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// Sunset Shimmer: Guitar Hero 
// Story: The Many Talents of Sunset Shimmer 
// by SonicSpeedster97 
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Another day, another practice session for the Rainbooms done and dusted. And yet again, Sunset Shimmer had absolutely slayed it as second guitar and backup vocals. “Awesome work, girls.” Rainbow Dash smiled as she and the others powered down from their Ponied-Up forms.
“Seriously. If we keep this up, we can probably make tons at that next benefit.” Twilight Sparkle noted, remembering that ever since their success at saving Camp Everfree, the Rainbooms had made an excellent career out of performing for charity events, and their latest upcoming concert to help Canterlot High pay to replace the Wondercolt statue Twilight destroyed at the Friendship Games was no exception.
“Well, let me know if you guys want to rehearse anymore before the next session.” Sunset Shimmer smiled as she packed up her blue V-guitar. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Um, actually Sunset…” Fluttershy muttered nervously, freezing when Sunset looked back at her.
“What’s up, Fluttershy?” she asked.
“N- Nothing.” Fluttershy just shook her head… but Applejack stepped forward.
“Ah think Ah know what it is,” she noted. “We’ve all been holdin’ our tongues on this for a while, but we gotta know something.”
“Yeah? What?” asked Sunset.
“How’d you get so good on that thing?” Rainbow asked seriously as she pointed at Sunset’s guitar.
Sunset looked down at her guitar and couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, I guess it’s been out there long enough; might as well tell the story.” she shrugged and sat down on the piano, watching her friends pack up their instruments as she cast her mind back to her musical origins. “When I was a kid back in Equestria, I actually didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life for a long while. I tried tons of stuff to try and find my place in the world and eventually I just ended up deciding that… maybe music was my thing.”
“So you picked up the guitar out of sheer curiosity?” asked Rarity.
“Pretty much.” Sunset shrugged.
“How did you play it though? I mean, with hooves…” Pinkie Pie smiled, holding her fists like hooves.
“Who said I used my hooves? I just used my magic.” Sunset smirked. “And I gotta admit; I got pretty good at it. Got me some pretty good attention from musicians in Canterlot.”
Sunset couldn’t help but smile as she leaned back on the piano, thinking back on those days. “Even when I was accepted as Princess Celestia’s student, I still played; just… not as much. I had my studies to worry about, y’know?”
“And after you… left?” Rarity tried to couch that in the gentlest of terms.
Sunset sighed as she thought back. “I admit it; when I first came to this world, almost all I thought about was power and revenge. And… well, you guys know how that went.”
“Trust me; we remember.” Rainbow nodded, trying her best not to sound judgmental… but it clearly wasn’t enough as Sunset brushed some hair out of her face balefully.
“Anyway, after I established myself, I sorta missed playing, so I bought myself a new guitar and got to practicing again.” Sunset shrugged as she opened her guitar case. “Learning curve was pretty steep, especially with having to learn how to play with my hands in this world, but after a while, well…” She strummed a quick silent chord on the unpowered strings of the instrument. “I got good enough that your guys let me join the band.”
“Hey, you earned your place with the Rainbooms, Sunset,” Rainbow assured.
“If it weren’t for you, we probably never would’ve defeated the Sirens.” Rarity agreed. “And either way, your voice is simply divine.”
“Thanks girls.” Sunset smiled as she stood up and closed her guitar case.
“I know you’ve got a bunch of other talents, right?” Twilight pointed out. “Will we ever get to hear the story behind them?”
Sunset smirked. “Maybe. But for now, I gotta get home.” she smiled as she slung her backpack onto her back. “And hey; we’re still doing our solo songs for the show, right?”
“Duh,” Rainbow smirked in agreement. “Now get outta here; don’t wanna keep you.”
“Thanks girls. Later.” Sunset smiled as she left the music room, confident that this little look into her past she’d given the girls wouldn’t be the last.