Mark Berger Now that that's out of the way: So far, we have seen at least two fanfics that deal directly with Serena's marriage to Darien, plus the manga. Now I'm doing one. This one doesn't *precisely* deal with the Sailor Moon universe per se, but rather a changed version of SM, which forms part of The Shared Universe Project, a Mekton Zeta Mailing List project, which TAZ and Sir Luckio are also a part of. The story begins in 1996, at the Inners' high school commencement ceremony. For the sake of the story, I will assume that the Inners graduate high school before June 30, okay? Everybody, feel free to dissect this story and figure out which parts are inspired by you - and then tell me. Yeah, this is a fairly cheap way to get C&C, but what's a guy to do, ya know? On with the show! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- The Wedding Prologue: Commencement Dedication: To Jendra, Greywolf, Sir Luckio, TAZ and all the others who have given me, in one way or another, inspiration and help on this fanfic. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- "I'm Tsukino Serena, a Heroine. I'm eighteen, and I've just graduated from Juuban Senior High School. I'm no longer so much of a klutzy, lazy crybaby, but I'm still Sailor Moon. "Since the Three Lights left Earth, a few months ago, a lot of things have happened in our lives. The NegaVerse is still active and at large, but things are starting to settle down. Luna thinks they've used up almost all of their stored energy and won't be back for a while. This is good, because it gives us the chance to do the one thing we haven't been able to do since this whole thing started: lead normal lives." "Serena Usagi Tsukino," called the vice-principal of Juuban High School. The eighteen-year-old girl walked up to the stage, accepted her diploma, turned and flipped the tassel on her mortarboard from the right to the left side of her face, then left the platform, a smile as bright as a million-candlepower lamp lighting her pretty face. Her tassel was multi-colored, rather than the mixed midnight-blue and red that most of the students' tassels were, signifying a National Honor Society student. In the three years since entering high school, Serena had changed considerably. Her body, freed from the constant change of puberty, had become more reliable and coordinated. Her mental focus had become tighter, with help from Ami, and she had developed an interest in track and cross- country. Since the first quarter of high school, during which she'd seemed doomed to repeat her junior high career, Serena's marks had improved dramatically, and at the end of the first year she'd secured a position in the top 10 students in her class. By the end of year two, she'd moved up to number four, behind Ami, Lita and the recently-transferred Rei. Her shock had been great when she'd recieved the report card for winter quarter of the 1995-1996 school year. Literature A 4.0 English A 4.0 Pre-Calculus A 4.0 Concert Choir A 4.0 Acc. Physics A 4.0 Political Sci A 4.0 Study Hall -- ----- Period GPA 4.000 Ranking GPA 3.833 Class Ranking 002/497 She had stared at the report card like an illusion. *I knew I was doing okay in these classes, but A's!? I thought for sure I was sunk on English!* Ami had asked her what was so stunning. Serena handed over her report card. Ami glanced at it, nodded her head, and said, "Good for you, Serena-chan." "Huh?" So, on Commencement Day, 1996, Serena Usagi Tsukino accepted her diploma that told the world she was now a graduate of Juuban Senior High School, dimly heard the roar of the people registering their approval, and returned to her seat. In the commencement program, she had been listed as the salutatorian. She still couldn't believe it. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Juuban Senior High School Class of '96!" Serena threw her hat jubilantly into the air with everyone. In the stands, Darien could swear he saw the gemstone in Serena's class ring glint with the colors of the Moon, but since nobody else saw it, he assumed that it was just his overactive imagination, coupled with his great love for the girl, playing tricks on him. Walking out of the stadium, Serena found her family and Darien waiting for her. She gave her parents a big hug, then flew into Darien's waiting arms. With them were Rei's grandpa, Mina's family and Ami's mom. One girl stood on the outskirts of things, though, until Serena gasped in shock and embarrassment and pulled her into the circle of love, hope, remembrance and life. Lita's green eyes melted with happiness at being included in this celebration with her friends, and the tall brunette fiercely hugged the smaller girl who had been the first to truly accept her as who she was, the gentle fighter Lita Kino and later the fierce warrior Sailor Jupiter. * * * "You must be the mysterious new girl," enthused the fourteen-year-old Serena. "You mean the karate maniac?" responded Lita dourly. "Now who'd call you that?" Lita's heart melted, and she knew that this girl saw past the reputation of a fighter and a dangerous girl and realized how desperately lonely Lita was, and had the bravery (and the empty tank) to make friends. Relieved, she spent a good while that day getting to know the girl who she would later find out was the pretty sailor-suited soldier girl Sailor Moon. Even before she knew who Serena really was, she had felt a connection with the smaller girl, almost like Serena was a favorite sister. * * * Lita's eyes shed bittersweet tears onto her friend as she shook with conflicting emotions: the sadness of her parents loss, the happiness of finding a new family. Knowing what Lita was feeling, Serena held her shaking friend as Lita cried shamelessly. The other girls gathered around the two, lending emotional support to Lita. "Thank you, my friends." Lita's voice shook with emotional strain. "I'm just..." "You don't have to tell us, Lita. Always remember: we love you." Everybody echoed Serena's heartfelt sentiment. Next: Part 1: The Proposal! -- Mark Berger Defender of the Terran Empire and Knight of the Crystal Millennium Champion of Light and all things Mekton Zeta: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/6661/mekton.html --------------------------------------------------- | mberger8837@vax2.winona.msus.edu | --------------------------------------------------- | mberger8837@wind.winona.msus.edu | --------------------------------------------------- | The Amazing Waste of Space | | http://www.geocities.com/Area51/6661/index.html | --------------------------------------------------- "Is this a private tailkicking, or can anybody join the party?" - Melisma Sonata, Powersuit City.