This pertains mainly to the original Japanese manga. Minako is more of a tomboy, and a bit obsessive... but somewhat mature/sad figure this is normal manga behavior. Don't like manga personality? Read Minako's Quest Against Her Henshin! That has her anime personality.
Sailor Venus took her place next to Sailor Jupiter. She thought of the other soldiers in the line up. She was the leader of the Inner Senshi. Mercury had lost her mother in the war. Her mother had rushed out during the attacks to help a little girl who couldn't make it to the palace in time and was seriously injured. She died the next day. Mercury was not sure if her father was still alive. He had disappeared during the second attack. A chill ran through Venus's spine thinking about it. Then Mars had lost both of her father and grandfather. Who did she have left in this world except for Phobos and Deimos...? Her father had tried so hard to stop the destruction that was to happen. He had built places around the world for people to hide and to protect them from the coming Chaos. He had died doing so. Then there was Jupiter. Jupiter wanted to protect the world and could do nothing. Even after the first serious attack by Chaos her hands were tied. Even those she saved regretted being alive right now. Asanuma's family was not able to come to Crystal Palace. Even after most of them survived the first attack, they believed that they would be OK. They thought that they could survive whatever was to come. Motoki's fiancee, Nishimura Reika, died. Unazuki was safe--but she was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She had seen several of her friends try to get to the Palace. They rushed towards it as she held out her hand and watched them die under a blast. The cost had been high so far.
Sailor Venus turned her mind from that and thought of her own family. She wasn't sure if anything about her family would ever be the same. She could remember telling them something about nine months earlier, but she could not remember exactly what she had told them. She knew she told them about being a Sailor Soldier, but the edges of it were fuzzy.
Artemis, in his human form, came out to stand next to her. It was rare for him to take this form. He didn't remember either what she'd told them specifically. No one did. It was only a few months earlier... and she still couldn't remember. Perhaps it was better she did not. But somehow Sailor Venus still wanted to.
Minako straightened her bow on her head and took a deep breath. She would have to tell them eventually. She looked down at Artemis. Artemis blushed.
"Artemis, are you sure you aren't going to stay around and help?"
Artemis shook his head. Luna and he had decided that it was best for each girl to do it on their own. It was a private matter with each girl. Each family had it's own issues that they had to deal with. Even though the cats wanted to help, it was clear if they stayed they would be in the way. Artemis wasn't sure how Minako's family would react to such news. He heard about Rei and Makoto already. Usagi was supposed to tell her family today. Minako and Usagi had decided to do it on the same day, though Artemis didn't know why.
Minako walked down the stairs of her house. She didn't want to look dirty for this. She was playing volleyball earlier that day. Her mom kind of caught her jumping the wall again. Minako hadn't heard the end of it for quite a while. Minako sighed as she swore she still could hear her mother chewing her out for ruining another school uniform.
The truth was if everything happened as Setsuna said it would, she wouldn't be able to play volleyball on a regular basis. Her job would to be a Sailor Soldier. It was her duty and in many ways it felt like it was her true dream too. She always wanted to protect love and justice.
Minako entered the door to the living room with Artemis trailing behind her. It was Sunday. She didn't know if she would remember that. But it seemed suddenly important to remember details. All details of anything relating to future knowledge would be erased from the world. She had to face that.
She said, "Mama, I have something to show you..." Minako started.
Artemis nodded. He said, "Aino-san. You daughter is Sailor Venus and I can talk. She was Sailor V too."
"What? There's a camera, right? We're on hidden camera?" her mother asked.
Minako blinked. Her father would be back soon. He promised, but he was running late now.
Minako called out her transformation. She was quickly adorned into her Eternal Sailor Suit.
Her mother didn't look all too amused.
"Seriously Minako, if I'm on camera you should have told me. I would have put on make up."
Sailor Venus looked at Artemis begging with her eyes for help. Artemis transformed into his human self. Minako's mom primped her hair a bit. Artemis sweat dropped and then suddenly ran out of the house popping into his cat form again.
Sailor Venus let her transformation fade. She would have to try to convince her mother. Minako knew her mother watched those horrible shows on TV. Such as a man pulling things with an office chair with... oh and those reality shows. Minako often wondered if her mother really wanted to be an idol, but hid it.
After some thought, Minako transformed again and this time called out "Venus Love-me Chain!" The chain wrapped around a lamp and then came towards her. She neatly caught it, making the chain disappear.
Minako's mother clapped.
"Oh, so you wanted to show me a magic show! You should have said so."
Sailor Venus knew her mother wasn't usually this dense. She couldn't be. She took her mother by the arm. She led her to the back yard. Looking around for any pesky neighbors, she placed a volleyball near the wall. She called out a second level attack of "Love and Beauty Shock!"
The wall was damaged and the volleyball went flat. It was an old ball anyway.
Minako's mother clapped more. Frustrated, Sailor Venus yelled, "This is not a show! This is real! I am Sailor Venus."
Minako's mother shook her head. "You're putting on a good act Minako. Now, come I'll make you a snack."
'Now what?' Sailor Venus thought. How could she convince her mother? Transforming into her princess form wouldn't be enough. What would it take?
Sailor Venus let her transformation fade as soon as she got into the house. Her father was home. It was one of those rare occasions that he was home at all.
"Hello, papa," Minako said gloomily.
"Cheer up!" her father said.
"Papa, I'm Sailor Venus," Minako said.
"I know, dear. Tsukino Kenji-san told me a few seconds ago about his daughter saying strange things..."
"Then you believe me?" Minako asked, her spirits improving.
"Good game you guys have!" her father said slapping her on the back as encouragement.
Minako cried out in frustration. She transformed yet again hoping it would have SOME effect on someone. Her father's eyes widened. His mouth flapped open and closed. Finally! Someone believed her!
"Snacks are ready!" her mother called out.
"When... what... who... where... " he started and stopped stupidly.
"Mama, did you know about Minako...?" he finally asked Minako's mother.
"Nice trick, isn't it? I'm sure she has some hidden cameras around here, but she isn't going to catch me!" Minako's mother said smiling.
Sailor Venus sighed, yet again. Her mother didn't get it.
"Mama, I am Sailor Venus. I was a princess of Venus. I died a long time ago... and was reborn on this Earth. An enemy is coming to this planet--Chaos. Chaos will destroy this planet piece by piece. When that happens, the Crystal Palace will be built and most of civilization will be destroyed. Please, please believe me. I don't have long to remember this. No one will remember anything about the future."
"Darling, please--" Minako's mother started, putting out the plate of nikuman. Tears were rolling down her face. Minako's mother stopped and wiped her eyes. Minako's father silently hugged his wife. Minako's mother sobbed into his shoulder. Minako felt her mother's despair.
"Anta..." her father said softly.
Minako backed out of the room. She had no right to be there.
It took a while, but Minako's mother slowly began to accept Minako's position. Minako's mother didn't pretend to like it. She worried and fussed over her daughter everyday. Minako's father agreed to come to the Palace without word of how he felt. This was just the way he was.
But in the first wave of attacks, Minako's maternal grandmother died... and Minako's mother was crushed. It wasn't just that, but several of Minako's mother's friends died. Other housewives she knew. Other people who were part of the PTA. Then there came the second wave more devastating than the first. What Minako's mother lost in that attack wasn't speakable. Every one of the deaths that Minako's mother found out crushed her little by little. Minako didn't have to ask, she just saw it. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same as her mother, but somehow she couldn't be the one to console her. If anyone wanted to know what a crushed spirit was, it was Minako's mother.
Pretty soon, Minako's mother didn't speak all that much. She wouldn't even talk to her daughter. She wouldn't even scold Minako. She just became quiet.
When Minako took her permanent form as Sailor Venus, all her mother said to her was, "I wish it weren't true."
It was her father that told her that her mother worried that her daughter would die too. By then Sailor Venus could not tell her mother that she was wrong. Sailor Venus did not remember anything she learned of the future.
Standing in front of the cheering crowd, Sailor Venus thought about the cost. Her mother was barely stable these days. Alone in her apartments, her mother did very little socially. Even when Sailor Venus came, her mother said nothing to her. Even when her mother accepted the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou nothing changed. Sailor Venus was forced to leave the apartment just like when Minako had left the kitchen all those months ago.
But the queen was soon to come out with her new daughter and be crowned as the heir to the Earth. She had brought peace to the Earth. The excitement grew. Evening set in. The lights of the Palace turned on. The moon would be visible soon. This day had been a long time coming. Nothing would stop it. It was destiny.
The dark green-haired figure disappeared from overhead.
Note: Anta-- slang way (kind of) of saying "Dear" or "Darling" literally translates as an informal version of "You".
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