I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters that belong to the Sailor Moon world. The author of Sailor Moon is Naoko Takeuchi.

I hope everyone on here is keeping safe and well

Shattered Moon and Earth

She couldn't remember a time when she had felt so heartbroken. His words were like daggers aimed at her heart, the truth of them piercing. He was speaking his truth and she knew that the future was not set in stone. He hadn't wanted to protect her anymore, instead, his focus was for someone else and their protection. He didn't want to be King, ruling over other people's lives when he had felt his own life was not in his control. And he didn't want to be with someone who couldn't keep up with his own ambitions for his future. Yes, they had both shared the same dream of protecting this planet and protecting the people on it. But he had never chosen this fate.

"I wish I had never seen that future Usagi, it changed things for me, made me resentful towards it. No-one should know their future. We should be allowed to forge it with our own hands and change it how we want. I love you and always will, but I need to make sure that this is the life I really want…and you need to be sure as well" Mamoru's words were said with a softness but still, the sharpness of them struck her.

Her name was Saori. She wanted to work for the police force and make positive changes that way. She loved people and was very mature. They bonded, Saori and Mamoru. Usagi had not noticed the changes at first. She continued to sleep late and just about pass her grades when forced to study by Ami. She wasn't stupid, she was just lazy, something that annoyed Mamoru more and more as time went on.

Sailor Pluto saw it happening but couldn't intervene. The timeline had changed from a Mamoru who was totally in love with her princess to this version of Mamoru who didn't want such responsibilities forced on him. Pluto wasn't all seeing, she could only see the timeline when she was at the Time-Space Door, she wasn't as powerful as her father, who was able to see into the future wherever he was.

The rest of the Sailor Senshi could also see what was happening in real time, before Usagi could recognise it herself. The gradual decline in Mamoru meeting them at the arcade, the gradual decline in being with Usagi for dates and the general lack of interest in their princess or any of the Sailor Senshi. He remained kind and gentle like always, a true gentleman, but that made his behaviour more startling. His focus had always been on his studies but after their battle with Pharoah 90 and then the battle with Queen Nehellenia, he changed more dramatically. It was after their last battle that Usagi picked up on it. When he went off to the USA for his studies and then again, another battle for Earth commenced, Usagi grew more and more worried. Of course, she knew he didn't respond to her letters because he was not able to, but those feelings really started to gnaw away at Usagi. Then after the battle with Galaxia, things didn't go to plan. Their engagement was broken off just before the wedding, and that was when they had that fateful conversation.

He felt like he couldn't breathe anymore. Like he was drowning in this bottomless pit of fate, dictating to him what his life was going to be. He had lost his own generals and there was no sign of them yet, so he was alone with only Usagi. Yes, he loved her dearly, but was this what his life was always going to mount up to? When had his own dreams become mixed up with Usagi's dreams, or that of his past-self? Was he still Mamoru? Would he remain Mamoru? Who was Chiba Mamoru? He didn't want to hurt Usagi. She was the sweetest, kindest person he had ever met but that didn't change the way he felt. So, he did what he was good at, shutting everyone out.

Throughout his battles, Saori had remained a constant. Her crush for him was still alive even though to a degree, she had accepted that he didn't at that time see her in a romantic way. But things changed. She was steadfast, an anchor in his chaotic life that contained the chance that he was going to die young. The constant battles had worn him out, all this fighting for a future where he would have such heavy responsibilities, with a young woman who was still growing up. Saori listened to him and shared his enthusiasm, cheered him on to become a doctor whereas Usagi somehow allowed her own anxiety that he would leave her for his career consume her. He knew she felt she wasn't good enough for him, and to him, that was far from the truth he felt. He had always believed she was too good for him. He couldn't protect her the way he wanted to. He knew as Prince Endymion, he was a capable fighter, so why in this life did that not carry over? Of course, he knew he wasn't as powerful but still, he could defend her better if he had regained his skillset he had in the past. Was that due to his generals not being revived? He wasn't sure.

Breaking up with Usagi had not been a straightforward decision for Mamoru, and he knew that there was a chance they could get back together and form Crystal Tokyo. He was fine with this knowledge knowing that if he decided to go back into a relationship with Usagi, then he would go into it well informed in his decisions about where his life would go, knowing he was not being forced. Usagi had appeared to understand this, but she of course did still cry, begging for him to reconsider. He hated to see her cry, and a massive part of him wanted to tell her that they could stay together, but that would be a lie and that was one thing Mamoru could not be accused of, and that was being a liar. They had to part ways. If their love was as strong as they believed it was meant to be, they would find each other again.

Six months after the break-up, things were going well for Mamoru and Saori. For three of the six months Usagi had tried to reach out to him, but she stopped after a while. If he were honest, he did feel a little disappointment that she gave up. Was that him being a narcissist? Maybe. But these last three months were calm and quiet, something Mamoru had not experienced for a long time. He was able to focus on his training and really think about the kind of doctor he wanted to be. Suddenly his future seemed more realistic, more tangible. Life was progressing fine, he was happy. He took Saori out to dinner, made new friends and started to experience life as a normal human being, was this not the life he was craving for? The normality he so yearned for. Saori was sophisticated, intelligent, and kind, all very good qualities. Yet, there was something missing that he just couldn't quite put his finger on, still, what did it matter?

XXX

He had broken up with Usagi when she was sixteen and he was nineteen. Now he was thirty years old. Eleven years had passed, and he was now a doctor with his own home and family. He had married Saori, and they had a two-year-old son. The decision came surprisingly easy for him without the Senshi or Usagi there to try and change his mind. He had lost touch with them over the years as peace had reigned. Without and Youma to fight, they had no reason to meet it seemed, at least that was what he thought. He had a two bedroom home still within Azabu-Juban, his salary and Saori's was high enough to secure a flat together. They both worked hard and were respected by their neighbours; he could hand on heart say he did enjoy his life. Yes still, there was always this feeling that something was missing but it hadn't been enough to stop him from carving out his own future.

He did wonder what had happened to the Sailor Senshi, and indeed, what had happened to his love, Usagi. So, it came as a good surprise when he bumped into Meioh Setsuna, or also known to him as Sailor Pluto. They had bumped into each other at a local café, she had purchased a green tea latte and he had purchased his normal americano. She narrowed her eyes at him a little but offered a small smile as she agreed to sit with him and catch up. Setsuna had always been a very beautiful, poised woman to him, and he respected her. She looked polished in her burgundy suit and manicured nails, her hair held in its same half bun hairstyle. To Setsuna, Mamoru had aged well too, although she knew they all would age much slower than the average human. He was still handsome, but Setsuna had only ever had a crush on Neo-King Endymion of the future. When she met his past self, she didn't really feel anything. Maybe because that version of herself had died and this new version of herself, brought back by Neo-Queen Serenity, had changed. She wasn't sure as that was outside her own knowledge.

"You look well Setsuna-san" Mamoru started before taking a sip of his coffee. Oh, so it was going to start off as small conversation. Setsuna inwardly smiled to herself.

"Thank you, as do you Mamoru-san" Setsuna returned to compliment "How have you been?".

"Well thank you. I just finished a shift at the hospital so thought to take a break before my next shift starts again" Mamoru said.

"I am glad you got to become a doctor, you always dreamed of being one" Setsuna said, offering a genuine smile to Mamoru. Mamoru slightly blushed as he gave her his thanks.

"So…how is everyone?" Mamoru ventured.

"Hmmm fine I guess, anyone specific you want to know about?" Setsuna asked before sipping her own latte.

"I know Minako has gone into the entertainment industry, hasn't she?" Mamoru asked.

"Yes, she is a brilliant artist and is living her life, we see her often which is great" Setsuna answered.

"And Rei still owns the Hikawa shrine?" Mamoru questioned.

"Indeed, she does, she is a Priestess now" Setsuna smiled as she replied "Makoto owns her own organic shop, which is doing well and as you know, Ami works in the same hospital as you" Setsuna added. Mamoru nodded. He never did get much of a chance to speak with Ami. When he did it was always short and to the point, in her own kind way. He knew nothing of her personal life.

"What about Haruka-san, Michiru-san and Hotaru?" Mamoru asked.

"Well, Hotaru is still doing her studies and working part-time as a Sales Assistant, figuring out what she wants to do, Haruka continues her career as a racer and Michiru as a classical music artist" Setsuna checked off as Mamoru took it all in. She was certain Mamoru knew most of this, he was probably just seeing if anything changed. The only person he didn't really know about was Usagi, which she knew that was where he was leading to.

"And….Usagi-san?" Mamoru asked sheepishly. Setsuna sipped her latte again, trying to quell the inner anger she held for Mamoru.

Usagi had gone through hell and back because of him. All the sacrifices made was for nothing. She only ever had one dream, and that was to be married to Mamoru. Usagi didn't care about whether there was a Crystal Tokyo or not, all she cared about was being with Mamoru. And he destroyed that along with the loss of Small Lady, the daughter they never had. She had been left totally broken after that, it took years for her to build herself up again.

"Well…Usagi moved to Kyoto" Setsuna revealed. Mamoru almost spat out his coffee. For some reason he thought she was still living in the same area. He did try avoiding their social media, only glancing every so often, which may have been an oversight on his part, but he didn't want to show he had any regrets.

"Wow…Kyoto?" Mamoru didn't know what to say. Setsuna's eyes had hardened by this time, and he knew instantly what she was thinking, it was because of him.

"Once she had finished her studies, she found she couldn't stay in Tokyo anymore. She needed to heal. We had all told her to stay, we were all at the time based here…but she just couldn't. She left the moment she finished university with an Arts and Design degree. I mean, she loved Manga so that seemed a logical subject, right?" Setsuna started to laugh a little, and so did Mamoru, this very much did sound like a choice Usagi would make if she did go university. If she could do home economics at university, she was more likely to choose that. There were courses she could have taken on it if she had truly wanted.

"She did think about doing Education Studies at University but her love for manga overrode that. After she finished, she left for Kyoto. She joined a successful toy shop and sends her work out to be published on the side. She has only just got her life back together again and we're so proud of her. Her work is about to be published soon" Setsuna revealed, smiling brightly at how far her dear Princess had come, no thanks to Mamoru. Mamoru nodded at this. He was happy she had some sort of life that fitted with who she was. But there was still a question nagging him that he so desperately wanted to ask. He looked at Setsuna who looked back at him knowingly. Was he that obvious?

"She did marry three years ago" Setsuna stated, enjoying the pained expression in Mamoru's face before quickly switching to surprise. What did he expect, for her to pine away for him? Oh, she did that for seven years. She refused to date and compared every guy to Mamoru, that was until she met Nakamura Takeshi.

Mamoru wasn't sure what to say. He was at a loss for words. Usagi had married someone…she had married someone. In many ways, he was happy for her. He didn't want her to be alone because of him, she deserved to find love. He knew deep down she would have made a wonderful wife, was that not her real dream, to be married and have children? But he couldn't shake this darker feeling within him. It started off as disappointment, but now…this other feeling was creeping up within him and he honestly didn't like it. Seeing her with this invisible man made his blood boil a little.

"So…. tell me about this Nakamura Takeshi?" Mamoru managed to ask, keeping his anger at bay. Setsuna quirked an eyebrow at him a little. Had she seen is discomfort?

"Well…we weren't sure about him at first. There was just something slightly off about him to begin with" Setsuna started.

"Oh really?" Mamoru perked up at that.

"Hmmm. They became friends at first. He was slightly standoffish, aloof. But you know Usagi, she just has this warmth about her, she wasn't put off by his demeanour, instead giving him the benefit of the doubt. He appreciated it I think and started to look for her at this local café by where she works called 'The Clear Moon', and it really started from there for them both" Setsuna smiled remembering the moment Usagi told her that she had been asked out on a date by Takeshi. Mamoru had looked away, gritting his teeth a little but calming himself down. He had no right to feel this way, had it not been himself who had walked away? Was he not happy and content in his own life?

"Usagi is coming up to Tokyo soon, we're going to have a get together at Rei's…you might see her around, she'll be here for a week" Setsuna revealed before getting up.

"It was good to see you Mamoru, I hope you are happy" and with that Setsuna left a morose Mamoru.

Hi :-)

So this is an idea that has a 2nd part to it that I will post later, Usagi's side of the story, j

This is could a potential longer story - it is out of character for Mamoru but I wanted to tell this story as it was something that was in my mind :-)

I took down the two previous ones as I think I could actually combine them into a single one-shot.