Seasons
Chapter 4: Summer
She wasn't brave.
She wasn't as strong as the legendary Sailor Jupiter. She wasn't at smart as the intelligent Sailor Mercury. She wasn't as insightful as the perceptive Sailor Mars.
Then who was she?
"I'm me," she whispered.
And for now, it was enough.
'Venus Power, Make Up!'
"Minako," tutted Artemis. "You don't have time for television. You're a Sailor Guardian. You have other priorities."
It was only then she realised.
She was special.
Not the good special, the bad special. Special as in isolated, unique.
"I don't want to be a Sailor Senshi," she murmured. Artemis looked at her kindly.
"Mina, I'm sure-"
"I meant what I said," Minako said, crossing her arms. "I didn't get a choice! No one asked me if I wanted to abandon my friends and family for another life!" She sank back into the couch, in tears.
Artemis was silent, and Minako was thankful.
"The Soldier of Love and Beauty, Sailor Venus!"
Senshi meeting. Usagi had called it at her place, and the Senshi made their way to Usagi's house.
Minako rang the front door, before being greeted by Usagi.
"Mina-chan! Come in!" She steps aside to allow Minako in.
She forces a smile at Usagi, before she sees Makoto walking towards the two.
"Hey," Makoto says. Usagi beams at the taller girl, and invites her in as well. Minako turns to go in, when she sees the smile Makoto gives Usagi.
It's a forced smile.
Just like hers.
Minako blinks, and then walks into the room where she sees Ami and Rei. The duo wave, and greet her as she sits down next to them.
Makoto follows.
"Ahh, ahh," Usagi chides, ushering the Inner Senshi into her living room. They all sit around a little table, where Usagi serves some hot tea. She almost spills it, when Makoto quickly catches the teapot. Usagi shoots her a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Mako-chan," Usagi says, grinning. Minako watches the two interact closely.
"So," Minako pipes in. "What's this meeting for?" Makoto, Ami and Rei nod in agreement.
"The youma, of course! We have another monster to fight! I can't wait to transform again!" Usagi gushes.
Minako rolls her eyes. Foolish child, she thinks. No child in their right mind would wish to be a Senshi.
Except for me.
She remembers a time where she fought for love and justice- not for duty. She had fought to protect others, not because she was ordered to.
How foolish I used to be, Minako muses. She locks eyes with the other Senshi. They must be foolish, too.
Usagi chatters on, not that Minako was ever paying any attention.
"Allow me to punish you with love!"
The youma Usagi brought up in the Senshi meeting is here, as Mercury predicts.
Venus and the other Senshi transform almost instantly, but Sailor Venus can't help noticing Makoto's hesitation.
Surprisingly, it is Mercury who attacks first.
"Mercury Aqua Illusion!"
The waves of water hit the youma, dousing it. The youma screeches but remains unharmed.
"Venus!"
Sailor Venus turns to face Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon gestures to the youma. "I'll try get it from behind," the Moon Princess explains. "You lead the others to trap it into the corner where I can kick its butt!"
Venus sighs at the childish language Sailor Moon uses. "Alright," she agrees.
Jupiter steps into place beside her, cracking her knuckles. "You heard her," Jupiter says, looking towards Venus. "Lead us."
Venus freezes, and ducks her gaze. "I…I…"
"Mars, look out!"
Jupiter's warning saves Sailor Mars from a swipe from the vicious shadow youma. Mars nods to Jupiter, a sign of thanks. The look of acknowledgement between Senshi and Senshi. A look only four can understand.
She had almost cost Rei her life. Her hesitation to take charge had led to a scrape between life and death for one of their own.
She had almost let a teammate die.
"Why aren't you the leader!? You'd be better at the job! Me? I'm a failure! I almost let her die," Venus shouts, staring at Jupiter.
She can feel the tears build up.
She's a failure.
She can't lead.
Without Jupiter, her teammate would be dead.
Why'd they need her?
Love is insignificant on the battlefield.
And she was Love. She was the guardian of love, the guardian of all things pure-
But Jupiter smiles.
"No, you're not," Jupiter shouts, startling the blonde. "We all go into pits of self-doubt, but it is our own duty to make sure we climb back out."
Sailor Venus stares.
"It's your duty, Minako." Sailor Jupiter, Makoto looks at her with a fierce gaze. "We may be enslaved by the chains of duty, but duty always comes first."
Venus nodded.
Duty always comes first.
It did, didn't it?
Love, friendship, hope, loyalty-
Duty comes first.
"Then let me fulfil my duty," Sailor Venus whispers.
She hides the tears under her Sailor V mask.
She catches Makoto's emerald gaze.
Thank you, she mouths.
"Into positions, girls," Venus shouts. "We've got a monster to trap."
The Senshi nod.
Thunder and Courage.
Love and Beauty.
Water and Wisdom.
Fire and Passion.
They'd fall down. They'd climb back up, dragged by the chains of duty.
For the Senshi live their lives in the hope that another's will be safe.
-fin-
a/n: It's done! Seasons is done! I feel like this chapter was a little forced. Some parts were rewritten countlessly, while others just flowed from my mind onto the page.
Please review and Rate! I'd like tips on my writing style and how I can improve. Or just a review saying what you liked or disliked.
Until next time.
(Sayonara.)
T. Sword
