Driving Test - Part 2

Disclaimer: read the beginning

Pain and Panic stared at the 3D model of the new approved Elysium Fields, until Hades returned. The boss grabbed the imps, who shivered in fear.

"Whatever it takes..." Hades began, "You make sure that kid doesn't get that license. Capiche?" Hades slammed both of the imps' heads, making the cloud model disappear.

"Pardon our ignorance," Panic began.

"Your vengefulness," Pain added.

"But didn't Zeus promise to stay out of it?"

Hades shook his head, chuckling, "Here's the thing, boys, Zeus swore to stay out of it..." He pointed at himself, "I didn't. Get it?"

The imps looked at each other with a smirk.

"Oh, when he's bad!" Pain began.

"He's very bad," Panic ended with a snicker.

All three were having a moment of evil laughter.

~000~000~000~

Meanwhile, Icarus was driving the chariot with Hercules, Nattie, and Cassandra joining the ride. Hercules was planning on passing the test without an obstacle in his way. What he didn't realize what the imps' have in store for him, just up ahead.

"You guys are the greatest to come along, and help me pass!" Hercules said happily.

"Aww, it's our pleasure," Icarus replied, turning the reigns to left.

"And you ditch school to practice," Nattie clicked her tongue. "You must be really committed."

"There are other school days. You know Nattie, you could've ditch to practice, too. After all, you did fail your driving test ten times-"

Nattie lifted her finger up to silence him, "Okay, first of all, Drama King, I failed five times. Second, those times wasn't my fault!"

"How?"

Nattie groaned, "Long story."

"Well, we got a long road ahead of us," Icarus stated, passing through the warning signs. Judging by the curious look on the friends' faces, Nattie relented.

Nattie huffed, gripping on the chariot, "Well... It all started at the Temple of Moving Vehicles, but you guys already knew that..."

FLASHBACK: First time taking driving test...

Hades dropped sixteen-year-old Nattie off at the Temple of Moving Vehicles. The imps tagged along for support, dressed in cheerleading outfits.

"Okay, here's your stop," Hades pulled the reigns back, slowing down the griffins. "Tell me how it turns out."

"Good luck, Nattie!" Pain said.

"Yeah, good luck," Panic added.

Before Hades stepped out, Nattie grasped his hand, stopping him, "Hades, wait!"

Hades glanced at his hand that Nattie was holding, before glancing at her face, "What?"

"Can't you be... I don't know... supportive like Pain and Panic are."

Hades leaned back away from her, taken back by the request, "And why would I do that? As I recall... you never support me with anything."

"Because... I'm a little nervous," Nattie admitted quietly.

Hades scoffed, "Nattie, you're a big know the yutz's rules, just follow that and you'll be just fine."

"And I can drive your chariot anytime," Nattie said with a hopeful smile.

Hades chuckled, before it fell instantly, "Don't push it, sweetheart. You are lucky that I am letting you borrow this."

"I know, Hades," Nattie nudged him towards the back, gesturing him to leave. "Wish me luck. Don't be a stranger!"

Hades swiftly grabbed her wrist to keep her from pushing him. She looked up at his annoyed face with widened eyes.

"Listen, babe, and listen good. Since you are driving this baby, there are a few ground rules to cover."

Nattie groaned, massaging her temples. "Hades, I know the rules. I drove this chariot before!"

"Yeah, and the insurance showed it."

Nattie frowned, "I wasn't bad. You're supposed to support me, remember?"

"Shut up. Here are the rules."

Nattie huffed. Here they go again.

"Rule #1," Hades began, lifting up a finger. "Keep food and drinks away from the vehicle. Rule #2..." He lifted the second finger, "Don't drive this chariot on muddy trails. I just made the imps clean it inside out."

"Till it shined like the top of Atlantica!" Panic declared, earning a slap from his companion.

"You idiot!" Pain cried. "It's Olympus not Alantica! Who are we? Mermaids?"

Hades zapped them for silence. Oy. Minions.

Nattie rolled her eyes. No food and drinks. No going through mud puddles. Done.

Hades continued declaring the rules, "Rule #3: Don't fly this vehicle too close to the sun or the moon. The griffins had a concussion because of that incident with Selene."

"Incident?" Nattie asked in disbelief. "According to her lawyer, you were distracted by trying to flirt with her!"

"And she threatened a restraining order against you," Pain stated.

"At least it's not painful like Aphrodite's rejection," Panic shook his head in dismay.

They yelped in pain, receiving another test of Hades's flame.

"Moving on," Hades continued with a false sweet smile. "Rule #4: Don't release my griffins. Took me days to find them after the moon incident."

"Because you were trying to seduce Selene..." Nattie closed her mouth when Hades's flared up his warning. "What? That's clearly what happened!"

"Shut up! The most important rule of all, sweetheart..." Hades leaned down towards her threateningly as his flames flared yellow. Nattie leaned back as he towered over her. "If I see a single scratch on my chariot, accident or not..." He trailed off to let the girl answer the obvious.

"There will be consequences," Nattie grumbled. He opened his mouth to correct, until she interrupted. "Deadly consequences."

Hades smiled, patted her head, "Atta, girl, Nat. Like I said, you'll do fine. Have fun. Be yourself. Blah-blah-blah - all that cliché." Hades snapped his fingers and disappeared in smoke.

"Okay," Nattie replied, rushing inside the temple with anxiety but determination. "You can do this, Nattie. You can do this..."

Her heart was beating fast when went inside for the written exam.

Twenty minutes later...

Nattie hurried outside, not taking her eyes off the pass paper. She was smiling and has yet to stop. She was getting close to her license. She wasn't paying attention to realize that she bumped into a male who has coffee in his hand. One bump, and the man cried in pain.

"Hey, watch it!" Nattie snapped, wiping the stains off her paper, "I worked too hard for this paper!"

"Excuse me, madam!" The man barked, spraying salvia on the woman's cheek. He was adecent looking man - tall and dark, minus the dark mustache across his face. For a moment, Nattie thought there was a rat under his nose. "But you just ruined my coffee break."

This man's accent was French. He looked like a musketeer but sounded like Jacques Clouseau from Pink Panther.

"I suppose you are the woman I am instructing today. Madame Camden, I presume?"

Nattie's body froze, realizing that this man was her instructor, and she spilt coffee on his white chiton. Way to start the test off right. Nattie mentally cursed herself, while forcing the apologies through her clenched smile.

"That's right. I am so sorry about the mess. I hope that the chiton wasn't new?"

"It was. I got it from a five finger discount."

Nattie blinked, didn't know if he was joking or serious. The suspicions deflated when the man laughed heartedly.

"I am kidding!"

Nattie laughed with him, couldn't help but feel relief. She shook his hand, introducing herself properly.

"My name is Nattie Camden. It is nice-" Her voice was cut off when the man kissed her hand instead of shaking it.

" name is Autolycus, your instructor. The pleasure is all mine."

Nattie kept the smile as she wiped the drool off her hand.

The test started off smoothly. Nattie looked both ways before exiting the parking lot. She properly made her first turn without touching the grass.

"Very good, mademoiselle. Bravamisso!"

Nattie felt confident. She knew she was going to pass the driving test.

"Speed up a little, my lady," Autolycus grabbed the reigns and slapping the griffins gently. "The speed limit is not tortoise's pace."

Nattie realized that she was still doing her test. She chuckled her apology, speeding the chariot.

"A little faster. We are not in traffic."

"But isn't the speed limit thirty-"

"Alright, we are coming to a red vase," Autolycus declared. Up ahead were two kids playing in the road. Don't kids know that it's dangerous to play in the streets?

"So I need to stop," Nattie declared the obvious.

"No."

Nattie blinked in confusion, "No?"

"No. You see, Natasha-" Nattie blinked again. What did he just call her. "Red vases are more like guidelines instead of the actual rule."

"But there are kids up ahead! We gotta stop!"

"Uh, excuse moi?" Autolycus lifted hand over the woman's face, blocking her view of the road. "Who is the instructor?"

"You, but-"

"Who knows the rules of the road better out of the two of us?"

Nattie wanted to say it was Autolycus, but now, she wasn't too sure. "Apparently, neither of us, if you seriously think we are speeding past a red vase and run over a few kids!"

"Fear not of the piggies, Natasha," Autolycus assured her. "They'll move..." He snickered. "If they're smart." He blew the chariot's air horn, screaming out, "Move it, little piglets!"

Nattie shook her head in disagreement, slowing down the chariot.

"What are you doing, Natasha?!" Autolycus demanded, attempting to grab the reigns.

"My name is not Natasha! I am stopping this chariot!" Nattie yanked her reigns back.

The wheels screeched as well as the griffins when they planted their talons on the dusty ground. The children noticed the chariot, standing still not running away. Just as Nattie suspected, the kids weren't smart to move. Knowing that they weren't going to make it, Nattie pulled the reigns further, signaling the griffins to fly. The griffins flew over the children, they stood in shock with agape mouths, not taking their eyes off the sight. Once they were in the clear, Nattie made the rough landing on a mud puddle, causing it to splat on the spikey wheels. Rule 2: stay away from mud puddles - Broken. Luckily, the chariot came to a complete stop.

Everyone paused to process the traumatic moment. Nattie wiped the sweat off her face and used her dressed to clean out her armpits.

Autolycus took a deep breath, before making check marks on his stone board.

Nattie looked over at him with her mouth agape, breaths escaped from her lungs. "What... What are you doing?"

"I regret to inform you, Mon Cheri, but you have failed your test," Autolycus declared.

"What?!" Nattie cried, "Why? Because I didn't kill those kids?!"

"No, because you flew off the road and parked on an unsafe place. This isn't Olympus! It's an abomination, for you made me miss my paying costumers."

"Costumers?" Nattie asked.

Autolycus clicked his tongue in dismay, "And for being a nosey klutz to boot." So there were hard feelings with the coffee spill. He finished writing his notes, handing the board to the girl. "You get to keep that. Just head back to the temple, and we'll see you again in two weeks."

Taking the test the second time...

"It's okay, Nattie," Hades began."A lot of people fail their test on the first try, and the best part is you have yet to stain my ride with blood."

"You're not mad of the mud spill, last time?"

"Mad? Pfft! No! Can't help it, accidents happen. The most important thing is - like I said - this baby wasn't stained in blood. That's hard to come off, you know."

Nattie smiled, loving this supportive Hades, but freaked out a little. Who was this Hades? What has Zeus done with him?

"Nattie!" Pain began cheering in his cheerleading outfit along with his buddy Panic.

"Nattie!" Panic repeated.

"Is going to pass!"

"Is going to pass!"

"Her driving test!"

"Her driving test!"

"GOOOOO NATTIE!"

Nattie was touched by the imps's cheer, while Hades was annoyed, "Awww, thanks guys, you're so sweet. Once I get my license, we'll drive this chariot to get ice cream on me!" Nattie rushed inside the temple, hearing the imps' cheering and Hades's reply.

"I never said you could drive my chariot!"

After the written test...

Nattie waited for her instructor. Much to her dismay, Autolycus returned as her driving instructor.

"Why, bonjour, mon cheri! What pleasant surprise to see you again!"

Nattie forced a smile, not bothering to greet the man as she paid attention to the road.

Everything was going fine. They managed to make it in town.

"Now I love for you to take the next right."

Nattie looked over to the right, furrowing her brows at the sight of where Autolycus wanted her to turn.

"Um... Sir-"

"Je t'en prie, Natasha, call me Autolycus. We are amis, after all."

Nattie didn't entirely know what he said, but she dismissed it with a wave, "Okay. Autolycus, whatever. That's the Gryo World restaurant, you asked me to pull into."

"Yes," Autolycus nodded. "It is obvious, your pretty eyes can read."

"But aren't we supposed to drive on the road? Since it's called a road test-"

"I'm the instructor, mon cheri! Don't forget who is giving you points for this."

"But I'm not supposed to..." Nattie trailed off with widened eyes to see Autolycus raised his chisel, threatening to make the move that shall give her an instant fail. So much for obeying Hades's first rule. Then again, she never followed Hades's rules as long as she don't get caught.

"Okay, fine. Fine." Nattie made the turn, driving straight to the drive thru. The window opened, revealing a red head woman dressed in only an apron. How come she didn't have to wear the sheep's uniform.

"Welcome to Gyro World," The woman greeted. "Make my mutton! Would you be interested in our latest special - GYRO mutton pie on a stick?"

Autolycus chuckled, twisting his mustache, "Oh, I am interested alright. Care to by my Mary. People say that I have been a baaaaad sheep."

Nattie nearly vomited in the chariot. Hades's flirting was a lot better than what Autolycus just did.

The woman giggled, but her face contorted slightly. It may not be clear to Autolycus, but Nattie could tell the lady was uncomfortable.

"Auto, she is not interested. Just tell her what you want!" Nattie snapped.

Autolycus scoffed, making comments in French, before returning back to English, "Other than the woman's address. I'll take the veggie damburger-" he sprayed the last word at Nattie's cheek. She wiped it off with disgust, glaring at him with a raised brow.

"A what?"

"Damnburger."

"You mean hamburger."

"Dimburger."

"Hamburger."

"A damnburger."

Nattie groaned, "Forget it." She faced the woman in the drive thru, "He'll take a veggie hamburger."

"We don't have hamburgers. Everything is made from mutton."

Autolycus cursed in French.

"Well, then get me a veggie mutton burger!"

"With grape soda to drink, and..." Autolycus waved at Nattie dismissively, "And whatever she wants. It's on me."

Nattie widened her eyes in interest. If this guy was paying, she will get something. It's not everyday you get food for free that don't require the devil's credit card.

"Okay, um... I'll take the small mutton pizza and water to drink!"

Autolycus scoffed, "Water? What are you trying to do? Lose weight. Women need more curves, woman, curves!"

If he wasn't her instructor or paying for the food, she would've punched his lights out. If the waitress wanted to risk her job and take a swing, Nattie will make sure she was out of the way.

"Okie-dokie," The waitress wrote down the order, yelling the cooks the order. It didn't take long for the food to deliver. "Here you are." Nattie took the bag and handed it to Autolycus, who mumbled his thanks in French.

"That will be seventeen drachmas," the waitress declared. The women waited for Autolycus to pull out his wallet for the pay. Instead, he did completely opposite. His hand dug inside the food bag instead.

"Uh... Auto?" Nattie began.

"Yes, my beautiful fleur?"

Nattie huffed, "Don't you owe that lady seventeen drachmas?"

The instructor raised a brow, "Really?"

"Yeah, you said 'it's on you', remember?"

"Oh! When I said it's on me. The food is literally on me. My coins are in francs."

Nattie's mouth dropped in shock, before turning at the waitress who waited the pay with pouty lips. Nattie whirled back to the instructor, unwrapping the burger. She so much wished to shove the wrap down his throat, but instead she unzipped the compartment for her wallet, tossing the coins in the restaurant. After the seventh drachma tossed, she sped out the drive thru.

The trip back to the temple was agitating. The man was making a mess in Hades's chariot, dripping lettuce and meat everywhere. She has yet to hide the evidence by cleaning up and eating the rest of her pizza. Autolycus took care of that latter for he helped himself with two slices.

Nattie told herself to keep it together. As soon as she pass the test, she will send the monsters his way to teach him a lesson about etiquette.

"Well, Natasha, that was a delicious pizza. You have exquisite taste." Autolycus wiggled his brows at her suggestively.

Nattie winced in disgust, "Whatever. When do I get my license?"

He smiled, "You don't."

The girl blinked, leaning against her side of the chariot, completely taken back. "Excuse me?"

"Well, I regret to inform you, Natasha, but you failed again."

"For what?!"

"You forgot to create a turn signal when turning in the restaurant, and mostly the woman forgot my order. I wanted a 'veggie' burger. Not Greek."

"Why didn't you ask them to fix it?"

"I couldn't upset the poor girl. Besides, I didn't pay for it."

Nattie clenched her reigns, growling deep into her chest.

He handed her the stone board, departing her with a cheerful smile, "You get to keep that. See you much, much later."

Nattie looked down and quickly did a double take to see that the food bag was gone, "Hey, douchebag, you stole my pizza!"

Taking the test... the fifth time

"I understand the past few times could've been the Fates messing with you," Hades continued his support with determined Nattie.

"But I have confidence that you are going to go out there and pass with flying colors."

"It's ashame that the imps aren't here to support me," Nattie said, "I planned on driving them to the waterpark."

"They think they're a bad omen," Hades rolled his eyes, "Whatever. As long as they're not getting on my last nerve with that cheer..."

"Hey, I needed support."

"And I don't give you enough?"

"I didn't say that!"

Hades sighed, "Whatever. Just pass your damn test, and don't eat in this ride again! Okay, babe?" He snapped his fingers and disappeared.

"For the last time," Nattie huffed. "I didn't eat in the chariot!"

During the test...

Nattie and Autolycus were driving through town. Nattie prayed that Autolycus don't have any paying costumers to rip off, for their swords scratched the vehicle. Luckily, body shop was nearby to cover the evidence with dark paint. Unfortunately, Autolycus failed her that time for driving outside of instructor's instructions.

The third time she failed was when she annoyed the guy with her ringing eye-phone and didn't answer the call.

"Okay, pull over to this art gallery over here," Autolycus instructed.

Nattie groaned. Why me? She did as Autolycus told him. With frustration, she roughly parallel parked to the entrance, though the chariot was crooked and the back wheels were touching the curb.

"Now wait right here," Autolycus picked up his bag, pulling out a helmet. Not just any helmet.

"Woah, wait a minute!" Nattie recognized the helmet immediately, "Isn't that the helmet of invisibility that was missing from the Underworld?"

Autolycus chuckled merrily, "Natasha."

"Nattie," the girl hissed.

"Mon cheri," he tapped her nose that caused it to wrinkle in disgust. "What did I say about your nosey, little nose? How it is not good for Autolycus?"

"But I have a test to go through! I need to pass this test!"

"Don't worry of your pretty, little head. You will pass if you listen to good ol' Autolycus. Now I'll be right back. Just sit tight. I need to pick up something inside."

"Uhh!" Nattie cried, releasing the reigns, running her fingers through her hair, clenching it in frustration.

It didn't take long for her to wait. She perked up at the sound of screams and shooting arrows. She narrowed her eyes at the entrance, trying to figure out what was going on in there. She figured it out when the door opened by itself, two bags of artwork floating in the air, while two men exited the building with panty-hoses on their heads, dodging shooting arrows.

"Oh my gods," Nattie whispered in horror. She was roughly pushed to the side when bags were set on the back, joined by the two panty-hose men. Autolycus removed his helmet, whipping his luscious black hair back and forth.

"Let's go!" he cried.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What the hell! What the hell?!" Nattie cried. "What the hell is this?! Who are they?!" She gestured the two men in the back seat.

"Oh, sorry, m'lady," The first man with a British accent held his out for a handshake. "The name is Telemachus."

"Telephone?" Nattie asked.

"Telemachus," he corrected. "And this is my brother Italus. He's Italian." The second man bowed his head to her in silence. "And the last one is..." Telemachus trailed off and realized that someone was missing. "Pan. Where's Pan?"

Autolycus cursed in French, "You were supposed to be watching him!"

"We got caught up with the arrows, mate! You know that!" Telemachus argued. The pair argued, while Nattie tried to ease her breathing. The fact that she was an accessory for art theft wasn't calming her down one bit. What's worse that the griffins were making noises, showing frustration by lack of food.

Italus whistled, silencing the group. He gestured the alleyway where a small man whose head was decorated in a gorilla mask that almost resembled the character from Tarzan movie.

"Oh my gods!" Nattie leaned back when the gorilla boy jumped to the front shoving himself to the middle.

"Sorry, I am late!" Pan's voice sounded like he was coming from puberty. It was squeaky, but deep - the in between. "Had to pick up some things from the jewelry case." Pan opened his bag to try on some ruby necklaces. Nattie widened her eyes in shock, oblivious to men screaming at her to go. Autolycus refused to get caught for he reached over Pan and pulled the reigns from Nattie.

The griffins screeched as they were forced to move, one earning a scratch from another parked chariot. Its squeal in pain brought Nattie back from her senses, snatching the reigns back.

"The hell! I'm not doing this!" Nattie snapped. "I'm not going to be y'alls get away driver! I'm not helping a bunch of morons wearing panty-hoses! I'm not! When we get back to the temple, I'm reporting your ass-" Nattie pointed at Autolycus, "to the man in charge!"

Sirens wailed in the background. It was faint at first, until it didn't take long for them to come close.

"I doubt you will if we get caught," Autolycus replied calmly.

Nattie gripped the reigns tightly till her hands turned white. She growled coming close to bursting her own flames. When the police come asked who was involved, who were they going to believe: one victim who was a pathological liar or four art thieves? Refusing to take that chance, she complied.

"You..." She pointed at Autolycus in a threatening manner and snarling teeth, "You are an asshole!" She pointed to the three idiots squeezing the air from her lungs, "Hold on for dear life! I'm not going to get in trouble because of y'alls stupidity!"

The men complied as she sped down the road, dodging every upcoming chariot, earning honks on the way. The men cheered, tossing the stolen jewels in the air, kissing priceless portraits, proclaiming how they got away with this crime.

"Can't tell you how happy I am with you, Natasha!" Autolycus kissed sapphire earrings before trying them one.

"Thank me by passing my test and I don't have to see your face anymore."

"Aww," Autolycus cooed. "Don't deny that our special time together was breathtaking."

Nattie huffed, running past a red vase. Just a few more minutes, and all will be over.

"Uh, boss?" Telemachos began nervously.

"Quoi?" Autolycus asked.

"I hate to say this but..." Telemachos closed his mouth to suppress the laughter, fortunately, Italus explained by making whistles and gesturing Autolycus's behind. Autolycus looked down behind him and cursed in French.

"What?" Nattie asked, keeping her eyes on the road. "What happened?"

"Well, Natasha," Autolycus attempted to pull something out, but winced in utter pain. "It appears that I have an arrow in my bas."

"Your what?"

"My bas?"

"What?!"

"My butt! I have an arrow stuck in my buttocks!"

Nattie let out a snort. The men were snickering amongst themselves, even the griffins thought that was amusing.

"Do you..." Nattie paused, trying to regain composure. An arrow in that butt? That never happens often. Served the French trickster right for trying to steal with a driving student in the chariot - Hades's chariot. "Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

"No, I'll be fine," Autolycus refused. "But..." He peered over Pan to face Nattie with sincerity. "Unfortunately, Mon Cheri, I'm going to have to fail you."

Nattie's mouth dropped, glaring at Autolycus, "Are you kidding me?"

"Oh look!" Autolycus pointed at a temple up ahead, "We're back to the temple. Be a cher, and pull over."

Nattie turned into the temple from the back. Telemachos carried the stash, while Italus and Pan lifted Autolycus up.

"Fear not, Mon Cheri. We'll get there eventually." The instructor handed the stone board to Nattie, "You get to keep that. Have a pleasant afternoon."

The men left, leaving Nattie to bang the board against the chariot with all her might, just in tiem for Hades to arrive.

"So how goes the driving test? You finally passed, or..." Hades trailed off to see what Nattie was doing. He wanted to stop her, but too little, too late. The stone broke in half. One half - the bottom half - was in Nattie's hand, the other fell onto the ground without leaving a small dent on the chariot. Nattie paused, taking a moment to realize what she had done and who decided to grace her with his sulfur presence. She didn't need to see his orange flare up to know that she was screwed.

Sixth time taking the test... this is getting old

"Okay, Nattie..." Hades began, his flames were orange but his skin was cool gray "Here's the deal... I don't think the whole support you thing isn't helping you pass one bit. So allow me to be blunt for the next thirty seconds. Okay?..." He narrowed his eyes at the girl, "You better pass the damn test this time!"

"Hades-"

"And you better not dent my chariot again!"

"That wasn't my fault! What was I suppose to do?! My instructor is the worst! He's a sleaze! He made me run over a few kids, go to a food joint, dragged me in his fake drug deals and art thefts! He stole your invisible helmet!"

"A-tah-tah! Nattie... baby..." Hades slowly changed color to an angry orange, raising his voice at each sentence, "Everyone knows what happened with that helmet. The imps lost it. It went missing. No man is dumb enough to rob me from the Underworld."

"But he did!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Listen to me, and listen good! I don't want to hear excuses or stories, okay?! I'm not paying these fees for you to dance around and flunk this simple test!"

"If you think it's easy, why don't you try taking this damn test yourself?!"

"Shut up!" He flared bright red, "The next time you fail this, babe, I'm going to make sure that you won't have the ability to drive FOR ALL ETERNITY!"

"BUT-" Nattie was about to retort, but Hades lift his finger up to silence her.

"No buts, Nattie! One last chance. If you don't pass this time, I will F***ING KILL YOU!"

Nattie ducked down, protecting her head from the raging flames, Hades expressed.

"GOT IT?!"

"Alright, I'll pass this time," Nattie mumbled in defeat, raising her hands up defensively. "I promise."

Hades huffed before he snapped his fingers and disappeared. Nattie gripped the reigns, inhaling sharply and exhaling slowly, trying to relax.

"I'm not going to fail this time," Nattie pulled out her eye-phone from the glove compartment and made a few calls.

~000~000~000~

The chariot widely turned, the wheel hit the curb of the parking lot, causing Nattie and the instructor to jerk forcibly.

"Whoo! What a ride," the instructor laughed merrily. "Shame that it's over."

"Yeah, real shame." Nattie grumbled. "Do I pass the test this time?"

She made a plan to pass this instructor by correcting all the mistakes that caused her to fail previous attempts. Hopefully, that was enough.

"Let me just check your parking."

"What?"

Autolycus ducked down and used a ruler to measure how far the girl was off from the white line. He straightened up, putting his ruler away, "Unfortunately, Mon Cheri-"

"Don't! Don't say it!" Nattie threatened.

"You were three centimeters away from a perfect park. Touching the line is an offense, an instant fail."

"Three centimeters? So you are failing me, because I was three centimeters on the line?"

Autolycus nodded.

"After what you put me through?! After doing what you told me to do?! I nearly killed stupid kids and crashed a chariot on the left side. I bribed you with food that was correctly ordered. I was your get away car for your rip offs. I even helped you steal a cow from the new king of Thessaly!"

MOO! The cow said from the back of the chariot.

"And you did a splendid job knocking the cow keeper out."

"I did what you asked, and they were illegal. So something tells me that you are just failing me on purpose."

Autolycus snorted, gesturing himself, "Moi? Fail you on purpose? Is that something I would do?"

"You ripped off druggies with powdered sugar."

He paused, shrugged his shoulders slightly, "Fair point. I suppose I can let this all slide. I just need some... insurance that you won't tell anyone of my evil deeds."

"Dude, do I look like a snitch? Why would I tell the police what you did that would only get me in trouble for being your accomplice?"

"True. Maybe you can sign a little insurance policy. If I go down, so will you."

Nattie huffed, "Fine. Where's the paperwork?"

"Oh, I don't have it. It is at my lair. But maybe on the next test-"

"Next test?!"

"On the next test, you can doll yourself up, and we'll talk about this over cheese and wine."

Nattie's mouth dropped in disbelief, "You kidding me? I have a boyfriend!"

"Really? Aww, only the pretty girls get taken." Autolycus smirked, "But what he doesn't know can't hurt him, right, Natasha?"

That's it. That's the last straw.

"Oh, hell no! Not this woman! Not this time!" Nattie cried. "I was planning on passing this test the right way, but you left me with no other option."

He raised a brow, "What other option?"

Nattie smirked, puckering her lips as if she was going to kiss him. Autolycus might have got the assumption, until she let out a whistle - Mockingjay style.

Instantly, heavy stomps thumped the road, causing the chariot to shake. Autolycus was now nervous, and Nattie's smirk only heightened it.

"W-What's going on? What's happening?!"

Nattie's smile deepened, "Well, Auto, I'm glad you asked. Since you introduced me to your friends, I want to give you the golden opportunity to meet mine." She turned the man around, and his mustache ran off at the sight before him.

Nattie's army of monsters entered the scene - Zoul, the Minotaur, and Memnon. Unfortunately, Cerberus didn't come along. She was lucky that the imps answered the call and invited everyone up here. They were at the scene, too, looking fierce as ever, even though they were in their cheerleading suits.

Autolycus couldn't utter a word as Zoul and Beast picked him up arm-to-arm. Their grip was tight, they could easily rip his arms from his sockets. They brought him close to the imps.

"Now listen here, pal!" Pain began the threat, jabbing his finger into the man's nose.

"You are going to pass the girl's test, right now!" Panic kicked the man's shin.

"Or we are going to let our friends eat you!"

"Please! Mercy! Mercy!" Autolycus pleaded.

Pain shoved the stone board against the man's face, "Check off all the boxes!"

Panic handed the man the chisel. Autolycus didn't hesitate to check them all off. He reached the board towards Nattie, indicating her to sign the doted line. She gladly signed, keeping the smirk across her lips.

"Congratulations, Mon Cheri!" Autolycus smiled with force, shaking the woman's hand. "You have passed your test 100% with shooting stars..."

"Good call," Beast praised, while Zoul patted the man's tiny head.

Autolycus' smile faltered, still shaking from nerves. The monsters still haven't set him down yet. "Now please, tell them not to eat me."

"I won't," Nattie promised. She waved at the monsters, turning her attention to the board. The monsters chuckled, dragging him away.

"Wait! Wait! You said you won't let them eat me!"

"True," Nattie cooed nonchalantly. "But who said anything about not roughing you up a bit?"

Autolycus widened his eyes, begging, screaming, and kicking - doing whatever he can to escape.

"Boys, take him far away, make him walk his ass home!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Zoul saluted.

"Oh, and no ripping his limps off. I can't afford a bloody mess."

The monsters groaned.

Memnon raised his hand, "Can we give him nosebleeds and broken teeth?"

Nattie shrugged, "Why not."

The monsters cheered, while Autolycus wailed in agony.

"Oh, and Auto, I'll be sure not to tell anyone of our time together. But if you involve me and my buddies here, I'll be sure to give Minotaur permission to have you for his latest dinner!"

Beast chuckled at the man's scent - French and fear - his favorite. Autolycus screamed as the monsters took him away. The imps and Nattie cheered at their succession.

"We did it! We did it!" The imps hopped in circles.

"Boys, who is up for ice cream at Sweet Chione's?" Nattie asked.

"Me!" The imps raised their hands. They rushed to the chariot, forcing the cow to move from their spot, only to be sit on by the cow.

~000~000~000~

"And so kids, that is how I got my license," Nattie declared.

Her friends stared at her, completely dumbstruck. Nobody realized that the chariot wasn't moving for Hercules stopped it. How long? Probably when Nattie dropped a bombshell of how she nearly had children killed. What a mother she will be in the future.

"More like how you gained nasty driving habits," Cassandra grumbled.

"You threaten your instructor?" Hercules asked, scratching his head. "You almost ran over a few kids?"

"You stole a cow?! From a king?!" Icarus cried with bulging wide eyes.

"Nattie, that was wrong," Hercules shook his head in utter disappointment. "Why didn't tell the police... or even me?" He was mostly hurt that she kept him in the dark of what really transpired.

"I had no choice, Herc!" Nattie argued. "I couldn't tell the officials what happened or they will throw me in jail for being an accessory. I drove that chariot that day. Now I told you guys about it. That's makes you guys accessories too. That guy took a rough beating. He knows not to throw me under the cart, but if the police found out differently, I am going straight to hell. My fate is sealed at that point."

"That's not true," Hercules placed a hand on her shoulder, declaring quietly. "I will do whatever it takes to keep that from happening."

Nattie sighed, "You're sweet." She slapped her arms against her side, "Well, ain't nobody got time for this. Let's get you a license before sunset." She stole the reigns from Hercules. Ignoring everyone's protests, she slapped the reigns, and the rental horse sped and swerved down the road.

Cassandra was holding the driving hands-scroll, quizzing Hercules for the written test, "Okay, you're traveling on the road from Athens to Sparta. How many horse-lengths must remain before the chariot in front of you?"

"Uh..." Hercules scratched his head, "Two?"

Cassandra groaned, "You're going to fail."

"Oh! I know what to ask him," Nattie cleared her throat, "If you're driving on the road and found a baby lying there, what should you do?"

Hercules and Cassandra looked up at her as if she was an idiot.

Icarus perked, raising his hand, "Ooh! I know! You stop the chariot and let it pass."

"Did they ask that in your written test?" Hercules asked.

"No," Nattie admitted. "But you never know. I nearly had a group of kids killed, remember?"

"You would be a wonderful mother," Cassandra commented with a smirk and folded arms.

Nattie chuckled, till she looked over shoulder at her friend threateningly, "Shut up."

The group came across two paths. One up the mountain, and the other was the path of peace. The latter was where they wanted to go, but two men made a sign that pointed an arrow up the mountain.

"Sorry, folks!" the obese, purple toga man said, holding up the left arrow sign with his skinny, teal toga friend, "Road close for repairs."

"Your tax drachmas at work," the skinny teal man added.

"But we got to get to the Temple of Moving Vehicles!" Hercules cried, pointing at the right road direction, "FAST!"

The teal man pointed at the left road, "That way will get you there in a jiffy."

"And the views are lovely," the obese, purple man added.

Nattie narrowed her eyes at the men, "Say... don't I know, you boys, from somewhere?"

The men froze with widened eyes, "No! No!"

"Are you sure? You guys almost sound like-"

"Okay! Enough chit-chat!" Icarus slapped the reigns, and drove the chariot to the road up the mountain.

Hercules waved at the men with gratitude, "Thanks!"

Soon as they disappeared, the men transformed back to their true forms. Pain and Panic, causing mischief under Hades's orders.

"Jerkules," Pain grumbled, snickering with Panic.

"Say hi to the Sphinx for us!" Panic added. They continued laughing, until they realized who else was in the chariot.

"Wait!" Pain began, before scratching his horn, "Nattie is in that chariot. Doesn't she know where the road leads?"

"Yeah," Panic shrugged. "But this is Nattie we're talking about. Knowing her, she'll get out of life and death situations." His face fell at another person in the chariot. "Although, Cassandra is with them, and she doesn't know where the road leads."

Pain slapped Panic in the back of his horns, "Would you quit?! That girl ain't interested!"

"Oh yeah?!" Panic rolled his arm skin up as if they were sleeves.

"Yeah, you are squeaky!"

"Hey!"

"Stinky!"

"I'm warning you!"

"And very ugly!" Pain laughed, pointing at his companion until Panic tackled him onto the ground. Eventually, it turned into a wrestling match that Nattie would pay to watch.

~000~000~000~

The chariot was driving up the mountain. What used to be sunny and bright, instantly turned cold and cloudy.

"Huh, what does that sign mean?" Icarus asked, looking at a diamond sign by the edge of the cliff.

Nattie glanced at the sign for a moment, but quickly gave a double take with widened eyes. The sign contained an image of a sphinx with the word king. She realized where they were heading, and knew that from the imps's dead-give-away voices, this was a trap. She and her friends were about to reach their ultimate death she used to see on TV every Saturday afternoon.

"Mister I-memorized-the-entire-DMV-manual," Icarus continued with a laugh, "Lay it on me, baby!"

"Icarus!" Nattie perked up, "Turn the chariot around!"

"W-What?" Icarus asked.

"I said turn around!" Nattie yanked the reigns from Icarus, quickly making a sharp U-turn. The chariot sped down the hill, causing Nattie's friends to scream.

"Nattie, what are you doing?!" Hercules demanded, holding onto the chariot for dear life.

"Saving our asses!"

"By swerving us into a cliff?!"

As they were heading down the mountain in full speed, Cassandra noticed something flying above them. "Uh, what is that?"

"What's what?" Hercules asked, "All I could see my life flashing before my eyes!"

"Oh, grow up, Herc!" Nattie snapped, "I'm not that bad a driver."

"I see a creature with wings and a body of a lion!" Cassandra told them.

"My Cassandra-roll," Icarus chuckled at his own pet name for his sweet. "What kind of vision is that?"

"It's not a vision! I see it coming right AT US!"

The gang looked up and screamed as a flying creature smashed against their chariot, breaking it into pieces, sending Nattie and Icarus to a great fall.

"HEEEEELLLLPPP!" the falling victims screamed for life.

"NATTIE!" Hercules screamed over the edge of the trail, reaching his hand out for his friends.

"HERCULES!" Nattie screamed her reply, reaching her hand out as well.

"What about me?!" Icarus demanded in tears, "Cassandra?! My muffin-buffin!"

Cassandra huffed, rolling her eyes, "Even on the brink of death, he still gets on my nerves."

The creature flew up in body level with Cassandra and Hercules, luckily grasping Nattie and Icarus with his paws. Nattie closed her eyes, refusing to look down. Icarus was clinging onto the sphinx's paw for dear life. Cassandra was pressing her back away from the cliff, trying not to look down.

Hercules stared up at the creature, began to plead, "Please! We don't mean any harm! We're just passing through."

"Not anymore," the Sphinx said deeply, "You're here..." He flew closer to Hercules with a goofy grin, "To have fun!"

Hercules furrowed his brows in confusion, "W-What?"

A/N: Another part down more to go. Hope you enjoy the storytelling of how Nattie got her license. I pictured Autolycus's voice to sound like Steve Martin with a French accent. The food scene makes me hungry for a damn-burger. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. Up next is the Sphinx's game of doom. Will the gang survive? Can Hercules make it to the test and pass? Will Hades win the bet... for once? Thank you, everyone for taking the time to read, favorite, and add this story to alerts.

Special thanks to Xitan22 and floridmelody8467 for taking the time to review.

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