Startouched is the forty-sixth episode of The Dragon Prince. It is the first chapter of the sixth book, "Stars".
A shocking reversal leaves Claudia grief-stricken. Home in Katolis, Callum, Rayla, and Ezran debate what to do with the Pearl that imprisons Aaravos.
Plot[]
In a flashback, Aaravos is seen weeping in an unknown crater. As his bitter tears flow into the waters, the Merciful One appears behind him. They approach him, put a hand on his shoulder, and consoles him by saying, "We are, all of us, stardust, held together by love, for an instant." The two Startouch Elves then gaze upon the night sky together.
At the forest near the Sea of the Castout, Terry is collecting sticks and talking to a bird before discovering Viren's seemingly lifeless body lying in a clearing. Terry rushes and holds Viren his arms, only to scramble backwards when the latter opens his eyes. Viren soon realizes that he is still alive and rejoices by hugging Terry.
Viren walks to the shores of the Sea of the Castout with Terry following behind to show Claudia he is alive and Aaravos lied about him dying. However, Claudia corrects Viren when she reveals herself drenched in blood and sacrificed the Being to cast "Infantis Sanguine", successfully securing her father's resurrection. Terry holds one of the Being's severed wings as Claudia tells the horrified Viren that he taught her to do anything for family, however dangerous, however vile. The distraught Viren says children should not suffer for their parents and what Claudia did was too much to ask and hurtful for his heart. He became even more petrified when he saw Claudia's severed left leg. When she discloses her intention to complete her mission of freeing Aaravos from his prison, Viren refuses the join her because his examples have led her down the wrong path. He retrieves the relic staff while stating that he wishes to change by choosing the path of freedom and by facing his truth in Katolis. The shocked Claudia begs Viren to not return to Katolis, since the Katolians will lock him up in the dungeon if they decide to show him mercy. She breaks down into tears as she does not want her father to abandon her like how her mother Lissa and her brother Soren did. Viren solemnly listens to Claudia ranting about how he owed her his life after she resurrected him. He kisses her forehead, hugs, and tells her that he loves her before he starts his journey to Katolis. Terry can only watch Claudia wails and sobs hysterically as the only family she has left abandoned her.
Inside the Katolis castle, Soren has blindfolded Opeli and uses the secret knock and code names to lead her into the High Mage's office, where most of Team Zym and Barius have gathered for a secret High Council meeting. Opeli is surprised to see Sneezles, Hat, and Jellybug sleeping alongside Bait, and she initially mistakes them as Bait's offspring. Ezran then reveals Aaravos's prison to Opeli and Barius, and Opeli states it is a terrible idea to bring the most powerful and dangerous being into Katolis before the young king clarifies that they need to decide what to do with the prison so Aaravos will never be able to escape. Opeli suggests in informing the other four Human Kingdoms and assemble an elite guard to protect it. Barius says it is safer to keep the prison hidden from the other kingdoms. Callum believes that they must destroy the prison due to Aaravos's ability to manipulate anyone from the outside. When Rayla asks on how to destroy the prison, Soren proposes in forming a "Fellowship of the Pearl" that will take and throw the prison into a volcano. However, Rayla is uncertain, for she believes that destroying the prison frees Aaravos instead of killing him. Ezran finally decrees that they must keep the prison hidden and protected in Katolis.
At the throne room, Ezran finds Zym looking at Zubeia's portrait with concern. He comforts and assures Zym Zubeia is the most powerful mother in the world, and he promises the Dragon Prince to find her after becoming certain that Katolis is the safest place to hide and protect Aaravos's prison.
On the castle walls, Callum is contemplating about what to do with Aaravos's prison before he notices the Star rune on the Key of Aaravos glowing. He is relieved to find that Stella is the reason why the Star rune is glowing instead of Aaravos. Callum tells Rayla he intends to take Aaravos's prison to the Celestial Elves, the ancient sect of Skywing Elves who seek to understand the Star Primal at the Star Scraper, for he believes that they have the knowledge to kill Aaravos. He also says he has studied Star magic and that the Star Scraper is the location of the Corona of the Heavens, which holds the three Quasar Diamonds that can be used to free Runaan, Tiadrin, and Lain from Viren's enchanted coins. Rayla is reluctant since she supports Ezran's decree in protecting Aaravos's prison in Katolis, which is currently more important than freeing her family. Callum is worried because Aaravos might control him again as a puppet.
By nightfall, Callum is sleeping inside his office alongside Sneezles when he begins to have nightmares about Aaravos. He then starts to sleepwalk towards Viren's secret chambers where Aaravos's prison is being kept with Sneezles attempting to wake him up. Within his nightmare, Callum is walking inside a familiar-looking library and makes himself at home. However, the sight of the shattered magic mirror causes him to horrifically realize that he is trapped inside Aaravos's prison, and Aaravos is about to destroy it. Callum immediately wakes up form his sleepwalking and picks Sneezles up before rushing to Rayla's chambers. The startled Rayla is about to attack Callum with her pillows before he calms her down. Callum divulges his dilemma to Rayla, who slowly begins to believe him. When Rayla asks about what they can do, Callum picks up her blanket and says that he has an idea before heading off to find Barius. Rayla then tells Stella and Sneezles that Callum took the blanket they were using to sleep.
Barius is baking jelly tarts in the kitchen when Callum arrives to ask him to create something special and innovative. The baker also promises it will be scrumptious as well.
At the royal chambers' balcony, Zym expresses his concern for Zubeia by howling at the moon. Soren is training in the courtyard when he listens to Zym's howls. The young Crownguard understands how Zym is feeling because he sometimes wonders about where his mother is too. Soren joins Zym in howling at the moon, which slowly wakes Ezran up from his sleep. Ezran understands they cannot keep on waiting for Zubeia to return and that they must do something about it. Callum then bursts in to tell Ezran his secret plan. Ezran jokes about trusting the plan with Bait instead of Jellybug.
Later on, Callum is sowing spell-blocking runes inside his office as Rayla and Stella enter. Not long after, Barius enters with the decoy prison he created, though Rayla initially mistakes it for the real prison. Callum reveals that they will bring Aaravos's prison to the Star Scraper while the decoy prison stays in Katolis to trick anyone who tries to free Aaravos. Rayla offers to swap the prison with the decoy, but Callum assures her that he knows what he is doing.
When the sun rises on the next morning, Team Zym, Pyrrah, and their Shadowpaw gather at the castle's courtyard as they prepare to head out on their respective quests. Ezran bids farewell to Callum, Rayla, Stella, Sneezles, and the Shadowpaw, who will travel to the Star Scraper. He then wishes good luck to Zym, Soren, Pyrrah, and Hat before they fly out to find Zubeia. Callum and Sneezles lean on Rayla as they fall asleep after staying up all night.
Back in the Sea of the Castout, Terry is waking up when the looming Claudia startles him. The deranged Claudia proclaims everyone she loved had left her and decided to leave Terry first to prevent him from following her family. She starts to limp off to the distance as Terry proclaims his love and tries to talk sense into her. Terry then sobs and vows that he will remain in his spot and wait for Claudia no matter how long it takes for her to return.
Characters and Cast[]
- Callum (Jack De Sena)
- Rayla (Paula Burrows)
- Ezran (Sasha Rojen)
- Bait
- Stella
- Azymondias
- Soren (Jesse Inocalla)
- Sneezles
- Hat
- Jellybug
- Viren (Jason Simpson)
- Claudia (Racquel Belmonte)
- Terry (Benjamin Callins)
- The Being
- Opeli (Paula Burrows)
- Barius (Jason Simpson)
- Aaravos (Erik Dellums)
- Merciful One (Hanna Hofer)
Spells[]
Trivia[]
- The opening scene was used by Aaron Ehasz as a clue for the name of the episode "Stardust".
- The opening sequence has Aaravos shattering the petrified Viren, metaphorically symbolizing that the Startouch Elf no longer views him as his pawn. The following episodes of the season has Aaravos holding and viewing the petrified Claudia as his new pawn.
- When discussing what to do with Aaravos's prison, Soren mentions that a group of nine called the "Fellowship of the Pearl" would hike through Xadia and drop it into a volcano. This is a reference to the plot of "The Lord of the Rings".
Credits[]
- The image of Callum interacting with Aaravos's prison is a reference to Saruman interacting with his Palantír in "The Lord of the Rings".