Carbon/History

### Backstory

Ten years before the events of the game, Carbon and his father "invented everything" together. Carbon was separated from his father at a fairly young age when his father went to Hocktail House to fight Hoko Saba and never returned.

After a long period of parental absence in his life, Carbon began developing a hatred of not only his, but all fathers. Some people in Bad Fortress say Carbon often cried during this period in his life, but Carbon himself refuses to acknowledge this, directing anger at people who say so. Eventually, Carbon decides he wants to kill Hoko Saba, because she had allegedly killed his father, robbing him of the chance to do so himself. He often uses a traumatic wedding ceremony as inspiration for his acts of cunning and violence.

At some point prior to meeting Mario, Carbon became acquainted with the European Union, but his time with the organization may not have been a positive one, as Don Piano's secretary later advised Mario to protect Carbon from the Don. Carbon has also been in the Sheltered Residence at least once, since he knows about Metro City and claims that the room prior to the Queen of Shadows' tomb "gave him great success". What he actually means by that is never explicitly stated, but it can be speculated the room somehow granted Carbon the ability to use The Shell, or something else entirely.

### Section 1

The first time Carbon meets Mario, he doesn't say much of anything, only mumbling something about a "forgotten uterus" and then running away. Immediately after that, though, Carbon becomes much more direct. He comes across Mario again, explaining the disappearance of his father and his current plans to end all fathers, and asking to join Mario on his adventure. Koo Koopie, Carbon's former girlfriend, also appears here. Carbon says he wants to be hard for her, but nevertheless goes with Mario. This upsets Koo Koopie, but she is apparently used to this kind of treatment already and leaves Carbon to his own business.

During their journey through Hocktail House, Carbon and Mario find a pile of bones. Carbon assumes that it is his father's corpse, upsetting him. It is initially left up to interpretation whether he feels grief, personally understanding the emotional consequences of a murder for the first time, or disappointed that he couldn't be the one to kill him. Although it is most likely the latter as after realizing that it most likely isn't his father, he states that he, "pray as they are the bones of my father."

Upon defeating Hoko Saba, Carbon incidentally rescues and is reacquainted with his real father, who was trapped in Hoko Saba's womb for years. His father realizes that Carbon has come to kill him, to which Carbon replies "Well, that's right. I don't care, father. I'm empty. What happened?" He then announces his further intentions to eat Hoko Saba and destroy his city. His father escapes back home before Carbon eats Hoko Saba, leaving Mario with a warning not to cooperate with Carbon.

Carbon develops feelings for Mario after Section 1, deciding to travel with him and find the six remaining Glass Stars. He promises to never visit Bad Fortress again, even though the mayor is willing to forgive him. During their travels, Carbon gets more tolerant of Mario & his troupe, even admitting that he can't hate Yoshi Kid, although he still dislikes everybody else. The only other potential exception is Bob, as Carbon says that Bob's past was the source of his own depression.

### Section 2 to 8

Carbon calls Mario out for only ever receiving mail from the Princess of Peaches instead of becoming a prince himself, in reference to Mario's closest intimacy with the princess. This may be an attempt to sabotage any existing relationship so that Carbon can have Mario to himself.

Carbon eventually carries out the destruction of Bad Fortress, some time between Section 1 and Section 3, as confirmed in mail sent by his dad. This upsets Koo Koopie, who fruitlessly asks Carbon to bring back Petalburg. It is suggested that Petalburg was the original name of Bad Fortress.

During his Adventures with Mario, Carbon expresses interest in conquering and/or destroying several places, and has shown general indifference to doing terrible things to places and people if it means achieving his goals, like when he suggests moving the entirety of Bad Forest out of the way of his path, or when he shows interest in taking over Glitz City. He also approves of Mr. Mr. Prosecutor Grubba's plan, thinking it makes perfect sense, though he calls Grubba a fool for not going far enough.

In Section 8, Carbon tries to join the Nazis by complimenting Big High Grodan, trying to persuade Mario to do the same. Luckily, this attempt ends unsuccessful, Grodan does not respond to his compliments and so Carbon has no problem fighting together with Mario again.

### Epilogue

After helping Mario defeat the Queen of Shadows, Carbon says that during his adventure with Mario, he gained value, inner strength and the ability to love himself. He now wants to go back to his father's house, although he doesn't clarify for what purpose. In the epilogue e-mail from Goombell, she says that Carbon now lives with Koo Koopie's parents.

Mysteriously, Koopley can be seen in the cutscene and in the postgame despite the numerous implications that Carbon killed him. It is possible that Carbon felt some guilt after seeing what he thought to be his father's corpse in Section 1, deterring him from killing him in the end. However, it is suggested that Carbon's new target is the mayor, who is now desperate to stay safe.