The Sailor Guardians continue their tribulations within the World of Nightmares only for each of them to fall victim to Nehelenia's clutches. As this occurs, the evil queen shows an act of "kindness" to her hated foe to help her forget about her worries.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Agony of the Feet: Usagi ends up barefooted throughout her trek through the frozen wasteland and it's clear that she's in unbearable pain.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Jupiter pushes Queen Nehelenia's Berserk Button by asking her a simple but deep question.Sailor Jupiter: Usagi is someone each of us loves with all our hearts! Nehelenia, haven't you ever had a friend like that before?
- Big Damn Heroes: Nehelenia decides to be spiteful to her imprisoned princess by striking her without her knowing. But before her claw can make impact, it's caught in a tight grip and soon tossed aside like a common thug thanks to Sailor Jupiter.Sailor Jupiter: Struggle all you want, I won't let you lay a finger on her.
- Blatant Lies: After Sailor Neptune dispels the fire illusion and proclaims that neither she nor Mars will be fooled by cheap tricks, Mars hastily agrees with her despite panicking a few seconds ago.
- Chekhov's Gun: Jupiter's iconic rose earrings manage to wake up Usagi from her Lotus-Eater Machine.
- Cliffhanger: After Queen Nehelenia leaves Usagi to walk through a path of thorns and briars, she's confronted by Sailor Chibi Moon and Sailor Saturn who order her to release the prince and princess.
- Continuity Nod: Sailor Jupiter bringing up Usagi's selfless nature forces the queen to recall how she went out to save her daughter from falling to her death.
- Did I Just Say That Out Loud?: Mars thinks to herself how she can't compete with Neptune's experience and cool demeanor. But because she said that out loud, she flips out when Neptune agrees that she's had more experience as a Magical Girl Warrior compared to her.
- Empty Eyes: Usagi ends up with these after her time in the flower field makes her forget about Mamoru and Nehelenia.
- Failure Is the Only Option: In spite of their successes with each given trial, the Sailor Guardians wind up imprisoned in their own mirrors.
- Fairy Tale Motifs:
- This segment features more elements from The Snow Queen. This time, the main heroine ends up traveling through a frozen wasteland and ends up in a peaceful place full of flowers that makes her forget about her mission. And it's only after she sees an image of a rose does she come to her senses.
- After she awakens, Nehelenia creates a path of briars as her final obstacle to reach her palace, just like in Sleeping Beauty.
- Flower Motifs: What makes Usagi break out of Nehelenia's spell is seeing Sailor Jupiter's earring that fell from her ear after her fight with Nehelenia (which is rose shaped), which reminds her of Mamoru's roses, and of Mamoru himself by extension.
- Foul Flower: Nehelenia creates tiny talking flowers that convince Usagi into staying put in their beautiful field so she can lose the will to continue her mission of saving Mamoru.
- The Friends Who Never Hang: The episode continues with having the Inners and Outers teaming up. This time, we have Mars and Neptune followed by Venus and Pluto.
- Heroic Sacrifice: A subversion. Sailor Pluto insists on staying behind to fend off the mirror dolls while Venus escapes so she can reach the others and their princess. However, when she's about to cross the wooden bridge, Venus runs back to Pluto and refuses to leave her behind.
- Hope Bringer: Sailor Jupiter describes Usagi as the embodiment of light who always shines on and cares for everyone around her. Even if she were to get hurt, she'll find a way to show her love and help the people she cares about.
- Human Shield: Nehelenia uses Neptune as a shield to keep Mars from attacking her. It doesn't last after Neptune gives Mars a pep talk.
- In Medias Res: The story continues with Mars and Neptune being surrounded by a Ring of Fire courtesy of Nehelenia.
- Literal Cliffhanger: When Venus and Pluto are running away from the Mirror Paredri and have to cross a rickety bridge, it ends up breaking and the two Sailor Guardians only manage to not fall because Venus uses her Venus Love Me Chain as a rope. However, another Mirror Paredri grabs the chain and then lets it go, plunging Venus and Pluto into the abyss, where they become stuck in mirrors.
- Lotus-Eater Machine: Queen Nehelenia places Usagi in a field of talking flowers that help her forget about her ongoing problems while also helping her feel more at peace.
- Master of Illusion: The Nehelenia copy that the Mars and Neptune face uses environment changing illusions to throw them off their guard.
- Mirthless Laughter: Sailor Mars does this to show how she wasn't scared of Nehelenia's illusions.
- Mood Whiplash: Venus and Pluto have a good laugh while hanging out in the giant crevice. But their laughter stops when Nehelenia joins in and lets them plummet to their (fake) deaths.
- No One Gets Left Behind: Refusing to let Pluto be brutalized, Venus rushes back to save Pluto and drag her through the unstable bridge.
- Not So Stoic: Sailor Pluto can't help but giggle after Venus "orders" her not to be left behind so they can save the princess together.
- Prehensile Hair: The fake Nehelenia uses her hair to capture Neptune.
- The Reveal: Nehelenia explains to Jupiter that her Nightmare World was actually her original kingdom before her imprisonment.
- Rope Bridge: A bridge made of planks appears before Venus and Pluto enticing them with potential escapism.
- Rousing Speech: When Mars is having a moment of self-doubt, Neptune reminds her that she must still carry out her mission to protect their beloved princess. And even if she were to die, then at least Mars will live on to continue the mission.
- Ruins for Ruins' Sake: Sailors Venus and Pluto end up in another sector with ruined pillars cluttering the area.
- So Proud of You: After Mars successfully kills the Mirror Padredri pretending to be her queen, Neptune commends her for her sharp senses and calls her a true Sailor Guardian.
- Taking the Bullet: Sailor Jupiter stands between Usagi and Nehelenia's dark energy attacks.
- The Unfought: Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto never directly fight the Mirror Paredri posing as Nehelenia in their sector, contrary to what Mercury and Uranus did the previous episode and to what Mars and Neptune did earlier in this one.
- Utility Weapon: Sailor Venus uses her Venus Love Me Chain as a rope, instead of using it to attack enemies.
- You Are in Command Now: Discussed. Before sending Venus to escape via rickety bridge, Pluto brings up how there must be a leader among their group to guide everyone and fulfill the mission. And by the looks of things, that will have to be Venus herself.
