CW Flash: I Copy Attributes

[You have purchased Plot Manipulation for 50Sp]

[Sp: 20]

-THUD

"Huh…"

Derek blinked, not knowing what to focus on first.

He looked around inside the dark dome he had created with his Eclipse, waving his hands before Barry's face, only to see the latter remain frozen.

Despite this, he could continue moving as freely as he wanted.

'If someone with his perception and speed is frozen, it's safe to say everything else is too.'

He thought, realising this was probably the world's way of allowing him to change what he needed to.

'Now, what's this supposed to be?'

Derek asked, seeing the red book that dropped to his lap.

'Alright, let's not rush into anything. I can potentially do more harm than good if I'm not careful.'

After all, this was a delicate concept he was tampering with.

Thinking this, he raised the red book, gently inspecting it.

From the front to the back, it fashioned a clear and blank red cover, yellow parchment hidden in between the pages.

'Plot Manipulation. From what I know of the system and, well, common sense, I doubt this makes me omnipotent.'

The reason for this was simple.

The effects of it were most likely constrained by demonstrated events and logical reasoning based on what was already true.

For example, he couldn't simply give Barry speed equivalent to what he has at the end of the show because that would be illogical and would contradict all previous events of season 1.

No, like his system previously telling him there was no room for errors in a perfect story, he'd likely be told something similar if his change didn't abide by common sense.

Meanwhile, after a quick scan, Derek found there was nothing suspicious about the book, quelling his paranoia as he finally opened the book down the middle.

And as he did…

Nothing.

It was a regular book with regular pages and regular writing.

At least, that's how it seemed at first glance.

However, when Derek took a second to read what was written, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise.

It read…

Barry's eyes turned to Derek who had suddenly formed the dome around them. However, deep down, he could tell.

Derek needed a second to recompose himself.

At least, that's how it seemed.

After all, he could only imagine how excruciating that pain he'd endured might have felt. He had yet to see Derek so stressed, struggling.

Until now, especially with how he entered the war, he always seemed like he had the advantage.

Like there was little that could bother him.

It was a little unnatural to witness, which prompted Barry to stare.

Though they both took this time to regain their bearings, they also took a few moments to make a plan for how they'd deal with the Metas on the other side, who sounded as though they were growing more restless by the second.

It wasn't long until they agreed on a game plan.

Barry would immobilise and distract while Derek used the last of his Eclipse to restrain the Metas.

It was decided.

And as they both rose to their feet, preparing to drop the dome, they took a moment to glance at one another, nodding in respect.

Barry didn't know if Derek felt the same way, but he was glad he wasn't doing this alone.

And so…

'Hm, that's it.'

Derek noted.

His mind was quick to realise what exactly it was he was reading.

'The future.'

But most likely nothing far, only seeming like the next few minutes if Derek hadn't purchased the Plot Manipulation.

'Well, how do I change it?'

-THUD

A black and yellow pencil with an eraser on its end dropped before Derek, landing on the page before him.

He nodded inwardly.

'And what if I want to change something from a long time ago? Like Nora Allen's death?'

-FWIP

At the next moment, the pages suddenly started to flip rapidly, the sheer amount of pages Derek was witnessing contradicting the small size of the book.

But eventually, it stopped.

Nora screamed in desperation as the red and yellow blurs tore through her home, destroying anything in the immediate vicinity.

Tears formed in her eyes, carried away by the intense winds before they could run down her face.

She raised her forearm to cover her face as she struggled to breathe, feeling as though she was stuck in the middle of a raging tornado…

'Ah, I see. Anything and everything ever recorded in this story will be in this book.'

Derek nodded, commanding the scene to return to the latest point, which it did.

'Alright, enough waiting.'

Derek cracked his fingers as he crossed his legs, raising the pen.

A part of him wondered why he was so excited. 

Maybe because he could finally take the first and biggest step in making this story perfect since he arrived in this world.

Or, who knows, maybe becoming an author was a goal of his in his past life.

Either way, Derek grinned as his pen touched the page.

***

Barry's eyes turned to Derek who had suddenly formed the dome around them. However, deep down, he could tell.

He could tell they were currently getting their asses kicked.

He was supposed to be the more experienced Hero, yet he had been nothing but a liability in this war, even needing to be saved by Derek, who was making a clear difference in the battle.

'No, Hero status has nothing to do with it.'

Barry couldn't help but remember the times when Oliver would point out his flaws, making it painfully clear that he was still a rookie.

So if it wasn't experience, what was it that made them seem like they were worlds apart?

Abilities?

No.

Derek's ability wasn't bad, but he had witnessed first-hand the destruction a speedster can cause, courtesy of Reverse Flash.

So what then?

Why were Reverse Flash, someone with the same ability as him, and Derek, someone who was also new to both his abilities and being a hero, so much…better than him?

If not the powers and not the status…then was it the person?

'Am I in over my head?'

He was used to not standing out his entire life, but a part of him thought things were different now.

He was more now.

He was the Flash.

That meant he now had responsibilities.

Responsibilities, not only as someone the public relied on, but also to his loved ones.

A responsibility to Derek who fought hard beside him.

A responsibility to stop Reverse Flash and free his father for the crime he didn't commit.

A responsibility…to honour his mother.

Therefore, he didn't care.

He didn't care if he wasn't cut out to be the Flash.

He didn't care if he wasn't good enough.

Because no matter what, he'd keep running.

'I have to. For everyone.'

At that moment, something clicked within Barry.

He rose to his feet, facing where he last knew the Metas to be.

With his legs bent, his eyes crackled as he calmly exhaled.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something felt different.

It felt like he had finally found the right gear in a race where he had always been running with a flat tire.

Every time he dashed forward, something would hold him back—an obstacle, a twist in the narrative that felt out of his control. 

But now, it was as if the road ahead had smoothed out, and he could feel the wind at his back, pushing him forward without resistance. 

He was running not just with speed, but with purpose, clarity, and an unyielding sense of direction, as if the universe was finally in sync with his intentions.

So as the moonlight penetrated the gap formed in the retracting Eclipse, Barry did what he knew best.

He ran.

***

"GAH!!!"

Derek dropped to his knees, exhausted as the book and pen disappeared from before him.

Changing the Plot had taken a lot out of him, which he hadn't expected. It was as if the energy needed to make the changes was drained out from his very being.

But despite this, he didn't care.

No, in fact, he grinned.

He grinned as he dropped to his buttocks, witnessing Barry before him, completely focused as he prepared to dash.

His Eclipse was lowering and more of the prison was becoming visible.

But Derek's eyes remained on Barry…on the Flash's back.

He could practically hear his eyes crackling with ferocity, his fingertips zapping with electricity.

And as the dome finally disappeared, Derek's grin widened, one thought in his mind.

'Run Barry…RUN!'

-WHOOSH

-CRACKLE

One second.

A single second had passed.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of Metas were either incapacitated, unconscious while locked in one of the many cells or the most dangerous, like the sand man, female shadow conjurer and cheetah, somehow inside the ground, only their heads free as one could see each of their eyes rolled back while they foamed from the mouth.

And in the centre of this all, stood a figure with a red suit, a lighting bolt adorned on his chest.

'...'

But despite it being a single second, Derek saw.

He saw it perfectly.

He saw the Flash deal with every single Meta before they could blink, much less form a plan of attack.

Additionally, in one of the many cells, was a sight that made Derek smile.

There laid a pair of fire and ice wielders, unconscious as their guns were disassembled from the root, small parts missing as if to give them the hope of fixing it only for them to realise they'd been wasting their time.

"Derek…thank you."

[Barry Allen's appreciation toward you has increased drastically]

Flash, still facing away, spoke.

"For what?"

"I'm not really too sure myself…but thanks."

Barry finally turned, walking toward the downed youth as he held out his hand.

Only now, as they both locked eyes, could they see the large and rather wholesome smiles they each had on.

"Yeah…Any time, Flash."

[Your understanding of Barry Allen has greatly increased]

Derek finally grabbed his hand.

And just like that, in a single second, the Flash ended World War M.

The Plot shall no longer hinder Barry Allen, the Flash.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash being stupid? I doubt you'll see that again...unless I'm stupid with the writing.

Anyway, it's the end of the week, lets end it strong, people.

I'll be honest, I didn't think we were going to make it this far since I kinda started this fanfic on a whim, but it has really fueled my Author passion that I didn't know I had.

So thanks everyone!

...I feel kinda shameful to place my Patreon link here after seeming grateful...it just seems...wrong.

But I'll do it anyway cause I'm kind of a scumbag!

patreon.com/SonderNow