Shade rises from her bow to hold eye contact with the black alicorn.

Nightmare Moon gazes into the similar serpentine eyes of the alabaster three-horned unicorn before her. "And who might you be?" she asks.

"My name is Shade. It is an honor to meet you, your highness," Shade bows again.

Nightmare Moon looks to the ponies behind Shade, and they glare back at her, "Why do your friends scowl at me so?"

"Because !" Twilight begins, but her muzzle shuts with crimson magic.

"Because they have been misguided by Celestia and do not know of her treachery and lies," Shade answers. Shade uses her magic to force her friends to bow before Nightmare Moon. "Celestia will take what she wants by force what she can not gain with guile. Case in point, the crown of Equestria."

Nightmare Moon furrows her brow as her memories replay that fateful night one thousand years ago. She levitates the orbs in front of her and eyes them distastefully. "Sixteen hours of daylight," Nightmare Moon sneers.

"Fifteen hours too many," Shade agrees with a nod.

A smirk forms on the black alicorns muzzle, "You are different from the other ponies."

"That is because I am a Tricorn, your majesty. We developed separately from other ponies," Shade explains.

"Not only that," Nightmare Moon comments as she steps closer to Shade. She bends her head down to examine Shade, "There is a darkness in you darker than my own."

"Thank you for the compliment, your majesty," Shade replies with a bow. A hoof under her chin lifts her head up, and her eyes lock with the teal viper eyes of Nightmare Moon.

"You aren't just trying to flatter me so I can spare you to usurp me later?"

"Why do I need to use flattery? Everypony can see for themselves how beautiful and gorgeous you are, how the brilliance of diamonds pale to your eyes, how the night emanates from your coat, and how the stars fail to align with your mane." Shade smiles and kisses Nightmare Moon's hoof. "If need be, I would be your shield. At your order, I would be your sword. At your command, I would serve your every beck and call."

Nightmare Moon turns up her nose from Shade to hide her rosy cheeks, "But of course!"

She removes her hoof from Shade's grasp to walk over to the ponies bowing before her on the ground. She takes great pleasure seeing them in that state, in her mind, everypony shares their subservient posture. Nightmare Moon completes her circle of Shade by returning to her original position. She sets the orbs in a circle in front of Shade on the floor.

"Destroy them," Nightmare Moon orders Shade.

"The ponies or the orbs?" Shade questions.

Nightmare Moon chuckles, "So quick to turn on your friends. You are truly evil. The orbs, my sweet, your friends still are of use to me."

Shade stomps in the middle of the spheres which pulverizes the stones.

"Nooo!" Twilight cries out as she watches the orbs shatter apart.

"Yes!" Nightmare Moon interjects and erupts with evil laughter.

Shade turns to Twilight. Twilight glares at the tricorn. Shade smirks and quickly winks at Twilight. Twilight cocks her head in confusion.

"Your Highness?" Shade dares to interrupt Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon sighs contently as her laughing stops. "Yes, servant?"

"May I tell you of my plans to use my friends against Celestia?"

"Speak then."

"I wish to tell you discretely," she turns to her friends and smirks, "I want it to be a surprise."

"Very well. You may approach me," Nightmare Moon says. As Shade draws closer to the alicorn, she turns her ear to the tricorn.

Shade whispers into Nightmare Moon's ear, "Because a 'surprise' is the best kind of prize."

Shade kisses Nightmare Moon on the lips.

Rainbow Dash's wings spring open.

Applejack lowers her hat over her eyes.

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie frown.

Rarity hides her grin behind a hoof.

Twilight gapes and watches in disbelief.

Shade steps away from the still in shock alicorn and cast a quick spell to anchor Nightmare Moon to the ground. Nightmare Moon shakes her head of her stupor and glowers at Shade.

"Luna," Shade smiles, "It is time for you to come back."

Nightmare Moon ignites her horn, but her magic fizzles when Shade touches her black horn. "'Luna' is dead!" Nightmare Moon hisses. "And you already destroyed the Elements of Harmony!"

"Pffft!" Shade snickers.

"What's so funny?" Nightmare Moon asks.

"My friends and I are the Elements of Harmony," Shade declares.

Twilight gasps in realization. "Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of honesty! Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of kindness! Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of laughter! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of generosity! Shade, who fearlessly fought the giant timber wolf, represents the spirit of courage! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of loyalty!" Twilight lists. She steps up to face Nightmare Moon and says, "The spirits of these six ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."

Nightmare Moon clenches her jaw. Then she cocks her brow, "You still don't have the seventh Element! The spark didn't work!"

"But it did! A different kind of spark. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all. . . are my friends!" Twilight replies.

"Really? And how long ago was that?" Shade remarks.

Twilight deadpans at Shade. Shade smiles and Twilight rolls her eyes. "Anyways. You see Nightmare Moon when those Elements are ignited by the. . . the spark that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the seventh element: the element of magic!"

The pieces of the orbs start to glow and levitate around the necks of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Shade. A bright light flashes above them and descends towards Twilight. The pieces form together to resemble everpony's cutie mark. When the brightness fades away, Pinkie Pie is the first to notice the difference in Shade.

Pinkie Pie rushes over to Shade's side, "Shade! Your cutie mark!"

Shade turns her head to examine her flank. "Huh," she grunts in amusement, "Guess I am part of the cool crowd now."

"Ooo!" Pinkie rubs the cutie mark, "What's it mean?"

"It means," Shade gently pushes Pinkie away, "That we still have to deal with Nightmare Moon." Shade turns to look at the mare.

Nightmare Moon sat on the ground with her legs under her and had her head bowed. "Do what you will," she croaks.

Twilight stands before the black alicorn, "C'mon, girls!"

"No," Shade steps between Twilight and Nightmare Moon.

"What?" Twilight looks up at Shade.

"Magic can solve many things," Shade says, "Magic can not resolve matters of the heart. Forcing one to change with magic is cruel. Do you know why Luna became Nightmare Moon?"

"Because of jealousy?" Twilight answers unsure of herself.

"Because of envy, because of neglect, because she felt unloved," Shade kneels beside Nightmare Moon and stares into her wide teal eyes, "Tell me I am wrong."

Nightmare Moon tears her watery eyes away from Shade's compassionate gaze.

Pinkie Pie walks over to Nightmare Moon and places a hoof on her shoulder, "Ponies aren't afraid of the dark anymore. In fact, a lot of ponies like to have parties at night!"

"Truly?" Nightmare Moon glances up at the pink pony.

"I for one enjoy the night more than the day," Shade inputs. "This," Shade motions with her left hoof the entirety of Nightmare Moon, "is not who you are, Luna. You can not force others to like you. There are those who will never like you and you have to learn to live with it. This tantrum of yours has to end. There is a better life for you to have as 'Princess Luna' rather than 'Nightmare Moon.'"

Nightmare Moon hangs her head as she thinks.

"It will not be easy," Twilight adds as she sits in front of Nightmare Moon, "We will be here to help you as your friends."

"Will you be our friend, Luna?" Shade removes the crimson binds from Nightmare Moon and offers a hoof to the alicorn.

Tears stream down Nightmare Moon's cheeks. "Yes!" she cries and accepts the ivory hoof.

Nightmare Moon levitates into the air with red energy swallowing her up. The energy swirls around her, turning black then a dark blue. The blue mass of energy floats to the ground which causes the moon to fall in the sky, bringing forth the dawn. The ball of energy dissipates, and a dark blue alicorn with a pale blue mane and tail collapses to the ground. Everypony is focusing on Princess Luna, they do not notice Princess Celestia behind them until she speaks.

"Well done, my little ponies," she commends everypony.

They turn around and bow before Princess Celestia.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight runs up to her mentor to hug her.

Shade stays by Luna's side.

"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student," Princess Celestia hugs Twilight. When she breaks their embrace, she says, "I knew you could do it."

"But. . . you told me it was all an old pony tale," Twilight replies.

"I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart," Princess Celestia explains.

"Only because you could not wield the Elements of Harmony yourself," Shade inputs.

Princess Celestia scowls at Shade.

"What?" Twilight questions Shade.

Shade stands up. "When the most powerful artifacts that promote peace and harmony are used for their opposite purpose, they tend not to forget."

"I used them only to help my sister!" Celestia defends.

"How is sending her to the moon for a thousand years helping her? More like you used the Elements to help yourself," Shade chides.

"You don't know how long I have lived with the guilt and waited for her return."

"A thousand years," Shade deadpans.

Celestia glares at Shade.

"It does not matter to me," Shade replies, "What is important is if Luna can forgive you." Shade and Celestia turn to look at Luna.

Luna slowly turns her eyes up to her sister.

"It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister," Princess Celestia smiles warmly. "Will you accept my friendship?"

Luna looks over to the right at Shade who wears a neutral expression. Luna stands to her hooves. "No," she states firmly. She holds up a hoof to stop her sister from talking and continues, "We will forgive thee for thine imprisonment of us in the moon, but we can not be thy friend not just yet. We require time, dear sister."

Celestia smiles sadly, "I understand." Celestia turns her attention to the tricorn to her side. "I never expected you to become an Element of Harmony."

"I never expect anything from you," Shade replies with a chilling tone.

Celestia glares at Shade for second before heaving a sigh, "I will remove your status as a wanted criminal and allow you to return to Ponyville."

"What are your conditions?"

"Continue to help my little ponies and your friends."

Shade nods, "That goes without saying." Shade smiles at Luna, "If you ever want to write or need help with anything, do not be afraid to message me."

Princess Luna smiles.

Twilight sighs which gains Shade's attention. "I am just glad that this is over. But. . ."

"Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?" Princess Celestia asks.

"That's just it. Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them," Twilight shares crestfallen.

Princess Celestia smiles and lifts Twilight's head with a wing. "Twilight Sparkle, you shall take on a new mission for Equestria. You must continue to study the magic of friendship, and you must report to me your findings from your new home in Ponyville."

"Oh thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before!" Twilight hugs Princess Celestia. Her friends gather around, and group hugs Twilight.

"Isn't this exciting? Are you excited cause I'm excited I've never been so excited, well, except for the time that I went," Pinkie Pie breaks to gasp, "but I mean really "