AN: Time for some Zatar/Zatanna action

Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics, DCAU, Teen Titans, Earth 16, or Batman Begins.

HIMALAYAS DEC 11TH 2003

I dangled over the deep canyon, suspended by a rope wrapped around my legs, the extra rope hanging down to bind my hands behind my back.

"Masters given me permission to cut the rope if you can't get out in time," A tall black man said from the other side of the ledge as he leaned against one of the temples pillars.

"You'll still have your punching bag by the end of this Turner," I chuckled, winking at him as I got back to undoing my hand bindings.

"Where'd you learn this stuff anyway?" He asked, leaning against the pillar my rope was tied to.

METROPOLIS 15:00 AUG 4TH 2003

I stepped off the bus from Gotham, wearing a worn out trench coat, an old blue button up, and tired gray slacks. 'If I can find the amphitheater before he gets there then my plan might work,' I thought to myself, pulling out an old map of the city. 'The amphitheater is next to some newspaper company called the Daily planet.'

"Hey; watch it big guy!" I heard from behind me, drawing my attention to a young woman with black hair picking up a bunch of files.

"Oh my God, i'm so sorry," I said, kneeling down and helping her pick up the brown folders. "I'm new here, and I guess I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's fine I guess, just try to pay more attention, okay," she said, standing up and taking the files from me.

"Um, would you mind telling me where the Daily Planet is?" I asked as she turned into the large sky scraper next to us.

"Uh, we're right next to it big guy," she answered, pointing up at the sign above her head which read in big letters around the entrance 'DAILY PLANET.'

"Oh, well I really do need to start paying attention," I chuckled, cursing myself in the back of my head. "Thank you…"

"Lois Lane," she answered, still walking into the building. "And you better remember, because I'm gonna be at the top of that building one day."

'I'm sure I will, but in the meantime, I really need to get there before Zatara does,' I thought to myself quickly getting back on my way before I I noticed the large temple like building with KORD AMPHITHEATER scrawled across the top of the entrance. I sat down on the steps and waited a few housers, a few lasers by dropping spare change in front of me once in a while.

As the sun began to set, a white moving van pulled up in front of it and a young man wearing a black tuxedo and a top hat, obviously going for the traditional magician look, especially with that small pointed mustache.

"Need help moving some stuff sir?" I asked, walking around to the back of the truck, the man close behind me.

"Yes thank you," He said, unlocking the back doors as he did. "I'm actually here for a disappearing act. Since the building is being demolished in a few months the city is letting me put on a few final shows then a great escape as they tear it down in the winter."

"Really? I'm actually an escape artist in training," I said, not entirely lying. "It would be an honor if you'd take me under your wing during your time here."

"You don't exactly look like an escape artist," he said, handing me a large box that jingled a little as I carried it over to the steps.

"I know, and that's because my last teacher charged me so much that I ran out of money," I said, following the man into the amphitheater.

"I'm still not sure, do you just ask for lessons from every escape artist you meet?" he asked, cocking his eyebrow at me as we carried our boxes through the lobby.

"Well, to be completely honest, I knew that you were coming here, and I just couldn't miss the opportunity," I said, placing the man sized box down on the stage.

"Well, as long as you're willing to pull your own weight it should be fine, but I'll have to check with my assistant first," he said, pulling off his hat and placing it on the stage.

"I didn't see anyone else in the van with you," I said, looking around the room trying to see if I missed anyone as we entered the theatre area when a little girl with long black hair wearing a sparkly black dress with a little bow tie on it jumped out of the box I was carrying.

"Hi Mr, my names Zatanna, and if you wanna work for Daddy you gotta work hard!" she said, scrunching her face and leaning in to look me in the eyes. "Are you gonna work hard?"

"Uh, yes, of course I am," I said, still shocked that there was a little girl in the box. "I'll do whatever your father tells me to."

"Okay then, welcome aboard then, Mr…" she said, standing up straight to shake my hand, pausing and looking at me as she said Mr.

"My names Matches Mahoney," I said, shaking her little hand and smiling at her as she chuckled a little bit.

"That's a funny name," she said, giggling a little to herself. "But I like funny names, so I think we'll get along really well."

METROPOLIS 13:00 NOV 28TH 2003

"Nice work today Matches," Zatarra said as I dried off after our latest training technique.

"Thank you Zatara," I said, putting the lid on top of the glass tank. "So, what are we learning tomorrow?"

"I've taught you all that I have the ability to," he answered, looking up at me from where he stood, wearing his black slacks and loose white undershirt like he usually did during practice. "I'm afraid you'll have to continue your training elsewhere."

"Thank you Zatara," I said, stepping off the stage and shaking his hand. "I hope to see you again, it's been nice working with you; and your daughter."

"The same to you friend, so please, do keep in touch," he said, pulling a playing card out of thin air. I walked over to where my trench coat was hanging and picked it up, slinging it over my still damp shoulder. "Oh, and thank you for the donation Bruce."

"What?" I asked, spinning around on my heels to see Zatara lending against the stage with a sly grin on his face. "You might want to grow some kind of beard if you want to disguise yourself better."

"Thank you Zatara, and I'm sorry for lying to you," I said, looking at him as he chuckled before bursting into a full laugh, forcing him to support his weight on his knees.

"Please, you can't lie to a magician, we create illusions for a living after all," he laughed, walking up to me and placing his hands on my shoulders. "Do what you must my friend, but always remember, make your coincidences more believable; oh, and please, say goodbye to Zatann, she's taken a liking to you."

HIMALAYAS DEC 28TH 2003

I finished uniting my feet and quickly swung over to the wooden hand rail next to Turner. "Nice work Mahoney, you made it, and with thirty seconds to spare," he said, pulling me off the railing and onto the balcony. "Let's hope this is enough to convince the Master not to kill us."

"It this isn't then I'm sure our graduation battle will be enough for at least one of us to live," I said, walking along the temples balcony. "After all, we agreed to be the first Foreigners to become full fledged monks of this order."

"I don't know about you, but I'm going straight home after I'm finished here," Turner said, cracking his knuckles as we walked into the actual temple. "But it will be nice to have that prestige."

"If we live that long," I said as we walked through the other monks and into the fighting arena.