Chapter 4 - Duel

The Outer Scouts surrounded Darth Novus as the Inner Scouts managed to catch up and aid them.

"Uranus! Neptune! Pluto!" Sailor Mars expressed happily.

"Thank goodness you guys showed up." Sailor Venus said in the same manner. Novus looked all the Scouts and couldn't believe it.

"You're kidding me. There are more of them? Seriously?" he thought.

"We found two men murdered in an alley earlier." Sailor Uranus explained.

"And from what we gathered, their wounds were delivered by a particular kind of assassin." Sailor Neptune said.

"So we decided to investigate... and it's led us here." Pluto concluded as she glared at Novus.

"I guess I should have been more discreet about my presence here." Novus chuckled darkly. "Though I am a little curious... How did you know where to look?"

"One of the men you attacked." Sailor Neptune answered. "He gave us the info we needed."

"Ah, yes. I remember." The Sith replied. "He was quite the whimpering coward after I made an example out of his friends."

"You won't get away with what you've done." Sailor Uranus glared, pointing her sword at Novus.

"We'll see about that..." Novus returned the glare as he took out his lightsaber and ignited it.

"Uranus, be careful!" Sailor Mercury warned. "That sword of his is dangerous!"

Everyone watched as Uranus charged at Novus with her sword. "Space Sword Blaster!" she shouted, making her blade light up with energy and clash against Novus's saber. The two kept exchanging blows at each other. Novus utilized Form III of lightsaber combat, Soresu, to defend himself against his opponent.

Uranus kept pressing the attack at the dark warrior as best as she could, but Novus was able to match her blow to blow. He decided to switch it up a little by mixing in Form IV: Ataru into his fighting style and moved in on the offense, applying acrobatic attacks against the Scout of the Skies.

Sailor Uranus was surprised to see that the dark warrior was quite skilled in swordsmanship. She began using some of her acrobatic maneuvers against Novus. It seemed to the other Scouts that the two were nearly equal.

They all continued watching as Uranus and Novus collided their weapons into a blade lock. The two combatants pushed each other back as hard as they could, trying to win the lock.

"I won't... let you win!" Uranus grunted in frustration. She started pushing Darth Novus back until she saw him smirk at her in a manner of arrogance.

"You are quite strong... but you have much to learn!" Novus hissed as he began pushing Uranus back, winning the power struggle. That is until Sailor Neptune quickly stepped in to aid her cousin.

"Neptune Deep Submerge!" she shouted, unleashing her signature attack at Novus. The young Sith looked and saw a massive ball of blue-green energy with a ring around it heading straight for him. Acting fast, he shoved Sailor Uranus out of his way, reached out with the Force and caught it.

"No way..!" Sailor Neptune expressed in shock. No one had ever managed to catch her signature attack.

"Uranus World Shaking!" Uranus seized the opportunity and launched a golden ball of energy that was similar to Neptune's. Novus's eyes widened as he saw the attack barreling towards him.

"GRRR!" he groaned as he used his other hand to catch the incoming ball of energy. The two attacks kept pushing Novus back, but the Sith was managing to hold his ground until Sailor Pluto moved up on the assault.

"Pluto Dead Scream!" she shouted as she used her staff to cast a purple ball of energy at the distressed Sith. The attack collided with Uranus's and Neptune's attacks and began to combine into one giant multicolored energy ball and engulf Darth Novus.

"Ah! AHHH!" he cried out as he struggled. The Scouts watched on as they were about to witness something mind-boggling.

"RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Novus loudly roared as he used Force Repulse, releasing a tremendous amount of force energy to free himself from near destruction.

"Amazing..." Sailor Pluto voiced in astonishment. Uranus and Neptune had similar looks on their faces while the Inner Scouts gazed with eyes wide as plates.

"Okay... Just how powerful is this guy?" Sailor Mars asked to no one in particular.

"Who knows..." Jupiter uttered, still shocked. Darth Novus knelt on one knee, heavily breathing as he tried to regain composer. The amount of energy and willpower required to initiate and perform the Force Repulse technique left the dark warrior somewhat exhausted.

"Novus! Give up!" Sailor Venus demanded, readying her finger for a Crescent Beam Attack.

The Sith Lord glared at his enemies in hate and emerged himself further into the Dark Side. Everyone looked on as they saw a red aura and sparks of Force Lightning surrounding his body.

"Guys, be careful! I'm sensing a great darkness from him." Sailor Mars warned.

"What is he doing to himself?" Sailor Mercury asked as she tried to observe the dark warrior with her visor. The red aura surrounding Novus kept growing in sync with the young Sith's hatred as he tapped into Force Rage. Growling viciously, Darth Novus stood once more ready to fight.

"I've been taking it easy on all of you..." he snarled, summoning his lightsaber to his hand and igniting it. "...but no more!"

Novus launched himself at the Sailor Scouts in an all-out assault. He abandoned all defense and attacked with the seventh and final form of lightsaber combat: Juyo.

Sailor Uranus resumed her duel with the Sith and defended her friends. She discovered that her opponent had become ferociously stronger and faster as she struggled to keep up. Having Force Rage enhance his physical attributes in combination with Juyo made Darth Novus seem invincible.

"He's so fast!" Sailor Neptune commented in thought.

"I can barely keep up with him. He's like a blur!" Sailor Jupiter thought, her eyes wide as could be. The fight gradually made its way over to the edge of the rooftop where Sailor Uranus tried to get a hit in on Novus, but the dark warrior was relentless. He violently kicked the Scout in the face and sent her falling into the streets below.

"Sailor Uranus!" everyone cried.

"No!" Neptune screamed in distress.

Novus jumped over the edge in pursuit of his target. Sailor Uranus managed to slow her fall and landed safely on the ground. She looked up and saw an enraged Darth Novus barreling towards her. Quickly, she somersaulted out of the way just as the Sith stabbed his lightsaber into the ground.

The duel carried on in the streets while the other Scouts rushed to get down to the fight and aid their friend.

"C'mon! We have to hurry!" Sailor Neptune said, worried about her cousin.

"Don't worry, Neptune. We'll stop this guy!" Sailor Jupiter responded, trying to comfort her.

"Where did this guy come from? I've never witnessed such darkness before." Sailor Mars commented.

"I know what you mean, Mars." Pluto said. "Where is Sailor Moon?" she asked.

"Tuxedo Mask got injured when he fought Darth Novus, so she and Sailor Mini-Moon stayed behind to treat him. They'll join us as soon as they can." Sailor Venus answered.

"I think there might be a way to win." Mercury said, making the others stop and listen to her.

"What are you suggesting, Mercury?" Jupiter asked.

"We've got to try to get the sword away from him. Sailor Mars, you'll have to try to subdue him with one of your seal tags. Can you do that?" Mercury asked.

"If I can get close enough to him, sure. I'm gonna need one of you guys to provide a distraction so I can get in on him." Mars mentioned.

"Leave that to me." Sailor Venus smiled confidently.

"Okay, let's do it." Neptune said as the others nodded.


In the streets

Darth Novus continued his relentless assault on Sailor Uranus. Combining Forms IV and VII of lightsaber combat made his attacks devastating.

Uranus attempted to land a few punches and kicks at Novus. She succeeded in slowing down the Sith and started to move on the offense.

"Space Sword Blaster!" she shouted while she swung her sword and unleashed a wave of energy at Novus. The young Sith Force Jumped to avoid being hit by the attack.

"Well, aren't you the crafty one." Novus huffed, making Uranus smirk in confidence.

"I think you've underestimated me." she said.

"Don't get too full of yourself! You haven't won yet." Novus sneered.

"Venus Love Chain Encircle!" Sailor Venus launched a series of golden hearts linked together in a chain and wrapped it around the dark warrior, surprising him and making him drop his lightsaber.

"Augh! Wha-!? What is this!?" Novus shouted as he wrestled to get free.

"Now, Mars! Before he breaks out!" Venus yelled. Sailor Mars nodded and hurried over to the distressed Sith.

"I call upon the power of Mars! HA!" she pulled out a seal tag and placed it on Novus's head, paralyzing his body.

"I've got his weapon." Sailor Mercury said as the Sith Warrior crumpled to the ground.

"Great job, guys!" Sailor Uranus congratulated.

"What's happening to me!? I can't move-!" Novus desperately sought a way to escape. With his body unresponsive and his lightsaber in the enemy's possession, there was only one way he could save himself: Mind Trick. He stared into the eyes of Sailor Mars.

"You... You don't want to fight me." he said. Mars felt herself falling into submission.

"I... don't want to fight you..." she said in a hypnotized tone, making everyone look at her like she was crazy.

"Mars! What are you doing!?" Sailor Jupiter shouted, but Mars couldn't hear her.

"Yes... Now, remove this tag from me." Novus commanded.

"I will obey..." Mars responded as she knelt down and removed the seal tag off Novus.

"Good. Now attack your allies!" Novus demanded.

"Yes." Mars responded as she attacked Sailor Venus who was caught off guard by this sudden action.

"Raye! Have you lost it!?" Venus shouted. The now possessed Sailor Mars freed Novus from Venus's bindings, much to his delight. Everyone was shocked by this. Why would one of their comrades betray them?

Darth Novus rose to his feet and decided to have some more fun with his little puppet.

"Attack." he ordered to which Sailor Mars obeyed. She began fighting against Sailor Mercury and Jupiter in hand to hand combat.

"Sailor Mars, stop this!" Mercury pleaded.

"It's us! Can't you hear us?" Jupiter asked.

"I'm afraid she can't..." Novus evilly chuckled while resting his hand on Sailor Mar's shoulder. "She's mine now."

"You monster!" Uranus roared as she rushed forward to strike at Novus, but the Sith stretched out his hand in front of her.

"Relax yourself. I am not your enemy." he decreed, casting his Mind Trick over Uranus.

"You are... not my enemy." she responded, lowering her sword.

*gasps* "Not Uranus too!" Sailor Neptune cried. Novus looked over and decided to enslave the others.

"Listen to me. You do not want to harm me. I am your ally." he said. Sailor Mercury, Jupiter, and Neptune heeded the Sith's words and submitted to him. Only Venus and Pluto did not succumb to his trickery.

"Pluto, what's going on? How is he doing this!?" Venus expressed in fright.

"I don't know, Venus, but stay on guard. The others can't seem to think for themselves anymore." Pluto advised.

"You are quite right. They belong to me now..." Novus smirked in triumph. "Now, my slaves, finish them off!"

The possessed Scouts nodded in obedience and stepped toward Venus and Pluto. Venus looked on in fear while Pluto readied her staff for a fight.

"No... No... Guys, wake up! Don't let him do this!" Venus pleaded with her fallen comrades, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. They came closer and prepared to deliver the finishing blow. Darth Novus chuckled in triumph as he watched the show come to an end.

"No... No..! No! NOOOOO!" Sailor Venus screamed as she held her hands out in front of her and unleashed a powerful Force Push, sending Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune back aways.

Sailor Pluto eyes widen in astonishment. "Sailor Venus... What did you just do?" she asked.

"I... I don't know. I really don't know." Venus said, surprised just like everyone else. Darth Novus looked on in shock.

"No way... It can't be! That girl..? She's Force-sensitive!?" he thought.

Chapter End


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