Dark Side of The Moon//The Dark Kingdom
The Dark Kingdom
The Dark Kingom was the first villain group to appear in the Sailor Moon story, making its appearance in episodes 01-46 of "classic" Sailor Moon. Its members included the Shitennou, or Four Heavenly Kings, Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite, all of whom answered to Queen Beryl. The Dark Kingdom's true master, however, was an unusual being called Queen Metaria, who seemed to have no physical form. As the story of the first season progressed, the Dark Kingdom's mission evolved, coinciding with the dispatch of each of the Shitennou.
Jadeite's mission was to collect energy for Metaria, and was sucessful to varying degrees. Nephrite, who came next, had the same responsibility but used different methods than Jadeite. Later he was given the Kurozuishou (Black Crystal) by Queen Beryl and set out to collect the Nijizuishou (Rainbow Crystals) to revive the Seven Youma, the Dark Kingdom's strongest warriors. The Rainbow Crystals also made up the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou, the Dark Kingdom's ultimate goal. Zoisite betrayed and had Nephrite killed, and took over the operation of finding the Rainbow Crystals and Monsters. Coinciding with Zoisite's introduction was that of his mentor and implied lover, Kunzite. The two worked together in hopes of collecting all the crystals, and were successful but their victory was not absolute as the Ginzuishou was revived and retained by the Princess.
Queen Beryl's Shitennou managed to capture Mamoru/Endymion later in the series during their quest for the Rainbow Crystals. After brainwashing him with Metaria's dark powers, he began fighting for the Dark Kingdom and faced off against the Sailor Team multiple times, much to the dismay of Sailor Moon and her friends. Queen Beryl's plans to make him hers to confound Sailor Moon's suffering did not come to pass, and Endymion was finally freed. This was just an echo of the Dark Kingdom and specifically Queen Beryl's pasts which were so heavily intertwined with that of Endymion and Serenity.
The lowest servants of the Dark Kingdom, and those which the Shitennou dispatched to do their bidding, were the Youma. The Youma varied from episode to episode, and were most often unusual and cheesy opponents for the Sailor Team. The Sailor Team faced off with 39 Youma in all, some of which fought in teams. Youma means "ghost" or "apparition" in Japanese, but these enemies are sometimes simply called monsters by fans.
The Dark Kingdom's hideout was one of great mystery to the Sailor Team, although it wasn't presented as a forefront concern of the girls until near the end of the season. It was eventually revealed to be at D-Point of the North Pole, deep beneath the ground, and like other villains, in some kind of dimensional rift.
Members:
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Queen Beryl
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Kunzite
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Zoisite
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Nephrite
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Jadeite
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Dark Endymion
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Queen Metaria
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