11. THE SKY BATTLE

CHAPTER 11 THE SKY BATTLE As the Star Dragon approached Chaya, the Shadow Dragon's eyes blinked. "Nova, Star Beams!" Stella commanded. Beams of bright white starlight shone from Nova's eyes, aimed at Chaya. But the poison wore off! The Shadow Dragon roared and flew off the temple, escaping Nova's beams.

Petra frowned worriedly. "I wish Zera and I could help them." "Worm, can we help?" Drake asked. Let us watch and see, Worm replied. Nova is very powerful and Stella knows what to do. The Star Dragon and Shadow Dragon flew up toward the gloom of the sky-shadow. "Nova, Star Dust!" Stella cried. Nova sang a loud high note, and a cloud of glittering dust appeared. The dust swirled around Chaya.

Chaya roared, and a shadow cloud streamed from his mouth. It absorbed the glitter.

"Nova, Star Beams again!" yelled Stella. Two more beams of starlight shone from Nova's eyes. Just before they could zap Chaya, the Shadow Dragon disappeared into a portal in the sky-shadow. Then Chaya reappeared behind Nova.

Aruna watched the battle, biting her lower lip. "I wish I could communicate with Chaya. I need my Dragon Stone!"

Darpan ran to where Chaya had tossed his sister's Dragon Stone. He carefully lay down to peer over the edge of the mountainside. "Aruna, I see it! Your stone is on a ledge down below! I can't reach it!" "Worm can get it for you," Drake offered. But at that moment, two shadow phantoms zipped toward Aruna. "Worm, stop them!" Drake commanded. Worm trapped the shadow phantoms in green bubbles. Overhead, Stella made another command. "Nova, Star Whip!" Nova's long, curved tail whipped in the sky, creating a rope of starlight.