From: phoenix@mediaone.net   
      
   Act 21 - What Did You Do to Ami?   
      
   Makoto is really a true friend. First she decks Mamoru because she   
   thinks he is taking advantage of Usagi (Did I mention that one should   
   never get Makoto mad?). Then she checks on Usagi to see how she is   
   doing even if that means risking the benevolence of an   
   overenthusiastic Ikuko.   
      
   Later, she realizes that Ami is missing from school and goes to her   
   apartment to check up on her. She finds Ami laying in her bed in a   
   weird semiconscious state. Mako cooks her a meal after which Ami seems   
   to be much better. Completely out of character, Ami suddenly asks   
   Makoto to go to the amusement park with her. Although Makoto is   
   somewhat reluctant, she does go and is happy to see how much Ami is   
   enjoying herself.   
      
   But then Ami suddenly faints while riding the carousel. As it   
   happened, Motoki was there taking his turtle on an outing. At Mako's   
   bidding, he gave them a ride in his 'turtle' car to the hospital.   
      
   The doctor can find nothing wrong and so Makoto decides to wait for   
   Ami to wake up. Motoki reassures Mako that Ami will be OK and loads   
   her up with snacks before leaving (after a very awkward silence). I   
   suppose there might be some connection happening here, but Motoki is   
   such a loser right now that I would feel really bad for Mako if it   
   went any further.   
      
   In the Dark Kingdom, Kunzite declares that it is time and crushes a   
   black rose. Makoto, still in the waiting room, appears to sense   
   something and runs to Ami's room. Ami is gone and black rose petals   
   litter the bed (what was with that nurse?)   
      
   Makoto rushes off in search of Ami. She passes some boys who are   
   cowering in fear, having apparently just faced Ami's wrath. Makoto   
   stops near some trees and senses Ami's location from them (Keep in   
   mind that Makoto's element is wood).   
      
   Makoto finds a mesmerized Ami facing Kunzite inside of what looks like   
   a demolished museum. She transforms and gives battle, but to no avail.   
   Makoto attempts to get Ami to run away, but Ami throws her off, walks   
   over to Kunzite and then faces Makoto with the most sinister, creepy,   
   evil smile that I have ever seen. Much kudos to Chisaki Hama for   
   pulling that off so frighteningly well.   
      
   Sailor Moon and Mars show up to lend support, but they are far too   
   late. In reply to Makoto's anguished cry of what did Kunzite do to   
   Ami, he tells Ami to show them.   
      
   And, for the second time (but not the last), this new series threw me   
   a shocker. Ami transforms herself into Dark Mercury, minion of the   
   Dark Kingdom. Talk about night and day! You know, I was having a hard   
   time liking Ami's character. Although she had a few heroic moments,   
   most of the time she seemed a bit of a whiner, with no striking   
   characteristics at all. But this new girl she has become... Yikes! I   
   wonder what is in store for us now?   
      
   --   
   Phoenix   
   www.phoenixanime.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)