Disclaimer: I do not own "Sailor Moon", make any profit off this story (although I'm taking offers:D sigh...just kidding...) or intend to infringe on any copyrights.

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Neo-Queen Serenity closed the door to her chambers with a long sigh. Leadership was more tiring than her adolescent dreams had shown her. As it so happened, it was also much more rewarding and fulfilling—the knowledge that the people of Crystal Tokyo prospered in peace always gave her the energy to go on.

Of course, the weekly meetings with the Carping Bureaucrats—erm, City Board, that is—drained that energy to the last drop. Luckily, the King had chosen to close the meeting early that day and discuss the rest of the issues with the board members in his private cabinet.

"My early birthday present, I guess…" The Neo-Queen murmured to herself with a small smile.

She walked to the royal four-post bed and let herself fall on top of it with a soft thump.

"Ow, ow, ow…sheesh!"

She massaged the stinging skin on her head and carefully removed the delicate golden crown. For the thousandth time she made a mental note not to go to sleep wearing it…and hoped to actually remember that next time.

Lying on her right side, she enjoyed the coolness of the white silky sheets against her cheek. Idly, she ran a finger through her long, blond hair. Her thoughts slowly drifted to her loved ones, her friends…and everything they had gone through together. And all the things they still lived through together each day.

Suddenly, her blue eyes snapped open, as an idea came to mind. Serenity stood up, straightened a wrinkle or two on her white dress—to little practical avail—and went to the small wooden desk near the window. She opened drawer after neatly organized drawer, searching…

"Now, where did I put it? I'm sure it was here last time I checked…if only Mamo-chan would stop, hm, just organizing our desk a bit…Ah, I knew it!"

Victoriously, she took out a cheery-looking notebook of considerable thickness. Bright, colorful stickers of bunnies and kittens decorated its two covers, along with clumsily drawn stars and cherry flowers. On the front cover, stood printed in bold pink letters:

"Usagi's Own Very Personal Diary"

The Neo-Queen opened it and flicked through the first few pages. The writing was not particularly neat—it took all her carefully developed diplomatic skills to phrase it so delicately—and contained no Kanji whatsoever. Serenity checked the last entry, noticing it had been a little over two years before. And the previous one, about nine months before the last. She shook her hand in silent self-reprimanding.

"Well…this is an affair of state too…right? We can't have it neglected…"

She sat down at the desk and straightened her shoulders. Her hand automatically reached for a pencil, and the queen starting writing.

"My dear, dear Diary"

She stopped for a moment, enjoying the sight of those words.

"I've been away for a while, haven't I, dearest diary…"

Dearest Usagi-chan…

Her hand almost dropped the pencil. Serenity shook her head. For one moment, she had seen those words on the white paper in front of her…but no…

"Well, I'm back now…and with lots of news! I really don't know where to start, I feel so much has changed since our last discussion…"

I've really been feeling abandoned lately. I wonder why I'm being kept out of the loop. Doesn't anyone appreciate my counsel?

The pencil clattered to the floor, as the blonde queen drew away from the diary. She eyed it carefully. It lied motionless on the desk, merrily reflecting the odd sunray off its colored stickers.

"I think I should talk to Mako-chan about her latest batch of cookies…"

Slowly, Serenity retrieved her pencil and bent over the notebook once more.

This is very frustrating, you know. Is this the end for me? Will I get all old and crumply in an dark dusty drawer?

On the whole, the Neo-Queen felt quite proud of her conduct. The fourteen year-old Usagi would have jumped ten feet high and given off a scream loud enough to reach the moon—hm, the irony of it…. But Serenity was more mature than that. She doubted her soles had even cleared the floor (…and not by more than a few inches in any event!) as she had jumped up in alarm, pushing the chair backwards.

Another uneasy glance towards the offending diary revealed the same motionless notebook.

Slowly, with great care, the young woman came close again and followed her intuition.

"Is anyone there? Please reveal yourself. You don't have to fear me."

I thought we were closer than that. I used to be up –to-date with every day's events as soon as they happened. Dates, names, details, thoughts, everything! Those were the times…! Hmm, this goes to show just how fickle people are.

Serenity arched her eyebrows.

"Hello?" she gave it another shot. Her call echoed in the empty room.

I feel so lonely. It's not easy being me, understand, Usagi-chan. You are my best friend and I care about you a lot, but I have to be honest: you're a bit selfish at times. I mean, yes, obviously I am a good listener, but I have my issues too, you know…?

The queen shook her blonde odangos in puzzlement. She was starting to put two and two together…but the result was perplexing to say the least!

I am tired of talking to myself. But it's nice knowing you are somewhere out there listening. Although…you're probably not paying attention at all. Or even know I'm here pouring my heart out to you. But it's good therapy for me to think you are.

Serenity swallowed hard. If that was a new enemy taking over her diary, it was certainlyone with a serious psychological issue.

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A/N: This was initially meant to be a one-shot, but it grew beyond its original planning. Although this chapter can stand its own I guess. Want to see it continued? Should I leave it at that? I'm open to suggestions :)

Hugs,

Myosotis