Zatanna: Mistress of Magic Issue 6
Written by Bodhi Ouellette
The Infinite Desert; Tower of Fate:
The Tower of Fate: A construct mostly made up of yellow bricks, it is a place long forgotten by the rest of the world, and has resided in the Infinite Desert for an unknown period of time. Zatanna was both confused and curious as to how the Tower ended up in this realm. The answers she would be looking for, and more, are in that Tower.
"Well…" paused Zatanna. "This is interesting."
"So the Tower of Fate has been here all this time?" Allura asked.
"I guess so," Zatanna voiced. "Let's see if there's anyone still in it."
The trio approached the front doors of the Tower, and knocked on it with a large doorknocker. After a few moments of nothingness, the large wooden doors opened on their own. They proceeded into a narrow room, with nothing but brick surrounding them, with the door closing behind them. A yellow filtered holographic image materializes of an old man, slightly hunched over, wearing a blue suit and leaning on a fancy looking cane. He stares dead in Zatanna's eyes. "Greetings, visitors," the old man welcomed. "What is the matter for you to come to the Tower of Fate?"
"Uhm… We're here to see the one known as Doctor Fate? We have some questions for him. I am Zatanna Zatara."
The sound of that name makes the hologram disappear. Suddenly, the brick wall in front of them began to transform into a pathway, revealing the same man shown in the hologram. "My name is Kent Nelson," the old man told them. "Please, come in."
The three of them moved forward out of the small-bricked room, and into a large hallway, with tall ceilings and many doors leading into different parts of the tower. The three of them were all in awe. "You are the daughter of Giovanni Zatara, Zatanna?" Kent asked, as he started to walk his way through the hallway with the three behind following him.
"Yes," confirmed Zatanna. "I'm going to assume you know them."
"Quite well, actually," said Kent. "Him and your mother. They're quite pleasant people. I can see a lot of both of them in you."
"Such as?"
"That costume most definitely comes from your father. Except, if you don't mind me saying it, you pull it off a lot better than him."
Zatanna laughed. "I've been told. What about my mother?"
"Your face, and most definitely her eyes," stated Kent. "Sorry if this might sound weird saying all of that to you."
"No offense taken, Mr. Nelson," Zatanna assured him.
"Please, Zatanna. Call me Kent."
"So what exactly is this place?" asked Allura.
"Who are these folks that are accompanying you?" Kent asked Zatanna.
"Friends," Zatanna replied. Kent just nodded, not bothering to go more into the circumstance. But Kent already knew who they were, and Zatanna figured he knew more as well. A matter that they will have to deal with later, as Kent walked up to a closed door.
"As to explain your question, Miss…"
"Uhm… Sarah," Allura replied.
"Yes, Sarah. The Tower of Fate is my home. It is where I operate under the mantle of Doctor Fate. Right now, I haven't donned the mantle in over two decades now, but I've been here all this time."
"Why did you leave?" Zatanna asked. "Why did you move here in the Infinite Desert?"
"And for that matter, how come magic still works here?" Allura demanded.
"To explain both of your questions, first as to how magic still works in here; the Tower is immune to anything that can hinder magic inside, hence why there's still magic within the Tower. Now, as to why I transported the Tower here in the Infinite Desert; when I wanted to retire with my wife Inza, I was faced with a mortal enemy, who threatened to destroy Inza and I. But I was not the only one that was being hunted."
"You mean Allura," corrected Zatanna.
"Yes. She was after me, and your parents, Zatanna."
"Do… do you know where they might be, Kent?"
"They're here, Zatanna," Kent told her calmly. "They're here, and they're safe." Kent then finally opened the door, revealing an almost infinite room, with staircases leading to every direction, and placed at all angles. "Oh, great, not again!" Kent yelled out. "I keep getting the damn doors mixed up! Come on, i'll bring you all to the correct door," he said as they all entered the room.
Meanwhile, outside of the Tower of Fate, Madame Xanadu, John and Etrigan stopped as the trail within the sand stopped right in front of the tower. They all looked up to take a glimpse of the Yellow Bricked tower.
"The Tower of Fate?" questioned Etrigan. "I am confused as to how this is possible, but does this mean something great?"
"Hope so," John replied with. "So, do we enter inside?"
"Might as well," Xanadu said. "Let's go." The three proceeded inside the Tower, going through the same procedure as Zatanna, with a yellow filtered hologram of Kent Nelson that appeared. "Greetings, visitors," Kent Nelson welcomed. "What is the matter for you to come to the Tower of Fate?"
"Kent Nelson, we are here to see if you have Zatanna here with you," Madame Xanadu explained.
"Kent is currently busy with another set of guests," said the holographic Kent. "If you wish to wait a while for Mr. Nelson to invite you in, you may-"
"We don't have time, Mr. Nelson," Xanadu blurted out. "Please let us in, now."
"You are showing a violent tendency. If you do not calm down, you will be dealt with."
"Let. Us. In. now."
The hologram disappeared. But instead of allowing them inside, the brick floor evaporated underneath their feet, as all of them began to plummet towards their death, with a large pool of lava at the bottom of the drop. Etrigan quickly grabbed Madame Xanadu, and pulled out his sword. The sword Etrigan pulled out had a large curved tip, and Etrigan used it to his advantage, by stabbing the sword within the rock. John on the other hand, was lucky enough to catch himself on the rocky surface above the two. "You guys ok?" John yelled at them below, struggling to keep his grip on the rocks.
"Yes, we're fine!" Madame Xanadu yelled back. "We're going to try to get back up, John!"
"You better hurry!" John replied. "I don't think I can hold on much longer!"
"We need to find a way in and get to Zatanna!" Xanadu stated.
John lost his grip on the rocks, falling down into the tunnel, and heading straight into the lava pit, plummeting to his doom. Xanadu screamed out for John. However, the lava pit quickly transformed into puddle of dark blue water, which John splashes into.
"John? John?!" Xanadu cried out. He did not come back up. "The lava is gone."
"It is a gateway," Etrigan explained. "If we go through it, we might live to see another day."
"Then let us go through, Etrigan."
Etrigan detached his sword from the rock, and the two started to fall through the tunnel and down into what they hoped was a portal to safety. Etrigan held Madame Xanadu tightly. They finally entered into the portal.
Out from the portal Etrigan and Madame Xanadu came out from. They looked up to gaze upon John Constantine with a smug smirk on his face, as he quickly lit up a cigar, and placed Zatanna's hat right back onto his head.
"What's with the smirk?" Xanadu coldly asked.
"Oh, nothing," John replied. "Guess I'm just happy that we're not dead is all."
"I really dislike you, John Constantine," Etrigan confessed.
"You certainly aren't the first to say that," John stated. "And you sure as hell won't be the last, I'm sure of that. Now, we're in the Tower of Fate. Anyone know the layout of this place?"
"I've been here countless times," said Madame Xanadu. "I can get us around."
"Lead the way, Madame," said John. Madame Xanadu led, as John and Etrigan followed her through the massive hallway. She led them to a wooden door, the same one as Kent walked towards, and she opened the door, revealing the same "room" that the others before them went into. "If we have anyway of finding Zatanna," started Madame Xanadu, "It's through here." They all proceeded in.
Meanwhile, Zatanna, Allura, Fomori and Kent Nelson had been roaming around the space bending stairways. While to Kent and Zatanna found the room to be nothing special, Fomori, and especially Allura were blown away by the amount of mind bending they were experiencing. "This is seriously incredible!" Allura said.
"Make sure you don't get dizzy from this," warned Kent. It happened to me once, and I ended up being stuck in here for almost an entire day. This room constantly warps, never taking the same shape twice, so try to keep up."
"Where are you bringing us, Kent?" Zatanna asked.
"It's a surprise," Kent responded. "You're big fellow over there doesn't talk much, does he?"
"You mustn't always judge a book by it's cover," Fomori stated. "I can speak."
"Sorry for my judgemental attitude," apologized Kent. There was another voice, not from any of them, but from far beyond that they could all hear. "Zatanna?!" the voice screamed.
Zatanna's eyes widened. "That's Madame Xanadu!" she cried. "Madame?!"
"Zatanna?" Madame Xanadu screamed out again. "Where are you?!"
Kent looked up to see Madame Xanadu, John and Etrigan up above walking on a warped pair of stairs. "Look up!" said Kent. Everyone looked up to see both groups stare at each other. "Zatanna!" Madame Xanadu cried out. "You're safe!"
"Yeah, I am," Zatanna replied. "I'm glad you guys are safe too."
"Kent, how the hell do we get down to you?" Madame Xanadu asked.
"You're guess is as good as mine, Madame," said Kent. "We can just stay put until you find your way to us. But, if you're lucky, if you approach a door, you might find yourself to a shortcut."
"There's a door right behind us," John stated, as he walked over towards the door. "What if we opened it?" he said as he opened up the door, and a gigantic large blue tentacle wrapped around John and pulled him into the room.
"John!" Zatanna cried out. "Etrigan, help him out!"
"Will do, my lady!" Etrigan said as he pulled out both of his swords as he charged right into the room. "I'll help them out, too!" said Madame Xanadu. "We'll meet back up with you again, Zatanna."
"Be careful!" Zatanna asked of her.
"Don't worry," she assured. "We will," and she charged into the room, the door closed behind her.
"Well, that's just great," said Kent. "How in the hell did that thing get out? Oh, well, I'm sure those three can take care of it. Let's… let's just go and bring you to where I want you too."
John was trying as hard as he can to fend off the large blue blob like creature with dozens of large tentacles. Etrigan was also trying to fend of the tentacles with his swords. Madame Xanadu had been casting spells at the blob itself, with mild success. John, getting fed up with the blob creature crushing his esophagus, summons one of the large Guan Dow staffs towards him from the wall, and he uses it to stab the blob in the what he can only assume was his torso. This makes the blob let go of John.
"I think this thing is weak to any attacks towards it's… body, thing," said John. "Try to attack the body!"
Madame Xanadu casted a spell, summoning four sharp arrows to try to pierce the body, while John took another jab at the body as well. Unfortunately, all the blob did was just absorbed the weapons inside of it's body.
"Uh… what?" said John.
"You said that it would harm this, John!" scolded Etrigan.
"Well, maybe it was just a fluke! Don't get all pissy at me because we're about to die!"
The tentacles grabbed Etrigan's foot and pulled him up into the air, dropping his swords. The tentacles then grabbed Madame Xanadu and John up from the air. Now all three of them are defenseless and no way to break free.
"Well, I guess this is it," John stated.
"Shut it, John," told Madame Xanadu.
With their fates dwindling, a beacon of hope appeared to save them. A large red light pierced through all of the tentacles, and then another one sliced through the blobbed creature like if it was butter. The three all looked up to stare at a surprising figure; Sindella.
"Nimbul?" said Sindella. "What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you too, Sindella," replied Madame Xanadu. "We're here because you're daughter's here."
"Z- Zatanna's here?" Sindella asked.
"Yes," she replied. "It's a long story, but the point is, we're all here because someone is attacking us."
"Oh, dear," worried Sindella. "Follow me, we'll return to Giovanni."
Kent finally brought the three towards a door, and he clutched the doorknob. He could feel the tension Zatanna was feeling, though to her it was a mixture of different emotions, due to the situation going on with Xanadu. But was this it? Was this the day she finally reunited with her father for so many years? Kent opened the door. He let Zatanna in first in a comfortable room, full of sofas and over two shelves full of books. There was also a rocking chair, and sitting in that rocket chair was a man wearing a button up shirt and jeans. His hair had some grey in it, and he also had a moustache. This man was Giovanni Zatara. He looked up to lock eyes with his daughter. "Zatanna?" he spoke.
"Dad?" she spoke softly.
Giovanni placed his book aside and he got up from his rocking chair. The two ran up to each other and embraced in a wonderful hug. The rest of them could feel the amount of emotion spiraling off of their long awaited reunion. "Oh, dad, it's so good to see you."
"I'm so sorry, Zatanna."
"For what?"
"For having to leave you for all of these years. Including your mother."
"Its fine, dad."
"By the way; happy birthday, Zatanna."
"Thanks, dad," she said as she let out a large smile. "Where's mother?"
"She went to go take a little walk around the Tower. She should return momentarily."
As he said that, a door on the other side from them opened up, revealing Sindella with Madame Xanadu, John, and Etrigan. Sindella also stared at the appearance of her daughter.
"Zatanna!" bawled Sindella, and she joined in with Giovanni and Zatanna in their hug. Finally. The father, mother and daughter reunited after so many years of separation. "Oh, Zatanna," Sindella whispered into her daughter's ear. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too, mom," Zatanna responded. "Both of you."
"Well, this is sweet," John said, interrupting the moment between the three. Zatanna looked back to see John wearing her tophat. She walked over to him and approached John, clenching his jacket, and pulled him in to give him a big kiss on the cheek. John blushed, while the rest of them just watch in awkwardness, especially Sindella and Giovanni. Zatanna then swipes her tophat off of John's head.
"Give me back my hat," she said to him.
"You've gotta admit," started John. "I looked great with it. I saw you eyeing me that way."
"I was eyeing you because you we're wearing my hat. But yeah, you did kinda look good with it."
"I look good in a lot of things, that you've seen me in before," he claimed. That statement made most of them moan in embarrassment.
"Parents here," Giovanni stated. "I really didn't need to hear that."
"Sorry," said John. "I'm John. John Constantine."
They ignored his greeting. Sindella turns her head over to view the other guests that have arrived. Immediately she noticed Allura standing far behind everyone else. "Allura?" Sindella spoke to her. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, uh… me," Allura replied back. "Nice to see you again."
"You too as well," said Sindella. "You do know you're risking all of us with both of us being here."
"I know," Allura assured.
"But that's the problem, Sindella," interrupted Madame Xanadu. "Allura is attacking us."
"What?" Giovanni shouted. "How?"
"It all started when John and I visited Jason in London," Zatanna explained. "We don't know why she's doing it now, but Allura thinks we might have a chance to stop her."
"But how can we do that?" Etrigan asked.
"I believe you're answer comes from the big man in the room," Kent answered, as he scanned Fomori. The rest of them looked at him as well. Without hesitation Giovanni and Sindella both casted a spell towards Fomori, and indestructible chains wrapping around him and clinging him onto the wall. Fomori struggled to escape, with no success. Sindella then spoke out another spell, and unfolded like a piece of paper was a thin glowing sword, and she stuck it up against Fomori's neck. "Speak you beast," Sindella sternly demanded, "Or I shall slice your throat opened."
Zatanna ran up to Sindella's sword. "Mother, no!" she cried. "There's no need for this. He is on our side."
"How exactly would you know this?" John asked. "For all we know, whatever he told you he could be lying to you."
"Please, Sindella," begged Allura, "Let him go."
"No…" stopped Fomori. "Let them read my mind. I know everything about the evil Allura's plans."
"Then tell us," said Sindella.
"I can't," confessed Fomori. "I won't until you offer me something that I wish to have back. My humanity. I have been transformed into becoming a beast such as this, everyone that I know believe that I am dead. I am tired of living like a monster. Help me take it back."
There was silence from everyone. Sindella, debating within her thoughts about sparing the beast, realizing that he was not just a beast, but a human cursed into an inhuman form, brought the sword down. His words reminded her once when she and Giovanni helped Jason Blood from keeping Etrigan within for good. If her daughter and other self is to be believed that this man speaks the truth, then she will follow through. "What is Allura planning?" she asked again, this time with less tension in her voice.
"My thoughts about it are vague and separated into pieces," explained Fomori. "That is how Allura did it, so that no telepath could simply read our minds. If you want to know her whole plan, you must put the puzzles together."
Giovanni looked at Madame Xanadu. "Nimbul," he asked of her. "Do you think you can piece it back together?"
"I'll see what I can do," answered Madame Xanadu.
"Thank you," he responded back. "Now, in the meantime, we must be ready for any attack that comes." He then looks back at his wife and daughter. "Right now, let us bond as a family."
To be concluded in Zatanna: Mistress of Magic Issue 7!