Why would anyone... even King Dad... keep something as magnificent as a golden piano stored to gather dust in a dungeon to never be seen, let alone played?

Why would he even have such an instrument in the first place?

I rub my claws over the sparkling veneer, which yields ever so slightly to pressure. Judging by this feel, it is indeed gold - not solid gold, just gilded, but a piano made of solid gold would be quite impractical anyway.

But does it sound as beautiful as it looks?

I leap to the seat and rub my hands across the keys, going up the scales and then down. It is indeed in fine working order, and the notes sound just as sparkling clear as the ones I played on Mutter's piano.

A flowery-looking scrap of paper flutters into the air. I catch it, and read the cursive calligraphy that had been printed on it:

"To My Darling Bride Sofia

From Bowser

Until Death Do Us Part"

As insincere as that final clause was, I am utterly bewildered that Bowser would...

A piano. A golden piano, no less! How... thoughtful of him.

Why did she leave it behind? Did she refuse to accept it since she did not love him, or did she return it when they divorced?

Were they even officially divorced?

Maybe she just left it behind because it would be hard to carry back to Austria.

But certainly she could have arranged for it to be brought home, we have plenty of room for it, unless she was in a hurry to leave? Now I don't blame her for that...

Still, I must wonder, what exactly happened between them? What are they hiding from me?

Perhaps nothing. Bowser does not seem like one who can exercise much subtlety.

Either way, I simply cannot resist the urge to play Mutter's piano any longer!

What shall I play first? Mozart? Beethoven? Chopin?

Or perhaps something original...

The gloominess and foreboding atmosphere had triggered my emotions and musical instincts to work up a sinister tune in my head. A very simple one, but one that very much befits this place.

If one could hear what this dungeon looks and feels like, it would sound like this...

I play the first few notes on the low keys, altering the rhythm and pitches until it sounds JUST RIGHT.

The way it echoes through the dungeon... haunting. Excellent.

But to make it even more chilling...

I play a part with a more rapid tempo on the high keys to harmonize with the deeper part.

I am so into my music that I can scarcely hear anything else...

I feel the pounding of large feet through the floor but I ignore it...

"Kooky? Your time out in the dungeon is over now, you can come out and have dinner..."

My fingers freeze at the sound of Vater's voice.

"Hey, did you hear that, Kooky? Just a second ago I could have sworn that this dungeon had theme music..."

Seriously? How thick can he be? Oh well, his tone indicates that he is fascinated by the "theme music", and so the theme music shall continue (with pleasure!)

"Hey, listen! Can you hear that? It's playing again! Wow, I didn't know my dungeons had theme music... I guess my dungeons really are amazingly evil! Kooky? Kooky, where are you?"

I play the repetitive tune louder and LOUDER, to make it sound more and MORE terrifying... but I suppose King Bowser really is as fearless as a King should be?

"KOOKY!"

I jump and yelp. HE FOUND ME!

"H-hey, King Dad... that was s-some theme music, h-h-h-huh?"

"So I see you found your mother's piano," he grumbled.

"Yes, I did, and I must ask, WHY is it down here hidden in the basement! That is a travesty! It needs to be out where it can be seen sparkling in the sunlight, to grace your home! It alone would do MUCH to improve the aesthetics of your home decor-"

"What, and have people laugh at me for being a snotty musical sissy?"

Now what sort of degenerate society would be ashamed of such a thing?

"In Austria, you get laughed at for NOT having a piano."

"Well, this isn't Austria! GET OVER IT!"

I flinch at the saliva spray that rains from his mouth, but at least it is not fire.

"By the way, I do like that theme music very much. Where did you learn it?"

"I composed it."

"Heh, no you did not!" Bowser pets my hair roughly in a patronizing gesture. "You know what, I think I should record the music and play it in the dungeons at all times so that whenever some intruder invades they get scared hearing it and head for the hills!"

I glow with pride at the first words of praise for me that my father has uttered in the entire time that I have been here.

"You stay here and practice for a bit longer, I'll go fetch the recorder!"

I begin to play an even higher-pitched version of the song, just to hear how it sounds. I find that the 88th key, the one with the very highest note, does not make a sound. Hmm...

I open the piano lid to see what is wrong with it. There is a folded-up piece of paper caught in the strings. I press the key and watch the mallet bang soundlessly against the paper.

I remove the paper, rewire the strings, and find that the key works just fine now.

I open the piece of paper; seeing that it is folded neatly like a note rather than balled up like trash, it must have been placed in there on purpose.

"To my Dearest Child,

I received this piano as a wedding gift from your father. Unfortunately, I do not have the time or the means by which to carry it home. I do not know what the King will do with it - throw it out, tear it up, give it away, pawn it, return it to whoever he probably stole it from, but I am hoping that he decided to keep it safe somewhere so that you, our child, might find it and rejoice in it someday.

So, mein liebe, this gilded piano is all yours. Treasure it, have it taken to a high tower with phenomenal acoustics if you can, I am sure that this piano will bring you many, many MANY hours of enjoyment.

Your Loving Mutter,

Sofia von Shellz-Koopa"

Yes, Mutter, I shall. Everything.

Nevertheless, I honestly hope that I do not spend many, many MANY hours here, in this dreary castle...

Please tell me that I won't...?

In case you were wondering, the song that Ludwig was playing is the castle theme from the original Super Mario Bros.! :D