Hello everyone! Kilppari here and now it's finally time to continue my career as fic writer and murderer of English language. Yay!
I know that there has been a long break, but as you who read my first story "Dark secrets" know, I have had a very hectic spring and summer.
But what you have to know when you start read "Ivy by any other name":
1. This is sequel to the "Dark secrets" and time between its second last chapter and this one is roughly three months.
2. They are now living year 2019, so time line of season two ended almost three years ago.
3. I listened Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde musical while writing this. Especially "Confrontation" inspired me a lot. You know, you see ;)
4. Pam doesn't have dissociative identity disorder. Ivy is more like the little devil on her shoulder.
5. I still don't speak English as my native language and neither I have beta-reader so forgive me all my grammal mistakes.
6. Also, I don't own anything in this story. Well, maybe the idea but you know what I mean.
7. Enjoy!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
-William Shakespeare
"I will go now!" Her daughter's voice shouted from the greenhouse, where she had been watering plants and picking up her school lunch, almost immediately followed by loud bang of closing door, leaving Pamela to voice her own goodbyes to empty house.
Sighing redhead lowered the plate which she had been washing and looked trough the window how familiar trio made their way down the street. Everything seemed to be normal: Samantha was once again arguing with young Mr. Foley about something that elder woman wasn't able to hear trough the glass, while the Fenton kid, who was for some unknown reason already wearing winter jacket and shivering as he had been cold, thing that Pamela quickly added to her ever growing list of the Fenton family's weirdness, followed them with a slightly bored expression.
Pamela shook her head in disapproval and immersed the plate back to the soap water. Aside from soft chink and clanks of the breakfast dishes the house was quiet; Jeremy had left to some business meeting and Ida was playing bingo with her friends, or at least that what she had said and Pamela had learnt years ago not to trust her stories nor care about her wild natured mother-in-law's doings, so Pamela had the whole house to herself. Maybe she could call Mrs. Sanchez to early afternoon tea; the Hispanic woman was always so talkative and her problems were so trivial that she reminded, in a very weird way, Pamela of Harley. A very shallow and humourless Harley, but since she wasn't able to see her best friend more than once a year, the redhead had made do with a weak spare.
While drying the clean places with towel, Pam let her mind wander to her best friend. Last time she had talked with her was a couple weeks ago when the crying clown had called her because of a yet another fight with "her Mr. J". Pamela had managed to persuade younger woman to go in some support center, but knowing Harley she had probably already caused some kind of fiasco in there and now on the run or maybe even in her cell in Arkham. Well at least Joker was apparently there too, in the solitary of course, so luckily to botanist's mental health, there was no need for Pamela to worry about her friend well being for while.
"Well, well, well... What we have here?" An echoing voice asked behind the kitchen window interrupting her thoughts. Pamela turned her head towards the sudden voice, meeting to her great surprise two glowing red eyes that belonged to the weirdest looking ghost that she had ever saw. Its head and the most like the rest of its body too, Pamela couldn't be sure because of its huge size, was made of thick green vines and decorated with black spices that stick out top of its crown like those iroquois that she had seen some gang members use back in Gotham. As weird contrast from the ghost plant-humanoid like appearance, its mouth resembled a green bird's beak that was full of needle sharp teeth. Its gaze though was the reason that made Pam to drop her place, causing it to break to multiple pieces. The ghost's eyes were full of greed, lust and pure bestiality... It was the same gaze that she had sometimes witnessed from her own reflection when she had still been lost. It was the gaze of the madman.
"What an interesting meat creature." the plant ghost muttered in marvel like a small child with a new toy and raised its darker green hand to crush the glass that separated her from it.
"S-stay away!" Pam warned it and started to withdraw to avoid her pursuers touch. But the ghost didn't seem to hear her or care and reached even closer, not leaving Pamela another choice but rely to her powers. "I said stay away!" she cried and with a smooth flick of the wrist the ghost's hand unravelled to bile of harmless lianas.
"Amazing" The ghost sighed, its unnatural voice full of wonder, and without even blinking its eyes the ghost pulled its no useless hand front of its face to study the damage that she had caused. "A child of the nature that looks like a flesh webber..." Slowly the vines on the ghost arm tied back to the shape of hand and it turned its gleaming eyes back to her. "Tell me my dear child, what are you doing middle of this polluted world?"
"I'm not what you think me to be." Pamela told it, trying frantically to seek way to escape. Even though she belonged to that majority of Amity Park's adults that had a huge dislike towards ghosts and the Fentons, especially the Fentons, her past had taught her to be ready to anything so after ghosts had started to attack her home town almost daily, the former villainess had begun to study these new kind of spirits. Not as much as her daughter of course, just enough to know what expect in this kind of situations and recognize some of their obsessions. And what come to this particular ghost; it was clearly something nature and/or plant related, something that made the situation even more dangerous to her.
"Is that so?" The ghost raised one of it long eyebrows "Well, we shall see that soon."
"What do you- AH!" Pamela cried out of the pain when she felt sudden pain on her neck. While she had been concentrated to the ghost front of her, the single vine had approached her from behind, easily getting her under its control before she had time to reach, making the red head mentally curse her own carelessness.
"Hmmmm..." The ghost hummed and tilted its head as if it had heard something interesting while Pamela collapsed to her knees, unable to control her own body anymore. "So you are the one I have heard so much from my children: the beautiful personification of the Mother Nature herself who used to protect them from the mankind's evilness: Poison Ivy." The loving way how the ghost spelled her formed name made chills run down her spine. "Why did you betray our children?"
Pamela would have liked to keep her mouth shut, but the same power that had made her lost the control of her body made her also answer to this monster's question. "I already had a child who needed me more." She hissed trough her teeth glaring the disgusting creature that had guts to act as if she was its long lost lover.
"Ah, yes. That female" The ghost chuckled darkly and raised its hand again to stroke her face gently "You have taught her well, my dear Ivy. Her love towards the nature is almost as passionate as yours. But don't worry my love; with my help, it will be just enough to safe her. All I ask in return is that you come with me and forget your life among these meat creatures so we can create a better world to all our children under my rule. And you, my beautiful Ivy, I will be my queen."
"I can't" Pamela moaned, trying weakly fight against her capturer's control. "I promised my husband that I wouldn't fall again... And I never break my promises."
"So you want rather be a traitor?!" The ghost hissed angrily. "You want to let our children die!? Can't you hear how they scream? How they are begging our help? Can't you hear how happy they are now when I'm here to safe them?"
Slowly formed villainess raised her head to meet its glowing eyes. "Yes, I hear them. All the time. But as much as I hate it, I have realised that I can't protect them from everything. Plants die every day, not only in the hands of the man, but the nature herself kills them too. Yes, I used to be insane enough to try stop that from happening but there was always someone who would come to stop me. And that is what will happen to you too."
Growing furiously the ghost took its hand away and forced Pamela to stand. "Very well, Pam." It now spitted her name like it had been poisonous, which suited her much better. "You might not be willing to help me as my queen, but you will help me as a slave. And when your weak body can't stand the work anymore, I'm sure that my children will be happy to use a traitor like you as their nutrition." Its eyes widened suddenly as an idea popped to its mind and then smirked cruelly to her; causing Pamela's to miss a beat out of the terror. "But I'm sure that daughter of yours will be more willing to follow me. After all, every garden needs its caretaker." Laughing the ghost left, leaving Pamela alone in her darkening mind to scream and fight against the enemy who had already won.
"Look what you have done Pam." Sweet voice suddenly whispered in her ear causing her eyes, that the woman hasn't even realised being closed, to snap open to search the source of this new voice. Blinking a couple times to make sure that she wasn't dreaming and the beautiful jungle around her was truly there, Pamela rose clumsily from the moss carpet that she had been laying. "You could just take that hand and we would finally fulfil our dream from the New Eden."
"That is what you wanted." Pamela snapped back and, when she finally localized her companion, turned to face the green skinned female who was sitting on the branch of the one of the huge trees that were growing around them.
Amused woman only laughed to those words. "Oh, Pamela, Pamela, Pamela... Always so naive and narrow-minded. Why can't you just accept that I'm closer real you than that snobby house wife whose role you have adopted. My dreams are yours too, darling."
Crossing her hands Pamela continued to glare the other red head above her. "Neither had you become any humbler. No wonder that Batman was always able to win you so easily."
"Don't you dare mention that murderer's name." She snarled out of the sudden rage causing the plants around the move restlessly. Pamela though just rolled her eyes to her companion's aggression and turned her back to her.
"Where are we anyway?" She asked with bored tone while studying huge violet flower that grew next to the small bond. She had got used to discussion like these in her dreams during her time in the mental hospital, though at first the other woman had been the more human one and never had they meet in surrounding like this.
"In side our head of course." The other answered with still a bit angry tone and dropped on the ground. "Because you were so bathetic weak, as always, you didn't let me any other choice but grate this small "sanctuary" to prevent Undergrowth for using our powers to his plans... This way we have time to rest so I can strike back when the time is ready."
Pamela glared the woman over her shoulder before asking coldly. "What makes you think that I will let you do it?"
This made the redhead snore with scorn. "As if you could stop me."
"Do I have to remind you that I have already done that? All what you are is the end of a nightmare, an illusion. After I woke up you will be gone and I will be able to continue my life again."
"Hah! This is not dream my friend and it will never end. I'm here to stay, no matter what you may pretend and it's my legally that will flourish long after we are gone."
"Soon you will wither and my memory will hide you from the history! You cannot choose but do as I want!" Pamela hissed, finally losing her patience with the woman, and turned to face her again.
"You cannot rule me! I live deep inside you!" The green woman screamed furiously. "And we both know that I am the stronger one from two of us!"
"But I don't need you to survive, like you need me!" Pamela snarled back. "Besides, unlike you, I am wanted. I have friends and family who love me despite of the damage that you have done!"
"You don't need me to survive?!" The other shouted her voice full of disbelief and gibe. "Do I have recall you that it was me who saved your life after Woodrue's experiments? Or how I kept you alive over five years in that cruel, devious city!" Sly grin appeared to woman's lips when she leaned to whisper her ear. "And what comes to those your so called loved ones... If you truly believe that they will expect you as you are, then why you still haven't told Samantha about our past? Perhaps deep in that naive heart of yours you have realised the same truth that I have always known: that now and forever, no matter what you do, they will never be able to see difference between us: Pamela Manson and Poison Ivy."
"No! I won't let you ruin my life again!" Pamela shouted her eyes wide and tried to push the villainess away from her. "Even if it means that I have to kill myself. If I die you will die too!"
"Oh, poor Pamela." Ivy giggled before she tapped the other woman's cheek gently like mothers do their children. "Do you really think that I will allow you to do something stubid like that? That weak mind of yours will break before you have had even time to decide how you would like end our life and then, then Pam, it will be you who will die in me."
Out of disgust Pamela slammed other redheads hand off, her eyes no full of anger. "Damn you Ivy! Leave me be!"
"Can't you see? You are me!" Laughing Ivy asked turning Pamela quickly towards the bond, forcing her to look their identical reflections. "But" She added while the redhead was still staring in shock her now green skin, something that she had been able to keep hidden years. "Maybe we can reach a simple agreement."
"Why should I trust you?" Pamela asked emotionlessly. She was too tired to continue pointless arguing with her inner demon. Ivy might be a skilled at manipulating people, but she had been right when she had said that Pamela had always been weaker one.
"Because it's the only way to safe your family." Ivy answered with identical tone. Pamela turned to face the woman who stared back serious with expression casing Pamela to raise her eye brow out of suspicious. It was well known fact that Poison Ivy was emotionally unstable but such huge changes were unusual even from her.
"What are you suggesting?"
"Five minutes." She answered shortly "That's all I'm asking. After that you will get back in control and I won't bother you anymore."
"How can I be sure that you keep your word?"
Ivy answered this with small forced smile. "Didn't you tell Undergrowth just moment ago that we never break our promises?"
"Yes, but..."
"But what Pam? Don't deny that you want to safe your daughter as much as I want to protect my babies from that disgusting ghost's slavery. He might call them his children, but he is a terrible father."
"I..." Pamela whispered with unsure voice, not sure if she should trust the villainess keeping her word, but she soon noticed that she might not had to do that decision just yet.
"What's happening?!" Poison Ivy shouted suddenly out of terror waking Pamela from her doubts and raise her head towards leafy ceiling that was currently falling in pieces, letting bright sunlight ooze in the gloom forest.
"Can't you see?" She asked from her, huge grin on her lips. "It's over now. Someone has managed to defeat it. Just like we promised."
"No!" Ivy cried furiously, trying helplessly block light by moving vines and leaves front of them. "I won't let you shut me away again! My babies need me! They need me!"
"I'm sorry Ivy." Pamela said quietly. Despite all that hatred that she felt towards this side of herself, realising that Ivy had once again lied to her hurt more than it should have. And still, for some unknown reason, she still felt sorry for her fate. "I truly am."
"It's not over yet Isley!" Red head screamed still fighting against the lights that were eating the jungle around them. "You might have won this time, but remember my word, Pamela! Someday, in your weakest moment, you will break again and then I will be the one who leaves from this jungle as a winner!" After those words the light around them become too bright for Pamela's eyes, forcing her to close them again and hide them behind her arms. Her ears though heard clearly the last furious scream of the disappearing illusion before the blissful darkness wrapped her conscious in its embrace.
Gasping of breath, wet from cold sweat, Pamela jerked up to the sitting position. It took her a moment from to fully realise that she had safely in her own bed, Jeremy sleeping calmly next to her, knowing nothing about the terror that his wife had just faced.
"It was only a dream." She whispered under her breath and climbed out the bed that, at the moment, felt too farm and oppressive to her frightened mind. "Just a nightmare." Making her way slowly towards their bedrooms large window, which had a beautiful view towards the snow covered garden that had fast become her great pride and joy after they had moved to the Amity Park, the woman tried her best to shake the remnants of the dream from her mind even though she knew very well that it had been much more than just a bad dream.
It had been almost five months since the nature ghost, who had called himself Undergrowth, had attacked in Amity Park forcing its citizens under a control of the ghost's mind vines, destroying almost whole city in process so the plants that the ghost had called his own children would have enough room to grow and finally destroy all human life from the Earth. Luckily Danny Phantom, Amity Park's own ghostly vigilante, had managed to stop him before the ghost invasion had swelled to the world wide catastrophe but it still hadn't been enough to prevent Sam to find out Pamela's past life as Poison Ivy. The way how the truth had revealed to her daughter might not have been the best possible, after all the girl had literally caught her middle of the murder, failed murder of course and to her defence Batman had asked it, but they had managed to work past those problems and now their mother-daughter relationship was closer than Pamela had ever dared to dream.
However, there were still some things that she was hiding from her daughter, husband, even from her best friends... Namely her conservation with Undergrowth and how close she had been to fall back to the life that she had managed to escape only eight years earlier.
Leaning her forehead against a cool glass, Pam let her eyes close once again and let herself enjoy the quietness of the sleeping city. Maybe they would be lucky tonight and it would be one of those rare nights when they would be spared from any kind of ghost attacks. But even if that would happen, she wouldn't be spared neither from the ghost of her past nor the echo of Ivy warning. These thoughts made the red head smile shortly the irony that the period of her life that been even shorter than the time she had spent here in Amity Park was still able to effect her so strongly.
"Is everything alright?" Jeremy's sleepy voice asked behind her. During some point of her inner meditation the man had woken up and moved to beside his wife now tying his hands around her waist. She really needed to start pay more attention to her surrounding or she would end up grow daisies before Sam would graduate from high school. Pamela tried to give her husband a calming smile and pressed small kiss on his cheek. "It was just a dream. I'm sorry if I woke you up."
"It's okay." He told her gently and moved his gaze to look garden behind the window. "The moon is pretty bright tonight anyway. Although the way how it creates shadow on the snow makes everything look quite... magical."
Pam just hummed as agreement and leaned her back closer against her husband's chest.
After the time that felt like the eternity Jeremy let go from her. "Let's go back to the bed. We still have to wake up early if want to caught our flight to Gotham."
"You're right. As always." She told him, causing the man flash her amused grin before he leaded her back under the blankets, but not before Pamela had made a last glance towards the window that showed her reflection.
The reflection that still had green skin even though the hand in her husband's hand was white.
I will try update this story once a month. If "Dark secrets" taught something, it's that writing over two thousand words in English every second week is a quite big job... At leats to me it is. Though there might be a longer break between this chapter and the second one because I'm going to move to a city that is over 400 kilometers from my home town to study biochemistry. It wasn't my first choise but at least now I will have a change to fulfil my long time dream and finally become real superpowered villain! Muhahahaaa!
Mmm... Yeah... Just ingnore the last one...
But about the future. This story will have about nine to ten chapters, there might be more but that is how many plot sketch I have right now in my notebook, and after that I'm planing to write"re-write story" about Dani Phantom as member of the Team. It will be good practice, but will also give me opportunity to play with my personal theories, before my ultimate goal: completely AU story, with hopefully unique plot and the length of which corresponds to the average novel. But that will most likely take at least a couple years before you will see that one :/
But thank you for reading and hopefully we will see (meet? read?) soon!
Love
Kilppari
P.S. I won't mind if you want sent any reviews. :)