Leo: 3200 LP

Devack: 2500 LP

Leo's field: Power Tool Dragon, Break Draw, 1 face-down

Devack's field: Zeman the Ape King, Closed Forest

Devack: Due to the effect of the Closed Forest field spell, all beast-type monsters on my field gain 100 attack points for every monster in my graveyard, so with 5 monsters in my graveyard, Zeman the Ape King gains 500 attack points.

Zeman: 2500-3000 ATK

Leo: Not good.

Devack: Now Zeman, attack with Cursed Flare!

Leo: I activate Power Tool Dragon's special ability! By sending Break Draw to the graveyard, he won't be destroyed by your attack!

Devack: Your monster may be safe, but your life points aren't.

Leo: 2500 LP

Leo looked up and saw Power Tool Dragon was standing in between him and Devack's attack.

Leo: Power Tool Dragon is protecting me?

Back in the spirit world, Luna, Alex, Torunka, and Jinzo were face-to-face with Regulus.

Alex: So this is Regulus?

Torunka: Yeah, but I'm not sure why he's so mad.

Regulus looked them over before his eyes landed on Luna.

Regulus: Luna. I've been waiting for you.

Luna: That's right. I'm here to save the Ancient Fairy Dragon.

Regulus: What did you say?! You're supposed to fight against the darkness, not help it!

Alex: She just said she was here to help you.

Regulus: You! I sense the power of darkness inside of you. I know who you are, now release Luna from whatever spell you've placed her under!

Alex: I haven't done anything to Luna!

Regulus: So you admit it. Foul villain, I shall defeat you and save Luna!

Torunka: What's wrong with him, it's like he's hearing the opposite of whatever we say.

Luna: Look at his back ankle! It looks like a mini version of the minus staffs that were in town.

Jinzo: That could be causing him to hear the opposite of what we say.

Alex: I'd never hurt Luna or the spirit world! I wanna help you!

Regulus: I won't allow you to harm Luna or the spirit world!

Regulus leapt at Alex, but Alex extended his hands towards Regulus and black chains shot out of the shadows of surrounding trees, wrapping around Regulus' legs, holding him in place.

Torunka: That's some trick.

Alex: Think of something! I can't hold this for long!

Luna: Don't you have magic powers or something? Can't you wave a wand and fix this?

Torunka: I forgot all my spells when I turned into a kid.

Luna: Oh great.

Torunka: Wait, I've got an idea. If he hears the opposite of what we say, then we should say the opposite of what we mean.

Luna: I guess it's worth a try. Regulus, Alex is my enemy! He's here to destroy the spirit world and you have to beat him!

Regulus: Having her lie to me won't save you!

Torunka: Hey, it worked!

Luna: Yeah, but he thinks I'm just lying to him.

Alex: I can't keep this up for much longer.

Jinzo placed himself between Alex and Regulus, prepared to defend him when his hold broke.

Jinzo: If only we could neutralize the effect of that minus staff clamped to his ankle.

Alex dropped onto his hands and knees and started panting as the chains on Regulus broke. Before Regulus could attack however, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to face the newcomers and was greeted by the unpleasant sight of a group of monkey soldiers.

Regulus: More monkey business?

Monkey 1: You won't escape this time. We're taking you to King Zeman.

Regulus: Not without a fight.

Luna and Torunka were watching from behind a fallen log that they had ducked behind when the soldiers arrived.

Monkey 2: Now feel the power of my Minus Staff.

Monkey 1: What are you doing you fool?! He's already got a Minus Staff attached to his leg, see!

Monkey 2: Oh yeah, and if the power of this Minus Staff interacts with the power of that one, it'll create positive energy, cancelling out his minus curse.

Before another word could be said, Regulus ran past them, running deeper into the forest.

Monkey 1: After him!

Luna: Did you hear what that monkey said? If we get that Minus Staff from him, we'll be able to free Regulus from his curse!

Alex: You go on ahead. I need to rest.

Jinzo: I shall stay right by your side until you have recovered my lord.

Alex: Thanks but no. Luna needs your protection more than I do, I want you to go with her.

Luna: Are you sure Alex?

Alex: Don't worry, I'll be fine. You need to help Regulus.

Luna: Okay.

Alex: Be careful.

Luna: I will.

They hugged for a moment before she, Torunka, and Jinzo took off after Regulus and the soldiers. The monkeys came to a stop when they realized they had lost Regulus.

Monkey 1: He must be close by. Fan out and find him.

Luna saw one of them heading in her direction.

Luna: Hey banana brain!

The monkey turned in the direction Luna's voice came from and saw her step out from behind a tree.

Luna: Nya nya, catch me if you can!

Monkey: You're that girl who escaped before. What are you doing out here?

Luna ran past Jinzo and Torunka, telling them to spring the trap. Torunka activated a Minus Staff that was embedded in the trunk of a tree just as the soldier passed by it, causing the monkey to be turned upside down and fly up into the branches, dropping the Minus Staff it had been holding, Luna catching the staff as it fell.

Jinzo: An excellent plan my lady.

Luna: Thanks, now let's go find Regulus.

They caught up to Regulus as he was crossing a fallen log over a river. He made it to the other side and turned to make sure they weren't following him, but when turned, he saw Luna and the others running towards him.

Luna: Regulus, keep running!

Regulus: Luna! Where is the one controlling you?

Torunka: Remember, say the opposite.

Luna: Regulus, he's not controlling me anymore. I don't need your help.

Regulus: How do I break his control?

Luna: It's not this staff. Touching it to you will only make it worse.

Regulus stepped forward and Luna tapped her Minus Staff to the one on his ankle, causing it to fall off.

Luna: Regulus, are you okay?

Regulus: I'm okay. What about you?

Luna: I was never under Alex's control. You were under the effect of the Minus Curse and heard the opposite of whatever we were saying.

Regulus: I see. I'm sorry I attacked your friend.

Jinzo: Well, no one got hurt, so it's fine.

Regulus: Wait, where is your friend?

Luna: He had to rest, but he said he'd catch up with us.

Regulus: It was most unwise to leave him alone. This forest is crawling with Zeman's minions.

Luna: You're saying Alex could be in danger?

Regulus: It's very likely.

Jinzo: We must check on my lord immediately!

The three of them got on Regulus' back and they dashed back to where Alex had been. When they got there, Alex was gone, and there were clear signs of some kind of struggle.

Regulus: I'm sorry. They must have taken him to Zeman.

Back at the duel, Leo was recovering from Devack's attack.

Trudge: Stay strong kid!

Leo turned back to his Power Tool Dragon.

Leo: You okay big guy?

His monster nodded in response.

Devack: Your monster can't protect you forever boy, and these two face-downs are going to prove it.

Leo: It's my turn, I draw. I've got to find a way to dethrone his Ape King. I activate Power Tool Dragon's special ability. Once per turn, I can add a random equip spell from my deck to my hand. I play the Megamorph equip spell. If my life points are lower than yours, my monster's attack points are doubled.

Devack: But since our life points are the same, its attack points won't change.

Leo: I switch Power Tool Dragon to defense mode and end my turn.

Devack: If that's the best you can do, then this duel will be over faster than I expected. It's my turn. Now Zeman, attack Power Tool Dragon with Cursed Flare!

Leo: Due to my monster's ability, by sending Megamorph to the graveyard, he won't be destroyed, and since Power Tool is in defense mode, I won't take any damage.

Devack: That's what you think. I play the Roaring Earth continuous trap. With it, if my beast monster attacks a monster in defense mode, you take the extra damage.

Leo: 2000 LP

Leo looked at Power Tool Dragon and saw parts of it were being chipped away by Zeman's attack.

Leo: What's happening to Power Tool Dragon?

Devack: Due to the effect of Roaring Earth, if you take damage because of its effect, one of your monsters loses 300 attack and defense points.

Power Tool Dragon: 2300-2000 ATK/2500-2200 DEF

Devack: Finally, I place one card face-down and end my turn. How pathetic. Just like your ridiculous monster you linger before me looking defeated and miserable.

Leo turned to look at Power Tool Dragon.

Leo: He can say whatever he wants about you, but I know that you've got my back, and together, we're gonna beat him.

Back in the spirit world, Luna, Torunka, Regulus, and Jinzo were standing outside of Zeman's castle.

Torunka: I like what he's done with the place, he's really nailed the doomy and gloomy motif.

Jinzo: This is hardly the time for jokes.

Luna: So what do we do now?

Regulus: We walk right up to the door and let them know we're here.

Luna, Jinzo, and Torunka just looked at him in confusion before he explained his plan.

Zeman: What?! Regulus has finally been captured? Tell whichever soldier captured him that they can feast on all the bananas their stomach can take.

Monkey: It wasn't one of the soldiers who captured him my king.

Zeman: So then who was it?

Monkey: A wandering wizard of some sort.

Zeman: Show them in.

The door to his castle opened to reveal Regulus in a large cage with three cloaked figures leading it. The three of them stopped and bowed to Zeman before one of them spoke.

Luna: Great and powerful Zeman the Ape King, it is a true honor to be in your presence.

Torunka: And speaking of presents, we brought you one.

Jinzo: If I had a stomach, I'd be throwing up right now.

Zeman: You may raise your heads. I take it you are in charge.

Jinzo: You would be correct. These are my apprentices, but they are well trained in the mystic arts.

Zeman: How is it that you have managed to capture Regulus when he has managed to best and evade my entire army?

?: It could have something to do with the fact that your soldiers are bumbling half-wits Zeman.

Luna turned her head to see who spoke and couldn't believe who she saw.

Zeman: You dare speak of my soldiers in such a manner, Alastor?

Alex's alternate personality stepped into the room wearing a chain with a Minus Staff hanging around his neck.

Alastor: I'm merely speaking the truth. The only reason they subdued Alex was because he was in a weakened state. But then it is so hard to find good help these days. So you three managed to catch Regulus? I must say I'm impressed.

He winked at Luna discreetly.

Jinzo: It was all thanks to the power of this staff.

He held up the Minus Staff Luna took earlier, except it was wrapped in a long cloth to try and disguise it. He turned around and pointed it at Regulus.

Jinzo: Arise!

Regulus got up and roared at Zeman's soldiers.

Jinzo: Be silent!

Regulus stopped roaring and laid back down.

Zeman: So you have cast a control spell over him.

Torunka: Indeed. Once our master cast the spell, it was child's play to subdue him.

Alastor: These three may actually pull this ridiculous stunt off.

Zeman: And now that you have brought him to me, it's time to seal him away forever.

Alastor: I wouldn't do that just yet Zeman.

Zeman: And why is that?

Alastor: As you know, Regulus is bound to Ancient Fairy Dragon as her servant.

Zeman: I know that already, so if there's something else you know, I suggest you tell me now.

Alastor: Due to the nature of their bond, you cannot fully cast the Minus Curse on one without the other.

Zeman: And so what do I do, have Regulus sit in a cage and watch him perform tricks all day?

Alastor: As entertaining as that would be, there is a way to achieve your goal. You must remove the seal you've placed on Ancient Fairy Dragon, and then act swiftly to curse them both. Only then will you be able to absorb Ancient Fairy Dragon's power.

Zeman: Is this true wizard?

Luna: Indeed my king. I hope I'm right and Alastor is helping us.

Alastor: C'mon, take the bait you stupid ape.

Zeman: Very well then. If that is what must be done, then so be it.

Hey everyone. This is probably going to be my only upload this week and for a little while. My aunt recently died of cancer and the funeral is this Thursday. I don't plan to stop writing for too long, but I need a little time to my self for a while. I hope you all understand, have a great day, and are staying safe.