‘The Squashbuckler Diaries’ are the daily tales of Joy Shelley’s Life in the Dream. The ‘Lost in Dreams’ books will tell the story of what happens to her at ages 6, 9, 12, 15, and so on. The diaries tell us what happens before, after, and between the books.

#224: The Super Ninja

Dragon Father and Dragon Little had saved the day again and defeated the villains. Dragon Father disappeared right after they had apprehended the worst villain they had fought: The Super Ninja. 

He was dressed in black, and even his head was covered. 

Only a slit for the eyes allowed the Super Ninja to see. 

Dragon Father had disappeared, having woken up in his other world which I had never seen, but the Super Ninja was not yet handcuffed and the handcuffs were held by the sweet, four-year-old Dragon Little. 

Neither the Super Ninja nor Dragon Little responded in any way to the fact that Dragon Father had disappeared. 

“Come on, give me your hands,” Dragon Little said. 

The Super Ninja put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed. 

Dragon Little handcuffed him. 

“Come on, let’s go,” she pushed him in the direction of the stairs leading to The Infinite Corridor in the belly of Bonny’s Revenge

The Super Ninja went quietly, as all villains in Dragon Father’s dreams do once they are caught. Only one had ever resisted.

Dragon Little stopped just as they were about to descend the stairs. 

“Hold on,” she said. “Say… If I release you, just for five minutes, do you promise not to escape.” 

The Super Ninja looked down at the little pirate. “Why?” he whispered in his ominous voice. “Why would you release me?” 

“Can you teach me how you run on walls?”

“Hmmm… Yes, I can.” 

“And you promise not to escape?” 

“By the honor code of the Secret Ninja Clan,” he said. 

“All right, then. Just five minutes.” 

He nodded. “Just five minutes.” 

Dragon Little unlocked The Super Ninja’s handcuffs. “Okay. Now show me.” 

Tomorrow I will tell you what happened next. 

—Told by The Red Dragon

#225: The Lesson of the Super Ninja

#223: Compromise