Of Laurels & Lace

by WritingSpirit

Lunch With The Patriarch

"Any recent light on the Mirror Mare case?"

Winter Palgiot paced around the Equinox Ballroom, never feeling more agitated in his life in the whole time he was the Patriarch of Pendant Lakes. The first guests could arrive any minute and the last thing he needed is a killer on the loose, especially when the said killer was Mirror Mare itself. He expected a satisfactory answer, which wasn't what was given to him when he turned towards the other two ponies in the room.

Chief Griffonhooves and Mayor Stencil shook their heads. Ridiculous, he shouted to himself. Plain ridiculous.

In a fit of rage, the Patriarch slammed his hooves on one of the tables, jolting them in their seats.

"This isn't the time to be lobbying!" he shouted. "I want every single pony we have out on the prowl! What happened to authority these days, letting old organisations that cease to exist to be brought back from the dead, and now-"

"Do you require your jacket, sir?" Stellar Lionheart interrupted his master, holding a tussled, brown coat up to him. The chilly, wintry atmosphere in the ballroom made Winter slightly shiver, contrary to his name. If there was somepony that knew how to get a job done, it was his ever faithful butler.

"Thank you, Lionheart, but that won't be necessary."

With a deep breath, he exhaled, the anger flowing out from him, before slumping back onto one of the dining chairs.

"Have you ponies at least found out who's the Hostia Prima?" he asked, rubbing his eyes firmly in frustration.

Griffonhooves raised his hoof.

"A farmer living somewhere down Standard & Dale. Caesar Mills."

Mayor Stencil looked through his records, as the police chief continued: "Cause of death, an iron fragment lodged into his neck, rupturing both vein and artery, causing a tremendous amount of blood loss. Killer supposedly tied him up to a moving train, he was dragged for a few feet along the tracks, before being untied."

"I think I just found our killer's motive."

Winter & Griffonhooves quickly rushed to Mayor Stencil's side. There, on the list of Overdue Accounts, was Caesar Mill's name.

"He was behind rent by six million and twenty-five thousand bits." The Mayor placed his clipboard before standing up.

"That is an extremely large amount of money."

"But the Sicarius Nox method has been outlawed by Harrow Palgiot - my uncle - seven decades ago." Winter quickly clarified.

"Everypony in the town has the knowledge of this method from the old town history, so it could be anypony ."

Griffonhooves shrugged, "But we know for sure, this 'Mirror Mare' must be somepony in the city. The pony has a knowledge of the old Sicarius Nox arts. Anypony with a name in this list," he held up the clipboard, "is in danger of becoming Hostia Prima."

Winter sipped one of his wines, savoring its taste for a moment, before he stood up.

"Make sure everypony on that list is protected," he ordered, "and start a curfew session. Anypony found outside the house after ten shall be arrested on sight."

Griffonhooves wrote down everything Winter said, before he left to set the new orders.

Mayor Stencil walked up to his Patriarch, who was now looking out the window to Pendant Lakes below him. The afternoon sun shone on his face, making it seem fairer.

"Sir Palgiot," he asked, wiping the sweat off his grayish mane. "Do you believe Mirror Mare will be able to overcome these defenses?"

Winter sighed, before replying: "For one, Mirror Mare's skill is extremely dangerous. Its power is deemed unnatural as it can bend many pagan and modern laws of science."

"Pagan laws?"

"Example, the laws of life & death. The circle of life. Like how Caesar was killed before his time was destined to come."

"But how did you know," Mayor Stencil asked the Patriarch, slightly puzzled. "that Caesar's time has not come? Surely his murder might indicate it's his time to go."

"Indeed, but his life was cut short, the thread snapped from the spool. He had many years ahead of him, but the acts of Mirror Mare completely ended it."

"It doesn't make sense. How would you know how long Caesar's life will last?

Suddenly, he grabbed the Mayor by the throat, his eyes piercing daggers into the Mayor's heart.

"You have no authority to pry into things that you have no clear knowledge of to begin with." Winter ordered, a grimace written onto his face.

The Mayor nodded nervously, sweat cascading in waterfalls down his chin.

"You are to go home, forget that this conversation ever, ever happened. Understood?"

He nodded again, before he quickly trotted out the ballroom, hoping to escape from the Patriarch's fury.

Winter slumped back into his chair, trying to regain control of himself.

"Somepony will know about this, one day." he said to himself.

Somepony worthy...

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"And here we are, ladies! The entrance to the grand, Palgiot Palace."

Rarity and Octavia wowed at the golden gates. It was seamlessly detailed, with golden doves, cranes and, perched at the very top, an eagle.

As they stepped out the carriage, Octavia paid the carriage driver a few bits, as her friend got closer to the gate, trying to get a better look at a disk held between the eagle's beak.

She saw a engraved, golden 'P', hovering just above a laurel wreath.

"Halt!"

Octavia and Rarity turned as the carriage pony slowly trotted down the path. A pony in a red suit marched toward them, holding a rifle in one hoof. Two other similar-uniformed ponies marched out, each with the same weapon.

"State your affairs."

The white mare could only laugh nervously, before feeling a tap on her shoulder.

"They mean our invitations."

The two mares quickly fumbled through their bags, before each of them returned, handing out their letters.

The commander of the three ponies stepped forward, examining both letters closely.

"Alright," he finally said, the mares letting out a relieved sigh.

"Let them in!" he barked at the other two ponies.

The gates opened with a creak, an auburn path stretching from the gate to the entrance.

"Well, here we are!" Rarity said, laughing a little.

Octavia nodded in return.

As they walked in, the white mare couldn't help but marvel at the architecture. The slate roofs were green and covered in ivy & moss. A row of columns lined the entrance, all complete with burning torches.

The polished stone walls gleamed, reflecting the strong rays of the sun. A few towers stood firmly from their foundations, an array of plants creeping against its walls. The windows are all decorated, their iron frames etched into different shapes.

As she looked on, she saw something at the corner of her eye.

There, in one of the largest windows of the palace, which she presumed is the ballroom, a white, blue-maned stallion looked down at her and Octavia, a slight smile on his face.

But behind the smile, "It might just be me, but-" she thought she saw a hint of worry.

"Rarity!"

She turned, startled by the gray mare's voice.

"Come on, we've gotta go!"

Rarity gave an understanding nod, before turning her head back to the windows.

Nopony was there.

Strange... her mind fumbled. Very strange...

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"Mr. Palgiot will be seeing you in the dining room shortly."

Stellar Lionheart, the butler, sweeped some dust off his suit as Rarity and Octavia entered the main hall. The marble tiles gleamed from the light, more columns towered, supporting a few balconies above.

"Here's the key to your room." Stellar said as he passed Rarity a key. "Due to the amount of guests, I'm afraid both of you have to share a room."

"That's alright, sir," Octavia spoke up, still admiring the architectural wonder they're in.

"Please, ladies, this way."

Rarity felt her hoof touch velvet. A giant, red carpet draped over the horseshoe-like stairs. The three ponies slowly trotted up the left side of the stairs, as the butler began explaining the rules.

"Patriarch Winter don't take kindly to guests, as he is more busy in his work, as does his family. Therefore, all of their rooms are off-limits, unless requested by the members themselves."

"The other rooms we do not kindly want guests to enter are the Tower Room," he said, pointing to a grand tower higher than the rest. "the Cellars, the Staff Rooms and of course, the Graveyard."

The gray mare shuddered. "Who would want to enter the Graveyard?" she asked.

"Many have dared to enter, as much as those who tried with the Tower Room." the butler replied, straightening the black bow on his suit. "Those who did never returned. Those who returned never left."

She pondered at the thought. The Palgiots certainly know how to treat their guests.

"Here's your room." the butler said when they stopped in front of a double oak door. "Remember to notify the staff for any inconveniences. In addition, due to recent events, nopony should leave their room after ten nightfall."

"Recent events?" Octavia asked, her head tilted sideways.

"Believe me, miss, you do not want to know..." Stellar said before walking off.

"Okayyy... that was creepy." the gray mare turned to her friend, who was still looking at the butler with a slight hint of fear.

"Yeah..." Rarity muttered, an image haunting in her head again. "Creepy."

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A knock came on Winter's door, the Patriarch gave out a tired groan.

"Just a minute!" he called out.

He quickly trotted down a few steps, to a small table beside a fireplace.

A few switches lay hidden beneath as he reached his hoof around, flipping them off one by one.

Opening the door, Stellar walked in, crinkling at a little bit of dust from the nearby bookcase, before bowing with courtesy to the young Patriarch.

"Sir Winter, the first guests have arrived."

"So I've seen," Winter said before sitting on a vintage sofa. The Patriarch used his horn to lift a teacup to his mouth, which slowly sipped its contents.

The butler shifted toward his master, handing him a handkerchief.

"Thank you."

"May I invite the guests down to the dining room for lunch, sir?"

Winter helped himself up, before he trotted toward the bookcase.

His hoof examined the titles, before stopping at a book. Stellar kept his head down, awaiting for orders.

"We do not want to keep the guests waiting, shall we?" he said, pushing the red book in.

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"It's just I don't understand,"

Rarity combed her mane as Octavia spoke, ruffling through a few dresses behind a bamboo screen.

"What could've made somepony so powerful like the Palgiots to fear about?"

The white mare shrugged. "For once," she said, settling the comb on the drawer, "I have no clue."

The small, antique clocked dinged twice, its brass gears rotating in place.

"Hurry now, Octavia!" she called out as she sweeped a little dust of her light-blue gown. "We must be punctual on this occasion."

Octavia stepped out from behind the screen, her dress making Rarity look in awe.

She wore a fine, lavender gown that matches her eyes. A few streaks of glitter sparkled as much as Rarity's eyes as the gray mare gave a bashful smile.

"Why, dear you look simply fabulous!" she squealed in delight. "Crimson will be so stunned by your beauty, darling!"

"Don't say that, Rarity." The grey pony began blushing again, before gesturing to the clock

"Come on. We're running a little late."

They quickly trotted out of the room, locking the doors behind them.

Neither heard the crackling of the walkie-talkie on the table near the window.

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Winter held a torch aloft with his magic, navigating though the dark passageways.

The Patriarch slowly trotted, kicking some dust around. A few squeaks of mice echoed in the distance.

Many do not know of the passageways around here. Only the family and the staff who worked around long enough have the knowledge of activating the doors.

He brushed some of the stray cobwebs away as he slinked across the corridor.

Then he heard it.

Trot, trot, trot...

Winter blew out his torch, as he readied his only weapon: a dagger.

Hiding behind the corner, the sound crept closer and closer.

He lunged forward, crashing into the other pony. He lifted his dagger as his horn flared, relighting his torch, wanting to see the mysterious pony's face.

"Summer?"

The yellow colt pushed his brother off, as he let out an irritated grumble.

"What are you doing in here?" Winter questioned his brother, who was now shaking his mane free of dust.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Summer replied, his red eyes thundered in anger and annoyance.

"And you just had to tackle me!" he shouted gruffly.

Both brothers weren't in good terms since the day Summer was born. Every day, fights will flare up between them. Even though Summer's build was slightly larger than Winter, he still respected his brother despite their differences.

"Well, I wasn't the one who was dumb enough not to bring a torch in." Winter shouted back, his blue eyes seething with rage.

Both ponies harrumphed as they kicked their hooves back, about to start another duel.

Then his younger brother stopped, but his anger was still evident on his face.

"I was about to go to the dining room. We're completely missing lunch."

Winter scoffed, ignorant of his brother's comment. He slowly sheathed his dagger, his teeth grinding with hate.

"Go and do your sciency stuff." Summer said with sarcasm, letting out a laugh.

Winter just ignored him. He slowly trotted from where his brother came.

He will strike any day now. the Patriarch cursed under his breath, before reaching the end of the passageway.

Lifting a hoof, he scanned through the wall, before pushing a brick in.

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"Lunch is Served!!"

Rarity scanned the faces. Almost all of the seats were filled. She recognized a few faces.

Sitting a few feet across her, was Sapphire Shores. The pony gave out a gesture of 'hello' to Rarity, who smiled back.

She was one of the few celebrities who've came to Rarity for a few designs, albeit her order didn't go well as planned, as she had a slight complication with a Diamond Dog colony.

"But still," she swallowed a bit of soup. "at least I've learnt something."

She was referring to Spike's feelings for her. She tried to brush it off, but the way Spike acted when he called her friends to help Rarity was very...

"Heroic...."

"What?" Octavia asked.

"Nothing Octavia, nothing." Rarity smiled sheepishly.

At the far side, she recognized Carlotta Marine, actress famed for her main role as a judge and mother in one of Rarity's favorite dramas, Hunger & Greed.

A little to the left, there sat Basil Luck, famed for being the founder & leading designer of Basil Footwear Inc., along with his wife, Harlequin Velvet, another leading designer, this time in hats.

In fact, the hat the unicorn wore this morning was one of Harlequin's latest designs.

She chuckled softly, thinking how coincidental it was.

Octavia glanced around, crossing her gray hooves. Her impatient frown grew into a slight smile as the pony she's waiting for entered the room.

Rarity turned to her friend, then she grinned. A red-orange stallion walked up to the gray mare, his black eyes matching his mane. Octavia giggled as she asked:

"Where have you been, Crimson?"

Crimson shook his mane slightly, letting out a grin

"Sorry 'Tavi. I'm just trying too hard to look my best." he finished with a wink.

Octavia blushed slightly as Rarity chuckled at her friend.

"You must be Rarity," Crimson said, smiling at her.

"And you must be the stallion Octavia told me so much about!" she teased.

Crimson and Octavia let out an embarrassed laugh, before the red pony sat along with his marefriend.

Rarity continued looking around, trying to name a few other celebrities. The white stallion she saw this morning, however wasn't around, only making her begin to wonder who it was.

As everybody began feasting, she gently finished her apple and carrot salad, before hearing an audible clink.

Stellar Lionheart stood, a goblet in one hand and a spoon in another. Then he gestured the waiters as they left hurriedly.

The grand doors opened slowly, as four ponies stepped in.

"Welcome, Spring Palgiot. Bearer of Love & Happiness. Youngest sister and sibling to the great Patriarch."

The room was filled with quiet claps as the light-turquoise pony slowly stepped to her seat, shaking her yellow mane.

Rarity looked at her. Her body seemed so... frail and beneath her beige eyes, she looked sad.

"Welcome, Summer Palgiot. Bearer of Authority & Justice. Brother to the great Patriarch."

The yellow pony silently trotted, his red eyes gleaming with annoyance as another wave of applause echoed through the room.

"Welcome, Autumn Palgiot. Bearer of Equality & Grace. Older sister and Heir to the great Patriarch."

The pale beige mare strode towards her seat, her turquoise eyes nearly matching the skin of the younger mare glancing around a little nervously as another chorus of claps began.

"And finally," Stellar take in one small breath. "Welcome. Winter Palgiot. Bearer of Knowledge & Order. Great Patriarch of the Palgiot family and Arch-Minister of the Equestrian Ministry of Academic Sciences."

The white pony smiled as another quiet applause began. His blue eyes seemed to glisten as he slowly trotted to his chair.

Rarity gasped silently. That was the pony she saw at the window!

"Come now, everypony." Winter said with a smile. "Feast!"

As everypony began eating, Rarity silently slurped her mushroom soup, a million thoughts rushing through her head.

"Winter Palgiot was the pony I saw this morning..."

The thought of it lingered in her mind, everypony starting to place the forks down.

Then, at the end of the table, Winter stood up, attracting the attention of everypony in the room. He cleared his throat as he began:

"It has been an honor to be able to invite everypony here for the masquerade ball," he said with a smile. "It is to my greatest desire that everypony will be satisfied at their stay here."

"As such, I believe everypony here should get to know each other, personally of course." He stopped, taking a few sips of wine from his goblet.

"Feel free to venture around the palace, with the exceptions of the restricted areas of course, as I believe Mr. Lionheart and his fellow staff here has explained clearly."

A wave of nods followed. Rarity just took one more sip of her soup.

"Enjoy the last of the feast, and prepare for the dance on Tuesday. In the meantime, we, the Palgiot family, truly hope you enjoy the stay with us."

At the last part, he sat down, continuing his lunch.

One by one the guests slowly take their turns to leave, including Rarity, Octavia & Crimson.

"He seems like a nice stallion." Octavia said, nudging the white mare with her other hoof wrapped around Crimson's, who smiled at her.

"Who knows? He might just be your type, Rarity."

Rarity laughed softly at her friend's comment, but her heart ached slightly at the thought of her friends back in Ponyville.

"If you'll excuse me, Octavia." she called to the gray pony, who was heading out to the garden with Crimson.

"I shall return to our room first."

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"Twilight?" Rarity tried to contact her friend through the walkie-talkie.

There was a crackle of silence, before her friend's voice shouted with enthusiasm.

"Rarity! How were things so far?"

She thought she heard a whimper in her friend's voice, but ignored it. For now.

"So far everything at the Palace is running smooth." Rarity said calmly. "I've met the family, even Winter himself!"

"Well, not personally, face-to-face, of course." she finished, letting Twilight speak.

"Well, I'm glad you're having a good time over there, Rarity." Twilight said with a chuckle.

"Ponyville hasn't been doing well lately."

Rarity stopped sipping her tea. Placing her cup down, she asked with worry: "Why? What's the matter?"

"Weather's been dull lately. Rainbow Dash and her fellow pegasi are trying to solve that now."

She felt hesitation in Twilight's voice.

"Anything else, Twilight?"

There was a slight sob, before she heard another faint voice.

Applejack. "Go on, just tell her."

The voices from the walkie-talkie turned into more of a tender quarrel.

"I just can't, Applejack. You know how she is if she knows."

"Well, she deserves the darn right to know, Twi."

There was a small, muffled whimper, as the walkie-talkie crackled again.

"You see, there was an accident, or was it..." Rarity heard a sob as Twilight continued. "I don't know."

"Just tell me, Twilight," she insisted.

"Spike and I, we've... sort of had an argument. I left crying to Applejack's house, leaving Spike alone."

"And?" the white mare's worry flourished.

"Fluttershy and I decided to go back. When we entered, I found Spike."

Through the walkie-talkie, Rarity heard her friend sob. She felt like crying as well, never hearing her friend like this before.

"He was unconscious, lying on the floor." Twilight said between sobs.

"His head was bleeding and... I don't know what happened. It's just..."

Rarity froze in shock, her eyes began flooding in tears. She felt the world drop on her back, her mind slowly twisting into a spiral of dark anxiety.

"Twilight, tell me. Tell me he's alive!"

There was a slight crackle.

"Twilight?!" she screamed into the receiver.

Another crackle.

"Answer me!" Rarity shouted, nearly kicking the walkie-talkie.

"Sorry," Twilight finally sniffled.

"I'm so, so, sorry Rarity."

Rarity cried her eyes out, burying her head in her hooves. "Why..."

"He's in the hospital now. The -*sniffle*- doctors say he's in a coma."

"Twilight, j-j-just stop..." Rarity managed to stammer.

The walkie-talkie crackled in response, before she heard Applejack's voice.

"Are ya okay, sugarcube?"

"Okay?!" Rarity felt enraged. "Spike's in the hospital and you expect me to be OKAY??!"

She felt like screaming. She felt like throwing herself out the window. Her heart twisted a few knots in her chests, wracked with pain and disbelief, her breaths quivering.

Calm down, Rarity....

She breathed in, before saying.

"Applejack, I'm sorry..."

"It's OK, Rarity. Ah would do the same if Ah were you."

"I...I-I just need some t-time alone..."

"Of course. Anything you want, sugarcube."

The walkie-talkie crackled, then died down.

Rarity threw herself onto the bed, tears springing into her eyes again. She thought back to what she told Octavia in the train.

It's just.... I feel like...

She hugged a silk pillow, the fresh tears flowing. Her head pictured Spike in the hospital bed, only drilling into her head like a flaring poker, bursting at every crack.

Somepony took a part of me..

She cried, screaming with her head buried into the pillow. Her heart throbbed with agony. Regret.

Love...

and they just....

With a scream, she threw the pillow towards the mirror, the makeup and perfume toppling to the floor.

Her eyes warped with fury, her hooves wobbling with despair, succumbing to the war zone in her head. Soon, she fell back into her bed, letting the flood of devastation overwhelm her, strangling her in depression.

smashed it to the ground... and

She continued sobbing, her heart sinking to the floor, her dress soaked in her tears.

The intense rage started to diminish, replaced with the quivering incense of despair. Fear iced in her veins as well, all praying for the dragon to be safe.

To be safe... she chuckled coldly at herself; it was your bucking fault, Rarity...

just stepped on it and...

Her sobs died down, her mane losing all of her curls hung low like a purple curtain draping over her face, covering her eyes as fresh tears slowly flowed from her, drenching her in misery.

Gripping tightly on the sheets, her hoof trailing down her body, she felt pleasure overwhelm her, yet only making her feel like filth. The guilt only lunged into her heart, albeit it was pumping intensely with ravaging lust.

Spike....

Rarity squealed, feeling lowlier than ever in her fashionista life. What was she thinking?

Is this why she fainted on the train, she asked herself, letting out a moan, her hooves turning more furious as she worked her way down, finally reaching its eventual destination. She tugged a little, biting her lip to muffle her squeaks of arousal; her head trying to imagine his sheer size over her.

Is this the reason why?

Is love that powerful?

Comments

[WritingSpirit]

Chapter 4 is out!
A little bit emotional at the end, I know

Chapters 5 & 6 might be done as well. It's time to get the story started!

[BlackMuffin]

;_; I'm starting to get the feeling that Spike won't pull through at the end of this, but that just adds to the suspense.

Also I'm getting the feeling that it's Summer who's the Mirror Mare (even though he's a colt), but that's probably the intended effect anyway.

[WritingSpirit]

Take a look back at Chapter 2
Winter didn't say it was a 'he' or a 'she'

Just a hint

[Fury of the Tempest]

... All I can say, is how emotional.
Not what I expected about the farmer, but how did he get so indebt?

704712
So the Mirror Pony either has no gender or has both gender's...