Justice League: A New Dawn

Fast Enough

Chapter 31

Fast Enough

Fortress of Solitude

Barry untied the rope that was holding Iris's hands together behind her back. He also helped Iris on her feet and hugged her. Barry hadn't seen Iris in so long but it had only been a year since she's seen him

"My god, Iris." Barry said, while hugging her.

"Barry I've missed you so much, it's been nearly a year." Iris told Barry.

"For me, it's been 48 years." Barry stated.

Iris looked at Barry's face and removed his scarf and mask. "You haven't aged a bit."

"The Speed Force didn't let me age. I was trapped in it." Barry explained.

"You never broke your promise." Iris reminded Barry, "You told me you'd come back and you did. I'm so grateful for that."

"We need to get out of here, back to our time." Barry stated as he picked up Iris in his arms.

"Run Flash." Iris smiled as Barry took off running.

He was running at his fastest speed ever, almost a million times the speed of light. After running for twenty seconds, a black hole opened up opened and sucked Barry and Iris in. The hole was dark until Barry saw a small light coming from miles away. Barry ran towards it and found out it was a pathway back to the Speed Force.

When Barry and Iris entered the Speed Force they saw orange and yellow light surrounding them and lightning hitting at Barry's feet. Barry was able to dodge the lightning though and kept running to see photos of the past.

Barry and Iris saw photos of Thawne taking over the world and being hired to kill all political leaders. After, they saw the Justice League Beyond dying. These events were happening backwards, they were going back in time. Barry saw Terry going to Bruce for help in investigating his father's death and becoming the new Batman. Then, Barry saw the Justice League that he was apart of breaking apart after Ultraman, Superman from Earth 3 had tried to take over the world. Another picture appeared of Barry chasing down Brainiac. Barry stopped running for a second.

"Iris, this is the time period where you're from." Barry said to his wife. "It's your drop off."

"Isn't it your's too?" Iris asked.

"No, I'm going all the way back. I'm going back to the night my mother died, I'm starting there. I need to make sure what happened in the future doesn't happen." Barry said.

"I'm going with you." Iris said, "You aren't doing this alone."

"Iris, you don't have to-," Barry couldn't finished his sentence.

"I'm going, we'll do this together." Iris commanded. "Don't try to talk me out of it. I'm like you, once I put my mind to something, nothing's going to stop me."

"Alright." Barry said as he continued running back in time.

Barry watched as he saw Darkseid attacking Earth but Batman and Superman stoping him. Barry viewed the Justice League of America, a team led by Dick Grayson and the Suicide Squad fighting Satan, yes, Satan. He then saw Superman fighting Doomsday. Barry remembered the fight, it was broadcasted all over the world. He remembered watching Superman fall. He also remembered the shock the world was in. After, Barry looked at Bruce's plans for taking down the Justice League if they every were to go rogue. Barry remembered this, this was where it all went downhill. This was where trust was lost.

After Barry saw the better times, the time where they fought the White Martians and the Sinestro Corp Lanterns. After a brief moment, Barry saw the Justice League, the original League forming to defeat Aquaman. Little did they know that he would be a valued friend in the future. Next Barry saw Batman and Superman fighting. This was the first time they met, this was the beginning of the Justice League.

A few moments later, Barry saw Superman fighting Zod in the Kryptonian War. He saw five heroes' origins. Barry saw Hal Jordan getting a Green Lantern ring. Barry also felt a shock of lightning travel through his chest. Barry looked down where the lightning had hit and it was the lightning bolt that had turned him into the Flash. He had become apart of the lightning bolt that turned him into the Flash.

Then Barry watched Wonder Woman traveling to man's world and Superman's rocket landing in Smallville. Suddenly, Barry arrived in Gotham City. He and Iris arrived in Crime Alley on a rainy night. Rain was hitting their face and causing them to blink more times than usual. Barry saw a family of three and a gunman wanting money from them.

"It's Bruce..." Barry stated. "This is the night his parents died."

"We need to keep going, just a few more days until the night that your mother died." Iris told Barry.

Barry started running again with Iris still in his arms. He finally made it to the night that his mother died, April 21st, 1971. However, Barry wasn't at his old home, he outside a library. Barry remembered that he was at the library when his mother died. He saw his eight year old self studying at a desk through glass windows.

"Thawne- he's going to be here soon." Barry remembered that Thawne had told him that he failed to kill his younger self, "I'm supposed to stop him."

Barry put Iris down and she ran in the library. Barry waited for Thawne to arrive and he did. This was a younger version of Thawne, a much slower version. Thawne's eyes were red but his suit was still the same.

"So, Flash. You beat me here." Thawne said while standing in the rain, right in front of the library. The only thing blocking him was Barry.

"You're not going to kill anyone tonight." Barry stated.

"That's where you're wrong. My future self told me about this moment. He told me not to try. He told me to aim for something else, something worse. I just wanted to see you here waiting like a fool." Thawne replied as he ran off. Barry knew where he was going. He was going to his mother.

Barry was about to chase him but Iris ran outside and put her hand on his shoulder before he could. Barry didn't run and just looked at Iris.

"Don't go." Iris said.

"Why not!?" Barry questioned, "I could save her! She doesn't have to die!"

"What happens if you stop Thawne?" Iris asked, "You don't become the Flash. How many people have you saved?"

"Hundreds." Barry answered.

"Hundreds of lives are at stake of you stop him. Things will change, possibly for the worse. I know how much you want to save her but you can't." Iris ordered, "You can't put the world at stake for her."

Barry looked down at the ground and sighed, "You're right. I wish you weren't but you are."

"I know, I wish she could be with us too." Iris said.