RGRE Oneshots

In a post-scarcity world, humanity took to the stars and scattered in a million directions, content to never see one another again. One man found a curious little planet, and with a bit of genetic know-how, left his mark before a reluctant wanderlust took him away.

Thousands of years later, he returns.

”Are you religious, Twilight?”

The youngest princess blinks her eyes as she and her once-mentor slowly walk down one of the opulent hallways of Canterlot castle. “Am I religious?”

Celestia nods, her face one of cool neutrality. “I’m well aware that you left the castle with a firm belief in atheism, but over these last few years, you’ve grown so much that I feel the need to ask.”

To say Twilight’s week has been unusual would be an understatement.

Eight days ago, while stargazing and marveling at Luna’s constellations, she noticed something most strange.

A new star.

How curious, she thought. Perhaps Luna put it there? She penned a letter and sent it off, wondering about the mystery star. The next day when her fellow princess’s reply came, Luna’s response was a single terse “No.”

When she looked at the star again that night, she gasped at what she saw. The star had moved to a new spot.

Another letter was sent, and this time the reply was had in minutes.

”Tell no one. Do not worry about it.”

Not ever since her ascension had she been given an order, and one so contradictory. She kept watching the star, noting with some disquiet its speed. Her telescope was traded for a suite of magic sensors and mana-powered radiological equipment, capturing details the naked eye could not.

A full chalkboard doublechecked later, and she found herself certain the “star” was moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light and was coming towards Equis from a distance too far to calculate… Then it vanished. She checked over and over for days, but found nothing. She was reeling over the star and its speed. This morning, she got a very firm “request” to come to Canterlot, leading to now.

Twilight ponders Celestia’s question as they walk. Is she religious? Does she believe in things like divinity? “I… Think there must be some sort of force out there, one larger than us. That's all I can really say?”

Celestia nods. “So you put no stock in creation myths?”

What's with this strange questioning, and how does it relate to the star? Twilight shakes her head, making her mane bounce. “No. Not when evolution has so many explanations for life in Equis.”

The older princess draws her lips into a thin, troubled line.

It was then that Twilight notices the lack of guards, maids, and any traffic really in the hallways. “C-Celestia?” A nameless unease begins to crawl down Twilight’s back. “What’s going on? Where is everyone?”

Celestia says nothing for a few more steps. “This wing of the castle has been evacuated. While the official reason stated was the outbreak of a magic cognitohazard, the truth is much more serious.”

Twilight feels her heart flutter in her chest, and her wings twitch with nervous energy. “Which is?” She has to force the words out.

”Twilight,” Celestia looks down at the younger alicorn, who feels the entirety of Celestia’s presence bear down upon her like a physical weight. “Many creation myths are wrong, but one known just by Luna and myself isn’t.” She gulps, and her crown lifts from her head in a golden glow. “There is a God, Twilight.” Her words are quiet, but the purple alicorn hears them perfectly.

Twilight feels her head slowly begin to swim. “What?” She asks, almost faltering.

“All ponies alive today, including you and I, can trace their lineage to Him.” Celestia licks her lips. “I remember it even now thousands of years later, being birthed from a womb of metal and glass, then being raised by His hand.” Celestia’s voice grows louder and louder, a sort of mania gripping her. “He was the Father from which all others would emulate. He loved us and turned Equestria from a barren hellscape into a green cradle. The others who were here first, the griffins, the yaks, the minotaurs, the dragons, all of them. If they dared strike us, He struck back. He sent them running, casually reducing all before Him to ash. Then He gave us magic, and then we could do such feats too. He’s not only real, Twilight, he’s come back! He’s here! In the castle!” A smile so large it looks painful splits Celestia’s face. “He is back!”

”Celestia, you're scaring me!” Twilight backs away in fright as Celestia steps closer with each word. Her wings flare ready to flee. “Please stop!”

The Sun Princess flinches back, stricken. “A-Ah. I...I’m sorry, Twilight.” She looks away, shamefaced. “It’s… It’s been so long, and I didn’t expect Him to have such an effect on me.” Celestia sighs. “This is why I asked if you were religious, Twilight. He’s returned, and I think as a princess, you should meet Him. Just being in the same room with Him is a religious experience of its own, so the cognitohazard evacuation is not unwarranted.”

Twilight refolds her wings and looks down at the floor, then back up to Celestia. “Is… Is it really that intense?”

The larger alicorn takes a deep breath and nods, idly turning the crown in her telekinesis. “Yes. Yes it is. He is your one true ancestor and the origin of everything you know. I won’t force you to go further, Twilight, but know that if you meet Him, you're going to experience strange and maybe uncomfortable emotions. I think you’ll be better for it, though.”

Once more, Twilight pauses. She’s faced demons, nightmares, monsters, and villains who could rock Equestria to its core. Does she have what it takes to face God?

She stares at the crown held in Celestia’s magic for a moment.

”I want to meet him.”

Celestia’s smile is nothing short of relieved. “Good. Now…” Her horn glows, and from the wall, a door phases into existence. “Steady yourself, Twilight.”

The door opens, and together, they venture inside.

Twilight blinks at the light inside, gazing around and smiling when she sees where she is. The Parlor of White, Celestia’s personal place of respite, and a place Twilight spent much of her foalhood learning from her surrogate mother.

The open window lets in a gentle breeze that tickles Twilight’s fur and makes the crystal wind chime in the windowsill play a delicate tune. The flowers in the planter hanging just outside fills the room with the scent of spring, and the cushions around the table look as soft and fluffy as ever. On the egg-shell-colored walls, paintings of herself and Celestia hang. Sitting on one of the cushions around the tea table is..!

Twilight feels all of her focus become sucked in.

Sitting there with the most beautiful smile she’s ever seen is her Father. No, not her father, her Father. She’s never seen Him before, but she remembers Him from a memory that isn’t hers. What? That isn’t right!

”Oh?” His voice is as smooth and rich as fine chocolate. Her heart races, yet she feels relaxed. “Who is this, Celly?” He asks, His shining eyes meeting Twilight’s.

Warmth, protection, love, purpose, belonging, emotions Twilight has no name for, they all mush together in an amalgamation that makes her feel so small and so weak yet so empowered. She can take on the world, but she dares not leave. A scent utterly alien to her nose snakes past the flowers, and nostalgia for things she never knew makes Twilight’s eyes sting with tears.

”Father,” Twilight is dimly aware of Celestia’s wing over her back. “Please meet Twilight, my wonderful student turned fellow princess. She’s like a daughter to me,” says the Sun Princess as she swells with pride.

”A daughter, hmm?” He hums a note both pleased and knowing, which sounds perfect coming from His mouth. As His lips part, Twilight spies canine teeth, but she doesn’t even entertain the thought that they might be turned on her. “Ah, those eyes are so intelligent, and she’s a pretty one. You’re a wonderful mom, Celly. I’m proud of you.”

Celestia chokes with emotion. Her crown almost falls from her grip.

”Well, don't just stand there,” He smiles and opens His arms, making a space MADE for Twilight. “Come here.”

Twilight moves.

Arms wrap around her, and suddenly danger does not exist.

A chest is pressed to hers, and suddenly the cold of the universe is no more.

Lips kiss her on her scalp, and suddenly she knows the meaning of being loved.

Twilight feels tears spill over her eyes, soaking His shirt, but He holds her and rocks her like a foal without judgment. He would never judge her.

”It’s nice to be home…” She can feel His gentle smile without seeing it.

Yes. Yes it’s nice to be home…