“Come here!” Dragon Little told me. 

She was on the deck of Bonnie’s Revenge while I was on the ground of the volcano cave, surrounded by bodies of robot dragons. 

I walked over to her, raising my head so as to be at the height of Bonnie’s Revenge. My body was as big as the ship, and my head was three times as large as Dragon Little. 

She had climbed the railing, waiting for me. I put my face in front of her. 

“Come here,” she said. “Give me your ear.” 

I turned my ear to Dragon Little. Dragon Father, who was atop my head, took the opportunity to jump aboard. 

Dragon Little began to scratch my ear and suddenly I felt something I have never felt before. This brought so much pleasure to my entire body, it felt so nice, like I was being loved. I immediately purred. I have never purred in my life. 

Dragon Little scratched me, and my eyes closed by themselves. If I did not feel this good, I would have cried at feeling good. I have never been caressed, never been scratched like this, never been shown love in all my centuries of life. 

Dragon Little scratched and scratched. “I’m going to miss you, Red! Can you come back more often?” 

I purred. “Yes, yes, my Dragon Little. I promise.” 

Dragon Little stopped and I looked at her. She was smiling. 

I wanted more, but I did not dare ask. I have never asked for something nice. 

“Give me your other ear,” Dragon Little commanded. 

That was what I had wanted. She spared me the hard labor of asking for it. 

I turned my other ear and she scratched again. My eyes closed and I drowned in a world of good feelings, letting them overwhelm me. 

I do not know how long she scratched. I was unaware of anything outside me. I was drowning in a sea of good. 

Then it was over. 

“I’ll miss you, Red!” 

I wanted to cry, but I would not do it in front of her. “I will miss you, too, Dragon Little!” 

Dragon Father was standing to the side on the deck, looking at me and smiling. “I will miss you, too, Dragon Father.” 

“Come back soon with news about the dragons!” he said and waved. 

I nodded. 

I flew away. Only when I was out of the cave, did I begin to cry. 

I cried flying all the way to my secret hideout.

—Told by The Red Dragon