Gotham's notorious duo, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, found themselves on a rare excursion to New York City. They needed a break from the "Bats" and the shadows of their home city. It was supposed to be a "girls' day out", but with these two, it was unlikely that the day would be filled with shopping and brunch.
Ivy, ever the earth mother, wore a stylish green dress made from sustainable hemp fibers, adorned with delicate, climbing ivy patterns. A wide-brimmed hat shielded her face from the sun, its brim decorated with carefully arranged, vibrant flowers. Her signature red hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of crimson petals. Harley, as always, was a burst of chaotic color. She sported a red-and-black checkerboard crop top, paired with ripped denim shorts and mismatched roller skates. Her blonde pigtails were dyed pink and blue, and her face was painted with her signature clown makeup, a playful smirk permanently plastered on her lips.
Their day of "relaxation" had quickly devolved into a string of mischievous acts, starting with a playful prank on a Wall Street executive involving a swarm of genetically modified butterflies, and escalating to the "liberation" of funds from a few banks. Each escapade was executed with Harley's manic energy and Ivy's calculated precision, a combination that proved surprisingly effective.
"Woo-hoo!" Harley cheered, twirling a stack of bills in her hand. "That was a blast! I love how the alarms go 'WEE-OOO, WEE-OOO!' It's like they're cheering us on!"
Ivy rolled her eyes, though a small smile played on her lips. They were currently perched on a fire escape, overlooking a busy New York street, a duffel bag filled with their ill-gotten gains at their feet.
"Yeah," Ivy said, adjusting her hat. "A substantial amount of cash, to say the least."
"A butt load!" Harley corrected. "A butt load of cash! Now, what should we do now, Red?"
Harley looks around, searching for something fun to do.
Ivy sighed, taking on the role of the responsible adult, as she often did. "Perhaps we should consider returning to Gotham. Our… activities… are bound to attract attention sooner or later."
Harley dismisses the idea.
"Awww, but the day just started! And there are so many things to do here! So many people to prank!"
Before Ivy could offer a counterargument, Harley's eyes lit up, zeroing in on something across the street.
"Ooh! Look, Red!" she exclaimed, pointing excitedly. "A pet shop!"
Ivy followed Harley's gaze and saw a quaint storefront with a sign that read "Pokémon Home."
"A pet shop?" Ivy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah! Let's get a pet!" Harley says, jumping up and down. "I've always wanted a little… you know… something fluffy! Or scaly! Or maybe with, like, ten eyeballs!"
Ivy shook her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Harley, you know I'm not particularly fond of keeping animals. I have my plants, and they require all the attention I can give."
"Awww, come on, Red!" Harley whined, grabbing Ivy's arm. "It'll be fun! We can get matching pets! Bestie pets!"
Ivy tries to resist, but her bestie is too strong.
"I'm good, Harley. You know that I am not an animal person."
"But bestie! Please!" Harley continues to whine. "I'll do anything! Just say yes! I've been good!"
Harley gives Ivy the puppy dog eyes, and Ivy's resolve crumbles.
"Harley, you robbed a bank! That's not good!"
"Details, details! Now, are you coming or not?"
Harley persists and persists.
"Oh, alright! I'll come! But I'm not promising anything!"
Harley cheers and drags Ivy down the fire escape, across the street, and towards Pokémon Home, her roller skates clicking rhythmically on the pavement.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Harley exclaimed, practically bouncing with anticipation. "I can already imagine it! A cute little sidekick to help us with our… projects!"
"Harley, I swear," Ivy said, a sigh escaping her lips. "If this ends with us adopting a rabid squirrel, I'm turning you into fertilizer."
Harley laughs and continues to drag Ivy along.
They reached the entrance of Pokémon Home, Harley confidently pushed open the door, her trusty baseball bat resting casually on her shoulder. Ivy followed close behind, adjusting her hat and scanning the surroundings with a cautious gaze.
As they stepped inside, they were immediately greeted by a bright and cheerful lobby. The walls were painted in soothing pastel colors, adorned with whimsical artwork depicting creatures unlike anything they'd ever seen before. Soft, ambient music played in the background, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
"Awww, this place is adorable!" Harley cooed, her eyes wide with delight. "Look at all the colors!"
Ivy, despite her initial reluctance, couldn't help but be intrigued by the unusual decor. The place was certainly… unique.
Their attention was soon drawn to the front desk, where a small, yellow creature was lounging comfortably. It had pointy ears, a lightning bolt-shaped tail, and rosy cheeks that seemed to glow with an inner light.
Orion was in his private room, putting the finishing touches on his guidebook, blissfully unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold in his store. He had instructed Pikachu to watch the front desk, confident in the Pokémon's ability to handle any customers.
"Awww, look at the little mouse!" Harley squealed, clapping her hands together. "It's so cute!"
"It's quite… striking."
Pikachu, sensing their presence, perked up its ears and hopped off the desk, trotting towards them with a cheerful expression. It was used to customers commenting on its appearance.
"Pika-pi!" Pikachu greeted them, tilting its head inquisitively.
Harley and Ivy exchanged excited glances, their eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Did you hear that, Red?" Harley said, nudging Ivy with her elbow. "It's talking to us! I think I'm in love!"
"It certainly seems… friendly," Ivy replied, a small smile gracing her lips.
Harley and Ivy trade curious glances, their eyes narrowed in thought.
"Say, Red, what is this thing anyway?" Harley wondered aloud, circling the small creature cautiously. "It looks like a mouse, but, like, a super-sized, electric mouse."
"Yeah," Ivy mused, her gaze analyzing Pikachu from head to toe. "The fur is an unusual shade of yellow, and the ears are… rather prominent."
Harley leans in for a closer look at the Pikachu.
"And that tail! Is that, like, a lightning bolt? What kind of mouse has a lightning bolt for a tail?"
"A shockingly cute one!" she exclaims.
Harley steps forward and puts her hands on her hips.
"Alright, little guy, that's enough with the chit-chat! We know why we're here. Now, show us your pets!" Harley demands.
Ivy glances around the lobby, noticing the complete absence of other people. "It's rather quiet in here, isn't it?" she remarked. "Especially for a business that's supposedly open."
"Yeah, weird, right? But hey, more pets for us!" Harley responds, grabbing her baseball bat.
Pikachu's ears twitched, its cheerful demeanor instantly replaced with suspicion. It sensed something was off about these customers. Their intentions were far from innocent.
"Pika?" Pikachu asks, its voice laced with caution.
Harley ignores the Pikachu and continues to grab her baseball bat from her shoulder.
"What's the matter, little mouse? You scared?" Harley asks, taunting Pikachu. "Don't worry, we'll be gentle… mostly."
Pikachu narrows its eyes, its cheeks sparking with electricity. It knew these customers were trouble. They weren't here to adopt a Pokémon. They were here to cause harm.
"Red, did its cheeks just spark electricity?" Harley asked, oblivious. "Like, for real electricity?"
Without hesitation, Pikachu drops into a battle stance, its tiny body radiating an aura of determination. It wasn't going to let these villains get away with anything.
"Pika-CHUUUU!" Pikachu declares, ready to battle.
Harley sees Pikachu's battle stance, but does not care.
"Oh, so the little mouse wants to fight?" Harley taunts. "How cute! I bet I can take you down with one hand tied behind my back!"
Ivy, however, was a little more cautious. She recognized the intensity in Pikachu's eyes, the raw power that seemed to crackle in the air around it.
"Harley, perhaps we should reconsider," Ivy warns. "That creature is not normal."
"Oh come on, Red!" Harley laughs, waving her hand dismissively. "It's just a yellow mouse! What's the worst that could happen?"
With a mischievous grin, Harley raises her baseball bat, ready to take on the tiny, electric Pokémon.
"Alright, mousey," Harley says, twirling her bat. "Let's see what you've got!"
Before Harley could even blink, Pikachu lunged forward with incredible speed, leaping high into the air.
WHOOSH
Before Harley could react, Pikachu smacked Harley directly on the head.
BONK
"Ouch!" Harley yelped, stumbling backward, her vision momentarily blurred. "What the heck was that?!"
Ivy's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected the little Pokémon to be so fast, so powerful.
"Harley!" Ivy shouts.
Acting on instinct, Ivy extends her hands, summoning a flurry of vines from the nearby potted plants. She attempts to restrain Pikachu, but the electric Pokémon easily dodges the incoming tendrils, its movements swift and agile.
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu mocks, darting around the vines with ease.
Harley, recovering from the blow to the head, shakes her head and glares at Pikachu.
"Okay, yellow mouse," Harley says, cracking her knuckles. "You asked for it! I'm gonna turn you into a mouse pancake!"
Harley gripped her bat and advanced toward Pikachu, ready to take down the "yellow mouse." She still had no idea what this creature was, but she was determined to show it who was boss.
***
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