“Now, Joy, Joy, please put down the gun,” Santa Claus’ voice quivered. 

My precious four-and-a-half-year-old Dragon Little aimed her laser pistol right at the bearded man who was no longer jolly and was standing on the deck of Bonny’s Revenge. 

“My father said you don’t exist,” Dragon Little spoke forcefully. It was the force of a girl who had never lost, who had never seen her father to ever be wrong in their fight against villains. “That means you’re an imposter.”

“Your father is wrong,” Santa spoke slowly and softly. “Clearly, I exist.” He took a step towards her, but Dragon Little bettered her aim at him and he took a step back. Shrewdly, she had kept her distance from him. 

“You’re going to prison! Come on!” She waved her pistol toward the Infinite Corridor. 

But Santa Claus did not move. “Joy… Joy Shelley…” he said. “I can see all the good you have done putting villains in jail. But if you put Santa in jail, or if you harm him… That will mean you’ve been a very bad girl. And that would mean… no gifts for you.” 

Dragon Little’s eyes tightened. She took a step towards him - she was still far enough from his reach. “Who are you to tell me I’m bad? You don’t know me. You don’t decide. I decide. I’m good. I don’t need you, Santa. I don’t need your gifts. I’m good!”

Santa Claus shook his head. “You’re behaving like a bad girl, Joy. Put down the pistol.” 

“Call me a bad girl again!” 

“I am not calling you that. That is how you’re behaving.” 

“Come on, let’s see you decide who I am again!”

“Joy… Put down the gun…” He spoke as if he did not understand what she was saying, as if he did not know her well enough to know what she would do. And I, who had watched her from afar for years now, knew very well what Dragon Little was saying and what she would do if he did not comply. “You are behaving like a bad girl. You do not want to be a bad girl. You want to be a good girl, right? I can make sure you’re a good girl if only—”

Santa did not finish his thought. Joy pressed the trigger and shot at him. 

But that ist not the end of the story, but it ist enough for one day. I will tell you the rest tomorrow.

—Told by The Red Dragon