Once Upon A Gotham

If the Shoe Fits

The morning after the ball Barbra did something unthinkable, she slept in. Instead of bright sunlight filling her eyes and an annoying clock stopping her dreams with it's loud chimes, Barbara woke up when she was shaken awake.

Ivy looked down at Barbara and started to speak. "How dare you-"

"How dare I? I slept I'm Ivy. Is that such a crime? I know you didn't have to take me in, BUT I am not your slave. I never will be again. Ivy, why do you have to be so cruel?"

"Why? Because it's Justice. Your mother was loved more than any of us. Everyone and their Grandmother adored her. Than she got married to the oh-so-perfect Jim Gordon." The calmness in her voice was gone and replaced with raw emotion. "Then she had you. I knew the second you were born you were going to be exactly like Mommy dearest. I couldn't be more right. Than she had the nerve to die in a fire, so I got stuck with you. But now you have one night with your 'Prince Charming'-"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about Miss Oracle."

The words smashed into Barbara like a ton of bricks.

"Sadly you have forgotten one key detail in this story, you don't get a happily ever after."

Ivy stormed out the door locking it behind her. Barbara had relized what happened a moment too late. She tried to pry open the doors, but it was no use. Barbara was utterly trapped.
○■○■○■○■○■○■○■○■○
Prince Richard eyes had deep bags around them and he was practically falling alsleep on Alferd's shoulder. The search for his Oracle was fruitless and he was running out of homes to search for her in.

"Are you alright, your highness?" Alferd asked polity. Richard nodded and yawned. "Sir......you seem very tired, maybe it would be best if we stopped-"

Richard's blue eyes had a flash of energy through them. "I will search until I find her. Nothing will stop me."

The Prince's coach pulled up to a grand house on the outskirts of Gotham. He knocked on the door and a woman with blonde hair anwesered.

"May I help you?" She squeaked out.

"Yes, I am Prince Richard-"

Richard was cut off by being pulled in the house.

"Well my name is Harleen Quinzel, but everyone just calls me Harley Quinn! I have two older sistets Selina and Ivy, who I call Red."

"Why do you call her Red?" Asked Alferd.

"Because she had red hair of course! Now where was I-"

"Miss Harley this is a wonderful story but we are here with a purpose. Prince Richard, would you like to explain or shall I?"

The second Harley mentioned red hair, Richard was in some kind of a faze. "Oh, yes, ummm, we," He took a breath to compose himself, "I am looking for the woman I danced with last night at the ball. I am in love with her. She wore this shoe at the ball and took it off as she was running away."

Harley wad twirling a hair around her finger as she listing to the story. "This is just by my personal experience, but usally if a woman runs away she dosn't want to be with you."

The Prince scowled, "It's not like that-" Alferd sensed that the over tired Prince was about to start yelling so he intervined.

"We need to try this shoe on every lady in the house. Than we must leave."

"IVY! SELINA! THE PRINCE OF GOTHAM NEEDS YOU!"

Selina and Ivy came running down the stairs, Alferd explained the Prince's mission to the woman, and the woman sat down.

Selina tried on the shoe first. "It's too small."

Harley tried on the shoe too. Unlike her older sister tried to stuff her foot in the shoe. The harder Harley tried the more the shoe seemed to shrink.
○■○■○■○■○■○■○■○■
Barbra tried to pry and kick the door open but she was not getting anywhwre. Barbara knew if she had a hair pin she could pick the lock, but the tool was not something she could obtain.

She started out the window and saw a royal coach pull up outside. Two men stepped out, an older, kind looking gentleman and a raven haired man with bright blue eyes. All the air left Barbra's lungs. It was Nighting. She was so memorized she didn't even yell for help. The Prince was looking for her. Barbra smiled a face splitting smile, stuffed a object wrapped in the shreds of her torn blue dress, and gulped. Barbra climbed out the window and began to shimmy down the vines that grew on the side of the house.
○■○■○■○■○■○■○■○
It was Ivy's turn to try on the shoe. She didn't even slip one toe in before yelping out in agony. Her entire foot was burnt.

"Help me outside, there is a plant in my garden that heals burns." Ivy used Richard as a crutch and hobbled outside. Soon Ivy, Harley, Selina, Richard, and Alferd holding the glass slipper were outside.

"If you are all the ladies of the house and the shoe didn't fit any of you....." sadness filled the Prince's voice.

"Not all the ladies of the house." Richard turned around and saw the most beatiful woman he had ever layed eyes on. She was wearing rags and her hair was mess, but that didn't matter.

"Oracle," Richard breathed out.

The Prince walked to her, Alferd followed close behind, Ivy stuck out her leg in front of Alferd, tripping him. The glass slipped went flying and shattered on impact with the ground. All the life and color seemed to drain from Richard's face. Barbara giggled.

"There is no need to be upset Nightwing, because I have the other shoe." Out of the folds of her dress she removed the wrapped parcel. She handed the shoe to Richard. He was looking at her as if she was a being of ultimate perfection. Richard took the delicate shoe and slipped it oh her foot.

It was a perfect fit.

He brought his lips to hers in a beatiful kiss, filled with love. Everyone (expect Ivy) smiled at them with joy. Richard escorted Barbara to the coach.

"I really must know my lady, what is your name?" Richard asked.

"Barbara. My name is Barbra." She sat on the velvety seats and waved goodbye to Harley and Selina.

For the first time since her family's death, Barbara was truly happy.

Author's Note
Only one chapter left in the story. Get excited.