EPISODE 173

Wakare to Deai! Unmei no Hoshiboshi no Ryuuten
(A Farewell and an Encounter! The Destiny of Flowing Stars)

Original Air Date: 05-11-1996



Three mysterious men walk down a dark hallway. "Can we find her?" asks one. "Don't worry," says another, "that's why we came here." The other says, "We'll definitely find her." The second man who spoke says, "That's right. Even if we sacrifice everything... Now, let's go! It's time!" The doorway in front of the men opens to a bright light, and thousands of people can be heard screaming.

[Title Screen]

Hundreds of people stand outside of an auditorium. A sign on the building says "Live Tour 1996 - Three Lights." Inside, spotlights dance around the stage as fans scream and cheer. The three men appear on stage, each holding a rose. Music begins as they throw their roses into the air and begin their performance.

Minako, Rei, Makoto, Ami, and Usagi sit in a cafe discussing a very popular idol group, the Three Lights. Minako says, "Of course, I like Seiya! he looks a little wild and dangerous." Rei says that he's a bit childish, but Minako and Makoto say that that's what they like. Rei says that she likes Yaten best, due to his "unapproachable beauty." Minako says that he seems a bit unpredictable. "Don't forget nice and intellectual Taiki," says Ami, "with his graceful adult mood." Much to Ami's embarrassment, the other girls are very surprised that she likes Taiki. Minako asks if she's a secret fan or something, but Ami blushes and says she doesn't know much about them.

Minako asks Usagi who she likes, but Usagi, depressed, says that she likes Mamoru. She tells the girls that Mamoru's thesis was accepted, and that he will soon be going to study abroad at a university in America. Artemis says that that's great, but is promptly crushed by Minako, who says that he should be more thoughtful of Usagi's feelings. Rei asks if he will be gone for long.

A flashback is shown of Usagi and Mamoru standing on a bridge. "For a year," says Mamoru, "or perhaps, a little longer than that. Would it be ok?" Usagi says that it's ok; it doesn't mean that they can't see each other forever, and she'll always be in love with him. They two embrace, and Usagi wishes him luck with his studies.

Usagi tells her friends that she'll be ok; one of Mamoru's dreams is coming true, and she has to see him off, smiling. Usagi walks home, but the other girls are worried about her. Ami says that ChibiUsa has gone back to the future, and Minako says that it all must be very hard on Usagi.

Later that night, Usagi sadly sits in bed holding a framed photograph of herself, Mamoru, and ChibiUsa. Luna enters the room and tells Usagi to cheer up, but Usagi only cries more, lamenting that ChibiUsa is in the 30th century, and Mamoru is going to study abroad. She confides in Luna that she really wants to tell him not to go, and that she's not that strong. Luna asks Usagi if she remembers she met her for the first time, and says that usagi has grown much more mature since then. Usagi sits in her bed, and Luna says, "Let's see him off with a smile!"

The airport is shown on the following day. A voice announces, "New Japan Airlines to New York, all passengers should proceed to the departure gate." Mamoru prepares to go to the gate, but hears his name called out behind him. He turns to find Usagi standing behind him. He says that he thought she wasn't coming, because of school, and she says that she'll be waiting for him. He tells her that for the time being, he will be busy with school, and won't be able to contact her as often, but she says that it's ok; she'll write to him every day.

Tears fall down Usagi's cheeks, and she says, "Oh no! I planned to see you off with a smile today!" Mamoru holds out to her a small black box, telling her to open it. She takes it and finds a a beautiful ring in the shape of heart. "Mamo-chan," she gasps, "This is..." He simply smiles, takes her hand, and puts the ring on her finger. She blushes as he tells her that he loves her. She thanks him, and the two share a kiss.

Just as Mamoru is leaving, they hear shrieks coming from across the airport. Hundreds of girls have surrounded the Three Lights. Seiya pushes his way through the crowd and walks past Usagi and Mamoru, sensing something strange about the girl. As Mamoru's plane takes off, Usagi watches it go, and says goodbye to him once more, in her mind.

Deep in space, a voice says, "I feel it! The energy of the ever-shining stars! True Star Seeds!" Galaxia is shown, wearing a golden outfit. "On that blue shining planet," she continues, "there are stil lots of sleeping Star Seeds! Find them! Go and get the Star Seeds in order to dominate all the galaxies!" She fades into the darkness, and five golden orbs of light fly towards the Earth. One of them flies directly towards Mamoru's plane.

Mamoru sits on the plane, holding a photograph of himself, Usagi, and ChibiUsa. He sees a bright light through his window, and looks out just in time to see the golden orb fly directly into the plane. From above, the light can be seen entering the plane and flying out in all directions. The plane disappears...

Meanwhile, the Three Lights sit in a room elsewhere. Yaten says, "Another light of a star has just disappeared." Seiya asks, "Did they do it?" and Yaten simply nods. Taiki adds, "In such a situation, I wish she would have been here." Seiya says that she might be pretty close, and Yaten says that they must hurry. Seiya says that they don't have much time left.

[Commercial Break]

Usagi sits in a cafe, admiring her ring. Makoto, Ami, and Rei all talk about what the ring means. Usagi has no idea what they're talking about, and Rei says that even Luna knows, and she's a cat! Minako suddenly runs up with Artemis on her shoulder and interrupts the discussion, yelling that "in the park right now they're doing something! SOMETHING!"

The five girls run to the park, and Minako tells them that they're filming a new drama there with the Three Lights. Makoto asks if they're filming "Z-Files of the Detective Boy Holmes." Rei says that she loves that show, but Usagi doesn't know what it is. Ami, her eyes glazed over, tells them that it is a super-popular program with an average viewer rating of over 35%. The other girls can't believe she knows so much about it, and Ami is embarrassed.

Dozens of people gather in front of the set, and the five girls stand in the back, jumping up and down to try to get a better view. The co-star, Alice Itsuki, can be seen standing in front. Soon, the girls spot Taiki and Yaten. The girls try to squeeze through to the front of the crowd, but Usagi is left behind.

In a tree high above Usagi, a a mysterious woman dressed in a pin-striped suit looks on, saying, "Attracting such a huge crowd... she has the good charm of a Star.

Because Usagi was unable to get through the crowd with her friends, she walks away, carrying Luna on her shoulder. She says that she wishes she could see the stars on location, but decides that she is unlucky. The two come upon a sign that says, "No admittance," and Luna wonders aloud if it is a resting place for the staff. Usagi laughs evilly and says, "Which means that I can see Alice and the others without any obstacles. I must be super lucky!"

Usagi creeps forward, but a voice shouts out, "From here, no admittance!" Usagi turns to apologize and begins to stumble over her words. Seiya is the one who called out to Usagi, and when he stands up, he recognizes her from the airport. She asks if they've met before, and he is shocked that she doesn't recognize him., saying that he guesses he isn't as popular as he thought he was. "I got it," she finally says, "A new way of approaching girls. I have a boyfriend who promised a future with me." He walks away towards the sign and she says that he's rude; there's no admittance anyway except on business. Waving, he says, "I'm here on business anyway. See you, odango!" Usagi is angry, saying that no one can call her 'odango' except for Mamoru!

Back on the set, the director calls for a break, and Alice goes to check her make-up. The star-struck girls look on from the front of the crowd.

Meanwhile, Usagi decides to try to sneak past the "no admittance" sign, despite Luna's warnings. Far behind her, Alice steps out of her trailer and stretches. The girl in the pin-striped suit suddenly appears behind her and says, "How wonderful your smile is! Your brightness makes other cheerful all at once. Proof of a star!" Alice thanks her, but the girl continues, "I came to see you for a special errand." Alice says that she doesn't have time to give a signature right now, but the girl says, "What I want is not a signature.. but a Seed of a Star that belongs to you! A Star Seed!" The girl screams, "Chuu!!!" and her clothing suddenly changes into a white outfit.

Usagi hears Alice yelling, and looks over her shoulder to see Alice backing up, being approached by the girl. The girl demands her Star Seed, and uses her bracelet to shoot forth two bright orbs of light. The orbs hit Alice, who is rendered incapable of movement. A flower appears above Alice's forehead, which blooms to reveal a tiny crystal.

Usagi sees everything from behind a truck, and quickly transforms into Eternal Sailor Moon.

The mysterious girl sees the crystal above Alice's head and becomes excited, but the crystal ultimately clouds over with darkness. She is disappointed, because she doesn't want such a week Star Seed.

Eternal Sailor Moon stands atop one of the trucks and yells at the villain to stop. She tells her that she can't attack the idol Alice Itsuki, and that she wo't be forgiven. "Oh goodness," says the villain, "You're a Sailor Senshi, too? Well, with such a face, you can't be a star like me!" Eternal Sailor Moon is very confused, and demands to know the girl's identity. The girl says that she is Sailor Iron Mouse... Eternal Sailor Moon and Luna are quite baffled.

Sailor Iron Mouse looks at Alice and says, "I've finished with today's business. Do you want to play with the phage?" Alice suddenly transforms into a monster... Sailor Buri. Before disappearing into a black phone booth, Sailor Iron Mouse says, "Everyone who loses the brightness of their Star Seed becomes a phage." Sailor Buri holds out her microphone and asks Eternal Sailor Moon to sing with her. The microphone is suddenly covered with spikes, and Sailor Buri throws it at her opponent, narrowly missing.

Luna urges Sailor Moon to fight Sailor Buri, but she refuses, saying that the phage is originally Alice Itsuki. Suddenly, fingers can be heard snapping. Three more senshi appear... Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Maker, and Sailor Star Healer... the Sailor Starlights! Eternal Sailor Moon is even more confused by the appearance of more Sailor Senshi.

Sailor Buri attacks the Starlights, but Sailor Star Fighter attacks the phage with her Star Serious Laser attack. Just as the Starlights are about to finish off the phage, Eternal Sailor Moon steps in front of her and says that they can't kill Alice! The Starlights tell her that it's too late... once a human becomes a phage, he or she cannot be saved.

The Starlights demand that Eternal Sailor Moon move, but she refuses. She screams that she won't, and the crescent moon on her forehead suddenly begins to emit bright, golden light. Eternal Sailor Moon thinks to herself that she can save Alice. She performs her Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss attack on the phage. Sailor Buri is engulfed in light, and screams out "beautiful!" before turning back into Alice Itsuki. The Star Seed above her head retreats into its flower once more, and disappears.

Eternal Sailor Moon is relieved that Alice has been saved. She turns around, and finds that the Starlights have disappeared. The Starlights look on from the branches of a tree, amazed at Eternal Salor Moon's power.

Later, the filming has finished. Rei, Makoto, Minako, and Ami walk away, discussing the events of the day. They come upon Usagi, sitting on a bench with her arms folded, saying to Luna, "The enemy was a Sailor Senshi... and the ones who helped me were also Sailor Senshi!"

The four girls walk up to Usagi and tell her that the filming is over. They ask her where she's been. "As a matter of fact," she says... the girls lean in... "You know what? I don't know what happened!" Rei yells at Usagi, who can't explain what happened.