Übel is German for evil, it's pronounced oo-h-b-ul. I just wrote evil in Google Translate and randomly clicked different languages until I found a good word.
Zatanna: Princess of the Wind
Chapter 1:
Meeting Again
Zatanna hated going to palace balls. She'd rather be out gliding on the nighttime wind. She stood to the left as she waited for her introduction.
"Presenting," that was her cue "Princess Zatanna Zatara of Stregonaria, Dutchess of the Barren Sands, Empress of the Light, Keeper of the L'energia Eolica and future Queen of Stregonaria,"
Zatanna lifted the front of the top skirt of her dress and walked out of the doorway to her throne. People gasped at her beauty. Her dress was yellow with multiple white underskirts, a white shawl around her shoulders and white gloves going up to her armpits. Her hair was pinned up behind her head and her tiara balanced on top of her head with a silver bracelet around her wrist.
"And, now, presenting King Giovanni Zatara of Stregonaria, Leader of the Gem Tribes and Ruler of the Barren Sands,"
King Giovanni came out and respectfully nodded to his daughter who nodded back. He turned to the crowd of people and raised his hand for silence.
"My subjects, as you know, my daughter, Princess Zatanna, is to be crowned Queen and take my place as your leader. To help her carry that burden, I have decided to give her in marriage to a strong leader," announced King Giovanni but no one noticed Zatanna's look of sadness "I give to you, your future King and my future son-in-law, King Klarion of the Übel Empire!"
The doors to the ballroom swung open and the guests turned to look. A man with hair like horns and red eyes wearing a black cloak over a suit walked in followed by some brute-looking guards and a monstrous orange-and-brown tiger. People instantly feared him as he walked through the crowd, up the steps and to the King and Princess.
Dick hadn't wanted to go to the ball but it was a chance to see the beautiful princess. He knew just by the way she walked in that she didn't want to be there and, at the announcement of her engagement, he could tell she was in distress over it. Then King Klarion entered. Dick saw the way she pushed her lips together when he neared her and the fake smile she put on when she stood to greet him and he kissed her on the cheek. He couldn't believe King Giovanni would marry his only child off to someone like King Klarion. He had actually been to Übel and they were falling apart from Klarion sucking the Energy of the Land dry!
Dick leaned against a pillar with a drink in his hand as he waited for the night to be over. Without looking, he knew someone stood beside him. The person reached out to tap his shoulder but he grabbed their wrist with lightning speed. Dick smirked and turned to see who the person was. He had to admit, it was a surprise to see it was Princess Zatanna.
Zatanna pulled her wrist away and rubbed it as she smiled. He seemed familiar to her.
"You've got good reflexes," she said "I'm Princess Zatanna," and she held out her hand.
"I'm Dick, Dick Grayson," he said, shaking her hand.
"I'm sorry if this sounds strange but have we met before?" Zatanna asked "You look familiar,"
Dick chuckled to himself.
"10 years ago, when I first came to Stregonaria, I went exploring and I walked around the palace wall," he said "You saw me and we played all afternoon,"
"Oh, yeah!" Zatanna said, putting her hand on his arm with her other hand over her heart "You're Lord Wayne's ward. You taught me that beautiful song..."
"That's me," Dick said "So, how has the past 10 years been since we last saw each other?"
Zatanna giggled.
"Oh, nothing, I just learned how to rule a country only for my dad to try and marry me off to a guy I don't even know," she complained, folding her arms before looking sheepish from what she said "I am... so sorry for saying that,"
"Don't be," Dick chuckled "I can read people really well. You hate the idea of marrying that guy,"
Zatanna smiled at him with relief. Everyone had assumed she was overjoyed by the arranged marriage. He was the first person to see the truth. She looked down with a sigh.
"I-I hate these kind of events," Zatanna admitted "Palace balls always upset me,"
"You know what? If you want to get outta here, meet me at the city gates in 10 minutes and change into something you don't mind messing up," Dick said and he walked away.
Zatanna watched him leave and thought about going to meet him. She was an engaged woman, it would be scandalous if she was found alone with another man. Zatanna rubbed her temples and decided to do what she wanted for a change...
Dick stood next to his horse, Ace, by the city gates after changing out of his suit and into a white t-shirt, light blue unbuttoned shirt with rolled up sleeves and jeans. There was some tapping of running footsteps and Zatanna came running over to him. She had changed into a black miniskirt, grey leggings, black knee-high boots and a long-sleeved t-shirt with a scarf wrapped around her neck and her hair in a ponytail.
"So, what is this all about?" Zatanna asked, panting from her run there.
Dick nodded at Ace and mounted the horse.
"Get on," he said, reaching his hand down to her.
Zatanna cautiously took his hand and he pulled her onto Ace so she was sitting behind him. She gulped and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Uh, where are we going?" Zatanna asked "Because I am a Princess so my wellbeing is actually pretty important,"
Dick chuckled as he took hold of the reins.
"Don't worry, Princess, you'll be fine," he said and he cracked the reins.
Ace trotted out of the city gates and began galloping across the Barren Sands. The Barren Sands was the name given to the desert surrounding the city. It was the space between the countries, settlements and cities of the world. Zatanna was nervous about leaving the city but she trusted Dick for some reason.
Ace came to a steady stop by an oasis. The pool of water was perfectly still with the full moon reflected in it. On the side facing away from the city, there was a small orchard of trees and bushes.
They unmounted and Dick undid Ace's saddle and reins so he could be free for a little bit. Zatanna looked around at the oasis and remembered when her parents would bring her there.
"My mother and father used to bring me here," she said.
"Really? Why'd they stop?" Dick asked, casually picking some berries from a bush and flicking them in the air to catch in his mouth.
"My mother died... I wanted to come but I think it hurt my father too much," Zatanna said.
It had been nearly 10 years since Queen Sindella had passed away from an unknown illness. Since then, Zatanna had been learning to become Queen as soon as she became of age for Stergonaria: 19.
Dick was sat in the sand, looking at the Princess. The desert winds picked up and her hair began floating in the breeze. A berry hit her in the back of her head and she turned around to see Dick with a handful.
"What'cha gonna do, Princess? Hmm?" he teased.
"Oh! I'll show you!" Zatanna said, grabbing a handful of berries off a branch.
They both began pelting each other with the tiny fruit and chased one another. They even splashed through the water. Dick threw one and Zatanna caught it in her mouth, chewing it. She tossed one at him and he caught it between his front teeth. They laughed and sat down to eat the last of the berries they had. Their hands were stained red from squeezing the berries as they chased each other.
Dick washed off his hands in the pool of water before cupping his hands and taking a drink. Zatanna tried to do the same but the water dripped through her fingers before it reached her lips.
"Here," Dick chuckled.
He cupped his hands with her and they worked together to keep the water in as Zatanna took a drink. They lowered their hands and looked at each other. Zatanna's cheeks began to burn and Dick coughed at the sight.
"We, uh, can let go of each other's hands now," Zatanna stammered, quietly.
"Then why are you still holding on?" Dick asked with a smirk and she held her breath.
Zatanna took her hands out of his and lifted them up to her face. For some reason, she couldn't look away from his eyes... those big sapphire blue eyes. She turned her face away and Dick gently turned her to look at him again. He now had one hand cupping her cheek and he then put his other hand on her shoulder. Zatanna put her hand over his on her cheek and leaned into his touch. The moonlight glimmered off the pool of water and reflected back at her, she looked angelic. Zatanna lifted her free hand and put it behind his neck.
"You're beautiful..." Dick couldn't help but whisper to her.
"I never forgot that afternoon we played together... you've just grown since then so I couldn't be sure," Zatanna said, shuffling her knees closer to him.
Dick took his hand off her shoulder and put it on her hip. Zatanna began to get nervous and began breathing heavily. In the end, she made the first move. She wrapped both arms around his neck and kissed him.
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