Ba-bum.

[croaks]

[panting]

[Rayla] Previously on The Dragon Prince...

But, Rayla, you need to know. The Dragon Queen is dying.

We have to get to her. It's the only way.

[Ethari] I'll send a message to the Dragon Queen.

If she knows her little one still lives, perhaps she'll hold on.

Ethari, can I ever come home again?

Xadia has attacked the human kingdoms. All of us.

There must be a proportionate response.

War.

What? No. The people of the human kingdoms and Xadia want peace.

High Mage, I've brought someone who wishes to speak with you.

[theme music playing]

[roaring]

[shadowhawk screeching]

[squawks]

[grunts]

[screeching]

Hmm.

[Callum exclaiming]

[yelping] I'm fine. I'm fine. This is fine.

So, um, yesterday must have been a hard day for you.

Not really.

Back when I was a kid, my family used to do this thing called "big feelings time."

You close your eyes, and ask yourself if you have any big feelings.

Then you say them out loud,

and the other person says they hear your feelings,

and it makes you feel good.

Humans are so weird.

[growls]

[Callum exclaims]

I'm just saying, you've been through a lot lately.

It would be understandable if you had some...

Leave me alone.

...big, big feelings.

If you don't stop pestering me about this right now,

I'm going to give you a big feeling on the side of your head.

[horse neighing]

[footsteps approaching]

Prince Kasef of Neolandia requests an audience.

I'm here to deliver an ultimatum.

It means I'm forcing you to make a final decision.

I know what an ultimatum is.

Does this thing have more pieces?

Katolis and Neolandia were not the only kingdoms attacked.

The King of Del Bar and Queen of Evenere were slain.

Their people are angry and want justice.

They are ready to wage war on Xadia.

-Their armies have arrived in Katolis. -[advisors gasp]

You dare violate our borders!

We do.

Here is your ultimatum.

If you will not stand with us, then you stand in our way.

King Ezran, we can show Xadia the strength and righteousness of the human kingdoms.

Four armies, joined as one!

Enough! I've already told you. Katolis will not wage war on Xadia.

Then tomorrow at dawn, three armies will wage war on Katolis.

[gasps] What are you doing?

Preparing you for greatness.

Now, be still.

[Viren groaning]

[shuddering]

[mount growling]

Someone's coming.

[Zym chirps]

[Zym whimpers]

Greetings, travelers. My name is Naimi-Selari-Nykantia.

But they call me "Nyx."

Hi, Nyx. My name's Rayla. They call me "Rayla."

And I'm in a bad mood. Either you fly away now,

or I'm going to use these blades to do something that's gonna cheer me up.

Ah, I should have guessed. You're the banished Moonshadow elf.

[Rayla] What? What are you talking about?

[Nyx] I am an emissary of the Dragon Queen.

She received your message, and she sent me to help you.

I am at your service.

And you must be...

[in thick accent] I'm an Earthblood elf. Oi!

Hmm. Message said you'd be traveling with a human companion.

[in thick accent] Oh, does it, now?

[in normal voice] That was me all along! I was the human.

[Zym chirps]

And there he is, the dragon of the hour. Oh, and he has his mother's eyes.

I have been authorized by the Dragon Queen to fly him directly home.

-[Rayla] That's not going to happen. -[Zym chitters]

We're doing just fine on our own, Nyx.

I can get the baby dragon home fast, and that's what matters most.

We're not letting you take Zym.

Whoa! Okay, okay, understood.

Well, how about this? I can give you all a ride.

Not interested.

Are you sure? How do you plan to cross the Midnight Desert?

Do we look stupid? We're not crossing through the Midnight Desert.

We're going around it.

The Dragon Queen is dying, and you would waste a week,

when I can take you straight across in two days?

How?

Follow me.

[Zym chirps]

King Ezran, Kasef's threat is terrible, but we can win.

What do you mean?

Your Aunt Amaya, and your mother before her,

saw to it that our army was the best trained

and most disciplined force in the kingdoms.

The coming battle won't be easy, but we will triumph.

[Bait croaks]

But at what cost?

The necessary cost. Many lives.

-How many? -No one can say for sure.

-[angrily] How many? -I don't know.

Give me an answer, a number.

Thousands. Probably tens of thousands.

-That's no triumph. -[Bait groans]

[Nyx] The Midnight Desert is hot, haunted, and horrifying.

The black sand soaks up the sun,

so in the daytime it's hotter than any desert known to elf.

And the night is worse.

That's the haunted and horrifying part?

It's infested with soulfang serpents.

They suck the spirit out of their victims, turning them into barely-living husks.

[Zym whimpers]

But we're going to be above all that. Literally.

There she is.

That's my ride. An ambler.

[Callum exclaims]

[Nyx] She'll get us to the central oasis by sundown, and we'll spend the night.

Then, tomorrow, we come out the other side,

-and the baby dragon's almost home. -[Zym chitters]

-What do you think? -The Dragon Queen is dying.

And this is going to save us a week.

[Nyx] Okay, let's ride.

[Bait croaks]

-Thanks, Bait. That helps. -[Bait grunts]

Each one of these pieces is 500 people.

Five hundred men and women. Some are moms and dads,

and have kids waiting for them at home. All of these are sons and daughters.

Sisters, brothers, friends.

-They're real people, Bait. -[croaks]

And after the battle...

How can I let this happen?

-[door opening] -[Bait groans]

[footsteps approaching]

King Ezran, forgive me.

There may be a way to prevent this bloodshed.

You can save these lives.

-[adoraburrs squeaking] -[Zym chirps]

-What? -Nothing.

I was just wondering what you're thinking about.

I'm fine, Callum. Like I already told you.

[exclaims]

[ambler grunts]

-[ambler groans] -[Nyx] Ugh, great. Just great.

-[Callum] What happened? -[Nyx] Her foot's stuck in a hole.

The soulfangs burrow under the ground during the day and make all these tunnels,

and if too many are in one place, the ground gives way.

I just need to go down and get her foot out.

Don't touch my stuff.

What is it? Why you staring at that thing?

[ambler grunts]

Something's so strangely familiar...

Boomerang?

[exclaims]

[Nyx] Let's move.

[baker humming]

-[Ezran] Um, excuse me? -Uh...

King Ezran? Is that you?

-[Ezran] We're down here. -[Bait croaks]

Oh! Your Majesty. I'm so sorry, I had the grate fixed.

Uh... Oh, let me just... I'll break it for you. Stand back.

[grunting]

[exclaims]

[chuckles] Uh... I'll be sure to leave it broken.

Would you like a jelly tart?

That's not why I'm here, but, yes, always.

[Bait grunts]

I need to ask you a favor. Something very important.

If anything happens... I mean, something might happen.

-And I need you to take care of Bait. -[Bait croaks]

I am honored and... humbled.

You understand what he needs?

An infinite supply of jelly tarts, and...

understanding and love?

Yes. Mainly the tarts.

[croaks loudly]

Thank you.

[Bait groans]

[whimpers]

Now, I want you to know, I have always seen you as a kindred spirit.

[Bait grunts]

[Nyx] There's the oasis.

It's not much, but it's a safe haven from soulfangs and the husks.

How does it keep them out?

[Nyx] It's surrounded by obelisks that create a circle of protection.

It's a magical barrier around the oasis.

Anyway, here's the Wonderwall.

[sighs]

Looks cozy enough.

[both gasp]

It gets really cold here at night, so we'll need these.

I wasn't sure if you guys needed two blankets or just one...

[exclaims] Two. Yeah, two. 'Cause if there was just one, then...

-[Rayla] Two. -Two. Two.

Suit yourselves.

[chuckles nervously]

[ambler grunts]

[Aaravos] It is ready.

Open your eye.

You can hear me.

And now you can see me.

And I can better serve you.

[exclaims]

[snoring]

[Rayla sniffling]

Rayla? Did you say something?

-[sobbing] -You okay?

-Rayla, it's okay. -Get away from me!

Ezran, you don't need to do this. There must be another way.

Don't worry, Corvus. I'll be okay.

King Ezran, are you sure? There will be no going back.

I know what's right. I know what I have to do.

[door opens]

-It's agreed. Everything you asked for. -The battle?

It's been called off. There will be no attack at dawn.

And what about the people who no longer wish to fight at all?

They will be allowed to lay down their arms,

and return to their families, in peace and safety, as you insisted.

[sighs]

It's done.

Take him.

I'm so sorry it's come to this.

No, you're not.

No... I'm not.

[cell door slams]

[Rayla] Please leave me alone. I don't want you to see me like this.

I don't care if you're crying. I'm here with you.

I'm a mess.

-No, you're not. It's okay. -I've lost everything.

My parents, the people who cared about me, my home.

There's nowhere I belong now.

[Callum] That's not true, Rayla.

You're going through a hard time, that's all.

That's not all! It's me, and it's all my fault.

I failed them. I let them all down.

They're right to reject me.

-I'm not good enough, and I never will be. -Shut up.

Wait, what?

Just shut up, you're talking crazy. Just listen to me.

You're too good to feel this bad about yourself.

I know that, and you should know that.

You have true courage and a big heart.

I've seen you get knocked down so many times before,

and every single time, you get up again.

That's real strength.

And... and you're ten times funnier than any human I know.

-[laughs] -See?

See, you know you're amazing. You're smart, and fast, and beautiful.

Rayla, you're the most amazing person I've ever met.

That's not what I was expecting.

You were saying all those things, so I thought...

No, I mean, I wasn't saying those things so you would...

[gasps]

We will never speak of this again. Do you understand?

Of course. Of course, yeah. Of course I do.

No, I mean never. I will bind myself to killing you if you even mention--

Why would I? [scoffs]

No. [chuckles nervously]

-We walk away, and this never happened. -Perfect.

-[gasps] Oh, no! -[adoraburrs squeaking]

Where's Zym?