#it’s not rayla guys I swear

[mandaloriandragontrainer]

Callum’s Deep Truth: *is Rayla in the form of starlight. Literally. Rayla made out of stars. Just Rayla*

That guy: Well Actually his deep truth is his love for magic and life in general. It just so happens to take the form of Rayla, for reasons unrelated to Rayla

[m4rs-ex3]

it's honestly amazing to me that, despite having a good long while to digest it, despite it being in the past, despite my own self deciding that it was for the better, i can hardly think about rayla being gone. hell, maybe i'm just far too emotionally invested in these characters (ok make that "definitely"), but god it hurts. it hurts. thinking about the way callum lost two years of his life to the misery of not knowing and the pain of knowing that she was out there, somewhere, but not with him. the way rayla spent two years of her life digging herself even deeper into her self-harming and only-knowing-pain ditch without anyone to stop her and now she needs help more than anything but doesn't know how to get it. the way they both had to just live their lives, feeling sadness and longing and anger for themselves and each other, but they had to reason with it in order to survive, had to justify it. the way they probably felt like they didn't even have lives, that the rest of those lives would be permanently fucked up and they were just supposed to accept that. the way they fell so hard and fast that the lasting injuries hit even harder. they way they were just beginning to find themselves with each other, and now they don't know who they are. just. it's like a permanent ache in my chest and i'm literally just a fucker who likes a cartoon show.

[imminent-danger-came]

Shots in tdp s5 that make me go 🤨😕☹️

(I am living in fear. Let's go!)

[reminiscentrainclouds]

The Dragon Prince season 6 spoilers below! Just a bunch of my thoughts because boy do I have a lot of them!

I still can't believe the way that whole switcheroo trick with the pearl backfired on Callum. It was so painful to watch because I knewwww it was going to happen the minute he decided to carry the fake down there by himself. Rayla was literally offering to go down there with him!! It would have been so easy for both of them to go down there just in case! I mean, the fake and the pearl both looked exactly the same; it would be easy to make a simple mistake and confuse them, so you'd want to make extra sure you were taking the right one with you!! Callum's confidence is very admirable, but considering he was so worried about it, he really should have been more cautious!

I just really like the way that part of the plot played out. This whole season had soooo much irony in it, but especially with this whole thing. The second it was revealed to be the fake pearl, I was like, "Yippee I was right!!" But also, "They're doomed." Because!! It's left completely unattended!!

And then Sol Regem started attacking Katolis and I was like NOOO IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER. Although at first I was thinking it was gonna get like, smashed or something in the rubble and that would release Aaravos but man. MAN. There was so much more in store, that was a wild ride... Don't even get me started on Viren's sacrifice. I hate him and I think he got what he deserved, both in terms of what he lost and the crushing guilt he felt, but man. I was really sympathizing with him ever since he got revived, and that last scene with him hurt.

But it was a satisfying and fitting conclusion for him. He had intended on swearing off dark magic and attempting to right his wrongs, but instead, after a lifetime of sacrificing other lives for magic, he ends things by sacrificing his own life, which was already stolen after being revived anyway, to help save the people of Katolis. Sucks that he ultimately was convinced to use dark magic again, as if it was something he could never really escape, as if he never really learned anything, but the big difference was that he was sacrificing no other life than his own here. And he did help people. I'm probably massively misinterpreting everything because my interpretations are always kind of off...but he's just a really interesting character.... He made a lot of bad decisions but I understand his motivations, and I feel like he was really quite Doomed By The Narrative, pushed into a corner and faced with two equally bad decisions in many cases. He's the kind of bad guy who I really wish could have had the opportunity of not being a bad guy, y'know?

Aaravos is much worse and much less redeemable to me, but I feel a similar way about him. Like I Get It. Can't relate to what appears to be his thirst for revenge but I can understand. Learning about what happened to his daughter makes me angry on his behalf! The fact that all this had to happen in the first place hurts a lot! All this could really be blamed on that council of Startouch Elves, for what seemed like an extremely unnecessary punishment for his daughter. Although I'm curious about what more information we might get on the whole cosmic order and everything, I don't know. Taking Aaravos's child like that was unnecessarily cruel though; regardless of how serious of a crime or whatever giving humans magic was, there's no way she had bad intentions, and it's not like killing her would reverse what happened. AUGH anyway. What a season.

[a-very-sparkly-nerd]

@dragonprincedrabbles

Nyx + Corvus, Foreboding

Corvus finds out just enough about Soren's kidnapping experience to be pushed over the edge.

Corvus is quick to dislike a person. Easy to rub him up the wrong way. And this elf had done it from a mile away.

Blue hair and heterochromic, an omnipresent shit-eating grin, and non-stop teasing, jabbing, and overall being infuriating.

Soren knows her, it seems, based on the way his jaw set and brow furrowed when he laid eyes on her across the market they passed through, and especially based on the way he heard her following them from abovehead–because of course the oversized harpy had wings–and used Corvus’s chain to yank her down from the sky. Corvus didn’t think he’d ever seen the other Crownguard so angry, so angsty in the way he stomped off to gather firewood when they made camp that night.

With the Skywing sitting across the fire from him, preening her feathered wings. “Naimi-Selari-Nykantia” had been how she’d introduced herself, tacking on a “But you can call me Nyx” as an afterthought.

Nyx was annoying.

“It’s rude to stare, you know,” she says over the flames, breaking Corvus away from his thoughts.

“How do you know him?” Corvus demands, skipping directly over the small talk.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, too,” she grumbles, but adjusts to turn at least part of her attention and body language to him.

“How?” he repeats, letting his hand drift to his chain. The angry red welts along her ankle suggest she has not forgotten how painful it was, and even less likely to want a repeat. All ration seemed to go out the window when it came to Soren. For Corvus, at least.

She shrugs sheepishly, rolling her shoulders and eyes to the sky. “Er, well… Let’s just say a girl’s got to look out for herself, am I right, eh?”

“Tell me how you know Soren,” Corvus hisses, gripping the handle in an attempt to keep himself in check.

“Oh, we went through a good ol’-fashioned pirate kidnapping together,” Nyx says with feigned cheeriness, a sad attempt at a chuckle. “I gave him some information, he let me go free. The little king, handsome dolt, and idiots in love, er- dealt with their situation themselves.”

Corvus’s blood is suddenly boiling hot, as if his skin doesn’t fit right over his bones. Shock and rage fills crevices of his body he hadn’t known existed prior to this moment. What?

Soren had been kidnapped? Ez, too? And Callum and Rayla, judging by the “idiots in love” bit. And none of them had breathed even a word of it?

That’s fine, it’s their business. Really, Corvus tried to tell himself, getting to his feet.

It didn’t work. Soren had been hurt and in danger, and sure, that’s what Crownguards were trained for, but it didn’t mean he was expected to simply be okay.

“You sold them out?” he says, voice nearing a roar. “You sold him out?!”

“Woah, there. Two batches of idiots in love, my mistake,” she mutters, and Corvus is too angry to be flustered about it. “Listen, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Everyone else there had someone looking out for them. Number One’s the only one who’s gonna look out for Number One. Everyone’s selfish.”

Corvus turns to the woods Soren had disappeared into, everything starting to make sense with each puzzle piece falling into place. “Leave.”

“Excuse me?”

“Leave,” he repeats, digging his jagged, worn fingernails into his palms. “I’m going to look for him, and if you’re here when I get back, I’ll kill you. I swear it.”

“Okay, chill out there, Big Guy,” Nyx starts, and he hears her light footsteps approaching him tentatively but quickly.

As her hand goes for his shoulder, Corvus wheels around and grabs her wrist, getting up close and personal. He lets every bit of anger show on his face. “Look me in the eye and try to call my bluff. Look me in the eye and try to reason with me. I’m not messing around.”

Nyx’s wings flutter nervously, and he lets her snatch her wrist out of his grasp. His skin feels dirty, but not from guilt– from touching this monster who’d let Soren get hurt. “Alright, alright! Message received!”

She takes a few steps backward, and Corvus relishes in how she trips over her bag, and, flustered, scramble to start shoving her things into it. “You, eh, might wanna get some anger issues management help. Friendly word of advice.”

“Get out!” Corvus screams, face hot with anger and eyes pricking with tears, ready to strangle her with his bare hands.

“Okay, okay! I’m leaving!” Nyx shoulders her backpack and only makes it a few feet into the air before reconsidering. She comes back down another bit, hesitant with downcast eyes. “Um, be careful with him. He’s a good man. Savor the people you have to look out for and who look out for you.”

Corvus turns away from her. “I will.”

[thelittleweirdo-3]

Leola ✨️💜 & Girldad Aaravos ✨️

So recently, season 6 of the dragon prince had been released and not gonna lie here guys, it was probably one of my favourite seasons, not only because Runaan was freed [yay!🤧🤩] but because we got a bit more information about Aaravos, and that he had a daughter?! In my opinion, after getting this impression of him before the new season, I assumed that his intention was to manipulate his way out of his prison (which he did technically do.) to then come back and take control of Xadia. BUT BOY WAS I WRONG.

Aaravos sharing his story of Leola, I think you can tell that he wasn't making it up. (I mean, he could be and could be a very convincing actor, but I don't think that's the case) and that she truly meant the whole universe to him, and when I first saw her I just wanted to give the biggest hug because she's so adorable 🤧🥰😭 and finding out she was autistic too 😭🤧.

But now, I have some questions and a theory. In season 5 episode 2, when Callum and Rayla are looking up at the stars and Callum asks Rayla what do they call the North star (or South star did he call it?) In Xadia, as she said they all it "Leola's last wish." Now my question is, what was her last wish? Aaravos tells us that she loved the world and that she befriended humans, animals and elves, so was her wish for everyone to get along? To put aside their differences and find love and peace?

My second question is, what magic did she give humans? I think it was primal magic, due to Claudia telling Soren that Aaravos gave humans dark magic, but was that another one of his lies, and it was actually Leola who gave them dark magic?

During the scene where Aaravos and Leola are with the council, they give Aaravos two choices. Either they both die, or just Leola. Now, I believe he choices to live and let Leola die was because the world was not as wonderful as Leola thought. And because Aaravos didn't want her to grow up frightened or in pain, he let her die as an act of kindness, so that she wouldn't suffer. (That's just my opinion though)

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

One of the things I find most cruel, is that Aaravos's prison was kept in the crater where she fell and is surrounded by her bones. I mean, that's just sick and messed up. I also find the council is ridiculous, and just like Aaravos said, SHE'S JUST A KID! Let our girl be happy 🥰 I think I've already said this in another post, but I'll gladly say it more than once, Aaravos being a father is probably one of the most adorable nd wholesome things I've ever seen, and he calls Leola "my unicorn" 🤧🤧😭😭🥰 I swear, I'm too emotional when it comes to stuff like this 😳😭

[zuppizup]

There's a limited beta test coming for the Xadia game, for people in Singapore, Australia, and the Philippines. Can I move in with you? Just for a second? I will be tidy I swear 😂

Oh yes, if you promise to bring some of the extensive selection of M&Ms you guys get which we don't.

We can all sit around and eat snacks and parallel play!

I'm already loving sassy game Rayla!

[winterstorm032802]

It's crazy how Callum depicts Rayla as this strong, awesome hero when Rayla sees herself as anything but. Told time and time again that she's amazing and strong and fast and brave, yet she can barely see that part of her cause of her fears and insecurities. I'm not projecting, guys, I swear I'm not projecting. JustbecauseRaylaismyfavoritecharacterdoesn'tmeanthatIprojectonhercauseofmyownselfhatredandfears--

[kehideni]

There is one thing i'm really wondering about.

When did Rayla fall in love with Callum? I mean i get the why, and i ship it "yay" but she was so good at hiding her emotions i can't really pinpoint when she tipped over from "Callum is a friend." to "I can't lose him."

You can pinpoint when she turned from weird ally to friend. It was when Callum asked her to go to the Banther Lodge, his "heartfelt speech" was relatable to her.

We know she was already aware of her own feelings regarding Callum by the time he did dark magic.

We also know she was already very protective of Callum by the time Villads had to stop the Ruthless because of the storm. "If you die out there, i swear i'll kill you."

Before that they were flying on Phoe-Phoe, and before that they were staying with Lujanne where the only thing remotely suggesting any of her feelings was that she was disgusted by Claudia's clear approach to Callum. Which i hardly accept as Soren was also disgusted eventhough he showed support for Callum's approach to Claudia before. And also because... as an aroace i did find it cringe too. Somehow Claudia's romantic relationships end up being cringe.

I'm sorry, idk how to say it nicely but she doesn't seem to do well in romantic relationships. She is very Azula-esque in many ways(i mean... duh) They are both very close family oriented characters, both are essencially victims of their broken family, both are incredibly talented and powerful despite being hella childish because parents forgot to raise them, oops. And being raised so fked up they seem to be unable to form actually functioning romantic relationships.

Even with Terry, i felt like Terry loves her and Claudia is just happy to have a mostly yes-man by her.

But this is a Rayla post, sidenote over.

On Callum's part i'm fairly sure by the time he used dark magic he returned Rayla's feelings, as unaware of it as he was. I mean dude pretty much decided on a whim to throw his principles out the window for Rayla's sake(and ended up corrupting his own soul in the process but he didn't know that)

You'd think that he didn't love Rayla when they were still with Lujanne because he still had a crush on Claudia, but that's not entirely correct.

In the novelization of season 2, when he hangs out with Claudia he is acutely aware of Rayla's whereabouts and opinions and doesn't want Rayla to see him with her even in pretty normal circumstances. The guy just... didn't think it's weird to be hyper aware of someone who he apparently has no feelings for.

So... what's my guess on when Rayla started feeling more than friendship towards Callum?

Hmmm.

Probably when they made up on the frozen lake where they dropped Zym's egg.

And Callum eeeehhh probably earlier he just didn't know? I mean in chapter 14 "the sad prince" he was completely unaware he drew Rayla and he quickly hid it from her when she returned, eventhough Callum is not shy of his drawings.

Siiigh... book 3's novelization is still months away, i wonder what insight that's gonna give.

[raayllum]

thought it was time for an update so:

show quotes

hey sad prince. let’s go get your cube.

rayla is kind and good. she’s fast, fearless, strong—

it means i trust her. unconditionally.

come get some rest.

i don’t care if you’re crying, i’m here with you.

i can’t lose you like this, you mean too much to me.

that was brave, rayla.

i waited too long. i hope you know—i know.

good thinking with aspiro.

you’ve got to stay with me!

but would it be okay, maybe, if i stay? and we just... don't talk?

rayla is selfless, strong, and caring.

i'm glad we can be here together, looking at the stars.

she’s not a fool.

so are you two, like—did-did i interrupt something? between you and—

i’m afraid of hurting him.

i left without him because i couldn't bear to put him in danger.

if you say so, mage.

so, two primal sources. now you're just getting greedy mister mage.

you are so…

i left him alone. i shouldn't have—rayla, don't.

it's a bridge between our two worlds. and now here we are, crossing it together.

callum, are you okay?

rayla, are you okay? rayla, it's okay.

i wasn’t sure if you guys needed two blankets or just one?

just remember me, okay?

i'm so glad you're here. we need to talk.

i'm so happy to see you again, callum.

rayla, if today is our last day… i want you to know—

strong relationships need honesty. the full truth.

but not everything has changed. i would do anything for you.

he’s smart and kind and brave and he’s… 

oh, i get it. kind of a secret forbidden romance situation?

i know that face. it’s the dumb idea face.

the moon ones are the prettiest. yeah, i think so too.

see, you know you’re amazing. you’re smart and fast and beautiful.

you look nice, callum.

we can help them. rayla, we can undo this spell.

but no more detours. or heartfelt speeches.

if you die out there, i swear i’ll kill you!

you still love her, don't you?

i want to show you everything!

when you care about someone it’s hard to hurt them, even when what you’re telling them is the truth.

but i think - i know i can trust you to help me carry this.

i thought you’d like them!

yup, i draw when i’m upset.

that's the dark magic you want. just... just let her go.

he’s noble, and true.

that’s what makes her a hero. that’s what makes her… rayla.

she's not 'the elf'. she's rayla.

just hold onto me.

you okay?

when you left, it hurt him bad. real bad. he was miserable.

you’ll get through this, you big dumb human.

amazing idea! i'll try it.

i do trust you.

i’ve been thinking about something someone once told me […] you did.

what is he doing to you? let him go!

say the word and i’ll go back into that tower with you.

rayla, i love you.

my friend. my best friend.

thank you.

then take another path, dummy.

thanks for humouring me, rayla.

hold on rayla!

no, not at all. but i enjoyed it. 

we should decide together.

together.

we had something so special.

listen to me! rayla doesn’t deserve this!

no, i meant what i said. you don't need to explain or justify anything to me. you can tell me when you're ready.

but then you spread your wings, and you saved me.

are you doing alright?

rayla, i... need you.

all that talk about how love makes you stronger, but the second you see that elf girl in danger, you completely lost yourself.

i’ll catch you!

because you’re with a girl?

rayla, you’re the most amazing person i’ve ever met.

it doesn’t matter what you did before. i just want you to be okay again. 

i'm so glad that you came back!

to love is simply to know this: the tides are true as the ocean is deep.

cause i love you, rayla. i really do.

i need you to kill me.

i need you to push me.

i believe in you.

we’re gonna be okay. 

when she came back, i was so happy, and so mad at the same time. i wish i could just forgive her.

maybe so. ask your next question. 

and then you called me a mage, and that felt right.

wait. you’ll want to see this.

cause i don't think i can do it without him.

well, i'm glad you liked it.

rayla, are you okay?

i love you, too, callum.

she's alive. and wherever she is, she loves you too.

you don't have to die.

novel quotes

and for some reason she found she wanted to share what she had seen with callum, even if she didn’t tell anyone else.

“No, this is not your fault,” Callum said. He couldn’t let Rayla carry that burden alone. 

he’d been so focused on his drawing the hadn’t even noticed her looming over him. this foggy-brained behaviour was not good. he had to be more aware of his surroundings. he shook his head as he looked back down at his drawing. oh no! he’d been drawing the elf! 

but callum lingered. “are you okay?”

It was a tall order, to stand up when nobody else would. But he owed it to his stepfather - and to Rayla.

rayla met callum’s gaze and held it for a long while, as if trying to decide what to say.

Callum was suddenly struck by an intense wave of gratitude. He’d never met anyone as brave as Rayla. How did he get so lucky as to be her friend?

callum watched rayla in the early morning light through half open eyes.

Callum stared after her. He wished she didn’t have to keep risking her life for them like this.

“you’re a talented artist.”

 Rayla was now one of the best friends Callum had ever had.

he felt a hot blush creep from the bottom of his neck to the top of his forehead. why did he keep embarrassing himself in front of her?

rayla wondered if callum could see in her eyes that yes, everything was wrong

“I’ll follow your lead,” Callum said to Rayla.

“look… rayla,” he said, feeling the still unfamiliar name on his lips.

he couldn’t let rayla carry that burden alone.

despite herself, rayla grinned.

It was one thing for him to do the thing (the jerkface dance) at home… but in front of their new friends? In front of Rayla?

Callum gulped. Rayla’s thin, strong arms wrapped around him meant everything. He smiled and hugged her back.

Could he really bring himself to go through with his plan? What if he didn’t succeed? What if he compromised his beliefs and it all ended up being for nothing? […] But her blade bounced off with a clang, sparks flying. She reeled back and tried again. Nothing happened. She was in trouble. 

additional material quotes

i couldn’t lose you.

a young, talented, dorky mage, but like, cute dorky.

but the second it seems like you’re in danger, i’m jumping in after you.

[my character] cannot help but look at her.

stay away from him!

how long have you two been a thing?

when i woke up, i saw that rayla had been watching over me the whole time. that made me happy. and something else made me happy too: i finally understood the sky arcanum.

that’s… poetic, callum. 

i trust you. and you’re right.

you’re doing great!

i thought you’d make a cute face — but it’s more of a uh, angry cute.

you know i’m always here for you, right?

that’s not cheesy at all, callum. magic is love!

so i know this was supposed to be a family call, is it okay if rayla joins?

i’m not going to risk both of us. 

come here, dummy.

i let you jump into the nexus alone and i knew right away i made the biggest mistake of my life. i could have lost you.

a mysterious elven assassin with two beautiful blades to match [her] two beautiful eyes.

i never want to lose you either. i love you, callum.

i felt stupid for risking my life — and zym’s — but rayla made me feel better, like she always does.

viren has taken away everyone i love — except you.

i love you, too.

but you're basically my best friend. i wouldn't let anything happen to you, no matter what it took.

TDP shorts quotes

"It was the night everything changed. The night we found Zym’s egg, right over there! And it was the night I met—”

And beyond the Border, a warm castle, and a mage—

But I can’t let you stop me, Callum. No matter how much I want to.

It still hurt. She was still gone, and Callum had no idea if she’d ever come back.

He was barely taller than Rayla herself, and couldn’t have been older than—what would he look like now, she wondered? Nearly two years older, a few inches taller—

You’re smiling in your sleep, Callum. You look so cute when you do that. I hope that maybe it’s because you’re dreaming of me.

Callum shook his head. He couldn’t think about her. Not now.

She shut the voice out. Rayla would not humor his haunting. Not today. Not now. 

Humans were frustrating. Humans were clever. Humans could do anything, they could be anything, they could take their own fates and change them—

It was impossible to say her name out loud. Rayla.

And in the crowd behind him, a flash of red. A scarf. For a moment Rayla was somewhere else, far away and safe and warm, following that red scarf instead of turning her back on it—

I have to. I love you too much not to.

I wish I could say that we will see each other again, but I don’t know if we will. I hope so.

She remembered the numbness in her own body, knowing he’d die a violent death at the base of the Storm Spire, and she would quickly follow—until a pair of wings closed around her, saving her, holding her—

I’m carrying it with me! Always. I love you. I love you so much.

"Who are you?" Rayla balked at her. It was an awful question. She wasn’t an assassin, she wasn’t an elf of the Silvergrove, she wasn’t anything at all, she was just—“Rayla.” That voice again. Rayla pushed away, trying to focus on Redfeather. “I’m—” “—selfless, strong, and caring—” He persisted, as he always did, and his voice took her far, far away. She could still see it: the stars of the desert gleaming above her and in his eyes. “—that’s what makes her a hero. That’s what makes her—” “Rayla,” she said, meeting Redfeather’s gaze. “My name is Rayla. And I’m going home.”

[domxmarvel]

Trial

Masterlist

Pairing: Soren x Female!Tidebound Elf!Reader

Slot:Princess/Prince!Reader + Castle + primal stone @hugesimp1234

“Your highness,the king of Katolis is here to speak to you” You had received word of the king's quest to unite all the kingdoms across Xadia and the five human kingdoms,so you weren't too surprised when he turned up at your palace. 

"Let him in"

"What about the people accompanying him?"

"Who?"

"Two other humans and a moon shadow elf"

"Let them in" 

You looked over them as they walked in,the so-called king looked younger than the rest. All of them looked focused on their mission,all except one. A taller blond that looked to be some sort of guard,although with how distracted he was looking around you weren’t sure how good of guard he was. You stood up as they knelt before you. 

“Your highness we’re in need of your help” You were confused as to why he said it like that,but you simply asked. 

“What do you need my help for?” He stood up

“We need your ocean primal stone” The primal stone your family had kept since the start of their reign,was only given away for one night on one very special occasion. You couldn’t just give it away for no good reason,you were only supposed to give it away to the person you choose to marry.  

“Why should I give it to you?” Before their king could answer, the blonde stood up saying. 

“We could trade you for something?”

“The primal stone isn’t something I can just give away or let you borrow” He had moved to stand next to the king,he seemed more excited.

“We have to complete another quest,let’s go guys” His energy seemed to be contagious somehow,everyone was willing to do whatever it took to get that stone. And somehow it affected you too,you wanted to go out and have another adventure which you hadn’t,since you took the throne. “So what do we have to do?” There was a trial that someone could do that would award them the stone but it was only ever completed three times,you weren’t sure if you should tell them about that. 

“There is a trial that will award you the stone but it has never been completed” You lied,hoping it would scare them off but it backfired immediately. 

“Then we’ll be the first,where do we go?” 

“Follow me”

As you led them through the castle the blonde walked faster to catch up with you.

“Say what’s this trial about?”

“A leviathan,you could call it a sea serpent and all you have to do it defeat it”

“So no one’s defeated it?”

“No” You lied again “You should back out now and keep that pretty face of yours intact” You swear you saw him blush. 

“You think I’m pretty?” You froze up not expecting that question,you turned to face him and he looked really good in the dim blue light of crystals that lined the dark hallway. 

“I do” 

“I’m Soren by the way”

“Great now I know what to put on your plaque when you get eaten” You half joking,half still trying to scare him. You reached the door and led them down the stairs until you reached a smaller door. Opening it to reveal the inside of a cave with a small pond which actually wasn’t small it just looked like that. “That’s as far as I can take you from here you’ll have to go on your own,one by one” That seemed to make them stop and look at each other. 

“I’ll go” The moon shadow elf Rayla ,who’s name you caught through their conversations. “I can fight and I’m really fast”

“What about the water” The brunette said and you quickly got his name as well when Rayla said. 

“Callum,I’ll be fine” Before they could make up their minds you noticed that Soren was gone,they noticed when you turned to see him running in.

“Soren!” They tried to run in but you quickly stopped them

“You can’t go in now,if you do the trial is deemed invalid” You held your hand up and one of the guards tossed you his spear,before you turned to look at Soren. 

He fought for a while before being knocked down,his sword out of his grasp and you were starting to panic. With a roar the serpent tried to attack him,forming the water into ice you rushed over to stand in front of him. Once you were sure it had given up you let the ice melt and it slowly sunk back into the water,quickly turning back to Soren. That’s when you realized what you had done,the trial was now invalid but you couldn't tell why you had done what you did. You didn’t know why you wanted to protect him,you helped him up but before he could say anything. You turned to your guards.

“Lead them to the guest rooms and get them some food” You turned back to them “The trial is invalid and I won’t let you fight the serpent again,I’ll let you stay for tonight but you need to be gone by tomorrow morning” You quickly walked off. 

You had no idea why you saved him,you barely knew him but something about his energy was so contagious and somehow he seemed happy no matter what. It was a full moon and you were laying on your back in the water,your legs had turned to form your tail. You heard a quiet ‘whoa’ which made you open your eyes and look in the direction of the sound,seeing Soren standing just outside of the small lake and looking at you. 

“What are you doing here?” He stepped into the water,moving closer to you.

“I know you were angry but I just wanted to say goodbye before I leave” He tried to walk back out but you grabbed his wrist.

“Stay” He immediately moved closer to you 

“Can I ask you a question? Why did you save me?”

“I don’t know,I just didn’t want you to get hurt” You brushed some of his hair back,keeping your hand on his cheek. In what seemed like seconds you had pulled him in and kissed him,his arms moving to wrap around you. “I want you to stay,don’t leave tomorrow” 

“So you’re not mad at me?”

“Not if you choose to stay” you laughed quietly. “Why did you want the stone in the first place?”

“There’s a star touch elf that’s super dangerous and is about to escape. We need the stone to breath underwater”

“Was that elf named Aaravos?”

“How did you know?”

“I’m joining you,we need to stop him before he escapes. Get some sleep,I’ll tell the other’s in the morning because we need to get going and do it quickly”

[m4rs-ex3]

the way that they have been through everything together and have the deepest connection two people can have, and yet they're still all flustered and sweet with each other. my heart

rayla's face. i. H E R. she is so goddamn excited i'm so happy for her

her watching him take her arm 😭 im gonna throw up. she doesn't even know what's coming

callum's face. i. H I M. he is so goddamn lovesick i can't deal

i can't believe he invented being in love

this is the face of a guy with Plans

if someone looked at me like this i would kiss them in half a heartbeat. clearly i'm not alone in this. at last she listens to me

the Stride

her starstruck little face. again the way she genuinely wasn't expecting anything and he could not have been more ready asdfasdf

i would describe the intricacies of how their lips part with accompanying frame-by-frame screenshots and how obsessed i am with it, but i think i'm already on some sort of watch list so i maybe just won't

his fucking sigh no one talk to me

HER GIGGLE. HER GIGGLE NO ONE. FUCKING. TALK TO ME. she is so ecstatic and relieved and he is so happy that she is so happy and i can't believe they invented love

oh this. when she's saying her ily and, so far, he's just been all cool and sure and bedroom eyes-y, and his eyes widen ever so slightly (ik i swear trust me) and then his eyebrows get that little upturn and despite everything, her telling him that she loves him (which she has already made rather clear) still gets to him.

HTHEY 😭 his arms tightening around her IDENTICALLY to their ambler kiss. his fuckin wide ass stance and her little legs together and she is just being absorbed by him like the marshmallow lady from scary stories to tell in the dark. but in a cute way. also who do i need to pay to just tell me where her hand is because there is not a single frame where you can see it and the curiosity is killing me

everything about this scene gives "couple that acts like every moment together is both their very first and their very last." they transcend time itself i am so serious

[jelzorz]

128.

They don't talk anymore. It's a lot harder to these days. There are too many things they haven't said and it's hard to tell where to start. Rayla keeps trying and then stalling and then chickening out because there's so much hurt in Callum's eyes that she knows she put there that any words just taste dry and cotton-like in her mouth.

Then Ez proposes a dinner.

Nothing too big or fancy, even by royalty's standards. It's just supposed to be a litte thing to make nice with some visiting Neolandian dignitaries who are still a bit apprehensive about all the things that happened at the border. They bear Ez no ill-will, of course—it was Kasef's poor decision making that got them here—but their standing armies aren't what they used to be and they're... reliant on Katolis and Duren for protection.

"It's really important that you go," Ez tells Rayla. "They're kind of scared of Xadia right now. Something something retribution for invading or whatever. And Xadia won't, obviously, but I think they need to see proof of the friendship we're fostering."

And, of course, Rayla agrees, because any favour for Ez is a good favour, and she's never been able to say no to him anyway. But then he adds—

"Oh, I should mention—I know I said it was little but these things are still formal and there's a little dancing and stuff. It's generally expected that you'd—uh—bring a date but..." He shifts awkwardly, knowing who she would have gone with if things were different, but the circumstances are certainly not like that, and now there's an expectation, even with all the things between them and—

"Oh," is all Rayla says. Lead settles in the pit of her stomach, because there's only one person she wants to ask, but whether or not she can is a different question.

"Sorry," Ez mumbles. "I know you guys aren't really..."

"It's fine," promises Rayla. She throws in a smile for good measure, even as her gut writhes in her belly. "I'll... We'll figure it out one way or another. Don't worry about it."

Anyway, that's how she ends up here, tugging against her own fingers ang readjusting her bun and pacing up and down the hall outside Callum's study. The dinner's still a week away so it's fine and presumably there's no one in attendance that would ask him (that he would say yes to) but still. Rayla paces. Rayla tugs. Rayla re-does her bun once more.

Then the door opens and Callum almost crashes into her on his way out. "Rayla!"

Rayla tries not to grimace. "Callum. "Hey, erm."

He blinks at her. She blinks back.

She looks away first.

She coughs, daring herself to meet his eye again but too afraid to actually go through with it. "S-sorry. I—er..."

Callum frowns at her, his mouth tugging downwards in what she thinks (hopes) is concern. "Is everything okay?"

Rayla nods. "Yeah. Everything's... Everything's good. I just—um—I wanted to ask." Gods. How had things deteriorated to this? It's like she's fifteen and stupid all over again. "Are you going to that dinner with the guys from Neolandia?"

Callum presses his lips together. "Um," he says. "Yeah. I mean, I kind of have to be there, being the prince and high mage and all."

"Oh," says Rayla. "Obviously. I knew that. I—um."

There's a pause. A long pause. Rayla will swear later that it went on for, like, ten minutes even if she knows it was barely one. The words catch on her throat, like a chunk of venison too big to swallow, and all the while, Callum waits, and waits, and waits, until—

"Do you need a date?" he asks her at last.

Rayla's heart deflates. The way he asks makes it sound like he's already got one and it's notably not her. Her lungs struggle for breath. Her hands twitch at her sides. "Yeah," she manages at last, hoping she sounds normal at the very least, even under the strain of wondering who he might have asked in her stead.

But Callum's lips twitch as he looks away. "I—um—need one too, actually," he admits.

Rayla dares to look up. "You don't have one already?"

He shakes his head. "I—uh. I dunno. Things aren't... the same as they were. I didn't think..." He coughs. "I know a couple of people who might be interested in being yours—"

"I'm asking you," blurts Rayla, before he can go any further, before she can make it worse in any way.

His shoulders sag. Hers do too. The air is a lot less stuffy all of a sudden. Rayla even manages a smile. "Would—would you be interested—?"

"Yeah," says Callum quickly. Perhaps too quickly. Quick enough for Rayla to know he'd been hoping for this all along. "And, y'know, it doesn't have to be anything until... yeah. I'll go with you."

"Sounds good!" says Rayla.

He nods, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. "Sounds good."

The talking thing is... Yeah. They're still not there yet. But it's a work in progress, and it's coming along fine.

[littlemisssquiggles]

…So…about The Dragon Prince Season 4: Mysteries of Aaravos…

So I just wrapped up the season and just wanted to give my overall thoughts on it.

The General Gist:

As I told a fellow TDP fan friend of mine, as a whole, I thought this season was a good start to this new chapter of the series.

Despite being a direct continuation from the last season of the Dragon Prince, I feel like it would be more fitting of me to just view Mysteries of Aaravos as its own separate story; within the Dragon Prince universe and following up from where the previous story left off but still being unique and different enough to be perceived as its own think.

In all honesty, I found this fourth season to be more comparable to the very first season of the Dragon Prince. Like I said, it’s a solid good start; providing the audience with just enough storytelling and worldbuilding to get us invested in the characters who will be become the key players in this new chapter of the story as well as the new overarching plot.

So on that front, I liked S4. However, if I were to compare S4 to the last book---Book 3, this is where my opinion will change. As I’ll reiterate, S4 was good BUT, was it better for me than S3? In my opinion, no.  

Not by a long shot. S3 left me fat and fed in terms of being completely satisfied with the way things were left off in terms of story and character development. S4 felt more like a refresher. Getting this squiggle meister right back into the world of Xadia and what made the series so great for me before while getting me prepared and hyped for what’s to come next. There is no doubt in my mind that I am more than excited to see what comes next for the next few chapter of MoA and in true TDP fashion, I can only expect the story to get better from here since that was my experience with the first installment.

Book 1 of the TDP hooked me in and each book after that from 2 to 3 just kept further improving upon the story and of course, the characters.

Thus I’m expecting MoA to be no different. I don’t know when the next book of MoA is expected to be released, but based on how MoA left things off for its first book, I am only expecting things to get wilder and on that note, I cannot wait for what’s in store to come.

---

The  Rayllum Elephant in the Room:

If you were a Rayllum shipper this season like me then…how you doing, fam? You good? Because I don’t know about ya’ll but being a Rayllum shipper in Book 4 was painful. Watching these two kids clunkily try to salvage their broken off-screen, in-book relationship without the full context (since I sadly didn’t get to read the actual book that explains Rayla’s departure) was painful.

I mean, we did get some ok-ish moments---some semblance of crumbs. But coming off the cusp of Book 3, watching Rayllum this season was damn disappointing!

How? How did we go from being FAT and FED in Book 3 of the Dragon Prince to being STARVED in Book 4? Seriously how!!!???

Why did the showrunners think this was a good move? Why did they break them up? Why couldn’t they have just kept them together and let the next chapter of their relationship be watching them be a couple---one of the first human and elf couples outside of Janai and Amaya and seeing how they make it work despite it all?

Why couldn’t we just watch that instead of the typical “let’s make them get together only to have them randomly break up only to watch them get back together in the end”?

Seriously, if I wanted to watch a season where Rayla and Callum begin to build their relationship, I would rewatch Season 1 of the Dragon Prince and even then, I wouldn’t be this annoyed.

I swear if they insert a love triangle or love square between Rayllum in the next book, I’ll be beyond pissed.

I’m sorry guys, I just…I just didn’t enjoy the story for my favourite ship for this season. Why not all of it was as terrible as I’m making it sound, it just wasn’t enjoyable for me because overall, I was just mad the entire time that they were broken up at all, y’know what I mean?

At least one thing’s for certain though; it’s still very clear that Rayla and Callum both still love each other very much. The feelings are still very much there. Where the story takes them on the path to repairing what they once had and maybe falling in love with each other again---I don’t know.

I just hope it’s good and better than S3 because that season is still the reigning king in terms of getting that good-good Rayllum bread. Just so long as it’s not another bait and switch. I know couples getting together and breaking up is a fact of life, however it’s not the only path relationships can take that’s considered realistic. Believe it or not, there are relationships where people remain together for a very long time with the love and trust between them still maintained; perhaps even stronger than it was at the beginning thanks to the experience and challenges of time.

Perhaps I’m getting way over my head about this and maybe, this is what the showrunners have planned for Rayllum. Who knows? Doesn’t excuse the fact that I’m just really tired of the whole “will they, won’t they” trope being done to death, particularly when it comes to animated couples.

I used to get a kick out of it before back in my days of indulging in lots of shoujo manga and the occassional anime or two. And in many ways, I don’t completely dislike the trope. It’s just that, for once I’d like to see a pairing in an animation get together and despite the story throwing many curve balls at them, rather than the writers have them break up, they just write the couple to talk things through and work things out and keep trying to make things work for the sake of their relationship since ultimately, they do love each other and genuinely do want their relationship to last.

This was one of the things I actually found very refreshing about the Lumity pairing from The Owl House series. Despite getting together early on in the show’s second season, I really liked how this never stopped the couple from growing both together and as individuals. And inspite of some showcomings and mistakes made between them, I liked how rather than have the young couple have a big argument  leading them to breaking up prematurely only to get back together later---y’know the usual rinse and repeat we’d come to expect---the TOH showrunners just have the two girls work things out and make it work.

It’s so nice to see a couple in an animated series with challenges but not any “relationship drama”, y’know what I mean?

That being said, I still love my favourite Rayllum pair and I am looking forward for what’s next to come for them. I’m just gonna need a while to get over my initial annoyance at their break-up. At least we got a hug in the final episode. Sure it led to a very adorable group hug between the Dra--gang (I really love Soren---the little easter eggs from Avatar: The Last Airbender said by him this season were golden). But hey…it’s a crumb---one of the many we had to painstakingly scrape the literal Umber Tor-sized bottom of the barrel to get this season---but yeah, still a crumb so I’ll take what I can get until Book 5 gives me something better…hopefully.

---

Terry, Terry, Quite Contrary:

I’m just gonna be blunt---I love Terry. Easily became my favourite character for this season next to Soren.

He’s just so precious. I’ve joked so much about hot elven dads over the past few seasons that for the first time in Dragon Prince history, we finally have an adorable cinnamon bun of an elven son for me to adopt.

Seriously, Terry is too pure. Too good---mostly. Best 4/5 for me because the parts of him that’s perfectly find with Claudia draining the life from magical creatures to be used in dark magic as an Earthblood elf is still very questionable to me.

Then again, after meeting some of the Earthblood elves from the Drakewood where Terry claimed he was from and seeing their barbaric treatment of the local dragon life, I guess it makes a bit more sense now.

But bottomline, Terry is pure of heart and I quite like him as a character. He certainly won my adoration this book. All the more reason why I’m very, very, VERY concerned for his fate moving forward.

I feel like it's going to be like the shoulder angel and devil scenario with Claudia regarding her relationship/loyalty to both her father and Terry as her boyfriend. And the reason for my concern with this dynamic is because I feel like it could potentially lead to another moment of Claudia being forced to chose between two people she loves.

We know from S2 of TDP that Claudia hates being put in this type of predicament. She was forced to do this with her parents as a child, with her father and her older brother in Book 3 and it wouldn't surprise me if it'll happen again down the line, this time with Terry wrapped up in it.

Both times when Claudia was forced to choose, she chose her father each time. Keeping that thought in mind, I'm curious to see whether or not Terry will finally be the one to break the cycle for Claudia.

You can clearly see that Terry is very important to Claudia. Outside of the general wholesome and playfulness of their romance,  there is also some genuine trust and respect between Claudia and Terry. It is clear that Claudia values Terry’s opinions, especially the ones of her. Just look at how she immediately changed her stance on tricking Rayla with the coins containing the captured remnants of their family (which by the way, thank you for finally addressing show).  Look how quickly Claudia reconsidered her actions and changed after Terry commented on the cruelty of it towards Rayla.

I really liked that moment from the final episode because it said so much about both Terry and Claudia as characters.

And while a part of me likes Terry enough as a character to want him to get as far away from the toxic father-daughter circle as Soren did because I'm worried for his fate, on the flipside, I do wish for Terry to also stick around because, as cheesy as this sounds, I do think Terry is Claudia's soul mate. Her better half because not only does he understand her in ways that not even her close family does but overall, Terry is good for Claudia.

He seems to be a genuinely good person with a good heart and head on his shoulders (most of the time). And for the most part, he’s  the one member in the toxic circle who still has some shred of humanity and empathy

Viren is practically long gone at this point. The only person he seems to actually care about now is Claudia. Man doesn’t even acknowledge Soren anymore. Even when he was expressing the probability of abandoning the search for Aaravos and living out his final days before Claudia prompty smacked some “sense” back into him, he still only mentioned her.

Real father of the year material, aren’t you Viren? Soren was right for cutting ties with your toxic ass!

Claudia, on the other hand, is literally half and half. She’s just tethering the edge between returning fully to the side of good or falling into full damnation alongside her father.

I wish to believe that through Terry's love and overall influence, Claudia can potentially switch sides---basically have her own little Prince Zuko type of character journey. But much like with Zuko, I think it's going to take some kind of extreme moment such as Claudia saving her father but at the expense of losing Terry to possibly make her see the error of her ways.

One hunch that I’m juggling right now is...what if…in order to fully restore Viren’s life, it’ll require some kind of sacrifice? Y’know like with FMA lore, there’s the whole equivalent exchange thing, right? Well imagine if…the only way for Viren to achieve his second chance at life completely is to have him steal the remaining life span of another being?

While I can definitely picture Aaravos being enough of a malicious asshole to make Viren consider sacrificing his precious daughter---y;know being the valuable asset that she was from his perspective--- I can also foresee a scenario in which Claudia is the one forced to perform the spell to save her father and thus chose between her boyfriend and her father.

Or perhaps…it’s a case where Aaravos makes the spell proposition to both Claudia and Viren behind each other’s back as a way of testing loyalities and intentionally turning them against one another.

 Let’s say---Through Aaravos’ influence, Viren considered using Claudia as his sacrifice and Terry overhears his intentions.

In an effort to save Claudia, Terry attempts to warn her of her father’s intentions and even dares to try and get them to excape together however Claudia, being in extreme denial, refuses to believe Terry.

Ultimately, Terry ends up being the one sacrificed in Claudia’s place when Viren reveals his true colours and tries to forcibly steal Claudia’s life force only to have Terry interrupt the spell and sacrifice himself instead out of his devotion to her.

And then and only then after seeing the lengths that her father was willing to go, even at the expense of her own life despite all that she’s endured for him is what finally causes Claudia to realize what Soren was trying to warn her about and thus she finally leaves her father’s side, leaving alone with Aaravos.

Since Aaravos has been shown to be able to possess mages in his current state of power (like with the case of Callum)---perhaps his intention all along is to make Viren either his ultimate vessel or perhaps his most powerful loyal servant at the expense of his mind and humanity.

After this, Claudia finds our heroes and returns to Soren and the two have their own little heart-wrenching reunion and redemption moment, reminiscent of the iconic one between Zuko and Iroh from Avatar.

That’s my theory on that, for now.

---

In conclusion…

Those are my thoughts following my watch through of S4. As I’ll say again, as a whole, I thought the new season was a solid good start to get us TDP fans prepped and ready for what’s to come for this new Aaravos Arc.

Not sure how soon we’ll be able to hear news about S5 but, I’ll be on the look out. In the meantime, that’s all I have to say for now.

What about you fellow Dragon stans? Overall, how do ya’ll feel about this season?

Share your thoughts in the comments or reblogs if you wish.

Cheers.

~LMS (2022)

[meganwasbored]

The Dragon Prince Thoughts Season 2 Episodes 3 and 4

Episode 3

-I SWEAR IF HE NEVER GETS TO OPEN THAT LETTER

-ah yes you finally get the magic mirror to work and the first thing you do is CLEAN

-PROTECTIVE BROTHER SOREN

-Ezran is a literal ray of sunshine and he’s about to get his heart crushed this is awful

-not telling him right now is only gonna make this more painful. For me.

-CRYING

-IS MIRROR GUY THE SPARKLY HANDS IN THE INTRO ARE THE SPARKLY HANDS EVIL

-“I have something to give you, in private” LETTER???

-girl this is not the time for JOKING oh my gosh

-I’ve waited an entire season for him to get that letter back and he’s not even gonna open it yet??? You’re KILLING me

-all I’m hearing is that we get more Soren and Claudia sibling content

-I love how Lujanne isn’t some all-knowing being, just a funny old lady who can do magic tricks, like she gives the same vibes as the grandmother from Moana

-oh my gosh I thought Ellis went back home but she’s still here do her parents even know where she went

-FLY AWAY ZYM FLY AWAY

-NO NOT THE DRAGON

-sparkly hands kinda looks like a Star Wars character, but in a good way

-now that I’m thinking about it all the characters could pass as Star Wars characters, maybe it’s the clothes

-Callum and Ezran aren’t moving either they planned for this betrayal or they’re dead

-I was wondering why Rayla hadn’t annihilated Soren by now

-wait so are Callum and Ezran still back with Lujanne thinking nobody left yet

-bruh if they went through all this just for Claudia to still catch them they deserve to lose

-I FORGOT THIS GUYS NAME BUT HIS TIMING IS IMPECCABLE

-awwww I knew we’d have to leave Ellis at some point but I’ll miss her

-I WONT FORGET ABOUT YOU ELLIS

-I’ve been calling sparkly hands a he but now getting a closer look at him he might be a she so if you’re screaming while reading this I’m sorry but imma keep calling him a he until I hear otherwise

-note to self: the dudes name is Corvus

-“I HATE THE MOON”

-I cannot get over how beautiful Phoe-Phoe is

-DYING DEAD DECEASED

Episode 4

-bruh what the heck just happened

-wait so does every single guard know sign language for Amaya that’s cool

-ok so can sparkly hands hear him too or just see him

-well obviously y’all weren’t gonna have Phoe-Phoe the whole time you can’t just steal Lujanne’s bird

-“let’s go judge and criticize things other humans do, and then do the exact same things ourselves” human Rayla is getting a little too real

-just once I want a show where the magical being is just as scared of the human as the human is of it

-“Welcome to me water home, the Ruthless! Named after me dear wife, Ruth, who sadly… doesn’t enjoy sailing” HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA WHO WROTE THESE JOKES

-“Me left eye was taken by a flock of mutinous seagulls!”

“Wow, and what about your right eye?”

“Don’t know, came at me from me left!”

-“the last thing I remember I was talking about Narcolepsy then falling asleep!”

“Yeah that’s about right”

-stop even the parrot has bangers

-bruh is sparkly hands making him do all these things for a spell or just to test him

-first we have a badass general who’s deaf now we have a talented ship captain who’s blind, The Dragon Prince fighting ableism since 2018

-“did he just say the word squawk?” HAHAHAHA

-even if Amaya wasn’t deaf sign language is actually such a great way to send silent signals to other soldiers

-technically Zym is already the king of the dragons since the former king is dead

-also this screenshot

The perspective makes it look like the lightning is hitting Rayla and I’ve decided that’s either A) romantic metaphor, she’s catching feelings first, or B) she’s gonna get struck by lightning

-“if you die out there I swear I’ll kill you” literally imagine any of your otps saying that to each other and tell me it’s not true love

-idc if he can’t talk Zym is literally my favorite character ever

-respectfully how the heck does that look like a primal stone, you just made a circle with your hands, you could’ve done that to any part of the sky

-literally love the Crow Master dude

-I know you’re not about to touch that lightning rod, Callum, because that would be STUPID

-BRUH YOU CANT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING IF YOURE DEAD

-you CAN risk your life to learn magic just do it LOGICALLY and don’t be an IDIOT about it

-…did Zym just BLOW UP???

-Amaya you can’t just TACKLE someone who’s holding a freaking LIGHTSABER

-why couldn’t she just have been in lava monster form the whole time she probably would’ve won

-so does Zym get superpowers now or something like there had to have been a reason for that

-“I thought I wanted this badly enough but in the end I didn’t have the guts” no you just decided not to be an absolute idiot

-Viren may be evil but he sure isn’t stupid

[the-algebra-thing]

hey guys I don't have the image handy but remember in uh. I don't actually even remember what episode it was but when callum and rayla were in their room at the star spire and they were standing together looking towards the window and the shot was from behind them. that was wedding shit right. I gasped so loud watching with my siblings and they were like What. what is it. what are you on about. but I swear to god thats like wedding. this is wedding imagery happening here right??? they weren't facing each other but they were standing together in front of a GIANT STAINED GLASS WINDOW literally what else can this be. and no I'm not catholic enough to think you have to have your wedding in a church but I just feel like culturally that composition invokes wedding thoughts like directly. am I insane for this