Back Into It

        “Inferno you can't be serious about this? Ember asked as she walked by her older brother as they walked down the hallway towards where Tony was. “You have to run the contest again” She ordered.

         “What? So you can cheat again? Or is this the case where you keep sending dragons to fight him over and over until he is finally dead because you can't let your older sister run her own life?” Inferno asked as Tidal slowed his pace to walk with the other royals and VIPs.

        “What are doing?” Twilight asked moments before Inferno stopped, turned to the smaller Dragoness.

         “Brother please I'm telling you that he give me a bad…” She was saying before she was interrupted by Inferno.

           “No this is just because you desire pure blooded hatching to be an heir, that is why you are sending that little purple whelp love letters… this is not mentioning that he is two hundred years underage. Tony has not only help create one of the largest and most successful alliances this world has seen, but he shown to me and every drake he meets that he is a strong man and can… and will protect those he cares for so do you understand why I have not interfered with Amber and Tony’s relationship?” He growled at the blue Dragoness.

       “So if I was a jackass you would have interfered?” A voice asked curious.

         “No, if you were a Jackass, I probably would have left you in the no-man's land with two broken legs” Inferno explained as he turned to look at his friend, who currently had his left arm and shoulder bandaged while he stood in shorts with a crystal mare under his arm. “And why do you have a pony under your arm?” Inferno asked.

       “She refused to let me stand up or out of her sight” He said with a smile as the mare fidgeted.

         “Tony please but the maid down” Celestia said as she shook her head with a smirk.

          “Why? She is just going to attempt to take me back to the sick bay” Tony explained.

           “Which is where you should be in your current condition!” She stated as Tony chuckled.

            “Trust me, I have suffered worse” He said with a warm smile.

            “Like what?” Ember asked rudely while getting a quick glare from her brother.

             “Well this arm got crushed by a several ton blue Fucker” Tony said patting his right arm that currently held his nurse.

               “If I may cut in, how is it that you still have your arm then?” Tidal asked him.

               “Oh well I have only had this arm for probably two months, because I went through a Changeling metamorphosis that to what Chrys’s mother drilled into my head, is what happens when a normal Changeling becomes a queen” He said receiving several confused looks. “Of course something went wrong and luckily I am still a bloke” Tony said as Amber walked passed the crowd and hugged Tony tightly.

          “I'm so proud of you for winning” She said nuzzling his neck.

            “Ow… thanks but I have a question Inferno” Tony asked looking at the large red armoured Dragon. “Who was the massive black Dragon, and how did he shatter the barrier?” Tony asked.

          “I honestly have no idea Tony, but all I do know that we probably haven't seen the last of him” Inferno said as Tony nodded before he placed the mare he was holding back onto the ground moments before he felt her gently bite his hand and try and drag him back to the sick bay.

          “Alright I am coming” Tony groaned as he turned and followed the crystal pony with Amber beside him.

           “Ember, you are to be relocated to Sanctuary” Inferno said.

            “What! Why?” she asked in shock.

             “You will be Tony’s new point of contact for when or if he restarts bounty hunting” He said.

               “Why do I have to?” She asked.

             “Because you have cost the nation several thousand coin per Dragon knight that were slain, an extra hundred thousand for hiring the arena and all the damages to a ruler of the Crystal Empire” He said as Ember frowned.

         “Damn it” She sighed.

(Crystal Empire, several days later)

        “Tell me again why you are having me look after day court?” Tony asked as Cadence pushed him down onto the throne before kissing him softly.

         “Because my darling, you are my husband and thus the co-ruler of the Empire, you went through the coronation and…” She was say in before Tony covered her mouth with his hand.

          “Is this because that new Spa opened in Ponyville?” He asked her as she blushed brightly. “Thought so, go have fun Candy and I'll try not to wreck the kingdom” He said as he removed his hand only to have her kiss him again.

           “Good, Both Umbra and Glimmer will be with you if you need any help” She said as he cocked an eyebrow. “Glimmer has been assigned to your personal guard as you would be able to keep her in line, and also she has had experience being a ruler” She explained as Tony looked over to Umbra and Glimmer walking in.

       “And Umbra?” He asked.

        “I ruled the kingdom for five hundred years” She said with a smirk as she came up to Cadence and Tony, and gently turned Cadence’s muzzle towards her and kissed her.

          “Right… just make out on top of me” Tony said as Cadence broke the kiss.

           “Well if you stopped avoiding having sex with us then this wouldn't be the case” She said with a smirk.

             “Well until you tell me who the other new members of the herd are, you are not getting any from me” He said as she frowned.

               “What about you and Aunt Tia when you first returned.” She said.

                 “That was before I found out that there were more additions to our herd” He said.

                 “Don’t worry Cadence, he can't last long without breaking from the lack of sex, Seeing as we can mate with each other” Umbra said with a smirk.

                 “That's cheating” He said as Cadence kissed him briefly before teleporting away while Umbra stole a kiss also before climbing off of him.

                “Wait so why are you not telling him the new additions?” Glimmer asked.

                “Because the girls and I want it to be a surprise” She said with a smirk before she gave a nod to the guard at the end of the hall moments before the first crystal pony came in, it was obvious from the way she walked and dressed that she was noble but what seemed to change this was when she locked eyes on who was on the throne and beside it causing her to trip over herself.

       “Are you alright?” Tony asked in a serious tone as the Mare instantly righted herself and straightened out her jacket.

        “Y-yes I am perfectly alright your highness” She said nervously as her gaze darted between Umbra, Glimmer Shield and Tony.

          “You know that turn tail and running won't solve anything” Tony said as the mare tensed up.

           “t-turn tail and r-run… I-i would never be so disrespectful of such a…” She was about to continue until Tony sighed and spoke up.

            “Don't try and compliment me, just relax, take some deep breaths and treat me like you would like to be treated” He said as the mare nodded before taking several deep breaths as Tony watched her form visibly loosen up. “Better?” He asked.

             “Yes sir” She said as he gestured her to continue approaching, which she hesitantly did until she was a two metres from him.

               “So tell me, what brings you here today ms….” Tony asked her.

               “Gem Rush” She said as he nodded “Um I desire to ask for a loan from the crown in order to reopen the mine on the outside the city, several miles east of the Train station, that was closed shortly after Som. … Umbra’s rise” She said as she avoided Umbra’s gaze.

                 “Alright, Umbra tell me about this mine” He asked the dark unicorn.

                 “It was a gem mine that stuck a large vein of Iron” She said turning her gaze to Tony. “As you may know, Iron is uncommon in Equestria and the Crystal Empire, majority of nails and metals used are an silver steel” She explained.

              “Silver Steel?” Tony asked confused.

               “Yes, it is made the same way as steel but significantly less malleable unless melted down, and in combat… it's better than nothing” Glimmer added.

               “And why has this mine not been reopened until now?” He asked them as the two shrugged until Gem Rush spoke up.

                “W-well the mine was believed to be a empty gem mine until… well my young colt discovered this when him and his friends went exploring it” She said as she removed a bag from her mane and handed it to Umbra, who opened it and pulled out a chunk of rock.

               “It's a rock” Tony said as Umbra deadpanned.

               “Tony this is Iron ore, have you never seen this before?” she asked.

                “Hey, where I was born, we stopped using iron a hundred years earlier” He said with his hands up. “So Gem, how much will it cost to reopen the mine?” He asked her.

              “Well you'll be making a profit in less than three years if my estimates are correct” She said smiling nervously.

              “Okay… how much?” He asked again.

             “half a million bits” She said as both Glimmer and Umbra went slack jawed.

              “Alright, do you have a construction plan?” He asked her.

               “Please your highness, I know it's high but it's mostly for safety...Wait what?” She asked blinking as she looked at Tony along with the other two ponies.

                 “I said alright, considering that mining is a massive industry” He said with a smile. “Bring me a construction plan and a work schedule as soon as possible and also I need to know how much the crown will be getting in return?” Tony asked as the three mares blinked a couple times.

            “Y-Yes of course your majesty, i-i shall be back soon” She said before galloping out of the room.

          “So what are you gonna tell Cadence about five hundred thousand bits missing?” Umbra asked.

          “I'll give the money to Gem Rush from my personal account” He said as the two mares nodded.

           “Alright, so if this pays off, then what are you going to tell Cadence the sudden increase of bits then?” Glitter asked.

          “Fuck if I know” He said as a unicorn stallion trotted in before tripping over at the same spot as the mare and face planted. “I think that needs to be looked at” Tony muttered as the Stallion got back onto his hooves and walked over with a large smile on his face, a suit and saddle bags on his body.

            “Good morning My king, how are you this fine day?” He asked happily as Tony smirked.

              “Good, and yourself?” Tony asked waiting for the Stallion to tell him what he wanted.

                “I'm good sire, I just wanted to see if you are interested in making lots of bits in tourism?” He asked moments before the throne room doors burst open and a light blue Pegasus mare came galloping in only to trip over in the same spot as the other two and tumble forward as two guards chasing her did the same thing as her.

          “Yea really need to fix that” Tony muttered as the mare got up and ran up until she was a metre away from Tony, which at this point, Glimmer had grabbed her in her magic. “So who do I owe the pleasure ms?” He asked as the two crystal pony guards picked themselves up off the ground and ran over only to stop when Umbra raised her hand.

          “My name is Tender Heart and I came to stop this stallion” She said as Tony gestured to Glimmer to release the mare.

            “Oh, well how about you inform me on why you are here sir?” Tony asked the Stallion.

              “Oh well I want to turn the old Orphanage into a Brothel, which is predicted to bring over ten thousand bits weekly in tax to the crown” He said as Tony stroked his short beard before looking at Tender Heart.

                “I presume that you are in charge of the Orphanage then Ms Heart?” Tony asked she nodded hesitantly. “Okay well tell me, what is the condition of the Orphanage?” He asked her out of curiosity.

              “Um well… I… “ She was try in to explain as her ears folded back against her head.

                “You see it is jus…” The Stallion was about to explain before Tony looked at him and spoke.

               “Is your name Tender Heart?” He asked as the Stallion shook his head. “Then shut it” He growled causing the stallion to recoil before returning his gaze to Tender. “Continue” He asked.

                “Well, the Orphanage is only running on donations mostly, all money we receive from any adoptions goes into bills and heating for the foals… we are desperate for financial aid but I can't get a loan from the bank seeing as I have already taken out several loans to fix up the place and feed the foals… Please… don't do this” She begged as Tony looked to the Stallion and then at Tender Heart.

        “Tell me Stallion, what while happen to the children?” He asked before taking a look at the guards who were fixing the carpet so It wouldn't trip anyone but they couldn't seem to find the problem until they would occasionally trip over and face plant.

         “Well they are welcome to stay… if they worked as cleaning staff” He said as the three mares were glaring at him just as Tony rose from the throne causing the two ponies in front of him to shrink from his size.

         “Tender Heart, Your Orphanage is property of the Royal family, the building shall be repaired by the best and you shall receive a regular income, along with a decent amount weekly for the foals, I just need you to fill out some forms explaining the details of the foals” He said as the blue mare tackled him and hugged him.

       “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you” She said before realizing what she was doing and released the man while blushing brightly.

        “Your welcome, as your you sir, I have a gift for giving me such an ‘inspiring idea’ Tony said as he removed his inhibitor braces from his arms causing both Umbra and Glimmer to look at Tony and each worried.

       “And what's that sir?” He asked with a greedy smile.

        “I'm going to turn you into a pegasus” Tony said with a evil smirk.

          “huh?” The stallion asked.

(Outside)

           “So I hear that Queen Cadence has gone to visit Princess Twilight” A stallion said to another pony in the line.

             “But the who is running day court?” A mare asked curious.

            “Her husband, King Anthony” the stallion explained as the mare gulped. “Don’t worry I hear he is super nice” The stallion reassured the Mar moments before they saw a Unicorn stallion come flying out the door at high speed before landing in a large pile of snow with his back legs kicking in the air frantically.