Here's a short Injustice story I thought up as a side project. It's from the Injustice game's story mode ending and it's about Harley Quinn. I got the idea after seeing the ending where she was seen escorting the Joker to a portal to his world by gunpoint.
Ever wondered what happened after she and her clan recaptured Joker and locked him back in his cell as well as what happened after she sent him back to the other world? Here's my version of that.
To mend off confusion, with the exception of the Joker as well as his dead duplicate, the original world characters will be called "Prime" while the alternate ones, by which I mean the heroes, will be called "Insurgents" or Insurgency" while the villains, if mentioned, will be called "Regime".
I don't own "Injustice" or anything DC related. All that goes to the people who created the game, comics and stuff.
Harleen Frances Quinzel, a former psychiatrist, criminal and henchwoman/girlfriend of the infamous Joker now a redeemed heroine, going by her real name in favor over her criminal name and working with the Insurgency, founded and led by Bruce "Batman" Wayne to combat the tyrannical One Earth Regime government founded and led by Kal-El, once known as Clark "Superman" Kent, sat on a chair, drinking a bottle of soda in front of a holding cell that contained the Joker who was strapped down to a bed with restraints all over his body.
The imprisoned clown in the cell, however, was not the Joker Harleen once knew, figuratively and literally. This man was from another world, the same world that other dimension heroes were from whom the Insurgency brought into their dimension to combat the Regime and Superman.
While the others were brought over to help in stopping the Regime, this other Joker was brought here by mistake. He had no loyalty to either side and, as of an hour ago, Harleen's loyalty to him died when he tried to kill her after losing a fight against Insurgency Lex Luthor, unaware that the whole time Luthor was aiding, and funding, the Insurgency while posing as a Regime member to keep One Earth Superman in the dark. She wanted to get even with Joker for it, but Luthor talked her out of it and she had her clan drag Joker back to his cell at the base and, as Luthor insisted, she made sure to keep him locked up and she did that. After she told the clan what he did, they renounced him as their leader and returned to obeying Harleen and Batman.
She and her clan were waiting for news on the battle going on between the Insurgents and the Regime. They even heard that another Superman from the other realm was pulled into this world to help out. Now there were two Supermen running around and one of them was the heroic figure that the Regime Superman used to be before all this started.
Her time alone in the cell room gave the jester woman time to think while Joker was out cold.
Over the years since the Regime's foundation and takeover, Harleen questioned her own loyalty to Joker and she realized that he was pretty much the whole reason for the world's current situation. The fall of this universe and Superman's turn to villainy was because of that goddamned clown.
The female jester was stumped that she was blind to Joker's sinister nature for years. Her former enemies had kept trying to tell her that he was bad news, but she ignored them and stayed by his side up until he died and now, she knew they were right and she was wrong all along. She even regretted helping, and then praising, Joker bombing Metropolis, the thing he succeeded at which in turn, caused Superman to turn evil with killing Joker as his first step to the dark side. What she did that day never stopped haunting her even after defecting to the hero side.
She didn't know if the evil Superman killing Joker was right, but at the same time, and this is something she never told Batman and still refuses to, she now believed that he kinda deserved it for pushing him.
Harleen hated the Regime Superman because of the many horrible things he did out of "world peace", including the slaying of fellow Insurgents Oliver "Green Arrow" Queen, Dinah "Black Canary" Lance (she was unaware that Dinah was still alive and was now living in an alternate universe with her son and a different, living version of Oliver) and Helena Rosa "Huntress" Bertinelli. These were people she once spited, but later befriended after the Regime and Insurgency forces formed (the latter which she joined thanks to Black Canary after a slight misunderstanding between the two) and several other heroes who rebelled against his rule over the years.
Joker's death was also the reason she joined the Insurgency and in the war against Evil Superman, but, long before meeting this Joker, after having second thoughts on the clown criminal and all the things he did when he was alive, she withdrew her original reason for her membership and chose to fight for the world's salvation instead, a decision that was influenced at the behest of Kathrine "Batwoman" Kane one time during a previous Joker clan rally where she renounced loyalty to the Clown Prince after Kate arrived and made a good point.
That event ended very badly eventually when Superman showed up and eliminated the members except her and Batwoman.
An hour ago, this new Joker gave her another new reason for renouncing all romance she had for him. Like Superman, Joker was public enemy number one on Harleen's list of foes.
Over time, she gained the trust of her world's Batman. It was odd that they were once enemies, but now he was her partner and later good friend. He didn't accept her at first for obvious reasons, but given time, he did. She kept her crazy personality, but she used it for good rather than evil.
After she finished her drink, her phone rang and she picked it up. It was the Insurgency Batman.
Just then, Joker woke up.
"Wakey, wakey, Joker." she said to him in an uncaring manner.
"Oh, my head hurts." said Joker.
"Good, you deserve it, you asshole!" Harleen spat.
Joker was taken back by the woman's attitude. Never had she spoken to him that way before. But then again, this was a different version of his henchwoman from back home.
"Harley, why are you yelling at me. I'm your lover, remember?" Joker said, trying to play the innocent card to trick her again like he always did.
But this time, it would not work.
"I may not be bright, but do you really expect me to fall for your dirty charms again?" Harleen asked.
"Do you still love me as I do you, my beautiful Harley Quinn?" Joker asked with his fake look.
"No! We're through! You're shit to me now after you tried to have me killed and I'm not your 'beautiful Harley Quinn'! That part of me died when the other you did and what you did to me out there! I am Harleen Quinzel, heroic clown girl and co-savior of the world!" Harleen said proudly.
"Oh that? No no, my dear. That was a gag to fend Baldy off in another attempt to steal his suit. I would never betray you whatsoever. I admit that your anger toward me was my fault for not informing you of my backup plan. Would it help if I said I was sorry?" Joker said and made a begging face in hopes of reconciling with his former henchwoman.
Normally this would work on her and she would go rushing right back to Joker.
Not this time.
"Oh. My. God! You are the most idiotic, pigheaded, dumbass piece of crap ever! I will not, I repeat, NOT, go back to you and my old ways ever again! I'm starting to wish that I never met you!" Harleen said angrily.
Joker frowned. "So other than the Bat, Lex Loser got to you, too? I never thought you changing would ever happen." he said in disappointment.
"How dare you disrespect Luthor! He's helpin' ta save the world and he's also the reason you're still breathin', you prick!" Harleen bellowed. At this point, she was unaware of Lex Luthor's status after the squabble with Joker.
"What?" Joker asked.
"Yeah. After Lexy kicked your ass and KO's you, I picked up the knife you were gonna use on me and kill ya with it, but Luthor talked me out of it and me and the boys dragged your butt back to our base and put ya in that cell you're stuck in." said Harleen.
Joker's face fell after not only hearing that, but also realizing that the clown woman standing guard outside of his cell had changed. She was no longer the wench and plaything he recruited long ago, despite the two worlds thing. Hell, she was even a teammate of Batman, his long-time nemesis and hers once.
"You really have changed, Harley. I don't know much about this realm, but in my world, you and I were the prince and princess of crime and we nearly succeeded in destroying Metropolis had this never happened. It even disgusts me to the fullest from the fact that you are in cahoots with the Bat." he said grimly.
Harleen crossed her arms across her chest and said, "You're damn right, I've changed and you know what? I LOVE it! I don't know what I ever saw in you or the other Joker, but when he was gone, I became the woman I was destined to be: a hero! I shoulda done this years ago before Supes screwed everyone over. I'm also no longer the Harley Quinn that you knew before so get used to it, numb-nuts. Oh, and to annoy you for my personal amusement while it's just us in here, I enjoy working with Batman and he does not mind bein' around me at all. We make a great team . . . perhaps maybe even more." She played with her pigtails with her fingers to give him a hint behind her words.
"What do you mean by that, Harley?" Joker questioned suspiciously.
"Here's a hint Jokes: Me, Bats, alone together sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Harleen said, whispering that last part to him so nobody outside could hear.
That angered Joker and put a smile on Harleen's face, knowing she has pissed him off as planned. She never had a crush on Batman, she was just saying that to get to the clown for kicks.
"Why you two-timing, dimwitted, double-crossing, trash bag eating, bitch!" he yelled and tried to break free from his bonds, but could not as they were really strong straps.
"Not so high and mighty now, are ya . . . 'Puddin'?" Harleen asked in a mocking manner and to add insult to Joker's misery, she whipped out her cellphone, went to its picture section, found a folder containing photos of each Insurgency member and came to a picture of Batman. It was there that she gave a long, affectionate kiss to the picture while giving Joker a flipper.
Joker lost it from there and he screamed madly and wiggled violently to escape, failing again.
While this happened, the cellroom's door opened and a clan member stepped inside.
Harleen quickly turned her phone off and put it away in her pants pocket and turned her attention to the member.
"What is it?" Harleen asked.
"I came to tell you some good news! Superman's been defeated! That other Superman beat him in a fight! That means the war's over!" he said excitedly.
"Whee! Wahoo! Yippie! Yay, yay, yay!" she said with a little dance before stopping from feeling embarrassed.
"I mean, uh, great! We'll wait until Bats and the others call and from there, we'll find a way to send Mr. Jackass back to that other universe where he belongs." she said.
"As you wish." said the man and he exited the room with Harleen following him.
"Wait! What the hell am I supposed to do in here all day?" Joker asked.
Harleen, getting an idea, picked up a boombox radio, plugged in an MP3 player and played a song that she felt was the perfect song to bug her ex. She even set the music player to repeat the song on an endless loop to ensure it would not stop until either she turned it off or the battery died.
"That should keep ya entertained for a while." she said with a smile of mischief on her painted face and shut the door, leaving Joker to himself. She told the others outside to never open the door unless ordered to by her or Batman and they complied.
From the cell block, Joker could be heard screaming in agony and begging to make the music stop. Harleen enjoyed hearing his tormented cries.
Ahh, music to my ears, by which I mean him screamin' his head off! Harleen thought.
Eventually, the Insurgents and their duplicates returned to the base. It was just the two Batmen and Wonder Woman.
Harleen quickly approached them, starting with Insurgency Batman.
"Hiya Bats . . . and other Bats! We heard that Superman's been beaten. Is it true?" she asked.
"Yes, it's true. Your Superman has been defeated and dethroned by our Superman." said Prime Batman.
Harleen Quinzel was happy. This meant that the Regime's rule was finally over and the world was free once again and her. This also meant that her fallen friends were finally avenged.
"How'd he die?" Harleen asked.
"He's not dead. He's still alive, but he is now being transported for incarceration by our Green Lantern and Superman." said Insurgency Batman.
Harleen was confused as to why the evil Superman was still alive after all he had done, but his defeat was good enough for her.
"It's about time he finally got his just desserts! Now he can't bully anyone anymore!" said Harleen.
"Agreed. Now, is Joker still in his cell?" Insurgency Batman asked.
"How did you-?" Harleen began to ask until it hit her. "Oh right I forgot: 'World's Greatest Detective'." Harleen said. Someone obviously told him.
"I was informed about his escape from here, which you helped him at doing." he said, his serious eyes locked on hers. The others turned to look at her as well and she was starting to feel ashamed for her action earlier while rubbing her hand on the back of her hair.
"Sorry about that, everyone. My old self took over after spendin' time guarding him the first time. Luthor beat him in a fight and my clan and I dragged him back in the cell and I haven't let him out since. No escapes this time, scout's honor." she replied.
"Now that we have the interdimensional portal up and running again, he is to be sent back to my world immediately." said Prime Batman.
Alrighty then. I'll show ya where he is." said Harleen and started walking toward where Joker was held and the two Batmen and Amazon warrior followed.
As they walked, the Prime Batman and Prime Wonder Woman decided to ask Harleen a few questions.
"So, I hear that you've been fighting alongside my duplicate since this whole mess started." he said.
"Yup. I started to undergo a change from my old life as a criminal after Joker literally died by Superman's hand and eventually I became a heroine and was recruited into this anti-Superman club where I helped in the fight against Supes. I even founded this clan to double our chances. We used to worship Joker, but later, we decided to abandon that idea." she explained.
"We also hear that you no longer go by 'Harley Quinn' here." said Prime Wonder Woman.
"Also true. After I dropped the villainess thing, I also dropped the 'Harley Quinn' title in favor of goin' back to my real name of Harleen Quinzel. I'm different here, so you and 'Other Bats' don't have nothin' ta worry about when around me. I love bein' good and stuff. I admit that I'm nutty at times, but it's a good kind of nutty. I use my craziness for good and so do my clan, who, by the way, needs a name change. 'Joker Clan' don't sound so good anymore since I now carry a strong dislike of him. He and the other Joker who died a few years back are worthless pieces of crap ta us now." she explained. "I was thinkin' about callin' it, 'The Batman Clan'. or 'The Quinzel Clan'."
"You despise Joker? Why? What happened between you and him?" Prime Wonder Woman questioned.
Harleen told her and the other Batman.
"Now you see him for what he truly is?" asked Prime Batman.
"Yeah. I feel so stupid to have stayed by his side after all the crap he did and gave me. No more." said Harleen.
They approached the room containing Joker.
The two Prime heroes were puzzled about the music playing inside.
"He's in there and I put that song there ta 'keep him company' after I left the room. My version of payback, if you will." she said to them and opened the door to find Joker staring up at the ceiling with a blank look on his face and eyes, which were bloodshot from the annoying music.
Harleen turned off the music and Joker was starting to become relieved of that.
"I. Hate. That song!" Joker replied in short breaths.
"Good news, 'Jerker'! Well, not for you anyway. You're gettin' outta this cell . . ." Harleen began to say.
"Oh, thank god!" Joker said.
" . . . and back to your world!" Harleen finished.
Joker became afraid now.
"I'm even willing ta let the other Bats keep my MP3 player to use on ya if ya ever cause trouble back in your world." she added, making Joker really nervous.
"NO!" he yelped in fear.
Harleen chuckled and opened the cell where the two Batmen freed Joker from his bed and quickly held him together.
Once that was done, they all walked to the portal room with Joker in tow.
"I'll handle this." Prime Batman said to Prime Wonder Woman and his own duplicate and they left while he entered the room to escort the clown with Harleen standing by with her shotgun ready, the same one she used on Joker when she found him.
"You have any restraints here?" Prime Batman asked.
"Yeah." said Harleen and ran to a table to get them and returned to them with a pair of bat-shaped cuffs and she placed them on Joker's hands.
Batman activated the portal and it glowed a bright blue and white color.
"This portal thingy leads to your world, Other Batman?" Harleen asked.
"Yes." he told her.
She looked at Joker and said, "Now march!" and got behind him and pointed her gun at him. Batman wasn't happy to see the weapon, but if it would make Joker comply, it'll have to do.
"Harley, you don't want to do this." Joker said, making a futile attempt to change her mind and help him escape.
"Oh, but I do." she said without remorse.
"I'm your 'Puddin', remember?" he pleaded.
"Keep it up and I'll turn ya into real puddin'!" Harleen threatened.
While this happened, Prime Batman scanned Harleen's weapon and discovered that it was void of ammunition. There were two possibilities for this: she forgot to load the gun or she intentionally did this to scare Joker into returning to his world. Either way, it was working.
Joker was about five more steps away from the portal.
"I was only joking back there, Harley-warley!" Joker begged.
"Do I look like I'm smilin' or laughin'?" Harleen asked angrily.
"But I love you, Harley dear!" Joker said.
Harleen said nothing back and kept shoving Joker toward the portal.
Batman also remained quiet as he watched this.
As soon as they were inches away from the portal, Harleen then raised her boot and literally kicked Joker's butt, making him stumble and fall into the portal.
"HAAARRRRRLEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY!" Joker screamed as he was absorbed inside and vanished. He was now back in the other realm where he belonged.
Harleen lowered her gun after the deed was done.
Batman looked at the portal. He considered going in, but first he had to help the Insurgents in rebuilding their world.
He decided to take a moment to speak to Harleen.
"Your weapon was not loaded. Scare tactic?" he asked.
"Yeah. Joker assumed I was still the lethal type despite my hero status in this world. When I joined this group, due to the other you's no-gun's rule, and I'm guessin' you do the same thing, I switched to using non-fatal guns to earn his trust in me. This shotgun thingy, for example, fires dummy rounds. They don't kill, but they still hurt like hell." She explained. "When I said I was done with Joker forever, I really meant it."
"What happened that made you change yours views on him?" he asked her and she told him.
Batman was not surprised. He'd seen Joker abuse his world's Harley before and he knew that one day, Joker would turn on her and he did, but in another realm and time.
He found it odd that it took one severe act of betrayal from Joker to get Harleen to finally kick Joker out of her life. Rehab didn't help and reasoning didn't either. At least she was no longer the psycho criminal she once was.
"You really have proven yourself a worthy ally of my Batman's cause here." he said.
This made Harleen blush a little.
"Thanks Bats. You're not too weirded out by me bein' nice ta ya, are ya?" she asked.
"I admit that seeing you fighting alongside the people you once opposed was rather odd to me at first, but I did, and still do, fight to save and redeem some people and you were one of them who achieved it in this universe." he told her.
Harleen smiled at the compliment as he was right.
"By the way, I've been wonderin'. If that Joker we just sent back exists in your world, do I exist there, too?" she asked.
"Yes. She was helping Joker prepare the bomb that would have wiped out Metropolis and possibly triggered the events that this world had already suffered from. It failed to detonate when Joker, the other Justice League members and I were transported here where I first encountered Superman's Regime soldiers.
The jester gasped from hearing that story. She remembered helping Joker with the bomb that changed her world and hugging Joker with glee and wickedness on her face as she and Joker watched Metropolis get nuked.
For years after that indicent, she began to feel extremely guilty and stupid for her part in that.
Even though she had proven herself amongst the Insurgency and, just now, in front of the second Batman, she could never erase that day from her life. Another thing that has been bugging her about the Metropolis incident was that half of the victims living there on the day of the nuclear strike were women and some of them were mothers or were going to be had the strike never happened.
While she never expressed it or told anyone, that too also greatly haunted her.
Why? Because she too was a mother. A few years before the Regime began, Harleen had a child with Joker, a daughter named Lucy Quinzel. She admitted this revelation to Black Canary inside Oliver Queen's hideout prior to joining the Insurgency and told her she lived with a sister of hers to give her a life outside the one she had with Joker. Even she had some limits then and now.
How was she going to explain all this to Lucy if she and her were to meet one day in the future, assuming Superman and his Regime didn't get her first? The Regime and its history cannot be ignored or erased by anyone within the entire galaxy. Harleen knew that Lucy would, no doubt, one day learn about not only the fall of Metropolis and it being the reason for the Regime's rise, but she would also learn that the people responsible for causing both events were her own biological parents. This knowledge would make Lucy feel extremely ashamed and horrified to be related to her and the Clown Prince and this info would lead to countless horrible obstacles in her life such as bullying, beatings, public shaming and the worse stage of all: suicide. She would be seen as the child of two mass murderers who ruined everything.
Realizing this, Harleen now felt even more fearful than ever and knew that her own child would hate her forever if she made this discovery in her later years and that was, to Harleen, a fate worse than being dead. Eternal infamy. She wanted to meet her daughter one day and she had to set a very good example for her and win her forgiveness once she found out. Harleen might be a little goofy, but she still cared for her daughter very much, another reason for her redemption.
Batman noticed Harleen's endless gaze.
"Harleen?" he asked her.
She snapped out of her thoughts.
"Yeah?" she asked him.
"You okay?" he asked.
Harleen nodded, though it was a lie and Batman was not fooled.
"Harleen . . ." he said, knowing that she was far from fine.
Harleen knew it was pointless to lie to him.
"Tell me what's bothering you." he requested.
Harleen gave in, inhaled and exhaled deeply and told him what she told Black Canary.
Prime Batman was stunned by the clown woman's story and the latter was getting emotional again like she did when she confessed to Canary.
"So you and Joker have a daughter?" he asked.
"Yeah. She and my guilt over the Metropolis bombing and everyone I ever victimized are the main reasons I switched sides. Redemption was not the only thing I fought for, I also fought for my kid's safety. I know I don't look or act like a loving parent, but Lucy is the one, pure thing that means everything ta me and I would do whatever it takes ta keep her alive and well. If Superman ever got his alien hands on her, even if it was just to get ta me . . ."
Harleen turned her head away from Batman as a tear fell from her eyes.
Batman realized that heroism wasn't the only change in her. Although psychotic, Harleen Quinzel had a soft spot for someone she gave up for safety reasons.
Then something hit him: If she had a child in this realm, was it possible that his world's Harley also had a child and if so, did she even care for her child at all like her alternate self did?
Taking a moment to tone down her rising emotions, Harleen opened her eyes, wiped them (getting some of her paint smudged in the process) and turned to Batman.
"While the others don't bash me for my part in Metropolis' destruction, do you harbor any grudge against me for it and perhaps for almost doin' it where you come from?"she asked with seriousness in her voice.
Batman thought about it. While the Harley Quinn of his world was a lunatic who help Joker with the nuke, he could not bring himself to spite this world's Harley for being partly responsible for what became of this world. She was already regretful for her messes and, from what she told him, it never died.
"I admit that there is a part of me that expresses deep displeasure for helping Joker change this world, but at the same time, as a result of your good deeds afterward, trying to atone for what's happened, I can't hold nothing against you, Harleen. Like your Batman, I too am willing to accept you as a friend and fellow hero." he replied.
While Harleen felt a little hurt from the first half of his speech even though it was kinda true, simultaneously, she was happy to hear that she was accepted by him and that he had no ill will toward her.
"Thank you, Batman. I'm glad to be of help to all who stood up against Superman. My Superman, I mean.
Then, out of gratitude, she walked up to Batman and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
Batman didn't react negatively. But he felt so odd to be receiving a friendly hug from the woman who once loved and helped Gotham's most infamous madman and was once an enemy of his counterpart. He transformed her from a simple, successful psychiatrist into a female version of himself to use as a partner, although this, in some ways, made her into another one of his victims who fell prey into his deception. Like he said, this clown woman was not the insane, brainwashed jester he knew from his world.
And, in a horrible yet true way, if Joker had failed at nuking Metropolis in this dimension, Harleen would have never turned away from villainy. She's still be his sidekick and keep fighting against this world's heroes, including him if they were still brought here.
Harleen released her hug, looked at him and said, "Well, are ya convinced? Did I win ya over, Batsy?"
"Yes and yes." he said and Harleen blushed.
"I'm going to go check on the others and get something. Stay and guard this portal in case something happens." he said and turned it off.
"Can do!" Harleen said with a little salute and a smile and Batman started walking away.
Harleen was now alone, but she had her happy thoughts to keep her company.
I can't believe I did that! I actually hugged the man who used to catch me and throw me in prison or in the asylum! He's another Batman, yeah, but it still felt great! She thought and wanted to jump around and dance with glee.
All of a sudden, her thoughts were interrupted as the portal unexpectedly restarted on its own.
"What the fudge bars?" she questioned while staring at the portal.
Then, a figure started to appear. Harleen couldn't quite decipher the person as he or she was covered in shadow.
The figure's shadowy illumination faded and Harleen recognized the new intruder instantly while the traveler stared at her in shock.
"What the hell?!" she and the arrival said at the same time upon seeing each other.
Without Batman or anyone else around, Harleen realized that she had to deal with the intruder herself.
This story is a short side project I thought of and will end in a chapter or two.
Can anyone guess who Harleen is looking at? What does the Prime world newcomer want? Is the intruder friendly or hostile? Either way, Harleen Quinzel is going to have to deal with the intruder on her own.
I heard of the upcoming sequel to "Injustice" and I saw the trailers. The trailer with Harley Quinn, along with the gameplay footage with her made me want to shout with excitement! She'll make a return in the game, but I wonder if she'll remain a heroine or will she return to her psychotic self? We'll have to wait until the game's launch day comes.