The third Volume leads up to the conclusion for the "first season" in the anime. However, in the manga, the story is generally continuous; there's no break in "seasons" like the anime. Any notes that I make based on the text will be in this colour; these notes are just for clarification and speculation. Enjoy!
Introduction from Naoko
Good morning! I'm happy to present the long awaited third book. I'm writing this from my new workplace, a room at a resort where I can see the sea (the Rainbow Bridge is right in front of my eyes). It's almost dawn. The sunrise and sunset here are beautiful. I can see the airplanes taking off and landing at Haneda Airport from here! It's so moving. Naoko is singing with joy for getting this book out. These days I do my work sitting on a Sailor Moon cushion writing with a Sailor Moon pencil while watching the Sailor Moon TV show and drinking tea from my Sailor Moon cup. I'm so happy. So happy that I wrote a lot for this book so squint your eyes to read everything. Tee hee hee. (Oh really, What am I saying). Come to think of it, this year there are four Sailor moon notebooks coming out! There are going to be a lot of Sailor Moon dolls this year, too. (Dolly, dolly I'm going to display you on my art nouveau shelf.) I'm so happy. Tee hee hee. Please enjoy Book 3.End of Second Introduction
Recap:
Bunny thinks, "Our kingdom...our past lives...the Silver Milennium...and the Silver
Imperium Crystal...All the answers...are on the Moon...To the Moon!!"
Luna says, "Now that's decided, we have to get ready...We'll leave on the next full moon..."
In the arcade, Amy starts looking up things about the moon in a textbook, with Bunny listening. "The Moon...The mass of the Moon is 1/80 of the Earth'e mass, while it's diameter is 1/4 of the Earth's. And the Moon's surface gravity is 1/6 that of the Earth. The Moon is a satellite of the Earth who's perio of revolution is approximately 28 days. Luna said we're going to the moon, but I wonder how she plants to get us there. (Is she going to rent the space shuttle?)"
At the arcade, Molly calls Bunny over, and Bunny starts playing a video game. Amy and Lita say they are happy that Bunny is back to her usual happy self.
The scene cuts to Bunny's room. She looks up into the night sky at the Moon. "The moon is getting bigger...Just like I'm getting more excited...I can't wait to go to the moon and learn aobut my past life...All about it....I can't wait to save him..."
Bunny's dad pops in her room, and gives Bunny the Silver Imperium Crystal. He had it made into a necklace, as Bunny had asked him to. Her dad asks if it's from her boyfriend (he's clearly joking). When Bunny answers, "Yes", he's shocked.
Outside, Luna returns to Bunny's home after a long day staring at a computer screen. She nestles in Bunny's mom's lap. Bunny's parents start to talk about Bunny. Her dad says, "Sometimes Bunny look likes someone else...Like she's all grown-up and ready to leave the nest." But Bunny's mom says Bunny will always be their daughter. Sammy and Bunny are playing a video game nearby. They're playing Street Fighter, and Bunny announces that she's playing Chun-Li. [Get it, the fighter with the buns?]
The next day, the Inners are eagerly awaiting for the full moon. Mina and Raye are staying at Lita's place. Luna gathers all of the Sailor Team up, and brings them to the park. Bunny remembers the park is where she and Darien promised to return their things to each other. Bunny thinks "Every time I saw him in town...I was so stubborn. We were always arguing, and I never really got to talk to him...But really...I was so thrilled to see him...We were drawn to each other. I want to see him again. This time I'll tell him everything. And I'll get to know him. I promised to return this watch. Darien...! Are you okay...I promised to save you!" She starts to cry, but Lita hugs her and gives her a tissue (in which Bunny proceeds to blow into loudly).
Amy says that it's a perfect night to go to the moon. Raye says, "The waxing or waning moon symblize hatred and unrest. The new moon means death and destruction. But for visions of the future, you need the full moon. It's white light gives you power."
Mina tells everyone to morph. Luna speaks again in the strange language and a circle appears on the ground. They step into the circle, and transform in the Sailor Team. They start flying. The Team are bathed in this white circle of light. Suddenly, they are in space, facing the Earth. Venus notices lightning on the Earth's surface. Mercury notices craters on the Moon's surface, just like Mercury. Sailor Moon asks "Where do we go, Luna?" Luna replies "'Mare Serenitatis'. To the 'Sea of Serenity'..."
They land on the Moon's surface. It looks like a barren wasteland. Venus says it's really dark and that there is no sound whatsoever. Sailor Moon grabs onto Jupiter's arm. Jupiter smiles at Moon and says, "Y'know Bunny, now you really are the rabbit in the moon..." There's a cute cartoon with Sailor Moon with a rabbit's head. [Note: There is an East Asian legend that a rabbit is on the Moon, eternally pounding something with its hind legs. In Japanese culture, it's usually a pounding "moochi" (rice cake). Hence, "Rabbit on the Moon". Also, "Tsukino Usagi" (Bunny's Japanese name) is apparently a pun on this legend.]
Sailor Moon thinks, "This velvet darkness...How quiet. Some blue-white ruins over there...So this is the Moon...The Silver Millennium...Where our kingdom once stood..."
They arrive at the ruins. Mercury wonders if the ruins are where the palace once was. Luna confirms it. Then Luna walks onto a part of the ruins and says, "And this...Was the Prayer Room, where only the queen could enter...This was the center of the castle. Where the pillar of prayer, the Crystal Tower, once stood..."
They walk among the ruins. [The pictures are really nice ^_^]. Sailor Moon notices a stone sword embedded in the ruins. Luna tells Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus to pull out the sword. They try, but fail to pull it out, complaining that it's impossible. Luna encourages them, and they finally pull it out. The place where the sword once was begins to glow. A small form with wings appears. She has her hair in buns (like Bunny) and is wearing a nice dress.
The form speaks. "That is the legendary sword that protects the Princess. Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus, it belongs to you. Luna, thank you for bringing everyone here...On Earth, I am called Selene, Goddess of the Moon. I am the former queen of the Silver Millennium, Serenity."
Sailor Moon thinks, "Queen Serenity...?! In my past life...She was my mother..."
Queen Serenity speaks again to Sailor Moon. "My dear Serenity, it's you...I can see you...I have lost my body...but when the Moon Castle's main computer stopped working the sub-computer booted up and my will was left in this form. This hologram is created by the computer. I was the one who woke Luna and Artemis from their cryogenic sleep. Through contact with them, I was able to watch over you. I've been looking forward to meeting you. It's in ruins now, but do you remember? This Moon Castle in its glory...The dome was lush and green, and a fresh wind blew...But Princess Serenity, you longed for the real thing. And you often went down to Earth...There you found love."
[Flashback]
Serenity and Endymion are in each other's arms. Serenity returns to the Moon, and is promptly caught by Jupiter and the others. Princess!" Jupiter chides. Venus says, "You sneaked over to Earth on you own again?!" Serenity looks guilty, but smiles. Mercury says, holding
an armload of books, "As heir to the Silver Millennium, you have a mountain of things you have to learn!" Serenity says, "Geez!" [Guess things haven't changed that much ^_^]
[End of Flashback]
Sailor Moon thinks, "I remember...to see him...I would sneak away to Earth..."
Queen Serenity says, "We who were born on the Moon had a long lifespan...Our duty was to protect the Silver Imperium Crystal...And vanish [sic] evil from the Earth...to watch over and guide Her people on the path of good. I still remember...That year, the sun was so active...It was that activity that delivered our destruction...It slipped into Earth...And tried to take control...The Enemy was truly the Evil One...It set its sights on the awesome power of the Imperium Crystal...It stole into the hearts of the humans, using their envy for our long lives...Controlling the people, it attacked the Moon. Only Earth's young Prince Endymion...Never bent his will and until the end, tried to reason with his people...But he was too late...He fell, protecting you...And in sorrow, you committed suicide...Do you remember that...? I finally managed to seal the Evil One away, but all of this Moon Castle had turned to stone and crumbled...The Earth Kingdom was also destroyed, and mankind has to begin anew in its development...That was in ancient times...But someone has revived the Evil One...Even from here, I can't find where it is hiding in the Earth...But I can tell that it is lurking deep within....Back then, in the shock of losing you I couldn't think straight, and I sealed it away with my hear full of sorrow and regret...But now, I cannot redo it...It is up to you, Serenity! You must find the true power of the Imperium Crystal. You are the only one who can seal the Evil One away..."
Sailor Moon is crying throughout the Queen's story. There are some pictures of the past Serenity plunging a sword into her chest.
Venus tells the Queen that something is wrong with the Crystal, saying that part of it went into Endymion's body.
The Queen says "Princess Serenity's desire to help him caused that to happen...You look worried sick over him, Serenity...It's all right...He must be alive. Don't worry. Princess Serenity...remember this...The Silver Imperium Crystal follows your heart...You must have strong faith, unity, and deep love. Without those, you cannot defeat the Evil One. Be proud of the fact that you are a princess, and the Champion of Justice, Sailor Moon. But don't forget that you are also a young woman...The real reason why you were reborn is there..." The Queen's image begin to fade. She says, "Sailors Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus...Please work together to protect the princess...and once more...bring honor to this kingdom...this Moon Castle. There's no much power left...I can't talk much longer...Serenity, may you find happiness..." Her image disappears.
Sailor Moon quickly tries to use the Silver Crystal to give the Queen power, but it doesn't work. "Stupid Crystal..." she thinks, "Why can't it work when I need it? Does the power of the Imperium Crystal follow my heart?"
Luna says they should return to Earth. The Sailor Team goes back to Earth. Sailor Moon thinks about the Earth, "The resonant sound you don't on the Moon...The wide sea...The green wind... We weren't just watching the earth. We dreamt of this planet, yearn for it. We cared for it."
In the Dark Kingdom, Kunzite is looking at the other generals' bodies. "How could this happen? I finally aowke...to find you as rocks! Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite! I finally found him...Our master! Princes Endymion...!" Kunzite looks at Prince Endymion's body (not crumbled). He notices Beryl walking somewhere, and wonders where she is going. He follows her.
Beryl arrives at a door, with Kunzite secretly following her. She speaks a strange language (different from the one Luna uses) and the door opens. Kunzite wonders, "What is that door? Here so deep in the Earth...It reeks of decay?! I can't breathe..." A dark shape appears. It's Metallia. Before, she was more of a shadow. Now, she actually has a body, eyes, mouth, ears, and a black mark on her forehead. Kunzite thinks, "It that our Great Leader?! It's almost solidified?! What's that black mark on its forehead?"
Beryl notices Kunzite, but he runs away. She bends on a knee and speaks. "Queen Metallia, the gragment of the Imperium crystal that entered Tuxedo Mask must be gone by now. We can find no trace of it."
Metallia says, "Beryl, we must have the Imperium Crystal that the Princess holds...! There is a way we can use Tuxedo Mask. Kunzite won't last much longer. Beryl, I still need energy. With the Princess restored, we have no time. I must take control of this world. Destroy those who oppose us! Steal the Imperium Crystal!"
Later, Beryl is looking at Endymion's unconscious form. Kunzite asks her, "Queen Beryl you said that if I captured the Imperium Crystal, we Four Warriors would be revived. It can't be doen with their bodies destroyed." Kunzite remembers in the Silver Millennium that Endymion fell while protecting Serenity, and the Four Generals were shocked. He privately thinks, "Is it too late for us? Now that we've chosen to live this way..." He asks Beryl what she is planning to do with Endymion.
Suddenly, Beryl throws a gem at Kunzite's forehead. The gem stays stuck on Kunzite's head; Beryl is now controlling him entirely. She tells him, "Don't forget. You have sworn loyalty to our Great Leader. You gave that body to me. Every time you are reborn, you will be one of my Four Warriors. Go Kunzite! This is your last chances! Attack the humans and collect energy. The princess will come...and you will steal the Silver Imperium Crystal!"
In Tokyo, a massive tidal wave sweeps over the city. Many citizens are caught in the wave, and become encased in ice. The city is in chaos. Kunzite is waiting for Sailor Moon. He thinks, "I'll turn Tokyo into a heart of ice! Ice full of energy! Our Great Leader wil be delighted! Now Princess, show yourself!"
At the Crown Game Centre, the Sailor Team and the guardian cats are assessing the situation. Luna says, "The tectonic plates have shown a lot of movement lately. And in the Arctic Circle, we found a small unusal heat source. It's from deep in the earth...it wasn't there before. As we investigated, it's graudally increased. There might be some connection to the Dark Kingdom."
Amy notices the chaos on the streets. They all run out of the Crown Centre and transform. Kunzite is waiting for Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon recognizes him, and knows that Kunzite is the one who stole Endymion's body away. She asks Kunzite if he's turning Tokyo into the North Pole. He agrees, and says his Great Leader will revive soon. Sailor Moon refuses to let that happen. She uses her wand and says "Moon Healing Escalation!" to turn the people encased in ice back to normal.
As she does so, the Silver Crystal around her neck (with the chain around it) begins to glow. Kunzite sees it, and tries to take it away from Sailor Moon. She starts running UP into the sky. Soon, both Sailor Moon and Kunzite are in space. She demands, "Where did you take Tuxedo Mask?! You haven't hurt him, have you?! Give him back!"
Kunzite says, "If you hand over the Imperium Crystal, I'll return him to you! As a corpse!"
The Sailor Team catches up to Kunzite and Sailor Moon. Kunzite sneers, saying that their powers won't work in the vacuum of space. He says he'll destroy the Princess. Venus tells him that it's their second time in space. She yells, "All together! Venus Power...!" The rest of the team joins in. "Mercury Power..." "Mars Power..." "Jupiter Power..." Venus tells Sailor Moon to make a shield with her wand.
Sailor Moon wonders about how she will find Tuxedo Mask if Kunzite is destroyed. The Sailor Team uses their "Sailor Planet Attack!!" and Kunzite is destroyed. The gem on his forehead falls to the ground. Sailor Moon is crying. She thinks, "Tuxedo Mask...I still don't know anything...Where are you? Are you all right?"
In the Dark Kingdom, Kunzite's forehead gem falls at Beryl's feet. She says, "Poor Kunzite...Now all of my Four Warriors have been turned to stone..." Beryl raises her arms, and calls out, "Our Great Leader, Queen Metallia....Lend me your power. Power of awakening..." Endymion's body opens his eyes. He sits up, but his eyes are dark and cold, not like Darien's eyes at all. Endymion picks up Kunzite's gem, and three other gemstones appear in his hand. He looks at them, saying nothing. Then Beryl touches his face, saying "Prince Endymion. You are now my little puppet...Go to the surface...Kill the Princess of the Moon Kingdom, Silver Milennium...And steal the Silver Imperium Crystal!"
Endymion, in normal street clothes, arrives in Tokyo. He's wearing a checkered shirt. He arrives at the Crown Game Centre, and smiles evilly.
Notes from Naoko
There's a picture of a cartoon lady (Bunny/Naoko's mother). She says, "Did you see the TV show?! All four of them died!" The caption says, "Bunny's Mom's cooking is delicious. Bunny's Mom is really Naoko's Mom! She has a huge closet that's stuffed full of pretty clothes." [Naoko's mother's name is 'Ikuko', her father's name is 'Kenji' and her little brother's name is 'Shingo'. Just like Bunny's family. What a coincidence ^_~] The next caption box (it's in comic-strip format) "X day X month. We went to an antique market together. Collecting antique glass is Mom's hobby." Naoko's cartoon mom points to a glass lamp, saying "You need to buy this Gare lamp." The next caption box says, "Naooko was staring at this beautiful sil hat (like what Tuxedo Mask wears)." Naoko (not shown) says, "I like." Naoko's mom says, "Oh!" The next box shows Naoko's mom laughing, saying "I know. You're going to give it to L'il Darien." The caption says, "Naoko's mom is [the]
one who calls Tuxedo Masks that. He's not my boyfriend." [I assume that Naoko's mom is saying "Chibi-Mamoru" or something like that in Japanese.]
| Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3 | Act 4 | Act 5 | Act 6 | Act 7 | Act 8 | Act 9 | Act 10 | Act 11a | Act 11b | Act 12 |
