Gold is the Color of the Soul

Celestia furrowed her brow as she read the headline of the newest Canterlot Chronicle. Normally the paper was scandalously featuring the royal houses in hopelessly terrible situations, or tabloid articles with little to no truth, but this article was all too terrifying even for her.

“New Underground Gang robs Filthy Rich’s Estate. Millions in Gold and Bits Taken without a trace.”

This was troubling for a number of reasons. The first was that the council was in an uproar as was Filthy. This spelled out a truly rough start to the princesses day but also meant panic was sure to ensue at some point. The article was sensationalist at best but still hit on a few key words that Celestia felt nervous about.

“Midnight Ink dear, would you please come here?” Celestia asked as she lowered her cup of coffee.

A charcoal gray mare walked into the study wearing a very well fitted suit; her mane was done up in a proper bun that accented her slightly curved horn rather well. The mare looked at Celestia only taking a moment to push her glasses up before clearing her throat.

“Yes Princess? Is something wrong?”

Celestia stood from her desk and walked to the balcony that overlooked the kingdom. She had to pick her words out very carefully lest she give away secrets that should be kept as such.

“The news article on the robbery. Does anything seem familiar about its description?” She asked aloud not looking back at Midnight.

Midnight thought for a moment before opening her mouth to reply. She herself didn’t believe the sensational article about a minotaur, a diamond dog, and several ponies working together to disappear into the night. The story was just too fantastical.

“Well princess I think the article is needless tabloid garbage. Filthy has been caught multiple times making up lies of money disappearing to cover the transfer to the Gryphon embassy. Surely this is another ruse?”

Celestia nodded thoughtfully at the mares words. It was true Filthy had made multiple out of country accounts to dodge her tax laws but that meant little to her. Filthy was beyond furious and even asked Luna to send night guards to survey the area.

“Filthy wouldn’t have made as big a commotion about the theft if it was orchestrated. He truly is furious about this. Surely your organization has turned up something that points to the culprit?”

Midnight narrowed her gaze to the scrolls hanging off her saddle bag with a knicker.

“Well there was a apt description from one of the homeless colts that was hanging around the scene.” She said slowly hoping Celestia wouldn’t explode with-

“What do you mean a homeless colt?” Celestia started with a cold glare at Midnight. “I expressly stated at the last council meeting that I wanted all homeless ponies brought to the shelter I had built in the upper scales.”

Midnight knew this would happen. Even though the council had authorized a large allocation of the treasury to the building of the shelter it was never completed due to the constant fighting of the areas denizens. They simply didn’t want a homeless shelter in the golden districts of Canterlot.

“Princess we have discussed this…” Midnight tried to reason. “We simply are tied up in the council right now.”

Celestia sighed deeply with a shake of her head. She had the power to burn away anyone that stood against her but she had made a solemn oath not to use her powers in the democracy she had built.

“The description of the event, please.”

Midnight drew the scroll out and sighed while pushing her glasses up her snout.

“The colt claims he saw three diamond dogs, a felin, and a pegasus leave the house with several bags before the minotaur…” She stopped with a sigh of disbelief. “painted a door against the brick walls of Aeros Street and opened a door that no longer exists.”

Celestia perked her ears up before feeling herself chewing her lip.

“Princess this is insane there are no such artifacts in the Canterlot royal archives or catalogue of confiscated illegal items. The guard found no traces of magic or arcane meddling at the scene.”

Celestia knew full well what could have done it but she didn’t want to believe it.

“That will be all Midnight, thank you for your time.” She sighed before ushering the mare out of the room.

The princess stared out at the city contemplating the possible effects this would cause if the possible truth came to light. She hadn’t the details or the clues to make her claim to her sister or to the elements of harmony but she had a hunch, and if a thousand years of living had taught her anything it was to always trust her hunch.

She enveloped herself in the golden glow of her magic before popping between dimensions to cross the distance within a split second. The feeling was so familiar that she often had to consciously think about it to feel anything any more. She opened her eyes to adjust due to the sunlight blinding her temporarily. There in front of her was none of than the element of kindness, Fluttershy.

“Well good afternoon princess.” She said in a barely audible squeak.

The journey was slightly disorienting for Celestia even after doing so for a few thousand years. There was a time when it was exhausting to travel across a room let alone hundreds of miles. Celestia felt her body unwind however in the presence of such a gentle and kind creature.

“Good afternoon Fluttershy, Is Discord with you today for his training?” She inquired as she looked around for any signs of the god of chaos.

“Why of course he is. I think he’s out in the back meditating in the new zen garden.” Fluttershy replied with a soothing smile.

Celestia giggled to herself quietly at the thought of discord posing in a “gryphon facing forward” or “pegasus touches the sun” Oh how it would quite funny if he truly was-

“Awe Celestia, truly a riveting moment to be present in your glow.” Came the oddly soothing and calm voice of the god of chaos.

Celestia felt her breath hitch in her throat as she watched discord pose with his arms reaching for the sky, both legs on the ground and tensed as if he had been holding the pose for a long period of time.

“Precisely twenty five minutes if you must know.” He said with a waggle of his eyebrows. “I’ve gained quite the stamina thanks to Fluttershy.”

Celestia caught the very un-royal giggle from the back of her throat as she waved at him.

“How very subtle of you Discord. I wasn’t aware you had become so eloquently dirty.” She said with another giggle.

Discord smiled widely and wound himself into a perfect ring while maintaining eye contact through his poses. Celestia had to remember why she was here but having an old friend to talk to made her feel like she hadn’t lost everything in her years of life.

An old friend... Celestia sighed inwardly at the thought. Discord was once a wise and inquisitive immortal that had taught her the joy of not only magic but the very essence of fun and improbability.

“Discord, I’m here because I think something of yours might have popped up in Canterlot and it’s causing a lot of trouble.” she whispered to him while keeping an eye out for any prying ears.

“Oh goodie!” Discord exclaimed with a clap of his hands. “What is it? The Ender Blender? The Fork of Horipilation? Could it possibly be my old Singing Safron Stalks?”

Celestia merely glared at him trying to wordlessly convey the importance of the situation. Thankfully she softened as Discord took on a very serious look; the color literally drained from his face.

“It’s not… what I think it is, is it?” He whispered as he walked up to her clicking his claws together.

Celestia nodded and wrapped them both in a bubble of silence so nobody could hear her. Her lips felt dry as she watched Discord look around almost fearful. She was well aware about the chaotic gods tools that were made long before the elements of harmony and even longer before then when Discord lost his mind to the void of chaos. Looking at him almost reminded her what he used to be, the conversations, the literature, the sculptures he himself had produced and breathed life into.

“Somepony has found my Magnum Opus? That’s not possible Celly,” He whispered using her old nickname. “I sent that thing far away thousands of years ago. Nopony was meant to have it. Not even I could contain its power and…” He paused to take in a hissing breath “And its evil.”

“I’m aware about its power. I’m also aware of its signature trail so to speak.” She pulled a scroll from the void and handed it to Discord. “The colt that witnessed the theft in Canterlot said he saw a minotaur paint a door on the wall outside of the Rich residence and walk inside. We only found what appears to be acrylic paint on the ground from where the door would have been painted.”

Discord inspected the report and the pictures taken from the night guard. With a shaky claw he handed the scroll and papers back to the princess. His claws shook as his eyes filled with sorrow and confusion darted back and forth as if catching up to his own thoughts.

"No no no. That was never meant to come back to this world Celly. I knew after the incident that it had to be destroyed but I... but I..." Discord paused as he clawed the top of his head and yanked his horns to and fro. "I couldn't bring myself to silence all the voices. They begged me, you must understand."

Celestia softened and looked away unable to find the words to comfort him.

“Somepony has it Celly.” He growled low and menacing finally. “Somepony has stolen my brush. I will find them and I will once and for all destroy that cursed thing.”

Celestia was taken back by the seriousness of Discord. He had lost so much of his serious edge when he descended into madness after absorbing the Chaos Incarnate. This was a new side of him she never thought she’d see again.

“Where do we start looking?”