It ist usually Dragon Little who leads the defeated villains into the Infinite Corridor. It ist she, even at age 2, even at age 3, and even in this case at age four and a half, who opens the cell door for them and locks them inside.
The villains in Dragon Father’s dream are submissive at this stage. But not Captain Badass, not that day after he tried to get Dragon Little alone, masquerading as Santa Claus.
He had cried and raged and screamed and kicked. So much so that Dragon Father would not let Dragon Little near him.
“Come on,” he grabbed the peg-legged and now handcuffed villain by the arm. “Let’s go.”
“What’s the use of putting me in prison?” Captain Badass ranted. “I’ll escape. You know I will.”
It was true. Of all the villains, it was only Captain Badass who was able to escape captivity. The prison did not keep him. He would always return.
“Yeah, yeah,” Dragon Father said. “Walk faster.”
“I’ll escape,” Captain Badass snarled at Dragon Father’s face. “And one day I’m going to find a way to kill you. Kill you!”
“Move!” Dragon Father pushed him forward.
Captain Badass stumbled on his peg leg, then rose again to face Dragon Father. “And then I’m going to kill her!”
In less than a second, Dragon Father’s hand was around Captain Badass’ throat, raising him a foot in the air.
“You ever touch her,” Dragon Father was ferocious. “You harm her, and I WILL BURN YOU ALIVE!”
Captain Badass whimpered and gasped for breath.
Dragon Father took a deep breath and put Captain Badass back down. “You never even think that again!” he said.
Captain Badass did not look at him this time. He held his throat and took a few steps towards the door to the Infinite Prison.
“I’m not a villain,” he whispered.
“Yeah. Keep telling yourself that.”
And, with that, the two of them were out of my sight and walking down the stairs into the belly of Bonny’s Revenge.
Captain Badass would escape, of course. I always wondered if I should tell Dragon Father how he did it. But I never did. I hope it was the right decision.
—Told by The Red Dragon