Parakarry

Parakarry lifting Mario through the air.
Parakarry
Species	Koopa Paratroopa
Affiliation	Toad Town Post Office
Debut	Paper Mario

Parakarry is a blue-shelled Paratroopa who was featured as a playable partner in the original Paper Mario. He was the fourth partner character who could be recruited. He works as a postal officer and wears an aviator's hat and goggles.

Background

The hardest working postkoopa in the Mushroom Kingdom, Parakarry spent his days flying from land to land and delivering letters to even the most obscure of places. Unfortunately, he tended to lose many of those letters that he was supposed to deliver. In Paper Mario Mario officially met Parakarry on Mt. Rugged during the second chapter. The panicky postal worker was searching for a trio of letters he had lost. Mario found the letters, and Parakarry decided to follow Mario in hopes of finding and delivering the multiple other letters he had lost in his duties. In return, Parakarry was able to aid Mario in battle and also fly him over gaps that he could not cross on his own. As a sidequest, Mario would find Parakarry's lost letters, and Parakarry could then hand them to their intended recipients.

Parakarry showed signs of cowardice, as indicated by his stuttering, frenzied responses during Mario's trip to Tubba Blubba's Castle. He could also be somewhat addle-brained, but that did not stop him from bringing hope to people in far-away places when he delivered letters to them from loved ones. The old Paratroopa at the post office also seemed to enjoy Parakarry's presence, since it meant that he had a successor. After Bowser was defeated, Parakarry returned to his duties as a mailman. He made the rounds delivering invitations to a celebration at Princess Peach's Castle to all of Mario's other partners, and he was able to attend it as well, as the post office was closed. During the celebratory parade, he was seen fluttering near the other partners and scattered confetti.

He later made a cameo appearance in the beginning of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, where he was seen delivering a letter to the Mario Bros.' house in the beginning of the game, which echoed his brief appearance at the beginning of the first Paper Mario.

Gameplay

Parakarry helps Mario over a gap with Air Lift.

Outside of battle, Parakarry can fly Mario for short distances, usually to cross gaps that Mario would not be able to jump over. Mario can also jump out of Parakarry's grip to end the flight early and prevent overshooting his destination.

In battle, Parakarry has the following attacks:

• Sky Dive - Parakarry flies up to an enemy, then kicks it from above. He can even kick enemies on the ceiling.
• Shell Shot - For 3 FP, Parakarry ducks into his shell and then rockets into the enemy he aims at.
• Air Lift - For 3 FP, Parakarry can attempt to carry an enemy out of battle.
• Air Raid - For 6 FP, Parakarry ducks into his shell and then bounces around the battle screen at high speeds, hitting every enemy.

Trivia

• His name is a simple combination of "Paratroopa" and "carry", due to his ability to carry Mario in the air. The usage of a "K" may also be a reference to him being a Koopa.
• Parakarry can receive two letters off his own during the events of Paper Mario, from Frost T. and Whacka.
• In Super Paper Mario, Parakarry is seen in a group picture of the Paper Mario partners that is seen inside Mario's house, and he also has his own Catch Card that can be found the fiftieth floor of the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials. It can be sold for 343 coins.
  • #244 "Parakarry earned his fame from the original Paper Mario. He's the most fearsome mail carrier of them all!"
• In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, a short letter written by Parakarry can be found in the Shy Guy Jungle. This also makes him the only partner from the first Paper Mario to be referenced in some way in the post-Super Paper Mario games.