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. 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 Rogueport Sewers.
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.
Paper Abilities
Airplane Mode
- Chapter Obtained: Prologue
- Power gotten 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 gotten in: Hooktail Castle
- To use power: Press and hold R.
Tube Mode
- Chapter Obtained: 4
- Power gotten in: Twilight Town
- To use power: Press R and rotate control stick. Press B to return to normal.
Boat Mode
- Chapter Obtained: 5
- Power gotten 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 heros were not really evil creatures, it´s possible that they actually realize, that their curses are helpfull abilities. It could be, that they just claim to be evil, so Mario woud not feel any pity with them and continue to search for the crystal stars, instead of staying and trying to restore the demons original form. (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.
