Pinako's Battle! The Legendary Demon King Emerald

Episode Data
Val The Csar before and after Taking Pinako's Crescent Beam in this episode Note that Val The Csar's palette is very different from Season One
Original Episode
Name (Kanji/kana):	ピナコの決戦！　伝説のエメラルド魔王
Name (Romaji):	Pinako no Kessen! Densetsu no EMERARUDO Maou
Name (Translated):	Pinako's Battle! The Legendary Demon King Emerald
Name (DVD Dub):	Pinako's Fight: The Legend of King Emerald
Episode Number:	Special Episode (Original) 1 (International)
Director:	Masterson Asatou
Writer:	Mamori Yusaka
Animation Director:	Pollux Tadashita
Air Date:	June 30, 2023 (International Versions) December 18, 2023 (Japanese DVD Release)
Previous Episode:	None
Next Episode:	Mind, Body, Soul, Delphius' Ambition(International Versions)
TV English Dub Episode
Name:	The Yoma Sailor Scout (Contains story elements of the entire first season)
Number:	N/A
Company:	DHX Media (formerly DiC)
Air Date:	June 20, 2024 (DVD Release Date)
Previous Episode:	N/A
Next Episode:	N/A

Val the Csar overhears Pinako Aino telling her friends that Kurenako Aino, Pinako's mother, has a rare pen, the Venus Transformation Pen. Obsessed with owning powerful items, Val challenges Kurenako to a Battle and when his holographic arena technology proves too much for the old woman, Pinako steps into Battle to avenge her mother's defeat.

Summary

A narrator explains how in the Silver Millennium, when the earth was young, ancient Kings and Queens waged wars in an interdimensional space, which erupted into a physical war that threatened to destroy the universe. However, a Queen of the Moon sealed the darkness away, imprisoning it in the Earth. 10,000 years later (1000 in the dub), Pinako Aino (Pinako Tsukino in the dub) unlocked the secrets of the Sailor Guardians, infusing her with ancient magical energies. Destiny has chosen Pinako to prevent the return of the Dark War, just like the Queen did.

At Juuban High School, Pinako is teaching her friend, Daniel Kano, how to play Knights & Guardians while Katrina Sweeno, Youma Metalia, Barry Chrysol, and Narun Osaka watch. Barry jokes that Daniel looks cute when he is thinking off screen. Daniel shows everyone the cards, explaining that they're playing Knights & Guardians. Katrina says that they have been at it for hours; Daniel is starting to get the hang of it, but Pinako is an expert.

As Daniel plays "God Sealer's Heartbeating Kagamusha" ("Mars Warrior" in the dub), Katrina explains that each monster has an ATK number, an HP number, and a VP Number. The first battler reach the battle goal or eliminate their opponent's warriors wins the battle. Daniel is pleased with his move, but although Pinako agrees it was good, she plays "Dragon of Light" ("Moon Warrior, Level 2" in the dub), which is powerful enough to defeat Daniel. Pinako assures Daniel that he played alright. Pinako just has better cards, she tells them, which is because her mother buys all her good cards. Daniel gets fired up to visit Pinako's house and Pinako talks about a super rare pen her mother has.

A few tables across, a blonde haired boy wearing a stone mask is reading "Ashura: 'Königin Perilias Kampf gegen Youma'." (In the dub, this is changed to a manga.) He overhears Pinako's conversation and wonders if the rare pen is the one he has been searching for.

After school, Pinako, Daniel, and Katrina arrive at her mother's shop. She asks her mother if she could show them her rare pen. Kurenako thinks about it, laughs, and says "how can I refuse?" She produces a decorative box and tells them that they are in for a treat and she does not usually take this pen out. She holds up the Venus Transformation Pen, telling them it is such a rare and powerful item that she never lets it leave her hands. The gang is impressed apart from Daniel, who grabs the pen from Kurenako's hand, remarking that he does not see anything special about it. Kurenako snatches it back, insisting that the pen is priceless; there are only five of them in the world, one for each individual element.

As Daniel prepares to trade for other cards, the boy with a stone mask enters the shop, carrying a briefcase. Kurenako asks if he can help him and the boy says if she cannot, it would not surprise him. The gang are surprised to see Val The Csar here, as he has a big company to run. Val explains that he is here to see the pen. Daniel is glad to hear that Val plays Knights & Guardians too, and suggests that they could all battle together. Val mocks the idea, saying he would have more of a challenge playing solitaire--he is the number one ranked battler in the country and the favorite to win the Knights & Guardians World Championship. Daniel is enraged and suggests they settle this with fists instead of cards. Pinako steps in between them and tries to calm Daniel down.

Val sees the Venus Transformation Pen on the table in its case. He rushes over to it, pushing Pinako aside. Kurenako takes the pen away and asks if there is anything else she can help him with. Val slams his briefcase on the counter and opens it, showing it is full of Knights & Guardians cards. He offers to trade all of them for the Venus Transformation Pen. To everyone's surprise, Kurenako declines. Val then attempts to buy the card, asking Kurenako to name her price, he can pay anything that she asks. Kurenako refuses and explains that she does not want to give it away because it was given to her by a dear friend, so she treasures the pen. Val leaves, realizing it is useless trying to get it peacefully.

As Val leaves in his limousine, he is sickened by Kurenako's attitude about the souls of the scouts. He believes the pens are all about power, and one way or another, the Venus Transformation Pen will be his.

At the ValCorp building, Val tells his employees that he wants them to pick up something at the game shop. The next morning, Val's butler Tugicrosh (a male Human in this episode) and two other goons arrive at the Aino residence (Tsukino Apartments in the dub). Tugicrosh tells Kurenako that his master, Val The Csar, challenges her to a battle. Kurenako asks what would happen if she was to refuse, and Tugicrosh says they must insist (in the dub, he directly calls her name out as "Doom N' Gloom Pink"). Kurenako thinks that Val does not understand, but she will teach him a lesson about the souls of the scouts.

Pinako and her friends arrive to find her mother missing. Suddenly the phone rings and Pinako answers it only to find out that it is Val, telling Pinako that her mother is not feeling well and needs picking up. (In the dub, the words "Pika Boy" and "Pika Gear" are removed from a box near the phone.)

Pinako and her friends make their way to ValCorp where they find Kurenako seriously injured. Kurenako tells Pinako that she failed; she had tried to teach Val a lesson about the souls of the scouts, but she lost. Val appears in the room and states that he defeated Kurenako in a battle, with each of them putting up their most valuable item as the prize. He guesses that playing against a champion like himself was too much stimulation for Pinako's mother. Katrina accuses Val of cheating, which he denies (in the dub, she tells Val he should be ashamed of himself; Val calls the match fair).

Val holds up the Venus Transformation Pen, then breaks it in two and Pinako protests that it was her mother's most treasured heirloom. Val says that the pen was a forgery and not the genuine article. (In the dub, it is the genuine article as he says that he did not want anyone to use it against him or the Negaverse.)

Kurenako hands Pinako her deck, saying that he put her soul in these cards and taught Pinako everything she knows. She instructs Pinako to take them and teach Val respect for the souls of the scouts. Pinako insists that she needs to take her to a doctor, but Val remarks that it sounds like an excuse. Pinako's friends offer to take her mother to the hospital, while Pinako faces Val. Pinako is unsure, but the others offer her support. Daniel reminds Pinako that he used to be a complete outcast, but it was Pinako who befriended him, and she can do it. (In the episode where this actually occurred in season 1, it was the other way around: Pinako was the outcast with Daniel befriending her. In the dub, Daniel says Pinako is the best battler he has ever seen and she has a Sailor Scout pen of her own. He knows Pinako can do it.)

Before Pinako leaves, Katrina uses a Blue pen with Daniel using a Red pen and touch their pens to Pinako's, declaring this as their own symbol of friendship with all three pens glowing. She says that even though the glow will fade away, they will always remember the circle of their friendship. (In the dub she says that when Pinako is Battling, she will know that she is not alone. They will all be right there with her.) As Katrina and Daniel take Kurenako to the ambulance, Katrina suggests that Daniel stay behind to support Pinako.

Val takes Pinako to a virtual stadium. Val says he designed the stadium himself and he thinks Pinako will agree that it will add a bit more life to the game. Val says they will play using the ValCorp Special Rules. (In the dub he says that they each begin with 0 Victory Points and the first player to hit 15 wins.)

Pinako (still a Human at this point in the episode) activates the Moon Transformation Pen and changes into Sailor Pinako (now a Youma). Val is slightly startled by Pinako's change in appearance and attitude. Pinako says "Now Val, it's time for battle."

Val goes first and summons "Alpha & Beta." A hologram of the twin monsters emerge onto the field. Pinako is surprised to see the monster card come to life. Val explains that it is his virtual simulator; it creates life-like holograms of every Warrior & Monster. Pinako realizes that this is how Val beat Kurenako.

Pinako starts his turn and summons "Moon Warrior, Level One." At this point, Daniel arrives at the Battle and is shocked by the presence of the monsters. The Monsters and Warrior get ready to battle and Pinako commands "Moon Warrior" to use its "Moon Crown" attack (Moon Healing Escalation, Level 1 in the Japanese version). "Moon Warrior" launches a lightball at "Alpha & Beta", destroying them and raising Pinako's Victory Points to 1. Cochran rushes into the room, asking his brother if he is okay, while Daniel celebrates on Pinako taking out one of Val's monsters.

Val says that he should have started with a handicap this size anyway. In the dub, he says "Well played... for a beginner". He asks how Pinako will stand against this and Summons "Kaiju Bamboo" (50 HP, 50 ATK, lowered to 20 for this episode only).

Pinako is puzzled, as the monster has only 20 ATK but Val combines it with the PIE Card "Negaverse Sword" ("Negative World Energy Generator" in the various International and Japanese versions), doubling its ATK. ("Negative World Energy Generator" has different artworks in the dub and Japanese versions.)

"Bamboo's" ATK goes up to 40. Val orders Kaiju Bamboo to attack "Moon Warrior" with "Dark Light". "Bamboo" launches a ball of energy at its target and "Moon Warrior"'s Hit Points drop to 10.

Pinako thinks Val is good, he knows every aspect of this game, but her Mother put all her knowledge and her heart into this Deck so she must believe it holds some secret strategy. She draws "Crystal Tokyo". Pinako thinks the card is useless as it cannot defeat "Bamboo" so she Sets a monster card down to protect her Moon Warrior.

Val starts his turn and uses Kaiju Bamboo to attack and destroy Pinako's monster which turns out to be "The King's Lion". Daniel tells Pinako to hang in there as Val continues to destroy more of her monsters, including "Kappa, Lambda & Phi" and "Beast Taitas".

Val says he can practically hear Pinako's mother's dying breath coming from those cards. (In the dub he says Pinako is not doing any better than Kurenako did; her Deck is just as weak and feeble as her mother.) Pinako argues that her mother is a great woman and a better Battler than Val will ever be. She can feel her heart in this Deck and doubts Val has that kind of faith in his cards. Saying she believes in her mother's Deck, Pinako draws her next card. She tells Val that her faith has rewarded her with "Moon Warrior, Level 2".

Pinako Levels up "Moon Warrior" to Level 2 and uses it to attack "Kaiju Bamboo", lowering its Hit Points to 10. Daniel compliments Pinako, who invites Val to make his move.

Val laughs that the Battle will be over sooner than Pinako thinks and draws a card. He Levels up "Kaiju Bamboo" to "Prince Emerald". Daniel is surprised again and states that it is impossible; There's only one copy of the card in the world. Val says Pinako's mother was not the only one to possess a powerful set of items. "Prince Emerald" attacks and takes down "Moon Warrior"'s HP to 30. Val says that, faith or no faith, Pinako will fall before his superior monsters; faith is for losers, like her mother.

As more of Pinako's monsters are destroyed by "Prince Emerald" including "Dragon of Light" and "Jinzo Cakes", Val states that there is not a card in Pinako's Deck that can stand up to "Prince Emerald". He asks Pinako what hope she has against a King, as he Levels up to "King Emerald".

Meanwhile, Kurenako is being rushed through the hospital on a bed with Katrina at her side. Kurenako calls to Pinako, encouraging her not to give up.

Back at the Battle, Pinako refuses to give up. She draws and plays "Battle Pause", which prevents all of Val's monsters from attacking for three turns. Val calls the move desperate and asks Pinako "what good will a three-turn delay do you?".

Pinako thinks Val is right and looks at the cards in her hand: "Silver Millenium", "Negaverse", "Crystal Tokyo" and "Sailor Mask". (The dub mistakenly shows the "Vicious Queen" artwork instead of the "Negaverse" artwork, All cards have different artworks in the dub and Japanese versions.) She cannot figure out what to do with these cards; they are like a scrapbook.

Pinako then hears Kurenako's voice. It says to her, for someone who claims to have faith, she is giving up too easily and that sometimes the cards are like a team and you must put all the members in their proper place. "Like the Sailor Scouts?", Pinako asks. "Exactly", Kurenako replies, "Each Scout helps build a greater team, like the pictures of a scrapbook".

Pinako starts to ponder on this and remembers her mother telling her about Knights & Guardians' only unstoppable Warrior, "Moon Queen Dyana". However "Moon Queen Dyana" can only be Summoned by gathering all 4 Locations and 1 Item; a feat that, to this day, no one has ever accomplished.

Val tells Pinako to stop stalling and draw her next card (in the dub he instead threatens to treat Pinako's stalling as a forfeit, if she does not stop.) Pinako draws the card "Golden Century".

Val claims that Pinako can draw whatever card she wants but it will not change a thing. Although his "King Emerald" is frozen, his new monster is under no such spell. (At this point in Season 1, the effect of "Battle Pause" was different than its two real-life counterparts. It only affected monsters that were already on the field when it was activated.) Val Summons "Kaiju Technosys" who takes away 40 of Pinako's "Sailor Mask"'s Hit Points.

Pinako draws "Moon Warrior, Level 3". She thinks she can use this to attack, but it will not stand a chance once King Emerald is free. She goes ahead and Levels up "Moon Warrior" and uses it to destroy "Technosys". Pinako's Victory Points rise to 7.

Val considers that to be a sacrifice which does not even faze him. Although he could not attack, he Levels up "King Emerald" to "Super King Emerald" to bypass the effects of Battle Pause. It attacks and destroys "Moon Warrior", Raising Val's Victory Points to 12.

Val asks Pinako how her faith is now; with his "Super King Emerald" free to attack next turn, there is nothing Pinako can do; Pinako was never a match for Val. Daniel urges Pinako not to listen to him. Pinako realizes that Val wanted the Venus Transformation Pen just so he would have the most powerful items in the world, then destroyed it so it could not be used against him.

She realizes that she must draw the last piece of "Dyana", but the odds are against her. She tries to draw but her Deck seemingly moves away from her. Pinako wonders if the cards are moving away from her but thinks, no, it is just herself and she is afraid to draw. In the dub, she says the Deck senses her doubt so she tells the Human Pinako to concentrate and not lose faith. She notices her own Transformation Pen and imagines her friends standing there with her.

Val tells Pinako to draw her last "pathetic" card, so he can end this Battle. However Pinako says her mother's Deck has no pathetic cards but it does have the Imperium "Silver Crystal", as she draws "Imperium Silver Crystal".

Val recoils in horror, protesting that it is impossible. Pinako places the five pieces on the field and a large catholic cross appears. (In the dub, the cross is instead a door.) The complete "Moon Queen Dyana" emerges from the cross. Val steps back once again, calling it impossible, as no one has ever managed to call "Moon Queen Dyana" from the Silver Crystal before. Pinako orders "Dyana" to "Annihilate". "Moon Queen Dyana" destroys Val's Monsters and raises Pinako's Victory Points to 15.

Daniel cheers and Cochran looks up in surprise, protesting that his brother never loses. Pinako tells Val that he plays only for power and that is why he lost but if you put your heart in the game, there is nothing you cannot do. Val wonders how he could have lost. The Sigil of the Moon People appears on Pinako's forehead as Pinako tells Val that she will crush the evil in his heart and taps into the power of the Imperium Silver Crystal, granting Val a "Mind Crush". (In the dub, Pinako tells him if he wants to know, to open up his heart; "Val, if you truly want to know, open your heart!") Val falls to his knees.

Over at the hospital, Kurenako wakes up, knowing that Pinako won the Battle.

Elsewhere Delphius is informed that the uncontested champion Val The Csar has been defeated by someone named Pinako. Delphius smiles as the mysterious crystal in his hand flashes.

Cast

• Pinako Aino/Sailor Pinako - Toshie Tanimoto
• Daniel Kano - Shigeru Kase
• Katerina Suino - Emio Takagi
• Cochran - Munekiyo Kawada
• Val the Csar - Kan Minamoto
• Barry - English Dub only
• Tsujikuroshi - Hikaru Okamoto
• Kurenako Aino - Ino Tominaga
• Delphius' Butler - Higaori Tsuohana

Trivia

The original title card for Episode 24.

The actual title card used in the episode.

• This is the only episode where the Moon Queen warrior card is given an actual name, "Moon Queen Dyana"
• While Daniel and Katerina do not possess their Transformation Pens in this episode, they hold ordinary pens which not only look similar, but also have the exact same colors that they would be if they were, this may suggest that their first transformations may have supposed to have been held off screen according to the story from this episode, ultimately, countries that started with this episode would have Daniel's first transformation in Episode 9, with Katerina's first transformation occurring eight episodes later, long after viewers saw her as Sailor Mercury for the first time in Episode 10.
• This episode did not air in the following countries: Japan, The United States, Canada, China and Mexico, it was revealed through future episodes however, that they were dubbed into the countries' respective languages, as clips from this episode were used instead of clips from The Legendary Silver Crystal in a Youma's Hands, Pinako's Miracle of Friendship! whenever Pinako's and Val's Devil's Game battle was referenced.
• The Episode's exclusive character, Kurenako Aino, is an amalgamation of Kurenai Aino, Pinako's actual mother/DD Girl III, and Minako Aino/Sailor Venus.
• the Episode is known by the following titles in other dubs:
  • Croatian - Pinako, Čuvar Pinako, vs. Kralj Val i karte demona - Pinako, Guardian Pinako Vs. King Val & his Demon Cards
  • Malaysian English - The Battle of Darkness
  • French - Serena et Balthasar, le début d'une rivalité - Serena (Pinako) & Balthasar (Val The Csar), The Beginning of a Rivalry
  • German - Pinako und Vals ultimativer Kampf - Pinako and Val's Ultimate Battle
  • Italian - Sailor Pinacco e La battaglia per l'anima - Sailor Pinako & The Battle for the Soul
  • Spain (Castillano) - El comienzo de la rivalidad de Serena y Balthasar - The Start of Serena's (Pinako's) and Balthasar's (Val The Csar's) Rivalry
  • Spain (Catalan) - As cartas poderosas de Baltasar! - Baltasar's (Val The Csar's) Powerful cards
  • Spain (Galician) - Comeza a rivalidade de Serena e Balthasar! - Serena's (Pinako's) and Balthasar's (Val The Csar's) Rivalry Starts!
  • Portuguese - Partida da rivalidade do Navegante de Pinacco e Baltazar - Starting of Navigator Pinacco (Sailor Pinako) and Baltazar's (Val The Csar's) Rivalry
  • South Korea - 피나코의 배틀! 전설의 왕 에메랄드! - pinakoui baeteul! jeonseol-ui wang emelaldeu! - Pinako's Battle! The Legendary King Emerald!
• Although unaired on TV, when this episode was released on DVD, the Episode Titles were for the following Regions
  • Japan - ピナコの決戦！　伝説のエメラルド魔王 - Pinako no Kessen! Densetsu no Emerarudo Maou - Pinako's Battle! The Legendary Demon King Emerald
  • U.S. & Canada - The Yoma Sailor Scout (Edited) - Pinako's Fight: The Legend of King Emerald (Uncut)
  • Mexico - La nueva Sailor Scout es una Maligna - The New Sailor Scout is a Maligna (Youma)
  • China - 月奈子的戰鬥！ 傳說中的翡翠王！ - Yueanzi's (Pinako's) Battle! The Legendary Emerald King!
• This would be the very last episode to use the Shaken Font Mincurl in its title cards for a number of episodes.
  • This would also be the very last episode to have its title manually created by hand, all episodes from Mind, Body, Soul, Delphius' Ambition onwards would have a digitally created title, although there was a manually created title for said episode, the episode itself would wind up not using it.
• In the Japanese version, Val The Csar is identified as the Successor of the President of the Dark Agency. However, a later part of the episode reveals that Val had taken over the company and renamed it to ValCorp long before the events of this episode, in the regular series, this happens between Episodes 17 and 21. The English Dub removes this error by replacing the line with a statement that Val "has his own company to run".
• The cross that "Moon Queen Dyana" emerges from was changed to a door in the dub to remove religious connotations.
• This episode shows all of Pinako's friends attending the same school, in all cases however, the schools all of the characters seen attending are incorrect at this point in time, it may have been a way to establish Pinako's circle of friends for the International version, however.
  The actual schools that Pinako's friends are attending are:
  • Pinako, Katerina, Daniel and Barry: Shiba Koen Municipal Middle School
  • Narun Osaka: Youma-Kai Middle School
  • Youma Metalia: Juuban Elementary School
• The Next Episode Preview's ending phrase was changed from 「月の光は戦のメッセージ」"The Moonlight is a messenger of Battle." to 「バトル・オン！」"Battle On!"

Episode Comparison

Episode Comparison, From "Tokyo Side Stories Uncensored"
Blue	Side Note
Red	Scene that was Cut
Green	Altered Scene
Purple	Stupid Dialogue Alert (S.D.A)