A Hoof Heights Story: Sapphire Shores and Jill Jewel

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue

Chapter 1 Author's Note

Hoof Heights and all the ponies in it, except canon characters, of course, were created by me. I plan to make many more stories using Hoof Heights. Thanks for reading! Enjoy!!

Chapter 1

Hoof Heights is a small town of about 70 ponies. Canterlot is to the Northwest and Ponyville is to the Southwest. Many of its citizens are famous ponies trying to escape the hustle and bustle of fame and fortune. Most ponies only find it when traveling through it to Ponyville or Canterlot. Sapphire Shores knew of this place because an old friend, Fashion Forward, lived there. Here is Sapphire's story.

The train slowed to a stop in front of a small train station painted with a red roof and cream walls. A sign on the roof said, in gold letters, Hoof Heights.

The train ride had been very boring because it was a private train, so there was no other riders. Only Sapphire. It helped keep down the amount of paparazzi so she could enjoy her break from song writing, singing, dancing, mode- well, you get the point.

Anyways, Sapphire slid a tan fedora over her head and a lighter colored trench coat. She couldn't help but add some style, so there were jewels around the rim of the fedora and the collar of the trench coat that glistened beautifully as she walked off the train, waving to the conductor.

As she walked away from the train stop, she passed a small water park. Young fillies and colts of all races went down winding slides and swam in various pools. The sign above the entrance said "Wave Shore and Sea Foam's Water Park," in slanted, teal letters.

As she walked away from the water park, another sign, a street sign, read "Unicorn Lane." Fashion Forward had told her that she lived on this street when they had last talked.

Fashion Forward and Sapphire had both went to school at Inner City School Number 7 in Manehattan. Fashion and Sapphire became fast friends since they both loved fashion. Fashion had been the first pony in the school to earn her cutie mark, which was a fuschia stiletto.
Sapphire had been one of the last to earn her mark, which was... she didn't want to think about that.

Anyways, Sapphire trotted down Unicorn Lane, her hooves clopping on the cobblestone.

Sapphire had passed one house on Unicorn Lane when she came to an intersection. Unicorn Lane continued on, while another street, Pegasi Way, was perpendicular to Unicorn Lane. She looked down Pegasi Way and saw more houses and a clock tower with a cluster of trees around it. She could barely make out the sign in the cluster of trees. It said "City Square."

Sapphire crossed the intersection of the two streets and continued. On both sides of her were humble cottages. It was about 4:00 p.m., so most ponies were home from work.On her right side was a cottage with gray roof and blue walls. A gray unicorn stallion with a purple and blue marbled mane sat on the cottage's porch. A cutie mark of a band aid and two red cross signs adorned his flank. He was quietly reading a book, which floated in front of him in a light blue aura. The stallion flipped the page.

On the other side an all green cottage stood. Sapphire looked through one of the windows. A unicorn mare sat at a desk. Her coat was a weird shimmery mix of blue and green. Her mane was straight up blond. She floated a quill in a light pink aura, the same color as her eyes. Her cutie mark was a scroll with scribbles on it.

She kept going. The house on her left was empty, but the one on the right had a white unicorn mare in it. Before Sapphire could study her more, she walked away from the window. The next house had a pink unicorn mare...

"Fashion Forward!" Sapphire squealed. She bounded up the stairs to the mare sitting on the porch of the pink and white cottage. Fashion had a light pink coat. Her mane was three colors in three stripes of hair. The top stripe was an orangish, coralish color. The middle stripe was the lightest sea green she had ever seen. And the last stripe was a deep baby blue. Her stiletto cutie mark shone in the light and her light green eyes glinted in the sun.

"Sapphy!!" Fashion squealed.

"Its been to long, old friend."

"Come inside, I have a surprise for you."

Sapphire walked into Fashion's house. She was given the grand tour. On the bottom floor there was the dining room, kitchen, a bathroom, living room, and the guest bedroom where Sapphire would be staying. In the upstairs was Fashion's bedroom, a bathroom, and Fashion's design studio. When they reached the studio, Fashion handed her a package.

"You didn't have to do this!!" Sapphire said.

"Open it," was all Fashion Forward said.

So Sapphire tore the package open with her hooves.

Inside was a light purple dress. The frill had amethyst and diamond on it. The rest of the dress was fairly simple, a light dusting of turquoise stone on each flank. The shoes were light purple stilettos with a big hunk of cut amethyst on each. And there was the crown. It was made of pure amethyst with a tiny diamond dolphin on the top.

"It is for all the birthdays I've missed for you,' said Fashion.

"I-It's beautiful."

Sapphire went in the bathroom and changed into the outfit. Then the two friends headed down into the living room to catch up. After talking for a while, Fashion stepped on to some uncharted territory.

"Sapphy, I know you use that sassy voice for public and fans only because you think it makes you look tougher and more famous, but I like your real voice better."

"I know you like it, but it"s part of my identity."

"But that's not your real identity."

Sapphire quickly changed the subject to the latest fashion craze, hoof piercings, and Fashion Forward totally forgot about the previous conversation as she stated the pros and cons of the craze.

Dinner was set on the table an hour later. Sapphire's mouth watered at the turnip salad, pita bread with a carrot dip bought from a local restaurant, and the cheesy cucumber-lettuce pizza.

"I have a special guest coming over tonight," said Fashion.

"OMG do you have your COLTFRIEND coming over!!" said Sapphire.

"Uhh- sort of."

Somepony knocked on the door.

"There she is now," said Fashion.

"She?" questioned Sapphire.

Fashion Forward opened the door and the white unicorn mare from next door stood there. Her mane and tail were light blue with purple stars in it. Her eyes were the color of Fashion's coat. She held a crock of pumpkin soup in a pink aura,the same color as her eyes. Her cutie mark was a purple shooting star with a tail of baby blue and three small purple stars under the shooting star.

"This is my fillyfriend Star Dust."

Chapter 2

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Chapter 3

There she stood. Jill Jewel (she assumed it was her since she was putting things away). A non alicorn godess. Her mane was straight and long, with three stripes of color. The top stripe was deep maroon, the middle stripe red- orange, and the final, bottom stripe was pure white. Jill's coat was also the purest white. Her eyes were red-orange. Her horn stood from her head, her hair swept out of the way so the whole thing was visible. Her tail was the same colors as her mane, but was bushier and thicker and ended in a large swirl. Her cutie mark was a necklace with a giant ruby heart in the middle of the necklace and three smaller rubies on each side of the bigger ruby. She was tall and lean and sooooo beautiful...

"OHHH MY GOSH ITS SAPPHIRE SHORES!!" The end of Sapphire's trench coat had gotten caught in the doorway and as she had walked forward it had been pulled off of her. Her fedora had slid off her head when she had suddenly stopped to stare at the godess Jill Jewel who was sooooo.... Sapphire reigned her self. She was straight. She didn't filly fool. Fashion must have put something in those pancakes this morning. She looked up at the shouting mare. But it was not Jill shouting. It was an old unicorn mare with a green apple coat and a light pink mane. Her cutie mark was a single white lace doily.

" Great Aunt Lacy Macy" said Jill. Her aunt must be the one that owned that clothes store for common ponies. "Please calm down. Half the ponies of this town are celebrities like Great Goal, the gold medal winning pegasus or Ink Quill, the famous writer."

She looked up at me. "Sorry about this. She isn't usually like this."

All I could do was slowly nod as she turned back to her great aunt and started the arduous process of calming down a fanfilly when her idol was in front of her.

After finishing with her great aunt, she told Sapphire that she could look around. When Jill spoke to her, her heart began to beat a million miles a minute.

Sapphire looked around and found a beautiful horn ring that matched the dress she was wearing now. It was pure turquoise with three small rubies dotting the top. She picked it up and carried it to the register. As she was ringing it up, Jill asked Sapphire something.

"So, I um was wondering if you, you know,wanted to go to Bon Appetite's cafe tommorrow for lunch. Not as a date, just to get to know you better. And I'm not doing this to get famous. You just seem like a good mare."

Sapphire could tell that Jill wasn't lying. Usually she would have quickly refused. But something iside her lept with joy and she said,"I would love to go." in her normal voice, not her sassy one.

"Okay. Its a date. Not a date date, but a... well you get what I mean. See you tomorrow!!" said the sweet and beautiful Jill Jewel, who was the most beau- oh it happened again thought Sapphire as she walked out of the shop waving.

When she got back to the Boutique at 2:00 p.m., Fashion was giving a hair cut to a pegasus mare named Beaker Lab. She had a mane of two different tones of pink, and her mane and tail were short and clung to her body. She was butter yellow and had a cutie mark of a test tube full of a strange green liquid with three green bubbles over it. Her eyes were light green, the same color as Fashion's.

After the pegasus mare left with a bag with a green dress with emeralds on it in her hooves, Sapphire helped fashion finish a simple red dress with no jewels on it. She put it on a hanger and hung it on a rack.

"What happened to the dress you designed earlier?" asked Sapphire.

"I already finished it." Sure enough, the green dress was in the window on a mannequin. Fashion went back to work sketching a dress for a foal. It was yellow with a single sapphire with a pin on the back clipping it all together.

The rest of the day passed by quickly, with a blue pegasus stallion named Straight Shot buying a simple black tuxedo. Straight had a short brown mane and tail and blue eyes. His cutie mark was a bow with an arrow in it. He owned the archery shop next door.

Fashion finished the dress for the foal at 5:00 p.m. and they left the store closing it. They went back to Fashion"s house for dinner.

Star would not be attending dinner because she had to go out of town to Manehattan for a lecture on how to run your observatory. Yes, Star Dust owned an observatory and would travel to Manehattan for its well being.

Anyways, the two sat down to a dinner of tomato soup, baked potatoes with cheese and hay on them, and a salad. They talked and Sapphire told Fashion of the arrangement for tomorrow.

"Are you sure its more than a lunch to become friends? Are you sure its not a lunch to become- filly friends?" Fashion smiled slyly.

"It is a simple lunch between possible friends. Nothing more." But a part of Sapphire wanted it to be a date... No thought SapphireIt is nothing more than lunch and suppressed the thought. She distracted Fashion by telling her that she had seen somepony in jeggings, and the fashionista went on a rampage about how much she hated jeggings.

As Sapphire fell asleep, she thought of Jill and quickly fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Chapter 4

Sapphire woke bright and early the next day. Fashion had gotten up only moments before and had barely put the toast in the toaster before Sapphire appeared, hair combed, wearing a white dress covered with diamonds and a horn ring made of white gold with a large diamond on top. Fashion jumped and burned her hoof on the toaster.

"Sorry,"said Sapphire as she watched her friend suckle her burned hoof. "I'm just so excited."

" Excited for...your date??" she said, grinning evilly. Sapphire smacked her. It pushed Fashion backwards and caused her to burn her other hoof.

"Owwww, watch it Sapphy. Soon I 'll be a giant 3rd degree burn if you keep this up." Her friend apologized and they sat down to a breakfast of berries, orange juice, and toast. They talked about Sapphire's next album. Sapphire even sang one of the new songs called "Way to My Love."

They cleaned up the breakfast and walked out onto the street. The blue stallion playing the lute from yesterday was walking in front of them, a violin in his aura. Sapphire had went without her trench and fedora. The stallion's cutie mark, while not visible yesterday, shone in the morning light. It was a black treble clef surrounded by two single eighth notes. When he saw her, he lit up in joy and had her sign his violin. Then he pulled out a oboe from his blue saddle bags and had her sign it. And then had her sign a bongo drum. And a flute. And a kazoo. And a trumpet. Maybe I should have worn the coat thought Sapphire. He was about to pull out his lute when Fashion said that they had to get going and pulled Sapphire down the street, speeding past ponies who pointed and gawked at the sight of Sapphire.

Finally they reached the boutique and Fashion put the coat and hat on Sapphire quickly and shoved her upstairs into her storage room. Sapphire looked out the window in the storage room to see a mob of ponies holding pictures and one particular stallion floating a lute. Fashion opened the doors and they flooded in. When they found no Sapphire Shores, they started to leave. But then Fashion offered a 20% off everything sale for the next 5 minutes, and Fashion lost half of her inventory.

Fashion came to get Sapphire 20 minutes later after everypony had left. Fashion worked furiously, making three dresses at once, Sapphire cleaning them up and putting them on hangers or mannequins. At 12:00, it was time for Sapphire to meet Jill at her house. She waved to Fashion, who was still busy replenishing her inventory and walked out on the street, her trench coat and fedora on.

As she clopped along the street, she passed a female earth pony. She had a coat that was a weird shimmery mix of colors like Poetful Poetry, but her coat was orange and yellow instead of blue and green. Her mane was yellow with a big orange stripe through it and was up in a bee hive. Her tail was the same color as her mane and was straight and long. Her eyes were a light blue and her cutie mark was a yellow bee hive with a single drop of orange honey dripping from it.

The blue unicorn stallion walked next to her and they were talking. By their body language they were showing that they were friends, not spouses. Listening to their conversation as she passed by, she heard that the unicorn stallion was named Solo Clef and the mare was named Queen Bee.

As she walked past them she saw Jill on the porch of the red roofed, green walled house she had passed yesterday. As she walked up to Jill she remembered she had a whole week to get to know her, to get her to fall in lo- Sapphire brutally murdered her mind with nasty thoughts. She reminded herself to ask Fashion what she put in her food.

But none of that mattered as she walked up to the shining brilliance of Jill Jewe- dang it. She waved and Jill waved back. Jill wore a simple red dress studded with jade. She walked down the steps and the two walked together, crossing the intersection of Unicorn Lane and Mane Street, continuing on Mane Street.

They passed, on the right, Jill's great aunt's store. Lacy waved at them and they waved back. On the left side was a weather office and spa. Next to Lacy Macy's clothes was Bon Appetite's Cafe, the place they would be dining. A fuschia earth pony mare, presumably Bon Appetite, lead them to a table on the patio. Bon had a purple mane and tail, which both ended in swirls. Her eyes were the deep purple of her mane and her cutie mark was a white plate with peas and a baked potato on it.

She gave them menus and walked inside the restaurant. Only one other pony was here, an older white mare probably in her late forties. Her mane was red and curly, and so was her tail. She wore pink glasses over her purple eyes. Her cutie mark was a pair of red scissors over a piece of white construction paper.

Bon came back with two glasses of water balanced on a tray. She set them down in front of them. Sapphire ordered the banana and blueberry salad, and Jill ordered the oat burger with hay fries. As Bon walked away to put their orders away, they began to talk. It turns out she was from Manehattan like Sapphire. She loves good fashion and stops at Fashion's boutique at least once a week. Her mother was a fashion designer and her father was a jeweler like her. Sapphire shared that her mother had been a politician and her father was an architect.

"But aren't talents usually hereditary? Like, my dad was a jeweler and I am a jeweler, and my mom was a fashion designer and my sisters are fashion designers." Jill said

Sapphire suspiciously changed the subject and looked uncomfortable. Jill didn't want to make her uncomfortable. So they went on the subject of fashion and stayed on it until their food arrived

The two ate while talking, and soon had finished lunch.They sat and finished their waters and talked some more. By the time they were done it was two and Jill had to get back to her shop. They walked together to the boutique, where they went their separate ways. Sapphire involuntarily sighed as she watched Jill walk away, her tail swishing in the breeze. She quickly covered the action up and hoped no one had seen or heard her. She turned around and saw Fashion standing there.

"Looks like someone is in love."

Sapphire shoved Fashion out of the way and entered the shop. She had shoved Fashion into a hot street sign that was burning up from the sun.

Fashion winced and looked at the third burn of the day, a throbbing red spot on her flank. "You really gotta stop burning me, Sapphy," Fashion called out as she followed Sapphire into the boutique, massaging the tender burn.

Chapter 5

The rest of the day had passed uneventfully, no one coming to the shop. When they finally closed the shop at 6, they went out to dinner. Sapphire went back to the house and changed into a sparkling blue gown covered in pearl. Fashion donned a simple silver dress studded with sapphires.

The pair headed onto the street. Sapphire saw a shish-ka-bob restaurant across from the boutique. "Why aren't we going there?" asked Sapphire.

"I don't think you're ready yet," was Fashion's answer. Sapphire scrunched up her face in confusion but still followed her friend.

They walked across the intersection of Unicorn Lane and Mane Street and continued on Mane Street. They passed Lacy's store and Bon's Cafe. Up ahead was an electrical shop on the right and a gumdrop store and a bookstore on the left. The street seemed to dead end then. But Fashion kept walking.

At the end of Mane Street, another road went left and right. It was called Horseshoe Road. The pair turned right onto Horseshoe road. The right side was filled with shops but the left was empty, a large, clear river winding alongside the road. Fashion said it was called Azurite Stream after its discoverer and the founder of the city, Azurite Tuna.

They continued up the street and passed a fireworks shop and a flight arena, whatever that was. At the end of the street there were two restaurants, a sushi cafe and a sandwich shop. They headed into the sushi cafe.

There was a patio with a few tables and about ten tables inside. Inside sat Solo Clef, bringing sushi up to is mouth in a blue aura. We sat down at a table at the patio.

A minute later a female pegasus arrived. She had a salmon coat and deep orange eyes. Her mane was marine blue with a single stripe of brown through it, cut short and shaggy. Her tail was the same as her mane. Her cutie mark was a single sushi roll. Her name was Susan Sushi.

She set down menus in front of us and then called for somepony. A little pegasus filly, her daughter, trotted out of the inside of the cafe. She had the same salmon coat as her mother, but her eyes were dark green and her hair was long and a mousy brown. Her cutie mark was three sushi rolls stacked in a triangle with a piece of lettuce behind them. Her name was Spring Roll.

Spring asked them for drinks and they both ordered water. The mother and daughter trotted inside to fetch their drinks.

When their drinks arrived, they gave their orders.They both ordered the all you can eat sushi platter. As Spring and Susan trotted inside again, Sapphire and Fashion sipped our drinks and started talking. Fashion made fun of Sapphire's lunch with Jill and Sapphire made fun of Star and her observatory. When they had gotten their anger out at each other, they both broke down into laughing fits.

Then their food arrived. While they were munching on carrot, seaweed, and cucumber sushi, Solo Clef left, a doggie bag in his wake.

When they finished their food they sat talking, sipping up the last drops of water. When they were done with the water, they paid the bill and headed back to Fashion's house. They stayed up for a little bit reading, but then both turned in for the night, falling asleep quickly and dreaming peacefully.

The next day they woke up early. Fashion made sure not to make toast so Sapphire couldn't burn her. As she warmed up leftover pancakes from the first day, Fashion thought, with a sigh of happiness, six days to be with her friend. She took out syrup and floated the pancakes onto plates, turning off the stove. She drizzled syrup on the pancakes and poured milk into glasses, floating the glasses and plates onto the table. As soon as she set them down, she turned around to clean up the counter. Sapphire snuck behind her, and poked her in the back, shouting "Boo!"
Fashion turned around and screamed jumping backwards and burning her healing hooves on the still warm stove top.

"How dare you!!" screamed Fashion she turned around and smiled before making a grumpy face.

"Now I won't be able to make dresses because my hooves are burnt." Fashion pretended that burning her hooves was the end of the world.

"That's good, because the world was better without your fashion!" Sapphire said.

Fashion mock gasped and said" Now that's over the line!" and started swinging punches at Sapphire. They soon fell down laughing.

They quickly ate breakfast and headed to the boutique. When they got there, Fashion continued to triple task with her dresses while Sapphire cleaned up the place. At 12:00 she headed over to Jill's store,a picnic basket she had packed earlier clenched in her mouth. She arrived at the Jill's shop. Susan Sushi was just leaving, a new emerald necklace hanging from her neck.

She entered to see Jill sweeping the floors while placing a ring in a glass case. When she saw Sapphire, she leaned the broom against the wall and trotted over to her, beautifully- Stop thought Sapphire. Even if you were lesbian, she's 23 and you're 30. To big of an age difference.

Jill loved the idea and the pair trotted down Mane Street, father than Sapphire had gone yet. Next to Jill's shop was a cupcake parlor and across the street were three stores, that Queen Bee's honey store, an ice cream shop, and Solo Clef's Music store. Next to Solo's store was a cactus garden.

Across from the cactus garden was a GIANT park. At the entrance there was a big hut, the ranger's office. The ranger, a light green earth pony mare, was in the hut, writing. Her mane and tail were dark green and cut short. Her eyes were light blue and her cutie mark was a pine tree with a light blue river behind it. She saw them and waved at Jill, and Jill waved back.

They walked into the park and Sapphire saw a gazebo near a large pond that was about 30 pony lengths long and about 15 pony length wide. They set the blanket down and took out the sandwiches and started to eat. There was a playground and Susan Sushi was laying on a bench, watching Spring Roll and two young pegasi colts playing. Sapphire couldn't see the colts well at all.

Then she turned her head back to Jill. They talked a lot and were still talking long after all the food was gone. Jill checked the time as they were in the middle of a conversation. It was 3:00!!

The mares both ran out of the park, quickly cleaning up and running down the street. Jill had an appointment with a customer on a personal ring at 3:05!!

As they raced down the street, they saw the customer, Queen Bee, walking up the steps. Jill stopped her and Jill quickly waved goodbye before ducking into her shop and closing the door.

Sapphire trotted back to the shop. The rest of the day was uneventful with no customers, just the sound of sewing machines and ripping fabric.

For dinner the pair had leftover sushi from last night. They talked for a bit. Star would be returning tomorrow night from Manehattan.

They read some books for awhile and then turned in for the night, both finding sleep easily in the warm embrace of their beds.

Chapter 6 Author's Note

Note: This is not taking a mature turn. Just so you knew (: Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Sapphire grumbled and rolled over, opening her eyes slowly. And found herself on the floor in Jill's bedroom. She quickly got up, her eyes wide. Jill stirred.

"Wh-why am I in your r-room?" asked Sapphire. Jill got to her hooves.

"Do you not remember last night, silly?" Sapphire's mouth opened in pure horror.

"Wait, do you think- ohhh not like that!! You were sleepwalking in the streets and I woke you up and brought you here because I was too tired to bring you back to Fashion's."

Sapphire thought hard and could fuzzily remember being woken up and brought here by the beauti- dang it.

Then Sapphire looked hurriedly at her flanks to see that they were covered by a robe. Sapphire sighed in relief. Did she just make sure that her flanks are covered up? Maybe she has a scar there, or- what if its her cutie mark that she's scared of?

Jill puzzled over this as they went to the kitchen. Jill poured two bowls of cereal and added milk.

"Where's Lacy?" asked Sapphire.

"She went to visit her sister, Fabric Bolt, in Maneasota. She'll be back tomorrow morning. Anyways, you know that new movie, The Fault In Our Magic??" Sapphire nodded her head. "I was wondering if you wanted to go see it. I am probably the only mare or filly in town to not have seen it at least ten times by now. There's a showing at 2:00. I have an appointment at 5:00, but it should be over by then."

"I'd love to!!" was Sapphire's answer.

The pair went separate ways, Jill to her shop and Sapphire to the boutique. Fashion was already inside.

"Where WERE you?" asked Fashion forcefully. "You know that I sleep walk sometimes. Jill saw me outside her house sleepwalking and brought me into her room and let me sleep on the floor."

Fashion smiled mischievously and was about to say something that would have earned this fic a mature rating, but Sapphire quickly smacked her before she could say anything and retreated behind the counter giving Fashion the evil eye.

"You know I don't filly fool." was Sapphire's answer.

The two got to work, snipping, sketching and cutting. After the first ten minutes, two dresses were already done. The two worked furiously and by one o clock had replenished most of the inventory, giving Fashion time to sketch and make more expensive and harder clothes.

A few minutes before 2 Sapphire hung a green dress on a hanger and then waved to Fashion who proceeded to cut and rip fabric while waving goodbye.
Sapphire trotted out the door, putting on her trench and fedora. A little robin flitted overhead as she arrived at Jill's store. Jill came out the doors, a magnificent red dress on her that hugged her slender figure. A necklace that looked exactly like her cutie mark hung from her neck. The sight made Sapphire's heart flutter.

"Is th-th-that the-"

'Necklace that earned me my cutie mark?" said Jill, finishing Sapphire's sentence for her. "It sure is." They both stared at it for a moment before trotting away from her door to the intersection of Mare Way and Mane Street. The Hoof Heights Amphitheater was down Mare Way, the place the movie was being showed. They turned down Mare way and passed groves of trees on both sides before arriving at the entrance. They bought two tickets from a brown unicorn stallion with a silver mane and green eyes. He had two rolls of film and a box of popcorn as a cutie mark.

"Does that stallion live here?" asked Sapphire.

"No, he's from Canterlot, but is staying here for the month to show "The Fault in our Magic." It's a sensation." said Jill.

The amphitheater had a large stage on one side and a giant set of curving wooden bleachers. A few ponies already sat on the bleachers. Susan Sushi and Spring Roll sat together on the top row, the red, curly maned older mare who they had seen at lunch two days ago who Jill said's name was Snipping craft sat in one of the middle rows. And a young earth pony mare sat at the bottom. She had a red coat and a two toned mane, dark purple on the top and light pink on the bottom. Her eyes were the light pink of her mane. Her cutie mark was a single cupcake with pink icing and red sprinkles with a cherry on top. Jill said her name was Sugar Cream.

No other ponies came after them and the brown unicorn stallion raised a large cover over the amphitheater so the audience would be able to see the movie with out the sun's glare. His horn glowed silver again and everypony watched as he projected a screen from his horn that stretched the whole stage. Then the whole movie flashed by in a second, and the stallion rewinded it back to the beginning. Now able to take his magical focus off the screen, he headed over to the concession stand to man it.

As the previews were rolling, Jill trotted down to the stand and bought some popcorn and candy for us to share. Then she pulled out the third object she had bought, a big box of tissues.

"Why do we need those?" asked Sapphire.

"Oh trust me- you'll need them." said Jill before returning her attention to the screen where the movie was starting.

By the end of the movie, Sapphire and Jill were clinging to each other, bawling into each other's shoulders and blowing their noses. When the pair finally got up, the whole crowd was puffy eyed. Sugar cream had been crying so bad that Snipping Craft had gone down to comfort her while still crying herself.

The pair got up and blew their noses a few more times. As they were walking out, Sapphire remembered the feeling of Jill clinging to her. Sapphire wanted Jill to cling to her like that all the time. No Sapphire thought. I don't filly fool!! and erased the thought from her mind.

Jill threw away the empty box of tissues along with their food. As they were walking down Mare Way, a masked figure jumped out of the bushes and grabbed Jill's necklace.

"NOT MY CUTIE MARK NECKLACE!!!" Jill screamed.

Sapphire sprung into action. Jill quickly lit up a beam in the sky with her horn that signaled Ranger Rita to come help and arrest the pony.

Meanwhile, Sapphire was giving wild chase to the thief. At every chance she got she lashed out, kicking and bucking at the thief. She finally pinned them down and tore off their mask. Meanwhile, Ranger Rita had arrived at the scene of the crime, a set of handcuffs and a nightstick clenched in her teeth.

Sapphire ripped off the mask to reveal a brown earth pony stallion with a five o clock shadow. He had an orange mane and wild red eyes. When Ranger Rita looked at him, she said that he wasn't a resident of Hoof Heights, but of Ponyville, who had stolen over a million bits worth of stuff. When they took of the black clothes covering the rest of his body they saw that his cutie mark was a mound of bits.

" You are a hero, um-,what's you're name?" Sapphire answered " Sapphire."

"Like the famous singer. You even sound like her."

"That's because I am Sapphire Shores.' said Sapphire in her fake voice. At that moment she realized even before she had become friends with Jill she had still used her real voice with her.

Everypony gasped and applauded. There was going to be a party tomorrow to celebrate their new celebrity and hero.

Jill walked over to Sapphire and looked into her eyes. "Why did you do that for me?" she asked.

Sapphire almost said" Because I love you" but quickly whipped her consciousness back in line and said "Because you're my friend."

Jill looked happily surprised. And Sapphire was even more happily surprised when Jill lunged forward and caught her in a quick hug. As they broke apart, they both were blushing profusely. The two then went their seperate ways after confirming that they would meet each other at the party tomorrow at 3 when it started.

Sapphire nodded understandingly and the two went separate ways. Sapphire could not pay attention to the conversation that night at dinner with Star Dust and Fashion Forward. The minute she finished her food she turned in early to her bed room so she could contemplate what had happened today. Sapphire finally began to accept the truth. Was she falling in love with Jill Jewel?

Chapter 7

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 8

That night Sapphire walked home alone because Fashion and Star Dust had left earlier. A few other ponies were left, mostly younger ponies Jill's age, but Jill was not among them, probably having left already. Sapphire was pondering what Jill had said. Was she ready to take off the mask and the clothes and the voice? Was she ready to truly be herself? But if that was what Jill needed for her to love her, than she would do it.

Sapphire finally arrived at Fashion's house and collapsed onto the fluffy mattress, quickly drifting into the realm of dreams.

Sapphire stretched in the morning when she awoke, quickly combing her hair and putting on a stunning dress that was purple with obsidian fringe. Sapphire wasn't ready to reveal her true self...yet.

The mare walked into the kitchen. A note was attached to the fridge. Sapphire took the note off the fridge and read it quickly and quietly.

The note read: I am very sorry to have left but I had to go to Dodge Junction to visit a sick cousin named Cheery Drop. You might have met her once before. Anyways I won't be home until tonight. Very sorry and enjoy your day! From, Fashion.

Sapphire put the note on the table. Today was her last full day in Hoof Heights. Tomorrow she would leave at lunch time and the next day she would be back in Manehattan starting off her world tour that would last a year and a half. There would be one concert here at the amphitheater, but she wouldn't have time to say anything to Jill.

She ate some oats and milk and headed out the door. She knew Fashion wouldn't want her to work the shop, but she headed over there anyways to man it.

But when she got there she found ten locks over the door and she knew only Fashion would have the keys, probably all on the same key ring and clipped to her luggage.

Sapphire shook her head and then saw something hanging from the light post outside the store. A yellow flyer for monthly fireworks in the park that were put on by a pony named Big Flare. His picture was on the flyer. He was a male pegasus with a short, red mane and tail. His coat was a slate gray. His eyes were green and his cutie mark was an orange firework.

Sapphire read the flyer once more and thought of something. She could ask Jill if she wanted to go to the firework show! It would be the perfect place to tell Jill her feelings, in the dark with beautiful lights flashing everywhere.

Sapphire cantered all the way to Jill's shop. When she got there she was out of breath from running so hard. The flyer was clenched between her teeth.

Sapphire pushed open the door of the shop. Jill was in one corner polishing a glass case. She turned around when she heard Sapphire.

"Hi. Seems somepony forgot my advice," Jill said, a little bit of disgust rising onto her features as she saw Sapphire's clothed body.

"I-i didn't, Jill. I'm j-just not ready. Maybe some day, but not today." Jill nodded absentmindedly as she continued to polish the case

"S-so I was w-wondering if you wanted to g-go see the fireworks tonight. They sound beautiful." Just like you. thought Sapphire.

Jill smiled warmly. "I'd love to. Sorry if I seem a little down in the dumps and a little snappy, it's just that I ran into one of my old special someponies last night."

Sapphire nodded thoughtfully. Was that old special sompony possibly...a mare?

The two chatted a bit but then Jill had to get back to work. Sapphire waved goodbye as she trotted out of the store, a spring in her trot. She headed back to Fashion's and sat, down to read for awhile.

Sapphire awoke in a chair in Fashion's living room, her book laying on the floor. Sh must of drifted off. She looked up at the clock on th wall and saw that it was 6:00! She was supposed to meet Jill at 6:15 with dinner in a basket!

Sapphire flew into the kitchen and finished the dinner of daisy sandwiches, pumpkin soup, and salad in a inpony time, ten minutes. She then cantered as fast as she could to Jill's shop. When she got there, Jillwas just locking the door. Sapphire panted as Jill waved and smiled warmly.

The pair trotted off to the park where the fireworks would be shown, idle chat starting up. When they reached the park they fell silent as the waited in line to get in.

"The whole town must be here." remarked Sapphire.

"They probably are," said Jill. "It is one of the most important traditions in Hoof Heights that started when Big Flare moved here three years ago."

Sapphire nodded as she surveyed the stallion in front of her. He was a unicorn with a marine blue coat. His mane and tail were short and black, but not greased back like Solo Clef's. He also was much younger than Solo, probably a little older than Jill. He could be who she would marry if she's not into me or mares at all. thought Sapphire. She looked at her competitor, who had gray eyes and black glasses. His cutie mark was a pink brain with a golden plus and minus sign on it. When Sapphire asked, Jill said his name was Brian Brain. Brian finished paying for his ticket and trotted into the park. Jill floated two bits into the waiting hooves of Big Flare, who was collecting money.

The pair trotted into the park and put down their blanket near the pond, taking out the food and eating it. The happily talked while night began to fall.

Around 9:00 p.m., Big Flare announced that the fireworks would be starting. He then flew away. A minute later the first firework exploded. It was a red and blue one.

After a few more fireworks, Sapphire began to move close to Jill. After a few minutes they were almost touching.

"Ummm, uh, J-jill?" asked Sapphire.

"Huh?" asked Jill quietly as her eyes remained riveted to the display of fireworks.

"-i j-just want you t-to know that I-i lo-"

All of the sudden a strong wind blew, setting a firework off course. It hit a grove of trees near the pond. Many ponies screamed as the fire quickly spread. Jill got up quickly with most of the stallions and a few other mares who were running towards the fire.

"Where are you going?" asked Sapphire as she quickly wrapped up the blanket and placed it on her back, and also picking up the now empty picnic basket in her mouth.

"I'm a volunteer firefighter." was all Jill said before cantering towards the flames, picking up some pond water in her aura and sending it hurtling towards the fire.

Sapphire looked around at the fleeing mares and foals, who weaved around her to get out of the fire's way. It was still creeping closer despite the firefighters best efforts.

Sapphire finally got a hold of herself and reared, cantering away from the fire that was only inches away from her. After reaching the entrance of the park, she looked back.The firefighters had taken control of the fire and were pushing it back while several unicorns were bringing up new grass and reviving the dead and burnt trees with their magic.

As Sapphire trotted back to Fashion's house, she realized something. Had she just missed her one and only chance to confess her feelings to Jill? After all, she was leaving at noon tomorrow.

Chapter 9

Sapphire awoke early the next morning. Fashion had arrived home soon after Sapphire had went to bed. Sapphire wandered aimlessly into the kitchen, sitting down, her eyes still red from crying last night.

"Sapphy, what's wrong?" asked Fashion kindly as she stared into Sapphire's golden eyes.

"I-i r-realized th-that I-I'm in l-love w-with J-jill," Sapphire sobbed as she buried her face in Fashion's multi colored mane. "I-i w-was going t-to t-tell h-her yest-ter-terday, but th-the f-fire m-messed it up-p." Sapphire continued to sob.

Fashion rubbed Sapphire's head while she let loose, all her sadness dampening Fashion's mane. Meanwhile Fashion smiled, knowing she had been right about Jill and Sapphire all along.

It took her ten minutes to finally calm down enough to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. They sat down and ate silently. When it was time fror Fashion to head to work, it was 11:00.

"G-goodbye Fashion," said Sapphire, a few tears running down her cheeks. Fashion knew that she didn't usually do this, it was just her emotional trauma. But it still felt good to be loved that much by your friend. A single small tear slowly worked its way off of Fashion's face, dripping onto the ground.

By the time that they walked together to the shop, it was 11:15. Fashion looked into Sapphire's eyes.

"Now go tell Jill that you love her. It is what needs to be done." Fashion looked into her friend's eyes for what would probably be the last time in years, and they hugged for a long time before breaking apart.

Sapphire wiped her eyes and waved her final wave to Fashion before setting off to Jill's house. When she got there, she knocked on the door, trying to calm her breaths.

Lacy Macy answered the door. "Where is Jill?" asked Sapphire urgently.

"Calm down, my little pony. She just went to the park to take a short walk. She does that when she has a lot of things to think about.

Sapphire nodded and thanked her before trotting off to the park. When she arrived there, Ranger Rita was re-painting the entrance sign.

"Ranger, do you have any idea where Jill is?" asked Sapphire.

Ranger nodded and pointed to the honey store. Sapphire quickly thanked her and went to the honey store that was operated by Queen Bee.

When she reached the store she saw a clock outside it and saw it was 11:30. Sapphire quickly cantered inside. Queen Bee was placing jars of honey on the shelves.

Queen redirected her to Jill's shop. Sapphire rushed there to find Jill in the middle of a conversation with a customer. The minutes passed slowly as Sapphire waited. Finally at 11:50 the customer left. The train would be here in ten minutes.

Jill said hi quietly and alerted her that a bad thunderstorm was scheduled for 12:00. They both stood there awkwardly as the minutes passed. Soon it was 11:58.

"I-i b-better get going." Sapphire said as he slowly leaned in to hug Jill. Jill hugged back. Hard.

The two broke apart. Up in the sky the clouds were collecting swiftly. They both had their mouths open as if to say something, but closed them and hugged again and then Sapphire was for some reason trotting away. She felt a tear drip down her cheek as she walked away. Why was she walking away?

Sapphire soon came to a realization and quickly cantered to the train station as it started to pour.

Jill watched as Sapphire cantered away to the train station. Jill had never got the chance to tell her how she had felt. She had planned to after the movies, but then her necklace got stolen. She just couldn't get the words out to Sapphire when she was walking away. The water on her face was a mixture of tears and rain.

Sapphire finally reached the train station. She told her manager to cancel the train ride and all events for the next week. Her manager said that this was inexcusable and that she might as well be giving away her record deals, but Sapphire began to canter back to Jill's shop, her mane and coat matted with tears and rain.

Jill was about to go inside when her name was called out in the distance. Sapphire was cantering back to her full speed, rain flying past her. Jill ran down the steps to meet her.

The second Sapphire was near Jill, she quickly pressed her lips to Jill's, hard. And to Sapphire's overjoyment, Jill pushed back even harder.

Sapphire broke the kiss and said,"I need you."

And then Jill kissed her back, saying,"And I need you,too.

Epilogue

Exactly a Year Later

The two mares sat at a table at Bon Appetite's Cafe, the place that they had first gotten to know each other. They had decided to go out to dinner for their first anniversary here. The two sat quietly while sipping glasses of water, staring lovingly into each other's eyes.

When Sapphire had refused to get on the train, she actually did lose her record deal. But that let her pursue her true talent, being an architect. She had also stopped wearing clothes, showing her true cutie mark, the blueprint, for all to see. Both her parents had been loving and caring when she had told them about her sexuality. The stood by her through all the bad media and other horrors, like protests for her to sing again that lasted for a month.

Meanwhile, Jill's mother and sisters were nowhere near that supportive. They actually shamed her and hadn't talked to her since she had revealed the truth. It hurt Jill so much that it felt like a bomb had exploded her heart into a million little pieces. But Sapphire and her father were there to help clean up the pieces. Her father was the only one in her family to support her.

But sadly more pain came for Jill when her father died in a carriage accident while walking to work. Even during the funeral her mother and sisters wouldn't talk to her. But Sapphire helped heal her heart over time, even though blows that big can never be truly healed.

After that, Jill became paranoid that she would lose Sapphire, too. Every where they went she did everything possible to keep Sapphire safe. Which meant that they went nowhere. Jill even got so paranoid that she locked Sapphire in her room for a day. When Sapphire finally broke free, she left the house, and left Jill alone for a few days to cry and sob alone. When she finally returned a week later, she had brought a therapist to help Jill. This had been three months ago, and now Jill was back on her feet and starting to heal.

Now, though, the two's food arrived. They dug in happily. Meanwhile Jill thought about the thing in her saddle bags. It was a blueprint for a pair of rings. For the both of them. She had already started to make them herself. She was planning to propose to the love of her life on Sapphire's birthday, which was in three weeks.

But now the two slurped up the last drops of water and started to trot off to the water park. Sapphire hated water parks but had promised Jill she would go on their 1 year anniversary.

The two paid the entrance fee and galloped inside, wide smiles on their faces. Newly married Fashion Forward and Star Dust were helping a tottering foal into the foal pool. The foal was their own, adopted from South Hoofrica. She was an earth pony and had a dark brown coat and a black mane and green eyes. She was,of course, cutie mark-less.

The two galloped to the water slides, racing each other down them, Jill somehow winning every time. Then they dove into the pool where they floated on their backs peacefully for a while. And then they heard a loud trumpet sound. Jill got up, looking very eager.

"What's that?" asked Sapphire. "You'll see." was all Jill said before pulling Sapphire out of the pool and over to another part of the water park.

This part of the water park had numerous blue walls placed in random places. Then all the sudden water guns popped out of the walls, and each pony grabbed one. There were two teams, red and blue. And Jill was on Red while Sapphire was on Blue.

"WATER GUN FIGHT!" shouted all the ponies and then water squirted everywhere, everypony becoming drenched in seconds. Suddenly Sapphire was assaulted from all sides by Jill, Fashion, Star Dust, and Susan Sushi. She curled up in a ball as they all laughed and squirted her. Just when they were pulling back, Sapphire whipped out her gun, squirting all of them in the eyes quickly. They all fell to the ground and she squirted them more before shouting at them" Never mess with Sapphire Shores, Baby!"