You can never run from who you are, but you can always shape yourself for the better.
Sometimes all you need to do is to lay back and let the world move on.
Or you could tie up the loose ends of the past.
"Ah...this cool breeze is so relaxing." Flae muttered as he sat down on the roof of an apartment.
It was a nice quiet night in Vale, and Flae was simply trying to enjoy the star filled sky before a series of clanging interrupted him.
"Oi you lot! Hurry up with those damn canisters!" came an irritated voice.
Flae peered over the roof and noticed a large group of hooded figures carrying boxes of canisters filled with some kind of green liquid. What really got his focus was the symbol he saw on the boxes.
"Hammerfall Technologies…" Flae sneered before deciding to follow them.
He unhooked a fairly sized black box from his black leather combat belt before pressing a button on it. The box unfolded to form Flae's dust hoverboard.
"Let's get this over with." Flae sighed as he tightened his gauntlets before flying after the hooded figures.
He followed the figures to what looked like an abandoned warehouse. Flae jumped off his hoverboard onto the roof before reverting it to its box form and holstering it.
Flae then spied through the warehouse's glass roof. Upon opening it he heard the conversations of the unhooded scientist looking people down below.
"Why are we testing this new serum here? Shouldn't we be in the labs?" one of them said.
"Because the boss wants to test it out on the people of Vale if it breaks loose. He's already covered our trail so let's get to work." another replied, who Flae assumed was the leader of this "operation"..
Flae wanted to dive in and apprehend them, but he soon noticed that a bunch of bulky mercenary looking guys had entered the warehouse as well; so he remained hidden and got his Scroll out instead.
"Okay gentlemen, who will be trying out our newest serum? Hm...how about you?" the lead scientist pointed to a nervous looking one.
Two of the mercs grabbed the man as another scientist pulled the cover off of a large metal cage. The mercs then tossed their captive into the cage before the lead scientist drew a revolver. Another handed him a few bullets that had just been tipped with the serum.
"Colleagues. Good to have, but expendable." the lead scientist chuckled to himself before loading and shooting the poor man in the cage. The man screamed in pain as he held his shoulder.
Flae twitched in horror at this reaction, especially when the man soon started to change.
Green scales started to grow by his neck and on his hands. His teeth became fangs, and his screams became primal.
"Excellent. This formula has much quicker and stable results. Let's write this down before heading back."
Flae felt a little sick observing this, but he had to do something.
"Time to give Element Spica's new modification a whirl then." Flae smiled as he loaded two clips of iron yo-yos into his gauntlets.
He then latched one of the yoyos onto the roof before he silently dropped onto the warehouse floor.
"I need to take those mercs down first...Time for a little distraction." Flae mumbled to himself before bringing a few materials out of his satchel.
The lead scientist was just writing down some notes when a loud bang startled him.
"Wha...excuse me, could someone please check that out? We don't need a rat poking around our research."
Two of the mercs drew machetes before heading towards the far left of the warehouse.
"Why did we even take this job?" one of them groaned.
"The money. We're all in it for the money." the other replied.
"I know bu-hey I saw something move over there!"
They both moved carefully towards the movement before one of them felt something tug at their leg.
"The hell? What i-ARGH!" the merc said before an explosion cut him off. The blast caught both of them, knocking them both out.
Flae then poked his head out from behind a few crates and admired his handy work.
"That's the easiest tripwire trap in the book. You'd think even the common thug would pay more attention." Flae snickered before hearing more footsteps. He ducked behind the crates and pulled out a small revolver.
"Damn it. Split up in groups, we have to find the intruder! Someone help me with the vials as well!" the head scientist exclaimed as the mercs spread out.
Flae then jumped from behind his hiding spot before rushing one of them.
"There's the intruder! Ge-Oof!" the merc shouted before getting cut off by a punch to the neck from Flae.
The rest of the mercs then charged at Flae.
Flae deftly dodged one before latching a yo-yo onto his ankle before tripping him up. Another merc tried to strike from his flank but was surprised when Flae blocked his machete with a small shield that extended from his gauntlet.
"Nice try!" Flae smiled before punching his face in retaliation.
The last three mercs decided to try and attack him all at once. Flae kept calm as they all lunged towards him before he fired yo-yos from both of his gauntlets. His yo-yos latched onto two of the merc's necks as Flae smashed them all together.
With all the unconscious mercs around, the scientists were starting to panic.
"Where's our evac? They said they'd be here five minutes ago!" one of them shrieked in fear.
"I just want to let you guys know that they're not coming for you." Flae calmly said as the lead scientist sneered at him.
"What do you know?"
"I know that the evac is for you and you alone. I know what you said about colleagues being expendable." Flae replied, much to the horror of the other scientists.
"Grrr...You dug your own grave then!" he shouted as he opened the cage with the mutating scientist.
The man inside was no more, and the thing resembled more of a lizard or dragon now.
The lead scientist then pulled out a grapple gun before zipping out of sight.
"Oh crap…" Flae murmured as the creature came charging towards him. He quickly raised his shield to block its strike, but it sent him flying backwards into the wall.
Flae quickly recovered as he witnessed the creature tear into a scientist. Flae gulped at the sight of blood but charged towards the creature regardless.
He raised his shield to charge as the creature noticed him and lashed out, but this time Flae pushed the attack to the side before attacking with his right gauntlet wristblade.
The swift strike dismembered the creature's hand, making it howl in pain before Flae finished it off with a slash to the creature's neck.
It let out a horrifying shriek before falling to the ground dead; a pool of dark blood forming underneath.
"If you don't want this to be you, I suggest you surrender now." Flae calmly said to the surviving scientists.
They didn't resist as Flae tied them up along with the mercenaries. The sudden sound of sirens told Flae that he had to go however.
He brought out his hoverboard before flying out through the window into the cold night once again.
Flae soon arrived at a small shop called Overclocked Weapons and Gadgets, far away from the city center. It belonged to his good friend Trev; and Flae had been living with him and his sister Sarah for a while now. The lights were still on so Flae simply walked inside.
"Coming back late as per usual huh Flae?" Trev chuckled at Flae from behind the shop's counter.
"Just enjoying the nightlife Trev!" Flae laughed back.
They could be mistaken for brothers for everything except for appearance. Trev had short spiky brown hair and hazel eyes, while Flae had short light blue hair and sapphire eyes.
"So, how's Element Spica's newest variant working for you?" Trev inquired while messing around with a rifle scope.
"Pretty well, the shield and wristblade modifications have been the best ones yet." Flae replied.
Trev had helped Flae build his signature weapon; even if it had literally blown up in his face multiple times.
"Anyway, I gotta get some sleep. See you in the morning." Flae yawned out as he headed upstairs.
"Don't forget we're going out for crepes tomorrow. Sarah's been bugging me for hours before you got back." Trev groaned.
"Thanks for reminding me. The last time you forgot about her sweet tooth you paid a heavy price." Flae laughed at the memory of Sarah dumping ice cold water down Trev's back.
"Yeah yeah, just get to bed so I can finish this scope without worrying if my sister is gonna do that again." Trev sighed before heading into the back room.
"You got it boss." Flae replied before heading upstairs for some sleep.
Flae awoke early and got changed into a blue hoodie and jeans before heading downstairs for some breakfast. He sleepily walked into the kitchen and smelled coffee.
"Hey Trev? What's the deal? You don't even like coffee…" Flae yawned out.
"Um Flae, it's not for me." Trev replied, snapping Flae out of his stupor.
Flae's eyes went wide when he saw someone sitting at the dining table, sipping coffee from a mug.
The Headmaster of Beacon Academy, Professor Ozpin.
"Anyway, Professor Ozpin wants to chat with you in private so Sarah and I will head to the crepe place without you. See you soon!" Trev smiled before leaving with his sister.
Flae sat down opposite of Professor Ozpin before introducing himself.
"Greetings Professor Ozpin, I am Flae Allan."
"Mr. Allan is it? Is that your actual name?" Ozpin inquired with a stoic expression.
"Yes it is...is there something wrong with it?" Flae answered with a hint of nervousness.
"No, there's nothing wrong with a name change with your circumstances, Mr. Frostbrand." Ozpin said with a slight smile.
Flae forgot how to breathe for a second.
"How'd you…" Flae stammered.
"Your hair and eyes give it away Mr. Frostbrand. You've been missing for years, but yet here you are in Vale." Professor Ozpin replied before bringing out a Scroll which began playing a video.
It was a security recording of the warehouse last night.
Flae quickly shook off his surprise.
"So, did those mercs and scientists get put away?" Flae asked.
"Yes, and while they didn't provide any valuable information, I must ask how you developed those combat skills of yours."
"Some of them are from my father's training when I was younger, but the majority are from...erk…" Flae stopped near the end as he remembered something terrible.
"Don't force yourself. But your skills are admirable, and you even avoided unnecessary casualties." the headmaster listed as Flae recalled last night.
He only killed the mutated scientist because it would've overpowered him if he had tried to subdue it.
"So are you asking me if I want t-" Flae started but was cut off by the headmaster.
"If you want to attend Beacon Academy, yes. Your family would also be elated to know you're alive and well."
Flae pondered this for a while before responding.
"I would be honored, but I have to warn you that the group that those scientists are from are still looking for me. If they know where I am…then I don't want anything to happen to the school." Flae explained.
"I can assure you that your warning will be taken into careful consideration. Now then, I must be off." Professor Ozpin said before picking up his mug and heading for the door.
Flae didn't bother him, because he knew that Trev's mugs didn't have any symbols on them.
"I hope to see you at this year's initiation Mr. Frostbrand, you would make your father proud."
And with that, he was gone. Flae sat in thought before he was interrupted by his stomach growling.
"Wait...he invited you to Beacon Academy? Even though you've never graduated from a Primary Combat School?" Trev asked while Flae dug into a ham and cheese crepe.
"Yeah, he told me that it's because of what happened last night." Flae said.
"I told you to be more careful…" Trev sighed.
Flae quickly apologized before Sarah spoke up.
"But you get to go to Beacon! I want to go too!" she chirped before Trev ruffled her hair.
"You're too young to even attend Signal kiddo." Trev laughed.
He wasn't wrong. He and Trev were both 17, while Sarah was only 12. Trev's parents were travelling so he was the only one holding down the fort until they got back.
"Well, if it's your choice I'm not gonna stop you. Just make sure you come drop by once in awhile." Trev told Flae with a smile.
Flae stuffed the rest of his crepe into his mouth before Trev began to ramble about some more modifications he wanted to add to Element Spica.
Flae had tuned him out however as he laid back in his chair.
"This is when the life of Flae Allan ends, and when Flae Frostbrand shows himself to the world once again." he thought to himself.