YOU SAID:
Once upon a time there was with a companion.
INTO JAPANESE
かつて仲間であった。
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Once was with friends.
INTO JAPANESE
かつての友人だった。
BACK INTO ENGLISH
It was a former friend.
INTO JAPANESE
かつての友人だった。
BACK INTO ENGLISH
It was a former friend.
That didn't even make that much sense in English.