Diana grinned and went back to Argo. The mare knelt
for her and Diana climbed back up on her back.

"Oh, Diana – when you see the dragon, toss
the acorn away – the dragon will run after it,"
Aphrodite called to her.

Argo flew Diana to the island. Diana left a few more
apples with Argo, then went in search of the golden apples –
and the dragon. At last in the centre of the island, she found the
tree – and the dragon. It was a beautiful creature, emerald
green scales shimmering in the sunlight, its golden wings folded
against its back. It was sleeping under the tree.

"Hey, maybe I can just sort of sneak in and grab
the apples before it wakes up," thought the little girl.

She crept up to the sleeping dragon silently. Just
when she got nose to nose with the creature,

its mouth opened wide and Diana caught sight of rows
and rows of very sharp teeth. The dragon yawned, then opened its
eyes.

"Hey – you trying to steal my
apples?" he asked as Diana backed away.

"N – no," said the little girl.
"I, um, I wanted to buy some." She held up the golden
acorn and the dragon narrowed his eyes.

"They're not for sale," he growled,
advancing swiftly towards the wide-eyed child. Diana tossed the
acorn and suddenly, another dragon appeared where it had
landed.

"Hey, Handsome," she said. "Why not
forget about the kid and come with me?"

The dragon stopped and turned around fast. He saw the
female dragon and went after her, she rising up in the air and
flying away, he following. Diana released a breath she hadn't
realised she'd been holding, then went to the tree and picked
three apples. Running back to the beach, she found Argo and climbed
up. Argo took off, flying as fast as she could, back to Diana's
tree.

Just as Argo landed safely with Diana, her wings
disappeared. Diana briefly petted the mare and gave her the rest of
the apples in her pack as thanks, then ran to the glass coffins. In
her haste, she didn't notice that she had dropped one of the
apples at the base of the tree. She pulled back the lid covering
Xena, and placed the apple up to her mouth.

"Oh, come on," said the little girl.
"How am I gonna get her to bite it?"