‘The Squashbuckler Diaries’ are the daily tales of Joy Shelley’s Life in the Dream. The ‘Lost in Dreams’ books will tell the story of what happens to her at ages 6, 9, 12, 15, and so on. The diaries tell us what happens before, after, and between the books.

#168: Death, Part 4: Riding a Dragon

We’d left their pirate ship behind. 

Dragon Father and Dragon Little were riding on my head. They were sitting on grooves in the scales towards the back of my neck. These grooves had been carved into my skin by my enslavers, who were now no doubt enslaving my sister dragons. 

Dragon Father and Dragon Little sat in those grooves and enjoyed the ride. 

I enjoyed giving them a lift. I enjoyed showing them how a dragon flies. 

Once I felt they were calm enough, enjoying the ride, and that they have mostly forgotten why they had called me in the first place, I began to show off a little.

I swooped up. “Whoa!” Dragon Little said, held tighter, and laughed. 

I swooped down. “Yeee hawww!” Dragon Father shouted. 

I spun and whirled and they laughed and laughed. 

It was a magical feeling to fly free, to have anyone ride me of my own free will. It was sheer joy. And, perhaps, I forgot my own troubles a bit, too. I forgot to be worried that those I was running away from might one day find Dragon Father’s dream. 

But then, it was time to stop. I had arrived at a cloud big enough for what I needed. 

I flapped my wings and came to a stop, staying in one spot, kilometers above the ocean. 

“We’re almost there,” I said in my deep voice. “Do you know the place behind the cloud, Dragon Father…. Uh, Justin, the city in the clouds? Do you know the one with the great park for children and all those activities?”

As you know, and as I knew, there was nothing behind the cloud. Not until a moment ago. 

But I assumed that just as he created all of their adventures without even knowing he was dreaming, just as he was certain for a reason he did not know that he could bring back a dead dream, he would surely create the amusement park that I mentioned. It was enough to mention it and treat it as real to let his dream do the rest. 

“Sure,” Dragon Father said. “I remember that place.” 

I’m sure he believed it. And that ist why I flapped my wings harder, flew over the cloud, only to discover a huge amusement park made out of clouds. 

“Wooooooow!” Dragon Little stood up and shouted. I could not see her, but I could hear how happy it made her. 

The amusement park was actually there, and I had a chance to be a mother for a day. 

I will tell you more about our day together when I talk to you again tomorrow. 

—Told by The Red Dragon

#169: Death, Part 5: Licking Ice Cream with a Dragon

#167: Death, Part 3: Dead Is Dead