The Sailor Guardians stage a bitter public feud to fool the Dark Kingdom into believing Sailor Moon is defecting, hoping the ruse will let her slip inside and reach the captive Mamoru. Queen Beryl sends Kunzite and a monster to test whether the split is real.
Summary
By night the guardians rehearse a deception aimed at Queen Beryl, pretending to turn on Sailor Moon and pressure her into surrendering the Moon Stick. The scheme is Usagi's own idea: by making it look as though Sailor Moon means to abandon her allies, she hopes the enemy will draw her into the Dark Kingdom, where she can rescue Mamoru. In the Dark Kingdom, Beryl and Kunzite puzzle over odd energy readings tied to the Silver Crystal and dispatch the monster Oniwabandana, who has been spying, to gather more.
The creature reports open conflict among the guardians. Beryl weighs whether it signals a genuine rupture or a trap, and Kunzite admits he cannot yet tell.
Key Events
Disguised as a fast-rising photographer named Nana Asahina, Oniwabandana captures the guardians brawling, and their staged split soon lands in a magazine. To sell the act, Sailor Mars is entrusted with the Moon Stick and the Silver Crystal, and Sailor Moon sends the photographer a note offering to quit and meet at Juban Cemetery at eleven. Kunzite reads the message and decides to appear in person.
At the graveyard the photographer reveals herself as the monster and Kunzite arrives, dangling a reunion with Prince Endymion in exchange for the Silver Crystal. He opens a black portal to the Dark Kingdom, but the monster instead seizes Sailor Moon and demands the crystal by force. The hidden guardians hold back until Sailor Mars can no longer bear watching Sailor Moon choke and breaks cover with the others. Kunzite claims he saw through the charade all along and slips away, and the guardians together destroy the monster, with Sailor Moon finishing through Moon Healing Escalation to restore the photographer. The episode closes on Moon and Mars trading barbs and sticking out their tongues.
Notes
This is the season's final chapter to feature a monster-of-the-day and the last time a human is turned into one, and it marks the closing first-season appearance of Naru and Mayumi Osaka. The plan itself never appears in the manga, where the guardians never bargain the Silver Crystal for Mamoru. The DiC dub, retitled Fractious Friends, altered the handling of the Moon Stick so that Mars simply kept it rather than being entrusted with it, and cut the moments of Mars kicking Sailor Moon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guardians' plan in this episode?
The Sailor Guardians stage a public falling-out to convince the Dark Kingdom that Sailor Moon is defecting, Usagi's own idea to draw the enemy into letting her slip inside and rescue Mamoru.
Who does Queen Beryl send to investigate the guardians' apparent split?
Queen Beryl sends the monster Oniwabandana, disguised as a rising photographer named Nana Asahina, to spy on the guardians and confirm whether the rift is real.
Where does Sailor Moon arrange to meet the photographer to sell the ruse?
Sailor Moon sends a note offering to quit and meet at Juban Cemetery at eleven at night, a message Kunzite intercepts and decides to answer in person.
What does Kunzite offer Sailor Moon in exchange for the Silver Crystal?
Kunzite dangles a reunion with Prince Endymion in exchange for the Silver Crystal, though the monster instead seizes Sailor Moon and demands the crystal by force.
Why is this episode notable in the series' run of monster-of-the-week stories?
It is the final episode of the first season to feature a monster of the day and the last time a human character is turned into one.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Usagi Abandoned: The Falling-Out of the Sailor Guardians? The Sailor Moon Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Sailor Moon anime series, manga, and official materials. Sailor Moon was created by Naoko Takeuchi, published by Kodansha, and animated by Toei Animation. All rights to Sailor Moon and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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- Created byNaoko Takeuchi
- Published byKodansha
- Animated byToei Animation
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