The Benefits of Music

by Ashardu

Notice me, Senpai!

The radiant sunlight pierced the room as for a group of ponies where each one of them were sitting on a different couch in the living room. A black maned mare was sitting on the big sofa as she kept her eyes closed and emaned a low grumbling. By the looks of it, she seemed annoyed, angry if possible. Perhaps it was because of a certain stallion looking at her with his arms crossed, striking a confident pose a he kept the stare. The last, but not least pony, whose dual blueish mane was pointing everywhere, had a worriedn expression on her face, unsure of what she could do in such a situation, not that it hasn't been the only one, but still, part of her wanted to support both parties. A breaking voice was heard soon after.

"I still can't believe you have the courage to ask such thing after our encounter. Quite..... daring if I must say so" said Octavia who seemed to hold an irritated tone towards the green stallion.

"My request still stands. So, are you going to accept it, or not?" dared Quarter who seemed to have a\ new and yet dangertous confidence on his side.

"I don''t think I would do such thing. Not after the disrespect you showed towards me back there" pointed the grey mare as she rubbed her hand in her forehead.

"I'm sorry, but I was desperate. Now can you please accept it? Please?"

"No"

"Pretty please?"

"Still no"

"With sugar on top of it?"

"No, no, no!"

"Pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeeeeeeeee???" pleaded Quarter.

"My point stands firm! If you try to convince me one more time, I'll buck the life out of you!"

A long silence was followed with a deep stare from Octavia to Quarter. He didn't say a thing and looked back as well. After a good long minute, Octavia sighs in relief.

"Thank you, I thought you were going to-"

"PLEASE.", with that said Quarter ran away from the house, not looking back. Vinyl was confused by this and let out an 'Eh?'. Soon after she knew why did he ran away like that. A furious Octavia followed him in a rush, cursing him some.... things. Vinyl was taken back by this and simply looked at the door where both Octavia and Quarter ran through. She didn't know whether to laugh about the moment or to feel pity about Quarter.

Why? Octavia may be a redefined lady, with her manners intouchable and a very composed status quo, but if you, somehow, managed to, and I mean, SOMEHOW, managed to make her angry, pray that your legs don't trip or fail at any moment. With luck, she will throw you her reinforced chelo on top of you, knocking you out and letting you go. If not.... well, I wish you good luck. Just like Vinyl did for Quarter. Poor kid.

You have been wondering how did this got into a chasing scene, right? Why? You wanna know why? Here is why....

After a long exhausting afternoon of playing classical music non-stop at a Manehattan wedding, Octavia returns home, expecting to drop her things along the way and fall into a nice, well-deserved rest. Oh, and count the amount of bits she earned that day. It was nice bargain she earned that day and she planned to take account of how many bits she is earning with each performance, to keep a steady and balanced income. What? Just because she is a lady, doesn't mean she can't enjoy the good things about life.

She unlocked the door to the house she and Vinyl shared and walked slowly towards her room. She was about to reach for the door of her room, when out of nowhere a familar figure poppped up in front of her, yelling 'OCTAVIA!' along the way. Octavia, using her instincts, pulled out Oblivion and used it to defend herself from whatever showed up.

A electric field could be seen around the indvidual as it performed several poses and stepped back, crashing into Octavia's room door. The impact caused the door to open in an instant and the electric field could still be seen.

Octavia, exhausted from all the work she did that day, took a closer look to the... what it seemed to be a man... and recognized the figure.

"Quarter!? What is the matter with you!?" said Octavia, shocked to her not-so-friend reacting to the electricity flowing through his blood and veins.

"Damn... I knew it was gonna be a bad idea...." said Vinyl who moved from a shadow. Octavia simply looked in surprise at her friend for allowing her to do such foolish thing, "But he insisted. The kid has guts, I tell you,". Vinyl looked at Octavia and she saw a concerned expression from her.

"What?" was her only response from the stare.

"How could you let him do that?" complained Octavia as sh pointed to his partner the issue involved.

"Do what?"

"The scaring thing! You know how defensive I can get!" exclaimed Octavia as her roommate placed her hand on her chin, thinking.

"Oh yeah... you do tend to get defensive... Oh well!"

"What do you mean by 'oh well'?" yelled in an angered tone towards her white coated friend, "I used Oblivion on him! Again!"

"Yeah! I know! He has to tell me how it feels like!"

"Oh Vinyl, you never change...." whispered Octavia to herself as she planted a facepalm to her face.

"What was that?"

"N-Nothing!" replied Octavia, trying to avoid the issue, "How about we wait for him to wake up?"

"Sure" agreed Viinyl as she shrugged in a carefree way. They both proceeded to sat in a nreaby sofa, waiting for Quarter to stop bouncing. In a few more moments, Vinyl had a box of popcorn and was laughing at the show Quarter was doing. Octavia just sighed and kept waiting...

After a while, the man finally stopped recoiling to the volt's effect and he got up from the floor, looking around, dazed from the counterattack he recieved from her grey coated 'roommate'. He shook his body effects and focused to the blurry figure next to him. With a certain determination, Quarter recognized the figure and noticed it was Octavia. She smiled once she noticed Wuarter was growing back to his senses.

"Okayyyy.... Octavia smiling at me for no aparent reason.... how high did I get this time?" he thought as he continued to stare back.

"Oh thank Celestia, you are okay," said Octavia with a worried expression. She smiled again and Quarter couldn't help it but to blush at her concern that she was showing towards him. Octavia saw the blush and thought it was a fever he had, as an aftermath for Oblivion's power.

"Oh, you are turning red! You must have a fever from the shock," said Octavia as she placed her forehead on Quarter's. He was completely taken back by this and remained still, for he didn't know to react at her actions, "Hmm... no fever. Maybe it's another thing...Could it be a-"

"HEYWOULDYOULOOKATTHAT? I'MFINE!" said Quarter in a rush as he got up from the floor in a blink of an eye. Octavia looked puzzled by his actions, raising an eyebrow in the process. Quarter dusted off some dirt on his shirt and turned around to see Vinyl hearing music with her Beat Headphones. He walked towards her and removed the headphones with force. Vinyl, surprised by this, complained about it. Quarter simply stared at her.

"You know, you could have told me the Oblivion counterattack form Octavia" said Quarter in a rather relaxed tone.

"Oh yeah... I forgot to tell you that, didn't I?" replied Vinyl, placing her hands on her chin while thinking.

"Quite true" said Quarter while nodding in an awkward way, "Don't worry, I'll tell you later what it felt like,"

"Felt wha- OH! REALLY?" yelled back Vinyl, barely holding back her excitement, "WHEN?"

"Never."

"Aw, cmon!" complained Vinyl throwing her arms in the air.

"That is what you get for not telling me" explained Quarter as he walked towards Octavia, still affected by the shock.

"Pft, whatever."

Quarter snickered as he drew closer to Octavia. The moment he got next to her, not only did she felt uncomfortable, but also felt curiousity about Quarter's surprise arrival. She was about to speak when somepony beat her to it.

"Octavia, now that I have your attention, can I ask something?" asked Quarter.

"Um, sure..." replied Octavia, wondering what was his business.

"Please, don't freak out, okay?", Quarter's statement simply made her curiosity grow larger and larger, thinking whether to brace herself or ignore it. She nodded and Quarter closed his eyes, almost like if he was preparing for something important, which must be the case if he had to go through a high-voltage attack.

"Octavia...", the suspense was slowly growing, "could you... please..."

As the seconds went by, Octavia began to feel more uneasy as time flowed, "W-What?"

"Would you... please...", he stopped for a couple of seconds, filling his guts for the request. He tried his best to make it sound normal, but it was more than a simple request, so he striggled to say it already. Octavia, fazed by his struggle, raised an eyebrow. After finally gathering enough courage, he spoke up, "BE MY TEACHER?"

The whole room went into a dead silence. Any kind of sudden movement could kill the moment. Merely moments away, Quarter bowed to Octavia trying to looked convinced of his request.

"Please Octavia, be my teacher!"

Both Octavia and Vinyl had the jaws hanging in the air after hearing the kid ask for such thing. They had experienced these kinds moments before with their teachers, but never had they recieved a request from someone else to teach them about music. Awkwardly enough, the grey mare composed herself and looked down to the bowing guitarist.

"No,"

".........Eh?" was his only answer.

"I won't accept your request. I simply can't."

"W-Why?"

"I don't have the time to deal with this. I barely have time for my performances that I simply can't take a disciple with me," she gave Quarter the cold, back-stabbing back and stood still, "Besides, you have Vinyl. She can teach you"

Vinyl felt honored that her roommate recommended her as the appropiate teacher for this case, even if she was being forcefully shoved into the conversation. Vinyl was going to say something, but a certain individual who had the bad habit of interrupting other mares before they could talk spoke first. "No, I won't."

"Excuse me?" was Octavia's response. Vinyl had the expression on her face.

"Excuse me Vinyl if I hurt your feelings, but I want you, Octavia, to teach me. I know the basics of flexible music, but I'm still ignorant to some more delicate genres, making you the perfect-", Quarter had a taste of his own medicine as a hand interrupted Quarter's phrase, being startled by the sudden act

"I don't care about that. If you can't accept the fact that I won't take you as a disciple, then you better leave," Octavia went to the sofa and sat down, "Stop wasting time and take Vinyl as you teacher,"

"You know what? No. I'm staying as long as it is needed for you to take me as your disciple," then Quarter went to the nearest sofa where he sat as well and stared towards Octavia, "And that is that."

The two mares felt that this wasn't going to end that easily. So, Vinyl did what the other ponies did as well and sat down. Time went by its own....

So, that is how things got into that situation. Vinyl thought for a minute what to do next and suddenly a mischievious idea came to her mind. She proceeded to grab her headphones and adjust them, for she was going to hear music, obviously. But she had another thing in mind. Vinyl looked closely at the device at searched for an specific song.

"Yakety Sax.... Aha!", she pushed the button play and looked outside, as she looked at Quarter running away from a furious Octavia, "Ha! This is pure gold!"

"There goes the town's market places. Also the tables. Don't forget about the kid in mid-air,"

"Okay, Quarter made good use of his wings................... Wait, how did she do that!?"

"Run Quarter, Run!"

"Oh boy, she is really pissed. May Celestia have mercy on you, Quarter"

"Oh would you look at that! The chase is over!"

After a nice (also hilarious) chase the running duo finally stop chasing one to another and proceeded to get back home. Octavia was still unaware of Quarter's moving and by the time the got back, she looked both in anger and curiosity at her prey. She wanted to ask, but she just wanted to go home.

When they both were going to arrive, Octavia looked at Quarter one more time and spoke.

"Quarter," said the grey, tired mare, "don't you have to go home?"

"Huh?" she caught off guard the green coated pegasus, "Oh, you mean home? That is where I'm heading!"

"But... you are going towards my home..."

"And that means..." he suggested. Octavia thought it carefully and came to the conclusion she didn't want to know about.

"It means....", she sighed and looked down, "You are our new roommate... right?"

"Atta boy! We will get along just fine!" he said as a wide smile showed on his face, causing Octavia to stop feeling a tad unamused by the truth.

"Well, it's Quarter we are talking about," she thought while showing a small grin towards the smiling pegasus, "I'm sure it can't be that bad."

The male pony went ahead and opened the door, only to remain still at the halfway of the entrance. Octavia, confused by why did he that, peeked over Quarter's shoulder to see what had stopped the pegasus. She simply showed an annoyance expression, for she saw Vinyl laying on the floor, drooling.

"Octavia..."

"Yes, Quarter?"

"How often does this happen?"

"About 3 or 4 times..... a week"

"Figures....", he slowly walked silently as he proceeded to avoid contact with white coated pony on the floor.

Once they get to the other side without waking up the lazy pony, Octavia awkwardly waves goodbye as she sees her new roommate getting comfortable in what used to be the guest room. She proceedes ignore that ignore that thought and finally get some long rest.

The mare finds herself in her room with several posters of legendary classical performances that classic music has done over the centuries. She inhales and exhales at a steady pace as she finally relaxes from a long day of surprises. Octavia walks to her bed and lays down gently on top of it. She finally starts to relax and falls to asleep.... or that would be the case if it weren't for Quarter's request. As a musician, Octavia knows the feeling of being rejected to something you desire, plenty of times. Not only in performances, but with some talented people she has met over the few years. It's not something that can be easily swallowed just like that.

Instead of sleeping, Octavia, against the odds, gets up and walks towards Quarter's room. Once she got there, the black maned mare leans on the door, and calls out for Quarter, hoping to hear his new roommate is still awake.

"Quarter, are you awake?" she calls out.

"Octavia?" says a familiar voice form the other side, "Umm... yeah, I'm awake. Hold on, let me get the door..."

The door slowly opens and a green pegasus shows up in the other side. Octavia gulps and stares into Quarter who was wondering what her chaser from earlier desired.

"What is it?" asked Quarter witrh some doubts in his mind. Octavia closes her eyes for a moment and sighes.

"I.... have been thinking about your request... and..." said the mare as she stopped, looking to the left, trying to avoid direct vision with him, "I... have decided....". Quarter had a clue of what was going on and knew exactly what was going on. So, instead of deducing her attempt to accept and interrupt her, he plays along.

"I have decided to teach you the ways of the classic, if that's okay with you." she stated. Quarter smiled and went into a hug. Octavia was surprised by this, but returned the hug as well.

"Thanks Octavia!" he said, "I won't let you down! I promise!". Tone's phrase made, somehow, some effect on Octacia as she smiled, feeling confident that Quarter wouldn't let her down. With such high spirited attitude, it was hard to think otherwise. Quarter let go of Octavia and smiled once more.

"Thanks again! Have a good night, Senpai!" said Quarter while waving along. Octavia moved away from the door and heard the door close behind her. After another event, she finally feels completely relaxed, but something else was deep inside Octavia that night. Another feeling she had forgotten not so long ago.

"What... is this feeling?" she said to herself, "It's different...". She remembered the phrase Quarter said before parting ways, something about Senpai....

"Huh, so this is how it feels to be the teacher.... but this feeling.... is more than that...." she placed her hands on her chest, while heading to her room, "why do I feel.... attracted? No... that can't be...". Octavia decided to ignore that 'Feeling' and call it a day. She had suffered enough events to be dealing with more. She lays on her room once more and shuts her eyes. It has been a long day and the mare could feel the aftermath of them. With a rested mind, she goes into a deep sleep...

A familiar figure was groaning in the middle of the room as the night stood high. The figure, more known as Vinyl Scratch, had just woke up. And.... here comes the typical question.

"What am I doing on the floor?"

"Boys! This is the place! We have to make sure he comes back, whether he likes it or not. Go talk to the mayor and set up a meeting" said the individual as the pegasi behing did as told. The subject showed a smile and laughed diabolically.

Quarter froze in place. He knew exactly what she wanted and he wasn't going to let her get away with it. He carefully tried to sneak his wayout of the place with being noticed, but a monotone voice was heard again.

"Oh, maybe they will!", Quarter looked down at the audience and noticed Octavia and Vinyl were still there. Both mares saw his stare and showed a unamused look. He nerviously smiled and shrugged along with arms.

"I've told you a million times that it's completely WRONG!" yelled Quarter at her sister. She was still tasting the fluids of her brother. Everyone had a shocked yet disgusted face, as well as Octavia. Vinyl simply shrugged in a 'I have seen worse' mode. The band, on the hand, seemed jealous of their..... intimate act. Lightning stopped her self licking and looked at her brother once more.