Welcome back to the next chapter of "Tear The Whole World Down". I'm your host, SakuraLetters. I really have no rants today expect for one quick comment: RUSSIA, TAKE BACK YOUR DAMNED GENERAL WINTER! IT'S BEEN IN THE NEGATIVE 20S TWO DAYS IN A FREAKING ROW. THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING. ...Okay, so that was technically three comments. V_V

Moving on, I've decided to start working with a past/present motif, or whatever the heck its called. So yeah. Expect flashbacks to intermingle with the story's present day. :D

Disclaimer: I, SakuraLetters, own nothing expect for Sarah and the other OCs. If I did, do you really think I'd be writing fanfiction?

The first time Russia saw America, the country was still a colony under England's control. He had been little more than a highly energetic child who seemed to have little concept of the world beyond his guardian. That happy-go-lucky child had grown into a young man who had fought for his own independence and won against one of the most powerful countries on the planet.

Ivan inwardly flinched as America let out another scream. The fledgling nation was going through his first civil war, and was probably in more agony that he could have ever imagined beforehand. Alfred was a pitiful sight, wrapped up in blankets that dark crimson blood was already starting to show through. Sweat-drenched hair clung to his face and his features were twisted up in an expression of severe pain.

"I…Ivan? That you?" Alfred bit back another scream, his fists turning white as he grasped the sheets.

"Da, it is me. How are you doing?"

"It hurts so fucking bad. Why does it have to hurt so much?"

Ivan strode over to the ailing nation's bedside and place a hand on his forehead.

"Do not fight against the pain. That will only be making it worse. The first civil war is always the worst."

Another scream escaped the young nation's throat as more blood began to seep through the blankets. Ivan stayed by him, muttering words of (hopefully) comfort and stroking his damp hair.

Snip! Snip! Snip!

Locks of inky black hair fell to the ground at each decisive cut of the scissors, forming a small heap at her feet. Deciding she had cut away enough, she set down the scissors and returned her gaze to the mirror. Staring back at her was a skinny little nobody with hair too dark to be real and eyes to blank to be human. Nothing at all like the skinny little personification with unruly blonde hair and sky blue eyes full of spitfire that had existed a few mere days ago.

She slowly lifted up a hand and tangled it in the darkened locks.

It felt wrong.

"Sarah? If you're ready, everyone's waiting," Jackson said as he opened the door, his voice trailing away towards the end as he saw his long-time friend.

This girl couldn't be Sarah. She appeared too subdued, too defeated. She looked like she would never speak another word again. This couldn't be the girl who had only yesterday punched someone in the face for making a rude comment.

"Okay, Jackson. I'll be right there."

She picked up her cloak and put it on, settling back into her newly-fabricated persona of the quiet little serving girl. Jackson hid his discomfort behind an impassive mask; it scared him to see her so easily playing the part of a voiceless girl with no future.

Miss Leilani, however, seemed more than pleased with Sarah's disguise as the two rebels joined the small team.

"Very good, Sarah. Okay, everyone, Sarah is the leader of this mission. You will all report back to her with whatever you find, however her cover must not be blown. As the personification of the Resistance, it is crucial that she is able to see this through to the bitter end, whatever it may be."

One of the rebel boys raised his hand. "Miss Leilani? What exactly would be the end of this?"

Leilani eyed the boy and then folded her arms over her chest. "Exactly what it sounds like. None of you are returning until either Russia or Sarah destroys the other."

North America watched the reactions of the team with a careful eye. Their reactions were to be expected of simple humans who weren't given a guarantee that they would prevail. Normally, the continent's realistic thinking would put the Resistance at a severe disadvantage against Russia. The girl was practically an infant, not even a century old, whereas Russia had been playing the bloody game of conquest and survival for millennia. The only thing that gave her a fighting chance were the shards of America that North saw faintly glimmering through Sarah's eyes.

"All of you, be quiet," Sarah said, gaining their attention without even raising her voice. "Yes, there is every possibility that I will lose. I know that. I accept that. I am prepared to deal with the consequences. None of you are here because you felt honor-bound. You've spent your entire lives fighting alongside me against the Russian forces trying to rip away our long-cherished dreams of freedom and equality. I've watched you grow up from giggling infants to intelligent and brave warriors."

She walked over to Leilani and took a hold of the sword the nation-in-hiding held.

"This is our final move against the Russian Empire. There are only two possible outcomes of this mission. Should we succeed, then the Russian Empire will fall, the other nations shall be set free, and we will be free to begin rebuilding the world. Should we fail, Russia will continue to rule, and we shall all go to meet our fates, whatever they may be. I do not want to die leaving the world at the mercy of the Russian Empire."

The metal of the sword caught the bits of light that managed to slip past the thick cloud cover as Sarah leveled it before her face. Her eyes burned with a fierce determination.

"This is the mission we have been working towards for as long as we can remember. We cannot fail."

A resounding silence filled the air, and was soon shattered by the whole-hearted responses of her teammates. North America smirked a little. The North American Resistance was a natural leader. She would need every scrap of that eloquence and determination should she prevail against Russia.

Leilani arranged the team and sent them on their way. Sarah looked out of the window to see her home shrinking into the forest. She sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes. Her partners were busy discussing plans or joking around with a confidence she wished she felt.

There was no turning back.

Things are (hopefully) going to get a little faster from now on. I've already got the ending planned out and written a rough draft of it.

Thanks for reading and please review!

~Sakura