So I was a bit disappointed with "denial" because it seemed so foolish of Wally to not believe in magic, when a number of the Justice League like Zatara and Wonder Woman use it. So I decided to write an alternative story, where Wally has to come to grips with his past and his need for control. I also want to delve into why he womanizes so much, and explore his friendship with Robin. I took the liberty of tweaking his background a bit, but I hope I stayed within the spirit of the comics.

Ballad of Wally West

I've got time to think about my past as I dodge

Between the bullets how my life was so exciting

Before I got this way and how long ago it was

Now I never can explain by the clock that's on the

Tower or the one that's in my brain

And I'll be there before you know it
I'll be gone before you see me
And do you think you can imagine
Anything so lonely
And I know you'd really like me
But I never stick around
Because time keeps dragging on
And on...

=Jimmy's Big Ego

"Put that on and you may never take it off," Klarion hissed as the mask slipped on. Then came the butt kicking to end all butt kicking. Wally had never felt such power coursing through him. He had run at the speed of sound and had walked on water. Neither of which was cool as feeling actual energy flow out of his body. The fact that he controlled nothing of it was nothing but a mere detail to the ultimate coolness that was going on around him. Magic may have been fake but it was very cool!

"Enjoying yourself?" Geezer Nelson asked, with a smirk. "I thought being Dr. Fake would be boring, but you seem to be grinning up a storm."

"Any sufficiently advanced technology would be indistinguishable from magic," Wally said triumphantly. He would have to remove the mask soon but he was enjoying himself. Seeing Klarion go Klary-gone was most epic. He only wished Robs had been on mission so he could rub it into his face. "So when do I get my face back again? It's rather cute and the girls do prefer me without an ugly face mask."

The old geezer sighed. "Hate to break it to you, "he began, before returning to his original smirk. "Actually…I don't. The Helmut and I have chosen you as the new Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. Apparently, it finds your sharp mind useful. Or maybe I'm just sadistic. Doesn't really matter."

"You can't do this to me. I'm a scientist. I don't even believe in magic," Wally protested. He didn't want to be Sorcerer Supreme. He just wanted to be Hero Supreme. "You tricked me into putting on the mask!"

"Your wants aren't really my concern. Call an agony aunt or something. I just think you should understand that until you vow service…the mask is going to hold you prisoner," Nelson said, his smile fading. "And if you don't…I'll never be with my Inza. If you're a hero…you need to save me. This is your destiny, until you pass it on to someone else. It's just another power given to you. Come on, you need to be a hero and step up."

"You call yourself a hero? You just trapped me to a life as a sorcerer, what kind of heroism is that?" Wally demanded. He was Kid Flash. When his uncle retired, he planned to become the Flash. He had no time for stupidity like sorcery. He ran a finger through his hair and realized that in his mind, he couldn't feel anything. There was no friction, there was nothing but his thoughts and things he didn't want others to see.

"I had to find a successor, kid. And I chose you. It's not all bad. You'll learn powers you never dreamed of. Now that I'm in your mind, I've learned quite a bit about you," Nelson said, putting a hand on Wally's shoulder. "I had a dad like that too."

Wally looked up at Nelson with hate filled eyes. "I don't talk about that," he hissed, but the memories swirled around all the same. He had thought them locked away where no one can find them.

There was an empty fridge, a small red haired boy sitting in a corner and waiting for someone to notice him. Dad was out of work again and he had been drinking. Wally was hungry, but he knew better to ask anyone now. Mom was crying and yelling at Dad. "How could you mouth off again? You have a family to feed, can't you think of anyone but yourself?" she shouted.

"I won't listen to this garbage," Dad shouted back up the bottle and throwing it at Mom's head. She ducked and it exploded on the wall. "I didn't even want either of you." Wally cowered in the corner. He just wanted them to stop fighting. Dad turned to him. "And you, you stupid kid. Failing in school, failing at life." He wanted his father to love him. He just didn't know how to make it happen!

Wally burst into tears. "Stupid sissy," Dad snapped, getting to his feet and looming over him. "I'll give you something to cry about." A second later, Wally's nose was bleeding and Mom was screaming. Tomorrow, Wally would lie about falling down stairs and walking into doors. He would think about heroes and he would sit in the lab where no one would find him. He would make everything okay.

Wally closed his eyes. "It's the past. It can't hurt me anymore." Not even Robin…Dick knew of his past. He knew Batman knew, because Batman knew everything but some things were kept secret. No one needed to know Wally had been his father's punching bag when Daddy dearest had gotten drunk.

"Not something easy to live with," Nelson said. "Look, the Fates chose you. I would have preferred someone cuter, a girl. I'm a modern kind of guy; I would have preferred to pick a sorceress. But I knew you were chosen to be a hero. So I guess you can blame me, but you can also blame yourself. You were the one who was brave enough to be found worthy."

No wonder he had become obsessed with the Flash. When he dreamed of heroes rescuing him…he could imagine someday someone would rescue him. When he studied science and studied super heroes, he was free. "I'm a hero already. I don't need these powers. I don't want them," Wally snapped. "Get out of my head!"

His wish had come true. Science gave him structure. His interest in science had attracted the attention of his wonderful aunt and uncle, who had taken him away from his parents. They had welcomed him into their home and given him everything, love, a home and a family. Then he made himself a hero. He had found peace. This helmet couldn't take it away from him.

"Can't, I'm trapped here till you agree to take on the task." Nelson was just floating there, mocking him. "Think of the good things. Ever wanted to pay your father back for smacking you around? The magic you'll have will make sure your mother is never hurt again. Your super speed was one thing, but this will give you a world of possibilities."

"Rudy can't hurt me again," Wally whispered, his voice tight. Uncle Barry had deeply considered beating the crap out of Rudy, but Aunt Iris had assured him it wasn't worth it. Both Flash and Kid Flash were too powerful for it to be a fair fight. Mom was in an apartment in California, divorced and working to become an accountant. Dad was gone. Things were okay now. He didn't have to think about the past.

"He can't, but this mask can hurt you badly. Not going to be sentimental here. So either you say yes or you lose your body. I'd choose fast if I were you. No pun intended," Nelson said, trying to comfort him.

Wally nodded. It was better to give in now and seek help from his uncle and the Justice League than die. He didn't fear death, but he did fear causing pain to his beloved family. "Work your magic," he spat. He hated Kent Nelson and he would break this curse. He had escaped worse. He would escape this.
"Good to hear. Kneel," Nelson directed. Wally fell to his knees, but refused to bow his head. Uncle Barry had taught him quite plainly that there was nothing worth kneeling to. "Lord Nabu, stand and receive this, your new servant."

Wally looked up at the ghostly form before him and suddenly knew the words to say. "Lord Nabu, Master of Order, I become your liege man of life and limb and truth and earthly honors, bearing to you against all chaos. I, Wallace Rudolph West give you my soul." Until he found a way to break this curse and free himself.

The mask shifted into a pair of golden goggles. They could be worn over his mask like any other pair of equipment. No one would have to know he had sold his soul. No one would have to know he had magic. All right, he had advanced technology masquerading as magic and he would be the one to solve it.

"Your words are accepted. Rise and fight my battles, Sorcerer Supreme," a deep voice intoned. "Return to the mortal world. We begin training tomorrow."

"Goodbye kid…and good luck. For what its worth….thank you," Nelson whispered as Wally felt himself falling into nothingness. "Wally."

Wally….

"Wally!" He opened his eyes. Artemis was looking at him, worry and disdain in her eyes. "You better be okay, West," she was growling. "Robin will not be happy and I don't deal well with mopey teenagers."

Wally wanted to say something, explain that his life had changed and he couldn't just be Kid Flash anymore. But the words didn't come to his mouth. Instead, he just nodded. "I'm fine."

"What happened?" Artemis demanded. "You put on the mask and suddenly you were gone. And now you're just kneeling there, staring off into space in an empty room in the middle of battle. We've all been looking for you. What gives?"

Wally shrugged. "No idea. I'm hungry," he managed to stammer. He didn't even know what gave. Perhaps it had been all a dream? Then he felt the thick metal bands around his goggles. "Let's just find the others." He would figure this out after he had a full stomach.

Artemis glared at him. "Can't believe you were sleeping during battle. You're beyond pathetic."

Wally smiled and grinned. "Dreaming of Miss Martian." No one could know what was happening, just yet. "Sweet, sweet dreams."

AN-Tune in for chapter 2, when Wally gets his first magic lesson and does something very foolish.