The Nephrite's Alter Ego's definition and form changes from medium to medium within the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon franchise and intellectual property.
Nomenclature & Etymology[]
Appearance[]
Anime[]
In the original anime, when not possessing a person, Nephrite's Soul Shadow was a simple amalgamation of purple energy. Near the top of it was a stylized version of Nephrite's head, which was completely red. His hand can also be seen emerging red at one point.
Manga[]
In Act 4, Nephrite's Alter Ego was actually a female youma disguised as an interpreter for Princess D. It took possession of the princess and tried to steal the the treasure, which was believed to be the Silver Crystal. Once it revealed its form, it was immune to Sailor Mars's attacks. Sailor Moon attempted to use her tiara to destroy it, but realized it was destroyed in the battle against Jadiete. Suddenly a new tiara appears and the youma is destroyed by Sailor Moon's Moon Twilight Flash attack, produced by the new tiara.
Anime[]
Nephrite's Alter Ego is not specifically a Youma, but rather an illusion or an apparition. The shadow is itself, a part of Nephrite.
Similar to Regulus, the Nephrite's Alter Ego was not involved in any energy-absorbing plots but was used to rob the visiting Princess D from the Diamond Kingdom, the royal treasure she is set to inherit at a reception inside the Diamond Kingdom embassy.
Both Luna and Queen Beryl speculated that the royal treasure could be the Legendary Silver Crystal with Luna adding that Princess D may be the Moon Princess that she is searching for. Consequently, both Luna and Queen Beryl of them assigned their subordinates to look into this matter.
Nephrite, who snatches this assignment from Zoisite, notices Naru Osaka inside the embassy. Given that her feelings for his alter ego, Masato Sanjouin, would make her vulnerable, Nephrite flattered her before implanting his shadow in her and taking complete control of her mind. Nephrite then used her as a "middleman" to enter the princess's quarters and "pass" the shadow onto her, so the latter could steal the treasure.
The power of the shadow was controlled by the concentration of Nephrite. What was supposed to be an easy assignment was complicated by Usagi Tsukino (who snuck into the embassy with her Disguise Pen), where she was alerted by Luna of the theft of the treasure. Attempting to stop the possessed princess from handing it to Nephrite, Usagi slipped and fell over the balcony. Tuxedo Mask, who caught her by the hand was bumped from behind by the possessed princess. He and Sailor Moon both fell, with Luna quickly giving them an umbrella they used to glide to the ground.
Consequently, Nephrite's concentration was disrupted by the intervention of Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury. When he retreats from the embassy, Nephrite uses his concentration via his crest to reawaken his shadow, who was still inside the body of Princess D. The possessed Princess D was able to use the power of the shadow to blast dark energy at the guests inside the embassy, rendering them unconscious as she again uses the power of the youma to leap off the embassy balcony and float to the ground.
She tries again to deliver the treasure to Nephrite, but Sailor Mars exorcises the shadow from the possessed Princess D using her Ofuda to perform Akuryo Taisan. The shadow floats out of her body and attacks Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Moon with a blast of dark energy. The Sailor Senshi almost died, but Sailor Mercury saved them using Sabão Spray. This gave Sailor Moon the opportunity to destroy the shadow with Moon Tiara Action.
Crystal[]
Nephrite disguises himself as a female attendant for Princess D. Once she and Nephrite are alone in the room with the treasure, Nephrite begins to attack her, but is interrupted by Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars. He sends his shadow into Princess D, possessing her to try and escape with the treasure. When the guards try to stop her, she engulfs the room in darkness. Once confronted by the Sailor Senshi, the shadow emerges from the princess, revealing Nephrite's appearance. Sailor Mars tries to use her powers to destroy it but it is unaffected. Sailor Moon, using her new tiara, blasts the shadow with light reflected from the moon and it is destroyed.
Trivia[]
- Nephrite's Alter Ego's death can be seen in the opening sequence of the English dub.
- In the official Japanese settei (reference materials) it is called by the name of Nephrite's Alter Ego "ネフライトの分身" (Nefuraito no Bunshin)