The trouble began when the Wicked Witch fell off her flying broom, struck in the shoulder by Dragon Father’s laser. 

The Wicked Witch fell, and the flying broom swung out of control, heading in circles in all directions in the air. 

Dragon Little, still five and a half years old, stood next to her father and watched the broom lose control, come closer, further away, closer, and then suddenly whiz by her, striking her in the face as it turned around. 

“Joy!” 

Dragon Little flew backwards, grabbing her face, landing on her back. 

High above, in my hiding place, I instinctively rose to my feet, like a mother protecting her cub. I have never been a mother. I have never met my mother. But I know I love little Joy Shelley as a mother would, and I know I would give my life to protect hers. 

In all my time in Dragon Father’s dream, I had never seen her hit in the face before, never hit with force, never hit in a way that makes her bleed. It was so unlikely with the lives they lead to have never seen her struck, never seen her bleed, that it was no doubt all Dragon Father’s subconscious protecting her. 

But it did not protect her this time.

Her hands were covering her face and blood was trickling from them. 

“Joy! Joy! Are you okay! Let me see!” 

Dragon Father was at her side, pushing her into a sitting position. 

More blood dribbled out between her fingers. 

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she said through her hands. “It doesn’t hurt.” 

“Let me see.” He was on his knees, his voice soft and caring and strong all together, the way I imagine a father should be. 

She removed the hands. There was blood dripping from her mouth to her chin and blood on her fingers. 

“Wow! Does it hurt?” 

She laughed. “Nooooo! Look!” She raised a bloody hand and now he and I could see that between her fingers was a tooth. 

She smiled, and there was a gap in her front teeth. 

“Your loose tooth! It fell!” 

Her smile widened. “We get to go to Tooth Island and have an adventure with the Tooth Fairy!” 

Dragon Father was not smiling. “Yeah. I think I remember that sometimes when teeth fall, there’s blood, but it doesn’t hurt. Are you sure you’re okay?” 

Dragon Little nodded happily, smiling a bloody, gap-toothed smile. “Doesn’t hurt!” 

Dragon Father stood up, nodding. “All right. Let’s put the Wicked Witch in prison and go to Tooth--” He stopped all of the sudden. 

Then his eyes crinkled as he looked at his daughter. 

“Joy…” he said, his voice angry… 

But I grow tired. I will tell you what he realized - what I should have realized as well - tomorrow. For now I must rest. 

—Told by The Red Dragon