For Shadow, it was just a regular day. Until his parents sat him down for a talk. "Mom? Dad? Is something wrong?", Shadow asked. His mom sighed.
"Shadow...we have to send you away for a while. We don't know for how long, but we promise you will come home one day.", she said sadly.
"But..but why?", Shadow asked. "Why do I have to leave?"
"Because Ice has been targeted by an evil monster.", his dad said. "And it seeks to destroy you and Ace."
"No...Ice would never do that!"
"We know, but the number that is after him won't let him have control of his own actions. However..." Shadow's dad pulled out a box with a card inside it. "We can give you the means to protect yourself. Meet your partner and guardian. Number 46: Dragluon." Dragluon materialized.
"Greetings Shadow. You needn't worry about being alone.", Dragluon said with a smile. Shadow gave a small smile in return.
"As of the moment, Ace is the only one capable of saving Ice. But for now , you must hide Shadow. Until Ice is defeated, you're not safe here. You'll be living with your grandparents for a time. I'll be taking you now.", his mom said. Shadow nodded as he and his mom left. Meanwhile, Ice was walking home from school.
'Man. The way people duel here is so lifeless. Wish I had a card that could help me liven things up here.', Ice thought to himself.
"I can help with that.", a voice said. Ice was stunned!
"Who's there?!", he demanded. From the shadows a card with the number 96 on it materialized.
"My name is Dark Mist. I've been watching you Dark Ice, and I've seen your desire to bring passion into this school's dueling. Use me, and not only will you revolutionize dueling here. I will give you the power to shake this pitiful school's foundation!" Ice slowly reached his hand out towards Dark Mist. Ice was shocked when dark power poured into him! Slowly, he felt dark desires clouding his mind. The number 96 glowed on his left arm. "Now then...time for a little family visit.", Ice said with a dark smile as he returned home. When he arrived, he saw only his dad at home. His dad sighed as he turned to face his son. Or rather, the shell his son had become when Dark Mist took hold.
"Hello Ice.", his dad said.
"Hey old man. Where's Shadow?", Ice asked.
"He's safe from you. That's all I'll tell you and Dark Mist." Ice frowned.
"So be it." Ice sent out a blast of shadow energy that knocked his dad back! "You tell Ace I'll be waiting for him at the duel park..." And with that, Ice left. Ace had arrived home only a few moments later, and was shocked to find the door open and his dad on the floor! Ace's dad told him what happened.
"If that's the case...I've gotta save Ice! I promise I'll bring him home!" And Ace left to find Ice.
"Ace...I don't think Ice is going to come home so easily...."