Hey there, everybody! I am SuperHeroTimeFan, and I am back with another new chapter of my best story yet, Path of the Padawan! I would like to thank many of my supporters such as The Christian Jedi, JacklyinKarst, KrautYank, RozenMaiden7, Logan GC, Ocnarf, and many of the numerous Guest reviewers for reading my story and liking it so much. It means so much to me, thanks! Now, since there are no certain questions for me to answer today, I guess I'll just start off with my new chapter! I would like to thank The Christian Jedi for helping me out here. Otherwise, I would have never been able to get any of my chapters done. Without further ado, I give you Chapter 13, where unlucky things will start to happen. Please review, rate and enjoy!
Chapter 13: Witch and Wizard
Holy Cross High School, New York February 13th 1216 hours
Zatanna Zatara walked away from the lunch counter right after she had bought her lunch for the day. She looked around and sighed in relief. No sign of Xanadu anywhere. She thought to herself. Putting a slight smile on her face, Zatanna took a seat down at a table by the back of the lunchroom. Zatanna rubbed her hands together, preparing to eat her meal. Just then, one of the teachers walked up to her. "Miss Zatara, I would like to ask you to please give up your second seat to Miss Xylene." Mr. Snow asked. Zatanna gulped and looked up to see Xanadu standing right there! It was freaky to see Xanadu, seeing as she had a shocking resemblance to Zatanna herself. The only difference in their appearance was that Xanadu, or Xylene, had a silver streak of hair. Zatanna sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry, I can't. This seat is for someone else." Zatanna lied nervously. Xylene looked down to her with an innocent look on her face. "Let's not get selfish here, Rosa Parks. If you would, I'd very much like a seat." Xanadu quipped. Zatanna groaned as pulled up the second seat. Mr. Snow smiled and then walked away.
Xanadu took her seat right across from Zatanna. The mage glared at Xanadu and lifted her fork. Xylene scoffed and levitated the Zatanna voodoo doll in front of her for defense. Before Zatanna could impale Xanadu, she stopped just in time to avoid an attempted suicide. Zatanna looked to Xanadu, who was chuckling with delight. Zatanna placed down her fork and sighed. "Are you going to finish me off right here? If you are, do it quickly so that I can finally be free!" Zatanna exclaimed in much worriment. Xanadu chuckled and looked at Zatanna while she ate some of the mage's soup. "I'm not going to finish you off like that, Z." Xanadu quipped. Zatanna sighed and calmed herself down. From under the table, Xanadu removed one of her shoes and used her other foot to remove her long sock. Xanadu sinisterly glared at Zatanna while she placed her bare foot up the mage's skirt. Zatanna squirmed in pain a little as Xanadu chuckled again. "I'm going to keep torturing you…" Xanadu started, removing her foot from the inside of the skirt. Zatanna then gasped as Xylene then started to stroke her foot up and down on Zatanna's bare leg. "…Until it hurts so much that you'll be begging for mercy and crawling to me on your knees." Xylene finished up sadistically, smirking at Zatanna's uneasiness. Zatanna started to pant and tap on the table while sweating with anxiousness as Xanadu stroked her calves with the side of her left foot. Before anything worse could happen, the bell rang, ending the lunch period. Zatanna sighed in relief as Xanadu smirked. Zatanna quickly got up and then ran to her next class, leaving Xylene to clean up after herself.
Mount Justice 1501 hours
Recognized Zatanna Zatara B-0-9 the female computer announced as Zatanna nervously ran into the Cave. She straightened out her uniform as the rest of the Team looked to her nervously. "Xanadu nearly killed me… at my Catholic School!" she exclaimed frantically. Ahsoka walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I promise that we will take care of Xanadu with any means necessary." Ahsoka stated. Zatanna smiled and looked up to Ahsoka. "Thank you, Ahsoka." She said gratefully. Ahsoka smiled back to the mage as the rest of the Team looked to her with hopeful faces. Robin then walked up to her and embraced the magician. "Whoa, slow down there, tiger!" Zatanna stated calmly. Robin chuckled and placed a hand to her head. "I don't want to lose you, Zatanna. You're so much to me." He stated. Zatanna smiled to the Boy Wonder. Robin smiled back as they both looked into each other's eyes. Their eyes started to shut as they both leaned in for a kiss.
Just then, Zatanna fell down in pain. Robin and the Team gasped at what was happening. "Xanadu!" Zatanna yelled out. Black Canary and Doctor Fate soon ran in as they saw what was happening. "Xanadu has control over Zatanna again!" Ahsoka exclaimed. Robin shot a glare to the Lord of Order. "Can't you at least do something?!" he asked anxiously. Fate nodded no. "In order to end this black magic, I must be at the source of the evil power." Doctor Fate stated. Robin groaned as he knelt down to Zatanna's level. "Hang in there, Zatanna. Everything will be alright." Robin reassured her. Zatanna nodded no as she started to pant nervously.
Bialya 1511 hours UTC
Xanadu played around with the Zatanna Voodoo Doll with much joy. "Let's see what I can do with you, Zatanna." Xanadu quipped as she lifted up Zatanna's leg. Behind her, Barriss and Sylas watched. "What should we do, Sylas?" Black Widow asked her master. Sylas just scoffed and chuckled. "We let her be. The more harm on the Team, the better it will be for us." Sylas stated. Black Widow chuckled and watched as Xanadu toyed around with Zatanna more.
At the Cave, Zatanna lifted up her leg as Robin was checking to see if she was all right. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Zatanna's foot draw nearer to him. At that moment, all of the Teem oohed in pain as Robin was kicked right below the belt. Zatanna gasped as Robin tried to regain himself. "I'm sorry! Xanadu is the one controlling me!" she apologized. Robin held up his hand as if the injury were nothing, then Zatanna started to cringe in pain even more.
At that moment, Doctor Fate sent a blast towards the mage. Ahsoka and the rest of the Team gasped as Zatanna started to glow white. After about thirty seconds, Zatanna stopped glowing and started to get on all fours while panting. "What happened?" she asked everyone. Doctor Fate flew over. "I cast a spell to negate the effects of the black magic. It is only temporary, but it should be enough to let you be free." The Lord of Order explained. Ahsoka scoffed and crossed her arms. "Marvel's right about you, Fate. You are totally uncool." Ahsoka stated, causing some grins from the rest of the Team, even Black Canary. After a while of laughing from the Team, Ahsoka sighed and continued to send her glare at Nabu.
Wanting to break up the tension, Aqualad cleared his throat. "I suggest we try an approach to practice in taking down the Terror Titans." The Atlantean stated. Ahsoka looked to him and raised an eyebrow. "What would that be?" she asked. Aqualad smiled and went on. "They're clones of us, which means that if we have certain weaknesses, then they will too." Kaldur explained. The Team chuckled as Aqualad grinned to them. "Perhaps we could practice taking down the Terrors by fighting each other." Robin suggested. Zatanna stood up and nodded. "Why don't we try to fight the weakest member of the Team? That way, we'll know which Titan can be defeated easily." The mage suggested. Artemis gulped and looked to Robin. Robin started to sweat as the Team started to look at them. "It's Artemis or Robin, you choose." Rebel stated. The Boy Wonder looked to the archer and gulped the same way she did to him. Artemis just grinned.
About three minutes later, Artemis and Robin were sitting at a table, doing arm-wrestling to find out who would be fought by the Team. The Team watched as they attempted to gain a bit of momentum over each other. Their left hands were tied behind their chairs in order for there to be no cheating. Both Robin and Artemis started to groan as they looked over to the Team with strained faces, wanting to know who was winning. Ahsoka shrugged and sighed. "They're even!" She and Kid Flash simultaneously stated. Wally nodded and tilted his hand towards Robin, as he obviously wanted his best friend to win.
Later on, Robin and Artemis started to look each other in the eyes. As they leaned in closer, Robin backed away, in which Artemis did the same. Ahsoka raised an eyebrow and looked to the rest of the Team. "A staring contest? Really?" she asked. Wally and Aqualad shrugged and Superboy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess?" the speedster asked.
After that failed, the two threw their right fists towards each other. "Rock Paper Scissors!" they yelled. "Look that way!" Artemis exclaimed, pointing behind the Boy Wonder. Robin quickly turned around before the two started again. "Rock Paper Scissors!" they yelled once again. "Look that way!" Robin said, causing Artemis to turn around before they started once more. "Rock Paper Scissors!" they yelled. "Look that way!" Artemis yelled again. Robin turned around as they continued to play the game over and over. M'gann and Wally started to nod their heads, as if what the two were saying was a rhythm. Ahsoka groaned and rolled her eyes. "Cut it out already!" she yelled. The Team stopped watching and focused their sights on Ahsoka. The Togrutan walked over to Artemis as she repeated "Look that way!" again. Artemis immediately saw Ahsoka and straightened herself up. Robin chuckled, but after Ahsoka sent him a glare, he stopped as well. "I'm thinking of a number between 16 and 1313. If one of you can get the right answer, then the loser has to be fought by the entire Team." Ahsoka explained. The two powerless heroes nodded as they both slammed their fists onto the table. "421!" Robin yelled out. Artemis scoffed. "1138!" she exclaimed. Ahsoka smiled to Artemis. "Artemis wins." She proclaimed. Artemis uttered a 'yes!' as she got up while Robin groaned and threw his head down to the table, pounding his fist.
Robin stood in the center of the training circle as the rest of the Team prepared to take him down. As soon as Aqualad and Ahsoka unsheathed their swords, Robin threw two birdarangs at the Team. As Kid Flash and Artemis dodged the boomerangs, Robin leapt into the air and started to strafe down on the Team with birdarangs. Ahsoka started to roll and dodge them as she looked up to the Boy Wonder. "Let's see how you like this!" she quipped. With that, Ahsoka jumped into the air and grabbed the Boy Wonder by the cape. "Hey!" Robin yelled, but Ahsoka swirled and then threw him to the ground. As Robin got up, Artemis shot one of her arrows at him, sending him over to a wall. As Robin was pinned against the wall, Black Canary stopped them all. The Team, plus the fallen Robin, looked to their training instructor. "Well, Team, judging by the looks of things, it seems that you'd all be able to take down Falcon pretty easily." Dinah complimented.
The Team smiled as Robin regained himself. "Well, now that that's settled, maybe we should go find the Terror Titans." The Boy Wonder stated optimistically. At that moment, R7-A7 rolled over. Ahsoka knelt to his level and rubbed the top of his dome. "It seems that R7 was able to locate one of them already." She informed the Team. Aqualad nodded. "Let's go!" he commanded. The rest of the Team nodded as they all headed towards the Zeta Tubes. As they were leaving, Dinah looked over to Doctor Fate. "You'd better go with them." She ordered. "I shall do my own bidding." He stated. Dinah sighed as she watched Fate leave through the Zeta Tubes to get to the Team.
Briarwood, Indiana 1559 hours
Ahsoka and the Team looked around the forests of Indiana to find the Terror Titans. "Are you sure R7 gave you the correct coordinates?" Aqualad asked. Ahsoka sighed and kept looking around. "My astromech is the best informant I've ever had, so he can't be wrong." Ahsoka stated to the leader. Ahsoka looked up to Artemis, who was mapping the area for signs of the ORDER. "Any sign yet, Artemis?" Ahsoka asked. Artemis just kept using her bow to target for any enemies. Aqualad looked to Ahsoka with a worried look on his face. "Something about all of this just doesn't seem right." The Atlantean stated. Ahsoka smiled and looked back to Kaldur'ahm. "I'm sure that everything will be just fine, Aqualad." Ahsoka reassured the Team leader.
Just then, there was a bright light coming from above one of the trees. The Team all looked to see someone in a golden phoenix-designed armor, floating in the air and looking down to them. She started to smirk as she levitated herself down. "You must be the so-called 'Great' Team of the Justice League." The woman stated. Aqualad and Ahsoka both unsheathed their weapons and pointed them to the strange woman. "Who are you?" Aqualad demanded. The woman chuckled and scoffed. "I am Syrena, loyal general to ORDER." Alakshmi introduced herself to the Team. Wally slammed his fist against a tree and grunted angrily. "So what is ORDER?!" he demanded. Syrena chuckled and pointed her left hand towards Kid Flash. "I think that's something for you to find out on your own, Red." The Persian quipped. Wally groaned and charged at Syrena. Alakshmi chuckled and pushed her hand forwards. Ahsoka gasped as Kid Flash was sent into three trees before hitting the fourth hard. "That's one of the forbidden ways of the Force!" Ahsoka exclaimed. Syrena looked to Ahsoka and chuckled. "If they were forbidden, then I wonder why the Midi-Chlorians created those ways in the first place." Syrena quipped sadistically. Aqualad groaned and unsheathed both of his swords. "Attack!" he ordered. The Team complied by charging towards Alakshmi. Syrena chuckled and held her left hand up. In a matter of seconds, a golden staff fell into her hands. Syrena held it into the air and at that moment, two golden feather-like swords fell into her hands. "Let's duel." She quipped. Zatanna charged in, but turned around as if she heard something. Shrugging it off, Zatanna charged in to help the rest of the Team battle.
From behind a bush, Xanadu came out from hiding. Head to toe with silver leggings and gloves with her golden robe, Xanadu was prepared for battle. She immediately ran into the battle as Ahsoka attempted to strike at Syrena. Alakshmi dodged and sent an upwards slash towards her. As Zatanna managed to kick away Syrena, she felt someone grab her by the neck. Zatanna started to choke as Xanadu circled around her and grabbed her head. Zatanna gasped as Xanadu jumped into the air and slammed Zatanna's head into the soil. Zatanna started to moan in pain as Xanadu picked her back up again. "Forget about Syrena! Always remember that as long as I live, you will never be free from me!" Xanadu yelled. With that, Xanadu threw Zatanna back as she unsheathed her long wand. Zatanna looked back and unsheathed her own. Zatanna charged at Xanadu and immediately clashed with her wand. Xylene chuckled as Zatanna forced her back. "Tell me, what would you do if I kissed Robin? He's your boyfriend, isn't he, or does he belong to someone else?" Xanadu taunted. Zatanna growled and pushed Xanadu away. "You're sick!" she yelled. Xanadu chuckled as she turned around and magically levitated a rock towards the mage. Zatanna shrieked as she was soon hit and sent to the ground. Xanadu laughed madly as she leapt down onto her. Zatanna yelled right after Xanadu stepped on her chest. As much as Zatanna tried to get up, Xanadu kept forcing her back down. Zatanna looked up to Xanadu and growled, but the witch just laughed and levitated her into the air. Zatanna was soon thrown back into a tree.
As Zatanna was trying to regain herself, she started to spit out blood. Xanadu sighed and took out the voodoo doll. "Don't you just love dolls? It's like a toy, that you can have fun breaking!" Xanadu sadistically snapped. Zatanna got up and spat out a tooth. "Cuff off!" she cursed, followed by a cough. Xanadu smiled as she unsheathed a hidden dagger. Robin kicked away Syrena and looked to Zatanna worryingly. "Hold on!" he yelled. Zatanna turned around and gasped. "Save me!" she yelled. At that moment, Xanadu drove the dagger into the Zatanna voodoo doll's chest. Zatanna gasped as she started to feel her chest painfully. "I find your interference to be disturbing, Zatanna." Xanadu stated. Robin stopped and aimed a taser cord towards Xanadu, but the witch just chuckled and started to carve with the dagger. Zatanna got onto her knees as she looked to her chest. There, beside her heart, was an 'X', carved in blood! Robin looked to Zatanna with shock before yelling and charging at Xanadu. Before he could reach her, Enola blasted him away. "Nice timing, girl." Xanadu stated to the evil Rocket. Enola looked back to Xanadu and winked while blowing a kiss. "Did you succeed?" Barriss' voice came out. Ahsoka looked to see Black Widow jump down from one of trees as Xanadu walked over to Zatanna and picked her up by the hair. "Zatanna…" Xanadu started out before gutting the mage in the stomach, knocking her out cold. "…Is ours." The witch finished up.
At that moment, Doctor Fate arrived just in time to see everything happen. "Come to the Louisiana Bayou so that your magician friend can be freed." Black Widow ordered. Ahsoka pointed her lightsaber to her former friend and growled. "What do you want?" Ahsoka asked. "Give yourself in to ORDER, and we just might set Miss Zatara free." Enola wrapped up. Ahsoka and Robin growled at the women as they all disappeared. Syrena knocked away Aqualad and chuckled. "Dasvidaniya, delinquents!" Alakshmi called out before disappearing in a cloud of golden feathers. The Team looked around with worriment, all calling out for Zatanna. All they could hear was the laughter of the girls of ORDER. Robin looked around and panted. The Team started to back away as the Boy Wonder spread his arms out and yelled into the sky. "Zatanna's gone!" he exclaimed. Doctor Date flew over and nodded in disagreement. "I was able to track down Zatanna Zatara to where this ORDER took her. Black magic like this cannot be allowed to roam free in the name of the Fate." Nabu proclaimed. Ahsoka stepped up and sighed. "ORDER wants me, so I'll go and bring Zatanna back." Ahsoka proclaimed. Nabu just simply floated towards the Togrutan and glared at her. "Your potential in mystic arts may be strong, but only I can be able to save Zatanna Zatara." Fate stated. Ahsoka walked up to him and scoffed once again. "Tell me, Fate, did Zatara willingly give himself up, or did you just kill and blackmail him into donning your helmet?" Ahsoka asked snippily. Nabu stood there silently before turning around. "I can free Zatanna from her voodoo curse. Zatara demands it from the inside." Doctor Fate explained. Ahsoka smiled. "So, I assume we go together?" she asked. Doctor Fate turned around and nodded. "Xanadu is a powerful entity. It will take much power to take her down. I sense much dark magic within her." Fate stated. Ahsoka sighed. "I'll take that as a 'yes'." Ahsoka said. Aqualad looked to Ahsoka and nodded. "We will wait at the Cave for your return." The Atlantean stated. Ahsoka smiled and nodded back. "Zatanna will come home safe, I promise." She stated to the Team. Everyone smiled, especially Robin, as the Lord of Order and the Ex-Jedi left through a portal to head to the Louisiana Bayou.
Louisiana Bayou 1616 hours
Zatanna moaned as she tried to open her eyes. She was still a bit woozy from her battle with Xanadu earlier, and now she was starting to feel weak. "Where am I?" Zatanna asked herself. She finally opened her eyes to see a large cage-like room. Zatanna gasped and she struggled to get free, but she felt something holding her back. "What?!" she whispered, looking behind her. It seemed that Zatanna's arms and legs have been bound, and she couldn't move. She tried to get loose, but to no avail. Zatanna grunted as she kept trying to get free. As she was moving around, Zatanna heard a familiar chuckle. The mage gasped and looked up. "I should've known… Xanadu!" Zatanna exclaimed, seeing the familiar figure in silver and gold. Xanadu chuckled softly and sighed as she looked down to the helpless mage. "You're mine, now." Xanadu stated sadistically. Zatanna growled and tried to attack the witch, but she still couldn't get free. Xanadu laughed as Zatanna tried over and over again to get loose. "You're not going anywhere, Z, not unless your Jedi friend comes over to trade herself in exchange for you." Xanadu taunted. Zatanna looked up and widened eyes before narrowing them at Xanadu. "Who told you about the Jedi?" she questioned angrily. Xanadu walked up to her and scoffed. Zatanna looked up to her before receiving a painful stomp on her back. "ORDER knows stuff you don't, little girl." Xanadu quipped.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Nabu entered the hidden holding facility of the Louisiana Bayou. "Are you sure she's here?" Ahsoka asked the Lord of Order. Doctor Fate nodded. "Zatanna has a powerful energy signature emitting from this location." Doctor Fate backed up. Ahsoka grinned and started to run through the hallway. Doctor Fate flew after her. Before they could go even further, though, a giant web as shot in their way. Ahsoka gasped and looked around. "Black Spider, is that you?" she asked. Doctor Fate looked around as well. Just then, the sound of Barriss laughing caught their attention. Ahsoka turned around and activated her blue lightsaber, in which Nabu prepared to blast a spell. Ahsoka then gasped when she saw a girl with spider legs coming from her back walk down from the ceiling. "Black Widow!" she exclaimed. Barriss chuckled and placed her spider legs back into her back. "I guess you got me, Ahsoka." She admitted. Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at Barriss. At that moment, Barriss shot another web at the other hallways. Syrena flew out of her hiding place and Enola came out of hiding. "It's a trap!" Ahsoka yelled. Doctor Fate nodded as he and Ahsoka stood back to back with each other. "Where's Zatanna?" Ahsoka demanded. "Xanadu has your little Woman in Black at the moment, Jedi!" Enola stated sadistically. Ahsoka gulped and glanced over to Doctor Fate. "I take the ones on the right and you take the ones on the left?" she suggested. All Nabu could do was nod.
At the moment, Zatanna struggled to get loose once again as she looked up with tears in her eyes. "Let me free, please!" she begged. Xanadu looked down to her and scoffed. "I thought you'd put much more of a fight." Xanadu stated as she continued to look down to the crying Zatanna. The young mage continued to sob as she looked up to Xanadu once again. "So did I." Zatanna quipped in a different demeanor. Xanadu gasped as Zatanna flipped over and twirled on her head to get up. At that moment, Zatanna leg-locked Xanadu by the neck, choking her in the process. As Zatanna looked behind her to see a muffled-mouthed Xanadu, she rolled her eyes. "Oh, just bite already!" Zatanna exhaustingly ordered. Xanadu growled and tried to bite at Zatanna's hand, but she bit the ropes instead. Zatanna chuckled as the bite was just enough to set her free. As soon as Zatanna was free, she hopped onto Xanadu's back and reached for her wand. Xanadu looked up to her as the young mage started to remove her boots in order to get rid of her other binds on her legs. Xanadu growled and chuckled at the young magician. "How ironic, Zatanna. If you intend on killing me, make it hurt!" she taunted. Zatanna looked down to Xanadu with a look of disapproval and just scowled. "I'm not like you, Xanadu. You've lost." She quipped. She then blasted a spell to melt the cages and glided away. Xanadu got up and growled as she soon ran after her.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka found herself fighting both Barriss and Syrena. "Where… is… Zatanna?!" Ahsoka demanded once again. Black Widow chuckled and clashed with her left green blade. "She's not going anywhere unless you turn yourself in." Barriss Offee taunted. At the same time, Doctor Fate was engaged in battle against Enola. "I demand the magician!" Nabu said. Enola scoffed. "I wouldn't bet on it, Goldenrod!" she quipped. At that moment, Ahsoka was thrown back into Doctor Fate. Syrena chuckled as she gave a kiss to her sword. "You should just give up while you still can, Tano." Barriss stated sadistically. Ahsoka panted as Doctor Fate prepared another spell.
Just then, there was a loud snap. Black Widow and the rest of her team looked around. "Who's there?!" she demanded. Ahsoka and Nabu looked around as well, trying to see if there was anyone coming. At that moment, Ahsoka's fallen shoto flew out of her belt. "What the?!" Ahsoka exclaimed. Barriss looked around and then heard the lightsaber activate. Zatanna then leapt out of the shadows and slashed away Enola. Black Widow turned around and growled. "You will die!" Black Widow yelled. Ahsoka looked to Zatanna happily. "Z, you're okay!" Ahsoka exclaimed. Zatanna smiled, but soon got back to business when she saw Barriss charge towards her with her lightsabers drawn. Zatanna activated the shoto and locked blades with her. Zatanna kicked Barriss away as she charged at the Dark Jedi. Barriss looked up and gasped. Before Zatanna could strike, though, her shoto flew out of her hands. Zatanna and Ahsoka gasped to see a heavy-panting Xanadu limp over. Zatanna prepared to fight her, but Xanadu laughed madly, much to everyone's horror. "You're still my slave, Zatanna!" Xanadu yelled. She then held up the voodoo doll and activated the shoto. "I will end your misery once and for all… by destroying this!" Xanadu exclaimed. Zatanna gasped as Xanadu slowly neared the shoto towards the doll's head. Zatanna then started to pant and sweat as she fell to the ground on her knees while clutching her head in pain. "It just… won't stop!" she cried out. Xanadu chuckled as the blade started to touch the mage's neck. Zatanna started to breathe heavily as she could feel her neck burning.
As Nabu watched this, his eyes suddenly widened with shock. "NO!" came Zatara's voice. Ahsoka looked to the Lord of Order with shock as he sent a powerful blast towards Xanadu. Xanadu gasped as she was thrown back and the lightsaber, as well as the voodoo doll, flew out of her hands. Ahsoka caught her stolen lightsaber while Doctor Fate caught the voodoo doll. "Dne siht esruc reven niaga!" Doctor Fate casted. Zatanna got up and gasped to hear her father's voice! A bright, golden light started to emit from the doll as everyone shielded their eyes. When the light finally cleared, the Team and ORDER gasped see that the voodoo doll of Zatanna had been reduced to ashes. Ahsoka and Xanadu gasped as they turned to see Zatanna. She held a hand up to her head, but then looked to Xanadu with a serious look on her face. "I… am free!" she exclaimed. Xanadu growled as she readied her wand. Zatanna smirked as she did the same. Ahsoka smiled as she activated her lightsabers and looked over to Black Widow and Syrena. "You're going down now, girls!" Ahsoka quipped. As Enola started to awaken, Doctor Fate took notice and blocked her from getting to the battle. The three heroes now stood prepared to take on the five villainesses.
Ahsoka stood in the middle of Black Widow and Syrena as Doctor Fate hovered over Enola. Zatanna unsheathed her wand as Xanadu stood prepared with hers already drawn. "It was foolish of you to try to enthrall me, Xylene. You've lost control of me, and the rest of the Justice League and Team are on their way." Zatanna humbly stated. Xanadu scoffed. "By which time we shall be gone and you…" Xanadu started out, gesturing her hand around her body and finishing with, "…Shall be dead." At the same time, Barriss activated her crimson lightsabers. Syrena chuckled as she soon whipped her arms wide across, summoning her two swords. She cocked both of them, causing the blades of the swords to become lightsaber blades. Just as Enola shot a blast towards Nabu, the fights began. Barriss and Alakshmi charged at Ahsoka from both sides, but the Togrutan was smart to the pincer attack. She blocked an overhead attack from Syrena and then turned to perform a Makashi stab at Black Widow. Barriss gasped and dodged to knock the blade away, causing all three of them to twirl. As Ahsoka jumped into the air, the two ORDER girls stabbed their swords at her. Ahsoka jumped down just in time to knock the blades away. She was able to kick away Barriss to fight Syrena soon after. The two females stood in a standoff, Syrena scraping her blades together. Ahsoka scoffed and the two charged at each other, clashing blades nonstop. Ahsoka forced Syrena back a couple of feet before Alakshmi kicked her away. As Ahsoka tried to regain herself, Syrena clashed with her blades. Ahsoka blocked and parried as best as she could until she eventually Force-Pushed Syrena away from her. Ahsoka pointed her blue lightsaber blade towards the Persian and scoffed. "You're pathetic! You might as well be swinging a club!" Ahsoka spat to the ORDER sword maiden. Before she could land her blade onto her, Barriss ran from behind and kicked her away. Ahsoka was pushed back, but not before knocking Alakshmi out cold.
Meanwhile, Enola started to shoot at Doctor Fate. Nabu held his ground as he continued to create shields. As the two levitated into the air, they shot at each other simultaneously. Fate broke off and shot the Seal of Fate at her. Enola replied by blasting a golden shell construct at the Lord of Order, but Nabu was able to counter this by absorbing the blast into the Seal of Fate. Enola gasped as Doctor Fate craned her neck behind her. Enola turned around as the Seal of Fate reappeared, sending her own creation back at her. Enola screamed as she was sent to the ground. As soon as she hit with a thud, Doctor Fate bound her with another Seal of Fate. "Your games are over." Nabu proclaimed as he looked down to her.
Just then, Xanadu shot a spell at Zatanna. Zatanna countered the attack by swinging her wand around and blasting her own. Xanadu grunted as she waved around her spell, making it stronger. Zatanna lunged forwards and shot back, ending the standoff. Xanadu growled and opened her mouth to breathe fire at Zatanna. Zatanna looked up as the fire started to form into a large salamander. Xanadu laughed at Zatanna's shock, but Zatanna cast another spell, dissipating the dragon and turning it into fire. Xanadu angrily snarled at the mage as Zatanna shot the fire at her. Before the fire could even reach her, though, Xanadu cast aside the inferno spell with a simple wave of her wand. Zatanna scowled as Xanadu ran towards her in anger.
As Ahsoka and Barriss ran towards each other, they clashed their blades high. Ahsoka soon broke off and tried to perform an Ataru slash at Widow, but Barriss leapt over her and tried to hit her from behind. Ahsoka turned around as they clashed again, but not before Barriss Force-Sped away. As Ahsoka looked around, Barriss appeared behind her and Force-Pushed her away. Ahsoka turned around and pointed her lightsabers at her. "Give it up, Ahsoka!" Black Widow called out. Ahsoka panted and nodded no. "Don't waste your breath, Widow." Ahsoka snapped back. Black Widow started to draw closer as Ahsoka readied her lightsabers for attack. At that moment, Barriss struck down, but Ahsoka looked up and Force-Sped straight at her, disappearing from her place. Black Widow gasped as she kept her stance, but Ahsoka reappeared right beside her. Black Widow was still in shock as Ahsoka grinned. Ahsoka then gutted her in the stomach with a Force Lightning-Powered punch. Black Widow groaned as she was knocked away onto Alakshmi. Ahsoka chuckled and then looked over to Zatanna, still fighting Xanadu.
Zatanna and Xanadu stood there, panting exhaustedly. "Let's finish this, Xanadu!" Zatanna yelled. Xanadu panted and pointed her wand at the mage. "Took the words right out of my mouth." She quipped back. At that moment, the two ran towards each other and clashed their wands against each other. Zatanna looked up and gasped when Xanadu brought her wand down onto her. Zatanna blocked it, but Xanadu was able to knock it away. Zatanna clashed with her again as Xanadu sent a straight jab towards her. Zatanna dodged as just a bit of her hair was cut off in the process. She looked back to Xanadu and blasted a spell at her point blank range. Xanadu was pushed back, but the attack didn't hurt her a bit. "You're going down!" she yelled, sending an attack her way. "We'll see about that!" Zatanna quipped, jumping into the air to avoid the spell. Xanadu gasped as Zatanna twirled in the air and shot two more spells at her. As Xanadu was knocked back again, Doctor Fate sent a blast towards her. "Dark magician, be gone!" he yelled. Xanadu leapt back and landed on her feet, but Ahsoka ran towards her and slashed her away. Xanadu tried to regain herself as she looked to see all three heroes gathering together. The four stood in another standoff, waiting to attack each other. At that moment, the wind started to howl. When the wind blew away the cobwebs Black Widow had made earlier, Xanadu sent her attack. Four whirlwinds were cast from Xanadu's wand, but Fate was able to make a shield while Zatanna charged towards her. Ahsoka was sent swirling into the air inside one of the tornadoes, but she spread out her arms and stopped all winds. Zatanna and Xanadu started clashing in a flurry, trying to gain momentum over each other. "I… am no longer your slave, Xanadu!" Zatanna yelled. With that, Xanadu was knocked back. Ahsoka started to encircle her arms as she was soon floating with the wind. She flew over beside Zatanna and the two nodded. Xanadu looked up and blasted at the two girls, but Doctor Fate raised his hand into the air, bringing down the Seal of Fate onto her. Xanadu was stuck, leaving her vulnerable to attack. "Let's work." Zatanna stated to Ahsoka. The Togrutan nodded as she landed beside her and placed her hand on the mage's shoulder. Xanadu growled as she sent a spell towards her. Zatanna looked up and chuckled. "Take this!" Zatanna yelled, sending her spell combined with Ahsoka's Force powers. As the two blasts collided with each other in the air, Xanadu's attack was negated. Xanadu gasped as she was hit by the attack. Ahsoka and Xanadu watched as she was killed by the attack.
Ahsoka and Zatanna looked to each other confusingly before smiling and hugging each other. "It's so great that you're safe, Z!" Ahsoka exclaimed. Zatanna laughed and patted Ahsoka on the back. "I'm like a cat; I've got nine lives." Zatanna quipped. Ahsoka laughed as the two continued to embrace each other. Doctor Fate walked over and watched as the two girls rejoiced.
At that moment, the rest of the ORDER girls woke up. Enola rubbed the back of her head as she looked over to the celebrating heroes. Barriss and Syrena got up as they walked over. Enola scoffed at them and laughed. "It's not over yet." She stated. The girls and the Lord of Order looked to her confusingly as Xanadu started to laugh. They gasped and turned to see where Xanadu once stood. In a blur and a fizz, Xanadu was back and alive! "How?!" Zatanna yelled. The revived Xanadu scoffed. "You can't kill us, girl. The only way we go down is if you do too." Xanadu stated. Zatanna gasped as Enola walked up to Xanadu and placed her hands around her, much to the witch's discomfort. "To put it simple, we can always regenerate as long as you live." She stated. Xanadu laughed and knocked Enola away. "I believe that's enough for today." She exclaimed. The Team looked to the girls and scowled. Barriss looked to Ahsoka and smirked. "Later, Ahsoka." She bid. At that moment, the four disappeared into a cloud of golden feathers.
As the three heroes were walking out, Doctor Fate looked to them. "Zatanna Zatara." Nabu said, gaining the mage's attention. "Your father is proud of you." The Lord of Order stated. Zatanna smiled and nodded before Fate turned to Ahsoka. "Your efforts shall be taken into gratitude. I am proud to name you a Guardian of Life." Doctor Fate added on. Ahsoka smiled and nodded as well. "Giovanni, I swear to keep your daughter on the right track, and out of harm's way." Ahsoka stated. Doctor Fate nodded. "I will be sure to let Zatara know of that." He replied back. With that, the Lord of Order vanished into thin air. The Togrutan looked to Zatanna and smiled. "Let's go home." She stated. Zatanna smiled as the two flew away and back to the Cave. It had been a long day for them.
Bialya 1813 hours UTC
Xanadu bowed before Barriss and Sylas. "I'm sorry, my masters. I have failed in taking down the mage." She reported. Sylas nodded and turned away. "It seems that your work in keeping an eye on Zatanna Zatara will go on no longer." He stated. Xanadu looked up and slightly frowned. Barriss looked to Xanadu with regret as she started to walk with Sylas, along with Alakshmi and Victor.
"What happens next, Master?" Black Widow asked. Sylas rolled his eyes towards her and sighed. "ORDER will need to continue the procedures as planned, so we cannot afford any more failures." He replied. "It is about time I called in the Sword King." He added on. Striker walked up to him and furrowed his brow. "Surely, you don't mean the street rat?" he asked. Sylas grinned and smiled. He then snapped his fingers and with that command, a dark-skinned man with torn jeans and a black T-shirt walked over. He had a slashing grin on his face as he twirled around a pocketknife. "Xever Scythe will be overseeing all ORDER operations from now on." Sylas informed his generals. The three nodded as Xever chuckled and walked up to Striker and Syrena. "Listen up, rich kids, I'm the best there is, so it'd be best to let me take care of what you failed to do." He snapped in taunting tone. Barriss placed a hand on her hip and chuckled. "I like him already." She stated. Sylas smiled and looked to her. "By the time we're done; ORDER will be looked up to by everyone in the galaxies." Sylas stated. Black Widow chuckled and nodded. Sylas then looked over to his three generals and nodded. They all nodded back as they walked away.
Sylas led Barriss into a dark room. "It is about time I revealed to you our master." Sylas stated. Barriss raised an eyebrow. "Who would that be?" she asked. Sylas grinned and pressed a button in his gauntlet. The dark room began to glow green and gold as a large, cloaked figure towered over them. "My Majesty, Messiah." Sylas replied. Barriss looked up to the huge figure and gasped. "Is everything going as planned?" he asked. Sylas nodded. "ORDER is proceeding as planned, my majesty." Sylas reported. Barriss, who was still a bit dumbstruck, just nodded. "I expect to see the ORDER evolve humanity soon." He stated. Sylas nodded. "I will double our efforts, my master." He promised. Messiah started to laugh as he soon disappeared. Sylas looked over to Barriss and smiled, in which Black Widow smiled back. The two then left the room in silence, as ORDER had much to do.
Author's Note: Well, everyone, I hope that you liked my new chapter. It took me quite some time to make, so I hope that it compensates for the delay. I would like to thank The Christian Jedi for helping me with this chapter. I could have never done it without him. A new chapter of Path of the Padawan will be out later on this week. I deeply encourage you all to review and rate as you please. Remember that I am always happy to hear from great readers like you, so feel free to give suggestions and ideas at your will. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off. I wish you all have an excellent week, everyone!