Shimmer Run 1981

As the heart of Neighami grew closer down the beachside road the next morning it appeared less flattering, though they were greeted by busking zebras playing a relaxing island melody on steel drums. Sunset Shimmer flipped a couple of bits to them as she trotted next to Trixie, sharing the yoke and carrying the amulet along. The ponies and zebras on the beach appeared frazzled and lethargic.

A young pale orange pegasus stallion dragged himself up to the trio.

"C-can you spare a few b-bits? I need it back. I n-need the magic back" He stammered. His eyes were bloodshot and his mane was a picture of disarray.

"This doesn't look like the kind of crowd Trixie can make any bits off of." Trixie hung her head.

"I know these symptoms..." Stygian flashed with a sigh.

The trio observed a commotion forming along the water's edge. Trixie and Sunset detached from the yoke and took Stygian down the beach to investigate. A duo of unicorns in police uniforms, one blue and one beige, and a small crowd of bystanders gathered around a small boat with four zebras that had just run ashore.

The blue police unicorn urged the zebras away from the boat as a taller beige one lifted a floor board on the boat revealing a stash of tightly packed bags of white powder. "Magicaine!" He shouted.

Suddenly the zebras tilted their heads forward and started firing blasts of magic from their foreheads at the crowd. The blue police unicorn was struck immediately and fell to the ground bleeding. The Beige unicorn ducked for cover behind the boat as the zebras grabbed the bags of white powder and began backing towards the highway, continuing to take pot shots at the crowd. The beige unicorn fired back but missed.

"We have to do something!" Sunset Shimmer shouted as she dived in front of a young foal that was trapped in the crossfire. She erected an energy shield that stopped a magical bolt from striking her. She retunred fired and struck one, knocking him to the ground.

As the zebras neared the road a black carriage pulled up and the remaining three jumped in as the driver trotted off.

"Please no!" The beige unicorn shook the motionless body of the blue unicorn. "He's just a colt. His first day on the beat!" He cried.

Trixie and Sunset Shimmer looked at each other and nodded and in a flash of magic teleported to the caravan along with Stygian. Trixie hitched up to the yoke and Sunset Shimmer hung out the side window ready to shoot.

"Activating visual enhancement." Stygian said as he fired a beam of magic into their eyes. The landscape turned into a red and black laser grid as Trixie galloped into a red and purple blur, quickly catching up .

"How are they using magic!?" Trixie blurted out as the zebras fired out the windows of the black carriage at them. Trixie weaved back and forth to avoid the magic blasts.

"Magicaine." Stygian sighed. "It's an illegal substance that enhances a unicorn's magical powers. Concentrated enough it can allow non-unicorns to use magic too. Potent but highly addictive."

Sunset Shimmer fired a blast from her horn and destroyed one of the wheels of the black carriage, causing it to swerve uncontrollably and unhitch from the driver. The driver ran off as the carriage tipped over and burst into flames.

The sound of sirens began to echo into the distance as the beige police pony came running up. A deafening boom set their ears ringing as the carriage exploded before them.

"Well then I'm glad we got that dangerous stuff off the streets." Sunset Shimmer said as she pulled the amulet out of the caravan and embraced it tightly.

"A drop in the ocean I'm afraid." The beige police pony shook his head.

"Over a thousand years ago Starswirl and I worked side-by-side to shut down every last magicaine operation in Equestria." Stygian explained with a sigh.

"A new kingpin has moved into town recently. He's importing it over from plantations set up in the Zebra Islands. It's out of mine or even Celestia's jurisdiction. All we can do is stop it as it comes in but it keeps pouring in faster than we can stop it and we only have so much manpower out here." The police pony explained.

"Who is this kingpin? This sounds like a job for Shimmer Run!" Sunset Shimmer pumped a hoof in the air excitedly.

"Now hold on!" Stygian interjected. "These are very dangerous ponies who don't value life. Otherwise they wouldn't peddle their poison like this. We should return to Canterlot for backup and try to get a hold of Starswirl."

"And how many more ponies will die while we wait for backup?" Sunset Shimmer fumed. "We can end this today!"

"I've watched magicaine destroy more lives over the centuries than you could possibly imagine!" Stygian snapped.

"I'm tired of you thinking I can't take care of myself! Why can't you just trust me?" Shimmer snapped.

Trixie took hold of the amulet as Shimmer stormed back into the caravan. Trixie looked down at the amulet and sighed.

"I'm sorry everypony had to witness that." Stygian apologized.

"A day like this, it's been hard on us all. I have to tell a young stallions family that he isn't coming home tonight." The police pony sighed.

"Go to her." Trixie said softly, looking down, as she sent the amulet levitating back into the caravan.

"Please, my love. Commune with me." Stygian begged as the amulet hovered beside Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset Shimmer leaned her head over, touching the amulet with her horn and in a flash of light centuries of memories flashed through their minds as she found herself standing on top of a red and black laser grid beside an image of Stygian.

"Stygg, I..." Sunset Shimmer hung her head down and sobbed.

"You don't have to say anything. It is I who should be sorry. You are right. To spend a millennium in limbo and then be privy to such a delight. Nothing anypony can say ever seems to quell the fear that I might one day lose you." Stygian wrapped his front hooves around her and began to cry as well.

"You have such a beautiful heart, Stygg. Beautiful beyond words." Sunset Shimmer sighed and then turned away.

"But even when we connect like this we still can't feel each others touch. Anything we do feel is a trick of the mind. A drink that only causes thirst." Stygian spoke sadly.

"And you're right." Shimmer's words pierced Stygian's heart like a knife. "It's so frustrating. We are ponies. We need to touch. It's wrong of me to avoid this issue like I have but you're right. It bothers me too. I would give anything just to be able to touch." She cried.

"Some prices aren't worth paying. We both know that from experience." Stygian gently stroked his hoof through her fiery mane.

"We both worry too much about what other ponies think." Sunset Shimmer sighed. "We've always done best just focusing on what's in front of us, together." She smirked.

"Let us go get the run down on this kingpin." Stygian leaned towards her.

"You're right. We might be in over our heads so I'll write to Twilight tonight and let her know something is up in Neighami. That way we have backup." The two kissed and in a flash of light they were back in the caravan after only seconds had passed in the outside world.

Sunset Shimmer burst confidently from the caravan with the amulet in tow.

"Tell us about this Kingpin." she commanded softly.

"Trixie is glad you two made up." Trixie rolled her eyes jealously.

"Informants on the street know him as Shadow Whorl. He's a very powerful unicorn. His boys run magicaine down the main strip here wherever, whenever- he owns this city. We have dozens of ponies dying of overdose and withdrawal every day. He's got eyes in the precinct too because every time we have a bust planned they come rolling up and shooting but I've probably said too much already." The police pony explained.

"Well this shipment went up in flames. He's going to need a bigger boat next time." Stygian pondered.

"You're right. I know some ponies who work in the harbor. I'm going to do some digging around tonight. Why don't you come meet up with me at the precinct tomorrow? Just ask for me, Deputy Vice. " The police pony spoke confidently.