Editing Rookie

{{character-infobox

Rookie's appearance is largely similar to his normal self's, though it differs in a few ways. The most noticeable physical difference is Rookie's blue, cat burglar-styled mask. For unknown reasons, ''Superstar Saga'' also depicts him with green eyes, although this trait is not carried over to its [[Nintendo 3DS]] remake, ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]''. In contrast to his physical appearance, Rookie's personality is drastically different than Bowser's; he is extremely trusting, loyal, and ultimately submissive to Popple, whereas his normal self is self-serving and believes others beneath him.

When Bowser takes [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] to the [[Beanbean Kingdom]] in his [[Koopa Cruiser]], [[Cackletta]] and [[Fawful]] attack the Cruiser, causing it to crash in [[Stardust Fields]]. Bowser lands in [[Tolstar]]'s cannon and winds up being fired to [[Hoohoo Mountain]] by one of the [[Starshade Bros.]], where Popple finds him and nurses him back to health off-screen.

''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions'' significantly expands upon Rookie's origin.<ref name="JPDirect">Nintendo 公式チャンネル (September 13, 2017). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbdy4vpg3lc マリオ&ルイージRPG1 DX <nowiki>[</nowiki>Nintendo Direct 2017.9.14<nowiki>]</nowiki>]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 14, 2017. {{dead link}}</ref> The remake reveals that Rookie's creation was indirectly and unintentionally engineered by [[Captain Goomba (Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser)|Captain Goomba]], the main protagonist of ''Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser''. The reason for Rookie joining Popple is also revealed in a flashback: after losing his memory, Bowser collapsed from hunger. Popple was stealing food from nearby households at the time, and accidentally fed the amnesiac Koopa King when he tripped while escaping. Mistaking this mishap for genuine kindness, Bowser began to follow Popple around in spite of the thief's initial protests.

[[File:Rookiefight.JPG|200px|thumb|right|Rookie fighting Mario and Luigi in ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'']]

Mario and Luigi first encounter Rookie in [[Chateau de Chucklehuck]], shortly after seeing Popple for the first time. Popple orders Rookie to fight the Mario Bros. so that he can obtain the [[Chuckola Reserve]], which the Bros. were also looking for in order to remove a Belly Belch Worm from [[Queen Bean]]. Rookie attacks with [[hammer]]s and [[Fire Breath]], the latter of which occurs when he faintly recalls his memories of fighting the Mario Bros. Whenever he jumps before performing his attacks, the victim is Luigi; whenever he does not, the victim is Mario. Rookie protects Popple very zealously, counterattacking the Bros. every time they attack Popple.

After the battle, Popple reprimands Rookie for being unable to destroy the Mario Bros., and the two run off in hopes of getting to the Chuckola Reserve before the Mario Brothers. The thieving duo reach the Reserve before the Bros., but are captured by the [[Chuckolator]]. Mario and Luigi arrive and battle the Chuckolator, but not before the living soft drink hits the barrels Rookie and Popple are inside of with such force that they are ejected out of the room.

[[File:Rookie.PNG|thumb|left|Rookie falling off of the Beanstar]]

The Mario Bros. encounter Rookie once more at [[Woohoo Hooniversity]] right after Popple finds the [[Beanstar]] which had just fallen right next to him. Popple once more orders Rookie to fight the Bros. to protect the Beanstar. This time, Popple and Rookie have their own versions of [[Bros. Attack]]s, but the Bros. still defeat them without much effort. After the battle, a Peach Bot falls into the room and enrages the Beanstar with its squeaking, causing it to fly out of the room.

Mario, Luigi, Popple, and Rookie grab onto the Beanstar in an attempt to stop its escape; however, the combined stress of hearing Birdo's unpleasant voice and bearing the collective weight of the Mario Bros., Popple, and Rookie causes the Beanstar to shatter into four pieces. Each of the four clingers begin to fall off one by one until only Rookie is left, as the fragmented Beanstar heads toward Stardust Fields. It is only as he returns to the place where he lost his memory that Rookie at last remembers that he is Bowser. His recollection is short-lived, however, as [[Fawful]] encounters an unconscious Bowser and uses his body to house Cackletta's soul, creating [[Bowletta]].

In the Minions' story, the captains battle Popple when he might know Bowser's whereabouts. Rookie doesn't remember his minions and leaves with Popple after berating them for defeating his boss. After meeting Popple again, they learn Rookie went missing before the meeting starts another battle. After returning home, Bowser slowly remembers Captain Goomba was the one who gave him amnesia while on the mountain and revokes him of his title while chasing him in rage.

==Stat Information==

Rookie Bowser.PNG|Rookie's sprite in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''

MLSSRookieDance.gif|Rookie dancing in ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''

MLSSBMPoppleandRookie.png|Rookie and Popple in [[Chateau de Chucklehuck]] from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]''

Cackletta possessing Bowser.PNG|Cackletta about to possess Rookie (Bowser) in ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''

|JapM=Rookie Koopa (''Koopa'' being Bowser's Japanese name).

|Fra=Le Bleu

|FraM=Pun on ''le bleu'' (which is French for both ''the blue'', referring to the color of his mask, and ''the rookie'').

|GerM=Pun of "Bowser" and ''Azubi'' (German for ''apprentice'').

|ItaM=Recruit}}

[[Category:Bowser's Transformations]]

[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Bosses]]

[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions Characters]]