https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmTmTMcdxOs

"What?" Shade croaks. She opens her eyes and brings her left fetlock across her eyes to unblur them.

"Are you okay?" the angelic voice asks right next to Shade.

A wing wrapping around her and warming her replaces the numbing cold inside Shade. Shade recognizes the voice; she recognizes the compassionate eyes, the comforting smile, the long mane.

"There, there, let it out. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No," Shade's voice fails her so she shakes her head. Shade feels warm feathers brushing her cheeks as a wing wipes away her tears.

"Do you want to talk about it?" the filly smiles warmly.

Shade wraps her forehooves around Fluttershy's neck and starts bawling. "I'm a failure!"

Fluttershy covers Shade with her wings and gently strokes her red and black mane, "Why do you say that?"

"Everyone says it. And it's true."

"I don't think so; not after what you did for Ditzy Doo at lunch." Fluttershy smiles big, "So not everypony says it."

Shade heaves a heavy sigh which blows some of Fluttershy's mane back. "I wasn't acting myself today."

"I'm sure Applejack and Pinkie Pie don't think you're a failure either," Fluttershy continues. "Can you think of somepony else?"

Shade removes herself from Fluttershy's warming embrace. She sits and thinks. And thinks. She has never had friends. Just uncles. They never called her a failure. Valkyrie? Yes, Shade clearly remembers the time her mother called her a disappointment. Grey? Revelation opens her eyes. All the times she has met Grey, he had always said he missed her and loved her and was proud of her.

"My. . . father. . ." Shade utters. Shade curls up into a ball on the grass and holds her head.

"What's wrong?" Fluttershy stands up in concern.

Laughter.

Shade starts laughing.

"Feeling better?" Fluttershy smiles.

Shade stares up at the filly. "Hi. My name is Shade."

Fluttershy giggles, "I'm Fluttershy."

Shade stands quickly and hugs Fluttershy tightly. "Thank you. For everything."

"You are welcome." Fluttershy tilts her head when she sees Shade bow before her and takes her right hoof.

"Fluttershy, I, Nightshade Nìzī Kūàmírà Whulphe Toxin, pledge my undying loyalty and service to you. I will stand in front of you as your shield, I will stand by your side as your sword, and I will stand behind any decision you make. I vow and solemnly swear, before you, right now, to stay with you through sickness and in health, through the bad times and good, in life and even in death." Shade kisses Fluttershy's hoof and smiles up at her. Light flashes between them and two, intricate bracelets hovers between them one gold the other silver. Shade puts her left hoof through the silver bracelet which shrinks to fit snuggly.

Fluttershy's face glows bright red, and her wings stand at attention. "W-w-we can't g-g-get m-married! W-w-we're both girls! We. . . this is our first time meeting! I-I-I barely kn-know you! I am flattered and I-I, uh, well, you are c-c-pretty. . ." she stammers.

Shade giggles. "I am sorry if it seems that way, Fluttershy. I am new to this whole 'friendship' business."

"Friends? Yes! We should start off as friends, first," Fluttershy quickly nods.

Shade stands up and stares intently into Fluttershy's eyes which makes Fluttershy gulp. "I want us to be more than friends."

"You do?!" Fluttershy's wings shoot up again.

"Yes. I have pledged my servitude to you. You are my Master." Shade releases Fluttershy's hoof and bows her head before Fluttershy.

"I-I-I. Huh? Wha?" Fluttershy does not compute.

Shade smiles. "Just think of it as a 'friendship bracelet.' You can tell others that but you and I will know the bands' true meaning. Please, Fluttershy, accept my vow and give me the honor of calling you, my friend."

Fluttershy gulps. Nopony has ever said what Shade said. Nopony has ever been as sincere, not even Rainbow Dash. Ponyfeathers! They just met! Somehow, somewhere deep inside, she feels as if she has known Shade for a long time. With a slightly shaking hoof, she thrusts her right hoof into the gold bracelet. A bright light flashes and for a split second Fluttershy sees a majestic, ivory alicorn, with red and black fiery mane and tail, dressed in black, obsidian-like armor bowing before her.

"Thank you, Fluttershy," Shade raises her head and smiles sincerely.

"So. . . you are like my," Fluttershy starts to blush, "knight in shining armor?"

Shade chuckles, "Yours and yours alone."

After escorting Fluttershy to her cottage, Shade makes the long trek back home. She stares at the door to the house for hours. Charlotte climbs her leg and rests on her withers. Shade smiles at the spider. Shade opens the door, and Death is behind the counter looking worse for wear.

"Shade," Death speaks but stops when Shade picks up her hoof.

"I will forgive you under one condition," Shade states.

"Whatever you want!" Death exclaims and teleports before Shade.

"I want to see colors."

Death frowns. "The only way I can do that would be for you to die. If you die, the power in you might go out and seek Valkyrie. She would be unstoppable."

"I will not allow it."

Death exhales a sigh of exhaustion and believes the determination in Shade's eyes. "Okay."

Valkyrie sits up in bed and looks down at her chest. The ever-glowing ruby amulet on her chest dims and shatters. "NO!" She screams at the top of her lungs which shakes the castle.