The Day I Became A Millionaire

by Ribe_FireRain

Applejack Of My Eye

Author's Note:

Just decided I wanted to make this a bigger story. Let's see what happens.

I didn't plan this, BTW, I just go where is most fitting and see what happens.

''Hey, Matt!'' I heard Applejack's voice call from the entrance of the farmhouse, causing me to look up from my car. I had spent a few hours outside trying to fix the engine, but the damage was too severe beyond my knowledge on how to fix it. The grille had been torn in a few places and the symbol of the running horse had been taken off from the metalwork.

Applejack came next to me after a short run from the porch and to the orchard in which I was working in, a soft smile on her lips. ''I just wanted to ask ya somethin'.'' She said, still smiling as she met my eyes, her own shining like emeralds.

''Sure. What's on your mind?'' I asked, sitting on the driver's seat of the car, still making eye contact. For the first time, she seemed to be smiling with pure sincerity. Ever since I saved Apple Bloom, she seemed to have a whole new perspective on me, seeing me as more of a family member than the stranger I was when we first met each other.

''Ah'm jus' off inta town to get a few things, was wondering if ya would join me?''

''Yeah, sure. We off now?'' I asked, Applejack giving an affirmative 'Mmm-Hmm'. ''Okay, then. Guess we should get a move on?''

*** *** ***

The walk into town seemed to be doing my leg a world of good since the car crash. It may of still ached a tiny bit when I moved it, but it also felt great. The scenery was just gorgeous and colourful. The chirping of birds could be heard from miles around and the wind was gentle, like a rose petal touching the skin.

The town may of not been that big, but it was nice to say the least. The houses were constructed out of various materials, such as hay for the roofs and dark and white wood for the main structure, contrasting nicely with the surroundings. I stayed close to Applejack, noticing that a few ponies were hiding or running away after taking a glance at me.

The strange thing is that I thought they would be screaming and running like they were being chased by zombies, but I guess if they noticed I was with Applejack and not doing anything horrid, it was evident enough I wasn't going to try anything. I even noticed a strange look in Applejack's eyes, something I haven't noticed up until now. I've got to remember to talk to her at some point. When we were in the middle of town, Applejack took a list from her saddlebags, unfurling it and reading it.

''Alright, Matt, we've gotta get these things and get back to Sweet Apple Acres. The first thing we need ta get is more wood to rebuild the barn...then some more lanterns for the house.'' She rolled up the scroll and placed it back in her bags before turning to look at me. ''Stay close ta me, okay? Some ponies in town are kinda...dramatic.''

I only nodded before continuing to walk with her. I didn't really think that there was a lumber shop in town, but after a quick walk around with AJ, we found it. We didn't really spend that long in the shop, but I couldn't help but think of all of the wood needed to rebuild the barn. I mean, it was big, had a few supports that looked quite heavy and I think if we had more wood, a foundation could be made to make it more stable during storms. I was thinking that the farmhouse could of been fixed up too, but for some reason, I didn't think that the Apple's would agree to it. Even I was surprised that the rickety, old house had stayed up during the storm.

Since there was a lot of timber to buy to rebuild the barn, Applejack had to reserve most of the stock in order to get what her family needed, so with that done, we moved on. It wasn't even a moment too soon that as soon as we stepped outside, a pink blur knocked AJ off of her hooves, throwing her to the floor as whatever landed on her laid on top of her barrel.

''What the...!? Pinkie? What're ya'll doin'?'' Applejack wheezed slightly as she tried to catch her breath. Pinkie seemed to just grin at her friend, despite her situation. She practically bounced off of her chest and pulled AJ back to her feet, still grinning madly.

''Hiya, Applejack! Whatcha doin'?! Who's this?'' She pointed a pink hoof at me. Her voice was pretty cheery and chirpy, probably the happiest I have ever heard and like her body, her mane was pink, only a darker shade and her eyes were baby blue while her cutie mark was of three balloons, two yellow, one blue. Applejack looked over to Pinkie before glancing at me and then back to Pinkie again.

''Well...uh...this is Matt. He's been stayin' on the farm with mah family for a few days.'' Applejack explained briefly, Pinkie seeming to be immediately interested.

''Oh, oh! Where did you come from? How'd you get here?'' She asked in a hyperactive manner. To be honest, I didn't really understand her, but it was pretty obvious what she was going to ask. I didn't have time to answer before Applejack shoved a hoof in her mouth, stopping her from asking anything else.

''Pinkie, stop. I don't think Matt really does wanna take any questions. We kinda gotta get back ta work. Supplies don't buy themselves, ya know.'' She said firmly, but Pinkie seemed to ignore her. That is until yet another blur came out of nowhere and collided with my chest, knocking me to the ground at high force. The only thing I felt other than the newly-added weight on my chest was pain running up my back. That is probably going to ache for a while.

A blue feather landed on my nose moments later after being blown gently in the wind, making me sneeze. I felt the weight be pulled off my chest before I heard Applejack's voice, clearly mad at whatever hit me.

''Rainbow! What the hay do ya think you're doin'?!''

''Jeez, sorry AJ, it was an accident. You know, stunts and whatnot.'' A raspy voice said, a little bit fuzzy to my ears. When I sat upright, I saw a cyan pony with wings and a rainbow mane and beautiful magenta eyes. Her cutie mark was a cloud and a rainbow thunderbolt. It was the first time I've seen a pony with wings. Back on Earth, it was only something you'd hear in a fairy tale, almost always including a unicorn or winged horse.

''Ya'll alright, Matt? Still in one piece?'' Applejack asked with concern as I got myself back on my feet. I only nodded as I clicked my back, instantly regretting it as I felt pain run down my spine. I haven't really been smashed into the ground before, but I'd really rather not have it done to me again. I might as well have my car get drove into me.

''Hehe, sorry about that, whatever you are.'' Rainbow said as she looked into my eyes. It didn't take me long to figure out that she was a pony with an attitude. Unlike the other ponies I met, I didn't see any signs of a real apology coming on. It was also clear that the 'sorry about that' part wasn't as sincere as it could of been.

''Yeah, yeah,'' I groaned, holding a hand to my aching back. ''thanks for giving me a reason to see a chiropractor.'' I heard pinkie giggle softly, trying to hide it with a hoof over her mouth. Honestly, was there anything that wasn't laughable to her?

''Hey, I said I was sorry! I didn't do it on purpose! I spun out while I was flying, it happens!'' Rainbow protested, clearly annoyed over something she didn't want blame for. Accident or not, it still bloody hurt!

''Yeah, fine. Nice to meet you, too, Rainbow. Call me Matt.'' I tried to say without sounding too blunt.

She just started laughing.

Rainbow rolled on the floor laughing as she clenched her chest with her hooves.

''Bahahahahaha! Oh my...! Haha, you're funny! 'Call me Matt'! Bahahaha!''

''What? No, really, my name is Matt.''

It only made her burst into more laughter. She spent like a good five minutes rolling on the floor before she could get back onto her hooves, wiping a few tears from her eyes. ''You know what, you were a Matt for a moment, there!''

''Whatever.'' I rolled my eyes, turning back to Applejack who wasn't even there. Confused, I looked around me, checking all my bearings but found no trace of her. ''Applejack?'' I asked, receiving no response.

''Right here, Matt.'' Applejack's voice called from behind me. She had a few lanterns hanging out of her saddlebags when she came towards us. ''I think that'd do for now, we can jus' get the other things later.''

''Right, let's head back to the farm.''

''Talk to ya soon, girls.'' Applejack waved goodbye to her friends before we made haste for Sweet Apple Acres.

We were about halfway back when I noticed that odd look in Applejack's eyes again. Even though my mind was mainly focused on the pain still evident in my back, I couldn't help but think of why it was there. In the short amount of time I've known Applejack, it didn't take long to notice that her thing was honesty, but that sparkle in her eye was different. It didn't belong.

''Hey, Applejack?'' I said as we kept walking, causing her to look up at me with slight curiosity. ''I-Is...something on your mind?''

''Um...what do ya mean?'' She asked with a raised brow.

''You seem a bit...off. I just didn't say anything before because it seemed kinda awkward.'' I admitted, this time causing Applejack to stop.

''Okay, fine, ya got me. Remember that night when you brought Apple Bloom back and she was hurt badly?'' I nodded, prompting her to continue. ''She was gonna die, and because of the storm, we couldn't make it to the hospital, so you tried to save her, and you did. It wasn't until later that I knew the truth.'' I cocked my head slightly, wondering what she meant. She seemed to take the hint. ''I heard you talking.''

Now I froze, my body gone slightly numb. I didn't think she actually heard anything...

''Applejack...I...what did you hear, exactly?'' I asked cautiously.

''That Apple Bloom was grateful for you saving her life - like we all are - and that you...um...love her.'' She looked down for a moment before she brought herself to meet my eyes. I could feel a blush on my cheeks.

''I-I...I didn't...oh, hell. Applejack...it isn't...'' I stammered, feeling like an idiot for not being able to speak straight. Applejack only seemed to smile.

''Matt, I know ya like her, but she's mah sister. Apple Bloom is still pretty young to be in any of this romanc-y stuff, Matt. She's only nineteen.''

Oh, so she is the same age as me!

''Applejack, I'm nineteen. I seriously didn't know how old Apple Bloom was, but after that night when she nearly died, I realized just how much I truly did like her. Not just because she saved my life, but because I...fell for her. She is the sweetest girl I've met, AJ. I owe her no less than my life after what she did.''

Applejack looked down at the floor, not looking up at me. She sat on her haunches, letting the saddlebags fall from her back as she let out a loud sigh through her nostrils before looking back up to me.

''Ah...Ah dunno what else ta say...''

''You don't have to say anything, AJ. Apple Bloom is still your sister and always will be, so anything you say, I'd understand. Just please don't be mad at either of us. Nothing was her fault, she was just worried about me. All I want is for you to understand what she did for me. Because of her, I'm alive, and because of me, she's alive.''

''Ah suppose so...it's just gonna take some time to settle in with me, Matt. Its just not how I pictured it - Bloom growing up so fast that I barely get to see it, getting her cutie mark, taking over the fields and then ending up with a creature such as yourself, no offense.''

''None taken. Also, I'm a human.'' I told her, kneeling to her level. ''Just don't be mad. Please?''

She seemed to be considering everything I had said to her before and after a few moments, Applejack got up from her haunches and stared me directly in the eyes.

''No, Ah-Ah can't...Ah jus' can't accept it. Ah'm sorry.'' She wiped her eyes with her hoof before she turned and galloped off as fast as she could, leaving me behind on my knees, just staring at the direction she had ran off in.

*** *** ***

It had been raining for a short while, maybe an hour or two and I just stayed there, not moving as I still faced the direction that Applejack had left in hours ago. My knees were aching and the pain of small stones digging into my kneecaps were beyond distracting. It didn't make me get up, though. All I could think of was what had been said by Applejack.

I know I said that I would understand anything she said to me about me and Apple Bloom, but quite clearly, I didn't. My heart felt like I had been shot with an arrow and my eyes were glistening with tears. It had gotten dark and the temperature was pretty uncomfortable after a while, almost like a wintery breeze.

I didn't know what to think. I did like Apple Bloom. I loved her. I clearly had no idea about her being the same age as me and after I found out, I guess I was glad, because I knew I wasn't overstepping my boundaries. I could of been with her but after Applejack denied it, I just felt dead inside. I never knew I could care for someone like I do for Apple Bloom, and if Applejack says no, will the rest of the family? My guess is that they will. I fell on my back as I began to cry, holding the palm of my hand across my eyes.

I just laid there and cried, my tears being unnoticeable in the now heavy rain. I heard a rumble from above, meaning that the rain was probably going to get heavier. At this point I really didn't know what to do. Go find a big tree to camp under? No, that would be stupid. Walk around aimlessly until I think of something? No! How will that help? Go back to the farm? Maybe. It was the only place that I had left to go to. The only reason I stopped myself from getting up and going in the direction it was in is because I wondered if Apple Bloom knew about the talk me and Applejack had. I knew she meant well, but what she said had destroyed my already pained heart.
The first heartache was nearly dying, just realizing how scary it is to be in a near-deathly collision and ending up in Equestria, unable to return home, the second heartache was knowing that I probably wouldn't see my parents or other family members again and the third heartache was that talk with AJ, being denied a first chance of love. I just hoped Apple Bloom was taking it better than I was.

*** *** ***

Apple Bloom sat in front of her bedroom window, watching as the rain came into contact with the ancient glass, creating soft tapping noises that echoed around the room. It had been raining for a while now and thunder rumbled in the sky, the clouds that grey they looked almost black. It was certainly going to be raining heavy pretty soon.

She slouched slightly as she placed her uninjured hoof to her cheek, staring at the sky, thinking about Matt. It was the only thing that lingered in her mind and what worried her most was that he hadn't come back. Or if he had, she hasn't seen him. He would usually be upstairs with her, but because he wasn't, she got the feeling that something was wrong. It surely felt that way, too.

The only thing that seemed to lighten her mood was the fact that she could walk again, thankfully with no pain being felt in the movement of her bandaged limb. A soft knocking was heard at her door and moments later, her sister Applejack walked in, a slightly distressed look on her face. She didn't say anything as she approached her younger sister, taking a seat next to her. Apple Bloom didn't either bother to look up at her, she just kept staring out of the window, staying quiet. The silence of the room - excluding the sound of the tapping of rain - made Applejack feel uncomfortable.

''Apple Bloom?'' She said, her voice soft and almost at a whisper as she placed a hoof to her sister's back, still not getting a response from Apple Bloom. ''Bloom? We need ta talk.'' Apple Bloom turned her head this time, her sadness clear as Applejack noticed the tears in her eyes. They may of been light, but Applejack knew she was worried, and probably was going to hate her after she tells her about Matt.

''Applejack...where's Matt? Didn't he go with you earlier to go into town?'' Her voice was slightly louder than Applejack's, her desperation to know about Matt starting to grow. Applejack could only hang her head slightly as she exhaled through her nostrils slowly and quietly before looking her sister in the eyes. She had an idea of the outcome, but she also knew that her sister was going to hate her for it.

''Bloom, I really need ya'll to understand me, okay? I don't want you to be mad about it.''

''Mad about what, AJ? What's going on?'' Bloom asked with obvious curiosity and caution, seeming to etch back slightly from Applejack's hoof.
''Bloom, I just wanted you to understand something. You're still a young mare, ya need to be careful about what ya do in life. You're only nineteen, Apple Bloom. I'm not sure ya'll are ready for it, sugarcube.''

''What are ya talking about, AJ? Not ready for what?''

Applejack sighed loudly. ''Love, Apple Bloom. I think you're too young.'' At that, Apple Bloom's eyes shrunk slightly, a now semi-scared look upon her face. She could already tell where this was going.

''What?! Too young?! Applejack, Ah'm nineteen! Ah think Ah'm old enough to make my own decisions!'' Apple Bloom nearly screamed as the tears in her eyes began to trickle down her cheeks.

''Simmer down now, I know ya'll are old enough to decide for yourself, Ah'm jus' worried about you sometimes. ''

''Worried about me?!'' Now Apple Bloom was standing, glaring at her older sister who seemed to crawl backwards at the stare she was receiving. In all her years of knowing Apple Bloom as a sister, she has never seen that glare before, and it scared her, yet she knew that she was only upset. ''How can ya be worried about me?! Don't you care about my happiness, Applejack?! Why can't you understand that I love Matt?! I love him and Ah wanna be with him!''

''Apple Bloom-''

''Don't ''Apple Bloom'' me, Applejack! Ah wanna know why you don't want me to be with him!''
Applejack slouched to that. She was going to have to tell her the exact same thing she told Matt. After a short explanation, Apple Bloom was visibly crying, heavier than before upon hearing what her sister had just admitted. She never left when she brought Matt up to her room so they could talk. She just listened on the conversation, learning about their love. ''Y-Y-You...you spied on us? W-Why...?'' Apple Bloom asked, clearly hurt, backing away towards the door of her bedroom.

''A-A-Ah...Ah just wanted to make sure that you two were alright. It wasn't anythin' personal, Bloom, Ah just wanted to make sure he was actually on our side. Ah didn't trust him, but after ya saved each other's lives, Ah began to trust him. Ah am sorry, Bloom.'' Applejack said, just knowing what Apple Bloom's reaction would be. She sniffled and then began to break. Her tears fell more freely and then she ran out of the bedroom door crying, going as fast as she could on her broken hoof. It wasn't long until Applejack heard the front door slam after being opened.

Looking out of the window and into the now heavier rain, she saw Apple Bloom running towards the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres and going towards Ponyville. She just sat there and stared, watching her go, knowing that she had probably just lost her little sister.

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DDAAAAAM !!!!!