Chapter 34
Metropolis
The emotional ups and downs of the day had pushed Zatanna to the point of exhaustion. Slowly sleep claimed her weary mind and with it came dreams. In dreams, hopes and fears, both hidden and unspoken, surface. Meanings are not always clear, but they offer a window in the unconscious. As Zatanna slipped deeper and deeper into her slumber, she entered REM sleep and images started to form. Zatanna found herself in a dressing room at the theater. It was such a familiar place; she'd been in countless over the years. Somehow she knew it was almost time for the show to begin. She could hear the buzz of the crowd as the orchestra began to tune their instruments. Glancing into the lightened mirror, she saw her own reflection. It was a face she'd seen a thousand times, yet somehow the image looking back at her seemed younger. Her hand came up slowly and touched her cheek, as if not believing what she was seeing.
"It's almost time," a soft voice said behind her. "We need to do your makeup."
She turned to see who this was, but had to close her eyes as a powder puff came towards her face. Zatanna started to open her mouth to speak, but the soft voice seemed to anticipate it.
"Shhh, there isn't much time," the soft voice said. "This will only take a moment, child."
There was something very familiar about the voice and Zatanna found herself relaxing as a sense of trust filled her. The powder puff skimmed over her skin, moving with an expert precision. She kept her eyes closed, as the voice began to softly hum a familiar tune.
"Oh, you're such a pretty girl." The voice said to her. Zee found herself blushing at the compliment. "It's time, child, the ceremony is about to begin."
Zatanna opened her eyes and gasped in shock at her reflection. Gone was her stage costume and in it's place she wore all white. Her hair was now braided into a long ponytail, while the makeup made her face appear as pale as new fallen snow. The most astonishing part was how much younger she looked. Before she could ask any questions the door to her dressing room opened and Rose Psychic and Madame Xanadu stepped inside. They both were wearing shining evening gowns and had smiles on their faces.
"What's happening," Zatanna managed to ask. Her voice sounded as if she were thirteen and throws her for a moment.
"She's forgotten already," Xanadu laughed.
"Oh, don't indulge her, Nimue." Rose chastised. "You know perfectly well what's happening, honey. It's all perfectly natural. Now, come on, they're all waiting."
"But-But," Zatanna started to protest, but the two women took her hands and pulled her with them. They seemed so much larger than she did and as she gazed down, her breath caught in her throat. Her body had changed somehow, loosing all it's adult curves. The white gown hung loose on her small frame.
"I don't understand," she said, but they didn't stop to answer. The door opened and then guided her through. Suddenly she was in some sort of tent, made of some kind of animal skin. She could feel the heat from the small fire in the center. The sides of the tent were covered with strange pictograms in white and red. Before she had time to study them, a flap opened in the tent and sunlight came streaming in. In was so intense it blinded her for a moment. When her eyes finally adjusted, she found herself outside in what looked like the desert. There was a semicircle of women in front of her. As she took a tentative step forward, the beat of drums began. The women began to dance to the private rhythm. They all looked vaguely familiar, yet she couldn't seem to place them. As she slowly got closer to them, she saw they were all wearing those "Hi, My Name Is' nametags. The first woman on her left's said, 'Mrs. Johnson, fourth grade' and it suddenly hit Zatanna who these women were. They were teachers from the various schools she'd attended. The women all wore what looked to be primitive clothing. As Zatanna brought her hand to her face, she felt the brush of fringe against her arm. Glancing down, she saw her white gown had changed again into a bleached white, deerskin dress, with finely beaded pearls adorning it. She turned in confusion to look at Rose and Xanadu. Their outfits had changed as well, but they continued to smile at her.
"You must head to the East to meet her," Rose said.
"Or yourself," Xanadu added. The two women looked at each other and started to laugh. Zatanna didn't know what was happening as the drums seem to grow louder and faster. She told herself this wasn't real, closing her eyes to shut it out.
"I've dreamed of this day for so long," a gentle voice said behind her. Zatanna's eyes popped open and she whirled around. Her mouthed hung open in shock as she looked at the woman standing in front of her.
"Mom?" She asked, not believing what she was seeing. Sindella Zatanna smiled down at her daughter and then leaned in to hug her.
"Yes, baby, it's me. You didn't think I'd miss your big day, did you," she said.
"Big day? I don't understand any of this," Zatanna said as she returned her mother's hug. "I've missed you, Mom."
Sindella kissed her on the forehead and smiled. "I'm always with you, darling, you should know that. Now it's time for your introduction, let's go."
As she stepped to the side, Zatanna saw they were now in some sort of banquet hall. A mirror ball flicked into action on the ceiling and a cascade of lights swirled around the hall. Before Zatanna could say anything to her mother, a group of young girls, perhaps sixteen years of age, came rushing up to her. They were all squealing with delight as they hugged her. To her horror, Zatanna found herself surrounded by them, as they bounced up and down with excitement. Glancing down, she saw her outfit had changed again, into a white party dress. Her body had changed as well, showing more of her adult shape.
"Mom, where are you?" she desperately called, having lost sight of her mother.
"Its just another step on the way, honey, enjoy," her mother's voice, said to her. Zatanna tried desperately to free herself from the giggling young girls, but the more she struggled, the further she seemed to get from her mother. The song "Sweet Sixteen" by Hilary Duff began to play to the shrieks of everyone around Zatanna. One of the girls held out a tiara and placed it on Zatanna's head.
"You look just like princess!' the girl happily said. A popping noise caused Zee to look up and she saw balloons and confetti began to drift down from the ceiling. A scream began to form in her throat as is seemed this madness would go on and on.
"You look lovely, princess," a smooth masculine voice whispered to her. Zatanna looked down from the balloons and found her father standing in front of her.
'Daddy!" she gasped, throwing her arms around him. Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she held him tight. "Oh, I've missed you so much."
The confetti had turned into rose petals and they slowly drifted down all around them. Seeing her father again brought home just how much she had missed him.
"I've missed you too, honey, but now it's time," John Zatanna said with a smile.
"Time? No! No! Dad, please, stay with me!" She desperately said, even as he took her arm and started to lead her forward.
"I can only go so far, honey," he said, gesturing in front of them. Zatanna turned to look, and found they were in a church, walking down the center aisle. She turned to her father, not understanding any of this. He gently reached up and moved into place her lace veil. Her eyes drifted down realizing she was in a white wedding dress and carrying a bouquet of white lilies. Her mouth dropped open as she glanced ahead, seeing a preacher waiting on the altar. A tall man in a tuxedo stood facing away from her and Zee suddenly realized he was the groom. She couldn't make out his face, but as she continued forward, she began to recognize those in attendance. People she had grown up with, former managers and assistants were seated on her left. Justice League members were seated on both sides of the hall. Zatanna turned back towards her father for an explanation, but he was no longer standing at her side. She turned further, her eyes wide with panic that she'd lost him again. He was standing near the rear doors with her mother. They were arm in arm, smiling at her.
"You have to go the rest of the way on your own, sweetie," her mother said.
"No, please! Don't leave me," she screamed, ripping off the veil and rushing towards them. They seemed to keep moving away, waving goodbye. "No! Please, I'm not ready!"
What sounded like thunder began to roll through the church. As Zatanna madly rushed towards her fading parents, she happened to glance up. She stopped in her tracks. Nathan Occult stood smiling coldly down at her from the windows on the second floor. He was rhythmically beating his hands against the windows, with each second getting louder and louder. Zee gasped and shook her head no, stumbling backwards to get away from him. Blood began to streak the windows, oozing down in little rivulets. It reached the bottom of the windows and began to drip down into the church, turning black as it hit the floor. Zee nearly stumbled, as she moved away in horror. Something bumped against her back and as she turned, she fell through another door. A cheer went up as she slipped down to her knees. She was in another banquet hall, surrounded by people. Awkwardly she got to her feet, her mouth hanging open as she looked around at the gathering. Everyone was staring at her. She turned to try and catch sight of her mother and father, but the crowd was already closing in. Zatanna shook her head no, but the guests didn't seem to notice. They were all congratulating her and offering envelops with money.
"Somethin' for youse to get started wit'," a big burly man said, shoving a thick envelop into her hand. Zee looked at the man, not sure whom he was, but before she could ask was moved on to the next group. She pushed and fought against the slow forward progress, wanting frantically to go back, back to where her parents were. The more she fought the further away they seemed to get. Just when she thought she would sink in a sea of well-wishers; a hand reached out and grabbed her.
"It's time to dance, Zatanna," a menacing voice said. A chill went down her back as she suddenly found herself face to face with Nathan. He pulled her into him, trapping her one arm down at her side, while gripping her other. The black ooze burned her skin, as she struggled to get free of him.
"Nathan! Let me go!"
"Not before I congratulate you." He menacingly hissed at her. "Give us a kiss, Zee."
His tongue flicked out of his mouth, long and forked like a snake. As hard as she tried, she couldn't break his hold. Zee closed her eyes and recoiled in horror as he licked along her neck and face.
"Mind if I cut in?" A voice said. As Zatanna opened her eyes, she saw the look of surprise in Nathan's face as a large fist came crashed into it. The force of the blow ripped him away from her and sent him hurdling across the room. A sense of relief overcame Zatanna as she turned to see Clark standing there in a tux.
"Clark! Thank God you're here!" she exclaimed, moving towards him.
"I'll kill that bastard for touching you,' he said, the anger plain in his voice. Zatanna stopped short, looking at him. This was a different Clark than she had ever seen. He was completely out of control. She gasped as he moved against Nathan, hitting him over and over. The sounds of bones breaking filled the air, as Clark continued to hammer away at Nathan.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" Clark shouted, his fist knocking out several of Nathan's teeth.
"Clark! No! NO! That's enough," she shouted, pulling at his jacket. "Please, Clark, stop! Clark! Clark!"
Zatanna sat up in her hotel room screaming Clark's name. Her eyes were wide open, wildly looking around her trying to understand where she was. It took a moment, but slowly the recognition that she was in her hotel room settled in.
"Oh, God, Oh, God, it was only a nightmare, only a nightmare," she whispered. She wrapped her arms around her body, holding herself as she shivered. It had felt so real, yet so bizarre. She hesitantly looked around her; almost afraid this was another part of the nightmare. Her mind seemed to be trying to make sense out of all of it. Her parents seemed alive again. A tear came to her eye as she remembered it was just an illusion, a dream. A knock at the door made her lift her head from against her knees. She really didn't want to see anyone, but the knock persisted. Grudgingly, she climbed out of bed, hoping it wasn't Carmen coming to restock her with condoms. She was only wearing the oversized Smallville sweatshirt, so she demurely opened the door.
"Yes," she said. The next moment she was blasted back into the hotel room and pinned against the wall above her bed. The impact made her dizzy and she rolled her head to the side to see who had attacked her. Nathan stepped into the room with a menacing smile on his face.
"Nathan," she gasped, struggling against his magical restrains.
"You were out when I stopped by earlier, so I decided to come back," he said, the cold, sinister undercurrent coming through his voice. "I'm sure you got my message, but I realized there's nothing like delivering it face to face."
"You bastard! You killed that innocent man," she shouted, wriggling to free herself.
"Don't be a child, no one is innocent, Zee."
"Don't call me that!" She fired back. "You're not the Nathan I knew!"
"You wound me,' he said sarcastically.
"What do you want?"
"I can feel him, Zee." Nathan spat the words out as if they left a foul taste in his mouth.
"Who?"
"My father! The man that should be writhing in agony for what he did to me. He's whole again and you're to blame! Your meddling has cheated me of my rightful vengeance! You need to be punished for your sins!"
He pulled a long, shimmering dagger from under his coat and held it up to the light. Zatanna shuddered as she saw it, dripping the black tar.
"Don't do this, Nathan, it's not too late," she beseeched him.
"It's no use begging, Zee, it has to be done," he coldly said, stepping towards her.
Twenty minutes earlier
Clark had flown back from the farm, his mind filled with worry about Ma. It tore at his heart that he couldn't do anything to help her. As he stopped at his apartment to change before going out on his patrol, he flicked on the TV to catch up on any news. The report of the attack at the Excelsior stopped him in his tracks. His mind immediately went to Zatanna and her safety. He watched nervously as the story was told. There was a sense of relief that she was okay, but a sadness that another innocent had died. He knew how it would affect her and decided to stop by and see how she was doing. He went as Clark Kent, not wanting to explain why Superman was at the hotel or scan all the rooms to find her. He couldn't hear any pressing emergencies, so he left his apartment and headed over to see her.
Twenty minutes later, having found out which room they'd moved her to, he walked down the hallway to her room. He lightly knocked, wondering if he should scan to see if she was asleep.
The knock on the door stopped Nathan from advancing towards Zatanna. The magic holds on her instantly extended up to cover her mouth so she wouldn't scream.
"Well, aren't you the popular one today? Shall we see who it is? Let's." Nathan had a cold mocking tone to his voice as he turned towards the door. With a gesture, the door seemed to warp and then his magic pulled a shocked Clark Kent through and into the room. Nathan's magic gripped Clark as he struggled to rise.
'Well, well, well, Mr. Kent, we meet again," Nathan said pleasantly. "My, you are a remarkable man. You should be dead like your coworkers."
"I have a good insurance plan," Clark said with a grimace. He glanced over to see Zatanna pinned spread-eagle against the wall. "Why don't you let her go, Nathan? She's done nothing to you."
"Oh, isn't that sweet, the knight in shining armor trying to save the damsel in distress. You have no luck, Mr. Kent, it seems there are no heroes here today either."
"Yes, I noticed how you faired against real heroes at the Planet," Clark replied, struggling to free himself from the magical bonds. The smile on Nathan's face vanished.
"Are you mocking me, Mr. Kent? That's a mistake," Nathan coldly said to him. "Do you believe a man can fly, Mr. Kent? I don't, but let's put it to the test, shall we?"
Nathan's magic lifted Clark off the ground and flung him towards the window. He went crashing through and falling towards the ground.
"It seems I was right," Nathan said and then turned back towards Zatanna. "Now where was I?"
She screamed against the magical gag, thrashing to break their hold. A tear came to her eye as she gazed over at the shattered glass.
"Oh, don't cry, Zee. I tell you what, maybe before this is over I'll carve a heart on your body and put ZZ + CK. inside it, would you like that?"
He chuckled to himself and took another step towards her. Nathan raised the blade in the air to strike at her. Two red beams shot in through the shattered window. A scream ripped from Nathan's mouth as his hand began to sear under the intense heat. He dropped the knife and fell to one knee. He looked at the window, only to see Superman float into the room.
"It's over Nathan," Superman said.
"Hardly," Nathan spat at him, his hand flicked out and some of the black tar splashing against the front of Superman's uniform. Clark gasped in pain as the black tar burned through the cloth and into his skin. He ripped the material away from his body. He knew he had to get Nathan away from Zee and out of this room. The confined space limited his abilities. In a blinding flash, he was standing next to Nathan.
"You seemed so interested in whether a man could fly with Clark earlier, Nathan. Why don't we see how you do?"
Nathan found himself screaming as he flew across the room, out the window and started to plummet towards the pavement below. His magic released Zatanna and she crumbled to the bed.
"Are you okay," Clark asked.
"Yes, just a little shaken up," she replied. He nodded and then flew out the window after Nathan. Clark moved at incredible speed, wanting to catch up to Nathan before he hit the ground. He needn't have worried, as Nathan hovered twenty feet in the air. He flicked his wrist again, sending more of the black tar towards Clark. He was ready for it this time and easily dodged it. His heat vision flashed, knocking Nathan back another city block. As Nathan bounced hard on the ground, he realized he was no match for Superman physically. He needed a distraction. Summoning his mystical energy, Nathan fired a blast at the nearest building. He sheered off a cross section of it, and the rest began to rumble as if it would fall. Superman flew up and grab the building, trying to stabilize it. He could hear the screams of panic from the office workers inside and doubled his effort to prevent a tragedy.
Standing in the shatter window of her hotel room, Zatanna watched as Clark struggled to steady the building. She saw Nathan move off towards the lake. In an instant she magically changed from the sweatshirt into her costume. She stepped out from the window and levitated. There was a determined look on her face as she began to pursue Nathan.
She caught up with him at the lakefront park. He lashed out blindly, scattering the civilians. Zatanna summoned a mystical energy bolt and threw it at him. Nathan screamed as it hit in square in the back. He returned fire, but Zatanna managed to erect a force field to deflect it. Once again, the twin beams hit Nathan squarely, knocking him back further towards the lake. He screamed in rage, casting a spell that made the very earth ripple and twist. The park began to pull apart, brick walkways flying through the air at Superman. He used his super speed to dodge bricks, trees, and rocks, everything that Nathan threw at him. Zatanna levitated off the ground as it rippled under her feet. She was just about to cast a spell towards Nathan when the sound of a toy horn filled the air. She turned to see a toy destroyer heading towards the shoreline. At its helm, dressed as Napoleon was Toyman.
"Revenge is mine!" he cried, firing his cannons at her. With a wave of her hand, Zatanna transformed the toy cannonballs into gumdrops that fell harmlessly to the ground.
" I don't have time for your nonsense right now," she shouted. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"You mock me?" Toyman was taken aback by her dismissal. " I warn you, I will make you pay for your insolence!"
"Oh, shut up," Zee said in frustration, turning back to see what was happening between Nathan and Clark.
"Jeez, what a bitch," Toyman commented. Everything, including Nathan, seemed to stop as Toyman's words hung in the air.
"Oh, that was a mistake." Clark winced, before dodge Nathan's renewed attack.
'WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!!" Zee practically roared at Toyman.
"Oh, now I have your attention, don't I? You won't be taking Toyman so light-light-light," his voice trailed off as he saw the raw anger in her eyes. "I was misquoted."
She lashed out; a jagged bolt struck the toy boat and ripped a huge hole in the side.
"You sunk my battle ship," Toyman exclaimed, and then hit his catapult chair to vault him to the shore. He saw her hovering towards him and pulled out a toy squirt gun.
"Stay back, it's full of acid," he cried.
"No it's not," she said moving close to him.
"Yes it is!"
"No it's not."
"Yes it is, Ow!" he said, as she knocked it from his grip. Zatanna picked him up with one hand by the collar, while her other hand began to glow with magical energy.
'What are you going to do to me," he asked, quaking with fear.
"I'm going to punch a hole in another part of your anatomy besides your head," she said sternly to him. He saw her eyes drifted down his small frame and immediately crossed his arms in front of his body.
"You wouldn't," he gasped.
"Sure I would, I'm a bitch, remember," she replied.
"Uncle! Aunt! Mother," he whimpered. "I surrender!"
The sound of Nathan and Clark clashing caught Zee's attention and she dropped Toyman in frustration.
"Oh you are so lucky," she said in frustration before moving off towards Clark and Nathan. Toyman began crawling as fast as his little arms and legs could carry him.
"Help! Arrest me; just get me away from her! The witch is going to ruin me!" He shouted, glancing over his shoulder to see her look back at him. "I said witch, with a W!"
Nathan had been knocked to the ground by the combination of Superman's powers. His whole body screamed in agony from the punishment he'd taken. As he slowly rose to his knees he saw Zatanna returning to the fight. Nathan knew he couldn't defeat them both as things were, so he changed the playing field. Before either Zatanna or Clark could stop him, he brought his hands together in a thunderous clap. The very texture of reality seemed to ripple out from him. Zee and Clark were caught up in it, along with everything in the immediately vicinity.
"Oh SHIIIII…" Toyman began to scream, but it was cut off as they all disappeared from this reality.
"IIIIIIITTTTTT!!!!"
Nathan bounced them through reality after reality. Each had it's own laws and configurations. Their bodies were twisted and pulled all out of shape and form as they moved faster and faster through the different realities.
"I'm going to vomit!" Toyman screamed in one reality as his tiny body spiraled out for seemingly miles. With each shift, unimaginable pain exploded through their bodies. Time was meaningless. One moment they were hurdling through alternative realities and then they were back in the same park. Clark and Zatanna crumbled to their knees as their bodies screamed in agony. Nathan slowly rose up, his hands dripping with the fiery black tar.
"I will kill you all," he gasped, struggling towards them. As he summoned the mystical energy to strike them down, a blur of motion streaked by, knocking Nathan off his feet and sending him tumbling back several yards. As he shook his head to clear it, he saw the Justice League landing all around him. He screamed in frustration, casting a wave of magical energy out in all directions.
"This isn't over!" He shouted and then disappeared. The members managed to evade this shock wave and then rushed over to Zatanna and Clark. Wally noticed Toyman bent over on all fours and walked over to him.
"Hey, little guy, how you doing," he asked in a friendly tone. In answer, Toyman puked all over the ground. Wally quickly stepped back in disgust.
"Jeez, I always thought you were like a ventriloquist's puppet or something."
"F-U speedster!" Toyman managed to snarl.
"A really, really nasty puppet," Wally commented.
