Three years later
Triton rolled his eyes as the sounds of giggles echoed in the training arena. He sent an irritated glare toward the closest producers of giggling as he uncrossed his arms and stepped forward. "Arieon, stop playing around. Take this seriously!" He yelled loudly. The boy had successfully disarmed his sparring partner... but had decided to cut the ties of the other boy's trousers as a last-minute joke.
"Go easy on him, dear. He's still but a child." Lybia chided as she bounced the toddler on her knee.
Triton blew out a frustrated breath. "Yes, I know dear, but it's better a be strict now than father come and demand to take them back to the torture I brought them from." He sent his wife a sad, forced smile before turning and heading out to the training grounds. He watched as his young brother stood, arms crossed, foot tapping, and irritation obvious.
"It was just a joke, Tri..." The young Arei protested as he tossed his sword to the ground. "I don't know why I must learn the sword anyhow... father has made it clear I shall be more useful to him as a filthy animal..."
Triton frowned. He too had heard his father's many comments to the twins over the past three years. It was hard to be stern with the boys knowing the hell they have been through and the hell they would face. He bent to one knee and wiped a smudge of mud from his brother's cheek. "But are you an animal? Or are you a boy?"
Arei pressed out his bottom lip as he tightened his crossed arms and shrugged. "I'd say both with conviction..."
Triton arched a brow. "Conviction? That's a big word for an eight-year-old. Let me guess, Athena?"
Arei nodded with a new spark of excitement. "She and Pel have been teaching us to read and write! AND draw!"
The corner of Triton's lips lifted with a chuckle. "That's good. I'd love to see your progress, but first, why don't you show me your skills in the arena." He nodded to the discarded sword, covering a laugh when the fisty child kicked dust at the sword before lifting it.
"Shall I learn to use my teeth with it?" Arei grumbled as he lifted the sword and took position.
Triton shook his head unable to hide his grin. He took the other boy's sword off the ground and pointed it toward his younger brother. "Advance." He ordered softly. His smile widened when Arei snorted and went on attack. At only eight, the boy moved with swift, agile movements. His control of the sword would be considered impressive for an adult, but he was reckless and lazy. Triton knocked the weapon out of his hand as he made a tisking sound. "That was sloppy. Moves like that will get you killed on the battlefield."
Arei shrugged as he retrieved his weapon. "What does it matter if I'm wounded... I can always heal..."
Triton frowned as he knelt beside his brother once again. "You'll learn in time, little brother, not all wounds can be fixed with healing magic." He ruffled Arei's hair before standing back up. "Enough playing around." He nodded toward the obstacle area where the young Orion was going blow for blow with a giggling Athena and Pellas. It was obvious the girls were going easy on the young boy, but his skill and drive were impressive. "Ten laps then join them for the remainder of practice."
Arei's small mouth fell open. "But Tri!"
Triton chuckled, "Do as you're told. Father will be here at the end of the month to access your skills."
Arei huffed out an irritated breath. "It doesn't matter how our skills have improved. We are not adults yet, thus no use to him and will not yet be deemed worthy... Though we doubtfully ever will be in his eyes." He kicked a pebble toward the training area. "That idiot is the only one stupid enough to think otherwise." He snarled his nose up toward his twin. "What a joke..."
Triton took the sword and slid it into the leather sheath on his brother's back. "That's enough. Get to your laps." He arched a brow with a crooked smile. "Besides, the laps are punishment for alleviating your partner of his pants to get out of training." He narrowed his eyes authoriterily. "Now get going."
Arei flopped down on the soft grass breathlessly. Pellas was the first to hit the ground beside him, followed by a panting Orion. "You're so fast!" Pellas bragged as she laid down beside him.
"I am, aren't I!" He said proudly as he sat up. His eyes brightened with excitement. "You think that was fast, come see this!" He grabbed her arm and shot up to his feet.
"Wait, what-" Before she could even ask, the boy had already shifted into a beautiful black pony. Her eyes widened. She'd seen him in this form a few times now but was still amazed by how beautiful he truly was. Before she even realized what she was doing, she was running her hand down the sleek, velvet fur. "Oh! I'm sorry!" She yelled as she jerked her hand back.
"It's fine, I don't mind. Hurry and get on!" Arei's sweet, childish voice reverberated from the horse causing Pellas to fall backward in shock. He nudged her with his muzzle. "Are you alright? Looked like you hit hard..."
Her wide eyes met his. The bright blue-green eyes stood out against the black fur. "I... I'm not sure I'll ever adjust to a talking horse... Though I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised..." She stood up and brushed off her training outfit. She was about to mount him when she remembered Orion. "Um Ry... will you be alright alone for a few minutes?"
He nodded. "Yeah, of course. It's not like I'm without chances to ride him... more like forced to..." He held up his hand as he turned to walk back toward the training arena.
She scrunched her brows as she watched him depart. Mounting the horse, she asked. "Alright readyyy-!" The horse was already sprinting across the landscape, eating up the distance with a speed no real horse would ever be able to match. She clung to his neck as tightly as she could. The wind caused her eyes to water, but she couldn't hide her joy as she giggled and held him tighter.
"If you think this is fun, watch this!" The horse called out.
Pellas gasped as wings sprang from the horse's back just below where she sat. By the time her fascinated gaze left his wings, they were already soring over the treetops. Her eyes widened as she sucked in a breath and clung to the horse tighter. To her amazement and utter horror, he was able to gain even more speed.
"Hold on tight!" He called before shooting straight up into the sky.
"Oh wow! I can almost touch the clouds!" Pellas called back without releasing her death grip on him. The fluffy clouds parted as the horse plunged toward the ground, breaking and landing roughly as the training grounds came into view. Arei pranced proudly around a wind-ruffled Pellas as she wobbled on weak legs. She grinned widely. "That was both the scariest and most exciting thing I've ever done!" She threw her arms around his neck but quickly released him and stood upright as she saw her father storm toward them. She glanced overhead as the once white, fluffy clouds began to roll into thunderheads. "Father..."
Triton threw up a hand to stop her, his eyes burning into the reckless boy still in horse form. "You will never do that again!" He grabbed his daughter's shoulders roughly, turning her around in inspection before turning his attention back to the horse. He grabbed the horse's muzzle and lifted Arei's head. Not seeing any obvious injuries, he released his brother. Pointing a finger into his face, he shouted in frustration. "That stunt could have hurt or even killed Pellas not to mention yourself! Is that what you want? Do you enjoy risking your life and the lives of others?" He released his hold on the horse as it began to shift into a teary-eyed boy. Feeling instantly regretful, he ran his hand through his shoulder-length hair. "I'm sorry for getting angry, but you must take these things seriously..." He stopped when he heard clapping from the stadium.
"Finally, some sign of improvement. Keep it up." Poseidon vanished with one final clap of his hands.
Triton shook his head with a weary frown. "Get cleaned up, dinner will be soon." He removed his shirt and handed it down to his teary-eyed brother. Without another word or glance, he made his way inside.
Arei sniffled as he tugged the oversized shirt over his head and let it drop past his knees. "I'm sorry... I didn't think..."
Pellas took his hand in hers. "It's alright, I had fun... really! But... father is right..." Her moist eyes met his. "You are exceedingly reckless." Her eyes shimmered with emotion. "As...as if you don't care about your own safety..."
He shrugged as he turned away but didn't release her comforting hand. "Maybe I don't... What's the point in living if my future only holds endless fighting and wars..."
With a sob, she pulled him into her arms. Though he was only three years younger, his head barely reached her chin. "Don't say such things, dummy. Those of us who care for you would be devastated."
His watery eyes lifted to hers. "You... you care for... me?"
She nodded. "Of course, I do, dummy."
His eyes widened and his cheeks turned bright red. Squeezing her tightly, he buried his face in her rough linen training outfit. "Thank you."
8 years later
"Not so hard, you show off!" Ry yelled with a forceful counter. He followed his brother's gaze. "You like her, don't you?"
Arei stumbled in surprise, giving Ry the advantage. "Of course not. That would be weird... right?" His eyes instinctively moved to where Pellas and Athena were training. A smile curved his lips. Watching them had become one of his favorite pastimes. Their responses to one another were like watching a beautiful dance rather than weapons training. "I mean... I just think they move well..."
Ry arched a brow as his glance moved from his brother to the girls then back not understanding his brother's attraction. "They are skilled... but I don't see your fascination." A wicked grin curved his lips. "Unless you really do like her." He began teasing Arei. "You love her, don't you?" He continued getting louder, causing Arei to lash out in angry, impulsive attacks. "Arei loves Pellas!" He stumbled as he sidestepped Arei's attack. "Hey Pellas- Gah!"
"Shut It!" Arei growled as he continued his advance.
Ry laughed as he glanced toward the girls again. He was about to yell out to them once again when a liquid trident struck his shoulder. Ry crashed to the ground rubbing his shoulder. "Not fair..."
The rattling of metal against the ground echoed in the arena as both girls ran toward the fallen boy. Athena's intelligent eyes moved back and forth between the boys. "What happened."
Arei huffed in anger. "He pissed me off..."
Ry narrowed his eyes as Pellas crouched beside him and tore the fabric away from his wounded shoulder. He caught a stray strand of her hair and twirled it around his finger. His eyes burned into Arei as Arei glared at the spot where Pellas's hand pressed into Ry's shoulder. "He's just mad because I was teasing him." His attention moved to Pellas. "Would you like to know what it was that got him so worked up?" He sweetly brushed the strand of hair he'd been playing with behind her ear as her eyes lifted to his. "I said Arei is in love with- fewwww!" He cried out in pain when another watery trident stabbed into his thigh farthest away from Pellas.
Pellas's eyes widened. "Arei! Stop you're hurting him!"
"He'll heal." Arei grumbled, glaring at his brother. He grabbed Pellas's wrist. "You said you wanted to go for a ride after training, right? You guys are finished now, right?" He pulled her to her feet without releasing her.
Pellas glanced toward Athena. "Um... what do you say?"
Athena smiled sweetly. "Go ahead. I promised your father I'd help him with the baby once we were finished."
"Oh, alright." She turned her attention back to Arei. "I suppose a short ride will be alright. I have a lot to prepare for the mock battle tomorrow, though."
Arei smiled widely at her. "Don't worry, Pel, I'll help you once we're finished."
Ry rolled his eyes as he watched his brother all but skip away, hand in hand with Pel. "Figures..." He grumbled as he pushed himself up from the dirt. He narrowed his eyes in irritation. Cupping his mouth, he yelled. "Hey Pel, Arei is in love with you!"
Athena's surprised eyes moved down to Ry. "Really?" Her eyes moved back up to the pair rushing toward the wide arches.
Ry pressed his hand to his wounded shoulder, letting the water magic heal it. "Yeah... that's what I said to piss him off..."
She tilted her head to the side. "Interesting..."
"Disgusting, if you ask me. She's our brother's daughter... we're her uncles..." He grumbled as he moved his healing touch down to his thigh.
"I don't know... I think it's sweet..." Athena rubbed her chin as she turned her attention to Ry. She studied him closely for the first time. "You know, the two of you have really grown and filled out..." She bent slightly; her attention focused on his face. "Hum..."
He furrowed his brows. "What?"
She pursed her lips. "I hadn't realized how much you resemble Triton. You've become rather handsome." She straightened with a giggle when his ears turned red. She patted his shoulder. "I'll see you later. Don't train too hard." She waved as she headed toward the main complex.