Thump... Thump... Thump... The sound of the basketball against the concrete wall echoed in the cold and empty room. The owner of the bouncing basketball, an infantile prince, sat and sighed as he pushed the ball away and again awaited its return. He caught it, and held it firm in his claws, then stretched and swiveled around to view the room. A large, cobwebbed and dusty throne sat opposite the child, as still as him. He looked over it - surely once this was a marvelous thing. The prince looked beyond its dusty, cobwebbed and faded surface to imagine what it had been. Shiny and golden, with purple cushions, he could see the seat. Surrounded by a fantastically luxurious room hosting a fine King not unlike what he would become, surrounded by happy and loyal subjects. But he could picture no more. He snapped back to reality, echoes of joyous laughter rung in his ears, still lingering from past memories. The King - his father - he hadn't a single memory of him. Suddenly, the door creaked, startling the baby prince. He turned his attention to the black shadow lurking in the doorway, blocking the light from the hall. The silhouette bowed before the prince, and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Prince Bowser, I've been looking for you, I haven't seen you all day. What troubles you?" Little Bowser lowered his head, a silent tear fell to the floor.
"Papa Kamek... What was my real daddy like?" The baby's face rose to meet its guardian, Kamek hesitated. "My boy," He drew a deep breath. "There's a great deal I must explain to you. Come."