As usual, I disavow any rights to the characters from Pretty Guardian SailorMoon. They all belong to Takeuchi Naoko and Bandai.

Hi aserene! Funny you should mention Usagi... (grin) This is the last short chapter, I promise. All of the remaining ones are at least three times this size. Each! Hahaha... Enjoy! - Raya

Lonely Harp

Request

"Done!" Usagi exclaimed, clapping her hands together in joy. As closed her books and put them back in her book bag, she turned to Luna with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "See? I can do my homework early if I want to," she said teasingly.

The purple cat plush nodded with a smile and squinted eyes. "Nnn, nnn!" she said happily. Unable to resist teasing her mistress, however, she continued. "When you want to… Which isn't very often, is it?"

Usagi's smile transformed into a teasing pout. "Luna…" she whined.

The cat laughed, and smiled again. "There, there. You're done, and now you can stay up and watch Minako's last London concert on TV tonight after dinner."

Usagi smiled again as she turned back to her desk and began to put her pencils, erasers, and rulers away. "I can't wait," she sighed happily. A picture in a silver frame perched on the top of her desk caught her eye. She reached out, picked it up, and studied it for a few moments. Slowly, her finger traced Ami's cheek as she looked at the group photo which had been taken at the local amusement park after one of Minako's concerts.

Luna felt a little helpless as she saw her mistress' sad, lonely expression. "Usagi-chan…"

Abruptly, Usagi shook herself and smiled again. She put the picture back in its place of honor, and then rose from her desk. She looked at her clock, and then nodded decisively as she turned to her dresser. "Great, I have time for a bath before dinner!"

A few minutes later, she walked out of the room still smiling. Luna sat on her desk and sighed. Slowly, her head sank down and she closed her eyes, clearly debating with herself. With a sudden shake, she raised her head, leapt down from the table, and bounded her way over to the window. Pushing it open, she could just see the faint half moon that floated overhead.

"Queen Serenity," she called softly as she stared up at it. The golden crescent moon on her forehead began to glitter and glow. "Queen Serenity, please hear me. I don't know what to do…" She stiffened and gasped as she felt the tingle of magic in the air.

A golden silver beam of light descended from the moon and pooled on the window sill in front of her. In the beam, a woman who looked like a slightly older version of Usagi dressed in a long white gown appeared. Her dark hair was gathered behind her head in a partial bun, with the ends cascading down her back. Her every movement showed whispered of great power being tightly restrained.

"Luna…" the image said in a soft, controlled voice.

"Queen Serenity!" the cat cried softly in amazement. "But how?"

After a brief hesitation that was only partially a result of the time lag, the queen of the moon smiled faintly. "I heard your prayer, and I came to answer you. But hurry, little one. I cannot stay too long," she said slowly in a controlled, measured voice.

Luna shook herself and bowed. "It is the Princess," she said quickly. "She is so sad. Her friends do not have the same memories that she does, so she is feeling distanced from them. It's just like when the Prince was captured by Queen Beryl. Even her smile is the same! I want to help them remember, but…"

Slowly, the queen shook her head. "You must follow the Princess' will," she said softly to the cat plush.

"But..!" Luna protested.

The queen shook her head slowly again. "She will be even sadder if you interfere. Do not worry, Luna. I sense the senshi are not happy either, and that they will be doing something about it fairly soon. Patience…"

As Luna bowed resignedly, the queen and her moonbeam faded away.