Chapter 12: Mother Nature's Fury

Authors Note: Thanks again for your support sgt surge and thank you for your reviews GadgetCid I hope to hear from you soon.

Disclaimer: I do not own Arkham Asylum.

After that fight with the TITAN thug and all of those goons we climbed up the destroyed elevator and made our way topside. We were blocked by a wall which was no trouble for Batman and his explosive gel. He sprayed some on and blew it up allowing us to move onto a ledge overlooking the east side of Arkham Island that was now covered in Ivy's vines. As we overlooked the area we saw not just overgrown vines but more of those pods and pale trees with glowing orbs probably filled with that poison we encountered back in the mansion.

"Breeze, Ivy's plants are going out of control on the Island," I explained. "I'm going after her now, have they reached Gotham yet?" I asked.

"No, Ivy should still be in the gardens where you left her," She said. "Only that place is the heart of her power if you go there you'll definitely be walking into a trap."

"That's what she thinks." Batman said slyly to his contact.

"Hey, if Batman thinks he can beat her then I can too," I said with confidence. "Besides fire and blades are plants worst nightmares."

"Just be careful." She said in a worried tone of voice. "She's got the power to turn plants into monsters, she not even human."

"Nor am I and neither is Batman." I said in a cocky tone of voice as Batman gave me a glare. "We'll have this all wrapped up and I'll be home for dinner."

"I'm gonna hold you to that." She said slyly, I could just see her grinning in front of the many monitors in the penthouse. I couldn't wait to go home and be with her. "Anyways, good luck and also if you could,"

"I'm not gonna get you Batman's autograph." I stated bluntly.

"Dammit."

"Goodbye love." I said as I clicked off. I sighed in frustration as I looked over at Batman. "What?"

"Girl trouble?" He asked.

"Pfft, no if Bruce Wayne taught me anything it's how to keep a girl calm. She's just a big fan of yours."

"I'm flattered." He muttered as we made our way down to the ground.

Lucky for us Ivy wasn't exactly working for Joker she was just a distraction for him to keep us busy. Batman and I made our way through the plant infested tunnels as we noticed some of Jokers men and the local asylum crazies were being strangled by Ivy's vines and their veins showing through their faces. We walked out of the tunnel and back to the main yard as we heard Ivy's voice echo throughout the area.

"You will pay Batman for hurting my babies!" Ivy said through the plants.

"Oh god," Joker groaned over the speakers. "Does she ever stop going on about those plants of hers?" Just then the vines started to break out of the ground while the ones stuck on the wall were tightening around the buildings.

"When I'm finish with Batman and his friend I'll be coming after you Joker!" Ivy threatened.

"Will you really," He asked sarcastically. "Well, that's gratitude isn't it? Women, you give them present's experimental chemicals and nice costumes and they still turn on you. Well, good luck to ya toots I got an army a city sized dose of TITAN and a bag of weed killer. Come and find me when you're done with Bat-brain and Sha-dork ," He then started to sound cheerful. "Oh this will be fun you bring the wine, and I'll make the salad." He finished in a dark tone of voice. I turned to Batman as we approached the gardens.

"Now that's a guy with girl trouble." I joked. "Especially when that girl can make fifty foot plant monsters."

He let out a grunt as we walked through the doors. As we walked in we were immediately block off by a giant root. Batman bumped my shoulder and motioned over to the vent. As we climbed in Ivy's voice echoed through the vines.

"So you're here at last," She said. "Do you like what I've done with the place? My babies are growing come and see."

I looked around the garden to see the vines glowing with TITAN and large sick looking trees with red orbs. Then I looked over to see some of the pods we've been destroying chewing on the corpses of Joker's men.

"If this is like when they're growing I'd hate to see what they are like when they are fully grown." I said.

"They're not pretty," Batman said as we walked to the glass room. "If they fully grow with Jokers TITAN they could become even more dangerous than before."

"Don't worry I got some white phosphorus grenades," I said pulling out some black grenade. "They'll take care of any mutant plants she throws at us."

"Be careful with those," He warned. "Fires always spread in a forest."

We then walked through the doors leading to the glass room as Ivy kept trying to scare us through her vines. Ignoring her we just kept pressing on. We made our way to the flooded corridor where Joker had killed that guard as we saw a whole tree growing in the center.

"Are you ready for me?" She asked. "Do you think you can handle me?" Just then a large vine broke through the door Joker had destroyed clearing a way for us to Ivy. The vine slowly pulled back as the tip was motioning for us to follow it. "I'm waiting, come to me." She lured.

We walked through the plants and wreckage as that vine was leading us towards Ivy's chamber. "I'm just through here waiting for you." She said as we followed after the vine.

We followed it towards her chamber when two security guards stood between us. I walked up to see if they were okay when Batman grabbed my shoulder.

"Careful, Ivy has the power to manipulate men to her will." Batman explained.

I looked over at the guards again closely to see that they're eyes were glowing green. The both of them attacked us as we stood our ground. I brought my foot out and kicked the one guard in the stomach and grabbed his head as I delivered my knee to his face. Batman dogged the other guards punch and grabbed him by his wrist as he flipped him over his shoulder. He then brought his fist down on his face knocking him out cold.

"Cakewalk." I said as we made our way into Ivy's chamber.

We slowly walked in being cautious of the plants as they slowly moved around us. Batman walked over to the large vine that's been leading us here and kneeled down next to it. He pulled out the syringe filled the antidote and was ready to inject it into the plant when a smaller vine popped up and smacked it out of his hand.

"I won't let you destroy it Batman!" Ivy said as she stood in the center of the room.

"I told you to go to your cell." Batman snarled.

"I was a fool, I thought the plants were in pain," She said as the ground beneath her started to break. "But now I realize they were evolving growing stronger." She held her arms out as a large vine wrapped around her legs. The ground then erupted as a large vine broke through the earth and lifted her up. Just then the ground started shaking bad as a large flower broke out and hovered over Ivy. "And now we'll grow together." She said as she was lifted into the flowers…mouth? I don't know.

Anyways the flower petals closed around her as more roots and vines broke out of the ground. The main flower opened up to reveal Ivy hiding behind a thin sheet of glass. Batman pulled out his Batarangs as I drew my sword.

"Give in to a more powerful force Batman." She shouted.

Batman's response was to throw his Batarangs at Ivy only for them to bounce off the thin barrier. The plant monster must have gotten angry as it raised one of its tentacles, (A/N: For simplicity I'm calling them tentacles.) and plunged it into the ground.

The ground rumbled again as Batman looked around frantically.

"Shadow, get out of the way!" He yelled as he dived out of the way. I followed his lead just before a dozen vines with razor sharp thorns ripped out of the ground and tried to tangle onto something.

"Holy shit," I yelled as I staggered next to Batman. "Remind me to thank you."

I pulled out a few throwing knives and threw then at the plants face. It let out a loud shriek as its tentacles tried to stab me. I swiped my sword agross one of them landing a cut across its side. It pulled back flailing it around in pain as green liquid splashed all over the place.

"No, my baby," Ivy screamed. "You'll pay for that you monster!"

"All out of cash at the moment my dear." I joked as the two tentacles flower pods opened up and started firing spores at me. Using my super speed I ran out of the way as the orange orbs rained down upon me. I ran towards the wall and with all my strength climbed up it, as Batman used this distraction to attack Ivy again. Only this time her barrier was gone allowing him to get a clear shot at Ivy herself. His Batarangs finally hit her causing her monster to collapse to the ground. I dropped down to the ground as Batman ran over to the monster, he pulled out his device that created his explosive gel and sprayed it on the barrier that protected Ivy. He slowly stepped back as Ivy pressed her hands against the barrier with a frantic look on her face.

"Don't do it Batman!" She screamed.

The monster slowly rose as Batman raised his detonator and pressed the button. The explosion went off as Ivy let out a loud scream. She then readied her vines as they dug into the ground again.

"You're just making me angry!" She growled as more thorn vines shot out of the ground. I pulled out one of my phosphorus grenades and threw it into the vines. It went off burning all the vines as she shrieked.

"How dare you use that horrible weapon," She yelled as she raised her vines that were holding Jokers men and some Arkham guards. "I need some help boys."

The six of them ran towards us as Batman and I stood our ground. The three of them ran towards Batman as he punched one in the stomach multiple times and upper cut to his face. He then leaped into the air and kicked another guy in the face the thug went down as Batman walked over to him and punched his face. The last one ran over to him and tried to punch him but Batman grabbed his arm and slammed him onto the ground before kicking him in the face.

My three thugs ran over to me but Ivy was mostly pissed at me for burning her plants and focused all her attention on me. I shot a stun dart at the one and sliced the other one at his ankles as a vine wrapped around my legs. The last thug tried to punch me in the face but I blocked with my wrist and smashed the butt of my sword into his head.

"Gotham will be mine!" She roared as she fired more spores at me.

"Shadow!" Batman yelled as he tried to rescue me but was blocked off by Ivy's thorn vines.

I then cut the vine restraining my legs as I leaped out of the way avoiding her spores. I sprinted towards the wall as I climbed up it again and jumped off it. I flew towards Ivy and grabbed onto the vine bar as she had her monster try to swing me off. I reached for my belt and pulled out a mine and stuck it to the center of the vines. Ivy gave me a panicked look as I saluted her and back flipped off the monster and landed on the ground. I pulled out the detonator and pressed the button blowing the monster up.

The monster spat out more green ooze and swung around wildly crashing into the walls and ceiling. The monster crashed onto the ground as Ivy reached her hand out to us. She let out a scream as her and the monster was dragged to the unknown caverns below.

The walls started to collapse around us as rocks started falling down on us. Batman grabbed me by the waist as I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and fired his batclaw at the ledge of an opening in the roof. We flew through the opening and landed on a nearby cliff as we heard small explosions in the distance. We both looked up to see fireworks going off in the distance forming smiling faces in the sky as a voice came out through the intercom.

"Batman," Joker exclaimed. "I know it's been a long hard night for you and having that emo punk with you completely ruined your fun but good news the partys up to start. We've got something for everyone music, dancing, chemicals that create monsters you don't want to miss it. So bring your friend and get your asses over to the cell block for your big surprise."

The line went dead as some eerie music started to play while the fireworks still went off only forming an arrow instead. I looked over to Batman and he gave me a concerned look.

"Are you ready to end this madness?" I asked.

"Yes, but know this if I even get the feeling that you might kill him I will stop you if I must." He said his voice holding no remorse.

"Hey c'mon have I lead you astray so far," I asked in a smart-aleck tone.

"Maybe you should stay here."

That pissed me right off.

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to," I asked, my voice coded in anger. "Need I remind you that I am not your stupid little partner? I'm my own boss and I go where I please."

"Shadow, I can't have you kill people." He said through his teeth.

"Why the hell not?" I asked in disbelief. "Look around you, look at all the lives he's taken, the damage he's caused…the friends he crippled." I whispered that last part but I think he heard me.

"What was that last part?"

"Nothing, look we're wasting time let's just get over to the cell block."

He nodded as we ran through the main yard and towards the tunnel. While we ran I kept sneaking glances over at Batman thinking about what I had just said. I still couldn't believe that I mentioned Barbra to him. It was not just Joker but also Batman's fault that she's reduced to nothing more than a cripple. My aunt Barbra she used to spend time with me all the time when I stayed with Wayne. She taught me about how to be kind, caring and to tell from right from wrong. I let out a chuckle when Batman brought me to her house that night I tried to kill Pauli and she smacked me something fierce. She didn't hate me for it bless her she was just angry that I had even consider killing a person.

But then a few months after that…I got the call. I remember punching Alfred in his arm screaming for him to hurry up as he drove me to the hospital. There were cops and doctors trying to stop me from seeing her but they couldn't have stopped me they shouldn't have stopped me. I remember seeing her lying in that hospital bed with tubes and machines sticking out of her. Cuts and bruises on her face, but when the doctors told me what had happened to her I was furious.

Joker had shot her Batman had failed to save her. I hated them both my blood boils at the thought of them. I vowed revenge and I will have it. I don't know what that Talia chick was talking about but I will end this madness with my blade alone.

I was cut from my thoughts as the music and fireworks got louder. I looked over to see Joker's face painted on a wall made of plywood as some men. Batman and I walked up to the entrance as one of Joker's thugs held a clip board. He held out a hand as he looked down at the list.

"Guest list only," He said. "If your names not on the list you ain't going in." He then looked at his clip board and started thinking out loud. "Let's see 'A' no that's not right…'B' Bane…um oh here it is Batman. Hey looks like you're the guest of honor." He then looked at me. "Oh and a plus one I'll have to mark you under guest."

The men standing next to him started clapping as we walked up to the doors. I turned to the two on my right as Batman turned to the two on his left. I grabbed one guy by his head and head-butted him while Batman landed a few punches on the other thugs face. Another thug tried to punch him but he grabbed his wrist swung him over his shoulder and slammed him on the ground. He then wrapped the thugs arm around his leg and gave it a pull as a sickening crack was heard. I finished my thug off as he tried to punch me and I just simple grabbed his wrist and landed a nasty punch to his elbow snapping his arm in half like a twig.

"All too easy." I said as we walked up to the doors.

We both walked through the doors to be greeted by two rows of cheering thugs. They were all cheering and clapping as we walked down the aisle. They all wore party hats and had their faces painted as we both stopped in the center of the room. I looked over at Batman.

"It's your call." I said.

He nodded as he flexed his fingers, before I knew what had happened a man was down holding his now bloody nose as Batman attacked a cluster of Joker thugs. I ran over to group of thugs and began my attack as well. Lucky for me my strength allowed me to take them down much easier than Batman as they all fell to the ground with just a few hits. They then started to surround us as Batman asked me to give him my hand. I grabbed onto his wrist and held on tight as he pulled me over his back and I kicked a man in his face. He then swung me around as I rapidly kicked more men knocking them all out one by one. When we were done there was only one man left as he wiped the blood from his nose.

"Party poopers no cake for you." He said as slumped down onto the ground.

"C'mon there's nothing stopping us now." I said as I walked over to the doors.

"Don't be so sure," Batman warned. "The Joker is full of surprises."

We both took a minute to catch our breath before walking through the doors.

I was nervous as hell, I was so close to the end so close to finally achieving what I had planned the second I had entered Arkham. It was all dawning a upon this moment I only hope I was as ready as I thought I was.