Stardust is the fifty-fourth episode of The Dragon Prince. It is the ninth and final chapter of the sixth book, "Stars".
A visit to the spirit realm forces Rayla to make a heartbreaking choice. Aaravos shares a story from his past with Claudia.
Plot[]
Claudia and Terry watch Aaravos staring out to the Valley of the Graves as he says, "We are, all of us, stardust, held together by love for an instant." The Startouch Elf informs the duo that while they have all the necessary ingredients for "Amor Stella Vitae", the spell must be cast with love for it to be successful. Claudia is confused because she does not know how to cast a spell with love. Aaravos tells her that while love may seem to be an impossible ingredient, it is one everyone shares in abundance. He understands how much Viren loved Claudia before revealing that she used to have a daughter named Leola, whom he loved deeply and infinitely. Aaravos called Leola his "unicorn" because she was born with only one horn and cherished her uniqueness and quirkiness. He gushes about how Leola, despite being born an immortal being of the heavens, did not care about the cosmic order due to her warm and open heart, for she loved Xadia and all its flaws and made friends with every elf, human, and animal she met.
At the Moon Nexus, Callum states how unfair it is for Rayla to choose between Runaan, Tiadrin, and Lain since they only have two Quasar Diamonds. She corrects him by saying that all three Moonshadow Elves are her parents. Lujanne soon arrives with Allen and Phoe-Phoe to inform Callum and Rayla that the portal to the plane between life and death will open when the moon's reflection fills the lake. Lujanne explains to Rayla that each of the enchanted coins contains a fragment of her family's soul and will guide her to them. The broken souls of Rayla's family will also be drawn to the coins and will not pass into death incomplete. Rayla places the coins in her pouch as Callum gives her a magical bracelet made of Moon Phoenix feathers to ensure she could return to the world of the living. They share a passionate kiss, and Callum starts preparing all the necessary ingredients for "Amor Stella Vitae" as Rayla jumps into the portal. She soon finds herself in an environment resembling the Moonshadow Forest and the Silvergrove before taking the coins out of her pouch and begins exploring. Shortly after, Rayla notices Runaan's coin glowing as Runaan's restless spirit starts to attack her. Rayla parries Runaan's attacks while attempting to reason with him, only to be forced to knock him away so she can escape. After tumbling down a hill, Rayla notices her parents' coins glowing when she sees them dancing together in a field.
Aaravos tells Claudia and Terry that his few years with Leola were the most meaningful. He then remembered the day when that happiness was taken from him. Leola was levitating rocks with a human girl as Aaravos used his magical key to open a large book. He laughed at Leola's drawing of him with a mustache and drank a cup of tea before hearing Leola's friend crying for help. Aaravos asked the scared girl what had happened, and she said that a Startouch Elf had touched Leola on the shoulder before disappearing with her. She also revealed that there was a golden dragon who just stood and watched. When the girl asked Aaravos if Leola was going to be okay, he assured her by knowing where the Startouch Elf had taken his daughter.
Rayla reunites with Tiadrin and Lain, who ask her to dance with them. Rayla reminds her parents about the day when they were protecting the egg of Azymondias from Viren at the Storm Spire.
Aaravos comforted Leola in the heavens before calling the Startouch Elves out for bringing an innocent child before cosmic justice. The Stern One and other Startouch Elves of the council informed Aaravos that Leola was not innocent and stood accused of breaking the cosmic order by giving magic to humans. Aaravos denied such an accusation before the council revealed their proof as a witness to the action: Anak Araw, the Dragon Prince. The Stern One stated Leola must pay the price, but Aaravos argued that she was a child who helped humans out of compassion and love instead of defiance. The council asserted that Leola's selfless act was the beginning of the end and the start of the long, slow spiral to chaos. Leola must be executed for breaking the cosmic order, and this prompted Aaravos to ask the council to take his life instead, because he did not wish to live without his daughter. The Merciful One said that such a compromise might be a kindness and asked the other Startouch Elves to show mercy instead. The Stern One offered Aaravos to die alongside Leola as their only concession, to the latter's horror.
Tiadrin and Lain ask Rayla if giving the egg to Viren was a mistake before Rayla comforts them by divulging how she, Callum, and Ezran rescued and took Zym back to Zubeia. She told them how such a feat was made possible because of Tiadrin and Lain's quick thinking. Tiadrin and Lain praise Rayla for growing up into a strong hero. Rayla then approaches the lotus pool, remembering it as the place where she last saw her parents before they joined the Dragonguard, before realizing that it is where she must part with them again. Rayla gives Tiadrin and Lain their coins before crying about wanting to take them back with her. Tiadrin and Lain comfort Rayla by saying she will live an amazing and beautiful life, and they will always love and be with her no matter what. With their soul fragments reunited, Tiadrin and Lain pass on peacefully.
Aaravos furiously asked the council if allowing him to die alongside Leola was truly mercy, prompting the Stern One to say that sometimes the line between mercy and cruelty can be thin. Aaravos knew that to live without Leola would mean an eternity of pain, but he chose to live after finding his new purpose of avenging Leola. The council allowed Aaravos to have his final words with Leola before vanishing. Aaravos hugged the tearful Leola, assuring her that she would go to a place of ever-flowing love and that she would feel him holding her in his mind and with his heart. An invisible force slowly pulled the terrified Leola, but the weeping Aaravos told her that there was nothing to fear and to close her eyes so she could listen to his voice. He said to her that he was with her and loved her, for all around her was love. Aaravos fell to his knees and broke into tears as Leola slowly exploded into pure stardust and was cast out into Xadia. The heartbroken Aaravos knelt over Leola's fallen form and the great empty crater left where she fell. He wept for 100 years, causing his tears to fill the crater and form the Sea of the Castout. The Merciful One appeared behind Aaravos, approached him, put a hand on his shoulder, and consoled him by saying, "We are, all of us, stardust, held together by love for an instant." Terry comforts the sobbing Claudia after Aaravos finishes his story.
Rayla calls for Runaan as she finally knows what she needs to do to save him. Runaan eventually appears before Rayla and attempts to kill Rayla again as she reminds him of being the greatest assassin in all of Xadia, who taught her to never break her promise and that Ethari is waiting for him. Runaan briefly calms down upon seeing the pendant Ethari gave him before continuing to fight Rayla in an environment resembling Katolis, for he is ashamed of trying to kill her. When Rayla says that she is his daughter, Runaan ceases his attack and agrees to return with Rayla. Runaan's spirit is contained in a lotus as Rayla returns to the world of the living and reunites with Callum.
Filled with hope and love, Claudia is motivated to cast "Amor Stella Vitae" with love. Terry, however, attempts to persuade Claudia not to cast the spell because he believes that Aaravos is motivated by vengeance instead of love since they are standing before the skeleton of Sol Regem, the Archdragon who reported Leola's actions. Claudia believes that Aaravos is like her father, who did what was necessary, however dangerous, however vile.
Rayla places Runaan's coin and contained spirit around the ingredients of "Amor Stella Vitae" before Callum casts the spell. The ingredients levitate and glow in different colors before swirling together. The swirling objects converge in a Quasar Diamond and cast a beam of light on the coin, which brings Runaan back to the world of the living. Rayla and Runaan embrace as Callum retrieves the now-blank coin. Rayla is about to reintroduce Runaan to Callum and tell him how much has happened in the past two years when they see a great pall of smoke rising from Katolis.
Amaya and Janai are dancing and kissing at their wedding reception in the Sunfire Elf camp. Everyone is enjoying the festivities when a messenger crow arrives with the news of Sol Regem's attack on Katolis. Ezran breaks down into tears with the belief that he failed to protect his home and people as Amaya, Aanya, and Gren comfort him.
Claudia casts "Amor Stella Vitae" as the spell's ingredients levitate and glow in different colors before swirling together. The swirling objects converge in her Quasar Diamond and cast a beam of light on Aaravos's prison, shattering it and liberating the Startouch Elf from 300 years of imprisonment. Aaravos's towering form astonishes both Claudia and Terry. Claudia then approaches Aaravos as he picks her up before they gaze upon the morning sky together.
Characters and Cast[]
- Callum (Jack De Sena)
- Rayla (Paula Burrows)
- Ezran
- Bait
- Stella
- Sneezles
- Aaravos (Erik Dellums)
- Viren
- Claudia (Racquel Belmonte)
- Terry (Benjamin Callins)
- Amaya
- Janai
- Gren
- Kazi
- Aanya
- Sabah
- Lujanne (Ellie King)
- Allen
- Phoe-Phoe
- Runaan (Jonathan Holmes)
- Tiadrin (Ely Jackson)
- Lain (Tyrone Savage)
- Merciful One (Hanna Hofer)
- Stern One (Brian Drummond)
- Leola (Ridley Simpson)
- Sol Regem
- Ethari
- Moonshadow Elf Assassins
Spells[]
| Sky Spells | Star Spells |
Dark Magic
- Htaerb eht laets (Steal the breath)
Trivia[]
- Aaron Ehasz posted a clue regarding this episode's title on Twitter by showing a clip from "Startouched", which depicted Aaravos crying with the Merciful One consoling him.
- It was revealed that Aaravos was imprisoned within Leola's skeleton, which was first seen at the bottom of the Sea of the Castout in "Infantis Sanguine".
Credits[]
- In the episode's first end credit sketch, Lain is missing his horns.[1]