Ivy's Jungle

Ivy's Jungle is the twenty fifth chapter in the Wombles Eight.

“Ivy how y’doing?” shouted Selina.  “Purrfect” replied Ivy.  “Hey! That’s my line!” replied Selina. Ivy emerged from a tangle of oversized plants.  “I think it’s all done.” she said.  “Finished?” said Harley riding into the new Sirens Club on a big shiny silver motorbike. “Nice bike, suits you” said Selina. “My turn” she said leaving the club, formerly New Wayne Manor and Batcave, to find herself a vehicle.

Ivy and Harley went to work on their bar whilst Selina was out.  Not for long though.  A great roar echoed in the garage.  The garage was previously the Batcave.  The club was the manor house.  Ivy swung through her hothouse into the garage.  Harley went through the revolving bookcase and leapt onto a big trampoline.  She performed a triple twist with double tuck landing perfectly next to Ivy.  “Very nice” said Ivy.  “Now that is hot!” said Harley.  “It’s purrfect” said Selina who was astride a Ducati Ponigale VR4 in blood red with black wheels.

“So we’re ready?  Do you need wheels Ivy?” asked Selina. “Wheels?  I don’t need wheels!  I have my little Sweetpea.” Ivy replied.  Selina and Harley roared out into the night wondering what Ivy would do.  They soon found out.  The ground shook and a huge monster loomed out of the garage.  It came closer and now they saw it was a plant. A monstrous thing with an 8 foot high stalk, walking on its roots.  A pod opened up revealing a smiling Ivy.  “Like my little Sweetpea?” she asked.  Her friends answered with deep, throaty revs from their superbikes.

The Sirens headed off to Katy’s mansion.  As they approached something was sitting in the shadows.  Something big.  Ivy swung down to join Harley and Selina who had already dismounted.  A blinding light dazzled them blurring their vision.  When the blurring stopped and clarity returned to the three Sirens there he was.

“Bat pudding!  How nice to see you!” said Harley.  “Bruce darling!” said Selina.  “I liked pudding better” added ivy “Pudding for my little Sweetpea!”  The huge plant launched a tendril at Batman with a snapping pod viciously trying to entrap him.

Batman released knives from his gloves and hacked at the pod but it was fast and kept dodging the blades. More pods came at him.  He was fighting for his life!  It was taking all his concentration to avoid being snapped up by the giant plant.  Just as the plant doubled the assault, which greatly amused Harley and Selina, Ivy sidled up next to Batman.

“You know I really do prefer Bruce” said Catwoman.  “You know?” replied Batman.  “Know what Batman?” replied Selina sarcastically.  A growling sounded menacingly behind Batman now.  He glanced back whilst fighting Sweetpea.  There was a large hyena baring its teeth, crouching low ready to pounce.  “That is Bruce!  Harley’s cute little pet.  He really is sweet!  You should get to know him.” Selina sneered.

Batman was really stretched when Ivy said in a voice like honey.  “You simply must try my latest fragrance!  It’s called Goodnight Sweetheart.”  She squirted Batman with a small green atomiser then everything went green.

Ivy helped Catwoman up into Katy’s mansion before she and Harley took Batman back to the Sirens Club. Selina climbed through an open window. Her cases of gear were there but so was Dora.  She moved silently through the room and sprayed a little Goodnight Sweetheart before Dora could react.  With Dora soundly sleeping her gun was about to fall noisily to the floor.  Selina just caught it putting into the spare holster on her belt.  The main holster held her own custom gold pistol.

Selina worked carefully moving her two cases down through the mansion to the front door.  All the guards were asleep now and there was no sign of Katy herself.  Working the lock silently she opened it enough and took out the cases.  The Batmobile was there from the earlier kidnap of Batman so she loaded the cases into that.  Her bike was attached to a special tow attachment at the back of the car.

Everything was ready. The ignition was hotwired into action. The engine roared loudly into life. Too loudly!  Katy appeared at the door in black nightdress with a witch’s hat. “So you are a traitor!  I killed Tara when she told me about you.  And here you are!  Caught stealing!  Do you know what I do to thieves?  You are about to find out!”.

Bruce woke up feeling wobbly.  Everything was still green.  All he could see was a thick jungle of plants.  Some were wound around his arms and legs so he couldn’t move.  Harley Quinn’s voice rang out through the jungle. “Welcome to Ivy’s jungle Batman!”