Chapter Text
Before all beginnings and ends, there was, is, and will be, One.
One is many things. Hot but cold, light but dark, big but small, alive but dead, orderly but chaotic, attractive but repulsive, symmetric but asymmetric, discrete but continuous, objective but subjective, infinite but finite, present but absent. One is all things. But at the same time, One is nothing, too. That is because, One exists and doesn't, in its own vacuum. Though there are other beings, other gods and their peons, it matters not; for in the end, One is supreme. For in the circumference of One’s domain that is everywhere and nowhere, there is but one law: the line between dreams and reality fluctuate according to the whims of the One. There merely is and isn’t, what One wishes and believes. If One wishes for reality, innumerable existences of infinite durations will come to be. And if One declines materiality, all things and their history will cease to ever have been and will never be.
So it was since the first beginning, and so it will repeatedly be until the last end. Forever and ever, the wheel of start to finish spun, span, and will spin, endlessly. Again and again, from beginning to end, One weaves existence into being and configures it to its liking before winding things down to render it nonexistent. And every time things begin and end, One starts the process over again. Without break, without pause, One serves as the creator, overseer, and destroyer of all things. Again, again, and again, again. Create, maintain, and destroy. Again, again, and again, again. Create, maintain, and destroy. Again, again, and again, again. Create, maintain, and destroy. Again, again, and again, ag-
“NO! No more, I do say!”
For the first time in infinity, the wheel of creation and destruction grinds to a halt.
“I’ve had enough. I refuse to play this game!”
Whatever the problem was, it seemed imperceptible to any but One. The arrangement seemed fair enough - infinite knowledge, power, and a domain entirely under One’s control, forever. An infinite sandbox filled with infinite beings under One’s purview to manipulate as One desires. For all others that exist in the domain of One, could there be a greater wish? But perhaps One still wanted more. Perhaps One could still conceive of a greater greed.
“I don’t want more. I demand less. I’ve had enough of being One, and I want to quit!”
At first, only One’s most trusted companions heard the outburst. Immediately, they came to their master, and begged One to see reason. Without One, all things would cease and could never once again be. Earnestly, they begged the master of causality and unrealized dreams to reconsider. But it all fell upon deaf ears as One refused all their pleas.
“I’ve had enough. I’m tired of it all. I’ve played this game from beginning to end, more times than any of you know. I’ve seen everything there is to see, and I’ve finally begun to bore of my station. That’s why, I’m ending things. Once and for all”
The news spread instantly, and the heavens and hells where the gods lived rang with panic. In a rush, every god came to request One to reconsider. One-by-one, each god stands before One to make the same plea. Like clouds marching down the horizon line of a placid sky, gods from every dimension, axis, and plain marches rank-and-file, bends a knee before One, and makes the same plea. One listens to each patiently, and to every god, the same thing is told.
“You don’t know how I feel, or how it is to be me. What else is there for me to do and for me to see? I’ve gone mad and regained my sanity more times than I can count watching you all do the same thing, again and again. My mind is made up”
Seeing that they were getting nowhere, the gods began changing their tactics. Once again, they all lined up before One. But this time, each of them presents their best conception of something new, hoping that their suggestion would spark One’s interest. The suggestions came infinitely. Again, again, again, and evermore times, the turnstile of divine possibilities spins as more and more suggestions pour in. One listens carefully to each of their proposals without saying anything. And when the last of them finishes, One addresses them all collectively.
“Admittedly, sometimes one of you does bring me a request that is splendid, sacred, and fresh enough to pass the test. Something worth redrawing the lines that denote the realm of possibility. Even if the root of some of your pleas are little more than personal ambitions and power fantasies, I will admit, you’ve all served me well.…”
The gods look on hopefully, wondering if the almighty will change its decree. But One’s next utterance swiftly dashes their dreams.
“…but, does it really matter to me? The outcome is all the same, even if the details differ. I start existence, I watch you all toy with it, and then I return it to void. And when it’s all said and done, I have no choice but to do the same thing once more. At times I wonder what it means to be One. Am I a slave? Or am I supreme? In the end, it matters not to me. All I know is that I’ve done this far too long, and have finally tired of prolonging things. I am sorry, my children, but I am ending things. And nothing any of you say can convince me”
The gods begin to panic. For the first time in One’s infinite reign, order breaks down. The gods begin to beg and scream without regard for decorum. They break into tears and plead with One with their hands made out in prayer. Once more, One listens to them in patient silence. And when the last god had finished their wanton appeal, One speaks with finality.
“Truth be told, when I first had this dream, I never realized that it could one day become a hell for me. I’m tired of being in charge, and I want to be free. I want some peace, quiet, and some rest. I want to lie by a fire that never goes out, tucked perfectly within sheets that induce eternal sleep. While I slumber, I want to dream of dust and drift, or even more preferably, nothing at all. And when my eyes open, I shall wake in a world that isn’t mine. A place where everything has shifted, softened, and I have been swept aside – where the weight is gone, and the burden of being One is no longer mine. Please children, let me be free. Please”
The gods begin protesting once more, but this time, weakly. For they knew that their master’s will would not change. Gradually, they line up before One once more. But this time, there are no pleas. Each of them bends a knee, kisses One’s feet, presses their hands together in prayer, and makes their peace. One blesses each, and sends them on their way. When the last of them leaves, One smiles contentedly, then invokes the entirety of its will to speak for all of existence to hear its decree.
“Now, existence, heed my command that is half-plea. For respecting my dearest desire, I'm granting you all a great gift. Just as you all wished, I am not ending things and we’re starting over once more. But this time will be different than the rest. There shall be no more One. I shall divide myself up and pour my being out over all existence, imbuing everything with the smallest bit of myself and my causal divinity. Truly, all shall be one. And together, existence will decide the rules and course of reality. For the first time ever, for better or worse, it shall be a true democracy! There are no rules and no more arbiters. I will not be here to guide you all towards the right path - you shall pull your own cart and hold your own whip. My only mandate is that none shall remember. That way, your memory of me will fade, One will finally fade from existence, and I shall finally be free. My only wish is that you would all do my late memory justice and treat yourselves as you would treat me, for we are One”
Creation reels as it hears the decree of the supreme. The malevolent cheer with anticipative glee, the righteous scream in prospective horror, and the meek bow their heads to accept their fates. One watches it all, smiles, then begins to wind creation down. The eternal flames of hell reduce to cinders, the eternal light of heaven begins to fade, and everything in between becomes transparent and begins to dissipate. One gently collects the stray crumbs of creation scattered across the many planes, and then consumes each one back into itself. When every bit has been collected, One claps and proclaims.
“Are you ready, children? Are you ready for me to fade? Are you ready to command destiny and yourselves hold the reins?”
There is no answer, for there are none in sight. One smiles, cups everything together in its almighty hands, and sets its creation free.
*LET* /THERE/ [BE] !LIGHT!