After me and Blaze made it about two or three miles down the pathway in Central Park, we decided it’d be the perfect time to take a nap. So what we did was walk off to the side of the path and laid in the grass. The signs more than welcomed path goers to lay in the grass to have a rest, or take a nap, as they please. Seeing that in mind, Blaze laid down in the grass, and I laid down beside her, before leaning into her. We both let out a long, contented sigh as I rolled around to get comfy, before settling on my back, in a little ‘salute’. I stared up at the sky for a little while before nuzzling Blaze.

“You know Luna’s been following us this whole time, correct?” Blaze asked. “To ‘talk with her ex’ or whatever.

“So? If she wants a conversation, she can have it when I fit her into my schedule. Right now, I’m in the mood for the eighth degree of take a fucking nap, so I’m going to take a fucking nap. So…” I stretched my legs and hugged the fox’s neck. “We need to do this more often, just you and me, we travel a little ways away from the group, cuddle together, nap, just spend some nice, quality time together. You, me, and some sweet, sweet dreams.”

“That sounded almost like you were going to say something about mating.” Blaze gave me a sly smile. “What do you say, Ostri, would you-”

“...Get your mind out of the gutter.” I shook my head. “Seriously bud, I wouldn’t dream of touching you in such a manner. You’re my best bud, not a fuck buddy.”

“I know you weren’t going that way, nor would you think of me in that way; you adore me so much in a way so different from how Murk does. It’s sweet, it really is. I just couldn’t help how that could easily be taken and spun into ‘nice, hot sex’ or whatever the fuck you mortals call mating.” I snorted at that and laughed. “See? I can make you laugh.” My fox giggled. “I’m so glad to hear you laugh; it’s quite contagious.”

I was actually beginning to choke on my own spit. “I wasn’t expecting that from you of all people, Blaze. You usually have a bit more class than that!” I coughed some more as I tried to clear my throat of slobber. I even started pounding on my chest while Blaze rubbed my back.

“And we’re alone. Who gives a shit about class?” She tilted her head. “Are you alright?”

“I’m dying,” I croaked, before laying my head flat against Blaze’s shoulder.

“What are you two talking about?” We groaned. Why can’t she leave us be.

“Luna,” I said. “I’ll say this once, only because I’d rather not physically harm somebody. Not somebody I used to love. Piss off.” Blaze actually grabbed Luna after I said that, with her magic, forced her wings open into ‘glide’ mode, before chucking her super hard, into the air. Luna screamed as her wings forced her to glide out, out and away from our chosen spot to nap. I think she was sent soaring into the Sun, but I wasn't paying attention, I had a kitsune to cuddle with. We both nodded as Blaze draped her tails over us, and I knew she casted something on us to be invisible.

It was a damn good nap.

We woke up a few hours later and ended up walking into a Chinese restaurant a few hours later. It wasn’t actually called a Chinese restaurant, but it basically was. It was that generic shit, a bunch of dry noodles, chow mein, in a box, though tossed in sauce, ‘meatballs’ which weren’t really meatballs, and a shitload of veggies. It was just something we decided on because I was sick of canned chili and Blaze wanted to see if she could get any meatballs. The ponies selling this shit were actually really cool.

“Would you like a box just full of tofu balls,” those were what the fake meatballs were called. “For your pet?” The cashier asked. “We won’t charge extra; your fox looks kinda cute,” she lifted a hoof. “May I pet her?” D’aw, this mare was adorable. Blaze set her head on the counter. “Oh, you are so precious!” The cashier giggled. “Oh, I needed to see a cute face like that after all the stress of Equestria being at war.” She sighed. Her eyes widened. “She just spoke to me,” she blinked. “You’re sapient?” A pause. Blaze was actively blocking my ability to constantly hear her telepathy. “Oh… You’re like a really smart animal,” the cashier shrugged. “Well, I’ll get you that box full of tofu balls. I’ll be back with your order, Ostri.” She bowed and walked into the kitchen area.

This mare has manners that make the Japanese look like hooligans.

“I like her,” Blaze nodded. “I may kidnap her so that she is not in any danger of getting hurt when the Storm King tries to invade Manehattan again.

“Blaze, no. We can’t kidnap random people.” I smirked. “And no seducing her with your puppy charms to get her to come with us. That’s kidnapping!”

Blaze looked hurt. “I would never kidnap somebody!” My fox smirked and gave me a shit eating grin. “But I can throw your ex like she’s a paper airplane through a park.”

“Yeah, she was interrupting our nap. And that was kinda funny, hearing her scream like that.” I sighed. “Kinda hurts, but the life Luna’s led, has led to me hearing her scream in fear.”

We walked out of the chinese place with our chosen foods, fake meat for Blaze, and chow mein and fake meat and veggies for me. We sat down at a bench and started eating… There’s no chopsticks, but I do have a fork, I guess. I opened Blaze’s box for her, because she gave me puppy eyes, and used the excuse that she’s preggers and needed to conserve magic for the pups.

“Please open my food’s packaging for me…” Blaze laid her head on her paws and looked up at me with the most pitiful look ever. “I’m out of magic for the day and I need my big, strong stallion to open it for me.”

“Fuck you, Blaze,” I grumbled. “You’re mockin’ me for my vertically challenged body?”

“No… I just need help getting to my fake meatballs.” Blaze whimpered. “Can you help me?” I opened her takeout box. “Yay!” She planted a canine kiss on my cheek and dug into her food. “I was out of magic, so you did me a favor, Ostri. I love you!”

Ignoring how she has enough magic to throw Luna into the sky, I found that kinda bullshit, but her puppy eyes were a really solid argument in saying this was an actual thing. Also she’s a sweet little thing, beneath all the teasing and the usage of her being cute to manipulate me into opening her box, because she’s lazy. I love my kitsune and that little kiss was probably one of the most genuine ones Blaze has given me.

It felt good. Being loved by Blaze as much as she loves me.

We began to dig in and it turned out there was a shitload of food; I don’t think I could finish all of this in one sitting, but I’ll damn near try to. In fact, I was about halfway through my food when I looked up and… Luna was standing in front of us again.

“Okay, Luna, that is getting creepy. Are you gonna just follow me around Manehattan until we actually talk, where it’s just you telling your tall tales, about how yer sorry and what not? Because I will be frank with you, Luna, your tall tales won’t work.” I put another fork full of noodles in my mouth. “And to be frank, today was just meant to be me hanging out with Blaze before we make a beeline for the Griffonian Border; you chasing me down constantly is kinda annoying.” Blaze remained silent, eating her fake meatballs with mild disgust in her eyes; she hates tofu now. “Blaze, I know, we’ll get you actual meatballs in Griffonia.”

“Look,” Luna sighed. “What will it take you to listen to me? Genuinely listen? Will you hear how I saw things a thousand years ago?” She looked down at her hooves. “I hate what I’ve done to you, and I hate what’s become of our relationship. I…” Luna was crying. “I want to make things right, Ostri.”

I shrugged, and spoke with a tofu ball in my mouth. “You said you didn’t actually love me,” I damn near growled. “What made you think that was okay?!”

“...I thought you left me to be alone! That’s why I thought you didn’t love me and left me to wallow in my own misery!” Luna shot back. “I thought that… I didn’t need you, after I became widely accepted, because you had ‘tossed me out’ when it was something not in your control. It was… I’m sorry, alright? Can we both acknowledge that we messed up here?”

Hmm. I had a point. But so did Luna. With that said, I didn’t want to hate Luna, despite everything she’s done.

“I know I fucked up, Ostri. I know I did. We had an opportunity to make things… how they were, and I ruined it. Because I couldn’t have thought you actually loved me when we first reunited.”

“So when I first opened up with me calling you beautiful, you assumed I didn’t love you? I was worried ‘bout ya, y’know? I thought you were dead or something.” Luna nodded at my assessment. “Luna…” for fuck’s sake. “You know, Luna…” I shook my head. “Yeah, we both screwed up, but I didn’t leave you by choice.”

“I wish I had thought of that when you appeared next to a mare with the same colors as the one you ran off with.” Luna admitted.

I looked down at my food and picked out the last carrot in the box and tossed it in my mouth. “Don’t matter anymore; you and I aren’t dating. You straight up told me that I’m undeserving of love for saving your ass. Do you wanna know how to get on my good side?” I asked. “Because I can tell you’re genuinely sorry, genuinely sorry for what you’ve done. I can appreciate the apology, so please listen to me, and maybe in the future we’ll actually be friends again.”

Luna began to look hopeful. “How?”

“Well, Cadance has been giving me a lot of advice; you couldn’t see yourself as the problem in our relationship, could you? Because I’m sorry if I made you feel like I abandoned you, Luna, but I didn’t want to leave you. I didn’t want to, as it wasn’t my choice according to faith, harmony, whatever the fuck you believe in. But… What you said to me, what you keep trying to do, tryina keep me wrapped around your hooves so that you can have your perfect little ‘warrior’ of a coltfriend? Tell me, Luna, not Princess Luna, not Nightmare whatever the fuck. Tell me, what was one of the first things I told you about myself?”

“...I…” Luna looked away from me. “You’re an orphan.”

“I don’t have a family, Luna. None that are biologically related to me. My mother gave up on me before I could even open my fuckin’ eyes. I struggled with moving forward throughout my school years, and struggled until I metcha. I met you. Once we started dating, I did love you. I’ll admit to being an unbearable piece of shit to your sister, and possibly to you and Starswirl, as much of a cunt that old fucker was. I like to think I was going to grow into something more bearable, but then Starlight screwed up. Then we’ll go back to that invasion, Luna. I saved your ass, I saved your capital city again. What do you tell me after seeing that I wasn’t showin’ remorse?”

“...You are undeserving of love.” Luna’s eyes drifted to the ground. “Oh..."

“And that,” Blaze finally spoke up. “Is why everyone in our group hates you so much, Luna. Frankly, I, and Ostri, would’ve loved nothing more for things to go back to how it was before Ostri disappeared on us, Luna. I tried sticking with you to help you before you became Nightmare Moon and tried to kill me. You were a friend until you so coldly broke Ostri over the course of a month. Had it just been a break up, and not constant attempts at emotionally manipulating him I would’ve considered letting you lay in the grass with us instead of throwing you through the sky.

“You lied to your fucking niece about how Ostri broke your heart. I’m fortunate that Ostri is so excited about me being pregnant, that he has been getting into a much better headspace, with Chrysalis helping him, with Cadance and Shining Armor treating him like a little brother, to Twilight and her friends coming around and being nice to him. You’re lucky that Ostri didn’t give you the cold shoulder yet again, Luna.”

Luna glared at Blaze. “You did not have to throw me through the sky, by the way. I was hoping for a civil conversation.” Blaze let out a human laugh, which only got a stronger glare from our old friend.

“You tried hitting me in the face the last time we spoke.” I pointed out.

“...That I did. Can I do anything, anything, Ostri to get you to forgive me in any capacity?” Luna asked. “I swear by my crown, I’ll follow whatever task you give me.”

“Give up your crown,” I said coldly. “I know you’ve been pointed in a direction by your sister and have gone in it since I’ve returned. Cut your ties with her, quit ruling. Quit being a cunt. Find me when you find out who Luna actually is, and then we’ll talk about being friends, because I can’t see myself loving you Luna. Not like how I once did, but if you come find me in a few years from now, as Luna, not Princess Luna with her head up her sister’s ass, we’ll talk. Properly talk, maybe catch up and be friends again. Got it, Luna?”

Luna stared at me for a long time, for what felt like hours. She stared at me while the gears turned in her head. For a moment, I could see the Luna I fell in love with all those years ago. I watched as she slowly grabbed her crown, and lifted it off her head. She dropped it on the ground and stared at it for a long time. Her gaze fell back on me and Blaze.

“I, Luna, have relinquished my crown.” She bowed her head. “Now what?”

“Go live. Go find out who you are, Luna. Because the way you were, a thousand years ago, that was Luna. You, as you are right now, aren’t Luna, not the Luna I loved. Go live your life, I’ll live mine, find me when you feel like you’ve grown enough and come talk to me. By then, I hope I’ve become half the man I’m striving to be, for Chrysalis and Blaze and her future pups.” I noted that Blaze and I were done eating. “I’ll see you around, Luna. Wish ya luck on your future endeavors, because as much as you’ve hurt me and broken me down, or how much you’ve tried to fuck with me, I still wish the best for ya.”

“...Why did I have to be such an idiot and ruin what we had?” Luna asked. “Why did we have to get separated? After all I’ve done to you, and you’re… still wishing for me to have a nice future.”

“Hey, you were demonized when we first met, and then probably manipulated by your sister into being a cunt.” I smiled at her for the first time since the day we were torn apart. “You deserve something better,” I hopped up from my seat. “Me and Blaze are escapin’ Equestria and I recommend you do the same. First, though, go ahead and apologize to Thorax for lying to him. Hell, you don’t need to tell Celestia where you’re goin’, just go somewhere… set up a new life for yourself.” I extended a hoof. “Hopefully things will start lookin’ better in the future.”

“To a better future. I swear, by the next time we meet, I will be a better mare.”

“And by the time we meet again, please don’t expect a relationship. Friendship? Sure. I dunno if I can see myself dating you again.”

“Friendship is acceptable. I… still cannot express how sorry I am for hurting you.”

“Don’t sweat it. Go enjoy yourself, Luna.”

Luna and I shook hooves and parted ways.

A few hours later, I was marchin’ on like a weight’s been lifted off my chest. I found Cadance and the group, all having a picnic in Central Park. It looked like Cadance and Shiny bought a shit load of stuff to make into sandwiches; everyone had a sandwich. Even Murk had one.

“Ostri, there you are!” Cadance waved. “When we didn’t at least see you pass by on the trail, we’d assumed you and Blaze either somehow got lost, or went somewhere else.”

“Nah, we had lunch, and then we ran into your aunt.” I said as Blaze went and immediately cuddled with Murk. I found myself pulled into the gentle embrace of Cadance. Chrysalis was laying with Starlight Glimmer… Huh. That’s adorable. Given what Chryssy initially wanted, that is very cute.

“Which one?” Cadance asked.

“Luna. We had a talk, she’s no longer a princess, and is currently leaving Manehattan. Hopefully we’ll get a visitor to the Empire in a few years, and see an actually pleasant mare, and not just an alicorn running after something her sister pointed her towards.” I hummed. “Because at the end of the day, I’ve a feeling that Celestia has enough experience to pull enough strings to kinda force what’s going on, and will use anything to make those strings do what she wants. Luna and I are prime examples; Celestia sucks at war, her guard is borderline incompetent… No offense, Shiny.”

“Eh, none taken. They’ve fallen off a little after I moved to the Empire.” Shiny sighed. “Unfortunately that’s affecting how ponies are surviving the war; I’m disappointed at how many of my officers sent their stallions towards a force that outnumbered them, and were surprised when they lost.”

“So she needs somebody who apparently knows war, and I’m the only guy not willing to play fair during a war, apparently, and that makes me good or some shit. I’ll be frank and say, compared to other people back home, I don’t know shit. I just follow tactics and already established things that humans have done, such as hiding and waiting to strike from your hiding place, or simply not take on an enemy head on when they out number me. Celestia knows Luna and I were a couple a thousand years ago, so what does she do after Luna and I broke up?”

“Get Luna to try and swindle you.” Cadance answered.

“Yeah, Celestia’s fucked us all over. Sucks, really does, but hey, now she’s ruling Equestria… solo again. Luna, now, seems remorseful enough to actually do as I told her, which was give up her crown and go live a normal life for a while. As normal as it can get for somepony that moves the Moon every evening and morning, that is.” I shrugged. “Besides, as much as I want to remain angry at Luna, I’m not the stupid little kid I was a year ago, for me at least, when I first met Luna. A year ago, I’d probably punched Luna in the face and broke her neck. Now? I just wanna live my life, Cadance. Luna can find her way back into it, but not in any relationship. If she does, or doesn’t, don’t mean shit. If I’m breathin’ and enjoyin’ myself, I’m living life and I’m living it good.

“I’ve got you, Chryssy, Blaze, and Twilight and everyone here. I’ve got friends, I’ve got something resembling a family, and I’m happier now. Once we’re done here, let’s go make a beeline towards Griffonia; I want to meet up with Ponyville’s residence at some point.”

“Okay, Ostri,” we all looked around… No Cozy Glow? I looked up and around before turning to ssk Cadance:

“Where’s Cozy?” Something tackled the back of my head, very gently. I blinked a few times, before reaching around and pulling Cozy off the back of my head. “What’re you doing?”

“I missed you,” Cozy sounded so pitiful when she said that.. “I wanted to spend today with you, you know.” She sat on her rear in the cutest way possible, if she meant to do that or not is up for debate; this kid’s just kinda cute.

“...You ain’t lying, are you?” I asked.

“No. I’m not! Why are you assuming that?” The little filly asked. “I just missed you.” She flopped down into my side, and nuzzled up into my chest. “Is there anything wrong with that?” She closed her eyes and let out another sigh. “I really missed you, Ostri.”

“Blaze, Murk?” I asked.

“She wouldn’t stop whining about how I wouldn’t let her go hangout with you and Blaze,” Murk rolled his eyes. “There is something resembling a little girl that just wants to be loved and cared for in that filly. I would’ve let her go bother you if Blaze hadn’t told me how important stuff like this was for you.” He shook his head and smiled. “You’re grooming her, by the way.” I looked down at the kid and blinked a few times. Oh. Cozy was happily humming as my tongue moved through her mane. She brought a hoof up, stopped my tongue, before pulling out her bows, and then let me continue my work.

“Say Cozy,” I hummed.

“Yeah, Ostri?”

“Wanna not be an orphan, anymore?” I asked.

“...What does…” The kid paused. “Mean…” she tilted her head. “You want to adopt me?”

“If I said yes, how would you-” Cozy hugged my muzzle and did something so cute that I think I got heartburn.

“YES! YES! YES! YES!” Cozy squeezed on my muzzle as Cadance began to write out the ‘official’ documents for us to finalize this.

Author's Note

I did some editing, did some adding onto the last scene. Cozy warmed up to Ostri way quicker than Inwoulda thought, and now Luna's running away from Equestria. Celestia... is now fucked.

In the background, I'm gonna mention the war/new shifts in power in Equestria rather than outright have newspapers be used as literal exposition.

I wanna make use of 'gossip' and stuff.