Showdown at the Triple G Ranch

The trio turned around to see three figures standing before them. The first was a huge, muscular two-headed dog, one head was barking while the other was snarling. The second was a man holding the leash on the dog, he looked like an old cowboy. His long white beard was tied in braids and had a muscular build. He wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and chaps over denim jeans. A matching denim jacket with the sleaves torn off was worn over a shirt that said 'Don't Mess With Texas' on it. He was wielding a large, spiked club.

The third was obvoiussly the leader of the group. A giant of a man, he was twice the height of his companion and about thrice the width. Bigger than a Laestrygonian, but smaller than a Cyclops. Jeans covered his massive legs, a shirt with the colours green, red and yellow were worn under a bloody apron. In his hand, was a large pitchfork.

"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my ranch?" The giant asked mockingly, "spies, thieves, ASSASSINS!" Geryon laughed, "I can't blame you though" he grinned, "they are magnificent aren't they.

"You three are either very brave or very stupid to come into the Triple G Ranch to steal our stock," the other man said. "Although, I think you're not here on a whim. Are you?"

"Lord Ares commissioned me to retrieve these horses for our cabin." George explained.

"Father sent you?" The old man holding the leash asked, George turned to him and nodded.

"Aye, I'm here on behalf of my Cabin." Upon hearing this, his expression changed and he looked more relaxed. Then something caught George's ear, "Father?" He asked. The man nodded, and George began rattling his memory as he poured through what his mother taught him. Then he recalled the story of Hercules and the Cattle. "Your Eurytion," he realized. The old man nodded, the two sons of Ares regarded each other with stoic expression. Thankfully it looked like his much older brother, had not let himself go, though he could do with trimming that Grizzly Adams beard. He'll be a tough one to beat, George didn't doubt, he's older, taller, stronger and most important of all, more experienced. From the looks of it he looked like he could take on all of Ares Cabin with ease, but George supposed he would just have to find out. All children of Ares are good fighters, but something has always prevented them from being the best.

"Aww," Geryon clasped his hands mockingly, "it's a kodak moment. But in any case, I'm afraid I can't let you have them. These horses are for client and he has paid generously for them. As a businessman, I am bound to honour the contracts of all my customers."

George frowned, "regardless of you contract, we're taking these horses."

Geryon chuckled, "no matter, as a matter of fact, I was counting on that. Not that I have any intention on letting you live in any case." He turned to his partner, "Eurytion, Orthus, despose of them."

Eurytion unhooked the hound who approached the trio snarling. But Eurytion remained where he was." Geryon glared at him. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

Eurytion shrugged, "normally I would, but if my little brother is here on Father's orders I won't stand in his way or against father's wishes."

Geryon scoffed, "figures, useless as always."

Eurytion scowled, "says the one who has me doing his dirty work for him."

Geryon waved him off and leaned against one of the support beams as he turned to the dog, "no matter, Orthus, sick em!"

The two headed houns approached him. George was about to step forward when Luke placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll handly the hound," He said, "you get the giant."

George looked between Orthus and his companions Allison gave him a reassuring nod as the opened up her cane revealing a hidden sword inside. George almost accepted, but then he remembered his mother's words. "A unit fights together or not at all," George looked around and noticed the back enterance. "Let's get outside, he said, we can fight better in the open." Luke nodded the as he and Allison rushed out while George bought them time. Orthus lunged forward and George jumped back, their claws missing his legs by inches. The heads snapped at his arms, George fended them off by slashing with his swords.

After hitting both of them hard, George turned and ran for the back enterance, George was able to squeeze through but Orthus was too big. So the Hound simply burst through turing the door frame to splinters. He continued attacking George until he was joined by Luke and Allison who not attacked the heads from either side with their swords. Allison pierced the left head in the eye while Luke aimed at the right head's neck but missed the slashed the snout instead. Enraged, Orthus turned it's focus to the other two kids who got in front of the dog. to distract it. George saw the opportunity and charged forward, swords now in a reverse grip. He leaped onto Orthus' back and drove his blades into both necks. Orthus howled, and started thrashing violently trying to throw George off. But George held firm and was on e thrown off when his blades withdrew from their bloody sheaths. George landed hard on hius back and when he looked towards Orthus, he saw Allison cast a spell on the dog as Luke finished it off.

"Damn you," Geryon growled at seeing his guard dog defeated as we walked through the busted doorway. In one hand he now held three pitchforks and in the other a large sack. "Fine," he grumbled, "I'll do it myself." George scrambled to his feet weapons ready as Luke and Allison rushed to join him.

Geryon removed his shirt and apron to reveal two more pairs of arms, with three pairs of nipples and three six-packs. Two smaller heads emerged from either side of Geryon's neck like parastic twins facing behind him. Geryon reached into the bag then donned three helmets, three shields and took the to extra pitchforks in his remaining extra hands.

Geryon grinned, "now, let's see if you are as capable as your brother, son of Ares." With that, he charged.

Fighting Geryon was like fighting three opponents at once. Thankfully on account of his arms he could not wear a breastplate. But the two extra shields proved to be an effective compensation. When George attacked from tried to attack from behind he found himself blocked for two of Geryons arms also faced backwards, and the two extra heads allowed him to see such attacks.

George attempted to utilize the same strategy that had served him well against other types of giants and concentrated his attacks on the legs. Geryon had not thought to wear greaves. or simply didn't care, so George was able to slice the tendon of one leg. Geryon cried in pain as he got down on one knee. This gave George the breif window needed to drive his sword into the middle of his chest, where his heart should be. Geryon cried out and dropped one of his pitchforks to clutch his chest as George tried to drive his sword deeper.

For a brief monement, George was satisfied that he had won, but the Geryon began chuckle and he looked George in the eye and he laughed out loud. He then grabbed George by the throat and wretched him away. george lost grip of his blades as he dangled helplessly. Geryon stuck his second pitchfork inthe ground and with his free hand casually plucked the swords from his chest and tossed them aside. He clutched George's head intending to crush it when another stab of pain entered his other leg as Luke crove his sword into it. Geryon dropped george who scrambled for his swords.

Geryon bashed Luke away with his shield and picked up his pitchforks, he stood up and george saw that the wonds they had inflicted were already healing. "Not bad for a pest," Geryon commended, "but not good enough."

George cocked his head, as he watched the wounds he had struggled to inflict, heal. At first he felt frustration at his wasted effort, but then he smiled. A new challenge lay before him so he had to find a way to overcome it. "Well then," he said as his smile became a grin, "bring it on."

For what seemed like hours the three demigods fought the giant but were able to make very little progress. Geryon's three pairs of arms were able to keep George and Luke at a distance blocking with his shields and attacking with his weapons. Whenever they did manage to wound him, he healed too quickly for them to take advantage of this. On the other hand, Allison was keeping a safe distance using her magic to prevent Geryon's weapons from landing hits."

At this point george could safely say that Geryon was by far the greatest opponent he had faced so far. He knew there were deadlier monsters out there, but for now, Geryon wore the crown. Luke was already tiring as he panted heavily, and even George, with his own iron staminawas beginning to feel the longevity of the fight.

"This is crazy," Luke exclaimed, "how are we suppose to fight a giant with three bodies and a healing factor."

George shook hie head, "we're at an impass, but there's got to be a way. Hercules did it."

"Hercules had hydra venom," Luke pointed out, "With arrows to the hearts."

"Heart(s)" George asked confused, then something Luke said earlier clicked as he looked back at Geryon'e two extra heads arms and muscles. George mentally kicked himself for not putting the pieces together. 'He has three bodies,' he realized, 'three bodies means three hearts. Like a worm he can survive as long as one remains beating.'

"That's it then," George told Luke as they got close again, "we need to pierce his hearts, but we need to do it at the same time."

"I don't think he's just going to let us," Luke said unsure,

"Unless we distract his mind with something," George pointed out. Then he looked around and smiled, "and I think I know just the thing that could do it."

Luke retreated to where Allison was whiole George continued to fight the Giant guiding him to a certain spot. But along he was finding himself getting hit harder and harder until Geryon bashed him in the head with his shield knocking him to the ground. Before he could get up, George found a fot on his chest, one pitchfork pinned his right leg to the ground while a second pinned his neck. Geryon knelt down grinning,

"Give it up boy, you are no Hercules, just the son of a second rate god. What chance do you stand of beating me?"

George struggled as he spoke, "I'm don't need to beat you, we just need to stall you."

Geryon looked confused, "Stall me? From What!"

"Long enough for the real hero to complete his quest." George continued as he grinned, He's in the other Stable freeing your precious Hippalektryons. Sorry Gery, no more omelettes for you."

"WHAT!" Geryon roared as he looked towards the other central stable, "THE RANGER IS HERE?"

His eyes widened and George saw something that wasn't there before...fear. George flicked his wrist with his left hand as the signal. and shut his eyes. in that monent a flash appeared stunning the eyes of Geryon's smaller heads. The giant cried out and arched forward, into perfect range, george once again took his swords and drove them into Geryon's central heart, at the same time, Luke and Allison leaped from the roof of the stables overhead and taking advantage of his expossed rearguard and drove their own weapons into Geryon's left and right hearts respectively. Geryon was still and his eyes widened af if he couldn't believe what just happened.

"No," he gasped, "this cannot be, "I can't be defeated by mere infants

As he dissolved into dust, Geryon grabbed George by the neck and squeezed as if trying to take him down with him. But is hands dissolved before that could happen. As the last of him disappeared, George leaned forward and said, "you just did."

With Geryon gone, All three collapsed to the ground as exhaustion finally came upon them in full force."

Luke shook his head and smiled, "I can't believe it, we actually defeated Geryon."

A clapping was heard and the three siblings saw Eurytion standing there. "Well done little brother, Not many Demigods have faced Geryon and lived, let alone won."

George waved it off, "an exageration, I could not have done this without Luke and Allison, the victory belongs to them as well."

Eurytion nodded, "indeed, Though that lie about the Hippalektryons was all you."

"Oh that wasn't a lie," George corrected, A friend is freeing them as we speak."

Eurytion's eyes widened and walked over to the other stable, club in hand. As he did someone stepped out, and Eurytion froze.

The figure looked at him for a moment, "Eury."

"Robin," Eurytion replied hesitantly.

Robin smiled, "how long has it been, old friend."

"Almost 40 years," Eurytion said running the lower part of his neck.

"You two are friends?" Allison wondered looking between the two.

Robin shrugged, "in a way, we have fought in the past, at the behest of his master."

"If you call our brief engagements as a fight at all," Eurytion snapped. "You killed me so many times."

"And Geryon just as many," Robin added.

'Well there's that," Eurytion granted. He set the club down, "are you going to kill me again?"

"Only if you stand in my way," Robin replied.

Eurytion looked around, "thankfully, Geryon isn't here to order me to do so. I grow weary of dying for that lazy freak." He gave a wave of his hand, "do what you need to do."

Robin nodded as James came out of the stable, "Well that's the last one, the creatures are free."

"Good," Robin replied, "with that stroke we have undone a lifetime of work."

"What of the other animals," James wondered.

"It's best that they stay penned," Robin decided. "Letting them loose would be disasterous and slaughtering them would attract too much attention."

James nodded and looked around, "so where is the owner?"

"Feeding the pigs," George replied, "it seems that master or miscreant, meat is meat."

"And I missed it," James exclaimed, slamming his foot to the ground. "I wanted to see his face as I destroyed his hard work."

"If it makes you feel better," George picked up one of Geryon's secondary pitchforks, "this was his, take it as a trophy."

James took it eyeing its size, "he must have been John Henry to wield something like this."

"All the strength, none of the charm, or any form of of common decency," George replied smiling, But at least now you have something to tell your friends."

James laughed, "it will be quite the story, I suppose it will do, thank you."

Eurytion rubbed his head, "I suppose you will need a place to stay for the night. You can sleep in the farm house. With the master gone it will be vacant for some time." four of them nodded, but one refused. I hardly stay in one place, Now that my work here is done, I need to leave, I'm still hunted after all."

Eurytion shook his head, "after all these years you'd think they'd have learned their lesson by now. They seriously need to learn when to quit."

"The Hunters of Artemis quitting? You're more likely to see the man in the sky go celibate."

Eurytion laughed, "I suppose so. Well good luck to you then."

"Enjoy running the ranch while you can Eury." Robin replied and with that, he rushed out into the night and within a moment he had disappeared.

At Eurytion's invitation, George, Luke, Allison and James spent a whole day, in Geryons' farmhouse. They took this time to rest, and eat and stock up for the journey home. Eurytion supplied then with nectar and ambrisia to heal their wounds and George also cleaned and sharpened his swords. James was able to take one final jab at Geryon by taking the egg Geryon had collected for his own breakfast and making an omelet for himself."

"I hate to admit it," James said, "but this is the best Omelette I've ever had."

George smiled, "it is said that wine is sweeter when taken from a foe."

James chuckled and took another bite, "that just makes it all the better."

George turned back to his breakfast, "not that the giant matter is dealt with, there is now the small matter of getting the horses back to Camp."

"They won't go quietly," Eurytion informed them, "especially not Old Red."

"I take it that he's the leader," George assumed,

Eurytion shook his head, "not quite, he is merely the lead stallion, but he is the mate of the alpha mare."

"So if I ride him the rest will follow."

Eurytion's eyes became the size of saucers, "are you out of your mind? I mean I admire your gumption brother, but trying to ride that brute would be a death sentence. Many of the stock I've tended were nasty pieces of work, But Old Red is probably the meanest equinae I've had to care for."

"Equinae?" George looked amused, "fancy word for a son of Ares."

"When you get to live as long as I have you tend to hear a lot of fancy words, especially when it comes to stock."

George smirked, "well if i didn't want that horse already I definitely want him now. I can't resist such a challenge, bring it on."

"Are you sure George," Luke asked concerned, "Risking your life to claim a horse seems like an unnecessary risk.

George nodded, "perhaps, but this is our best chance of taming the herd and I'm not leaving without those horses."

Eurytion sighed, "as you wish, it's about that time for set them out to graze. They can get temperamental if they don't get to roam freely every now and then. I'll bring Old Red to the corral; would you like a saddle?"

George shook his head, "no brother, I prefer bareback, But I would like a length of rope, I'll see you at the corral after breakfast." Eurytion nodded and headed out.

After breakfast, George headed for the corral where Eurytion and four other stable hands were dragging Red to it. The crimson horse fought hard against the ropes, but with great effort they managed to get him inside the corral and bar the gate. The Corral itself was completely enclosed with a 10-foot fence with reinforced steel.

George climbed over the fence and sat on the top for a moment to studying the horse and thinking about what he was about to do. He set the rope up as a lasso with the loop on one end and lashing the other end to his right arm. He sighed deeply and leaped off the fence into the corral.

The moment his feet touched the ground, Red turned to him. The horse snorted a jet of flame as its hoof pawed the ground. George approached the horse with caution ready for the worse. A few steps forward and Old Red turned fully towards him, but George continued walking forward fixing the Lasso and began twirling it. There was about 40 feet between them when Red charged with the intent to run the boy down. George stood his ground and waited for the last moment. In a blink he stepped aside with the Bronco missing him by inches, George let his lasso fly and it landed true, looping around Red's neck.

Realizing that he missed his quarry, Red skidded to a halt and whirled around. George took this moment to rush forward and using the rope pulled himself upon the back of the horse, Securing the rope tight, George prepared for what was about to happen.

Enraged that someone would dare get on his back, the furious bronco began to buck and kick violently determined to throw this pest off. He jumped on all fours raced all over and spun in tight circles to try and dizzy him. Flames spewed from his mouth as his head thrashed about. But as determined as red was to shake the boy off his back, George was just as determined to hold on. Red rode for the fence and trying to crush George's legs against it, he slammed his left side, George leaned all the way right. Red slammed his right side, George leaned left. Red threw back his head to headbutt him, George leaned back.

"I don't care what you do," George panted in Red's ear, "I can do this all day. Kill me if you can, but I won't give in. DO YOU HEAR ME? I WILL NEVER GIVE IN."

Red seemed to hear this as he continued to buck but after so long it was getting slower and slower as red began to tire. In a final act of desperation, Red tried one last trick. He rolled on his back trying to crush George under his weight. But George followed his movement and allowed himself to slide around Red's body. Red stood up and George pulled himself upright. Both the horse and the boy were exhausted, yet George kept his grip on the rope.

Looking at horse below him, George brushed a stray hair from his forehead, 'do you want to continue?" Red gave George a look and snorted, George sighed and nodded and gave Red a pat on the neck. Red trotted forward and with that, George began to ride Red around the corral.

Past the Corral he saw the other fire horses were staring at him curiously. Finally, after two laps George untied his arm and dismounted. That was when George realized that at some point during his ride his right arm had gotten dislodged. With the adrenaline from riding George simply hadn't noticed until it was over. Grunting George walked over to the fence and used the rope to lash his arm to a pole. He then ran as fast as he could away from the pole remembering to keep his muscles relaxed until the rope went taunt and George heard a familiar snap. The force that pulled him back w also caused him to fall on his back. When he got back up, George checked his arm giving it a few swings and a good 360 turn before flexing his hand and fingers. It won't wield a sword, but at least it functioned. Nothing a few shots of ambrosia and nectar won't fix.

George looked at his companions who had been watching, then at Eurytion who was rubbing the back of his neck. "I still can't decide whether you're brave or crazy but...congratulations. He looked at Red who gave him a snort as the old man shook his head. "I can't believe you actually manage to pull it off."

George nodded, "all that remains now is the small matter of getting the rest of the herd back to Camp."

"That won't be much of an issue," Eurytion assured him. "I'll just have to make a few calls and reroute the plane meant to transport them to San Francisco to New York."

"Long Island MacArthur Airport," George corrected, "it's closer and will attract less attention."

Eurytion shrugged, "suit yourself, now there are a few points about Old Red. Keep him with in the same stall as Whiskey Rose."

"George cocked an eyebrow, "Whiskey Rose?"

"The alpha mare," Eurytion explained, " he loves his old girl. The same will go should you strap him to a chariot. He rides with her or not at all."

'Understood sir," George acknowledged, "anything else."

Eurytion nodded, "they are carnivorous and drink only rum or vodka."

"Because of the flames?" George asked.

"Precisely," Eurytion replied.

As Eurytion returned to the farmhouse to make the necessary arrangements, George rode old Red back to his stall, and as Red entered, George noticed that there was another horse asleep. "Whiskey Rose didn't look like the rest of the herd, instead of red or brown, she was a buckskin colour, with a chestnut mane, pigeon toes, a u neck and a roman nose, the only indication that she was a firebreather was the light whisps of smoke and crept from her nostrils as she exhaled. Red laid beside her and fell asleep with his head over hers. Closing the stall door, George returned to where Luke, Allison and James were waiting.

James shook his head, "sometimes I don't believe the crazy things I see."

"I can't believe you dislodged your arm," Luke said as took George's right arm to inspect it. "You could have lost it."

"I nearly lost my life against the Furies," George pointed out causing Luke to look around nervously. George clasped his shoulder, "trust me, a bucking bronco is a walk in the park."

"All the same you ought to stop taking risks too often," Allison cut in. "One of these days you're going to meet something more stubborn than you."

George shook his head with a smile, "not something, someone. All of this is good practice for when I meet him. But until that time comes, this will be the norm for me."