Black Chest Demon



Mario encountered four Black Chest Demons in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The demons were originally legendary heroes of Rogueport who were cursed by the Shadow Queen and locked in four Black Chests. They set 'curses' on those who opened their chest; however, the curses were actually beneficial to Mario, giving him new paper abilities (This concept was reused from several Legend of Zelda games).

Grifty tells the story of their adventure and how they came to be trapped in chests:

A strong Toad from Petal Meadows, a wise Goomba from Boggly Woods, a scar covered Koopa who traveled the world and a Boo were the four heroes. They learned of the evil and teamed up to destroy the Shadow Queen.

In the great battle they managed to seal away the demon, but just before the fight was completed she cursed the four heroes. If they ever let go of the Crystal Stars, a Black Chest would appear and lock them away for all eternity.

The heroes knew the seal on the Shadow Queen wouldn't last forever, and they wanted the stars available to one who might need them. They made a Magical Map to the stars, and to stop evil from using it, they put it in a box that could only be opened by the pure of heart. The merchant in the opening scene had the box and gave it to Peach.

The Toad was exhausted from his journey and collapsed in Petal Meadows. A healer saved him, but knowing his fate, the Toad gave the star to the healer and said to hide it where nobody would find it. The Toad's Black Chest is in Hooktail Castle. It is not explicitly stated which chest is the Toad's, but it must be this one because he collapsed after a long journey. As they were in Rogueport when they sealed the Shadow Queen away, and the only other chest which is not explicitly stated in the game is also in Rogueport, it must be the chest in Hooktail Castle.

The Koopa went to hide the Sapphire Star in Keelhaul Key, but Cortez came and easily took it for himself. The Koopa was so tired he didn't stand a chance and now his chest resides in the Pirate's Grotto.

The Boo hid the Ruby Star in Creepy Steeple, and her box is in a shop's storage room in Twilight Town.

The Goomba knew the Punies where being terrorized by the nearby monsters, so she hollowed out the Great Tree. She gave the Emerald Star to the Punies where they have been keeping it safe for the past thousand years. Her box is in a secret room in Rogueport Sewers.

Airplane Mode

 * Chapter Obtained: Prologue
 * Power obtained in: Rogueport Sewers
 * To use power: Stand on a plane panel and press Y. Press B to return to normal.

Paper Mode

 * Chapter Obtained: 1
 * Power obtained in: Hooktail Castle
 * To use power: Press and hold R.

Tube Mode

 * Chapter Obtained: 4
 * Power obtained in: Twilight Town
 * To use power: Press R and rotate control stick. Press B to return to normal.

Boat Mode

 * Chapter Obtained: 5
 * Power obtained in: Pirate's Grotto
 * To use power: Stand on a boat panel and press Y and press Y again when you reach another boat panel.

Trivia

 * Because the four heroes were not really evil creatures, it's possible that they actually realise that their curses are helpful abilities. It could be that they just claim to be evil, so Mario would not feel any pity with them and continue to search for the Crystal Stars, instead of staying and trying to restore the Demons' original forms. (Though doing so wouldn't affect gameplay, it seems, if given the option of doing so.)


 * Though the Black Chest Demons did not appear in Super Paper Mario, Count Bleck's face and the faces of the three Dorguys look almost identical to that of the Black Chest Demons.