As the giggles of the now-regressed Cyber Space Warriors echoed through the streets, something strange began to happen in the magic bubble bath. The water, once warm and comforting, started to swirl beneath Alex, Luke, and Carl, pulling at their tiny legs. The bubbles seemed to glow, and a strange sucking sound filled the air.
“Uh, guys… what’s happening now?” Carl squeaked, trying to stand, but his small feet kept slipping.
Luke looked down, his face scrunched in confusion. “Is the water… moving?”
Before they could react, the drain at the bottom of the tub started to open wider, growing impossibly large. The swirling intensified, turning into a small whirlpool that tugged at the boys with increasing force. The laughter in the air died down, replaced with startled cries.
“Whoa! What’s going on?!” Alex yelped, his hands frantically reaching for the slippery edges of the tub. But it was too late. The magic of the bubbles had them trapped, and one by one, the boys were pulled under, sucked down the swirling drain with a loud whoosh!
When Alex, Carl, and Luke came to, they weren’t in the tub anymore. Instead, they found themselves in a large, brightly colored room filled with pillows, blankets, and bean bags scattered everywhere. The walls were painted in soft blues and greens, adorned with cartoonish stars and moons, and the air smelled faintly of popcorn and candy. Soft, playful music played in the background, and overhead, string lights twinkled like stars.
“What… what is this place?” Alex whispered, his small voice still carrying a childlike lilt.
Carl’s eyes widened as he looked around. “Guys… I think we’re in some kind of… sleepover dimension!”
Luke nodded slowly, rubbing his tiny head. “Yeah… it feels like a little boy’s dream…”
The boys were now dressed in matching Cyber Space Warrior pajamas now—soft cotton shirts and pants color-coded red, blue, and black for each little warrior. The moment they stood up, they realized their bodies were still those of 8-year-olds—filled with the energy of young boys.
Carl tugged at his pajama shirt, frowning. “Ugh, more kiddie stuff? I’m so over this!”
Alex tried to shake off the sleepover vibe, but it was impossible to ignore how comfy the room felt, how fun everything looked. His attention drifted to a massive pile of stuffed animals in the corner, and before he realized it, he was walking over to check them out.
“Look at all these toys!” he said, his voice betraying his excitement.
Luke, trying to maintain some semblance of control, crossed his arms. “We need to focus, guys. We have to get out of here.”
But the longer they stayed in the room, the more the strange magic of the Sleepover Dimension started to work on their minds. Alex felt himself drawn to the giant bean bags, the soft blankets, the pile of board games in the corner. Carl had already plopped down on one of the bean bags, looking up at the ceiling with a goofy smile.
“This place is kinda cool,” Carl admitted, bouncing on the bean bag. “Maybe we should just hang out for a bit?”
Luke, still trying to stay serious, shook his head. “No, we need to find a way out. This is probably a trap.”
But even Luke was finding it hard to resist. A giant bowl of popcorn appeared in the middle of the room, and suddenly, they were surrounded by all the snacks they could ever dream of—pizza slices, gummy worms, and cupcakes piled high with frosting.
Alex’s stomach growled. “Maybe just a quick snack?”
Carl was already digging in, stuffing his face with pizza. “Totally! We can think better on a full stomach, right?”
As they ate, the magic of the dimension continued to pull at their minds. Their earlier worries started to melt away, replaced by a carefree, playful attitude. Alex found himself giggling as he grabbed a stuffed dinosaur, pretending to make it roar at Carl, who responded by flinging a handful of gummy worms at him.
“Roar! I’m a dino-monster!” Alex said, chasing Carl around the room.
Luke, despite his best efforts, found himself smiling too. He picked up a pillow, tossing it at the other two. “Take that!”
The boys dissolved into a full-on pillow fight, giggling uncontrollably as they bounced off the walls, leaping into the giant piles of blankets and bean bags. The more they played, the more they forgot about their mission, about the Badboy Baboon, Alex's transformed father, and even about who they really were.
Suddenly, a door on the far side of the room creaked open. Alex, now sitting in a pile of stuffed animals, looked up to see who—or what—was coming through.
A strange figure stepped in. He was dressed like a classic sleepover host—complete with footie pajamas and a nightcap, his face friendly and inviting. He smiled at the boys, his voice soft and warm.
“Welcome, little buddies! I’m the Sleepover King, and you’re in my realm now. You can stay here forever if you like. There’s nothing but fun and games in this dimension!”
The Sleepover King snapped his fingers, and the room transformed again, becoming even more inviting. More toys, more food, more cozy blankets appeared as if by magic. The boys’ eyes widened, their minds completely overtaken by the childish magic of the dimension.
Alex tried to speak, but all that came out was a giggle. “This is awesome!”
Carl and Luke were equally enchanted, their worries fading away as they embraced the never-ending fun of the Sleepover Dimension.
But somewhere deep inside, a tiny part of Alex still remembered who he was—still remembered that he needed to save his dad, stop the Badboy Baboon, and get the remote back. He just wasn’t sure how much longer that part of him would last in a world designed for endless, carefree fun.
The Sleepover King smiled at them, his eyes twinkling. “You can stay here and be little boys forever… Isn’t that what you want?”
And as the magic of the dimension tightened its grip on the Cyber Space Warriors, the question began to seem more and more tempting.