A New Life: Parting of the Stars of Destiny

Fresh from rescuing the infant Hotaru from Pharaoh 90, Super Sailor Moon is left badly wounded and drained, caught by Uranus and Neptune before she can fall as the Inner Guardians rush to steady her. Haruka and Michiru tend the reborn child, then hand her back to a now free and slowly recovering Professor Tomoe, who remembers nothing and simply raises the baby as his own.

Chibiusa, aching with worry over Hotaru, sees a vision of Sailor Pluto's spirit and learns of the struggle that once raged inside the girl between her good self, Sailor Saturn, and the corrupted Mistress 9. Because Pluto has no body, she cannot linger, and only when Chibiusa touches the infant's hands does she understand that Hotaru has truly been reborn to begin life anew.

At the ruined grounds of Mugen Academy, a violin's melody draws Usagi and the others to Michiru and Haruka. Enraged that Usagi surrendered the Holy Grail and endangered Earth for a single life, the two declare her unfit to become Neo-Queen Serenity. The Inner Guardians rise to challenge them, but Usagi steps in, admits the pair were right, and insists she must prove her choice through her own conviction rather than have her friends fight for her.

She transforms and takes on Uranus and Neptune alone, with Tuxedo Mask holding the others back so she can face her own battle. Before the duel can end, the Silver Crystal's power hurls the Outers away and hands Sailor Moon the victory. Kneeling, they apologize, hail her as Neo-Queen Serenity and the true Messiah, and announce their search is over before departing, assuring everyone that Hotaru lives and they will meet her again.

Serving as the penultimate episode of the third season and the 126th overall, it reached North America as "Second Chances" on July 31, 2000, written by Megumi Sugihara and directed by Yuji Endo. It contains the final on-screen use of Mars Star Power, Make Up and the last appearance of the girls in their casual season outfits, apart from Makoto and Minako.

The manga diverges here: in that telling Professor Tomoe dies during the clash with Pharaoh 90, leaving Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna to raise the reborn Hotaru, and the Outer Guardians never angrily challenge Sailor Moon to a fight. Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna do not resurface until the fifth and final season.