"Jaden." Alexis whispered, looking over at the Master of the Shadow Knights. Arliss and Jaden looked on in amusement and shock respectively. For Arliss, it was strange to see someone transformed by the powers of the shadow realm when he had not had a hand in the process. His mind looked over this dark version of Jaden, trying to decide if this is what would have happened if he had used his powers on his Jaden.

'The look is a bit cliché. Screams "I'm evil" a bit too much. Granted, this Jaden has shown he loves to play the stereotype full tilt though.' Arliss nodded. 'Personally prefer my style of sexy yet dangerous. Would have buffed him up, made him cut that damn hair…and an attitude adjustment.'

Jaden stared at his dark counterpart, mind reeling as he tried to process everything. It was startling enough to see himself standing there. But this…evil version of himself, it only served to creep him out even more. 'Maybe because he resembles the figure I saw in that dream.' He thought to himself, inspecting Dark Jaden. 'Right down to the bad haircut…'

"Dude, who cut your hair, a blind monkey?"

Arliss and Alexis turned slowly to stare at Jaden.

"…Jaden, shut up would ya?" Arliss snarled. He turned back to Dark Jaden, his mind working quickly. "Imposter!"

"What?" Dark Jaden asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ya'll heard me, he's an imposter, a fake sent by…our enemies to trick us! Syrus, kill him!"

Syrus looked at Jaden, then Dark Jaden, then Jaden again. "Uh…"

"Are you that stupid, Syrus?" Dark Jaden snapped, striding forward. "You think that scrawny little boy over there is me?"

"Hey, I'm not scrawny!" Jaden shouted.

"Did I not tell you to shut up?" Arliss asked.

"ENOUGH!" Dark Jaden roared, his aura bursting to the forefront. Glaring at all of them, he walked over to Arliss and tapped on the diary. "I want to know right now why this boy is here and why this mage is holding my diary."

Alexis shifted uneasily. "They claimed to be you and a new Knight, Master Jaden." She lowered her head quickly when Dark Jaden locked eyes with her. "We all believed it…"

"We did not!" Syrus exclaimed. "I always knew they were liars, Master Jaden. But Alexis, she pushed so hard, claiming that boy was you, Master Jaden…she was in his room, his bed…"

"She was not!" Jaden shouted.

"Restrain them!"

Chummly and Bastion, who had entered the room at Dark Jaden's appearance, quickly moved to grab Arliss and Jaden, holding them still. Arliss had just enough time to tuck Marik's diary into his jacket pocket as Chummly's fat fingers grabbed onto his wrists. Arliss did not struggle, bidding his time and hoping to learn more about this Dark Jaden before making his move.

"Syrus, you want a little chap stick? Kissing your Master's ass must really hurt your lips." Arliss sneered. "I can get some from Chummly…figure he must use a ton on his thighs to keep them from chaffing.

"Shut up." Chummly replied, twisting Arliss arm.

Arliss looked back at him, eyes flashing black. "When I get a moment…I am going to kill you. Just want you to know that, Tubba Blubba." Chummly gripped his wrist tighter. "Lay off, that's my arm, not your dick. Why don't you just shove off and do the truffle shuffle and the adults can talk about this."

"Truffle Shuffle, I say, that's from the Goonies, no?"

"Bastion." Dark Jaden warned. The Master of the Shadow Knights turned to Jaden, looking him over carefully. "You are me, aren't you? Another version…a more pathetic version I image, but one nonetheless."

Jaden frowned. "How are you calling pathetic? What have you done that's so great?"

Dark Jaden chuckled. "Boy, I am the man that has taken control of this academy. I have slaughtered my enemies like cattle, and I have brought the elite to their knees. I am the scourge of the duelist academy!"

"And you call that great?" Jaden asked. "You've destroyed lives, destroyed the academy…all for your ego? That's great!?!"

"Yes." Dark Jaden replied. "Yes it is." He turned towards Alexis, eyes flashing slight as he moved towards her. The young woman backed away, trembling slightly as Jaden reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. "You honestly thought this fool was me?"

"I…"

"Or, perhaps you felt that it would be ok for you to take another into our bed, if that other was a smaller…more submissive version of myself?"

"I didn't…"

Did I ask you to speak?!?" Jaden screamed, his hand balling into a fist. He lashed out, striking Alexis and sending her to the ground. The young woman cried out as Dark Jaden stomped down on her hand. "You have proven to be nothing but trouble. Since the day I made you, you have disappointed me! And now, I have to know that my blood runs with yours in our bastard offspring?" The Shadow Knight sneered and aimed a kick right for Alexis' stomach. "Maybe I should put it out of its misery."

"NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Dark Jaden turned in time to see Arliss break free of Chummly, his aura exploding brightly. He let out a war cry as he grabbed the large duelist's arms, ripping them from their sockets. Arliss didn't stop though, leaping forward and tackling Dark Jaden, his shadow magic crackling as he laid into him, delivering a series of punches before he turned to gave a double whammy to Syrus and Bastion.

Jaden struggled free of the stunned Bastion, rushing over to Alexis and helping her to her feet. "Are you ok?"

"I…"

"Alexis, run!" Arliss screamed, dodging a punch from Dark Jaden. "We'll hold them off, you run girl." Alexis looked at him in shock. "GO!"

Deep within Alexis, the tiny part of her heart that had been left unchanged by Dark Jaden flared up. It screamed for her to protect her child, at all costs…even from its father. Racing away, Alexis left the fortress, the sounds of her Jaden and Arliss battling echoing through her ears.

&&&

"Ok…let's see…" Arlen took a list from his wallet and began to mark things off. "Padme, check. Wonder Woman, check. Sydney Bristow…double check. The…entire cast of the Golden Girls?" Arlen took in a deep breath. "Ha ha, Mayday. Ha ha." The Guardian of the Hunters looked around the tower he was in. "Ok, let's figure out where I am…and who I might get next on my list…"

"Garsh!"

Arlen's head whipped around…and watched as Donald and Goofy ambled around the corner. He looked up at the sky. "Really, a Disney cartoon?"

"Come on Donald…we have to find the Key!"

The Guardian smirked, holding out his Shadow Saber. Focusing, he made the blade extend…then transformed the end of it to resemble the head of a key. Nodding, he rushed towards the two characters.

"You lookin' for a key?" Arlen asked. "Well boys, I got just the key for ya." He held out his shadow saber. "Behold, a keyblade."

Donald frowned, raising a finger to poke the weapon. "That doesn't look like any keyblade I've seen!"

Arlen frowned. "It's special…like the kid in the helmet."

"Huh?" Goofy asked.

"Nothin'. Fact remains though, boys, that I am the wielder of the keyblade, so I am the one that will help you defeat the gutless."

"Heartless." Donald said.

"Whatever." Arlen replied, twirling his weapon. "First things first…I think we need to get off this world and go find my…er…friends. Yea. If only we had a ship that could travel to different worlds."

"Well garsh, we have one!" Goofy said with a grin.

"Do you?" Arlen asked, his very tone so silky that the serpent that had tempted Eve would be jealous. "Might I see it, boys?"

&&&

"Nostu Torino!"

Dark Jaden leapt away as Arliss sent a wave of black energy right at him. The energy attack managed to rip apart one of the walls, leaving a wide opening to the outside. Arliss was already grabbing his shadow star, letting it fly. Dark Jaden cried out as the weapon struck him in the chest, cutting him deep.

"Waptorius Nit!"

Arliss' eyes doubled as Dark Jaden used his own attack, hitting him and sending the Rare Hunter crashing through the wall, tumbling out of the fortress and into the moot. He emerged after a moment, encased in a bubble of dark energy, waving for Dark Jaden to face him.

Meanwhile, Jaden and Dark Syrus were going at it. Or, more correctly put, Jaden was running from Syrus as fast as he could as the Shadow Knight sent wave after wave of shadow attacks at him.

"WHOA!" Jaden cried out, skidding to try and keep himself from falling into the moot. Unfortunately, Syrus had been too close, and the two tumbled in. Jaden popped up from the water, swimming as hard as he could as Arliss and his dark counterpart continued to wage war upon each other. "Arliss!" Jaden screamed as he pulled himself onto shore, Syrus at his heels. There was no doubt, no time to consider that he was calling for a man many would consider his enemy.

He knew Arliss was his only hope.

The Rare Hunter was next to him in a second, guarding him as Dark Jaden approached, Syrus joining him.

"You would protect this mortal? You are like us, an Immortal, a shadow mage. Why do you save him?"

"I save him because I still have a heart." Arliss said "And I have honor. That's why I'm nothin' like you two fakes."

Syrus glared. "Fakes? You call us fakes?"

"If the shoe fits." Arliss said. "You claim you have power…you're nothin' more then children playing with their father's gun. You have the raw strength, none of the trainin'. That makes you fakes."

"ENOUGH!" Dark Jaden screamed, powering up for a final blast. "I'll show you power!"

"Bring it." Arliss challenged, getting his own energy ready.

The two mages opened fire.

&&&

'I should have stayed with Jaden.'

Alexis looked up from the tree she had been tied to, towards the group of ragged Obelisk duelists that surrounded her. She had run right into them, and the group, still obviously pissed she and Jaden had blown up their dorm, had promptly grabbed her.

"She will be the perfect bait!" Chazz Princeton sneered, twirling his gun. "Jaden and the Shadow Knights will come blazing in to save her, then we cut them down like a mower cuts grass!"

The Obelisks all laughed, and Alexis rolled her eyes. Like Jaden would be that stupid.

"But before hand, what do you think we should do with her Chazz?" One asked.

"Yea, Chazz." Another said

Chazz grinned. "Well…no harm in having a little fun with her!" He walked over and began to tug viciously on blazer. "Come on, let's see if Jaden's slut can still put out…"

"I wouldn't do that."

Everyone turned to see a new player enter the clearing, his brown hair billowing in the breeze, his eyes flickering black.

"And who would you be?" Chazz demanded.

"The name is Arlen Lockehart." He powered up his shadow saber. Alexis' eyes grew wide at the name 'Lockehart'. "And I have waited a long time to kill you, Princeton."

&&&

Arliss gritted his teeth, forcing his part of the blast forward. It reminded him of the cartoon shows, when the hero and villain would both attack with their lasers, shoving one another back and forth until finally, one would gain the advantage. Only this time, Arliss knew that it wouldn't be a comic flying-through-the-air ride for him. He needed to win.

Dark Jaden plated his feet, pushing back as he felt his powers slide through his hands and into the attack., 'Only a few more…'

"AAAAAAAA!"

Dark Jaden grinned as the blast hit Arliss, causing him to fall to the ground. Steam rose from his body as the Rare Hunter stood up, glaring as the Shadow Knight approached him.

"Now who's…"

"I invoke the right of challenge."

Dark Jaden froze, staring down at Arliss in terror. The Rare Hunter's words echoed through his skull, chilling his blood. 'There is no way. Only I…'

"What are you talking about?" Syrus asked, annoyed.

Arliss smirked. "You didn't tell them?" He turned to Syrus. "The Shadow Master Tempus, in the year 103 B.C. set forth that all Shadow Mages can be challenged for their domains under the Right of Challenge. To fail to accept is to allow yourself to be smited by your own powers."

"Anyone?" Syrus asked, sending a murderous gaze at Dark Jaden.

"Anyone."

"Well, I invoke the right of aid. Shadow Master Vladus in 1127 A.D. set that any Shadow Mage may ask for aid during their duel. I chose Syrus."

"I will also invoke the right of aid and chose Jaden Yuki. Bring us our duel disks."

"Bastion!" Dark Jaden shouted. The British duelist hurried over, bringing his and Chummly's duel disks. Arliss grimaced at the disk, sticky with chocolate and…what he prayed was Bavarian Cream. "Joy." He muttered, throwing the disk in the water. "I want Alexis' duel disk."

Bastion looked towards Dark Jaden, who nodded. After a moment, Arliss was sporting a new duel disk, his deck inserted.

'Good thing I had the Hunters make up my new cards first.' Arliss thought. 'Time to see how these babies do in a real battle.'

"Get your game on!" Jaden cried, activating his disk.

Dark Jaden and Syrus frowned. "Is he always this stupid?" Syrus asked.

"every day." Arliss muttered, before he began to look over his hand carefully. He would have to play this game as close to the vest as he could. Dueling against Shadow Riders and students was one thing…but other shadow mages, one of whom had as much raw power as him? That would make things a lot tougher.

"I will summon Mataza the Zapper, in attack mode." He said calmly. On his side of the field, the green armored samurai appeared, sword ready. "And I end my turn."

Syrus grinned as he flicked out his cards. "Let's see…I'll start by special summoning my Cyber Dragon to the field!"

Jaden's jaw dropped as the massive mech monster appeared behind Syrus, letting out a roar. "That's one of Zane's cards!"

Syrus looked up at the sky, appearing to be wistful. "Of course it is. Ah, I always think of my dear brother when I play this card…" A dark smile grew on his face as he held up the card. Arliss' eyes narrowed as he took in the dark stains on the Cyber Dragon. "Maybe it's because his bloods still on it."

"Son of a bitch." Arliss whispered.

Dark Jaden laughed. "Syrus, isn't that what Zane said, right before you shot him?"

"Called me a bastard."

"Oh yea."

Jaden stared at Syrus. "You killed Zane…your own brother? But…he loved you!"

Syrus chuckled. "So? I've killed a lot of people that loved me…going to kill a lot of people that love you."

"Not if we stop you first." Arliss challenge. "First your move."

"Gladly. Now, I am still allowed to normal summon a monster, so I will bring out Cyber Hound!" As Syrus slammed the card onto his duel disk, the ground began to roll and rumble. As a crack formed, smoke poured out all around him, until the Cyber Hound burst forth. The monster was a giant 3 headed-hound, plated with silver metal, The beast took a step forward, all three of its blunt stubby heads glaring at Jaden and Arliss before it issued a bellow. (Atk: 2400, Def: 2300)

"Whoa." Jaden whispered. "That sure is…big."

"Try to sound less excited, Jaden!" Arliss snarked. "Now, make your move…and please, let it be something that will kill one of those things!"

Jaden nodded, drawing. "Ok…get ready for this! I will summon Sparkman to the field!"

As the light hero appeared, Arliss' face fell. "That's your key card?"

Jaden shrugged. "It's one of my best monsters."

Dark Jaden glared at Arliss. "Don't insult the Sparkman…that monster is good enough…I think I will duplicate it! Come forth, Sparkman!" Jaden and Arliss looked back at each other in surprise by the move. Neither had expected Dark Jaden to still use the E-heroes. Something about Heroes and the Shadow Knight didn't mash up right.

As the second Sparkman appeared, Dark Jaden chuckled. "But of course…as Arliss pointed out, Sparkman isn't that strong of a monster. Which is why I will activate this card: Shadow District!"

Jaden and Arliss looked around them buildings began to rise from the ground, thick clouds of smoke rolling from smoke stacks and the ground below them becoming a cracked and dirty sidewalk. The buildings were run down, windows shattered, walls covered with graffiti. Somewhere, the duelists could hear a police siren ringing.

"Behold, the Shadow District. The dark underbelly of the world. It is here that a different hero lives, a more powerful hero." Dark Jaden grinned as he held out his hand. "I will now activate Shadow District's first effect: I can sacrifice one Elemental Hero from my side of the field to special summon from my fusion deck a new hero, a special hero! Behold, Shadow Hero Sparkman!"