True Heart is the fifty-sixth episode of The Dragon Prince. It is the second chapter of the seventh book, "Dark".
Tensions rise as Ezran grapples with rebuilding Katolis and deciding Runaan's punishment. Meanwhile, Claudia, Aaravos, and Terry search for a hidden map.
Plot[]
Several days after Runaan's arrest, Team Zym and the people of Katolis have relocated to the Banther Lodge. Stella sits on the bridge as she watches Callum trying to calm the frustrated Rayla down. Despite Callum's attempts to reason with Rayla that Ezran was angry about Runaan killing King Harrow, she quietly walks away as he and Stella decide to follow her.
Inside the Banther Lodge, Soren attempts to persuade Corvus to use "Rickety Snickers" instead of the usual "Help me!" as the Banther Lodge's security phrase. They then join Ezran, Callum, Rayla, Bait, Azymondias, Aanya, Opeli, and Barius for a High Council meeting. Rayla tries to persuade Ezran to free Runaan since he was already imprisoned inside an enchanted coin for two years by Viren, but Ezran refuses. The angered Rayla storms off with Callum trying to catch up with her, only for Ezran to have him stay in the council meeting.
Meanwhile, Claudia, Terry, and Aaravos arrive at the Puzzle House, the home of Viren's former mentor Kpp'Ar. Claudia reveals that Kpp'Ar used to argue Viren frequently before his mysterious disappearance. Terry and Aaravos commend the Puzzle House for being spooky and eccentric, to Claudia's amusement.
At the High Council meeting, Callum is drawing in his sketchbook as Opeli states that the main priority is rebuilding Katolis restoring its citizens' lives. Barius adds that proper rebuilding will take time and planning and that the people need to feel that they are building a home. Everyone else agrees, though Ezran believes that a home needs to be safe and grows anxious since he does not want the rebuilt Katolis to razed to the ground again like what Sol Regem did. Ezran is unimpressed that Callum did not pay attention and asks Aanya for advice. Aanya says that Duren will always help Katolis in a time of need before explaining that peace requires preparation. Ezran declares that the people of Katolis must be ready and strong enough to survive potential threats by building defenses first.
Claudia reveals to Terry and Aaravos that she kept the map to the Garden of Innocence in the Puzzle House's secret basement before she presses a tower's stone that activates a secret stairway.
The High Council meeting is eventually adjourned and Callum heads out to find Stella and a crying Rayla at the bridge. Callum comforts Rayla as she plans to set Runaan free. Despite Callum's belief that Ezran will do the right thing, Rayla cannot wait any longer since she must reunite Runaan with Ethari after two years. Callum intends to help, but Rayla is not asking him to betray his brother. Callum reminds Rayla of his promise that he would do anything for her before she asked him to forgive her. Callum and Rayla share a tender kiss before he asks when he will see her again. Rayla hopes that she and Callum will see each other again soon before he walks away.
Callum finds Ezran staring at the Banther Lodge's fireplace with Zym, Bait, Sneezles, Hat, and Jellybug accompanying him and tries to reason with him about Runaan's fate as Stella uses the dumbwaiter to attack Runaan's guards. Stella incapacitates the guards and uses one of their keys to unlock the shackles on Runaan's ankles. However, none of the keys work for the shackles on Runaan's wrists. The guards regain their unconsciousness and attempt to capture Stella before Rayla knocks them out and frees Runaan. Rayla, Stella, and Runaan sneak out through the roof and tries to head for the dock, where they are confronted by Soren.
Ezran tells Callum that everything they experienced started after Runaan assassinated Harrow. Callum informs Ezran that he is slowly falling to the cycle of violence he fought so hard to end and that he forgave Zubeia, Zym's mother, who sent Runaan to kill Harrow to avenge Avizandum. Callum says that every human, elf, and dragon made mistakes, and they do not have to keep making them. Ezran softens and embraces Zym before everyone hears Soren shouting "Rickety Snickers!"
Rayla battles Soren as he continues to shout "Rickety Snickers!" to call for help. Runaan encourages Rayla to overextend Soren by going for his front leg. Rayla sweeps Soren's front leg before tossing and pulling his sword away. Soren, however, gets back to his feet and decides to use a loaf of bread to continue the fight.
Claudia, Terry, and Aaravos enter the Puzzle House's tower, where they come across the carousel Kpp'Ar built. The trio climbs atop the statues before Claudia has Terry pull the unicorn statue's horn, which is a lever that activates the carousel that takes them down the tower.
Back in the Banther Lodge, Rayla slices off Soren's bread and is about to finish the fight when Corvus uses his chain to disarm her. Corvus returns Soren's sword as Ezran, Zym, and the other soldiers arrive to stop Rayla and Runaan from leaving. As Ezran commands the soldiers to advance towards Rayla, Callum flies in with Sneezles and freezes Ezran, Soren, Corvus, and the soldiers' feet using "Frigus Pedes".
Claudia, Terry, and Aaravos arrive in the Puzzle House's secret basement, with Aaravos falling off his statue upon arriving. Claudia asks Aaravos if he is okay, and the latter gleefully proclaims he just had the most fun experience in ages after being imprisoned for three centuries. They soon discover the basement is littered with broken jars and torn books as Claudia explained that Kpp'Ar had a change of heart and tried to destroy everything related to dark magic before he disappeared. The intrigued Aaravos picks up a paper and reveals to Claudia and Terry that Kpp'Ar was experimenting with the ancient and disturbing practice of self-eating in an attempt to extend his life indefinitely. Claudia is repulsed that she has to think of Kpp'Ar being capable of such horror, though Terry comforts her by reminding that Kpp'Ar quit dark magic, and that he might have seen another way forward that does not involve darkness and sacrifice.
Callum tells Ezran that he chose to help Rayla due to his love for her. While Soren, Corvus, and the soldiers use their weapons to chip the ice off their feet, Aanya positions herself on the Banther Lodge's roof and fires two arrows as a warning. Rayla uses her blade to deflect one arrow, only for the other to graze Runaan's left arm. Callum uses his body to shield Rayla and Runaan, which forces Ezran to tell Aanya to stand down. As Rayla, Runaan, Stella, and Sneezles make for the boat, Callum tells Ezran that he cannot be the High Mage of Katolis anymore, but will always be his brother. Callum then jumps to the boat and casts "Turbine Venti" to propel himself, Rayla, Runaan, Stella, Sneezles, and their boat downriver as Soren, Corvus, and the soldiers break free from the ice and give chase.
Claudia leads Terry and Aaravos to the chest where the map to the Garden of Innocence is kept. Claudia opens the chest and unfurls the parchment, which is visible only to Terry. As Terry praises and studies the map, Aaravos telepathically informs Claudia that the map to the Garden of Innocence is special and has a protection that allows only the true of heart to see it. Claudia says that she could see the map when she was a child before Aaravos reveals that all children can see the map because of their true hearts, but as they grow up, they are forced to make choices, sacrifices, and compromises, changing them forever and preventing them from seeing the map again. However, Terry somehow managed to retain his true heart, which prompts Aaravos and Claudia to make him guide them to the Garden of Innocence without letting him know the full truth. Claudia also allows Terry to keep the map without telling him that only he can see it.
Characters and Cast[]
- Callum (Jack De Sena)
- Rayla (Paula Burrows)
- Ezran (Sasha Rojen)
- Bait
- Stella
- Azymondias
- Soren (Jesse Inocalla)
- Sneezles
- Hat
- Jellybug
- Corvus (Omari Newton)
- Aanya (Zelda Ehasz)
- Claudia (Racquel Belmonte)
- Terry (Benjamin Callins)
- Aaravos (Erik Dellums)
- Runaan (Jonathan Holmes)
- Opeli (Paula Burrows)
- Barius (Jason Simpson)
Spells[]
| Sky Spells |
Trivia[]
- Ezran's hateful feelings about Runaan let alone blaming him for everything as well as not thinking straight is a reference to a scene in the Avatar: The Last Airbender episode "The Western Air Temple" where Toph said the same thing about Aang and the others not accepting Zuko into the group after everything he had done.
- And when it came to the events Aang and the others had described they forgot that Zuko wasn't completely to blame for everything happened the same way Runaan wasn't completely to blame either.