//------------------------------//
// Parents' Blessing 
// Story: Dear Maria, 
// by CalmHeart 
//------------------------------//

Dear Maria,

Pinkie's parents are coming to see us, and apparently have some askings. I'm not sure what, but I'll stay cordial and respectful. For me, I'm going to specifically ask for their blessing, because that's the gentlemanly thing to do, correct? Pinkie's excited to see them. Though she's probably already told you that in person.

Love,
Shadow



The couple was waiting at the Ponyville train station, Pinkie being very excited.

Shadow had never met her parents, but he'd heard plenty about them from Pinkie. And apparently Pinkie had told them all about him. He made his personal mission that day to gain the approval and respect of her parents, as he knew how important this would be; for her parents and for Pinkie.

"You know, my family's a lot like you." Pinkie stopped her nonsense ramble to say so.

"Hm?" Shadow glanced at her, then out from the station.

"The monotone dialogue, the way you show care, how they appreciate their privacy."
Pinkie giggled, commenting on herself with a light joke. "I'm think I'm starting to realize why I fell for you."

The sound of a train whistle was heard.

Shadow chuckled, playfully nudging her side. "Silly."

The two watched the train glide into the station, and Shadow reverted back to his neutral expression. The steam hissed, and the breaks eased the train to a stop.

Pinkie's grin was practically glowing as the doors opened and ponies streamed out of the coaches. She managed to hold back her excitement long enough as the couple saw her parents exit the train. At first Shadow wasn't sure of that assessment based on the colt and mare's appearance, but then Pinkie excitedly bounced over to her parents, and hugged them both with enthusiasm.

Her parents looked less than pleased at her ecstatic welcome, but also wore an expression of tolerance. Shadow remembered how he reacted to her hugs when they first met. He walked over to Pinkie and the grey coated horses.

Pinkie Pie introduced them excitedly. The two quickly looked at Shadow with slight surprise, and a little confusion, though a knowing confusion.

"Mom, dad, this is my fiancé Shadow the hedgehog! And Shady, this is my dad, Igneous Pie, and my mom, Cloudy Quartz."

The grey mare managed a quick upturn on her muzzle, while the colt simply nodded, staying stone faced. Shadow nodded back.
"It's a pleasure to meet you in person."

Igneous spoke dryly, and kept emotions out of the formalities. "Likewise."

"Did you two bring any luggage along with you?" Pinkie asked, looking around them. Cloudy pointed to the luggage cart on the other side of the station, being carried out by a station master.

"Only two."

Pinkie recognized the two small greyish-green suitcases as her parents' and bounced over to the cart. Before she could reach for one with her muzzle, Shadow politely stopped her. "I'll take them."

Pinkie appreciated it. "Aw, thanks Shady!"

Shadow slid the cargo off the cart, and turned back to her parents. They nodded in thanks, and Shadow did the same back.

"Now come on, there's so much to talk about!"



Pinkie was doing most of the talking while the group walked down the street. Igneous and Cloudy were planning to stay in Ponyville for two days, to visit Maud and of course see how Pinkie's preparations were going.

Shadow kept respectfully quiet, only speaking to answer questions and elaborate on things when Pinkie asked him to. Pinkie's parents took note of this, and glanced at each other a couple times.

Soon they arrived at the local diner in Ponyville, and Shadow paid for their table. Cloudy noticed that. As they went to sit down, Pinkie realized something. "Oh! Shady, I haven't let you talk about yourself yet, care to converse?"

Shadow became more attentive and looked to her parents. They all sat down, and Shadow gave himself permission to speak.

"As Pinkie has told you, I am a government agent from where I came from. Pinkie here is one of the main reasons I've come back to Equestria time and time again, that and it's a lot less complicated here."

Ms. Quartz inquired about his place of origin.
"Could you tell us more about where you come from?"

Igneous followed up that question, staring at Shadow with a slight quirk of an brow. "Yes, Our Pinkamena here has told us that you're from "another world?""

Shadow nodded as the waitress walked up to the table. Pinkie started ordering while he spoke.
"That is true. I regularly & routinely travel from my world to this one using a portal in princess Twilight's friendship castle."

"And what is the hedgehog having?" The mare waitress asked, looking to Shadow.

Shadow gestured with a hand to Pinks. "Whatever she's getting is fine with me too."

Quartz was slightly surprised by that, knowing what Pinkie usually gets.

Igneous and Cloudy ordered, and Shadow elaborated on his answer afterwards.
"My earth is not as pure as Equestria, nor as peaceful, I'll admit. But I protect it all the same. This land gives me hope for a better life for anyone."

He nudged Pinkie with a arm tap.
"Which is one way I could describe Pinks here."

"Oh, Shady.." Pinkie Pie chuckled in response to his complement.

"Your daughter is really special. And I admire you both for letting her express herself."

The Pies were stunned for a second, but regained their composure. They felt flattered. Cloudy Quartz began to smile small. "Well thank you Shadow. We both wish for our mares to live long, happy lives. Right dear?"

"Of course."

"So, tell us about this agent job..."

Shadow plainly and bluntly dud so, leaving out unclassified work, the brutal violence he sometimes gets into, etc. He was starting to get into how he met Pinkie when the waitress came around again, with the table's orders. She set them down next to them.

"Two creamy potato soups, one rock cooked flatbread, one basket of plain hay fries."

Cloudy Quartz noticed what Pinkie had ordered, the soup, and was intrigued at why.
Pinkie noticed her mom's expression, and lightly giggled, glancing at Shadow.

"Hey, I can't eat sweets all the time, right? Though, Shadow can cook this a thousand times better."

Cloudy looked really pleased at this new information.
"You cook?" She asked Shadow. He shrugged.

"A little. Can't bake though."

That made Pinkie chuckle, and Ms. Pie smile. Igneous wore the same stone-faced expression.

Shadow noticed, but didn't think much of it.



"Who did you go with to these gem caves to get the gemstone for the rings?"

The group was at the jewelery shop, watching the jeweler fit a custom gemstone to one of the wedding rings. Igneous Pie had asked this question. Pinkie, as always, was delighted to say so. She moved her hoof off the counter.

"Rarity and Shadow's friend Rouge, they really know how to find the most perfect jewels."

This interested Igneous, and he glanced once again at Shadow, whom was setting a bag of bits down on the counter, waiting for the ring to be fitted.

"Hmm.."

Cloudy was impressed with the hedgehog. "You seem to live a very respectable life Shadow."

Shadow shrugged, humble and straightforward. "I just do the best I can to ensure the happiness of others. And making sure that Pinkie is satisfied and comfortable."

Pinkie Pie giggled lightly, giving him a peck on the cheek. "And you've been absolutely wonderful to me."

Her complement made Shadow chuckle meekly, hinting at the light pink on his muzzle.

As the day was coming to an end, Shadow decided he was going to ask her parents this favor. He whispered to Pinkie, who nodded and let Shadow take a few steps away. He gestured to the Pie parents, mostly to Igneous. "Can I talk to you and Ms. Pie for a solitary moment?"

The parents looked at each other. Ms. Quartz answered. "Sure."

The three exited the shop, and stood at the doorway.

Shadow relented a thought.
"I wished I could have met with you both beforehand. Unfortunately my work hinders a lot of leisure time."

They understood, and Ms. Pie nodded. "You seem to work very hard Shadow."

Shadow validated the claim.
"That I do. Before I proposed to her I meant to visit the rock farm first."

Igneous decided to speak. "For what reason?"

Shadow took a quick second of silence and answered.

"Well. I would like to especially ask you two for your daughter's hoof in marriage."

That really surprised the married couple. And for the moment, Shadow could see the shock on the parents' faces.
"I wasn't expecting you to ask us." Cloudy was presently surprised. And apparently, so was Igneous.

"Thank you for saying so."

Igneous began to talk. He had some things to say. "I can see that Pinkamena deeply cares for and cherishes you. You've made an impact on her."

Shadow nodded slowly, taking in a breath, holding it for a second, then letting it go.

"And after what I've seen, she has made a big impact on you." Cloudy added, smiling.

"Yeah. She has." Shadow quickly glanced at the ground, but rebounding back swiftly.

Igneous continued, glancing into the store to see Pinkie excitedly talking to the jeweler, whom was getting a little impatient with her. "I am grateful that you have taken care of her, protected her, and given her your feelings. It's clear to me that you love her with all your heart." He turned to Shadow, giving a nod, and his blessing.

"So, I will allow you to take my daughter as your wife. As long as you can promise us that you will never turn your back from her."

Shadow smiled. "That's impossible sir." He did the Pinkie promise movements as he spoke. "Breaking promises is something I take seriously."

Cloudy Quartz chuckled lightly at the usage, and Igneous' lip upturned slightly. Her little gesture.

They headed back in to collect the rings, and to ensure that the jeweler wouldn't be driven nuts any longer by Pinkie's endless talking.

Shadow had proved himself to her parents, and gained their trust. They now had full belief that this was the one for Pinkie, that they could live a long life. But still, the wedding day was approaching and things needed to be done.