Is it my fault? Think… think! Why can't I remember more of the past? Minako tried to hold her ground and appear confident, despite really feeling confused and unsure of herself. That has to be wrong. I would never do something like that. Would I? I did ignore Adonis in the past, though…

"I have to wonder why you even have any friends protecting you at all," Psyche sneered. "But then, they're all members of the Moon Kingdom, of course you'd want to associate yourself with them. But what of Venus? Have you abandoned your roots completely? Your home planet as well as your sister?"

Minako held her head with her hands as the confusion and distress began to make her head ache like never before. "No… no… you're wrong…"

A flash of light appeared before Minako, and the pain she felt was lifted.

"Princess Venus," Adonis knelt before Minako. "I am proof that you have not abandoned those from Venus as she claims. You are a kind soul, and you always have been."

"Oh, I remember you," Psyche rolled her eyes. "You're that lovesick boy who followed dear Sister around all the time, even though she never even knew of your existence."

"Yes, that's right," Adonis nodded, not a hint of shame or embarrassment in his voice. "But in this lifetime she has kept my spirit with her for a long time, even though she could have easily given up on me when I, corrupted by darkness, betrayed her and fell to my own demise."

Minako's eyes widened as she heard Adonis speak of the past few years from his point of view. I never thought about what it must have been like for him…

"And what does that matter?" Psyche spat.

"She has not yet abandoned you, either. Though you have strayed, she still cares about you…" Adonis started.

"No! You're wrong!" Adonis' words triggered Psyche's anger once more. "If she cared about me she would never have made me so alone… so that I did not know who to trust, except for Cupid… the only one who ever cared about me…"

Psyche's words, and all the noise around Minako started to fade away as the excitement all proved too much for her current state, and she descended into blackness once more.

….

Minako opened her eyes, the pain in her head surprisingly already gone. What happened…? She took in her surroundings, and realized that she was no longer on Earth, but back on her home planet, Venus. Why am I here? She looked down at herself to get her bearings. I'm wearing a long dress… my Princess form. I hardly ever transform into this. Could it be? I'm back in my memories?

"Princess?" a shy voice spoke to her from behind the door.

Quickly, Minako got up and opened the door, eager to learn all she could from this opportunity. I don't know how this happened… my desire to remember must have overcome me, and when I collapsed, my consciousness was somehow sent here… She was shocked to find a blushing Adonis standing before her.

"I… was told to notify you that the… well, the council meeting is about to begin," he looked down at the floor and stammered.

"Right. Thank you," she smiled, making sure to be as kind as she could to Adonis, remembering how she felt in his place before. Though it doesn't really matter, does it? These are all just fragments of memory, not real anymore. This is only my memory of what happened. "Where…?"

"This way, Princess," he gestured to the right, hardly looking at her anymore.

Seeing Adonis look so awkward and embarrassed, Minako smiled. If I reached out and touched him now… would he react? He who is just a shadow in my memories, but who seems so real? "Thank you," she said softly, following his lead down the hall.

….

"Minako! Minako!" Mars cried, shaking her friend's shoulders trying to wake her.

"Unconscious again, is she? Well, that ruins the fun," Psyche sighed. She snapped her fingers and disappeared, though the Senshi hardly noticed; all their attention was on Minako.

Adonis knelt beside the unconscious Minako. "If I reached out and touched you… would it reach you, wherever you are now?" he whispered. "I'm nothing but a ghost… but I want to feel your warmth."

….

"Adonis!" Minako couldn't contain herself any longer.

The young foot soldier turned around in shock. "You… know my name?"

"Of course," she smiled. She reached out her hand.

….

Adonis grabbed Minako's hand, even though he knew that his touch could not be felt, nor could he feel hers. And yet, somehow, he felt as though he had finally reached her, had gotten closer to her than ever before.

….

As she grasped Adonis' hand and looked into his eyes, Minako felt as if it was the present Adonis there before her—the one who had been helping her, who had consoled her, whose card she kept close to her heart. At last, I can feel his warmth again.

"Venus… I am here, beside you," he spoke, and Minako knew that it was the real Adonis, not the figment of her memory, who was contacting her.

"I know," she answered, and let go of his hand. "Thank you."

Adonis turned around and continued walking, as if nothing at all had happened. That really was him… Although it was only for a second… Finally, they reached a doorway, and Minako entered, seeing before her several individuals who seemed vaguely familiar seated at a large table. The door closed behind her, and Adonis was gone.

The people at the table stood up and bowed. "Welcome, Princess," one woman said. "Now that you are here, we can begin."

Instinctively, Minako walked over to the chair at the head of the table and sat down.

"Wait!" a voice called from outside the door, causing everyone to turn around and look. The door opened wide. "Don't start without me!"

Minako gasped as she saw the young girl standing at the doorway, her messy blonde hair showing that she had ran all the way there. "Psyche?"

"Sorry I'm late!" the girl flashed a big grin, and winked at Minako. "Did I miss anything, Sister?"

"We were just about to begin, Lady Psyche," the same woman spoke up again. "Thank you for joining us. Today's issue will be of particular concern for you: the situation on Earth."

The kind smile that Minako had just seen on Psyche's face disappeared. "I'm listening," Psyche said coldly.

What is going on here? Psyche is sitting beside me, participating in the council meeting. When she spoke to me, I didn't hear any hatred in her voice. And yet, when Earth was mentioned, her whole demeanor changed.

"We have received reports that there is a dangerous energy forming on Earth. One that could be detrimental even to us," the woman said.

"That's not true," Psyche stood up. "Cupid said that the real darkness is coming from the Moon. The people on Earth are only trying to defend themselves."

"Then Cupid is lying to you," Minako heard herself say.

"No… Cupid loves me. He would never lie," Psyche said, her lips quivering.

This is a side to Psyche that I have never seen. She seems so unsure… So confused. And right now, so am I.