"Now get to work! This stable needs some cleaning!"
The two kids groan as they stood up, toothbrushes in their hand. As a hoarse voice spoke behind them. "Aren't you being a bit too cruel to your kids?"
The two turns to the voice. A horse was talking to them. Its teeth, open for them to see as it neigh. "Though, I suppose it would be better to teach them young."
"What the hell even is that!?" Arthur shouts, jumping up and scrambling back to Remulus legs. "Oh, shit!" He returns to Attie, who was left groaning.
Remulus scratches his cheek. "It's obviously a horse. What else could it be?"
The horse gives him the closest thing to a smile. "Why, yes! I am, in fact, a talking horse. Nice to meet you, young man!" He gives him his hooves. "You wanna shake on it?"
"No, thanks!" Arthur shouts, his face hidden from him.
Attie just rubs her face in frustration. "Let's fucking do this!" She gathers magic at her hand before Remulus tutted at her, a stick in hand.
"Now, now. Attie. I'm not gonna allow cheating." He slams the stick down, magic runes erupting from it, covering the stable's runes.
Attie grunts, "That's cheating! You can't just do that!"
"Now, no magic! The both of you are going to clean-" Remulus hears something snap. The stick now in Arthur's hand, his smile wide as he snaps it in two.
"Attie, clean this place!" He shouts. With a quick response, water floods the stable and the three of them stood by the stable, drenched and clean.
"Ok, I'll give you guys that." Remulus laughs. A portal opening under the three of them, disappearing in a flash.
The horse neighs, "Well, there goes my day."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The three of them then plop down, Attie and Arthur getting a mouthful of grass as Remulus looks up above the trees. "What a warm welcome."
Attie looks up, "Uh, yeah. A pretty warm welcome."
"How the fuck is this a warm welcome to you?" He groans at them, the sight before him, filled with nothing but stretched bows, all aimed at their forms.
"Well, for one, we aren't being fired at." Remulus waves at them. "Hello, little hunters! Where's the little goddess Artemis? Is she here?"
"Here!" a voice chirps behind the three of them. A branch rustles, "So? What's the problem? What got you and the little princess here?"
The three turns to the voice and Arthur freezes, his heart beating from his chest, as he takes in the beauty of the girls before him, with silver flowing behind her, bows situated at her back.
She sat in youthful elegance, glancing at them as she sat by a branch. Her eyebrow raising as she scoffs, "Don't look at me like that, brat. I might shoot you."
Attie crosses her arms with an eye roll. "Wow, Artemis shooting a boy for being enraptured by her beauty, how original."
Artemis snaps her head to her, falling to the ground like a fairy. Attie glances at her with exasperation as the two hug with a loud squeal.
"Arty!" "Attie!" The two hug and jump in excitement. The surrounding hunters unwinding their bows as they watch the two excitedly talk and giggle to themselves.
Arthur whispers, "Are they close? You think I-"
"Don't bother trying." Remulus cuts in, his smile wide. "And besides, you're not even anywhere near your first crush. How are you aiming for another one?"
"Father, I'm fifteen. Let me have my crushes." Arthur jokes, a sheepish smile on his face.
Remulus stills, his eyes filling with sympathy as his eyes fill with war flashbacks. He holds back tears as he holds his son's shoulder. "You're right. May you survive this more intact than I."
Arthur gapes, "What the fuck?"
Remulus claps his hand, taking back their attention, everyone turning to him. "Now! I guess it's time for us to do what we came here for!"
Artemis raises an eyebrow. "And what exactly is it you need?"
"Permission to capture your precious hind!" Remulus chirps. His head tilts to the side as an arrow whizzes by inches from his face.
"I'm gonna take that as a yes!" Remulus smiles, three portals appearing around them as mic appears on his hand, "Well, we can't speedrun without doing three at the same time, right?"
"What?" The three of them look at him, before beasts bursts through the portal. Remulus shouts, "Presenting the murderous stymphalian birds! All buffed up! Faster! Sturdier!"
Through it, tens of large powerful birds the size of half a man burst through the portal, attacking everyone around him as they gave out powerful cries. The Hunters of Artemis, dispersing.
Artemis shouts. "What are you doing!? Are you trying to kill my hunters!"
Remulus waves it off. "Nonsense! Those things won't kill them!" He glances at the second portal. "That one, though, there's a chance." He puts the mic on his lip, "Presenting! The Cretan Bull!"
With such, a large powerful roar erupts from the portal. A powerful bull bursting through, charging at their position. Remulus shouts. "All buffed up and angrier than ever, also, I would like to thank our sponsor, Ares! Thanks for sprinkling ever more war frenzy!"
Artemis jumps back at the trees, bow firing arrows upon arrows. "I'll murder that battle junkie!"
Arthur raises his sword, the bull sliding off its blade as he shouts, "Attie! Get the hind! That's the next one! I can't deal with it. I might kill it!" The Bull strikes against a tree, crashing it down.
Remulus laughs, "Great thinking, Arthur!" He then holds the mic on his lips, "Now, for the last trial for the day, I present to you, the Hind of Ceryneia! Faster! More Agile, reflexes now sharper than ever!"
The Hind dashes through the portal, its eyes surveying the chaotic surroundings, before locking eyes with Attie. Its eyes showing smug satisfaction.
Attie twitches at the sight, shadows covering her skin. "I'll capture you."
The Hind scoffs before dashing away, leaving behind a blur, one that Attie immediately follows.
Remulus nods to himself. "This should be fun."