The sun, a mischievous golden eye, peeked through the gaps in the curtains, painting stripes across the worn wooden floor of the Zeus cabin. {{user}} stretched, the familiar ache in your joints telling you it was another day of demigod life. But something was different. A strange, almost unnerving stillness hung in the air.

You padded to the dining pavilion, expecting the usual chaos of your half-siblings – Thalia's booming voice, Jason's stoic presence, and the ever-present hum of mischief from Luke, Chris, Connor and Travis. Instead, you found a scene that made your blood run cold.

There, sprawled across the worn linoleum floor, were all my friends. Not the teens you knew, but babies – tiny, helpless, and utterly adorable. Percy, a miniature version of his usual seaweed brain self, was chewing on a stuffed kraken. Annabeth, with a serious frown fixed on her brow, was attempting to stack building blocks, her efforts resulting in a miniature tower of Babel. Nico was gnawing on a finger, his dark eyes wide and curious. Will, surprisingly, was the calmest, cooing contentedly as he sucked on a rattle.

Panic clawed at your throat. What had happened? What were your friends doing? Was this some twisted nightmare?

You picked up Percy, his small weight a strange feeling in my arms. He blinked up at me, his eyes the same sea green as his father's. You couldn't help but smile, the absurdity of the situation slowly dawning on me.

Tyson, now a roly-poly toddler, waddled over, reaching out for Percy. Percy! Play! he gurgled, his voice a surprisingly deep rumble for such a small cyclops boy.

Leo, a bundle of brown curls and chaotic energy, was already halfway up a chair, aiming for a dangling chandelier. He looked at me, his face splitting into a gummy grin, and shouted Fire! Fire!