Dear Maria,
Oh man. I can't believe I'm really going to do this.
Pinkie's out right now, so it's just me.
Tomorrow's Pinkie's birthday. There's going to be a big party in Ponyville, planned by her friends of course. They asked me to help, and I will, but I have something different planed after the party. It would have been only Pinkie and I, but I let it slip to the others. (Pony and Mobian)
I'm going to take Pinkie to visit the ARK. And, while I'm there...
I'm going to propose to her.
God, I'm so nervous. Wish me luck sister.
Love, Your brother,
Shadow the Hedgehog
The party seemingly went off without a hitch. Shadow had managed to keep Pinkie distracted while the main 5 decked out the front of the bakery with party supplies. The Cakes baked a huge cuke with Shadow, and also created other sweet treats for the energetic party pony. This was a surprise party Pinkie was actually surprised for. It was around late afternoon when all was said and done.
Pinkie was excited to go visit the ARK in person for the first time, and was excitedly telling the happy but clueless Cakes about it.
Outside, Shadow was helping Twilight and Fluttershy take down the party decor, while Applejack and Rarity handled tables, and Rainbow Dash was on trash pickup.
"That was a fun party." Fluttershy commented as Twilight levitated a streamer down to her.
"Fun? It was more than fun, it was awesome!" Rainbow Dash flew by with a bag half full.
Rarity put a dirty plate in the wash bucket, Applejack cleaning it.
"Ah but the day ain't over yet, is it?" Applejack responded, looking over at Shadow.
Shadow nodded, bringing down a balloon. "Shame you can't join us Twilight, I know you're the pony most interested in the human world."
Twilight sighed. "Yeah, but royal duties can't be stopped. Which reminds me," she looked up to the sky. "I'm going to be late for a meeting in Canterlot if I don't get going."
Twilight handed the last of the party supplies to Fluttershy, and gave her a hug.
"See you around Twilight." Rainbow Dash said as Twilight hugged her. Twilight made sure to hug all her friends.
Shadow stepped down from the ladder he was on and turned to Twilight. "You better let Pinkie know you're leaving."
Twilight nodded, and walked into Sugarcube Corner to say goodbye.
Everypony was about finished with the cleanup, and put everything in one pile.
Rarity spoke to Shadow. "You know darling, we don't have to go with you two to this ARK place."
Shadow nodded. "Yeah. I know. Honestly I'd prefer us being alone together."
Shadow abruptly turned to look at Sugarcube Corner's doors, smirking. "But that doesn't seem to be my decision, does it?"
Twilight came out of Sugarcube Corner, followed by a talking Pinkie Pie. "I really wish you could go with us too Twilight! It would have been extra fun!"
"I know. But I have to attend to being a princess." As Twilight replied, the royal chariot stopped near the area. She sighed, looking at the chariot.
She hated riding around in it.
All her friends said goodbye, and Twilight waved Shadow over to talk as she approached the chariot. Shadow wondered. 'What's this about?'
"How nervous are you?" Twilight whispered to him, looking back at the pink mare excitedly talking to rainbow dash.
Shadow shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I'm doing this no matter what."
"Alright. I would wish you luck, but-"
"She's probably going to say yes anyways." Shadow said this to himself out loud, Twilight being cut off.
Twilight smiled.
"Reassuring yourself?"
Shadow shrugged.
"Maybe."
He took a few steps away to let her take off. She waved to her friends, and they waved back, watching her take off. After the chariot was well off into the sky, Pinkie turned to her friends excitedly.
"So, who's ready for an adventure?"
Her friends looked excited, but hesitant.
Applejack sighed, and took a step to Pinkie. "Pinkie, as much as it would be a trip to go, I will say, I'm just not too comfortable with going. I mean, this trip was originally just for the two of you. I don't think it's my space to intrude."
Pinkie grew a little disappointed. "Oh."
Shadow didn't say anything yet.
"I'm going to have to agree with Applejack, Pinkie. And, I don't know if I'd want to go to space." Fluttershy revealed reluctantly.
"But I'm still coming! Space sounds really cool!" Rainbow cut in, not wanting to spoil her mood. Pinkie exhaled, and beamed. "Thanks Dashie! Are you still joining us Rarity?"
Rarity was hesitant, but Pinkie gave her puppy dog eyes. She sighed.
"Well, I don't have much to do today. I'll join, if Shadow's okay with that of course."
Pinkie turned to Shadow.
Shadow nodded. "Whatever Pinkie decides. It's her day after all."
Pinkie beamed and gave a hug of appreciation. "Thank you thank you Shady!"
Shadow smiled at her reaction, and Pinkie bounced out from the hug.
"Now, are we all set?"
The ARK started out as a project proposed by the government body GUN. It was originally created as a lab for classified experiments and weapon testing, and slowly evolved into the world's first ever space colony.
A few hundred scientists lived and worked on the colony, including Gerald Robotnik.
This place became home for both Maria and Shadow.
Now it was abandoned, although not forgotten. Restoration efforts have been put forward, but it seemed only those who had gone up to the space colony once before were willing to help.
Shadow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash walked into a research room. It was once filled with many glass cases of specimen and plant life, but now glass was shattered, remnants of fire damage stained across the room, and only the memory remained.
"Many mutations and experiments were run both on plants and animals. It was always busy here. Maria and I weren't usually allowed in this room, but sometimes the professor would let us come observe what other scientists were working on as well."
"That doesn't sound like a glamorous profession." Rarity carefully stepped around the pieces of glass.
"Science is often not pretty. And the lengths we go to sometimes is quite disturbing." Shadow stared at an empty containment tube.
"But that's just how it goes."
"That reminds me, you once told me that you weren't born, that you were created. Do you have a birthday?" Pinkie asked.
Shadow chuckled, walking away from the containment tube and to a small row of retro computer equipment. "I was created on June 8th. Can't really recall the specific year from my files though."
Rainbow Dash hovered around the table, very intrigued. "Did they ever work on other fully living lifeforms like you?"
Shadow became quiet, and walked past the panels.
"One prototype was created for Project Shadow. It was imperfect, chaotic. It didn't really have a free thinking mind."
Pinkie trotted over to him, reaching the forcibly opened metal doors.
"Is that the one you vaguely told me about a long while back?"
Shadow nodded, the group leaving the room and out into a large hall.
"It was unstable, and couldn't live on it's own. It was just an animal, it had no nuance on life. The scientists apparently nicknamed it the Biolizard."
They all walked down the hall, halls stained with bullet damage. The ponies trotted faster than Shadow was walking, the girls taking in atmosphere.
"I wasn't really told about it when I lived up here, I had to later learn about the previous prototype from Rouge."
In a little while as he walked through this particular hall, they passed by a room Shadow took a moment to stop and look into. It was a training room. Made specifically to test the limits of the ultimate lifeform. He remembered the numerous tests, the discovery of his powers, how proud the professor was when Shadow perfected a skill.
His memory was interrupted by the sound of the 3 ponies in awe.
He looked forward, to see that at the end of the hall, they were staring out the window.
The vast emptiness of black and purple space was decorated by thousands of stars, although not very bright at the time, but still very breathtaking.
Shadow walked over to the 3 mares, whom were all still looking out with wonder.
Shadow stole a glance at Pinkie, and realized that now would be a good time to pull her away from the group. He tapped Pinkie on the back, Pinkie snapping out of it to look behind her.
Shadow gestured her away from her friends. She looked to them, then to him realizing what he was asking. Pinkie mouthed an "oh" and went to follow Shadow.
Rainbow Dash and Rarity realized they were leaving, but knew what he was planning, simply smiling at each other.
Shadow and Pinkie Pie walked into a room that Shadow held the upmost familiarity in.
Pinkie also recognized the room. It was the one she met Maria in, during her dreams.
"Maria loved this room."
Pinkie stared forward, and saw the sight through the large window.
Earth's blue hue shone radiantly, the sun and the moon casting shadows on parts of it, brightening other pieces. She was awed once again at the sight, walking up to the glass.
"It looks even prettier than in my dream!" She put a hoof up to the glass.
"I'm glad you enjoy it as much as she does."
Shadow walked up next to Pinkie. For a moment he said nothing, admiring Pinkie's wide eyed wonderment and her full bright smile.
She turned to him.
"Shady, thank you for bringing me up here."
Shadow smiled slightly, but his eyes shone with a hidden sadness.
"Yeah."
Pinkie was attuned to his shifting emotions and quickly took notice.
"Shady? Are you okay?"
Shadow turned to stare out the window, and exhaled heavily. "Pinkie... I need you to know something about me that I should have told you sooner."
Pinkie smiled, and stood closer to him. "Tell away!"
So Shadow did.
"When I was created, besides being endowed with my chaos abilities, I was created with immortality."
"So you'll be able to live forever?" Pinkie blinked, still chipper.
Shadow eyed Pinkie, then gazed away.
"Yes.. It hasn't scared me too much, until now..."
Pinkie got the gist, and she quickly became sympathetic.
"Shadow.."
Shadow aburptly turned to Pinkie.
"Pinkie, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I don't want to imagine a life without you. Would you... be okay with that?"
Pinkie smiled, blushing and invisible pink. "Oh Shady. I understand where you're coming from completely. Since Twilight's an alicorn, she's immortal too. But I'm not worried about that. We're supposed to enjoy the here and now whenever we can."
Shadow was silent for a long moment, before closing his eyes.
"... Thank you."
Pinkie closed her eyes happily. Shadow opened his eyes and gazed at her face. He inhaled to himself.
"Pinks, I have a very important question to ask you."
She got curious.
"What is it?"
Shadow exhaled. "I'd never thought I would say what I'm about to ask, but you are that precious to me."
He got down on a knee, pulling a small box from his quills. Pinkie gasped, seemingly knowing what. He opened the box and held it with one hand, extending his open hand to her.
"May I take your hoof in marriage?"
In the little box was a diamond ring on a string.
Pinkie Pie began to beam brightly, getting giddy. She shook her head immensely, quickly hugging Shadow tightly. "Yes, yes, yes, yes! A billion times yes! I've been waiting for you to ask!"
Shadow hugged her back, smiling. He exhaled with relief.
"I'm glad to hear you say so.."
Pinkie detached from the hug first, looking to the ring box.
Shadow lifted the string out of the box, and placed the necklace around her neck.
Pinkie hugged him again, causing both to sit down.
"This is the best birthday gift ever."
He couldn't believe it.
Pinkie kissed him sweetly with great appreciation, and Shadow returned the same emotion.
It was only a matter of time now. And planning. So much planning.