Hello everyone, welcome to my latest story. Many of you will already know me from my more comic first person stories such as 'Mystery Girl' and 'Ski Bunny Blues' and while there will still be an element of comedy in this story, it will be a little more serious (well… I've tried to make it more serious) but I hope you like it anyway. Please review and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: Don't own SM. Idea is mine. I don't claim to own anything other than that.

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my other stories. You're all really wonderful. Thank you so much for taking time to review my stories and telling me how much you enjoy them. It really does make me feel awesome knowing I've made someone's day that much better and your reviews do the same for me.

Title: Only In My Dreams
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: T
Chapter: 1- Chimera

"Serena! Please! That's the second plate you've dropped today! Look, why don't you just go home and get some rest ok?"

Serena nodded and took her apron off. She looked up at Rosette, her manager, who gave her a reassuring look.

"We'll be fine, but please Serena, please try to be more careful tomorrow. It's the fifth plate you've broken this week! If you don't start pulling yourself together I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go." Rosette added. Serena nodded and lowered her head. She walked out of the Oishii Restaurant and sighed deeply before yawning. She dragged along her book bag behind her as she trudged towards the Crown Arcade.

'I'll never get any work done at home. Not with Sammy constantly pestering me, and all the chores I'll have to do when I get home. Maybe I can get Andrew to help me.' Serena reasoned within her mind as she let out another yawn and absentmindedly rubbed her eyes. The automatic doors of the arcade slid open as they sensed her presence.

"Sere-ee-ee-na!" Andrew greeted warmly, waving his arms in the air. "Got off work early?"

"Yeah." Serena smiled, her mood lightening up dramatically as she watched her blond friend. "Another one of your crazed fads Andrew?" She sat down on a bar stool at the counter.

"Yep! Hula Hoops! Aren't they wonderful? Round and round and round they go…" Andrew added another hoop onto his arm while keeping the ones around his waist rotating. Serena smiled and nodded politely. Taking her math book out of her bag, she pondered whether or not she had time to take a small break and read her latest manga. "Here Sere… try it!" Andrew smiled and handed the blonde a pink hoop.

"I'd love to but I've just got so much work to do…"

Beep Beep Beep Beep

"What's that noise?" Andrew stopped hula hooping for a moment and looked down at Serena's book bag.

"Oh, it's just my personal pocket organizer." Serena lied. "It's my alarm… I have to go. I guess I lost track of time!" She smiled and stuffed everything back into her book bag before bolting towards the door.

"Hey, watch it meatball!" His navy blue eyes glistened beneath his furrowed brows as the blonde almost knocked him over in her rush.

"So sorry- can't insult- no time." Serena dashed out of the arcade in record time, pulling her communicator out of her bag and transforming along the way.

"Moon tiara magic!" A beam of white light illuminated the park and radiated from the tiara before fading away once again. Sailor Moon dropped to her knees, physically drained of energy, as her tiara made its way back onto her forehead.

"That was close… too close." Mars grumbled, rubbing her newly formed bruise on her shoulder.

"Yes Sailor Moon, we need to increase your training. You're falling behind. You almost got yourself slaughtered today!" Luna added. Sailor Moon sighed and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry." Sailor Moon added as she slowly gathered all her strength to bring herself up to her feet.

"Sorry wont cut it. Either shape up or ship out." Sailor Mars reprimanded. Sailor Moon glanced over at Mercury, Venus and Jupiter for support. She received none.

Serena staggered up the stairs into her room. She collapsed onto her bed in utter exhaustion.

"Serena! Have you picked the washing up?" Ilene's voice filtered from downstairs.

"Yes ma." Serena hollered back

"Will you vacuum the living area please?" Ilene asked.

"And there's a pile of dishes building up in the sink that has your name on it." Kenji added.

"I'm coming…" Serena muttered yawning and rolling off her bed. It was getting late and Serena knew she would be too tired to study for her biology exam the next day. She stumbled back down stairs to finish off her chores.

"Serena, I see you got 57 on your English exam." Kenji furrowed his eyebrows as his daughter came into view. "Your mother and I are very disappointed. We expect much better than this and we know you can do it. You just need to apply yourself more. Study harder."

"I know. I will try harder. I promise." Serena sighed quietly while stifling another yawn.

"Aren't you going to study for you biology exam tomorrow Serena?" Luna leaped up onto Serena's bed and pawed at her limp, tired body.

"I'm really tired Luna…" Serena mumbled, slowly drifting off to sleep.

"But you just promised your parents you would try harder! What kind of leader constantly fails her exams? You need to be a tough, strong leader…" Luna persisted

"Luna! I did not fail!" Tears welled up in Serena's cobalt blue eyes.

"And that's another thing. Your constant crying and wailing. Serena you need to grow up and start acting more your age. You cant keep- what… what are you doing?"

"I'm putting you outside. You can sleep in Sammy's room tonight." Serena lifted the small black cat up and gently placed her out side of her room before shutting the door. It took all her energy to throw herself onto her bed. Tears trickled from her closed eyes as she tried to muffle her breaths. Her sobs reverberated through her body as she trembled in her bed, unable to hold back her anguish caused by her daily stresses.

No one knew how she felt. Not even Luna. To the world, she was just ditzy, clumsy, crybaby Serena. To the world, she was just another irresponsible, unreliable junior high girl with time to burn. To the world, she was invisible. She was just another nameless face in the crowd. No one knew of all the pressure that had been placed upon her. Not only did she have her academic studies to focus on, she was also struggling to maintain a part-time job, complete her household chores and on top of that- she had the bonus burden of having to save the world from the various forms of evil that threatened to break into our fragile world and take over our existence, night after night.

"Why does everyone expect so much from me?" Serena hastily wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "I can only do so much… I just want to be a normal teenager… is that too much to ask?" A pained expression appeared on her face as she let another deluge of tears soak the fabric of her pillow. Within minutes her breathing deepened and she found herself drifting off to sleep amongst the puddles of her sorrow.

Illusions filled her darkness. Whimsical characters buzzed past her in a flurry of reds, blues and yellows. Serena struggled to keep up with the blur of colours surrounding her. Giggling and laughter could be heard in the distance and she yearned to be carefree once again.

"Would you like a banana?" Serena could hear Andrew's voice amongst the abstract murmur of her dream world.

Flashes of light whizzed past her and the lights in her fantasy dimmed for a moment. Serena found herself face to face with a ethereal image of a tall man clad in battle armour. He extended his hand and offered her a red rose.

"Who are you?" Serena asked, mystified by the mysterious dark man standing before her. She felt as though she knew him from somewhere, but couldn't quite figure it out.

"I am your prince… I have come to take you away from all of this insignificant apprehension. Take my hand." His deep, rich voice flittered through the air like the melody of birds in the springtime. Serena obliged, placing her hand within his. A blissful warmth spread itself along her arm and throughout the rest of her body as her hand made contact with his. "I'm glad you know that you can trust me princess. I will always be here for you. I will protect you. I must leave now princess…"

"Wait! Your name! I must know your name!" Serena pleaded eagerly. The man paused for a moment.

"I am Prince D-"

Beep-Beep Beep-Beep

Serena groaned, exasperated that she was merely seconds away from learning the name of her dream prince. She gazed up at her blaring alarm clock and read 6AM before hitting her snooze button and crawling back under her covers, hoping to resume her dream and learn more about this mystery dream man.

Well there's the first chapter. Not much… it gets better… I hope you like it so far though. Please review and tell me what you think!

Crystal Saturn