Fun concept: In truly dire circumstances, each senshi can open themselves to be a full channel for their element to eliminate a threat, leaving nothing but lingering traces of their powers behind
Mars is a fire bomb that dwindles to embers that take days to go out, Mercury a persistent mist. After her explosion, Jupiter is static that sparks between tree branches as though they are exposed wires. Neptune is and always has been the sea, Uranus sand in the wind.
But Venus is always left standing, because love endures.
Mars went first, of course she did. “Protect the princess!” She’d yelled, and then there was only flame. The flame of Mars, which showed no future but death. They’d taken her embers to the shrine and prayed it was the end.
But it wasn’t, how could it be? One by one. They gave their all and died for it, and now Uranus crumbled to sand in Mina’s arms, scattering in the wind to make her way to Neptune’s sea. Only Mina and Usagi remained, the general and her princess, and if it had to be the princess, alone and safe, so be it. Venus would do her duty. Venus held out to try every possibility, Venus had to be the last one standing. “You will protect her,” that Queen had said in a life long past. “At the expense of others first, and then yourself. You will protect her. You will love her for all of time.”
And she had, and now there was no way forward but to open herself as everyone else had, let power overtake her unto destruction. She stood before her princess and felt a warmth grow inside her. Love was not soft, it was not kind. It would not stand idly by while that which birthed it fell. Love was passion, love was wisdom, love was bravery. Love was the embrace of the sea and the ground on which you made your stand. Love was everything the others had to give and more.
“Love will be your death!” And it coursed through her, her skin aglow, body rigid and lousy with power. But a sweep of her hand and the enemies fell. She approached the source and light pooled at her feet in every step. Minako threw out her arms for the final blow, her hair blew out behind her and the world went gold, pure light and power bursting from her.
It is finished, she thought as the enemy screamed and the cold rushed back in. My duty is done.
But the cold remained. She opened her eyes. Her body stood where there should only have been light; she’d wondered, as the time had approached, how her soul would linger. A glimmer of sunlight despite the clouds, perhaps, or merely a feeling that would draw in young lovers.
It was not any of those things. Usagi looked at her with tearful, disbelieving eyes.
You will love her for all of time.
Love was a curse. Love was an undying force.
Love was Venus.
And so Venus remained.