//------------------------------// // Interlude pt. 1: the Elements track Ostri down. // Story: New Horizons // by Nugget27 //------------------------------// Meanwhile, in an Apple Jack pulled a wagon not too far east with her friends in it. They had been trailing Ostri’s group ever since Princess Cadance and Shining Armor had gone with them for undisclosed reasons. Apple Jack, personally, didn’t see the point. Ostri wasn’t the best pony, sure, and he did blow up an invading warship, but Ostri didn’t deserve what happened to him, constantly being lied to, betrayed, and manipulated, and treated overall like shit. It also didn’t help that Apple Jack watched as, for the first time ever since Luna’s consort returned, that Luna was genuinely upset about ‘how she ruined the love of her life’. Apple Jack was there, when the two initially talked in the throne room. That wasn’t genuine. Nothing, nothing that either of the Royal Pony Sisters had done until Ostri finally left Canterlot and Ponyville behind was genuine. Meanwhile, Ostri had been pretty honest with how he was feeling. Apple Jack already sided with Ostri's honesty more than she sided, or trusted, the princesses at the moment. It didn’t help that Twilight, as much as AJ wanted to stick with her friend, was sticking by Princess Celestia until the bitter end, apparently. Since Twilight and Celestia had the idea of sending Shining Armor and Cadance with their group, because according to some unicorn bullshit, that the farm pony couldn’t be asked to understand, Twilight can track where her brother is. By extension, if Shining Armor is with Ostri, Twilight can track Ostri. Cadance and Shining Armor weren't even in on the plan; they just thought of it as a vacation with the added bonus of being able to go home and avoid the war. Pinkie, didn’t really care about what was going on except she did say this: “You know, Twilight, Ostri looked pretty happy before we showed up at his camp last time.” She pointed out. “Then he stopped smiling as soon as Princess Celestia opened her mouth. He smiled when I asked if I could plan his wedding reception out. I bet Ostri’s pretty happy, finally has a marefriend that cares about him, he and Cadance get along just fine, too. He’s got a super, super duper awesome pet fox that he loves so much! And I bet he and Shining Armor are best friends now!" “What’s your point, Pinkie?” “Ostri should be left alone! He only got mentally abused while he was depressed after Princess Luna broke up with him in one of the harshest ways I’ve ever seen! Plus he doesn’t seem a day older than twenty, Twilight; at a minimum he’s five years younger than all of us. Don’t you think that going after him, when he is clearly dangerous and mentally unstable, is a good idea?” “He killed a ship full of yetis! Princess Celestia said we should try and reform him!” Twilight didn't feel the need to add that she could break Ostri in half six times over with her magic. “Ostri saved Canterlot from being invaded, Twilight. Also, Ostri doesn’t need reforming, he needs time away from everypony, and time with his loved ones. He's getting that right now, so he'll finally start smiling again.” Pinkie said calmly. “Seriously stop. I don’t want to make anypony angry.” After that, Pinkie went back to her normal, bubbly self. Everypony felt a full body shiver; never before had Pinkie been so calm, or concise when speaking. It was horrifying to say the least. At some point, the only unicorn in the group decided to chime in. “I, for one, think he is rather barbaric! What kind of stallion turns Princess Luna for Queen Chrysalis?” Rarity asked. “That creaton should be locked up!” “Well,” Rainbow scratched the back of her head. “It sounded like Ostri all but swore his allegiance to Princess Luna. And Luna dumped him. Then she decided to do what she did to him. If that were me, I would’ve blown up the castle. I don’t think Ostri’s that bad, girls. He did technically save everypony from an invasion twice. He at least has good intentions no matter how extreme they are.  “On top of that, Ostri hasn’t done anything objectively illegal to Equestria. Breaking a princess’s heart isn’t a crime as far as I can tell. Blowing up some griffins a thousand years ago, and an invading airship are technically crimes against the yetis and griffins.” Never before had anypony heard Rainbow Dash use actual, somewhat sound reasonig before. Something js seriously wrong. Pinkie being serious? Rainbow thinking things through? What the bucknis going on? “He uhm…” Fluttershy whispered. “Ostri said he’d let me study Blaze if she was okay with it. Ostri’s scary, but… he just needs somepony to be nice to him. If Queen Chrysalis is staying in check because of him, and Queen Chrysalis is keeping Ostri in check, then it’s a good thing.” “And,” Discord suddenly appeared out of nowhere. “While I am going to enjoy the incoming chaos, I must agree with Fluttershy on this one, or she won’t let me hold her. What that stallion is capable of doing is so deliciously chaotic, and you’re helping to fuel it, Twilight. By the way, Shining Amror stopped trying to ‘get information’ on Ostri after the first night. He’s just curious about Ostri’s group now; he shares one bottle of whisky with Ostri and they’re best buds! Heck, what’s more chaotic is that good ol’ Chryssy and Cady are getting along swimmingly!” “But… Ostri said he’d let Cadance die!” “No, he didn’t, actually.” Discord pulled out the script for Dawn of a New Day and started reading it. “He said he wouldn’t guard Cadance, but after some consideration, Ostri offered his services to Cadance if she ever wanted them. It’s weird; the only alicorn that has shown Ostri kindness in recent times is the only one he’d willingly put his life on the line for. I mean, come on Twilight, wasn’t one of your ‘friendship lessons’ about treating others how you want to be treated?” “Ostri is treating everypony rather poorly-” “Ostri happily watched the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Apple Jack pointed out. “Saved them from a timber wolf and everything.” “He’s a good sport,” Rainbow added. “He says I’m a better flier than he is, even though he’s as fast as I am. Straight up told me that I have a good reason to be confident in my flying abilities, too! I just hope he takes up my next offer for a race; it was fun having somepony that can almost keep up with me!” The mares slowly started pulling into Baltimare. Discord had long since ran off to get popcorn. He knew that a certain, yellow pegasus and Queen were happily enjoying themselves at the moment. They had just concluded their date, of simply sitting on a bench together, since Chrysalis wasn’t legally allowed service, and eating dinner together. Ostri had long since fallen asleep, and Chrysalis was holding her coltfriend protectively, not letting anypony within three hoofsteps of her. The group unknowingly passed by Ostri’s wagon, which was still invisible.