Max sat on a park bench in the midafternoon, contemplating her past. It was a past that could be her future, if she so chose. With a simple gesture and an intent to go back, she could return to… was it the limits of her short-term memory? Psychology class had been dull, but the different parts of the memory were one thing that she recalled clearly. Thank God for her long-term memory, she thought to herself.

She chuckled, a simple, soft noise that somehow made her feel happier about everything. The sun's soft light played over her hands, casting dim shadows onto the neatly-trimmed grass. A car honked. As it passed by the traffic light, the sun's reflection danced across its shiny exterior. The world looked bright. The future looked bright.

Max thought about how lucky she was. Arcadia Bay might have been destroyed, but she was still alive. And she had two of the best friends any young lady could ask for, one of whom was… something more? Maybe? But that was an existential crisis for another day. Right now, things were looking up. Life was weird, but it was a good sort of weird.

The future looked bright. And as long as her past stayed past, it would remain that way. She had to keep moving forward.

She never wanted to go back in time again. After the mess that she'd made, it could only do more harm than good. Plus, she didn't feel the need.

With any luck, Max would never need to use her powers. They could just fade away into oblivion for all she cared. There was no sense dwelling on the past. She needed to live in the present.

The back of the bench creaked as Max leaned against it. Despite its instability, it was comfortable. Perhaps somebody else would complain about it being shoddily manufactured, but not her. Imperfections could be perfect in their own way.

She had the faint sense that there was a metaphor afoot.

Max shut her eyes, letting the patterns of light created by the sun and clouds flicker through her eyelids.

Somebody laid a hand on her left arm.

Had she fallen asleep? Had Chloe come to wake her and call her home? Was it a stranger?

Max's eyes jolted open. She glanced to the left.

It was a lady, nobody whom she recognised. No woman that she knew of was bald. No woman that she knew of wore yellow robes and a necklace with a giant eye-like emblem on it.

Max yelped and jolted away. "Aah! Who are you?"

"I am sorry to disturb your sleep."

The bald lady made some weird gestures. She struck Max in the centre of her chest with the heel of her palm. Max was falling, falling, splitting, floating…

Max hovered over her prone form. She glanced at herself.

"W-what…"

The yellow lady (Chloe would have said that she looked like a half-peeled banana) stood in front of her, staring deep into her eyes. "This is an urgent matter, Maxine Caulfield. We have little time. This mission requires a careful use of time. That is why I need you."

Max gaped for a solid ten seconds before finally finding her voice. "Y-you need my… rewind? What?"

The Banana Woman clasped her hands in front of her. "Suffice to say, the fate of the multiverse from which I reside is at stake. You are one of only a handful of people who can help. Please, come with me."

Dozens of questions swirled through Max's head. Multiverse? As in, the multiverse theory that Warren talked about all the time? This lady was from one multiverse? Who was she? How did she know about Max's rewind? Heck, how did she know Max's name? Nobody called her Maxine! Nobody! Who did this woman think she was?

Max stammered out, "W-who are you?"

The Banana Woman answered, "I am the Ancient One, the Master of the Mystic Arts."

Gee, she looked good for being ancient.

Max asked the next question. "Your multiverse? As in, there's more than one?"

"There is, and the omniverse is connected together in a more intricate manner than you could possibly imagine. Now, please come with me. We haven't a moment to spare."

Max blinked and turned around. How could she stall for time?

"I, uh, what about Chloe?"

"She will most assuredly be safe, so long as you assist us."

Max furrowed her brow. "Do you, like, have agents planted at the house or something?"

The Ancient One shook her head, stifling a grin. "This is no time for jokes. I will explain more along the way. Please. You are the best suited to assist us all."

Max froze. On one hand, she was no good at using her time-traveling powers. On the other, she wanted to help other people. But was this Ancient One telling the truth?


(X) COMPLY _-_-_ REFUSE (B)


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