//------------------------------//
// Race 8 
// Story: My name is Barry Allen and I'm the fastest pegasus alive 
// by Kaliann25 
//------------------------------//


Race 8: My name is Barry Allen, and I’m the fastest man alive


Nopony could believe it; they simply couldn’t.  Just a few hours ago, everyone in town was worried about Rainbow Dash, knowing that she was in a coma, and it wasn’t certain whether she would survive. But there they were, after somepony woke them in the middle of the night, only to see the cyan pegasus completely recovered, and moving at impossible speeds.

“I MADE IT!  I FINALLY MADE IT!  MY NAME IS RAINBOW DASH, AND I’M THE FASTEST FLYER IN EQUESTRIA!  THE FASTEST!  DO YOU HEAR ME, FLASH?  EVERYPONY?  I AM THE FASTEST PEGASUS ALIVE!”

Nopony questioned the burst of confetti that accompanied her landing, or the party that seemed to spring out of nowhere. A multi-tiered mélange of confections kicked off the celebration, as all in town gladly gave up a bit of sleep to welcome back one whom they had thought lost.  True to her claim, Rainbow Dash took the first piece, the muzzle of the chocolate mousse moose.

But despite their relief, the other Element Bearers present discreetly whisked the pegasus away while Starlight and Spike entertained the crowd.  Once she discovered that the Castle of Friendship was their destination, Rainbow Dash blazed the trail, leaving a rainbow streak as she rushed to the main entrance to persuade her friends to hurry and then rushed back to join them so quickly that she almost appeared to be in two places at once.

By the time the entire group had entered the private sitting room, a crack of displaced air announced Starlight's and Spike's arrival as the unicorn teleported in after handing the festivities off to the mayor.  They joined the others as they watched the rainbow blur zip into, around, and out of the room.

Twilight Sparkle cried out, "Rainbow Dash!  Stop!  Please!"

The pegasus seemed to materialize beside her.  "C'mon, Twilight!  It feels great to move again!"

Twilight continued, "I know you're excited, but we really need to talk.  We're happy for you, but we don't know what happened to you.  All this speed stuff could be dangerous."

“Oh, come on Twilight!  It’s me, Rainbow Dash.  Speed in my life, and you know that.  Besides, the Flash moves like this, right?”

“Flutters’ is right, Rainbow Dash!” joined Applejack. “We don’t know if this speed would last forever.  We don't know what this lightning is doing to you.”

“Exactly, Dashie!” said Pinkie.  “And even if these powers are permanent, don’t you realize you can hurt yourself, or others, if you keep moving like that?”

Rainbow Dash finally sighed and sat.  "You can't believe how alive I feel right now.  Staying still like this just feels wrong, but I'll do it for you, all of you."

Twilight said, "That's what has us worried so much.  You can't believe how happy we are to see you up and about, but this just isn't normal.

“Come on girls, you just don’t understand,” said Rainbow.  "I don't just move fast; I see fast; I hear fast; I think fast; I do everything fast.  To me, everything else seems to be going in slow motion; I don't have to worry about crashing into anything anymore.  I know this is all new, but I'm still me."

"Listen to yourself, Rainbow Dash."  Twilight looked at her friend with concern.  "What would you do if one of us suddenly went from being almost dead to being better than alive?  Wouldn't you wonder if there were something not so nice behind it?"

Exasperated, Rainbow Dash replied, "What would it take to convince you?"

"Spike just sent a letter to Princess Celestia.  Come daybreak, they should be here to help us evaluate you.  Until then, let's just all get some sleep; it's been a long day for all of us."

Rainbow made an exasperated groan.  "Daybreak?  Lame!"

Spike said, "Come on, Rainbow Dash.  Celestia's asleep by now, and Luna's probably up to her ears in Night Court."

Rainbow Dash pouted before smiling evilly.  "That means Princess Celestia is free."

“RAINBOW!  DON’T!” shouted the others in unison.

It was too late.  The rainbow-hued streak had passed through the skylight before the first syllable had been uttered. "





Celestia tossed and turned as she fitfully dozed on her princess-sized mattress, just as Spike had predicted.  Millenia of experience had taught her to compartmentalize her emotions, but that did little to lighten the true weight of her crown.  Regardless, once she was in this state, it took an extraordinary stimulus to wake her -- like a horribly out of tune rendition of "Sunrise Serenade".

Muzzily, the solar princess launched pillow after pillow at the annoyance to no effect.  When she finally ran out of ammunition, she managed to focus somewhat on the annoyance.  "Huh?  Who is this?"

“Princess Celestia, it’s me!” said Rainbow Dash happily.

Celestia shook her head as she tried to understand.  “What?  Rainbow Dash?  Are you okay?   What are you doing here?”

Rainbow Dash grinned as multi-colored lightning bolts coursed around her body.  "I'm better than okay, but you know Twilight and the others; they’re worried, blah, blah, blah.  You know, the usual.  Anyway, can you please come to Ponyville and tell them that I’m okay?”

Celestia slowly processed that Rainbow Dash had just vanished in a rainbow-hued streak.  “What in Tartarus?  Am I dreaming?”

The princess shrugged and retrieved her pillows.  Just as she was about to fall asleep, Luna burst into the room.  The lunar princess said, "Tia, the Element of Loyalty just vanished after telling me you'd vouch for her.  Did I really just see her move like that?"

Both sisters exchanged a look.  “We should go to Ponyville!” they said in unison.  





In the Castle of Friendship, everypony and Spike were experiencing first-hand Rainbow Dash's enhanced perception of time.  The seconds dragged on interminably as they anxiously awaited the speedster's return.  When the multi-colored streak  returned through the skylight, it had seemed as though hours had elapsed even though less than a minute had passed since Rainbow Dash had left.

“Ha!  If that took a minute, I'll eat my hoof!”

Twilight face-hoofed.  “Tell me you didn't disturb the princesses.”

"Nah, it was just a nice, friendly visit."

Twilight groaned.  "That's just perfect.  If they were worried before, they must be frantic now."

“Did you seriously just get back from Canterlot?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“Of course!  That trip's nothing with this speed.  I can't wait to show the Flash who's the fastest!”

The crack of displaced air heralded the appearance of the avatars of night and day.  As the princesses looked toward Twilight, the elder said with forced civility, "My most faithful friend, would you be so kind as to explain what is going on?"

Twilight sighed.  "We weren't expecting anypony to summon you quite so soon."  She glared at the new speedster.  "Someone here just couldn't wait for daybreak."  She turned her head back toward the visitors.  "We're glad you're here.  Spike had sent you a letter with the details.  You may have noticed that Rainbow Dash has gained some new abilities.  We were hoping you might help us analyze what happened, how she could have recovered like this."

Celestia mused for a moment as Luna scanned Rainbow Dash.  The elder said, "This is new to me; it's definitely not normal."

Luna added, "There appears to be something new integrated into her aura.  It is as though someone took her essence and made it even more of what it was.  I know that does not make sense, but, Rainbow Dash, you are now ever more you."

Celestia asked, "How does harmony fit into this?  Have you seen how she feels elementally?"

Luna looked around.  "Sister, I believe we are one Element short for that."

Starlight frowned. “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Rarity in a while”

“Well, she wasn’t home,” said Rainbow as she streaked back from Carousel Boutique to join in the conversation. “Anypony know where she went?”

“I left a note at her door an hour ago,” said Spike with a yawn.  “I'm sure she'd have responded if she were here.”

Somepony knocked at the sitting room door, and Twilight opened it with her magic.

"I do hope I'm not intruding," said Rarity.  "I apologize for being so late, but I just had to step away to clear my mind."

"I understand," said Twilight, "but where did you go?"

"I took the express to Canterlot.  I had to go back where everything started.  I just had to . . . Well, that's not really important now.  Let's just say I got some unexpected help."

Applejack's eyes narrowed at the explanation.  "Ah don't suppose you could tell us a bit more, sugar cube."

Sweat started to bead on Rarity's brow when another pony appeared beside her.  It was an orange pegasus with a blond mane.  He said, "I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I had insisted on seeing that Miss Rarity arrived safely.

The princesses smiled.  Twilight said, "Oh, hello there.  You must be the help that Rarity mentioned.

Barry nodded happily.

“Why did you bring him here?” asked Starlight frowning.  “This is a personal problem, Rarity.”

Rainbow Dash said, "Don't be such a sourpuss, Starlight.  Remember the train schedule?  He must have given her a ride from Canterlot."  She turned to the newcomer and offered her hoof.  "I remember you.  You're Blue Blood's cool friend, Berry, right?"

The stallion returned her smile and bumped hooves.  "Actually, it's 'Barry'."  Tiny gold lightning bolts coursed around his body.  "My name is Barry Allen, and I'm the fastest pegasus alive."  

Rainbow’s eyes widened as her jaw dropped.  Just as suddenly, her eyes narrowed and she grit her teeth in determination.

Flash winked an eye at her, and dissolved into a red and gold blur, only to reappear dressed in his red bodysuit with golden hooves.

“FLASH!” shouted Rainbow.  “Get ready to prove it!”

“You have been given a great gift, Rainbow Dash,” said Barry patiently.  “Being connected to the Speed Force opens a whole world of possibilities, but this is just like being born again.  There's so much you have to learn to truly control it.  I can help you with that; that's why I'm here.”

Rainbow frowned.  “I know how to fly fast; that’s my thing, you know?”

“Mere speed means nothing without control.  With the proper guidance, the impossible becomes possible."  With that, he phased a foreleg through the coffee table, picked up a pencil that had rolled underneath, and brought the pencil back through the tabletop.

“Are you telling me that you’re the one who’ll teach me?” asked Rainbow Dash angrily.

But then, Twilight intervened.  "Stop!  Both of you!  Tell me, Barry Allen, Flash, or whoever you really are, why should we trust you?  Who are you really?  And, Rarity, how exactly did you find him?"

“I told you darling, I ran into trouble and Barry saved me.  When I told him what had happened to Rainbow Dash, he insisted on helping.”

“But he’s responsible for what happened to Dash!” protested Applejack.

“To be fair, that was Rainbow’s fault,” said Starlight.  “But, I’m with you girls.  We know nothing of you Barry Allen, if that’s your real name.”

“Not to mention that he attacked Twilight!” said Pinkie Pie angrily.

“I didn’t do anything to hurt her, I just had to persuade her to release my friend.  Besides, I came to this land just to find Rainbow Dash,” explained the scarlet speedster.

“To find me?” exclaimed Rainbow.  “Why?  Wanna fight?”

As the Element Bearers and their friends started to bicker with the Flash, the Royal Canterlot Voice stopped them.  " EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!”  The blue alicorn looked the stallion in the eye.  “Young Allen, you have confessed to consorting with a known felon.  What is your business with Rainbow Dash?”

“I was sent here on a mission, to find a true speedster whose powers were about to awaken, to guide her to become the hero she is destined to be.  I’ve found her.  Now, it's my turn to be a mentor.”  

Luna was about to give a rebuttal when her sister put a calming forehoof on her withers.  “Peace, Luna.”  She, too, turned to the stallion.  “We have a way to establish the truth.  Tell us, Barry Allen.  Will you allow us to view your memories?

Barry glanced over to Rarity, who gave a subtle nod.  She had warned him of this possibility.  He looked back to the princesses and nodded.  “You may look, but I must warn you that my story is not a happy one.

Celestia looked over to her former student.  “Twilight, this is Marigold’s Memory Mirror Multiplier.”

Twilight protested.  “That's purely theoretical!  That would take the power of . . . three alicorns.”  She laughed weakly at the realization.

The alicorns stood together and their horns glowed as one.  The room dimmed as a dome was projected, filling the room.  The crash of a dropped planter drew everyone’s attention to the image projected.  The scene moved at a perspective well below the height of the doorframe.  The door swung inward, revealing a novel creature under attack by a yellow streak.

Twilight exclaimed, “A human?!”

The woman uttered her last words.  “Run, Barry!  Run!”

The yellow streak approached as the woman collapsed.  A red and gold streak suddenly appeared, and in a blur, the scene changed to a playground.  Views of a suburban neighborhood played until it stopped in front of a house with emergency vehicles in front.  Rapidly, it moved to show a form covered in a blanket and a man being led away in handcuffs.  A reedy voice screamed, "Let Dad go!  He didn't do it!"

The scene shifted to a dining room.  A policeman in uniform sat on one chair while a young girl sat to his right.  The policeman said, “I'm sorry, Barry.  Your father's going to be locked up for a long time."

Young Barry's voice screamed, "He didn't do it!  Why won't anyone believe me, Uncle Joe?"

Joe replied, "I believe, Barry.  I've known your folks for a long time.  Your father is doing this because he loves you.  We know he's protecting you from all this.  This is the best he could do for you."

Barry grumbled.  Joe continued.  "I know this is hard, but, but we'll see it through.  Say hello to your new sister, Iris."

The girl gave a friendly smile.

“The poor dear,” mumbled Fluttershy, wiping away her tears.

The scene jumped from highlight to highlight.  There was a moment at college commencement.  Briefly, it went to a view of reading a signed autobiography of Dr. Harrison Wells.  Then, there was a scene inside a police laboratory.  The desk held a nameplate that read, "Barry Allen, Scientist".  The next jump went to an evidence wall, pinned with newspaper clippings, photos, hand-written notes, and bits of yarn to show the connections.

There was a pause before the next jump.  This time, the scene was a dinner party, where he was nervously explaining his life's story to a man with a close-cropped beard and moustache and an attractive woman who had introduced him as Oliver Queen. The scene shifted again, to the inside of a bunker, where a man in a green costume lying on the table who had the same distinctive facial hair.  Under his breath, Barry muttered, "The Arrow."  Barry called out results of tests as he looked at various test tubes before he shouted out the name of a poison, and its antidote.

“You have to be kidding me,” mumbled Luna.  "There's another one?” 

The scene returned to the police laboratory.  The television was tuned to a live feed at S.T.A.R. laboratories.  The reporter explained the significance of the particle accelerator that was about to come on line.  Dr. Wells attempted to answer questions in terms most people could understand.  The television came into full view as the countdown reached five seconds.  The view shrank back as it showed the accelerator exploding.  An even louder crash came into the lab, whiting out the view.  There was a softer crash.  As vision returned, everything looked sideways, and broken beakers and vials could be seen on either side before things went completely black.

“NO WAY!” everypony shouted in unison.

After another pause, the scene shifted to a sideways view of a newspaper.  The date was several months after the one shown during the news feed.  As the view corrected the orientation of the newspaper, it came down, revealing a woman in a lab coat who introduced herself as Dr. Caitlin Snow.  She explained that he was in S.T.A.R. Labs and introduced Cisco Ramón and Doctor Harrison Wells after she called them in.  They explained the changes that the accident had made to his body, and of how he was not the only one to be affected by the accelerator's explosion.  With a hint of disgust, Caitlin and Cisco explained how the other meta-humans were using their powers for evil, and how Dr. Wells had refused to even allow research on reversing the meta-human effect.

From there, the jumps went through multiple incidences of crime fighting against the meta-humans.  Caitlin and Cisco played a prominent part behind the scene.  Eventually, Dr. Wells joined in.  The series ended with a view of a banner behind a stage the read, "Welcome Flash, Hero of Central City".

The ponies watched as they were treated to the Flash's view of his battles with members of his rogues' gallery.  Team-ups with Green Arrow were not infrequent.  Ironically, it seemed the one who posed the greatest challenge was an exceptionally clever normal human in a parka, who Barry introduced as Leonard "Captain Cold" Snart. 

Barry frowned as the next set of scenes played out.  The yellow streak resolved into a true nemesis, a true speedster, just like him.  Chillingly, he said, "Oh, I'm not like the Flash at all.  Some would say I'm the Reverse."  With each encounter, Barry came closer to capturing him, but each time, the encounter ended through either superior skill from his opponent, or blunders by Barry as the Flash struggled to improve to his opponent's level.

“COOL!” shouted Rainbow Dash when she saw one accident send him back in time.

“Impossible, impossible!” said Twilight.  “This is so impossible that it's absurd!”

The other ponies looked on in shock when the scene shifted to Reverse Flash's revelation.  The villain unmasked himself, showing that was no other the Dr. Wells whom Barry had befriended.  The doctor revealed that he had been proverbially fattening Barry for the slaughter, increasing the Flash's powers to the point where the Reverse Flash could steal them.  They watched the time shift as Flash chased down his nemesis, only to return to the beginning as it became apparent that the Flash was the one who saved Barry, at the cost of the Reverse Flash taking his mother's life.

Barry warned the others.  "It gets worse."   

The next scenes started with a new speedster who introduced himself as Jay Garrik, native of an alternate Earth.  Barry called it "Earth 2" to reduce confusion.  Garrik warned of the coming of another dangerous speedster, Professor Zoom, who was on his way to kill the Flash.  This time, the scenes showed Garrik mentoring Barry, imparting a multitude of techniques, and developing both speed and strength.  There was yet another collective gasp as Garrik revealed that he was actually Professor Zoom.  The ponies could feel the panic as the Flash's desperate escape brought him to a completely alien setting.  A voice there explained he was within the Speed Force, the source of his super powers.  The next jump brought them back to Earth, to the epic struggle that vanquished Zoom.  It cost the Flash the life of his biologial father, and nearly cost that of his adoptive father as well.  

“I will say, if anything, Barry sure has an ample number of fathers to kill”, said Zoom as he was about to kill Joe. The ponies gasped. They exhaled in relief as Joe was rescued. 

The scene jumped again; they could feel Barry's depression as he spoke with Iris.  His sister promised she would be waiting for his return.  Finally, the scene shifted to within the dimension of the Speed Force.

Then, the images continued, showing Barry’s last conversation with Iris West, and finally with the Speed Force.

“In a faraway world, there’s a young speedster whose powers are soon to be awakened.  Become her mentor; show her what it means to be a hero; show her that there are speedsters she can trust.  Zoom and the Reverse Flash tried to mold you in their own images by force.  You must teach by the example.  Guide her to become as she should, Barry!” 

The room returned to normal as the spell ended.  Barry dried his tears.  He was suddenly aware of the warmth as Rainbow Dash led the Element Bearers in embracing him.

“How could you?” asked Celestia as millennia of practice let her hold back her tears.  “How could you live through all of that, and still always do what is right?”

Barry shook his head.  “ I couldn't, not always.  I was about to do something really stupid.  That’s why the Speed Force sent me here in the first place” 

Rainbow Dash smiled sadly.

“Still, you tolerated more than anypony could.  That’s why I admire you, Barry.  First time I met you, I wanted to be like you and beat you on your own game.  But now . . .”  She raised her gaze proudly.  “If I get as half as good as you are, I’ll consider it a success.  Barry Allen, you are the most loyal pony I ever met.”

Barry smiled shyly. “You’re giving me too much credit."

Dash shook her head.  “Dude, if you were born in Equestria, you would be the Element of Loyalty.  And it would be a privilege, and my greatest honor, to become the personal student of the Flash.”  She paused for a fraction of a second, lost in thought.  "No, it would be my greatest honor to be the personal student of Barry Allen.”

“Again, I think you’re giving me too much credit, but . . .”

“Nay,” said Luna.  “I’ve never seen a pony who has sacrificed so much yet still remain intact.  Sometimes you almost let your powers get the better of you, Barry Allen, but your heart is always in the right place. That’s why I bow to you.”

With that, the Princess of the Night bowed to the hero.  One by one, the others followed her example, bowing deeply in honor to the Flash.  Celestia spoke for all.  "You are a true hero, Barry Allen.  That come not in winning, but in always doing the right thing even when it's the hardest thing to do."

Barry felt slightly uncomfortable, but luckily Rainbow interrupted the moment.  “Ha!  See, Twi?  You’re not the one with the coolest teacher, not anymore.  So, Barry, when do we start my training?”

Flash smiled as the energy coursed all over his body. “Catch me if you can!”

As he zoomed out the main door, Rainbow blinked surprised, but soon enough she grinned and flew after him.  “FLAAAAAAAASH!”