chapter 3
Within a week of setting off from his father’s temple James and Pegasus landed on a small, deserted island covered with vegetation shrouded by mist. The two wonders around the island hoping to find a sign of Lupin, or anyone really. As they went deeper into the island James began noticing statues covering the land, but not the type of statues one would expect, these were dismembered heads of weapons of hero’s past. James really hoped he had the right place. Approaching a bush, he heard some incessant chatter which seemed to almost sound girlish? Peeking his head out among the brambles he saw three beautiful girls giggling and laughing around, a tall annoyed looking man.
“Ladies please I really don’t have time for this,” he heard the man grumble as the girls continued to coo and fawn over him. The man tried running hiding yet nothing, these women moved as if they were one with nature itself, after a certain point the man just seem to lose it. “oh, for fucks sake!” the man spun around growling in an almost wolfish fashion, scaring the women into transforming into trees and fruit. As the man composed himself finally getting a moment of peace, he noticed James looking at him through the bushes.
“What are you looking at buddy, I know nymphs are like a huge attraction but once you get them on your tail you can never get them off,”
“Um I’m sorry, do you know where I could find Luin,”
“Call me Remus,” James urged to shake his hand filled with delight that he found his new trainer.
“Remus! Boy, am I glad to meet you I’m James, and this is Pegasus,” Remus pulled his hand away wincing in pain,
“Right ok well thank you for the introduction and breaking my hand,” he said walking back to the main art of the island.
“I need your help I need to become a hero a true hero,”
Remus quirked an eyebrow, “Sorry kid can’t help you,”
“Why not,”
“I am retired,”
“Look I got to do this, haven’t you ever had a dream,” Remus paused a lifetime of memories and tragedy running through his eyes, “something you wanted so bad you’d do anything,”.
Yea he had and look at where it got him, “Kid come inside I want to show you something”
As James walked through Remus’ house he marveled at the memorabilia from hero’s past, in his marvel he hit his head on a large piece of hanging wood.
“Watch it,” Remus cried, “that was apart of the mast of the Argo,”
“The Argo,” James marveled
“Who do you think taught Jason how to sail, cleopatra. I trained all those would be heroes Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus, a lot eusus and every single one of those Bumbs let me down flatter then a discus none of them could go the distance, and then there was Sirius,” he stopped standing in front of a great bronze statue. Unlike the others the statue of Sirius still shown almost as bright as the day it would have been made, “Sirius meant the world to me, the universe. He was the first hero who was willing to do whatever it takes, and the greatest love I have ever had.”
“Yet?”
“I lost him, in troy, he went out in glory at the side of Achilles himself, trained him to but with those ankles’ nada. But Sirius, Sirius was no god, but he was legendary, many of his records are now wiped so its almost as if he never existed but the love of my life, he soared. Yet when he fell i-I failed to save him,” Remus flicked off the tear that began to roll down his eyes, “that’s when I swore I would never ever, ever train another hero again and definitely not get attached.
Yea I had a dream once I had a dream that I would train the greatest hero that ever was, so great the gods would hang a picture of him in the stars, folks would look up and say hey, that’s Lupins kid. I almost had that with Sirius
Almost,”
“Remus I am so sorry for what you went through, but I can go the distance I am willing to do whatever it takes Remus I promise, watch this,” grabbing Remus’ hand he rushed outside James picked up a heavy piece of metal swung it around the threw it into ocean with pure ease.
“Holy hera, you know maby-
No, no I’m sorry James but it’s a no,”
“But if I never become a true hero, I will never be able to rejoin my father Zeus,”
Oh, now Remus had to laugh, “Sorry, Zeus is your father right, Zeus the big guy he’s your daddy,” Remus barely controlled his laughter, “Mr. lightning bolt, read me a book would you dada,” he mocked in pure hysterics.
“It’s the truth,”
“Pa-lese, my answer is two words,” a bolt of lightning struck Remus before his word came to an end leaving him burnt to a crisp, “O-K”
“You mean you’ll do it!”
“You win,”
“You won’t be sorry Remus,”
“Oh god,”
“So, when do we start can we start now?”
…..
And start now they did, at first Remus honestly didn’t have much hope for the boy, he was entirely to, thin. Horrible at holding up a bow and arrow. Incredibly clumsy. No care when rescuing. No concentration nor aim. However, like painting a masterpiece being a hero was a work of art. Remus could not fault James’ dedication the boy really was willing to do whatever he said, from spring to autumn to winter Remus kept throwing challenges at James and slowly but surely, he started coming up victorious. Within less than a year of James’ arrival on his island he was trained to be the poster child of Greek heroes. He had gained some real muscle, his aim improved along with his care and aim. Remus could see in his eyes that he was itching to get out into the field. He prayed to Athena that the kid would be ready, he really couldn’t handle another failure.
“Hahaha, did you see that, next up Olympus,” James reeled after finally passing his final test
“Alright just take it easy champ,”
“I am ready I want to get of this island, battle some monsters, rescue some people, you know heroic stuff,”
“Well,”
“Oh, come on moony,” right moony apparently being slightly wolfish and a name such as Remus Lupin earned him the quick and easy nickname of moony.
“Well, okok you want a rode test, saddle up kid were going to Thebes,”
…..
“So, what’s in Thebes?” asked James as they soared through the clouds on the back of Pegasus
“A lot of problems, big tough town good place to start building a rep,” a horrifying scream drew the men’s attention back down to earth. Pegus flew down in urgency, “Sounds like someone’s in trouble prongs go get em,”
Landing on the ground James moved round some bushes until he got a clear view of what was going on.
“Not so fast sweetheart,” spoke a sea monster reaching up to grab a struggling man.
“I swear Nessus put me down or I will cut you,”
“I like them Firey,” James gasped at the man’s discomfort.
“Now remember first analyze the situation,” Remus tried to prompt, “then and oh your already off,”
“Halt,” James marching up to the man and the monster, both freezing to look at him.
“Step aside 2 legs,” growled the monster
“Pardon me my good uh- um sir? I’ll have to ask you to release that young-,”
“Keep moving junior,” the ma grunted obviously still struggling in the grasp of Nessus
“Man, but you, aren’t you a person in distress?”
“I’m a person, I’m in distress, I can handle it,” he grunted, “have a nice day,” his tone switched to fake sweetness.
“Um, sir I’m afraid you’re too close to the situation to realize,” James made his voice about 3 octaves deeper to seem more intimidating, yet this did not stop Nessus from swiftly and easily punching him 10 feet away.
Remus cringed, “What are you doing pick up your sword!”
“Sword right, right rule number 15 a hero is only as good as his, weapon!” James proudly held up a mighty fish. Nessus cackled at the hero’s confusion while the man looked to be very very board. As James faced another punch he heard Remus yell.
“Come on kid use your head,”
“Right,” harnessing his godly strength James ran headfirst into Nessus sending the monster flying back into the wall.
“Alright, not exactly what I was thinking but you know a win is a win,”
James turned back to see the man on his back groaning and coughing up water.
“oh, gee I’m so sorry sir,” he said taking the man in his arms and lacing him on a nearby branch, “that was dumb,”
“Yea,” he said with a smile moving the wet hair from his face. James tried not to focus on the mesmerizing shade of grey the man’s eyes were. Luckily, he did not have enough time to wonder on this as looking back Nessus was coming back in full strength and now pissed.
“Excuse me,” he said before running off again this time properly taking the monster in a fight.
“Nice work prongs!” Remus praised
“is wonder boy here for real?” asked the man
“Hell, yea I trained him myself,” James threw around Nessus for a whole longer before sending him far up into the sky with a bruising punch.
“How was that moons?” James came up feeling a little smug
“Reign it in rooky you can get away with mistakes like those in a minor decathlon, but this is the big leagues,”
“At least I beat him didn’t I,”
“Next time don’t let your guard down because of a big ole pair of goo goo eyes,” as Remus continues whining James looked past him to see the man drying of by the water, his body looking celestial in the evening sun. he strode after him ignoring the rest of Remus’ rant.
“Are you alright sir,” he asked before a splash of water hit him in the face.
“Regulus, my friends call me reg at least they would if I had any friends, so did they give you a name along with all those rippling pectorals,”
James stumbled over his words at Regulus’ brazenness, “i-i- I’m um,” Regulus met the boy back with a simple suggestive smirk bringing the hero to his knees.
“Are you always this articulate,”
“James, my name is James!”
“James hmm I think I prefer wonder boy,”
“Um so how how’d you get mixed up with the-“
“Fin head with hoofs well you know how men are they think no means yes and get lost means take me I’m yours,” he said throwing himself at James. After being met back with a blind stare he looked over at Remus, “don’t worry your friend over there can tell you about it later.
Well thanks for everything Jamie, it’s been a real slice,” Regulus said walking away
“Wait, um can we give you a ride,” at this Pegasus huffed and flew into a nearby tree
“I don’t think your pinto likes me very much,”
“Pegasus oh don’t be silly he’d be more than happy to-“ an apple falling on his head cut of the boy’s sentence.
“I’ll be alright I’m a big tough guy tie my own sandals and everything, “ he said flexing his noodle arms and giving James a bop on the head before turning back and walking away “bye wonder boy,”
“Bye,” James waved back looking like a lovesick fool, “he’s something isn’t he moony,”
“Yea yea whatever eye on the prize big guy. Thebes is still waiting,” Remus gathers Pegasus who flies them away.
As the three leave Regulus stands close by a tree smiling to himself as wonder boy flies off.