Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Prologue
Mare Serenitatis

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Year 1998, Tokyo, Japan

It was perfect.

Everything. The weather, the setting, the mood. Everything had fallen smoothly into place, almost as if it had been preordained by destiny. The couple stood at the highest point of Tokyo Tower, gazing down at a glittering city humming with life and energy. The cool, crisp autumn wind enveloped their bodies and sang through the skyscrapers. The moonlight poured through the steel beams and the stars seemed to twinkle with excitement. This was exactly the scenario that Mamoru Chiba had in mind.

The tall, handsome prince gently took the hand of his princess in his own. Looking down at her, he admired the way the city lights illuminated her pale skin and the way the breeze swept up her golden locks. He couldn't have been more in love.

"Mamo-chan?"

"Mm?" He snapped out of his daydream. "What is it, Usako?" Smiling fondly, he leaned down and gently tipped her chin upwards with his finger. Reddening, Usagi Tsukino turned away.

"You seem so spaced out tonight. Are you not feeling well?" She threw a look over her shoulder, a look of genuine concern. "Because we can reschedule the date--"

"No! Ah..." He cleared his throat and turned towards the sky. "I'm perfect. I was just admiring your beauty." Usagi giggled softly and slapped his arm.

"You think I'm beautiful?"

"Not only that. Gorgeous." She hid a giddy smile between her hands.

"You're beautiful too."

"Thank you." It took a moment for him to register what she had said. He frowned. Laughing, Usagi intertwined their arms in a warm embrace.

"I mean handsome."

"Much better," her murmured and kissed her forehead gently.

"Guess what?"

"Mm?" He stopped mid-kiss, arching an eyebrow at her questioningly.

"Ami-chan got the top score in the class again! She said colleges have already started offering her scholarships. Isn't that great? Soon she'll become a great doctor! It seems like only yesterday that we met..."

"That's wonderful."

"Rei-chan said that could never be possible for me." Usagi huffed and flipped a blond pigtail over her shoulder. "But she's just as incapable! Besides, I don't want to be a doctor. I wanna be... a supermodel! Minako-chan, today, she brought over some video tapes with dancing lessons. We're going to have a sleepover on Saturday night and learn them all."

"I see."

"Do you think I could be a pop star? Maybe Minako-chan and I could be a duet... Oh! We could be called The Happy Cherries! Naru-chan will be so jealous."

"Really?"

"By the way, Luna kept bugging me last night about some awful feeling she had. I think maybe she's getting sick. Shingo fed her some gross soup he made the other night, and since then..." She trailed off, noticing Mamoru was watching the stars. Hmph. He's not even listening. "And I'm having an affair, you know."

"Mm. ... What?" He glanced her way sharply.

"Mamo-chan," she groaned. "You don't even want to be here. Geeeez, and you're the one that picked the place!" Shaking his head, her offered her an apologetic smile.

"No, no. It's nothing like that."

"Hmmm. Okay, if you insist..."

They sat in silence, watching the city buzz with nightlife and the stars above shine brightly. After a few awkward moments had passed, Mamoru pulled away and tensely slipped a hand into his pocket. "Usako, I--"

"Crepes!" Usagi squealed and pointed downwards to a shop along the road. A number of people had gathered around it, mostly children and schoolgirls. "Mamo-chan, they have choco banana crepes down there!" Nearly drooling, the girl put a finger to her lips. Mamoru let out a soft sigh and grabbed her hand, leading her to the edge of the platform. Under the night sky, he dropped to his knee and stared hard at her. Usagi, thoroughly confused, blinked down at him with wide, deep blue eyes.

"Are you really okay? Did you want a crepe? Because you don't have to pay, I saved enough allowance for both of us to ha--" She was cut short as Mamoru stood once more, grabbed her arms and kissed her hard on the lips.

That worked. He smiled in spite of himself. Usagi was left beet red and nearly trembling. Rarely did Mamoru show this much emotion and it had caught her totally off guard. Returning to his knee, Mamoru pulled a small white ring box from his pocket and placed it in her small hands, holding them tightly.

"Usagi Tsukino, Princess Usagi Lady Serenity."

"Y-yes?!" Usagi nearly jumped at hearing her formal title. She could only keep her eyes locked onto his. Feeling the weight of the box in her hands, she felt ready to faint. Could this be...?

"From the moment I met you, when you tossed your failed exam paper at my head, I knew we were meant to be." He chuckled and watched various emotions cross her features.

"I loved you as Usagi Tsukino, the happy, carefree girl that both teased me and healed my wounds. I loved you as Sailor Moon, a kindhearted and beautiful agent of justice. I even loved you in our former life as the princess who would sneak to the forbidden Earth just to spy on me." He slowly opened the box and revealed to her a sparkling platinum ring with a diamond rose blossoming from the center.

"I want to continue loving you as the benevolent Neo Queen Usagi Lady Serenity and the intelligent, pure woman that you are." By this point in time, Usagi really was trembling. Her shoulders started heaving with sobs and her eyes filled with crystalline tears of joy. She looked around nervously, too shy to meet his gaze, trying not to seem like she was crying. He laughed and stood, placing a warm hand on her cheek. Slowly she returned to his eyes, sniffling and shivering all the while.

"Moon Princess, please grant my most desired wish and become my wife. Usagi, Will you marry me?"

The answer was an instant burst of tears and a joyful kiss. "M-Mamo-chan! ... Mamo-chan!"

"Is that a no?" The slightest hint of amusement twinkled in his eye.

"No... Yes, yes, yes! Of course!" The two held each other for what seemed like eternity, both basking in the night's bliss. She cried into his chest and adored her ring. After slipping it slowly onto her finger, Mamoru lifted her up and carried her back to the elevator.

"Just a little practice for the wedding." She was too lost in her happiness and laughed between sobs, clinging to his neck. "What about Mama and Papa?"

"They already gave me their blessing."

"And Papa didn't kill you?" Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh Mamo-chan, this is great! We're really going to get married!" As she started gushing about the wedding and describing everything in a great amount of detail, he listened and watched her fondly, setting her on the back of his motorcycle and plopping a helmet on her head. He sat in the front of the seat, putting his own helmet on and revving the engine. He felt thin arms wrap tightly around his waist and took off, speeding down the bright city street.

"Mamo-chan," she paused.

"Hm? What is it, Usako?"

"Instead of a supermodel... I want to marry you. Together with you, I want to protect this planet forever." She closed her eyes and rested her head on his strong back. "That's my real dream." His eyes softened.

Mine too.