Ivy had always been ambitious. She was considered weird, but that never stopped her before. Ivy and Selina had always been best friends, but when Selina left her, everything changed. Ivy was never the one to drink or do drugs, but people change.

Ivy knew that drinking the potions wasn't the greatest thing to do in the world, but she couldn't help herself. She had heard about the old Chinese medicine shop on the outskirts of town and knew that there had to be something that could enhance her powers. She craved power. It was all she thought about in Selina's absence. It was either partying or environmentalist work, but Ivy was worried that she was fighting a losing battle. She obviously did not think twice before downing the strange medicine.

Needless to say it worked. Ivy Pepper was back and beautiful. She had taken up refuge in the old man's potion shop after he fled town. Her red hair was down to her hips and she was just as charming. One scratch of her nail could leave someone in the hospital for weeks. It wouldn't kill them though. A nice little side effect of the cocktail she had downed.

She decided to go by the name Margot in town. It was easier this way she told herself, for everybody. She didn't want to be recognized...yet. She hadn't heard any news of Selina being back in town, but didn't want to risk it. Selina didn't deserve to know anything about her considering she just up and left to go do drugs or who knows what. The old gang Ivy used to roll with didn't even notice she was gone and she liked it that way.

It was a crisp Autumn evening when she walked into the herb shop. Plants were dying all around her and she was feeling the effects. She couldn't wait to get out of Gotham and be somewhere she could be alone with her plants. It is all she wanted. She thought about it everyday. She had finally given up. Plants were dying everywhere in Gotham and she couldn't stand it. The pollution was making her wither.

She found herself thinking of Selina. The formerly older blonde crossed her mind a lot these days. It had been 4 months since she left to go on her bender and Ivy had spiraled out of control since. She remembered it like yesterday.

Ivy and Selina were sitting at a coffee shop. It was their favorite place, but the normally warm friendly atmosphere seemed hostile. Selina peered into Ivy's blue eyes with her green ones and knew that she could see right through her. Selina sighed and ran her hands through her curly blonde hair.

Ivy silently sipped her tea. She was visibly uncomfortable and you could cut the tension with a knife, it was so thick. Their friendship had taken a dramatic turn once Selina fell into the wrong crowd and Ivy was worried it wouldn't recover. Selina had always taken care of her, but now it was Ivy's turn. Ivy couldn't help but think that even though the tables had turned, they were still at the same damn table and it was taking it's toll on them.

It was clear to anyone who saw them, Selina was always high as a kite and Ivy was frustrated, but Ivy never mentioned it even though she was cringing inside.

They had left the coffee shop and were walking down the street. Even in the summer, Selina was wearing her leather jacket. Ivy wore a green top and black shorts with green sneakers. Selina had bought her the sneakers and they were her favorite pair. Ivy smiled as she tried to make a game out of matching their feet to the same pace when walking. She giggled when she finally succeeded.

Selina's voice cut through the silence like venom. "Listen, I want to find myself. Live a little. Get the hell out of Gotham. I met some guys who are going south and I'm going with them. I want you to come with me, like we always said." Ivy stopped and grabbed Selina's wrist.

"Are you insane! They could be serial killers or rapists! You barely know them! I'm not leaving!" Ivy was livid and her words showed it. They had finally grown apart. Selina only wanted to drink and get high and Ivy wanted a better life for herself, for both of them. They both felt the weight of their words. Selina knew Ivy couldn't leave and Ivy knew Selina couldn't stay. A pick up truck slowed in front of them, squeaking to a stop. Ivy's stomach dropped. Selina was leaving now.

"Catch you later, Bella-moan." Selina planted a gentle kiss on her cheek and ran to get in the truck. The nickname meant beautiful moan and Selina knew it always made Ivy blush. Ivy touched her cheek as the truck pulled away from the curb and took Ivy's spirit with it. Selina never even looked back.

Ivy was afraid she would never see Selina again. They had always promised, they would leave Gotham together and in the middle of the summer, Ivy had never felt colder.

Ivy went on a rampage after Selina left. She took drugs, partied all night, and was a known tease. That's what led her to the shop that day. She hypnotized the old Asian man and swallowed whatever concoction was under the counter, while he fled. The potion aged her, but it made her thankful because she could turn over a new leaf.

"Your total is 5.39." The cashier's voice snapped her out of her flashback and she gave her the money in her pocket. She glanced at her name tag and saw her name was Holly. Ivy came in here all the time, but never took notice of her name. Ivy tried to go into town as little as possible, considering she was laying low. She didn't want to risk running into Selina. Ivy always gave people exact change to avoid getting change back. She fumbled to get the right amount this time and told Holly to keep the change.

"No problem, cutie." The cashier winked and handed her the receipt. Ivy took it and sped out of there. She looked down and sure enough, the cashier had written down her phone number. Holly had been asking Ivy out for weeks. Ivy and Selina were only friends, but Ivy had always had a major crush on her. She wasn't ready to let her go yet.

She shoved the receipt into her pocket and realized she must have stayed longer than she intended, since it was now dark outside. She sped up her walk. It was chilly and there was a creepy alley up ahead plus this wasn't the best neighborhood.

He had been watching her for a while now. He thought she was so beautiful. She would make a lovely wife. She took this route every time she went to the herb shop.

That was the worst night of her life. He yanked her into the alleyway and no one noticed she was gone. He stifled her scream with the chloroform. It was just another Autumn night and Ivy was gone with the breeze.

2 months later

Ivy didn't know how long she had been running. It felt like two hours. Her assailants were long dead after she killed them, but something helped her and she wasn't entirely sure if it was friend or foe. It had ripped them to shreds. She never saw anything like it and was certain that she never wanted to again. She could hear it growing closer. It's feet hitting the snow. It tracked her every move. She screamed, but no one heard her.

Ivy had blood all over her. Most of it wasn't hers. She had a pearl nightgown on and her hair was matted and tangled. Branches had scratched her and the lack of energy was not helping. Her face was streaked with tears as she ran through the woods. The snow crumbled under her feet. She was soaking wet from crossing the river a few miles back. The cold air in her lungs made her feel as if they might burst, but she knew she had to keep running. She realized that she must have been gone longer than she thought when she saw the barren trees. She finally made it to the road and looked up only to be caught in headlights. The car swerved, barely missing her.

"Are you okay?" The person called. Ivy stumbled towards them. A woman stepped further into the lights. "Margot?" the woman yelled. It was Holly. Ivy rushed forward and practically collapsed in her arms. It was nice to see a familiar face. Holly took off her coat and wrapped it around Ivy.

Holly helped Ivy into the car and went to the drivers side. She glanced over at Ivy. "No hospitals." Ivy said as if reading her mind. Holly was uneasy with her choice, but her girlfriend was a nurse, so she could help them. Holly had a huge crush on Ivy, but Ivy couldn't compare to Raven. She had met Raven 2 months back and they fell heavily in love. They rode in silence as Ivy took a nap. Holly turned on the seat warmers and turned on the radio, but keept it at a low volume. Holly knew Ivy had been through hell. She was deathly emaciated and had cuts and bruises everywhere. Her nightgown was torn and her ribs were jutting out. They finally pulled up to the house and Holly helped Ivy out of the car.

She carried her up the cobblestone path and began to worry when Ivy didn't wake up. She was deathly pale and they were losing time to save her. Her ankle was definitely broken and she would most likely have to wire her mouth shut to fix her jaw.

"Raven!" Holly called her girlfriend. Raven came rushing down the stairs. Her blue hair flying behind her. She pulled open the door and her eyes racked across Ivy's bruised and broken body. "Set her down and go run the bath!" Holly rushed to do as told. Raven was used to this. They took in strays all the time, but she knew there was more to this.

Raven had inherited the house and decided to stay after meeting Holly 2 months ago. It was love at first sight. The house held a lot of painful memories since her younger sister died, and as she looked at the stranger on her couch she couldn't help but notice the resemblance. The red hair and blue eyes with the cute upturned nose and rosy plump lips. It was like a glimpse into the future. Ivy was considered dead, but Raven always kept hope alive. It was her fault her sister was missing in the first place. She only wanted to play a prank on her, but things spiraled out of control. The stranger was too old to be Ivy and Raven snapped out of her thoughts.

She checked the stranger's vitals and carried her limp body upstairs. Her vitals seemed good for someone in her state. She set her into the warm water, hoping to bring up her body temperature.

"What happened?" Holly relayed the whole story while Raven sat there in shock. She poured a special solvent into the bath water and Ivy's wounds started to heal. It was a family recipe. Ivy was still knocked out cold, but she was breathing. The solvent wouldn't heal broken bones, but Raven had a different fix for that. She snapped Ivy's ankle back into place and wired her mouth shut. Ivy slept through all of it. Raven began to worry that Ivy was in a coma, but her vitals seemed okay. She would be in a coma too, if she endured what Ivy had.

Holly got a pink pajama set and helped Raven dress Ivy. "She's so beautiful" Raven breathed after seeing her in her entirety. Raven took her to Ivy's old bedroom and let her sleep on the bed. She tucked her under the golden silk bedspread and placed a kiss on her forehead. The room still looked the same as the day Ivy left it. She was only 5 when she disappeared and Raven regretted it every day of her life. Raven never let anyone in here, but Margot reminded her so much of Ivy that she couldn't resist.

She saw Holly look at her in surprise when she sat her down on the bed, but she waved it off. She slept in the chair and Holly slept on the floor. Raven thought about Ivy and what she could have been when she looked at Margot and silently cried herself to sleep.

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Please like and review!