“Little girl,” the person who called himself Santa Claus bent on his knees and held Dragon Little’s hands. She was only four and a half years old, but she looked at him with suspicion. “Yes. I am Santa Claus. I know who you are, Joy.”

She took her hand away. “How do you know who I am?”

“Why, I know who all the kids are. I know if they’ve been good, I know if they’ve been bad, I know—”

“I’m always good,” Dragon Little told him plainly. 

“Why, of course you are, little Joy Shelley.”

“I knock bad on his ass and put him in jail!”

Santa Claus coughed. “Why, yes, yes, I know you do, although I would have phrased that… differently?” His gaze wandered to look at Dragon Father who also eyed the man suspiciously and with crossed arms. “This is… actually… Justin Shelley, it is you that I have come for.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“I’ve followed your exploits, just as I follow everyone. I know you are the pirate to turn to.”

“Oh, yeah? Regarding what?”

“My list… The list of who’s been good and who’s been bad. Someone has stolen my list.”

“Who?”

“It’s the Ice Pirates of Mars. I see everything… but I cannot take it back from them. Without a list, I don’t remember who gets gifts and who doesn’t.”

Dragon Father seemed relieved. “The Ice Pirates of Mars. Yeah. I need to pay them back for last time. I’ll take the case. Joy, you’re sitting this one out, right?”

Joy nodded. “I hate the Ice Pirates. You go.”

Dragon Father did not seem surprised, although I was. Dragon Father and Dragon Little always go on adventures together. Why was he so sure she would not go? 

Dragon Father climbed the deck. “You two stay on the ship. I’ll take the sled if you don’t mind.” And he jumped onto Santa’s sled, which was led by flying, red-nosed reindeer. 

“On, Blitzen, on Glitzen, on… whatever the hell your names are!” And with that, the sled was at the horizon, faster than even the speed of a dragon like myself.

“Look at them go,” Santa followed the sled with his eyes. 

Dragon Little, meanwhile, slid behind him quietly. “Can you still see them?”

“They’re too small to see now.”

“Do you see the dragons?”

Santa searched the sky for dragons. Dragon Little, meanwhile, was able to reach inside the weapons cabinet next to the entrance to the Infinite Prison. She took her small laser pistol. 

“I don’t see any dragons, little Joy Shelley.” 

“Freeze, Santa!” Dragon Little aimed her pistol at Santa Claus from a distance. 

He turned around slowly. 

“Raise your hands or I’ll fire!” 

“Joy, what are you—”

“You may have fooled my father, Santa, but you don’t fool me! I’m going to kill you now!”

As you can guess, this is not the end of that adventure. I will tell you the rest tomorrow.

—Told by The Red Dragon