"It's ironic because the blade that started my life... will now end it."
On top of a roof near S.T.A.R. labs, there Barry stood. He was holding a radio, speaking into it.
"Now, raise the knife to your throat and cut it," Barry ordered into the radio.
In the week leading up to the battle, Barry contacted some old friends. No, not just Team Arrow, Supergirl, and the rest of his team. Friends from the speed force.
Specifically, two fighters by the names of Adisa and Jiason. Jiason, the shapeshifter, and Adisa, the sorceress. Two fighters specialized in one thing.
Golem creation.
"Of course." Barry heard a response before gurgling of blood and a cut from the radio. He looked over the edge of the roof and saw his golem copy falling off the S.T.A.R. labs roof.
Sadly, but also aiding in keeping undercover, the golem, while being a carbon copy of Barry (mostly), couldn't use speed. That's where Cisco's gift to Barry came in.
He created a device that could suck some speed force from Barry and put it into someone else. He used this to give his golem enough speed to last until he finished his job. Suicide.
Also, he knew that he would have to be there to direct the golem in what to do. While being extremely close to Barry, the golem isn't perfect. Their movements may feel unnatural, their speech cold. He was lucky that Oliver didn't think too much of the unnatural movements from before the battle. That's why he fed directions and dialogue to the golem. Even up to the end.
Barry chuckled softly. It's over. The end had come.
Scratch that. It isn't the end. Barry refused to let it be that way.
"Well, would you look at that. I won." The way the golem hit the ground must have triggered the radio. Barry chuckled. He knew that Riser was evil. That he was not who he said he was.
"And thus, we reach the end of an era." Barry spun around to see his mother standing there. "The fall of the Wraith, and the rise of... well... Riser. Tell me." Nora walked up to the edge of the building, standing beside Barry.
"What will you do now?"
"Well... Riser won this fight. And that means that nothing stands between him and complete and utter rule of this world. I can't fight him as Wraith. Wraith just died over there. Nor can I fight him as Barry Allen. He died 40 years ago."
"You're right. Wraith is a killer. And, my child, this is what happens when you kill relentlessly."
Barry jerked his head to his mom. Does that mean...?
"You never wanted me to kill?"
"Well, you always got the job done, so I never said anything. But, I never wanted that for you either. It ruined you. With every life you took, a piece of you was lost."
Barry chuckled. Maybe his friends were right.
"How am I supposed to defeat someone who controls the dead?"
"Simple. You don't kill."
"I don't think it is. In a revolution, the oppressed need a symbol to follow. Something to give them hope of freedom. I just don't have that."
"Are you sure?" Barry looked to his left and saw Sam landing. He wasn't using his flames, trying to stay hidden.
"Sam! You made it out!"
"Of course I did! Oh, and you won't be alone in this fight. Jewel stands with you."
"Wait, Jewel?" Nora asked. "You mean you unlocked your Phoenix form?"
"Yup. Wait, you knew? About Jewel?"
"Yeah. I never said anything because I wanted you to find out for yourself."
"Wow."
"Alright, thank you Sam, but that still doesn't fix the problem of a symbol."
"Did you really forget?" Sam asked.
"Forget what?"
"You said that Barry and Wraith have died, so you can't fight Riser as either of them."
"And?"
"Do I really need to spell it out for you? What symbol is there that brings hope? Brings freedom?"
"I don't-"
"A symbol that everyone knows. A symbol that people will prophesy its return of. A symbol that can free even the most oppressed of people. A symbol that fights without killing. Tell me, Barry, who has the ability to do just that?"
Barry thought for a moment. Then, the answer struck him. How could he have not realized it before?
"There is only one person that can defeat Riser," Sam explained. "And that person is-" Barry cut him off, opting to say it himself.
"The Flash."
A/N: READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE ON THE NEXT "CHAPTER".