7. BREAKING THROUGH

CHAPTER 7 BREAKING THROUGH Drake thought quickly. If Chaya destroys the temple, we might never be able to summon the Star Dragon! "Worm, stop Chaya!" Drake yelled. "Zera! Use your stun poison!" Petra cried. Worm's body glowed green. Zear's body did, too. Worm shot a beam of light at Chaya. The Shadow Dragon ducked.

Then Zera's four heads sprayed shimmering yellow droplets all over Chaya. The Shadow Dragon froze in place. "Wow!" Drake cried. "Petra, what did Zera just do?" "We have been experimenting with different poisons Zera can create," Petra replied. "This one makes anything it touches stop moving. But it only lasts for a little while." Aruna stomped toward them. "Fools! Don't you realize how very powerful Chaya is? Your dragons' weak powers will not hold him for long!"

Darpan ran to his sister. "Aruna, please," he pleaded. "Listen to these Dragon Masters. They know a way to help you both." "We do not need help!" Aruna snapped. She raised her arms toward the sky. "Can't you see how beautiful this shadow is? Chaya and I are so powerful. We can do anything we want!" "The Aruna I know wants to help everyone," Darpan told her. "Stop the sky-shadow, and you will help the world." Aruna's eyes flickered. She paused. "I will never destroy Chaya's sky-shadow!"

Darpan turned to Drake and Petra, shaking his head. "It's no use. I cannot get through to her." An idea popped into Drake's mind. His Dragon Stone glowed. "Worm, can you use your powers to help Darpan get through to his sister?" I think so, Worm replied It is the Balam seed inside Chaya that is making Aruna evil, too. With Chaya frozen, there is a chance I can use my powers to break their connection for a few moments. Then Aruna will lose her connection to the seed.

Drake nodded. "Darpan, talk to Aruna. Worm will help you get through to her." Soft green light shone from Worm's eyes onto Aruna. Darpan looked at his sister. "Please, Aruna. What good is Chaya's power if plants will die and people will starve? I know you don't want that." As Darpan spoke, his sister's eyes flickered again. "I—I don't know she stammered.

"Aruna, listen to me!" Darpan pleaded. "None of this is your fault. You are not evil. Neither is Chaya. This all started when you fed Chaya the Balam seed. We know you meant well. And we can help you fix things—if you'll let us." Aruna shook her head. "But... Chaya... "Chaya knows how much you love him, just as I love you," Darpan said. "Let us help you both." The red glow faded from Aruna's eyes. Her gray hair returned to a glistening black color. Worm stopped shining his green light on her. Aruna blinked, then threw her arms around Darpan. "Brother!" she cried. "I am so sorry. I never— RAAAAWWWWWWWWR! Chaya roared and stomped. "Zera's poison has worn off!" Petra shouted.