“There are no dragons on the planet,” I told Dragon Little and Dragon Father once Dragon Little calmed down. 

“Ooh, I know!” Dragon Father exclaimed. “They are all off on a mission! We should join them!” 

I shook my head somberly, determined to teach Dragon Little about the harsh life that awaits her outside this dream, the harsh life she will eventually be faced with when she finds the way out of her father’s dream. 

“Sadly, Dragon Father, they are not on a mission. They are all enslaved. All the dragons are enslaved. There isn’t a free dragon in the entire world except for me and...” I hesitated, wondering if I should mention it. But I did. “And one other which has not been heard off in a long time.” 

Dragon Little shook her head. “That’s awful, Red. We should rescue them!” 

“There’s no need,” Dragon Father said. “Your father was never caught. He is right there,” he pointed to the large cave entrance at the top of the volcano.

He was trying to create an adventure using dragons. I was trying to teach Dragon Little the truth about dragons. “My father is dead, Dragon Father.” 

Dragon Father smiled. “Well, we’ve got a huge surprise for you! He’s waiting for you right there! I heard it for a fact.” He was referring to the ‘news’ he was getting every day, the ‘news’ his mind created, the ‘news’ that gave him information about the adventures they would embark on. 

“Red! Your father’s alive! That’s great news! We have to go see him!” 

Dragon Little was so excited and Dragon Father was so insistent, I felt there was no use arguing. I would teach them the truth about dragons the hard way. 

I lowered my head in resignation. “Let us go and see.” 

“Yai!” 

They both climbed on my head and I spread my wings and soared high. 

I would show them that even though dragons are controlled by many, they are not controlled by dreamers.

—Told by The Red Dragon