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TW: Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

Arrow lair

Afternoon

Oliver and Sara were training, Oliver using his bow to block Sara's baton before sending a powerful kick to her abdomen. Sara stumbled before Oliver rushed her. Sara jumped up, wrapping her legs around Oliver's arm and twisting. They both went to the ground, their weapons disarmed before Oliver jumped up, sending a jab to Sara's leg that sent her to the ground before grabbing her baton and placing it at Sara's neck as he restrained her.

"Dead," Oliver said before releasing her.

"Not bad. First time you've actually won a spare when I'm going all out," Sara noted as she stood up and Oliver handed her baton back to her.

"I had a good teacher," Oliver said humbly as he picked his bow back up.

"No, it's more than that. Since the Siege you're just…more determined than ever to be the best you can be," Sara noted and Oliver was silent for a moment.

"I got complacent, Deathstroke took me off guard. I won't make that mistake again," Oliver said simply.

Sara looked at him, a worried look crossing her face. But before she could say anything, Felicity approached.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt, but there's something you should know," Felicity said and they gave her their attention.

"Anything on Brick?" Sara asked and Felicity shook her head.

"Not yet. He hasn't reached out to any of his contacts, but maybe Roy'll hear something on the streets. I actually came to talk about your dad," Felicity told Sara before turning to Oliver. "He reached out. He wants to talk to The Arrow. Just the Arrow."

Starling City

Night

In the back alley behind the Police Precinct, Captain Quentin Lance walked out, finding The Arrow waiting for him.

"You wanted a word, Detective?" Oliver asked his voice changer active.

"Yeah, Daniel Brickwell. A couple days ago, my daughter and Harper arrested two of his guys after he was released from Iron Heights on a technicality," Quentin told him.

"I'm aware, Detective. We're looking into him," Oliver said and Quentin snorted.

"Tell me something I don't know. Might have an idea why Brickwell hasn't come after you yet," Quentin said and Oliver looked at him intently. "One of my guys met with an informant this morning for any Intel on Brickwell. According to him, Brickwell was threatened by a guy in black. Calls himself Prometheus."

"What did Prometheus want with Brickwell?" Oliver asked.

"My informant got all his information second hand, but if he's right, Brickwell was planning on killing you if you got in his way. Prometheus wants to do it himself."

Metropolis

Next morning

Clark walked into the apartment Lois shared with Chloe, finding his girlfriend passing back and forth, muttering to herself.

"Lois? Is something wrong?" Clark asked uneasily, sensing something was off and Lois laughed humorless.

"Yeah, something's wrong, Smallville. Chloe's gone," Lois said and Clark stared at her for a moment, not quite comprehending the words.

"Lois, you're gonna have to give me more. What do you mean by gone?" Clark asked carefully.

"I mean she packed a bag and left. I woke up this morning to find her gone and this," Lois said as she pulled out a piece of paper. "And her note just doesn't make any sense."

Clark walked over, taking the note from Lois. As he read it, the note was as bewildering to him as it was to Lois.

Dear Lois (and Clark, since I know Lois will show this to you),

I'm sorry I left this way, but I know you'd try to stop me if I told you I was leaving. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'm doing something important. I figure you two of all people must understand that.

I put on Doctor Fate's helmet. I've seen the future, and a threat is coming, and its gonna take more than us to stop it. I'm bringing back help. Wherever I am, trust that I'm doing what I'm meant to.

Chloe.

PS, Clark, I saw you too. You were the world's hero, and you weren't in black.

Clark read it a few times but the words didn't change, no matter how much he wanted them to.

"What's this about a Doctor Fate and a helmet, seeing the future?" Lois asked in confusion.

"Doctor Fate was a member of the Justice Society, a group of heroes operating in the eighties. His helmet allowed him to see the future; he told me that I would lead a silver age of heroism. But his helmet had a price, each time he used it, it would drain a bit of his sanity," Clark said, gripping the note tightly as he and Lois exchanged a horrified look.

"Why would Chloe put that thing on?" Lois asked horrified.

"I don't know…but I know someone who might," Clark muttered.

Central City

Same time

Barry Allen was in his lab, working on a forensic report when he heard someone speak up from the doorway.

"Long way from Science Camp when we were twelve."

Barry looked up, surprised to see a blond woman with green eyes standing in the doorway, smiling at him. Barry couldn't place it, but there was something very familiar about her.

"I'm sorry?" Barry asked in confusion, confused when she giggled.

"Come on. It's been twelve years, but I thought that it was a pretty memorable summer for both of us," she said and Barry stared at her for a moment longer before his eyes widened.

"Chloe?" Barry said in disbelief.

"Hi, Barry. Been a while," Chloe noted.

"Twelve years," Barry said, still in disbelief. "We kind of lost touch after you moved to Smallville. What are you doing here?"

"That is a long story. But the short version is that I need your help. Can we go somewhere and talk? Alone?" Chloe requested.

"I kind of need to finish this report," Barry said as he glanced back down at the report he had been working on.

"I'm sure you can finish it with time to spare…Flash," Chloe said and Barry whipped his head up in shock. "I don't need Barry Allen. I need the Flash. Soon, the whole world might."

Metropolis, JSA headquarters

Not long after

Clark entered the brownstone museum, pausing as he stared at the glass case that had once housed Doctor Fate's helmet, now empty.

"I had a feeling you'd be showing up soon," Clark looked over his shoulder to see Carter standing in the doorway.

"You knew Chloe put on the helmet, you knew she was going to leave. Why? Why would you let her risk her mind that way? You saw what it did to Kent!" Clark said angrily.

"Calm down, Kal-El. Take a breath and we'll talk," Carter said patiently.

Clark almost glowered at him but did as he said, taking a deep breath, trying to calm down. When he was certain Clark was calm enough to hear what he had to say, Carter spoke.

"Chloe came to me two days ago, said she'd been having dreams of the Helmet appearing to her, calling to her. Kent once told me, when a great evil is about to descend on the earth, the helmet chooses its next wearer, it reaches out through dreams, calling to them," Carter explained and Clark listened for a moment.

"And you just let her put it on?" Clark asked in disbelief and Carter smiled painfully.

"No. I tried to convince her not too. But one thing I've learned from my many lifetimes with Shayera, when a woman as determined and brave as Chloe Sullivan sets her mind to something, there is nothing you can do to stop her," Carter noted and Clark couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah, that sounds like Chloe. Did she say anything about where she was going?" Clark inquired.

"No, I'm sorry Clark. All she said was that she had to meet someone she hadn't seen in years. But she seemed convinced that this person was necessary to stop whatever threat is coming," Carter said grimly.

Central City

Later that day

"How'd you know, Chloe?" Barry asked as he and Chloe walked through the park.

"It's complicated. Do you believe in magic, Barry?" Chloe asked and Barry looked at her oddly.

"Not particularly, no. Last time we met, neither did you," Barry pointed out.

"Well, that was before I moved to Smallville. I've seen a lot since then that I thought were impossible, including magic. I met a witch once that made me look and sound exactly like my cousin a few years ago," Chloe said, almost laughing at the look of disbelief on Barry's face. "It's as strange as it sounds, I know. But is it any harder to believe than Metahumans and super soldiers? Or Thor, for that matter?"

"Guess not," Barry acknowledge as they stopped at a park bench.

"Can we sit, for a minute?" Chloe asked, sitting down and Barry joined her.

"What are you doing here, Chloe? You said you needed my help. It must be big to seek me out after all these years," Barry noted and she smiled tightly.

"It is. I'm not even sure where to start. Last year, I met the remains of the Justice Society, a group of heroes that operated in Metropolis in the 80s," Chloe explained and Barry's eyes lit up in fascination.

"Like the Avengers?" he asked eagerly and Chloe laughed.

"I guess something's don't change, you're still a fan of superheroes," Chloe teased and Barry flushed. "But no, they didn't face any world ending threats; they stayed out of the headlines. One of them was called Doctor Fate; he had a helmet that allowed him to see the future."

"A helmet…that helps you see the future? This is sounding like something out of one of my old comic books, Chloe," Barry pointed out.

"You're a superhero who can break the sound barrier," Chloe deadpanned and Barry paused.

"That's…a fair point," Barry caved.

"It's okay; I know it's hard to believe. But considering everything you've seen, can you just…try to keep an open mind?" Chloe almost pleaded. "I mean, we went to camp just to try and understand the impossible. Because we believed."

"And now I'm being dismissive. I'm sorry, I get your point," Barry said with a sigh. "Go on."

"I put on the helmet the other day. And I saw…so many things, including you," Chloe said as she looked at him. "The Accords…they're part of something bigger, Barry. Something's coming, something that will make Loki look like a crime boss with delusions of grandeur."

Barry stared at her for a moment, but saw no signs of uncertainty. At the very least, Chloe believed what she was saying.

"What's coming?" Barry asked and Chloe sighed.

"I don't know. But when the battle for earth starts, your friend, Oliver Queen, will be at the center of it," Chloe sand Barry started.

"Oliver? You mean you-"

"Know that he's The Arrow? Yeah," Chloe said with a nod.

"Oh. Well, you could have started with that," Barry said, now more willing to believe her.

Whether or not magic was involved, it made sense Oliver would be part of what was going on. And she had to know Oliver's secret somehow.

"So, what do you need me to do?" Barry asked.

"I'm traveling to city to city, gathering the people I know will play a big role in what's about to happen. You in or not?" Chloe asked.

Starling City

Same time

In the Mayor's office, Moira was signing a document when her assistant walked through the door.

"Forgive the interruption, Madam Mayor, but there's a Sara Lance here to see you," her assistant said and Moira frowned, wondering what Sara could want.

"Send her in, Melissa," Moira said and Melissa walked out, Sara entering her office a few moments later.

"Hey, Mrs. Queen, sorry to bother you at work," Sara apologized, closing the door behind her.

"It's quite all right, Sara. But it must be important if you came to see me at work rather than stopping by the house later," Moira noted.

"I just didn't want Ollie to overhear us. Because I'm worried about him," Sara admitted and Moira looked at her alarmed.

"Has something happened?" Moira asked, all kinds of horrible situations flashing through her mind.

"No, nothing like that," Sara quickly assured her and Moira relaxed a bit. "I'm worried about him though."

"Why? Has he said something?" Moira asked, confused about what Sara was worried about.

"It's what he hasn't been doing that has me worried. When I first came back to Starling City, he told me I was watching over my family like a ghost. And that's what Ollie's been doing for the last nine months since we stopped Slade, acting like a ghost. He goes to work, he goes to the foundry, he goes out into the field, then he goes home. The cycle repeats every day. Now that you all know his secret, it's like he's just…"

"Like he's stopped living," Moira finished and Sara nodded.

"It probably didn't help when I ended things with him, but I didn't expect him to just give up," Sara said in frustration.

"I doubt my son has given up, Sara. He just doesn't know how to move forward. And this Prometheus coming after him is unlikely to help matters," Moira noted. "The first year he came back home, Thea and myself were often worried about him because of how closed off he had become. Eventually, he started opening back up to us again."

"It's just…the people who trained me, I saw this with them too. They stopped enjoying life, they all became ghosts of humans who just served for the mission," Sara explained and Moira understood.

"And you're worried that the same thing is happening to Oliver," Moira said and the fearful look in Sara's eyes was all the answer she needed. "Then I suppose it's a good thing he has you looking out for him. You fear for my son? Do something about it. Don't let what happened to these people happen to him."

Central City

Not long after

"Here you go, Captain," Barry said as he submitted the report he had been doing earlier.

"Thanks, Allen. You can get back to work," Singh said before noticing Barry lingering. "Something else going on?"

"I realize the timing is…pretty bad, but I need to take some time off. An old friend of mine is…going through a hard time and needs my help. Captain, you know me, you know I would not be asking if it wasn't important," Barry almost pleaded and Singh stared at him for a long moment before sighing.

"All right. I can give you a few weeks off. But that's all I can give you," Singh warned and Barry nodded gratefully.

"Thank you, Captain," Barry said with a smile before beginning to head for the door.

"Allen, you or your friend need help…you know who to call," Singh said and Barry paused, shooting Singh an odd look before nodding as he walked out the door.

Kent farm

Same time

"So that's it? We just…let her leave?" Lois asked in disbelief as Clark filled her in.

"I don't particularly like it, but all the times Chloe has had my back, when I've asked her to trust me…how can I not at least try to do the same thing," Clark said, hating it as much as Lois but knowing Chloe wouldn't have left without a good reason.

"When you put it like that…" Lois sighed in frustration, still not liking it.

Clark silently took Lois into his arms, the two of them silently worrying about Chloe.

Central City

Late afternoon

"So let me get this straight, Barry just left," Caitlin said in disbelief as she and Cisco stood in the West Family kitchen with Joe, who was pacing back and forth.

"I got home 40 minutes ago, found this on the table," Joe said as he handed a piece of paper to her. "His bag is missing and at least a couple days' worth of clothes are gone."

Cisco and Caitlin exchanged a worried look before they looked at the piece of paper; recognizing Barry's handwritten, written in a rush but still very neat.

Joe,

I know you're probably gonna be angry and worried, but I'm taking off for a bit. I don't know when I'll be back.

A friend of mine needs my help, and from the sounds of it it's not just her life at stake. I have to go guys, I'm sorry. I'll try and let you know where I am when I know what I'm dealing with.

And can you ask Cisco and Caitlin to cover for me with Dr. Wells? I know I'm asking a lot, but you know what he's like. I can't do what I need to do if I'm worried about him trying to track me down. Please, I'm asking as their friend.

Barry.

The pair looked up, meeting Joe's eyes, as bewildered as the cop.

"So…what do we do?" Cisco asked after a moment and Joe ran a hand over his face before answering.

"For now…we do as Barry says. You two, cover for him with Wells. I'll make some calls; see if anyone at work noticed anything. And see if Queen or Felicity know anything about this," Joe ordered.

At the same moment, at Star Labs, in the Time Vault, Eobard Thawne watched all this from the cameras he had placed in the West House, silently fuming with rage.

Going over the footage at Barry's work today, he paused, seeing Barry talking to a blond woman. They left and, the next time Barry was seen, he was requesting time off.

"Who are you, and how do you know Barry Allen?" Thawne muttered to himself, staring at the image of the blond woman.

On a train, leaving Central City, Barry sat across from Chloe.

"Okay, I did what you said and left my friends a note. Where to now? We're gathering a team, so who's next? Oliver?" Barry inquired and Chloe shook her head.

"We'll meet up with Oliver in our own time. We need to make a few pit stops before then. First, we're heading to New York," Chloe said.

"What's in New York?" Barry asked and Chloe smiled mysteriously.

"A few people who will play pretty big roles in what's to come. For now, just know that we need them," Chloe said vaguely.

Starling City, Queen Mansion

Same time

Oliver was in his room, on his computer, looking at pictures ARGUS had sent over when he heard a knock on the door. Oliver looked up as Moira entered the room.

"You're up late," Oliver noted.

"I could say the same to you, but we both know you're up far later. What are you working on," Moira asked as Oliver exited out.

"Just looking at some pictures from ARGUS," Oliver said vaguely and she looked at, silently demanding more and he sighed again. "Images of this Prometheus. No one can get a decent shot of him. He moves like shadows, choices of weapons are arrows and a katana. That's all I know for sure."

"I'm sure you'll find out more soon enough. But Oliver…are you okay? You've been…withdrawn since the Siege," Moira said, looking at him in concern.

"I'm fine," Oliver said dismissively.

"You don't seem fine, Oliver. You're shutting everyone out, and I'm not the only one who has noticed. Please Oliver, tell me what's bothering you," Moira said and Oliver was silent for a long moment.

"I let my guard down. I missed something so obvious because I let myself be influenced by other people," Oliver said, thinking of Officer Daily. "And Deathstroke caught me off guard, nearly destroyed the city, killed you, Thea, Bobbi. I won't make that mistake again, Mom."

"I understand why you feel like you made a mistake and you have to be prepared not to make it again. But Oliver…cutting yourself off from the people you love is not the answer," Moira said as walked over to his side, taking his hands in hers. "You're just a man. Connections are what make us human. Cutting yourself off from that won't help anyone."

Oliver didn't say anything, but the look on his face was thoughtful, so he was at least considering what she was saying. It was better than nothing, Moira decided as she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.

"Think about what I said, please," Moira said softly and, after a moment, Oliver nodded.

"Okay," Oliver agreed.

Moira smiled slightly before walking out of the room. Once the door had closed behind her, Oliver turned off his computer before walking over to his bed. Crawling under the covers, Oliver looked at his nightstand, where he had taken to keeping the picture of Bobbi. He stared at it for a moment before turning out the light and turning over in bed, closing his eyes and trying to fall asleep.

Washington DC

Same time

Thaddeus Ross was getting ready to leave for the day when a member of his staff walked in.

"Sir…we have a problem," the man said awkwardly and Ross looked over at him.

"Whatever it is, it can wait until morning," Ross said dismissively.

"It's about Bobbi Morse, Sir," the man said and Ross paused. "She's gone."

"What do you mean, gone? I thought we had a detail watching her," Ross said, trying to control his anger as he turned around to face the man.

"We did, sir. Six hours ago, they were in a bar, watching her when they were hit with two tranq darts. They woke up and she was gone," the man explained.

"Perhaps she joined back up with Lance Hunter," Ross suggested.

"We already thought about that and looked into it. She and Hunter haven't spoken in weeks, since they ended their romantic relationship. We looked over any calls going to and from Hunter and Morse's phones; they haven't even so much as texted each other. We have no idea where Morse is. She's in the wind, Sir," the man explained to the fuming Ross.

And that's the second chapter.

We're setting up the Flash storyline here with Barry departing with Chloe. Regarding Barry's decision, Barry isn't quite ready to believe in the supernatural just yet, but he's willing to give Chloe the benefit of the doubt because of their shared backstory, which will be delved into more later on.

And next chapter, we will start to get some of the New York based heroes and their storylines as well. Little by little we'll get the other main characters brought in.