Disclaimer: I do not own anything you may recognize
At last, we are here with Part 4 of the 'Heroes' series. I'm sure many waited for this. Now considering how epic in scale the last story was, don't expect something of that level anytime soon, though you will get it for sure.
Like I promised earlier, the Dormammu story will be done and I am also thinking of adopting Donny Cates' run on Thor in this series as it is awesome AF. And this will all end with COIE obviously.
This story will be continuing the series and introduce more worlds in the Multiverse for our heroes.
First, a portion of this chapter is inspired by Michael Weyer's 'Legacy of Lightning' so thank you to him. And I was also given this idea by edboy4926 back when I began this series but back then, I thought it wouldn't work. Obviously, I was wrong, so thank you to edboy4926 as well. And Chaos Sorcerer also gave me a similar idea back when I had begun writing on this site, though I never really did anything of it. But now I will, as part of this series, so thank you to Chaos Sorcerer too.
So I hope everyone enjoys what this story has to offer.
Chapter 1- Journey into Speed Force
Barry and Wally ran around, dodging another bolt of lightning from their latest speedster opponent. It had been four months since the Multiversal Decimation.
Sometime after that, an assistant had been assigned to Barry by the name of August Heart who seemed to be a bit of an unpleasant man. He wasn't as bad as Julian had been in the beginning, but still not the kind of person to get along with very much.
During the same time, the city had been terrorized by a speedster by the name of Godspeed. He wore a white suit and generated some powerful lightning. Barry and Wally had tried to catch him but he was faster than them both.
Sometime later, Barry had discovered that Heart's brother had been murdered by a criminal and that criminal had been exonerated because the evidence had been destroyed due to Barry's lab being struck by lightning from the particle accelerator all those years ago.
Barry had gently questioned August about it, only to discover, to his horror, that August was Godspeed. During the Speed Force storm after Savitar's defeat which they had managed to shut down after using some anti-quark matter, he had been struck by lightning and gotten powers.
And now he was using them to extract revenge on all criminals. Even killing his brother's murderer hadn't been enough for him.
Barry had narrowly escaped with his life and had decided that he and Wally couldn't do it alone. So they had called other speedsters to help them- Jesse Quick, Jay Garrick and Hunter Zolomon from Earth-19, along with Cisco and Caitlin.
The fight was very tough, considering how powerful Godspeed was. Even all of them together were barely able to keep up with him. So far, the street they had been fighting on had fires on it and a lot of crashed debris.
"August, you don't have to do this", Barry panted as he held up his hand. "What happened to your brother was wrong. But what you are doing is wrong as well."
"I know. But I don't really care", August said. "If my brother didn't get justice, then none of these criminals will either."
Barry, Wally, Jesse, Jay and Hunter ran at him together while Cisco fired a blast and Caitlin fired some ice but Godspeed dodged easily and then suddenly started speeding around very fast.
The other wondered what he was doing until his running created a portal to the Speed Force itself. Before any of them could react to it, Godspeed ran at full speed and punched both Barry and Wally into it before kicking Jesse and Jay into it as well. Hunter tried to run off but Godspeed grabbed him and running towards the portal, threw him into it as well just as it closed.
He turned around to see a breach close and knew that Vibe and Killer Frost had escaped. But those two weren't powerful enough to stop him, and neither was anyone else on this Earth.
With the speedsters taken care of, he would continue punishing criminals with his brand of justice in not just Central City, but all cities around the world.
"No one shall escape the wrath of Godspeed."
Same time, Earth-50
Clark Kent aka Kal-El aka Superman and Barry Allen of this Earth stood in an open field. It had been a few weeks since the defeat of Steppenwolf and the team was getting along rather well.
But there was one question in the minds of both Clark and Barry.
Who was the faster one?
And that's why both were here in their suits. To put an end to the question.
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate you doing this", Barry said excitedly.
"I don't know, Barry", Clark shrugged as he looked around. "I'm curious myself."
"Yeah. And it's not like a competition, you know?" Barry said awkwardly as he kneeled to the ground. "Well, it... It is a competition. But it's not like a macho-measuring thing."
"But if I win, you're off the team", Clark said seriously as he looked at Barry, making the young speedster look at him with wide eyes.
Then Clark gave a cheeky smirk and Barry laughed as he pointed at Clark, realizing it was a joke.
Getting up, he stretched as Clark said. "No...If I win...Bruce said something about you having to take us all to "brunch?""
"Oh, see, now that's cold. That's a betrayal", Barry said as he looked down. "I feel stung by that."
Looking back up, he looked at Clark and said. "Okay."
Then he held out his hand and said. "But if I win, I get to tell everyone."
"Deal", Clark said as he shook his hand. "Which coast?"
"You know, I've never seen the pacific", Barry said as he pointed in the direction. Clark pointed in the other direction and Barry laughed, slightly embarrassed, realizing he had got the direction wrong.
"Which is that way, because..." Barry said awkwardly. "The sun, and it's..."
Barry trailed off, still, feeling awkward.
Then he saw Clark stretching and decided it was time. Kneeling down, he took out a small cracker and sharing a look with Clark, used his lightning to light it up.
He then threw it up as both took positions. Just as it went off, they began their race, with Barry running at full speed while Clark flew at his own full speed.
Barry had to win this. Clark was very powerful, but there had to be at least one thing where he couldn't be the best. Maybe super speed was it.
Though Barry knew he wasn't that fast yet as the resurrected Clark had managed to keep up with him rather well and he had only barely dodged.
Then again, he was new and inexperienced. He could always go faster. He could be the fastest man alive. Faster than even Clark.
Of course Clark was an alien, but that wasn't the point.
He looked up to see Clark almost an inch ahead of him. While Barry already considered him a friend, he also had a desire to win. All his life, he had been mocked due to his desire to prove the impossible. After getting his speed, it had been worse as he still hadn't been able to get a lead or anything, and his crime fighting activities were harming his college life and burgeoning affection for Iris West.
So he just needed a win. Even against a friend as good as Clark.
So he ran. Faster. Faster than he ever had before. He had to do it. He had to beat Clark. With a roar, he ran faster than ever before, managing to pas Clark easily, who looked down at him in shock as his blue lightning struck the grass behind him and even lit it on fire due to how fast he was going.
Barry laughed happily at how fast he was running and looked behind to see that Clark was a significant distance behind him. Laughing happily, Barry turned back around, only to gasp as he saw a portal in his way.
Before he could maneuver out of its way, he ended up running into it. Clark's eyes widened in horror as he flew at the portal but it closed just before he could pass it.
Landing on the ground, he looked down broodingly, wondering where the portal had taken his friend.
Barry, Wally, Jesse, Jay and Hunter were running through the Speed Force, through barriers and realities.
"Man, I thought Savitar could control the Speed Force best", Wally said as all of them looked around in horror.
"Clearly, we were all wrong", Jay said. "Godspeed seems to have even more control over it."
"He did spend years honing his skills instead of fighting bad guys", Barry pointed out.
"Um, hello?"
They all turned around and gasped as they saw another speedster dressed in a suit similar to Barry's, though his was much more complex with protection pads all over it.
Exhaling, the new speedster looked around with wide eyes and asked. "What the hell is this?"
"I'm wondering the same thing", Barry said as they both stared at each other in shock. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"Well…" The new speedster stuttered before speaking in an insecure but overconfident tone. "I'll tell you that when you tell me where here…" he looked around at the never ending lightning "….is."
Looking at all the speedsters and their suits, he asked. "Is this cosplay?"
"Oh!" Barry muttered.
Getting closer to Barry, he asked "Do you want a selfie, bro? Any of you?"
Barry shook his head and backed a little. "I'm sorry."
The new speedster backed off too as Barry shook his head. "No, no. We're not….no."
The speedster was confused as Barry said with a smile. "I'm also the…..Flash."
"You're also the what?" The new speedster asked, more puzzled than anything.
"The Flash?" Barry half-asked, half-said as he realized this speedster hadn't named himself.
"Well, good luck explaining that", Wally chuckled as Barry rolled his eyes.
"The Flash?" The new speedster wondered before his eyes lit up as he smiled. "The Flash."
"It's complicated", Barry said.
"I like your outfit", the speedster said to Barry. "It seems comfy."
"I was thinking yours is pretty cool", Barry said to the new one as they touched each other's suits while the other struggled to suppress their giggles at the antics of the two.
"Smooth", Barry said about the other one's suit.
"Seems safe and It's breathable", the other one said about Barry.
Then they realized the touching was getting inappropriate and quickly backed off before shaking each other's hands as they introduced themselves simultaneously.
"I'm Barry Allen."
Then they both groaned as they backed off. "No!"
"What?" The new Barry wondered now. "What does that mean?"
"Looks like we met a doppelganger who looks nothing like our Barry", Jay said as Barry turned to him.
"Wait what? Doppelganger? I thought that was sci-fi stuff. You know? The impossible?" The new Barry said before his eyes lit up. "The impossible. Oh boy! So it is not so impossible after all."
"Wait what?" Jesse asked him.
"So you're…..you're…..me?" The new Barry asked Barry.
"Well, we have the same suits, same powers, same obsession with the impossible based on what you said", Barry said. "And we are both Barry Allen. So yeah!"
"We have never met a doppelganger who looked different though", Hunter said.
"Yes, that'd be a first", Barry said.
"Meeting any kind of doppelganger is a first for me", the new Barry said before looking around. "What is this place?"
"This is the Speed Force?" Jay Garrick said to him.
"Wait what? Force? Like Star Wars?" The new Barry asked, making the others roll their eyes in exasperation.
"And I thought I was a 'sad, little nerd'", Barry said, mostly in self-depreciating humor.
"The Speed Force is eternity itself, an endless void of time and energy", Jay explained.
"It's an inter-dimensional source of dark matter energy that provides us speedsters with our powers", Hunter explained a bit more and the new Barry nodded, now understanding a little.
"Ah!" He said as he raised a finger and his eyes lit up. "So we get our energy from this…Speed Force thingy. That's what you're trying to tell me, right? And it also exists as its own dimension."
"Finally got that right", Jesse said.
"Well, I'm a fast learner", the new Barry quipped.
"So surprised", Barry said sarcastically. "So how did you get here?"
"I was racing with Superman…"
"Superman?" Barry asked and the other Barry nodded. "So your Earth has one then."
"My Earth, huh", the other Barry said. "Sounds pretty weird when I hear it. But then again, so does the doppelganger thing. I take it your Earth doesn't have one."
"Nope. But Earth-38 does", Wally told him.
"Okay, Earth-38?" The other Barry wondered. "How many are there?"
"Infinite", Jay said. "All existing in the same space, vibrating at a different frequency, so that they are invisible to each other. Only speedsters and those with Earth-jumping powers and tech can shatter the barriers required to travel through realities."
"Oh my God! This is so cool! I feel so special now!" The new Barry said happily as he looked around while the other rolled their eyes at his child-like excitement. Barry was reminded of himself when he was younger.
"You can admire yourself later because there is work to be done."
They all turned to see Nora Allen, Barry's mother standing there. Or the Speed Force, in her form.
"Why do you always have to take her form?" Barry wondered.
"Because you come here much more often than the others", the Speed Force said.
"Who are you?" The other Barry asked.
"The Speed Force", Wally told him and he nodded.
"Damn! So you're female or something?" He asked.
"I take whatever form is required of me", the Speed Force said.
"Wait what? You're both genders?" He asked in confusion.
"Don't think about it", Jesse said to him.
"You were all brought here not by accident, but by fate", the Speed Force. "Something is coming. Something even bigger than Thanos. And to fight it, you will need many more allies in this Multiverse. More than you already have."
All six just stood there in shock, trying to process the info they had just been given when 'Nora' started disappearing.
"Hey wait-" Barry called out but she was already gone.
"Well, there goes", Hunter sighed.
"It's always like that", Barry said when they all suddenly heard whimpers coming from a direction.
They turned around and saw two men. One of them was a medium-heighted blonde man who wore a red sweatshirt with a white lightning bolt all over his chest and torso over a black long sleeved shirt along with black running pants, red, black and white high-tech running sneakers and a red cuff around each wrist as well as a pair of red sports goggles with yellow lenses which also had an elastic band.
The other was also blonde with some facial hair but his clothing was relatively simpler. He wore a shirt that was blue in color with white stripes on the sleeves while his pants were also blue but of a darker shade.
Both of them were shaking and whimpering in pain while also slamming against an invisible barrier which seemed to be pushing them both back.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, now who are those dudes?" The other Barry asked before looking at the suit of the medium-heighted blonde man. "Okay, I need that suit right now!"
"We'll talk about it later", Barry said.
"What's up with them?" Jesse asked.
"Obviously, they need help", Wally said.
"Come on", Jay said as they readied themselves and then ran at the two figures. Barry and Wally grabbed the one with the red sweatshirt by both arms while Jesse and Jay grabbed the other one with both arms as Hunter and the other Barry ran behind them.
They ran at full speed with the two new guys, and soon they saw a portal open.
"Come on guys!" Barry said and they all ran through the portal, finding themselves in an abandoned alley in the middle of the day.
"Whoa! That was so awesome dude!" The other Barry said as he looked around. "Where are we? My Earth? Your Earth?"
"I honestly have no idea", Hunter said.
The two men grabbed their heads and with screams, shook them as they writhed in pain again.
"Hey! Hey!" Barry said as he helped the one with the sweatshirt up. "You're gonna be okay. We got you."
"Who…..who…are you people?" The other one asked as Hunter supported him. His accent was east European. Barry felt he looked and sounded familiar. He just couldn't place it.
"We're friends", Jay assured as he put a hand on his shoulder.
"Where am I?" The one with sweatshirt asked. "I was fighting the Black Flash-"
"Black Flash?" Barry questioned to be sure he had heard right and the man nodded.
"And I drove him into the Speed Force as hard as I could to blow it up", the man continued. "Next thing I know, I'm…..lost and all alone in here."
"What about you?" Jesse asked the other one.
"I…..I was hit by bullets", he said and the others had wide eyes. A speedster taken down by bullets? Looks like he hadn't gotten a good grip on his speed yet.
"Yeah…I remember….Clint and Costel were in the way of machine gun fire and I ran in the way to protect them", he finished as Barry's eyes widened.
"Clint?" Barry asked as the man nodded. "Clint Barton?"
"Yeah. The old man. He's funny, you know", the man said as he actually let out a laugh while he staggered up while Wally and Jesse supported him. "He calls himself Hawkeye, and he can't see me coming."
"Who are you?" Wally asked.
"Pietro. Pietro Maximoff", the man said and Barry realized who he was.
"You're Wanda Maximoff's brother!" He said and now Pietro was shocked.
"How do you know my sister?" He asked.
"It's a long story", Barry said. "Me and my friends met all the Avengers months ago and helped them out against some bad guys. We've been allies since then."
"Oh! What year is it?" Pietro asked, realizing time had passed for sure.
"It's 2018", Wally said and Pietro looked shocked.
"So I have been dead for 3 years?" He said, looking guilty. "My sister…"
"Hey, it wasn't your fault, kid", Jay assured as he put a hand on his shoulder. "You were gone."
"Who're you?" Hunter asked the other man who seemed to be coming to his senses now.
"Bart Allen", he said and Barry and Wally both exchanged looks again. "But you can call me Impulse."
"Is Bart short for Bartholomew?" Barry asked and he nodded. "Well, I guess he's my doppelganger."
"Doppelganger?" Bart asked.
Jay began. "There are many Earths whi-"
"Wait! I get it! A friend of mine did explain those to me a long while ago", Bart said before he looked Jay up and down. "That helmet! Are you Jay Garrick from some other Earth or something?"
"Yes. You have me on your Earth?" Jay asked and Bart nodded.
"I do, so old geezer mentoring youngsters all around the Multiverse", Bart quipped, making all except the new Barry roll their eyes at his nature. It was clear why he called himself Impulse.
"Okay, all this is really cool", the new Barry said as he stepped between them. "You know what would be cooler? If we could get back to our Earths!"
Barry was about to say something when they heard an explosion from the sky and looked up to see a bright light of explosion receding along with smoke. And several people were falling down.
"Oh boy!" Barry said.
"Just what we needed", Wally said sarcastically.
"What are we waiting for?" The other Barry asked.
"For me to begin the honors", Bart quipped as he ran up a building. The others exchanged amused looks and followed.
Some things never changed no matter where they were.
And that's how we begin. Hope everyone enjoyed.
In case anyone's wondering, yes this is Bart Allen from Smallville. The entire Speed Force bit was inspired by Michael Weyer's 'Legacy of Lightning' so thank you to him again.
Next chapter onwards, to differentiate between the two Barrys we will call Arrowverse Barry as Barry-Red and DCEU Barry as Barry-Blue like in Michael Weyer's fic.
So now Smallville and DCEU are officially part of the 'Heroes' series too. As for which Earth they are on, it will be revealed in next chapter.
And I also have an explanation as to how Pietro ended up in the Speed Force even though his powers didn't come from the Speed Force in cannon.
As for Godspeed, I don't know that much about him except that he is a badass evil speedster. So I read up on him on Wikipedia and modified his backstory to fit in the Arrowverse. Hope I did that well. Still, I'm 100% sure I managed to treat him better in one paragraph than Arrowverse did in 5x18 of Flash *groans* I heard they are doing something about Godspeed in Season 6 too and mentioned August Heart but I don't watch the show anymore so I don't know what's really going on.
Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.