The three women escorted me to a once beautiful garden, now plagued by the presence of death. There was no life beneath my feet, the grass lay lifeless beneath my feet, the flowers withered and drooped, the herbs were wilting, and the trees stood like skeletons in the garden.
Inexplicably, a deep sense of sorrow and grief filled the air, tugging at my heart. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, making it difficult to breathe, while rain poured relentlessly from the broken roof, overwatering the already lifeless vegetation.
Lost in my thoughts, a gentle squeeze brought me back to reality. The lady dressed in a sleek cat suit smiled and led me towards a nearby bathroom. As I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror, I observed my features in detail. Cascading dark brown curls framed my face, complementing my round features and my eyes, a peculiar shade of blue. Freckles danced across my cheeks, adding a touch of whimsy to my appearance.
"Little kitten?" The cat lady's voice cut through my introspection, and she removed her mask, revealing her sharp, emerald green eyes, sun-kissed skin, and a pixie-cut of black hair. "Are you truly alright?" she inquired, concern etched on her face.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied.
Laughing, she said, "I don't need the ma'am, it makes me feel old," as she rolled her eyes. "I'm Selina, kitten, okay?"
"Okay," I nodded warmly, appreciating her comforting presence.
Selina gently dabbed a wet cloth on my forehead, causing a sudden hiss of pain to escape my lips. "Sorry, sorry," she apologized, her voice laced with genuine concern. "It'll sting for a moment. How did you get this cut?"
I hesitated and answered truthfully, "I don't remember." Surprisingly, the realization that my memory was failing me made me feel vulnerable and embarrassed.
"Would you mind letting me know what it was that you were doing so late at night in Gotham?" Selina probed further, hoping to unlock any recollection hidden within the depths of my mind.
Shaking my head, I looked down, unable to meet her inquisitive gaze. The overwhelming amnesia had even erased my own name, which felt like a deep wound to my identity—a wound I couldn't even recognize. After taking a deep breath, I summoned the courage to look up with a forced smile coiled on my lips, trying to recall what had just happened. But my efforts were in vain; I was left with nothing but the void of forgotten memories.
༻༺
After Selina finished tending to the cut on my head and gently placed a bandage on it, we made our way back into the garden to reunite with the other two women. While I had not been properly introduced to them before, their dedication to fixing up the ruined garden was evident. The jester, though uncertain in her actions, attentively followed the guidance of the woman whom I now realized was known as the "half-plant lady."
As I observed them struggling to revive the wilted garden bed, a trickle of curiosity accompanied by a mysterious voice in my head left me bewildered. I searched for the source of the voice but found nothing. Perplexed, I turned to Selina, standing beside me and watching the scene intently. "Did you hear that?" I asked, hoping for some clarification.
Selina responded with a questioning look, "Hear what?" Her gaze turned towards me as she awaited further explanation.
"I heard a voice," I replied, still uncertain of what it meant. "It told me to touch the bed."
Selina's emerald green eyes held a glimmer of understanding as she offered her advice, "Follow your gut, Kitten."
Intrigued yet apprehensive, I decided to heed Selina's words. Stepping toward the jester and the half-plant lady, I knelt down and gently touched the barren ground of the garden bed. To my amazement, a remarkable transformation unfolded before my eyes. The lifeless, gray grass and the withered flowers gradually came back to life, bursting with vibrant shades of green as if they had never died.
The garden bed became a tapestry of renewed life as nature's response to my touch rippled through the soil. Delicate buds unfurled, releasing aromatic scents that mingled in the air. Petals blossomed, painting the scenery with a mesmerizing palette of colors. It felt as if the garden itself had awakened from a long slumber, rejoicing in the revitalizing energy sparked by my contact.
"Woah, where did'ya learn that?" I heard the jester ask me, and I turned to face her. "Oh no, that was rude of me. I'm Harley Quinn! It's nice to meet ya!" Harley Quinn exclaimed with a heavy Brooklyn accent, a mischievous gleam in her pale blue eyes. Keeping up with her bouncing around, she wore a black, red, and white jester outfit. It seemed to match her eccentric personality. A wide grin adorned her face, revealing a set of uneven teeth that added to her distinct charm.
"I‐ I don't know." I answered with a stutter. "I just... listened to my gut."
"Well, do you have a name?"
Selina had come over, and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Kitten here has amnesia. She doesn't remember." She explained to the other two women.
I stood up and added, "I remember things, like math and science, but ... not places or faces." I explained. My mysterious gift left me with as many questions as it did the others. I turned back to the now flourishing garden bed, taking in the vibrant transformation with awe and confusion. "I don't understand how this is possible," I said softly. Looking to Selina for answers, I found only intrigue in her emerald gaze.
"There is much about you still shrouded in mystery, little kitten," she mused. "But your touch breathes life. That alone is a gift."
Her reassurance eased my worried mind, yet the void in my memories remained. Harley seemed to sense my lingering uncertainty.
"Hey, don't fret! We'll figure it out together," she said with a grin. Her unbridled optimism lifted my spirit.
My gaze traveled the now verdant landscape, coming to rest on the regal half-plant woman. Approaching, I asked gently, "And who might you be?"
She regarded me with warm curiosity. "They call me Poison Ivy. Many call me a terrorist, when I strive to only save the earth." Her pride in her mission was evident.
I turned once more to the garden, awash in the vibrancy it now held. New purpose filled me - to understand this power and use it for good.
"Ivym might know how ya can explore yer skill!" Harley piped up. "She's the best botanist around!"
Ivy pondered thoughtfully. "This garden could use further restoration. With your aid, we may learn your true talents." Her hand rested upon a large willow, its branches drooping limp. "Let us see what happens..."
I laid my hands upon the willow's trunk. At once, fresh verdure blossomed along every bough till leaves lush and healthy swayed upon the breeze once more. My new companions watched in wonder as life bloomed all around. This, it seemed, was only the beginning...
༻༺
"We should pick a name for you," Harley Quinn suddenly suggested, her eyes filled with anticipation. "You'll need one for your civilian life and your persona, ya know?"
Taken aback by her proposal, I realized that I had never truly considered a name for myself. My old identity was forgotten, lost in the depths of my amnesia. Though hesitant, I decided to entertain the idea. "Could I use yours?" I asked, hoping it wouldn't offend her.
The suggestion seemed to catch Harley Quinn and the orhers by surprise. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, her animated demeanor turned thoughtful. "Harley Ivy..." I began, contemplating the combination of her name with mine. However, before I could finish, Selina interjected.
"Harley Ivy," she repeated, testing the sound of the name. A gentle smile spread across her face. "It has a ring to it, kitten, and you can use my surname."
"You be, Harley Ivy Kyle." Ivy said. "A good name for you."
"Now your persona name." Harley Quinn had said, rather excitedly.
I looked and spotted a flower, petals triangular, with three petals showing for each layer. "What about this flower?"
"An Amaryllis." Ivy said, saying the plant name. "A beautiful flower that resembles strength and beauty."