The Conqueror Arrives Episode I: "The Negaverse Lives!" By Knight of Valor A year has past since the Sailor Scouts fought and defeated the Doom Phantom. They have been enjoying the peace and tranquillity of finally being able to take it easy. Mina, Raye, and Lita were at Raye’s temple. They had gotten together for a visit. It was Saturday morning, so they wanted to enjoy their time off from school. The three were sitting on the floor in Raye’s room, positioned around a small table. "Hasn’t it been great?" Mina inquired. "I know what you mean Mina. At first I didn’t know how to handle the peace. But now I’m getting used to it," Raye remarked. "Me too. Say Raye, why aren’t Amy and Serena here?" Lita asked. "Well, Amy had to study for another computer test, and Serena is out on a date with Darien," Raye explained. "Oh well, the three of us can still have fun right?" Questioned Lita, as she waited for a response. "You bet!" Raye asserted cheerfully. At that time they heard the door open. "Hey, is this a private party or can anyone join in on the fun?" A young man asked. They all looked up. "Hey it’s Josh!" Mina said pleasantly surprised. Josh is young man who the girls met at the high school. He has become a new friend of the girls. He has been going to their school for six and a half months now. In that time they’ve come to know each other very well. Their new friend was somewhat tall, about six-foot. He had a well-built figure as well. Josh had short brown hair (similar to Darien’s hairstyle), matched with dark brown eyes. He wore blue jeans, along with a gray long sleeved shirt. "Hi Mina! Hey girls!" Josh spoke, fully entering the room. Raye sat on her bed, while Lita and Mina were seated at the table. Mina let Josh sit next to her at the table. "So tell us Josh, what brings you here?" Mina asked curiously. "Oh no real reason Mina. I was in the neighborhood and had some free time, plus I thought I’d pay my three favorite girls a visit. Besides, you said I could feel free to drop buy anytime, right?" He asked hesitantly. "Of course Josh," replied Raye. "Your welcome to hang with us anytime!" Mina stated enthusiastically. "For sure!" Added Lita ecstatically. "Great!" He expressed with a smile. "It’s still something," Lita thought. "What do you mean Lita?" Mina questioned. "Well Mina, we just met Josh six and a half months ago and since then, we’ve all become such great friends," Lita answered remembering the past months. "Yeah, I know what Lita means. Josh is welcome company," Mina stated. "Aw thanks you guys. You sure know how to make a guy feel welcome," Josh replied blushing. The four continued chatting into the afternoon. * * * * * * Meanwhile outside of town, the sky grew dark and ominous. Streaks of lightning raced across the sky, accompanied by loud crashes of thunder. A bolt of lightning struck the ground. Once it had dissipated, a dark portal opened. From it emerged five beings. Their forms were shrouded in black, so they all appeared only as silhouettes. "Ah, free at last!! Finally after a millennium, I have the power to leave the Negaverse and return to the Earth!" The figure began. The being paused and looked at the shadowy figure beside him. "Ah, Nayla you and the others have done well!" "Thank you lord Gorthex. It took us some work, but once we gathered that last bit of energy, we were finally able to open a portal to Earth!" Nayla spoke satisfied. "Yes and now that we’re here I can restore my power! Soon again I will unleash my wrath upon this world!" Gorthex declared. "This shall be our finest moment Lord Gorthex!" Octiovus, one of the other shadows, exclaimed. "Too true Octivous! But now we need a base of operations." His master stated. "Where will that be master?" Asked Octiovus. Gorthex looked around. All he saw was the city of Tokyo nearby. He gazed at the city, thought for a moment, and then spoke, "Until my powers are restored, I will not be able to rebuilt my tower, but I have an underground labyrinth below the location where the remnants of my tower are." "Very well my lord." His minion replied. "Have the others follow!" The dark being ordered. "As you command!" Said Octivous complying. Gorthex and his followers entered into their lair underneath the center of Tokyo City. Gorthex studied the area. It had changed form its original appearance, but it was the same spot. Where once stood a spire of great evil, there was only a town square. Tall buildings and roads surrounded it. "Yes, this is the place! It should do nicely for the time being. Octivous, Xanor, Aquarius, Nayla, come, it is time to plan our attack of this world!" He informed them. The five darkened forms teleported into the lair below. The den possessed a morbid aura. It was a traditional base of those from the Negaverse. His lair resembled a medieval castle or dungeon. There were stone walls, cavernous walls, and tiled and dirt floors. These features of the dungeon were colored a sea green or teal with a hint on cerulean blue, a touch purple, and of course black. The colors were spread out across the bleak den. The group entered the main chamber. In the back of it was a throne. Gorthex proceeded and sat upon it. Gorthex’s appearance was hidden. He wore a hooded robe. None of his features were visible, with the exception of a pair of slanted red eyes. "So what is our first priority?" Nayla asked. Gorthex lowered his hood, revealing his head. Gorthex looked like an old man. He wore a silver colored covering on his head, which was similar to a helmet. His eyes had black irises, above them were white eyebrows. Below his mouth, from his chin down to his belly, grew a long bushy white beard. "Identifying any resistance is our first priority. The last group of warriors from the Negaverse was from the Negamoon. They were beaten by a group of five female warriors calling themselves the Sailor Scouts." Gorthex explained. "How could five female warriors be so powerful?" Nayla questioned. "It is possible. While I was restoring my power, I also kept a vigil on Earth. I noticed that the Sailor Scouts were a problem to those from the Negaverse. Why even Queen Beryl was defeated by them," Gorthex replied. "Not to mention the Doom Phantom they recently dispatched with," She added. "Queen Beryl underestimated them, and the Doom Phantom was a chaotic fool! However, the Sailor Scouts may be a problem. Right now we must plan our strategy for dealing with them!" Gorthex shouted placing his arms at his side. * * * * * * Josh and his friends were still chatting at Raye’s temple. It was now early in the afternoon. "So girls, anybody want to go to the park?" Josh asked. "Sounds good to me!" Lita answered. "You bet!" Mina agreed. "Let’s go!" Raye expressed excitedly. "Oh wait! Josh, is it okay if I bring my cat, Artemis?" Mina asked suddenly. "Sure! I like cats," he told her. Josh knelt down next to Artemis. "You’re a cool cat aren’t you Artemis." Josh gently patted Artemis on the head and rubbed his cheek. Artemis Meowed in a friendly matter and was purring. Artemis thought, Gee I’m sure glad the girls brought this guy around. I can tell from his personality that he is a really nice guy. "Well c’mon, let’s go!" Declared Mina. The four of them departed for the park. Along the way, they happened to meet up with Serena, Darien, Luna, and Amy. A short time later the seven of them, along with the two cats, arrived in the park. It was late afternoon. There were several people in the park. They were walking, resting, having a picnic, or just having fun doing whatever. The gang finished their picnic lunch. Josh, Lita, Darien, and Amy, were all playing touch football. Raye, Mina, and Serena were just sitting under a shade tree; Luna and Artemis were also with them. The two cats were just napping while the girls talked. Mina stared at Josh while he played with the others. She wanted to go out with him, but Mina felt reluctant to ask him. "Hey Raye, Serena, I have something important I want to talk to you about," Mina stated. "What is it Mina?" Serena asked. "Yeah, what’s on your mind?" Raye inquired further. "It’s Josh," Mina replied. "What about Josh?" Serena became suspicious. "If you two haven’t noticed, I like Josh. I think he’s cool. I’d like to ask him out, but I was wondering if you guys think it would be a good idea or not," she said hesitantly. Mina turned to both her friends. Serena took a few seconds to think, then she spoke, "I think it’s a good idea. If I didn’t know better Mina, I think he likes you. Raye what do you think?" "Sounds like a plan to me. Mina, if you really like the guy, then go for it! Besides, haven’t you noticed the way he keeps looking over at you from time to time? He even tries to hide it, by looking your way then quickly looking away," Raye remarked. "Raye’s right Mina, I’ve seen him do it too. At school even. So I think you should stick to your guns." Serena urged Mina on. Mina thought for a moment. While she was thinking, the football landed near her feet. The three look up and saw Josh coming over to get the ball. Mina picked up the ball. "Here Josh." She uttered tossing it to him. "Thanks. Mina it’s nice seeing you. Say why don’t you watch me score the next touchdown? I’m gonna show Lita up!" He told her confidently. "Go get’m Josh," Mina replied. Josh took the ball and returned to the game. Raye couldn’t help speaking, "Mina if that isn’t proof enough that he’s interested in you I don’t know what is." Serena agreed, "She’s right." "Okay I’ll do it! I’ll just wait till after he’s done playing football!" Mina asserted determinedly. "Alright." Serena said. "Go with it!" Raye cheered. * * * * * * Back in their lair, Gorthex and his minions began making plans to gather energy. He placed his arms on the armrests of his throne. "As you all know, I have only restored a third of my power. I still need more! Luckily this planet is teaming with energy! So we can simply go out and collect it at our leisure! Once we’ve restored my power to its zenith, I will be able to conquer this planet unopposed! With such a jewel as Earth in my possession, I can use it as a staging ground to take over the universe!!" He addressed to his minions. "Then no one will stop us!" Octivous remarked. "Exactly Octivous! Now I want you to go out to the city and to drain the energy from the humans in the park and bring it back here! If the Sailor Scouts show up don’t hesitate to eliminate them. I want you to find out how formidable they are as well," His master directed. "As you command my master!" Gorthex’s minion responded. He left the room and headed for the surface. * * * * * * Octivous arrived in the park. He was a vile looking person. Octivous wore a black suit and was adorned with a blood red and black backed cape. He wore a belt around his waist accompanied with a broad sword sheathed in a scabbard. His hair grew to his shoulders and was white, as was his beard. Dark brown eyes that glowed red were his final feature. Octivous looked around and saw many people in the park. They were undertaking activities that he thought were pointless and also foolish. "This place will do nicely!" Octivous thrust his hands into the air. "Come forth Behemoth! I Octivous summon you to do my bidding!!" Octivous called forth his minion. The ground cracked open and a burst of fire flew out of it. The flame took the figure of a half-man half-wolf. It was Behemoth. The beast had reddish brown fur, razor sharp claws, fangs that gaped from its mouth, and it wore a shredded loincloth accompanied by bronzed bones as armor. "What is thy bidding master?" Behemoth growled. "See those annoying humans in the park? I want you to drain their energy and bring it to me!" He demanded. "That will be simple. You will not be disappointed!" Behemoth took off into the park and began to attack the people in it. He used his powerful claws to drain their energy. He subdued them with his fire breath and his red eye-beams. He grabbed one unexpecting human. "Foolish human, your energy is mine!! Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha!!" He drained the energy out of the human’s body and tossed him aside. Not far away, Josh and the others heard the shouts of panic form the people. "What on earth is going on?!" Mina asked fearfully. "I don’t know Mina, but it can’t be anything good!" Raye stated uneasy. She and Mina looked over at Josh. "Raye, Mina, I think we’d better get out of here!" Josh asserted with distress. Josh turned to see how close the monster was and when he looked back, the girls were gone. "Where’d they go?" The girls along with Luna & Artemis were standing behind some trees. "Girls this is bad! That monster must be from the Negaverse!" Luna told them. "Luna’s right we need the Scouts!!" Artemis said excitedly. "No problem Artemis!" Serena declared. "We’re on it!!" The others shouted. The Scouts grabbed their power sticks. "Mercury, Star, Power!!" "Mars, Star, Power!!" "Jupiter, Star, Power!!" "Venus, Star, Power!!" Serena raised her Star Locket in her right hand, "Moon, Crystal, Power!!" After they went thought their transformations, they had become the Sailor Scouts. "You weak humans are finished and there is no one to save you!!" Behemoth yelled. "Hold it right there Hot Head!!" Hollered Sailor Moon angrily. "Who are you?!" The beast inquired. "I’m Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice!! I will right wrongs and triumph over evil beings and that means you!" She answered to it. "I’m Sailor Venus!" "Sailor, Jupiter!" "Sailor, Mars!" "And Sailor Mercury!!" "We will punish you!!" The four of them expressed with determination. "Ha! Punish this!!" Behemoth growled. Behemoth let them have it with his fire breath. A cone-shaped group of flames flew at the Scouts. They managed to dodge it and returned to get their attacker. "You call that fire!! Try this! Mars, Celestial, Fire, Surround!!" Her fire rings flew at Behemoth, but he simply swallowed them and spit them back at her. She was singed by her own fire. "Ha! Is that the best you’ve got?!" He asked rhetorically. "No way! C’mon Venus, let’s get him!!" Jupiter yelled. "You got it Jupiter!" Venus concurred. "Jupiter, Thunder Clap, Zap!!" Sailor Jupiter thrust forth a pulse of lighting. "Venus, Love Chain, Encircle!!" Sailor Venus was surrounded by her love chain. Once it was charged, she unleashed it at Behemoth. The two attacks became one and rammed into the fiery monster. "Ow! You’ll pay for that!!" The beast roared. He emitted rays of intense heat from his eyes. Using them, he zapped the two Sailor Scouts. They both tumbled to the ground and landed on their sides. Behemoth was preparing to hit them with his fire breath to finish the job, but a read rose flew past him. "Huh?" The beast muttered. "Stop there fiend!" A man shouted. "Who are you?" The beast hissed. "I am Tuxedo Mask! I can’t allow you to steal energy from these innocent people!" Tuxedo Mask declared with disgust. "And what are you going to do about it?" Behemoth asked. "This!" He threw a rose into Behemoth’s chest. "Argh!!" Behemoth roared in pain as he clutched his chest. "Now Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury use your powers to beat him!" Tuxedo Mask instructed. "I got ya! Mercury let’s double team him!" Shouted Sailor Moon. "Right!" Replied Mercury. "Ready Mercury?!" Sailor Moon asked. "Yes let’s clean his clock!!" Mercury flung a drop of water to the ground. From it a torrent of water rose. "Shine, Aqua, Illusion!!" She hollered. The icy blast hit Behemoth and paralyzed him. "So..c..c..old!" He quivered with icicles forming on his face. "My turn!" Sailor Moon drew her Moon Scepter. "Moon, Scepter, Elimination!!" A Moonbeam flew from the scepter striking Behemoth. "Ahh aahhh!! No!!" Shrieked Behemoth. His body was reduced to dust, which poured to the ground. "He’s Moon dusted!" Sailor Moon exclaimed victoriously. "Excellent job Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask said congratulating her. "Thanks Tuxedo Mask." She replied with a smile. Sailor Mars and the others came up to Sailor Moon. "Way to trash that hot head!" They remarked. It was then that a crack of thunder filled the air. "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Congratulations for destroying Behemoth. You’re more formidable then I thought!" Commented Octivous. "Who are you?" Sailor Moon asked puzzled. "Oh how rude of me! I am Octivous, champion warrior of the Negaverse!!" He replied with conceit. "Negaverse!! Ha, but I thought we trashed all you creeps!" Sailor Moon said proudly. "Well it seems that you have still missed a few of us!" He added. "If you’re from the Negaverse, we’ll defeat you! I am Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice!! In the name of the Moon, I will right wrongs and triumph over evil!" She yelled. "Is that so?! Then triumph over this!!" He stated angrily. Octivous held up his right arm and struck Sailor Moon with a dark thunder bolt. "Ahh!!" She screamed. The Scout leader fell to the ground, lying smack on her stomach. "Sailor Moon!!" Tuxedo Mask expressed fearfully. Tuxedo Mask looked up at his enemy with sneer. "You’ll pay for that!" "Oh really?!" Octivous questioned mocking him. "Yes! Yahhh!!" He unleashed a group of roses at Octivous. They didn’t even phase him down. "Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Did you actually think you could hurt me with those lousy roses?!! Bah, it’ll take more then flowers to stop me!! Ahhh!!" He held up his hands and fired magic beams at Tuxedo Mask. "Ooowwww!!!" Tuxedo Mask hollered painfully. Jupiter went to shout, "C’mon guys let’s show him!! Jupiter Thun..." "Oh no, no, no, no, no, we simply can’t have that!! Ha!!" He grunted thrusting his left hand from his chest outward. From this Octiovus successfully hit them all with a wave of dark energy. He had them on their knees. "You Sailor Scouts are finished!! Give my regards to your maker!!" "Hold it!! You aren’t going to harm them!!" a mysterious voice spoke. Octivous looked up and saw a mysterious looking knight standing on the jungle gym. The knight wore blue tights accompanied by a green tunic. He also had silver shin high boots on, along with shinny silver blue gloves, and a red and navy blue backed cape. He also had a sword sheathed in a scabbard. The knight possessed a head of brown hair accompanied with brown eyes. "Who the devil are you?!" Octivous roared enraged. "Wouldn’t you like to know!!" The knight replied smugly. "Well whoever you are, I’ll make short work of you once I finish them!!" Octivous spoke zealously. "Oh no you don’t! I won’t let you hurt them!!" He declared to his enemy. "Fine then, if you’re that eager to die, then let me make your wish come true!! Huragh!!" Grunted Octivous. He shot an energy blast at the knight, but he easily leapt out of its path. "You missed!!" Remarked the knight. "Blast!" "Now get lost Negascum!!" Hollered the knight. The knight drew his sword and trained it at Octivous. The sword began to glow with purple-colored energy. "Cosmic, Energy Zaps, Discharge!!" He yelled. Several violet-colored zaps of energy flew from the knight’s sword and struck Octivous in the chest. "Ahhh!! This can’t be! You’ve drained my energy!" Octivous whined holding his chest. "Don’t think this is the end of me!! Ha, ha!! I will return!! And soon my master will rule this world!!" He disappeared into thin air. The knight turned his attention to the Sailor Scouts. Sailor Venus looked up and saw the knight. She felt a sensation she never felt before. Her heart was full of joy. "Who are you?" She asked anxiously. He bowed in front of her and said, "Jaydex, the Galactic Knight, at you service Sailor Venus." "You know my name?" She asked feeling awkward. "Yes, I know all of your names," he stated. The other Scouts joined Sailor Venus. Each of them was amazed. "Why have you come?" Sailor Mars asked. "To help you fight the Negaverse." Jaydex responded. "Where did you come from?" Sailor Venus asked showing interest. "Yeah Sailor Venus is right where did you come from?" Mars further inquired. "My apologizes Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus, but that is something you will learn another day, but till then farewell!" He bided them. "Wait! Will I ever see you again?!" Mina asked unknowingly. "Worry not Sailor Venus, you will see me again, I promise you that!! Until we meet again!!" He said his goodbye, and disappeared into the shadows. "Who was that Mina?" Raye inquired. "I don’t know Raye, but he certainly is dreamy!!" Mina commented. "Yeah I guess he is a hunk. Oh but let’s get going!" Spoke Raye. "Why?" Mina questioned. "Josh is probably wondering where we went!" She reminded her friend. "Oh yeah, we’d better go find him!" She had just realized that they left him before the battle. * * * * * * A short while later the girls returned to Raye’s temple. Josh was standing outside by the porch waiting for them. It was early evening. "Where have you girls been?" He asked sternly. "We went to Serena’s house," Raye answered. "Really? Well I was concerned. I was hoping you girls were okay. It certainly was strange at the park this evening wasn’t it Mina?" He mentioned. "I know it was!" She responded. "Well don’t worry Josh, we saw the Sailor Scouts arrive and they took care of the problem!" Raye stated. "Yeah, and don’t forget that Jaydex helped us out too!" Serena butted in. "I was just getting to that Serena!!" Said Raye irritated. The others had gone inside, but Mina asked Josh to stay outside with her. A gentle breeze began to blow. Both Josh’s and Mina’s hair blew back and forth in the breeze. "Josh," she spoke nervously. "Yes Mina, what is it?" "I have something I want to ask you." "Go on." Josh uttered intrigued. Mina paused, then continued, "Josh, would you like to go out with me sometime?" "Oh, sure Mina." Josh thought it was humorous. He was planning on asking her out; she just beat him to the punch. "Really? Well then how about we head to the diner and split a milkshake and talk?" She suggested. "I’d be delighted Mina. Let’s go!" He expressed. "Alright." Mina held hands with him as the two walked down the street heading for the diner. She felt on top of the world, she and Josh were going on a first date. Josh was happy too. He was with Mina, a girl he cared a great deal for. The sun set in the distance as the two continued toward the diner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------