Shimmer Run 1981

As the three-thirty bell called on the weekend Sunset Shimmer burst excitedly from her seat and out into the noisy rabble of the main hallway of Canterlot High. As she approached the front doors the sounds of an upbeat 'synth rock' melody poured into the air from out of the school's band room.

"Sunset Shimmer!" Vice-principal Luna's voice boomed as she intercepted Sunset Shimmer with a stern gait. Sunset Shimmer's eyes pleaded for mercy as she turned to look. "What did I tell you about parking your van in front of the school!?" Luna continued her lecture.

"I guess he was just eager to see me." Sunset Shimmer chuckled nervously as she pushed through the doors and saw her purple Mitsubishi Delica van waiting on the road just down the path from the main doors.

"He?" Luna scratched her head as Sunset Shimmer slipped from her grappling stare and skipped out to the van.

"Flash!?" Sunset Shimmer was surprised to see Flash Sentry climbing out of the drivers seat of the van as she arrived.

"Sunset!" Flash acted surprised too. He reached up and scratched the back of his neck. "Stygg just wanted to have a man-to-man before you guys set out for the weekend." He blushed as he explained. "Good luck by the way! I hope you two have fun on your road trip!" He smiled as he sauntered off.

Twilight Sparkle met up with Flash, took his hand, and the two looked back at Sunset, flashing her a salvo of smiles as they wandered off gleefully toward the student parking lot.

"You too!" She smiled back as she climbed into the van.

"So what did you two talk about?" Sunset Shimmer teased as she pulled the door shut.

"Gentlepony things." Stygian's voice sighed. "I just wish you and I could touch each other."

Sunset Shimmer reached over and placed her hand over the smooth metal surface of the Alicorn Amulet which was set in an alcove in the dash board.

"That's not what I meant. As a pony touching another pony." his voice sighed. "I wish I could feel your heat. Your pulse. Your breath on my skin." The red Jewels on the Amulet flashed with each syllable he spoke. "I still worry after all this time, unable to consummate our love, that you might feel compelled to-"

"Stop that!" Sunset Shimmer objected. "This is the only way I've ever known you and I'm still as in love with you as I have ever been."

"I owe you everything. It was you that purged my heart of the last traces of darkness. You complete me." He sighed.

Sunset Shimmer pulled the amulet from it's alcove and pressed it against her forehead. Time ticked by with the long embrace before she placed it back.

"Well we mustn't keep Trixie waiting." Stygian sighed.

"Activate visual enhancement spell." Sunset Shimmer commanded softly as she fastened her seat-belt.

A red beam of magic fired from the Alicorn Amulet at Sunset Shimmer's face. Everything she saw before her transformed into a glowing red and black wire-frame as she revved the engine and reached down, rowing the gear-lever into the "1" position.

"Preparing for dimensional cross." Stygian said politely.

The tires squealed loudly as sunset shimmer let off the clutch. The red tail-lights blurred behind the van as she steered it through the statue in front of the school. In a flash of white light the van reappeared in Equestria, just outside of Ponyville, transformed into Trixie's travelling caravan. In the middle of the caravan's interior stood the mirror to Canterlot High and the Alicorn Amulet hung on the mirror's frame. Sunset Shimmer, in pony form, peaked her head out the side window and saw Trixie waiting impatiently.

"Who are you two to keep The Great and Powerful Trixie waiting!?" Trixie huffed indignantly. "We were supposed to leave at three-thirty sharp!"

"Well then it follows that we should make haste." Stygian's voice replied.

"That's easy for YOU to say when I'm the one pulling everypony around!" Trixie rolled her eyes as she spoke.

"So where are we going this week?" Sunset quizzed.

"This weekend The Great and Powerful Trixie will be wowing the ponies of the remote seaside city of Neighami, on the far southern shores of the Celestial Sea." Trixie explained as she hitched the caravan to herself.

"I should have asked Rarity to make me a pony shaped swim suit." Sunset Shimmer teased as she trotted away from the window and gazed into the mirror. An image of Stygian materialized in the mirror and looked Sunset Shimmer over.

"I would have loved to have seen that." Stygian's image smiled longingly back at Sunset Shimmer.

"You know Trixie can still hear you from out here!" Trixie's muffled voice protested from the outside. Sunset Shimmer and Stygian chuckled heartily in reply.

"Do you think there'll be trouble again?" Sunset Shimmer sighed as she brushed a hoof down the side of the mirror frame.

"I know of Neighami. In my time it was just a small fishing village but it has grown in recent years." Stygian sighed.

"And a bigger crowd brings bigger trouble." Sunset Shimmer hung her head.

"And no doubt plenty of amusing tales for your friends back in Canterlot High." Stygian teased.

Sunset Shimmer's horn glowed as she plucked the Alicorn Amulet from the mirror-frame and exited the Caravan to attach herself beside Trixie on the yoke.

"Just thought you could use some company." Sunset Shimmer said.

"You might be friends with that finger-monster impostor from the other side of the mirror but The REAL Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't need friends!" Trixie huffed.

"I want for nothing more than the three of us to get along." Stygian flashed as he floated beside the duo. "Shimmer, my love, may I have a word alone with Trixie?" he asked.

"Sure. I haven't written to Princess Twilight in a while" She nodded. Trixie's horn glowed as Sunset Shimmer let go of the amulet with her own magic and climbed back into the caravan.

"I never asked for any of this!" Trixie snapped once Sunset Shimmer was out of sight. "And yet, you should have been mine." She sighed.

"Trixie, I called out to you at first because it was the only thing I could do once my soul was trapped inside this amulet. All of it's memories became mine too." Stygian explained with a sigh.

"This caravan is my life. It's everything to me. When you first possessed it I finally felt like I had found my soulmate." Trixie sighed back.

"But still my heart was not yet completely purged of darkness. I was a threat to you and all of Equestria for that matter. Only when my heart was cleansed by Sunset Shimmer's love was the world finally free of the amulet's sinister machinations!"

"Did you ever love Trixie?" Trixie's eyes welled up with tears.

"Like family. You are like a sister to me."

"Trixie doesn't need a sister!" Trixie turned her head up as she trotted on. "I never should have taken that stupid mirror!"

"An accident. As I recall you built a replica as a stage-prop and took off with the real one by mistake. A fortunate accident for all of Equestria. Some day you will find your special somepony and I should like to see you down the aisle." Stygian flashed confidently.

"Cold words of comfort." Trixie rolled her eyes as she used her magic to pull open the door and send the amulet back inside.

"Why do you love me?" Stygian asked in a meek tone as his image reappeared in the mirror.

"Stygg, that's not a fair question to ambush somepony with." Sunset Shimmer hung her head. "I wish I could give you an answer that would make you feel better."

"It just seems like it should be an easier question to answer." Stygian hung his head.

"Well then why do you love me?" Sunset Shimmer asked defensively. "Because I did you a favor that one time?"

"Nothing feels right when I'm not with you." The image of Stygian held it's hoof out toward the mirror glass.

"Then that's my answer too. When I first touched you I knew we were destined to be here at each other's side making Equestria a better place. We've both seen all kinds of crazy magic and nopony can say for sure that you're stuck inside there forever." Shimmer nuzzled her face against the amulet. "And even if you were that wouldn't matter to me." She assured. The image of Stygian smiled reluctantly.

They realized the day had slipped by as they felt the caravan come to a halt. Sunset Shimmer grabbed the amulet and trotted up to the window. Their gaze was met by a bright, sprawling, glowing city.

"We'll make camp here for the night." Trixie said as she unhitched herself from the yoke.

"Tomorrow, Neighami..." Sunset Shimmer sighed.