"Just tell them, okay?"

Wally felt the climax of the chrysalis power engulf him, felt the searing pain as the particles separated his form. But this was okay- it was. He was a hero, and this is what heroes do. If he died to protect the ones he loved, then that was alright. He was alright.

The pain did not lessen, but he continued to run, he was going to keep fighting until the end, until he was torn apart to nothing, until-

It stopped. The pain was gone! "B-Barry, I'm alive!" He looked down to see his body had re-solidified, he was back to normal! Better than normal, in fact. He couldn't place it, but something was different. With a start he realized the speedsters had slowed down, the vortex had dissipated! They won! They stopped the reach invasion! He hit the brakes on his super speed, unable to see anyone around him because of the cloud of snow they had kicked up. "Okay, so, we can't do that again guys, just saying."

"They did it!"

Wally turned at the sound of M'gann's laughing voice, chuckling along with her. "Yeah, we did!" She quickly raced by to assist the now visible Bart, Wally feeling her infectious smile. "All in a day's work!"

Kaldur passed him and reached Uncle Barry, who was doubled over and exhausted. Huh, he didn't feel that run down, that was weird. "Congratulations, you have sav-"

"Wait!"

Wally turned, his smile growing as he saw Artemis glancing around. She had come! "Artemis, sorry for ditching you before, but I-"

"Where's Wally?"

"Babe?" Wally froze, taking in Artemis's wide, horrified face, "Babe, uh- you're freaking me out."

"Artemis,"

Wally started to turn around, worried by how despairing his uncle's tone was. Hello people! They had won! He jumped in shock as suddenly Barry was in front of him, had passed right through him, "What the-?! Bar-"

"He wanted me to tell you…" Flash sounded broken, what was going on?

"Guys! I'm right here!" Wally flailed his arms. They ignored him, like they didn't hear him.

Didn't see him.

"No, no…" Artemis looked like she was about to fall apart- Wally was starting to feel the same way.

Barry gripped her shoulders. "He loved you."

"I do love her!" Wally felt protective anger burst through him as he strode forward. Enough was enough. "What is wrong with you?" He reached out towards his uncle, intending to give him a piece of his mind. "I'm right-" He started as his hand phased right through his uncle's figure. "here…" He stared down at his hands in disbelief, shock rocking through his core. What was this- this- no! He turned, racing towards Nightwing. "Dick! Dick, can you see me? Look at me!" But he wasn't, even when Wally got right in his face he looked blindly through his best friend. "No! What is going on?" He turned back to the figure of his weeping love. "Artemis, don't cry- I'm here!" He raced back to here, kneeling down beside her and M'gann. "I'm here…" This wasn't right. This wasn't right! He held a shaking hand to her face, intending to caress her tear stained cheek but once again passing through her. "No!" He stood again, horrified as his beloved continued to sob brokenly. He turned to face the others, starting to race around them and incidentally kicking up stronger winds. None of them noticed, everyone wearing similar faces of horror and loss. "No! Look at me! I'm here! I'm not dead- I-" He froze, looking down at himself again. "I-I'm not dead, right?"

"We… we should get back to the ship…" Dick quietly stated, looking down at the ground. Slowly the group made their way back to the craft, leaving a stunned Wally staring after them.

"Wait! But I'm here…" Wally felt his voice cracking. "I'm here."

"You keep saying that."

Wally kept looking at his hands a few moments longer before he realized that somebody had just responded to him. He turned around in shock, his instincts instantly taking in that he was not familiar with these people and they seemed out of place. Judging on the maturity of the voice that spoke, it must have come from the kid with the blue hoodie and- was that white hair under his hood? Was he barefoot in the North Pole?! "You- you see me?"

The kid had really intense blue eyes, even more-so than Dick's. He smiled at him, looking somewhat bitter sweet. "Yeah, I can see you. Both of us can." He gestured with the long- crook?- in his hand to the taller being behind him, who looked like some Russian grandfather figure. His eyes were a bit brighter, more excited.

"Why?" Wally turned in time to watch the bio-ship take off, and felt a jab at being left behind. "Why can you see me but they can't? And Un- Flash went right through me? What," he turned back to them, feeling overwhelmed and helpless, "what happened to me?"

The big man strode forward, his huge beefy hands landing surprisingly gently on his shoulders. Wally couldn't help but notice the intricate tattoos on those muscled arms as well. Seriously, who were these guys?

"My friend, you are now what we call- a Guardian."

…What?