The cafeteria, as one would expect, was abuzz with activity right now. The moment the bell had rung for lunch-time, every student in the school had come rushing in, creating a veritable frenzy. After getting their food and settling down into their respective groups, the youngsters all started chatting with one another, and the talk on everybody's lips right now was, of course, the upcoming school play. Everyone was excited about it of course, and talks ranged from who would be playing what part , to what was going to be happening behind the scenes. But, amongst all of this, there was one student who seemed to be content in just getting down to her food, and that was Applejack. While occasionally glancing over at her fellow CHS students, the farm girl was, for the most part, just happy doing what she was doing. But, after taking in one particularly large mouthful of her lunch, she looked up after hearing just the tiniest sound of someone clearing her throat, before giving a wide smile.
"Room for one more?"
Fluttershy had smiled back to her as she'd spoken that, and Applejack, giving a nod of consent, gestured to the empty seat beside her. The animal lover giggled to this, before promptly taking her place. For a time, the two girls simply focused on their meals, happy that they were among friends as they did so. But, as the moments passed them by, Fluttershy eventually looked over to her friend and spoke up.
"I truly am grateful for your help earlier, Applejack."
Chuckling, Applejack adjusted her hat slightly before responding.
"Heck, Flutters! It weren't no trouble! Any o' us woulda helped ya out back there!"
Nodding, Fluttershy spoke up again.
"I know, but your advice really was helpful."
Considering that, a knowing smirk came to the young farmer.
"Well...ya didn' exactly follow mah advice, did ya?"
A blush came to Fluttershy at that, but Applejack just seemed to take the matter in good humour.
"Ah, it's no problem, Fluttershy. Though I am wonderin'...ya jus' saw a whole bunch o' me?"
Giggling again, Fluttershy nodded.
"I did. I had a hard time with the chickens, so I...well...just sort of imagined the one who gave me the advice instead."
Leaning back into her chair, Applejack thought on that.
"Huh...wonder what it'd be like if there were a whole mess o' Applejacks around?"
Poking her chin with a finger briefly, Fluttershy thought on that question herself.
"Oh my, I'm not sure. Well...what would you do if you had more than one of you around?"
Folding her arms, a smile came to Applejack's lips as she dwelt on that question.
"Well...first off, ah'd get around ta fixin' the barn out back. It's been fallin' ta bits fer months now. We'd need a few extra hands around, and, well, having a whole bunch o' other mes close by would be pretty handy."
Then, she considered that situation further.
"Ah reckon it'd be pretty good when the sports days come. Imagine a whole team o' Applejacks jus' ploughin' down whatever other team comes our school’s way."
Raising a hand over mouth, Fluttershy stifled a giggle to that.
"Oh dear, I'd almost feel sorry for them."
The two girls laughed together during this, and it was obvious to anyone that they were having fun over this little bit of speculation they'd made for themselves. For a time afterwards, however, they got back to their meals, if only out of fear that they'd go cold if they left them uneaten for too long. Thankfully, this took little time, and as soon as they'd finished off their respective plates, they got back to the main topic of conversation.
"Although...ah imagine it'd be pretty tirin' after a while."
Fluttershy looked to her with some confusion.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Leaning into her chair again, Applejack sighed.
"Ah mean...havin' a whole bundle o' other Applejacks sounds like it'd be helpful an' all, but...ah don't think it'd be good fer other stuff."
Facing her fully, Fluttershy looked to her with curiosity.
"How so?"
A pause fell over them, and Applejack spent the next few moments trying to put her thoughts into words. Then, after Fluttershy had given her as much space as she needed for that, she looked on silently as her farmer friend explained matters.
"Well...imagine this. Ya got this friend who ya get along great with. They share all the same likes an' dislikes you do, and it all seems pretty good, right?"
Fluttershy nodded, but kept quiet as Applejack continued.
"But then, ya realise that everythin' they say, everythin' they do...it's all jus' stuff you’d do. It's all the same. Yer pretty much jus' hearin' your voice echoin' back at ya, twenty-four-seven."
Fluttershy considered that.
"Oh my...I suppose...that would get a little...um..."
Applejack looked to her with a knowing smirk.
"Boring?"
Fluttershy blushed a little.
"I wasn't gong to say it, but..."
Applejack let out a hearty laugh, before then carrying on.
"The fact o' the matter is...as much as me, Rainbow, Rarity an' all o' ya don' always agree or think the same way...ah'd still rather spend time with ya than jus' a bunch o' people who think an' act jus' like ah do."
Smiling, Fluttershy nodded.
"Variety is the spice of life. I think I heard Rarity say that once."
Another laugh escaped Applejack at that.
"Well, on this count, she an' ah agree."
The two laughed together, but it was a short-lived one this time. For when Fluttershy regarded her friend, she reached out, placing a hand gently upon her shoulder. Applejack looked to her, and was, at first, unsure of what she was doing, but soon, and with a friendly smile on her face, Fluttershy spoke.
"Maybe having multiple Applejack's would be a bit of a hassle, but that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate them when I imagined them."
With her other hand, she placed it upon her own chest, continuing to speak softly.
"When I was up there, seeing so many of my confident, helpful friend...it was exactly what I needed to get through my difficulties."
Her smile widened.
"There may not ever truly be more than one Applejack...but all the same...the world could always do with more of people like you in it anyway."
Now, Applejack wasn't always one to blush, but right here, with that kind of compliment being sent her way, she couldn't help but give one now, and she nervously scratched the back of her head.
"Aw, shucks, sugarcube! That's...real sweet o' ya."
Giggling one more time, Fluttershy gave Applejack a pat on the shoulder.
"Well, if it helps, you can always imagine a group of me if you’re having trouble one day."
Her blush now faded, Applejack gave off one last chortle.
"Thank ya, Flutters. Ah reckon ah might jus' do that!"
