After Mario and Olivia had finished grieving, the group travelled the desert for a while before coming across a small little city.
"Snif City? Sounds like something that stinks." Lucy said.
"Especially when you consider all of the lights here. I have a feeling that it's only called that because of all of these Snifits running around." Mayumi said.
"Yet all the buildings seem to be Toad based. It's more than likely the Snifits took over after Olly crumpled all of the Toads here." Robin said.
"So I guess we know what we gotta do, then. Still, though… Hard to believe someone would have the gall to blackout a desert. I mean, seriously." David said.
"Considering the structures...we would need an expert on the ancient people that lived out there. That would be the best way to understand where our enemy is hiding." Robin said.
"Oh, so you wanna find Professor Toad." one of the Snifits said.
"That's right. Do you know where he's gone off to?" Raine asked.
"Well he's got a room at that hotel over there, but he's not there now. Think he ran off to the desert." they said.
"Thanks. We'll go look for him." Hope said.
"He could be anywhere in the desert, it's pretty big." Glimmer said. "Lets see if we can find any clue to where he is at the Hotel."
The group headed to the Hotel, and saw more inscriptions on the walls. They also headed into Professor Toad's room to inspect for clues.
"Hmm… it looks like he hasn't been here in awhile. Whoa...look at this freaky thing." Scorpia said, pulling out a picture of a large bird.
"A bird...wait...didn't we see a bird statue back out in the desert?" Ochako asked.
"We did." Shun said.
"We know what this means. The Fire Vellumental Temple is somewhere in that desert." Raine said. "Most likely underneath that statue."
"According to his notes, there may be some sort of dance to call the temple forth but the notes are written in a different language." Miles said.
"Of all the times for Barbara to not be with us." David said.
"It's quite alright. Robin and I will just have to pick up the slack. For now, though, it might be best that we search for the Professor. He might be able to help us understand these notes." Raine said.
"According to his latest journal entry, he was on the cusp of a big breakthrough concerning a site called the Sun Altar. He also mentions Sun Incense in his notes too, maybe that's what he was gonna use at the altar." Glimmer said.
"That wouldn't work. The sun's still blocked out anyway." David said.
"You know, this may be a bit of a weird idea…. But maybe if we put the incense on the altar, it could lead us to Professor Toad." Zephyr said.
"Considering our lack of options, I'd say it's worth a shot." Kiba said. "However, we'll need to locate some of this incense first."
"Pretty sure we can buy some from one of the stands here." Jexi said.
"Good thing we've got plenty of cash to spare." David said.
After buying some incense, they arrived where the Sun Altar was and placed the candle in it and lit it.
"Well, it's burning…" Zephyr said.
"But no one's coming to see this." Noelle sighed. "This idea was pointless, let's head back to the-"
Suddenly the wind picked up as a sand tornado whirled up from behind them and sucked them in. Afterwards, the creator of the tornado popped up from the sant… a giant Paper Macho Pokey.
"What were you gonna say, Noelle?" Catra asked.
"Nevermind…" Noelle said.
"Shut it, both of you." David said. "We need to be careful around this one. It can easily snake around the sand and blitz right at us. We need to wait until it slumps onto the ground and then rush at it one segment at a time until he's completely taken down."
"Agreed. Let's rush this guy." Asta said.
The giant Pokey repeatedly rose up and down from the sands for a bit as it repeatedly lost all its segments. Once its head was broken through, out fell a Toad in an archeologist outfit holding a shovel as he landed in the sands.
"Are you...Professor Toad?" Raine asked.
"Indeed I am, miss." he said, picking himself up. "My thanks to you all for saving me."
"It's our pleasure." David said. "Say, what were you doing all the way out here?"
"Finding the temple of course." he said. "A key to looking into the past and discovering the untold secrets of Captain Tee-oad."
"Who?" Hope asked.
"One of the Ancient Ones, who I've been searching for in this desert for quite some time." Professor Toad said. "I see you have put the Sun Incense on the altar, but alas it seems the altar hasn't opened up. Is there something missing?"
"What about those statues we passed on the way to town?" Raine asked.
"Hmm… if I recall, there were some murals in the Hotel that depicted them, yes?" Professor Toad asked.
"That's right. And that's also why we came looking for you. We were hoping that you'd help us decipher what that text means." Sectonia said.
"I understand. I'll happily lend my aid to you. Let's make back for the Hotel in Snif City, posthaste!" Professor Toad said.
'Uh...we actually have the notes with us." Miles said.
"Is that so? In that case, let's head to the altar then." he said.
They approached the altar of a large bird. "Well...here goes." Olivia said as they followed the steps of the dance before the temple shook and rose with the birds beak opening right up.
"It opened. Looks like you were right on the mark again, Raine. The Vellumental Temple was under there after all." David said.
"But let's see if the Vellumental itself is still there." Raine said as they headed down into the temple. The inside was filled with the same flammable liquid that was in the altar and some of it was on fire.
"Well...definitely home to a fire breathing bird. Looks like it's just up ahead." Genis said.
"I'll wait for you all to be finished from out here." Professor Toad said. "This Fire Vellumental business is not my area of expertise. Also, did I mention I have pyrophobia?"
"Not to worry, Professor. We can handle this." Hope said. "We'll be right back."
The group headed inside the Fire Vellumental's temple and navigated through it to its main arena. They then heard a shrill screech as flying down from above was a red phoenix with orange feathers burning with fire. And like the previous two Vellumentals, it was also paperized and folded up into an origami form.
"So that's the Fire Vellumental…" Adora said.
It cawed with fury as it started firing out flaming feathers at them.
"Watch out!" Hope said as everyone dodged the feathers as they stuck in the ground.
"Yep, definitely aggressive!" ZS said.
"Don't overthink this. It's a fire-elemental, so dousing it with water should be the most effective strategy." Raine said.
"Yeah. And with enough force, we can even traverse past the feathers it lodged to the ground." David said.
"Plus I see a weak spot. The feathers on top of its head weren't fired." Iida said.
"Not only that, but unleashing its feathers also drains a bit of its health. We'll need to be careful in picking the right moment to attack." Leopardmon said.
"We'll wait for it to fire off most of its feathers, then we douse them. Course we'll have to agitate it a lot to do that." Sunset said.
"Ah, a good old taunt should do the trick with that." David said, looking to the Fire Vellumental. "Hey. If you're too worried about ruffling your own feathers, then why don't you come down here and fight us head on?"
The Fire Vellumental looked cautious about hearing that.
"What's wrong? I thought you were a phoenix and not a chicken." Bow said.
The Fire Vellumental then looked peeved at this comment and started firing multiple feathers.
"That did it!" Bow said doging the feathers and continuing to egg it on by firing stun arrows to keep it focused on him. It wasn't long before the Vellumental was short on feathers, all tired out.
"It's low on feathers, now's the time!" Bow said, leaping back to Noelle. "Noelle!"
"I've got this. Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!" Noelle said creating a large water dragon that doused everything in water, including the feathers and the Vellumental.
"It's down! It's time to get wild!" David said.
They charged at the Vellumental and rapidly beat it up before pulling out its top feathers. After that, the bird fell defeated before becoming a Bibliofold.
"Olivia, you know what to do." Mayumi said.
"Yes. Of course." Olivia said studying the Bibliofold before trying it out, unfolding and refolding into the Fire Vellumental.
"How's it feel?" Hope asked.
"Oh… oh my!" Oliva said. "Before I transformed into the Vellumental, my heart was pounding. But now, it feels like it's...ON FIRE!" she yelled, flying into the air. She looped around before breathing fire on the oil covered stairs, burning it all away and turning the oil fountains into fire spouts.
"Wow...that is some fire power." Natsu said.
"And exactly what we need to uncover the Ancient One's Temple." Professor Toad said.
"And hopefully...where the Yellow Streamer ends." Jexi said. "Along with our villain."