The Inner Demons of Gods

"Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance." ~Charles Caleb Colton

Like the previous day, both Luna and Celestia ended their final conference with the local nobles. And once again she started her routine before going to bed. She had thought that her feelings in the park were just a result of that wierd dream she had the night before. With her fears put aside, Celestia layed her head on her pillow and drifted on into sleep.

But like last night, she once again found herself looking at another figure in a black void. This ones cloak was a deep green, his mask twisted into a face of pure greed.

"I see my guest of honor is here."

Celestia frowned. "I'm guessing your greed aren't you." The figure just nodded. "Well I'm sorry to tell you, but I have never been greedy, so you might as well leave me in peace."

Greed just laughed as the void changed into a new memory. It was an image of Canterlot on a calm, cloudless night. The streets were completely empty, the street lights giving off a soft glow. The shops large front windows had all there wares displayed, giving a sense of what year it was. The calmness was interrupted by a lone figure on the streets, propelling herself forward with her large, angel like wings. Celestia then realized who the figure was as she phased into one of the shops.

"T-that's....."

"You?Why of course dear Celestia, how else do you think the gem and gold reserves became so large." He paused so he and Celestia could watch the memory play out a bit. Celestia in the memory phased out of the shop, a small leather bag in hand. She wore a black hood that connected to a black outfit that resembled Lunas, but it had a couple of major differences. The torso had a bag strapped across the front, while her belt held multiple pouches, bulging with stolen goods. "Envy goes hand in hand with greed, don't you agree?' Celestia watched as her past self pulled out a single violet gem. Her eyes filled with an insatiable hunger as she turned the gem around in her hand, greedily chuckling to herself.

"You'll go nice in a crown, wouldn't you?"

She put the gem into its own pocket and silently flew towards the castle. The scene changed into the large chamber that housed a single throne, with the princess listening to a couple of aristocrats complaining about a new tax that exclusively targeted them.

"Dear Princess, why are we the only ones affected by your new tax. Why not the poor? Why not the commoners? Why only the wealthy?" One of them asked.

"I put forward the tax because we are in an economic crisis because of the supplies sent to Germaney to help the civilians recovering from the civil war they just experienced." All the aristocrats became more infuriated at this response. Their anger going over a boiling point as they started sputtering out excuses and insults until Celestia couldn't take it anymore. "Enough!!" All the aristocrats went silent as they looked in shock at their solar monarch. "I will not listen to you squabble about your vast riches being used for the many instead of the few. "This meeting is over, I expect your next payment at the end of the month. Guards, escort them out of the castle please." The two guards at the door walked over to the group with wings flared, escorting them out.

Celestia stood up and walked out of the throne room and into the adjoining hallway. As she walked towards her goal, the guards stationed at every door saluted her as she passed, before reaching her goal. She stood in front of twin iron-wrought doors that had depictions Luna and Celestia raising the sun and moon. It had a single lock an the door, with two heavily armed guards at the sides.

"Will you be long, Princess?" One of the guards asked.

"I'll be here for the rest of the day, both of you are relieved until I raise the moon and return."

Both guards bowed and walked off, idly talking about the days events. Once Celestia saw that the two were out of sight, she took out a small key from her pocket. It had a depiction of a small raven within a a crimson sun. It was the key for the door, and for good reason.

After turning the key and opening the door just enough for her to squeeze through, she locked it behind her. The room itself, from corner to corner, was filled to the brim with gold, precious jewels, thousands of bits, and in the center, a single phoenix egg stood on a marble podium. Celestia just smiled as she looked across the room and saw her spoils, in one corner she even had her disguise from the night before.

"Wait this isn't right." Celestia said as she broke the silence between Greed and herself.

"What do you mean 'this isn't right', this is your memory. Memories don't lie."

"That is not.....that can't be..........it isn't the same phoenix." Celestia stammered out.

:What do you me-" Greed then realized what she was talking about. "Oh so you don't even remember how you 'obtained' your pet. How......unfortunate."

The scene faded to black once again, except for the phoenix egg. Celestia tried to remember the actual way she found Philomena. She knew that it was a day she could never forget, a warm summer day, a quaint little town, an unsuspecting phoenix nest-

Celestia stopped trying to figure it out and remember how she found Philomena as a realization dawned on her. She looked up to see a chuckling Greed, knowing her realization.

"The mind tends to create memories in order to repress the original."

He continued to chuckle as Celestia stared at him. After a while she started to feel an uncomfortable warmth, but after a while it grew more and more with each passing moment. She started to cough as if there were a fire, and then she saw it. The phoenix egg combusted and was sending small sparks everywhere. She looked up to Greed, only to see in his place a black liquid that descended upon her. When it made contact, it felt extremely slippery and heavy. Then, a single spark floated towards, as she realized what the black substance was.

"Envy is the spark, while Greed is the fuel."

This is the only thing Celestia heard before the spark touched her, igniting a burning hell.

Celestia woke up in a cold sweat, completely drenched in fear. She looked at her arms for any signs of burns, but found none to her relief. And after calming herself down, she went through her routine as always, and exited her room. On the way to the dining room, she saw a guard bragging to another one about something. when she approached them, the two immediately stiffened and assumed their guard positions. Celestia gave them a warm smile, signaling them to relax. She was about to keep walking but curiosity got the better of her.

"I was wondering, what were you two talking about?" she asked.

"Just this new watch I got yesterday." He showed his wrist to Celestia, a small twinkle appearing in her eyes. "Twenty-four carrot gold, it was a present for twenty years of out standing service."

Celestia smiled warmly at him, shaking his hand to congradulate him.

"From the depths of my heart, I hope you've enjoyed all those years."

After saying goodbye to the guards, Celestia continued walking towards the dining hall, not noticing her clenched fist. When she reached the door and went to turn it, she saw her fist and slowly opened it, revealing a gold watch inside of it.