EPISODE 038

Yukiyo yamayo yuujouyo! Yappari youmamoyo!

(Snow, Mountains, Friendship! A Youma too!)

Original Air Date: 12-26-1992
Director: Takao Yoshizawa
Animation Director: Hisashi Kagawa
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumizawa

Screencaps

What's In This Episode?
Blizzar, Endymion, Ginzuishou, Kunzite, Moonlight Course, Saeko Yamamoto, Yuuichirou Kumada

Usagi is at Hikawa Jinja shrine, trying to convince her friends to go to a ski resort with her called Moonlight Course. She shows them an advertisement for the resort that says there is an event called the Moon Princess Contest, which she says was practically made for her. Rei snatches the advertisement away, and reads that the award ceremony will be held in the moonlight. She daydreams about herself skiing the slopes and winning the title of "Moon Princess." She decides that it does sound very romantic.

The other girls agree that it sounds fun, but worry that Luna will make a fuss about it. Minako says that they'll just tell Luna that they are going to the mountains for "special training." Even Ami thinks that Luna and Artemis will be satisfied with that explanation.

Rei is concerned that they won't be able to get hotel reservations, but Yuuichirou suddenly appears and tells the girls that his parents live near the ski resort... he can help with accommodations, but he would like to come along, as well. Rei is unsure, but the other girls have no problem with it, and they convince her to let him join them.

In the Dark Kingdom's lair, Kunzite looks over the same advertisement, thinking that the "girly" Sailor Senshi would definitely be attracted to the Moon Princess Contest. Endymion appears and tells him that he is severely underestimating his opponents, which is why his previous plans have failed. He tells him that he must know his enemy in order to form his strategy. Kunzite is very angry; he tells Endymion that he obviously knows a great deal about the Sailor Senshi due to fighting alongside them, but ultimately it is none of his business. Kunzite looks at a picture of Zoisite and remembers his lover. He is determined to defeat the Sailor Senshi.

The girls and Yuuichirou arrive at the ski resort. Ami regrets having left Luna and Artemis behind, but they are quite happy at home, napping on Usagi's kotatsu (heated table). Luna briefly wakes up and decides that she is impressed that the girls went to such a cold place for training. She then drifts back to sleep.

The girls make it to Yuuichirou's parents' home, and he explains to them that his parents are away at their vacation home in Switzerland. Rei asks him why a "rich boy" like him would work at the shrine. He tells her that he wants to become a better person. Usagi whispers to her, "I hear there are a lot of weird people among the rich." Rei sheepishly laughs and suggests that they all go ski.

Everyone goes out to ski. Usagi, Ami, Makoto, and Minako stay together, but Rei and Yuuichirou go off on their own. They are much more advanced at skiing than their friends! When they meet again, Rei suggests that they go to a higher slope, but the other girls say they are just fine where they are. Yuuichirou tells Usagi that the contest hall for the Moon Princess Contest is at the top of the mountain!

He says that the contest requires beauty and a good figure, but you also have to be good at skiing in order to be chosen. Rei tells her that she should forfeit so that she can take the crown of princess for herself. Usagi angrily thinks to herself, "How could the real Moon Princess not participate?!"

At the top of the mountain, Kunzite asks the brainwashed contest host, Saeko Yamamoto, if any likely candidates have shown up yet. She says that they have not, and he tells her to remember that if she uses the youma power he gave her, she will be able to uncover Sailor Moon's identity. He tells her that she absolutely must do that, and she says that she will. He then quickly disappears.

Usagi, Rei, and Yuuichirou ride up the mountain on the ski lift. Usagi is extremely scared, but Yuuichirou tells her that this part of the mountain is nothing compared to the area closer to the top.

By the time they arrive at the area where the contest is being held, Usagi has become terrified, believing that all of the participants must be daredevils. The contest soon begins with an announcer telling everyone that this will be the fourth annual contest, and that the hostess was the first Moon Princess, an instructor at the Moonlight Course named Saeko Yamamoto.

Saeko takes the stage and explains the judging process for the contest. She says that the woman who gets to the bottom of the slope first and does so most gracefully will be the new Moon Princess. Although it is a night course, she says that it is completely safe and they should ski without any worries.

The lights are turned on, and the women line up to begin. Saeko announces that they may start, and the women race down the slope, Rei taking an early lead. Usagi is left behind, thinking that she may quit after all. Yuuichirou warns her that she can't afford to get a late start, and he pushes her down the slope! She is going much too fast for her ability level, but Yuuichirou cheerfully says that nothing is impossible if you try!

Saeko begins skiing down the slope after all of the participants have taken off. She starts manipulating the course, causing huge snow drifts to appear in front of the skiers. Rei manages to dodge them, but several other skiers fall. She feels that an evil aura is nearby, although she doesn't think a youma could possibly be on the course.

Usagi soon skis by, going extremely fast and screaming that she can't stop. Rei is impressed by Usagi's "skill," and is determined not to be outdone. She tries going faster to catch up. Meanwhile, all of the other women on the course have fallen down, and Saeko believes that either Rei or Usagi (since they are the only ones left standing) must be Sailor Moon.

[Commercial Break]

Rei calls out to Usagi that it will be dangerous if she doesn't slow down. Usagi says that she knows, but there is nothing she can do! Saeko uses her powers to cause an extremely large snowball to form and roll down the slope behind the girls. Rei is alarmed, and now she tells Usagi to try to speed up! Usagi insists that she has no control at all over her skis.

As Yuuichirou is skiing away, he thinks that he hears an avalanche. He becomes very worried about Rei, who is at that moment skiing away from the huge snowball that is rolling behind her and Usagi.

Saeko transforms into the youma Blizzar, then uses her power to manipulate the landscape and create a huge chasm. The girls ski into the chasm, still being followed by the snowball. Suddenly, Yuuichirou appears on top of one of the chasm's walls and calls out to Rei that he will protect her. He leaps down into the path of the snowball, spreading his arms in an attempt to stop it. Rei thinks she hears a voice, but is unaware that it is Yuuichirou, so she skis away.

Blizzar uses her power to cause the chasm walls to slam together in front of and behind the girls. Rei finally realizes that Usagi cannot control her skis, and tackles her in order to stop her. Fortunately for them, the giant snowball prevents the section around them from being close completely.

Rei attempts to climb out of the chasm, but falls repeatedly. She realizes that something must be wrong, and wonders if there could be a youma nearby. Usagi thinks that they should try to find another way out, but Rei accuses her of lacking willpower. Usagi laments that they have probably chosen someone else to be the Moon Princess, and sadly sits down. She takes out the orgel from Tuxedo Kamen, which opens and begins playing music.

Rei sits down next to her, and Usagi tells her that whenever she feels lonely, listening to the music from the orgel makes her feel better. She then quickly apologizes for bringing up a sensitive subject. Rei smiles and tells her that she doesn't care about her fleeting relationship with Mamoru anymore; she has already given up on him. After all, he did risk his life attempting to save Usagi, so she feels that she can't compete with that. She then warns Usagi, "If you don't become happy with Mamoru, I will punish you!" She says that in order to do that, they must defeat the Dark Kingdom and restore peace.

Usagi suddenly stands up... she just realized that they can get out of the chasm if Rei uses her Fire Soul attack! Just as she begins to transform, she is interrupted when Yuuichirou breaks through the wall of the chasm. He is so glad that she is safe that he says it must be a "miracle of love."

As he shows the girl the way out through the tunnel he made, Saeko suddenly appears on the chasm wall above them. She quickly transforms into Blizzar, and says that she was sent to assassinate Sailor Moon. The girls quickly figure out that this is the work of the Dark Kingdom.

Blizzar suddenly points to Rei and tells her to prepare to die. She thinks that Rei is Sailor Moon because of her "good looks, athletic ability, and gracefulness." Yuuichirou is shocked because he now believes Rei to be Sailor Moon as well, but Usagi tells the youma that she's got the wrong person.

Blizzar says that her judgment is never wrong, then blasts Rei with icy air. Yuuichirou steps in the way to protect Rei, but ends up freezing into a solid block of ice! The girls quickly transform into Sailor Senshi.

Blizzar is surprised that both of them are Sailor Senshi, but she acts quickly and throws a large icicle at the girls. Sailor Mars attacks with Fire Soul, but the youma is able to easily dodge the attack. As she moves to throw another icicle, Endymion appears and stops her. He flings it back towards the youma, saying that he will take care of the Sailor Senshi.

He then throws a sharp, pointed rose at Sailor Moon. She manages to dodge it, but he says that he will not miss the next time. Sailor Mars tries to remind him of when he fought on their side before, and how he loved Sailor Moon. His black rose flickers red for an instant.

Suddenly, Blizzar leaps through the wall of the chasm with an enormous spear made of ice, intending to stab the Sailor Senshi. Endymion throws his red rose through the air at her, breaking the spear and causing her to fall. Blizzar is stunned enough for Sailor Moon to use Moon Healing Escalation on her, causing her to transform back into Saeko Yamamoto.

When she turns back to Endymion, he has forgotten again. He tells the girls that killing them now would be nothing to brag about. He leaves, telling them that they will meet again. The red rose he left behind turns black and loses its petals. Sailor Moon hopes that some day he will remember.

Sailor Mars tends to Yuuichirou, who is still unconscious. She tells him that he is a useless idiot, then kisses his cheek. Meanwhile, Saeko wakes up, apparently not remembering anything that happened.

Later that night, Usagi and Rei build a small campfire. When Yuuichirou finally wakes up, he tells Rei that he is glad she is safe. She says the Sailor Senshi showed up to rescue them, and he feels bad for being useless. Usagi cheerfully tells him that's not true; he was really cool! Rei agrees, and Yuuichirou begins to blush.

Suddenly, Saeko skis back to them with Minako, Makoto, and Ami. Makoto scolds them for being so far away, saying that everyone was worried. Minako attempts to use a proverb, but Ami reminds her that it isn't appropriate for the situation. Rei explains that Usagi made a mess of things... making Usagi furious because they had just reaffirmed their friendship!