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Galpalcj: Something was going on with Fanfiction when i posted chapter 15. I'm pretty sure it is fixed now. As for why the bad guys want Iris its because she's the only one who wasn't affected by Olvida, and she's getting closer to the truth.

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Also, please share this on any social media platform you see fit, get the word out if you love it so much AReiss215 gave me the idea to get it out there the only problem is I am not that involved with the social medias (no twitter, Insta, facebook, etc.) so it is totally cool for you guys to do that on my behalf if you want because I would love for the whole fandom to read this. Hell, I would love it if the stars, writers and Producers of the shows saw this!

This was supposed to come out a week ago but I just could not get this one part to flow the way I wanted it so forgive me if it feels jumpy. Its meant to speed up the story's flow cause otherwise we'll be here for the next decade or so.

The Flash: Survival of the Fastest

Chapter 17: Celeres the Centaur

S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin's Lab

Moments after Barry had left Caitlin ran to grab her suit and almost immediately she was slammed with a tidal wave of nausea. In a flash of blue lightning Caitlin hovered over her garbage can desperately trying to empty her stomach of everything to the point she was dry heaving.

She somehow caught a twenty-four-hour bug, probably from Cisco since he had it about three days ago. She didn't exactly tell anyone about it since, in Barry's case he'd probably assume she was pregnant, which was highly unlikely.

Caitlin would not have sex with Barry unless she was being careful. And by careful she meticulously planned every one of their passionate moments around her cycle. It was the only way for either of them to be safe. Caitlin's accelerated metabolism caused her to burn through contraceptives almost immediately while Barry's speed rendered condoms useless as they could not withstand the friction, force or even stop Barry's sperm from phasing though, they learned that one the hard way.

"Caitlin you're still here?" Caitlin looked up to see Cisco approaching her. "What's wrong? Are you sick? I thought Speedsters couldn't get sick."

"I'm fine Cisco." Caitlin said. "Just going through a twenty-four-hour bug in less than half the time." She started to make her way towards her suit but Cisco stood in her way.

Cisco gave Caitlin a concerned look. If she wasn't feeling well she should not go into the field. "Maybe you should sit this one out Caitlin. Barry would be pissed if you go out there and get hurt because you are not in optimal health.

Caitlin thought for a moment then sighed in defeat, Cisco was right. "Fine, I'll stay here and rest for a little while."

"I can get you some crackers and ginger ale if you want." There was a dinging noise that interrupted Cisco and Caitlin. Caitlin walked over to her computer. "What's that?" Cisco asked.

"Barry found something at a crime scene. He ran it through their data base and found nothing so he asked me to figure it out." Caitlin hit a few keys her computer and her centrifuge opened up exposing a vial of red liquid.

"So, what is it?"

"I don't know." Caitlin replied. "The sample Barry gave me was too small to run any tests so I had to reverse engineer it. The theory is it's a new kind of poison."

"What do you think?" Cisco asked

"Like I said, I don't know what it is or how it was made. I cannot get the molecules to bond in the same way, it's almost like they are forced together. Which is goes against everything I know about chemistry."

Cisco smiled a little. "Well, let me help you Caitlin, after all we are self-proclaimed experts on all things unusual."

Somewhere in Central City

Yellow Lightning danced around Central City as Barry and Celeres fought. The Centaur tried to strike the Flash with either his sword or his horse legs. The two were evenly matched in terms of speed though between the two of them Celeres had much more combat experience managing to actually land a few small cuts to Barry's suit, but never drawing blood.

"My quarrel is not with you Flash." Celeres said. "I have solely come for her." He pointed his sword in Iris' direction.

"You won't touch her." Barry sneered.

"We shall see." Celeres charged again this time moving much faster than before. He reared onto his hind legs before slamming his front hooves into Barry's chest. The Flash felt his bones crack and, more likely than not, break.

"We may look to be physically the same person Flash, but I hold much more skill." Celeres swiped his sword at the staggering Barry catching him across his stomach leaving a light gash. The centaur then proceeded to wipe the blood from his blade. "The God Mercury blessed me with my speed near two centuries ago. On top of that, his blessing allowed me to transfer my god like speed to others such as my faithful stallion."

"There's no such things as gods." Barry said clutching his aching chest. He was in so much pain that it was difficult to breath properly. "I've met a 'god' before and he was nothing more than a man in a suit." Unbeknownst to Barry his bones were already starting to heal at an abnormal rate, by his standards. "You weren't blessed by a god. You just have a large connection to the Speed Force."

"Gods are real." Celeres said. "Has it ever occurred to you that not everyone in the infinite multiverse refers to it as the Speed Force? On my Earth, we call it Mercury's Blessing." Lightning flashed around Celeres before charging Barry with even more speed, transferring more Speed Force into his horse legs.

"What do you want with Iris?" Barry demanded.

"She was promised to me." Celeres said quietly. "The man who saved my life and gifted me my equine lower half asked me to remove Iris West any way I saw fit… When I saw her a month ago I was haunted by her visage."

"Why?"

"Your Iris West… is the doppelganger of my late wife…" Celeres said. "I was promised her, and I will have her!"

It was faster than Barry expected. He would have surely been dead if two things did not happen. One, red lightning flashed in his eyes and two, his instincts took over. Barry caught Celeres' sword and an instant later it aged seemingly a few centuries before crumbling into numerous shards.

Barry's lightning arced up Celeres' arm and the unexpected happened. Celere's arm turned black withered. Its flesh decayed and floated off turning to dust followed by the muscles and everything else until it was nothing but seemingly fossilized bone.

In that moment, something happened to all the speedsters Barry had made connections with.

Downtown Central City

Wally was running through Central City making his way to where Iris' distress signal originated when suddenly he felt an intense shock course through his body. Pain that felt nearly identical to when he was pulled into the Speed Force flared up all over him. Wally screamed in pain for what felt like a hour wishing, hoping that it would stop.

Earth-2, Central City, S.T.A.R. Labs

Jesse Quick was running some tests with her Father when it happened. The Speed Force Flared up inside her and unleashed a massive electrical discharge shocking the poor girl and horrifying her father

"JESSE!" He screamed. Harry reached out for his daughter but was thrown back by an unknown force.

Earth-3, Central City

Jay Garrick was in the middle of protecting his city from the recently escaped Thorn and her accomplice, his earth's version of Killer Frost; Crystal Frost, when he was suddenly assaulted by the Speed Force inside him. Something was not right as Jay collapsed to the ground. He looked up to see Thorn and Killer Frost standing triumphantly over him.

"What's the matter Flash? Age finally catching up to you?" Crystal asked while Rhosyn smirked.

Earth-Prime, Central City, S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin's Lab

Meanwhile in Caitlin's Lab the young biochemist was analyzing the evidence Barry had given her when she was suddenly engulfed in blue lightning. It felt a thousand times worse than the time when Future Barry accidentally shredded her chest and nearly destroyed her heart. Out of all the speedster currently being affected Caitlin had it worst of all.

"Hey Caitlin I was running some additional test and I think-" Cisco stopped in shock as he saw his best friend in pain. "CAITLIN!" Cisco rushed to her side but just like Harry on Earth-2 he could not approach her and could only sit back as she and every other speedster that knew Barry writhed in excruciating pain.

With Barry and Celeres

"AGH!" Celeres screamed in pain as the bone fell from his arm with nothing holding it in place. "MY ARM! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"

Barry stared at the stump of Celeres' arm before looking at his own hand. His eyes wifdened in shock and fear. What had just happened? He glanced over his shoulder to see Iris looking on in equal horror.

Celeres gazed upon The Flash and allowed fear to wash over him. He was so petrified his body refused to move according to his wishes and not just because of the black lightning chains immobilizing him. Memories came rushing back to him, memories of his greatest defeat.

Sextilis (Augustus) XXIX, MMDCXLXIX

[August 29, 2769 IR]

Earth 476 – Americae Septentrionalis, Outside Roma Centralis

Earth 476, The reality where Rome never collapsed. A reality where the military power of Rome only grew until it encompassed the globe and Sol's Glory never set upon their mighty empire. The only force that rose up to challenge them was the combined might of Atlantis and The Amazons of Themyscira. If not for Mars himself aiding them, Rome surely would have been defeated.

Two thousand years later Rome was still the sole superpower of the world. None could oppose them not when their praetors wielded the powers of the gods, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, and Vulcan chiefly.

Bartiatus Herennius Allectius sat upon his stallion before his army. There had been a rebellion calling themselves Improbos Libertis [The Rogues] and it was Bartiatus' task to quell the rebellion by any means necessary.

"CHARGE!" Bartiatus commanded as he and his cavalry unit reared and galloped forward. Golden lightning gifted to him by the God Mercury amplified his horse's already impressive power allowing his soldiers to seemingly shake the very earth beneath their hooves.

Dozens of onagers unleashed a rain of fireballs towards the Improbos Libertis while Sagittarii unleashed an even more massive barrage of arrows at their enemies.

At the same time Improbos Libertis' forces charged towards the oncoming cavalry. Like many of the nations occupied by Rome Rebellions popped up every one in a while and it was the duty of the Praetor to crush the rebellions before they grew too much.

Bartiatus' cavalry swept through the Improbos Libertis like a hot knife through butter. Limbs blood and gore flew with every swing of a blade staining the lands.

Through the smoke and the stench of blood Celeres saw her, the leader of Improbos Libertis, a former slave turned champion of Aquilo going by the name Glacies. She brought winter wherever she went.

"GLACIES!" Bartiatus screamed her name as he charged her with his gladius drawn.

"CELERES!" The woman cried back with equal venom as she formed a long hasta out of blue ice to combat the horseman.

Lightning crackled and thunder boomed when steel met ice. Glacies' weapons were forged of the strongest ice allowing them to fight equally with roman steel.

The battle between the Praetor of Roma Centralis and the leader of Improbos Libertis lasted for a minute.

Celeres' horse snorted and allowed the power of Mercury to run through his veins as Celeres readied himself for one more pass. Glacies, however, saw thie coming. With a wave of her wrist the entire battle field became coated in a layer of ice, trapping all of Bartiatus' men in place while leaving Improbos Libertis free to continue the fight.

Celeres' horse leaped over the oncoming ice but slipped when he landed. The horse panicked and reared losing the rest of his balance throwing Bartiatus from his back. Wasting no time Glacies blasted Bartiatus' legs completely encasing them in subzero winds. Celeres watched in horror his horse fell backwards onto his legs, shattering them.

Bartiatus howled in pain. He tried to lift the horse but the horse continued to struggle to get back up only for Glacies' spear to pierce into its' side. The Horse whinnied in pain as ice spread from the wound freezing the horse.

The battle around the two quickly turned into a massacre as Improbos Libertis quickly slaughtered any and all immobilized Roman soldiers and Celeres could do nothing but watch his brothers and sisters fall one by one.

"It's over Celeres." Glacies said as she pointed another blue ice hasta at Bartiatus' neck. "We won."

"Rome… will never surrender the city." Celeres said defiantly. "You might as well kill us."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a black figure standing on a hill watching everything unfold. The next instant he was seemingly everywhere and everyone Celeres shared the power of Mercury with collapsed drained and or dead. Until finally it stood directly behind Glacies but she didn't seem to notice that thing's presence.

Glacies raised her hasta ready to plunge it into Celeres' chest. The Roman speedster could see her hands were shaking. For as long as he's known her Bartiatus had never once seen her take a human life.

She closed her eyes and plunged the spear only to narrowly miss Celeres' entire body. "I… I can't do it…" She said through tears. "Even after everything… I can't kill you…"

Celeres was quite surprised. This woman had been one of his wife's slaves. By no means had Bartiatus or his wife treated her well from doing shit jobs around their villa to being just a tool for Bartiatus and his wife to express any of their desires of flesh and pleasure.

"You're with child, aren't you?" Glacies thought back to the day it all started. "How could Juno bless you with a child and leave me barren!" During her tenure as Bartiatus' slave she was ordered to lay with him. From that night, she was blessed with a child by Bartiatus, unfortunately Bartiatus' wife didn't see it as a blessing, more like an insult. One night Bartiatus' Wife pushed Glacies down the stone steps of their villa injuring the woman and forcing her to have a miscarriage. Years of abuse and losing her child pushed her over the edge.

"Why…?" She cried "After everything you and your wife put me through…You took away my freedom… my sanity… even my-" Glacies was cut off when an arm pierced through her chest. She looked down at it stunned for a moment before completely going limp and falling away. Standing above Bartiatus was another speedster clad in white.

In a heartbeat, every member of Improbos Libertis was dead and the white speedster was flanked by two others.

"Who…? Who are you?" Celeres demanded.

The white clad speedster crouched down to Celeres' level. "My name is Godspeed." He spoke in perfect Latin. "You appear to be in need of some assistance."

"Please…" Bartiatus swallowed his pride for these men, these demigods. "whoever you are… I am in your debt…"

"Not quite yet." The larger man wearing the golden armor and white robe flashed over and hoisted Bartiatus over his shoulder. "First, we need to do something about your legs, after all what good is a speedster who cannot run?"

From there they went to Earth 131216 and attacked that Earth's resident Speed Force Conduit. Godspeed removed the horse's head while Lightspeed and Mindsweeper removed everything below Bartiatus' waist. Using highly advanced technology from an alternate Earth, Bartiatus felt muscles, tendons, ligaments nerves everything fuse with the body of the horse.

Celeres looked over his new legs quite impressed at their handy work. "This… this is impossible…"

"Perhaps in your reality it was impossible." Godspeed said. "But in the infinity of the Multiverse anything is possible."

"How can I ever repay you?" Celeres asked.

"When the time comes we shall call upon you." Lightspeed said. "Until then enjoy the new legs."

"Oh, before I forget, because those legs are not your original legs your special ability to transfer and add speed to anything still applies to them." Godspeed said giving Celeres a small wave before vanishing in a flash of light.

Present Day

Earth-Prime, Central City

"I… I don't… I'm sorry…" Barry said frantically trying to apologize to his doppelganger. He didn't mean to do what he had done.

"What… What are you?" Celeres demanded. In an instant, he recomposed himself and struck Barry with his hind legs launching him into a building.

"FLASH!" Iris yelled out horrified before she felt Celeres wrap an arm around her and gallop as far from Barry as he could.

S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin's Lab

Caitlin's eyes fluttered open slightly disoriented before she noticed she was lying on the gurney.

"What happened?" Caitlin asked as she turned to see cisco looking at her worried.

"I don't know." Cisco said. "You suddenly were shrouded in electricity before you collapsed and passed out.

Caitlin shifted to sit more upright. Cisco tried to stop her but Caitlin waved him off. "I'm fine Cisco."

"No Caitlin, you aren't." Cisco said. "First you were sick and then whatever just happened to you happened. I cannot on good conscious let you potentially injure yourself."

There was a whoosh of air as Wally staggered into the lab. "WALLY!" Caitlin practically yelled.

"Hey guys…" Wally's breathing was ragged almost as if he were exhausted.

"What happened?" Caitlin asked.

"I was running to get to my sister when I was suddenly blasted with energy." Wally sort of described the scene and Cisco shared a look with Caitlin as it sounded eerily familiar to her ordeal. "It was… it was scary similar to when Savitar pulled me into the Speed Force, only worse. It almost felt like-"

"Like you were dying…" Caitlin said with complete understanding.

"Caitlin experienced the same thing." Cisco said. "Best I can figure it was some sort of Speed Seizure, only a lot worse than a real seizure."

Central City, 5th Avenue

Celeres galloped as fast as he could, trying to generate enough Speed Force so he could vibrate at his original frequency and return to his earth with Iris. However, losing his arm and the added body was making it difficult until a small amount of hope flickered into focus as an interdimensional breach began to form in front of him.

Iris' voice pleaded with him to let her go but he would not. He was promised Iris West and that was all he wanted. He wanted his wife back, it may take some time but he was certain Iris would come to love him as he loves her.

The small blue wormhole struggled to grow larger but then crimson flames began to flicker into existence in the middle of the wormhole in between Iris and Celeres. The Centaur didn't bother to stop not even when the flames exploded outward into a violent ring of red flames.

It all happened extremely fast. From the flames, a black humanoid shape formed and slowly walked forward. To anyone watching it looked strikingly similar to scenes from The Hobbit Trilogy Where Sauron revealed himself as a black figure in the center of the flaming eye. The Flames dispelled revealing the singular black armored speedster. He formed a scythe out of crimson and black Speed Force energy and in a single fluid motion he swept the scythe through Celeres' legs causing him to tumble along the road while flinging Iris into the air.

Iris screamed as she rapidly approached the pavement but someone caught her in a pair of strong warm arms. She looked up at her savior and was terrified. For the first time Iris saw the rumored Speed Demon clearly and she was consumed by fear. The man, if he could even be called that looked like a devil. The skull shaped helmet wreathed in flames, the horn like lightning bolts flanking it contrasted perfectly in the glow of the fire, while his armor, black claws and spikes on his forearms and shins glistened against the sunlight. Everything about him insinuated terror, not even Savitar could compare to him.

In that singular moment Iris looked into the eyes of his helmet. While they could not be called eyes since they were more of a window into a raging firestorm, Iris could have sworn she saw a hint of recognition within them. She thought her life was going to end right there but the unexpected happened, Speed Demon put her down gently.

The roman centaur was struggling to get up when Speed Demon threw his right hand in his direction. Iris saw a faint blue glow from around his left middle finger before his entire body seemingly burst into crimson flames, tendrils of black lightning flew from the flames lashing out at everything they could reach. Iris shielded her eyes from the brilliant light and Celeres tried to flee but the black lightning reached out and wrapped around Celeres like obsidian chains.

"What is this?" The Centaur demanded as he found himself immobilized. The flames of Speed Demon cast the devilish speedster's black shadow over the centaur. He looked up to see Speed Demon.

"Go on!" Celeres yelled. "Kill me!"

Speed Demon reached out and grabbed Celeres' neck with his left hand and hoisted him up to look him in the eye. He drew back his right hand and allowed it to vibrate violently while being engulfed in vermillion flames and black lightning.

"WAIT!"

Speed Demon stopped and glanced back towards Iris. She was pleading for Celeres' life and even though no one could see it due to the black horned skull helm, he seemed to give Iris a somber look before punching Celeres across his jaw.

For a brief moment, he shared a look with iris emitting a low growl. There was an uncanny familiarity about the interaction. For Iris Speed Demon was looking at her the same way Eddie and, to a certain extent, Barry did

Celeres watched terrified for his life unsure how the next moment would playout. Speed Demon roughly grabbed his collar and began to run until they both vanished into a flaming portal.

Iris was left absolutely breathless after her ordeal. She didn't know why but Speed Demon had just saved her, but the real question was why?

There were several whooshes and crackles of lightning and she was surrounded by Wally, Caitlin and Eddie.

"EDDIE!" Iris ran up and embraced her husband. He definitely had been through the ringer but it was a relief he had advanced healing.

"Iris… I'm so glad you're ok…" Eddie whispered into the crook of her neck.

"I'm OK Eddie…" Iris breathed quietly.

"What happened Iris? Eddie said there was this centaur guy." Wally was worried for his sister, it seemed quite a lot of messed up speedsters wanted her for one reason or another, mainly due to her connection to Team Flash.

"I'm fine guys… but… where's Barry?" Iris asked looking for Barry.

"We thought he was with you." Caitlin said.

"He was but he was hurt… guys… I think something's wrong with Barry." Iris watched as concern overcame Caitlin's face. "When he touched Celeres, that's the centaur's name, His sword and arm… they… they turned to dust, like Barry rapidly aged them to nothing."

"He did what?" Caitlin asked not wanting to believe what she was hearing.

S.T.A.R. Labs, Cortex

After saving Iris Team Flash's speedsters returned to the Lab with Iris to regroup. Currently everyone was present, though three members of their team were still missing in action, Ben, August and the man of the hour Barry.

"So, both of you had 'Speed Seizures?'" Joe looked to Cisco to see if he was saying it correctly before turning back to Caitlin and Wally.

"Yeah, but we are totally fine now." Wally said.

"It can't be a coincidence you two got those surges. And if we are correct it happened moments after Barry supposedly aged Celere's arm to nothing." Cisco said

"Are you suggesting that this is all connected?" Joe asked. "But what about Ben and August? Did they have these Seizures?"

"We don't know yet." Caitlin said. "We haven't heard from either of them."

"And still nothing from Barry?" Joe asked.

"Nothing, it's like he's not even on this Earth anymore." Almost on cue there was a rush of wind and the crackle of lightning before Barry was standing in the middle of the group.

"Barry!" Caitlin embraced her fiancé tightly. "We were so worried!"

"I'm fine Caitlin." Barry kissed her forehead gently. "Just a little winded that's all."

"Iris?! Oh, thank god you are all right!" Barry moved towards her and embraced Iris. "When Celeres ran off with you I thought you would be gone forever."

"I'm fine Barry, honestly we're far more worried about you." Barry looked from Iris to every other member of Team Flash.

"Why?" He asked.

"Barry, what happened? You've been missing for a few hours." Caitlin countered.

"Hours!?" Barry sounded surprised. "What are you talking about? I came right here when I couldn't find Celeres or Iris." Everyone exchanged confused looks.

"That was two hours ago Barry." Wally said. "We've all been here looking for you."

"Yeah, we lost all signals from your suit and when we checked where you were you were gone." Cisco added.

Barry turned away from the group trying to process what he was told. "How can I be missing hours of my life?"

"Maybe it is similar to Ben's blackouts." Caitlin said

"I thought Ben hasn't had a blackout in months." Barry turned to Caitlin.

"He hasn't but still with the way our lives go there are never coincidences." Caitlin added. "Please Barry… let me run some tests… just to be sure you're alright."

A Few Hours Later

Caitlin ran a few tests on Barry but they revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Meanwhile Team Flash was joined by Harry, Jesse and Jay once again.

Jay and Jesse rested in the medical bay with Caitlin patching up the older speedster. He had multiple lacerations and mild hypothermia.

"You were saying you had some kind of seizure?" Caitlin asked the older speedster.

"That's correct." Jay said as he picked up his helmet from the nearby table. "It happened at the most improper time, right when I was fighting two of my Rouges. I almost did not recover fast enough."

"Even though my Dad is worried I'm actually fine." Jesse said. "A little winded but fine."

Caitlin shrugged. "Well, it never hurts to run a few tests. Especially if they'll shut your dad up."

"Thanks Caitlin." Jesse smiled.

"And look, I promise, whatever seems to be affecting us we will find out what it is and put a stop to it."

"If anyone can figure it out you certainly can Dr. Snow." The older flash said

"Thank you, Jay."

The three speedsters proceeded to file out of Caitlin's lab and meet the rest of the Team in the Cortex. By this time Ben had rejoined them.

"You beat Celeres Barry?" Caitlin heard as they entered into the cortex. "I've only ever heard about him but I've heard he commanded an army of speedsters similar to Lightspeed. On top of that he could give inordinate amounts of speed to ordinary humans."

"Did you know the guy was Barry's doppelgänger? Or that he was a centaur?" Iris asked. Ben shook his head.

"I've only known what I told you guys, but if Lightspeed recruited him he must be getting desperate." Ben pondered for a moment.

"Hey Ben, where's August?" Cisco asked. "He's been missing for the last few hours."

"Yeah and we could have used Godspeed's help with Celeres." Barry said.

"August… well, he left." Ben said. Everyone turned to Barry's future son.

"He left? What do you mean he left?" Wally asked.

"I met him up on the roof," Ben shared a look with Iris. "Mainly because Iris mentioned something to me that was strange. When I confronted him on the roof he…well, August quit being a hero. Hung up his suit and went home to Coast City." Ben shrugged his shoulders. "He said something about failing the city by killing criminals."

Barry ran a hand through his hair. He had heard about how Godspeed killed some men holding the courthouse hostage yesterday and while he didn't agree with his methods he couldn't exactly fault him for it. how could he not be OK with August doing it but let Oliver kill on a regular basis. "He left without saying goodbye?"

"August said he's never been good at goodbyes which is why he tries to slip away before anyone notices. Unfortunately for him I caught him just before he left." Ben pulled out the package August had given him. "He said he wanted me to have this."

"What is it?" Wally asked

"No clue." Ben fiddled with the edge of the envelope before opening it. He reached in while everyone watched, and removed the contents. Ben stood in front of the group holding August's Godspeed suit.

A note fell out of the folded suit prompting Ben to put the suit down and pick up the note. Everyone gathered around to listen to him as he read it aloud.

"Ben,

I know this might seem sudden, after all we have only known each other for a short while but I feel like we've known each other forever. That is why I am entrusting you to be Godspeed in my place. I cannot do it; my thoughts are divided and I must pour my focus into locating my brother. I cannot be the city this hero deserves when my thoughts are not of the city. I want you to carry on in my stead.

Be the hero I cannot be

Your Friend,

August Heart, Godspeed"

"He's really gone?" Caitlin asked.

"I can't believe he'd quit." Barry said. None of them had ever met a hero who quite before. None of their contemporaries would ever give up the hero life, they'd think about it but in the end, this was their life.

"I mean, he might not have been perfect but August was trying to be a good person." Wally said.

Iris stood by listening, part of her couldn't help but feel that this was somehow her fault, she had run her findings by Ben and he had gone to talk with August after that and now he was gone.

"So what happens now?" Joe asked

"I think I should follow August's request." Ben said in a flash of golden lightning Ben stood in front of the team wearing the white suit of Godspeed, just with the cowl down. "Well, what do you guys think? You're looking at the new Godspeed."

"Looks good on you." Caitlin told her son with a smile.

"You think so?" Ben looked down at the suit. "I was always nervous about the potential of taking on Dad's mantel, but now, I feel like I can really come into my own as the new Godspeed rather than another Flash."

"Welcome to the team Godspeed." Barry said smiling as he offered his hand to Ben to reintroduce him to the team.

"I promise Barry, I'll make both you and August proud."

That Night

Barry and Caitlin's Apartment

Barry tossed and turned slightly in his sleep. He opened his eyes and sat up. He looked over to Caitlin and smiled. He lightly brushed some of her hair out of her beautiful face before getting out of the bed. He trudged to the bathroom to splash some water in his face. When he looked up he saw a horrendous reflection in the mirror.

His face was similar to Zolomon's. The left side of his face had decayed to such an extent there were only small amounts of flesh and muscle hanging onto his bones. His hazel eyes had lost their color only retaining pale white irises while his nose was nothing but a hole in the middle of his face.

Barry was startled slightly and took a step back losing his balance and falling over. Barry fell backwards and hit his head against the shower door. The force was enough to force Barry's mind to darken and drift.

When his vision returned he found himself standing in a large field. To his right was Celeres, bound in black lightning and in front of him rested a large horse laying in the grass.

Her great form was easily twice the size of Earth's largest horse breed and it seemed to give off Speed Force energy in colossal waves. Whatever this horse was Barry could feel the power, more than any other speedster.

"You bring before me the one responsible for murdering my child." Her voice echoed in Barry's head like thunder. It was strange, for Barry to be able to hear her voice since she was a horse, in fact it was a lot like how Grodd spoke.

Barry wanted to speak but instead he violently threw Celeres forward before the great horse.

"Please…" Celeres seemed to beg for mercy. "Please… Great Arion… have mercy…"

"You are not worthy to utter my name." The earth and sky rumbled as she stood up. Green lightning flashed around her violently giving her a slightly pale green glow. "You murdered my foal for personal gain. For that you shall learn why I am known as The Night-Mare."

She towered over Barry and Celeres as she closed the distance between them with seemingly unparalleled speed. Barry watched as she stood over the centaur. There was only one emotion on her face; pure unbridled rage. In the next instant Barry saw Celeres' body go limp and collapse. That's when Barry saw the left half of Celeres' head and upper body were gone.

Barry's alternate centaur self from Earth - 476 was dead before he hit the ground.

"Barry!" Next thing Barry knew he was back in the bathroom with Catlin looking over him. She looked scared.

"Cait? What… what just happened?"

"You hit your head." She said. The doctor reached into the cabinet under the sink and pulled out a small first aid kit where she pulled out a small flashlight. "Hold still I need to check you for a potential concussion." Barry nodded and allowed Caitlin to finish her examination. "Good news Barry, there's no sign of a concussion. You mind telling me what is going on with you?"

The Flash sighed. "I had… well I guess I had a nightmare."

"Want to talk about it?"

"I'm sure it's nothing Cait." Barry took Caitlin's hand in his and gently pulled her down to the floor with him. "but I'll tell you about it."

Caitlin sat and listened to how Barry recounted his tale.

This is the end of the chapter

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