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.

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Moonlit Sakura

Chapter 11 – Responsibilities

The early morning sunlight shone brightly on Princess Lady Serenity as she sat in the bay window of her sitting room, and sparkled brightly on the chain she held in one hand. Princess Lady contemplated the chain with sad, burning eyes.

She wasn't thinking about its pretty design of sun, moon, stars, and planetary symbols. She wasn't thinking about what it represented: absolute authority and responsibility for the entire Sol system. She wasn't even thinking about what it would mean if she actually put it on. Instead, her mind was on her last encounter with its true owner.

'I may look 17, but I am 910 years old. When are you going to let me do what I want to do?'

'Small Lady…'

'I'm not small anymore! I've grown up. When are you going to accept that?'

'When you act it!'

Their final argument and her mother's scream of pain and fear as she disappeared played over and over again in her head. As the sun caught the symbol for Venus, another memory rose, temporarily drowning out the other two.

'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. But neither of us can do that. Our duties won't go away, and no-one else can do them for us.'

Her hand closed over the chain abruptly, blocking it from sight.

'Other people's troubles haven't gotten smaller. Yours have just gotten bigger. That's when you have to be your strongest… 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.'

'Re-remember what I said… Be strong… I'm trusting you…'

Lady bowed her head and fought back more tears as Hotaru's final words came back to her.

Super Sailor Venus stopped in front of Lady's door and raised her hand to knock. She paused, staring at the door, and then closed her eyes and lowered her gloved hand back down to her side. 'I just can't…' With a sigh of resignation, she turned and began to walk back down the hallway trying to decide on a story for the Central American delegation.

Princess Lady stood in front of her mirror and studied her image with critical eyes. Her dark pink eyes were even redder than usual as a result of all her crying, but she had managed to reduce the swelling around them. A bit of lotion and powder had toned down the red, irritated skin on her nose and erased all of the tear tracks on her cheeks. She raised her head proudly and decided it would have to do.

She reached out and picked up her rarely used royal tiara from its spot on her dresser. She settled it firmly on her head, then reached out and gathered up the chain she had taken from her mother's room. Carefully, she strung it into place across her forehead, its ends attached to her tiara. The center dip fell precisely where it should in the middle of her forehead. As if her thoughts had summoned it, her crescent moon sigil began to glow softly, framed by the chain.

She looked at herself a moment more, then nodded her head resolutely and turned towards the door. It was time to get to work.

'Remember, act like Mama, and talk like Papa. Act like Mama, talk like Papa...' she thought to herself as she walked though the halls. As she approached the red reception chamber where her meeting was supposed to take place, Princess Lady was surprised to hear Minako's voice coming out of the room.

"I am afraid the Princess will not be able to join us this morning after all. She has been unavoidably detained by… a pressing matter."

As Princess Lady stepped into the room, she saw the lead delegate's disgruntled expression and heard the uneasy muttering of his team.

"Does she think she's the only one who's ever lost family?" the leader, a thin, elderly gentleman with tanned skin and a dark black suit, asked irritably. "We have a significant problem, too, and we need help now, not when she's out of mourning."

"Or is there something else you're not telling us?" one of his dark-haired, tanned subordinates asked nervously.

As Super Sailor Venus opened her mouth to speak again, Princess Lady spoke up. "Not at all," she said reassuringly. "I am sorry I am so late. Fortunately, I was able to clear up that other matter more quickly than expected." She smiled faintly at Super Sailor Venus, who stood blinking at her in surprise.

Super Sailor Venus' eyes widened with shock as she saw the chain that Princess Lady was wearing. She blinked back sudden tears of relief and sadness, and then bowed respectfully to her princess.

"At the moment," Princess Lady continued turning to the worried aide, "Crystal Tokyo is quite safe. You have nothing to worry about. If for some unexpected reason the palace should be attacked, the senshi will protect you with their lives."

She turned back to the elderly leader of the party. "And sir, I am not in mourning. While my parents may have been captured, they are very much alive. I understand, however, that you cannot await their return. Therefore, shall we adjourn to the green meeting room and begin our discussions?" Super Sailor Venus looked at her Princess uncertainly, thrown a little off balance by her poised, polished air and unusual vocabulary.

The gentleman looked at the princess suspiciously, which made Super Sailor Venus smile slightly in amusement. She addressed the delegate respectfully. "Governor San Luis, may I introduce the acting ruler of Earth and Crystal Tokyo, her Royal Highness Princess Lady Serenity? Princess, this is the governor of Guatemala and the lead delegate of the Central American Union, Señor Miguel Hernandez San Luis, his secretary Señora Maria Rodriguez, and his junior assistants Señor José Fernandez of Costa Rica and Señor Diego Gorostieta of Mexico."

"How do you do," Princess Lady said politely, nodding her head to the group.

"You? You are the Princess? But, the Princess is almost a millennium old!" Señor Fernandez exclaimed in surprise. "You don't look a day over 16!" Governor San Luis closed his eyes at this terrible political gaffe, while Señor Gorostieta grabbed his friend by the arm and tried to make him stop.

Princess Lady just smiled much to Super Sailor Venus' surprise and relief. "Yes, I am the Princess. Sailor Mercury, our scientist, has determined that my extremely slow growth rate is a result of my close proximity to the full power of the queen's Silver Crystal." She turned to face Governor San Luis who still looked a little doubtful. "My parents, however, began my training many years ago, and have ruled that in their absence I have full authority. You may verify this if you wish, Governor."

The older gentleman nodded politely, dark eyes neutral. "Of course, your highness. In the meantime, I believe you mentioned a meeting room?"

Princess Lady nodded back, and gracefully indicated that they should accompany her from the room. Super Sailor Venus looked after them in disbelief. 'That was LADY-CHAN?' she thought to herself. Abruptly, she shook herself and raced after the disappearing party.

Pallas looked curiously over Ami's shoulder at the computer screen, trying hard not to jostle the older woman. Ami sighed, and rubbed the bridge of her nose with uncharacteristic frustration. Pallas backed up, giving her a look of apology.

Ami shook her head at the younger girl and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "No, it's not you, Pallas-chan. It's this data. It just doesn't make any sense. I'm missing something somewhere I just know it. But what…" Her voice trailed off as she looked back at the screen.

She sighed again, and turned to another computer. "And then there's this to distract me."

"What is it?" Pallas asked curiously.

"It's a recording of our encounters with the enemy. Well, a recording of the words we can't understand I mean. He seems to be chanting some kind of spell, but I can't figure out what language it is in. I'm hoping that once I can figure that out, we'll have another search point. But so far, the linguistic computer hasn't turned up anything."

Pallas turned to the older senshi with shining eyes. "Maybe I can help with that one?" she asked softly. "I am pretty good at puzzles and languages."

Ami blinked, and then smiled. "Of course. And that would leave me free to concentrate on this tracking program."

Pallas smiled in understanding. "Yes, you can concentrate on finding the one you are supposed to protect," she said.

Ami just chuckled. "I am so glad you understand." She became serious. "And that you are willing to do that part by yourself rather than just providing assistance. This will be an enormous relief. Thanks."

Pallas returned her serious look. "Of course. They are my queen and king, too, and the parents of my best friend. And Rei-san and Hotaru-chan… Well, all four of them, actually, are my friends, too," she added with a smile. "That little summer trip a few years ago helped a lot with that."

Ami smiled then reached over to the linguistic computer to remove the disc. She handed it to her assistant. "Good luck."