Author's Note: Glad to be back on this. I would have written this down sooner, but I kept debating myself on what to write next in this fic. I kept rewriting it many times, but I eventually came to a decision. I will be doing another multi-chapter arc, but before all that, I'm going to go through some filler chapters to fill in some blanks. This right here is kind of a filler, but it will lead to another plot in the future. You'll see.
Now, before we begin, I'd like to answer a comment of interesting questions. Hopefully, this will make things clear. These questions were asked by a guest reviewer going by Leonardo.
"In addition to the television series episodes, will you adapt the Super Shorts and the first-generation "DC Super Hero Girls" web episodes, films, and graphic novels?"
-I may adapt a few of the Super Shorts. I have always been interested in the idea of what Gwen would do in some of those. But I won't be doing the first generation thing. I like the newer series much better.
"Will you only include elements from Earth-65 or will you also add elements from other worlds in the Marvel Multiverse into your story?"
-That is a good question. Well, this fanfic will include elements inspired by Earth-65, but it won't be exactly like that. There are some changes I plan on making in order to fit in this fanfic.
I hope all your questions have been answered and we can get started on this fanfic. Any and all comments are welcome.
"HELP! POLICE! I'M BEING ROBBED!" cried out an old lady who tried to wrestle her purse from the criminal's hands. The crook with a striped shirt and a black eye mask struggled to snatch the bag from her when suddenly, a voice cried out.
"Etativel!"
All of a sudden, a purple aura covered the crook before he quickly shot up from the ground. As he stopped in midair, a series of web shots attached him to the wall behind him. The crook looked and saw Ghost-Spider and Zatanna staring at him triumphantly. The Ghost-Spider was attached to the wall while Zatanna hovered in midair herself.
"No way!" Ghost-Spider exclaimed in surprise. "The Bodega Bandit? You're here?"
"You know this guy?" Zatanna asked.
"Oh, yeah. The Bodega Bandit is basically the poster boy for joke criminals. I used to string him up all the time back at New York."
"Hey, give me a break. I owed a lot of people money, which is why I came here." The Bodega Bandit pleaded. "Just please, don't hurt me, Spider!"
"Take it easy. I'm not going to hurt you." Ghost-Spider said. "I just want that old lady to keep her purse safe. You all right, ma'am?"
"Just stay away from me, you kid killer!" the old lady yelled out clutching onto her purse. That statement made Ghost-Spider frown, which Zatanna noticed.
"Hey! The mayor pardoned her!"
"Well then, he lost my vote." The old lady said before walking away.
Zatanna turned sympathetically toward Ghost-Spider, who swung out of the scene. The sorceress followed her.
The Ghost-Spider stopped at the top of a building where she sat on its edge. She removed her mask just as Zatanna dropped in.
"You okay?"
"You tell me, Zee." Gwen said.
"I'm sorry." Zee said sitting next to Gwen. "Look, you're not a killer. That was just an accident."
"I know. But it still hurts that the people don't understand."
"Well, I did warn you that you still had a public to convince. I wish there was something I could do to help."
Gwen sighed. "You know, on days like this, I kinda wish I went with my original plan."
"What original plan?" Zee asked curiously.
"Well, when I first got my powers, my first thought was using them for a get-rich-quick scheme. One day, my neighborhood was visited by a famous wrestler who was looking for an opponent. I planned on stepping into the ring with her, use my powers to put on a show, and that would begin my life as a celebrity."
"So what happened?"
"Well, before I could get to my match, I stumbled upon a burglary that unfortunately, Peter's Uncle Ben also discovered. The burglar was going to kill him, but I saved his life. I missed my chance at stardom, but I saving Uncle Ben made me realize I should have been doing more responsible things with my powers and after that, I became a hero. I figured it'd be tough being a hero while also doing showbiz."
Zee stayed silent for a second. "That's basically me."
"What's you?"
"What you just said. Being a hero and doing showbiz. That's kinda my life."
Gwen was stunned. "Say what?"
"Oh, yeah. You see, I come from a long line of powerful sorcerers. When I was a little girl, I joined
my daddy in performing magic acts all over the country. In fact, I still do magic acts to this day."
Gwen smiled awkwardly. "Sorry. I didn't mean it if I was offensive."
"That's okay. I guess the real difference is that while I'm Zatanna in the hero work, Zee Zatara is the magician and everyone assumes the tricks are really good fakes. I suppose Gwen Stacy and Ghost-Spider can't both be web-slingers."
"Yeah. That, and people like Gwen Stacy, but hate Ghost-Spider. Meanwhile, people love Zee Zatara and Zatanna, no matter who performs magic."
Suddenly, an idea flashed in Zee's head, one that made her smile. "Gwen Stacy, you're a genius!"
"I am?" Gwen asked confused.
"You want me to what?" Gwen asked as she and Zee stood at the Metropolis Park Amphitheater stage.
Zee looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I am going to help your public image by making you a part of my next show." Zee said. "Tomorrow night, I am scheduled to perform an act for a small audience. I believe that with the publicly recognized Ghost-Spider assisting me in magic, you'll gain more audience approval. They'll love you because they'll love the acts."
"Zee, I'm not so sure if that's a good idea." Gwen said. "What if instead of them liking me, they'll instead hate you for including me?"
"Physically impossible." Zee said. "Don't worry, Gwen. I wouldn't do this if I wasn't confident. Don't worry. Just let me work my magic and you can just sit back and let it happen. Trust me and you'll be one big step closer to getting the public to accept you."
Gwen took a deep breath. "Okay. I trust you."
"Thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta check on the backstage crew." Zee said before walking behind the curtain. She checked around to find it seemingly empty until…
"LOOK OUT!"
A person tackled Zee from behind right before a heavy sandbag hit where she stood. Zee saw the bag that almost hit her before looking up at her rescuer, a boy with a black bowl-cut along with a green T-shirt that had purple stripes. He coughed before getting off of Zee.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." Zee said. She got up and brushed her outfit. "And thank you for saving me."
"It's my fault, really." The boy admitted. "I must have left that line loose. And the one time I didn't double-check something."
"Oh. Are you with the backstage crew?" Zee asked.
"No. I AM the backstage crew." The boy said surprising Zee as he said it. "Everything you see back here, it's been my work. I'm Quentin Beck by the way."
"Zee Zatara." She introduced.
"Zee Zatara, as in from school, right?" Quentin asked.
"You go to Metropolis High?" Zee asked.
"Oh, yeah. In fact, I help around backstage too. I wanted to do it on my own, but the principal insisted on me working with others."
Zee looked around at the backstage area. "Well, if this is your work, then save for the sandbag, you're doing a marvelous job. Does this mean you'll be working at my show this weekend?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Quentin said. "I don't suppose you'd mind letting me in on your magic tricks."
Zee giggled. "A good magician never reveals her secrets."
Quentin shrugged. "Fair enough."
The big night finally arrived. From a skyscraper erected beside the park, Ghost-Spider perched
herself on the ledge looking down at the small crowd that surrounded the amphitheater stage. Zee approached her from behind.
"You ready?" Zee asked.
"No, but I feel like I'll have no choice." Ghost-Spider said.
"You'll do great." Zee said. "Just wait for my cue. I'll do a couple of warm-ups to get the crowd excited, then when I call for you, you swing on down and help me with my next trick. You'll do great. I believe in you." And with that note, she disappeared in purple smoke.
Down at the stage, the crowd went silent as the lights began to dim. They all turned their eyes at the theater before them. Suddenly, a pillar of purple smoke filled the area and Zee Zatara burst out of it in her full magician uniform. She smiled and bowed before the applauding crowd.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Zee said. "Welcome everyone to my magnificent show! I guarantee that all of you will leave this show with heads full of wonder and minds opened wide! I, Zee Zatara, am thrilled to be presenting my magic for the first time! So get yourselves ready for the show of a lifetime!"
"YES! FOR HOWEVER SHORT YOUR LIFETIME IS!"
Zee was caught off guard. The loud, bellowing voice wasn't part of her show. She turned around trying to find the source. That's when the noticed the smoke. The stage itself was quickly being covered by a mist of green smoke. The crowd was just as confused as the magician.
Suddenly, the green smoke shot up into a twister blowing gusts of wind at everybody. Zee covered her hair while taking a step back.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?! WHO'S DOING THIS?!"
"A great enemy of yours! One that I expect you didn't think you'd see again!" said the same bellowing voice that came from the tornado. "A nightmare that has returned to get his revenge! A phantom that will turn the great Zatara name into a mere memory! I… AM…" A man emerged from the top of the twister covered in green armor and a purple cape. He wore a silver dome over his head. "MYSTERIO!"
The wind stopped blowing, but Zee was still confused. She looked up at the new visitor with a face that was still struggling to figure him out. Mysterio noticed.
"Mysterio. You remember Mysterio, don't you?"
Zee chuckled and shrugged. "I just meet so many people." Suddenly, her eyes caught onto the dome helmet. "Wait a minute. I know that headgear. You… You always did your shows the same time as my daddy."
"Yes! Finally!" Mysterio exclaimed. "Yes, I did shows much like your father. He and I were rivals in the world of magic acts. But no matter what I did, your blowhard of a father always upstaged me. And it became even worse when he decided to bring you to his shows as his assistant. Eventually, I had no choice but to step down. But now, after my long hiatus, I am back to exact my revenge!"
"Look—Mysterio was it—I'm sorry you had to lose your spotlight," Zee said, "But why are you interrupting my show? You could just do your own comeback show somewhere else."
"Because if I do, I'm still going to be upstaged by you. But I can turn my act around as long as you tell me your family's secrets!"
"What?" Zee asked. "You're crazy! I'm not telling you anything!"
"If you will not speak of your secrets," Mysterio said raising his hand pointed at the magician, "Then you will not speak AT ALL!" A large beam of green light shot right out of his gauntlet. It was heading straight for Zee, but suddenly, a line of webbing shot at Mysterio's hand knocking it off-course. Once the blast made a hole in the floor, Mysterio turned to see Ghost-Spider swinging in.
"Stay away from her, bubble-head!" Ghost-Spider kicked at Mysterio knocking him off his green smoke pillar and landing on the stage. She landed on the stage and turned to the audience. "You all might want to run!"
The crowd turned and ran away from the stage in a panic. As they all left, Mysterio returned to his feet and faced Ghost-Spider.
"Who dares?"
"That's not how you tell a knock-knock joke." Ghost-Spider said. "First, I say 'knock-knock'. Then you say 'who dares'."
"Mock me how you want, but it won't save you from me" Mysterio said. He balled up his fist and swung it into the air in Ghost-Spider's direction.
"Huh?" Ghost-Spider asked. "Is that fishbowl cutting off the air flow to your head? I'm all the way over… OOF!" She gasped in shock feeling a solid strike hit the side of her head. It hit her exactly where Mysterio would have. He threw another punch and a second later, Ghost-Spider felt a sudden strike to her gut.
Mysterio gave one last swing, one that Ghost-Spider instinctively jumped to avoid. She shot a handful of web that completely covered the front half of Mysterio's helmet in web. As he was blinded, Ghost-Spider landed next to Zee.
"How did he do that?" Ghost-Spider asked. "He didn't even touch me, and yet, he hit me!"
"This guy may be a jerk, but he's good at illusions." Zee said. "It's all smoke and mirrors. If you can find his trick, you can beat him."
"All right." Ghost-Spider said. "I'll keep him distracted while you get changed."
Zee nodded and ran backstage. While she did that, Ghost-Spider turned to Mysterio who had just removed the web from his helmet. He looked around not even hiding his growl.
"Where's Zee Zatara?"
"Safely on her way home. And you're on your way to jail. As for your helmet, I'm thinking of putting it in my attic until I need to make a big snowglobe."
"You'll pay for your interference!" Mysterio shouted throwing a punch. Ghost-Spider dodged it and she heard the stage behind her get hit by the air. She turned curiously at it.
"Hold on. That's it!"
Ghost-Spider began running right toward Mysterio. He attempted to swing his punches, but Ghost-Spider kept moving out of the way. Eventually, she made it to Mysterio and grabbed him by his wrist. He couldn't move it because of her grip.
"Nice tech, bubble-brain." Ghost-Spider said. "I'm guessing compressed air fired at high speed by a remote control in your gauntlet."
"I don't need tech to do this!" Mysterio threw a real punch with his other hand, but Ghost-Spider dodged it and landing behind him twisting the arm she held at his back. Mysterio grunted before saying "Summora draconis sevantis raza!"
"Could you translate?" Ghost-Spider asked. "I don't speak Dungeons and Dragons."
All of a sudden, Ghost-Spider's spider sense tingled. She turned behind her, but it was too late. A reptilian tail with a purple fin struck her knocking her off the stage and making her release Mysterio. She looked up to see that was hit her was a large, snake-like dragon with purple hair, no arms or legs, and large wings. At first, it looked real, but its appearance flickered into a machine that looked like the dragon.
"Nice toy." Ghost-Spider said. "What? Does it have a holographic projector that makes it look like a real dragon?"
"Must you overanalyze everything?" Mysterio asked.
"Only when it comes to fake magic." Ghost-Spider said. "Real magic is what I respect. And speaking of which."
"Elbmessasid siht enihcam!"
In a purple flash, the robot dragon was suddenly in pieces. The parts of it were scattered all over the ground. Meanwhile, Zatanna lowered herself from the air covered in her purple aura. She landed right next to Ghost-Spider and had a serious look on her face directed at Mysterio.
"No! None of you will stand in my way!" Mysterio shouted.
"Why do bad guys always say that?" Ghost-Spider asked.
"You're not welcome here!" Zatanna confronted Mysterio. "You ruined this girl's performance and tried to kill her!"
"Well, like any magician, I always have one last trick up my sleeve." Mysterio said. He stood up straight and shook himself.
"That's freaking me out." Zatanna commented. "What's he doing?"
"I don't know," Ghost-Spider said, "But my spider sense is going nuts."
"LOOK OUT!"
Suddenly, Quentin Beck jumped out from where he was hiding and tackled both girls making them fall off the stage. Right as they fell to the ground, a loud beeping noise was heard before…
BOOM!
The entire stage lit up in a fiery explosion. The force covered the entire stage and only hovered above the fallen three. Once it was done and the smoke began to clear up, they finally got up seeing Mysterio, or at least, what's left of him. His hand laid before them with the end of his wrist sticking out electrical wires, oil, and metal bits.
"That wasn't the real Mysterio!" Ghost-Spider realized. "It was a robot that was set to explode as a last resort!"
"That was a close one." Zatanna said before turning to Quentin. "Thanks for the save."
"Yeah." Quentin said rubbing his head. "Well, I saw he was shaking, and I thought 'shaking villains is never a good sign'. So I dived in as fast as I could."
"Well, you did us both a big favor." Zatanna said. She then turned to her friend. "Hey, Ghost-Spider. I'm sorry this night didn't go the way you wanted."
"It's all right." Ghost-Spider shrugged. "At least no one was hurt."
"Um, excuse me." A little voice called out. A little boy emerged from behind one of the chairs. He held his phone up. "I got everything. You're all heroes."
"Really?" Ghost-Spider asked hopefully.
"Looks like you already got one kid on your side." Zatanna said. "So where are your parents?"
"We got separated when everyone ran." The boy said. His eyes then lit up when Ghost-Spider held out her arm to him.
"Well, let's go find them." She offered. "I'll be flying easily since you're riding along, but you'll want to hold on tight."
"Thank you!" the boy said with happiness. He clutched himself on Ghost-Spider's body as she started swinging away.
"You know, I think this was a good enough start for her." Zatanna said before realizing that Quentin had already left.
At the end of the next school day, the theater star, Oliver Queen, had gone backstage after his latest rehearsal. There, he crossed paths with Quentin Beck, who was fixing up the fog machine.
"Magnificent, if I do say so myself." Oliver praised himself. "What do you think, Beck?"
"Whatever you say, Queen." Quentin answered uninterested.
Oliver smiled proudly, but then frowned when someone walked in. "Well, if it isn't Ms. Bland and Overdramatic herself, Zee Zatara."
Quentin's head shot up before he turned to the magician who walked in. She gave a similar look of disdain to the actor.
"Oliver. If you don't mind, I'd like a word with Mr. Beck, please."
"Do what you'd like." Oliver shrugged before walking away.
"Hey, Zee." Quentin said. "I'm surprised you want to talk to me."
"Well, I heard about what you did to try and save my show the other day." Zee said. "Not to mention, you saved two superheroes. That's awfully brave of you."
Quentin smiled. "Oh, it's no big deal, really."
"It is to me." Zee said. "So if I ever need any backstage help for any more of my shows, how's about I give you a call?"
"I'd like that." Quentin grabbed his backpack and turned to the exit. "Well, I gotta go. Family stuff."
"All right. See you soon." Zee waved bye. She turned to leave at a different exit. But as soon as she was out of sight, Quentin's smile dropped and he left.
Quentin Beck headed straight home, which was a two-story house in a bit of a poor condition. The pain was dull, a couple of roof tiles were missing, and one of the windows was cracked. Still, it was his home and he entered through the front door.
Once he was inside, Quentin went across the dull hallway and went through the less-than-average living room. He entered a bedroom and took notice at the decorations. The first thing he noticed were over a dozen posters all over the walls dedicated to Mysterio. The second was a dusty Mysterio helmet resting at a desk along with other little gadgets.
Quentin's eyes then turned to the window where a man sat in a wheelchair. It was a middle-aged man with no ounce of kindness in his eyes. The man turned his wheelchair to face Quentin.
"So how did it go?"
Quentin shrugged. "Exactly as planned, Dad. I throw in a robot and make myself look like Zee Zatara's hero. I'm starting to earn her trust."
The wheelchair-bound man smiled maliciously. "Good. Soon, we will have our revenge against the Zatara family. And no one is going to stand in our way."