Percy blinks awake on a beach, “Huh? Where…?” He sits up, “Hello?” He turns and sees a little blonde girl unconscious beside him. She looks a lot like Annabeth and Percy assumes it’s one of her siblings. He stands and… wait. Why is he short? He blinks down at his hands. His scars are still there, but his hands are smaller — puffed with baby fat. One of them is closed around riptide
“Percy?” The blonde girl sits up. She’s clutching a familiar dagger and a yankees cap.
She swallowed thickly, “Where are we?”
Percy looked out at the waves, “I don’t know, but the sea feels… wrong. Older. Purer. Stronger. Something is weird.”
“Time.” A voice said, “He was the Titan of Time. He cursed us.”
Percy spun around to see Luke. He blinked, “Why do you get to stay bigger?”
“I’m not.” Luke said, “I think I’m fourteen? I’m the age I was when my father visited for the last time.”
“I’m six — around the age my dad married my stepmother.” Annabeth realized..
“I must be five — the same age my mom married Gabe.” Percy realized.
“Great.” Luke said, “So we’re all at the age of when our parents messed up the most. Wonderful.”
“Titan mentioned something about showing me the worst of the gods by showing me at their best? The question isn’t where, but when.”
“Ancient Greece, then.” Annabeth said, “That’s when they were the strongest. After too many tragedies, they made the ancient laws.”
“We can’t.” Annabeth said, “The gods can’t control time and, even if the Titan would help us after all that, he’s going to need a few lifetimes of rest. We won’t get a chance to ask by the time we’re dead.”
“It could be worse.” Luke decided.
“We could be in like… Pompeii or something.”
“Are you sure we’re not?” Percy countered.
Luke glanced at the island behind them, “I don’t see any mountains or volcanoes. I don’t think so.”
“Well, that’s good at least.” Annabeth said, “Luke and I know how to survive in the woods. You know how to survive in the water and on the beach.”
“Yeah, but is it a good idea to go into the water?” Percy asked, “It’s different than how I remember and dad won’t know me.”
Luke paled a little, “Ah.” He swiftly picked Percy up. He balanced the boy on his waist and grabbed Annabeth’s hand, “Woods it is.”
“Luke! You can’t just pick me up! Rude!”
“I’m the oldest.” Luke said, “And I owe it to you both to keep you safe. This is my fault. Let me take responsibility.”
“Responsibility?” Percy blinked.
“He means he’s going to help us.” Annabeth said matter-of-factly, “That’s what he said when I was seven — that he was responsible for me now.”
“You’ve mentally deaged a little, too.” Luke realized, “You have the memories of your older selves without the maturity.”
“Oh.” Percy said, “Sorry.”
“No. This is my fault.” Luke told him, “Just- Let’s get something to eat and then find somewhere to rest. I’ll make this work. Somehow.”
“If you say so.” Percy grumbled, “But I still have riptide.”
“Do you still have the curse?”
Luke and Percy blinked at each other. Percy tilted his head and then looked at Annabeth, “You can stab us and find out!”
“No!” Luke said, “No stabbing. We don’t have any medical supplies.”
“Oh, okay.” Percy punched Luke in the shoulder.
He dropped Percy. The boy bounced on the ground, but leapt right back up.
“So Luke doesn’t have the curse, but Percy might.” Annabeth said.
“I’ll test it.” Percy uncapped his sword and then tried to cut his hand. The blade bounced off his skin, “I still have mine. It’s probably because Luke died.”
“Okay. Great.” Luke said, “So if I poke you in the wrong place, you die. Wonderful.”
“Just don’t stab me in the back. Literally.” Percy shrugged.
“Percy!” Annabeth hissed, “That’s a secret!”
Luke blinked, “You chose your- Really?”
“Annabeth’s always got my back and armor covers it most of the time.”
“Yeah, until you have to shave.” Annabeth said.
“That’s - ugh. Okay, whatever. Great.” Luke grumbled, “At least it’s easier to keep a mostly invincible child alive. Small mercies.”
“Nah. My teachers always called me a merciless menace.”
“That’s - That’s not reassuring-“
“You’re actually really tall.” Percy stared up at Luke, “It’s weird.”
“He’s not that tall. You’re just short.” Annabeth told him.
“Oh. Right.” Percy paused, “I am not that short!”
“You are too! You’re five!”
“Quiet. Focus. Remember? Food and shelter. We’re looking for food and shelter.” Luke grabbed their hands, “And we are not looking for trouble.”
“I never look for trouble, but it always finds me.” Percy complained, “Trouble is annoying like that.”
Luke looked at the sky, “I would pray for the gods to give me patience, but I don’t want to draw their attention.”