A Song of Night and Fire

Spitfire's eyes widen as she looks at her own funeral.

On the far side of the chapel, in front of an open casket, there's an easel holding up a large photo of her.

"Whoa, there must've been a mix-up!" Spitfire walks down the aisle. "I'm not dead!"

Nopony looks at her. All of the ponies sitting on both sides of the aisle just keep staring ahead.

"Didn't you hear me? I'm alive!" Spitfire approaches the casket. "Whoever's in there, it's not me! I'm --"

She looks into the casket and gasps.

Lying inside is Spitfire -- or, at least, an old version of her. Her mane is white. Her hide is gaunt. Her eyes are closed.

"Wh-what's going on?!" the younger Spitfire exclaims.

She turns around to face the mourners. Old-looking versions of Soarin, Fleetfoot, and her other fellow Wonderbolts sit in the front row. Younger Pegasi, also in Wonderbolt uniforms, occupy the second row.

"...Did I time-travel somehow?!" Spitfire walks up to the white-maned Soarin. "Hey!! Answer me!!"

He doesn't respond, or even look at her. His misty eyes keep staring ahead.

"Can anypony hear me?!" Spitfire shouts.

"I can," says a voice behind her.

Spitfire meeps and turns around. Luna is standing next to the casket.

"P-Princess!" The Pegasus kneels. "You can hear me? Where'd you come from?? Are you here for my funeral?"

"You could say that," Luna replies.

Meanwhile, a young female Pegasus in a Wonderbolt uniform walks behind a podium near the casket. "Good morning, everypony. Thank you all for coming. We're here to celebrate the life and legacy of Captain Spitfire, who peacefully passed away --"

"No I didn't!!" Spitfire yells. "I'm right here!!"

While she shouts, the other Pegasus keeps talking. "-- in her sleep a few nights ago."

Spitfire turns back to Luna. "Why is everypony ignoring me?!"

The princess grins. "You have not figured it out yet?"

The Pegasus looks around the chapel, then back at Luna. Then she smacks her forehead.

"Of course... this is a dream, isn't it?"

Luna nods. "To paraphrase Bronc Twain, 'reports of your death have been greatly exaggerated.'"

Spitfire smirks. "Mystery solved, then."

"One of them, perhaps," the princess replies. "The real mystery is, why are you dreaming about your own funeral?"

The Pegasus shrugs. "How should I know? Dreams are weird."

"Yes, but they happen for a reason. Dreams are often manifestations of our greatest fears." Luna looks at the old version of Spitfire in the casket. "Tell me, Captain Spitfire... do you fear death?"

"If I did, I'd be in the wrong profession," the Pegasus smirks. "I defy death every day~"

"So you say." Luna turns to look at the mourners. "The chapel is only half-full... do you fear being forgotten after you're gone?"

Spitfire shakes her head. "I couldn't care less if everypony forgets me the day after I die. The only thing that matters to me is making a difference as a trainer and a leader."

The princess turns back to the Pegasus. "There has to be -something- wrong with this picture."

"Says who?" Spitfire retorts. "Listen, Princess. I know dreams are important to you, but sometimes, they don't mean anything. There's no hidden message here."

Meanwhile, the mare behind the podium keeps speaking. "She is survived by the Wonderbolts who had the honor of serving with her, and the scores of trainees whom she made into better flyers and better ponies."

Spitfire blinks. "...Wait. That's it? Didn't I leave behind any family?"

"You are not a mother, are you?" Luna asks. "Do you plan to have foals someday?"

"Well, no, but... Well, I figured I'd be married, or at least in a relationship, by the time I died..." Spitfire looks around the chapel. "But the only ponies I recognize are the old Wonderbolts. And I'd never date a teammate."

"Hmm... perhaps it is not dying you fear, but rather, dying alone," Luna says.

Spitfire frowns. "Nonsense. Having a special somepony would be nice, but I'd never lose any sleep over not having one."

Meanwhile, the mare behind the podium says, "Captain Spitfire was more than my mentor. She was my friend. I'll always fondly remember the evenings that she spent with me and my wife, regaling us with tales of her glory days..."

Spitfire cringes. "She has a wife? Where'd she find the time to date somepony?? I can tell by her uniform that he succeeded me as captain -- she can't have much free time!"

"The long hours must be stressful," Luna says.

"Very. Looking for recruits, developing training programs for recruits, actually training recruits... and that's just the recruitment side of the job." Spitfire sighs. "I also have to schedule events, choreograph shows, create and stick to budgets, oversee maintenance of the headquarters and training grounds..."

"That is a lot of work for one pony," the princess remarks.

"I know, right?!" the Pegasus exclaims. "Sometimes I think we should have two co-captains. Leading the Wonderbolts is too much for one pony to handle!"

"Some ponies say the same thing about life itself," Luna replies. "Why face it alone, when you could have a life partner?"

Spitfire snorts. "Partners are for missions and training exercises. If somepony needs a partner just to get through day-to-day life, they must be a real wimp."

"So, your successor is a wimp?" Luna asks, looking at the mare behind the podium.

The pegasus frowns. "I didn't say that. I just... ugh, nevermind. I'm going back to sleep. Or waking up. Whatever. You know what I mean."

"Very well." Luna's horn glows. "I apologize for interrupting your dream, Captain Spitfire. Please take care."

She teleports out of sight.

Spitfire walks over to the casket and looks at the old version of herself. She reaches out to touch her future self's shoulder.

Suddenly, she's lying in bed, reaching toward a pillow.

Spitfire blinks. Then she frowns and sighs.

"I don't need anypony," she says to her empty bedroom.