Meeting the Zamarons.

Cutting through space in a bubble of indigo light, Zatanna travelled several times faster than the speed of light to her desired destination. The entire galaxy was like a funneled kaleidoscope of colours and lights flickering past her eyes while she travelled to the next planet on her new quest. She had to find them, the other lantern rings. If she could get all seven, she would have the power to make things right back on Earth. A chime from her indigo ring let her know that she had arrived as did her speed decrease just enough that the vertigo faded and she found herself floating over the skies of a desolate pink-stoned world with four moons in orbit. Clutching her hand wearing her indigo lantern ring, Zatanna willed herself to fly towards the surface of the planet. From high orbit, the planet appeared barren save for a forest or two of purple crystal formations that went on for miles. Coming in closer it became obvious the world was far more civilized and developed then high orbit would let on; with a sprawling city where the crystals either grew naturally or grew decoratively throughout the streets and buildings.

All around her she could see blue skinned women in star sapphire uniforms flying through the skies like her, many of them congregating around a column of light at the heart of the city where the star sapphire core sat surrounded by violet crystal formations. Slowly bringing herself to ground level, Zatanna guarded her eyes in the mid day sun, her vampiric nature muted and weakened, yes, she could already feel the thirst claw at her, she would need to feed soon. Stepping through the gardens of purple crystals, Zatanna eyed some of the towering formations, noticing strange flaws in the cores of some of those crystals reach up and out of the clusters, she moved up to look into the closest one and found it was in the shape of a person. Inside, a woman was trapped, frozen in the moment she was swallowed up by the crystal. “What the hell?”

“Hafrena; She’s an aspirant.”

Turning around, Zatanna’s shock softened when she found herself standing in front of Carol Ferris, the queen and leader of the Star Sapphire corps. Surrounded by other violet lanterns, Carol welcomed Zatanna with opened arms as she stepped up to point into the crystal. “Welcome to Zamaron, this was a traveler that wanted to join our corps, when the ring is first placed on their finger of those without love, they are enveloped in violet crystal, their hearts conquered over time and then finally released... Hafrena it seems had trust issues, she only wanted the ring for power, now she will only know the power of love.”

“Like the Indigo tribe.” Whispered Zatanna, rubbing a thumb over her own ring.

“Not quite.” Answered Carol. “When she is freed of the crystal, she will still be Hafrena, she can still be scared, or angry, or selfish, but where cruel ambition took root, there will be only love now.” Looking over her shoulder to look into the indigo eyes of Zatanna, Carol tilted her head in thought. “So, what brings you here Zatanna, and why are you wearing an indigo ring?”

“I’m… I’m a vampire, I have been for 5 years now, SO much has happened on Earth since you’ve been ruling this place, I’ve done… Terrible things, the indigo ring keeps me from being the monster I really am now.”

“You’re a vampire?” Snorted Carol, covering her purple lips as her guards shrugged, not knowing what was being talked about. “Right… And I’m a werewolf!”

“No… Batman’s a werewolf now… So’s Power Girl… And a quarter of New Gotham.”

Blinking back at the retort, Zatanna filled Carol in on everything that had happened over the last five years, some of what she explained made the woman shocked and amazed as the two made their way through the gardens towards the Star Sapphire core at the center of the city. The closer she drew towards the core, the more uneasy Zatanna felt. Sunlight weakened vampires, and this core was like walking towards a sun, a sun powered by the love felt by every intelligent being found across the universe.

Seeing Carol fly overhead, a simple gesture of her hand had the core fabricate a violet lantern ring, one that orbited Carol’s outstretched fingers before she plucked it out of the air and descended to offer it to Zatanna. “Here, I hope it helps you on your journey.” Taking the offered ring, Zatanna looked worried and turned to look back at the outcrop of crystals outside. “Don’t worry Zatanna, crystallization only happens if you aren’t a ‘loving’ person.”

Not getting any encouragement from that statement, Zatanna placed the ring on her finger next to the indigo lantern ring next to it. The moment she did, she gasped as power flowed into her, her white and indigo costume shifted as purple began to bleed and mix into the show girl jacket and bloomers while a star sapphire emblem emblazoned underneath her indigo tribe insignia to her top hat and bowtie. Hovering off the ground, Zatanna closed her hand and brought it to her chest, her eyes glowing violet when she opened them.

“For hearts long lost and full of fright. For those alone in blackest night. Accept our rings and join our fight. Love conquers all with violet light!”

When she first wore the indigo lantern ring, the first emotion she felt was overwhelming guilt and crippling shame, followed by an intense need to sooth and heal. But THIS! The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and her chest breathed in sharply as a swell of emotion overtook her. Looking over to Carol Ferris, Zatanna’s eyes lit up as that emotion intensified. Instantly capturing the woman into an embrace. “THANK YOU, Carol! I… I…” She was in love! That was what she was experiencing, unbound, unconditional love.

Congratulations Zatanna, and welcome to the Star Sapphire…”

“I have to FIND him!” Cried out the vampire woman, separating from the smiling queen of the corps as Zatanna looked down at her glowing hands and tried to envelop herself in a bubble of light. “I have to show them!”

Reaching into the bubble to grab hold of Zatanna’s arm before she flew off, Carol held back laughing at the pale woman’s exuberance. “Zee, you wear a violet ring now, the ones you love the most will ALWAYS be in reach to you. All you have to do is concentrate on them, and you will be there.” Gesturing out with her outstretched hand, Carol’s eyes glowed purple when a rip in the air formed, becoming a portal that opened on the deck of the Watch Tower, there the two women could see Hal Jordan talking with the Flash until both men paused and looked over to the portal in surprise.

“Carol?” Hal blinked back, just as the Queen of the Violet lanterns smiled warmly to him, waving back to the surprised man and closed the portal.

Holding back laughter, Zatanna looked down at the Star Sapphire ring in her hand and closed her eyes, smiling with her fangs exposed when she opened her eyes and a portal opened in front of her. On the other side was New Gotham at night, the streets were active and before her eyes and the eyes of the violet lanterns behind her was the massive black wolf and King of the werewolves. Turning to face the portal, the massive wolf crouched, his ears perked in surprise as he could see Zatanna on the other end smiling back at him. “Zatanna?”

Looking back in shock at the massive werewolf, Carol Ferris did not have a chance to speak before Zatanna leapt through the portal and pulled the massive creature into an embrace. An overwhelming sense of love and longing flowing through her as she did so, pulling his snout to kiss the surprised wolf as the rest of the pack stared on in surprise and confusion. “BRUCE! I LOVE you! I’ve always loved you! Ever since we were kids and my father taught you how to get out of handcuffs, I loved you!!!” She cheered out with joy, peppering the black wolf with kisses across his snout and forehead.

“Zatanna… What is this about?”

“I HAVE TO SHOW THE OTHERS!!!” She gasped out, floating away before aiming her fist out into the open, and another tear in the air formed, widening into a portal that she quickly flew into without hesitation. Finding herself on the Watch Tower, Zatanna flew from one member of the League to the next, hugging or kissing everyone she felt fondly for. Hal was caught off guard when she hugged him fiercely and kissed his forehead before turning her attention to Barry, kissing his cheek, and showing the same affection. She felt wonderful, if her heart could beat, it would have been pounding in her chest. With everyone gathered around the glowing vampire woman, Zatanna spun in the air, laughing, and hugging herself at the overwhelming sensation. “I can go to whomever I love, everyone I love the most!” She cried out, wanting everyone to hear her joy and affection before she stopped in mid air.

“John!”

Opening a portal in front of her, she finally had a means of finding him, John Constantine. As soon as it opened, she flew in without a second thought. She wanted to wrap the man in her arms and drown him in affection, to let him know how much she felt for him without jealousy or shame… But when she flew out of the portal, all she found was a gravestone. Confused, she looked around, finding herself in the Gotham graveyard.

“No… This isn’t… John, I want to go to John.” Opening a portal again, she flew through it, only to end up back where she came from, staring down at the smooth gravestone that read John Constantine and the date of his birth and death. “No! No no no NO no no! I want to go where John is, take me to John!” Opening another portal, Zatanna nearly bent the space around her opening one portal after the other and ending up back in front of the gravestone beneath her hovering feet. Eventually she got the picture and sank to her knees, crying her eyes out and slamming her fist against the grass beneath her.

“Not enough… Still not enough…” Looking down at the two rings on her hand, Zatanna wiped her tears and regained her resolve. Getting back up to her feet, the vampire woman looked up at the night sky. “Rings, tell me where the next nearest lantern corps is from here.”

“The nearest lantern corps from your parsec is the yellow lantern corps of Qward.” Her rings spoke in unison.

Raising her fist into the air, Zatanna starred up into the night’s sky. “Take me there!” in a flash of indigo and violet light, Zatanna was enveloped in a sphere of light and shot up into the air, travelling at light speed to her next destination.