Preface: After my character's initial debut in Sailor Moon Defenders, I tried finding out how I can expand the character's growth a bit more. It took a couple of years, but eventually, I ended up coming up with this story.

Preface 2: This chapter has been remastered, thanks to fellow DoE fan James5.

For context: This story coincides with the Defenders of the Earth series. Inspired by Marzena's story "Defenders of the Earth: This is Their Story", I created these chapters which would be set during certain points of the series, and the Defenders will be making at least one appearance during the story, hence the crossover.

Disclaimer: The following chapter was co-written by James5, and the characters Abigail and Sara Gordon belong to him as well. For other disclaimer, see chapter one.

Plot: (Episode: set shortly after "Path Not Taken"; and during "Escape from Mongo") During a jog, Tori witnesses Duncan taking an immortal's Quickening.

Chance Encounter

Tori tied a shoe and headed off on her jog. This wasn't going to be a very peaceful morning. She'd have a whole lot on her mind today. Her mother was heading up to Seacouver, transferring here so she could be with Tor.

Janet was the head of the IUA. She could lead whichever division she pleased. But why did she have to come to Tori's division? Why did her mother have to follow her here?

Was this related to strategy? Was Janet really needed in the area? Or was she attempting to build a bridge, seeking the bond that they'd always lacked?

Several Years Ago

A loud clap of thunder echoed over the grounds. Tori cuddled up right beneath her sheets. She was relieved to be where she belonged — back amongst the people whom she'd grown up with.

This wasn't exactly what the courts decreed. The law said she had to give Janet a chance — that she had to live with her mother a while.

All of that had lasted for around two weeks. Then she'd snuck away so she could come back here. This was her family. This was her home.

Her younger cousin April came and snuggled her close.

"I was simply losing my mind in there, A."

April made a chuckle. "I'm not surprised."

Tori frowned a tad, then heaved a soft sigh. April didn't have a high opinion of Janet. None of her relatives did, it seemed. Tori had attempted to bond with her mom, but found they didn't have a lot in common at all.

A very loud knock sounded off downstairs. Someone was pounding on the home's front door.

It had to be Janet. This wouldn't end well.

Tori rose a bit, and April followed suit. Both of them swore, which Tori regretted. They had certainly been raised not to.

Tori heard the sound of the door swinging open.

"All right, where is she?" Janet inquired.

"Where is who, Jan?" her aunt Dale replied. Tori could tell Dale was prepped for a fight. Her aunt and her mother never got along well.

"Victoria, Dale. Where is my daughter?"

"What are you saying?" Dale sounded surprised. She didn't know that Tori was here just yet. "You're telling me you don't know where Tori is?" Dale was getting angry. That was quite clear. The women would probably come to blows in a moment.

Tori ran down with April following.

"Aunt Dale," Tori called. "I snuck in here."

Dale looked stunned. She touched Tori's cheek. "Hon?" she said, eyeing her closely. "What are you doing? Why'd you sneak off?"

Tori hesitated. "I know that I'm supposed to be living with Mom…" She looked at her mother. "But this is where I feel most comfortable."

April wrapped her arms around Tori's chest.

Flash walked up. "What's going on?"

Janet heaved a moan, then met Tori's gaze. "Get in the car."

"No," she answered, perhaps too sharply. "Mom…" she muttered. "I want to stay here."

"Tori…" Janet mumbled.

Flash stepped forth. "Jan," he said. "Why don't you go home? Let us talk to Tor. We'll sort this out."

Janet shook a bit. "The law says that Tori- -"

"I know that, Jan. We'll sort things out."

Janet stared a moment, then turned and left.

Tori eyed the carpet as she heard the door close.

The Present

Tori stared downward, eyeing the ground. The sound of a grunt snapped her out of her trance. Then she noticed something very strange up ahead.

"What in the world…" she uttered in awe. She'd walked to a wide open spot in the woods.

A bloodied man was kneeling. Another guy stood — the very same man who took Richie away. The latter was armed with a glistening sword. His black ponytail swung about in a breeze.

The standing man slashed. The former's head rolled.

Tori gasped loudly. She hid behind a tree.

Then she heard what sounded like a crackle of thunder, not unlike the thunder that she'd heard long ago. It wasn't raining then, and it wasn't raining now.

She peeked outward. The armed man knelt. It looked as though lightning was surrounding him now.

Tori pulled her phone and dialed the IUA up. The agency needed to know about this.

She glanced at the screen for a moment or two. When she looked up, the man was gone.