Only a Quarter

by Weezel Soup

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Dark, Romance
Length: 5858

After Vinyl's death, Octavia leaves everything from their life. This includes their month old foal, Quarter Note. 10 years later, after Quarter receives her cutie mark, Octavia returns to try and be their for the filly.

Octavia and Vinyl had a perfect life. Due to their success, they were able to retire early. They bought a house in quiet Ponyville. They had a comfortable lifestyle. With the decision of making a foal, it was almost happily ever after.

When Vinyl dies a month after the foal's birth, Octavia decides to leave everything, including the foal.

10 years later, Quarter Note attains her cutie mark, gets accepted into Sweetie's Manattan School of Music and is well on her way to becoming an accomplished musician herself. It's Octavia's time to amend for abandoning the filly all those years ago. Lucky for her, Quarter is excited at the prospect.

Will the teacher with the striking resemblance to Vinyl Scratch throw a wrench in the works?

Dumb question. Of course she will, but it's not like Octavia can get far there. Eighth Note isn't Vinyl Scratch after all. Eighth Note has a nice life, a different personality, and a beautiful fiancée.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-21 01:40:33 UTC

Ch 2: On the Eighth

Eighth Note woke up to the feel of a soft muzzle pressed against her neck, lightly nuzzling her in consciousness. The other pony’s body was warm and so irresistibly soft that, without opening her eyes, she wrapped her arms around the other mare. “Good Morning.” She mumbled, her voice husky.

“Good morning.” The other mare responded.

The pressure on Eighth Note’s chest lightened motivating her to finally open her eyes. Looking past unruly locks, her sight was met with a dark grey pony with snow white strands framing a smiling face. Two elegant pegasus wings were spread out behind her, fluttering every so often. Bright, forest-green eyes twinkled, half lidded under a sultry stare.

Eighth Note smirked, propping herself up on an elbow to kiss the pony on the lips tenderly. “I’m guessing you slept well."

The grey pegasus rolled off her lover before sauntering towards her vanity mirror, taking care to put a bit more swing into her step. And her flank.

A lot more swing to her flank, Eight Note mused.

“I always sleep well with you.” The mare responded with a wink.

Either Note laughed. “Jeez, who are you and what did you do with Silver Sway? I don’t remember her ever being this corny.”

The pegasus laughed. “Well, we did just get engaged. Can’t I feel a little sappy after a fabulous night with my gorgeous fiancee?”

Eighth Note chuckled. “I guess.”

Swinging both legs off the bed, Eighth Note made to get off the bed. A wave of nausea and a slight pain in her head caused her to pause. She placed a hoof to her temple and began to rub tentatively. Automatically, she pulled on a spell to help her cure the pain. Silver’s smile dropped into a concerned frown, all acts dropping in an instant.

“It hurts again doesn’t it?” Silver asked.

Eighth Note gave a hum of affirmation, too busy concentrating on the spell to verbalize anything.

“Note, I’m starting to get worried. Maybe we should see my brother."

The unicorn sighed, the spell having worked wonders, like usual. “Again? You know he’s just going to say the same thing he always does."

“'If the spell is working then there’s nothing to worry about.’” Silver quoted with a sigh.  “I understand that but the fact that it’s happening every morning makes it really hard not to worry."

Eighth shrugged. “It never lasts. That’s what the spell is for.” She stated pointedly. “Besides, who knows what I got into. We’re lucky that all I got was chronic migraines and not like…"

Silver Sway raised a brow. “Amnesia?”

Eighth smirked. “Chronic amnesia smart flank. I still remember everything that happened after and as far as I’m concerned that’s the only thing that matters.”

Silver Sway’s smile returned, if just a little, concern for Eighth Note still on the forefront of her mind but happy that Eighth considered their time together to be so important. The grey mare sighed. “I guess that’s true." She made a mental memo about talking to Cranium later anyway.

“Atta’ girl.” Eighth cheered as she finally got off the bed. With a few quick strides she was by Silver’s side, levitating a brush in her magic aura. “There’s a million and one better things we could talk about.” The unicorn checked herself to make sure that her mane had straightened into something more organized and professional before taking one of the sprays on the vanity. “I mean, we just got engaged. Don’t you wanna talk about wedding plans?"

Silver smiled. "I already have a list of priority ponies put together." She started happily." I even looked up some great places for a honeymoon in Vanhoover."

Eighth Note laughed. "Wow, you must have been thinking about this for a while. Maybe I should have just waited for you to propose." Eighth waggled her eyebrows and Silver just rolled her eyes. Eighth chuckled before dousing her hair in a nauseating mist of mane spray. "And why Vanhoover anyways. Seems kind of random."

Silver covered her nose, waiting a few moments after the stop of the spray before uncovering her eyes. "Well, I heard that Sweetie's sister has a villa there. She said that it was nice and she might ask…um…Rarity, I think was her name, to let us use it. We are doing her a favor with the little filly after all."

The spray can dropped down onto the vanity with a loud clang. Silver turned to face Eighth Note's wide eyes through the mirror. "Oh, crud!"

Silver Sway tilted her head questioningly.

Before she opened her mouth to ask, Eighth Note darted out of their bedroom, yelling, "I forgot to clean the guest bedroom!"

Silver just sighed before going back to preening her feathers.

Sweetie held on to the sleeping filly as she dozed soundly on her lap. The little grey earth pony really was an aesthetic marvel. Whoever this Octavia and this Vinyl Scratch were, they must have been very beautiful ponies indeed. It was a shame she never met them but she'd left for Manehattan with Applebloom and Scootaloo just a few days before they'd settled into Ponyville. They had only stayed a year before the…incident (as Rarity referred to it as on the rare occasions she needed to mention it) had occurred. If the living, sleeping proof of that particular family wasn't using her lap as a pillow right now, she would have been inclined to believed these mysterious ponies to never have existed.

Sweetie sighed as the rough winds tossed Quarter's dark mane against Sweetie's ivory white coat. Now, she couldn't stop thinking of the events that had happened so long ago. Hearing her sister's distraught rantings back then had been hard enough, but realizing Quarter Note must have only been about a month old brought a whole new level of tragedy to the story.

At least Quarter seemed like she was happy. There was that brief moment of serious anxiousness in her eyes as the carriage pulled away from Photo Finish's stoic form, but  she soon seemed to brush it off as the pegasi pulled up into the sky. With expected childlike enthusiasm, she'd excitedly commented on everything around her, pointing at funny looking landmarks and buildings. Sweetie had nervously clung to Quarter's hoof, just waiting for the moment she was going to lean out but to Sweetie's relief, Quarter kept her hooves and body parts safely inside the confines of the carriage.

Quarter also seemed to loose interest quickly, just staring back at the direction they came from for a while, still with that same nervous expression.

Sweetie had asked if Quarter was feeling homesick already and Quarter seemed to snap out of something. She had turned to face Sweetie with a questioning expression. There was no indication that the filly had ever been sad at all and the older mare had to wonder of she was just seeing things.

She'd changed the topic quickly and Quarter was all too eager to engage in a conversation with her idol. They talked about every sort of music under the sun, from country to polka to hiphop and jazz. Quarter seemed to have at least a brief history on how each genera came into being. Her favorites were predictably classical and dubstep. She loved mixing them together, along with various other genres, making something completely new, if her performance was any indication. It was very diverse, ranging from a classical one minute sonata played on a mini grand piano, a four person accapella, the other three parts pre-recorded, and a polka song played with a snare drum, a hi-hat symbol, an accordion and a harmonica, played at the same time, live. Needless to say, the performance got wilder as it progressed.

Sweetie enjoyed every moment of it. Even if some of the songs left quite a bit of room for improvement, the songs were very upbeat, energetic pieces and it was still a feat of skill one wouldn't expect from someone as young Quarter.

That was quite a few hours or so ago and there was still a few more miles between where they were, flying somewhere above Hollow Shades, and the giant buildings of metropolitan Manehattan.

Sweetie absently began to pat the sleeping filly's back and looked towards their destination. She really hoped that Quarter might finally have a chance to form a bond with her last living parent.

Of Water Marks

I woke up an evening to water marks on the floor

Crying, still smiling

She passed it off as allergies from a left open door

this was last anniversary

in a tragic accident when you found out how to soar

I hope that you've found celestial plains

At least someone won't be in pain because

When I've walk through my life not knowing how to love you

When I look up to empty figures of what I imagine to be you

When Dark shadows, dark stories, dark place holders of you

It's so hard to when even the mirrors won't show you

I've read the stories in black and white pages

I've seen the place

where the floor is covered with wreckage

I hate because

I still hurts, you left before I was even of age

now you've already left and you're gone

they still cry because you left before you were done so

When I've walk through my life not knowing how to love you

When I look up to empty figures of what I imagine to be you

When Dark shadows, dark stories, dark place holders of you

It's so hard to when even the mirrors won't show you

Ch 3: Meet and Greet

Eighth's house (or rather, Silver's House since she owned it) was in the nicer parts of Manehattan, where the houses were bigger, not as squished together and the crime in the area was almost non-existent. In her opinion, it was the perfect place for foals and several from her school also lived close by. It gave Quarter a nice opportunity to socialize and acquainted even before she even stepped inside her class. All in all, it was the perfect place for young Quarter to live for the time being until Octavia was ready to take care of her full time.

Sweetie patted herself on the back for finding such good accommodations as she rang the bell to one of the new houses.

Silver Sway was the one that opened the door with a gentle smile. "Sweetie!" She greeted excitedly before nuzzling the mare.

"Silver!" She greeted back with a smile. "I didn't know you'd be so excited to see me, we saw each other a few days ago."

Silver Sway pulled back with a huge grin. "Don't give me that. Why didn't you tell me Eighth Note was going to propose."

Sweetie giggled. "You know she would have chopped my head off if I even hinted."

Silver giggled along for a bit before looking down at the other pony at her door. "And Am I to guess this cute little filly is Quarter Note?"

Quarter nodded with a smile. "Yep. That's me."

Sweetie could practically see Silver's heart melt. "Well, I think you're going to have a great time here. Won't you come in?"

Quarter nodded enthusiastically before taking a measured step inside. Her little head swiveled around, before turning to face the grey pegasus. "You have a very nice house ma'm." The filly grinned.

Silver's face split into a grin before she turned to look at Sweetie. "D'awwww." She gushed quietly.

Sweetie laughed. Good accommodations indeed. Another point for Sweetie Bell. She thought before walking past the pair. "So where's Eighth Note?"

Already Silver Sway was doting on the little filly, who seemed to be enjoying the attention, but she paused to sigh. "Well, she's probably still upstairs fixing the guest room. As you can probably guess, she waited 'till the last minute again."

"Guest room?" Quarter asked as she allowed her hair to be mused by a grey hoof.

"Yep." Silver smiled apologetically. "Though usually it's called the practice room."

Sweetie rolled her eyes. "More like a disaster room."

Silver raised a brow at her and Sweetie shrugged.

"Are you a musician too?" Quarter asked.

"No hon, I'm actually an actress."

"Ohh." Quarter nodded before falling silent.

Silver looked at Sweetie Bell, wondering if she'd said something strange but Sweetie just shook her head.

"Hey, Quarter, why don't you go check out the guest room. It's upstairs and there should be a white unicorn inside. Do you think you can find it yourself?" Sweetie asked, interrupting the strange silence.

Quarter reached a hoof behind her neck. "I guess so." She replied uncertainly. She looked up at Silver who nodded encouragingly. The grey filly bit her lip before slowly trotting up the stairs.

When the sound of small hooves receded, Silver leaned close to Sweetie. "Does she have something against theatre?"

Sweetie sighed. "No, it's not that. She's just had a bit of a stunted foalhood. I don't think she can have a conversation about anything that isn't about music."

"Oh? Is there a story behind that?"

Sweetie frowned. "You might want to sit down for it."

.

.

.

.

.

Quarter heard the unicorn before she saw her. The door to what must have been the guest room was flung open and a series of screeches echoed down the hall.

Quarter approached the door cautiously, afraid that something might fly out and hit her if she wasn't careful. Peeking her head past the door, she spotted a pony with a pretty alabaster coat and a smooth cobalt mane. She was cursing a storm that probably would have given Quarter a lot of trouble if she even repeated even just one of the sentences.

She was shoving a worn stand-up piano across the room, trying to make room for what seemed like a desk near a partly cleared section by the bed.

"Who doesn't put a piano on wheels?" The unicorn asked no one in particular as the feet of the piano made another long scratch on the floor.

Quarter watched with fascination. It was true, what Sweetie Bell had murmured about a disaster area. Rivalled only by Mrs. Rarity's "inspiration room", all around her were instruments and chords mixed with plastic toys and costumes. Random microphone stands and sound equipment seemed to sprout from the ground as a tangle of wires connected them together. There were also some exercise equipment and sheets of paper everywhere, some with lines of dialogue and others with musical notes and lyrics. Besides the small section already cleared, there wasn't a place where a pony could safely place their hoof. The mess also seemed have been quadrupled by the mirrors that lined the walls.

"Ummm…" She began, uncertain with how to continue.

Thankfully, she was spared from answering by magenta eyes rounding on her. The unicorn halted her efforts and turned to her with a surprised stare. The surprise turned into a grin after a second. "Oh, hey there. You Quarter Note?"

The filly nodded enthusiastically and smiled.

Eighth Note returned the smile before scratching her head sheepishly. "Well, then kid, welcome to your room. Sorry about the mess. I know it doesn't look like it right now but this is one pretty cool room. It use to be mine before."

Quarter nodded, her eyes catching sight of the mare's cutie mark. Two connected and inverted eighth notes. She tilted her head questioningly. Eighth was a bit confused at first but she followed the filly's gaze to her flank.

"Something up with my cutie mark?" She asked with a smile.

Quarter turned her attention back to the mare before blushing. "Sorry. I didn't mean to stare. It's just that, my mom has the same cutie mark." She began nervously.

Eighth Note cut her off before she could ramble. She placed a hoof on her chin in thought. "Same mark huh? That's pretty rare for two ponies to have the same mark but it's not unheard of. What does she do?"

"Sh-she was a DJ." Quarter stuttered nervously as she turned to look at anything but the unicorn. In her house in Canterlot, it had always felt like taboo to talk about her mom. Even now, her Omi still had a hard time with the topic.

Still relating the filly's nervousness as an effect of getting caught staring, she pressed forward. "A DJ. That's an interesting profession. I'd like to meet her someday."

Quarter flinched. "I'm not sure that's possible, M'am. She…died a bit after I was born."

Eighth blinked. "Oh…" She stated lamely before flinching at herself. "I'm so sorry."

Quarter looked up, forcing a smile. "I never knew her so I'm okay. I always had Omi, my grandma."

"I'm glad for you kid."

There was a long stretch of silence between them where they exchanged awkward glances, each trying to find a way to dissipate the tension. Quarter took another glance at the cutie mark before asking. "How did you get your cutie mark?" She asked.

It was Eighth's turn to look around nervously. "Oh, well. Sorry kid, I wouldn't be able to tell you. I lost a chunk of my memories a few years back."

Quarter grimaced. "Oh…that's…bad." She stated.

Eighth forced a nervous chuckle. "Yeah. Well, it's not so bad."

The two ponies shuffled around in silence before Eighth decided to try at a conversation again. "Soooo…" Eighth began again, leaning against the giant stand-up. "Where's Sweetie Bell? I thought she was bringing you over."

Quarter responded quickly and a little too fast. "Oh, she'd downstairs with Mrs. Silver Sway. I think they're talking about grown up things. I don't think they want me around to hear." The filly's ears flattened on her head. Eighth frowned but before she was able to address it, the ears shot back up. Quarter had a smile slapped on her face again. "Would you like some help?"

Eighth bit her lip. In all honesty, after the landmine of a conversation they just had, the last thing she wanted was to be with the filly. She had the suspicion that the filly felt the same way but just didn't have anywhere else to go. So, with a sigh, Eighth summoned up some magic to clear a path=. "Umm…Sure kid. Why don't you tidy up the place already cleared. It's kinda dusty."

Quarter took a glowing duster into her mouth and nodded. She sauntered over with graceful coordination as she maneuvered among the scattered objects.

A slight twinge passed through Eighth's head. It wasn't necessarily pain but it was enough of a jolt for her to reach a hoof up and rub at her temples. It subsided quickly enough but, as she turned to continue pushing the piano to the other side of the room, she resolved to visit Cranium. Maybe she would make an appointment after they met Quarter Note's mother tomorrow.

What was her name? She thought. Another twinge, stronger this time.

She decided to set up an appointment a little sooner than that.

Ch 1: The Things That Happen Over Tea

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.

Of Picture Frames by Quarter Note

(Verse 1)

I once had a dream so vivid

it became engraved inside me

And when I woke

I thought I had been ripped from a memory

(Verse 2)

News Flash, it was a memory

Just not mine, it was hers and yours

I borrowed it Mom,

even if I wish I was part of it a little bit more

(Bridge)

So I close my eyes and I can see hair like blue skies

(Chorus)

Because I found a world inside a picture frame

And with the night, is when the images came

So bright was the sight it took my breath away

(Verse 3)

Drifting through a lonely haze

I see something in photography

still as sculptures

stuck when it was before I came to be

(Bridge)

The world is never fair to those who can care

(Chorus)

Because I found a world inside a picture frame

And with the night, is when the images came

So bright was the sight it took my breath away

(Interlude)

Green grass on a country side

Everfree and starlit nights

Happy laughs and content sighs

in a photo set by my bedside

(Alt. Chorus)

I found a world inside a picture frame

And with the night, is when the images came

And when the darkness starts to move on

you can just tell the princess

this filly’s too far gone

Stuck in a world inside a picture frame