The beat-up convertible, a vibrant splash of pink and green against the dull greys of the highway, barrels towards Gotham. Harley hums along to a punk rock tune blasting from the speakers, one hand tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel while the other rests on the gear shift. Ivy, ever the picture of serenity, gazes out the window, her gaze softening as she takes in the passing greenery.
In the back seat, Houndour and Budew settle into an unlikely truce. Houndour, with his sleek black fur and bony skull adornments, rests his head on the plush seat, occasionally puffing small embers from his nostrils. Budew, nestled amongst a pile of soft blankets Ivy conjured from thin air, sways gently with the motion of the car, soaking up the last rays of sunlight.
"Ya know, Red," Harley begins, breaking the comfortable silence, "that Pokémon Home place was somethin' else, wasn't it? I mean, interdimensional travel, adorable monsters, and a lottery system that actually pays out? Sign me up for life!"
Ivy sighs contentedly, a small smile gracing her lips. "It was… refreshing. To see such unspoiled nature, to witness the bond between humans and those creatures. It reminded me that there's still beauty to be found, even in this polluted world."
Harley chuckles, bumping Ivy playfully with her elbow. "Aww, Red, you're gettin' all sentimental on me! But yeah, I gotta admit, those Pokémon are somethin' special. Houndour here is already the bestest boy, ain't ya, sweetie?" She glances back at Houndour, who responds with a soft growl, wagging his tail slightly.
"And Budew," Ivy adds, her voice softening as she turns to look at her own partner, "is a gentle soul. I can already feel a connection forming."
The punk rock tune ends, replaced by a commercial for a diamond store, which is enough to make Harley wince. "Ugh, diamonds. Overpriced rocks for suckers. Speaking of overpriced… Red, remind me again how much we dropped at Pokémon Home?"
Ivy sighs, the smile fading from her face. "Harley, we spent over a million dollars. Between Houndour, Budew, the Pokédexes, the Pokémon…"
Harley groans, dramatically slamming her hand on the steering wheel. "A million?! That's, like, a hundred tiaras! A thousand pairs of sparkly boots! We gotta replenish the funds, pronto!"
An idea sparks in her eyes, a mischievous glint that Ivy knows all too well. "I got it! We hit a bank! Quick, easy, and nobody gets hurt… much."
Ivy pinches the bridge of her nose, trying to maintain her composure. "Harley, we just got Pokémon. We should focus on training them, not… robbing banks."
"But Red," Harley whines, "think of all the cool stuff we could buy for Houndour and Budew! Fancy leashes, organic fertilizer, maybe even a custom-built obstacle course! Besides," she adds with a wink, "with our new partners, it'll be a piece of cake!"
Ivy hesitates, her desire to provide the best for Budew warring with her aversion to criminal activity. But the image of a lush, verdant garden, filled with rare and exotic plants, begins to form in her mind. Plants that require, well, a substantial amount of funding.
"Fine," she concedes, a hint of resignation in her voice.
Harley whoops with delight, pumping her fist in the air. "That's my Red! Always lookin' out for the little guy… or in this case, the little plant."
The Gotham National Bank looms before them, a monument to corporate greed and questionable investments. Harley parks the convertible in a nearby alley, the engine rumbling menacingly.
"Alright, team," she announces, clapping her hands together. "Operation: Pokémon Payout is a go! Ivy, you handle crowd control. Houndour, intimidate anyone who gets funny. Budew, you're with Red, providing… ambiance."
"Houndour, Houndour!" the Pokémon barks, his tail wagging, eager to intimidate.
"Dew... Budew," Budew chirps softly, a gentle glow emanating from its bud.
"Atta boy, Houndour! That's my girl, Budew!" Harley cheers, patting them. "Let's show these stuffed suits how we do things in Gotham!"
Ivy rolls her eyes but nods in agreement. She steps out of the car, Budew nestled securely in her arms, while Harley releases Houndour from his Poké Ball. The Dark Pokémon snarls, his fiery eyes scanning the street, sending a shiver down the spines of passersby.
Inside the bank, chaos reigns. Ivy, with a flick of her wrist, sends vines snaking through the lobby, entangling security guards and wrapping around tellers' stations. Budew, perched on Ivy's shoulder, releases a calming fragrance, lulling the customers into a state of docility.
Harley, wielding her trusty baseball bat, approaches the vault, Houndour padding menacingly at her heels. "Alright, folks," she announces, her voice echoing through the bank, "this is a stick-up! Nobody move, nobody gets hurt… unless you wanna tango with my furry friend here."
The bank manager, a sweaty, balding man with a look of sheer terror on his face, frantically punches in the code to the vault. The heavy steel door swings open, revealing stacks of cash.
"Houndour, light 'em up!" Harley commands.
Houndour unleashes a small, controlled Ember attack, setting off the bank's alarm system.
"Now, that's what I call a hot mess!" Harley cackles, stuffing bags of money into a large duffel bag. "Let's roll, team!"
As Harley and Ivy emerge from the bank, duffel bag in tow, they are met with an unwelcome sight. Batgirl, perched atop a nearby gargoyle, watches them with narrowed eyes. Her sleek, purple and yellow suit gleams in the dim Gotham light, a stark contrast to the city's perpetual gloom.
Batgirl, Gotham's bright spark of optimism, is a symbol of hope and justice in a city drowning in shadows. Armed with her wit, intellect, and an arsenal of high-tech gadgets, she stands as a protector of the innocent, a guardian against the darkness that threatens to consume her city.
"Hold it right there, ladies!" Batgirl calls out, her voice amplified by her cowl. She gracefully leaps from the gargoyle, landing nimbly in front of Harley and Ivy, blocking their path. "Looks like someone's been naughty. Time to return the borrowed money."
Harley sighs dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Aw, come on, Babs, can't a girl catch a break? We're just tryin' to make ends meet."
Ivy, ever the pragmatist, steps forward, her eyes narrowed. "We don't want any trouble, Batgirl. Just let us pass."
Batgirl raises an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to the two creatures flanking Harley and Ivy. "And what are those? Some new kind of genetically modified attack dogs? Did Poison Ivy finally decide to weaponize plants?"
Harley grins, proudly gesturing towards Houndour and Budew. "These ain't just any old pets, Babs! These are our partners! Houndour, say hi!"
Houndour snarls, puffing out a plume of smoke, while Budew sways gently, releasing another wave of calming fragrance.
Ivy, equally proud, steps forward, stroking Budew's delicate petals. "Meet Budew, my new companion. He's a bit shy, but he's got a lot of potential."
Batgirl stares at the Pokémon, her expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Partners? What are you talking about? Some kind of elaborate mind control scheme? I'm not buying it. Stand down, ladies, or I'll be forced to use… excessive force."
Harley smirks, exchanging a knowing glance with Ivy. "Alright, Babs, you asked for it! Houndour, Ember! Show her what you got!"
Ivy nods, her eyes hardening. "Budew, Absorb! Teach her some manners."
Batgirl, expecting a simple scuffle with two unpowered villains, is caught completely off guard as Houndour unleashes a stream of fiery embers and Budew releases a torrent of energy-draining spores.
Her eyes widen in shock as she witnesses the raw power of the Pokémon, the likes of which she has never seen before. The embers scorch the pavement, leaving trails of black soot, while the Absorb attack sends tendrils of energy reaching towards her, draining her strength.
Harley and Ivy, emboldened by their partners' strength, press their advantage.
"Houndour, Bite! Get her good!" Harley commands.
"Budew, Stun Spore! Slow her down!" Ivy adds.
Houndour lunges at Batgirl, sinking his sharp fangs into her armored arm, while Budew releases a cloud of paralyzing spores, clouding her vision and numbing her limbs.
Batgirl stumbles, struggling to maintain her balance. She tries to retaliate with a Batarang, but her movements are sluggish, her reflexes dulled by the Stun Spore.
Houndour, with a final snarl, knocks Batgirl off her feet, pinning her to the ground.
Harley claps her hands together, her eyes sparkling with glee. "Atta boy, Houndour! You showed her who's boss! And you too, Budew! What a performance!"
Ivy smiles, stroking Budew's petals affectionately. "Excellent work, Budew. You've exceeded my expectations."
She bends down, retrieves the duffel bag of cash, and slings it over her shoulder. "Well, Batgirl, it seems we've won this round. But don't worry, we'll be sure to spend this money on something… environmentally friendly."
Harley winks, blowing Batgirl a kiss. "See ya around, Babs! Don't forget to bring a fire extinguisher next time!"
With a final cackle, Harley and Ivy leap into the convertible, the engine roaring to life as they speed away, leaving Batgirl lying defeated on the cold Gotham pavement.
As the sounds of the convertible fade into the distance, Batgirl struggles to her feet, her body aching, her mind reeling. She stares at the scorch marks on the pavement, at the lingering scent of the Stun Spore, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"What were those things?" she mutters to herself, brushing off her suit. "They weren't mutated animals… they were something else entirely."
She remembers the words Harley and Ivy had used, the strange term they had applied to their partners.
"Pokémon," she whispers, the word hanging in the air. "I need to find out what those are."
Determined to uncover the truth behind these strange creatures, Batgirl activates her grappling hook, soaring into the Gotham skyline, ready to embark on a new investigation, a new mystery that threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of her city.
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.