The Free Plain

Trogdor would soon realize it wasn't the Phoenix. The Phoenix was within Zaltos. What was in the flames was Zaltos's prophet, capable of walking the mortal realm within fire. No fire, no presence.

The more Trogdor fought it, the more it would fight back. Specifically targeting Trogdor, it would pull even harder on the fire, giving Trogdor more air than fire. As another effect, the sounds of chains could be heard rattling through the fire around Trogdor.

Whatever was in the fire was using Trogdors anger against him. The more he fought, the more the other mocked Trogdor's power. It was attempting to trick Trogdor into calming down and submitting to his will. The prophet needed Trogdor, and Trogdor, from his battered looks and untapped power blocked by anger, could ppossibly use him. No matter the case, Zaltos was pulling the mass amount of energy, trumping Trogdor and the prophet.

Just before starting to gallop away Hesk heard the roars again and when he listened more closely he noticed they were not directed to them, the dragon was fighting something in the fire, it was fighting what really caused the fire, momentarily embarrassed for blaming the dragon, Hesk quickly regained himself and tried to think of a way to help the dragon, but he still couldn't get too deep in the flames. He thought that till he thought of something he should get back to inform on what he had discovered and keep helping in the efforts to extinguish the fire.

Fire! Life! Trogdor sucked in the amplified flames that had appeared in his mouth and consumed their power. Trogdor's anger burned hot, but the profits flames were hotter. Trogdor's anger, his dark mana, was consumed by the golden flames. The corruption that covered the dragons mind slowly began to dissolve. Feeling the release Trogdor ignored the other chains on his body and concentrated on drawing in more of this profits power. The pressure dome continued to shrink and compress, making the area in which the fire and the profit existed smaller.

However, as the corruption burned away a black smoke began to trickle out of Trogdor's mouth. It sunk to the ground, killing all plants that it touched. Unless this deadly gas was contained it could cause a serious problem.

The chains would slam tight, the power capable of knocking the breathe out of Trogdor. The chains would tighten, pulling to the ground as if there was mighty wenches pulling down. The chains would cut off the dragons air as they had wound around it's long neck from top to bottom like a hundred anacondas. The chains on legs and feet would tighten, shattering the beast ankles and elbow/knees as it pulled the backwards and down. The tail itself was also bound by the chains like the neck, restricting it's mighty movement.

When the legs were pulled out from under the beast by the chains, the rest of the dragon would be pulled down. With the beast tied to the ground spread eagle by the chains and it's breathing cut off, it was now defenseless. These chains would resrict everything with it's power, allowing not even a twitch.

Trogdor's anger had blinded him to the chains. His thoughts of trying to take power that didn't belong to him was a mistake. The prophet came prepared for this mighty beast. The prophet would watch Trogdor from a distance in the fire. Trogdor at this point was either fighting the chains with all it's might, letting lose of the bubble he was creating or being restricted, losing full control of everything, not breathing, defenseless, but still alive, facing the lesson that his anger has blinded him and that he needed to open his eyes or his days were numbered.

The voice would reach out for the mind of Trogdor again, "Child of fire, your eyes are blinded by anger. Revenge will never be reached with anger, but in the name of Peace shall it endure. Accept that you have fallen and serve your purpose beside the Phoenix. If you accept his ways and clear your mind and I shall set you free. Deny me again, and you will feel the pain your body is suffering...Without the Phoenix, your days shall be numbered, for a mighty kingdom has set a price on your head, and man will always persist in greed. This is your chance at salvation, Child of Fire...Do not let your anger cloud your decision. You are wise, think how you would think before your anger set in.."

Zaltos's pull on the fire began to have an effect. The flames were roaring inwards, no longer blowing across the lands. The flames would turn from with dome like manner to a spiralling movement. The fire would begin to spin faster and faster, forming a half mile ring of fire that began to grow taller, but slimmer. It was as if the being of the land were looking at a massive sized tornado of fire.

This would definitely put a hurting on any draw that others were attempting to draw off of. The only thing possibly standing would be a Prophet and whatever it wanted to live. Zaltos was in full control of the fire. He had caesed the smoke and hot ash, contained the heat, controlled the direction the fires flickered, but this wasn't the hard part. The hard part was coming up; figuring out what to do with all the excess power if Wolfgang wasn't ready.

When Trogdor acknowledged his own weakness, it was a point of clear thought. The noticeable thought was a chainreaction of subconcious chain of thoughts. Pity for itself was an emotion of sadness in the midst of its rage. It was enough for the prophet to calm the beast, seperating anger from revenge, promoting clear thought.

The chains kept a physical effect, but the fires began to seep into the dragon. The golden flames would begin to flicker with black tips as it penetrated the angers point of weakness, the pity, and pried on it. It was zapping the beast of it's power. In the mean time, it would have a hallucinagenic effect, causing the dragon to feel the pain, as if it was burning. With this pain, it would weaken the beasts anger more, knowing it couldn't even wimper if it wanted to due to it's binding chains.

In effect of the weather, the spiral Zaltos was creating was beginning to fuel the fire even within the bubble as he took control of it via Phoenix within him. Being the fire was controlled now by Zaltos, it was much stronger due to it's tamed nature. It was enough power to wipe out the Free Plains with one wrong move. This was one more reason the prophet was determined to control Trogdor.

"Feel the pain, Dragon...It will feel like an eternity...you will feel what you have done to many, but ten times hotter...I warned you. Now we do this my way." The prophet spoke in Trogdor's mind.

Trogdor would find that the calmer he got, the less painful the chains would feel. When the beast was rid of all anger, he would find himself free from the chains. The prophet would vanish the moment all anger was gone and Trogdor was clear minded.

The voice echoed one last time, "You have done it. You have conquered your anger by realizing it done you no good. When your anger is gone, you will be free of the chains. Now seek the Phoenix and live out your destiny, and revenge is yours."

"When the fire clears, the Phoenix will heal you. Just rest for the next few minutes. Enjoy your clear mind, we will contain the evil momentarily, for the woman carries a gem capable of holding it." The voice spoke, "Trogdor, I will always be in the fire. Should you ever need me, simply ask and I will be there, I am the Prophet of Fire."

With that, the prophet would vanish from the fire. All that would remain was Zaltos and Trogdor in the fire. It was time for things to settle down now.

"You seek to bond me?" The wind whispered as Trogdor limped a circle around Zaltos keeping his one intact eye on the man. The red and black creature growled as it observed the man. "Do you expect me to be grateful to you? What have you to offer me in exchange for my power?"