Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 30: Setting a Trap

Back in the Firelands, Frost King Alpin groaned wearily as he sat up straight on top of Flamestar's special recovery bed inside the Inferno Fortress. Meanwhile, the Fire Sect leader was busy stirring an odd-looking potion mixture inside a large black cauldron nearby, his back turned to him. 

"Thanks for saving me back there, Flamestar....." Alpin said tiredly. "I will admit.....I wasn't expecting Coldsnap to be that skilled.....I likely would have died if it weren't for your intervention." 

"Ahhh, Your Majesty....I assume you've recovered sufficiently?" Flamestar asked, without turning around. "You've sustained heavy injuries.....you are in no shape to head out again so soon. Please, rest up a little more. At least give me time to finish your medicine." 

"Are you kidding me? Coldsnap's still out there. As long as she stands, our plan to wipe Earth out is at risk! Plus....." 

The Frost King balled both of his fists in anger. "I've got to get back at her for destroying my castle." 

"Don't worry.....first, we must focus on restoring you back to health," the Fire Sect leader assured. "Then, we will move on to the next phase." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I've come up with a plan that will allow you to dispose of Coldsnap once and for all while also allowing myself, Ignicion, and the rest of the Seared Hand forces to invade Earth en masse, all at the same time," Flamestar revealed. "We'll bring her to her knees and force her to watch as the planet she's known for the better part of two years is consumed by the fires of our conquest.....and once it's all over, I'll give you the honor of finishing her off." 

He sighed. "Still.....there is one thing I wasn't expecting. My traitorous assistant, Firebird, has officially aligned herself with Coldsnap. Thanks to her, the existence of the Seared Hand has no doubt already been made known to the Water and Earth Sects; it's likely that her and her band will be targeting the Ice Sect and Fire Sect next." 

Alpin raised his eyebrows. "Shouldn't we do something to try and stop her? Her allies grow in number with every passing day." 

Flamestar turned towards his patient and rubbed his hands in anticipation. "Oh, you needn't fear, Your Majesty.....even if she manages to unite all four mage orders to her cause, they will be no match for my combined forces. Our numbers are near-endless! You'll get to kill Coldsnap for her insubordination, and I'll get to kill Firebird as punishment for exposing our scheme. And with you by our side, it only makes our odds even better! It will be a battle of glorious proportions!" 

He walked to a cupboard on the wall, pulled out a medium-sized beaker, and poured some of the potion mixture into it, filling the vessel until it was about three-quarters full. Then, he covered the cauldron and walked towards the recovery bed, handing the elixir to the Frost King.

"Here," he said. "Drink." 

The Frost King was initially apprehensive, but eventually took a deep breath before consuming the mixture in its entirety. Much to his astonishment, the pain that racked him as a result of Coldsnap's onslaught faded away almost instantly, and the hands which she had cut off re-materialized themselves on the ends of his arms, except now they were almost spectral in appearance and appeared to be wreathed in blue fire. 

 Flamestar smiled. "Perfect. Now, you have the ability to control heat, on top of your original powers. Next time you and her meet, she'll be in for quite the surprise. No longer will it simply be ice vs. ice, with no elemental advantage and a raw test of skill. Now, you'll be able to overcome every single one of her tricks; nothing will be able to stop you!"