[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/171130/8cb4099cbfc3472fab77971be90f8196.png[/img]
[color=limegreen][b]Location:[/b] Bellbrooke
[b]Interacting with:[/b] (Following Falling Down [@Crosswire])[/color][/center][hr]Lightning Flash had always been the resident nice guy. Even after the discovery that he possessed magic, he was quick to dissuade any assumptions that he might use it against them and continued to work with the Guard. He had to suck it up to them if he wanted to continue working as one. All these juicy findings and his superior's willingness to give him some Electrum every now and then had always been to his advantage, and if he wasn't part of the Guard, he guessed that everyone would be too wary of a regular human with the power of Zeus in his hands.

Provided, he isn't invincible. Even he doesn't rely on magic too much as he knows that it might lead to his demise. Not because of its cost, but because it was too slow ot chant. Flash only used it when he had the element of surprise with him, or if someone else had been distracting the enemy so they couldn't pay attention to him in particular. Though there were few in between, he's managed to make some rather good and loyal friends who would cover for him if need be. Certainly, they wouldn't lay down their life for him - but it was good enough for now. Any help was appreciated, after all.

Currently, Flash wasn't on Guard duty - or at least, his shift wasn't until later. So currently, he was strolling around while reading his book, or rather the book he had acquired from that mysterious Adventurer from years ago. There were still a lot of spells that he hadn't learned, and more magical theories that he had to test. Whoever this Adventurer was, he was surely one hell of a smart guy. Flash had to consult so many books from the library to make heads and tails from the wording used by the Adventurer, and he had to do it while no one was looking! Or at least, no one would be watching his every movement and action. He never really told anyone about the fact that he took some possessions from the Adventurer - though technically, he was allowed to do it since the Adventurer [i]did[/i] give it to him.

As he flipped a page, he heard some quick footsteps. His head snapped upwards from the book and then saw a young child bolting for it from the walls separating the settlement from the reformation school. Flash sighed and then placed the book inside his coat's inner pocket. He then ran after the child, vaulting over the obstacles with relative ease. Intercepting the child at just the right moment, he successfully caught the kid without having to suffer from a collision with the kid and potentially knocking the both of them down - not that the kid could actually do it.

The kid struggled as Flash raised his - flinging his arms around in an attempt to hit the white haired guard. [b]"Lemme go!"[/b] He exclaimed over and over again. Flash looked at the kid with relative interest. He was scrawny and his clothing were in tatters. Surely, this kid would still be in school. Must have escaped a while back and thought he could strike it out in Bellbrooke without being caught. Unfortunately, not a single one could escape into the town. It was odd though, seeing the kid so... horribly unfed. The reformation school gave out some rather nice food from what he could remember. The kid was probably trying to be a rebel or something.

Flash rolled his eyes. [color=limegreen][b]"No way kid, you're going back to school."[/b][/color] He said before putting the kid down, but still held onto the kid's shirt with an iron grip so no matter how hard the child struggled, he didn't manage to break free.

[b]"Not back there! Anywhere but there!"[/b] There was always that one problematic kid in school. Okay, maybe not one since there were usually a lot of them. Bellbrooke had quite a number of them. Flash never understood why these kids want to escape in the first place. They should be happy that they had a roof above their heads and food served in their table. Besides, they couldn't even live out of these walls without the proper equipment and knowledge of fighting. It was their safest bet, to stay in school until they graduated.

[b][color=limegreen]"Sorry kid, but rules are rules."[/color][/b] Flash responded with a small shrug. [b][color=limegreen]"And it's my job to enforce them."[/color][/b] He then began dragging the kid back to the reformation school.

They soon came upon the school and then he gave the kid over to the authorities there - a male pegasus who served as one of the teachers was the one who came up to take the child. [b]"Thank you, officer. We'll make sure he doesn't escape again. Come along now!"[/b] The pegasus urged the child to move on. The child looked ruefully back at him.

[b][color=limegreen]"Wait."[/color][/b] Flash said. The pegasus stopped and then Lightning Flash approached the child. [b][color=limegreen]"Tell you what kid. After you're done with reformation school, coem find me. I'll hook you up with some adventurers and teach you the ropes. If you manage to finish it here in Bellbrooke that is. That means you should [i]not[/i] get expelled."[/color][/b] He told the child and looked at the unicorn who stayed silent. It wouldn't really be a problem. After all, once a child is done with reformation school, they get to do whatever they want.

The kid grinned at Lightning Flash. [b]"You got it!"[/b] It would seem that he just wanted motivation to continue his studies. Flash nodded at the kid and they both went to their separate ways. He was about to leave when a man dressed in a coat entered. Flash gave him a salute and he nodded in return. From what he can remember from his times at the reformation school, those kinds of suits usually mean that they were inspectors. Good thing he got that kid back in time, or else Headmaster Blueblood - that utterly fake unicorn he always didn't like - would be in a hell lot of trouble... maybe he shouldn't have done it but oh well.[hr]Since he was practically already doing his Guard work, he figured that he would change into it. He basically just changed his clothing but not into the usual Guard uniform made of real armor, but just regular clothing with padding on it. Why? Well, ever since he became a magician, it was better for him to have more agility and flexibility that was offered by this choice of clothing. Flash was more comfortable with this anyway. He could move freely in it. There was a Guard badge on the coat, so people and the ponies knew that he was part of it. Though the cold bothered most, Flash seemed to relish in it as he walked.

Lightning Flash now re-entered the town of Bellbrooke as a Guard. His green eyes were now watching everything like a hawk. Even if he was doing this because it aligned with his interest as someone who likes to bring harm and destruction, he still needed to do a well-enough job so no one would catch on. He typically smiled and waved at those he knew, though, because he was a relatively friendly person. Besides, the mood was rather festive! The holidays were just around the corner and everyone seemed to be high spirits. Aside from the incident earlier, everyone was all smiles. He could see that the guards at the gates were focused on the outside, and he understood why. With the wind came the sound, the sound of something out there. Waiting to strike. Flash wasn't all that worried though. He'd survived with encounters with those monsters.

Besides, what he would do for some action around here. And he meant [i]real[/i] action, like fighting others and whatnot. Flash found himself wandering near the Bellbrooke Reformation School's walls once more, having been assigned there for the meantime. 

[b]"Oh, Mr. Flash, if I can have a moment of your time."[/b] The pegasus said, returning to the man with hair that rivaled the snow around them. Flash looked back at her and then nodded. [b]"You see, one of our students is quite problematic. Falling Down - maybe you've heard of her?"[/b] She asked, tilting her head to the side as she did.

[b][color=limegreen]"I have, indeed, heard of her. We've met before, when she tried to escape."[/color][/b] He honestly replied. Falling Down was a lot like him in terms of having a thirst for something - for her adventure, for him destruction. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she could hold down that thirst. It was quite a shame really, since she would need to be dragged back every now and again. Flash always wanted to recommend acting like a good kid until you're finally let go from that accursed school and just gain the freedom you always wanted. Unfortunately, not all people were patient like him.

The pegasus shook her head. [b]"She has escaped again, you see. Last we heard, she was in the clinic but now she's not.[/b] She then pressed a hoof to her temple. [b]"Headmaster Blueblood wants her found as the inspector is here. Can you go look for her?"[/b]

Lightning Flash did not join the Guard to be ordered around to look for missing kids. There was a flash of annoyance that ran across his eyes, but he smiled at the teacher regardless. [b][color=limegreen]"Of course! That is my job after all!"[/color][/b] He cheerily replied. The pegasus smiled at him before leaving without any further information. Great, now he'd have to act like a detective. How unfortunate.

However, being a naughty child himself back then, he knew the inner workings of the castle. While normally someone can't escape, Flash had found himself close to actually getting out. It was a sort of failsafe for him if someone were to ever find out of his true intentions. He walked around the wall and towards the back where a drain that could be opened was placed. It wasn't used anymore, so Flash figured that at the right time - Winter - he could probably get out through there. And indeed, footprints were embedded on the snow.

Shaking his head, he began to follow - his feet crunching the snow beneath his boots. It was odd, she seemed to have been heading to the largely unexplored part near Bellbrooke - a forest. He never knew why there weren't any expeditions heading there but he guessed that people were just afraid to find out what was directly outside the castle walls. Fools, every single one of them. However, Falling Down was a fool as well as going around without proper equipment in this condition would only lead to her eventual demise.

And if she was trying to escape, she could have done a better job in actually hiding where she went. Footprints were everywhere, but since Lightning Flash was walking calmly as opposed to her running - he wouldn't really catch up to her soon. He had his hands inside his coat's pockets. His sword was hanging from his waist and his bow and arrows were tied to him as well. He wondered what kind of things were out here. He was starting to find an interest in it himself. 

Spying the young girl as she weaved through the trees, he kept silent - his steps becoming lighter so it wouldn't make as much sound. He wanted to see what she had found - what knowledge she stored of this place. It would certainly be useful to him... eventually.