Zatanna: Mistress of Magic 1 of 12
Written by Bodhi Ouellette
Venice, Italy
1986:
In the beautiful city of Venice, the night is young and people are out and about, doing whatever their heart desires. The water that separates the streets and houses of the cities is just an astounding thing to look at. The light the city reflected off the water, making it look even more majestic. And speaking of magic…
A Carnival was occurring in the city. People wearing exaggerated costumes and decorative masks, disguising each other from one another. Multiple attractions are displayed, including games and a multitude of activities. The center of all of it, however, was a special show being advertised all around the carnival, and Venice, for one of the best magician's in the world. They called him Zatara. His full name was Giovanni Zatara. A magician, who traveled the world, performing, and amazing all who come to see him.
It was as if almost everyone at the Carnival was there waiting for the performance to begin. Everyone was anxious to see this man show them wonderful things. A man dressed like anyone else at the Carnival, walks on stage.
Man: Ladies and gentlemen! We are proud to present to you our very special guest of the night! One who hopes that you will all leave with a new perspective on magic! He is the Master of Magic! He, is, Zatara!
The crowd cheers, as the man slowly exits off the stage. A strand of blue raspberry colored smoke appears. As the smoke quickly disappeared, there Zatara was, on the stage. There were already applauses.
Zatara: Thank you! Thank you all for coming here! I hope you are all having a great time in Venice, as I have! Now, for first trick for you all tonight, I'm going to need a few audience members to participate. Let's see… how about, you, you and you, come up on stage!
The three that were picked all make their way to the stage, as Zatara welcomes them all.
Zatara: Excellent! Now, how about you all introduce yourselves? (Walks over to first volunteer) What's your name?
Participant: Antonio.
Zatara: Fantastic. You?
Participant 2: Ottavio.
Zatara walks over to the final volunteer, a blond haired late 20's woman who dressed in a costume resembling an eagle, and wore a removable eagles mask. Her hair was tied up in a bun on top of her head.
Zatara: And what about you?
Participant 3: Sindella.
Zatara: Hm. Sindella. That is a unique name. Are you from around here?
Sindella: No. I'm here on vacation, mostly to be in this Carnival.
Zatara: Well, she has good tastes in cities, doesn't she?
The audience nods in agreement.
Zatara: Alright, beside me I have three boxes that you will be holding. (Hands the three boxes to Antonio, Ottavio, and Sindella) Now, what I'm going to do is put a small animal in each of these boxes. (Takes his tophat off and begins sticking his hand inside it.) Now let me dig through my hat. Come on, Jeffrey, don't be shy.
Zatara pulls out Jeffrey, a bunny out of his hat, and puts it into Sindella's box. Zatara then puts his hand in his hat again and pulls out Peter, an iguana in Ottavio's box. Then flying out of Zatara's hat was a pigeon, which Zatara quickly grabbed before it could get away.
Zatara: Oh, no you don't, Archimedes! (He then puts Archimedes into Antonio's box) (Cont.) Now, you all know what animal is in which box. But, with the wave of my wand… Egnarra eht slamina!
Zatara waves his wand while saying the spell, and blue dust appears out of his wand. All the boxes open and out of all of them jumped a different animal; Antonio's box now had a small dog jump out of the box, Ottavio's box now had a cat, but Sindella's box now had Archimedes, who begins flying off.
Zatara: Ah, fantastic. I lost Archimedes again.
Sindella: Again?
Zatara: Everytime I use him in my shows he always manages to escape my grasp. Hold on. (Waves his wand at Archimedes) Emoc kcab Sedemihcra!
Archimedes disappears from the air. The crowd all goes "ooh" and "aww".
Sindella: (beat) Where did it go?
Zatara: Why, wouldn't that be spoiling the fun of magic? (Winks) Now, I thank my volunteers for participating in that particular act!
The crowd applauses. In the audience, a man, dressed in a cape and tophat, pulls out of his sleeve a wand. He sticks his wand out at Zatara and a spell was casted, traveling at Zatara, and knocking him down off the stage. The audience flees in terror, as the man in the top hat then walks over to Zatara as he's on the ground.
?: Thought I wouldn't be able to find you, eh, Giovanni?
Zatara: Wizard…
Wizard: You stole something from my home in Tibet. And now I have come to retrieve it.
He looks down at Zatara's neck, where Zatara is wearing a golden necklace. Wizard rips the necklace off and holds it up to verify it's authenticity.
Wizard: At last… I have found it, yet again. I must say, no one has ever entered into my room of precious treasures and managed to survive. So I won't waste anymore time in killing you. Goodbye, Giovanni-
Sindella: Hey!
Wizard turns around to see a huge ball of water push him off of Zatara and on the ground. Sindella then helps Zatara up off the ground.
Zatara: You… are a magician, too?
Sindella: I think the correct term would be "witch".
Zatara: Oh, but that is such a harsh word for someone like you.
Wizard gets back up from the ground, and cleans himself off from any dirt that attached onto him.
Wizard: I may have what I have searched for, but I still need to exterminate you. And now I can include your little 'friend' as well! (Wizard waves his wand and a spell of fire propels out of his wand heading towards Zatara and Sindella.
Zatara: Dleihs su!
A blue shield encloses Zatara and Sindella, protecting them from the fire. Zatara then makes a small opening in the shield, that way Sindella can send out a wave of blue fireballs that knocks Wizard back, and making him drop his wand.
Zatara: Egac mih!
A big bird cage encloses Wizard, trapping him. Wizard tries to break out, but it is no use now.
Wizard: No! Let me go!
Zatara walks over to the cage to stick his arm inside the cage and digs through Wizard's pocket, and grabs the necklace from Wizard.
Sindella: What is that?
Zatara: A Glamor charm.
Sindella: And you stole that from him?
Zatara: It was never really his to begin with. (smiles) So, really, I stole it back from the one he took it from.
Sindella: So what plans do you have for him?
Zatara: For every magician I encountered I usually send them to a special prison. A place that, as far as I know, the master of the building has abandoned it. Now, since you still seem to still be around, I'd like to, oh, I don't know, ask for you to join me back home?
Sindella: I would love to.
Zatara: Good. Now, let's get going. Gnirb su kcab emoh!
Then Zatara, Sindella, and the captured Wizard then begin disappearing, as star like dust flies traveling up their bodies, until they were all gone.
New York City; 8 Months Later:
Standing above a balcony on a rooftop is Sindella, alone, gazing into the New York skyline. It was a cold night, and her goosebumps on her body stood. A puff of smoke appears behind her, and as she turned around, she saw Zatara entering into the scene.
Sindella: Oh, Giovanni, you kept me waiting.
Zatara: Apologize for that. To put it lightly, I was stuck.
Sindella: Stuck? Stuck where?
Zatara: Oh, it doesn't matter. (Lifts his hand up to reveal a basket) I did bring our dinner, though.
Sindella: No blanket?
Zatara: Hold this for a moment.
He gives Sindella the basket, and he pulls out his wand. He waves his wand out.
Zatara: (Cont.) A elbat htiw a epard dna sriahc, esaelp.
Materialising out of thin air was a fancy round table, with a drape and two chairs. The table also had a fancy candlestick in the middle, and utensils for the two. Zatara grabbed Sindella's hand and escorted her to her seat. Zatara then takes his seat, and he begins pulling out food out from the basket; a fine spaghetti and meatballs dish with a baguette bread that he pulls straight out of the basket. Finally, a bottle of wine was pulled out of the basket
Zatara: Now, how about a toast. It is our 8 month anniversary, after all. 8 months of a great relationship.
Sindella: Indeed. I think we've both learned so much from each other.
Zatara: Ah, yes, we have. You have showed me many new spells to fight my enemies with.
Sindella: And you have showed me the ways of a performance, and a little bit of stage magic.
Zatara: We've grown to learn from each other over time.
Zatara pulls out a little blue box and kneels down towards Sindella. He opens the box, revealing a beautiful ring with a gorgeous diamond. Sindella is in awe at this.
Zatara: Sindella… you have been the most wonderful person I've ever met. Will you marry me?
Sindella: Oh, yes!
She Jumps out of her seat and hugs Zatara really hard, knocking them down on the ground. They have a laugh and joy at it, as they stare into their eyes. As the awkward silence slowly creeps in, they both share a kiss. Zatara hands her the ring, and she puts it on, gazing at it.
Sindella: It's beautiful… why don't we find a spot where it is less cold, shall we?
Zatara: I can do that. Moordeb!
And the two disappeared from the roof…
New York City; 23 Years Later (2009)
Outside of a stage theater in SoHo, there was a long line of people, with their tickets in their hands, waiting to see whatever show was going to happen. Everyone outside were all anxious to enter. A sign was displayed outside, with a picture of a female magician and the title "Come and see Zatanna: Mistress of Magic! May 20th at 7:00!"
Inside the theater, most of the audience has been seated. Nothing but chatter could be heard. The lights dimmed down, signalising the audience to be silent. Spotlights begin circling around the red curtain.
Voice: Ladies and gentlemen! We are all proud to present to you New York's finest magic act of the night! She hopes that you will all leave with a wonderful view of what true magic really is! She is the Mistress of Magic! She, is, Zatanna!
A puff of smoke materializes and slowly appearing is Zatanna. The crowd makes a mighty cheer, and the show hasn't even started yet. Zatanna bows for her audience.
Zatanna: Thank you! Thank you! I'm so glad you all came, today. Today is a very special day for me. It's my birthday.
The crowd claps again.
Random Audience Member: What age are you turning?!
Zatanna: 23. I can promise you there will be a birthday theme magic act, but our first act of the day involves a box, and the help of my assistant, Andy.
Andy came on into the stage, rolling a box on stage.
Zatanna: The idea of this trick is to escape from this box, with my hands tied in the back. And let's see what happens, shall we?
Andy cuffs Zatanna's wrists together. Now that her hands are cuffed, Andy helps her into the box. He closes the top of the box, and takes a few steps back from it. A voice could be heard inside the box, but it is barely audible. Suddenly, the box breaks and all of the pieces flatten on the ground. Everyone is dazed as to what just happened. But coming out from the top of the exit doors that lead into the theater was Zatanna. The crowd all turns over to see her, and they all give her a large round of applause. Zatanna bows, and she gives a hand to Andy as well, who also bows as well.
Zatanna: (making her way back to the stage) Thank you very much! We've got another hour of this stuff, so let's get magical, shall we?!
Even more applause is heard than before. The opening cemented what exactly this show was going to be all about. Zatanna, the Mistress of Magic!
To be continued in Zatanna: Mistress of Magic Issue 2!