Fawful first appeared in ' where he was the sidekick to the primary antagonist, Cackletta. Fawful assisted Cackletta by helping her steal Princess Peach's voice in order to awaken the Beanstar, a magical item capable of granting wishes. After Cackletta is brutally defeated by Mario and Luigi, Fawful revives her by transferring her soul into the body of Bowser, possessing him. The Mario brothers later defeat Fawful and Cackletta and destroy the latter. This story is retold in the 2017 Nintendo 3DS remake, ' alongside a previously untold story in which Fawful holds Bowser hostage and sends groups of monsters to fight Bowser's loyal minions who want to free and reunite with their master.