Just Another Reader

Reportedly, Naoko Takeuchi wanted to kill off all her heroes at the end of the first arc, the Dark Kingdom. Her publishers refused to let her because they wanted the series to keep going. When that arc was adapted into the first season of the anime, the characters are killed and then revived at the end (I don't know exactly how because the U.S. finale was highly censored and it was many years ago). She was annoyed that she wasn't able to do that. 

Well, she made up for it in this arc. Granted there have already been mentions that they can be brought back, but by the end of the volume, Usagi is on her own with none of the scouts left to help her. There is the mysterious new Chibi-Chibi, shown on the cover, whose identity hasn't been revealed yet. There is also the Sailor Starlights whose motivations and allegiances aren't clear at the beginning. 

But let's back up. Apparently Usagi and Mamoru's display of power to defeat Queen Nehelenia caught the attention of other people in the universe. Sailor Galaxia to be exact. We learn more about what exactly makes a Sailor Guardian what they are and Sailor Galaxia has been eliminating different planets' guardians and taking their star seeds. 

Another great volume and I'm about to drive into the second because I need to know how this ends :)