Author's Note: This chapter was inspired by Crises On Infinite Earths. A comic I suggest reading if anyone's interested. I almost skipped it but thought it was important to Barry's character so I had to do it.

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In the beginning there was only one universe. A single black infinitude. Alone and dark for so long that even the burning light was imperceptible...but the light grew and the infinitude shuddered, and the darkness finally screamed as much in pain as in relief. For in that instant a multiverse was born. A multiverse of world's vibrating and replicating. A multiverse that should have been one became many.

Each of these world's were picked off one by one. Their heroes fell and civilians ran in fear as their entire existence was blinked away. Nothing could save them, and as they met their demise more universes witnessed their own fates. Now it came for Earth One. The world in which Barry and Mineko resided. At least, that's what Professor Emil Hamilton had said.

"Are you sure that your theory's correct, Professor?" Superman asked with an unavoidable tremble in his tone. Both he and Barry had rushed over upon hearing that Hamilton had discovered something urgent. They were the only ones fast enough to arrive at S.T.A.R Labs without taking an adequate amount of time out of their day. "Not that I doubt your intelligence, it just has serious implications if you're right."

"I know." Hamilton said in a grim voice. "That's why I'm telling you before it befalls our universe as well."

The Flash exchanged a foreboding look with Superman before speaking. "Okay, you're gonna have to give us a little more information on what's happening."

Hamilton nodded his agreement. "I've named the other world's that I discovered to make explaining things a little easier, so we'll start there. Our world is Earth One, but Earth Five through to Ten have been completely destroyed."

"So, we're talking about alternate universes?" The Flash confirmed. "Just because they were demolished, that doesn't mean that it will happen here. Actually, it makes it a lot less likely to happen here."

"Under normal circumstances you'd be right, but all these universes are dying of the same thing." Hamilton started to explain before a red dot flashed onto his computer screen. The professor's expression dropped and he lost all colour in his face.

"What's wrong?" Superman asked in immediate concern.

"We...just lost Earth Three..." He shivered. "All matter was completely dissolved from the universe, just like the others..."

Superman looked distraught at this news and Barry could do nothing but rack his brain for a solution that didn't exist. Now any doubt had been erased entirely from their minds. Something weird was happening, and it was coming for them next. Maybe it was already here.

Barry's eyes widened in realisation. "Did you say that all matter was erased?"

"Yes?" Was Hamilton's answer, drenched in curiosity.

"I think I know what's been happening." The Flash stated with an air of urgency. "I ran into someone yesterday...called himself Anti-Monitor. He had this massive device, I didn't know at the time, but I think
It's an Antimatter cannon."

"Why didn't you arrest him?"
Superman asked patiently.

"Well, first of all, he's too tall to fit in any of our prisons. He's strong as well. Too strong for me to fight one on one. I needed to run or let him kill me. I chose to run." The Flash said in embarrassment. It was never easy to admit defeat, but sometimes a situation's too big to handle alone. "I informed Batman but he said that he wanted to look into it further before taking action."

"...Of course he did." Superman sighed. "I'll get a hold of the Justice League. We need to end this."

That conversation had taken place hours ago. Four hours, to be exact. Now the Justice League were in the midst of a heated battle against Anti-Monitor - an alien that currently extended about nine feet tall. Whilst Wonder Woman was thrown through buildings, Superman was tossed into outer space, and Green Lantern was pummelled into the ground - The Flash and Mineko, who now went by the name 'Kaze' when in uniform, tried to analyse the cannon.

"Oh no..." The Flash said in genuine terror.

Superman flew back into the building and struck a rather hard hit against Anti- Monitor before replying "What's 'oh no'?"

"If this thing goes off, it's not just our universe that will be destroyed...it's set to terminate all the remaining alternate Earths at once."

"What?!" Superman yelled in disbelief before being grabbed around the neck by Anti-Monitor and strangled. Superman tried to pull his hand apart but it did no good. It took Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Power Girl and Shazam to all punch him at once for the villain to finally let go. This guy was more powerful than anyone they had ever faced before...

"We can't defeat him. I don't think anyone could." Shazam exclaimed in concern just as Anti-Monitor broke Power Girl's arm in eleven different places with one shift of his hand. The force of this sent a shock wave that knocked The Flash and Kaze off their feet.

Power Girl let out a scream of agony that rippled through the vicinity. Superman rushed to her side, using his x-ray vision to assess the damage. "You need to hurry up, Barry. We can't hold him off much longer."

The Flash stumbled back up, Kaze quickly following suite, and returned to the cannon. "I'm trying! This is complicated stuff."

"Try harder!" Power Girl snapped, primarily due to the pain shooting through her body.

"Do not let them sway you." Mineko's soothing voice came after Power Girl's. "You are doing well. Do not rush, you may overlook something."

The Flash's breath was a little unsteady but he nodded gratefully at her words. "Thank you... You're right. I can't afford to make any mistakes."

This mindset was quickly dismissed the moment the cannon roared to life. Anti-monitor laughed - the loud noise rattling the entire building. "It's almost time."

Wonder Woman tightened her grip on her sword and charged forward. "You will deactivate your weapon, demon, or face the might of an Amazon warrior!"

"Your 'might' leaves little to be desired." The villain hissed cruelly, swatting the woman away as if she were nothing more than an irritating fly. "Just give up. Resign yourselves to death. This world is weak anyway. It's not worth fighting for."

The Flash stared onward at his friends, all beaten to a pulp and broken - covered in their own blood and struggling to stand. It was a sight he never wished to see again, but despite the pain they were in, they continued to fight. They knew that this universe was full of wonders and light that didn't deserve to be snuffed out.

He then turned his attention to Kaze...Mineko...who was returning his gaze. She was worried about what might happen to the world but, somehow, looked much more concerned about Barry. His expression softened. He couldn't let this world die. Not as long as she was on it. He had an idea, it wasn't ideal, but it was the only one he had.

The Flash stepped closer to the cannon. He could already feel the antimatter inside of it weakening him...draining his energy. He didn't have long before it finally detonated though, and so he tried not to think about it.

"Barry!" He heard Mineko's voice call after him with dread. He hated hearing her like that. He hated knowing that he had to hurt her. That he was going to break his promise.

"Don't move, Mini..." Barry said only barely loud enough for her to hear. "It'll all be over soon."

Then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone. The Flash sprinted around the globe, slowly gaining speed until every fibre in his body stung. Barry knew what was going to happen if his plan succeeded, and that only made this harder. He would reach a speed so unbearable and untouched within the Speed Force that he'd disintegrate. It was faster than the speed of light, faster than what was necessary to time travel. He would tear the Speed Force open, and die along the way.

This needed to be done though. Everything that had ever mattered to him and everything that had ever been important to him was on this Earth. There were countless lives within this universe, and the other ones as well. There were timelines of people both past and future that needed to be preserved. That was what he was dying for. Another chance for his universe.

The second the cannon shot its Antimatter, The Flash entered the energy. He instantly felt weaker, every part of his form stinging but he kept going. He couldn't give up. He had to run against the flow of Antimatter until it was forced back into the machine. Then, the force of such an act combined with the Speed Force would destroy it. That was the theory anyway.

Barry gritted his teeth. God, it hurt so much. It felt as if he was being ripped apart atom by atom...but he still kept running. He had to. This was their last chance. Barry felt himself shoot through the cannon, forcing the Antimatter with him. The energy only became denser and harder to run through. He mustered every ounce of willpower he had and forced himself to avoid slowing down.

"There's always hope..." The Flash struggled to speak, encouraging himself to continue through the pain. "Do what...I have to do...Save the world...Even if it only saves her, it's worth it..."

A tear ripped through the Speed Force, and The Flash felt his skin begin to burn. He aged, rapidly, every bone becoming brittle and unstable. Flesh melted away until he was nothing but a skeleton, then he disappeared into oblivion like dust.

Anti-Monitor ceased fighting.

"The Antimatter cannon has been tampered with!" He roared in fury. "That insect has destroyed the outer casing! All the power...gone. He will pay for this!"

The villain rushed towards the cannon, pushing Mineko out of the way with no effort at all. She was sent barrelling towards the wall and felt almost every bone in her body jolt. Anti-Monitor stared at his now useless weapon in fury. He roared then turned to face the exhausted heroes that had been keeping him distracted.

"This isn't over!" He boomed, figure starting to fade. "This victory will turn to ash in your mouths!"

Then he was gone, and so was the weapon...but Barry was nowhere to be found. Mineko searched frantically, but it took very little time for Superman to find something. It sent a wave of dread thumping through his chest and he stumbled weakly over to the abandoned Flash costume. The vibrant red had been dirtied with dust and the friction resistant fabric, that had never been damaged or ripped, was covered in holes. Next to it was the ring he always wore. The one he kept his costume in for last minute changes.

An awful hollowness drifted throughout the room as the other Justice League members realised what had happened. The indescribable sorrow threatened to swallow them entirely, every passing breath feeling more difficult than the last. Superman had to look away from the suit. If this was all that was left...then there was likely nothing left of Barry.

Wonder Woman's hand covered her mouth in shock. Her expression alone was difficult to even glance at. "Barry...Oh Hera..."

"What happened?!" Hal said in disbelief. "Why are you all looking at his suit like that? Where's Barry?"

Power Girl winced but forced herself over to Hal, placing the hand of her not broken arm on his shoulder. "His suit was nearly indestructible, it had to be to withstand his speed. If that's all that's left of his suit than he must've been running at a speed he'd never dreamed possible."

"What are you trying to tell me?" Green Lantern snapped back. He already knew what was happening, but he simply couldn't accept it. Barry was one of his best friends. He couldn't just die that easily.

"He's...gone. I'm so sorry, Hal..." Power Girl's voice trembled, as if every word was becoming more difficult to say.

"What? No! How can you give up on him so easily?!" Hal hissed, each breath growing closer and closer until he was almost hyperventilating. He slapped Kara's hand away and focused all of his attention down at his ring. It flashed, warning him that it was running low on battery. "Ring. Locate human life form on Earth. Barry Allen."

A green light, that only Hal could see, buzzed to life. It blinked then peered into the distance like it was granting him some sort of cruel hope, before falling to the ground and highlighting the ash decorating The Flash's outfit. It analysed it and Hal held his breath. "Biological material designate 'Bartholomew Henry Allen' located. Highlighting subject."

Green Lantern's blue eyes welled up and tears began to streak down his dirty face. His lips trembled and a few irrepressible sobs escaped his throat. He marched forward then collapsed to the ground beside Superman. His hand shook as he extended it forward and grabbed onto The Flash's costume.

"N-No...Please, no..." His voice broke in several places, shivering like his vocal chords were held together by nothing but pieces of string. All of which were in the process of being cut. "He can't be gone...He can't be...R-Ring. Try again. Please, tell me this isn't him."

The ring's green light continued to shine on the flecks of dust and a growl arose in Hal's throat. He tugged on the ring wrapped tightly around his finger and yanked it off. "This stupid thing's broken!"

His voice echoed through the room, loud and booming and broken before he finally threw his ring in the opposite direction. It was a weak throw. The toss of a man seconds away from crumbling beneath his own grief. It was easily caught by Mineko who simply stood there, unblinkingly, and with a complete absence of emotion.

"You...should take better care of this." She said lowly. "It is the source of your power, and this world still needs the Green Lantern."

Immediately Hal's eyes flared with fury. He glared at her as if he wanted to punch her right out the door, and maybe that was true. "What's wrong with you?! How can you still be so calm?! Barry's DEAD. Don't you understand?!"

"I understand perfectly." Mineko spoke but none could see how hard she struggled to keep her voice steady. Her mask covered any expression she might've had. "He died performing his duty. It is expected of people like us."

"Expected?!" Hal replied in outrage. Suddenly, he regained the strength in his legs and darted towards her. He grabbed her mask and ripped it off, hoping to seethe eyes of a woman in mourning, but all he saw were the cold ones of a warrior. He then grabbed her shoulders and shook her in disbelief. It was the only way he could prevent himself from kicking her right in the side of the head. "Do you hear what you're saying?! Barry didn't need to die, it wasn't anyone's duty! Don't make his death seem like a necessary evil! Don't you feel anything for him? Did you ever even love him?"

That hit a nerve. Mineko's teeth clenched and her fist connected with Hal's jaw. It sent him stumbling backward with a red mark stained on his cheek. "Shut up."

The grief surged with every expelled breath, always reaching higher peaks, never sufficiently soothed by Mineko's long intakes of the damp spring air. She was hurting, it was visible now, but the only way she could rationalise or even process Barry's death was by resorting to her training. He had died for a purpose. It was a choice that they would all have to make eventually. Somehow these thoughts didn't help her like they use to, in fact it just made her feel worse.

Hal's fist clenched and he sent it flying in Mineko's direction, only to be stopped in mid-air by Wonder Woman. She stared down at him with just as much pain on her face as he was feeling then shook her head. She then took the ring from Mineko's grasp and handed it back to him. "Sometimes unseen scars are the most deadly. We should not assume that she is not hurting just because she reacts differently to us. You of all people should know that... Let her be, Hal."

Just as Hal was about to reply there was a flash of light. Doctor Fate had appeared in the room, eyes instantly locking onto Mineko. The woman met his stare but could no longer prevent her eyes from watering. Fate had warned her about staying. He said there would be consequences...she should've headed his words.

"You were right. I should have gone back when I had the chance." She said to Fate, voice suddenly losing all the strength it previously had. "I-It's my...fault."

The doctor said nothing. He was not going to lie merely to comfort her, but he was not going to rub salt into the wound either. Instead, he simply waited. This was the day she would realise that she made a mistake and try to correct it. This had already been foreseen.

"It's...our duty...to die for this planet. I am...proud of him." The more she said it, the less she believed it. This wasn't right. She could rationalise anyone else's death, just not his. Anyone but him. Tears finally started to spill from Mineko's helpless eyes onto the cracked floor. Her gaze fell to the destruction the fight had caused. In that moment the sure knowledge that life would go on without him, that time was only stopped for her, undid her completely. All pretence of quiet coping was lost and she sank to the cold ground not caring about the water that quickly soaked her cheeks. "Please...take me back. I want to g-go back."

Superman, with an expression of pure and utter heartbreak, stood and shot a glare in Fate's direction. "No. You don't have to leave. Barry would've wanted you to stay."

"B-Barry's dead!" Mineko cried with such grief that it shocked even Superman. A future without Barry was too agonising to bare. All she could do now was go back and hope that nothing else happened because of her stupid decision. "It's my fault. I-I need to leave. There's nothing l-left for me here."

Superman's narrowed gaze intensified towards Fate who opened a time portal as if it were the easiest thing in the world. "Do not look at me like that, Superman. I did not interfere when she decided to stay, and I allowed her to suffer the result. She has decided to leave. I have not made her do anything."

"You know very well what you've done, Fate." Superman frowned. "Coming here at this moment, when she isn't in the state of mind to think it through."

"She is not the type of person to need time to reflect. I am sure she has thought about this in great detail."

"Because you scared her into paranoia!"

Fate shook his head, obviously getting nowhere with the boy scout and motioned towards the portal. Mineko wasted no time in getting up and walking towards it. She was like a zombie. There was none of her usual grace or carefulness within each step, she just took them as if her body was making the decisions before her brain could.

As she entered the portal the colourful whirls all turned to dull greys in her mind. The world was a bitter place that she no longer felt any connection to. How could she continue to fight for a universe that had allowed Barry to die? It was like tossing away the sun and leaving the Earth in a never-ending state of night. It was unthinkable...it was going to slowly kill her. Her cries became more severe with each step, but it was more than just crying, it was the kind of desolate sobbing that comes from a person drained of all hope. To come so close to pure love and loose it so quickly was something no amount of time could heal. No matter how far away she fled, or how old she became.

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