Lightning Strikes Twice ›› Barry Allen [1]

20- Reality Check

A/N: Based off the episode: Into The Speed Force.


"I'm going into the Speed Force again," Barry says.
"I'm coming too," I announce.
"No, you're not."
"You're going--"
"Because I'm a speedster, Sky."
"Wait," Joe said, "Savitar was in there for years, you said it was like being in space. So, what are you going to do? Run around in there, until you find him? Its endless."
"I know, and this is the only way to save Wally."

"Look gang," HR says. "I don't understand the Speed Force, but there are plenty of people in this room that do."
"And your point is? Am I correctly assuming there is?" Cisco responds.
"My point is, why can't you use your knowledge of the Speed Force as a safety precaution? So, while Wally is in the Speed Force he doesn't get lost."
"Oh, you're saying that I could just whip up some interdimensional tether so I can link him to the universe?" Cisco acts like that's completely crazy. But the funny thing is, its not. In my opinion, I think its hilarious.
"Yeah," HR said.
"That is...exactly what I can do."
"Alright everyone," I say. "Lets go save Kid Flash."



"We're ready," Barry tells Caitlin.
"Good to go," she replies.
Cisco and Barry walk onto the breach platform. "To infinity and beyond," Cisco quotes, as he's about to vibe.
Then I make a quick choice, which I'm not exactly proud of.
I teleport at the last second, and grab onto Barry, just as they vibe into the Speed Force.

"Sky? What are you doing here?" Cisco asks over the roar of lightning. "You aren't supposed to--"
"Be here? Oh yes, I am. I could've stopped Wally from coming here. Now, I'm taking part in getting him out."
"What did I tell you?" Barry looks at me.
"I don't remember," I lie.
"You're not a speedster. I have no idea what would happen if you stayed."
"I'll be okay," I said. Though I don't know for sure.
Barry and Cisco exchange a look. They know they can't talk me out of this.
"When I let go, you're on your own," Cisco tells him.
"Do it."
"Good luck." Cisco lets go, and disappears back to the Breach Room.

I'm still holding onto Barry, as the lightning swirls around, like an enraged tornado.
"What happens if I let go?" I ask.
The expression on Barry's face clearly says he doesn't know.
Then image of the lightning storm flickers out. And we're standing in Barry's lab at the CCPD.
I carefully remove my hand from Barry's shoulder. "Whoa."
"It kind of mimics real life," Barry explains. "But its not real. Whoever you see in here isn't real, its just the Speed Force." 
"It can take human form? What else can it do?" I freeze, and notice a strange light illuminate from my hand. Its not its normal electric blue color.
"Barry, is this supposed to happen?" I hold up my hand for him to see.
He glances over at me.
I watch as my hand starts to disintegrate into a golden light. "Barry?" I look up at him, with a look of both confusion and panic.
Barry stares at me, stunned and horrified.
I'm beginning to fade into an unnatural light. Like what happened to Wally, except with a new twist. "Barry?" I ask again.
Then I'm stripped away into particles, and vanish.

To my slight surprise, I'm not dead. I have no idea where I am.
I'm standing in the woods, or the edge of it anyway. There's this eerie feel to it. Like I've been here before.

"Hi Skye," a familiar voice says.
I turn. Sitting on a rock is my best friend, Izzie. "What are you doing here?" I question.
"We've been wanting to speak with you," my red haired friend said.
"We?"
"This is the forest where you two used to play. You and Izzie."
"You're not her."
"Of course we are not. We are the Speed Force."
"Just like what Barry told me. Why am I here?"
"You chose to come here."
Yes, I know that."

Izzie-Not-Izzie stands up. Her light gray-blue eyes glint in amusement. "We've been watching you."
"Oh, that's not creepy or anything."
"You can see Savitar."
This caught me off guard. "Yeah. So?"
"How does that make you feel?"
"Is this a trick question? I've been to therapy, and this kinds feels like it."
"We can assure you, it is not."
"Why bring me to this place? Why act like my friend?" 
"We are not acting, Sky. We only wish to stop you from participating in Barry's problems."
"His problems are my problems. And what does this have to do with--"
"No they are not your problems. They are his only. . ." The Speed Force pauses, "Savitar can be seen by you. We allowed for you to do that."
"Why? Why me?"
"You have potential to be a speedster."
"But I already have superpowers."
"True. Though there is greatness within you."
"Greatness? For what?"
"Asking too many questions."
I pivot around, and start walking away. "I've got things to do. I've got to help Barry find Wally."
"You can't," Izzie-Not-Izzie calls out to me.

"Are you going to stop me?" I look back over my shoulder.
"We might."
I stop. "My goal is to save Wally from his eternal doom. Not talk to the Speed Force."
"That is Barry's job. He caused all of this."

I turn back around, and take a few steps towards thing posing as my friend. "You're trying to keep me from helping him, aren't you?"
"Maybe we are. Maybe we are not."
"You really like playing games with me, don't cha?"
"You can't interfere with Barry's future."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're trying to help him change his future. You cannot."
"Everyone is. And its not his future, its mine. I'm about to die soon."
"You? Or Iris?"
I fall quiet. "Are you saying she dies instead of me?"
"Time will tell."
"Okay, puppet masters. You think you can tell futures? What's my possible future?" I challenge.
Izzie-Not-Izzie blinks. The gestures for me to follow her.

I reluctantly walk behind the impersonating Speed Force. I stop at the edge of the woods, and stare at a figure standing in the meadow.
Its Barry, and he's holding something. I cautiously creep towards him. Its not him, its the Speed Force acting as him.
"Wow. You actually got my hopes up that I found him." I tell the Speed Force without looking at it in person form. "I thou--"
I freeze up, and I realize that Barry-Not-Barry is holding a blanket with a baby in it. I pry my eyes away, to glance up at the Speed Force. "Its not real. You're toying with my mind."

"It is not. But it could."
I bring my gaze down to the baby's face, sleeping soundly. I exhale. "Take me to Barry. The real one. No more tricks. No more games. I'll stick to my normal self. No speedster powers." I look up again at Izzie-Not-Izzie. "Take me back," I end in a command.
"Do not forget, Sky. You have a place here. Whether you like it or not... Until next time, Electrical Strike."

I land in the corridors of a hospital. I don't notice what's happening, until a bullet of ice shoots by me. A man in a parka is firing a gun with blue rays.
"Snart? Wait--"
Its the Speed Force. I launch myself at him, and punch him. The man, once a Legend of Rip Hunter's team, Captain Cold falls over.
The last time I saw him, he was a living person, who believed for the first time, that he could be a hero. He died a martyr, protecting his teammates, and I was there to see it happen.
"Barry?" I look over at The Flash, and, surprisingly, Jay Garrick too.
"Sky? You're okay!" He beams with happiness.
 "Other than punching our friend in the face, and getting a lecture from some wind, I'm pretty good."
"Wally's in there," Barry looks at the hospital doors.
"Then lets get him out."

I teleport inside, and Barry opens the door.
"Wally? Thank God," I hug the other speedster.
"Sky? Barry? Jay?" Wally asks, though tears. "I-I saw my mom."
"Its okay," Barry puts a hand on his shoulder. "Its over. You're free now. We're going home."
"Wally, I'm so sorry I couldn't save you from this," I said, squeezing him tighter. "I'm sorry."
Wally sniffles a couple times. "I don't blame you."
I let go of him. "C'mon. We're leaving this place, and you'll be safe from here."
"Okay," he whispers.
We're almost out the door, when Barry looks behind us.

"Jay? Lets go," the Scarlet Speedster says.
"Sorry, kid. This is where I stay for a while."
"What are you talking about?"
"We both know a speedster needs to take Wally's place."
"Oh,  no, no." I stop steering Wally out, and whirl around. "I will be staying; and the three of you go. The Speed Force already said they're leaving a light on for me."
"A speedster needs to stay. I'm grateful for your offer, Sky, but I intend on taking the fall... And Barry, do what you do best. Be The Flash." The older speedster holds up his helmet. "Cisco said he could use this and track you home."
"I'm going to hand this back to you, when I break you out of here," Barry promises.
"See you soon, Flash."
Barry and I join Wally in the hall. Then door closes shut behind us.


                              ***
The nest thing I know, I'm flung into empty air. I crash onto the concrete floor with a splat.
"Ow. Never doing that again," I groan.
"Wait, three speedsters, and a electrical Meta go in, and only two and the other come out." Cisco said.

I try not to open my mouth and complain about him calling me 'the other'. I'm too worn out by everything thing that's happened to even get up.

"Jay stayed behind to take Wally's place in the Speed Force." Barry's words are met by silence.
Caitlin finally speaks, "Come on, Wally. Lets get you checked out."
"I thought I lost both me sons," Joe says, close to crying, as he hugs Barry.
"Its okay Joe," Barry murmurs.
Then Joe, Cisco, Julian, and Iris leave.

I look at Barry. "About what I saw in the Speed Force," I begin.
"Wasn't real."
I clench my jaw. The image of Barry, which was not him, holding that baby flickers into my head. I block it out. "Yeah. None of it was real, and never will."



"Be safe on Earth 3, Jesse Quick," Caitlin tells Jesse.
"I will," Jesse smiles.
"Who am I going to race?" I ask, hugging her.
"Aw, you can race Wally, when he's up to it. Besides, I'll only be two Earths away."
"We're here if you need us," Barry says. "Safe travels."
"Thanks."
Cisco opens a breach, and Jesse walks through.
We all stand there quietly.
"So, fun fact," HR said. "Covered by our intrepid Jesse Quick. In her latest brush up with the god of speed--"
"You let her fight Savitar?" I flick my gaze over to HR.
He acts like I didn't interrupt him. "Guess who feels pain?"
"You're saying that under that armor," Julian begins. "He's..."
"Yes, he's not a god. He's just a man, baby."
" A man?" Barry asks.
"Yeah."

"We can defeat him," I murmur.
Barry and I look at each other. There's still hope.







Author's Note: Next comes the musical episode (on 3/22/17). Music Meister  is the villain, trapping our heroes in an alternate reality where they have to sing in order for them not to be killed. 40s style. I know, its kind of like Earth-2, and weird.
A question you might be asking is: Can Chloe Bennet (Sky) sing?
Answer: Yes. Chloe Bennet, in my opinion, sings really well.
And MARTIAN MANHUNTER IS JOINING! For those of you that don't know, Martian Manhunter was once a member of the Justice League.
Plus there's also Mon-El, Winn, and possibly Alex. Everyone from Supergirl.
Also, Iris is not Iris in the next episode is a gangster. Whaaaaaat?  Just a little heads up. Unless you're from the future, then you already know. Okay,  that's all I got.
Byeeeeeee!  ~ SHIELD-Avenger