The Darkest of Knights

It took the dirty little blond thirty minutes to find what she was looking for, her hair now combed through was tied low on the back of her head by a midnight blue ribbon. Atop her head sat a little straw sun hat, protecting her pale complexion from the barely visible sun light. About her pale frame a light baby blue sun dress, it cut off at her knees and dipped down passed her collar bone, a white wool sweater covered her bare shoulders, light tan flip flops covered her feet. She asked for a bag to hold her other things in, although she still wore her wind breaker, mostly because it was the only thing she owned that had pockets.

She now looked very much like an innocent little citizen, bright colors and happy smiles graced her almost angelic like features, she paid the cashier happily and tipped her hat before moving outside. She had stolen some baby wipes from a mother in the changing rooms of the store, now the gore and dirt from before had been wiped away, she looked normal, and happy.

Mame had business to conclude however, she didn't have time to pretend she was a citizen, so she walked to the side walk and lifted a hand into the air, waving down one of the sunflower yellow cab cars that swerved maniacally down the streets of the city. She pulled herself into the spice scented cab and set her very full bag down next to her, adjusting her dress and peering into the rear view mirror to look at the eastern indian man. " West Gotham, the factory district please"

The little blond ignored the skeptical look the man gave her before he shrugged and took off down the streets like a mad man. She was happy in the little leather seats, the smells of the spices and incense in the cab made her head spin, it was such a delightful stimulus.

In the two years she had spent in Arkham this had not been her first escape. The first time had been two months after she had been admitted to Arkham Asylum, and after all her injuries ( one broken arm and a bruised clavicle) had healed, she had escaped from her cell after realizing that the doctors underestimated her, even on the drugs she had a mind to escape. She had broken out of her cell during the early morning when the orderlies came around to dose out drugs to the inmates, she had choked her orderly with the sheets from her bed and fled to a storage room off on the opposite end of the asylum, a storage room that contained files of the high security inmates of Arkham. With nothing to eat or drink and obviously having successfully hidden from the guards and doctors, she had sat in that storage room for two and a half days, doing nothing but reading the files. She had studied Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Joker, Penguin, Two Face, Scarface. All the big bads, she had learned about where their hide outs were frequented, where they usually stayed or based their operations. She memorized them all.

She was going to head to the closets one, she needed a little help and she was certain her old fellow inmate would oblige her. It took the cab driver forty five minutes to get her to the factory district, she had him drive around a bit before she nodded that the corner in front of a seemingly abandoned building was fine. She hopped out, and leaned down as the man rolled down the window, smiling happily she reached into her jacket to fish something out, she seemed to struggle with it for a moment before the man grunted and gestured for her to hurry, he didn't like this part of town.

Mame scowled at him and quickly pulled out her pistol, the clip was a quarter empty now, she jerked the gun forward and gestured for the man to get out of the car, he did all whilst babbling in his native tongue. She had him turn off his car and hand her the keys before making him march in front of her as they entered through the bent chain link gate, across the parking lot and into the unlocked front doors. It was obvious who she thought was there was, mostly because a thin sheen of reddish smoke coated the floors, and noises could be heard down the main entrance hall from the large room. Mame pressed the hysteric man forward and grunted as he stopped at the doors, shivering frantically as the noises from the room stopped after the blond had slammed the front doors shut.

Mame tilted her head as they stood before the double doors that led to the main lab, scrunching up her nose before gesturing for the man to knock. He hesitated and babbled a bit more, that was before he heard the cocking of the guns hammer, to which he instantly shut up and knocked three times.

" Good boy"

Mame purred at him as foot steps could be heard skittering towards the other side of the door, upon noticing a security camera turn towards them, the girl simply tilted her hat back and smiled wide at the device. The double doors of the lab suddenly burst open to reveal the Lord of Fear himself, The Scarecrow, fully costumed and staring intently at the face of the petrified indian man. Mame opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the scream of the cab driver, he turned around her and began running back down the hall, but his pace was halted by a sudden presence of a hot bullet in his gut, tearing through his liver and lungs before he collapsed in a heap on the ground, gurgling and bleeding out quickly.

" I hate when they run like that"
" What are you doing here? How did you get off Arkham Island?"
The blond look up to the masked man and smiled widely, just so happy to see him, she opened her arms out wide and embraced him. Scarecrow shifted uncomfortably and pried his spindly frame away from the amorous girl.
" Yes, yes thats nice, now answer my questions"
" I missed you Jonathan"
"Answer my questions"
"I swam off Arkham, got picked up by some cops, killed them, made HQ and came to ask for some help"
" You know I don't like working with others Mame"
" I Know Jonathan but I figured you would be here and what with the Bat so distracted I figure we can help each other"

The Scarecrow snorted and turned from her, walking back into his lab, he didn't shut the doors in her face so Mame took that as a silent invitation to join him. She knew very well that Jonathan Crane didn't like her, hell he didn't like anyone, but she had shown rather privy to him gassing her, fear being considered a pleasant stimulus in her mind, he couldn't get the rise out of her he wanted. But they had had group therapy together on multiple occasions and so, he would tolerate her for now.

Mame plopped down on one of the stools and put her gun on safety, stashing it back in her jacket. She smiled brightly at the man as he went back to hunching over his desk, continuing to create his fear toxin. The blond liked watching him work, but was quickly distracted by the throbbing flesh of her knuckles.

" Do you know where the others are?"

The Scarecrow waved a hand at her absently, wincing as he heard her suck in a quick breath and stagger off the stool she had perched her annoying little self on.

" Jonathan your hand!"
" It's nothing, I had a little run in with our friend Batman, seems he is...Less then aware of the real truth behind this whole event"
" You mean, he didn't kill James?"
"Who...oh never mind...No...I do not believe he knows, but if you are looking for the others I'm fairly certain I do not know where they are, we don't twitter our crimes child"

Mame laughed softly at the comment but sat back down twiddling her thumbs as she proceeded to watch him work again.

" I need to find Pamela, she broke out all the inmates of Arkham, and I owe her"

Scarecrow scoffed and actually turned around to face her, holding a vial in his hand and narrowing his eyes behind the mask he wore, she was starting to agitate him, he wanted her gone.

" Don't be stupid, you know damn well where Ivy goes when she's escaped, the wilds outside of Gotham, now go...Now! Before I use you as a lab rat"

Mame squeaked in faux shock and hopped up off the stool and took a few steps backwards, snatching one of the small fear toxin pellets off the table behind her and stashing it within her money pocket.

" Ok ok geez, Jonathan I'll go..It was nice to see you again!"
" Put it back"
"Bye Jonathan"
" Put it back NOW"
"Byyyeee"
"Grr Get out! Just Get out!!!"

With that Mame squealed and scampered away, running out of the room just before the masked man spun around to point an accusing finger at her then towards the door. She laughed as she rushed down then hall ways, stopping only to swipe the wallet of the dead man before heading out to the cab, she had a new destination, this was going to be fun.

(Gosh that was awesome! Posting may be slow for me. Internet is being a meanie at my house, =T When I'm not here, Ivy goes to Shadow and Red; Poison Ivy to Karm and Blood. )

It took Ivy a bit to recognize the nickname-her thoughts were so scrambled- but when she did, she nodded in agreement. "Of course. We've always got time for her." She removed the last vine, this time snapping it off the branch and putting it as her belt. Her old vine belt was wilting, no good for battle or fashion.
---
Poison Ivy looked away, feigning embarressment. "Well, I never told you Quinn, but I accediantally left behind our vacation photos at an old hideout. No doubt those heroes found it." Vines crept along, eager to ensnare Cyrah.
"As for time...You're part robot, aren't you? Wouldn't it make sense to plan ahead? With the beatings you've given us, maybe it was your goal to knock our memories out in the first place!" She congratulated herself. Some sane part of her was wondering what the hell she was doing, defending herself and Karm, sorry, Quinn. What the hell was she doing getting a partner that had annoyed her more than Harley had?
The rest of her, though, was smirking like the Cheshire cat. Although she wasn't arguing for a good reason, she was obviously winning.

Jersey smiled, "Wow that's eco friendly. Not actually trying to make a joke." His smiled disapeared and he got serious, "Lunch? When someone who detroyed a nut house for who knows why is out and about?" Jersey shook his head, "You humans think abnormal creatures are weird..."

After hearing what Poison Ivy said, and believing it, Quinn turned to Cyrah, enraged. "You would do that!? What the hell is wrong with you people!?" she screamed at her accusingly. "Once I'm healed, I'm gonna kill you for doing this to me.." she poised her fingers. "I'll kill all of you." and with a snap of her fingers, Cyrah was gone. Quinn had sent her crashing into the same hospital room that she had been placed in. She would deal with her later, when she was better. That little exertion of her powers made Quinn light headed and she swayed slightly. "How the hell did she find us anyways?" she asked wearily.

Poison Ivy was wondering the same thing. "Trackers. There must be one on you from when they put you in the hospital. " She decided that would be a suitable excuse. Now, she groaned inwardly, to treat Quinn's wounds. After all,

they were best friends.

"Here, lay back down...I've got some aloe somewhere..."
---
Ivy smiled. "Chicky is special. There's always time for her. Especially in this chaos." She replied. "Shouldn't you get back to Sky? She must be worried." The plant bender was trying to direct conversation away from Chicky. Last thing they needed was Jersey showing up to their lunch with Robin.

"Wait.." Quinn said laying down. "Isn't aloe for burns?" certain knowledge gained in life is never forgotten. No matter how screwed up someones memory is.

(...I'm twelve! Don't expect me to know this! x] )

Poison Ivy paused, she pointed to a small burn on Quinn's wrist. "She must have shot at you." She began growing and picking the proper plants. Advising Quinn to "Eat this." or "Wrap this around that cut." and such. Moments later, Quinn was patched up in vines and leaves. "There. You should be better in a few weeks. Maybe days if you're a fast healer." She had not been a scientist for nothing! She knew a thing or two medically.

"Actually, while you guys were talking about 'Chicky' I called Nickoli. He's with Sky and me. They're in the middle of a fight so I'm just gonna head off on this Poison Ivy thing." Batlike wings came out of his back. "Any info I can get from you guys or is being mad at Sky being mad at me and other V.A.M.P members?"

"She's dangerous. Don't underestimate her." Ivy replied, vague but correct. Poison Ivy was not one to fool around, and she'd gladly use her mind control on Jersey.

"Great.." Quin said and sat up against the tree, still feeling tired. After a while she started to dose off lightly. "So.. When can we like.. Move out?" she was feeling a tad agitated. She didn't like sitting still...

Poison Ivy nearly exploded right there. She crashed through a window, and saved the girl. She brought her to her home. She argued with a robot. She patched up all her wounds.

And now she was asking favors?!

Her foliage home was wonderful to her. But of course, humans. Couldn't survive five seconds out here, all hooked up on their energy wasting technology and gas guzzling cars. But she kept her anger under control. "I," she began, "Live here. You visit sometimes, but you mostly jump around from abandoned warehouses as home. We can go find one, if you like." Too...much...nice...To an ungrateful, whiny, stupid brat!

"I.. Ok? I don't want to rest though." Quinn said puzzled. "I just wanna find those people already. I mean, after all, they did do this to me." she said, flaunting her injuries. "They're not heroes, you said so yourself. They need to be stopped."

"That's true, but you need rest to get better." Killing yourself with kindness? Poison Ivy had to agree that it was possible. Let her go fight and get injured! But I need a healthy strong fighter. Not an injured weak one. she reminded herself angrily.

"But.. Oh pftt I'm fine." Quinn said getting up. She would always have that attitude towards sleep.(XP) She got up and brushed herself off. "I need some revenge.."

Poison Ivy sighed. "Fine. With the Batman chaos, we could pull a few crimes and be attacked by Ivy, Zero and Luna. Remember, Ivy gave you that scar..." Her voice trailed off.

Cyrah came to. But as she did, she realized where she was. Back in the hospital room. And be damned if she didn't leave her wallet back there. The day just seemed to go from bad to worse...

Then she realized what she landed on. She looked at the surgical equipment she had plowed into- facefirst. She suddenly noted a pain in her face, and wiped her hand across the painful spot- and came back with a handful of transparent blood. It was unusualy glossy, but it wasn't her reflection she saw- it was Karmy-no, Quin that she saw. Her face was twisted in the same look of rage and hate from the forest. Her mouth moved in the reflection, but no sound came. Cyrah didn't need a sound to realize what the reflection was saying. Over and over again, the reflection chanted 'I hate you.'

Cyrah woke up with a jolt. No surgical gear, no bloody mess, no chanting reflections. Just an emotional pain that shook her to her core. Karmy, her sister in every sense but biological, hated her. She was a villain now, fighting for Poision Ivy, and was out to kill them. She blamed herself- she wasn't quick enough, wasn't smart enough, wasn't strong enough, wasn't a good enough sibling to stop her and bring her back. Siting on her knees, she let the gravity of what had happened weigh down on her. Her arm formed her sonic cannon, and put it below her chin. One shot- she could stop it in one shot. Karmy would be happy that she was gone, and she didn't have to weigh down anymore good people....

No, she couldn't take the easy route, not now. Her sister was out there, being used and lied to. She wasn't going to give up on her, not yet. She remembered their time traveling the world, it had been some of the happiest moments of her life, and she wasn't about to flush those away like a chump. She formed her arm back to normal, got up, and left the building...

"Wait.." Quinn turned around and looked at Poison Ivy. "Pull a few crimes? I thought.. You said we were the heroes." she said, confused.

Poison Ivy hesitated. Shoot! Think quick, fast....She laughed. "I keep forgetting you've forgot! That's an old joke we used. When we headed out to do errands, we called it crimes. Because of those sickos called themselves heroes, then we were villains." She laughed more, forced laughter that she hoped sounded natural. "You were the one to come up with it."

Dick had his hands folded and his back bent forward facing Casius who was still chugging $100 booze like it was nothing. He didn't mind now. Barbara, Nicole, and Alice were behind him and Dick had his head down. "They... brainwashed her?" Alice asked. "She has amnesia? Like Dick does?" "Casius, I wanted to talk to your son. He regained parts of his memories back right?" Dick asked.

"Oohhhhh..." Quin said trying to remember if she really did. Of course she didn't remember though. But! Poison Ivy hasn't lied to her yet... "Uh, alright. Umm.. Lets go into town." and they headed into town.

"Wow, really? I didn't think that! After spending time getting paid not to underestimate people, you think I'd know." He rolled his eyes. Then had a second thought about it. "Sorry, working on niceness later. Any more powers besides plants? Do you know any weaknesses of hers?" Jersey questioned. "Any hang outs or bases? Better yet just a description would be nice, and an answer to my other questions." This is why Nickoli and Sky do the questioning... He thought.

Walking through town, Quinn looked around and tried to remember her surroundings while Poison Ivy kept her eyes peeled for the Bat Clan or Riders or Casius and Cyrah. "Ow! Dammit!" Quinn suddenly screamed. She had been barefoot and had accidentally stepped on a piece of glass. Hissing in pain and holding her bleeding foot she leaned against one of the buildings. "Damn, I need shoes." she said as she picked out the glass shards. Poison Ivy looked up at the building. A shoe store! "Well that's.. Convenient." she said. "Lets go."

Walking in Poison Ivy headed for the counter while Quinn looked at shoes. "This is my treat!" Poison Ivy told Quinn. "Get whatever you want." she smirked and disappeared to the back room of the store. Quinn smiled and looked around at the shoes. 'Poison Ivy is such a great person!'she thought to her self. 'That robot chick was lying to me. I can't trust her. Poison Ivy is the only person I can trust now. She hasn't lied to me yet!'

After picking out a simple pair of red and blue slipons, she headed for the counter. "Oh Quinn!" Poison Ivy came out from the back room of the store. "Its alright, every thing is already taken care of." she smiled. "What were you doing back there?" she tried to look in the back but Poison Ivy blocked her view. "Oh, I was reminding the manager about the 'heroes discount' that we get." she smiled sweetly. "Oh cool!" she sat down and quickly pulled on the shoes, putting on socks over them of course. And they opened the door and left, a soft ding rang throughout the store as the door closed.

In the back of the room, the money vault in the wall behind the managers desk hung open. All the money inside was gone. And where was the manager? Oh, he was taking a break. He just hung out from the ceiling, wrapped in vines and pink lipstick stains on his lips. Least he didn't have to worry about his wife finding out that he was cheating on her! He was too busy being all dead to worry about silly stuff like that.

Alice shook her head and snatched her fedora off of Dicks head violently and threw it on to cover her eyes. He almost thought she slapped the back of his head. She stormed out feeling confused about what this world has come to. "Alice! Alice come back!" Dick called. "If I know Karmy, I know where she'll be!" She said still striding out to the Batcave and getting in her car.

Alice sat with her fedora tipped, a flannel button down, and jeans. A picture of Karmy hung behind the counter, a cup of coffee in her hand. Alice was waiting in a Starbucks.

Casius nearly protested, but he decided against it and sighed. Maybe there was a chance Mercy could snap her out of it. "Anyways, on the topic of hynosis, My son can't do that. Last time he tried to hypnotise his memories back, he accidentally went a day thinking he was a Platypus. He even treid to lay an egg." Casius explained. "Sarah MIGHT be powerful enough to do it, if she had both of her eyes. But, well..." Casius didn't need to finish that.

(LOFL RED!!! XDD!! And you would totally do that Mercy XP!!)

After they left the shoe shop, they walked in the alleyways to get around town. Quinn was starting to feel worn out from the all the events of the previous day, her body literally drained. "Guh.. I need something to.. Help me" her eyes were growing heavy. "Wake up so I can.. Fight." and she slumped down against the nearest building to rest for a moment. Poison Ivy rolled her eyes when Quinn wasn't looking. "Ok yeah see? This is why you needed to rest!" she put a hand on her hip and looked around. Her eyes came to a Starbucks. "How about some coffee? Coffee beans consist mostly of endosperm that contains 2.5 % caffeine, which is one of the main reasons the plants are cultivated..." she stated.

She had stolen only a meager $600s from the shoe store and that wasn't enough! She knelt down and shook Quinn awake. A girl needs more then $600 to get around, and besides. There was nothing wrong with giving Quinn coffee. As far as she knew.. They headed for the store.