Disclaimer: I do not own anyone from "CardCaptor Sakura". They are all owned by the ladies of CLAMP who are much more talented than I. (smile) I also do not own anyone from "Sailor Moon". They are all owned by Takeuchi Naoko whose vision will live eternally. (smile) (Much to Elflina's dismay...) All other characters are my own. Feel free to steal them.
I do not hold chapters ransom for reviews, but I sure enjoy compliments, constructive criticism, and grammatical corrections. So if you feel like it, please press that little review button, and let me know what you think. - Raya
Moonlit Sakura
Chapter 9 – The Need to Be Strong
"Sakura. Sakura. Sakura!"
Sakura winced and whimpered in pain as she tried to ignore the voice calling to her.
"Sakura! Sakura, wake up! Sakura!"
Painfully, she opened one green eye and glared at Kero. "My head hurts," she whined. "Go 'way!"
"Sakura! What happened! Sakura!"
With a groan, Sakura gave up her attempt to seek peaceful oblivion and slowly sat up on her bed. "Just stop yelling. Please?" she whimpered as she held her head. Seeing that she was finally awake, Kero stopped talking.
"What happened?" she asked shakily as she looked around her room.
"That's what I'd like t' know," Kero replied as softly as he could. "You jus' collapsed 'bout half 'n hour ago, an' you wouldn' wake up."
Sakura tried to think through the pain in her head. "The Sakura Book. Something happened..."
"What? The Book?" Kero cried at full voice, causing his mistress to whimper and grab her head again. Quickly he flew to the desk and pulled out the book that held the Sakura Cards. He stared at it a few moments, and then shook his head.
"I don' sense anything different in the Book," he said turning to look at Sakura.
She just paled as she remembered the dream and the voice that had echoed through her head. Wincing, she pushed herself out of her bed and walked over to the desk. Her hands were trembling as she opened the book and removed the Cards. She heard Kero gasp in shock as she found the newly transformed Cards.
Power was in front of Earthy, while Dream obscured Firey.
"Minako-chan."
Minako stopped in the middle of the hallway and looked inquisitively at Makoto over her shoulder.
"Minako-chan, the delegation from the Central American Union is here," Makoto said. Her uncertain expression showed that she didn't know what to do with them.
Minako sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "Where is Lady-chan?" she asked already knowing the answer.
"We don't know. She disappeared an hour or so ago," Makoto answered with a sympathetic yet irritated expression.
Minako pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to think. "Have they heard about… Endymion-sama and Serenity-san?" she asked.
"I think so," Makoto replied, biting her lower lip. "They didn't seem surprised about being met so discourteously."
"Have them shown to their rooms, and let them know that the Princess will meet with them tomorrow at the scheduled time. Cancel the formal reception tonight, but make sure they get a good welcoming feast."
Makoto nodded her understanding. "Do you think Lady-chan will be up to seeing them tomorrow?" she asked softly.
Minako shrugged. "I'll do my best," she said. "She's always been good about meeting her duties before, but…"
Makoto nodded again and then reached out to put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "I'll tell them myself. Good luck."
Minako watched her friend walk back down the hall towards the reception hall then turned with another sigh. 'It's only been two days,' she thought to herself as she headed towards the formal gardens in search of her princess. 'She deserves time to come to terms with this, but she doesn't have it. The drought in Central America is becoming severe, and something needs to be done quickly to help the people get through this. And soon, the delegation from South Africa will be here trying to wheedle more trade concessions. And then the Chinese…"
Shaking her head at the work that wouldn't go away, she pushed open an etched crystal door and stepped outside. She searched the formal, informal, and rose gardens, but she could not find the girl. Growing concerned, she considered calling for an all-out search.
Just as she was reaching for her communicator, she saw Lady sitting in her old swing on the ginkou tree dressed in a fuzzy white sweater and a pink skirt. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief before hurrying over to the object of her search.
"Lady-chan?" she called softly. She watched guiltily as Lady started and then quickly rubbed her eyes. "Lady-chan, the delegation from the Central American Union is here," she started to say. Lady looked up at her angrily and interrupted her.
"So what?"
Minako blinked at her princess in surprise at both the statement and the harsh tone. "So, they're here to seek our aid," she began again.
"I'm too busy to see them," Lady said glaring and beginning to rock her swing. Minako's eyes narrowed at this blatant lie, and she glared back.
"Now see here, young lady, you can't just ignore them," she said in a reprimanding tone.
Lady jumped out of her swing and stood defiantly in front of Minako. Her entire body was rigid, and her hands were balled into fists. Tears poured unnoticed down her face as she glared angrily. "You're not my mother. You can't tell me what to do!" she yelled.
"Of course I'm not your mother," Minako snapped, "and thank heavens for that." She stopped herself, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. A quick thought of sympathy for Serenity passed through her mind and gave her a twinge of pain in her heart. She heard Lady spin to run away, and reached out to grab the girl's arm.
"Small Lady, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," she said to the struggling princess. "Look, just listen to me for a moment, okay? I know you want to be alone right now. I know you don't want to deal with the pressure of your royal duties. I wish I could leave you alone. I… I want to go find a quiet place and cry, too," she said choking, eyes still closed. "But neither of us can do that. Our duties won't go away, and no-one else can do them for us."
"She's right, you know, ChibiUsa-chan," an unexpected soft voice said. Minako opened her eyes and saw Super Sailor Saturn standing by the tree. Lady was still facing away from her, rigid, but not trying to pull away anymore.
"Other people's troubles haven't gotten smaller. Yours have just gotten bigger," Super Sailor Saturn continued with a gentle look in her violet-grey eyes. "That's when you have to be your strongest." She paused for a moment, and then continued. "I remember you told me once… That is what you admired most about Usagi-san: the fact that no matter how hurt she was, she always gave her best to help others."
Minako felt Lady wince at her mother's name. She opened her mouth to say something more along those lines when a coldly amused voice interrupted them.
"Oh, what a quaint sentiment. So sweet. So saintly," the orange-headed man said as he appeared beside them. "I bet she died an early death."
"You!" Lady hissed angrily.
"Lady!" Minako cried, pulling roughly on the girl's arm.
Super Sailor Saturn leapt protectively in front of her princess.
"Out of my way," he growled, waving his wand at the Senshi of Destruction. The Silence Glaive suddenly appeared in her hands, and she used it to block the blow he sent at her.
"Run," she called to the others.
"No!" Lady replied. "We have to help you. He can't have you, too."
"You can't help me," her friend replied, blocking another blow. "You have to go find Sailor Moon!" She glanced over her shoulder at her princess significantly. Seeing her distraction, King Necro flung his freeze spell at her. Super Sailor Saturn's eyes widened when she realized she couldn't move. "Go!" she cried.
Minako began to drag Lady away, keeping the frozen senshi between them and the enemy. He glared at them angrily and tried to freeze them, too.
"Silent Wall!"
Minako breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally able to put the tree between them and the enemy. Slowly, she released her princess ready to catch her again if she tried to go back towards Super Sailor Saturn. The burning, dark pink eyes glared at her accusingly, but Lady began to run towards shelter.
Quickly, Minako triggered the all call on her communicator. "Enemy in the playground by the swing. He has Saturn. Hurry!"
As soon as they were completely out of King Necro's sight, the two senshi stopped running. Lady reached for her broach, but was stopped by Minako's voice. "Lady-chan…" She glared at the golden-haired leader of the senshi, daring her to stop her. Minako just shook her head.
"Lady-chan," she said again. "Just… be careful. That's all. You're the one he wants, and we can't do without you. Please remember that…" Minako's baby blue eyes pleaded for her princess to listen and understand. Slowly, Lady's gaze fell and she nodded. "Thank you," she sighed gratefully.
"Moon Crisis Power…" "Venus Star Power…" "Make-UP!"
"Why you…" King Necro growled angrily at Super Sailor Saturn. She just smiled as she saw Lady and Minako reach the shelter of the building. "You will pay for that!" He began to wave his wand angrily, chanting the words of the banishment spell.
Super Sailor Saturn's eyes widened as she heard the strange sounds then quickly shut as she focused her power. "Silent WALL!" She felt King Necro's spell claw at her shield, and poured all her strength into holding it. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard a hard voice call out.
"You again. We'll get you this time. Vesta Dream BEAST!" A tiger as tall as King Necro appeared and began to stalk around him. With a snarl, it leaped towards his face. Although he flinched, King Necro did not stop his spell. The tiger bounced off of his shield then began to fade in blotches just as the queen, the king, and Super Sailor Mars had done before.
"Pallas Torrential DOWNPOUR!" A cloud formed over his head, and a wall of water temporarily blocked his view of Super Sailor Saturn. Dry and undaunted, King Necro finished his spell and focused on getting it through Super Sailor Saturn's shield wall. The water in front of him vanished as if an umbrella had blocked it.
"Juno Slashing VINES!" Long vines began to tear futilely at his shield, disappearing when they came between him and his target. He curled his lip at them in disdain as he felt his spell finally begin to seep though to Super Sailor Saturn's fragile body.
"Ceres Flower ILLUSION!" A cloud of the golden lily-shaped flowers joined the rain and vines in attacking the shield. In the back of his mind, he wondered briefly what illusion she was trying to show him.
Super Sailor Saturn gave a sudden scream as his spell finally found her hands. She struggled to hold on to her Silent Wall, but felt the pain break her concentration.
"Mercury Melodic SPRAY!" "Jupiter Storm STRIKE!" "Venus Golden MELTDOWN!" "Rainbow Moon Heart ACHE!" "Neptune Towering TSUNAMI!" "Uranus Mach WIND!" "Pluto Phantom SHOCKWAVE!"
King Necro cried out with pain as his shield collapsed and several of the stronger attacks made it through. They blasted him back a distance before he managed to teleport to safety.
"Saturn!" Super Sailor Moon cried, racing to her friend. The Senshi of Destruction was even paler than usual as the pain of the spell clawed at her body erasing it in patches.
"Chi… ChibiUsa-chan," she sobbed. "I'm so glad… Re-remember what I said… Be strong… I'm trusting you… Trusting you to find me…"
"Hang in there, Hotaru-chan!" Sailor Pallas cried. Tears flowed unnoticed down her face.
"Saturn!" Sailor Vesta, Sailor Juno, and Sailor Ceres cried.
"No… Don't give up!" Super Sailor Venus cried clenching her fists.
"Blast it all!" Super Sailor Jupiter said, pounding her fist into her leg.
Super Sailor Mercury tried to ignore the tears in her eyes as she rapidly tapped the keys of her computer. She shook her head hard trying to clear her sight as she typed mostly by memory
Super Sailor Neptune clung to Super Sailor Uranus crying in disbelief as her adopted daughter faded from her sight. Super Sailor Uranus stared with wide, angry eyes. Although her left hand clenched her sword tightly, the arm she put around Super Sailor Neptune was gentle and supportive.
Super Sailor Pluto reached towards her adopted daughter with one yearning hand and tried to think of anything she could do to stop the horrible spell that was tearing the girl apart.
"Hotaru-chan!" Super Sailor Moon tried desperately to grab her friend as she faded from sight. Clenching her empty arms to her chest, she collapsed to the ground and cried as if her heart were broken.
A tall young man with platinum blond hair clenched the curtains by his window as a sudden pain went through his heart. 'She needs me,' he thought to himself as he stared blindly at the spring flowers in front of him. 'I have to find her… She needs me…'