"So, you're marrying my daughter, huh?" I was sitting on the front porch, staring out over the rock fields, still as depressing as ever, when Clyde came out and sat down next to me.

"Mhm." I wasn't in a talkative mood that day.

"Well, tell me more about yourself. What do you do for a living? Where were you brought up?"

I lowered my head, and looked away from Clyde. The one thing I hoped he wouldn't ask me, and he did. "I really don't wanna say that last one, but I work with Pinks at Sugarcube Corner with the Cakes. They're the ones who took her in and raised her all these years, and they're like family to me at this point."

Clyde nodded. "That's nice, but I want to know where you were brought up."

"Should I tell him...? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't think highly of me if I did... Oh well, I guess it's best to tell the truth than to lie."

I took a deep breath. "Alright... I was born in Fauston, and 'raised' by my parents. I say raised like that because they really didn't raise me. I think I'm the result of a broken condom or something, I don't know. But they always seemed to resent me, like I stole their life. They always used me as a drug mule, giving me money, telling me to get them something from somepony, and I almost always got jumped by strung out hobos. One day, I took the money they gave me and ran. Well... I ended up getting sucked into a criminal life. I didn't do it by choice, it just sorta... Happened. I sank deeper and deeper, and got into more and more dangerous work. Don't get me wrong, I was never payed to kill anypony. Whenever I got a job like that, it was at that point I'd skip town. But a few months back, I ran from Manehattan, and I wound up in Ponyville. Pinks and her friends all persisted in being my friend, even though I tried to keep them away, and boy am I glad they didn't give up. I worked at a restaurant originally, but after Pinks told me how she feels, I moved in with her, and started working at the Corner with her, since I lived there... Well, that's it..."

Clyde's jaw was hanging limply, as he just stared at me. I was waiting for the "get off my property" or "stay away from my daughter" lines, but they never came. Instead, he picked up his jaw, and gave me a kind, tired smile. "You know, Shadow, I like you. I know that you only did those things because you couldn't get out of them. You just did what you needed to to get by. And you've cleaned up your act. I don't see why I shouldn't let you marry my daughter. You're a strong one, you are. I know you can take care of Pinkamena."

He stood up and gave me a quick pat on the back before going back inside. I leaned my head back, and chuckled a bit.

"I guess Pinks was wrong about her parents. They're pretty nice... I guess they just messed up and put work before family. I can't blame them, it doesn't look like they're raking in the bits around here..."

I headed back into the house, and I saw something that warmed my heart. Pinks and Clyde were having a nice, friendly conversation. They were catching up on all the things they'd missed in each other's lives. I felt a big smile make its way across my face. I couldn't fix things with my parents: I don't even know where they are. But I can still help everypony else with any problems they have.

Pinks waved me over, her smile just as wide as ever. "Hey, Shadow, come show my Dad what your special talent is!"

I stepped over to them, and cocked my eyebrow. "You sure...?"

Clyde rubbed his chin. "But you're a blank flank..."

I shook my head. "No. You see, my Cutie Mark is stealth, so you can't see it. I'm really good at being sneaky, oh, and I can do this too!" I closed my eyes, and I felt that same tingling through my body, and heard Clyde gasp.

"Pinkamena, where'd Shadow go?!"

I chuckled a bit, stepped forward to him. "I'm right here. I can turn invisible! Pretty cool, huh? And to think, I always thought I was never going to find my talent, when I was actually using it throughout my life! Hiding, sneaking... It just comes naturally to me."

Clyde smacked the side of his head, and kept staring in my general direction. "But you're an Earth Pony! How can you use magic?!"

Pinks shrugged. "I dunno. Twilight turned him into a unicorn. Maybe the effects are still lingering, or maybe that's when he got his Cutie Mark."

I came back into the visible world, and I felt my eyes widen. "Woah. That makes a lot of sense. I got my Cutie Mark when I first turned invisible in Twilight's Library! I did feel something on my flank... That's crazy. I never knew."

Clyde cleared his throat. "Well... Shadow, when is your friend going to get here?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I sent the message, and Ditzy came a little while ago. He should get the letter by tomorrow, hopefully. He's probably just going to take a train, which would only take a few hours. So either tomorrow, or the day after."

Clyde nodded, and he looked like I'd lifted a weight off of his shoulders. "Good... I was right about you."

I shrugged. "Hey, I'm just a pony who wants to help. Nothing more, nothing less."

Clyde and Pinks looked at each other, and they both had knowing smiles on their faces. Pinks trotted up to me, and pulled me into a hug. "And you're all mine. And lets not forget modest."

I furrowed my brow. "Hey!"

Clyde and Pinks laughed, but everypony shut up when we heard slow hoofsteps in the hallway. Roxy stepped out into the room, and sat down at the table. We all just stared, but she waved a hoof dismissively. "Don't mind me. Just go on. I want to hear some more of this." her voice was still very weak, and she looked pale.

"But honey, you need to be laying down-"

Roxy raised her hoof. "Clyde, I'm OK. Now, Shadow... What was that about you being a pony who just wants to help?"

I nodded. "Yes ma'am. I just want to help. I don't consider myself a hero or anything."

She closed her eyes, and slowly nodded. "Yes... That's very noble of you. You're no hero, that much is true, but you've got that look about you. You're a good pony, even if you did do bad things." I felt my pupils shrink. "This house isn't soundproofed, you know. I heard every word. But don't worry, I'm understanding like Clyde. You're a good pony, who was put into a bad situation. Just as Clyde said, I have no troubles with you marrying Pinkamena... Speaking of my daughter, where is Octavia?"

I motioned towards the door. "She had to go. Something about a 'date with Vinyl.' I dunno what that means."

Clyde, Pinks, and Roxy all let out small laughs. Pinks leaned in a whispered into my ear. "She's dating Vinyl Scratch. The DJ?"

I felt a grin coming on. "Oh, so she swings that way, huh? Well, I never would have guessed... Rarity would love to hear about this..."

Pinks puffed out her cheeks. "That's not very nice."

I laughed, and wrapped a hoof around her neck. "Relax! I'm kidding. You know I wouldn't do that..." I looked to Clyde and Roxy, who were both looking at the two of us, smiling. "You know, Pinks. I like your family. A bit strange, but nice nonetheless."

Pinks leaned her head against my shoulder. "Yeah... I guess I was wrong about them."

Clyde and Roxy both looked surprised, but they smiled warmly at both me, and Pinks. I'd done it. I fixed their broken relationship. I just had to get Roxy the medical help she needed.

"Blank better get here soon..."