We All Fall Down is the fifty-third episode of The Dragon Prince. It is the eighth chapter of the sixth book, "Stars".

Callum and Rayla head to the Moon Nexus. When Katolis faces a devastating attack, Soren turns to an unlikely source for help.

Plot[]

Sol Regem and the Aaravos-possessed Pharos fly through the clouds as they approach Katolis. Their arrival immediately catches the eyes of Barius, Jellybug, and many others.

Inside the castle, Soren is playing with Hat as Opeli tells the Crownguard she is surprised he attended her talk on advanced fiscal exercises last week, and she is glad that he found it interesting. Soren confesses that he did not find it interesting, for he misheard and thought the topic was advanced physical exercises. However, their meeting is interrupted when Sol Regem begins to burn Katolis with his fire breath. Flame and debris ravage the kingdom while soldiers prepare for a counterattack to protect the castle and the fleeing citizens. Ballista bolts manage to pierce through Sol Regem's thick hide before the Archdragon retaliates by destroying one ballista and burning the castle's bridge, trapping those who are still inside the castle. Soren helps some wounded people getting into safety and rushes to the castle walls before a falling brick to his head causes him to black out temporarily. He regains consciousness when Hat wakes him up and commands the soldiers to stand down and focus on evacuating the people since Sol Regem is too powerful and the castle is merely a building. Soren tells Opeli that there is something he has to do and gives Hat to her. Opeli carries Hat out of the castle as Sol Regem continues his wreak havoc on Katolis.

The trembling and distant explosions confuse Viren as Soren enters his dungeon cell and unlocks his shackles. Soren briefs Viren about Sol Regem's attack and asks him to protect the people of Katolis from Archdragon's fire using the "Hearts of Cinder" spell. Viren says he lacks the Primal Stone needed to cast the spell, forcing Soren to urge him to perform the dark magic version of the spell with the relic staff. The terrified Viren says he gave up dark magic and that the sacrifice for such spell is unthinkable. However, Soren continues to insist to prevent more lives from being lost. Viren reluctantly accepts the relic staff before revealing that the dark magic version of "Hearts of Cinder" requires a human heart. He is horrified when Soren offers his heart for the spell.

Sol Regem's fiery rampage caused ember to rain down on Katolis and turned the sky dark orange. The bloodied Viren limps into the royal chambers with the relic staff before stepping out to the balcony, revealing that he carved his own heart instead of Soren's. Soren rushes to help a man who is trapped beneath large debris and witnesses his father reciting the spell. When Sol Regem prepares to strafe the castle again, Viren remembers Lissa, Soren, and Claudia before successfully casting the spell. Soren and the people of Katolis use their temporary immunity to run through the blaze as Viren reaffirms that he is a servant before succumbing to his wounds as the balcony crumbles. Soren leads the people to safety and briefly casts a wistful glance at Viren while the castle falls apart. He then hangs his head and walks away solemnly, knowing that his father had given his life to protect his kingdom. Claudia and Terry arrive in the aftermath of the attack and head straight for the castle to find Viren.

The gravely wounded Sol Regem rests at the Valley of Graves as Aaravos reveals himself. Aaravos thanks Sol Regem for years of unwitting service to his cause, for he had manipulated the Archdragon for centuries. Sol Regem turns away from Aaravos, only to roar at the Startouch Elf when the latter calls him by his original name: Anak Araw. Aaravos tells Sol Regem that he played his part well and will reward him with the answer to the mystery that has haunted the former Dragon King for more than a thousand years: the fate of his beloved mate, Aithne Solaire, who inexplicably disappeared. Aaravos warns Sol Regem that sometimes the line between mercy and cruelty can be thin before revealing that Sol Regem himself killed Aithne Solaire. Aaravos encourages the angered Sol Regem to breathe deep since he can smell the truth from a lie before elaborating that the Archdragon buried his mate alive in his blind fury. Sol Regem groans mournfully before devouring Pharos's corpse out of grief and rage. Aaravos laughs and taunts the Archdragon that he will choke on his own pride and arrogance. Sol Regem inadvertently immolates himself as he tries to breathe fire, and his lifeless body collapses to the ground. The flames engulf and burn Sol Regem from the inside until only his skeleton remains in the Valley of Graves.

Claudia and Terry survey the damage before Terry is dismayed by the sight of the relic staff and Viren's hand protruding from a pile of rocks. He then tells Claudia that he found her father and she should not see him in such a state. Claudia is insistent in seeing Viren, but Terry explains that seeing his body will only give her pain and anger instead of answers. He slowly confirms that Viren has died, causing her to rush over to her father's body. Claudia grieves over Viren as she begs him not to leave her after he taught her to love her family and do magic throughout her life. She continues to sob and mourn until she hears Aaravos's voice calling to her. Claudia moves several rocks to find Aaravos's prison buried beneath the wreckage of the castle.

At the Moon Nexus, Allen is massaging Lujanne when an eagle-sized Phoe-Phoe flies in to inform them about Callum, Rayla, Stella, and Sneezles arriving from the sky. Lujanne jokes about humans being unable to do magic before hugging Callum and greets Rayla as "Layla". Callum informs Lujanne about using the power of the Moon Nexus, the Corona of the Heavens, and its three Quasar Diamonds to free Runaan, Tiadrin, and Lain who are trapped in Viren's enchanted coins. Lujanne comments on Callum and Rayla rekindling their romance before inspecting one of the Quasar Diamonds. She then pries the center Quasar Diamond out and holds it up to the moonlight.

Claudia buries Viren in the Valley of Graves as Terry stares at Sol Regem's skeleton. Aaravos reveals himself to Claudia and Terry, confessing about trying so hard to help Viren, though he tells her she can still help him in righting the wrongs that have happened. Terry scolds Aaravos for not letting Claudia grieve her father for a moment. Claudia calms Terry down as she asks Aaravos what to do. Aaravos informs Claudia that she will need six simple ingredients for a spell that can return a living spirit to a body: a small amount of blood, a feather, a bone, roots, a flame, and a Quasar Diamond. Claudia says it is impossible to cast the spell since Quasar Diamonds are extremely rare, only for Aaravos to cast "Veritoss", revealing one of the three existing Quasar Diamonds embedded within the relic staff.

Lujanne says that the other two Quasar Diamonds in the Corona of the Heavens is real before revealing the one she is holding as just a normal purple rock. Rayla is distraught because they have three coined souls and only two Quasar Diamonds, meaning that she will have to choose between Runaan and her parents.

With all the six ingredients surrounding Aaravos's prison, Claudia casts "Amor Stella Vitae". The ground starts to shake and the ingredients levitate before falling back down. Claudia and Terry are confused because the spell does not liberate Aaravos.

Characters and Cast[]

Spells[]

Trivia[]

• Aaron Ehasz posted a clue to this episode's title on Twitter by posting a video of a drooping rose that barely be seen while a creepy version of Ring Around the Rosie, sung by Zelda Ehasz. is heard in the background.
• Sol Regem burning Katolis castle and Viren using dark magic to save everyone is a callback to what he did to Ziard and Elarion in "Sol Regem".
• Lujanne's comment on Callum's new occupation as a mage, her relationship with Allen, and Phoe-Phoe's rebirth is detailed in the graphic novel "Through the Moon".
• When Aaravos explains the components necessary for the spell to return a spirit to a body, the symbols for the Moon and the Sky are facing backwards.

References[]

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