A/N

Following a helpful critique, I've changed a few things about this chapter. Hope you guys will like the necessary changes, and I hope you all continue to read!

Act 1: Grow up, Usagi!

There were three things that happened on Usagi's 21st birthday, that made her start to dread June 30th. That day, just like any day in her life, started extremely late. Of course, she was supposed to be in her psychology class taking her last midterm. Of course this was supposed to occur in fifteen mintues. Of course this determined whether or not she would graduate her summer course.

And of course she had overslept.

"Why didn't I listen to Mamo-Chan and go to bed earlier!? But that movie was sooo good! And Hiro is so handsome!" Usagi had done a pre birthday with Mamoru the night before, filling her belly with curry and cake, and watching the latest Hiro Yagamashi action movie. What was supposed to be a night of watching the movie and early sleeping, ended up turning into Usagi trying to seduce Mamoru. When he told her that she should get sleep for her midterm, Usagi undressed in front of Mamoru, protesting how lonely she was. And how could anyone, especially a love sick Mamoru, leave her in her state of tortured desperation? This act of kindness, so to speak, became the faulting factor for her unintentional sleep in. And as she sped down the highway towards her university, she wailed, panicked and pitied herself. Typical Usagi, not so typical birthday.

When she finally reached her university, Usagi realized she only had only 5 minutes to get in her seat, before the door would be locked. She needed to finish this course to finally get her degree in counseling, and the only thing that stood in her way was her own speed. What normally took a ten minute walk across campus, would have to be completed in half the time. "I haven't had to be Sailor Moon in so long, but I can still run pretty fast!"

She was wrong. Very wrong.

When Usagi arrived at her class, she was greeted by a brown, closed door. And inside of this door, was all of Usagi's hard work, dreams and future.

Flushed. Down. The. Toilet.

That was the first event on this god foresaken day. And as a sulken Usagi whined to her fiance', Mamoru Chiba, she realized one thing:

Even though she was an adult, she was still acting like her teenage self.

"Mamo-Chan, how am I supposed to prove to myself that I can be an adult, if I can't even graduate like everyone else?" Mamoru had his arms folded across his chest, but his normal reaction to her bad news wasn't present. He knew how hard Usagi had been trying lately to mature, and he didn't want to add too much pressure. But at the same time, she had a major set back, and couldnt be completely let off of the hook. "Usako, being an adult isn't something you need to prove to yourself. You should want to do everything for the purpose of being happy. Success is sure to follow if you do that. But you won't be able to have anything if you cant start discplining yourself and setting priorities"

Usagi pouted and stuck her lip out. "I'm a failure Mamo-Chan. How will I ever be able to be a good wife to you? You'll probably get sick of me one day!"

"Usako, you know that's not true. I accept you for who you are, and I know what you can be. You also know what you can be, considering you've seen Neo Queen Serenity before. She blossomed to be graceful and poised. Surely you will too." Usagi sighed and placed her head in her lap. "You're right Mamo-Chan. But I'll still have to redo this program over next summer."

"I guess that gives you a year to study and do well. In the meantime, you can find small volunteer work and focus on the wedding. Next spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom." Usagi's face lit up at the reminder. She threw herself onto Mamoru, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh Mamo-Chan, I can! And then I'll take the program on and pass! I will be the perfect wife!"

Mamoru chuckled and hugged her back. He kissed her cheek and spoke into her ear, "it'll be fine, Usako. Just focus on progression. You've faced tough battles as Sailor Moon. Usagi Tsukino's development should be easy."

"Thank you, Mamo-chan." Usagi smiled as she thought how lucky she was to have Mamoru as a backbone. She just knew that her friends would be as supportive.

Once again, she was wrong. Very wrong.

-At the Hino Shrine-

"Usagi, you idiot! How could you miss something so important as that!?" Rei Hino stood over Usagi, fists balled, in a fiery fit of rage. "Do you not care about your future? At all? What were you doing so important that you were running that late!?"

Usagi fiddled with her thumbs and looked down. "I-uh-...I was erm...sleeping." Ami Mizuno tapped her pen against her temple. "Usagi-chan, why didn't you set an alarm? I'm surprised that Mamoru-san wouldn't wake you up. Since you've been staying at his place instead of the dorms, he's been good about keeping you responsible." Usagi sank lower in her seat. "Well the thing is..."

Minako Aino gave Usagi a coy side eye. "It is unlikely that Mamoru wouldn't have gotten you up. That is, unless, he was pretty tired himself." She elbowed Usagi, who now sported rosy cheeks and a surprised expression, to further emphasize her point. "Is that it, Usagi? Were you performing your wifely duties?" Ami, who mirrored Usagi's reaction, threw her hands in the air. "Come on, Minako. Whatever Usagi-chan does in her privacy is private. Besides, she knew that this was an important part of her academics, and she wouldn't jeopardaize that for a rendevoux with Mamoru.. Isn't that right, Usagi?"

Usagi said nothing.

Rei rubbed her forehead. "I don't get it sometimes, Usagi. You have these moments where I look at you in complete admiration, and then there are others where I can't even believe that you're the same person. It's like you don't become a senshi for awhile, and you completely redirect your priorities!"

Usagi couldn't stand for the third degree, and got on the defense. "Aaah, Rei, do you have to go all out just to make me feel bad? It's not like you're perfect. No one asked you!"

"YOU asked me Usagi. You called me wailing about how you had failed Mamoru and were afraid to see his reaction. If I'm being harsh, it's because you and I know that you're better than to act like the idiot that you're being!" Makoto Kino stood up, cutting Usagi off from another insult. "Alright, guys we get it. Usagi messed up, and now she knows what she has to do to finish what she started. She'll get there, and we'll help her. But let's not argue. I'm pretty tired from my shift today." Makoto had started a floral shop with inheritance money from her deceased parents. When she was 18, she rented out a small space in downtown Tokyo, and began growing small plants on her apartment balcony. It wasn't very popular, but Makoto had a loyal customer base that paid her bills and allowed a little extra spending money. Usagi was going to have her provide the flowers for her wedding, while her and Mamoru would pay her more than she priced them for. Usagi wanted to support Makoto, and admired her for taking a risk and bypassing university.

Ami spoke up, very direct, but gentle to Usagi. "You know that means that you won't be able to take the trip to England and America this fall, Usagi. It's a shame that all your hard work went to waste."

"Oh no the trip! I forgot all about it! I can't go, but all of you will be! Now I'll be stuck here without you guys until Christmas!" All of the girls, except for Makoto, attended the same university. The fall after the commencements, the university funded a trip in England and America to get work experience in their resepctive fields. A student would have to maintain a solid grade point average and attendance all four years to be able to go. Each girl had used that as motivation to never be late, never miss a class, and get good grades. "I'll still be here, Usagi," Makoto chimed. "And I'll help make sure your wedding is beautiful. When the girls get back, we'll all help you!"

"Yeah, Usagi. You know that we wouldn't forget about your big day! You may have messed up one future, but at least you still have Mamoru!"

"Minako, that isn't really comforting," Ami sighed. "What I know she's trying to say is, we're here for you Usagi. Your future is still bright."

"It is stil bright. If you don't knock the candle over, Odango." Rei partly teased her. "Just take it more seriously. I refuse to serve a queen who cant serve herself, you know." Rei winked at Usagi. Usagi gave her friends a warm smile, but silently sulked at the fact that she would have to stay in Japan and miss the opportunity. 'Why can't I just wake up and have everything together, already?'

Strike two on Usagi's very bad, nothing can go right, unhappy birthday.

Usagi turned in her sleep, suddenly becoming uncomfortable. She felt as if someone was forcing her to be up at the moment. Nothing was working to get her comfortable, and she sighed heavily and sat up. 'Maybe I'm just stressed about everything today. All of this on my birthday. I don't even care anymore. I appreciate everyone trying to cheer me up, though." The girls gave Usagi cake, gifts and ice cream after their talk, and tried to celebrate Usagi's birthday as normal. But Usagi couldn't escape the feeling that she had ruined her future. "I'm supposed to be this queen someday, and I can't even get myself together."

"You shouldn't worry too much, Princess. You will be fine." Usagi looked up in confusion at the unknown voice, and felt Mamoru stir to see who was talking too. "Who-who's there?" Usagi asked.

Suddenly, a soft white glow emitted in the bedroom. An olive skinned, tall woman with long, flowing hair appeared. She was wearing a fuku, and holding a large staff. Usagi's eyes widened. "Sailor..sailor Pluto? I haven't seen you since the fight with Galaxia."

Sailor Pluto smiled. "Yes, Usagi. My presence was no longer needed in this timeline after those events. It is good to see you. You too, Mamoru-san."

Mamoru rubbed his eyes, now fully awake. "It is always a pleasure, Pluto. What are you doing here? And in this fashion?"

Pluto now stood back straighter and purposed. It was obvious that she had come on a dutied mission. "Usagi, today is your 21st birthday. Soon, it will be time for you to fully awaken as Neo-Queen Serenity. It is very important that you awaken to the natural timeline of events, and it is important that you do this as ignorant as anyone else."

"What are you talking about, Pluto?" Usagi was confused, and felt slightly nervous to know that her destiny was coming. The same destiny she discovered as a teenager. Which meant that Chibi-usa...

"You have seen too much of your own future. All of you have. With the information that you know, it could disrupt the natural timeline of events. While you won't have to deal with the Black Moon or Wiseman, you do know who your daughter will be, and what your life will be like. Unfortunately, Usagi, the time has come to forget these things. After tonight, you will never remember who Chibi-usa was, and the fight with the dark kingdom will not be a memory in your mind. Your history will gap from the fight with Beryl, to the fight against Mistress 9. Any event that pertained Chibi-Usa will be warped, to fit the timeline. It will be as if she was never fighting alongside you." Usagi felt saddened by that thought.'No Chibi-usa? No Sailor Chibi-Moon?' "You mean, I won't remember Chibi-usa? Not even our fights, or our fun times? She's precious to me, Pluto." 'This is the third worst thing that happened today. What a birthday.'

"Of course you will know her, Usagi. She is your daughter. But you will know her as any mother knows her child. You will know her from birth, not backwards. We have to be fair to the timeline."

Mamoru grabbed Usagi's hand when he saw her face sadden. "It's okay, Usako. She will be with us again, soon. And it will be better memories than before. But Pluto is right. We should be able to see her grow up with no indication of who she was. Don't be sad."

Usagi flashed him a warm smile and looked at Pluto. "I understand, Pluto. I want to see Chibi-usa again, but I also want to get to know her in a motherly way, not as an annoying sister. I'm sad that I will not have those memories, but we can make new ones, right?" Usagi stood up and put her hands down at her side.

"I'm ready."