Suggested by AnimeLover1808
Barbara brushed a hand in her green hair as she drove in her car as fast as she could, checking in the overhead mirror at moments to make sure her makeup was on exactly right. God, it was so hard to see if she had gotten ready appropriately. She thought she had but she could never be too sure. All she knew was that The Joker wanted her to appear at the costume shop right on time, dressed and ready to go.
Who knew how many days she had been struggling like this? Her life was lost. There was nothing that felt familiar anymore. How could she ever go back to the library? Barbara had lost track of time, not even knowing her shift anymore. She was too embarrassed to call in, afraid that her Duela personality could come out at any time and destroy her reputation or, even worse, hurt someone she cared about. She didn’t want anyone to have to suffer with the changes she had gone through. It would have probably been best for Barbara to disappear for a while, get things worked out, then come back and apologize. She could work things out with the library, and as Batgirl, she had done it before. Crimefighting had a way of taken her away from her profession from time to time.
This time, however, was fairly different. With the loss of memory, the headaches, and the strange shifting of personalities, Barbara couldn’t safely ascertain how much time she would have to make up. She felt like she had been going through this strange limbo between alter egos for a week or less, but what if it were two weeks? Worse enough, what if she had been going through this even longer than that? Barbara didn’t want to think about it, or face the truth, but she wondered if she could ever return to her life. Maybe she had lost it forever. Her mind was going, bordering on insanity. If the Joker was trying to make her more like him, make her lose a sense of order and balance, he was being pretty successful so far. He hadn’t won her yet, but at any moment, Barbara felt as if she could explode like a walking time bomb.
Barbara’s father popped into her mind. Commissioner Gordon. He had probably been worried sick about her. She was used to talking to him every day, calling him and letting him know that she wasn’t dead. She was surprised that he hadn’t contacted her in a while, or at least it seemed that way according to the cell phone calls she had missed. In her missed calls, she saw numbers from old friends, probably just wanting to check up on her. Still, there were no calls from her father, her workplace, or anyone she deemed most important to her welfare and existence. Maybe the Commissioner had always reasoned Barbara to be a tough woman, a stand up daughter that didn’t need to be checked on.
“God, dad, aren’t you worried sick about me?” Barbara realized how much she missed her father. How long had it been since she saw his silly mustache that she always told him to shave because it would make him look younger? When did she last see his thick framed glasses with equally thick lens, his old fashioned haircut combed to the side, his drab trenchcoat, his pale white skin... ruby red lips... green hair.
“Daddy?”
Barbara shook her head. Oh no, she thought, what was happening? One minute she was thinking about her father, Commissioner Gordon, an important official of the Gotham Police Department. The next minute she was thinking of the sadistic, psychopathic, chaotic criminal that held the city on edge without mercyThe Joker.
Daddy.
“Stop,” Barbara said aloud and with embarrassment, trying to take control of her wandering brain. “Stop. Just pay attention to the damn road.”
Barbara finally arrived at her destination. After she pulled into a parking lot and took the key out of the ignition, Barbara took a deep breath and looked at the costume shop across the lot. What was she doing here? She was cognizant, she could think and control her actions, yet she was playing so feebly into the Joker’s hands. He wanted her to come here and work, to do whatever errands he had commanded Harley to give her. Barbara could bet that the clown was just going to drag this all out as long as he could, continuing to make a joke out of her. It was like she was some science experiment, a fun little toy to play with and see how far Joker could go before finally claiming her altogether. Joker had done some horrific things and he had dabbled in mind control before. Still, Barbara had never tagged him as an expert in hypnosis. That subject was always best in the hands of The Mad Hatter, Gotham’s prime mind controller. Joker had proven himself well, however. The joke was truly on Barbara.
“I got to check on daddy.” Barbara said with a sigh as she looked at her phone. There it was: the number ot the commissioner’s office. Barbara placed her call and waited patiently as the phone rang.
Someone finally picked up and answered in an irish accent. “Hello, Gotham Police Department.”
“Oh, Chief O’Hara,” Barbara said with a smile, relieved to hear a familiar voice. “I’m trying to reach daddy. Is he in now?”
“Hey there, lass! Didn’t your dad tell you about the trip?”
Barbara’s lips trembled. “Tttrip?”
“Yes, he’s on leave. Went out of town four days ago. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you. He took it rather abruptly.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, of course. Well, I guess I’ll wait for him to call me. Only number I have for dad is the office and the house. I keep telling him to get a cell.”
“Y’know how the commissioner is with gadgets! I wish he’d learn a thing from Batman.” Barbara giggled. “Yes, that would be nice, wouldn’t it? Oh well... thanks again, chief. Talk to you soon.”
“No problem, lass. G’bye.”
Barbara closed her phone as she sighed, feeling a bit of rage. Why hadn’t her father told her that he was going out of town? She didn’t see his phone number once in the missed calls documented throughout the week. Was he trying to get some alone time? He did disappear at pointspolice
work could be stressful. Even so, Commissioner Gordon had always alerted his daughter when he left. This was the first time Barbara felt like she was out of the loop with her father’s affairs and she didn’t feel happy about it.
“I guess you’ll get back to me when you want to, dad.” Barbara said, holding back her frustrations. She nearly got out of the car before considering her job again. Perhaps it wasn’t so good to ignore it, to act like she could just return and make things right. I should at least call, she thought.
Barbara dialed the public library. When the phone was answered, she recognized the voice saying hello instantly. It was another librarianValerie was her name.
“Val,” Barbara answered.
There were a moment of silence before Valerie responded. “Oh. Why... Barbara. How good of you to call!”
“Look Valerie... I’m sorry if I’ve missed some days, it’s just that I’ve” “Oh no, we completely understand! You had to take care of some things with your daddy.”
Barbara raised her left brow with confusion. “Wait, what?”
“Commissioner Gordon, right? You called a few days ago, saying you’d be out and helping your daddy run a few errands. How is he?”
Barbara felt shock run through her body. None of her memories brought back any phone calls she made telling the library that she would be spending time with her father. “Yes, he’s fine... we’re still working through some stuff, but he’s fine. It’s just taking longer than I thought.” “Barbara, you always work so hard for the library here. Don’t worry, you have a lot of leave time. Family is important. Take all the time that you need.”
“Thanks.”
“By the way, how did the comedy show go?”
“... comedy show?”
“That you said you were helping your father with? You brought it up on the voice mail.”
“Ggood.
Yeah, it was... um... interesting.”
“Yeah. He seems like such a somber man on TV. I didn’t expect him to be a commedian as well!”
“He can be a card. Listen, Val, thank you for everything. Tell everyone else I send my thanks.”
“Sure, Barbara, you don’t have to thank us. Be safe.”
“Bye.”
Joker. Barbara sneered as she closed her phone for a final time and threw it on the back seat. Joker had done all of this! He made her call her work and tell them some made up excuse. She referred to the Joker as her daddy on the phone. He was doing his worst in making her over as his daughter, Duela Dent, and Barbara had been playing into his hands like putty. Just how much control did she have left? And her father... Barbara didn’t have enough time to think about where he could have ended up or where he went. She knew that he liked the woods and nature. He had probably gotten a few guns and disappeared somewhere, hunting and trying to forget the stress of Gotham City. Barbara didn’t know how he did it without going off the deep end.
I’m just wasting time, Barbara thought. She knew she didn’t want to go back into that costume shop, but she had to, and the urge was pulling her. She had to obey the Joker, to do as he said. There was no other choice.
Finally, Barbara got out of the car, Barbara checked her belt and made sure it was on tight. She tugged on her tight purple shorts a bit as she walked towards the shop. The past few days had been a crazy ride, struggling with her split personalities. Barbara Gordon was dying as Duela Dent was gaining more ground. Barbara had become far more zany, even wittier in a darker, more mischievous way. Sure, she had traded a crime fighting pun or joke with Batman a number of times, quite often, but things were way different under Joker’s wing. She found the darkest things funny, the most sinister things amusing. It was a byproduct of the mind control and she would be lying if she didn't admit to herself that she loved it. That was all a fact. Barbara, however, was still holding on. Her true personality wasn’t dead just yet, and she knew The Joker was evil. Such knowledge had created a strong rift in her newly dual nature, causing Barbara to hate and despise the planted Duela personality that was trying to rip her out of the equation. Everything was far too much for her to handle, but she had to be strong, for her own sake.
Barbara opened the door of the costume shop and looked inside.
“Hello?” She shouted out loud after closing the door behind her. “Joker? Harley? I’m here, just like you wanted.”
Barbara walked further into the costume shop. The size of the place was unbelievable. She really felt like it was a warehouse more than a mere costume shop. The aisles were filled with an assortment of costumeshistorical pieces, celebrity masks, and even fake magical
cloaks and robes among other things. Barbara had to cringe as she walked through the clowning section, thinking she may have found Harley there, waiting to do more humiliating things to her wardrobe. She found no one.
Groaning, Barbara called out again. “Joker! Harley! I came like you wanted. I don’t want any games now. If we’re going to do what you want, just do it!”
Walking out of the aisles and towards the cashier’s desk, Barbara noticed a note on the counter. She picked up the letter as soon as she approached the desk, realizing it was a very small paper leaflet. There was writing scrawled on its surface and Barbara immediately recognized the writing as Joker’s, though she couldn’t tell if the kiss print accompanying it was his or Harley’s.
Come on out to the show, Babs, the letter said. Our wild and crazy abandoned circus. The map is in the register. Stage left, xoxo Joker.
The creep, Barbara thought venomously.
She hated him. Despised him. She had to go though. She was under his control, under his power, and she couldn’t defy him, even in the conscious state Joker gave Barbara, keeping her mind enslaved in some sickening joke. She would have to leave the costume shop immediately and go meet her new master and mistress, Joker and Harley. No fiber in her body was strong enough to allow her to resist the Joker’s hypnotic command.
Barbara looked at the cash register and opened it. The map was there, just as the note had instructed it would be. Barbara tried to look over the trails and see if she could figure it out. It didn’t take too long she knew where it was, on the outskirts of Gotham and not too far either. It would probably take less than a 20 minute drive if she gunned it on the freeway. Folding up the map, Barbara shook her head as she headed towards the door. Why was nothing with the Joker ever easy?
When Barbara arrived to the outside of the big top, she gave it a look up and down. She remembered it alrightthose tall cylinder cones stretching towards a singular point in the sky.
There were some popcorn stands outside, cotton candy stands, and even empty animal cages. The outside lot and field was littered with circus paraphernalia. Yes, of course, she was definitely in the right place. What other place would be most perfect for The Joker? Barbara walked up to the big top cautiously. She couldn’t be too sure of what The Joker’s plans were for her here. She had to be careful. The Joker was a sadistic fellow. What if he had spent all this time to brainwash her, making her into his new Duela Dent, just to kill her? Wouldn’t the irony fit his twisted brain, his chaotic need to destroy and control? It would be just perfect, the ultimate joke for the clown. Then again, there was that other possibility, the actual need he may have felt to have a real addition to his clown family. Maybe he really did value Duela Dent as his daughter, as his comrade in crime, just the way he felt Harley did by less or more. Barbara tried not to think about it, knowing how complicated it was to understand the Joker’s motives’ but she couldn’t stop. Psychologically, he was the most elusive and hard to pinpoint villains she, Batman or Robin ever had to deal with. Being mentally brainwashed by such a mysterious buffoon was even more scary of a thought to deal with.
As she finally entered the tent, Barbara felt her bones chill as she heard mechanical laughter rushing past her from overhead speakers. She found herself at the entrance of a hall of mirrors. Everywhere around her were mirrors of different sizes and proportions. She saw huge and small representation of herself. On the floor, beside her feet, Barbara immediately saw another note that was most likely left by the clown prince. She picked it up carefully, covering her nose just in case some weird gas would shoot out of the floorboards. Relieved that nothing caught her by surprise, Barbara lifted the note up from the floor and stood up, reading it. The note was very simple:
Catch us if you can :p Joker xxxx
The fiend! Barbara thought with annoyance.
Her horrible dream refused to end. Yet another goosechase with the Joker, Barbara thought as she moved into the hall of mirrors and started to walk in its winding maze. She hated to be treated like some toy, some thing for amusement being forced into playtime with a psychotic maniac. She thought about how much damage she would do to the Joker once she was able to break out of his mind control. She could see her fists punching out his teeth, her elbows landing against the top of her head, knocking him out. She could do it. She had to be patience, stall him out as she played his game. He was the criminal. She had taken him down before. She would do it again.
As Barbara looked at the mirrors moving by her with each step, she couldn’t see herself anymore. All she saw was Duelaher
green hair, her clownish face, her silly clothes. Nothing belonged to Barbara at all. The entire scene was a comic tragedy, teasing her, making her feel completely at east. She tried to block it out as she moved down the trails, but the glass reflected her hated doppelganger perfectly, making her feel more lost than she ever felt in her life.
You know you could just give it up, don’t you?
The voice came from her thoughts. It must have. Still, she knew the voice. It was Duela. Duela was talking to her from the mirrors, from the glass surfaces.
You could just go down the mirror path. Embrace your true self. Leave boring old Barbara behind. Have fun. You know you want to. HAHAHAHA.
No, Barbara thought angrily. No, I don’t want to, and I never will. I will never give into you, never.
Come on, it’s so much fun!
The mirrors continued to wind in half circles and loops, over and over again, taking her all over the place. If she reached a dead end, she turned back around and went to another possible route, never giving up.
Give up. Do it.
“Shut up!” Barbara shouted before bumping into someone. Barbara gasped, realizing she had walked into a woman. Was it Harley? No. It was a woman wearing a beret, her color scheme existing in only black and white, her shirt striped. Barbara realized she had the face of a mime.
“Oh my”
Barbara felt memories flood back in her mind. “Vicki? Vicki Vale.”
It was her, alright. Vicki Vale. Barbara could remember the night that she helped Joker
and Harley transform Vick Vale into a mime. She had been brainwashed the same way Barbara had been brainwashed, and with Barbara’s help. A strong sense of shame and guilt flooded through the former Batgirl’s senses as she saw the helpless damsel.
Vicki said nothing, not that she could speak even if she wanted to. She only moved her hands up and down in space, pressed against nothing, miming actions and seemingly aloof from the world.
“Vicki?” Barbara grabbed the mime girl’s shoulders. “Vicki, my god, what are you doing? Why are you acting like this?”
Vicki’s aloof behavior continued. She moved around aimlessly until a minute passed. Finally, she started to wave at Barbara, showing some connection to the world around her. She pulled on an imaginary rope, hoping Barbara would play along, acting like Vicki was pulling her closer.
Barbara couldn’t entertain the hypnotised mime. “Vicki! Snap to your senses. Don’t you see what the Joker is trying to do to us?” Vicki shrugged.
Sighing, Barbara looked around. What could she do. The mime could really hold her back. Should she just leave her there, move on and look for Joker and Harley? You’re just as guilty, you know? Just like daddy.
“Shut up!” Barbara screamed at one of the mirrors.
You did this to her. You made her a clown freak like you.
“That’s not true! None of it!” Barbara slammed her fist into another nearby mirror, making it crack. The mirror slowly shattered before broken glass fell on the floorboards. It couldn’t be true. Joker and Harley brainwashed Barbara, hypnotised her so that she could hypnotise others. Barbara didn’t want to do those things to Vicki.
There’s no need to be ashamed, another reflection said. Besides, you’re not Barbara anymore. You’re Duela. And Duela loves brainwashing more girls for The Joker. You love it.
“I’’m not Duela... I don’t enjoy brainwashing anyone.”
You don’t need to deny it. It’s fun for you. You really love to do it, and you love to make The Joker happy by bringing him more lovely clown faced women to corrupt and use for his jokes. Admit it. The truth will set you free.
Barbara suddenly snapped out of a brief trance. She realized she had been smiling at her reflection for two or more minutes. She turned to look at Vicki. The woman was still dancing around like an idiot buffoon, completely crazed. What a buffoon. At least she looked carefree and happy.
I give up, Barbara thought. She would have to come back to Vicki Vale later. She know that once she was able to save herself, she would be able to save the mime. Joker and Harley were still waiting for her somewhere. Barbara moved on, moving down more hallways of glass. A few dead ends came up but she would merely turn around again and find another route. She only had to cross Vicki’s path again once. Before long, she knew she was moving deeper through the maze, no mirror possessing the same kind of reflection. She was in the pit of Joker’s fun house now, and there was no turning back. The maze would have to be completed in its entirety.
Turning down another corner, Barbara encountered a strange box. It had such an interesting, clownish design on it, which wasn’t surprising. What else could she expect in the Joker’s lair?
At first, Barbara thought that the box could be a trap. If anything, it could be a bomb, some explosive that the Joker wanted Barbara to foolishly try to open. Maybe it had knockout gas, smilex, or some other sort of joke vapor that her enemy would want to fill it up with. Thoughts of the box being a weapon didn’t take too long to go away as Barbara felt like she was staring at something very familiar. Yes she had seen this box before. It wasn’t new to her in the slightest. There was a big crank on the side of it that she knew, the design resonating with her memory somehow. Yes, there was something inside of that box. Not a weapon, but something important, something that would jog her memory better.
Barbara approached the box carefully. She put her hands on the crank and slowly started to tug on it. A familiar tune sounded from it. It was the song often acquainted with Jack in the Boxes Pop Goes The Weasel. Barbara remembered the tune well from her old childhood. Yes, it was what she expected the box to be, a Jack in the Box item that fit Joker’s motif well. This one, however, was special. Barbara knew it, and her strong certainty scared her.
The tune ended as the box’s lid literally popped open. Another familiar figure sprung out, attached to a boinging coil that sounded loudly. The box didn’t have a regular jack in itthis was a living person. Barbara recognized the box’s captive instantly. Selina Kyle was in the springs of her own Jack in the Box, bouncing lightly and dressed as a jester, smiling idiotically in her bouncing prison.
Jill in the box, Barbara remembered. Joker called it a freaking Jill in the Box. Sick bastard.
Barbara walked around the box, feeling both pity and disgust as she looked up at Selena’s face. How terrible. It was sad to see a woman that had always been so strong trapped in such a demented and degrading position. The Joker had her where he wanted hera cat literally cornered, caught in his springing trap like a rodent. If only she could break free. Not fooled by the happy look on Selina’s face, Barbara plotted quickly, wishing to get the catwoman out of her slavery. She rushed up to the box and pried around it, studied it outside and knocked on its surface. It was a tough steel, painted bright and happily, bolts running alongside its corners and sides. Barbara knew she wasn’t strong enough to break it without any of her bat gadgets. She placed her hands on the coils that wrapped around Selina and tugged on them. They are clamped tight against the woman, holding Catwoman fast, refusing to yeild in the slightest. Barbara continued to tug on the coils in vain, knowing her efforts were a waste of time, but she couldn’t deaden the frustration boiling inside of her.
“Break, damn it, break!” Barbara shouted as she pulled, refusing to let go. A great empathy was felt for her feline nemesis, once one of her greatest rivals. Selina Kyle the Catwoman had always been such a cold and removed woman, only focused on heists, stealing jewels and seducing weak minded men. Now, like the very submissive males she had always outwitted, Selina was a mere slave to the whims of another, bobbing up and down in a metal trap.
“Don’t worry, Selina,” Barbara said as she could feel herself beginning to sweat from her difficult task, “I’ll get you out somehow.”
Suddenly, Selina started to laugh. The laugh was boisterous, wild, scary. Barbara felt her skin shiver as she looked at Selina’s face. The eyes showed so much fear, so much pain and uncertainty, but those lips betrayed the gaze of Selina’s pupils. Her lips were filled with joy, overflowing with mirth, laughing at the failed attempts of Barbara trying to save herjust like Joker had trained the poor Catwoman to laugh.
“Stop, Selina!” Barbara shouted as she looked at the helpless jester. “You have to be strong. You’re not some stupid fool in a box. You’re Catwoman. Catwoman! Don’t you remember? Snap out of it!”
Barbara tried in vain to get Catwoman’s attention. It was all a waste of time. Catwoman continued to laugh in her well adorned motley, her cap and bells jingling and bouncing on her head. The sadness that had filled her eyes suddenly seemed to betray themselves as madness shined through them. How long had Catwoman been trapped like this? It was amazing that she hadn’t fully lost her mind yet. Even so, Barbara knew that even someone as strong as Selina Kyle wouldn’t be able to maintain her sanity for long in such an awful position.
“I’m happy like this!” Selina suddenly said as her laughter started to calm down.
“Wha?”
Barbara stepped back in shock, looking at the captured jester with terrified eyes.
“I”m happy like this!” Selina exclaimed again. “I love being the Joker’s Jill in the Box. It’s the perfect life for me!” The woman’s laughter picked up again, her eyes wide, her sides aching. “Joker,” Barbara growled with anger, loudly, “I swear, when I find you”
Laughter filled the funhouse. It wasn’t Selina’s this time. It was undoubtedly the Joker’s. Coming from all directions, Barbara assumed that the laughter was coming from speakers all over the maze, bouncing off of the mirrors, helping to conceal the clown prince like the enigma he was, making it difficult to track him down. The entire place was filled with illusions. Projected auditory distortions filling the air like old theatre magic tricks, surrounding glass broadcasting imaginary visual lies. All was a joke to Joker. The entire world was a comedy, nothing to be taken seriously, nothing to be seen as real. That’s what Vicki Vale was to him, Selina, Barbara, everyone. Even Harley Quinn, the stupid dunce that would probably break her back just to make her demonically deranged man happy. Jokes. Gags. Laughs.
“You should just give up,” Selina said as her laughter slowed down once again. “This place is so free of distractions and boring stuff. I’m free of worry, free of anxiety. The world is a stage, and we’re on it! I was such a slave in the real world, such a cog in a machine... and now I’m able to live my true destiny! Thanks to you and Mr. J of course.” As expected, Selina couldn’t hold her composure too long, letting her laughter take over once again.
“No...” Barbara shook her head, tears starting to stream down her face. “This... I didn’t want to do this... the Joker brainwashed me”
“And you brainwashed us! You brainwashed us!” Selina’s howling, cackling chuckles bounced off the the glass walls.
You know she’s right, don’t you? Duela’s image questioned Barbara from all of the surrounding mirrors, looking at her intensely without offering any peace. You remember, don’t you? How you brainwashed Selena... Vicki...
“Remember the KO gas? Remember how you helped Vicki get dressed up? I bet you looked like you were having the time of your life! Of course you did! You helped her become her true mime self.”
“It’s not that simple, Selina. It wasn’t”
“You did this to us!”
“It was the Joker! Don’t you see he did this to all of us?”
“No! You worked together, as a team. You liberated us. You were perfect!”
Duela...
Barbara had to shake her head. She had to ignore the images of Duela shining from the mirrors, taunting her, teasing her, lying to her. No. She couldn’t lose. She couldn’t let The Joker warp her mind permanently. The other captives had to be saved.
Just wait until I get my hands on you, Joker, Barbara thought as she left the Catwoman behind, walking deeper into the hall of mirrors. It hurt Barbara that she couldn’t stay with her, couldn’t try to help her. She felt as if she was failing Vicki and Selena. Their strange clownish state could only be her fault. She remembered brainwashing them, helping the Joker and Harley Quinn, entering a world of crime disguised in motley and merry antics. What was becoming of her? What would become of all of them?
The image of Duela kept looking at Barbara as she moved down the hall. She started to run, her gait becoming faster and wider. She just wanted to find Joker, wanted to get him back for what he did, save his victims. If only she could make things right. She didn’t want to think of the possibility of being lost in those winding mirror tunnels forever, stuck in Joker’s circus as another one of his brainwashed victims, losing her mind forever.
Barbara stopped at an intersection. She had to take a breather. The anxiety was making her panic. As she tried to center herself, gain some clarity and think straight, Barbara rested her back against one of the mirrors. It was working she could feel her jitters calming down, her
adrenaline rush falling from its peak. Even as her body felt more relaxed and less tense, she couldn’t shake away the guilt that kept flying in her thoughts. Vicki and Selina’s faces wouldn’t leave her mind. She knew she was responsible for their states. If only she hadn’t be captured by Joker and Harley in the first place. If she hadn’t been brainwashed to begin with, hadn’t allowed them to be put into a trance, then she wouldn’t have been an accomplish to their crimes. She would have been able to stop them, to make them give up their wicked shenanigans and send them back to Arkham. At this point, Barbara had to be honest. Things were looking hopeless. She didn’t know if she could take on the Joker at this point. He had allowed his control to have such a tight grip on her psyche. Even in the hall of mirrors, she felt like Joker was the puppeteer, only allowing Barbara to do enough to feel a small sense of mental control. There was no freedom on her part. She couldn’t resist the clown prince. She was his slave, his hypnotized toy, forever.
“I don’t want to be,” Barbara protested under her breath. “I can’t be.” Barbara could remember dressing Vicki up, laughing as she made her become a pawn of the Joker. The memories were so embarrassing yet they made Barbara’s skin radiate with heat, her heart swoon with emotion. Yes, remembering Vicki in such a scary position made Barbara hot. She couldn’t believe what euphoria she felt from those stored mental images, her dopamine levels bouncing off the charts. She couldn’t tell if The Joker had made her into a monster or if he had brought a dormant monster out of her. Whatever it was, it was driving her nuts.
Just give up already.
Barbara lifted her back from the mirror and turned around to face it. She stared deep into the eyes of Duela, looking back at her.
Well, how long are you going to keep this up? You want to pretend forever? Barbara is dead. Submit.
“No.” Barbara shook her head. “Of course not. Never. I won’t ever submit. I’ll never give up.”
You have to. Because Joker will make you.
Barbara pressed her hand against the glass.
Enjoy yourself as Duela Dent. It’s a much better life than that old one. Think about it. So far, you’ve been Barbara in the daytime and this alter ego at night. You’re owned by the Joker. Harley has you working in her store. You’re already theirs. Why play this serade? Get rid of the facade. You’re Duela Dent. Duela. You’re me.
“No...” Barbara grabbed her head, moved her hands frantically through her green tresses. “No, no, no...”
You’re Duela Dent. As of now, as of always, you’ll always be Duela. Even if you try fighting back, you know it’s impossible to kill this new side of yourself. It’s taken over completely. Just accept it.
Barbara wanted to shake her head. She wanted to offer more protests. Smashing the mirror would have been nice. She couldn’t do any of those things, even if she wanted to. The woman in the mirror was right. Duela.was right. She was right. She was Duela, and there was nothing she could do to change it.
“Accept your destiny.”
Barbara had to agree. Duela had to agree.
Duela had to agree. Yes.
Yes. Duela has to agree. Submit. Give in. Accept.
Yes. Those were the logical things to do.
The new self is the real self. The complete self. Duela Dent, the Joker’s Daughter.
Yes.
Barbara and Batgirl are dead.
Duela couldn’t resist anymore. All hesitations were out of the window now.
“You’re right.” Duela pressed her face against her reflection in the mirror. “You’re right!
I’m not Batgirl anymore. I’m not Barbara anymore. I’m Duela. Duela Dent, the Joker’s Daughter. Batgirl is dead. Barbara is dead. I’m Duela. Duela. Duela Dent! Yes!”
Laughter echoed from Duela’s lips. She couldn’t even keep track of her thoughts anymore as they seemed to evaporate into space, emptiness replacing them. The Joker’s Daughter had been revived completely and she was insane, mad as wild and unrelenting stormy weather. She reveled in the glass reflections around her, her eyes bugged out as her hands rubbed delicately against her aching sides. Happiness flooded her system as she finally claimed her destiny. There would be no alter ego, no other self that she would ever have to fight or argue with again. Not this time she was the Joker’s, ready to give her life for his dominance and control.
The woman had to bend her back, doubling over as she chuckled mercilessly.
“Bravo!” an unforgettable voice said from behind a wall of mirrors. “Excelente! Felissimo!”
It was then that he slowly appeared. After the mechanical shifting of a few mirrors from a dead end wall, Duela could see The Joker. As the glass wall moved out of the way, it twitched and twirled with motors sounding, allowing the seemingly natural starch white face of the most dangerous clown in the world to surface. His wide grin seemed to be accompanied with the mischievous joy and impish air of death and disease. The green pupils in his eyes shimmered like an unending and strange field, meeting Duela’s eyes like a magnet. She stared back at the man as the mirror wall went down in front of him, revealing an opening. Duela knew her father well, the man that created her, that liberated her from a false life of order and boredom. Beside him was his loyal woman, the playful yet deadly Harley Quinn, her gloved hands holding onto the clown’s right arm.
“Daddy.”
As the mirror wall parted for him, the Joker stepped forward. His ruby red smile glimmered with white teeth like crystals. His hands were clapping as Harley clapped alongside him, whistling in cheers. “Duela dear... it looks like you’ve finally come to your senses.” “Oh, you know I was always on your side, daddy. Just had to go through some final changes, that’s all.
“Of course, pumpkin.” Joker turned to Harley. “Harl. Go get the others.”
“Aok,
Mistah J,” Harley said enthusiastically before she ran down the same hallway Duela had come from earlier.
Duela walked up to The Joker, staring deep into his eyes before she lifted up a hand to his cheek. Her soft, gentle touch could feel his strong jaw line as he smiled at her, causing her to smile as well.
“Did you really have to go through all of this trouble, daddy?” Duela licked her lips. “I mean, if you just wanted me under your control, you could have just taken me in one go.” “Honey... you know that wouldn’t have been as fun.”
“.... I should have guessed.”
The Joker grabbed the woman’s wrist and pulled her hand down from his face, his grin never leaving. “I needed you to put Vicki and Catwoman under my power as well. They had nothing going for them. Catwoman wastes her nights, prowling around the city without a leash. It’s only right that I put her in a box, to keep her safe and secure.”
“Of course.”
“And Vicki always wasted her time taking pictures and reporting news broadcasts, trying to get back in her prime that came and went. I have a better plan for her. I have a better plan for all of you. You’ll see, very soon. You did me proud. I needed your services in bringing them on board.”
Smiling and blushing, Duela looked down to the floor.
“Just like I’ll need you to bring the entire city of Gotham to my feet. I didn’t want to make you do it if your heart wasn’t in it. I gave you a choice Barbara or Duela. You chose the right way... the fun way.”
Duela nodded.
The Joker leaned in, pressing his lips against Duela’s. Her eyes rolled back as her head pressed back against his. She felt like her skin would melt when The Joker wrapped his arm around her waist. She pressed her hips against his, pulling her free hand behind his back. The tongue of the clown prince clashed against hers. It was like some long awaited event that finally come to fruition. Duela Dent was his, fully ready and awaiting orders. She wondered how long he waited for her to finally snap, to allow the chaotic madness to take over and make her embrace her new identity. So many questions swirled around her head as she tried to make sense of what couldn’t be pieced together, a whirlwind of information that ultimately didn’t matter. Her wet tongue continued to swirl against The Joker’s, her green hair brushing against her cheeks. those red lips interlocked perfectly. The Joker kept his hand pressed along the surface of her well formed ass and Duela started to moan, feeling at home.
The kiss finally ended as they heard footsteps. Harley had returned. Behind her, the mime once known as Vicki Vale was pushing a big Jill in the Box. A jester woman still bounced in the opening of the box, stuck in her springy prison.
All of the mirrors were slowly moving into the floor, disconnecting from each and disappearing as the motors rumbled loudly. The glass walls shifted and sank into cracks, revealing how huge the big top tent really was. Duela felt like she had been wandering through the halls so long, she had forgotten that she had entered a circus tent in the first place. Joker grabbed the woman’s attention again, holding her face as he looked back into her eyes. “Duela. There was only one way out of this maze. You chose it. If you had never let your true self come out, you would have died along with Barbara.”
Duela laughed hysterically. She didn’t even question why being confronted with the reality of her possible death amused her. What other explanation could there have been? She was a chip off the old block, another evil and crazed clown for Gotham to fear.’ Joker chuckled. “That’s right, sweetheart. But I knew she would give in eventually. You were too strong, too cunning for her, just as I programmed you to be.”
“Anything to make you happy, daddy. What’s our next step? Our plans?”
“Our plans. Oh, honey, you don’t have to worry about that for now?”
“No?”
Harley came behind Duela and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “Only thing you need to know is that you got to get up early enough for work. I’ll be driving you to the costume shop early. We’ve got inventory.”
Duela smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
Harley grinned and pressed her hand against Duela’s stomach, winking at her. “Now, don’t you think we should go and have some fun with our friends?
Duela looked back at the Jill in the Box and the mime. The mime was making funny, silent motions in the air, lost in her own world. The Jill in the Box could do nothing but smile happily in her coiling bonds.
“We have a long night ahead of us, don’t we?” Duela asked.
“We sure do.” Harley kept her arm wrapped around Duela and she turned her around. The two walked towards their waiting, hypnotised friends. “Let’s have some fun.”
Joker’s rubbed his hands together with an ecstatic chuckle. “I’ll start off by watching and join you ladies after you get comfortable.”
It was from that moment on that Duela would never wake up forgetting an entire night again.
Epilogue
It had been a year since Barbara Gordon gave up her life as a librarian and threw away her mantle as Batgirl, becoming the 2nd Duela Dent. Even so, she had to maintain her personal identity in order to remain discrete, protecting the operations of her boss, The Joker. For a short while, she continued to work under The Joker at his costume store, gaining experience and learning the trade. Stores served as the excellent front operations for criminals, allowing them to commit all sorts of atrocities on the side without suspicion. In order to lessen any trouble that could come from authorities, Batgirl opened her own store selling books, a business that no one would easily pin back to The Joker.
Batman had come back from his long trip out of town. For a while, Barbara had to keep up a farce, to fool Batman into thinking that she had merely moved on from her Batgirl role. It was only logical that Barbara Gordon, the girl next door that loved books, would merely want to move on and open her own book store instead of continue work as a librarian. Besides, it was way better than someone as creepy as The Bookworm owning such a business. Barbara had been successful in convincing Batman that she had grown weary of her role of Batgirl, and in a few months time, he respected her wishes in being left alone entirely. Besides, Batman was still busy with a few missing persons cases, looking for Selena Kyle and Vicki Vale, two well known ladies that had mysteriously disappeared. Although he was certain that The Joker must have had a hand in it, no thought would ever connect Batgirl to all of the chaos and madness... A few months after Batman had given Barbara space, she added a new collection of items to the inventory of her storecostumes.
Yes, just enough time had elapsed for Barbara to have expand on her business and invite items that The Joker could be proud of without arousing suspicion from Batman and the authorities. Besides, no one had even began to crack down on Joker and Harley’s costume shop yet, as the two villains remained out of the public eye for months, sending their minions to do their dirty work.
In Barbara’s daily work as a bookstore owner, her appearance had changed somewhat over time. She still had the short emo green hair with sharp bangs from her Duela identity but kept it securely hidden, wearing a red wig of a matching style during the day. The classic “Barbara” hair look would help her blend in with the world she once knew. It kept her father happy without suspecting anything out of the ordinary during their visits, kept the city police in her graces, and even let her visit the library from time to time to catch up with old friends, chat and gossip. During the afternoons, with her Duela Dent ego safely tucked away, she exchanged her purple star earrings for stylish, crystal studs. Her wild, eccentric Duela Dent clothes were stored away and she wore something more conservative though casual and comfortable. Over the months, Barbara’s physique as a strong crimefighter had changed as well. She had lost some bulky muscle though she had gained more in flexibility and agility. Her form and structure had more of a gymnast feel to her body, like Harley, and Barbara still had a great figure. Her beautiful face, slightly more sleek and streamlined, still remained the same, pretty as always. Her crystal blue eyes still seemed to penetrate the world with a soft stare. On this particular day, Barbara was in a hurry to get ready to run her store. Barbara had to decide what clothes would fit her this evening. Ultimately, her decision fell upon a Harley themed suit for the night, something of red and black diamonds and checkers. Yesterday night, her apparel screamed with the colors of The Joker, green and purple with a yellow carnation, so she wanted to switch things up and keep life fresh.
Grabbing a pair of clothes and accessories from the costume aisles, Barbara headed to the back of the shop and into her office, which served as the perfect dressing room, whether for a work day or after hour hijinks . After pulling her more conservative clothing to the ground and stripping naked from head to toe, Barbara slipped on some red lingerie. Then, she put on a nice, sleek fitting, tight black top. After the top pressed against her breasts and outlined her upper torso perfectly, she slipped on a checkered red and black mini skirt. Everything was already matching perfectly before Barbara put on the red and black striped tights; now she was in heaven. Her transformation was almost complete. All she needed now was a proper doll face and the right pair of shoes. Once the base of white was formed on her love visage, the excrimefighter
puckered up and applied black lipstick over her full, shapely lips. She followed her face design up with black eyeshadow over her lovely eyes. Finally, she finished by slipping on some long, battering eyelashes, black heels and elbow length black gloves. Only a few customers came in that day, which was how Barbara wanted things to be. She wanted to run a low key business, and so far, she had been successful. Joker had taught her how to be a good salesperson. When people came in, asking for complicated books like Finnigan’s Wake or V., Barbara’s would gently laugh and coerce them to visit her section of joke books. Besides, she would say quite convincingly, they were much better. There hadn’t been a customer yet that wouldn't eventually cave into Barbara’s suggestion and leave with a ton of funny books.
Once the work hours were over, however, Barbara only had a few hours to switch into her next persona. Barbara went to her office and closed the door behind her. Then, she stripped out of her work clothes, removing her wig to change into her Duela Dent costume. She slipped on her tight fitting purple top while playfully pumping her breasts, feeling so good to being who she truly was on the inside, letting it show for the world to see. She then slipped on her green vest with a matching bow tie as well as a joke carnation. Next, she slipped on a black mini skirt before slipping on a pair of latex green and purple striped stockings. Grabbing some white greasepaint, she made sure her face was completely covered before powdering it properly. The clown girl did a quick modelling job in front of the mirror before sitting down for her makeup. She quickly applied some more clown white on her face, neck, and ears before applying powder over the base, just to make sure it stuck and smoothly stood on her skin. Next, she applied some red lipstick over her lips while making sure to extend it for the perfect Joker smile. She applied some blush and mixed blue eyeshadow in for a nice light purple. Finally, she slipped on her purple gloves to finish her look. The woman looked dazzling. The change was perfect and complete. Lovely Barbara Gordon was now her true self, her realest form, Duela Dent.
Barbara’s nights were filled with secret operations, heists and robberies. That’s when she became Duela Dent, Joker’s daughter and prized clown girl. She had a variety of costumes and apparel to wear, and this particular night wouldn’t be any different. After locking up her book shop and going on a night about the town,
As Duela came out of the office and adjusted her earrings, she heard a knock at the back door. The knocking didn’t startle her one bit; she had a few guests that she expected to arrive at exactly this moment, and they had lots of work to do.
Duela owned the door with a warm smile. She greeted the guests kindly. Though they weren’t in their clown uniforms yet, she knew them well by their unhidden, human faces. There was the former Huntress, a sad looking clown rechristened as Moonlight, Black Canary, a bright auguste clown renamed Sunshine, along with Vickie Vale the mime and Selina the toylike jester.
Duela jokingly thought of how kind Mr. J was to let Selina out of her box for the evening. All of them had big, oversized bags carrying their costumes for the evening. For now, all of the girls were uniformed in a black dress with black gloves, green stockings and heels. They worked throughout the day, selling some costumes in malls and stores before the night approached, expanding Joker’s business.
“What’s the plan now, Duela?” Moonshine asked.
Duela stepped out and locked the back door behind her, not even bothering to invite the lady’s in. They didn’t have time for it, and they were already in a hurry to be punctual. “It's time to go out and meet with Mr. J,” Duela said with a wide smirk.
“What does Joker want us to do tonight?” Sunshine asked with intrigue.
“We’ll figure that out once we get there. For now, all you need to know is that it's time to head to the big top. Tonight's act is very important, and its imperative that we’re all present for Joker’s well planned show.”
“Can we at least get dressed here?” Selena asked.
“Oh... alright. You should have already been dressed, but I guess you had a busy day selling costumes.” Duela opened up the shop with a bit of frustration going. “There. Hurry up and make it quick, will you? Or Joker won’t be a happy camper, and we’ll be the jokes for the evening..”
The women rushed into the store and raced to Duela’s office and she locked up behind them. Following them into the office, Duela watched the women as they dropped their bags and pulled their costumes out.
Selina has changed into her Jill in the box costume, lacking the box of course. From head to toe, she painted all white with a tub of body paint before slipping on her purple and black diamond bodysuit. Her face was painted with purple diamonds on her eyes, a purple nose,red lips and red circles on her cheeks.
Vickie changed into her Ms. Mime costume. She wore a black and white striped tight top. Next, she put on a black skirt, followed by knee high black and white striped socks well accompanied by black heels. Her face was painted white with red lips, black eyeshadow, curled eyelashes, and black tears.
Helena and Dinah had similar body suits though they were obviously cast opposite of each other, Helena playing the sad clown and Dinah the happy one.
Helena now wore a dark blue and black bodysuit with black gloves and heels. Her face was painted white with dark blue eyeshadow with matching lips as well as a dark blue painted nose. On her cheeks were blue crescent moons. She had a dark blue two pronged jester cap on the top of her head, her hair tied into a ponytail with a dark blue ribbon wrapped close to its bottom tresses..
Meanwhile, Dinah had a yellow and white bodysuit with white gloves and heels. Everything was the same as Helena's costume though sunny yellow was Dinah’s color scheme rather than dark blue.
Duela smiled as she saw the women finish up their costumes. “Perfect, ladies, perfect, and I think we’ll still make record time. Let’s go.” Finally, they all headed off to meet Joker and Harley at the big top to see what their performance is for the night.
The End