An Echo of What Once Was

“So let me get this straight? You complained about being late when in actual fact we were twenty minutes early? “ Tony asked as he sat on a couch, the small group had arrived at a smallish castle and had been lead to a living room. The castle belonged to Sweetheart but she allowed visiting royals to stay in the spare rooms, well those that were her friends anyway. As the group was told to wait patiently in the living room, all the girls had left to talk to Cloud or Sweetheart, as the two lived together, leaving Tony alone with his thoughts.

“Well I'm fucking bored” The man complained as he lounged on the couch. “I could nap… but then again I could do a lot of things in twenty minutes… a quick PT run, investigate this castle… if the guards let me… um I could jerk off but no that isn't a good idea… um fuck it napping sounds like a good idea” He muttered to himself before he began to get comfortable on the couch but the moment be gave a tired yawn, the door to the room opened and in walked a familiar grey unicorn with a dark burning mane.

“Comfy?” Umbra asked him as he simply shrugged gaining a small smile from the dark unicorn before she walked over to him and laid on the couch next to him.

“You right?” he asked her as she nodded and relaxed against him. “I distinctly remember you telling me that you were not interested in a relationship because of how short a time you had been a mare.” Tony said as the mare wrapped her arms around his form.

“Yes… that was twenty years ago… also Chrys and Nightmare took me into the herd after Tia attempted to banish me back to the shadow realm” Umbra said to him.

“Wow Celestia turned very bitchy very quickly” Tony stated.

“Luna explained that is was how she deals with grief, also those two, The mane six and Eris are here… all of whom are not happy with you for upsetting Cadance” Umbra explained as Tony groaned in annoyance.

“For fuck sake, this day just gets better and better” He groaned.

“Well the plus side is that Cadance wants to apologize to you” She said before the door opened to reveal a silver and black armoured guard wielding a longsword and smg, standing in the doorway.

“Lunch is ready Lady Umbra and Captain” The guard stated before Umbra climbed off the couch and gently pulled Tony to his feet.

“Thank you, we will be there shortly” Umbra stated, gaining a nod of approval from the guard before he left. “Look the trouble sisters and Elements… also Eris are at this lunch… so I recommend just keeping a cool head.” Umbra advised.

“I'll try” Tony said as the pair exited the room and headed towards the dining room.

Once the pair entered the room, several of the occupants turned and watched the two sit down at the table, Umbra sitting down near two smaller alicorn and changeling queen one alabaster mare with a purple blue and pink curly mane, a charcoal stallion with a crimson mane and the changeling had a light build, similar to Chrys when Tony first met her expect this queen wasn't riddled with holes as if she had just survived a firing line, her mane was the same as Cadance’s while her eyes were mismatched and slitted. All three watched Tony with curiosity as he sat down next to Chrysalis and a oddly familiar posh alabaster Alicorn. “Honestly darling, you couldn't wear something more formal? Maybe a suit or something?” She asked him, gaining a raised eyebrow.

“Rarity?” He questioned in which she nodded. “Um well very simple… I have only had three suits in my life… well sort of, my Dress uniform… which was on a Frigate known as the UNSC Darwin… which was destroyed… my first actual suit that you made me… well I think you remember what happened to that” He said to her aa she frowned for a moment.

“Yes I remember, but what about the suit I made for you to wear to your wedding?” Rarity asked.

“That is still in the Crystal Empire” Cadance said from across the table.

“Ah, well remind me to make you some more” She said to him as she sipped her tea.

“Sure… um question”He asked.

“Yes darling?” Rarity asked giving the man her full attention.

“Why are you and the other Elements Alicorns? Because it is a tad odd that since I have been gone that nine alicorns have appeared… well eight but anyway… I can guess who those two across the table are and also Chrys explained why Sweetheart is one… so why are you lot sporting wings and horns?” He asked as he took a sip from his drink.

“Oh simple darling, Twilight didn't want to watch her best friends pass with age and Celestia thought it would be a good idea for the Elements to be alicorns so we can help protect Equestria for centuries to come.” Rarity explained to Anthony.

“Fair enough, but what about your husband?” Tony asked causing Rarity to frown.

“H… He was in Baltimare with Fluer when the Collective unleashed a swarm of demons… nopony survived” she sniffled only to squeak when Tony wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest.

“I'm sorry Rarity” He comforted her for a moment before releasing her.

“Thank you… it's fine… I'm fine” She said with a soft smile before Tony turned his attention to the glaring Draconequus.

“Stop being pissy with me, it is your own fault for getting punched.” Tony said.

“What? How is it my fault?” Eris demanded.

“Well you teleported me away from being eaten by a massive dragon, and then proceeded to scare me… what did you expect was going to happen?” He replied.

“But you actually knocked me out… that is what I am pissed off about” Eris growled.

“What? Is that supposed to be difficult or something?” Tony asked.

“Yes!” stated just about everyone in the room.

“Well I guess you have learnt something then, don't scare me” Tony said as Eris muttered under her breath and crossed her arms. “Anyway, lets stop beating around the bush, the glare you're giving me could give children nightmares” Tony said to the mane six, Luna and Celestia.

“Well it is very simple as to why we are glaring at you, you made Cadance cry by yelling at her, the last few days she… no we all have been through all when you spontaneously returned… right around the time a large dragon ate Tirek” Celestia said in a serious and accusing tone.

“You can't be serious. .. first off what Cadance accused me of hurt… hurt worse then what that dragon did to me and second, I rocked back up on this fucking planet at midnight the day before that giant laser spewing gecko appeared so get your fucking facts straight” Tony growled as he rose from his seat. “Look I get it, me not coming back would have made things simpler for everyone… no bullshit or crying… hell if that dragon was somehow connected to me that would also make things easy but it's not, and I am here trying to salvage what I can of what I was taken away from.” He explained as he took a deep breath before running a hand over his face and groaned.

“Look yes our relationship… well my relationships with all of you have started off as complete chaos…” Tony said as he rose from his seat before pointing at Luna. “You attempted to arrest me and Chrys for what she did, that was before I pistol whipped you and kidnapped you…” he said as Luna lowered her head in embarrassment, he moved his finger to Umbra next. “I shot off your horn and attempted to destroy you because you were a tyrant and wanted to enslave the Crystal Empire” He explained as Umbra frowned and looked away.

“Celestia. .. you cut off my fucking arm… and trust me, that hurts” He said as he rubbed the scar from the incident. “Molestia and Nightmare Moon attempted to take over the world using Armonia’s Army and me… this after they imprisoned both of you” Tony said as he glanced at Tia and Luna. “But between all that shit you pulled, the times where you took a major gamble with the fate of Sanctuary to the time where you threatened to burn this town if I refused you, I never raised my hand against you… this after I nearly broke your jaw, but that was because you cut my arm off” He said.

“You are not going to let that go are you?” Celestia asked.

“No I am not, but my point is, you have done some mighty sketchy shit, most of you have done some major crimes and yet I have accepted that and supported you in anyway I could to help you right what was wronged… so all I am asking that is that you return the favor… yes I risked my life to nuke a Covenant cruiser, yes I came back twenty fucking years after I was supposed to be dead and yes, I made one of the mares I fucking love and adore… I made her fucking cry” He said with a sigh. “All I ask is that you give me a chance like I have given most of you… please” He asked as Celestia sighed.

“Twilight, can you please take your friends and the foals out while we speak with Tony.” Cadance asked.

“Mum we aren't foals” The Small Changeling queen stated.

“Lilith just please take your siblings out please” Celestia asked as the Changeling grumbled before the group left, leaving behind Tony and the women… also Umbra and Eris were still in the room. “You both also please” Celestia asked moments before Umbra and Eris teleported out.

Tony looked a bit confused before he was surrounded in a golden aura and he was teleported across the room and next to Cadance, who yelped in surprise from the sudden teleportation and fell off her chair. “Um Tia?” Tony asked the alabaster mare.

“I want you both to make up before we continue” She said as she sipped from her tea while watching the pair with a careful eye.

“Sorry for upsetting you” Tony said to the pink mare as he picked her up off the ground.

“It's okay… I'm sorry for accusing you” Cadance said as the room was quiet.

“Well this is awkward” Luna said with a raised eyebrow.

“What do you want me to do?” Tony asked the night alicorn.

“Make out?” Luna suggested causing Cadance to blush brightly.

“Luna as much as I would love to play out one of your little fantasies, she is engaged” Tony stated as Luna blushed softly.

“Oh I have more now for you and the others to play out” Luna replied with a sultry expression on her face causing just about everyone one in the room to blush brightly.

“Um so… yea… she is engaged so… um” Tony tried to speak, but it came out broken due to how flustered Luna made him.

“Um well you see Tony… well I… um…” Cadance’s speech failed also before Celestia cut in.

“She is single as of last night… after both Chrysalis and myself had a chat with Golden Vein… turned out he was stealing from the royal treasury so we gave him the choice of coming clean to Cadance or else” Celestia said with a smirk that sent a shiver up Tony’s spine.

“He is currently on his way to Blackwater prison… that was after Cadance bucked him through three of my walls” Sweetheart said as she glared at Cadance, who smiled innocently.

“So…” Tony said not following, this gained groans from just about every mare.

“Oh for buck sake, all of us have agreed to reform the harem” Cloud stated.

“Wait then why the cuk was I being fucking interrogated!?” Tony growled at them.

“Well one, to get Twilight and her friends off your back because i know how they are… and also I wanted to see if you still had that fire we all fell for” Celestia said.

“I hate you” Tony said with a glare as the mare smiled.

“Love you too lover boy” She winked at him