Only a Quarter

The young unicorn stood before the huge mansion, jaw slack and eyes wide with wonder. She couldn’t believe that the structure before her was suppose to house just one family when it seemed like it could probably house the entirety of Ponyville. Decked out in artistically placed vines and greenery, the old victorian style house just screamed old money and luxury. The closest that she’d ever gotten to that kind of intimidating wealth was Rarity’s summer vila in Vanhoover and the sight before her now dwarfed said vila by quite a number.

Still, she only allowed her professionalism to waiver for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and stepping towards the massive front door. Seriously, do they have rhinos for guest or something? She thought.

With a solid knock on the door she schooled her face into a friendly smile.

A dark haired filly with stylishly rugged locks and a smooth light silver coat was the one who answered the door. The unicorn guessed that the small earth pony was only about 8 or 9 but she sported a kind of grace that transcended her age. The designer shades and silk red bow tie also seemed to elevate that aura of sophistication.

The older unicorn felt herself sweat a bit, thoroughly intimidated, until the filly reached up a hoof to push the shades up. Purple irises lit up with excitement. “Do you happen to be Mr. Sweetie Bell from Manhattan Music School?” She asked with a squeak.

Sweetie smiled, her nervousness melting away at the face of such youthful excitement. “Yes. That would be me. Are you Quarter Note, the little filly that wants to sign up for the advanced classes at my school?” She asked gently.

The filly nodded excitedly. “Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, I can’t believe it. It’s been my dream since I was really really small to get into your school. You’re like my hero. It’s such an honer for you to come see me personally. I…”

Quarter’s fan rant was cut off by a voice from farther back into the mansion. “Mein Schatz, who is it at the door?” The source of it became apparent as a white haired mare with a cyan blue coat stepped behind the filly. Wide purple shades masked the unicorn’s view of the mares eyes but she could guess that they were about as cool and calm as Rarity’s when she was trying to woo a rival. “Oh, Ms. Sweetie Bell correct?” The mare asked, an accent native to Germaneigh tinting her smooth alto voice.

Sweetie Bell smiled a bit wider. “Yes. That would be me. Are you Mrs. Photo Finish?”

The mare gave a short nod before opening the door wide enough for Sweetie to walk through. “In. Come in. We were waiting for you.”

The filly seemed to shrink. “Oops, I should have probably offered that sooner. Sorry."

Photo Finish sighed. “Nicht gut, kind.” The mare shook her head disapprovingly.

Quarter smiled sheepishly causing Sweetie to giggle. “It’s alright. I understand how exciting it can be."

The small filly seemed to stand up straighter and her grin brightened. “Oh my gosh, this is so cool.” The filly mumbled, positively vibrating.

Sweetie got a glimpse of Photo Finish’s lip turning up a bit in an amused smile before she clopped her hooves together. “Schätzchen.” She said plainly.

The filly turned to face the older mare and a quiet understanding crept into the filly’s face. “Oh, right.” She coughed and her posture became more languid. “Sorry about that Mrs. Sweetie Bell. Please excuse my rudeness. I understand that you’re probably busy."

The same elegance from before returned thought it didn’t seem to have the same effect on Sweetie as it did before. She was able to smile far easier now. “Well, my today was set aside for you specifically, my little pony. I have the whole day to spend but I think business should come first before play, don’t you?"

The filly’s grin grew a little too wide and she had to take a deep breath to compose herself again. “Right. Or course. Business. The practice room is all set up for my performance. I’d be happy to show you.”

Sweetie was about to accept when Photo Finish cut in. “I’ll show her to the room after you finish your warm up, Liebling."

Quarter not pouted. “Aww, but Omi…"

“Do you want to risk messing up a performance in front of Mrs. Bell due to being inadequately prepared?”

Quarter sighed. “Fine.” Sulking away, and with one final baleful look, Quarter disappeared behind a corner.

Sweetie let out a chuckle. “What a cute little filly.” She commented.

“Yes. Danken Ihnen. Thank you.” Photo Finish nodded. “She’s much like her mother.”

Sweetie blinked. “Oh, you’re not her mother?”

Photo finish turned her sunglassed stare towards Sweetie Bell. “Rarity did not tell you?” She asked curiously.

“She told me some vague details.” Sweetie bit her lip. “Honestly she didn’t seem very comfortable talking about it."

Photo Finish grew quiet and Sweetie feared for a moment that she’d said something she wasn’t suppose to. She was just about to apologize but the older mare turned around and began to walk the opposite direction. “Little Quarter Note likes to use many instruments. It will take her a while to warm up. Would you like some tea?”

Sweetie didn’t really like tea but she nodded anyway and followed Photo into their main foyer.

Rarity stood, much like her sister, slack jawed before a housing complex, though not because of the same reason. In fact, Rarity was shocked because the small one person apartment was so small and modest considering the pony who owned it had quite a well of monetary assets she could have drawn from. It was practically a shoe box compared to even the smallest houses in her home town. Heck, she’s seen suites inside inns bigger than this.

“Small isn’t it?” Her hostess asked, seeming to read her mind.

Rarity chocked on her tea and tried to cough as daintily as she could. “Oh, I won’t say that.” She laughed, sounding just the slightest bit fake. "It’s just very…efficient."

The mare laughed. “That’s a way of putting it,” She sounded far too tired and so much older than what her appearance suggested and a pang of guilt slapped Rarity in the chest like a railway car. “but, as much as I appreciate the attempt of a compliment, I know that’s not what you came all the way to Trottingham for."

Rarity frowned. “No. It’s not.” The white mare responded, looking away before steeling her nerves. “Octavia, darling, I came here as a request from Photo Finish.”

It was the gray mare’s turn to look away. “Oh, Step-mother.” She said with a sigh. “I take it she’s doing well.”

“Very much so. She’s not as popular as before but her opinion is still very much respected within the fashion community.” Rarity stated.

Octavia nodded. “I see.” She was silent again. “And…” she began before her brows knit together.

Rarity leaned forward to place a hoof on Octavia’s fetlock. “She’s fine dear. She’s actually just gotten her cutie mark a few weeks ago. I…well, I assumed that Photo Finish sent you a letter informing you of it.”

“She might have.” Octavia’s voice seemed to have shrunken in her throat.

“I’ve brought a copy of the picture of her. Would you like to see it? Little Quarter Note is just the cutest little filly...”

Rarity made to pull her hoof away with the intent of getting out said picture but Octavia was quick and held the hoof before it could reach the saddlebag’s flap. “Wait. Rarity, I don’t..I don’t know if I can.”

The unicorn took Octavia into her forelegs, gripping her into a tight hug. “Oh, dear. I understand. What happened to Vinyl all those years ago…” Octavia’s body grew stiff and Rarity had to pry her off to stare into the mare's purple irises. “What happened to her was awful but darling that was 10 years ago.” Octavia tried her best to avert her gaze but a firm hoof on her chin had her locked in place staring at Rarity’s deep blue irises. "I’m not trying to make it seem like you should have forgotten or even made peace with such a horrific incident but your daughter is growing up with neither of her mothers. That’s hardly fair to her."

Octavia’s face twisted into an expression of pure pain and sadness Rarity felt her heart clench.

“I’m sorry, Rarity. I know it’s not fair to her. That’s why it’s so hard.” Rarity released her grip and Octavia’s eyes immediately redirected themselves to her hooves. “It’s not about…Vinyl anymore.” She forced herself to say. “You’re right about me not getting over it. Frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. She just left so suddenly…” Octavia’s voice hitched and she had to stop herself for a few moments. Rarity waited patiently, levitating a tissue to Octavia who declined it. “But it’s not about her, not anymore, not really, but when she…died, I was so painfully sad Rarity. I was having the hardest time accepting what happened and when I did, everything that reminded me of her made everything hurt so much more. I started to lash out at everything. I blamed everyone and I couldn’t take it. I just had to leave. I had to leave Ponyville. I had to leave everything that reminded me of Vinyl. That’s why I left..."

“That’s why you left little Quarter Note with Photo Finish.” Rarity finished.

Octavia nodded shamefully. “And now she’s grown up. She’s gotten her cutie mark and she looks so much like Vinyl.” Tears which went mostly controlled began to tumble out of her eyes unchecked. “I abandoned my foal and she probably hates me now. Vinyl probably hates me now too. They have a right to. I’m so worthless.”

Rarity felt tears of her own dripping down her cheeks as she enveloped Octavia into another hug. “Darling, no one hates you.” She chocked out. “Vinyl loved you very much and she could have never hated you.” Octavia’s sobbing intensified. Rarity rubbed her hoof up and down the mare’s back, trying to console her. “And little Quarter Note has very much that same Vinyl Scratch blood that runs through her. That little filly waits for you and asks about you constantly.”

Using her telekinesis, Rarity drew out the small picture of Quarter Note. The young filly’s dark hair was meticulously groomed and she stood straight. Her posture was impeccably composed. The silk red bow tie around her neck was perfectly tied. She was the picture of sophistication but the way that her lips curved up, a little too cockily to be called anything but a smirk, the way her violet eyes shined with a light more vivacious than anything Octavia could ever see in her own, and how strands of hair seemed to rebel into different random directions, it was obvious to all that this filly was in fact Octavia and Vinyl’s beautiful, beautiful child.

And on her flank was a shiny red backwards quarter note that matched her bow tie.

“You know,” Rarity began. “before she woke the red bow tie, she always wore a pink one. No one complained because it looked marvelous on her coat but I did ask. She told me that it was because that’s what she always saw you wearing in pictures."

Octavia sniffed, calming down a bit. “She did?” The mare asked, reaching towards the photograph.

“Yes. That filly loves you very much.” Rarity cooed, continuing to stroke Octavia’s mane as she studied the picture.

Through stuffed nose and red eyes, Octavia managed to chuckle. “This is a good picture of her."

“I should hope so. Photo Finish would positively hunt you if you said otherwise.” Rarity giggled and soon the two were laughing lightly, the tension alleviated slightly.

Octavia chuckled before taking a sniff. Rarity levitated a tissue over to her and she took it with a smile. “Oh, Rarity,” Octavia began, the tension seeming to crash into her again. "I do want to see my daughter but…”

“Fear is understandable, darling,” Rarity cut in, “but we mustn’t allow it to run us.”

“I know.” Octavia mumbled.

When it was evident that nothing else was forth coming, Rarity sighed. “It’s alright. I understand that this is a huge step for you. Asking you to do something like this so suddenly is a very tall order. However, Photo Finish and I have arranged for a way to ease you into it. Would you like to hear our proposal?”

Octavia nodded.

Rarity gave a smile before levitating her forgotten tea cup, the liquids now room temperature. “Would it be alright if I get a refill?"

Sweetie Bell chocked down another cup of the bitter beverage, cringing just a bit. “I see. So you want Ms. Octavia to be close enough to have an opportunity to bond with her daughter but you don’t think that they’re ready to live with each other yet?"

Photo Finish sipped graciously before placing the cup down. “I don’t think, I know. Octavia is very good up here,” Photo Finish tapped her head, “but so weak in here,” she thumped her chest with a hoof, “that if we do this too quickly, she will just to back to hiding like a mouse. I know."

Sweetie Bell nodded, not entirely sure if Photo Finish hated her daughter in law or loved her. She was getting so many mixed signals from the older mare. “Well, that explains it. My sister and I have already arranged for Quarter to stay with one of the teachers."

“So I heard. This Eighth Note?"

Sweetie nodded. “Funny coincidence with their names right?” The unicorn laughed before stopping herself in the face of Photo Finish’s blank expression. “We went to the same university to get our Developmental Psychology Majors. I’ve known her for quite a few years and I don’t trust anyone else more than her. She’s great with kids and she has a fiancee she’s planning to start a family with. They absolutely jumped at the chance to take in Quarter Note for a while."

“Good. I’m happy to know that my little Liebling will be in good hooves. I will trust you with this.”

Sweetie raised a brow. “Umm…thanks."

Photo Finish nodded before getting up off the oversized couch. “It has been long. The little one is waiting for us. We go.”

“Right.” Sweetie laughed. She’d been waiting for that.