Pre-notes: This chapter proved extremely difficult to write, and not just due to the technical difficulties that I've been having either. The evolving characterization stumped me for a bit as I was trying to decide where to go with it, and there are certain interactions in this chapter that I may or may not go back and alter in the future as this story continues to evolve. I'm also trying to decide at what point I'm going to start implementing the other Senshi, though I can safely say it won't be in the immediate future, as I feel that at this point it would do more harm than good to just throw them out there. I'll figure it out eventually, I should have a much better idea where they'll fall within the next two or three chapters.

Anyway, enough about my ramblings, on with the show!

Chapter 7: Identity and Purpose

I awoke with a headache the size of the Cauldron. The light fluttering through the trees above where not helping matters any. I groaned and rolled over on the cold earth, trying to block out the light with little success. It was a few moments later that I found the futility in trying to go back to sleep and slowly sat myself up as I assessed the situation I now found myself in.

The last thing I could remember was the blinding light and the feeling of rejuvenation as I accepted a part of me that I had thought I'd lost long ago. There was an energy that I could feel, coming from below. The Earth was responding to my recent joining, but it was not alone. I could feel a second connection, one coming from above. I looked up and saw the waning full moon making way to the rising sun. I looked on confused. What significance is the moon to me as an avatar of Terra?

It was then that the flood started. A small trickle of random thoughts that soon turned into a flood of memories assaulted me like a typhoon raging through my head. A lifetime of memories raged on within me, showing little to no mercy for my poor weakened state. I clutched my head in mind-numbing agony, my mouth opening as if to scream in a tortuous pain, and yet no sound came out. I collapsed onto the ground again, unable to withstand much more. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the darkness came.

Like a woman who hadn't had water for days, I drank it in until I knew no more.

0-0-0-0

It was night time again the next time consciousness decided to grace me. My head was pounding in protest, begging me to go back to sleep, to give it more time to recover from its ordeal. I bit back my protests though. I had slept enough. Random memories from what seems like two different lifetimes swam through my head. The clash of two personalities made me unsure of how I should react to the situation. I do not know what is real and what is not, the confusion enough to bring tears to my eyes. I squeeze them shut and feel the tears escape their confines, rolling down my dirt-caked face. I press my hands to my head, trying to apply counter-pressure to try to alleviate the remnants of the headache that still lingered. Everything important was drifting just out of reach... Even my own name was eluding me... was I Rini? Was I Chibiusa? What was past and present? Memory and reality? My voice rasped out the one question that was swirling through my mind, leaving a sea of chaos in its warpath. "W... wh... who am... wh-who a-am I?"

I stared off into space for what seemed like a singular moment, time having lost meaning to me long ago. My throat burned and my mouth tasted of a strange mix of dirt, blood, and something I could not name as of yet. My body was shivering, as if I were in the throes of a fever.

"Wha... what happened to me?" I rasped out.

"You have embraced your past my child, and have, at last, awakened," explained one of the voices that I vaguely remembered hearing earlier, the female one. I shuddered in shock. That voice had vibrated through my head, but at the same time it had not made a sound! I suddenly heard that same voice giggle in a most feminine way, one that nearly had me blushing from tip to root.

"Peace, my child. Know that I will never harm you. You are safe for now. Of this, I can assure you," she said. Her voice sounded old, yet strong, gentle, yet firm, almost like a grandmother conveying her wisdom onto her grandchildren...

"Wh... who are you? How are you... s-s-sp-speaking with me?" I asked, starting to freak out. The forest is deserted! I'm positive it is!

"I am Terra, my child. I am the spirit of the planet Terra, the planet which your kind now calls Earth. I speak inside your mind now because you are now connected to me. You and I have formed a bond that is unique not only in its creation, but in its existence as well," she explained. My mind came to a screeching halt as the explanation surged forward. I'm talking to the spirit of this entire planet? Again, I hear that amused giggle vibrate through me. "Relax, child. I promise you, you are not going crazy..."

"Why is this happening to me?" I whispered, trying to force the tears to stop but being unable to hold the flood back. "Why are you doing this to me... I can't even tell you my name right now..." I gasped, my voice ground less and less steady as I went on. "I'm a broken girl, what use can I be to you..."

"My child..." I gasped as I felt a warmth surround me, almost as if someone was... hugging me? "You have suffered so much... too much for one so young... for over a thousand cycles I have watched you, unable to intervene on your behalf, your connection to the moon always overriding my attempts to manifest my will within you... only when you gave yourself to rebirth was I able to plant my seed within you... And finally, after so long, it has finally sprouted within you. My chosen one... My Sailor Soldier, my voice, my will, and my power are now yours to wield..."

I took in everything the planet was saying, shock surging through my system like a raging river. "I... I don't know what to say..."

"You need not say anything, my young child... Just know this: though we might not always be able to communicate like this at all times, so long as we are connected to one another, you will never again be alone. I will always be here for you, my soldier, guiding your hand as you do your duty..."

"My... duty?"

"I... I am dying, my child..." I gasped as she admitted this. Even through the newly formed tremors, in my mind I knew I should not have been surprised... "The Great Freeze..."

"Yes, my child. While I might have recovered from one Freeze in times past, I was... not quite as prepared for this one as I was the last one. My own children where killing me slowly, and I... I was weakening. By the time when the second Freeze afflicted me, it was already too late. While your first birthmother was able to buy me some time, it is merely that: borrowed time. Only through you do I now have a chance to survive... in my greatest time of need, I chose you to herald my salvation, so that my creations and I might have a fighting chance..."

It was all becoming clear now... I have a new purpose now... "I... I am... your defender... your champion... your avatar..."

"Yes, my child..."

"Then... I will use this power... To defend those who cannot defend themselves... I will be the pillar of strength to those who have none left... while I might not know who I am... be it Serena or Usagi... Rini or Chibiusa... that does nothing to change the fact that I have become something more... I have evolved..."

"Yes, my child..."

I slowly forced myself up, new strength flowing through my bruised and battered body. This time I made it to my feet, and as I stood, tall and proud, I looked forward with a new purpose. No longer was I defenceless, no longer did I have to stand aside while those I cared for suffered.

I closed my eyes, taking in the air around me, my fists clenched. "All of this... your creation... Is so beautiful... YOU are beautiful... and so long as I draw breath I will do all I can to see that you survive..."

"That is all I can ask of you, my chosen one... for it is our will... now one... always one. Go now, my child. Cleanse my body of those that would further corrupt me... and remember, that you are never alone. Our will be done, Sailor Terra, my champion of champions...

0-0-0-0

I start walking out of the clearing when I halt, a vague memory briefly flashing before me... I turn towards the pond, or rather, the large tree by the pond. I walk towards it, unsure of what had dragged me there...

'So... this is what it feels like to die...'

I kneel down by the roots and see something... out of place. A strap of some kind was sticking out from the dirt. Curiously, I grabbed it and pulled. As I lifted it up, out of the ground and out of the trees I saw that it was a backpack of sorts. The material, while dirty and worn, was made of a soft, supple material that I couldn't really identify. 'Jeez, this thing must have been here for years...' I thought. 'Wait a minute... no one's been here supposedly since the...'

My eyes widened as realization hit me. I now knew exactly who the former owner of this backpack was...

'This backpack... belongs to... her... to... me?'

The realization was like a bucket of ice-cold water to my system. To be holding physical proof of my past was more than what I could hope. Maybe in this bag was what I needed to help settle the demons that now raged within me. Maybe in here I would finally find the final clue that I needed to determine who I ultimately was.

I say down upon the soft earth and grass and opened the main compartment of the backpack. There were some clothes thrown in, and a medium-sized plain pink spiral notebook, probably some kind of journal or diary of some kind. The diary immediately intrigued me. I opened it to the fist page and saw a folded piece of paper inside between the cover and first page. It had 'Read Me First' written on it. My breath nearly left me right there. 'Had she/I really left a note for myself? I grabbed the note and set the diary aside for now, the note now having priority over the diary. I unfolded the note and noted the handwriting, so similar to my own, but with some smaller differences, the moonlight above providing me with enough clarity to see what was upon the paper. While the words upon this sheet of paper where small, light, loopy, and delicate, my own was just slightly sloppier, a little larger with the letters, and a bit heavier ad I apparently pressed down on my paper a little harder than the person that wrote this did. A small look at the signature at the bottom confirmed my beliefs as to who wrote the note. My eyes then set their sight on the top of the page and began to read.

To My Reincarnation,

If you are reading this note, then my plan has worked, and I have been reborn as a new person - you. I have so many things I wish to tell you right now, but my time is limited, for even as I write this, my mother's Sailor Senshi are on the hunt, looking for me so that they may return me to my shackled life within the Crystal Palace. There are certain things that you should know, things that have recently happened . Unfortunately, not everything that needs to be said can find its way into this note, for I fear that someone may stumble upon this clearing and find this before you.

To start with, I would like to say this - I love my family. My mother and father weren't always like they are, I can remember a time when they were still so full of life and wonder, with hopes and dreams for the future. Now, however, they have evolved into completely different people. Whether it was the Great Freeze that changed them, their ascension to the throne, the fact that my body had finally regained its ability to age, or for a different reason that they have yet to disclose to anyone, it is obvious that they have taken a change for the worse. At the time of this writing, they had made an attempt at attaining more control over my life than ever before, and have come to find myself deserted by those whom I have called comrades. Even my best friend turned her back on me, though she might not be aware of how deeply her leaving me had hurt me. I needed a way out, and I have found it. Through my death, I have become a different person - you. I am sure that when you unlock your inner strength and ascend to your birthright, that you will come to realize just how it was that my reincarnation was able to happen.

I am running out of time and room to write, so I will leave you with the purpose of this letter, the introduction of my diary, and two pieces of advice. This diary documents the last ten years of my life. It may give you a glimpse into what it was truly like to be me growing up. It also documents all the research I have done into planets, Sailor Senshi, and their planetary crystals. While I will by no means request this of you, it is my hope that, should the line of research interest you as much as it did me, that you continue my research and use what you find to keep yourself free from my mother's control and, if you so desire, to find worthy companions to stand by your side as one of the ascended. Now for the advise. First, do not stress to much the importance of who you are compared to who I am and was. I am sure that your experiences have made you a completely different person than who I currently am. I know that my own mother had some problems with this when she was first made aware of her own origins. Second, live your life how you want to. Do not allow others to control your life. While you may have a responsibility to others once you truly awaken, you also have a responsibility to yourself. Live, and enjoy life to the fullest. Know that, no matter what you choose, that you will always have my complete support. I wish you well, and good luck with your new life. My hope now lies within you, and I pray you achieve the freedom that I hope for.

Forever yours,

Princess Lady Serenity Tsukino Usagi II

I finished reading the letter, and reread it several more times. Here was physical proof, this was the key to my dilemma. Usagi was who I was, I am no longer that person. I am now Serena, a girl whom had been forged through the extreme pressures of her childhood, now a living weapon with the power to protect those I love. Lina, Rikku, Raina, and Miki, my sisters in all but blood would no longer have to suffer the wrath of this planets people.

After some more quiet contemplation, I put the note back inside the diary and closed it, deciding to meditate on what I had learned tonight at a later time when I wasn't so emotional. I would look through the diary itself later. For now, I continued to dig through the backpack and continued to take inventory of the items inside. A couple of pair of jeans, two sets of cargo pants, some tops and T-shirts, and a couple of sets of bras and panties. The underwear looked to be made of some kind of shimmering material that looked really comfortable, despite how long it had been stored in here. A shiver shot through me as I felt it; it was so smooth and silky, I couldn't wait to take a bath so I could try them on... 'Later Rini, you're becoming distracted...'

I continued to pull items out. The cloak that was inside looked promising, it fit well, and the hood was big enough to obscure my face, perfect for her journey back to the city. I threw the cloak on and snapped the clasp shut, securing it and putting the hood up and over my head. Immediately I can tell that the material is enchanted somehow, the cloak becoming slightly warmer than it should be. A dagger of intricate design was the last item I pulled out. A 10inch blade with a 6 inch handle divided by a 3inch guard by the looks of it. The sheath was blue with a crescent moon near its tip. The blade itself had the same crescent moon on its base on both sides, signifying that it belonged to someone with ties to the monarchy or the Royal Palace Guards. I took the dagger and sheath and secured it to my belt towards my left side. Unable to find anything else of interest, I repacked everything and zipped it up. I continued my search with the outside pockets. The bottle of water inside the side picket was still sealed and good, but the nutrition bars packed next to it where long expired. I took them out and put it in the secondary pocket in front of the backpack. I started closing the pack when something in it caught my eye - a rectangular object wrapped in paper. I took it out and gaped at what I saw.

It was a currency card. It was used by businesses and wealthy people to make large purchases. According to the information on the card, it belonged to the Royal Palace, and could only be used by those keyed in by whoever was in charge of the Royal Treasury Department. Taking a chance, I pressed my thumb onto the identification pad on the bottom-left corner of the card. To my amazement, it turned green! I could access whatever was on this card! I would have to go to a Royal Bank of Crystal Tokyo to one of their ATM's to see what the balance on this was.

I put the card in my pocket and finished closing everything up. Hoisting my 'new' backpack on, I took one more look at the clearing, knowing it wouldn't be the last time I'd come here, and headed out. I made my way through the trees, looking for the spot where I had left the motorbike. After a few minutes I came upon its hiding place and was, for the umpteenth time that day, shocked at what I saw. The old-school, vintage pre-freeze motorbike had been transformed. Standing in its place was a machine that she had only ever seen the racing circuits and the Royal Guard drive - a Lightcycle. Powered by ambient energy, it was the fastest ground vehicle this side of the planet. The bike itself was gold in color, with a sleek design made for superior speed and stability. This particular model was also armored, just like the CTPD's and the Royal Guards where. That meant that it was impervious to destruction via high-velocity impacts. Nothing short of body-piercing weaponry was capable if completely destroying this thing.

'How the hell did this beautiful piece of machinery wind up here? Where's the bike I took?'

I walked up towards it and touched the seat. Immediately I felt a rush through my system and in the blink of an eye it was done. I looked down to see myself once again in the familiar white and gold Sailor uniform. The bike activated my transformation? It had even transformed my cloak, adapting it to the Senshi uniform and turning it gold with silver trim! Suddenly, I felt myself enveloped in a familiar warmth. It was then that I knew - Terra had done this. Somehow, the planet had unleashed it energy and transformed the bike into this marvel of crystalline engineering. I had only ever seen these things on the holoviewer before, and now I owned one!

I climbed on and brought the cycle to life. I shivered with anticipation as I felt it's quiet purr beneath me. I looked around and saw that the controls where very much like conventional and vintage cycles. 'I wonder how many gears this thing can shift up to... guess I'm about to find out...' I revved the engine once before shifting into first and taking off, quickly shifting into second, then third. Soon I find myself on the road again, riding faster than I've ever ridden anything before, a streak of light trailing me as I rode on towards the city, and my destiny...

To be continued...

Author's Notes: This chapter was delayed due to three reasons, a major one and two minor ones. The first minor reason was that I have moved. That in itself took me a month, between packing up my belongings, moving everything, unpacking, cleaning up the mess in my old apartment, and rebuilding and organizing my belongings in my new apartment. The second minor reason is that I have no Internet. AT&T has failed me for the last time and I am, as I type this, waiting for Comcast to come and install Internet in my new apartment.

Now for the major reason. My hard drive decided last month that it was a good time to try to expand its talent in the art of culinary cuisine. In other words, it fried itself. As such, I have lost my preliminary plans and all my notes, as well as the original chapter 7, which was half way through the first draft. The current chapter 7 you just finished reading is what little I was able to recover from my own memory while I attempted (and failed) to reconstruct my notes. This also accounts for why it is shorter than I am comfortable with; the original chapter 7 was going to be at least 2k words longer than this current one is. I would also like to note the whole thing was written on my iPhone, using an app called Office2, since I have no hard drive until just recently. Kinda awkward, and it might have resulted in a few more spelling and/or grammar errors than what I might normally leave, but hey, I did the best I could with the situation I was in. As such, I apologize if this particular chapter is slightly difficult to read through. As I mentioned in the pre-notes, I may be coming back to this chapter some time in the future to rewrite it and polish it off. Comes with the territory when you're your own beta reader. =(

So while I was somewhat successful at procuring the latest chapter of IC, I must now sit down and rethink this whole story through so that I can reconstruct the stories structure. Rest assured, this setback DOES NOT mean the end of IC, but it WILL take some time before the story completely recovers.

As always, reviews are always welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for sticking with me so far, folks. Keep reading, and until next time, I'll be watching...