Yet survive she did. Ancient princesses were not so easy to be rid of. Yet she didn't know if it was to be a blessing or a curse. Ancient grudges can be just as stubborn. She limped out, holding her shoulder, battered, bruised and beaten. She had won, but it might be a long time before she could fight again. She didn't have a long time. She had places to be. Like back with Alan.
She limped on and on and saw Alan and Katarina near the bay. Katarina was crying into his shoulder. They were so close, her body matching perfectly to his. She steeled herself to begin walking again when she heard them speak. "It's so unfair, Alan! The girl was 14! Why did she have to die? Why?!"
"I know, Katarina. I know." Then, in one single, heart-crushing moment, they hugged. It was more than a consolatory hug, more than a hug between friends. Just as Minako thought she may be able to ignore it, it got worse. He reached his head down and kissed her lips. Just gently, but the blow he dealt to Minako could have been a ton of bricks. She fell to her knees, just out of their sight, incapable of standing. Kaitou Ace's words echoed inside her head. Your love shall be doomed for all eternity. First love number 5001: Failure. He was right. She would never find love. Every path she could take held nothing but a broken heart. She would fight for her princess. The Earth and the princesses of the Silver Millennium would not fall. But victory was hollow if she knew that she fought for a phantom dream, a false fate. She would never find love. As they walked away, she curled into a ball. She would never find love. She sat there, and as she did, the heavens opened and rain fell on her. She did not care. She would never find love. The rain falling on her was heavy, but the rain from her eyes was heavier still. She cried, and cried and cried until sweet night embraced her, taking her sight with a veil of darkness. She sat the crying for almost an entire day. She would never find love.
But she would not let herself fall here. If she would never find love, she would not those who took it from her win. She would fight the Dark Kingdom, and she would win. Failure was not an option. She would win. She would win, and she would find love. She would not lose hope. And with this mindset, she took up the mantle of the warrior once more, and left for France.