Disclaimer: I don't own the Flash which belongs to DC and CW nor Zatanna who is also property of DC as are any characters that will be featured in this story going forward. This story is strictly being done for pure fun and in no way is an attempt to profit of the properties involved
Author's Note: Hey everyone. So I think I've tried this story twice now. And in the end I still wasn't satisfied. That's the problem when you write for a show you like but feel like you're having difficulty finding character's voices not to mention trying to deal with the show while it's in a place you can't exactly continue from as if nothing happened. Season 3 left things on a cliffhanger where without knowing Season 4 was going at first and will go. Granted I'm already sort of changing continuity by adding what I add here but coming up with an original story is tough when you don't know what's going to happen. It's a little easier for me to drop characters into stories already in progress.
It also doesn't help I haven't had much feedback when trying these stories but I feel that with many of my stories. All that being said though I'm going to try again for doing my take on a Zatanna story for the CW Arrowverse. It'll have elements of what I tried to do before if any of you saw those but I will be adding to it. I'm willing to also collab with people including on this story if you think this is interesting and have any ideas or would like to write with me then feel free to message me and I'll consider teaming up with you or taking your ideas if I can fit them into the story. Also if you haven't then read my other Flash story A World Without Snow for the context of some of my characterisation on Caitlin and to learn who the Phantom Stranger is.
For the sake of continuity this takes place during Season 4 of Flash which despite I haven't actually binged yet (same with the other CW shows seasons and obviously their most recent ongoing ones) but I do know what happens. This takes place after Girls Night Out and will from there become an alternate Season 4 and beyond. Similar things will happen until depending on when I decide to divulge continuity further then things will change hopefully. Only difference so far though is Caitlin has told them about Amunet though she still doesn't mention she attacked them on Iris's bachelorette night so in some ways it still adds up but the others know who she is.
Like I said when I was doing the intro to the other attempts at this story if I could have one character introduced into the CW Arrowverse I would introduce Zatanna who I'm fond of and if you gave me an opportunity to make a show/movie about someone it would be her (and Caitlin's actress Danielle Panabaker agrees with me too because someone asked her who she'd like to see join as a superhero next in the Arrowverse and she said Zatanna).
Anyway I hope you enjoy this third attempt and if this goes wrong then fuck it I won't do it again but hopefully I'll make a better story this time.
A few months ago sometime before the return of the Flash at a bar.
Caitlin had just finished serving someone a drink when a voice tried to call her on the other side of the bar "I must say I love your top. White really seems to be your colour"
Caitlin didn't seem to hear as she turned around and saw a man sitting there at the centre as she stood back a little. The man at least he seemed to be one looked like a monster of some kind with grey skin, slicked back dark hair, a blue suit and black tie and devlish red eyes and almost a sadistic smile that seemed to form as he spoke. His polite British tone that sounded commanding and almost inviting added to the creep factor. She heard him again "Caitlin."
"Yes?" Caitlin replied trying not to show intimidation.
"It says so on your nametag. But I've been frequenting here for awhile. I was wondering how long it would take you to notice me." the man replied.
"Well it certainly wouldn't be hard to notice you if I actually paid attention. Not that I'm trying to offend you in anyway it's just..." Caitlin replied before he interrupted her.
"That I look like a monster? I've been called worse. And I'll probably will be called worse during tonight's meeting." the man replied with a chuckle "The manager and I have an understanding" He then looked her in the eye his tone changing to one of intrigue "Tell me Caitlin. Do you believe in magic?"
Caitlin wasn't sure what to say. She was even surprised she was still talking too this guy at all. But then again a strange looking man walks into the bar and has some shadiness to him while a normal person would instantly call the police Caitlin knew this guy was here to do no good and if he was up to something the best thing to do was to see what he was up too so she could report it later. His red eyes stared into her almost as if he was staring into her soul as she replied "Well if you had asked me a few years ago I would have said as a former Doctor it's scientifically impossible. But with what's happened over the years since and the strange happenings beyond what we thought the world was capable of I would say magic is something I'm not a firm believer in but it's possible and I wouldn't bat an eye if it was shown to me."
"You're feeling quite conflicted aren't you? You've lost your way and aren't sure where you fall in line with the universe's natural order. Do your powers define you now or does the person you were before define you?" the man asked revealing he knew who she was.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Caitlin replied dismissing him as she turned away to work behind the bar as he suddenly gripped her hand firmly but not too tight.
"Your powers are quite unique Caitlin. You gained them from a space time alteration and yet while you chose to avoid them and even now still do so you still decide to keep them. Why is that?" the man asked curious.
"You seem to know a lot about me or you think you do. You figure it out." Caitlin replied trying not to show any anger wondering also how he knew where she gained her powers.
"I would except I don't know because you're keeping that reason under lock and key inside yourself and try as I might with my power I can't read it and get it out of you. I don't even think you truly know." the man replied looking at her as he made an offer "I can take them away you know."
"I had that offer given to me before. I turned it down. And I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer as well." Caitlin replied remembering when Cisco offered her a cure.
"I take powers away just as I can give them away. However there is always a price to pay. You're playing it smart by turning me down. You seem like a nice girl Caitlin. I wouldn't want you to do something you could regret" the man replied as a red woman with black tattoos and devil horns came up to him and whispered in his ear. "My apologies Caitlin I have to go. My associates have arrived for our business meeting. Do you plan on staying for the night?"
"My shift is finishing soon so I'll probably be leaving." Caitlin replied confused "Why do you ask?"
"Just making sure. You have a nice night." the man said as he got up from the counter and began to walk away with the red skinned woman "It's Night by the way. Brother Night."
Brother Night. A red flag of a name for a bad guy if there ever was one. He almost sounded like some kind of cult leader. And he seemed interested in magic so she knew what he was into. And yet he didn't want to harm her. If anything he sounded like he was looking out for her. Why? Then again the motives of all potential creeps and killers don't sound entirely sinister at first. Whoever he truly was Caitlin knew she'd have to be cautious.
A few hours later she finished her shift and walked over to the door entrance as she prepared to head out. At first she seemed hesitant. She could leave now and learn nothing and then read a headline tomorrow that might reveal a new criminal in town or she could ease drop and learn more about this mysterious man if he even was one and what his game was and maybe put a stop to him before he could even begin bringing potential danger to anyone. Reluctantly she proceeded to head out and hope that nothing would be wrong in the morning or in the future.
6 months later just outside a social club.
Barry and Joe had both been called to a social club to investigate a crime scene. What they had found was ultimately not for the faint of heart to see. Somehow it seemed people had been magically transformed, burned and 'infested. People were either torn to shreds or had become animals also torn to shreds. Very strange indeed.
"So what do you think we're looking at here Barry?" Joe asked him.
"Well it's no doubt a meta-human attack. Question is what kind of meta-human could transform and massacre people like this?" Barry asked trying to figure things out.
Joe shook his head as if to say he wasn't sure as suddenly he spotted someone and walked over to him. He too was impaled and a bloody corpse but Joe could still tell who he was because his face was intact "I recognise this guy."
"Who is he?" Barry asked walking over as he took a sample of blood.
"Albert De Cecco. He's one of the local powerful drug kingpins in the city." Joe answered "This guy is a heavy hitter. Who ever brought him here it seemed like he wanted to take him out"
"Along with everyone else in the room." Barry said as he suddenly saw someone cowering behind a table.
Carefully he walked up to him as the waiter cowered and cried "No please don't kill me!"
"Nobody is going to harm you" Barry said as he helped the waiter to his feet "Did you see everything that happened here tonight?"
The waiter hesitantly nodded as Barry handed him off to Joe "Look we're just going to bring you in and ask a few questions if that's okay with you?"
The waiter seemed to agree as some cops arrived to lead him away. Now alone Joe was able to converse with Barry regarding what he would do as the Flash "So what exactly are you going to do?"
"You can try and shake the waiter down see if he can recall anything while Cisco and I come back here later and see if he can Vibe what happened." Barry answered.
"Sounds like a plan. We'll catch up later." Joe said as he left with the waiter as Barry then was able to leave and speed away unseen.
Sometime later Barry and Cisco returned to the scene of the crime which was now covered up with barriers dressed in their Flash and Vibe costumes.
"So you got anything?" Barry asked him.
"Working on it" Cisco said as he touched a turned over table and suddenly saw what had happened the previous night.
As it turned out the man Caitlin had run into a few months earlier Brother Night had arrived with his own entourage of meta-humans who all had magical abilities of their own. Romalthi cold transform anyone it touched into whatever form its mask took from pig to frog to even slug. The devil horned woman from before named Ember was an unborn dragon gestating in human form that breathed fire. Teddy appeared to be a young boy that opens a box which created bugs that infest and kill. They were here for one reason. To send a message.
"So what can you see?" Barry asked as Cisco couldn't see anymore.
"I think we might be dealing with more than just meta-humans" Cisco answered
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs.
Cisco had finished explaining everything to everyone what he saw. Everyone was still taking everything in slightly disturbed at what they were hearing.
"Well the waiter's account sounds mostly similar." Joe said verifying their story.
"So you're saying we have some meta-humans that seemed to possess magical abilities led by a guy who calls himself Brother Night?" Iris asked making sure she got this straight.
"That's what I saw. He said this was some kind of message. That he would be in control now." Cisco answered.
"He's trying to control the entire crime underworld. Already controlling the magical crime underworld." Caitlin answered sounding somewhat guilty.
"Caitlin" Barry began turning to her "Is there something you're not telling us?"
Caitlin sighed in disappointment as she began to tell them what she didn't want to say before regarding what happened working for Amunet "The man named Brother Night used to come and meet with Amunet sometimes. Maybe they were business partners I tried to find out as much as I could but I was made leave the area when he was around. But I learned a few things. He does have magical powers and he's completely unknown to the police. They have no word on him and his activities. He used to operate out of San Francisco but I guess he's moved here to expand his operations. He deals in trafficing human souls and can read inside them to find any information about you. He knew I got these powers from Flashpoint."
Barry widened his eyes a little suprised by that revelation. Just how powerful could he be?
"And he also offered to take my powers away but he can also give them to people apparently" Caitlin answered
"Like Savitar" Barry said as he took in that last part "What else?"
"That's all I could get out of our conversations during time I was there. He only came a handful of times and he stopped arriving after awhile. He was interested in me so when he would wait for Amunet to arrive he would explain his business and what he did to me while he waited" Caitlin replied
"Interested in you or Killer Frost?" Barry asked wondering his motive.
"I don't know." Caitlin replied "The important thing is that we bring him in."
"Yeah but magic based villains aren't exactly we've gone up against much." Iris replied "I mean there was Kadabra but he wasn't really a magician he just used technology."
"Oliver said he dealt with a guy who could deal in magic when trying to free Sara's soul and gave him advice when dealing with Damian Darhk" Barry said referring to John Constantine.
"I can get Felicity on the line and she can call him for us" Cisco said as he left the room to go to the phone.
Out in the far reaches of the cosmos the Phantom Stranger was overlooking events that had transpired with mixed emotions. He had helped Caitlin during Christmas to try and confront her inner demons and she had seemingly had managed to overcome them. But she was then overcome once again by the darkness when Savitar preyed on her fears but she dealt with them again. And yet now she was again being plagued by the evil trying to make it's way to her soul. And if he was going after her and the Flash that would be a problem. He had been dealing with souls for too long and needed to be stopped. With a snap of his fingers he vanished and disappeared to Earth 1.
Now that they were alone the group waited to see what would happen. Caitlin stood there feeling nervous as Barry walked up to her and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder "Hey. We'll deal with this guy. I promise."
"It's not him I'm worried about. It's her." Caitlin said referring to Frost "It's like no matter what I do she still is trying to ruin my life. Control me when I just want to be free"
"But you don't want to lose your powers?" Barry asked referring to how Cisco offered her a cure for her powers.
"These powers are a curse that I have to live with. I know that now. I just wish I could use them without worrying about who I hurt." Caitlin responded feeling guilty.
"You overcame the temptation before Dr. Snow." a voice said as everyone turned around to see the Phantom Stranger standing there "As I told you when we met you are stronger in will then you realise. And I promise you this time you will achieve the solace that you crave."
"Stranger!" Caitlin said as she rushed to hug him.
"Hello my dear." The Stranger replied as he gave her a warm hug.
Suddenly Cisco entered the room as he explained the situation "Okay Felicity is going to try and get this John Constantine guy on the line but she could be awhile. Last time they needed him he got stuck in Hell for awhile so who knows how long we'll be waiting." It was then Cisco noticed their new visitor "Who let the Shadow in here and why is he hugging Caitlin?"
The Stranger broke out of his hug with Caitlin as he explained who he was "I have walked hundreds of billions of miles across this Earth... across time and space... through the blinding light of the Elysian Fields... and the darkest depths of pandemonium... where the stench and despair of the chaoplasm is always a potent reminder of how far man can fall. I am the Phantom Stranger. And the stranger comes... when the stranger is needed"
Caitlin smiled as she looked at everyone confused as to how she knew him "He helped me through my troubles during Christmas."
"A Stranger helped you..." Barry recalled as he remembered what Caitlin said as he then turned to the Stranger "That was you?"
"Yes Bartholomew Henry Allen." The Stranger answered
"So why are you here?" Caitlin asked "Is it about me?"
"In some ways yes. The man you have learned of Brother Night is a powerful adversary. One who you cannot defeat so easily. But he has walked this Earth for too long harming many innocents. And he has plans to torture you both. All you can do is resist his efforts to do so." The Stranger explained.
"Well we're not going to let him in." Barry replied
"And now that you're here we have a magical adviser to help us so we can stop him." Cisco said enthusiastically
"That's not how his role works." Caitlin piped up hesitantly.
"She is right. I steer, but I cannot lead. That has always been my fate." The Stranger explained. "But there is one person you can trust."
"Who?" Iris asked him confused.
"You'll find out tonight Iris Allen-West." The Stranger replied as he turned around and began to leave "And now I must go."
"So that's all you came here to do?" Cisco asked confused "Show up speak some cryptic talk and give a hello and then leave?"
"I cannot help you stop Night, Mr. Ramon. I can only steer you the path you need to be on. How you deal with him and how you choose to fight this battle you'll have to figure out yourself." The Stranger explained.
"But you're not steering us anywhere. We don't know where to go for answers?" Iris asked confused "Is it this John Constantine guy? Will he help us?"
"John Constantine is indisposed at the moment" The Stranger explained "But there is another. Caitlin knows who I'm referring too."
The Stranger suddenly vanished into thin air leaving everyone puzzled as to what just happened as Barry then turned to Caitlin "What is he talking about?"
Caitlin wasn't sure what he meant. Unless he was talking about. But that was all just an act wasn't it? Caitlin then pulled out a pamphlet out as she handed it to Barry and began to explain "I was planning on telling you. I booked you both a night out just for the two of you so you could get away from the craziness."
"That's sweet Caitlin. Thanks." Iris said with a smile.
Barry looked at the pamphlet as he caught a name at the end that made him raise an eyebrow "The amazing Zatanna?"
"They said she would be performing there. It's no Bon Jovi but hey it's entertainment." Caitlin said as she suddenly thought about what the Stranger said "This could be the help we need."
"Look I like a good magic act as much as anyone Caitlin but I don't think a girl who can pull rabbits out of her hats is going to help us take down a guy who deals in souls" Cisco said as he took a look at the pamphlet and also looked a little surprised "Even if she does have long legs for days and can pull off those fishnets well."
"Well regardless Caitlin did a nice thing for Barry and I. Even if she doesn't turn out to be who we're looking for we can still get a nice meal and a night out of it right?" Iris asked turning to Barry.
"Then let's go see a magic show" Barry responded deciding that they would go.
Brother Night's Hideout
Brother Night was sitting in a chair in his HQ surrounded by his minions and other demons and people with magical abilities. He was now observing Team Flash and their lives being able to see them with a projection screen perjected by his own mental imagery. "How kind of you to remember me Caitlin. I sure enjoyed our conversations"
"The mortal does not want her powers. Why are we bothering with her?" Ember asked her boss.
"Her soul is a unique case." Brother Night said with interest "I have never seen someone so conflicted. The same person has two personalities. A duel identity vying for control and her soul is in constant torment because of it."
"So what do you want to do?" Ember asked him.
"The Flash is another soul in constant torment. He's sacrificed so much and everytime he tries to fix his problems he makes them worse." Brother Night said as he thought about the speedster. "He'll never truly be happy despite trying to achieve it with this upcoming marriage."
"He is also a threat." Ember said reminding him.
"You don't need to remind me my dear." Brother Night said as he touched her face "We will string him along. Let them think they are ahead. And then when I'm done playing with him we'll sacrifice him."
"And the girl?" Ember asked him again.
"We'll see about Caitlin." Brother Night said as he touched his head "Now leave me. I need to rest."
"Fine. But what happens if they learn the truth about her when they attend her show?" Ember asked referring to Zatanna.
Brother Night smiled a little at this. Zatanna had been an enemy of his just as her father was. Now he had an opportunity to end her should she get involved which he inevitably had a feeling she would. "Let Giovanni's daughter come to play. It'll be the perfect opportunity for revenge."
Club Dozier, Central City
And so later that night came the stage show which was now in it's early prep time. The woman of the hour was preparing her act together making sure everything was in order.
"Ribbons, rabbits, hat. Everything is in order." the woman said as she then suddenly became alarmed. "Where's my wand? Hey where's my wand?"
Groaning in frustration the woman cried out a spell of some kind albeit backwards instead of forwards "Dnaw emoc ot em!"
And sure enough the wand appeared out from beneath a rack of outfits and into her hand "Now how the hell did you get in there? I gotta remember to question the costume designer about this later."
Readying herself the woman was approached by her stage manager "We're getting ready for show time. Although there seem to be some last minute handlers coming in."
"Let them in. So long as they aren't here to heckle again. Not that I can't deal with hecklers." The woman said as she straightened her top hat.
"Knock em dead kiddo." The other woman named Mickey Dowling said.
Out in the audience Barry and Iris were waiting for the show to start as Barry piped up "So what do you think we'll be seeing here tonight?"
"I don't know. Maybe a couple of rabbits pulled out of hats. Someone sawed in half. I mean what else could she do?" Iris asked just guessing.
"Well let's just hope that she's good. When I was a kid my dad before he went to jail took me to see a guy who was amazing. He put on a show I'll never forget." Barry recalled
"What was his name?" Iris asked
Barry tried to recall the name as suddenly a voice spoke to the crowd interrupting his thought "Ladies and gentlemen it's time for magic."
And with that the young woman appeared on the box laying across it with her legs being crossed, her face giving a bright confident smile. "Good evening Central City. I'm Zatanna!"
Author's Note: So that's that chapter now done. Like with the original it plays out similarily to where I know there wasn't much Zatanna herself but I wanted to set up the story and the character's state of mind except it's shorter. I also wrote this a little earlier in the season when not much had happened yet and I was unsure if I wanted to try this again but I've decided to just go for it again so it probably feels clunky in it's setup. If you're wondering who would play certain characters here Brother Night would be played by Guy Henry and Zatanna would be (following on from Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist) played by Lea Michele. Zatanna has Italian roots on her father's side so I felt whoever played her should be someone with that background as well as having the idea of the stage coming naturally too her and also a beautiful ethnic look to her. You can read more about it in my fancast here:
art/Zatanna-CW-Series-Fancast-Lea-Michele-670908132
Again feel free to leave feedback. If you can give me points and ways maybe I can improve on finding the character's voices or if I'm finding their voices so far then do so. If anyone wants to help out by suggesting ideas for the story or maybe co-writing it then.
I'm also probably going to put up a few chapters at once because I had again written some stuff for the story I still want to use so if you wondering how I'm putting them up so fast that's why. Despite I'm restarting the story again I actually will be putting it on hold again but I'll explain that on whatever the last current chapter ends up being.
Also I'm trying out a new thing which I'm thinking of doing from now on with everything I write which I've seen other people do is put a new scene area in bold rather than me saying "Meanwhile" or "At so and so" because it became to difficult to keep writing that way. Let me know how it looks.
Anyway I think that's it for now but knowing me I've probably forgotten stuff. To all those who have been reading this story and the rest of my stories I thank you for your continued support. I wouldn't be doing these stories if it weren't for you reading them. This is your friend Steve993 signing off and I'll see you next time.
In loving memory of my mother Rita Murphy (1970-2018) who died on the 13th of February this year. I had mentioned it in my current other on going stories and this will be a thing I will do for a little while. As I mentioned with my Once Upon A Time story with that show it follows a theme of family particularly with mothers and this show and this universe is kind of similar with Barry's mother, Oliver and his mom, Kara and her family on Earth and Krypton and so on.
I miss you mom.