A Blast To The Past
A Fanfic By Kid Zatanna
This fanfic uses characters owned by DC Comics and other companies and therefore is ONLY for entertainment, not sale. The persons and events depicted here are fictional, not real. (Darn it)
As you may have noticed, this fanfic contains mild language and violence.
A minor note: Zatanna may have seemed a bit rude to Nancy Drew in the second chapter, but the REAL reason she was trying to put Nancy off was that Zee didn't want to risk interacting with "the natives" too much. However, she feels that she can trust Nancy.
I sometimes call Nancy a "vigilante" in this story, but back then that was the proper term for what she did and the word had not yet gotten the bad connotations it now has. Also, Nancy didn't suggest that they tackle the bank robbers because she was "a crime fighter", by the way; it's just that Americans were more proactive and more likely to take action against crime back then.
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Zatanna had observed that River Heights had a unique advantage in that while it was large enough to have all the "big city" conveniences; it was not so large that one would feel over-whelmed by crowds and urban sprawl. The small city had been a distribution point for river and rail traffic in the past although the riverboats were quickly becoming obsolete. The present economic depression had hurt the place and had forced the closing of the local button factory, but the city was a favorite summer retreat for some wealthy families and it could still do a respectable amount of business thanks to its airfield, warehouses, docks and farms. Zatanna was pleased by her new base of operations and found it comforting that a place like Sears was at hand. Here she was on familiar ground and didn't have to worry too much about her future manners and quirks appearing out of place.
Leaving the elevator, Nancy led Zee to the Ladies' Department on the third floor, approaching a saleswoman as Zatanna made a mental note to memorize the old gender-specific titles.
"How may I help you, ladies?" The employee asked.
"My friend lost her luggage in an accident," Nancy lied, nodding in the super heroine's direction. "So she will need a few new changes of clothing: shoes, stockings, dresses, blouses and skirts, lingerie and a coat. I suppose we can pass on hats right now, maybe later."
Eyes lighting up at the prospect of a large commission, the woman eagerly led Nancy and Zee straight to the underwear counter.
"Oh, I forgot to ask if they have any 'NYLONS'," the former whispered, causing Zatanna to scowl at her while holding back a giggle.
While the "unmentionables" were cheep, Nancy made certain to pick out ones that were attractive and in pleasing colors. Zee however, was rather disappointed in the selection, it ranged from "plain" to "frilly"; she preferred undies that were on the SEXY side, and the old-fashioned panties and bras also tended to cover more than what she was used to. RAYON stockings were purchased too, once again driving home the point that nylon had not yet been invented. A set of soft cotton pajamas were then produced but were instantly rejected by Nancy who asked to see something more attractive. When a style that was more to the women's' liking was found, a similar set in violet was accepted after comparing two other colors to the pleasantly dark complexion Zatanna had inherited from mother. A matching "dressing gown" followed.
In the Dress Department, several dresses were picked out and Zatanna was pointed to a dressing booth to try them on. After dressing, Zee returned to Nancy and the saleslady to walk, turn and have the outfit pinched and creased until the 1930's women were satisfied as to the fit, there upon the woman from the future was shooed back to try on something else. Zee was actually enjoying the attention and after several changes, selected two dresses, a suit and two blouses to which Nancy added a very fashionable (for ANY era) belted, henna-colored leather jacket and a silk scarf. Later, Zatanna would use her magic to tailor the clothes to her shapely figure.
Paying for the purchases, they were then handed off to a man in the shoe department who brought out a selection of footwear for their approval. Zee had already made her mind up after passing the displays, but allowed the gentleman to suggest a few styles before taking a pair of comfortable mid-heeled shoes with a strap across the instep. Zee was so pleased with them that she put them on after Nancy paid. The last stop was for a hairbrush, comb and to Zatanna's relief, a toothbrush (No more mouthwash-breath!). By that time it was noon and Nancy declared that they should check in with her father before heading out for lunch and stopping at the butcher's for a roast. As they exited the building, loaded with packages, the man who had been watching them made his move.
"Oh! I'm terribly sorry," he exclaimed after "accidentally" colliding with Zatanna, spilling her purchases. "That was so stupid of me! Let me help you with those."
"No damage done," Zee hastily said as they gathered the boxes.
"Allow me to make it up by carrying those for you," he offered. "Do you have a car?"
"Thank you, but that's not necessary," Nancy replied.
"But I insist, it's no bother at all! Say, are you Nancy Drew?" He asked as they walked down the sidewalk.
"Yes, I am she," Nancy responded. 'Here it comes,' she thought.
"I must say that I'm a great admirer of yours Miss Drew. What you and your father have done for this community is just grand. You know, there are a lot of people who would like to reward you for your work and I wish there was some way to show my appreciation, too!"
"Thank you, but I've been compensated many times for my efforts. And I must point out that they are rather exaggerated. Here's my auto, please put the boxes in the rumble seat."
"But you must let me thank you in some way, especially since I caused your friend such inconvenience! Wait, I know just the thing!" He dipped his hand into a pocket and withdrew two thick pieces of paper. "Please take these tickets, you and this other lady will be the guests of The Amazing Rando tonight at the Majestic Theater. No, don't argue, if you refuse I will be very offended. So please, go and enjoy the show. Good day, ladies," he added tipping his hat and walking off.
Nancy looked up from the fool scrap to see Zatanna checking to make certain that they still had everything they had left the store with. "What do you think of him, dear?" she asked.
"He's a bizarre twit," the dark-haired one observed. "What do you think his... Nancy! He may have seen me use magic at the bank!"
"Wouldn't he have mentioned that? And why give us tickets?" Nancy pondered, starting the car.
"Obviously to meet me," Zatanna pondered. "From his name, I would assume that he's a magician and it may be that he thinks that I could teach him real magic. No wait, he wants me to see his show before making contact. It's possible that he already knows magic and wants to find out how much I know."
"Maybe you should avoid him, Zatanna," Nancy suggested. "Have you ever heard of Rando?"
"No, but then I'm only a casual student of the history of magic. He already knows who you are and if I don't appear at his show, Rando may seek me out and cause trouble for you. No, we'll just see what the Amazing Rando wants. I've handled his kind before and have learned to fast-talk with the best of them."
Nancy glanced at the fascinating woman beside her, ready to argue. But she remembered the incident earlier and nodded as she turned back to her driving.
"You know this sort of thing better than I, darling. This time I'll let you call the shots. Here's where dad has his office, we should let him know of this new development."
Zatanna agreed as the vigilante swung the roadster into a parking space. As the friends strode up to the entrance, Zatanna smiled slightly when she noted that there was a barbershop across the street as in one of the books she had read. The law offices were on the second floor and since Zee and Nancy were both athletic, they thought nothing of taking the stairs for such a short trip. Carson Drew's practice was small but prosperous and took up five rooms and employed several people including two junior lawyers. Nancy was recognized instantly and the two were nodded into the boss' private office where they found Nancy's father finishing a phone call.
"Yes, judge. Three twenty today…. I understand completely. Oh yes, and my daughter has just walked in to scold me for working during lunch," he said waving the two into handy chairs. "Right, I'll see you then. Goodbye. It seems that I won't be joining you for dinner, Nancy; I have to go out of town for the case Judge Walker had assigned to me. I should be back by tomorrow, but it means that I'll have to bow out of our luncheon date so that I can finish up here before catching the train."
"I understand, dad," Nancy replied. Shall I help you pack?"
"No, no. I'll just go home for an extra shirt and a few things for an over-night trip," the lawyer said with a wave of his hand. "So tell me Zatanna, how is your case coming along?"
"Nancy is living up to her reputation," Zee smiled. "She suggested that I make a sketch of a mirror that figures into the mystery and mail it to her chum, Helen Corning since her family owns a glass business and they may know its whereabouts. We should be finished in a couple of days"
"Zatanna's being more than kind," Nancy said modestly, "I've barely done a thing about her mystery and there's no guarantee that the Cornings know anything about the mirror."
"If you need an answer quickly, why don't you send the drawing by telegraph?" Mr. Drew suggested.
"Yes, we'll do that. Well, this case should have no problems then. If you're sure you can't take the time to join us at the lunch counter, we'll run off then," Nancy stepped forward to give her father a parting peck on the cheek when Zatanna cleared her throat. Nancy shot an annoyed look at the magician. "Dad, there's a SLIGHT problem. Someone has taken an interest in Zatanna."
"What sort of an interest?"
"A local performer named 'The Amazing Rando' knows something about me, or at least he THINKS he does."
"There's nothing to suggest that he does," Nancy injected. "It may just be a big bluff to glean information that he may use."
"Blackmail, perhaps?" Drew suggested.
"I don't think Zatanna has done anything to be ashamed of, dad. It's just that there are some things about her that shouldn't be made public."
Carson Drew picked up a pencil while assuming a relaxed posture and began to subtly interrogate his daughter's new companion.
"Tell me Zatanna: do you know this 'Amazing Rando'?"
"No, I've never heard of him until today," Zee answered honestly.
"What did he say when he contacted you?"
"Actually, he DIDN'T approach us. A man we've never seen before set up a very clumsy accident in order to give Nancy a pair of theater tickets to Rando's show tonight. As a magician, I'm aware of several techniques involved in the 'set-up' and even Nancy had checked to make sure that our pockets hadn't been picked, it was that obvious."
"Are you certain that this man wasn't genuinely sorry for the accident and just wanted to make amends?" Carson asked.
Nancy's father was looking directly into Zee's eyes when asked this question, making a small distracting gesture with the pencil at the same time. This was one of the little tricks he used in court to make a witness flinch, but Zatanna was well aware of the art of 'misdirection' and ignored it.
"I'm quite certain. He went on about Rando without mentioning the supporting acts. I have no idea why Rando wants me to see his show, but I'm sure he will reveal his motives at the theater."
"What makes you sure that YOU are the one Mr. Rando wishes to meet?" Drew continued, still in 'lawyer mode'. "After all, it was Nancy who was given the tickets."
"Because either Rando or his man had seen me use REAL MAGIC to stop a bank robbery and no doubt wants to learn all of my secrets. You see sir, I am a sorceress and for your information, I'm not a story-book sorceress, I happen to be the real thing! Not only that, but I'm also from the future and if you tell anyone, I'll turn you into a frog!"
As tempting as it was, that was NOT what Zatanna had said. She realized that she would have to continue to live the lie she had placed herself in for the sake of protecting the future.
"Simply put, Nancy is already known to them. It was a ready-made excuse to 'reward' her for past deeds. To cover this and to insure that I accompanied Nancy to the theater, they gave her two tickets, knowing that it would be unlikely that Nancy would refuse to take me along after Rando's man suggested that she take me as well."
Zee glanced to her right and noted Nancy Drew smiling her approval at Zee's deductions. The lawyer leaned back in his chair, satisfied with her answers.
"I have just one more question for you; is there any danger?" He asked.
"I don't know," the future woman replied, looking down while scuffing her toe on the wooden floor. "Possibly not, it may be some sort of con game or he might just want to trade notes on our respective acts. I think it would be better if I went there alone tonight."
"Zatanna, I promised to help you in any way I can," Nancy said, a little hurt. "We'll go together and see this through."
"Nancy, the situation's changed; we don't know what's waiting for us. It could be nothing; it could be an attempt to kidnap me, I'm not going to risk your life."
"I'm not a coward, you know that," Nancy protested.
"It's not a matter of being afraid," Zatanna said, her voice raising a bit. "If things so wrong, I can't guarantee your safety."
"You should worry about yourself then!" Nancy snapped, jumping to her feet. "I can take care of myself and have been in peril many times before, but look: here I am, still alive! Did you think I was just blowing smoke rings when I said I would get you home? Well I wasn't!"
Zatanna shook her head; couldn't Nancy see that the magician was right? Nancy was good at what she did, but Zatanna dealt with things that the Depression-era girl couldn't conceive. They were going into an unknown situation and if the crap hit the fan, Zee didn't want Nancy to suffer. Even with all her magic and skills, there were things that filled Zatanna with fear and she couldn't subject her friend to that!
"Nancy, it's for your own good. I'll be alright and I'll tell you what happened when I get back."
Nancy sat down, averting her eyes from the brunette. "Very well, there's just one thing I want from you, OK?"
"What is it?"
"I want you to release me from my promise to help you," Nancy Drew stated coldly. "Since you want to blunder into danger without me, I wash my hands of the whole thing."
"Nancy!"
"No, just forget it!" Nancy snapped, turning her blazing eyes on her. "You're right; you can get along without me! You were just being nice when you asked for help! You have skills and knowledge I could never hope to have. So go on, you're better off without me holding you back!"
A loud pounding startled them and the women turned to find Mr. Drew striking his desk with his empty coffee cup. When he had their full attention, he leaned forward, hands clasped on his desk.
"Zatanna, I want you to answer me honestly; IS there any danger to my daughter?"
"I don't know," Zee said softly. "I may be worrying over nothing, but if I'm not wrong, you both may be hurt."
"Rando discovered Zatanna's secret, dad," Nancy offered. "She trusted me with it and I promised that I won't tell anyone, not even you. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but if word got out, it'll be very hard on her. It may even mean her enslavement or… death."
"Is it really that bad?" Mr. Drew asked the magician.
"More than you can imagine."
"Then I think you should find out what Rando knows and that you should take Nancy with you to the Majestic Theater. If it's as dangerous as you think, you shouldn't go anywhere alone. You said that you know of Nancy's work, believe me, you couldn't know the half of it. She'll do all she can to protect you and you'll find her aid invaluable as I have."
"You're right, we'll go together," Zee told him with a guilty blush.
"Good. I'll be back in a day or two and you can fill me in. Two more things Nancy, don't hesitate to call your friends for help and also, take ALL precautions, if you know what I mean."
"I understand, dad. Goodbye."
The two ladies walked silently out of the office, not speaking until they were in the hallway.
"Nancy, I'm sorry for casting doubts on your abilities."
"No, you're right. I know just a fraction of what you're capable of and I can't assume that you're the only one in your time that has such powers. If The Amazing Rando can also wield magic; you would be better equipped to take him on."
"Your father was right about one thing: this is no time to split up," Zee paused to take Nancy by the shoulders and look intently into her eyes. "We'll have to watch each other's backs, Nancy. Please, be careful."
Nancy looked into those beautiful eyes and blushed, hesitantly touching Zatanna's arms.
"I promise, Zatanna."
Zee sighed in relief and pressed her cheek against her chum's for an instant. "Now then, you said we should send Helen Corning a telegram?" She asked, pulling away.
"Yes, if you could draw a picture of the mirror, we can send a facsimile to the Corning Glass Works. Helen's family has a collection of glassware and mirrors and if luck is with us, they may have it. If not, they could send word out to the dealers and factories that it's being sought. We may not have to worry about Rando at all."
Everything was now right with Nancy's and Zatanna's world, they were back on the trail of adventure and that was when they were at their best.
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After a light dinner, the heroines drove downtown to the Majestic Theater. Its name was a little grand for the place, but Zatanna smiled as she took in the surroundings, it reminded her of the type of theaters where she had started her own act as a teen.
"Isn't it rather 'convenient' that Rando's assistant had tickets for us?" Nancy whispered.
"Not really," Zee replied. "Performers are often given extra tickets to sell, or for promotion, or to give to a shill. I've been given extras myself."
"What's a shill?"
"Oh, a shill is an assistant planted in the audience to help with the act. Magicians and even comedians use them. "
Zatanna enjoyed the dancers that opened the show, but found disappointment in the comedians. That was one of the problems with time travel; she had heard all the jokes before. She sat up straight when Rando was announced; this was who she was really interested in seeing.
Zee expected Rando to start off with the standard stuff, sealed envelops and the like. Instead, he called out inquiries after getting "spirit messages". Audience members would then reply and receive information on various topics. Glancing at her companion, Nancy saw that Zatanna was slumped in her seat with her arms folded across her chest, a bored expression on her face.
"What do you think of him?" Nancy asked.
"Eh, he's OK," Zee shrugged. "His act is good, but his presence needs work."
"I have a message for a Mister Layton," Rando was saying. "You have been expecting…" Suddenly he cut himself off. "There is one here who is hostile to my gift." He announced. "I assure you that my talents are NOT a fake!"
Zee sniffed audibly in derision. "Next you'll tell us that the sky is blue."
"I have no need for such cheap trickery, Miss Z," Rando declared. "I invite you and your companion to meet me in my dressing room after this performance. You shall then have proof of my powers; tonight, you will receive a telegram from a man you have never met! It will say 'The iron Buddha has a heart of jade'! I accept any challenge you may offer, Miss Z." he added after a short pause. "You will find that I am on the level. Now, Mister Layton; you have been expecting news from your son who is in the navy. A letter will arrive within a week. I am now getting a vision of the letter 'L'…"
"Let's go, Nancy," Zatanna said, rising. "I've seen enough."
Nancy followed the magician to the rest room and after "freshening up"; they sat in the ladies' lounge to discuss developments.
"So what do you think, Zatanna? I know he didn't use real magic to know you were in the audience since he expected us, but how did he know those things about people?"
"I'll tell you when we get home, but I want to talk to Rando first. He did invite us backstage and I would like to face him before making any decisions about him. By the way Nancy, do you have a calling card I could use?"
"I think I do," she replied, opening her purse. "Yes, here you are."
"While the Stage Manager may have been told to expect you Nancy, Rando would certainly have told him to let ME backstage," looking about to make sure that they were unobserved, Zatanna spoke softly. "Srettel mrofer, lleps ym eman."
Nancy watched with wonder as her printed name reshaped and spelled out "Zatanna".
"That is amazing!"
"Oh, that's nothing, really," Zee smiled. "You should try working magic when you've been turned into a hummingbird."
"A hummingbird?"
"It's a long story that I'd rather not go into it. Hummingbirds scare me, anyway."
"Oh. I can't stand hospitals myself," Nancy confessed.
A burst of applause signaled the end of the Amazing Rando's act and Nancy peeked around the corner to confirm that the intermission had started. It was now time for them to confront the mentalist.
Telling Nancy to let her do the talking, Zatanna led the way as the chums went past the box seats to the stage entrance. They were halted by a stage hand but Zatanna showed him the altered card and he took them to the men's dressing rooms on the opposite side of the stage where Rando had been assigned a room. Their guide knocked on the door and announced that Rando had visitors. The Amazing Rando bid them enter and the stage hand opened the door for the ladies and went back to his job.
Rando was rather tall, with dark hair. Nancy was surprised to see that he was rather young, perhaps not yet out of his teen years. He was before the make-up table; a blond woman knelt before him, tying his shoe as he rested it on her knee. He motioned them to sit on a couch near the door.
"Sit, won't you? Clarisse I have a dinner appointment so you'll excuse me if I dress while we talk."
"We won't take up much of your time, Mister Rando," Zatanna said, dropping her card on a table. "We also have plans for tonight, so please be brief."
Rando turned a hard look at Zatanna who returned his look coldly. With a gesture to Clarisse, the woman picked up a tie and secured it around his neck.
"Very well then Miss Zatanna, I know your name and I know what you are capable of. You have powers that you wish to hide, but that is a mistake. You have talents that could make you rich and powerful, but you need someone to help you develop them, you need a mentor and adviser to bring your powers to their full potential!" He paused for a reaction, but Zee let him continue. "I too have powers above the ordinary masses. You have seen my act, but that is just a game to amuse the public. My powers are greater! I can not only read the minds of others, I can send my thoughts into another's brain! You are skeptical, of course. So I have arraigned a little demonstration; during my performance, I told you that you would receive a telegram, correct?" Zatanna nodded and he continued. "Clarisse."
The woman picked up a dime from the table and stepped over to the door. Before she reached it, there was a knock. Clarisse opened the door to accept a telegram and handed it to Zatanna. Rando smiled as if he had done something clever.
"Do open it" he told her. "It's for you."
Ripping open the envelope, Zee took unfolded the paper as Rando's servant retrieved a suit jacket and continued to dress her boss.
"TO Zatanna c/o Majestic Theater. The iron Buddha has a heart of jade STOP. Ryan." She said without emotion.
"I had mentally instructed one of my minions to send you that telegram," Rando told her. "My proposition is this: if you join me, we will become two of the most powerful people in the world. Between us there will be few who could oppose us!"
"You're pretty bold for a man with just a few parlor tricks to back him up," Nancy Drew observed.
Rando's eyes flashed with anger for a second, then he calmed.
"My invitation is for your friend!" He snapped. "And I advise you not to stand in our way. What do you say, Zatanna? If you join me, I could even find a place for Nancy Drew in our empire. You may refuse if you're afraid."
"Afraid, of what?" The super heroine sneered. "I'm not the one who should be afraid, YOU are."
With those words, Zee crumpled up the telegram and it began to burn. Fighting back an urge to do more, Zatanna dropped the paper and left the dressing room, Nancy in tow. They left the theater and drove home in silence. Nancy noted that her friend was troubled, but didn't press her about the matter until they were getting ready for bed.
"Zatanna, you said you would tell me how he did his tricks later" Nancy reminded her, picking up a hairbrush. "Well, it's 'later' now."
"Oh, that's right," Zee responded. "Pick a number between one and ten."
"OK, I have it."
"What's your number?"
"Seven."
"Look under your powder box, Nancy."
Lifting the box from the vanity, Nancy Drew found one of her calling cards. On the back was written "I knew you would pick number seven".
"Now look in the right-hand drawer," Zee continued.
From the drawer, Nancy took another card. "I knew you would pick number three," she said aloud. On an impulse, the debutant detective picked up the box of tissues where she found another card that read "I knew you would pick number four."
"I learned that trick when I was six years old," the other told her.
"Alright, I understand how Rando could have had that telegram delivered while we were in his dressing room," Nancy said. "It would have been simple to have a friend send a wire and have it delivered at the proper moment. But how did he do that stuff with the audience?"
"It's called 'cold reading', Nancy. He speaks vaguely, getting someone to respond and the mark unconsciously helps him. It's something like a cross between 'Twenty Questions' and 'Hot and Cold'," She placed her fingers to her temples in the classic 'mind reader' pose. "I am getting the letter M or N. Is there someone here with those letters in their name who wishes to communicate with the spirits? If you ask around, I'm sure that some of the people in the audience have answered a poll or survey recently. That's a goldmine for fake spiritualists and the like"
"Oh, so that explains it. Well I'm glad you told me, Zatanna. You have nothing to worry about this fake then."
"Who said that Rando was a fake?"
TO BE CONTINUED
