Starlow

"HELLO YELLO!"

- Starlow

Starlow (known as Chippy by Bowser) is a character who first appears in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and returns in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. She is a Star Sprite who helps Mario and Luigi by giving hints and holding items. She has a similar role to Stuffwell from the previous game. Her name is a portmanteau of the words "star" and "yellow".

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Starlow is sent to Princess Peach's meeting as a representative of the star sprites. Starlow believes that the cause of the Blorbs was from Blorb Mushrooms sold by a man in a gray cloak. Later, she is inhaled into Bowser, along with Mario, Luigi, and other citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. She has the same purpose as Stuffwell does in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: helping Mario and Luigi. Also like Stuffwell, she holds the Mario Bros. items and equipment. However, the difference between Stuffwell and Starlow is that she has a demo version of all the abilities learned throughout the game. She can combine her powers with Princess Peach to telekinetically control people, such as Bowser, and also help Mario and Luigi to perform certain action commands. Starlow often talks to Bowser from inside of him to give him information. Starlow uses Chippy as her name for Bowser, not wanting him to know that she is helping the Mario Bros. She also helps Mario and Luigi in their encounter with Bowser. She can also save the player from nearly unavoidable attacks from bosses like Bowser, the Dark Star and the Dark Star Core, by having Mario and Luigi grab her feet so she can fly up to the top screen.

Starlow appears to have negative feelings towards Luigi, and this negativity towards him sometimes generates humorous results, such as when Starlow angrily knocks Luigi into Alpha Kretin after Luigi suggests that Starlow fight it alongside Mario rather than him. She only demonstrates this when Luigi is acting particularly cowardly. Also at the cyrogenic chamber at Bowser's Castle, she teases him by saying that he supported his older brother by crying.

At the end of the game, when Bowser hears Starlow's voice, he easily recognizes her as Chippy and gets furious, deciding to pick a fight with the Mario Bros. and her. When Bowser and Peach's Castle were remodelled, Starlow and Birdley deliver a present to Bowser from Peach as a thanks for all he did, and they have a small chat, ending with Starlow teasing him and him yelling at her to leave his castle, which she does.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
"First the stache, now the nose?! What're you, five years old?!"

- Starlow

Starlow returns in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. She was invited to Pi'illo Island to represent the Star Sprites. Like Bowser's Inside Story, she acts as Mario and Luigi's partner and guide. She also causes Luigi's in-dream reactions by pulling his mustache, spinning his nose, and pushing his hat down. Her looking down on Luigi remains, though it appears chemistry will develop between the two as the game progresses.

Relationships
Mario: For the most part, Starlow and Mario get along very well. In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story she usually interacts with him much more than she does with Luigi; probably because of Mario's heroic status and the fact he's much more calmer and braver than Luigi when it comes to situations. Starlow admires Mario's bravery and courage, and Mario see's Starlow as a good friend. Because of this, she's usually more open and kind towards Mario, but won't hesitate to speak her mind to him if she needs to. Mario seems to dislike how Starlow talked to Luigi after battling the Shroobs and told her that Luigi was the one who did stop them (Which was true.) Starlow assits Mario and his brother in battle, and even lets them grab onto her when they are about to be hit by the Dark Star's most powerful attacks. He was happy to see her again in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. She once again assists the bros on their quest to save the world and Princess Peach.

Luigi: is a friend of Starlow, but she generally interacts with Mario more so than with Luigi. Starlow also acts more coldheartedly toward Luigi, as in one humorous scene, before the battle with Alpha Kretin, Luigi asks Starlow to fight alongside Mario instead, and she responds by angrily knocking him into the beast, or even after (optionally) finding and defeating the three frozen Shroobs, in which she comments that only Mario could have been able to defeat the Shroobs as a baby. Mario responds that Luigi also helped, and Starlow, dubious about it, says that Luigi possibly attacked them with some "ferocious crying" (This is actually somewhat true). This, of course, made Luigi sad, and Mario says to Starlow that Luigi was the one who defeated the Shroobs in the end. Starlow, impressed about Luigi's potential, then apologized to him, saying that he is indeed super like his brother, thus making Luigi happy again. Starlow also helps Mario and Luigi in some battles on Mario and Luigi Bowser's inside story like when they fight Bowser, Fawful (in a different form). What Starlow does help them she lets Mario and Luigi hang on to her when something is breathing fire and the fire is about to hit them. In "Dream Team," Starlow seems to be more open towards Luigi, and shows general concern when he looked nervous in his sleep. She even mentioned that he looked cute in his sleep, hinting she may have a crush on Luigi. Starlow is the one to stay behind to watch Luigi when Mario and Prince Dreambert venture into the Dreamworld. generally cares a lot about Luigi, despite being fustrated with him easier.

Bowser: Bowser and Starlow generally don't get along very well. Starlow see's him as a hotheaded monster while Bowser see's her as annoying. After he accidentally inhales her, the Mario Bros. Peach and various Toads, Starlow helps Bowser fight against Fawful in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. using the alias "Chippy", Starlow speaks to Bowser from inside his body, telling him what to do and getting him out of various predicaments with help from the Mario Bros. Despite their common goal, Bowser and Starlow do not get along well, constantly trading barbs and occasionally refusing to listen to each other, although Starlow occasionally expresses concern or sympathy for the Koopa. Despite her attitude, Bowser comes to think of "Chippy" as an honorary member of his Koopa Troop, and is enraged to learn that she was really an ally of Mario and Luigi. Starlow was shown to be extremely disguested with Bowser in "Dream Team" and feels he should just give up while he's ahead with Being Evil.

Dreambert: Starlow seems to get along well with Dreambert since they both are amongst clans of various magical entities. Though, Starlow was really annoyed with Dreambert when he wasn't able to remember certain important things that could helped out the group.

Princess Peach: Peach and Starlow seem to have a very good friendship. The two never really argue, and generally get along very well. Starlow has a high amount of respect for Peach, and puts her safety first before anything else. When the two are together they can perform a powerful attack as seen in the 3rd and 4th Mario and Luigi game.

Quotes

 * "YELLO GOODBYE!" - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
 * "I'll stay here and guard the princess." - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
 * "VERY FUNNY!" - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Trivia

 * Starlow's shape and color is similar to the Soul Bubble enemies from Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.
 * When Starlow teases Luigi by saying he defeated the Shroobs with fierce crying, Mario said that Luigi actually defeated the Shroobs. Coincidentally, Luigi's crying was the reason the Shroobs were destroyed.
 * Starlow's real name is only mentioned three times in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story:
 * At the beginning when she is introduced to the members of the conference.
 * When Mario and Luigi find Peach inside the Flab Zone.
 * In the ending cutscene after Bowser regurgitates everyone from his body.