Chapter 1

The sunlight peered through the sheer curtains in my bedroom. I rolled over again, praying that it wasn't actually time to get up yet. Cracking one eye open just enough to see the alarm clock, I saw that it was in deed time to get up. With a groan, I pulled the covers over my head, just before a black cat jumped on my chest. "Time to get up, Serena! It's your last day of high school. You certainly don't want to be late for that, do you?"

With a sigh, I mumbled, "I'm getting up." Slowly rolling my legs of the bed, I started my slow walk to the closet where my school uniform hung, freshly pressed and ready for its last day of use. As I buttoned the skirt and fashioned my bow appropriately, I looked at myself in the mirror. The last two years had gone by so fast and so peacefully. I looked at the brooch on my dresser, the pink heart surrounded by a gold outline with small gold wings, all of which framed a gold crescent moon. Running my fingers along the outline, I got chills up my spine. After all, I am Sailor Moon, and my duties as such had been reduced tremendously since defeating Galaxia several years ago.

It was odd, not being a prominent super hero anymore. I was no longer missing school or living in constant fear of being attacked, or worse, killed. Tokyo almost seemed too quiet without an enemy threatening to destroy everything. I wondered how my friends felt about the situation. They seem to have adjusted well, continuing on with their lives, busy with schoolwork and boys. I took another glance at her clock and then looked to Luna, who was glaring at her from the bed. I smiled, "Okay, okay, I'm on my way out." Grabbing her school bag, I took a big breath as she ran down the stairs in her typical morning rush, grabbing her lunch bag and shoes on the way out the door.

As I made my usual morning sprint to school, I took a moment to look up at the sky and nearly stopped in my tracks. The bright morning sun that had been shining through my window less than thirty minutes ago was now quickly being covered by an ominous gray cloud. "Storms don't move in that fast, do they?" I wondered as I slowed my run to a trot. Shaking her head, she decided that it must be an unusual storm and continued on my last stretch of sidewalk before rounding the corner into the school's gate, just in the nick of time.

Catching my breath, I ran into my classroom, only slowing down to slide into my seat. With a final sigh, I slouched in my seat. The room around me was chatty, carrying on with their normal morning routines. This reassured me, for some reason. I felt a pull on my shoulders as Molly flung her arms around me. "Well, girl, this is it! Our last day of high school!" I smiled as she turned to face my childhood best friend. While they had certainly had moments that they grew apart, especially as I took on my role of Sailor Moon as the upmost important part of my life, Molly had always stuck by my side. I smiled with a sigh, "Yeah, I can't believe it! These years have gone by so fast!"

Molly nudged me, "Now you can get onto other things, huh?"

I blushed and giggled, "Hey, I'm not the only one!"

I had watched as Molly had grown to love Melvin alongside me as I fell in love with Darien. While I was initially surprised by Molly's love, especially how quickly it grew in the wake of Nephlyte's death, it now seemed so natural for them to be together and, better yet, be happy. We continued chatting until our homeroom teacher, Ms. Abe, quieted the class down. "Now, I know you're all very excited, but we have some things to cover before you can officially graduate," Ms. Abe said in her sing-song voice. I yawned and waited for her directions, willing myself to not fall asleep for once.

When the bell for lunch rang, I finally felt a bit more awake and resituated my desk so I could face Amy. "Hey, Ames, getting nervous about your big speech?"

Amy looked up from her book at me, her face stoic, "No, not particularly. I have been rehearsing it every night. Now I'm just preparing for my first course in university."

My smile neutralized a bit, "Ah, Ames, c'mon, it's the last day of school! Lighten up a bit."

Amy smiled as she put her bookmark on the page she was reading, "okay, okay, just this once, though."

"Did you notice that cloud this morning?"

"No, I didn't. It was all sunshine when I got to school for chess club this morning. " Amy looked outside and stated, "It's all sunshine now, too."

I glanced over in the same direction as Amy and saw that she was right. Standing up, I moved from my desk and looked down from the window and saw that the ground was dry with no signs of rain having fallen. "Hmm, that's weird. I wonder what it was."

"It may have just been one of those rain clouds that moves across the sky without releasing any precipitation," Amy stated matter-of-factly.

"So you don't think I have anything to worry about?"

Amy smiled, "Since when have you been the worrier? It's nothing but a passing storm."

"I don't know. There was something about it. I'm sure it was nothing."

Amy blushed and asked, "Could it have anything to do with nerves of your upcoming wedding?"

I quickly shushed her, "Ames! I don't need the whole class knowing about that! Plus, it's not even for a few months. There's no use in worrying about the weather now." I readjusted in my seat as I pulled out my lunch. "I was thinking this morning of how it's been so long since we've had an enemy to battle. For some reason, it's a bit unsettling to not have a battle to fight."

Amy nodded thoughtfully as she chewed on her sandwich, "It is certainly different considering how long we had some sort of adversary, but maybe the world is finally at peace. After all, we know that you are about to achieve your rank as Neo-Queen Serenity and then we will enter our deep sleep before reawakening in the 30th century."

I sat back and mulled over what Amy said. "I guess so. Maybe I just miss being a Sailor Scout, you know? I kinda miss being a bad-ass super hero."

Amy quietly giggled, "Wasn't there a time where all you wanted was to be a normal teenager? Now you have your wish and are unsettled by normality."

"It's hard to readjust once you've been used to a certain way of life for so long."

"I suppose so. But, might as well take advantage of the peace while it lasts, right?"

"Yeah, true. I think I'll take a cat nap before the afternoon classes start. I was having a nice dream during home economics."

"Oh, Serena, in some ways you never change."

The rest of the day seem to drag on, which seemed strange considering how much we had to look forward to between finally being done with school, graduation, and, of course, party cake! Then, when the final bell rang, I realized, "This is it. My schooling years are over!" I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as I also realized that this meant my days with Darien would begin very shortly. I packed up my desk quickly, shoving everything into my book bag. Once I finished, I looked up to see Amy waiting patiently for me. "Mina and Lita are waiting outside whenever you're ready," she said merrily.

"Wow, is someone eager to leave school?" I joked, surprised that Amy was ready to leave the classroom for the last time quicker than I was.

"High school was certainly a pleasant challenge," Amy stated, "but I now have bigger and better academic challenges I'm ready to face."

"Oh, yeah," I muttered. "I thought you were just ready to enjoy pizza and milkshakes with the girls."

"That, too. I'm starving!" Amy said as her stomach agreed with a low rumble. Amy blushed and looked at her shoes.

"Wow, I guess so. Well, let's go! Time's a-wastin!"

I grabbed Amy's hand and practically dragged her out of the classroom and down the stairs so we could meet the rest of our team in the courtyard. Mina and Lita gave shouts of joy as Amy and I approached them. Mina swung her arms around me, "Look at us! We actually finished high school!"

"We aren't complete academic failures!" I responded enthusiastically. "Of course, we wouldn't be here without our dear friend, Amy."

"Hey, don't forget all the treats I baked for our late-night study sessions!" Lita reprimanded.

Mina and I chimed together, "Of course we didn't! Who could forget those?"

All smiles, I said, "Let's book it! I'm starved!" to a resounding agreement that I was always "starved."

As we approached our favorite hangout, the Crown Fruit Parlor, I noticed a shadow growing over me. I jumped, expecting to see a storm cloud encroaching the sun's light. Instead, I saw my beloved Darien. "Hey, meatball head!" He said with a half-smile, "I was going to sneak up on you. Why so jumpy?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just saw a storm cloud this morning."

Darien laughed heartily, "You were afraid of a storm cloud?" He pecked my cheek and put his arm around my waist, "I know you're terrified of thunderstorms, Serena, but I don't think one storm cloud is going to do that much damage.

I nodded, "I know. I don't know what's wrong with me. I keep expecting something bad to happen."

Darien pulled me in closer, pressing my face against his chest. "There's nothing to worry about, my dearest. I'm here to protect you, remember?"

I smiled and looked up into his deep blue eyes. "I know. It's silly of me, but I can't help but feel that the peace we've had the last few years isn't going to last."

"We will deal with that when the time comes. There is nothing you and the other scouts can't beat."

"Yes, I guess you're right. We are a pretty tough bunch, aren't we?"

"You bet. Now, let's get a milkshake. My treat!"

"Aw, Darien, thanks!"

By the end of the afternoon, I had forgotten anything about a storm cloud or fears of being attacked. My friends are always there to comfort and support me, no matter what the case. And of course, Darien is my shield from anything bad that could happen. As Mina, Amy, Lita, and Raye went their own ways back home, Darien took my hand and walked with me back to his apartment. Through numerous sleep overs at Darien's, with Molly covering that I was actually over at her house, I had managed to leave an assortment of clothes and other personal items over at his place, so the spontaneous decisions to stay the night were easily managed. Of course, Mom and Dad knew now that Darien and I were engaged to be married and probably had an idea that we were spending nights together, but I still tried to maintain an air of innocence with them. "Remind me to call my parents when we get to your place. I already gave Molly a head's up that I might be staying over."

Darien smiled, "Of course. Don't want to make mom and dad upset before the big day."

I blushed and nudged his side with my elbow. He laughed, "I meant your graduation! I'm sure they've been looking forward to it for years."

"Oh, of course! They probably didn't think it was going to happen."

Darien kissed the top of my head, "You surprise all of us sometimes."

I glared at him and he then stammered, "I…I mean in lots of little ways. Not in your academics alone! Although they have certainly improved since that first time I met you."

I smiled at the memory of meeting Darien for the first time. I had received a terrible grade on an exam. A 30, was it? In my frustration, I threw it over my shoulder in a crumpled ball and had the fortune of hitting Darien square on the head with it. After a few snarky remarks, I snatched my paper away from him and stormed off. His good looks had caught my eye that day, although his personality was a major deduction from his hotness score. Over the months, we continually ran into each other before learning each other's secret identities as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask and our destiny that traced back (and forward) for thousands of years.

I smiled as Darien entwined his fingers in mine on our walk back to his place. We walked in silence the rest of the way, only needing one another's company to fill the space between us. I thought to myself, if this is what everlasting peace feels like, maybe I don't want to fulfill my duties as Sailor Moon again, after all.