"Kaolinite thinks I have a Talisman and sent a Daimon to take my Pure Heart Crystal! And now she even knows that I'm Sailor Moon and she has my brooch! When Tuxedo Mask tried to protect me, he ended up incased in glass! Without my brooch, I can't transform and fight. What am I going to do now?!”
— Usagi Tsukino
(CWi Episode: "Birthday Blues: Part 2")
With her Cosmic Heart Compact stolen and Tuxedo Mask imprisoned, Usagi has no choice but to follow through with Kaolinite's demand of meeting her at the Tokyo Tower to have her Pure Heart extracted. Though she won't be going alone as she's followed by the Outer Guardians, who are dreading the possibility of finding a Talisman in her heart, and her friends, who pull out an old trick to preserve her secret identity.
Tropes in this episode include:
- All for Nothing: To Uranus' relief, Usagi's Pure Heart didn't hold a Talisman so she and Neptune got worked up thinking Usagi would have to die when that never was the case.
- An Arm and a Leg: Cenicienta loses her whole hand after taking "Moon's" Sailor Kick. Good thing she's under warranty.
- Auto Bots Rock Out: "Ai no Senshi
" makes a dramatic return as Usagi is escorted to the Tokyo Tower while having a meaningful conversation with Haruka and Michiru. The Cloverway dub uses an English version, however with different lyrics than what the original's translated lyrics would be. - Book Ends: The two parter ends the same way it began. With Professor Tomoe telling a red-headed subordinate that "she's the only one he can count on." But this time, it's not Kaolinite...
- Calling Your Attack: To really sell herself as the real deal, "Sailor Moon" uses "Hissatsu translation Love-Me Moon Chain" to attack the Daimon. In the Viz Dub, it's "Moon Moonie Love Me Moon Chain'".
- The Cavalry Arrives Late: The Inner Guardians show up in the beginning but Kaolinite simply disappears alongside her Daimon and Tuxedo Mask.
- Containment Field: To stick true with her word of not letting the Guardians escape her, Kaolinite summons an intense lime green energy field that traps all the heroes.
- Continuity Nod: While driving through a tunnel, Usagi thinks back to her past conversations with the Outers about their willingness to sacrifice others in order to protect everyone from a greater calamity.
- Death by Secret Identity: Once she gets her brooch back, Usagi transforms into Sailor Moon in front of Cenicienta and has her destroyed before she can blab to her superior.
- Disney Villain Death: After being trapped in glass, Kaolinite meets her demise by falling debris that plummets her to her death.
- Dramatic Irony: Uranus admits to her partner that Sailor Moon, a Guardian whom she has conflicting feelings towards, reminded her of Usagi, whom she has a soft spot for.
- Dub-Induced Plot Hole: In the Cloverway dub, Uranus's dialogue at the end about Sailor Moon reminding her of Serena was phrased so that she seemed to have learned that Serena was Sailor Moon. She wouldn't actually learn this for a few more episodes.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Professor Tomoe entrusts another member of Death Busters to take Kaolinite's responsibilities after her demise.
- Face Framed in Shadow: The last scene shows a mysterious red head in a labcoat with her face covered in darkness.
- Fearless Fool: Inverted with Usagi. Sailor Mercury tells her to wait before going to the Tokyo Tower so they can come up with a strategy to save Mamoru. But with her heart full of guilt and desperation, Usagi refuses to wait a second longer and rushes out to rescue her prince.
- Foreshadowing:
- Before going up to the Tower to rescue Usagi, Luna reminds Sailor Venus that their plan will only work if she gives it her best.
- In her episode debut, Cenicienta was shown with a brown envelope taped to her skirt. It's later revealed that she uses it to carry her warranty information.
- Freudian Slip: Venus almost blows the whole scheme by asking Kaolinite if she has a problem with her disguise. Jupiter and Mars are quick to hand-gag her before she says anything else.
- Glamour Failure: Minako uses the Disguise Pen to turn into Sailor Moon which has less then perfect results. Though the villains do believe the ruse, Kaolinite points out that something wasn't right. Luna wasn't kidding when she said the Disguise Pen only worked for Usagi.
- The Gloves Come Off: After the Outers announce that they'll be leaving, Kaolinite chases after them, along with destroying a good portion of the Tokyo Tower, with the intention of finishing them off once and for all.
- Good Is Not Soft: Sailor Jupiter does not hold back her animosity towards the Outer Guardians even after Moon convinces her to help them out.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Discussed. During the car ride, Michiru brings up the topic of self-sacrificing and how the one(s) who do it are aware of the reasons and go through with it for the greater good. This concerns Usagi as it not only makes her remember Mamoru's efforts to protect her but also for the fact that she's going to do the same in a few minutes.
- History Repeats: Once again, an Evil Redhead abducts someone close to Usagi and forces her to meet with them in a secluded area to perform a Hostage for MacGuffin. And like Rubeus before her, Kaolinite is killed for her actions.
- Hoist By Her Own Petard: Kaolinite's glass attack is redirected at her by Uranus which traps her in a block of glass.
- Hostage for MacGuffin: Before leaving the parking structure, Kaolinite orders Usagi to meet her at the top of Tokyo Tower where she'll give up her Pure Heart in exchange for Tuxedo Mask's safety.
- Identity Impersonator: The Inner Guardians' plan involves Minako passing herself off as Sailor Moon in order to convince the villains that Usagi is just a regular girl.
- Incorruptible Pure Pureness: The reason Usagi's heart crystal shines so bright is not from any Talisman but because she's a good person with a kind and loving heart.
- It's All My Fault: Usagi blames herself for letting Mamoru be captured by the enemy.
- Large Ham: Venus’s impersonation of Moon is an over-the-top parody of the lead VA’s performance in any version.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": Usagi and the Outers are shocked after Kaolinite reveals that she's Sailor Moon.
- Mood Whiplash:
- The Outers are relieved to find that Usagi isn't a Talisman holder and return her heart with pleasure. But the happiness is cut short when Kaolinite reveals that she still plans to kill her on the grounds of being the Pretty Guardian who keeps foiling her plans.
- In the penultimate scene, Usagi and Mamoru are having a romantic moment under the moonlight. It's cut short by the chatter coming from their friends who are still enjoying the after-party while Rei fruitlessly demands that they all go home.
- My Significance Sense Is Tingling: After Cenicienta's death, Kaolinite could instantly tell that she was defeated.
- Mythology Gag: Just like in the manga, Minako takes on Usagi's alter ego in order to protect her from the enemy. But instead of using her Moon Princess persona, she pretends to be Sailor Moon herself.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Kaolinite and the Outer Guardians do not hold back during their initial showdown.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Usagi has a moment of astonishment when she briefly imagines Haruka and Michiru as Sailors Uranus and Neptune.
- She gets another one when she sees Minako cosplaying as her.
- Plot Hole: When Kaolinite pulls out the other slipper, Sailor Moon blurts out that that's her slipper while the Death Buster confirms it. In other words, Moon practically outed her civilian identity to the enemy yet Kaolinite made no reaction over the confirmation.
- Power Copying: Using the other glass slipper along with a vial of Daimon culture solution, Kaolinite is able to use the same glass powers Cenicienta had.
- Previously on…: Usagi does a quick recap of how everything went to hell for her in the last episode.
- Punch a Wall: Haruka bangs on her car's front windscreen after accepting that Usagi will have to die to stop the Silence.
- Red Herring: Usagi's Pure Heart is shown to radiate a bright light unlike the heart crystals before. However, instead of bearing a Talisman, it's meanly meant to represent Usagi being a pure person.
- Running Gag: Cenicienta continues the trend of the Daimons being safety-minded and having protective utilities during battle. In this case, it's her warranty document.
- Say My Name: Kaolinite calls out to her professor after she's encased in glass.
- Scavengers Are Scum: Sailor Venus compares the Outer Guardians to hyenas (vultures in the Cloverway and Viz dubs) given their habit of hiding in the shadows to take an exposed Pure Heart.
- Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: During the car ride to Tokyo Tower, Haruka and Michiru discuss with Usagi how everyone gives some sort of sacrifice in order to protect the world even if it means they'll get hurt or lose their very lives in the process. Michiru even sums it up as "that's how the world works". Usagi retorts saying that the ones being sacrificed should be taken into consideration and how there's always a way to save everyone without losing anyone.
- We Need a Distraction: Tuxedo Mask steps up to confront Kaolinite while the Inner Guardians gather their energies for Sailor Planet Attack.
- What You Are in the Dark: During Kaolinite's last stand, Sailor Moon allows the Outer Guardians to leave the fight after taking sustainable damage with Jupiter "encouraging them" saying that there's no Talisman to be gained from the fight. But after recalling Usagi's words of optimism, Uranus summons World Shaking to protect the Inners from Kaolinite's final attack.
- Who Would Want to Watch Us?: To vouch for Usagi's innocence, Sailor Mars states that she's too much of a stupid, clutzy crybaby to be considered an actual Sailor Guardian, let alone Sailor Moon.
- The Worf Effect: Sailor Planet Attack, the Inner Guardians' final move, is unable to officially destroy Kaolinite. At most she's weakened, but she's still able to pick herself up and attack the heroes.
"You're the only one I can count on... Eudial."
