Roses are Red

by hell00001


Chapter 10: Meeting

Roses are Red: Chapter 10

“Good evening and welcome to Il Castello delle Rosé,” greeted a white unicorn. He stood behind a podium and had a quill floating in his blue magic. “Would you happen to have a reservation?”

“Yes, for ‘Carbon’,” Carbon said, smiling politely.

Both he and Lilo stood in the entrance of a beautiful wooden building. An entire garden with an array of flora that rivaled the Castle Gardens, hung around the perimeter of the restaurant. Fauna from all around Equestria flitted to and fro amongst the trees and grass. A stone walkway cut through the garden, forming a semicircle that led straight up to the entrance of the establishment. Massive windows covered the exterior of the building as well, allowing for the customers inside to direct their gaze outside while they ate their meals.

Lilo gazed up in awe at the ceiling that hung overhead. Lamps shaped to resemble salmon ran along the ceiling of the restaurant, shining soft light across the entire establishment and bringing a moody atmosphere to even the darkest corners. A massive, ponymade waterfall was built up against the far side of the restaurant where the fish were pointing, and roses of all colors had been placed in pots and planter beds scattered everywhere.

“Ah, yes, Carbon, party of two,” the unicorn said, scribbling something onto a piece of paper that lay on the podium. “Right this way.”

Lilo and Carbon followed the unicorn through the restaurant, swerving in and out between tables covered with beautiful table clothes and lined with intricately designed cushions. Finally, as they neared the waterfall, the unicorn stopped and raised a hoof to show them their table. The table was placed next to one of the large windows, allowing for Lilo and Carbon to look out into the garden and the pond filled with parrotfish beneath the window. They settled into their table and found that their menus had already been placed before them.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” the unicorn said, bowing his head, “a waiter will be with you shortly.”

When the unicorn had fallen out of earshot, Lilo said, “This place is so beautiful, Carbon.”

“It was also a pain to get a reservation on such late notice,” Carbon muttered. He then added more loudly, “I don’t think there is another restaurant in all of Canterlot that matches up to the grandeur that this place displays. Although, I have to say, this places luxury matches its bill quite well.”

Lilo raised an eyebrow. “Why would you say that?”

“Well, uh,” Carbon paused, looking down at his menu. “Let’s just say we won’t be going to a place like this again anytime soon.”

Lilo giggled. “Are you trying to impress me?”

“I... I...” Carbon stuttered, fumbling with his hooves.

Lilo leaned across the table and nuzzled her nose against his. “You don’t have to do things like this to impress me, Carbon.”

“I-I wanted to do something nice for you tonight,” Carbon said. “I thought we should keep it in the realm of beautiful buildings, so taking you here for dinner is as good a place as any.”

Lilo smiled. “Well, thank you, Carbon. This place is wonderful.” She lifted her menu up so that she could scan over the contents. “Wow, there are so many choices on here. I don’t even know where to begin.”

“May I make a suggestion?”

Lilo dropped the menu. Her ears folded back against her head as she instantly recognized the voice from behind her. Turning her head slowly, Lilo’s eyes met those of Zumas as he stood not even half a meter behind her. He had a bow tie tied around his neck and a cigar had been tucked behind his right ear.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners?” Zumas asked, bowing his head slightly. “It’s good to see you, Rosebud. I hope you haven’t forgotten who I am.”

“N-no, I haven’t,” Lilo said, slowly turning back around to face Carbon. “Um, good evening, Zumas.”

“Zumas?” Carbon piped up, cocking his head. “You mean you’re the unicorn who owns the most prominent brothel in the entire city of Canterlot?” He looked at Lilo. “How did you come to meet him?”

“It’s a long story,” Lilo said quietly.

“Not that long,” Zumas said, waving his hoof. “I happened to run into her while she was at my business. I mistook her for one of my employees, believe it or not.” Zumas threw Lilo a glance. “Seems like she was just there for the show, however.”

Zumas levitated a pillow over from one of the tables near the one Lilo and Carbon occupied and sat down. Lilo opened her mouth in protest, but quickly closed it again when Zumas looked over at her with a spiteful smile. She recoiled and looked back down at her menu, feeling his eyes pierce into the side of her head.

“So, Rosebud,” Zumas said, causing Lilo to jerk her head up, “who is this handsome colt you found?”

“Oh, uh,” Lilo stuttered, looking over at Carbon. “He, uh, helped me when I was going through a rough time after the attack.”

“Is that so?” Zumas asked, looking over at Carbon.

“Well, yes,” Carbon said. “She... seemed to have lost her house after the attack. I helped her out by offering a her a place to stay back at my own home, and ever since then we have gotten closer together.” Lilo winced, and Carbon gazed back over at her again. “Lilo, are you alright?”

“You seem nervous,” Zumas added, putting on a worried look.

“No, no, it’s fine,” Lilo said, looking out of the window and into the pond. “I was just hoping that tonight could be just between Carbon and I.”

“I understand,” Zumas said, rising to his hooves and levitating the pillow back to where he found it. “I just wanted to stop by and say... hello.” He paused, raising a hoof up to his chin. “I do have a question for both of you, though.”

One of Lilo’s ears twitched, and she turned back towards Zumas. Carbon, too, had his eyes on the unicorn. After a moment, Zumas cleared his throat.

“I wanted to ask if you two will be attending the public trial tomorrow morning,” Zumas said. “It’s said that almost half of Canterlot will be in attendance.”

“Wait,” Carbon said, turning his entire body towards Zumas, “what trial?”

“Oh, the trial for the queen of the changelings, of course,” Zumas said casually. “It’s to be held in the market square. You didn’t hear? She was captured by a squad of the Royal Guard’s finest ponies just the other day.”

Lilo’s breath caught in her throat. Carbon glanced over at her, biting his lip when he saw that Lilo was staring down at the wine glass on the table. He looked back at Zumas.

“Thank you for letting us know, Zumas,” Carbon said. “We’ll consider attending.”

Zumas nodded his head. “Have a good evening.” He then looked at Lilo and added, “It was nice seeing you again, Rosebud.”

Once Zumas was a safe distance away on the other side of the restaurant, Carbon asked, “Lilo, what was that all about?”

“It’s... it’s a long story,” Lilo replied, finally looking up. “Carbon, we need to go to the trial.”

“The entire market square is going to be bustling with ponies and guards,” Carbon said, opening his menu. “The princesses will be there; by Tartarus, even the Elements of Harmony might be in attendance. It would be extremely dangerous for you to go, Lilo. Who knows if the unicorn guards have managed to concoct a new spell that could be used to detect changelings.”

“I haven’t seen another changeling or connected to the hive mind in two weeks,” Lilo said, opening her menu as well. “Besides, it is my queen that is going to be up there facing trial for what could be considered heinous war crimes. What if the trial turns sour or unfair?” She paused, looking Carbon straight in his eyes. “If one of your princesses was up on stage facing a trial that could decide her fate, and you knew the crimes she committed can be justified at least remotely, wouldn’t you try to take action to help save her?”

Carbon was silent for a moment, his eyes scanning over the various dishes written on the menu. Lilo’s eyes scanned across the menu as well, but her thoughts continued to run amok inside her head, scrambling over the fact that the queen of her race had been captured by Equestria. She brought her hooves to her temples and rubbed them.

“I guess it wouldn’t be right for me to deny you attendance,” Carbon finally said, looking up. “Just remember, Lilo, that we need to be careful if we go. The guards will be on the lookout for anypony who looks or is acting suspicious. If the trial looks like it will turn sour, then we will think of something that might help Chrysalis, but until then, we should remain inconspicuous.”

“Wait, ‘we’?” Lilo asked.

“I’ve heard your story,” Carbon said, looking back down at his menu. “If Chrysalis is as benevolent of a leader as you make her out to be, then it would be morally wrong of me not to help you.” He pointed his hoof at something on the menu. “Looks like the waitress is on her way over to the table, do you know what you want to order?”

Lilo’s eyes widened, and she hurried looked back down at her menu and searched widely through the list of entrées. She paused for a moment, however, and looked up and saw Carbon staring at her. She blushed.

“Thank you, Carbon.” Lilo said.

“Lilo, at this point, I would do anything for you,” Carbon replied with a smile. “As for right now, let’s try to make the best out of this night.”