Author's Note: Here's part two! (:
~Eve
Spider-Man
"Peter," her voice whispered. I opened my eyes slowly, getting up cautiously. In front of my was Poison Ivy, wearing a...Wedding dress. I gasped as I got up to see I was wearing a tuxedo. We were in a forest, covered in enormous trees and plants. But...What about Parallax?
"It's time, Spider-Man." she cooed. I nervously approached her, holding her in my arms tightly, filled with a mixture of fear and relief. It was the oddest sensation possible. "Love me." she whispered seductively into my ear. "...You'll love it on this island. Away from fear. Away from hate. Away from villains."
Suddenly, I saw a flashing image of Parallax Spider-Man holding Ivy's bleeding corpse, and I immediately jumped back. "Calm down, Peter!" she shouted, in a frightened voice. "It's not real..." she insisted. "It's not real..." I tried to hold her again, when suddenly, Parallax Spider-Man jumped from the bushes, claws raised and fangs bared.
I woke up with a gasp of terror. I looked around me to see if Ivy was anywhere to be found. "That's right, Peter." I thought. "Cling onto your hope...It's all you have left anymore." I got up, looking at the paintings of my friends and family on the wall.
In this...Prison inside my mind, it was the only solace to be found. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Uncle Ben, Mary Jane, Harry Osborne, Black Cat, Gwen Stacy, Harley Quinn...And Pam. It was the centerpiece of the whole wall. I must have stared at that wall for hours. I felt like if I turned my gaze away, I'd lose my sanity. I'd lose all hope.
"I'll give you this," Parallax Spider-Man said. "That's probably the safest interaction your friends can have with you...In your mind. But I must say, very bland artwork. So pedestrian, so unordinary...Much like yourself."
I shook my head, hardly paying attention to that monster. "If I want a critique, I'll get one from a real artist." I told him coldly. "Not a bug." Parallax Spider-Man gave a chuckle, shaking his head mockingly. God, I hated that mocking attitude of his.
"Coming from a Spider, that really hurts." he responded. "Suppose things could be worse though...I could be like you. Having lost everything, broken to pieces from my own selfish passions. Let's take a little "artistic analysis" of your art. Uncle Ben, the first victim of your selfishness and arrogance. You made one different decision, and he'd still be here. Jameson was a fool, but he was right about one thing. You were ALWAYS selfish, Peter. And Harley Quinn, she was looking for a second chance, wasn't she? You, Eddie and Red were her only friends in the world, the only ones who had her best interests at heart. But I guess you didn't think about the consequences SHE would face when you refused to take your own life. Ah, Aunt May. Nothing but selfless to the end, nothing but blind faith in you...And Spider-Man. Maybe she knew more about your secret than you thought? Either way, you would always be a 'hero' in her eyes. But she was a fool not to see your own arrogance. And finally...Poison Ivy. All she wanted was a chance to help the world...A chance for real acceptance. But she was merely a toy to you, wasn't she? Her own safety, her own well being didn't matter...Only your own personal entertainment."
I slowly looked back at him, trying my best not to lose control. That would only make him stronger. "Parallax...I pity you." I seethed. Parallax Spider-Man laughed, holding his stomach. "Pity me?" he roared in laughter. "I have EVERYTHING! A woman who adores me, a world to conquer, and the constant entertainment of watching you're Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man get eaten alive by his own pain!"
"Maybe," I admitted. "But you will never know how to love. Or how to empathize. And as much as I hate you, as much as the sight of you makes me sick...I do feel sorry for you." Parallax Spider-Man gave a mock look of innocence, almost looking like he was pouting. "Well, maybe those sentimentalizes will work on The Flower." he sighed. "But you'll have to try a little harder for me."
Parallax Spider-Man laid a clawed finger on my shoulder, a smile on his face. "You know," he said. "I can't really invade somebody unless they have some desire, small as it may be, to cause fear. I wonder, Spidey...I wonder if we can find the roots of that desire before I'm finished borrowing you. Maybe we're more alike than I thought..."
I shook my head, tears of hatred, pain and loss in my eyes. "If I ever found myself acting or thinking like you," I told him slowly, putting emphasis on each word. "I would kill myself."
"Talk to me first." Parallax Spider-Man responded, before vaporizing instantly from the air like a misty fog. Funny...The moments spent away from him, just staring at those paintings on the wall felt so much less lonely than any time spent with him.
As I sat down, I felt something drop on my head. It felt like some kind of penny, which was weird because all I had above my head was a roof. I reached down to pick up the object. I closely examined it, seeing that it was some kind of emerald ring. If that wasn't odd enough, it almost seemed to be glowing. I placed it on my finger, curious on it's effects...And sure enough, it did nothing. Still...Something that strange must have happened for a reason.
As I looked up, I saw a new poster appear on the wall. Some kind of motivational poster-thing. No pictures, just big, green lettered sentences. I approached it slowly to read it. "In brightest day, in blackest night. No evil shall escape my sight. May those who worship evil's might. Beware my power-Green Lantern's light."
I don't know why that little quote struck such a chord with me. It was just some stupid poem on my wall, probably Parallax-Spider-Man trying to be funny or something. But something told me that it would be important for me to remember it...To study it...And to repeat it as I stared at that beautiful wall, littered with the faces of my loved ones.
Nightwing
Nightwing had heard that Poison Ivy had finally been captured and sent to Arkham. It was something of a shame. He really thought that Peter had helped her find her salvation. Either he has been wrong, or there was something rotten in the Gotham court system. Either way, when he heard that Dr. Hugo Strange would be making a "presentation" of Ivy at the St. Dymphna Medical Amphitheater on an island close to Arkham, he figured that he should make an appearance.
All around him were stuffy, old professor types who had traveled from far and wide to see Dr. Strange's presentation on such a deranged individual. Nightwing had arrived late, and it appeared that Ivy would be brought into the room shortly. "...Our subject appears to be suffering from a "Pandora's Box" or mental illnesses. Psychopathy, schizophrenia, narcissistic personality disorder, sadism, all combined in a perfect storm of chaos."
After that last sentence, Ivy was rolled in on a wheelchair, her mouth gagged and her hands and arms bound to the chair with metal chains. And the man pushing the chair was none other than Dr. Jason Woodrue. Nightwing winced at the image, whatever Ivy had done, he doubted she deserved this. This kind of treatment seemed centuries old, the kind of barbaric practice that would have died in the mid-1800s.
"Ah," Dr. Strange sighed happily. "Ms. Isley. We are here to break down our subject's misanthropy, and conclusively illustrate that her hatred of humanity, particularly men, is hurting nobody but herself. So, we have filled this room to the BRIM with, what else, but men. And not just any men, but strong willed men of science! Now we are all aware that Ms. Isley has a history of failing to take responsibility for her own actions. She blamed her...Physical and mental conditions on her male partner, hysterically claiming he attempted to actually manipulate and rape her. She has often used her...Feminine charms in order to seduce and destroy men, who she seems to view merely as "toys" to be used and discarded."
Ivy tugged at the restraints at her wrists, trying to beg Hugo Strange to take her rather painful gag off. Her muffled screams of pain only caused a great laughter in the scientists in the auditorium seats. "I believe that Ms. Isley has something to say to us!" Dr. Strange said, motioning for Woodrue to let go off the gag on her mouth. Jason untied the cloth, as Ivy gasped for breath. Nightwing could hear her whispering something, but he wasn't sure what.
"Speak up, Ms. Isley." Dr. Strange asked mockingly. "Forgive us all, but we can't hear you." Ivy turned to Strange with a look of pure hatred and fury in her eyes. "Damn you for a fool!" she hissed. "Your lectures won't change the truth of what Jason did to me. That's not going to happen. What is going to happen, is that I will break free and kill all of you!"
The audience laughed again, slapping their knees. Nightwing was the only one not laughing, he was just shaking his head in horror. He knew what was coming, but to be honest, these monsters probably deserved it. "I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!" Ivy screamed again. Dr. Jason Woodrue shook his head, addressing the audience.
"No need to be alarmed." he insisted. "Ivy has undergone VERY traumatizing psychological and physical treatment, so much so that she no longer has the mental strength..."
Nightwing wasn't paying attention to any of Jason's arrogant speech. He was merely paying attention to the vines slowly growing all over the ground. They started out small and hardly noticeable, but after a while, they began to grow. The audience members were beginning to become frightened, shouting to Woodrue and Strange to pay attention to what was going on. Soon, enormous, carnivorous plants were starting to grow, their mouths dripping with venom and acid. Finally, Woodrue heard Strange give a short shriek. As he turned around, he saw that a massive, thorn covered vine had actually impaled Dr. Strange. The doctor fell to the ground as the vine was ripped out of him.
The audience began to quickly leave their seats, and Ivy summoned several vines to break her restraints from her chair, allowing her to escape. Dr. Woodrue was banging on a nearby door trying to frantically escape, but it was locked. The middle aged janitor was one of the few people who had been kind to Ivy, and knew all about her scheme to get revenge on Jason. He wasn't planning on letting them out.
"OPEN THIS DOOR!" Jason Woodrue screamed. "PLEASE! O-OPEN THIS DOOR, I BEG YOU!" The Janitor slowly approached the door, looking Jason straight in the eyes. That was, before throwing the key out the open window. Jason's heart sank as he knew there was no escape. He was suddenly and quickly grabbed by a vine and lifted towards Poison Ivy, who was smiling with vengeful glee. "Goodbye," Ivy laughed. "'My love'."
"No..." Woodrue cried. "Please, Pamela, NO!" With that, Ivy used her vine to throw Woodrue inside the mouth of a nearby carnivorous plant, as her victim screamed in horror. The jaws of the plant slammed shut, over the next few hours it would slowly digest him to his screams until there was nothing left but bones. Nightwing snuck up behind Ivy, intending to jump on her, but Ivy used 5 of her vines to slam Nightwing into a glass window. Slowly, she began to curl the vines around his neck before tightening them more and more. Soon, his fate would be the same as Strange's. However, seconds away from death, Ivy loosened her grip on Nightwing, allowing him to breathe.
"I didn't do it for you, meatbag." Ivy snarled. "I did it for Spider-Man. Protect Gwen...And stay away from me. Or your fate will be the same as theirs." With that, Ivy slowly walked away, preparing to leave this terrible place. Nightwing gasped for air, shocked at Ivy's actions. He hadn't known her to be so merciful...And he certainly hadn't known her to cause restraint. That didn't mean he'd stop hunting her, she had killed two people tonight, but perhaps he wouldn't be so hard on her. "'Bout time I catch up with Bruce." he said to himself.
Poison Ivy
The fresh air smacked my lungs and the moonlight caressed my skin with its soft cool touch. All those long, tortuous, days of being their test subject and personal entertainment were gone. They were gone, he was gone. What happened in that room, would forever haunt me but it wouldn't stop me from going on with my life. My life would continue unlike theirs. I was alive. They were dead. Scars will mend and they'll remind me what I surpassed.
Life sang from every plant, every leaf, tree, grass. It caressed my ears like a soft heavenly song sung by angels. Plant life all around grew around me, kissing and some wrapped themselves around me like snakes. The moonlight and shadows engulfed me and I wanted nothing but to lay on the grass and let go.
I could finally move on with my life.
A soft gust of wind blew to the side and in it were soft whispers of faraway life. My children, where happy to have me back.
Peter, mother, remember Peter?
Harley's in danger!
Kill the Joker, mother!
Kill, kill, kill!
Protect them.
Leave them!
Their whispers went on and on bickering among themselves. I smiled at them but what was I going to do? Where do I start?
I kept walking in the shadows of the forest that surrounded the asylum as I made my way back to the city. I knew that the Joker was behind everything due to Jason's big mouth. It was one day when they decided to test a new serum one that would actually make me more plant than human more susceptible to Jason's control. The results was that it did make me more plant but not the way they had hoped. The result were nothing. Well, I take that back. I was more sensitive to all life around me (plant life). It made their voices stronger and easier to understand, it boosted my powers that I could conger vines and plant life at will.
The soft gust of wind picked up sending the voices all around me into my ears that were now slightly pointy curtesy of one of Dr. Strange experiments. I was still me but my physical appearance changed I became more…beautiful, the pheromones more arousing and potent, the toxins on my lips had become more dangerous that in one experiment the test subject died just by a brief brush of my lips. My nails were sharper, filed to perfect with a milky tint to them that one scratch would give the person pain that have them screaming for hours and cause the skin around them to discolor into a mixture of dirty purple and red mixed together in an unnatural and yet beautiful way. My saliva had also changed. In one of their late night sessions they injected me with a yellow serum in my mouth, sugary sweetness erupted in my mouth soon by the fiery burns of pure acid replaced the sweetness.
The pain was unbearable like all the others, similar thoughts of ending it of giving up came into my mind. I wanted to rest. I wanted to sleep. Then, like always, I'd pass out and force to wake hours or minutes later for testing. My whole mouth swollen from the inside and out that I could barely lift my tongue, after a few minutes by body took in the new serum and made it a part of me thus made the swelling go down at a fast pace. Soon my mouth was the same as before and different. They were fuller, plumped, lips that would have every men eager for a kiss that would send them straight to heaven. My face had softer features to it that added to the false present of innocence and a good time.
Dr. Strange forced me to kiss five men to test his latest creation, Jason didn't like one bit of the whole process but stayed quiet as one by one the men entered through to have the chance to be kissed by me. All five men were forced just as I was to cooperate and all of them pulled away not wanting to die or be controlled by me, I wouldn't blame them. In the end, it was done. I forced myself to kiss each of those men sending them straight into hell. The moment my tongue filled their mouth, they struggled but soon gave in to the kiss filling their mouth as much of my saliva and tongue they could get before I pulled them away. Each time I spat on the floor till their taste was gone from my mouth.
Each of the five men that had kissed me were burned from it that you could see small holes appearing around their mouths and they grew bigger. Small chunks of sizzling meat fell from their face, the room filled with gurgling screams before they ended in gasping breathes till the room went silent. It all happen at an alarming rate that at first scared me but slowly (though I hate to admit) surprised me in a way that made me…happy. They were making me more dangerous, more powerful. But as then reality set in, if my kiss did that then I wouldn't be able to enjoy a kiss from Peter when (no if's) I freed him from Parallax. Anger replaced that awe and power hungry feelings aside. They made me more deadly giving me a chance to get back at the world but they were also taking away the simplest things that I took for granted.
New toxins were forced in me and every one of them became part of me and I changed them. I made them stronger and deadlier. They-Jason and Dr. Strange-made me feel more of a monster one that they wanted to control. They gave me more and more but they never had a chance to test them out as my court date came closer and closer. Knowing that I had a change to make my escape I started to plan. The look of their faces when I got out of my restraints was one of the moments I dreamed about for days. I still couldn't believe that I killed them that I was free to do what I want.
Seeing Nightwing there didn't surprised me because all the whole room was filled with men that thought they were superior to everyone even me. Ha! Still having him there gave me some sort of calmness that at least I knew someone besides the men who claimed to be doing more good. I saw the disappointment in his eyes and facial expression as he saw me when I was wheeled in the room. He probably knew I would relapse and I proved him right when I killed the men but I had a good reason to! Vengeance! For everything they did to me! Not that he would ever know of those details. I could have killed him but he dated Gwen a friend of Peter and mine. She was funny, intelligent, and deserved every inch of happiness that life would offer her. Dick Greyson made her happy and if I killed him…I did not want her to suffer same with my other new friends. So I let him live. A move I could probably regret but I'd deal with that later.
I entered back into my green house that was far away from the city, I wasn't ready to make an appearance. I needed to prepare a new antidote for me in case I accidently hurt of one of my friends. I didn't want to kill them by a single touch because that's how I felt. I was scared that if I were to touch them they would die. Even though Jason, Dr. Strange, or any of the men that were brought in touched me on several occasion they never showed symptoms but I wasn't going to risk it. My lab was just as I left it minus the light snow of dust that covered the beakers, vials, and table. My children, my more dangerous ones, greeted me with their soft whispers and hisses sounds they made.
After taking a sample of my blood I began to get to work on finding out exactly what was put into me. I saw toxins of Nepenthes attenboroughii or commonly known as the Giant Pitcher plant, that was found in the Philipines, had sweet nectar that brought in its prey, or in my case the addicting sweetness that made men want more, that was mixed with enzymes and acid that slowly helped digested its prey, which explained why the men's mouth melted off. Another toxin that coursed through my veins was Cnidoscolus angustidens or Mala Mujer (Bad woman) found in Mexico. It wasn't poisonous but it did have a nasty bite. The thorns and leaves were covered in a milky liquid that when scratched it would give the person excruciating pain and leave a disgusting mark of discoloration. That would explain why my nails were sharper than usual and the tips pure white like French tip.
The list went on and on that some toxins didn't have a cure yet. Time was ticking and I knew it would take months to make a perfect antidote for everyone (Harley, Peter, Eddie, Felicia, and I hate to add him but Nightwing). If I spent all my time here working on the antidote, Parallax would continue to torture Peter and the Joker would have another day to do what he liked to Harley. I had to make a choice work on it now or go out and risk on killing them by accident. If I could wear protective clothing then maybe I could…but the sooner I get to work on the antidote the more at peace I will be on being around them and easier to touch them without hurting them. What do I do?
I decided that the antidote would wait. I couldn't last another minute thinking of my best friend suffering because of that monster! My children must have read my thoughts because all of them were eager to help out even if it meant risking their lives.
Safe Harley!
Safe her, we must!
Can't let her think she's alone!
Mother, let us play!
Yes, let us play!
"I don't want any of you to get hurt, if something where to happen to you. I'd kill me." I cried out emotions were slipping at the thought that my children wanted to fight, to protect their family.
You won't lose us mother spoke a very familiar voice that made me turn around and saw Nippy, beautiful as ever. Harley is like a sister to us. We are in pain just as much as you are knowing she's with that man. Let us help you.
"Nippy… okay. If you all want to help you can but I need some of you to stay here when we come back. Protect our home. We won't take long." I hoped that we wouldn't but knowing the Joker he would have his whole place surrounded to make sure that no threat would ever reach him. I used my new powers and passed it on to every one of my children making them even more dangerous. I controlled them to go into cocoons vine shape and I waited.
Few hours later, the cocoons opened revealing beautiful men and women, my children. They all had some similar feature to mine, some had my deep rich red locks, my haunting light lime eyes, or my cunning smile. The men were muscular and tall with a dark look that would capture every women's darkest desires and for the women they had very voluptuous body that every men would want in his dirtiest fantasy. Nippy stepped forward in her new form, she had bright green eyes with brown hair with blonde strands separated with light cream skin. All had normal skin something that I wanted but I couldn't have.
No one would suspect them being mine or even nonhuman. They all had different personalities and likes and dislikes like any regular human being. I just hoped I wasn't too late.
X:~:X
I was back in the city the fumes of cars covered the air in a dark brown cloud that it was even visible in the night sky. The city below me carried on as they did many nights, cars honked, people shouting from opposite sides of the streets, people laughing enjoying their late night dinner or drinks. Something I always wanted to do with Harley when it was just the two of us. Now I wanted more. I had a brief moment of being normal and I wanted more.
Too distracted in my thoughts that I didn't hear a person coming up to me till I felt their presence when they were only a few feet away. I was surprised to see Peter or rather Parallax-Spiderman in front of me with his head tilted to the side.
"Weren't you locked up?" He spoke in Peter's voice but there was a difference. Parallax had this devious tone that sent down shivers down my body.
"Aw, did you miss me Parallax?" I let the worlds roll off my tone seductively mixed with a hint of teasing. "I sure missed you."
"Ha! Missed you? Please, I was hoping you'd rot there." Parallox-Spiderman crossed is muscular arms over his chest.
"And never have a chance with me?" I took a few steps towards him but he didn't move. I circled him like the prey he was. I tried to remind myself that this being wasn't Peter and yet my heart still raced as if was making this much easier for me to be around him. Peter was still inside there somewhere.
"You are not my type, Ms. Ivy. You don't have that spark, that electricity that my darling Livewire has." I made a face knowing that Parallax, had been forcing Peter to do things he didn't want to do with that psycho. A surge of jealousy washed over me similar like the one when Livewire forced Peter to kiss her. The jealousy to wash away her filth off him, his body.
"Sparks come and go so easily, Parallax. I'm sure that won't be enough, it will never be enough." I was back in front of him, so close that I could hear him breathing from his mouth. My hands reached up to his face, wanting to yank it off but he pushed me away with the mask in hand. I jumped a few feet back when he tried to reach for it.
"I can bring you long lasting satisfaction Parallax. More than what Livewire can ever give you and I guarantee you that. Ditch the blue witch and be mine. I can give you many nights to remember, many to look forward to." I jumped away each time he tried to reach me, giggling in the process at his failures. He let out a growl when he failed to catch me then he shot webs at both directions trapping me but I kept my smile on my lips.
"Are you okay in the head there Ivy?" Parallax was confused and at the same time excited by the way the moonlight danced in his eyes. He looked very much like Peter except for the fact that he wasn't. I was trapped against the edge of the rail from the building and him. Soon he was right in front of me, looking down at me.
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" I wrapped my arms around him bring him down a bit. My body fit perfectly against Peter's body and grew hot with want. I wasn't burning for Parallax, I was burning for Peter.
"What would Peter think?" His face became hard as the words came out as if he was fighting something, or someone.
"I know what I want and Peter would never give me what I want well not without coaching. If you catch my drift. He's was a kid and he has-had-much to learn. I was out of his league." I touched the back his neck then down his back feeling each muscle tense and flex. I hopped on to the rail, wrapping my legs around his hips bringing him closer to me and locked him in place. The mask fell from my hands, long forgotten. I felt Parallax relaxing slowly thanks to my enhanced pheromones, his hand gripped my left hip while the other gripped my hair pulling at it roughly forcing my head back a bit.
Before I could say another word, Parallax pressed his lips against mine. Fear spiked through my whole body as I responded to the kiss. His tongue entered my mouth without permission, rushing for a taste. I forced myself to deepen the kiss, then lost myself into it. My hands ran through Peter's hair pulling and tugging earned a deep purr from Parallax. So he liked things rough? I could work with that. Then he pulled away, his lips swollen and wet from the kiss. His eyes dazed with lust and desire.
I let out a sigh of relief when my kiss didn't hurt him. Was it because of Parallax that gave Peter's body an immunity? I let out a laugh of relief that I let my head fall on Parallax-Spiderman's shoulder.
"No, no, this is wrong." He found himself saying without being aware of what he did or what he wanted to do. I felt him fighting me. "Why didn't I see how exotic you are?" Again his face contorted in disgust and tried to push me away instead brought me closer to him, that both our chests were pressed against each other again.
"Red stop this now!" There he was, Peter. The grip on my hair loosen and the hand gripped my chin making me look at him. "What are you doing?" The anger and hurt very evident in his voice but I couldn't speak. I was in shock, he was still in there.
"Peter, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I chocked the words out, Peter growled and pressed his forehead against mine, our nose touching.
"Why are you doing this?" Peter asked softly but I couldn't answer that. "Why?"
"Peter, fight him please." I cried when Peter began to shake as Parallax tried to get in back in control.
"Red, you have to go. I don't know how long I could keep him out." Peter struggled to say, perspiration ran down his forehead. He was in pain that much I could tell. I had to find a way to free him.
"Peter, I will free you. I promise you, that I will! I love you Peter, don't forget. I'll set you free." I vowed, pressing my lips against his again. This kiss was the one I wanted. Full of love. Love that came from Peter. Peter's kisses were sweet and gentle unlike Parallax that were rough hard.
"You used me!" Parallax seethed through his teeth as he pushed himself completely away from me. He grabbed the mask on the ground and yanked it back on. He transformed his body similar to Venom with that iconic long mouth with sharp teeth. "You witch!"
I hopped off the rail, dusting myself off ignoring his outburst. "What? I'm a liar and a seductress. Surely you had to have known. You falling for it isn't my fault." I grinned as Parallax let out a feral grow his body shaking with pure hate.
"You will pay for it!" With that he lunged to attack me but I was prepared. I charged at him at the same time. Both of us catching each other's attack. He had the advantage of being strong but I was speed on my side.
The fight went on that it went into the city causing people to scream and run for safety. The police joined in unsure on who to shoot. Parallax shouted at the police before to take me down that I was the enemy. Soon bullets were shot at me but my vines erupted from the ground taking the bullets. I couldn't take Parallax and the police at the same time. I saw a few of my children asking me telepathically to join in but I told them to stay put.
I wanted to know that Peter was still inside Parallax. The whole plan was seduce Parallax hoping that Peter will get angry and demand an explanation and it worked. Peter was still alive. I will find a way to free him. There had to be a way on freeing him without killing him and I will make sure of it to free him if it was the last thing I'd do.
Spider-Man
Must have stared at that wall for days, pausing only to sleep and eat. It was the only source of entertainment for me in those long, ugly days. The only source of solace to be found in this storm of fear and chaos. I prayed every night that she would be alright, that she would escape that evil place...Find the peace she needed. I could only hope that she made Harley her first priority, and abandoned trying to save me all together.
I couldn't help but thinking about that ring in my days of captivity. What was it? Why had it fallen? What was that poster doing on the wall? It shouldn't have been bothering me as much as it did. I couldn't really explain it, but it seemed to...Strengthen my will-power, so to speak. It gave me hope, it gave me the inner strength I desperately needed. This was going to end, one way or another.
I constantly found myself dreaming of Ivy...Not pleasant, calm dreams but horrific and frightening dreams. Dreams of Ivy being brought to examining tables and experimented on...Tortured...Broken...And, Woodrue, he...He...No, no, he couldn't have. It was just a stupid dream. Probably Parallax merely toying with me. I had to push those thoughts out of my mind.
"Lookie, lookie!" Parallax Spider-Man whispered to me before giving a crude cat whistle. "What a lovely flower!" Outside of my window, I saw Ivy, wearing a trenchcoat and garden hat. Her skin appeared bruised, and some kind of thick liquid appeared to be dripping from her lips. Her fingernails appeared long and clawlike, dirtied with blood. She seemed even more beautiful, even more seductive, in a dangerous sort of way. But even so, it broke my heart to see her like this. Those "doctors", if you could call them that, had done something to her. It didn't just show on her physical appearance, but on her face as well. Her eyes were filled with hate...And a pinch of fear. And, though only a VERY observant eye could see it...Pain.
Staring at her, I silently begged to feel her touch again. To hear her voice talk to me again. To be by her side. I thought that seeing Pamela again would make me happier...But it just made me more scared, more angry...More determined to strengthen my will. I looked down to see that green ring of mine was glowing again. I saw Parallax Spider-Man (Or Parallax Peter...He wasn't wearing my costume.) slowly walk towards the love of my life.
"Weren't you locked up?" Parallax Spider-Man asked again in that overly happy British accent.
"Aw..." she cooed seductively, a hint of mocking innocence in her voice. "Did you miss me Parallax? I sure missed you." I knew EXACTLY what she was doing...The old "Seduce and use" trick. I only hoped that the old human emotion of lust was deep in Parallax's heart.
"Perhaps," Parallax Spider-Man shrugged. "I didn't want Strange to have ALL the fun, watching you squirm!"
"So you never had an...Alterior motive?" she rubbed her hips, taking a few steps towards Parallax Spider-Man, and putting her hands on his shoulders, slowly and seductively. Oh Ivy, she was a MASTER of deception and manipulation. It was a wonder that S.H.I.E.L.D hadn't recruited her as a spy.
"You are not my type, Ms. Ivy. You don't have that spark, that electricity that my darling Livewire has." Parallax Spider-Man told Ivy with a hint of confidence and pompous arrogance in his voice. I only hoped that Ivy knew that this monster would never reflect my own ideas of her. Ivy was, is, my world. Livewire will always be nothing but a monster...No better than Parallax.
"Sparks come and go so easily, Parallax. I'm sure that won't be enough, it will never be enough." Ivy circled Parallax slowly, like a lion stalking prey. My heart must have been pounding out of my chest, Ivy was risking everything to protect me...It was flattering and terrifying all at the same time. Her mouth neared his lips, and I wondered if Parallax could possibly survive Ivy's kiss. Especially with that new venom on her lips...If that's what it was. I only hoped she didn't go easy on him cause she knew I was inside. At this point, death would be something of a bonus. And I couldn't think of a better way to die than in the embrace of my lover...My Poison...My Pamela.
"I can bring you long lasting satisfaction Parallax." Ivy cooed, webbing beautiful and intricate web of manipulation to ensnare the Bug that stole my body. "More than what Livewire can ever give you and I guarantee you that. Ditch the blue witch and be mine. I can give you many nights to remember, many to look forward to." Parallax growled, trying to swipe at and attack Ivy, but she managed to avoid all of his wild attacks. Parallax may have had my strength, but he didn't have my combat discipline. He didn't know how to calm down, look his enemy in the eyes and strategize. He managed to web up Ivy, but I knew all too well it was only because she allowed him too.
"Are you okay in the head there Ivy?" Parallax Spider-Man asked, confused but still threatening. She slowly crawled on top of Ivy, giving a beast-like growl, a predatory smile slowly creeping on his lips. I couldn't help but smile a little bit, he had fallen straight into her trap. The flytrap had caught the bug.
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" she asked, wrapping her arms around Parallax, looking him deep in the eyes. She seemed to be using ALL of her pheromones at this point. It would be enough to bring a normal person, or at least somebody like me, to their knees. But for a cosmic level being, it was just enough to control and overpower him.
"What would Peter think?" he asked with a growl, a tiny part of him seemed to be resisting. Not enough to cause concern, but enough to think about pulling back.
"I know what I want and Peter would never give me what I want well not without coaching. If you catch my drift. He's was a kid and he has-had-much to learn. I was out of his league." Even though I knew her words weren't real, I still felt a sting of jealousy. This...Beast didn't deserve her. Then again, I didn't either. I suppose I was beginning to understand how Ivy felt when Livewire forced me to kiss her. And looking back, I can definitely forgive her if she was more than a little upset about that.
Parallax, in a fit of carnal lust, pressed his lips against Ivy's, kissing her with primal desire. At first Ivy tried to resist, but soon began to return the kiss...Stronger...And stronger. I couldn't help but tear up a little, I only hoped that this was part of her plan and she wasn't enjoying this. I secretly hoped that her kiss would poison Parallax, killing him (And possible me)
I ran to the window, banging against it with all my might. I banged against it until my knuckles bled, until I could move my arms no more. Finally, the window broke. "Red!" I screamed. "Stop this, please! What are you doing?!"
"Peter, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Isley choked. I could see the glass of the window beginning to reform. I had caught Parallax off guard, but I had in no way won.
"Why are you doing this?" I cried softly. "Why?"
"Peter, fight him please." she cried, breathing heavily as I tried to gain consciousness back into my body. It must have taken all my energy, but I would get there if only for a moment. Finally, I felt myself enter my own body with a gasp.
"Red, you have to go. I don't know how long I could keep him out. There's no hope for me." I struggled to say, as I sweat heavily, fighting the pain in my bones and flesh as Parallax tried to gain control again.
"Peter, I will free you. I promise you, that I will! I love you Peter, don't forget. I'll set you free." she promised, kissing me lovingly. I tried desperately to stay inside my body and return an equally passionate and loving kiss. It literally felt like lifting a car with two broken legs, that's how painful and energy consuming it was. I didn't care. Ivy deserved the most loving, passionate kiss I could muster, and I was going to give it to her. Besides, her own kiss proved to be something of a...Minor anesthetic. Finally, I passed from consciousness, entering a world of blackness.
I opened my eyes to find that my skin was starting to become...Greenish. I don't know, maybe I was sick or something, but when I looked in the mirror I could have sworn I saw a greenish tinge in my tone. As I looked closer, I saw that my vessels seemed to be stronger in that greenish tinge. Was this a result of Ivy's kiss?
I only hoped that the effects were slow...That they would prove deadly to my immune system, and end my suffering. On the contrary, I felt like I was stronger than before. As I took my shirt off, I saw that my muscles had grown slightly. On top of that, when I looked at that ring, I saw that it was glowing even brighter than before. I smiled a little in spite of myself, I was starting to feel stronger than ever, in physicality and in mental fortitude. I stared at the painting of Ivy, looking it deep in the eyes.
"I will escape this prison." I promised her. "Even if it kills me...I love you, Ivy."
Poison Ivy
Two Days Later
I opened my eyes and I was back into my green house, body covered with new bruises and scars but it didn't matter. What did was that Peter was alive and still captive to Parallax. I felt my lips that still tingled with Peter's kiss. Sadly the moment didn't last long when Parallax took over he was upset, no he was furious. I knew I risked a lot on going after him. I stayed on my bed or rather soft leaves and grass, my children were out and about trying to gather as much information they could. I had still yet to find out where Harley was and let alone where anyone was.
The fight with Parallax-Spiderman was a fight that should have been avoided. People were hurt, buildings were destroyed and I was once again public enemy number one. News about my little escape went on air after I escaped from Parallax rage thanks to the body of people that ran into my direction. The man or whatever he was screamed out that he'd find me and that he'd finish what I started. That sent shivers down my spine, I didn't think that he'd get that frustrated.
The sunlight peered down the glass ceiling that caused me to blink several times, morning had arrived. I struggled to get up from my plant bed, my body protested that it was still in the process of healing. The fight with Parallax left me with a few broken ribs and nasty painful bruises on my arms and abdomen. Everything around me spun around the moment my head lifted itself up from the makeshift pillow.
Groggily, I made my way down to my lab and got to work no matter how tired I was. Not even ten minutes in, I felt the plant life around me hiss around me. I was looking through the microscope that had a droplet of my blood when I felt a presence behind me. I grabbed the dirtied syringe pulling the plunger back filling it with air, the seat I sat on spun around quickly ready to stick the dirty needle into whoever decided to die. A black claw hand caught my hand before I jabbed the needle into his neck.
"Is that how you treat a friend who wanted to say hi?" Venom shook his head. I let the syringe go and hugged him tightly. The man stiffen at the sudden contact and even pulled me back when he felt it was enough.
"Sorry, fighting with Parallax and escaping from the asylum was a bit messy to say the least." I relaxed back at my spinning chair with Venom standing in front of me.
"Yeah I was there when you and Parallax had your little dance." Venom saw all the vials and beakers filled with purple-ish liquid. His black colored claw picked one of the vials up scanning the content inside it. "What's this?"
"It's a temporary antidote for me." I could barely get some sleep the night before so I decided to work on the antidote till it was early. I managed to make what I thought was a temporary antidote I just needed a test subject.
"Why would you need one if you have full control of your powers?" I let out a tired sigh and went on explaining my two and a half week visit (from what Nippy told me) to Arkham. I left out the details of the beatings and other things and only told him about what Dr. Strange did to me the experiment, my transformation and new toxins. Venom sat down on a chair next to mine with the vial in hand. I went on telling him about my little time with Parallax.
"The kiss with Parallax was like kissing rotten flesh smothered in sulfur. It was disgusting. Just thinking about it is making me nauseous." Sour tang water made me pucker my lips, my stomach clenched. Venom must have guessed what was happening because he rushed over to grab the nearest trash can and pushed it towards me. I dunked my head into the trash muffling the sounds of my stomach empting till nothing but the stomach acid was left.
"Wow it was that bad?" Venom joked but there was no humor in his tone.
"I don't know what's happening. Ugh it's probably my body trying to get back into routine on having meals three times a day again." I answered seeing it was the only explanation. Venom nodded but didn't seem to accept my answer, I didn't see why though.
"When was the last time you were ugh with Peter?" Venom coughed uncomfortable as he asked. What did that have to do with…oh…OH! I couldn't help but laugh. That was not possible surely it wasn't.
"The last time I was intimate with Peter was two months ago. Trust me if I was pregnant I would have symptoms but I'm not. I can't." I crossed my arms as depression began to settle in. If I was pregnant I would have been happy being able to carry life that was made from me and Peter. To have the life growing inside of me, depending on me to live, nurture it, protect it, to love it. A dream I found myself wanting it so badly.
"Isn't throwing up the first thing women do when they are pregnant?" Eddie, poor Eddie, I set down the trash bin after tying up the bag before I started my lecture on how the woman body worked when carrying a child. It was similar to the 'talk' parents had when their son and daughter where going through changes when reaching their teen years. After my brief lecture, Eddie nodded but it seemed that my words went in one ear and out the other.
"But what if you are? I mean you can't just go around putting your life and your baby in danger."
"I'm not pregnant! What do you want me to do take a pregnancy test to make you shut up?"
"Yes, quite frankly I do." What did I deserve to have Eddie act like this?
"Oh for crying out loud Eddie! Can we just drop it? I'm not that's that end of discussion! Now I would like to get back to reality like how to save Peter and Harley. I looked everywhere for her but I cannot seem to find her." I shouted at the blonde man switching my mood so easily that it was second nature to me. Eddie popped his long jaw, his hand turned into fists. He knew where she was but from the looked of thing he hadn't been able to break her out of where ever she was.
"She's at Lady Shiva hide out. Did you know that Lady Shiva is the Joker's new lover?" Eddie spoke with pure hatred for the two people that it rivaled my own. "I tried getting in but there is no way for me to get close without having Parallax or Livewire or the assassins with Joker's henchmen around every corner."
"What about Felicia?"
"She had to take care of Aunt May." The loss replaced the anger and depression. Peter's aunt was the innocent who didn't deserve to die or the pain that she went through because of Parallax. "With you out of commission it still leaves me."
"Back to that again! Eddie I would understand if it was under normal circumstances but this isn't normal at all! I'm going to help you and that's final!" Eddie shot up from his seat, putting the vile in his hand back to where the others were. "Where are you going?" I shouted at him then followed him out to the front entrance.
"Well I'm going out to buy you a pregnancy test." My mouth dropped, a dark green blush colored my face in fury. Damn it I know my body and I'm not carrying a child! Before I could say another word or curse at him for being an idiot he was gone. Twenty minutes later he came back with a brown bag and threw it in my directions. I peeked into the bag and there were different pregnancy test. "You know you're over reacting right, father?"
"Humor me daughter, take the damn test. Or else I would personally lock you back up in Arkham. I heard they have a new director who's dying- Just take it. Put peace in your old man." I laughed again for the second time, how I managed to laugh when my world is upside is beyond me. I gave up and took the pregnancy test into the basement where the bathroom was. Eddie stayed behind the door while I did my business. All four were done now the waiting began. I opened the bathroom door, leaving the four test on the sink counter, Eddie was siting playing with one of my newest children an hybrid between a rose and a lily.
Watching Eddie interact with Lula gave me insight on what a great father Eddie would be with his children, if Harley and he decide to have them. I wondered how Peter would be as a father. I smirked at the thought, he would be a loving father and would give everything to his children. Being with me he wouldn't have that. Adoption was an option but would he be open about it? I'm sure he would…but I knew that he would want at least one child to be ours, really ours.
I checked the clock that I had placed the day after my fight with Parallax. I made sure to add enough clocks around so I was aware of time something that Arkham loved taking away from its prisoners. Time was up and it was time to check the damn test, finally! The sooner I proved to Eddie that I was good to go, the sooner we can get back to work. I walked over to the counter and read the tests. I don't know why but I fell to my knees as I stared at the test unsure what to make of it. Three of the test read negative but one said the opposite.
No, I couldn't be. Jason made sure that I couldn't. The fucking positive one taunted me, giving me false hope. That was it. It was a false positive! Ha three test came out negative proving that I wasn't just because one said positive didn't mean that I was. That test was a failure!
"What's the verdict?" Eddie shouted from where he was.
"I'm not pregnant dad!" I shouted back but my eyes were glued to the positive one like it was foreign. The voice in the back of my head told me that it could be accurate and the false could be a false, false. I prayed that the false where true because if I really was that would complicate things. No, no, no. Don't go thinking things that weren't true. Three fucking test gave me the same results so that proved that I wasn't but why was I still staring at the positive one?
I threw away all the test in the trash bin, out of sight out of mind.
"Lets start with a plan on getting Harley and Peter back!" I said with determination in my voice. I patted Eddie's shoulder as he followed me back to upper ground where he filled me in on the details of Lady Shiva's hideout with the positive test still lingering in the back of my mind.
Harley Quinn
I couldn't say no to him. Spending time with Eddie, I fantasized about leaving The Joker, spitting in his face and moving one with my life with someone who loves me. But I was just being a stupid little girl. I couldn't resist my Puddin, just like the thousands of men who Red had seduced couldn't resist her. Even after he'd almost killed me. Even after hearing his new plan, more evil than anything he had attemped before...He was still my Mistah J. Oh God, I could never just abandon him like an abused puppy in the rain. Though I have to admit, apart from Mistah J, I couldn't help but feel...Lonely. I knew that guy wearing Spidey's outfit wasn't Spidey, and I think he knew that I knew, cause he didn't talk to me. It was weird...It was like he was a stranger wearing Peter's skin as a kind of suit. Oh, I only hoped Ivy had some answers.
Lady Shiva and Mistah J had gotten their plan from Parallax, or so they said. They were going to lure all of the children of Gotham to a pit not far off from Mistah J's hideout. They would use a brainwashing song sung by Lady Shiva to lead them to the pit. When they got to the pit, they would be ensnared in a sticky, slimy substance inside. From there, the children would be devoured by brainwashed carnivorous plants, their deaths displayed on cable TV for all of Gotham to see. Their deaths would cause Parallax to gain more power than he had ever had before, and he would have enough strength to take over the world. It was evil...Pure evil. And I knew I couldn't let Puddin go along with it. But at the same time...I didn't have the strength to stop him.
I approached him closley from behind as he looked at his plans, surveying them extensively to make sure they were precise and correct. I didn't want to make him mad, so I kept my voice meak and fairly quiet. "P-Puddin?" I practically squeaked. Mistah J looked back at me, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "Harley," he sighed, mock innocence and endearment in his voice. "Puddin is a little busy right now. Could you make yourself useful and feed the hyenas or something?"
There was definitely something of a warning in his voice...As if to say "I'm not violent yet, but back off or I will be soon." Still, I wasn't going to back down. "P-Puddin, I was thinking...Maybe this idea's a little ovah the top? I mean, murdering children? Isn't that a little..."
Before I could finish, I felt a sharp, painful punch connect with my jaw. I cried out in pain as I was knocked to the floor, bleeding from my mouth. Mistah J's Henchmen laughed as Mistah J slowly approached me. "No, my sweet Harley." he cooed. "It's a lot. You know, you're acting awfully different. Almost like that Eddie figure made you...Soft. You wouldn't betray your Puddin, would you?"
What? Betray my puddin? Never! Just because Eddie was a friend didn't mean I'd turn my back on the man who needed me most. "No, no, never Puddin!" I cried, shaking my head frantically. "I'd never abandon you! You're...You're all I have left."
His face slowly began to turn to a sly smile. Even with my costume on, deep shivers went down my back at The Joker's reaction to my possible betrayal. "Of course not, Harley." he laughed sweetly. "And I would never abandon you...But, I must admit, I am a little shaken. So...I'll need you to prove yourself." The Joker turned to Spider-Man, or the monster pretending to be Spider-Man. The fake-Spider-Man nodded to The Joker in approval as he turned back to me.
"Harley, I need you to record a little...Invitation, for your friends Pamela and Venom." he explained slowly. "I need you to lie to them. Pretend that I abused you, that I went too far, and that you need them to rescue you immediately. After they've watched your "S.O.S" video... they'll have no choice but to strike. Then, me and Parallax will deal with them. Permanently."
I was silent for a moment, shaking my head as tears flowed down my face. Mistah J wanted me to stab my friends in the back? Just to prove my loyalty to him? How could I? The Joker slowly pulled out a knife, holding it to my cheek. "Do we have a deal?" he said in an almost cutesy voice.
"Y-Yes..." I whispered, broken and dead inside. I couldn't believe the words that came out of my mouth. The Joker patted my head like I was some kind of pet before walking away to grab the camera to film me. Harley, you idiot! I thought. The Joker doesn't love you, but Eddie does...And you've sold him down the river. No...No, I couldn't think of it like that. My Puddin does love me...He does! Sometimes, love is about mutual pleasure...But sometimes it was about sacrifice. And I had to sacrifice Eddie and Pam...I had to.
A few hours later, Mistah J fixed the camera on me, telling me it would be displayed on every local news station in Gotham. He didn't need to give me tear gas to make me cry...I already felt like drowning myself in my tears. "Eddie...Red." I sniffled. "The Joker's gone too far. He's planning on murdering every child in Gotham, and worse still, he's using YOUR babies, Pammy. I tried to stop him, but he's holding me hostage. You have to...Rescue me. You're...You're my only hope."
That last sentence may have been more honest the more I thought about it. But after hours of thinking in my bed (The Joker had locked me in our bedroom after daring to associate with Eddie), it finally came to me...There was no hope for me. Ivy got sent to Arkham, she and Eddie would be dead soon, and Spider-Man, the one person with more faith in us than anybody, was nowhere to be found. "I'm sorry, Eddie." I sniffled, crying myself to sleep. "I'm sorry, Red."
2 Hours Later...
Green Arrow had set up a small team of amateur vigilantes, and his girlfriend Black Canary, to hunt down Spider-Man. They were nobodies; copycats, at best. But his only other ally he could reach was Batman, and he was busy at the moment saving some woman...Ironically, with the help of Poison Ivy and Venom. He only hoped that Bruce was keeping himself rational, not allowing Ivy's I hope to sway his decision making.
The group had assembled at the Gotham Police Station. Normally, they would not be allowed there, but the situation was dire and Green Arrow had managed to convince the local cops that they were doing the right thing. "You two, take the west side bridge near the circus. You four, try and get as close to the circus as you can, but not too close. Keep a safe distance, we'll need you to survey the scene. Tell us what we're up against. Me, Black Canary and the others will be ¼ of a mile away, ready to charge on your order."
He looked his whole team in the eyes, ending with Black Canary. "Remember, men." He said. "We're not dealing with a superhero anymore...We're not even dealing with a man. If you see Spider-Man, don't try and free him. You've been given lethal rounds...And I expect you to use them! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir!" the team all said in unison.