Popple

Popple is the self-proclaimed master thief of the Beanbean Kingdom. He has had multiple encounters with Mario & Luigi and is often seen trying to recruit sidekicks, each of which he calls his "Rookie". While he appears to be somewhat high-profile, it's heavily implied that he's less successful than he lets on, not being above small-time burglary.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
While Popple himself didn't make an appearance in Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Bowser may have made reference to him by calling himself the Shadow Thief when confronted by Pennington after he stole the fake Garnet Star from Poshley Sanctum. This scenario also implied that the Shadow Thief moniker was well-known enough for Bowser to say it belongs to "the BEST thief" and for Pennington to conclude that it was more than a mere burglary. It also implied that Popple himself was not known to be the Shadow Thief at this point in time, with the Shadow Thief title possibly referring to the fact that his true identity was unknown.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Popple was first seen robbing food from Hoohoo Village. As he escaped from one Hoohooligan home, he tripped on a sleeping, hungry, amnesiac Bowser who had been in the village since Captain Goomba caused him to lose his memory. The food Popple was carrying flew into Bowser's mouth as he fell over, which lead to Bowser following Popple around the village. Popple told Bowser to stop following him, but the village residents spotted him, forcing him to make his escape by jumping off of the bridge they were standing on and into the waterfall. Bowser continued to follow Popple into the water, while a Hoohooligan girl bore witness. Not long after, the Goomba Squad met the Hoohooligan girl while on their search for Bowser, and she told the captains and Lakitu what she had seen.

After this, Popple decided to make Bowser his new Rookie thief and to use him as muscle for his upcoming plan to rob the Chuckola Reserve. Popple and Rookie stuffed the owners of Chateau de Chucklehuck, Cork & Cask, inside a barrel. While still in the Chateau, Popple first encountered Mario & Luigi in one of the Chuckola Cola storerooms. He sneakily took Luigi's place, walking behind Mario, as the Bros. were traversing a maze of barrels. When Mario exied the barrel maze he was surprised by Popple's presence. Popple quickly ran off to the next room after this encounter. Mario & Luigi reunited and followed Popple, catching up to him in the next room over. Popple was infuriated at being "caught in full sight", implying that this rarely, if ever, happened to him in the past. Recognising them as rivals who were also after the Chuckola Reserve, Popple called in Rookie, who was now completely loyal to him, to deal with the Mario Bros. This led to Rookie having a vague recollection of Mario & Luigi. A battle ensued, during which Rookie remembered how to breathe fire. Popple attacked the Bros. by ramming into them and attempting to steal their items. Whenever the Bros. hit Popple, Rookie would attack them in retaliation.

After defeating both Popple and Rookie, Popple hectored Rookie, calling him names and making him feel ashamed for not winning the battle after Popple had taken him in when he was "dazed and lost on the mountain". However he quickly changed his tune, saying that they were fine as long as they got the Chuckola Reserve. Popple then decided it was best to not mess with Mario & Luigi, instead running ahead towards the Woods with Rookie. Popple and Rookie were stopped before they could get to Mother Chuckola by Chuckleroot, who was blocking the path. Instead of attempting to collect the three Chuckola Fruits, they decided to hide and wait for Mario & Luigi to open the path for them. Their plan worked, and they ran ahead of the Bros. towards the reserve. However, as Popple and Rookie attempted to steal the reserve from Bubbles, they were attacked and captured in barrels by the Chuckolator, before being hung from the ceiling with rope. When Mario & Luigi entered Mother Chuckola, the Chuckolator awoke once again and spun into the thieves' barrels, causing them to go flying out of Mother Chuckola and get separated in the woods.

While looking for Rookie, Popple came across the Goomba Squad, still in search of Bowser. Popple asked them if they'd seen Rookie, and after describing him the captains realised that he was talking about Bowser. The captains confronted Popple, asking him what he'd done with Bowser, which lead to Popple running away and the minions giving chase. The minions attacked Popple, leaving him injured, before Rookie arrived and was recognised by the minions. The minions attempted to get through to Bowser, but Rookie merely breathed fire at the captains for attacking Popple. Popple then escaped and Rookie followed soon after.

After reuniting, Popple and Rookie developed some new Bros. Attacks that they could use in future battles. They then headed to Woohoo Hooniversity while Cackletta and Fawful had taken it over as part of their plan to awaken the Beanstar. Popple and Rookie made their way to the bottom floor, below the main lab where Cackletta and Fawful had locked themselves. When Cackletta attempted to awaken the Beanstar with the Peach-bots it became enraged, destroying the floor beneath it and falling through to the bottom floor, before going back to sleep. When Mario & Luigi defeated Cackletta, they went down to the bottom floor by instruction of Prince Peasley, only to find Popple and Rookie with the Beanstar. Recognising the Beanstar and its worth, Popple decided to fight Mario & Luigi once again for the star. After carefully moving the Beanstar aside with Mario and bowing, Popple began battle with the Bros. alongside Rookie. During this battle Popple and Rookie employed the same moves as they did in the last one, but after taking some damage they decided to use some of the special Bros. Attacks they'd come up with against Mario & Luigi. Mario & Luigi defeated Popple and Rookie once again, but one of the Peach-bots then fell down and began making noise again, which caused the Beanstar to awake in anger for a second time. Popple, not willing to give up on his treasure, hopped onto the enraged Beanstar. Rookie, Mario and Luigi also jumped on before it flew out of the university and into the skies above the Beanbean Kingdom. Popple quickly lost his grip and fell back down to the land below, becoming separated from Rookie, who had just remembered his true identity. The Beanstar then shattered into four pieces which fell to various locations across the kingdom,

Popple ended up on his own back in Chucklehuck Woods, where he found one of the Beanstar pieces on a statue in the VIP Area outside the Winkle Colosseum. Being too short to reach the piece, he attempted to get it down with a stick. However, Mario & Luigi soon arrived, also looking for the Beanstar piece. Popple grabbed the piece and attempted to escape, but was cornered in the room by Mario & Luigi. He then opted to fight the Bros. in his "solo debut on the battle lines". During this battle, Popple attemptted to steal items from the Bros., including their hammers. If he got a hold of their hammers he would then use them against them. He also threw random items out of his bag including Bob-ombs, Mushrooms, Poison Mushrooms and Coins. After Mario & Luigi defeated and forcibly took the Beanstar piece from him, Popple was left dejected, but said he wasn't giving up before burrowing into the ground.

Popple made his way to Teehee Valley, where he set up a new base and started holding auditions for a new rookie. Lakitu learned Popple was in the Valley, leading the Goomba Squad to travel there to meet him in the hopes that they'd find Bowser. The Goomba Squad, attempting a more peaceful route this time around, decided they would try talking to Popple and Bowser this time instead of charging in like they did before. Popple was evaluating each applicant as they stood in a queue. Birdo was one of said applicants and confused the captains for applicants too, telling them to wait in their turn. Popple then turned away a Fighter Fly and a Beanie for a lack of communication skills and the wrong look, respectively. He then noticed the captains at the back of the queue. Captain Goomba apologised for their previous encounter and asked if Popple knew where Bowser was. Popple replied that they didn't sound sorry and told them that Rookie had disappeared with the Beanstar. After hearing this, the minions attempted to leave, but Popple wouldn't let them go without getting revenge for last time, instructing his remaining new potential rookies, including a Tanoomba, Paratroopea and Birdo, to attack the Goomba Squad, with whoever takes them down getting to be his new partner. The Goomba Squad defeated all of the applicants and Popple once again. Birdo, having become smitten with Popple, dragged his body away.

After skydiving from the Koopa Cruiser, Luigi landed in Teehee Valley above Popple's new base. He sunk through the sand and landed on a wooden plank underground, which knocked an ! Block aboveground. Mario then went looking for Luigi and hit the block, which caused a platform to move and an earthquake. Popple, having felt the earthquake, then noticed an unconscious Luigi and instructed his new partner Birdo to tie him up, aware that Mario must be nearby. Mario soon made his way underground and into Popple's hideout, where he found Luigi tied to a pillar. Mario used his Firebrand ability to free his brother and the two reunited, before Popple and Birdo revealed themselves. Popple introduced them to his new Rookie, and berated her when she called him darling and spoke about love in front of them. Popple and Birdo battled Mario & Luigi. Popple once again used his moves from previous battles. Birdo could also inhale Popple and seal him within one of her eggs to protect him. After the battle, Popple became furious and completely blamed Birdo for their defeat, calling her names before firing her. After hearing this, the heartbroken Birdo whacked Popple with her tail, sending him flying into the fall.

Popple was later seen being forced to do Mushroom maintenance in the Mushroom Embassy of Little Fungitown. He had to polish the Mushrooms at the instruction of his Toad supervisor. It's unknown how he ended up here, though he may have been apprehended and be facing community service as punishment for his crimes.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
In Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Popple headed to Pi'illo Island to get a fresh start when he heard that there was treasure there. On the island he once again encountered the Mario Bros. while in Wakeport. They met when Popple bumped into Luigi outside of Pi'illoper's house as he was attempting to burgle it. Popple was reminded of Mario & Luigi getting in his way in the Beanbean Kingdom, but he didn't recognise Mario & Luigi as the same people. Popple then picked up the items he'd stolen and ran off.

Popple was later seen on Driftwood Shore, where he was about to take part in a tour of the area. However he changed his mind in the tour, leaving in search of better treasures. He then attempted to join the Treasure Tour on Mount Pajamaja, but was turned away by the Massif Bros., as there was no more room in the tour group. He decides instead to go back to Pi'illoper's house for "Revenge". When Mario & Luigi went back to the Wakeport, they spotted Popple, who had just discovered the secret entrance to the second floor of Pi'illoper's house. Popple eventually found his way to the ruined parapets behind Wakeport, where a homesick Wiggler on vacation was planning on building a garden. Popple believed Wiggler to be a security guard hired by P'illoper, and feared his reputation was on the line if he didn't succeed with this job. When Mario & Luigi attempted to walk towards Wiggler, Popple grabbed them both and pulled them away, telling them not to go near there and asking what was with them. Popple then came to the conclusion that Mario & Luigi were both also thieves. Despite their denial of the accusation, Popple insisted that he knows a thief when he sees one. He then devised a plan to get the treasure. He would get the Bros. to take out Wiggler for him before taking the treasure for himself. He then proposed to "team up" with Mario & Luigi to try and take down Wiggler. When Mario & Luigi refused to attack Wiggler without precedent, Popple insulted Wiggler to make him angry and pushed the Bros. into the fray. Popple, in an attempt to help with the fight, pulled on Wiggler's flower, which only made him even more angry. He also called Mario & Luigi rookies. Throughout the battle Popple continued to taunt Wiggler and be an unintentional hindrance to the Mario Bros., hiding behind them and weighing them down, ramming into wiggler and making him mad and generally getting in their way. After Wiggler's defeat, Popple then turned on the Bros., fighting against them with the same technique of stealing their hammers and using them against them that he used in the Beanbean Kingdom. He also uses his bag once again, this time pulling out Soccer Balls, Coins, Mushrooms and Brick Blocks that contain one of the three other items.

After Mario & Luigi defeated Popple, Wiggler said that he only wanted to build a flower garden. When Popple realised that all of that fighting was for nothing, he became infuriated, calling the garden stupid. This in turn enraged Wiggler, who chased Popple out of the garden. With that, Popple gave up on his plan to find treasure on the island, and likely left soon after.

Personality
Popple has a huge ego and is extremely narcissistic when it comes to his thievery. He constantly gloats about his own talents and status (whether or not he actually possesses them) and, as of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team at least, wants or expects people to know who he is. As part of his narcissistic behaviour, Popple is quick to blame others, including those who care most about him, for his own failures. He's prone to mood swings, outbursts of rage and name-calling. However, he's also quite knowledgeable about and respectful towards great treasures, to the point that he helped Mario move the Beanstar aside before they commenced battle.

He's shown to be quite manipulative, using Birdo's love for him to get her to fight the Mario Bros. and guilt tripping Rookie when he failed, as well as using the Bros. to take out Wiggler and relying on them for protection when he put them in danger (before turning on them once said danger was no more). He doesn't have trust in others, for example believing Rookie, who had been completely loyal to him and even saved him on a previous occasion, to have taken the Beanstar for himself. He also doesn't seem keen on building relationships unless they benefit him in some superficial way. He's adamant in his beliefs, often insisting he's correct, but also tenacious in his pursuit of treasure.

He's shown to be extremely vindictive and hold grudges for very long periods, still being infuriated by his memories of the Mario Bros. in the Beanbean Kingdom long after they happened, as well as wanting to get "revenge" on Pi'illoper's house, despite Pi'illoper not doing anything to incite this. He also attempts to get revenge on the Goomba Squad, despite them apologising for their previous encounter and attempting to leave in peace.

Birdo
Popple and Birdo first met when Birdo auditioned to be his partner in Teehee Valley. Birdo quickly fell in love with her new partner, saving him from the Goomba Squad during their second fight. Her love was unreciprocated by Popple, but he attempted to use it, as well as her power, to his advantage, pitting Birdo against her friends Mario & Luigi. She was completely loyal towards Popple as his partner, but Poppple was very clearly annoyed and angered by Birdo's public affection towards him and fired her after his defeat, blaming their failure entirely on her. Birdo was shocked by this and whacked Popple into the wall with her tail, ending their relationship. This event is what inspired Birdo to go out on her own and make a name for herself as a superstar.

Goomba Squad
Popple's relationship with the Goomba Squad is mostly a sour one. Popple initially approached the captains of the Goomba Squad for help while earnestly searching for Rookie, however when he described Rookie to them, they realised he was talking about Bowser and began questioning him about what he'd done to their King. Popple, sensing that it was his time to leave, ran from the Goomba Squad, only to be chased and attacked. Popple believed that he had been dirtily and unjustly attacked, but he was soon rescued by Rookie. While holding auditions in Teehee Valley for his new partner, Popple spotted the Goomba Squad once more, who had come to apologise for what had happened earlier and see if he knew where Bowser was. Popple asked what they were doing in his "turf". He was still bitter over what had happened and seemingly didn't accept their apology Popple, looking for revenge, told his new rookie applicants to attack the Goomba Squad, with whoever took them out getting the job. The Goomba Squad defeated Popple and the applicants, before Birdo dragged Popple away, becoming his new partner. It's highly likely that Popple continued to hold a grudge against the Goomba Squad after that point.

Mario & Luigi
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Popple quickly developed a sour relationship with Mario & Luigi. After surprising Mario for seemingly no reason, Popple was spotted "in full sight" by Mario & Luigi. Knowing they were also after the Chuckola Reserve, Popple told Rookie to squash the Bros., leading to their first battle. Over their next several meetings, Mario & Luigi continuously got in the way of Popple's attempts to get treasure, much to Popple's frustration, eventually climaxing with him Wanting to destroy them by the time of their encounter in Teehee Valley, going so far as to tie up Luigi with intent to lure Mario to him. He held this grudge until Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, in which even thinking about the Bros. still made him angry Luckily, he didn't recognise the Bros. as the same people when he met them on Pi'illo Island and acted a bit more passive towards them, before eventually trying to use them in his plan to defeat Wiggler and get to the second floor of Pi'illopher's house.

However, Popple has expressed some level of respect towards the Mario Bros. too, such as when he and Mario bowed at one-another before their fight in Woohoo Hooniveristy, as well as when he believed they'd be competent enough to collect the three Chuckola Fruits for Chuckleroot in Chucklehuck Woods, allowing him and Rookie to gain access to Mother Chuckola.

Rookie
Rookie was "taken in" by Popple when an amnesiac Bowser followed Popple as he escaped Hoohoo Village. Popple decided to make Rookie his partner and brought him along on his plan to rob the Chuckola Reserve. Rookie was completely loyal to Popple, protecting him whenever he was attacked, doing whatever he asked and praising him. They even had a strong enough bond that they could perform their own Bros. Attacks. When he and Rookie lost to Mario & Luigi in Chateau de Chucklehuck, Popple blamed Rookie for his defeat and hectored him, to which Rookie felt shame, showcasing Popple's shortcomings as a partner and boss to Rookie. When the duo were separated after their trip to Woohoo Hooniversity, they never met each other again and Popple believed that Rookie had made off with the Beanstar, indicating that he never saw or didn't believe in Rookie's devotion to him.

Others
Cork & Cask were attacked and trapped in a barrel by Popple and Rookie. Cask described them as "Bizarre Characters".

Though they never spoke to one-another, Starlow made comments about Popple on multiple occasions after some of the encounters he had with Mario & Luigi on Pi'illo Island, for example stating she can never understand a word he's saying. She also said the island was better off with Popple gone when he was chased away by Wiggler.

Popple and Wiggler made each other furious, largely due to Popple's misevaluation of Wiggler and their opposing beliefs on the stupidity of flowers, as well as their fight. Popple called Wiggler names, unintentionally insulted his "flower friends" and pulled on Wiggler's head flower during the battle, all of which made Wiggler extremely angry.  Wiggler chased Popple off of Pi'illo Island in the end, causing Popple to give up on his aspirations to find treasure there.

Physical Appearance
Popple is a short Beanish man with green hair and a large mouth. He wears a long-sleeved, purple and light grey striped shirt with white gloves and a purple and yellow mask over his eyes. He wears dark grey pants that are oversized at the waist which also cover his feet. He also wears a beret which a tuft of his green hair sticks through the top of. He's also often seen holding a bag of loot, typically over his back.

He has a hunched posture, possibly from carrying his loot, and usually stands with his knees bent. He seems to be a bit shorter than Mario's height.

Abilities
Popple is a relatively weak character, usually relying on other characters for strength or protection. He seems to be a fairly competent thief, having stolen from Hoohoo Village and Wakeport and escaping without being apprehended. In battle, he often throws items from his bag or attempts to pilfer weapons or other items from those he's fighting against. He is good at both problem-solving and manipulation, often using his "rookies" to try and come out on top, even at their expense. This could be seen when he got Mario & Luigi to open the path to Mother Chuckola, when he used Rookie's loyalty and Birdo's love to get them to fight Mario & Luigi for him, when he provoked Wiggler and forced Mario & Luigi to fight him and when he told the people applying for the role of his partner that whoever defeated the Goomba Squad would get the part.

It's possible he doesn't have a great memory when it comes to people's appearances, as he seemingly forgets what the Mario Bros. look like after Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga beyond a vague recollection. He is apparently not a fan of climbing.