Deviation Actions
Description
HELLAH! People of all KAAAAANDS! It's that time again! Time for another chapter for Paper Mario: The Metora Kingdom! Enjoy 
After acquiring the Power Bangle from the Nadiri Mountains, Mario and Co. head back to AuroraPort where Norahl has his last moment where he looks like he’s receiving a message of some kind. Norahl then tells you “It seems the 5th and Final Crown Jewel is in Force-Strike Valley! Warning: expect electric puns”. However, the group have no idea how to actually get to Force-Strike Valley itself, so who else do you go to at these times other than Merlon! ...But he unfortunately does not know either... As the group leave the hotel wondering how to reach the so-called “Fields of Thunder”, the strangely notice a just-visible, yellow Boo with a fancy haircut. Norahl breaks down that it can’t be a coincidence that they just saw an “Eleboo” right after trying to find out how to reach the place they are most known for living in: Force-Strike Valley.
So, the group curiously follow the Eleboo to an old house which, because of the way the camera is positioned, never seemed to have any way into the house, until now, where a wooden door has mysteriously appeared. Mario and Co. head into the seemingly empty house, in which they uncover the entrance to a basement of sorts, where the further they travel down, the more high-tech things strangely start to get...
Eventually, they reach what appears to be an underground train station. The Eleboo finally appears in a “shocking” manor, in which he simple tells the group “hop on the train and I’ll explain when you reach the valley”. With no ideas of what else to do, the group hop on the high-tech looking bullet train, in which... the train instantly zooms off at lightning speed, but at the same time, crazy turns, loops, pauses and JUMP SCARES are made along the journey, like some sort of modern ghost train ride. Anyway, once the train finally reaches its destination, it begins! CHAPTER 4: THE LIGHTNING STRIKE BACK!!!
The group get off the train, some traumatised, others finding it fun (that would be Norahl), and strangely enough, there was no even driving the train either! Anyway, that Eleboo from before isn’t anywhere to be seen now that they’re here, so the only option is to make their way into the actually valley and find out what’s actually going on. After making a short trip into the centre of the fields, you reach a futuristic “town”, except, there isn’t really houses or anything, but rather, generators and other buildings like that. The area is also inhabited completely by ghosts, mostly Vholsts, Sparkies and Eleboos. Finally, they bump into the Eleboo from before who introduces himself as Niboola Esla, proprietor of the “Transformation Station” (that’s basically the name of the town) but says you can call him “Esla” for short.
Esla tells you to meet him in the main power station in his “office”, so you join him there. Inside, he explains what’s going on: “Sorry for all zee delay, but I had to get you here before I could I really begin: I can’t really put it any simpler than, we need your help Mario. You see, a few years ago, a Crown landed here in zee valley, but we never actually found until a few months back, where a young Sparky named Pyla found it, and as she is a young girl, she found it to be more of a fashion accessory, and sort of, showed off a bit to her friends. But, it soon got to be a little bit more than just showing off, as she soon became obsessed with zee crown, and started terrorising people who disagreed with her! Well, I’m sure it’s all very predictable at zis point, the crown is indeed the one you are in search of: The Metoran Crown.
“Yeah, next time why don’t ya just skip to the punchline... unlike how I handle my jokes... or do I?” Norahl ponders.
Esla Continues “Yes but it’s getting a lot worse. Because of the Crown, she now has unspeakable powers! And now, she’s heading for zee Energy Plant”.
“Energy Plant? Well doesn’t all plant produce energy no?” Norahl comments.
“Not zat kind of Plant you imbecile! I’m talking about the massive Station north of zee valley centred around zee Energy Core, which is in turn, what allows all us ghosts in the valley to exist! You see, zee fields have a strong magnetic field, which attracts lightning, and zat energy left over from it is enough to temporarily create a ghost made of pure electricity! So make sure zat we Vholsts, Sparkies and Eleboos would last longer than a few hours, we slowly constructed zee generators across zee valley to gather electricity needed for ourselves, and built zee Energy Plant around zee Core Reactor to help keep it all stable and such. But now, Pyla has taken over the Energy Plant, along with all zee ghosts she brainwashed, and plans to use the energy from Core Reactor to give her even more unspeakable powers! But if zat happens, zen all zee ghosts in the valley will no longer have zee energy they need to exist, so they’ll all slowly just sort of, fade away! PLEASE MARIO! YOU GOT TO HELP US!”
Mario undoubtedly agrees to help, and so Esla explains that they need to figure out a way into the Energy Plant first, as Pyla has blocked the entrance with a strong barrier. Esla also tells you to look for a Vholst with a “lightning ponytail” and a “Trident”. With that, the group head out into the rest of Force-Strike Valley in search of clues on what they can do to get in the Energy Plant. Eventually, by exploring the South-East of the fields (Enemies: Electro-Eskoopots, Fizzlits, Hyper Octoombas, Hyper Para-Octoombas, Hyper Spiked Octoombas), you come across a Vholst, who does indeed have a trident and a lightning ponytail, but she’s being attacked by 2 brainwashed Negative Sparkies. So, Mario jumps in to fight them off. After the battle, the Vholst thanks you, and asks if she could repay you somehow. Mario and Co. explain that Esla told them to look for her, but at the thought of this, the Vholsts runs away cowardly for some reason.
So, you chase after her, until she eventually reaches a dead end, where she can’t run anymore. With that she gives in and explains that her name is Volru, and that Pyla was actually her best friend before she found “that crown”. She then goes on to say that the Trident she possesses is something only she can utilise, and was passed on down from her ancestors. “Esla, and all the ghosts from the Transformation Station want me to use my trident to break the barrier, but I keep telling them: IT WON’T WORK! I haven’t actually tried it out, but the thing is, I’m still unsure on how to use this thing myself... but even worse, I don’t think I have what takes to go up against who used to be my best friend y’know? I’m sorry but I’m afraid I can’t help you”.
Mario and Co. understand, and so they leave Volru alone and walk away... but then, “WAIT!” Volru rushes back “Listen, eh, forget about what I said back there; well, not all of it, but I mean, I feel like I’m letting people down, that I have a duty I’m not fulfilling, but if you’re who they say you are Mario, then I think I can go with you. In fact, it’s settled! I WILL help you! I’m not sure how I’ll handle going up against my once-bestie but, for now, I think I can handle this”. With that... VOLRU JOINED YOUR PARTY!!!
With Volru now on your team, you head back to the Transformation Station to find out what to do next. Here, Esla explains that there’s a system of many underground tunnels, like giant wires almost, that funnel the electricity around the valley, known as the Undercurrent. Esla’s theory is that the group might be able to get into the Energy Plant via the Undercurrent, by getting in though one of the underground entrances, assuming Pyla hasn’t yet thought that they might use this strategy to get in. So, the group head out and begin exploring new areas of the valley. The main mechanic here is the many generator machines scattered around the fields, which if you power them up with Volru’s ability, will serve as teleporters, taking you to other teleporters, possibly somewhere on the other side of the actually valley!
But the other big focus is the amount of warp pipes, which will always take you to a different part of the Undercurrent, allowing you to explore many different areas. Anyway, using the teleporters and pipes to solve puzzles and progress further, the group eventually make it to what is supposed to be the underground passage to the Energy Plant! ...Except, it’s been completely blocked off by tonnes of debris and rubble. “Darnit! She did think ahead after all! Well, now what?” Volru asks. Unsure, the group head backwards into the Undercurrent, when they suddenly catch a small glimpse of a blue Vholsts passing down the tunnels. Curious, the group follow, until they eventually meet the Vholst in a room with a pedestal in the centre.
Volru questions who she is, in which she turns around to reveal that she is holding a spear, much like the Trident Volru carries. The Vholst introduces herself as Salru, and addresses Volru saying “So you are the successor to the Lightning Staffs”. Volru is confused by this, in which Salru explains “You see Volru, I am one of your ancestors, who passed down the Trident you now hold”.
“R-really? Oh...” Volru is shocked (no pun intended) “But wait, what’s that spear you’re holding?”
Salru explains “Ah, well, I am of the generation of Vholsts who first created the Energy Core, many years back. But we also created the lightning staffs in order to store and control energy, even when away from a generator. But, some of the Vholsts became selfish and used the power of the staffs for negativity, so, most of them were destroyed. All that remains now are the 2 that you and I possess. It seems you slipped through the generation of ghosts who wanted to destroy it, while I have been hiding down in this Undercurrent for as many years as you have been alive... But now our home is at threat from Pyla, and the only way we can stop it is with the combined power of both our staffs, for I have tried it alone myself... needless to say, it was a failure... but now your here, so please, you have to help me, for the sake of the entire valley!”
Volru thinks for a second, but realises she can’t turn back now: “Very well; I accept”
With that, Salru tells you to meet her up top, at the entrance to the Energy Plant. So, you exit the lost current (via pretty much any pipe you can find), and head to the entrance of the Energy Plant aboveground. Here, Salru is waiting, and tells Volru that in order to unlock the fullest power of the staffs, they must cross them together. So, when ready, Volru tilts her Trident to the left, while Salru does the same with her Spear in the opposite direction, causing the 2 to intersect. A bright light of energy appears in the cross section, showing the power that the 2 staffs have created together. Salru then order Volru to tilt the trident onto the barrier of the Energy Plant entrance, and with one giant beam of electrical power fired at the barrier, the obstacle is now destroyed! Salru wishes you luck when heading into the Energy Plant, but says that she’ll be there to help once you reach Pyla herself.
And so, Chapter 4’s dungeon begins! The dungeon is the largest one yet! As it has multiple buildings, various outdoor areas, as well as a lot of the dungeon being underground! (Enemies: Negative Vholst, Negative Sparkies, Negative Eleboos, Amps) There’s a lot of puzzles involving guiding currents around the facility, to get them to activate doors. Eventually, you see Delumer of all people! Just floating around suspiciously. Logically, Norahl tells you to follow him. You then follow him (without him noticing you) until you reach a sort of, research area, that has a lot of books in it. And strangely, Delumer actually happens to be carrying one of those books, reading it.
So, Mario and Co. confront him. “Oh... I see you’ve noticed me! Don’t worrying: I’m as much against that Pyla as you are... but I’m also against you as much as Pyla is!” With that, a battle infuses. After the battle, Delumer tosses the book he was holding on top of a nearby bookshelf, and then vanishes into the shadows. Curious as to what the book might be, the group find a way to get up onto the bookshelf and pick up the book to start reading, what actually happen to be Salru’s diary. “Day X – Today, while sneaking around the Energy Plant, I found out that Pyla’s was to actually use the power of the Energy Core for her own selfish ways! At this point, I was so mad at them that accidentally gave away my cover by shouting “NO!”. I only just made it out there alive or... unpossessed. Unfortunatley, now that they figured out how I got in through the Undercurrent, they’re blown out that way into the facility with debris, so now there’s no other way in! I need to go and warn the other ghosts in the valley quickly!”.
Volru adds up that Salru must have been the one to find out Pyla’s plans, so she warned everyone else somehow. But Norahl then wonders “Yeah, but why would Delumer be carrying Salru’s diary, if Salru wrote this after she was chased out of this place? And are you gonna try and tell me that he was just coincidentally carrying a book belonging to Salru, and a place full of LOADS OF OTHER BOOKS!”. Volru thinks it through and breaks down that perhaps Delumer found the book outside the Energy Plant, and somehow found his own way into the Energy Plant, and also wanted the group to purposely read the diary for some reason. So, the group continue onwards through the many buildings, courtyards and underground areas of the facility, and even find a pair of Stunt Boots until they eventually reach the room that houses the Core Reactor itself!
But non-surprisingly it seems the villain herself has beaten the group to it! It’s Pyla! And she also happens to wearing the Metoran Crown on her head! “So this is Pyla ey?” Norahl says “Haha, she looks like one of those Angry Suns from that desert kingdom!”. “SILENCE!” Pyla demands “At last! The preparations are all ready for me to gain the powers that this device is capable of!” She then approaches the Core Reactor, ready to receive its power, when suddenly; a dark projectile hits her from the side, knocking her back. The projectile is revealed to have come from Delumer, who then takes the Metoran Crown and wears it himself! “Oh come on this is getting ridiculous!” Norahl shouts out”. Delumer then says that he’s gonna help accomplish his own goals with the power of the Energy Core, but first, he’ll take care of Mario and Co. using Pyla herself, who Delumer has now possessed!
Delumer then unveils a massive robot mech suit that he says Pyla built herself in preparation for this very fight, but now that Delumer’s in control, this is the real fight! With Pyla in the Mech Suit, Delumer in control, and the fate of the valley in the hands of our heroes, thus begins the battle against the “Minus Pyla Mech Mk.1”.
After the battle, Pyla’s mech explodes, and Delumer loses control, dropping the crown. “GRAH! It seems I was unsuccessful this time, and you may have all the Crown Jewels, but your journey is far from over!” Delumer then vanishes into the shadows, but not all is fine and calm... the Energy Core is now set to explode! Suddenly, Salru appears just in time, and tells Volru “The Core doesn’t have enough energy to continue! We need to do what we did to get in here to restore it! By crossing our staffs!”. Volru agrees, and so the 2 cross their spear and trident, thus sealing all the energy back into the Core Reactor, thankfully restoring, and thus saving the valley from destruction!
A break of silence occurs with all the madness now over, until Pyla regains consciousness, (now with normal black eyes) “I-I... I’m so sorry for all of this! Especially you Volru I... I never would have done such a horrible thing if I’d known what I was doing... I was foolish to take that Crown, I’m s-so v-v-ery s-orr-y” Pyla suddenly bursts out crying at her terrible mistake, in which Volru and the group try to cheer her up. “It’s okay Pyla, I know it wasn’t you, but it’s all over now!” Volru smiles. Pyla thanks her and the group, and so she picks up the Metoran Crown and hands it to Mario and Co., causing its spirit to awaken, called Choroma. “You lucky little spirit thing!” Norahl jokes “Why do you get to be the Crown? This practically makes you the King of Metora!”. Choroma laughs but warns Mario “Unlike the other Crown Jewel’s powers, when in need of me, do NOT wear me, for only a Metoran is permanently safe from the crown’s power.
With that settled, Mario takes the Metoran Crown , thus triggering the END OF CHAPTER sequence. YOU GOT A CROWN JEWEL!!!
Interludes
Now the game goes over to the Peach and Bowser interludes. In the Peach interlude, Dooplund once again secretly lets Peach and Medreana out of their cells to find some more hints. They begin spying on Darameana again; one of his lackeys approach him to tell him that Mario has collected all of the Crown Jewels. Darameana is shocked, but stays calm, and realises that he must want the Crown Jewels so that he can use their power against them. Daramena then wonders "Where is Delumer now that he has failed to stop Mario?" he then pulls out a walky-talky and tries to call Delumer but there's no answer. Darameana then becomes suspicious and walks away. Peach is reassured by this, since she now knows Mario is close to saving her.
Suddenly one of the lackeys runs through the room and bumps into Dooplund which causes Peach's and Medreana's disguise to wear off. The lackey notices Peach and Medreana and starts chasing after them. Dooplund then tries to slow him down but it doesn't work. You then have to run and occasionally hide from the lackey's sight so that you can get back to your cell safely. Eventually you make it back to the cell room where Dooplund quickly locks Peach and Medreana up to make it look as if nothing happened. The lackey then enters the room and notices that they're in their cells and gets suspicious and then leaves the room. "That was TOO close" puffs Dooplund, thus concluding the Peach Interlude.
In the Bowser Interlude, Bowser and Kammy Koopa are in a place called Anchor Valley when they bump into Delumer. After Delumer overhears Bowser talking about the Crown Jewels, he tells him that Mario has already found them all and is coming to Anchor Valley. Bowser then gets angry but comes up with the idea that he could just wait for Mario and ambush him and take the Crown Jewels. Delumer then says "Good luck with that! I'll leave you to it. Meanwhile I must be doing my own things" and flies off into the centre of the valley thus concluding the Bowser Interlude...
Back in Force-Strike Valley, the group are all thanked by Esla, Pyla and Salru, and Salru admits that she was the one who gave Esla the idea of getting Mario to help them, since he needed the crown anyway. With that the group get ready to set off, right after Norahl tells them that now that they have all 5 Crown Jewels, the need to head off to the Asterock Chamber in Anchor Valley.
And so, that was Chapter 4 people! What did you think of it? PLEASE COMMENT! I do really appreciate those who give feedback 
Wow, I'm already nearly half way through the game, since the next chapter will be the defined mid-point of the game You'll see 
Paper Mario - Nintendo (C)
The Metora Kingdom - Me (C)
