I Am The Flash

Barry entered the Cortex, the overhead lights casting a soft glow on the room's high-tech equipment. He carried himself with quiet determination, his usually relaxed posture stiff with purpose. In his hand was the Philosopher's Stone, its surface glimmering with an ethereal light that reflected off the polished monitors around him. The energy radiating from it was subtle but undeniable, causing the room's atmosphere to feel heavier.

Cisco was the first to notice. He glanced up from the monitor he'd been tinkering with, his sharp eyes narrowing as he spotted the artifact. He pushed his rolling chair back with a creak, standing to face Barry.

"Uh… Barry," Cisco said, pointing at the glowing object in Barry's hand, his tone laced with both curiosity and apprehension. "What's that, and why does it look like something we shouldn't be messing with?"

Caitlin, seated at the lab bench nearby, adjusted her glasses and leaned forward, her brows furrowed. Her analytical gaze flickered between Barry's face and the stone. "Barry, is that… is that what I think it is?" she asked, her voice quiet but filled with concern.

Barry stopped in the center of the room, his green eyes steady as they scanned the group. Everyone was there—Cisco, Caitlin, Iris—all watching him with varying degrees of curiosity and wariness. Even Iris, who usually offered him an immediate smile, looked at the stone with a mix of fascination and unease.

Barry took a deep breath and held the Philosopher's Stone up slightly, its light catching in the lenses of Cisco's and Caitlin's glasses. "This," he said, his voice calm but firm, "is the Philosopher's Stone."

A hushed silence fell over the room as they absorbed his words. Caitlin's lips parted, and her hand instinctively gripped the edge of the bench. Cisco tilted his head, skepticism creeping into his expression.

"Okay," Cisco said, crossing his arms, his tone edged with humor to mask his discomfort. "You're going to have to elaborate, man. What does it do? And why do I feel like this is one of those 'Barry has a plan, but it's gonna give me anxiety' moments?"

Barry let out a soft chuckle, but his expression remained serious. He stepped closer to them, his movements deliberate, the faint hum of the stone filling the room. "The Philosopher's Stone is… it's ancient, and it's powerful," he began. "It can manipulate reality, grant abilities, and unlock potential that might never have been realized otherwise."

As the words left his mouth, Caitlin straightened, a mixture of shock and intrigue washing over her face. "Grant abilities?" she repeated, her voice almost a whisper. Her lips pressed into a thin line as her mind raced, piecing together Barry's intent.

Cisco raised a hand, his fingers twitching slightly, as if trying to grasp the enormity of what Barry was saying. "Hold up. Are you saying what I think you're saying? You're planning to use that thing? On us?"

Barry nodded, his gaze steady as he looked between them. "Yes. On both of you."

Caitlin's brow creased deeply, her arms folding across her chest in a protective gesture. "Barry, why would you think we'd need—"

"Because," Barry interrupted gently, his voice tinged with regret, "you should've had abilities by now. Both of you."

Cisco blinked, his jaw tightening. "What?" he asked, his voice low and incredulous. "Barry, what are you talking about?"

Barry hesitated, the weight of his words evident in the way his shoulders slumped slightly. He stepped closer, his voice soft but steady. "When I first faced the Weather Wizard, Harrison Wells—Eobard Thawne—was going to kill you, Cisco," he said, locking eyes with his friend. "If I wasn't fast enough to save you that time. Central City would've been flooded, and I would have ran back in time and stopped it changing the timeline. But I fixed it. I ran faster, and I stopped it from happening before it even happened."

Cisco's face fell, his usually expressive features frozen in a mask of shock. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as he processed the revelation. "Wait. You're saying I… I died?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

Barry nodded, his jaw tightening. "Yes. But because I stopped it, you didn't awaken your powers as Vibe. You never got the chance."

Caitlin's hand shot to her mouth, her eyes wide as she absorbed Barry's words. "And me?" she whispered, her voice shaky. "What about me?"

Barry turned to her, his expression softening, though his voice remained firm. "When I created Flashpoint to save my mother, everything changed. And after I restored the original timeline, Caitlin, you had powers, another personality—Killer Frost." He paused, watching as Caitlin's face twisted into a mix of disbelief and fear.

Caitlin took a step back, her arms dropping to her sides. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her lips trembled as she looked down, her thoughts racing. The weight of Barry's revelation hung heavy in the air.

Iris, who had been watching silently, finally broke the tension. "Barry," she said, her voice firm, "I thought you already saved your mother. Why are you saying you went back again?"

Barry exhaled deeply, turning to face her. "I did. But I used a different method that time," he admitted, his tone apologetic. "I was faster, smarter. I changed it without creating another Flashpoint."

Wally, leaning against the far wall, unfolded his arms and stepped forward. "So… what's your plan now, Barry?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.

Barry straightened, looking back at Cisco and Caitlin. "I'm going to give you both what should've been yours all along. Your abilities. Your potential."

Cisco's lips parted in disbelief, his hands moving to his hips as he stared at Barry. "You're serious about this," he said, shaking his head slightly. "You're actually serious."

Caitlin's eyes glistened, a mix of fear and hope flickering across her face. "Barry," she said softly, her voice wavering, "are you sure this is the right thing to do?"

Barry stepped closer to them, his expression earnest. "I know it's a lot to take in," he said, his tone gentle. "But I wouldn't do this if I didn't believe in you. Both of you. You have the potential to do so much good—with or without the powers. But this... this will give you the chance to become something even greater."

The room fell silent again, each person absorbing the gravity of Barry's words. Cisco and Caitlin exchanged a glance, unspoken questions and emotions flickering in their eyes. And though their faces were lined with uncertainty, there was also a glimmer of something else: trust.

Finally, Cisco let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, Barry," he said, his voice quiet but resolute. "Let's do this."

Caitlin nodded hesitantly, her hands trembling slightly but her eyes filled with determination. "I'm in," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Barry smiled, a wave of relief washing over his face. "Okay," he said softly. "Let's get started."