continue when he was suddenly interrupted by a voice.
"Hey!!!!" The group looks up as a grey pegasus with cross-eyed yellow eyes flew down to them.
"Derpy!? What are you doing here?" asked Spike.
"Who's that?" asked Olivia.
"That's Derpy Hooves, she's the local mail carrier in Equestria," explained Spike.
"I got a message for a Mr. Mario?" Derpy said holding up an orange envelope.
"We're kinda busy right now Derpy, just drop it somewhere and we'll get to it later!" said Spike.
"Oh ok," she tried to throw to the side but ended up spinning around so much that it landed on one of the panels. Upon seeing this Spike face palmed himself.
"We might as well bring that envelope into the path and quickly skim through it to see what it says," said Starlight. Mario sighs as he pulls out his switch and begins forming a path making sure that the path crossed with the envelope. Once the path was created, he made his way to the Vellumental's hind legs and eventually came across the envelope.
"What does it say?" asked Olivia. "He picked it up and opened it to see what it said.
The Earth Vellumental's shell is super sturdy. Jump attacks will always bounce right off of it
"What the heck?" Is this a hint?" asked Mario.
"Oh wow that's helpful, we should thank Miss Derpy later," said Olivia. Mario continued on the path until he reached the Vellumental's tail. "Alright Mario, you know what to do!" He pulled out his hammer and raised it before slamming it's tail with full force. The Vellumental lets out a pained screech as it leaps into the air and retracts all of it's remaining limbs before it's shell crashes back down. "Whoa it's tail must be SUPER tender!"
"Yeah no kidding that sounded like it really hurt!" said Spike. The Vellumental retaliates by jumping up and crashes down sending a shock wave that knocks Mario back. As he gets to his feet the Vellumental began charging up an attack causing the ground to vibrate.
"Whoa what's going on with the Earth Vellumental?" asked Olivia.
"Well whatever it is, it doesn't look good, we have to finish it before it goes crazy!" said Starlight. Mario pulls out his Switch and looks at the screen to begin forming a path when he noticed something.
"Ooh! OOH! Is that? It is! It's a 1,000 Fold Arms Magic Circle!" exclaimed Olivia. If you can get to that Magic Circle, I can activate the 1,000 fold arms! It probably works the same way as action panels, so try to place it at the end of your route!" Mario nods as he begins forming his path.
"Go get 'em Mario!" Spike cheered. Mario began making his way towards the center, landing on the Magic Circle.
"I'm ready Olivia," he said.
"Alrighty!" Olivia activates the Magic circle as Mario's arms extends. "Now let him have it!" He uses his arms and throws the Vellumental in the air,flipping it onto it's shell. He grips his fists and begins slamming his fists on the Vellumental. "YES! You did it Mario!" Olivia cheers as the Vellumental let's out a pained growl before collapsing. Starlight and Spike rushes to his side as the Vellumental begins to glow before turning into a flicker of light that transforms it into a book, beneath it a new magic circle appears.
"It turned into a book," said Starlight. Mario walked over and took the book before reading the cover.
Earth Bibliofold:How to fold into the Earth Vellumental
"Wait you're telling me you can turn into the Earth Vellumental simply by following the instructions in this book!?" asked Starlight. The Bibliofold opens up and lands in front of Olivia.
"Maybe this is it's way of helping us," she says as she begins reading the instructions. "Let's see, ah yes a mountain fold here and a valley fold there, whoa!"
"What is it?" asked Spike.
"I don't know how to explain it but I just have this strange feeling, like the spirit of the Earth Vellumental is inside me," Olivia explained.They all watch as the bibliofold disintegrates into energy and gathers underneath Mario activating the Magic Circle. "Ah maybe we should try using the Magic Circle,"
"Oh this outta be good," said Spike. They watch as Mario activates the Magic Circle,causing Olivia to unfold and refold herself into the shape of the Earth Vellumental. Within moments,the once tiny Olivia was now standing before them in the shape of the mighty earth beast itself.
"How do I look? Powerful? Imposing? Magnificent? Maybe even a li'l cute? it's like I'm the Earth Vellumental!" she beams. Mario, Starlight, and Spike all clap in unison at her successful transformation. "I definitely feel powerful, like I could really shake things up in here, actually you know what? I'm gonna dance it out!" As she stands on her hind legs, she produces two pink pom poms and begins to dance causing the ground to shake and the earth to rise towards the top. As they ascended, Mario, Starlight, and Spike joins in on her little performance, as they break out into their own slick movements. As the neared the top, large chunks of stones began to collapse around them even going as far as breaking off a chunk of the wall revealing a large green pipe behind it. "What came over me? It was so fun to wield all of that turtle power," she chirped happily.
"I must admit it WAS quite enjoyable," agreed Starlight.
"Not only that but you helped us back to the top!" said Spike.
"I guess I can use any Magic Circle that belongs to the Earth Vellumental now," said Olivia.
"You know what that means," said Spike.
"Yep, I should be able to lower that tower back to a reasonable but still scary height," said Olivia.
"I suppose we shouldn't waste anymore time then," said Starlight.
"But how do we get out of here?" asked Spike.
"I know a way, just follow me," said Mario. He led both Spike and Starlight over to the green pipe and jumped in. Although a little hesitant, Spike and Starlight jumped in after him. They eventually found themselves dropping on top of the collapsed exhibit wall, where three Koopas were praying.
"Hey didn't anyone teach you not to step on the gods?!" one of the Koopas yelped.
"Oops sorry," Mario, Starlight, and Spike quickly jumped off and made their way out of the shrine. Upon exiting the shrine, Mario and co were immediately stopped by a Toad who came out rushing from behind the nearby stalls.
"Ah Mario glad to see you, i heard you were in the Vellumental Shrine but you never came out so I was worried sick, anyway are you alright? In case you need 'em I have some goods I'd be willing to sell you, hopefully they'll do you some good in future battles," the Toad offered.
"Hm, my current tools HAVE been a little flimsy during recent battles maybe it wouldn't hurt to buy a few supplies," he said.
"Great choice, come along this way, I'll show you what I have in stock," the Toad led them over to his stalls to show off his wares. After looking around, Mario eventually bought some new equipment for the group as well as some healing items. "I appreciate your patron,good luck in future battles Mario!" the Toad waved them off and were getting ready to make their way back to the tower when Mario spotted the same Toad they saved back in the shrine.
"Oh Mario there you are, glad to see that you decided to pay me a visit," said the Toad.
"You said you sold accessories correct?" asked Starlight.
"Indeed are you perhaps interested?" he asked.
"Maybe a little," answered Starlight.
"Ah I see in that case here's what we have in stock right now," he places three plastic containers holding three key chains. One was a bronze Koopa shell, another was a bronze heart, and the third was in the shape of a small white bell "I present to you the Guard Plus, Heart Plus, and Paper Alert accessories, as the name suggests the Guard Plus accessory helps slightly increase your defense during battles, the Heart Plus accessory slightly increases your HP, and the Toad Alert accessory helps track down any nearby toads and ponies that might need saving,"
"Wow they sound extremely useful!" chirped Olivia.
"Unfortunately these are the only ones in stock right now so if you don't buy them here, you'll pretty much miss out on them later down the road, so what do you say?" asked the Toad.
"You know what, it might be worth it in the long run, I'll take all three," said Mario.
"Excellent choice," said the Toad. He popped open the cases and handed the key chains to Mario as he took his coins in return. "Now it'd be a slight pain having to just carry them around so as a gift for being such an amazing patron I'll also give you this free Key chain ring that you can attach to yourself so you can hang all your accessories on it, that way you won't have to worry about losing them," he handed the ring to Mario as he attached the ring to his overalls and clipped the three chains onto the ring.
"You look great in that Mario!" said Olivia.
"There are sure to be more of my buddies out in the world who are also selling accessories so if you happen to see them, stop buy and see what they have, they might be selling some useful accessories," said the Toad.
"We really appreciate it thank you," said Starlight.
"Please do be careful out there folks, with the origami threat running rampant it's only a matter of time before their ruler takes control, I pray for your safety and success," Mario and co. thanks the Toad as they begin climbing up the steps leading to Picnic Fields.
"I suppose it's time," said Starlight.
"Yep, let's go take down that streamer!" said Spike. And so now armed with Olivia's Vellumental power, new equipment, and accessories, the group makes their way back to Overlook Hills to lower the tower, and finally destroy the red streamer, however they will soon find out that a far more dangerous enemy lurks at the top in wait for their arrival.