“Dad, give me a spray can,” Joy says, opening her palm.

Justin thinks for a second, then says, “What color do you want?” 

“Red,” Joy answers immediately and with certainty. “For the Red Dragon.” 

A spray can appears in Joy’s hand. It glows a soft-blue light for a brief moment and the light disappears. Joy has made the can permanent. 

She walks over to the wall. “I have a message for Captain Badass,” she says. “And Grandma taught me to write.”

She begins to spray one part of the dome’s white wall.

“Heh,” Charlie gives a short chuckle, as he realizes what Joy is doing. 

I’ve noticed that he admires her the most when she doesn’t back down from creatures who are stronger than her. 

“There!” Joy looks at what she’s done. 

She’d written JOY WAS HERE in big, red capital letters, and now she looks at it with satisfaction. “Just in case he comes back,” Joy smiles at her father. 

Justin nods, but says, “We’re going to have a talk about poking bears, Joy. Even weak ones. But later. Let’s go.”

He takes her hand and we all go back to Bonny’s Revenge and fly away.

Captain Badass has not been found. Mission not accomplished.

—Told by Grampa Walt

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