EPISODE 040

Mizuumi no densetsu youkai! Usagi kazoku no kizuna

(The Legendary Lake Monster! Usagi's Family Ties)

Original Air Date: 01-16-1993
Director: Harume Kosaka
Animation Director: Megumi Sugihara
Writer: Masahiro Ando

Screencaps

What's In This Episode?
Endymion, Ginzuishou, Ikuko Tsukino, Kenji Tsukino, Kunzite, Lake Monster, Legendary Lovers, Orgel, Shingo Tsukino, Steamy Hot Springs Inn

Luna wakes up at the Tsukino household and tells Usagi that since she has today and tomorrow off from school, she is going to thoroughly study how to be a princess. When she looks into Usagi's bed, however, she sees that she isn't there! She wonders if the girl got up early, but when she walks downstairs, no one is there, either. Usagi has left a note on the dining room table (along with a box and bowl of cat food) explaining that she and her family have gone to a hot springs resort and will be back the next day.

In the car on the way to the resort, Shingo plays a video game and tells his sister that she must be crazy for wanting to sneak out of the house so that the cat wouldn't notice. She sheepishly says that she has her reasons. Ikuko turns around from the front seat and says that it's been so long since they've traveled together as a family, and Usagi remarks that it's like they're "old people" spending the night at a remote hot spring.

She then looks over her brother's shoulder at the video game he is playing. He is not playing to her liking, so she snatches the game away and begins playing herself. He begins fighting with her, causing the orgel to fall out of her pocket. She is worried that it will break, but she catches it just in time and breathes a sigh of relief.

Kenji laughs from the front seat, and asks Usagi why she panicked like she did. He asks her if she got the locket from a guy she likes. She blushes and says, "Well, I guess you could say that." He becomes extremely upset with her and turns around to scold her for dating someone behind his back. He has taken his attention completely away from driving, and the car is swerving all over the road! His family panics and reminds him to keep his eyes on the road, while Usagi desperately says that she is not dating. He calms down and says that of course there's no way she could be seeing a guy.

When the family arrives at the resort, they all go out to look at the lake. Usagi thinks it is kind of romantic, but Shingo says there's nothing really there. Kenji blushes and admits that it is where he and Ikuko met, and that it holds a lot of romantic memories for them.

As Usagi looks out over the lake, the orgel opens and begins to play music. She immediately thinks about Mamoru. Ikuko soon interrupts her thoughts and says that it is time to go. She notices that something is wrong, but Usagi denies it.

In the Dark Kingdom's lair, Queen Beryl looks at an image of the same lake. Kunzite explains that he detected an unusual energy source there, similar to the power of the Dark Kingdom's youma, but producing a slightly different and very strong energy reading. The queen instructs Endymion to begin investigating right away. After he leaves, Kunzite reports to her that Endymion has been acting increasingly suspicious lately. He wonders if Endymion realizes that his memories have been erased. Queen Beryl tells him not to worry, but just in case, to follow him and keep an eye on him.

At the resort, Usagi and her family relax in a hot spring. Usagi is quite impressed with the view, and agrees with her mother that the resort isn't so bad after all. Shingo is hesitant to get into the bath in mixed company. Kenji tells him that they're all family, and Ikuko says he should hurry and get in before he catches a cold.

Usagi sneaks up behind him and pushes him in, then dunks his head under the water. He retaliates by snatching her towel off and running away with it! He looks out at the view of the lake, and when he lets his guard down, Usagi snatches her towel back from him. He notices that someone is standing by the lake. When Usagi looks down, she sees that it is actually Mamoru.

Usagi quickly gets dressed in a robe and runs down to the lake. When she arrives, she finds a statue of two lovers and thinks that this is what she saw earlier instead of Mamoru. The orgel suddenly begins to play again, and a twig snaps behind her. When she turns around, she sees Endymion, but she calls him Mamoru.

He hears the music from the orgel playing, and asks her why the melody "throws [his] heart into confusion." She says, "Mamoru! It's me, Usagi! Please don't pretend you don't know me!" As she begins to cry, he says that he doesn't recognize the names Mamoru and Usagi. She pleads with him, but he still doesn't recognize her.

Ikuko calls out to Usagi, and when she looks away, Endymion disappears. Ikuko approaches and asks her daughter why she disappeared so suddenly. Usagi says that nothing is wrong. Ikuko sees the statue behind her and tells her about the "Legendary Lovers," the couple that the statue represents.

Ikuko says, "It is an old story that's been passed down through the generations. A maiden of the Heavens had come down to Earth, and a youth of the land fell in love with her. But a girl, who adored that youth, turned into a monster in a fit of jealousy and she attacked the villagers indiscriminately. The maiden from the Heavens and the youth sealed the monster in this lake with the power of their love. And having exhausted their energy, they rose up to the Heavens together."

Usagi reflects on the story, then her mother tells her that they should head back so that she doesn't catch a cold. Usagi hugs her, and Ikuko tells her that if she finds someone she loves, she should bring him home and introduce him to her parents. Usagi thinks to herself that someday she will.

After Usagi and Ikuko leave, Endymion steps out into the open and looks at the lake. He heard the story of the Legendary Lovers, and realizes that the monster sealed in the lake must be the source of the unusual energy. He then calls forth the spirit in the lake, which emerges and flies into the air, saying, "Give him back!"

[Commercial Break]

The lake monster wildly flies towards Endymion, demanding, "Give him back!" Kunzite looks on and sees what is happening. He wonders how Endymion will handle the situation. The monster flies into the air and sees Usagi standing in the distance with her family, then she flies away.

Usagi looks away from her family and thinks about Mamoru again. Kenji asks her if something is wrong, but she simply says that the moon was so beautiful that she was lost in admiration. She says that she is going to take another dip in the hot spring and gaze at the moon before dinner, then she runs off, leaving her family behind. Kenji says he never knows what his daughter is thinking, and that sometimes he feels like she is a stranger.

Usagi runs away crying, thinking to herself that she will not give in, even if Mamoru has completely forgotten about her. The lake monster soon appears behind her repeating, "Give him back!" Her family sees the monster, and she runs towards them. As they all run away together, the monster chases after Usagi, breathing a toxic poison into the air which kills the trees.

Usagi angrily stands up to the monster, but Ikuko frantically tells her not to move. Meanwhile, Kenji picks up a large stick and, though extremely frightened, is determined to protect his family. The monster reaches out and knocks the stick away, then begins choking him.

Just as Usagi is about to transform into Sailor Moon, a black rose flies through the air and breaks the monster's hold on Kenji. Ikuko immediately runs to him. Endymion then appears, dressed as Tuxedo Kamen, and tells the monster that he will not allow her to harm innocent people. She swings her tail at him, but he dodges the attack and it shatters a tree instead.

The Tsukino family walks away, but Usagi looks back, wishing she could help Mamoru. He warns her to run while she can, but the monster knocks him to the ground. Luckily, the Sailor Senshi (with the exception of Sailor Moon) arrive. Shingo sees them and says, "Wow! The Sailor Senshi of love and justice!" Usagi angrily says, "That's my line, dammit..."

Sailor Mercury uses Sabão Spray to obstruct the monster's vision and confuse her. Usagi tells her family that now is the chance to run back to inn, but she stays behind in the mist and transforms into Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon claps her hands to get the monster's attention through the mist. After giving her speech, she tells Tuxedo Kamen that he is a good person for protecting Usagi. Unfortunately, this causes her to lose her concentration, allowing the monster to attack her with its tail. To stun the monster, Sailor Venus quickly uses her Crescent Beam attack, while Sailor Jupiter uses Supreme Thunder. Although it initially disappears, it quickly reappears.

Sailor Moon uses her Moon Tiara Action attack, causing it to disappear and reappear once again. The Senshi cannot believe that their attacks are not working to kill the monster.

Sailor Mars correctly realizes that this is no ordinary monster: she is an evil spirit "born of old fanatical jealousy." Endymion confirms what she says and tells them that he is the one responsible for awakening the monster. He tells them to back off, but Sailor Mars says that this is in her domain. She uses her Akuryou Taisan attack to place an anti-evil scroll on the monster, then uses Fire Soul to completely stun it.

Sailor Moon takes the opportunity to use Moon Healing Escalation, which heals the monster and causes her transform back into the young girl she once was. She has finally been freed of her ancient jealousy, and she ascends into the Heavens. Before she goes, she waves back to Endymion, who smiles and waves back.

After the healed monster is gone, Sailor Moon turns to Endymion, who says, "I would say that what you did was unnecessary, but I will yield this time. Goodbye." He turns and quickly leaves. Kunzite looks on, thinking that Endymion is a strange man.

Usagi's family looks for her in the forest. Shingo is sad that she may have been eaten after all, and thinks that he should have lent her his game earlier. Usagi suddenly pops up behind him and says, "Then lend it to me!" Everyone is happy to see her again. She is happy to see them, too.

The other girls join the Tsukino family at the resort. Later, when they are relaxing in a hot spring with Usagi, Usagi is heartbroken over Mamoru. The girls reassure her by telling her that she will have another chance. She says, "I'm ok, because I've got great friends like you guys!" She akss how they all got out there, and they say that Luna told them. Besides, they say... they're not going to let Usagi have all the fun!