An Echo of What Once Was

“Ow… fuck magic if it gonna leave me this sore” Tony groaned as he walked along the streets of the Crystal Empire, occasionally being stopped by Crystal ponies that recognized his battered form and showed great concern. This continued until he was stopped by a patrol of night guard.

“Your majesty, you need medical attention!” A random guard exclaimed.

“Why do you say that?” Tony asked as he looked to the mare before she pointed her hoof to the chunk of spear sticking out of his hip. “Oh i didn’t even notice that” He chuckled as the guards deadpanned before one of them gently took his wrist in her mouth before dragging him off to a nearby hospital while the other walked beside him. “Okay okay i’ll go to hospital” Tony said as the mare released him and walked beside him also.

“Um if you don’t mind me asking… but what happened to you?” The second guard asked from the patrol.

“Well i went on a mission to deal with an army that was marching upon the Crystal Empire and things got out of hand” Tony shrugged before running his fingers through his hair.

“Wait is the army still coming?” The stallion guard asked worried.

“What? No they are all dead” Tony said as the guards stopped and looked at him in shock and awe.

“You are kidding?... how many were there?” The mare asked him.

“Probably no more than a several hundred or just under a thousand” He said with a shrug. “I wasn’t counting” He added with a chuckle as the trio soon arrived at the hospital.

“Oh let me” The stallion said as he quickly galloped forward and opened the door.

“Oh thank you… um i don’t know your names” Tony said as he entered.

“Oh i’m Pearl” The mare stated.

“And i am Quartz Lance” The stallion added.

“Hmm cool” Tony said as they entered the emergency room and Pearl galloped to the counter while Tony sat down in a chair.

“Hello, how may i help you?” The nurse behind the counter asked.

“Hello, um i am here with Queen Cadance’s husband and he is badly wounded!” Pearl said.

“I am perfectly fine” Tony called out.

“With all due respect… you have a foot and a half of spear sticking out of you… not to mention all these cuts and… is that a dagger sticking out of the back of your leg?” Quartz asked.

“So that’s why it hurt to walk?” Tony asked before he chuckled.

“How are you unphased by this?” Quartz asked.

“Adrenaline and i have suffered worse… also i may be exhausted” Tony explained as a pair of medical ponies rushed out with a stretcher only for them to realize it wasn’t long enough.

“Um sire, please take a seat on the bed please” The Doctor asked, which Tony complied.

“Well, Cadance and Lucy are gonna murder me” Tony chuckled before feeling around the back of his leg moments before finding the dagger just before he tore it free from his leg while growling in pain before he inspected the blade. “Fucking hell”

“Oh no!” The nurse started to freak out from the now heavily bleeding wound.

“Whoops” Tony said.

(Crystal Empire Castle an hour later)

“It’s all my fault!” Lucy said as she paced back and forth.

“Lucy calm down please” Molestia asked, but it fell on deaf ears.

“I should have made sure he had his crystal before i teleported out… now we can’t even get near the area due to the high level of dark magic surrounding it” Lucy said as tears filled her eyes. “He is gone because of my screw up” Lucy said before she was hugged by Umbra.

“Hush Lucy, he will be alright” Luna said.

“How can you be sure?” Lucy asked as Chrysalis walked over and hugged her.

“Well, the first time i met him, he had just fallen out of the sky and crash landed before he fought a pack of Manticores, the next day he fought Celestia, who took off his arm the fought a giant robot spider.” Chrys explained just as the door opened and two guards entered the throne room.

“Um sorry to intrude but we have been sent to collect all of you” One of the guards stated.

“By who?” Cadance asked.

“King Tony… he is currently in hospi…” The second guard started before the women teleported away. “..tal… okay then”

(Hospital)

“Okay so try to keep off this leg as much as you can and no strenuous activity to prevent bursting the stitches” The doctor explained as he was discharging Tony. “Our magic has healed your chest and leg wounds as much as we could but that leg wound still needs some time to rest and seeing as the bed are far too small for you here, i would recommend that you rest as soon as you get home, oh and here” He said as he put a small bottle of painkillers on a tray next to the bed that Tony was on.

“Thank you Doctor” Tony said with a nod.

“No worry sire, now you just have to wait until you are collected” He said before he turned and left the room, moments before the door burst open and Tony was tackled by several bodies, unfortunately, this also tipped the bed.

“Ow!!!” Tony shouted as several nurses and doctors ran into the room only to see the flipped bed. “I think my stitches burst”

“For buck sake!! It wasn’t even five minutes?” The Doctor said shocked.

“Sorry about them, we were really worried” Umbra said as she stood next to the entrance with a hand on her muzzle.

“Okay this hurts” Tony groaned as Umbra’s horn flared to life before the bodies that tackled him were picked up and placed next to her, this included Chrysalis, Molestia, Nightmare Moon, Lucy and Cadance. “Thanks” Tony said as he got up and limped over to the second bed in the room as blood soaked through his bandaged leg.

“What happened after i left? Why is there so much dark magic around there? What happened to the advancing army? Are you okay?” Lucy said as she checked his injuries.

“Well first up, Windigoes rocked up and joined the fight… um the dark magic is there because of me… um the army is destroyed and i am quite sore” He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“What do you mean it is there because of you?” Nightmare asked confused.

“Well while i was fighting after falling off a cliff face, this one guy was about to impale me but then my hands caught on fire but it was black fire… one thing lead to another and i just released it all as it hand engulfed my arms” He said with a shrug.

“Well this is an interesting development” Nightmare Moon said as she walked over and inspected his bleeding leg. “ But what caused this?” She asked as her horn glowed as did his wound.

“Oh i got stabbed in the back of the leg” He shrugged.

“Oh well it is healed” Nightmare said as she unwrapped his leg, causing a pocket of blood to pour onto the ground.

“Madam Nightmare, could you please refrain from spreading blood all over the floor.” The Doctor asked.

“I did not mean to” Nightmare growled moments before a deep blue aura flared to life around her horn and Tony’s leg, causing the wound to begin mending itself. “There now let's get you sighed out” Nightmare said with a smile before rising to her feet and giving the doctor a wicked look. “Unless you have a problem with that” She asked as the crystal stallion went pale.

“N-no Madam, I...I shall go organise everything… excuse me” He stuttered in fear before falling over himself to get out of the room and out if the dark Alicorn’s gaze.

“Please don't bully my subjects” Cadance said with a scowl, gaining a giggle from Nightmare before she booped the pink mare’s nose.

“Well everything worked out anyway” Tony said with a chuckle before Lucy slapped him “Ow what the fuck was that…” Tony started as he turned to the warrior, just to see tears streaming down her cheeks. “Lucy?” He asked before the elf wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly while sniffling softly and burying her face against his bandaged chest. “Hey, hey where is this coming from?” Tony asked playfully as he moved his arms around her chest, causing the former saint to tighten her grip.

“Y-you were nearly taken away from us again… from me again” She said tightening her grip further.

“It's gonna take more than an army to keep me away from you” He said smiling softly, ignoring the pain in his chest. “Now how about we head home?” Tony asked as he stroked the elf’s back gently, causing her to look up at him and give a sniffle. “Come on sweetheart, where is my Badass Elf who is hard as nails?” He asked as he grabbed a few tissues and wiped her eyes gently. “The woman who’d rather cave a few heads in the cry” He asked causing a small smile to form on her face as she looked down and placed her forehead against his chest.

“But I nearly got you killed” She whimpered out before give a short jump as Tony placed his hands on her hips and lifted her onto his lap.

“And if we left then the Crystal Empire would be under attack and I could have lost you or one of the other girls” He said as he placed his hand against her cheek and smiled at her softly.

“I… I just don't know if cou…”She started before Tony placed a finger on her lips to stop her.

“It's okay Lucy, you got to get your head out of possibilities that may have come true and if it makes you feel better, I am here… right here for you and the girls” He explained only for Lucy to kiss him deeply while holding his head against her own.

“Nawww this is so cute” Cadance said causing Lucy to turn bright red and pull herself away from Tony.

“Forgot we were here didn't you?” Nightmare said with a smirk as Lucy turned redder.

“A… ah…” Lucy stuttered while blushing brightly.

“How about we just head home?” Tony asked as he gently stroked Lucy’s spine, making her jump slightly.

“Sounds like a plan… and It would be best for Tony to rest before his… Wait how old are turning today again?” Umbra asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Um either twenty five or forty five” He said with a shrug.

“Let's go with forty five so you not five years older then your children” Chrys said with a chuckle.

“Sounds like a solid plan.” Tony said as he gave a thumbs up moments before Umbra’s horn glowed before they small group teleported away.

( Sanctuary )

Once the group had appeared in the living room of the herd’s home, Lucy gently lead Tony out of it and up the flight of stairs while the remaining mares of the group looked at each other with dismay.

“Dark magic… why did it have to be dark magic?” Cadance said as she sat on her rump and looked down at the floorboards.

“This may not turn out badly girls but it would be best to prevent this information becoming known to anyone outside of us” Umbra stated gaining a confused look from the mares. “Come on, if Luna, Celestia or the Elements discovered this then things may become even more difficult” She explained just as Amber entered the room wearing only a black bra and panties, revealing scars and tattoos that marked her belly and sides.

“Discovered what?” She asked as she crossed her arms under her large breasts and glared at the mares, who looked at the dragoness with dread. “I see Tony is also covered in bandages… mind explaining that?” Amber asked as she tapped her talons against her arm.

“TONY USED DARK MAGIC AFTER LUCY ACCIDENTALLY LEFT HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIRE FIGHT!” Cadance confessed suddenly causing the mares to look at her with a look of betrayal. “Sorry… I can't do Amber’s angry mode” She whimpered before she galloped out of the room and up the stairs.

“I understand… this does not leave this room until Tony decides it does… but we will need to explain this to him so he can understand” Amber said in a very calm manner that caused the mares to gulp before the dragoness returned upstairs.

(Upstairs)

“I am fully capable of washing myself Lucy” Tony said as he finished unwrapping his bandages while the Elf stripped down to her underwear. “And when did you start wearing underwear?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I am joining you in the shower and that is that… also I wanted to show off some of my new lingerie I got when you returned” Lucy explained as Tony tested the heat of the bath before flicking the water at Lucy. “Ahh you bastard… This is brand new!” She exclaimed as she protected the blood red underwear.

“Then why did you wear it to battle earlier?” He asked her as he removed his underwear and slipped into the heavily bubbled bath.

“I… well… I was originally planning to give you a very special present last night” Lucy explained as the door to tge bathroom opened and Cadance galloped in before slamming the door behind her causing both Tony and Lucy to look at her confused.

“Hide me” She asked just as there was some loud knocks at the door.

“Cadance you traitor!” Nightmare shouted from behind the door.

“I feel like we missed something” Tony said as Cadance got into the bath and hid herself beneath the bubbles, up againstTony moments before the door caved in.

“For fuck sake! Tony and I were having a fucking moment!” Lucy shouted at the mares in annoyance.

“Sorry Lucy, we'll just grab Cadance and go” Umbra said as she walked over to the bubble filled bathtub before looking at the pink hirn sticking out of the bubbles. “I'll just grab her” She said and before waiting for a reponse, she plunged her hand into the bath. “Got her” Umbra exclaimed victoriously moments before Cadance popped her head up above the water before leaping out causing umbra to look at her the back at the bath where her hand was still submerged.

“You got me” Tony said blushing slightly while looking at Umbra.

“Wow I never thought you were so direct” Molestia said as she held a struggling and soaking wet Cadance in her arms.

“Sorry um you leg feels really weird” Umbra said as she removed her hand from the bathtub.

“That wasn't my leg” Tony corrected causing Umbra to turn bright red as she understood what she just did.

“And there goes the moment” Lucy sighed as Umbra fainted.