//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Moon & Fire 
// Story: When Snow Falls 
// by Prophet Of Doom 
//------------------------------//

     Midnight Snow sat in the shade of the tree he had found himself in nine days prior when he had gone on a wonder from Pontville hospital.
He took another swig from the large cider bottle that was given by a large red stallion earlier in the day, before looking up at the full moon. Its rays shone down Ponyville, illuminating everything with the mystic glow that only moonlight could. 
Midnight then he turned his sights back to the fire that had been burning for serval hours. When it was lit, it was impressive roaring fire. Now it had strong yet gentle flames. If it had been a bonfire of some description then he might have taken comfort in its warmth, but not this one. It was funeral pyre.

On the same day that Foxtrot became Midnight’s officially chaperone, Dr Twinstar brought a problem to Celestia’s attention. The spells keeping the inside of White Apple Barn refrigerated was starting to wane and proving troublesome to keep it going. The Dr stated plainly that it would soon fail and in the heat of summer, it wouldn’t be long before things got unpleasant in the barn.
It was Celestia who made the call. On Dr Twinstar’s advice, decreeing that does who did not survive the crash be cremated. It was either this or risk disease.
A small patch of ground north of where the plane had come down was chosen and timber was brought in from across the kingdom.
The memorial service was led by Celestia herself, joined by Twilight sparkle. The respect shown to the deceased was touching, the entire town turned up for the proceedings and an honour guard formed by the 1st company of the royal guard' Celestia’s Own. As Celestia set the sun, touch bearers set a flame into the pyre.
Midnight had been allowed out for this event but was warned not stand for too long. It was Foxtrot who suggested returning to the same tree that they had met, and it was from this vantage point they watched the service. 
It was now hours later in the dead of night. The mass of ponies present at the service had long since disbanded, leaving only a few members of Celestia’s Own to stand guard.
Midnight looked back up at the moon’ he found it hard to stare at the pyre too long. But even here could not find comfort. The creators on its surface betrayed its difference’ this wasn’t his moon’ wasn’t his world.

“It's not usual to find somepony up this late.” Came a voice wafting in gently with the cool night air.
Midnight turned to head to the newcomer to the see a pony he’d seen at the ceremony hours ago, princess Luna. Foxtrot told him of this night princess, along with teaching some of Equestria’s customs.
“Look who talking,” Midnight rebutted with a grin.
Luna smiled’ walking up to join him.
“It is my duty to patrol the night and move the moon across the sky,” Luna stated in her regal tone.
“Wait,” -Midnight looked at Luna- “You move the moon?”
“Why yes,” Luna answered. “Does this seem strange to you?”
Midnight nodded’ before taking another swig of cider.
“In my world’ the moon moves by itself,” He said. “With no help from no-one else.”
“Oh,” -Luna looked away for a moment- “Like in olden days.”
Midnight gave her a quizzical look.
“In olden times’ well over a thousand years ago,” Luna started. “There was a vicious war that lasted for generations. At its end, so much magic had been consumed that the moon and the sun would no longer travel across the sky. I and my sister Celestia were blessed to become alicorns and tasked with moving the sun and moon.”
“You're over a thousand years old?” Midnight gave Luna a sceptical look. Luna nodded.
“You don’t look it,” He smiled.
Luna giggled at this compliment. Midnight smiled, taking a swig of cider.
“How much of that have you drunk?” Luna asked’ cocking an eye.
Midnight weighed the bottle in his between his hooves, trying to judge the amount left in it.
“I’d say about half of it,” He replied before taking a swig.
“Do you not think’ you’ve had enough?’ Luna coaxed.
“It is a good tasting cider but I would not describe it as strong, at least not by my homelands standard,” He answered’ taking yet another swig.
“You’ll won’t be able to walk let alone fly back at the rate you're drinking that.”

There was a moment of silence after this last remark.
“Your sister didn’t tell you did she?” -he looked blankly at her unknowing face- “I finally gain a pair of wings that mankind has always dreamed of’ and immediately lose one.”
Luna’s eyes widened and were drawn to the bandages on his back where his left wing should’ve been.
“It was completely mangled,” Midnight continued. “The doctors couldn’t save it.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” Luna began.
“Its ok,” He stopped her. "That's just the kind of luck I’ve been having recently.”
Both their attentions were then drawn to the pyre’ as some burning timber shifted noisily in the fire.
“My parents are in that,” Midnight said flatly.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Luna comforted.
Midnight stared at the fire. All too quickly memories of the flight poured into his head, the noises and screams. Filling him until he could not hear the real world around him.

A hoof shaking his shoulder snapped him back to reality.  
“Midnight’ are you ok?” Luna asked gently. Midnight lifted a hoof to his cheek and felt the tears flowing from his eyes.
“Ah, man. I thought I’d stopped crying,” -He wiped the tears away- “I’ll be ok’ I’ll be ok.”
He wasn’t convincing but Luna didn’t press the issue. Instead, her attention was drawn Foxtrot’ fidgeting in her sleep. Out of her armour and resting up against the tree.
“Isn’t that your…” -Luna pointed-
“Oh that's Foxtrot,” -Midnight looked at the sleeping mare- “My chaperone.”
“She should not be resting when you are out here…” Luna stated Sternly.
“Oh, leave her be,” Midnight insisted. “Its been a long day and she’s had to put up with me’ and I couldn’t have been a barrel of laughs.”
Midnight took a couple of gulps from the cider bottle.
“And you’ Midnight?” Luna asked.
“I don’t think sleep is finding me tonight,” He said giving a weak smile. “I’ll just wait here until the dawn rises.”
“I, however cannot,” -luna looked up to the night sky-
“Must get back to my duties. It was nice to meet you' Midnight Snow.”
“And you princess Luna,” Midnight said, lifting his bottle up in acknowledgement. 
Luna began to walk away, before stopping and looking back.
“oh, and Midnight,” she said grabbing his attention. “Do try and get some sleep.”
“I’ll try princess,” he chuckled.
“Goodnight Midnight.”
“Goodnight princess.”

Luna started walking away, making a mental note to recommend Midnight gets therapy when she next see’s Celestia. However knowing her sister, she would already be on it. The thought made her smile.
She made her way past four royal guards who were off to replace the ones standing watch over the pyre. They saluted  her, which she returned with a slight head bow.
Luna then got several paces beyond them when she stopped dead in her hooves. This feeling’ where have I felt this before.
“Guards!” she said firmly’ turning to face them.
The four guards immediately snapped round to face her.
“Your royal Highness?” One of them asked.
Luna narrowed her eyes and looked at them all over. The feeling she had  a second ago was gone’ and see or feel anything untoward.
“Sorry, it was nothing. you may continue,” She said gracefully.
The four bowed before took flight into her night sky.

 She sensed me! Nightmare Moon thought inside Steel wall. She sensed me! She had been careful not to be detected. Her magical presence was suppressed’ and anything she did that not fit in with Steel Wall’s character was passed off as stress from being at the crash site.
Who was she?