The reception hall was utterly abuzz.
Haruka and Michiru bowed after their elegant tour through the dance floor.
Shingo and Hotaru happily chatted away about their schools.
Yuichiro blushed at something Rei whispered into his ear.
Makoto and Ami clinked their glasses together.
Motoki and Reika debated just why Usagi and, more confusingly, Minako's cats were allowed to attend both the wedding and reception.
The cats in question were curled up near the top table, the white one seemingly comforting the black one, whose eyes were beginning to waver.
Unazuki was trying to dissuade Minako from getting on stage to sing.
Naru and Umino admired the hall and swapped ideas for their own upcoming nuptials.
Ikuko lightly laughed as she patted the back of a blubbering Kenji.
The only people who were seemingly still and silent were the occupants of the middle two seats at the top table.
Usagi and Mamoru stared out across the hall, warm smiles adorning their faces.
"Is this a dream?" whispered Usagi.
"I hope not," Mamoru replied quietly, "The last time we got married in my dreams it didn't go too well."
She chuckled and tilted her head towards him. "You're not worried are you?"
He shook his head. "You gave me the courage to face the future long ago." He grasped her hand under the table. "Nothing bad could happen today. And besides," he nodded in the vague direction of the Senshi, "They'd never let anything bad happen today."
As one, the couple turned back to the crowd. Their eyes alighted with utter affection each time they spotted one of the seven Senshi.
"Of course, not everyone's here…" There was a note of melancholy in Usagi's tone.
"Setsuna would be here if she could Usa-ko."
"Huh? Oh, I know. I…I wasn't talking about her."
A quizzical look crossed Mamoru's face. It remained there until he peered more closely at his wife's face. As understanding dawned, he squeezed Usagi's hand.
Less than an hour later the crowd began to gather around the wedding cake.
"Makoto, you've outdone yourself," congratulated Hotaru.
"Thanks, but Mina and Ami helped."
"I know I'll help to eat it."
"Rei, you sound like Usagi," joked Ami.
"You're just saying that because you know I can't say anything mean about her today."
"Do you really want to though?" chimed in Haruka.
"We'll find out tomorrow," muttered Minako.
"Wish the happy couple would hurry up already. We've got to get through another round of photos before they start handing out slices," muttered Artemis.
"Hmpf. Honestly, even on her wedding day, that girl finds a way to be a slowpoke," muttered Luna in turn. "Can you imagine what it'll be like when she's finally queen?"
"Well," whispered Michiru, "Won't it be your job to make sure she's on time for all her royal engagements?"
At this Luna turned blue and became teary eyed again.
Finally, once everyone was gathered around, Usagi and Mamoru descended from the table and began posing for another round of photos. As they did so, they drank in the cake, the hall and all their loved ones. The smiles they'd put on for the cameras morphed into far more genuine looks of delight.
Slowly, the delight drained from their faces, replaced with confused and even concerned expressions. Their eyes darted to one another as if to confirm they were each experiencing what the other was.
Their friends and family hadn't stopped exactly, but they were moving incredibly sedately. In fact, everything in the hall had seemingly slowed to a crawl. Everything sans a tiny blinking bulb towards the back of the crowd.
Usagi and Mamoru didn't move but their eyes followed it as it bobbed amidst the crowd before dropping out of sight. For a moment they both tried to scan the legs of the assembled crowd. Then their attention was drawn to a faintly beeping noise emanating from the back of the hall.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
There, at the back wall, was a fourteen-year-old girl in a pink dress very similar to the bridesmaids'.
Her head was down slightly, and her arms and left foot were resting flat against the wall she was leaning on.
Slowly, she lifted her head and locked eyes with them.
Her serene expression was in stark contrast to the shocked looks on Usagi and Mamoru's faces. Gradually, the serenity gave way to a smile as bright as her pink hair.
The grey cat draped around her shoulders also smiled, the crescent moon bald spot on its forehead crinkling slightly. The girl's eyes shifted to the ground and followed the rise of a black spherical object as it floated into view. The object had cat ears and facial features to match, along with a long antenna topped with a flashing bulb. The bulb bleeped a few times before the sphere's eyes lit up and projected out a transparent image. The image displayed a woman with tanned skin, long dark green hair and a tall staff topped with a red orb like object. The woman gave a respectful smile and bowed before disappearing, the sphere's eyes having dimmed.
Usagi and Mamoru were speechless. Automatically, they motioned forwards, as if they hoped to phase through the table and the cake atop it. The girl's smile faded and she shook her head.
She pushed off from the wall, the grey cat dismounting from her shoulders. The girl cocked her head towards the black sphere then turned to the side and crossed her arms in a pose both Usagi and Mamoru knew very well.
Usagi's face dropped. Seeing this the girl's face became similarly sad. It was far from the only similarity between the girl and the bride.
The girl's attention was then drawn to the ground, specifically to the grey cat looking up at her. Her face lit up at whatever it had said. In one fluid motion, the girl bent down, scooped the cat up and tossed something over the heads of the crowd, the object flying towards the couple.
Mamoru's arm shot out to catch the item, bringing it down so he and Usagi could see.
Their breaths caught.
Tentatively Usagi brought her hand to the item and opened it.
A beautiful and haunting melody began playing from the star shaped locket.
Usagi sucked in a breath, striving to control herself. Mamoru retained his composure, although his grip tightened around the gold locket.
In unison they turned back to the girl, who had a somewhat anxious look on her face. Usagi and Mamoru moved closer together, Mamoru placing his arm around her shoulders and Usagi leaning her head on his chest. They positively brimmed with pride and affection. The bright smile returned to the girl's face.
With that she began to head for the door, the grey cat in her arms and the black sphere following her. At first it seemed as though the door opened of its own accord. However, Usagi and Mamoru soon spotted a handsome young man holding the door for the girl. He wore elegant white robes and sported silvery hair with a golden horn crowning his head. As he held the door he politely bowed his head towards the couple. Their mutual gaze shifted back to the girl. Usagi giggled at the wink thrown her way whilst Mamoru went a little red at the blushing shrug the girl gave him.
The girl smiled once again and waved goodbye as the door began to close. Just before it shut completely a bell seemed to toll, the sound followed by a flash of light and the sound of galloping hooves.
As the sound finally faded away, time returned to normal. The room abruptly erupted into noise and movement, half a dozen cameras flashing all at once.
For a moment, Usagi and Mamoru were blinded, and not entirely due to the photographers…