Story's almost over, folks. All that's left now is to tie everything in a nice little bow.
First, I'd like to share my opinion on the last two episodes of Flash. "Luck Be A Lady" was just as fun as the first two episodes, honestly. There was so much humor that I couldn't stop laughing, whether it was Cisco and Harry arguing, Barry slipping on marbles, Iris attempting to elope, or Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin playing laser tag. Becky Sharpe was a little irritating, but her good luck/bad luck powers were done well and she had a pretty good motive. It was sad, however, to see Wally leave. I was really sad for him. He hasn't really been given much to do this season and it was tear-jerking to watch him leave.
As for "Elongated Journey Into Night," I liked it... up to an extent. The humor, as always, was impossible not to laugh at, whether it was Cisco interacting with Gypsy's father or Iris and Caitlin daydreaming about Oliver Queen. As for Ralph Dibny, I was not really looking forward to him. Granted, introducing him as a dirty cop would make him unlikable to begin with. We all know that he's gonna get better personality-wise as the season progresses, but I am just not really looking forward it. It would be nice to see how his character progresses, but I don't have to like him. He reminds me of Julian (who I also didn't like, by the way). Man, I really miss Wally.
Leave a review after reading, please. Feedback is always appreciated.
Special thanks to Aragorn II Elessar, psychlover95, Immortalman18, NeoTyson, XWF1000, Master Skywalker 121, Steve993, and DragonEmperor999 for the recent reviews.
While Wally and Jesse are getting medical treatment in the medical bay underneath Mercury Labs, Barry takes Crystal's body back to her home. He gently places her on her bed and stays there. He knew that the longer he looked at her dead body, the more it hurt, the more tears will rain down his face, but he wasn't ready to leave yet. Crouching down next to her bed, he holds her hand, which felt really cold, and speaks his mind.
"I'm so sorry, Caitlin. I broke my promise. I failed you. I know you'd probably say that you're better off without me, but that's not true. No matter what you've done in the past, I've always believed that it was never you. I know you and despite this darkness inside you, I know you would never mean to hurt me or anyone. Ever since Flashpoint, all I've wanted was to help you. No matter how many times you say no, I would never leave your side. Ever since the day we met, I've felt a connection between us. I just never realized it until... that day I thought I lost you. I thought I was lying, but now I know I wasn't."
After biting his own lip, which he inwardly laughed at considering it was Crystal's habit, he says what he wants to say.
"I love you, Caitlin," he said. "I know this is a strange thing to say to the person who's caused me so much pain, but for as long as I can remember, I have felt that way about you and it never stopped, no matter what happened or who I was with. And I know that you wouldn't agree to this, but... I forgive you."
Barry buries his head on the bed and cries again, holding on to Crystal's hand tight. While it felt liberating to finally speak the truth, it hurt him that she couldn't hear him but he told her anyway.
Barry knew he couldn't stay here all night, especially since Savitar has Cisco. After kissing Caitlin's hand, he leaves. As soon as the door closed, Crystal's eyes opened, glowing.
Back at Mercury Labs...
Barry walks into the medical bay with a broken look on his face, one that everyone on Team Flash was familiar with.
"Bar, you don't have to be here if you don't want to," said Joe.
"I know," said Barry softly. "Savitar took the Speed Force Bazooka and Cisco, right?"
Tracy nodded.
"Then we have to get him and it back," said Barry.
"But we don't even know where Savitar's keeping him," said Jesse, holding her aching head.
"No, but I think I know someone who can help us," said Barry.
Meanwhile, Savitar returns to his warehouse and drops Cisco, leaving him to slide on the floor until he hit the wall. The God of Speed exits his suit and places the Speed Force Bazooka on a table. He unties Lisa and tells her to get the tools required for the bazooka.
"What are you doing with her?" asked Cisco.
"She's going to be helping you," said Savitar.
"To do what?" asked Cisco.
"Fix this," said Savitar, referring to the Speed Force Bazooka.
"Oh, you mean the Speed Force Bazooka? I didn't name it, and if I didn't name it, I didn't make it," said Cisco.
"You know enough about it to alter what it does," said Savitar.
"Alter it into what? A hair dryer? A waffle maker? Or something that's gonna fix that thin-crush pizza you call a face?" asked Cisco with sarcasm.
"An interdimensional molecular duplicator," said Savitar.
"Wait, you wanna clone yourself?" asked Cisco.
"Think of it as a quantum splicer but more complex," corrected Savitar. "I open a portal, exposing the Speed Force, you shoot me with it, and I become fragmented throughout all of time. The past. The present. The future."
"You want to exist in every single moment of time?" asked Cisco.
"All of us aware and connected through one consciousness," continued Savitar. "I'll be everywhere. Every hour. Every minute. I will rule from the Big Bang 'til the end of time."
"You wanted us to build this thing," realized Cisco.
"Why did you think I let you idiots live?" said Savitar. "Tracy Brand trapped me in the Speed Force in the future. All I needed was for her to build this a whole lot sooner and get my friend to make some the important adjustments."
"I'm not your friend," said Cisco.
"Get to work, Francesco," ordered Savitar, mimicking H.R.
"And if I don't help you?" asked Cisco, refusing.
Savitar raises his hand, vibrates it, and holds it close to Cisco's chest, hoping he understand the message.
"That's it? Do it or you'll Reverse-Flash me?" questioned Cisco, barely intimidated.
"Not you," said Savitar. "Her."
Savitar pointed at Lisa, whose back was turned because she was busy assembling the tools needed to alter the Speed Force Bazooka.
"You don't love her, but you care about her," said Savitar. "Besides, you don't want to get on Cold's bad side now, do you? So, if you want the both of you to survive, put that mechanical genius to work."
Savitar walks away, leaving Cisco to think about he needs to do, looking at Lisa while he does. Lisa returns to Cisco with the tools they both need to fix the bazooka.
Back in Mercury Labs, Tracy was in her personal lab, staring at the equations that she wrote down to make the Speed Force Bazooka. She worked so hard on it, but it failed. Once again, she is beginning to feel like the pessimistic crackpot who was just about to apply for a job at Big Belly Burger.
"Hey."
H.R. entered the lab, still playing with his drumstick.
"I failed," muttered Tracy sadly.
"You did not fail," said H.R.
Tracy gives him a look that makes his reconsider his words.
"Okay, maybe you did, but that doesn't matter," said H.R. "Savitar sabotaged your change. Maybe the Speed Force Bazooka isn't the thing that stops him and kicks off your successful future, but all that effort proved something. You are exactly the genius who won that Copley Award in the future. I know it, because I can see it. If Savitar hadn't been one step ahead of us, it would've worked."
"This isn't just about me failing, H.R.," said Tracy. "The Flash trusted me to create the trap and save his friend, but now... she's dead and that's on me."
H.R. can see how guilty Tracy is feeling.
"Tracy, listen to me when I say that you shouldn't blame yourself," said H.R. "The Flash... Barry... the most important people in his life, including his one true love, were taken away from him by someone who became an enemy of him because of his mistakes. He blamed himself time and time again, no matter how many times we told him it wasn't."
"How does he cope with that much loss?" asked Tracy.
"By staying in the light," said H.R. "One day, Tracy. One day, you will be glorious. I will be there by your side when the day comes."
Feeling her spirits being lifted by his words, Tracy gives H.R. a kiss, which was happily returned.
After an hour, Cisco and Lisa were almost finished altering the Speed Force Bazooka into an Interdimensional Molecular Duplicator.
"How can you help him?" asked Cisco.
"I don't have a choice," said Lisa.
"There's always a choice," said Cisco. "You're the queen of Central City, or so I've heard, and you're letting two-face, pun intended, turn you into a servant."
Lisa grabs a wrench and shoves it on Cisco's chest.
"Let's just get this over with, Cisco," said Lisa. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can both get back to our lives."
"Unless Savitar remakes history into his own twisted vision," said Cisco.
"Cisco, I am all for one for standing up to someone who messes with me, but Savitar's leverage on me, I can't fight, even if I want to," said Lisa.
As soon
"Something's wrong," said Savitar. "Barry Allen is up to something, but he won't tell his team what it is."
"He's a smart guy. You should know. You're him," said Cisco.
"Is it ready?" asked Savitar.
"All finished," said Lisa.
"Then there's only one other left to do," said Savitar. "Lisa, shoot him."
"What?!" exclaimed Cisco and Lisa at the same time.
"I can't have lose ends," said Savitar to the criminal. "Do it or I'll do it myself."
Lisa didn't know what was worse. Cisco's death by her hand or by Savitar's? Reluctantly, Lisa takes out her Gold Gun and aims it at Cisco.
"Don't do this, Lisa," said Cisco, stepping backwards in fear. "He'll kill you."
"I know," said Lisa. "I'm sorry, Cisco."
Turning away and closing her eyes, Lisa fires her Gold Gun. Suddenly, a breach opens and someone jumps out of it to push Cisco away from the path of the gold beam. It was Gypsy. She opens another breach and drags Cisco through it.
"Shouldn't we go after them?" asked Lisa.
"It doesn't matter," said Savitar. "We have what we need. Let's go."
A breach opens in Mercury Labs. Cisco comes out tumbling out of the breach, looking up at the black-clad collector from Earth-38.
"What were you doing?" asked Cisco, enraged. "I was trying to save her. Why'd you stop me?"
"I stopped you from getting killed," said Gypsy, irritated by his attitude. "I knew you were in danger because I vibed you across the multiverse. I can't believe this is the thanks I get for saving you."
"This is not a thanks. This is, like, the opposite of thanks," said Cisco, still ticked off by Gypsy's wrong timing. "Wait, how did you know to come for me?"
"Because we're connected," said Gypsy. "Idiot."
Cisco started to calm down and now felt touched that Gypsy came all the way from Earth-19 just to save him.
"I'm sorry about your hands," said Gypsy, dropping her attitude as well. "Does it hurt?"
"It hurts me in here..." Cisco gestures to his heart. "... that my powers are taken away just as I was beginning to get the hang of it."
"You can still vibe, though. I can sense it," said Gypsy.
"I haven't tried since my hands were froze off," said Cisco.
"Hey, Cisco."
Cisco turns around and sees his friends. They were all happy to see him.
"You guys called Gypsy?" asked Cisco.
"B.A. had to leave subtle hints for us to keep Savitar from knowing," said H.R.
"Barry, I'm sorry about Crystal," apologized Cisco sadly.
"We can mourn later," said Barry. "Right now, we need you to tell us what Savitar is up to."
"I know 'what' he's up to, but I don't know 'where' he's going to enact his evil plan," said Cisco. "Gyspy, care to vibe his location?"
"Only if you'll do it with me," said Gypsy. "You said you haven't tried to vibe since... what happened. Show me you still can."
Gypsy puts her hand on his shoulder as she closed her eyes. Cisco rubs his cybernetic hands together as he prepared himself to vibe for the first time in months. He closes his eyes tight, maybe too tight, as he moaned with effort.
"You're trying too hard," said Gypsy. "Relax."
Cisco relaxes a bit as he tries again. He opens his eyes and he can see Savitar, wearing his armor, and Lisa walking up a mountain.
"Mount Buccelato," said Cisco.
Savitar and Golden Glider have arrived at the top of Mount Buccelato. Savitar puts down the Interdimensional Molecular Duplicator as he walks towards the middle of the field.
"When the portal opens, be ready," said Savitar.
Savitar runs around in circles, opening a breach into the Speed Force. Golden Glider picks up the bazooka, almost dragged down by its weight, and prepares to shoot her "master."
"Finally! To be a God!" howled Savitar.
Golden Glider shoots the Interdimensional Molecular Duplicator at Savitar. The beam of interdimensional energy hits Savitar and it appears as if he was being spliced through time, seen by the cloned images of Savitar entering the breach. Suddenly, something happened. The beam went straight through Savitar and into the breach. All of a sudden, a speedster zooms out of the Speed Force and runs into Savitar, knocking him down. The speedster stopped, revealing himself to be Jay Garrick.
"I've been waiting a long time to do that," said Jay.
"Garrick?!" exclaimed a confused Savitar. "How did you..."
"He didn't," said Cisco, who arrived at the scene with Flash, Kid Flash, Jesse Quick, Captain Cold, and Gypsy.
Wanting to help the Flash fight Savitar, Cisco outfitted his cybernetic hands with sonic cannons, which he kept around in case he ever had to go into battle. Using Gypsy's frequency, the sonic blasts are able to mimic the power of a vibrational blast that metas who have vibe powers use. He gives Jay back his helmet, which he brought knowing the bazooka would set him free.
"By changing the polarity into a climbing arc, I changed your Speed Force molecular duplicator into a Speed Force Skeleton Key," said Cisco. "Didn't think I was actually gonna let you become a god, did you?"
"Hello, sis," said Captain Cold to his sister.
"Lenny," greeted Golden Glider. "What made you decided to drop by?"
"Since I heard my sister has been kidnapped by a psychotic future Barry Allen," answered Captain Cold.
"You came for me? How touching," replied Golden Glider.
"Just come home, train wreck," said Captain Cold, dropping his sarcasm. "You don't have to do what this tin can says anymore. He's outnumbered and outgunned."
Golden Glider picks up her Gold Gun and aims it at her brother, causing Captain Cold to do the same and aim his Cold Gun at his sister. Jesse Quick was about to make a move, until Kid Flash told her not to. Golden Glider and Captain Cold look at one another with a look that tell each other that they'll regret shooting at each other. In the end, Golden Glider turns her gun towards Savitar and fires, knocking him down and covering more than half of his armor in gold.
"You will regret crossing me!" shouted Savitar.
Savitar vibrates out of the gold and runs into the forest. Flash, Kid Flash, Jesse Quick, and Jay Garrick follow him.
...
The four speedsters race after the God of Speed through the woods. Savitar, however, was too fast for them catch up. Kid Flash was lagging behind because his leg has not fully healed, but he ignores it, takes many deep breaths, and runs faster. Using Jay Garrick's speed trail, Flash absorbs enough of his Speed Force energy to propel himself forward to reach Savitar.
Seeing the Scarlet Speedster closing in on him, Savitar activates his two arm blades and slices two trees. Kid Flash and Jesse Quick duck under the falling trees. Flash jumps over them. Jay runs around them.
Using his bio-electricity, Savitar jumps high into the air, looks down on the ground, and fires bolts of lightning at his enemies. He missed, but the impact of his lightning bolts creates a small electric explosion that knocks all four speedsters down to the ground.
...
Back in the field, Cisco, Gypsy, Captain Cold, and Golden Glider were just standing casually, looking awkwardly at each other. None of them were speedsters so they didn't have any reason to run into the field, so all they can do is exchange looks and wait for the fight to end.
"So, how's the whole time-traveling thing?" Golden Glider asked her brother.
"Same as always. We makes things worse before fixing the damage," said Captain Cold.
"Sounds like a basic formula for a TV show," commented Cisco.
"Maybe, but that doesn't stop it from being fun," said Captain Cold.
"Have you guys considered new recruits or something?" asked Cisco.
"As a matter of fact, we have a newbie on the Waverider," said Captain Cold. "Her name's Zari Tomaz. She has a totem that allows her to control the element of air."
"Can she fly?" asked Cisco.
Captain Cold nods.
"Cool," replied Cisco.
"Look out!" warned Gypsy.
It was too late. Savitar had zoomed in and knocked all four of them to the ground. The Speed God stops in front of Golden Glider.
"You had your chance to survive this, but now you have unlocked the path to your death!" yelled Savitar.
Savitar vibrates his hand, preparing to shove it into Golden Glider. Before he could do it, a high-pitched scream comes out of nowhere, causing everyone to cover their ears, including Savitar. The scream came from Black Siren.
"I knew I should've killed you when I had the chance," said Savitar.
Savitar runs towards Black Siren, only to get hit by a beam of ice, getting knocked down to the ground. Cisco, Gypsy, Golden Glider, and Captain Cold turned their heads to where the shot came from. The former two were shocked to see who they saw. Crystal Frost, but with white hair and cold smoke coming out of her hands.
Flash returns to the scene to see Crystal, alive and well. He walks towards her to see if he wasn't dreaming. Crystal touches Barry's cheek with her hand. He can feel it, meaning she was real. Tears of joy started building up in his eyes just seeing her right in front of him. Crystal puts her arms around him, giving him a hug, feeling that he could use one.
"Caitlin Snow?!" Savitar sounded confused. "How did you survive?!"
Crystal reaches into her top and pulls out a necklace with a glowing snowflake symbol on it.
"Just in case you do succeed in killing me, I thought I'd prepare myself," said Crystal, speaking in her Killer Frost voice. "I had this necklace repurposed so instead of suppressing my powers, it'll bypass any power-dampening tech put on me. I admit, your metal spear hurt, but that's no problem for someone who regenerate."
Savitar growled in anger, frustrated that he failed to kill her.
"You may be one step in front of everyone, but I am always eleven steps ahead," said Crystal.
Crystal Frost fires again and encases Savitar in ice. Cisco runs up towards the ice-wielding metahuman and quickly puts his arms around her, pulling her into a big hug.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're not dead," said Cisco happily.
"Okay, not the reaction I expected," said Crystal.
Cisco stops hugging Crystal and says, "Oh, believe me, I am still ticked at you for freezing my hands off and killing the people I love, but I guess the good side of me outweighed by bad side. Once we're finished here, we're gonna have a serious talk about pretending to be dead. Seriously, you are just unbelievable, my friend."
Crystal rolls her eyes, but smiled in amusement.
The happy reunion was interrupted by Savitar vibrating. After shattering the thick layer of ice around him, he slams Flash towards a tree, knocks out Crystal Frost and Black Siren, and knocks down Gypsy and Golden Glider. Cisco tried using his sonic cannons, but Savitar dodges every single blast before grabbing him.
"You'll pay for what you did!" yelled Savitar angrily. "Now you can die the same way twice."
In the blink of an eye, Savitar shoves his vibrating hand into Cisco's chest, stopping his heart. Gypsy and Golden Glider watched in horror as Savitar drops Cisco's dead body to the ground. Both girls rushed towards him in tears. They begged him to wake up, but he wouldn't. He lied on the grass, motionless.
Flash, Crystal Frost, and Black Siren wake up to see what has happened while they were unconscious. The former two were saddened to see what had happened to Cisco.
While Gypsy embraces Cisco in sorrow, Golden Glider fires her Gold Gun at Savitar. The God of Speed dodges the first blast before grabbing her and slamming her to the ground, his hand around her neck.
"I could kill you right now, but I think I'd rather let you live to endure the pain you are suffering," said Savitar.
Savitar kicks Golden Glider away as he turns his attention to Flash and Crystal Frost, both whom were enraged by what he did to Cisco.
"Just because Caitlin Snow's death was prophesied by the Speed Force, it doesn't mean I cannot talk anyone else away from you, Flash," said Savitar. "If I cannot become a god, I will take away everyone you care about until you're all alone, and then you will truly know my pain!"
Savitar begins walking towards Captain Cold. Flash, fueled by rage from Savitar's threat, runs towards the God of Speed. He vibrates himself so he can phase into the armor, pushing Savitar out of it in the process. The lights from the armor changed from blue to red, now that it has a new wearer.
"How does it feel to get so close to your ascension and end up on the ground?" taunted Flash.
Savitar looked up at his armor with a deranged smile on his face.
"Now, I see. It's written," he said, believing his past self had finally become "him."
"Nothing's written!" yelled Flash.
If Flash could not embrace the darkness, Savitar decided to get himself back in the suit. The two exchanged punches. Savitar was able to dodge Flash's punches, but his own punches can't affect his own armor. Flash grabs Savitar's head before punching him down. Savitar is down on both knees as Flash activates one of the armor's blades, preparing to end the time remnant's existence once and for all.
"Do it!" dared Savitar. "You kill me, you become me. Either way, I live."
Crystal Frost, Black Siren, Captain Cold, and Gypsy stood and watched as Flash's arm shook with fear, wrestling the decision of whether or not to end Savitar right here and now. In the end, Flash retracts the blade. He started vibrating until the armor shatters to pieces. Savitar looks up at the Flash with surprise and disappointment, while the Scarlet Speedster looked down at the time remnant with anger.
"I'll never let the pain, the darkness determine who I am," said Flash. "I will never be you."
"Then you and I are gonna locked in battle for all eternity," said Savitar.
"I tried to help you once," reminded Flash. "I meant every word I said, and yet, you turned your back on me."
"You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped, Flash," growled Savitar.
"Why do all this?" asked Flash. "Splicing yourself throughout time, what will that accomplish?"
"I told you before. When I was trapped in the Speed Force, I traveled back in time to ensure that my future is as it should be," reminded Savitar. "When I have control of all of time, I will be able to change it anyway I want."
"Including getting your old life back," realized Flash. "Mom. Dad. Iris. Everything that Thawne and I took away from you. You wanted it all back."
"It's all I wanted," said Savitar.
Flash looked closely at his future self's face. It was no longer full of deranged anger. It was full of desperation, sorrow, and anguish. All Savitar wanted was to rewrite history and bring back his old life. A time where he and Iris were married. A time where his parents are alive. A time where the true Harrison Wells of Earth-1 was both his friend and mentor. Flash was beginning to sympathize with his enemy. All this death and destruction, just to bring back everyone he loved.
"But why kill and destroy to get what you want?" asked Flash.
"Because it was the only way," answered Savitar angrily. "I knew that you would try to stop me. I knew that the Speed Force would never allow me to change time. I had to conquer both obstacles just to get my life back."
"We could've helped you," said Flash.
"No, you couldn't," said Savitar. "Everyone from 2024, they were right about one thing. I'm just an aberration that needs to be erased. I have no place in this world."
"When Caitlin took Iris away from me, I thought I was damaged beyond repair, but I was wrong," said Flash. "There's still hope for you. You still know how to love, and that part of you shows that there is still humanity in you."
"I am not like you, Flash," snarled Savitar. "I could've been something more. A god."
Flash could see it in the time remnant's deluded expression. He would never give up his ambition to rule the Speed Force. Even if there was still love in his heart, he would not let it out because he doesn't want to. He's broken. Lost. Beyond redemption.
"Then there's no hope for you at all," said Flash.
Flash angrily speed-punches Savitar in the face, knocking him out. Flash begins to walk away, giving up on saving Savitar.
Suddenly, Savitar wakes up. Wish Flash's back turned, he took the opportunity. He runs towards him with his hand vibrating, ready to end his past self once and for all. Just as he was about to jump, he gets hit by a beam of ice, courtesy of Crystal Frost. This captures Flash's attention. Crystal started walking towards the ex-God-of-Speed, who was trying to recover from the cold.
"You've spent centuries making other suffer," said Caitlin with disgust.
"What I have done is no different to what you've done," said Savitar. "You can try to be a hero, but deep down, you know. You will never be redeemed. You're nothing by a killer, Killer Frost."
"You're right," said Crystal.
Crystal then stabs Savitar in the heart with a shard of ice. Savitar looked into Crystal's eyes as he felt his life coming to an end. With the last strength in him, he cups her cheek in his hand in affectionate way. Crystal could see the look in his eyes. It was the same look Barry gave her. Love.
Savitar collapses to the ground, no longer breathing. Crystal couldn't help but feel remorse for her hand in his death. He may have been evil and demented, but deep down his ambitious nature was Barry Allen. The Barry Allen that knew love, compassion, and heroism. If she could've helped him, she would, but even she knew that he was too far gone to be saved.
"Looks like you got to kill me, after all," Flash half-joked.
Crystal half-smiled. "I guess I did."
Jesse Quick, Kid Flash, and Jay Garrick have returned from the woods. The two young speedsters were trying to help Jay Garrick walk, since he was hurt badly from the lightning bolt impact. They could see Crystal Frost, but with white hair. They could see Savitar lying dead on the ground with an icicle sticking out of his chest. Before any questions were asked, everyone turned their attention to Gypsy and Golden Glider, both mourning beside the deceased Cisco Ramon.
Savitar may have been vanquished, but Barry Allen had lost yet another person close to him.
:'(
I know. I know. I know. Killing off Cisco was a pretty bold (and infuriating) move. I just wanted to shake things up a bit, as I always do since I don't want my stories to be exactly like canon. In my Arrow spin-off, "Back To Lian You" (SPOILERS if you haven't read it), I let everyone Oliver cared about live, including Samantha. So, I thought I'd replace H.R.'s death with someone else's in this story. It was a hard to pick. It could've been Jesse or Joe, but in the end, I've made my decision.
I know this is a really, really sad moment, but if my "Unforgivable" series has shown anything is that Flash's side of the story is darker than even Arrow's. You've read all the tragedies in "Unforgivable". I never said it would stop there. When you say "dark," you're not just making a story gloomy but also emphasizing loss and hardship.
I just hope you would still read the next chapter, which will be the last.