//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: Life and Death 
// by Timstro59 
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Several days after the incident at the party, Pinkie decided to slow down her party attitude as a sign a respect for loss of a good pony. Twilight was performing research on the creature that had survived. Rarity was making an outfit in dedication of the young mare that had lost her life. Fluttershy didn't know her too well, but was kind enough to help the stallion cope with his loss. Rainbow was busy trying to swear off cider and failing at it, miserably, and Applejack was bucking trees. And eventually the name of the victim was released, but everypony already knew who had died. The young mare, who had been killed in cold blood by the creatures, was none other than Vinyl Scratch.

Dashing was in the library, doing some research on some spells that could allow him to change his appearance at his desire. “Hey Twilight, do you mind answering a question for me?” Twilight shouted up from the basement, “What kind of question?”, He responded, “Should I go out as an Earth Pony, a Unicorn, or a Pegasus? I’m also going out as a mare.” Noises of confusion could be from the basement, then a crashing sound. “Are you alright down there?” Dashing called. Twilight shouted back “I’m fine, nothing to worry about, there’s no way the creature managed to slip from its collar, knock me down, and force me to put it to sleep.” Dashing called back “That’s oddly specific. Are you trying to hide something?” Twilight ran up to the top of the basement stairs, stopping Dashing from walking down. “There’s nothing to see down there.” Twilight said, trying to put on an innocent, totally not guilty smile, and failing. Dashing relented, “ok, fine, I guess I’ll just have to read your report later. But, back to the question. Earth, Unicorn or Pegasus?” Twilight replied “Why are you asking me?” Dashing said stated “You going to determine what I am today.” Twilight, confused, asked “What are you talking about?” Dashing cheerfully answered, “I found some spells that can allow me to disguise myself so I don’t get too many strange looks when I go through town.” Twilight then asked “Disguise what?” Dashing simply knocked his horn with his hoof and quickly flared his wings. Twilight got the answer she was looking for.

After taking a few moments to cast the gender swap spell, then the disguise spell, an unassuming Earth pony mare walked out of the library and into the Ponyville “mane” square. This new form shall now be known as “Light bulb”. She began to wander around the town, and having been given an “allowance” from Twilight, began getting a flavor of the simple life. She looked over and saw the spa and thought, “I wonder if Twilights got any book on message therapy, maybe I could get a job at the spa.” She walked over to the Carousel Boutique and Rarity went wild. “Oh my, dear Darling, you looking like you could use some fashion on you. You look like a mess.” She continued ranting to herself for a minute, before snapping back to reality. “Come to think of it, you remind of that Dashing fellow. Are you related to him.” Light bulb replied “Kind of, He’s like a brother…..It’s hard to explain. But to answer your question, yes we’re related.” She continued to say in her head “In more ways than you could imagine.” Rarity, convinced by this, offered up a free dress as a show of her element of generosity. “Now dear, let me get you measured up here.” Rarity spent the next hour getting measurements of Light Bulb from every angle, EVERY angle. Light Bulb started to blush uncontrollably when Rarity started to measure her flanks and rear. Thankful that they were disguised, Light Bulb felt her hidden wings unfurl themselves of their own accord, but the spell didn't stop the noise. POMPF!! “Did you hear something?” Rarity asked, while still scrutinizing Light Bulbs rear. “I thought I heard something. It must have been the wind or something.” Rarity replied “I thought I told Sweetie Bell to lock to windows when she left.” Light Bulb used her hidden magic to unlock and open a window. Rarity found it, closed it and locked it. “I’ll have to give her a talking to when she gets back from school.” Light asked “Are you sure, I heard what happened to her over at Sweet Apple Acres.” Rarity stopped in her tracks and almost inaudibly asked “How did you hear about that?” Light simply replied, “I heard it in the winds.” continuing in her head “Winds? She doesn’t realize that I was the one who brought Sweetie back. Well, Apple Blooms likely told Sweetie and Scootaloo about what happened, I’ll ask about it later.” Rarity, looking somewhat confused, asked “Heard it in the winds? Are you some kind of sage or prophet?” Light Bulb simply replied “My cutie mark isn't just for show.” Rarity looked down and realized what Lights cutie mark represented. It was a triangle with an ancient equestrian symbol marked into it. Ancient, here having the meaning of about 8000 years in the past. The symbol simultaneously representing knowledge, wisdom and strength, but there’s no way Rarity would know any of this.

She finished up her measuring shortly afterwards, Light Bulbs hidden wings had thankfully settled down and curled themselves back up. “Your dress should be ready in a few days, you probably have other appointments. I won’t keep you any longer.” Light Bulb thanked Rarity for the future dress, and walked off. She heard Lyra playing on her Lyre nearby sitting on a bench, like a human. “How can anypony sit like that?” She had accidentally thought out loud. The music stopped for a second and Lyra was slightly glaring at Light. “I’m sorry, it slipped. But can I ask you, how can you find that position comfortable?” Lyras glare had lighten up, “I researched contortionism so I could sit how I wanted. I looked it up after getting my cutie mark, so I can sit in a position that allows me to play my lyre with my magic.” Light replied “That’s very clever. Do you mind if I try?” Lyra hesitated at first “Sure, why not?” She handed her Lyre over to Light Bulb, who sat down on her rear, and rested the Lyre on what would be her knee. She plucked a few strings experimentally, and let out a small bit of confusion. Lyra noticed and said “It’s a bit out of tune.” Light bulb replied “It’s good enough for now.” 

Light Bulb, continued plucking strings experimentally, and she found something. She found a melody, she found her hooves working with the strings, music starting flowing from the strings, and she was completely lost in the moment of pure melody. Lyra, on the other hoof, was gob smacked by, by what she assumed to be a first timer outplaying her with her own instrument. Not that the melody wasn't awe inspiring, it truly was. And it was noticeable as a small group of ponies gathered around to hear the beautiful music coming from Light Bulb. Light Bulbs melody started to wind down and was completed with a triple note, with somewhat of a trilling effect. The first thing she was aware of was the feeling of pure joy coming from inside of her, and then she noticed the crowd. She blushed heavily as she gave the Lyre back to an awestruck Lyra. The crowd then began to cheer and applaud her performance. She began to blush even deeper.

After A few moments of basking of the praise of the small crowd, Light Bulb began to walk back towards town, after she realized that the entire day had gone by, She was about to pass by a shop, when she noticed a feeling of weightlessness and noticed an aqua-blue glow tinting her field of vision. She heard a laugh coming from behind her, when Trixie walked over into her field of view. “What are you doing?” Light asked” Trixie replied, whispering into her ear. “I know who you are, and I intend to repay you for helping me, in any way I can. Wouldn’t you approve of something pleasurable?” Trixie rubbed her tail against Lights face, soliciting another blush from the floating mare. Light said reflexively “I’m not one to say no to such a generous offer.” Her hidden wings unfurled of their own accord again. POMPF!!!! “I really hope this doesn’t become a habit for my wings” Light thought. Trixie heard the noise, and knowing what it was, said “I’ll take that as a yes.” Light found herself floating towards Trixies cabin, thinking “Please be gentle.”