7 A flash back and the Trial

In the middle of the night Archard on his bed hugging his wife Jess with while she sleeping beside, she was drooling all over his shoulder but he didn't mind after all a promise is a promise.

He awakeend because that zatana had opened her eyes and now confused where is she.

Archard carefully put Jess head on the pillow he was using so she wouldn't feel the change in temperature, and carefully made sure to cover her fully with bed sheet.

He put his pajama on the go and walked his way out to zatana room.

He opened the door slowly to not startel her then, he watched in amusement how her wary face changed to one blooming with happiness; the moment he was completely visible to her. She rushed from the bed sprinting and jumping towards her target.

Zatana was now hugging Archard chest and refused to let go, while Archard thought that she behaves a bit inappropriately, he didn't stop her auctions specially that now she was sobbing and her body was shivering, so he gone with the best possible action, and hugged her back trying to calm her down.

'this little rascal, I thought she had grown when I left her, yet she looked so hurt and fragile right now... Maybe I left her side early and she got in trouble'

'huh.... What hassle her state now reminded me when I first met her'

****Begining of flashback***

Back in San Francisco California when I still managing my company directly and yet to give it Jess to manage.

In my defence she was the one who kept nagging me that she felt useless around the house and wanted to do something productive, so I give her the position of CEO,

she was so confused at first but with practice everything worked out.

Anyway, at this period I always was strolling with Diana with my newly bought classical car, my 1970 Chevrolet.

One day I strolled around alone since Diana was busy with some family gathering that I refused to go too, and she knows why because of happened last time I have been there.

Let's just say that Zeus needed a new face arrangement after that.

While I keped my car at the garage at the time because if Diana wasn't with me there was no reason for me to get her out.

While I was strolling through the the street, I found a shady looking stall next to a dentist building liabaled as fortune telling, I normally just dismiss these places since I know the future but the catch is that my actions change it all the time, even if this fortune telling was accurate it will be totally useless.

No what peeked my interest at the time is how I can sense that the individual inside wasn't entirely human.

I entered without much thought.

"Welcome stranger to my store, I know that you might not believe in my capabilities so to erase any confusion"

She pulled her hand towards me and showed me sparkles coming from nowhere from her fingers, any one would have been fooled by her act but I know what happened, she used magic yes but it was Incomplete.

"So, what do you say do you believe in my capabilities right now"

She said with a smug voice.

I looked deeply on her figure hidden under a hood and sighed

"Don't ever say the Infront any real magician or they will laugh at your face, you looked like an beginner tries to play master of magic"

A shocked face was drawn on her face.

"You, you know true magic"

Her hood called of but before she could continue speaking a rumbling sound was heard coming from her stomach, painting her face red as result. An awkward moment called between the two of us.

"Alright, alright how about we go to a restaurant to eat first then discuss your situation carefully, and don't worry it my treat".

The embarrassed young woman nodded her head.

On the restaurant.

"So what your name".

The young lady was shoving food non stop

Like she was starving for days.

She heard my question and for some reason became to be aware of her actions.

She cleared her throat and cleaned her mouth with nearby napkin.

"Hm, I am zatana zatara I am 16 and my friend like to call me zee, I used to be a magician apprentice".

"Used to?"

A sad face was invoked on her face as she continued.

"Something happened on my house and I couldn't finish my training".

I looked straight to her face making her blush,

Yeah karisma roll for the win.

"It ok you don't need to tell me if you uncomfortable"

She blushes even more.

"No your right it ok to tell you specifically since you going to pay for all this food"

"I was raised in normal magic household with my father teaching me magic everything was good until a fated day on my 7th birth day when a flying golden helmet was stuck to my father.....my father became a différents person after that he showed no emotion and neglected me, he started to mention some strange stuff like he needs to keep the balance or something"

'it seems like Dr fate got a new host earlier than usual, wait don't tell it is because of me, no I was on earth before nabu even existed, but if by chance that my involvement changed zatana fate I need to do something about this.

Huh what headache'

"See here is a deal I will teach you magic as a exange stop scamming people on the street you will only attract trouble."

"But, how I am going to eat, let me tell you I won't be returning home any time soon".

"You did what..... Why would you.....you know what forget it we will get you a job too on the way".

"Thank you sir but why are you doing this to me ?"

I looked at her for a second looking at her expression.

"Let just say I am a selfish guy that like to do good thing sometimes".

Zatana gave that questioning look but I just ignored her for now.

"By the way my name is Archard"

W e shaked and from their I teached the best spells that are used in this era and most useful ones too, but more importantly I taught her how to learn and creat her own spells, I usually taught her only 4 hours a day because I needed time to stay with my wife's, through the years a sort of crush on me that I quickly dismissed due still young age her blushes were more a curing in her face when I thaugh her gymnastics and art of acting on a stage after all, I planned for her to act on her own magic show.

Like every version of her in the multiverse.

On her 18 th birth day I gave her a load of money to continue her life like I taught her, and a happy birth day gift taking form of her own stage on New York.

**End of flashback**

That was five years ago.

She finally stopped crying. And looked at my face that got messy from tears and red eyes.

I didn't have it on me to start questioning her on this state, so I gave her more time between

My arms to get herself together.

"I thought I will never see you again, I thought I was a gonner".

"Shhh, take your time no need to rush I am here with you, no need push your self"

After hearing my words she pushed her face again on my chest going for another round of crying.

I hold her the entire time without muttering a single word.

"It all began when you left, at the time I never understood what I felt, but now I can understand it was totally emptiness and longing"

She stopped for a second to gather her next words.

"I always thought when we were together and you watching my performance that I finally found my happy place on stage but I was all a facade the cheers of audience that fueled me with confidence were just empty voices after you left, fromThat I truly knew that my place wasn't as preforming magician, no place was always with you wherever you're"

"Archard I love you I always did and these past years of loneliness only managed to solidify my feelings that I need you in my life.....so I started searching for you but there was no lead like you disappeared or never existed, with each failing attempt of finding my hope and patience dwyndeled more and more"

'of course you won't find my whereabouts I made sure no one can't

"It didn't matter wish spelled I used it didn't work until last year where I was finally reached my last hope and used dark magic to try find you even if it costed me but it didn't work and worse the failure of magic has cursed me with eternal pain, I truly was hopeless at this point more than ever was, but wasn't the thought of being tortured until my death that scared me, no it was the feeling of not being able to see you again that totally broke me".

"As finally attempt to find you I went with my last rosort and tried to find you on my own, but my luck ended on Gotham where I lost consciousness as result of curse pain getting intense".

Hearing her story I didn't know what to do, or more accurately if I have the conviction to do it.

"What do want to do now that find me"

I said while caressing her hair.

She looked dead into my eyes and said.

"I want to stay by your side it doesn't matter what relationship we have be it friend or lover or even your girlfriend".

"Zatana, I don't believe in concept as a girlfriend or female friends, or lover that is afraid of commitment.....that leaves with one choice".

I swung my left arm in the air and a door manifested in front of us.

"This door will lead you to a trial chamber where you love for me will be questioned if you failed the trial everything that we gone together will be altered from your memory and you will return to your normal life with no idea about my existence but if you succeeded you will be crowned my seventh empress and nothing in the multiverse can separate us"

After my words hit her she looked straight at the door and nodded her head in pure gesture of conviction.

She slowly opened the door looking back at me for a moment before continuing to end her goal.

This trial was made after I married my first wife Diana but it wasn't easy to reach that point specially with my old personality, so we both agreed that I make a trial that will prove the love of woman toward me and if she deserves to stay by my side.

The trial will first make you agree that you need to accept all of your woman that succeed before you as your sisters loving the same man, the trial will also ask you to accept every woman that succeeded after you as sush.

The rest of trial changes from women to another.

Zatana entered was going through the trial chamber the first two agreements were easy for her to accept, even though she was surprised at first knowing how many women got to him before her it didn't matter because Archard meant that much to her, her two years with him were the happiest she ever been.

She even suffered from a curse to get him back, and if anyone asked her if she willing to do it again for him, she wouldn't even hesitates.