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PGSM - Act Eighteen
First we recap the fight in the gym, where Princess Sailor Venus has a failed attack against the youma, and then scolds Mars because Mars helps her instead of chasing the youma.
Venus continues by telling Mars that she's very disappointed in her - just like last time.
After the theme song, Venus is scolding Mars more, but Mars finally comes up with a response. If Venus had fought better, they would have stopped the youma. Besides, aren't the senshi supposed to protect the Princess? How are they supposed to do that if she can't defend herself?
Venus responds that she doesn't want their protection, and she storms off.
Later, in the cab on the way home, Minako ponders this. Artemis scolds her for revealing herself. They were supposed to stay apart from the senshi for some unrevealed reason.
Minako is worried - she knows that she has to be tough, but she really made Mars angry.
Then the lights blur and she puts a hand to her head
Back in the Dark Kingdom Kunzite gloats over Jadiete and Nephrite. Those two can't seem to do anything right.
They respond back with all that they have done - Jadiete has gathered some energy, and Nephrite has found the princess at least. (The Mystical Silver Crystal is probably with her). Of course they have done all of this to please Beryl.
She is happy - she wants them to work together.
Kunzite isn't cooperating though.
Meanwhile, in class, Usagi's teacher isn't impressed. She hasn't made much progress at all on her muffler. It looks more like a handkerchief than a scarf.
A chat with Naru reveals what's wrong: Usagi can't bring herself to work on the scarf because she meant to give it to Mamoru - and he has a girlfriend now.
There's a spiffy transition back to Crown, where Ami and Makoto have figured out what's bothering Usagi - her heart is broken.
Usagi says that she never really intended to give the scarf to Tux. It was always for Mamoru. After all, they are completely different people.
Makoto asks if she's going to give up on Mamoru, and isn't pleased when Usagi says yes. Makoto would rather Usagi got together with Mamoru than Tuxedo Mask. They are different people after all.
Rei rides her bike to the church with a bag of dog food for the dog they rescued in the previous episode when Minako pulls up in her car. There is a brief awkward moment and then Minako drives off.
Inside the church, Rei feeds the dog - who she has named Taro.
He's doing much better now.
Then, Minako shows up with four boxes of dog food. She has named the dog Riki. There appears to be a slight competition between the two girls.
The priest tells them that now that the dog is feeling better, they can work at finding his owner.
Rei offers to make a poster - she volunteers before Minako has a chance to.
The two discuss more important things as they leave the church. Rei tells her that she's awfully childish for a princess. (I'm not quite sure how she expected her to be)
They also talk about how the yoma is still at large, before Rei finally asks the important question: Why won't Princess Venus Minako work with them?
Minako cryptically answers that this is the way it has to be.
A rather annoyed Rei just says to stay out of their way, but Minako says that she can't trust Rei to take care of things.
Meanwhile, Makoto is doing some research on Mamoru's girlfriend: Hina.
Her source of information is Motoki. He's mildly disappointed that the only reason Makoto asked to talk to him is to find out about Hina, but he cheers up when she gives him turtle food.
He does ask her if she's interested in Mamoru, but she says she's not. She's just doing some research for a friend.
That's when Motoki reveals that Mamoru and Hina aren't boyfriend and girlfriend - they're engaged.
Said couple are out on a random balcony over looking some sort of night scene. Hina wants him to come to mass at a church tomorrow - because she wants to get married there. She said that when they were little and he said that he'd marry her, she picked that church.
Mamoru responds in overwhelming silence.
But he flashes back to when they were young - when Hina fell in love with him. They've been together for so long that he can't break it off now - even if he is falling for someone else. And even if he is dreaming about a strange princess.
Usagi is slowly making progress on her scarf, but she periodically flashes back to memories of Mamoru. She starts out remembering all of the times he insulted her, and she can't figure out why on earth she likes him.
Back at her hotel, Minako is making a poster for the dog. She's not making friends with Sailor Mars. Really she isn't. Just because they happen to be spending a lot of time together caring for the dog doesn't mean anything.
Anyway she has more important things to worry about - like why would a youma attack a priest?
Unless of course it wanted to use the priest to get at more people...
The next day, at mass, Mamoru and Hina head to the church to see many many lost dog posters by two artists plastered all over the place.
Minako turns up and asks Rei and Luna why the priest would be attacked... they all come to the same conclusion.
At Crown, Makoto tells Ami and Usagi that Hina is Mamoru's fiancée.
Usagi sadly lies in her bed at home listening to her cell phone ring for awhile before she decides to answer it. It's Luna - summoning everyone to the church. (I guess there is only one church)
The priest is giving mass when suddenly, his eyes change color and he attacks. A youma managed to possess him after all, and it's stealing the energy that people are putting into their prayers.
All the people collapse except Mamoru, because he recognizes the youma. He grabs Hina and runs, followed by the youma
Usagi, Rei, Makoto and Ami come running to the church to see mysterious purple light. They call out their transformation phrases while running towards the church.
Meanwhile, Mamoru and Hina have been chased back into the gym. Hina conveniently faints so that she doesn't see what's going on.
Sailor Moon yells “Stop!” and once again, the youma listens to her.
She's a bit shocked to see Mamoru and his fiancée. The two look at each other for a minute, and then he faints.
Knowing her friend's current state of mind, Jupiter steps forward and uses her Flower Hurricane to blast at the youma, but it deflects it.
Jadiete comes forward to take on the senshi. They're surprised to see him back, since they haven't see him since Act Eight (unless you count the summary in Act Nine)
He and Nephrite have decided to team up this time, per Beryl's wishes.
The senshi try to confuse them by weaving in and out of each other but the shitennou just sort of stand there until the senshi are done playing that trick.
Then there is the required jumping and spinning and cape swishing until Jadiete and Nephrite blast the senshi off their feet.
Things look bad for our heros until Venus shows up in a very dramatic entrance. She is backlit and the theme song plays.
Nephrite is glad. He's been looking for her.
She jumps down from the window (No idea how she got up there in the first place)
The senshi all exchange dramatic Looks and then pose dramatically for a full twenty seconds.
Per the usual rules, the shitennou just politely wait until they are finished before zapping them.
The girls cartwheel out of the way. They cannot walk out of the way.
Jadiete sends his youma to chase after Venus. Mars decides to follow, leaving Moon, Mercury and Jupiter to deal with the shitennou - or at least prevent them from following.
Venus cartwheels into the church while running away from the youma. They blast at each other for awhile until Mars runs in and cartwheels over to land in front of Venus.
They decided to work together. First Venus must do a dramatic cartwheel and leap over the youma so that they can be on either side.
Mars does her Youma Taisain attack and Venus finally gets a named attack: she grabs the belt off her outfit and uses it for her “Venus Love-Me Chain”
Together, they blow up the youma, and then look at each other.
Meanwhile, Jadiete and Nephrite are blasting at the senshi, and it seems that they've been doing it for some time.
Mercury Aqua Mist, Supreme Thunder and Moon Twilight Flash (no sequences). It puts a slight dent in his defenses, but not much.
After a brief round of “eh?” the girls realize that they weren't all aiming for the same place. (As usual, Moon is the one that goofed)
So they try again. This time, all three sequences at once, rotating around the screen.
This time, they toss him to the ground. Nephrite is rather angry.
Jadiete isn't too upset. They stalled long enough to collect enough energy, so he teleports the both of them home.
Mars scolds Venus for coming out. How is she supposed to protect Venus if she keeps getting involved? Venus could have gotten hurt!
Venus says that it doesn't matter. She is ordering Mars to stay by Sailor Moon's side. This is not at all suspicious.
Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury look down on where Mamoru and Hina have collapsed, hand in hand.
Sailor Moon decides that if the two are really in love, that can't be a bad thing. She holds out her hand over them and restores their energy. (She's gotten good at doing that)
When Mamoru and Hina wake up, the senshi are gone.
They hurry out to the church to see that all the people that had their energy stolen are just waking up.
Somehow, the people collapsed in the aisle after the fight scene.
Later that night, the dog, who's name is really Clavis, is reunited with his family. As Rei watches them leave, Venus's order to stay with Sailor Moon echoes in her mind.
Rei is wondering about Minako... if she is the princess... why does it seem like she is trying to get caught by the Dark Kingdom?
Minako packs her bags. She's moving on to a new place once again. It's a lot of work to act as a decoy. But as Sailor Moon gets more powerful, she may not have to run anymore. She's looking forward to being able to properly work with Sailor Mars.
Artemis reminds her why she cannot get close to anyone - and it's not because of the mission...
Minako has about half a year left.
At home, Usagi is knitting a lot now. Her scarf is the length of a proper scarf now. Since Mamoru is happy with his fiancée, she shouldn't be upset. Love is love.
All is quiet in the Dark Kingdom as the three shitennou stand before Beryl.
Queen Metallica's power is growing rapidly. Her power appears to be wind and animated black dots that fly at people.
The Gateway of Darkness has opened.
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