Zatanna's Curse
Chapter 7:
Zatanna dropped through the air, flailing her arms and legs around and screaming. She spun as she fell and looked to the sky, hoping Hades would be merciful to her soul in the Underworld.
Pegasus kicked and thrashed around in his stable.
"Mother! She's in danger!" he telepathically exclaimed.
"Calm yourself, Pegasus!" Zeus, having come to check on his horses, commanded.
"No! I won't let my mother go to the Underworld!"
Pegasus kicked the door of his stable open and galloped out.
Zatanna closed her eyes as tears escaped them and her snakes flew past her. She was about to accept her fate when she heard a familiar telepathic cry.
"Mother!"
Zatanna opened her eyes when she saw a majestic white stallion with beautiful white wings flying down with an Olympian saddle and reins.
"P-Pegasus?" she stammered, her voice lost in the wind.
Pegasus disappeared from view and Zatanna flipped over to be facing the fast approaching ground. Out of no where, she landed on something. Zatanna felt the soft mane on her cheek and she opened her eyes, sitting up.
"Pegasus?" she wondered "Is that you?"
"Mother... I've missed you so much," Pegasus telepathically responded.
"Pegasus!" Zatanna exclaimed, hugging the horse that was technically her son.
Pegasus landed on the ground and stamped his foot. Dick came running to them and helped Zatanna off. They held each other in relief for the other's life until Pegasus butted in. Zatanna laughed as she stroked his nose.
"Dick, this is my horse/son, Pegasus. Pegasus, this is my boyfriend, Dick, he's the one mortal man who's immune to my gaze," Zatanna introduced them to each other.
"It is good to know my mother has found love," Pegasus said, nieghing.
"Thanks, it's good to meet the infamous Pegasus," said Dick.
"Pegasus, we need to get to Ponpei and before the 1000th anniversary in 6 days," said Zatanna "Can you fly us?"
"It would be my honour, Mother," said Pegasus, bowing down for them to mount him "But, please, take off these reins and saddle,"
"Of course, honey, anything for my boy," she said, undoing the reins while Dick undid the saddle.
Dick may have known how to ride a horse but he didn't know how to ride a flying horse so Zatanna sat up front. Apparently, the trick was to ask Pegasus and, if he would, he'd take you anywhere. Dick put his arms around Zatanna's waist from behind as Pegasus got back to his feet and flapped his wings. Zatanna's legs were in front of his wings while Dick's was behind them. Zatanna laughed as Dick tightened his grip around her waist as Pegasus began lifting off.
"Don't worry, love, I'm an expert," she said "Well... Pegasus is,"
Pegasus began running along the ground as his hooves began to leave the land. He ran off the edge and soared upwards with his wings outstretched as he glided into the sky.
Pegasus glided over the bright blue ocean while he galloped his feet. Dick should have been used to it by then but a flying horse completely threw him off. Zatanna was laughing from the joy of being on Pegasus's back once more. The snakes of her hair were over her shoulders so they wouldn't flap in Dick's face.
"Pegasus, can you take us above the clouds? We don't want to be seen," she asked.
"Of course, Mother," Pegasus responded.
They flew high into the sky and Pegasus began flapping his wings again. They came up above the clouds and the Sun shone even brighter. Dick looked at their shadows on the golden clouds and marvelled at his surroundings. Zatanna leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder. Dick hugged her and they looked around at the magical clouds.
Zatanna hadn't felt this at peace in her entire 1000 year long life. Pegasus was under her, the love of her life was behind her and everything was right for a change. If it weren't for the hissing of her snakes, everything would be perfect.
They flew all day until night fell. Being above the clouds meant they had a perfect view of the stars.
"Zatanna, have you been thinking of what you'll do when we break the curse?" Dick asked.
"Well... I'm not sure," she said.
"Until you do, I'm happy to help support you," he said "You're really good at drawing, you should think about going to art school,"
"You think?" Zatanna said "I've always loved drawing,"
Zatanna leaned back into him, stretched her arm back and cupped his cheek. She turned his head downwards and kissed him. Dick took one arm from around Zatanna's waist and cupped her cheek. They pulled away and Zatanna lightly laughed.
"Mother, we're nearing Ponpei but the clouds beneath us are storm clouds!" Pegasus warned.
"We'll have to go through them," said Zatanna, leaning forward "You ready, boys?"
"As ready as I'll ever be!" Dick said.
"Here we go!" said Pegasus.
Zatanna pulled her hood over her snakes and Dick got a better grip on her. Pegasus dived and they shot into the clouds.
The lightning shot around them and the dark cloud swirled around them. Zeus was definitely angry they were flying in his sky on his steed. They fell out of the bottom of the clouds and they were pelted with rain. Pegasus began flapping his wings once more to avoid falling into the raging ocean. As his hooves skidded the surface, the water in front of them calmed to let them through.
"Seems Poseidon doesn't want to harm his son!" Dick shouted over the storm.
Pegasus managed to get higher up again and out of the ocean's reach. He headed in the direction of Mt. Vesuvius, flying over the town. The 3 of them kept their heads down as the rain fell. There was a bolt of lightning that narrowly missed them but sent them falling.
"ZEUS! QUIT TRYING TO KILL US!" Zatanna screamed as they fell.
Pegasus's Family Tree:
Zatanna - mother. Born from her blood.
Poseidon - father. Born from his ocean.
Amphitrite - stepmother. Poseidon's wife and mother of Triton.
Zeus and Hades - uncles. Poseidon's brothers.
Demeter, Hera, and Hestia - aunts. Poseidon's sisters.
Artemis and M'gann - aunts by curse. Zatanna's Sisters in Curse.
Giovanni and Sindella - grandparents. Zatanna's mother and father.
Dick Grayson - mother's boyfriend. The one mortal man immune to a gorgon's gaze.
Antaeus, Theseus, Triton and Sciron - half-brothers. Poseidon's sons.
Naiads - half-sisters. Poseidon's daughters.
