12 The Water Dragon's Power

CHAPTER 12 THE WATER DRAGON'S POWER The emperor jumped onto the seat of his throne. The strong wave knocked the guards off their feet. Drake held his breath, waiting to be knocked down, too. Then his whole body began to tingle. He looked down. He was floating above the water! But how?

"It's the dragons!" Bo called out. Drake turned and saw that Bo was floating in midair, too. "Shu must have used the water from the pond to break into the castle. And Worm is keeping us above the water!" Shu floated into the room, traveling on top of the waves. Her blue scales shimmered. Her eyes gleamed. Worm came behind her. As he slid across the floor, the water moved away from him.

Shu floated over to Bo. He climbed on her and gripped her saddle. Worm slid underneath Drake. Drake felt Worm's hold leave him, and he dropped right onto his dragon's saddle. Emperor Song pointed at the two dragons. "Guards! Grab them!" he cried. But his Raven Guards were woozy after being hit by the wave. They slowly got to their feet, splashing in the knee-high water. "More guards will come!" the emperor said. "You cannot harm me. I am the emperor! I am the ruler of this kingdom! Get back!"

Then Shu glided right up to the emperor. Her huge head stopped just inches away from his. "Do not eat me!" Emperor Song yelled. Shu closed her eyes. A misty blue cloud floated from her mouth. Emperor Song looked up at it, terrified. He froze as a light blue mist rained down on his head. The look on his face changed. fclnef. He looked peaceful.

"What a beautiful creature," the emperor said, reaching out. He gently touched Shu's nose. Back on their feet, the Raven Guards charged toward Shu. "STOP!" Emperor Song called out. "Our guests must not be harmed!" Drake and Bo looked at each other. "Guests?" Drake mouthed to Bo. It seemed like Shu's powers were working!

Emperor Song stood up. "I am sorry, Bo," he said. "I do not know what came over me. I should never have asked you to steal the Dragon Stone. I fear I was under a dark spell. But your dragon... your dragon has somehow saved me." Bo's Dragon Stone began to glow beneath his shirt. Bo closed his eyes. After a minute, he opened them. "Shu has a very special, secret power. She can wash away any spell. She has just broken the spell that Maldred placed on you."