The Dragon Prince storyline altered

Chapter 28. Linopha

Linopha, Callum, Ezran, Rayla, and Corvus were all packed up, and ready to go to Xadia.

Callum: We're packed and ready. Let's do this.

Ezran: I'm not coming with you. Callum, when you told me that assassins were coming for dad, I ran away and hid in the walls.

Callum: With a healthy stash of jelly tarts, as I recall.

Ezran: And when I found out that dad was gone forever, I ran away again. But I can't run away from growing up. When you grow up, you have to face things you're not ready for. I can't go with you to Xadia. I have to face my responsibility. Now that I'm king, I'll return to Katolis, and maybe I can help the world better from the throne.

Rayla: But returning Zym to his mom is the world's best hope.

Ezran: I know, and you two will do that. You'll find his mom, and Zym will take his place in Xadia, just like I have to take mine in Katolis. I wish I could go with you, but I can't. You guys have to do this without me.

Corvus: I'll travel with the king back to Katolis.

Ezran hugged Callum, Ezran, and Rayla.

Linopha: As soon as this is all over, we'll come back to Katolis as well.

Then Ezran bent down to say goodbye to Zym.

Ezran: I'm sorry I couldn't help you learn how to fly, but I'm sure you'll get it soon.

Ezran picked up Bait and walked away with Corvus.

Then, Linopha, Callum, and Rayla headed for the moonstone path.

Rayla led them there, but it was taking longer than they'd thought.

Then they walked through a narrow canyon, they made it to a field of stone with lava running through the cracks.

Linopha picked up a rock and threw it at one of the stepping stones. It sank immediately.

Linopha: One simply walks into Xadia, huh?

Rayla: Not all of the rocks sink that quickly. A few of them will let us stand on them long enough to walk across.

Callum: How do we know which is which?

Rayla: Patience, friends.

Rayla pointed at the moon, which was hiding behind a cloud.

When the moon emerged from the clouds, runes appeared on some of the rocks, reflecting the light of the moon.

Linopha: Moonstone path. What a literal name.

Callum: I get it.

Slowly, they began walking across.

Soon, they were far out on the lava field. The other side was within sight, but still quite far away.

Linopha: Guys, the sun's coming up. We need to move faster.

They picked up the pace, but then they could see the light of the sun emerging on the horizon.

Callum: Run!

But they didn't make it to the end before the moon runes disappeared entirely.

They stood in the middle of the field, as the rocks they were standing on began to sink.

Zym jumped up and started flapping his wings.

Rayla: He's trying to block the sun!

Callum used aspiro to give Zym a boost, and he made it to the other side.

Then he spread his wings over the crack in the rocks where the sun shone through, and the runes reappeared.

Linopha: There's the path!

They kept running until they made it across, and joined Zym on the other side.

But something made them freeze in their tracks.

Standing in their way, silhouetted by the rising sun, was the archdragon of the sun, Sol regem.