Valentina

"My beauty simply shines forth like the sun!"

- Valentina

Valentina, transliterated as Margarita on one occasion, is a major boss who appears in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Valentina was an aide to the royal court in Nimbus Land prior to the game's beginning. After Prince Mallow disappeared, Valentina locked King Nimbus and Queen Nimbus in a room in the palace. Valentina then lied to the townsfolk, saying that the king is sick and may die soon. She also sent her minions to guard the palace as well as the beanstalks leading up to the clouds where Nimbus Land lies, and fired much of the royal staff. As a final precaution, Valentina instructed Shy Away to block the pipe leading to Nimbus Land by causing Megasmilax to grow in it.

History
Valentina's next plan is in motion as Mario, Mallow and their friends arrive in Nimbus Land, having overwhelmed Megasmilax and its Smilaxs as well as the enemies guarding the beanstalks. Valentina passes her assistant Dodo as the lost Prince Mallow. Dodo then "proposes" to Valentina, legally making her queen. The two then return to the palace. Having learned the truth about Mallow's heritage from Garro, Garro disguises Mario as a statue to sneak him into the palace. Valentina then enters the room they are in to praise the golden statues made in her likeness, only to notice Mario and question Garro about it. He describes Mario as his latest masterpiece, making her display Mario within the palace. As Mario is about to explore the rest of Nimbus Castle, Valentina commands Dodo to polish her statues. Shy Away eventually informs Valentina that Mario is within the palace. After being told what Mario looks like, Valentina realizes the statue Garro brought shares the same description. Once she realizes Mario is in the room with her, she escapes the castle. She circles around back to Nimbus Land's plaza, but she gets surrounded by Nimbus who all ask her questions. She voices her frustrations as Mario arrives to battle her.

At the beginning of the battle, Valentina calls Dodo to carry away the middle party member. That member must then fight Dodo alone. When Dodo is damaged enough, he retreats, the ally gives chase, and the battle returns to Valentina. Valentina can cast nine spells, the most out of any boss, and has a large amount of health, but has low defense. After a few turns, Dodo and the kidnapped party member return to join their respective side. The duo then retreats once Valentina receives enough damage, leaving behind the key required to rescue Mallow's parents. After this, her minions disappear from the castle, as well as several statues of her being replaced with King Nimbus ones.

If Mario returns to the top of Booster Tower and goes to the balcony where Princess Toadstool was held captive, he finds Valentina questioning why she should marry Booster. He then whispers something into Valentina's ear, causing her to fall in love with him. When Valentina approaches him, Booster tries to distance himself from her, but she approaches him once more. Viewing the scene afterwards show them standing together. During the ending, the pair are wed in Marrymore with Dodo presiding over. When Valentina tries to get closer to Booster, he flees from the chapel, prompting Valentina to pursue him. During the credits, Valentina is carried by Dodo.

Physical appearance
Valentina appears as a pale-skinned woman who wears a cream-colored dress, which moves during her battle, and red shoes. She has a somewhat frog-like face and a parrot on her head which, according to the game's monster designer Kazuyuki Kurashima, is a homage to Squawks from Donkey Kong Country. During her battle, she carries a martini glass which has no effect on the gameplay. Her extremely skinny waist may also be intended to resemble the neck of a martini glass, hence her Japanese name of "Margarita".

Personality
Valentina is shown to be an extremely bossy and domineering person who seems to treat her henchmen and just about everyone else around her with as little respect as possible. Despite the blatant disrespect she shows toward her underlings (especially towards Dodo), as well as the apparent hatred they have toward her (as shown in Birdy's Psychopath), they still remain loyal to her regardless. Valentina is also vain and cruel. This is shown when she thinks highly of herself, believing herself to be beautiful beyond compare, as well as a refined "art buff". While she is still in the palace, she can be heard laughing loudly throughout it. The particular laugh (an "oh-ho-ho-ho-ho") is commonly associated with royal or otherwise high-status women in Japanese media.

Profiles

 * Official Nintendo Player's Guide (Who's Who): Swaggering around in a high-fashion dress with a cocktail in hand, Valentina sure looks like she might be a birdbrain. Don't be deceived by appearances, though. Behind that pretty face lurks a cunning master of palace politics. Valentina has tossed the king and queen in prison and hornswoggled the trusting folk of Nimbus Land into believing that Dodo is really Prince Mallow. Valentina is an unusual tyrant in that she fancies herself something of an art buff. She's ordered the castle guards to admit no one except the renowned sculptor Garro when he's bringing statues. Hmmm. Valentina's refined taste might offer Mario a chance to sneak into the palace, but he'll have to keep a stiff upper lip!

Trivia

 * The Player's Guide of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars misspells Valentina's name as "Valentia" at one point.
 * Although Valentina is named Margarita in the Japanese version, in her official artwork her martini glass appears to have a cherry inside. In the Nintendo Switch remake, it is replaced with a slice of lime, making it resemble an actual margarita.