Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Sitting silently by the windowsill in her bedroom, Usagi gazed at the shining moon with fatigued and saddened months had passed since the battle with Galaxia, but the memories of losing every one of her close friends continued to haunt her. Constant nightmares kept the pain fresh in her heart. Everytime she woke up from one, her mind would be in a state of panic, unable to tell what was reality and what had been a dream. The first time it had occurred, her heart was filled with such uncertainty and fear that she had rushed out of bed straight to the phone. In her frenzy to call Mamoru, she had thrown the unsuspecting Luna, who had been sleeping close beside her, to the ground. It was only after much assurance and comfort from Mamoru that she had been convinced it had all been just a nightmare filled with painful memories.

'But why won't the nightmares go away,' Usagi wondered as she clutched her hands together tightly against her bosom, 'Mamo-chan is safe. Rei-chan and the others are safe. Everyone came back to me, so why won't these nightmares stop?'

"Usagi-chan."

Pulled out of her thoughts, Usagi turned to find worried looking Luna leaping from her bed onto the windowsill to sit beside her.

"I'm sorry. Did I wake up Luna," Usagi said, immediately putting on a slight smile.

Not fooled by her charge, Luna shook her head and said, "Usagi-chan, you had that nightmare again didn't you?"

"Don't worry Luna. I'm all right. I just wanted to look at the full moon tonight," Usagi lied weakly.

"We both know that's a lie," Luna replied with pained filled eyes, "Usagi-chan, you shouldn't keep all your pain locked away. I'm worried about you. We're all worried about you...especially Mamoru-san."

"I'm sure the nightmares will go away eventually. There's no need for you guys to worry over something so trivial," Usagi said softly.

"Don't belittle yourself. Your health and happiness is NOT trivial. You keep telling us not to worry and that the nightmares will go away on its own, but the truth is that even you don't believe what you say. Let us help you Usagi-chan. Maybe if you talk about-"

"No Luna, I don't want to remember those awful memories," Usagi pleaded in a defeated, but stern tone, "If I talk about these dreams...please don't make me think about that battle. I just want to forget it ever happened."

"But it did happen and we can't change that. The longer you refuse to face these memories, the more painful they will become," Luna said gently as if coxing a frighten kitten.

"I keep telling you guys that I'm fine. They're just nightmares and nothing more. Everybody get nightmares so it's nothing for you guys to worry about," Usagi insisted stubbornly with a hint of annoyance edged into her voice, "Why do guys keep trying to make me remember those painful memories?"

"Stop being a child Usagi! Your refusal to face them is obviously hurting you. Do you think I haven't notice how you use the excuse of studying and doing homework to stay up later at night because you are afraid the moment you fall asleep you will have those nightmares again? Do you think the others haven't noticed how you've been overexerting yourself during senshi training?"

"You guys are just over-analyzing everything. Aren't you and Rei-chan always telling me to take my studies and senshi training more seriously? Why is it that now that I do exactly that, you guys suddenly get upset over it?"

"Because you are changing for the wrong reasons," Luna chided before continuing in a softer tone, "Please Usagi-chan, we just want to help. Keeping all that pain inside yourself is also hurting everyone who cares about you. Even your family noticed your constant late night study sessions and how tired you are in the morning. Let us help you."

Turning her gaze away from Luna's pleading eyes, Usagi wordlessly laid herself back on her bed and pulled the covers over herself before whispering softly, "I'm tired Luna. We should go back to sleep."

Knowing it would be pointless to pursue the issue any further at this time, Luna could only do as her princess instructed. With a heavy heart, the cat place herself once more beside Usagi and silently prayed that her princess won't be plagued by anymore nightmares tonight.

Unnoticed by the pair, a pair of red eyes hidden in the shadows had observed the entire exchange and directed its attention solely on the golden hair girl. The figure watched on as the girl tried to fight back sleep while the feline quickly fell into slumber. It continued to watch when the girl eventually lost the battle and drifted off into the realm of dreams. At the instant the girl had fallen asleep, the figure's mouth moved as if whispering a silent incantation and watched with great delight as the girl's once peaceful face twisted into one of agony and sadness.

Rest assured Princess of the White Moon, your nightmare has only begun. Soon you will be at my mercy and your powerful starseed will be mine to command.

A/N: I know I should be working on my other sm stories, but I just couldn't resist this idea that had been floating in my head for awhile now. This will be my second time trying to write a multi-chapter story that happens after the battle with Galaxia. I just find myself really wanting to explore Usagi's mind set after such a tramatic event, I mean sure in the other battles she had lost her friends before too, but the fight with Galaxia just seem a whole lot more scaring in my opinion. Let me know what you think of this prologue. 'Til next time.