//------------------------------//
// Chapter 47: Moonlight Snow (Final Chapter) 
// Story: When Snow Falls 
// by Prophet Of Doom 
//------------------------------//

     On a snow-covered hillside on the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, Foxtrot made her way slowly made her way to its summit. It was a pleasant winters day with only a gentle breeze wafting her red scarf about.
It would have been an unremarkable hill if not for two things. The must obvious was the huge gouge down one side of the hill, like a deep scar. Clear evidence of the battle that had taken place.
The other point of interest now lay before Foxtrot. A small crystal spire that sat proudly at the hill’s summit. It was twice her height and towards its base was an engraved marble plaque, sunken into the crystal. It read ‘In Memory Of Midnight Snow’ with his cutie mark carved above it.
A bouquet of white flowers that had been held aloft in her magic, was now laid at the base of the memorial. She took a step back and stood there in silent contemplation.

It was almost five year since that fateful day.  Much had changed and yet her surrounding were not. 
Foxtrot never returned to Hoofly or step hoof in Canterlot again. In fact, she had rarely gone past the outskirts of the Crystal Empire in a self-imposed exile. She had slowly settled in with the crystal ponies, who showed her little hostility.
Cadence made good on her promise and got Foxtrot transferred to Flash Sentry’s company, tough her tour of duty had been cut short due to her worsening condition. 
The dizzy spells that had nearly sent her off the palace had become more frequent and had been joined by other symptoms. It didn’t take long for doctors to diagnose what was wrong.
Their findings came as a surprise but was not altogether unwelcome and had long since ended. After it had subsided she slowly returned to active duty.
However, her return to the guard was mired by a series of ponies, who taken it upon themselves to exact punishment on Foxtrot. They believed vehemently that she had gotten off easy or were in a state of paranoia and thought some small part of Nightmare Moon was still inside Foxtrot. Some had even argued that she be held accountable for the burning of Ponyville.
Most of these ponies mealy tried to intimidate or guilt trip Foxtrot. Others, though, had more sinister plots in mind, leading to her being more guarded and watched.

Such thoughts of the past and her uncertain future were driven from Foxtrot’s mind, as her silent contemplation was broken the soft sound of laughter.
Peering over her shoulder, she cast her eyes upon the light gray form of a young unicorn filly. Jumping in the deeper snow and enjoying the shapes she was making. Foxtrot couldn’t help but smile at the filly, “Moonlight!”
Moonlight Snow looked up from her play and up at Foxtrot, who was beckoning her over, “Come and say hello to your father.”
“Ok, mummy,” She replied before shaking the snow out of her gold tipped azure hair and bounded over to Foxtrot. She positioned herself under her mother, between her front hooves and in the cutest of fashions, waved at her father's monument. Moonlight then looked up at her mother with her golden eyes, “Mummy, what was daddy like?”
“Well, he was kind and very brave,” Foxtrot answered. She then tickled Moonlight’s side, bringing her out in giggles, “Just like a certain little pony I know.”
When her mother finished tickling her, Moonlight asked for her favorite story, “How did you and daddy meet?”
“Moonlight, I’ve told you that story hundreds of times.”
“But I really like it, mummy.”

Pricks of cold across her skin drew Foxtrot’s attention skywards. A fresh batch of snow had begun descending on a north breeze.
In an instant, she was sent back to that fateful year. Memories of Hoofly, both good and bad. The terror brought by Nightmare Moon and the vicious storm. But most of all, she could see and hear Midnight Snow once again.
Foxtrot looked back down at the expecting eyes of her daughter.
“Well, ok then.”
Foxtrot sat down with Moonlight and started to tell her the tale once again.