episode 109: thorny weather At a toy store, Serena and Darien watch Rini pick out a bag. "Here's one, just for you!" Darien says, holding up a bunny-bag. "Oh, I just LOVE it!" Rini says happily. Serena, obviously jealous of the attention she's missing, strangles Luna! "Rini, fix your strap. Serena, you stop." Serena pouts, "Why does she need it anyway?" "Because," Darien explains, "we're going on a picnic." "OOOH! Why not at the open house at the Botanical Gardens? TAke me!" She pulls at his sleeve. "Me too!" Rini pulls at the other side. "Uhh...yeah, and we can meet my old collegue Ken Ibayashi." Rini notices someone outside - "Hotaru! Wait!" She runs out holding the bag, and Hotaru finally stops. "Why can't you talk to me?" Hotaru says, crying, "I can't...I'm sorry!" She runs away. Serena mutters to Darien, "Amara said that we should stay away from her...but she's such a good girl!" In the room of the Sovereign of Silence, the girl says, gasping, "The time is near...I must have more pure hearts..." ..."Have you cultivated the rose yet? Is it RED?" asks Mimete to Tomoe. "Yes, but it's yellow. Yellow is the most elegant color." Dr. Tomoe sprays the rose with a red mist. "And do we have a target to use this rose?" Mimete looks up, on Eudial's computer no less, a target... when the doorbell rings! "What do you want?" asks Kaori. Rini stands at the door. "Can Hotaru come out?" "No, she's not home." "Well, give this to her!" She hands Kaori the bunny bag and takes off..."Who was that?" asks Hotaru, who was obviously home at the time. "Just that girl." "That bag is for ME!" she cries, grabbing it from Kaori. "An invitation! 'Dear hotaru. We're going on a picnic at the botanical gardens. Please come! Your Friend, Rini.'" "Your father would NEVER approve," Kaori admonishes...when Dr. Tomoe appears! "To the contrary. It's nice of you to have friends! Go ahead."... Serena and Darien pack in the HUGE picnic basket into Darien's car. "It's only a PICNIC," shouts Darien, trying to lug the basket. Rini looks upset - "Looks like she's not coming." But Luna winks, "Who do you see?" And behind the car stands the beautiful Hotaru Tomoe! Rini runs up to her and gives her a huge hug!...at the botanical gardens, Darien takes pictures. Rini jumps up into the air *click*. Serena tries the same thing, but falls on her face! *click* Hotaru holds up rose petals, and look absolutely STUNNING! *click* Hotaru and Rini pull on Serena's arms, and they all fall! Laughter by Darien and the rest!... meanwhile, hidden away are Michelle, Amara, and Trista. "That little girl means trouble," notes Amara. "You think that they are connected to the heart snatchers?" wonders Trista. "Maybe." Michelle smiles, "But they look so happy together!"... Serena and Rini begin to run, Hotaru following, but she begins to slow up. "You need help?" says Darien. "Yes..." and in the meantime, Rini tries to leapfrog Serena - but falls smak on her back! Hotaru and Darien *sweat drop* sigh as the two race after each other... Darien takes them all into a greenhouse, when a man walks up to them. "Hey, buddy!" Darien runs over to the man, who is wearing a big hat and plaid shirt. "Hey, you look great!" It's Darien's old friend! "Surrounded by ladies, as always!" Serena looks pissed, "ALWAYS?" "Now, Serena...she's my VERY good friend," Darien hints. When suddenly, SIX kids run up to the botanist! "Big family..." think Serena and Darien, in shock, both blushing...outside, they all eat a big picnic lunch. "You're not eating the salad I made?" asks Serena. Rini replies, "No, Darien's not eating it!" She runs over to Darien. "I MADE that salad, now EAT it!" He stuffs it down in disgust. "Now you have NO EXCUSE!" Rini stuffs it down too, shouting, "This is disGUSTING!" Hotaru giggles, but suddenly looks sad. "What's wrong?" asks Darien. "It's just...I remember the picnic I took with my dad..." Darien's friend begins to shake her. "Look, sometimes dad's have to sacrifice time with their kids to support them. You got that? Thatta girl!" He pushes her over, and she laughs!... hidden behind the greenhouse is Mimete. She sees her target...and Darien. She blushes profusely. "Get the target," she hears Dr. Tomoe saying in her mind. "Right! I can't let him down!" Darien's friend takes them into the greenhouse. "This is the 'Rose Room'! All kinds of roses are here! Even hybrids!" He takes Hotaru over to a rack. "These are 'pure hearts', these are hybrid roses." Hotaru mutters sadly to herself, "Why do people tamper? Why can't people just leave nature alone?" Everyone is shocked by this. "Next, a tropical rainforest!" the friend leads them all in. "You go, I'll catch up later," says Hotaru. Rini looks concerned, but the three of them go without her...Mimete appears in front of Darien. Coyly, she says, "I'm writing a book on the origins of plant names, can you tell me this one's Latin name?" "Sorry, I'm here with my family," Darien replies. Mimete questions, "Your sisters?" Darien pulls them to his side. "No, my future wife and daughter!" They all walk together, Mimete seeking revenge as always. She remembers the Doctor's words, so she doesn't attack...yet..."YOUR FUTURE WIFE!" Serena cries, hugging him. Luna scolds, "You think that this is NEW news?" Rini, for a minute, looks upset. "I'm going to find Hotaru." Meanwhile, a horrible storm, hail and all, fall upon the botanical gardens... the hail begins to crack the windows! Alone and in the dark, Rini begins to cry at the lightning...and Darien's friend climbs up a huge ladder to patch up the glass, trying to save his beloved plants. He can't hold it - but there's Hotaru, helping him! "Thank you! These are my 'pure hearts', they hold special healing powers! They could cure diseases!" "Really?" says a shocked Hotaru...when something is thrown at them! They both fall HARD, Hotaru on top of Darien's friend. We see someone... Mimete! "Arise, Daimon!" A rose daimon with a horrid voice, "U-bara", comes out! She blows yellow petals all over. "Is this the result of too little fertilizer?" the botanist wonders. U-bara responds to this...by taking his pure heart! Rini sees the commotion - "MOON PRISM POWER!" As Mini Moon, she gives her usual speech, but U-bara just uses a rose attack - when a red rose is thrown! "How dare you steal my attack! I won't tolerate copycats!" Mimete seems entralled by Tuxedo Mask's arrival, but he laughs, "Don't be wondered by me, you should see the next act!" And who's up next but Sailor Moon, giving a speech! U-bara just attacks them, when Mini Moon uses her attack, "PINK SUGAR...HEART ATTACK!" Mimete screams at her daimon, "Don't lose to these girls!"...and U-bara grows thorns all over her arms and legs! She grabs Moon and Mini Moon, but Tuxedo Mask thankfully breaks the daimon's arms off (literally) with his cane! But it's not over yet, for out of the daimon's hollow arms come HUGE vines! They are thrust into the ground, destorying the whole building...and grabbing Moon, Mini Moon, and Mask! The three are helpless... Hotaru opens her eyes, almost in a trance. She sees the root of U-bara lying at her feet, and grabs it...and an electric power comes out of Hotaru! Her eyes are bright red like before...U-bara begins to shrivel up, her power being drawn by Hotaru! The roots all dissapate, and Moon powers up - "MOON CRISIS POWER!" "RAINBOW SPIRAL HEART ACHE!" The daimon is destoryed, and Mimete flees! In the corner are Sailors Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. "I felt a strong power before, but I couldn't pinpoint it," says Neptune. Uranus adds, "It is a power full of evil." The storm has passed. All of Darien's friend's kids, and his newly pregnant wife, run up to him, glad that he is OK. "Look, a rainbow! It's shinig for you," Rini smiles at Hotaru. Hotaru grins. Everyone looks up at the beautiful, glimmering rainbow, the sign of hope... but how much hope is left? Hotaru doesn't seem able to control her powers, and we don't even know how powerful she is yet! Is she good or evil?...