Deep under the ground was the Underworld. It was not dark and scary. It was soft and bright. Blue mushrooms glowed like tiny lamps. Red stones sparkled. Little rivers went plip, plop, plip.
Sokoo Sohan lived there. Sokoo Sohan was a small Superhero with a big red cape. His boots went tap-tap. His heart went boom-boom with kindness. He could lift a big rock. He could jump over a puddle. But his best power was helping.
Every morning, the Underworld woke up with a song.
“Ding-ding! Boom-boom! La-la-la!” sang Musician, the cheerful cave musician. Musician played a round golden drum and a silver flute. The glowing mushrooms swayed. The sleepy bats flapped their wings. Even the stones hummed.
One morning, there was no song.
No ding-ding.
No boom-boom.
No la-la-la.
The Underworld was very quiet.
Moon Child came running down the crystal path. Moon Child wore a pale moon hat and carried a little lamp. “Sokoo Sohan!” Moon Child said. “Musician’s golden drum is gone!”
Musician sniffed. “My drum makes the morning music. Without it, the mushrooms feel sad.”
The blue mushrooms made tiny droopy lights.
Sokoo Sohan put his hands on his hips. His cape gave a brave flutter. “Do not worry,” he said. “We will find the drum.”
Ninja popped out from behind a purple rock. Ninja was quiet, quick, and kind. Ninja wore soft black shoes. “I see clues,” whispered Ninja.
On the ground were round marks.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
And there was a little black feather.
Moon Child looked up. “Who took it?”
Ninja pointed toward Echo Tunnel. “Bandit went that way.”
Bandit was a grumpy little cave bandit. He had a striped scarf, a bent hat, and a cart with squeaky wheels. He liked shiny things. He did not always ask first.
“Let’s go,” said Sokoo Sohan.
Tap-tap went Sokoo’s boots.
Tip-tip went Ninja’s feet.
Glow-glow went Moon Child’s lamp.
Musician brought the silver flute. “Maybe my flute can help,” Musician said.
They went through Bubble Bridge. Big bubbles floated under their feet.
Pop!
Moon Child laughed. “A bubble kissed my nose!”
They crossed Jelly Stone Hill. The stones wobbled.
Wobble, wobble.
Sokoo Sohan held Moon Child’s hand. “Slow steps,” he said.
They came to Echo Tunnel.
“Hello!” called Sokoo Sohan.
“Hello, hello, hello!” said the tunnel.
Then they heard a sound.
Boom.
Boom-boom.
BOOM!
“That is my drum!” cried Musician.
At the end of the tunnel sat Bandit. The golden drum was in his cart. Bandit hit it with a spoon. Boom! Boom! But he did not look happy. His eyes were wet.
Sokoo Sohan did not shout. He walked close, slowly. “Bandit,” he said gently, “that drum belongs to Musician.”
Bandit held his scarf. “I know,” he mumbled. “I wanted to make music too. But I do not know how. When the Underworld sings, nobody hears my little taps.”
Tap, tap, went Bandit’s spoon on his knee.
Moon Child’s lamp shone warm and soft. “Everyone can have a sound,” said Moon Child.
Ninja nodded. “You can learn.”
Musician smiled. “You can play with me. But first, we bring back the drum.”
Bandit looked at the golden drum. He looked at his squeaky cart. “I am sorry,” he said. “I should have asked.”
He gave the drum back.
Sokoo Sohan smiled. “Thank you for being honest.”
Back in the Underworld square, Musician placed the golden drum on a flat crystal. “Bandit, hold this small shaker,” said Musician.
Bandit shook it.
Shake-shake.
“Good!” said Musician. “Sokoo Sohan, stomp your boots.”
Tap-tap!
“Ninja, clap!”
Clap-clap!
“Moon Child, ring your moon bell!”
Ting-ting!
Then Musician played the drum.
Boom-boom! Ding-ding! La-la-la!
The mushrooms lifted their lights. The rivers danced in little silver circles. The bats spun upside down and upside right again. Bandit laughed so hard that his bent hat fell into a puddle.
Plop!
Everyone laughed.
Musician opened a small treasure box. Inside were four bright rhythm badges. One was red like Sokoo Sohan’s cape. One was white like Moon Child’s lamp. One was black and silver like Ninja’s shoes. One was gold like the drum.
“You saved our music,” said Musician. “These are for you.”
Sokoo Sohan wore the red badge proudly. It had a tiny drum on it. “Superhero helper,” it said.
Bandit received the gold badge. “New drummer,” it said.
From that day on, Bandit always asked before borrowing. And every morning, the Underworld woke with a happy song.
Boom-boom. Ding-ding. Shake-shake. Tap-tap.
Sokoo Sohan’s cape fluttered.
The kind Superhero had found the drum, helped a sad bandit, and gained a shiny hero badge too.