Float like a Fluttershy, Sting like a- wait none of our friend's names sound like "bee"
Rainbow strummed her guitar idly, looking over by the docks. The wind lightly tousled her hair, it's fresh naturey crispness doing wonders as she breathed it in.
Then she remembered the docks again. This was- what, attempt number seven at building that thing? At this point it seemed the only thing Canterlot High School would be leaving behind is a camp curse- the forever unfinished docks, always doomed to be destroyed just as they're completed. Never harboring boats, but forever harboring a GRUDGE AGAINST ALL THE CAMPERS!
WoooOOOoooOOOoo~!
Plucking a few more notes, she focused her gaze on their resident magic expert. Sunset laid out a few planks of wood, measured twice, and cut once. The buzzsaw plowed through the boards like it was nothing, with a satisfying metallic "schwing!" signalling their finish. It was a perfect fit for the next few rows of the dock.
Rainbow frowned. Would ponies even have power tools? They had magic instead of electricity and stuff, right? And how was Sunset so good at them- she used to have hooves, right? And if she had hooves, how the heck would she even grab onto the handle, let alone press the power button at the same time. It's not like she had many opportunities to learn to use them in the first three years being here- she'd probably have just gotten someone else to do physical work for her. And AJ didn't ask for their help on the farm with repairs too much- she was just a smidge too stubborn for that. But back on topic- hands. Sunset was still pretty new to them.
For that matter, she was also pretty great at guitar. Not like she was anywhere near Rainbow's level of awesome- who could ever be THAT great at guitar? There was a reason Rainbow was the lead guitarist for the Rainbooms- and it wasn't just because she got the band together in the first place. Still, Sunset had skillz. And the "z" at the end was well earned.
Just how many things was Sunset Shimmer good at?
Rainbow looked around, and spotted the apple she was planning on eating during her break. An idea slowly formed in her head, and she grinned before picking it up- not too heavy, but weighty enough to work. Solid, and nearly perfectly round. She tossed it a couple times, and looked over at Sunset again.
Target acquired. Firing main salvo.
"Yo, Sunset! Think fast!" Rainbow shouted, before giving the apple the old fastball special. Sunset whirled around, with only seconds to react. Her instincts took over, as she widened her stancd and swung her palms like a samurai's blade, letting out a high pitched battle cry.
"HIIIIIIYAH!"
Rainbow stared in awe, as she saw the smoking halves of the apple bounce down the docks, before slowly rolling to a stop. It was cut neatly in half, the insides roasted from the friction of Sunset's masterful karate chop.
"Rainbow Dash! What the apple was that for?" Applejack shouted from the end of the dock, dropping her hammer and standing with her hands on her hips. Sunset stayed where she stood, just as confused. Rainbow smirked.
"You never told us you knew karate!" she shouted, pointing a finger at Sunset accusingly.
"Well, first of all it's Northern Shaolin Kung Fu," Sunset corrected, getting out of her stance, "And second- you never asked?"
Rainbow strode up to the rest of her friends, crossing her arms. She looked Sunset over- fit, but not as lean as Rainbow was. Shorter, now that she wasn't wearing those thick heeled boots all the time. Rainbow frowned.
"I don't buy it."
"What?" Sunset asked, her confusion etched clearly on her face.
"I don't buy it!" Rainbow said, and started counting off her fingers, "Okay, so you're apparently an expert on magic from your home world, you picked up friendship in just a few weeks after years of being- well, you know. No offense."
Sunset sucked in a deep breath, "None taken."
"Right- and not only that, but you secretly shred the guitar like a rockstar, AND you know karate?"
"Kung fu."
Rainbow waved her arms around, "Whatever! Just how many things are you good at?"
"I... I dunno?" Sunset shrugged, "I mean, I guess I've always been a quick study- back when I learned guitar from Flash, I picked up well enough what he was teaching. And with the martial arts, I could just kind of tell when my teacher thought my stance was wrong and how to correct it-"
Sunset suddenly stopped, and put a finger to her chin. She hummed, "Huh..."
"Something the matter?" Rarity piped up, walking over while Sunset slowly shook her head.
"Nothing, I just- I guess the magic from the geodes makes more sense in hindsight than I thought." Sunset said, before looking up and seeing her statement met with blank faces.
"Let me elaborate- I was always pretty good at reading people before- it's how I got away with stuff I wanted and figured out what buttons to press on people. Of course I don't do any of that stuff now, but still I probably shouldn't be surprised that I'm a straight up empath now."
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, "Does that make you a Jedi or something now?"
Sunset shook her head, "Nah, more like I can just see how everything works on like a base level. Like a coder and a program file."
With a smirk, Rainbow nudged Sunset in the side, "Alright, Mrs. Anderson."
Sunset rolled her eyes and playfully shoved Dash as she went back to the circular saw, "Shut up, Rainbow."
Author's Note
I knew I had to publish something with the title the moment I thought of it, but the story itself kind of unfolded as I went along. Just a little bit of random silliness, plus maybe a little headcanon on magic.
BONUS: STINGS LIKE A RARITY!
"You can absolutely give up, you know?" Rarity said, foil in one hand and mask in the other. Sunset groaned on the ground, her sides definitely bruised from Rarity's jabbing.
"You know, that might not be a bad idea."
Rainbow Dash booed from the sidelines of the fencing stage, "Come on, Sunset! Aren't you supposed to be some kinda psychic genius now?"
Rarity simply grinned, offering a hand to help Sunset up, "While our darling Sunset here may be a quick study, I think you'll find that natural proclivity does not win out over years of practice and study."
"Because of course you'd be the one to know how to fence," Sunset smirked. Rarity simply brushed a bang out of her face.
"Well, a lady must have her ways of staying in shape."
"I'm just glad to know our little Shimmy-Sham here's not perfect," AJ said, with a small smile, "She's good, but I'll be darned if I'm gonna be outstripped at my own schtick just because of weird cave rock magic."
"See, now I'm just gonna take that as a challenge," Sunset said, grinning as the two of them walked over to the stands, water bottles waiting. Twilight took a towel and wiped some of the sweat from Sunset's brow as she gulped down the refreshing liquid.
"Honestly, though," Sunset said, with a small gasp after guzzling down her water, "I'm just fine learning what my limits here are. If there's another magical incident-"
"-When." Twilight said. Sunset rolled her eyes.
"-When there's another magical incident, I don't want to go in there thinking I can handle more than I can."
"And an excellent point to have in mind," Rarity agreed. Rainbow Dash frowned, blowing some hair out of her face.
"Man, I just wanted to see Sunny kick your butt..."
A glint flashed in Rarity's eye, as she eyed Rainbow up.
"Well, how about you put your money where your mouth is, hmm Rainbow Dash?" She said, standing up and tossing Sunset's foil. Dash nearly fumbled it as Rarity strode confidently to the fencing stage. Dash grinned.
"Yeah? Well, bring it on princess!" She said, grabbing Sunset's mask and rushing over.
"Hoo, nelly."
"You can say that again," Sunset replied.
Author's Note
For some reason I got inspired to tack on a little extra teensy scene on here- hope you guys enjoy it.
