At First Glance

Everything was being set up for the preformance tonight and Sunset had never been nervous about show before in her life. She knew why she was nervous but she knew she had no right to be.

Or did she? What if Twilight thought she was shit? What if this scared her off?

"Ugh!" Sunset cried out causing the stage hands to all look over at her with rasied eyebrows. Sunset slowly turned to them and smiled awkwardly. They stared for a moment more before getting on with what they were doing.

"I have never known, Sunset Shimmer, to be so worried about a preformance," A voice spoke from behind a costume chest. Sunset, her fingers tangeled in her hair, shifted her gaze over to the chest only for a flash of purple locks to pop out from behind it.

"I take it Rainbow told you? Probably the rest of the girls as well?" Sunset asked flatly to which Rarity pursed her lips and looked anywhere else but at Sunset.

"Perhaps...I think it's cute,"

"I don't do cute, Rarity,"

"And yet, here we are," Rarity grinned, motioning to the rest of the room as well as Sunset herself. Sunset shot a really bored look towards Rarity, who ignored it completly.

"You'll be fine, Darling. Once you start singing, your nerves will wash away,"

Sunset breathed out through her nose and nodded slightly, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Yeah...yeah I guess your right,"

"Speaking of singing, I believe we should do a soundcheck quickly. There will be nothing worse than the sound being off during our show tonight,"

"Good idea. Yo, Pinkie!" Sunset called out.

"Hi Sunset!" Pinkie responded loudly, springing out from behind the drum kit causing Sunset to jump slightly and hold her hand over her chest to still her rapidly beating heart.

"God I still need to get used to that.."

"Yep! Anyways what do you need!" Pinkie asked with wide eyes and huge grin. Sunset blinked for a moment.

"Uh, we need to do a soundcheck. Thinking I should sing Talking to Myself, do you think you can soundcheck the drums?"

"Okiedokieloki!"

Sunset always wondered how that girl had so much energy. She shrugged and stepped up to the microphone, guitar in hand with the strap around her neck. Adjusting the chords, she gave a thumbs up to the sound guy and listened as the backing track began. Pinkie's part kicked in and, thank god, the drums sounded good. Sunset breathed in before she began.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Twilight double checked where the venue was as she had only been once or twice as she walked along the road leading up to the venue. The show didn't start for at least a few more hours but Twilight decided to show up a little early to see if they needed any help setting up.

That, and she had absolutely nothing else to do.

She looked up to see she had arrived, poking her head around the corner.
"Hello?"

Sunset leant to the left slightly, smiling widely but also going ever so slightly red.
"Twilight? Hey!"

Twilight let out a sigh of relief when she saw Sunset here.
"Hi, Sunset, may I come around?"

"Oh, of course!" Sunset jumped down from the stage.

"I wasn't doing anything as I had no classes so I thought I'd offer a hand to help set up tonight," Twilight spoke, looking around at all the instruments, sound equipment and cables.

"And that is very thoughtful of you, darling," Rarity spoke up, extending her hand out towards Twilight "Rarity, one of Sunset's best friends, a pleasure to meet you!"

Twilight couldn't help but smile at the warmth that radiated from Rarity,shaking her hand.
"Twilight Sparkle, the pleasure is all mine,"

"I like her," Rarity smirked as she turned to look at Sunset over her shoulder, who just glared at her.

"I like her too, Rarity. Hence why I invited her," Sunset smiled sarcasticly at her friend who just chuckled, releasing Twilight's hand and going round the back of the stage.

"She seems nice," Twilight commented, looking up at Sunset. Sunset looked down and nodded ever so slightly.

"Yeah, Rarity is one of my dearest friends. She's a fashion designer too and always insists on creating clothes for our friendship group,"

"So she created what you are wearing right now?"

Sunset looked down at her outfit, similar to the outfit she wore when they first met minus the leather jacket and wore a long black sleeved top instead.

"Not this one and not the one I'm wearing tonight, no, as I'll be wearing name brand clothing but everything else you'll see me in would of been made by Rarity,"

"Thats amazing! And very generous of her," Twilight smiled.

"Yep! Now, she was just here but I want you to meet-"

"Hi there!" a pink floof appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"-Pinkie Pie," Sunset sighed, shaking her head.

"You must be Sunset's new friend! I'm Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie spoke loudly, frantically shaking Twilight's hand. So much so that her hair tie came undone and her glasses fell off her face, Sunset moving quickly to catch them before they landed on the ground and broke.

"It's..lovely to meet you. My name is Twilight Sparkle," Twilight smiled awkwardly, squinting slightly to try and see the girl properly.

"Hi new friend Twilight Sparkle!" Pinkie almost yelled. Sunset placed a hand on Pinkie's shoulder and pursed her lips.

"Don't scare the girl, Pinks. Why don't you go and help Rarity backstage?"

"Okidoki!" Pinkie jumped off towards the back of the stage.

Sunset ran a hand through her hair, cleaning Twilight's glasses on her shirt.
"I aplogise for her. She's very full on,"

"No? Really? I couldn't tell," Twilight responded with sarcasm, putting her hair back up.

Sunset chuckled, placing a hand on Twilight's cheek. Twilight froze as Sunset moved her face to look her before she removed her hand and lined up Twilight's glasses with her face.

"Here," Sunset said softly, slipping the frame back onto Twilight's face gently before letting go when she knew it was safe to do so.

Twilight blinked a couple of times before looking at Sunset, who wore a bright smile. Twilight could feel herself starting to go red so she looked down slightly, twirling part of her hair around her finger.
"Thank you,"

Sunset bit her lip, putting a hand over her cheek to try and calm the rising blush.
"No problem,"

The two remained there in silence for a few more seconds before Twilight cleared her throat.
"So, what can I do to help?"

Sunset perked up, pointing to a box with lights spilling out of it.
"Do you think you could help Pinkie with decorating?"

"She won't tear we apart if I do something she doesn't like, will she?"

Sunset couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Oh god no. She'll love anything. She's not nearly as crazy as she comes across,"

"Who'd of thought," Twilight giggled, covering her mouth with her hand to hide her rising smile. Sunset noticed this and frowned ever so slightly.

"You shouldn't hide your smile,"

"Hm?"

"Don't hide your smile. It's cute," Sunset commented, trying to find her confidence again. Twilight couldn't help but start to go red again at that comment, removing her hand slowly as her smile remained.

"Atta girl," Sunset winked, picking up her guitar case "I gotta shoot and get ready for our preformance tonight. Hope to see you at the front bar,"

Sunset waltzed away and Twilight was just left staring at where Sunset had just stood. Twilight sighed and ran her hands through her hair.

"Crushing on our friend, are ya?" A voice came from behind Twilight. She spun on her heel to see a girl who was a tad taller than herself and vibrent Rainbow hair, her arms crossed across her chest and a smug smirk on her lips.

"I..I don't..um.." Twilight stammered.

"Rainbow, don't bully Sun's guest. Ya'll are gonna give her ah good ol' scare with 'hat attitude of yers," Twilight looked over her shoulder to the other new voice and let her head and eyes follow a girl who looked like a cowgirl from a western film.

"I'm not bullying! Just asking a question!" Rainbow protested, glancing at the cowgirl before looking back at Twilight "I get it if you do though, she's smoking hot right?"

Twilight's mouth opened and closed, trying to find the words to respond to that statement.

"Rainbow!" The cowgirl snarled, slapping Rainbow upside the head. Rainbow grabbed her head and glared at the taller girl.

The girl ignored her and smiled warmly at Twilight.
"Howdy, sugarcube, ma names Applejack. 'hat parasite over there is Rainbow Dash,"

"Parasite?!" Rainbow yelled, giving Applejack a death glare. Twilight couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the two girl's banter.

"Will you two behave?!" Rarity spat at the two other girls, both standing to attention as if they were told off my a commanding officer in the army.

"Sorry, Rarity.." Both of them mumbled. Rarity shook her head and rubbed her temples.

"Honestly. Why must you feel the need to embarrass yourself in front of our new friend?" Rarity grumbled, looking at the girls with a very fed up expression.

"...friend?" Twilight squeaked. Rarity looked over and smiled brightly at her.

"Of course, darling! If Sunset considers you a friend, then you are our friend too,"

"Darn tootin'!"

"Hell yeah!"

"But for real though, do you have a thing for Sunset?" Rainbow asked, Rarity and Applejack ready to kill her but Twilight just let out a happy sigh, causing all three girls to look at her.

"...a little bit. She's just...unlike any girl I've ever met,"

"What makes you say that, darling?" Rarity asked in genuine curosity.

"Well first of all, she actually talks to me, not down to me. Secondly, shes just...so incredible from the little time I've known her,"

"Wait until you see her preform," Rainbow grinned, throwing finger guns Twilight's way.

"Is she that good?" Twilight wondered outloud.

"Well if Rainbow 'ere is givin' her praise despite her huge ego, ya know shes pretty darn good,"

"It's true," Rainbow nodded before the gears in her head turned and she finally clocked what Applejack said "Hey!"

Twilight had gone to help with the lights, watching all the three other girls chat and laugh among theirselves. It made Twilight smile softly as she worked. These girls refered to her as their friend. They also said Sunset said she thought of herself as friend and Sunset's friends seem perfectly normal with herself being super gay towards their friend.

"I could get used to this.." Twilight whispered to herself and she got back to work setting up.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Twilight stood at the front bar, drink in hand as she waited for The Rainbooms to come on stage. She had just watched and listened to the support band called Trixie and the Illusions. They weren't bad but Twilight didn't think she'd listen to any of their stuff by choice in the future. Besides, she was here for one reason and one reason only. To see Sunset preform. Flash and Timber wanted to kill her when they found out.

Twilight had made small talk with a couple of people here and there but not too much, crowds never really were her type of scene anyways. She was also sporting a tshirt for The Rainbooms as she liked the look of it and she wanted to support the band. She watched as the lights went down and the crowd started cheering. First on stage was Pinkie Pie, starting off the song with the drum beat. Next was Rainbow Dash who ran on stage, striking chords as if her life depended on it. Next was Applejack, plunking at her bass and Rarity, on what appeared to be a keytar although she was stood in front of a microphone and not touching her keytar so Twilight assumed she was on backing vocals for this song. Another girl with light pink hair hopped onto stage with a tambourine, Twilight assumed she was friends with the rest of the other girls and she was amazed at how she worked her tambourine to the tone and tune of the song itself. And then, the one person Twilight was here for.

Sunset Shimmer ran onto stage, mic in hand and a huge grin on her lips and her eyes bright as the light shone on her. Twilight watched as she interacted with the other girls on stage, headbanging with Rainbow while she played air guitar back to back with the shorter girl, mimiking Pinkie's drumming which got Pinkie hyped before turning back to the crowd and thats when Twilight felt time come to a stand still around her.

"I've been waiting for the sun to come up and to let you know
There's a reason that I up and left about a week ago,"

Sunset's voice was so unlike anything she'd heard from a female. It was raspy and deep but not so much that it made her sound manly just..
Sexy.

Twilight's world started spinning again as she watched Sunset move around stage as she sang, the crowd bouncing around with her which caused Twilight to bop her head along as well. Twilight and Sunset's eyes caught in the moment and Sunset winked at her, smirking before she poured her heart into the chorus.

"I wanna start over, where do we begin?
I thought I was stronger than to let you in,"

Twilight listened to each word carefully and pondered who this was about. Maybe an ex she still has feelings for?

"Had, Twilight. Don't give up hope just yet," Twilight thought as she listened to the next part of the chorus.

"I'm finally learning how the tables are turning
So let's start this over, but where do we begin?,"

Twilight let out a soft sigh. She could tell this crush would come with a few issues more than she was hoping.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The preformance was coming to a close and Twilight could honestly say she hadn't had this much fun in...she actually doesn't remember having this much fun! She was also going to be sure to download the bands album when she got back to her room. Paying for it of course.

"Alright guys, this is our last song for tonight," Sunset spoke and the crowd let out an 'awh' in responce. Sunset chuckled and waved her hand dismissingly.

"C'mon guys, you make it seem like we are going away forever! We'll be back soon and, hopefully, with new stuff! But for now, to close the show, here's Frozen," Sunset smiled, putting her mic on the stand and grabbing her guitar. She tuned it before starting to play the first chords.

Twilight smiled as she watched the golden haired girl play, letting out a dream sigh that couldn't be heard over the music but she knew what she did.

Sunset sang her heart out for this last song, bouncing side or side as she sang and played the guitar.

"With everything that's burning up inside of me
Here's something for your diary
You had the opportunity
To find out just what we could be but all was frozen after all,"

Twilight quickly took out her phone and took some photos while Sunset had her eyes closed as she sang, making sure to take some pictures of the other girls as well so it didn't look really creepy. She managed to get one final picture of Sunset when she had her eyes open, making sure to quickly put her phone away before Sunset noticed. She bit her lip as she made eye contact with Sunset again, giving her a little wave to which Sunset responded with a nod of the head and a bright smile.

Twilight groaned internally.

"I'm so smitten..."