12 Ch12-Into the Storm

CHAPTER 12 INTO THE STORM When the dust cleared, Drake ran over to his friends. They weren't hurt! Petra's hands were shaking. "That was scary," she said. "You did a great job drawing the statue out of the city," Tessa replied. Drake looked back at the arena. The cloud of magic still swirled overhead, sparking and shooting out lightning bolts. "Griffith and Jayana need us," he said. "Let's go!"

They raced into the arena. Griffith and Jayana were on the edge of the circle, floating in protective magical bubbles. They were trying to talk to the battling wizards.

Griffith zoomed over to the three Dragon Masters. "Marco and Felix will not listen to us," he said. "And we cannot use our magic to fight them. It will only make the magic cloud bigger. You must use the Power Crystal."

"How does it work?" Drake asked. Griffith pointed to the sky. "You must take the crystal up there— beneath the magic cloud. The crystal will absorb the magic once you are close enough to it. Just be careful not to touch the cloud. You may end up as a duck, or..." "Or worse," Drake finished. Petra stepped forward. "Zera can fly up to the cloud, and I'll make sure she doesn't touch it," she said. "But one of you will have to hold up the Power Crystal to absorb the magical energy." "I'll hold the crystal," Drake said. Tessa held out the Power Crystal. "You two can do this!"

Drake took it from her. "Thanks." He climbed onto Zera behind Petra. "Are you ready?" Drake asked Petra. "As ready as I'll ever be," she replied. "Zera, fly!" Zera flew up over the dueling wizards. The very center of the magic cloud whirled like a tornado. Flash! A lightning bolt streaked down from the cloud, and Petra steered Zera away from it. Then the dragon zoomed back toward the cloud's spinning center.

Drake held the Power Crystal above his head. "Nothing's happening!" he yelled. "We need to get closer!" Petra nodded and Zera flew up fast. One of Zera's heads almost touched the cloud! "Slow down, Zera!" Petra cried.