//------------------------------//
// Find A Way 
// Story: The Day I Became A Millionaire 
// by Ribe_FireRain 
//------------------------------//

I walked around town with my thoughts being the only thing to accompany me. For some reason, the only thing that crossed my mind was the night at the farm when the storm hit. The sound of the wind and rain overlapping each other and Apple Bloom nearly losing her life.
All I could do was blame myself. I promised her I'd stay and not attempt to save my car, but I pretty much lied and went against that and just as it couldn't of gotten any more worse than it was, she followed me outside and nearly to her death.

All of that was my fault.

It was mostly the reason I was in town, I knew I had to make things right, even though my life debt had been repayed to her. I just simply couldn't live knowing that she could of died because of me and I couldn't just leave that alone like it never happened, so here I am, thinking about that and how I can make it up to her.

I know I may of risked my life over the car but I seriously didn't care about the car anymore. What was fifty grand to me now, anyway?
On my walk around town with my thoughts, I passed near a bakery called Sugarcube Corner, where I knew the bubbly mare Pinkie Pie worked and lived. Not having anything else to do, I entered the shop and found that it was mostly empty, the only occupant being the mare at the counter that was Pinkie Pie.

Approaching the till, I gently placed my hands on the counter, awaiting her to notice my presence. Eventually, she looked up and it became evident that she was pretty bored. Well, I guess I couldn't blame her, working on a Saturday does suck.

''Pinkie?'' I started, looking into her ice-blue eyes. ''Everything alright?''

''Oh, hey, Matt.'' She greeted me, her voice sounding kinda tired. ''How's it going?''

''Not too good, but how about you? You seem bored. Everything good with you?''

She straightened herself and regained her normal composure before looking me back in the eye. ''Yeah, working is usually my favourite thing to do because I get to bake for everyone and all my friends but today's just been kinda slow, so I barely have anything to do.'' She frowned at me, her eyes looking down briefly before she looked back up at me. ''So, what's up with you? You said it's not going too good?''

''Oh, yeah. I've been staying at Sweet Apple Acres and you remember that storm a few nights back?'' Pinkie nodded, allowing me to continue. ''Well, I tried to go outside to get my car some place safe in the middle of it after promising Apple Bloom that I wouldn't try it and she tried to stop me but the storm nearly killed her!'' I said, feeling guilt surge back through my body.

At my story, Pinkie shrunk back a bit, her frown now slightly deepened. ''Wait, what? Apple Bloom was nearly killed? Howcome Applejack hasn't said anything about it? Also, what's a car?''

''Yes, she nearly died. Luckily, I was able to save her and she only broke her hoof. As for a car, its something that you can drive. Mine's a Ford Mustang GT, a pretty expensive one. To tell you the truth, until I met Apple Bloom and after she saved my life, I don't care about the car anymore. What I really care about is her. Pinkie, I think I may need you to help me.''

''Help you with what, exactly?'' Her ear twitched slightly and she cocked her head.

''When I first came here, I crashed my car into a tree and got myself hurt to the point where I couldn't even walk and Apple Bloom saved my life and I repayed the debt by saving her during the storm but I know I've lied to her about it and I haven't exactly made it up to her. I just wanna find a way in which I could make it up to her.'' 

Unexpectedly and much to my surprise, Pinkie threw her hooves around me and pulled me into such a tight hug that I thought my eyes were going to launch out of my skull.

''Ohhhh, Matty, sounds to me like you have yourself a crush on Apple Bloom! Does she know you like her? Oh, maybe I could throw some kind of party, or...''

''P-Pinkie, please! Let go, I-I can hardly breathe!'' I managed to say through my strangled windpipe and to my relief, I was released from the deadly grip of the exciteable pink mare. Now able to think straight again. ''Pinkie, of course she knows, I told her. Look, just please promise me you'll keep this quiet. I'd really rather keep it on the down-low.'' 

''Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.'' She said, sticking a real cupcake in her eye as she said the last part, recoiling back at the pain that followed.

''Thanks, Pinkie.'' I smiled as I hugged her. ''Hey, Pinkie, do you think you can help me out? You know, with this whole situation with Apple Bloom?''

Her beaming grin said it all. ''I'd be delighted to help out a friend, Matt! C'mon, follow me to my room and tell Auntie Pinkie Pie all about it.''


***  ***  ***


At Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom remained in her bedroom, absentmindedly staring out of the window and watching the rain come down over the farm. She had been doing so ever since Matt took his leave without another word and left her on her own. All she wanted to know is if he was alright or not.

All the time she was watching the rain that overlooked the entrance to the farm, she hoped she would see Matt making his way back, hopefully in one piece. 

Then, after a few more moments of silent rain-watching, Applejack came into the room, looking briefly at her younger sister with sympathetic eyes. She knew how much she cared for Matt and that she shared that same amount of care for his wellbeing, but what upset Applejack was that because of Matt, her sister was having a hard time, a period that most ponies would go through, but somepony as young as Apple Bloom and to have it happening to her made her heart itch. 

She knew that Apple Bloom should be left on her own to clear her mind but Applejack knew she should also be there to talk to her about it and to comfort her. And that's what she was going to do.
Entering the room, she came up beside Apple Bloom and gently placed her hoof on her back, causing her sister to lift her downcast head to meet her older sister's gaze.

''You still upset, Bloom? You've been up here for hours jus' cryin'.'' Applejack said in a motherly tone, seeing just how upset her sister was.
''Ah just don't understan' why he left, AJ. Ah'm upset that he didn't say anythin' or tell me where he was goin'.'' She shrunk down and sat on her bed, slouching slightly. ''Ah feel like such an idiot. Maybe this was jus' a bad idea in the first place.'' She wiped her eyes as she said the last part, sniffling softly.

''Hey, hey, ya'll aren't an idiot, Bloom. Why would you even think that you are? Nothin's your fault.'' Applejack smiled at her but Apple Bloom didn't smile back.

''No, Applejack, Ah know he saved mah life after Ah I saved his, but even after everything, Ah feel as though we aren't friends, like he has somethin' against me.'' She slouched down further onto her bed covers.

''Oh, Apple Bloom, Ah'm sure he has nothin' against ya. Maybe ya'll are otherthinkin' about this. Ah'm sure he still likes ya as a friend and all. Ah mean, he couldn't possibly have a reason to hate ya.'' Her eyes narrowed slightly and she cocked her head as a thought entered her mind. ''Does he?''

Apple Bloom sighed. ''No, I hope not.''


***  ***  ***


''...And that's pretty much everything that happened.'' I finally finished my whole story about my deal with Apple Bloom after around about three to four hours of detailed describing all that had happened between us since I met her and temporarily lived on the farm with the Apple Family.

Pinkie wiped her eye with a hoof, taking off a single tear. ''Oh, that's a beautiful story! Sounds to me like you have yourself a case of love sickness, Matty!'' She giggled childishly before she grabbed me on my shoulders and pulled me close to her face. ''Are you gonna marry her?''

Taken greatly aback I pushed her off me by force and I couldn't deny if I tried that I felt a burn on my cheeks. ''What? No! You know, you're meant to be helpful and supportive about all this, not childish and immature.'' I said with a frown, although in the time I've spent with her, I could tell randomness was an element that made up the pink mare.

Just as soon as I pushed her away with my objection, she pushed her head towards mine with a sort-of flashy look in her eyes and spoke in a slow, flirty-voice. ''Are you suuuuure?'' My blush only deepened.

''Yes, I'm sure! Look, Pinkie, we're just friends, that is all! I only told you this so you could help me out with this whole situation I'm in! Can't you please just help me?'' 

Pinkie giggled some more, much to my annoyance. ''Oh, Matt, sure I can help you. You know, normally Rarity would be the kind of pony to talk about lovey-dovey stuff about, but I guess I could help you with Apple Bloom. It's about time little Bloomy found a special someone!''

''Pinkie, I already told you that I don't have a crush on her! She's just my friend! Why do you keep insisting that we have something together?''

''Because you do have something together, you just don't know it yet!'' She gripped me by the shoulders again, shaking me.

''No, I don't know it yet, because we don't have something together!'' I gently gripped both her hooves in my hands to stop her shaking me before I allowed a heavy sigh to escape my nostrils. ''Please, just stop insisting on it. Either you can help me or you can't, just please let me know what your response is, otherwise I'm going to have to find some other way to sort things out.''

For once, I detected a sense of sympathy in the pink mare through those icy, blue eyes of hers. 
''Alright, Matt, I'm sorry about that. If it means that much to you, I'll help you. It sounds to me like you've gotten into a bit of a snag. Matty, if I were you, I'd try making it up to her slowly whatever your deal may be.''

''What exactly do you mean by slowly, Pinkie?'' I asked cautiously, knowing what the response may be.

''Well, for one, you could maybe take an interest in her interests? I mean, it's just a suggestion and it's normally what I do with some of my friends, so I guess it couldn't hurt to try.''

Okay, maybe not what I thought

I took note of that, already thinking that it could be my best option. ''Pinkie, you may just be right about this. Thank you.'' I pulled her into a hug before I left. ''Oh, and Pinkie? Please stop calling me 'Matty', I'd rather you just call me Matt.''

''Oh, sorry Matty, I-I-I mean, sorry Matt.'' She blushed softly and tried to hide a giggle. ''G-Good luck with Apple Bloom!''

''Yeah, I hope so, too.'' I whispered before I left, hoping this would be the right step.