Every episode... a new universe... new friends familiar, but very different... infinite possibilities... infinite new ways to explore the characters from Sydney to the Max...
Sydney to the Multiverse Episode 1 - The Journey Begins
Written by: DrDroom2006 and Fun But Shy Girl
Sydney Reynolds had just started high school, and was heading into the school's locker room as she was preparing for her fencing class. Her cousin Lexi had just moved back to George, and she was enjoying the regained peace and quiet she was having at home again. As Sydney began to take off her clothes, she stood in just her underwear as she took a moment to examine her body in the nearby mirror. All was peaceful... until suddenly there was bright blue light nearby and from it: a figure quickly emerged and crashed into Sydney. Sydney and the other person fell to the ground; and as she did: Sydney heard the figure speak to her:
-Oh God… are you OK? Look, I'm really really sorry…
Sydney, as she began to regain her bearings, realized this other person... looked just like her... only she was wearing a jacket with stars and stripes. Then there was another bright flash which this time seemingly blinded Sydney. Then the flash ended, and the first thing Sydney noticed when she opened her eyes was the other person that looked like her was gone. Sydney then looked down and saw the necklace she had been wearing changed, and now there was a jade stone hanging on it that was glowing. Then as Sydney stood up, she looked in the mirror and saw she was no longer standing in her underwear, but was wearing clothes again... only these clothes weren't hers.
-Hold on. When did I put these clothes on... or buy them?
Sydney stood confused as she realized she was wearing a leather jacket, dark blue jeans, and black boots. Sydney then stepped out of the locker room and into the school hallway, and felt confused as she looked at the decorations around the school.
-Why did all of the decorations in the school just change?
Then Sydney noticed Olive was about to walk past her, and approached her hoping she would have some answers to her questions.
-OLIVE!
But… what happened next was both scary and confusing for Sydney, as Olive glared at Sydney completely terrified; her eyes teary and full of fear.
-I… I… I'm sorry… please… I'm sorry… I… I… don't have more money I swear… I… I c… can.. give you…. my new calculator…
Sydney looked confused, but before she could say anything, Sophia ran towards them running.
-LEAVE HER ALONE!
Sophia screamed as her hands were trembling. Sydney now looked more confused than ever.
-Okay guys, what is going on...
-OLIVE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND I'M TIRED OF YOU TREATING HER LIKE TRASH!
Sydney looked completely baffled. She had no idea why Olive was so terrified of her and why Sophia had such a harsh attitude suddenly.
-But Sophia… why… What's going on?
Sophia walked towards Sydney.
-You have the nerve to ask that? Really? After what you did to Emmy…
Sydney's eyes opened wide.
-W… what… what I did… to Emmy?
-Oh, now you don't remember Reynolds… Okay, let's play the game… thanks to your bullying and the camera you hid in her room, she tried to commit suicide… twice…
-W… what.. no… no no…
Sydney backed away and then ran to the school garden where she fell to my knees and suddenly puked on the ground. After a moment, Sydney stood up feeling confused as she spoke out loud to herself.
-What... what is going on!? Has everyone around me gone crazy... or... am I going crazy?
Sydney began to walk until she reached her house, yet something felt unusual. Not feeling like going through the front door, she went to the back and just walked in and went to her room where she laid on her bed and fell asleep. She woke up three hours later feeling hungry. As she went to the kitchen she noticed that a lot had changed, such as the fact that many decorations were now gone. But if that surprised her, what she saw in the kitchen shocked her even more. There was not a sign of anyone cooking there for a very long time, she opened the fridge and it was not only turned off, it was empty.
-Huh? Where's the food…
She was about to walk back to her room when she heard the door open and a voice that she did not recognize.
-As you can see this house has an ample living room with an area for a dining room in the back.
Baffled, the brunette walked out of the kitchen, and before her was a couple and a woman with a clipboard and papers on it.
-Oh hi Sydney. Your Dad didn't tell me you were going to be here.
-Huh?
-For the open house silly - the woman said
-O… open house?
On the verge of a panic attack Sydney ran to the backyard.
-What's going on… this is nuts…
Trying to find an explanation, Sydney went into her student profile on her phone and located her address where she now supposedly lived. It was an apartment not far from where she actually was. Not knowing what to do, she ran to the place. It was a nice apartment building. It was three blocks away from her house; yet she didn't remember seeing it before. As she walked in, she was greeted by the security guard.
-Hi Miss Reynolds, home early?
-Uh… yeah…
Slowly she took the elevator and a few seconds later she was on the eighth floor. She now understood why they keys or actually the only key she had on her key-chain was different. As she arrived at the door of apartment 802, she tried the key. It went in easily and as she turned the lock, it responded and the door opened. Slowly as she walked in, she recognized some of the stuff, while other objects she didn't. Suddenly a door opened and she saw her dad. He had some white hair at the sides and glared at her. He was no longer that bubbly man she knew. He was silent and cold.
-Got suspended again I see?
-D… dad, what's going on? Where's grandma?
-OK, I thought we agreed you were going to keep away from substances young lady. And you know where your grandma is. She's at the retirement home you wanted her to be in.
-W… what… no… this is crazy. W.. we were at home this morning… we all had breakfast… this makes no sense…
-Sydney… we've been living in this apartment for over two years…
-No… no no no… and… and why are you not at the bike shop…
Max glared at her with confusion more than fear
-Syd… I sold the store last year…
Sydney felt her hands begin to tremble. Her strange attire, her friends terrified of her, her home for sale and now she was living in an apartment… had the world gone insane... or had she? How Sydney found her apparent new bedroom she didn't know. But that was the straw that broke the camel's back. She had posters of heavy metal bands on the wall, her bass was nowhere in sight; but worst of all... there was an older teenage boy sitting in her bed who signaled her to remain silent.
-Hey babe. Been waiting quietly for you here for an hour now after I saw you ditched school early. Wanted to surprise you...
The older teenage boy approached her and before she could do anything, the boy kissed her and grabbed her butt in not such a gentle way.
-I brought all we need - he said showing her some condoms in his hand
Terrified, Sydney pushed him away
-GET AWAY! Who are you?
-Oh, we're role-playing… okay… I can be a burglar and tie you up like last time…
-NO!
It was then when Sydney realized her jade stone was glowing again and before she could do anything, she felt herself engulfed in a bluish light and felt her body floating…
Sydney now felt herself floating in a strange blue void. Suddenly a floating screen appeared before and Olive... or someone that looked a lot like Olive... appeared before Sydney and began speaking to her.
-Sydney Prime! Oh my gosh, it is amazing to finally meet you... and I'm sorry you got wrapped into all of this.
Sydney looked very confused as she tried talking to the girl who looked like Olive.
-Olive, what is going on? Why were you so scared of me earlier? And what happened to everyone else we know, and my entire life for that matter!?
-That wasn't me you saw earlier... or the Olive and friends you know. You see, my name is "Cyber Olive". You see Sydney Prime... do you know about the concept of the multiverse?
-Wait. You mean the idea that there are tons of realities out there like mine, but different? So... that was an alternate universe I fell into? But... how?
The girl known as Cyber Olive looked a bit upset, as she tried to speak to Sydney...
-Well Sydney Prime... right before you fell into that universe you were just in... you saw a girl who looked a lot like you. Well... that was my Sydney. The Sydney from my universe. You see... me and her... we protect space and time from falling apart. She was using a special magical jade stone to travel to your universe and investigate some things. But something went wrong. She vanished, and her magical jade stone suddenly became yours. Then you traveled to that new universe you're in now, while I somehow lost track of my Sydney.
-This... this is insane Olive... or Cyber Olive, or whoever you are. This is like some crazy science fiction movie. Look, just get me back to my universe, so we can put this all behind us.
-It's not that simple Sydney Prime. I'm from a universe way different that yours. We have flying cars, wizards, giant robots and all kinds of stuff you'd find crazy. But you... you're from the prime universe. However the prime universe... it's been branching off tons of tangent timelines. Like, imagine a tree. Almost everything you experienced from birth to junior high school occurred, with no other universe out there in the multiverse like your own. But then starting in 2019, these tangent timelines emerged and sprung off like branches, creating universes that started off just like yours, but slowly became different. Universes where what your parents experienced while dating was different, a universe where you had a secret sister, a universe where your mom delivered a baby that became one of your teachers years later, and another where you got trapped on a deserted island with... Look, the point is: my Sydney was investigating how all of these tangent universes were forming... but then got lost after she met you somehow.
-Yes. Nice backstory and exposition there. But get me home!
-Well the thing is... the magical jade stone kind of has a mind of it's own. It won't let you leave until you fix the universe you're in. The universe you're visiting... it's become darker and more twisted than it used to be. You have to do something to make it better.
-What the heck are you talking about!? I can't help my dad get the bike shop back, or get our old home back!
-I'm not talking about big changes Sydney Prime. The universe you're in will forever not be what you know as normal. But if you can make things just a little less dark, and a little more hopeful... the magical jade stone will take you away. The other Sydney who you've temporarily replaced will then be restored, and remember just the things you did to make her life better, and her personality will change accordingly. Meanwhile, you'll be sent...
-Back home? Will the magical jade stone send me back home?
-Well... I can't be too sure of that. All I can do is pull you here into the void occasionally and communicate with you. The mission of making this new universe you're in better... that's all up to you.
Sydney remained still in the void, looking nervous... but also determined to get back home.
-Fine. Lets do whatever it takes to improve things.
Then there was suddenly a blue flash...
Sydney found herself back in her room, or more exactly in the room of the apartment where the self from that universe resided. She then began to think out loud to herself.
-OK, the first thing to get things right here is to completely rebuild myself, and getting out of these hideous clothes has to be step one.
Sydney took her clothes off and was now standing in just her underwear. However she had forgotten a small detail... her boyfriend from that universe was still there, and he entered the room from a window nearby with a big smile at the sight of Sydney standing before her in just her white bra and panties.
-Ooo. I see someone is getting extra excited.
The boy approached Sydney, as Sydney remained stunned frozen in fear for a moment. As the older boy tried to put his hand inside her underwear, Sydney immediately yelled.
-STOP IT!
-Hey… are we doing it or not? I brought some toys to try and...
-EWW! NO! NOT EVER! HELP! DAAD!
Max entered the room, and seeing what was going on caused him to look immediately furious. Sydney looked at her dad calling out to him in desperation.
-Dad, get this pervert out of my room! HELP!
Max, who had never liked the boy, dragged him out not before hitting him against the wall by accident. Sydney finished dressing herself; something a bit complicated because most of her usual clothes were gone, but she was lucky to find something not so dark. Once Max got the older boy out of the house.
-Sydney, are you okay?
-Yeah dad. Thank you. Listen... there's someone else I know that's in trouble right now, and I have to help them now.
Max nodded and allowed Sydney to leave while still looking a bit confused though.
Sydney soon found herself approaching Olive's house. Upon arriving, Sydney knocked on the door. One of Olive's brothers came to the door and glared at her.
-What do you want? - he asked coldly
-I want to see Olive
-After all you have done to her, I don't see why she would want to see you.
-Please, it's important…
Closing the door, he walked inside. After about a minute he returned and motioned for Sydney to follow him. He led her to the game room. Olive was on the couch, looking at her as if the devil himself had come to her home. Sydney felt her heart break, as Olive sat scared, empty of the confidence of the Olive of her universe. Sydney knelt before her and held her hands, much to the shock of the blond girl and more-so, her brothers.
-Olive… I… I'm so so so sorry for… everything… I want to change things… bring our friendship back and...
-F… friendship? After everything that's happened?
-HUH?
Olive then described in detail all the bullying and horrifying things she had been doing to her for over two years, causing Sydney to feel sick inside.
-I'm going to throw up…
-...you even said to me that I was a dumb bit…
-DON'T SAY IT!
Olive screamed and hugged one of her brothers
-Sorry…
Olive's eyes opened wide as she hugged her.
-I'm so sorry Olive… I really am… please let us be friends again, and… HEY!
Sydney began to cough as one of Olive's brothers slammed her against the wall
-Look, if this is another of your ploys and you hurt Olive again, I promise I will forget you're a girl and I'm going to beat you into next year. Got it Reynolds!?
-Leave her alone! - Olive yelled
-W.. what?
-I don't know why… but… I can feel something… weird… telling me she's being sincere… also… look at her clothes… she seems… and sounds different…
-I am… you have to believe me… and you have to let me breathe…
Olive's brother released his grip on her, and the brunette could finally breathe freely.
After that Sydney went to see her Grandma Judy. Upon entering the unfamiliar retirement home where this universe's version of her grandmother resided, Judy looked very surprised as she saw Sydney.
-Noodle? - The elder woman said in shock
-Hi Grandma…
-What happened to you? Your clothes… everything is different…
Crying, Sydney hugged Judy.
-Can you please come live with us? I'm changing, I really am…
The elder Reynolds smiled.
-I'm fine here noodle. The place is great, the food is great and...
-PLEASE! - she replied crying
-Wait.. you think I came here because of you?
-You… you didn't?
Judy laughed
-Of course not. I needed to give you and Max some room.
Sydney sat beside her grandmother and between sobs, she apologized for all the things Max had told her she had said to Judy before she moved to the retirement home.
-I'm so sorry Grandma… I really am…
Judy hugged her.
-Noodle believe me, I'm just fine here, trust me.
Sydney then left the retirement home; bust as she did, shes aw Sophia walking towards her, she was about to say something when Sophia's hand beat her up to it and she found herself on the ground.
-I thought I told you to stay away from Olive…
-Please! let me explain!
But before anything else could be said, Sophia punched Sydney one more time. She was about to hit her again when she heard Olive's voice
-SOPHIA, NO!
Suddenly Olive appeared from nearby and ran over to Sophia trying to stop her.
-LET GO OF HER! - Olive yelled pushing her off the brunette
-Ow...
-But... she went to your home and
-To talk! You didn't even let me finish... oh God... Sydney, are you okay?
Sophia glared at the other two girls and then it hit her... Sydney never tried to fight back... otherwise the results could have been disastrous for her. Sydney then looked at Sophia with sincerity in her eyes.
-Guess... I deserved it... I haven't been the best human being to you all...
But Sydney's eyes opened wide when she saw what happened next. Olive took an ice pack out of a bad she had, and immediately pressed it against Sydney's cheek where Sophia had hit her.
-Wow. Now you look like the Olive I remember...
-What are you talking about? - the blonde said
-Nothing...
That afternoon: Sydney, Olive and Sophia went to Emmy's house. Sydney felt her heart break in a million pieces as she walked into the room of the latina, the pristine room they worked so hard to keep for her in her universe, was again a disaster here, and the latina was sound asleep wearing sweatpants; her hair messed up and on her arms were the marks of cuts. Emmy then looked confused as she saw the three girls walk into her room. Sydney was the first to speak to Emmy.
-Emmy...
-what?
-I'm sorry...
It was then when Emmy Mendoza realized who it was, and before either Olive or Sophia could do anything, she jumped on the brunette trying to hit her. Fortunately for Sydney, she was stronger and since Emmy had not eaten much for a few days back it was easy to overpower her. The latina began to sob.
-Why... why were you so mean to me? Just because I said I had feelings for you? Wasn't it easy to simply say no and just leave it like that?
Sydney suddenly stood in shock. Had she heard right? Did Emmy said she had feelings... for her?
-I...
-You think its just that simple? Come here and say you're sorry? That it will take just that to fix the hell you turned my life into?
-Emmy I
-YOU HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL! Y... y... y...
Sydney saw the face of the latina going pale as she tried to breathe, Sophia was first to react.
-FIND HER INHALER!
-Oh Jesus, Emmy point us to it! - Olive yelled
But the latina was holding her chest and her eyes were closing while the three girls frantically searched for the device. It was Sydney who found it under the bed. The latina took it and seconds later she was breathing easily again; tears running down her face.
-Emmy you need to go back to school... we'll help you catch up and...
But the latina went back to her bed and hid under her blankets
-Go away... all of you...
-Emmy please... I want to make things right and
-It's too late for that...
Frustrated, Sydney pulled the blankets
-HEY!
-EMMILIA ROBERTA MENDOZA YOU WILL GO BACK TO SCHOOL! And if someone says or does anything wrong to you, they'll answer to me. That I promise you. We're the Four Amigas from here on. We'll protect each other.
To say that Emmy was perplexed was an understatement. She had heard Sydney Reynolds raise her voice at her before... but never to say something positive. Sophia sat on the bed and held the latina's hands
-Just one day at a time OK? We'll be there for you, that's a promise, but need you need a shower.
The latina slowly got up and went for a shower while the rest began to fix her room. But then suddenly Sophia pushed Sydney against the wall.
-Olive might have bought your new "attitude" Reynolds... but I'm not so easy to convince so... be warned, do something that harms either Olive or Emmy... and you'll regret it...
-Don't worry Sophia. From now on... I promise things will be different. And I know we'll make things different for the better... together.
Sophia looked at Sydney for a very long moment, looking deep into Sydney's eyes; trying to figure out if she was sincere or not. But soon... Sophia let go of Sydney and backed away.
-I believe you. Look... this doesn't mean we're friends now; but if you wanna try making things better... I'm willing to try with you.
Sydney smiled at Sophia.
-Thank you Sophia.
Sydney then stepped out of the room to catch her breath, when suddenly her jade stone began to glow, and then suddenly Sydney saw all of her surroundings change.
Sydney found herself again in the void she was in before, and after a few moments a screen appeared out of nowhere, and on it was the face of the other Olive she had seen on that screen before (the girl known as "Cyber Olive") who began to immediately speak to Sydney.
-Sydney Prime! I'm glad to see you again. You did it. You fixed that universe you were just in. The Sydney of that universe has the memories of what you did there, and their future actions will act in accordance to what you said and did. You saved that world!
-You mean I can go back home now?
-Uh… I.. uh…
-WELL? My Dad and my grandma are probably freaking out by now!
-Well I should have told you this the first time. The multiverse is all about balance so…
-DID YOU ERASE THEIR MINDS!?
-CUT IT OUT WITH THE YELLING!
Sydney screamed and covered her ears as Cyber Olive's voice thundered all over the place.
-I'm sorry…
-And no, I didn't erase anything, that's not how this works Sydney Prime I told you… it's about balance. So you were pulled out of you reality, it caused your universe to suddenly freeze up, or "pause" if you will, and it will remain that way until you return. So when you return, it'll be like you never left.
-Well that's nice and all. But come on Cyber Olive! Why can't I go home now!?
Cyber Olive sighed as it looked she had some hard news to tell Sydney.
-Look Sydney Prime. That magical jade necklace you're wearing that belonged to my Sydney... it works in mysterious ways, and... we can't control where it takes you. All we know is that it's gonna send you to other universes that needs fixing, and it won't send you home until the mission of fixing those other universes is complete.
-Well... okay. But how many universes like that last one do I have to fix before I get to go home?
-Well... I don't know.
Sydney suddenly had a panicked look on her face.
-WHAT!?
Suddenly without warning, Sydney was engulfed in the bluish light and disappeared once again...
Sydney suddenly found herself in her school hallway. Sydney looked around at her surroundings and her attire as she began to think out loud to herself.
-Well everything looks more normal again. And hey, I'm in clothes I would've definitely chosen for myself. Could I be back in my universe... or is this another new universe that needs me to help it in some way?
Suddenly Sydney's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of crying. Sydney, following the sounds found herself entering the girls bathroom. Sydney then walked over and saw sitting in a stall on the floor was her best friend Olive crying, with her arms wrapped around her knees. Sydney then got on the floor, with a look of confusion and concern on her face.
-Hey Olive. What's wrong?
Olive began to dry her very wet face as she tried to avoid direct eye contact with her friend.
-Everything's wrong Sydney. Everything!
-Come on Olive. Whatever it is, it can't be that...
-I'M PREGNANT SYDNEY! - Olive yelled.
Olive then buried her face into her knees as she began to sob, as Sydney remained frozen with shock on her face.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's Note - Welcome to this very special new Sydney to the Max fanfiction series. In this special new epic, you will see Sydney explore her friends and family in new/different types of context every chapter. Except for end of story teasers, each chapter will be stand alone.
So feel free to jump around and pick any chapter with an interesting title!
Many episodes have been posted now! Explore the multiverse with Sydney and ENJOY!