Sins
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, Teen Titans, or anything DC-related. If I did then it wouldn't be as popular as it is.
The story was written & developed by Nightmares Around Winter. The story is based on 'The Forgotten Hero' by TheWhiteTitan.
Beta read by Leaf Ranger
Author's Note: Happy (Late) Thanksgiving and an early Happy Holidays! So some of you may be surprised that this chapter came out earlier than expected. While I want to keep updates regular, I can't promise such things and I think you all know why at this point. Either way, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I hope you leave a review or comment talking about what you want to see in the future.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Demonic/other-worldly voices or thoughts"
(Author's Note/Translation)
Chapter 18: A Rose-Colored Jester, Part 2
Ivy inserted the needle into Harley's neck vein, Danny watched as the plant woman pulled the trigger, shooting the red liquid into the bloodstream. Within seconds, Harley let out a loud cry of pain as her spine arched, pushing her chest outward. Danny quickly placed his hand on her stomach to hold her down as she started to struggle more furiously, kicking and shaking her arms as if trying to escape the pain the chemicals were causing her. Danny was forced to hold her down on her stomach as he had two shadowy tendrils hold down her wrists while Ivy's vines coiled around her ankles to hold her legs down. As the two held her down, the clown stopped flailing around and started to calm down but took wild and short breaths. Seeing her calming down, Danny scanned her body with his cyber-eye to check on her condition.
Her heart was beating erratically and wildly; not a good sign for if it wasn't stabilized then she would run the risk of cardiac arrest. The vial that Ivy injected her with did seem to combat the acid in her body, but the acid's damage seemed to be done as her skin and hair remained bleached. As he studied the effects he noted that the bullet wound seemed to heal at a faster rate, surely a result of Ivy's concoction. But with the bullet still inside of her, it meant that her wound could seal up around it before it was removed. He phased his hand into the wound; Harley gasped loudly as she felt his cold ethereal hand enter her and pull the bullet out cleanly, not even getting blood on his hands as he tossed the projectile aside. With the offending object removed Harley seemed to finally calm down as her breathing relaxed.
Danny's eye scanned again, seeing the acid seemingly being thwarted by Ivy's creation as Harley's breathing evened out. Danny watched on, his eye still scanning as the mixture started to course through her veins. Yet still, despite the regenerative properties Harley's skin and hair remained bleached. 'Whatever was in those chemicals must have already been absorbed into her body. She was coated in the stuff and the open wound let it directly into her body...but now...she looks similar to the Joker...that can't be a good sign.' He released his hands and tendrils off her stomach and wrists as Harley seemingly relaxed.
Ivy's vines released their hold on the injured woman's ankles as she looked down at her with concern. "Is she gonna be alright?" She asked.
"I am not certain," Danny confessed. "Her body has started to stabilize and your solution is healing whatever got into her system, but..."
"She's going be stuck like this, isn't she?"
"I think so," Danny confirmed as he looked her over, his eye still scanning her body. The formula seemed to be working better now that the acid was gone as the wound began to heal even faster, removing Danny's need to stitch and patch the wound to prevent blood loss. "At least she is alive."
"Yes," Ivy said as she went over to Harley's side. She got to her knees and took Harley's hand and started to rub her cheek against her palm.
Danny watched the gesture with interest. "You created that mixture, especially for her, didn't you." He stated quietly.
Ivy glanced at him before turning her full attention back to Harley. "Joker beat and hurt her so much; I just wanted to create something to help her."
Danny nodded in understanding. "It's only natural to want to help the ones you love...I suppose even when they don't love you back."
Ivy glared at him for a moment but her glare softened as she frowned slightly. "She did...at least for a while. But Joker...I...I don't know why she kept going back to him."
"Sometimes people don't know what's best for them, even when it's staring them right in the face," Danny commented as he placed a soft hand on Ivy's shoulder. "But now that she is here with you, maybe you can help her see who cares for whom."
"Hopefully," Ivy responded as she looked up at him with a small but kind smile. "You helped me, now I will help you. Get me that flower and I will do what you want."
"Thank you," he said, "but I don't think I'm finished with her just yet." He said as he gestured towards Harley. "We don't know the full effects her chemical bath might have, and if the rumors about the Joker are true then..."
"She could be just like him...mentally." Poison finished.
Danny nodded. "If it isn't too much, I would like to stay here and keep an eye on her." He went on as he looked around the area. The entire floor was still covered in various kinds of plant life. "Is there...a room for Harley anywhere?" He asked.
"Yes, there is a bedroom that she can stay in. I had it prepared for her just in case." Ivy turned to him. "But if you are gonna stay here, I ask you to keep away from my plants. They hate the cold and your body is chilling them."
Danny scoffed as two black rings formed in his center before moving away from each other, transforming him back into his human form before Ivy's intrigued eyes. "Is this better?"
Ivy nodded. "Yes but...what are you exactly? Can all ghosts shift like that?"
"I'm a special case," he answered with a shrug, "but if you try and take advantage of me when I am like this then you will get a first-hand education in ghosts."
Ivy let out a soft chuckle. "Relax, I am a woman of my word." She said as she made a small smile. "You know, I like your eye. Blue suits you."
Danny felt his face grow a bit warm at the compliment, thanking the covering hiding his lower face. "Um...thanks." He said as his eyes drifted over to his 'patient', fully taking in her nude porcelain white form. "You um...wouldn't happen to have any clothes for her, do you?"
At that Time
Kara flew over the burnt remains of what seemed like a manor, despite being so far away from civilization. The ugly blackened husk stood out among the trees, when seen from above, especially when one had powerful keen eyes like hers. Allegedly when the forest rangers saw it first and reported it, the local authorities had to ride in on helicopters. The manor wasn't registered, so the owner wasn't known. As Kara flew closer, her keen eyes quickly scanned the area. The fire must have happened quite some time ago. Yet outside of the location, the burned-down frame wasn't why she was here. She looked over to where a large vault remained; she noted that the door seemed to be blasted inward as if someone was trying to get it.
Inside the lab was ruined by smoke, the smell of it combined with whatever strange chemicals must have been stored here stung her nose as she pulled up her shirt to cover it. It didn't help much; a super sense of smell can be more of a burden than a blessing at times. Supergirl hovered over the area, taking it all in. The lab was damaged severely, and almost nothing could be made out from the thick layer of settled ash and smoke save for what seemed to be a large, octagonal device embedded in the wall. She started to search through the drawers, most of them containing burnt paper and ashes. She doubted she would find something till she opened one drawer in a desk next to the portal. She slowly pulled out a photo frame. The glass was completely covered in soot but as she carefully took the photo out, she noted that it seemed to be a picture. The photo was also damaged severely but her super-powered eyes were able to pick up on a few details.
The main subject was two young men, one skinny and the other quite large. The skinny man was wearing a yellow shirt with a white line across the center; the large man was wearing a black and orange jumpsuit. She flipped it over, seeing that the back was also damaged but she was able to make out 'Me and Jack'. Going back to the front she looked it over, reasoning that one of these two men must have owned this place. But which one and where are they now? There was nobody found in the aftermath so they must have either escaped or not been there. She felt an ominous chill go up her spine as she turned her head back toward the device in the wall. She stared at it for what seemed like several minutes before turning to the photo.
She looked harder, seeing both men had large smiles on their faces but something about the bigger one seemed more...goofy...yet...familiar in a strange way. She pulled out her line to the Watchtower. "Supergirl here, anyone listening?" She asked.
"Yeah, I hear ya loud and clear," replied her cousin. "Is everything okay?"
Kara smiled at her cousin's concern. "Yeah I'm fine, I was just checking out that burned-down mansion in Canada. There is a decent-sized lab here."
"Anything worrying?" He asked.
"No, I mean there doesn't seem to be much here," Kara said as she looked over at the structure again. "There does appear to be a device in the wall. You probably need to bring someone with tech skills to come and check it out." She responded.
"Gotcha. Just come on back when you can." Superman answered. Kara shut off her device and put it back in her skirt pocket. A sudden jolt of life erupted from the device, causing the alien to jump as she turned toward it. A swirling green mass of energy appeared in the center of the device, pulsing and throbbing as it hung suspended there. Kara slowly approached as a low hum and eerie green light filled the ruined lab. Kara grabbed a nearby beaker and cautiously tossed it at the energy only for it to get sucked right into it.
"Okay...we got a portal here," Kara said to herself as she rubbed her chin in thought. "But where to?" She asked as her curiosity started to get the best of her. She looked around, finally seeing a decently long piece of wood by her. Grabbing it, she slowly pushed the end of it into the portal. After leaving it inside for a few seconds, Supergirl pulled it back out. Noting that the piece of burnt wood didn't seem damaged by the portal, she felt more confident. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she cautiously slipped her hand into the portal. It was a cold and strange sensation, but she didn't feel any pain. "Okay, a quick in and out just to see where it leads to."
She floated into the portal and gasped as she felt her strength starting to leave her body. She glanced up and began to take in the sights before her strength ran out. "Oh, my Rao," she whispered as she gazed on in wonder. Before she was seemingly an endless void with doors and floating landmasses off in the distance. "This... definitely isn't Earth."
"HUMAN!" She heard a voice cry out. Supergirl turned to see what looked like people dressed in old-style clothing pointing at her, but their skin was dark blue with bright purple hair. "A HUMAN IS HERE! CALL FOR KING FENRIR!" One of them shouted.
"Not good!" Supergirl said as she slipped right back through the portal. Not wasting a moment Kara blasted the controls with the heat vision that her drained powers could muster. The portal flickers out into lifelessness once more. "Okay...that probably wasn't the best idea." She sighed to herself as she left the lab. Upon feeling the yellow sun on her skin again the alien girl felt her energy returning as she flew towards the Watchtower to tell of her encounter. She checked her skirt pocket and saw that she still had the photo in her pocket. "'Jack and Me'...okay 'me', let's find out who you are."
In Gotham City
Jazz sighed tiredly as she rubbed her eyes, exhausted from staring at various computer screens. Her deep dive into the blood blossoms came up with nothing promising and her link to the Batcave's computer still showed that nothing was interesting going on with the sample retrieved from Arkham. She sighed once more as she stretched her arms just as someone knocked on her door. She wheeled out of her room and into the living room with the door leading out at the end of a hallway, "Who is it?" She called out.
"It's me, Dick." The voice called out.
Jasmine made a small smile, "Come on." She said. The door unlocked and opened as a Dick Greyson came inside with two bags of Chinese food in his hand.
"Hey Jazz," he greeted. "How are you?" He asked with a small smile on his face as he placed the food on the table.
"A bit better now that I smell some lo mein," She answered, earning a chuckle from the first Robin.
"I figured that would wake that appetite," he said. "Have you been sleeping?" He asked as he pulled the noodle dish out of the bag and placed it in front of her as he took his food and sat next to hers.
Jazz's smile faded as she split open her chopsticks. "I've been trying, but my headaches are coming back Dick." She stated.
Dick had a melancholic look on his face as he sat down and got ready to eat his food. "Have you been getting any flashes? Any new memories?" He asked.
Jazz poked her food with her chopsticks as she tried to recall anything along those lines. "Nothing much, I still remember the explosion. A few faces with no names, but that's it." She explained as she grabbed a bit of the food.
Dick nodded at that. "I'm sure they will come in time, but the problem is what is causing them to come back again." He stated as he started to eat, digging into his orange chicken.
Jazz was silent as she zoned out in thought, as the black mass of tendrils of the Arkham Assailant flashed in her mind. "I don't know," she said somberly. "I don't know why."
Dick placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to worry about it; they will come back in time. You still have me, Bruce, and Barb." He said reassuringly.
Jasmine returned the smile. "Thank you, you have been good to me. So I am happy to help you guys, even if I come up a bit short."
Dick's smile shifted to a serious frown. "Hey, don't ever say that about yourself. You have been an amazing help to us as Oracle," he assured her.
Jazz looked down at her egg noodles. "I just...I just felt so guilty seeing Tim die like that. On the feeds, while I am just stuck here...in this damn chair."
Dick started to rub her back. "Jazz, Tim's death has been hard on all of us but it is NOT your fault. It was never your fault. You need to understand that. And honestly," Dick said as he got out of his chair and on his knees at the girl's side, "as bad as it may sound, I am glad that at least you're safe here, away from all that."
Jasmine could only smile at that. "Thanks, Richard, I just..."
"Hey," Dick responded, "don't worry about it, I understand. I wish I was there to help too, but we will get that thing and figure out this whole 'ghost' fiasco. But before that...let's finish eating huh?"
Jazz let out a soft chuckle. "Okay, I am pretty hungry."
He smiled as he returned to his seat. "And when was the last time you ate anything?" He asked.
Jazz was silent in thought. "...twenty hours ago?"
"Yeah...we probably need to talk to you about eating more." Richard scolded making the orange-haired girl laugh.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say Nightwing," she waved him off. "I still drink my meal supplements."
"That's not a replacement for real food."
A couple of hours later, Richard left Jasmine's apartment. Sighing heavily as he placed his forehead against a nearby wall, he began to call Batman. "Bruce...Jasmine still doesn't remember anything. There have been no changes on that front."
"I see. Any changes in her behavior?" The Batman asked.
"...she's still depressed over Tim. Bruce...are you sure Jasmine is this 'Fenton' girl?" He asked, uncertainty clear in his voice.
"She matches Red Huntress's description and the photo perfectly."
"Even if she is and she remembers that what makes you think that she could give any insight to that ghost-hunting tech? She was just their kid and even Red Huntress said that the daughter wanted nothing to do with that." He said, frustration growing in his voice.
"Even if she can't give us insight into the Fenton Ghost tech, she may have memories that will prove useful," Batman explained, his voice cool and calm like always.
"Like WHAT?" Richard growled. "All this does is hurt her, Bruce. What is it that you think you can find in Jasmine's memories?"
"...You let me worry about that," Bruce responded. "In the meantime, I am here at the Ace chemical plant. Joker was here." He stated.
Hearing the clown's name made Robin's frustration simmer down as curiosity took over. "And?"
"Harley Quinn is missing," Batman answered. "Some of Joker's muscles claimed Joker shot her and she fell into some chemicals but...something happened. The container is empty and there is nobody."
"Why did Joker shoot her?" Nightwing asked.
"No idea...Joker has been getting more and more unhinged. He could have just been a spree of the moment, maybe something didn't go right and Joker blamed her," Batman answered. "So far, his goons haven't been cooperating. Joker is nowhere to be found but he will turn up eventually. We just have to be patient."
"What about Quinn?"
Batman was silent over the radio. "I don't know. There is nobody and the chemicals shouldn't be able to dissolve her entire body that quickly, not without some residue. We will keep an eye open for her but right now Joker is our top priority."
Robin nodded. "Alright, do you think you will need me?"
"Negative. Go back to the Team." Batman answered. "Worst case, I could get Batgirl to help."
"Understood, but Bruce." He sighed heavily. "Please...don't make Jasmine suffer." The radio went silent causing Dick to groan in annoyance. He gave one forlorn look at Jasmine's door before he turned and walked away.
Hours Later
Pale blue eyes began to open. Harley Quinn groaned as the light from a nearby window almost seemed blinding to her, her head throbbing as she slowly rose with a slight moan. She saw that she was lying in a queen-sized bed with a white comforter over her, all in a place she didn't recognize. "I see you're awake." A voice called out, making her jump as she quickly got on the other side of the bed, ready for a fight.
Sitting in the corner of the room was a man wearing black robes with one organic blue eye and one cybernetic red one. He was watching her with his arms crossed. "W-Who the hell are you? Where is Pud-." She stopped as she remembered the bullet entering her side and Joker's crazed look of glee as he held a smoking gun before she fell into a vat of chemicals "W-Wait...I-" She looked down and saw that she was wearing a dark red t-shirt and matching panties. She lifted her shirt just enough to see her abnormally pale skin and a slight faint taint of a scar on her side. She looked down at her hands staring at the whiteness of them. She started to panic as she looked over her hands and arms, grabbing a bit of her hair to look at it, seeing it was as bleached as the rest of her body. "W-What? What happened to me?!" She screamed out as she rushed over to a nearby mirror.
Danny could only watch as Harley stared at herself, recognizing yet struggling to see herself looking back. "When Joker shot you, you fell into a chemical vat. Whatever it was it bleached your body." He said as Harley stared on in silent shock. "It entered the bullet wound; you probably would have died if I wasn't fast enough." He explained as the door swung open as Ivy came into the room.
"Harley?!" She called out in concern.
"Red?" Harley turned to her, her eyes welling with tears as she went over to the flora expert and hugged her. "L-Look at me...look at what I became."
Ivy embraced her. "Sssssssh, it's okay." She whispered gently into her ear. "It's okay."
Harley whimpered. "Mistah Jay...J-Joker...He..."
"I know, I know," Ivy said comfortingly. "He told me everything," Ivy said as she gestured toward the half-ghost. "But it's okay, Joker can't hurt you here." She said as the bleached woman's cries started to stifle.
Harley looked up at Ivy and over at Danny who stood there, silently watching. She studied him for a moment speaking. "I think I remember, you were there when I got shot...you carried me here but...you look...different from what I remember."
Danny said nothing as he shifted into his ghost form. "Like this?" He asked.
"Yeah..." Harley responded. "Just what are you anyway? Who are you?"
"Fenrir, King of All Ghosts." He responded. "Ivy asked me to help you. So after what happened, I brought you here. You are lucky to be alive."
Harley glared at him as she started to stride toward him. "'Lucky'?" She repeated. "Look at me! You say I'm lucky to be alive when I look like I already died and came back as a ghoul!"
"I understand that you're in shock, but I can assure you. It could have been much worse." He said.
Harley sneered at him. "How?! HOW COULD IT BE MUCH WORSE?! LOOK AT ME! I'M A FREAK! AND THIS WAS ALL BECAUSE OF SOMEONE I THOUGHT LOVED ME!" She screamed.
"Harley," Ivy said as she tried to place a hand on her but Harley brushed it off.
"No Red!" She said as she started to cry. "I...I've done so much for him. I cared so much for him," she whimpered. "I-I trusted him so much, I adored him, and then all he gives me is a bullet and left for dead. Just so a guy who looks like the Grim Reaper can come and get me." She said as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Do you have any idea how much that stings...being betrayed by people you love?" Ivy was silent as she watched the girl break down more and more.
"I do," Fenrir spoke up getting their attention. His eyes were clear with his pain. "You think about that moment when it happened, so fresh and clear in your head." He started. Ivy and Harley watched as he seemed to be lost in his memory. "That pain aches through your core, so much so that you think you're about to get sick just thinking about it. Then the anger comes around." He said in a low growl as ice and shadows gathered around him, startling the two women at first before they faded away. "And just when you think you're over it, then the worst thing happens...the good times." He said as his voice cracked just a little. "The laughter, the fun, and the bonds you once thought were shared...it all turned out to be worth nothing to them when it meant the world to you...and the pain comes back twice as hard." He said as he looked back at Ivy and Harley. "Gone...forever, but not because you lost it...but because the other person stole it. Betrayal hurts so much because it comes from those we care about."
Harley wiped her eye and she sniffled. "So...you know too."
Danny nodded. "It's because of that I am like this myself, Harley." He said. "But the thing is that betrayal broke me and I had to be remade." He said as he looked at her. "In truth, I don't know a thing about the woman you were when you were with him. But I think you now have a chance to remake yourself."
Harley shook her head. "N-No...you don't understand, I gave up EVERYTHING for him. I can't go back to being Harleen Quinzel."
"Then don't," Fenrir said. "I didn't say go back to who you were, I said remake yourself."
"B-But I just can't-" Harley started.
"You're stronger than you think Hars," Ivy responded with a smile on her face as she gently pushed some hair out of the clown's face. "I know you are, you just need to see it."
Harley took Ivy's green hand as she stroked her face before cracking a smile. "Okay, but if I am gonna stay here, I need a few things."
"Go on," Fenrir said.
Harley turned to him. "First off, I need my boys. I ain't leaving Bud and Lou in that prick's hands!"
Fenrir nodded. "Very well."
"Second, I am gonna need my weapons." She said. "I made them myself, so I ain't leaving them behind." Fenrir nodded in understanding again. "Thirdly, I am gonna need some proper clothes and makeup." She said as she looked down at herself. "This shirt is a little too small and these panties are riding up my butt." She said as she pulled on the back of her shirt, highlighting her curves as they strained against her body. Fenrir looked off to the side, making Harley smirk. "Well...I see that despite being all snow white, I can still get some looky-loos my way! Ha! Stillllll got it!" She said as she walked off. Her mood suddenly shifted to positive as she seemed to prance out of the room.
Ivy and Fenrir watched as Harley checked out the other rooms in the hallway, already careful to not step on some of the plants. "She may be a bit bipolar but considering all that's happened, I wouldn't say that is enough cause for alarm." He said.
Ivy nodded. "I think so. Harley just needs time but...I am worried about her confronting Joker too soon."
"...When she leaves, I will follow along to keep an eye on her." He stated.
Ivy looked over at him. "You sure? You don't need to get involved with this anymore. You fulfilled your part, remember? You just need to get me that flower for study."
"I know," he said, "but I can't help but feel like I should. I may be a ghost, but there is a part of me that has some empathy."
Ivy stared at him from the corner of her eye. "So that was all true, what you said earlier?"
"Yes..." He answered. "But that is a story for a different time."
END
So that is the end of that, some people have asked me if this Harley Quinn is more akin to the HBO show. In short, yes. Namely in terms of character design and personality though I must make sure that is clear that this story takes mostly from the original Danny Phantom cartoon, the DCAU cartoons (Batman the Animated Series up to Justice League Unlimited) with also connections from the Young Justice and original Teen Titans cartoon. So the rules have been altered slightly to better accommodate those changes. I also tried to avoid creating OCs to serve major story roles. Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful holiday season that is coming around.
Take care, especially in these uncertain times and I hope to see you all again next time. If you want to help me with the stories feel free to leave suggestions in the reviews or PM me if you have any questions and I will try to answer them.