Shroobsworth



A Shroobsworth is an elderly lighter-colored Shroob in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Shroobsworths are designed to resemble Toadsworth, Princess Peach's longtime steward. As such, a Shroobsworth has a white mustache and a cane. These elderly Shroobs carry the younger Intern Shroobs on their backs, piggyback style (like Mario and Baby Mario or Luigi and Baby Luigi). Shroobsworths, along with their younger counterparts, were assigned to protect the halls of Shroob Castle, the Shroobified version of Princess Peach's Castle, during the Shroob occupation of the Mushroom Kingdom. As such, the four Mario Bros. of past and present battled many Shroobsworth's and Intern Shroobs during the heroes' efforts to rescue Peach, defeat Princess Shroob, and destroy the Shroob menace.

In battle, a Shroobsworth fights with the help of the Intern Shroob on its back. To attack, a Shroobsworth may throw the Intern Shroob in the air. While high above the ground, the younger Shroob will shoot energy blasts from a cannon downwards at the Mario brothers. Luigi and Mario could dodge this attack by jumping. However, if the Shroobsworth throws the Intern Shroob extremely high in the air, the younger Shroob will not attack. Instead, Shroobsworth will quickly run up to the Mario brothers and strike them with his cane (showing that the elderly Shroob doesn't really need the cane after all). Again, the Mario brothers can jump to avoid this attack. After attacking, the Shroobsworth would return to its original position and catch the falling Intern Shroob.

Lastly, Shroobsworth can attack with a powerful dark meteor. When using this technique, the Intern Shroob will take out a meteor and toss the dark rock at the Mario brother Shroobsworth points to. The dark meteor can be deflected with Hammer swings; however, Shroobsworth and the Intern Shroob will knock it back, meaning the Baby Mario brothers must deflect the meteor multiple times. If Shroobsworth deflects the meteor with his cane, the rock will hit Mario; if the Intern Shroob hits the dark meteor, the rock will hit Luigi. After enough deflections, the meteor will eventually hit Shroobsworth and cause damage.

Unfortunately, once a Shroobsworth is defeated, the battle will not end as the Intern Shroob will replace the Shroobsworth in combat (like when an older Mario brother falls in battle, the baby counterpart will replace him). However, instead of fighting, the Intern Shroob will revive the Shroobsworth with a special green Shroob 1-Up Mushroom. Once revived, the Mario Bros. must eliminate Shroobsworth all over again.

It is unknown exactly why a Shroobsworth looks like Toadsworth, as the one from its time was in the present time period during the invasion. They may have somehow taken his DNA when they took over the castle, but it is still unknown if Shroobification works in that fashion. The Shroobsworth also seem to hint that Toadsworth has a hidden potential.