A Twist in Time

Prologue

He fell to his knees with a sharp intake of breath as the memories flooded back into him. There were hundreds of moments that swiftly overtook his mind. The visions clawing their way back to the forefront of his subconscious where Beryl's fog had kept them locked away.

They were fleeting pictures of a young girl with bright eyes and a sweet smile. She was a whirlwind of sunshine with silk blonde hair. Usagi.

Then there were even more memories of the same girl, with gleaming silver hair this time, a serene smile on her face, but still with the same compassionate whirlwind of emotion exuding from behind sparkling, sapphire blue eyes. Serenity.

Those beautiful memories were darkened by a slew of new memories; awful ones.

These memories were dark ones that did not belong, that should never have happened. What had he done? His hands trembled as the flashes of what Beryl had made him do cut into him.

He choked on the onslaught of emotions as he clenched his fists in disgust and anger. The very same fists that had, only moments before, been wrapped around the slender curve of her neck and choking the life from her.

His eyes focused on her broken, beaten, body beside him and a strangled cry lodged in his throat at the horrific sight. How could he have done this to her?

Her eyes were round, shining with unshed tears as they peered up at him, pleading with him, silently begging him to remember. How could they still be filled with so much hope and love after what he had done to her? He shuddered, filled with guilt, as he gazed upon the beautiful girl, that he did not deserve, kneeling in front of him.

She winced in fear as he reached for her and her body trembled as he pulled her into his arms.

He choked on a broken sob of dismay and buried his face in her hair. Her body sagged in relief against him with the realization that he was no longer Beryl's puppet.

"Sailor moon-" it was a strangled, guttural, sound that tore from his lips, all his pain and regret tinged in those two words.

"NO! Endymion! KILL HER!" He whipped around to face the source of the, high-pitched, offending cry of rage.

In one swift movement he jumped to his feet, pulling Usagi up with him, as he lunged for his sword that had clanged noisily to the stone floor only moments before. He raised it menacingly towards the red-haired witch.

Beryl stood tall, her eyes widening in disbelief swiftly followed by rage and hatred. Her body radiating with a dark energy that poured off of her in suffocating waves. What felt like an eternity was actually only a couple of seconds that passed between them. Her pulsating red eyes flashed with fury and he knew what was going to happen and what he must do.

The air in the dark kingdom where they stood was thick and heavy with evil. He could feel it, taste it on his tongue even, as he watched Beryl's lips curl into a sneer over sharp teeth as she eyed Usagi with a seething deep-seated hatred.

She lifted her arms up high, long claw like fingernails curling upwards, sinewy ashy arms tightening as she called upon the dark energy that lingered in the air here. Then with a cry of rage she aimed her attack at Usagi and a beam of black smoky light burst from her hands. It was aimed directly at Usagi's heart.

"No!" The exclamation of anger tore from his lips, he wouldn't lose her like this.

It was a split-second decision that he did not regret. His movement was quick, leaning forward and widening his stance protectively in front of her. He had only a moment to look back at her. Her beautiful blue eyes had widened in horror, a strangled cry echoed around them as she realized what was happening. That he was going to sacrifice his life for her. It was the least he could do for her, his beautiful Princess, for what he had done.