He had a feeling something was wrong.

The scout that Blade had sent out a full two hours ago had not reported back with news. The night was quiet, but given as the country was in the midst of war, silence meant only danger, darkness was only a cover for enemies; a false sense of security. Blade had lived the life of battle for far too many years to be lulled by the seemingly peaceful atmosphere.

Blade continued to survey the empty streets of Meridell from his watchtower, when suddenly a booming gong sounded, followed by the cheer of many and the raising of Meridell's flag in the distant capital.

It was just as well, the shadow gelert thought. His own people had turned against their lord, and together with the Meridellians had thrown him down. It was only a matter of time before the combined forces succeeded. After a point, their corps of shadow soldiers, long since bound to the Darigan Lord, would also break apart. Better he now took his chance for freedom while the excitement of victory still permeated through the masses.

Blade called out to Scout, turned, and walked backed down the alley.

Then he found himself waking up in a sea of ice.

Frozen in Time

Where is this place?' the old warrior thought to himself, and groaned. Even thinking apparently made his body ache. He tried to move his limbs, his torso, a finger, anything, but everything was rigid. "Scout?" Blade tried to shout, although the sound was barely audible to his ears. Resigned to the fact that the environment was not responding to him, the gelert settled himself down to await his captor.

Welcome home, number 25," a booming voice stated in the darkness.

Home? I have no such place. I fight for sake of my creator, though it's never been out of true loyalty.' Blade thought. Since the voice could apparently read his thoughts there was no need to attempt talking again.

Yes, don't you know? This is your place; the place that you belong. Do not worry for your partner, for I have secured him in his own place," the voiced continued.

Who are you?!' The now incensed gelert continued. No one else was his master but himself-how dare that presumptuous assume such a tone of control.

I? I am Lord Darigan."

I fought for you! No matter what my heart has been telling me, I fought and plundered for the sake of the Citadel, and in the end your people abandoned your cause. Give up this strife with Meridell. Free the Shadow Soldiers!'

Free?..." Darigan pondered. "How is it that you seek freedom, when your other twenty five fellows have happily consented to return to their creator, and to follow where he goes for the rest of eternity? Tell me, 25, why should I free you?"

Blade didn't know. He honestly didn't. For once in his life someone or something had genuinely showed signs of accepting his innermost desires, but this simple question knocked him for a loop. Why did he deserve freedom? Why did he deserve a chance at happiness, his own existence, all things taken for granted by even the poorest neopet of the outside world. Blade had plundered, had destroyed, and had raided, sometimes even with a smile on his face and a feeling of exhilaration coursing through his veins. Not quite the remorseful answer anyone would be looking for.

The ex-soldier was silent.

Very well, you need not answer, faithful one. I will grant you the new life that you desire, and your little partner as well, as it is the least that I can do for one who has been with me from the very beginning."

With these words, the pillar of eyes which incased Blade shattered in one almighty crack. As millions of iridescent shards clattered to the ground far below, Blade finally opened his eyes and stretched, watching himself rise rapidly out of the cavern in a column of dark light. In a matter of seconds, the ex-soldier's paws touched down on a grassy plain. Only to notice something was amiss yet again.

The mighty Shadow Soldier Y was a ghost.