//------------------------------//
// 43. Dystopia by Knight of Cerebus 
// Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab 
// by Fuzzyfurvert 
//------------------------------//


by Knight of Cerebus


***


Crossover with Earthbound/Mother, I think...?



"The buildings are made of cardboard." Twilight said flatly, gesturing towards the flat construct reading "EMPIRE PORK BUILDING" in front of them. Celestia sighed.

"Kingly Pork prefers to think he has company. He is, at the heart of the matter, nothing more than a lonely young colt with a sadistic streak. He just wants friends."

"Oh! Well...couldn't we extend an olive branch, then? I mean, anybody who wants friends can't be all bad." Twilight passed by a group of ponies shuffling through the streets. Something about their smiles seemed...off. Broken, even. Twilight bit her lip.

"You haven't seen the chimera labs. He may wish for friends, but he's far too destroyed inside to know what friends truly mean anymore. If he were to have an ally, he'd attempt to use and betray them, then become confused when they didn't want to stay by his side anymore. He has no understanding of empathy, Twilight."

Twilight's brow furrowed as she opened the doors to the "building", walking towards the elevator that led to the bottom of New Pork City. "Then, uh, why did you let him, err, keep existing?"

Celestia wrapped her wing around Twilight. "The same reason why I allowed any creature of evil that sprung up when I lost the Elements exist, Twilight. I had no ability to stop him. Strong as I am, there are some forces I cannot stop, only redirect. Equestria is full of powerful artefacts. I'm only glad I was able to destroy The Tirek's Machine before anypony else could be taken by its power." The pair began the long elevator ride down to the base of the tower. The lab they stepped into had operating tables framed in bladed robotic arms. Twilight cringed.

Twilight's eyes softened. "You mean...before the girls and I...you just had to accept this?" She waved a hoof at the scissor and blades mounted on metallic limbs, the jars containing brains and spinal chords, the heavy machines that powered the horrors around her. The trio opened a door through the lab and began a long walk along a red-carpeted hallway.

"It wasn't always easy, but my ponies were safe. I could keep my empire a place of peace, growth and love, and couldn't worry about those beyond our borders. That was all I could ask for in those days. Now, things are very different. The Crystal Heart, the Elements of Harmony, Cadance and Shining....and of course..." Celestia smiled down at Twilight, moving in to touch her horn. "We have ways to defend ourselves. Ways to topple tyrants and ways to keep the peace. We do not have to suffer any further under ruling empires. And it is all because of you, Twilight."

She blushed at that, stepping off the boat and pushing the doors open.

"Hello, my pathetic . How sad that you selfish visionaries didn't bring your friends. Oh, that's right, they're all dead, turned to little rocks in a belltower. You have no idea how long I *cough*...have waited to see another who can live like I live...*wheeze*...lost like I've lost. But now...I find myself...disappointed in you. *Hack*, I suppose this fight isn't going to be fair. A shame. I'm so bored, you see. So very, very bored."

Twilight and Celestia said nothing, crossing their horns with a smile. A glow began to surround the pair, yellow and purple in equal measure, and the Pig King's eyes widened in glee.

Far across the land of Equus, ponies watched as a dragon made of lavender plasma rose above the landscape, yellow eyes shining with the light of the sun, back framed by a pair of cutie marks, and knew that somewhere, the royal couple was watching over them.