It was the middle of the night at Duel Academy, and a storm was brewing while Alexis sat at her brother's bedside.
Alexis: Only two Shadow Riders are left, and victory finally seems near, but it would mean so much more if my brother was here with me, in body and mind.
Flashback
Alexis was sitting at the base of a tree looking at a deck of duel monsters cards.
Atticus: Alexis.
Alexis: Atty!
Atticus: What ya got there, sis? These are some tough cards, but dueling's not just about power.
Alexis: What do you mean?
Atticus: What I mean is that you need a good purpose for dueling. That's what really matters in a match.
Alexis: Okay, I get it!
Atticus: One day you'll be a great duelist, I just know it.
End Flashback
?: You miss him, but there is a way to get him back.
Alexis: Who's there?
She turned her head to the side and saw a floating ball of black energy. She didn't realize it, but the sphere was hypnotizing her.
?: Come with me, and I'll give Atticus back all his memories. If you can defeat me in a duel that is.
The sphere grew until it changed into a portal leading to the abandoned dorm, and Titan stepped through it. Atticus got up just in time to see Alexis walk through with Titan.
Atticus: Alexis, no!
He rushed to try and stop her, but the portal closed before he could reach her. In the Slifer Dorm, Winged Kuriboh was trying to wake Jaden, albeit with very little success.
Jaden: No wake, must sleep more.
Suddenly, someone started banging on Jaden's door repeatedly.
Chumley: Okay already.
He opened the door and saw a sleep deprived Chazz on the other side.
Syrus: What's with you?
Chazz: The Ojamas are uneasy.
Jaden: So is Winged Kuriboh.
Michael: Same with Ceruli.
Lily: And Queen's Knight.
Jaden: What are you guys doing here?
Ceruli: There is a dark power afoot at the academy Jaden.
Jaden: Do you think it's a Shadow Rider?
Michael: That's pretty likely.
Jaden: Hold on, where's Alexis?
Lily: She went to see her brother and we haven't seen her since.
Jaden: We'd better check on them.
They rushed to the infirmary, but when they got there, Alexis was gone and Atticus was lying on the floor.
Michael: Atticus, are you alright?
Atticus: You have to stop him. He's got Alexis.
Jaden: Who does?
Atticus: T-Titan.
Michael: What?!
Chazz: Who's Titan?
Jaden: Isn't he the Shadow Duelist Crowler hired at the start of the year to scare us off?
Michael: Yeah, but if Ceruli sensed a dark power-
Lily: That means he's one of the Shadow Riders now.
Syrus: But where did he take her?
Atticus: To the abandoned dorm.
Michael: We've gotta hurry. Jaden, help me lift him.
Jaden: Right.
In the basement of the abandoned dorm, Alexis had just snapped out of her trance and found herself staring at Titan.
Alexis: Alright, so we duel, and if I win, you restore my brother's memory. That's the deal, right?
Titan: Your end of it at least. But if I win, I get your spirit key and your soul. You see, when you and I first met, I was but a charlatan of the shadows, however since being taken in by them, I am now the real deal, an authentic Shadow Rider. Let us begin.
Both: Duel!
Alexis: 4000 LP
Titan: 4000 LP
Jaden: Alexis!
Everyone ran in and saw Alexis and Titan about to duel.
Alexis: Stand back! This is my duel to fight!
Jaden: Okay, but be careful.
Alexis: I will.
Titan: I'll go first, and I summon Picador Fiend in attack mode.
Level 4/Dark/Fiend
ATK 1600/DEF 1200
Titan: Next, I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Alexis: But not your troubles. I summon Cyber Tutu in attack mode.
Level 3/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1000/DEF 800
Titan: I thought we were dueling, not playing with dolls.
Alexis: Yeah, well this so called "doll" is about to play havoc with your life points. If all your monsters are stronger than her, she can attack you directly.
Titan: Go right ahead. As soon as you do, my Sakuretsu Armor trap card will activate, destroying your monster.
Alexis: Something's not right. Wait, his face-down! I play the spell Allegro Toile! It gives my ballerina an extra kick by allowing me to destroy a spell or trap card on the field, so your face-down card is destroyed!
Titan: No!
Jaden: Way to go Alexis!
Alexis: Now Cyber Tutu, attack him directly!
Cyber Tutu spun rapidly before kicking Titan square in the jaw.
Michael: Great shot.
Titan: 3000 LP
Alexis: Next, I place a face-down and end my turn.
Syrus: Alexis is winning.
Lily: She's dueling for Atticus, she will win.
Michael: Still, Alexis needs to be on guard. Who knows what kind of cards this new Titan is using.
Titan: It's my turn. Now Picador Fiend, attack Cyber Tutu!
Picador Fiend charged a ball of green energy in its mouth before launching it at Alexis' monster.
Alexis: Not so fast, I play the trap Doble Passe! It changes your attack to a direct attack on me but lets my monster strike you back! Go, Pounding Pirouette!
Titan: 2000 LP
Alexis: 2400 LP
Alexis: Okay, so far so good. I just need to land a couple more hits like that and I'll win.
She was pulled from her thoughts when Titan began laughing.
Alexis: What's so funny?
Titan: I'm just remembering our first encounter. My how the tables have turned.
Alexis: Yeah, this time I'm not just a victim who got kidnapped and stuffed in a coffin. Now I can fight back.
Titan: Afraid not. I meant that before you were the bait luring my prey to me, but now you are my target. But I'm getting off topic. I play Ritual of the Matador! By sacrificing my level 6 Beast of Talwar, I can summon Matador Fiend in attack mode!
Level 6/Dark/Warrior
ATK & DEF 0
Alexis: No attack or defense points? Something tells me there's more to him than meets the eye.
Titan: Oh there is, so keep a sharp lookout, although that may be difficult to do after I play this: the field spell Dark Arena!
The dueling field was wrapped in a dome of black energy, cutting off Alexis from the others. Inside, Titan and his monsters were obscured in darkness.
Alexis: How can I fight something I can't even see?
Titan: It's your move.
Chazz: What happened?
Syrus: I can't see anything in there.
Michael: I hope Alexis is okay.
Jaden: She will be, I know it.
Alexis: With this Dark Arena card in play, I can't see anything, including Titan's monsters.
Titan: The darkness is fitting for a shadow duel, don't you think? But allow me to shed some light on the situation. Your monsters in attack mode must attack, but I am allowed to choose the targets of their attacks.
Alexis: Well then that's a case of the blind leading the blind. Since I know the attack points of your monsters, I just need a powerful monster. I draw! I activate the spell Polymerization, and I'll fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to summon Cyber Blader in attack mode!
Level 6/Earth/Warrior
ATK 2100/DEF 800
Alexis: And due to her special ability, Cyber Blader's effect changes depending on how many monsters you have out. With two on the field, her attack points are doubled.
Blader: 2100-4200 ATK
Titan: 4200 attack points, whatever will I do.
Alexis: You'll get your butt kicked because now it doesn't matter who I attack, you'll lose either way. Now attack!
Titan: Face her, Matador Fiend.
Alexis: Attack with Whirlwind Rage!
Cyber Blader delivered a powerful kick to Matador Fiend, but it didn't affect him and he fired a beam of energy at Cyber Blader, destroying her.
Alexis: What happened? Cyber Blader should've beaten him easily.
Titan: Matador Fiend's special ability prevents it from being destroyed in battle, while also making the damage I take from its battles 0. That's not all, because it also destroys any monster that attacks it. And don't forget, due to Dark Arena, your Cyber Tutu also has to wage an attack.
Alexis: Yeah, but due to her effect, she can attack you directly.
Titan: Not this time. That ability is only useful when all my monsters have more attack points than her, but my Matador Fiend has 0 attack points, which means she'll be having her last dance with Picador Fiend.
Alexis: 1800 LP
Titan: Don't worry Alexis, at least your brother won't remember that you failed him.
Alexis: I haven't lost yet Titan, and with Cyber Gymnast protecting me, I won't be losing any time soon.
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 800/DEF 1800
Alexis: Give me your best shot.
Titan: If you knew what my best was, I doubt you would be so eager for it.
Alexis: Is that so?
Titan: Haven't you realized? I'm not the same duelist you knew from before. I changed when the shadows took me in.
Flashback
Titan: Someone help me! I'll do anything, just get me out of here!
SR Boss: Anything you say? So be it. I will spare you the agony of the shadows and in return you will serve me.
Titan: Very well. Just tell me what you want me to do.
SR Boss: I want you to defeat those who guard the Sacred Beasts, and this shadow charm will help you do it.
End Flashback
Veins on Titan's body began to bulge, and his mask seemed to join with his face.
Titan: You see? I'm more powerful than ever!
Alexis: Not to mention uglier. But I got news for you: true dueling power doesn't come from some shadow charm; it comes from the reason you duel, and that's why I'm going to win.
Titan: The reason you duel? Where did you get that from? Certainly not your brother. After all, the reason he became a Shadow Rider was to gain power.
Alexis: Liar!
Titan: Like it or not, it's a fact. But if you still don't believe me, just wait! Unfortunately for you, since Dark Arena is in play, Picador Fiend can attack you directly.
Alexis: 200 LP
Outside, the dome convulsed with purple energy.
Atticus: Alexis.
Michael: I know it's tough Atticus, we just have to hope she's okay.
Jaden: Come on Alexis, I know you can win.
Titan: The end is near and the shadows beckon. You squirm but they still close in. It is simply a matter of time.
Alexis: Tell me about it. With Cyber Gymnast's special ability, I can discard a card from my hand to destroy one of his monsters. I'll have to wait until my next turn to use it though.
Titan: What are you plotting over there? Let me guess, something with Cyber Gymnast? Well you can forget about it, because I summon Banderillero Fiend in attack mode!
Level 3/Dark/Fiend
ATK 900/DEF 1600
Titan: Even though he can't attack on the turn he's summoned, when he's normal summoned, he can destroy any monster on the field, so say goodbye to Cyber Gymnast!
A green aura surrounded Cyber Gymnast and she was destroyed.
Titan: Get up, or are your reasons for dueling not good enough anymore?
Alexis: Maybe he's right. Maybe they're not enough, because as much as I want to win this, I simply don't have the strength. It's over. My key, my brother, my soul, I've lost them all.
Titan: That's right, stay down. There's no point to keep fighting, you can't win. After all, the reasons you fight aren't nearly as strong as the shadows.
Atticus: Alexis! Don't give up, you can do this!
Jaden: He's right! You've never given before Alexis, why start now?
Alexis: They're right. It's my turn! And I play Pot of Greed, which will let me draw 2 more cards. Next, I play the spell The Warrior Returning Alive to return Blade Skater to my hand. Now I'll use Fusion Recovery to add Polymerization and Etoile Cyber to my hand.
Titan: What?
Alexis: Now I play Polymerization to fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to once again summon Cyber Blader!
Titan: Very well. Due to Dark Arena, she'll have to battle Matador Fiend, and once she does, you'll be wide open.
Alexis: Wrong. Since you have three monsters on the field, Cyber Blader's effect negates the effects of all cards on your field!
Titan: No!
The dome crumbled away, revealing Alexis to everyone.
Jaden: Alexis, you're okay!
Alexis: And since Matador Fiend's effects are also negated, it can't protect you. Cyber Blader, attack Whirlwind Rage and end this duel!
Titan: 0 LP
Winner: Alexis
The shadow creatures from Titan's duel with Michael reappeared and began to envelop him.
Titan: Please, help me!
The creatures faded away, leaving behind nothing but Titan's mask. The all exited the dorm as the sun began to rise.
Alexis: Atticus.
Atticus: I'm so happy you're okay.
Alexis: Welcome back, Atty.
Atticus: Thanks Lex, for everything.
Alexis: I have so many questions. How did you become a Shadow Rider? Titan said you did it for the power.
Atticus: Believe me Lexi, I never chose to go.
Alexis: Then what happened?
Atticus: One day a few of us were told to meet at the abandoned dorm, and then it happened. There was supposed to be a duel test in the basement, but instead we found hundreds of those shadow creatures. I was then brought to the Shadow Realm, and I was kept there for months while the brainwashed me, turning me into Nightshroud.
Alexis: But who was it? Who brainwashed you?
Atticus: I don't know. But the one who called me to take the duel test was Professor Banner.
Jaden: Our Professor Banner? So he's in on it?