"So, let me see if ah got this right," Applejack said about ten minutes later after I got the expanded pack of Apple to Apple from my house, "we each get seven of these here red cards in a deck, then somepony puts down a green card with a description. Then we try an' match the card as best we can?"

"More or less," I said. After we had reorganized the couches so that we could all sit around in a large circle in front of the fire, I'd begun to explain the rules to the game. Scarlet knew a bit about the game already, and so did Sunset. "Like here, watch." I picked up one of the green cards and held it up. "This one says Ancient, and the synonyms read Elderly, Old, and Antique. So I would put that down when it was my turn to judge. Then I would look through the cards in my deck." I pulled out a group of seven red cards and looked them over. Then I showed them to the rest. "So here, I have seven random cards. Which would you think would fit the description." The others looked closely at the cards. I had Bongos, Faith Hill, Urban Sprawl, Time Travel, Sports Channel, Starry Night and Pride and Prejudice in my example deck. "I know what I would pick, but it might not mean much to you all. Also, here's a hint: read the flavor text that gives some context to the subjects themselves."

I spread them on the ground and let them have a closer look. They all crowded around, trying their best to get a look. Finally, Twilight raised her hoof and pointed. "I think I would choose Pride and Prejudice. If it was written in 1813 it's pretty old, right?"

"What about time travel?" Spike asked. "Couldn't that kind of relate to antique or ancient?"

"I don't think that's the right answer, Spike," Twilight said.

"Just remember that there aren't really correct answers," I said. "You need to know a bit about the judge and see if you can pick on that you think they will pick. It could be something close and accurate or it could be something funny."

"A lot of this are Earth references we won't get, are they?" Rarity asked.

"That's what the flavor text is meant for," I replied. "It gives some context to the subject like I said. Although for me, I'd probably pick Starry Night. Mostly because space is ancient too. Although Pride and Prejudice is a close second."

"What's the book about?" Twilight asked curiously.

"It's more or less a romance book, if I recall correctly," I said. "It's been a while since I've read it, though, and that was for school."

Rainbow just rolled her eyes. "Ugh…romance…"

Rarity, on the other hand, seemed intrigued. "Do you have a copy I could borrow?" she asked curiously.

"Hey! I was about to ask that!" Twilight said.

"I've got one somewhere, I'm sure," I said, "but I'll get it later. Do you all get the game, now?"

"Ah think so," Applejack said, "but why was it named Apples tah Apples? Doesn't seem like it has anythin' tah do with apples?"

"Probably a marketing scheme, I'm honestly not sure," I said. "So after the round is over, everyone grabs another card from the deck and the person to the left of the judge is now the new judge. When someone gets a certain number of green cards, they win. I think for this game…we could do maybe…hang on, lemme see." I picked up the instruction page and looked at the recommended amount of cards per number of players. "Ah, here. Four green cards works. Unless you wanna go for a longer game before we go on."

"Four is perfectly fine with me, love," Zecora said.

"I'm down," Sunset said.

With the others more or less agreeing, I grinned and pulled out the decks, setting them down in the center of the circle before quickly shuffling the red and green cards and dealing them out. "Alright, I'll be the judge for the first round, and then Zecora will be the next one, and so on and so forth. Is everyone ready? Then let's begin!"


"What?! My card completely fits Hot!" Rainbow Dash grumbled as she held up a red card which read Macaroni and Cheese. "It's hot!"

"Sorry, Rainbow," I said, "but Lava is much hotter than simple Mac and Cheese."

"You only picked it because that was Zecora's card," she grumbled.

"That's not really fair, Rainbow. Why do you think I moved the red cards around before looking? So I didn't choose favorites."

Her ears lowered. "Yeah…sorry. I really thought I had that in the bag, though!"

"You'll get one, I'm sure," I said. "By the way, one way you can play it is that any green card you get actually describes you." I turned and winked at Zecora. "So you're hot."

Zecora blushed. "Why thank you, love."

"Get a room!" Scarlet laughed.


"Oh, come on! Mac and Cheese would have worked for this card!" Rainbow shouted as Zecora picked out Cheesy from the green pile.

"Yeah, that tends to happen," I said, "but read the synonyms. You might be surprised."

"Um, what if we don't have any cards that match?" Fluttershy asked, looking up at me confused.

"Put down your best guess, Flutters," I said.

"Hehe, I've got this one," Sunset smirked as she put down her card.


"Prince Charming isn't cheesy, Applejack!" Rarity shouted as Rainbow Dash picked up the green card triumphantly with her wings and did a little celebratory flight. "He's every mare's dream!"

"Maybe in your dreams, fancybutt," Rainbow giggled, "but not for me!"

"Alright, it's Fluttershy's turn to judge now," I said as I grabbed a card from the red deck. "You ready, Flutters?"

"Um…I hope so," she said quietly.


"Hah! Isn't that ironic! Fluttershy pulling out the Shy card!" Rainbow laughed. "Anypony have a Fluttershy card?"

"Rainbow, be nice," I said as I put down my best card, Love Letters, "it's part of her charm."

Fluttershy blushed and smiled at me gratefully. "Thank you," she said.

"Hah! I've got the perfect one!" Spike shouted as he triumphantly put his card down.

"Pretty sure mine will beat yours," Mica grinned at his new friend.

"Bring it on!"


"Rabbits are totally shy!" Spike said after Fluttershy picked out Twilight's card, which was Porcupine.

Fluttershy giggled. "Oh Spike, have you met Angel before? He's the farthest thing from shy. Porcupines are very shy critters until you get to know them. Then they don't stop talking."

"And Angel has quite the mouth on him, as I recall," I said.

Fluttershy looked a bit embarrassed. "Yeah…I don't know where he learned that."

"Welp, my turn!" Twilight said excitedly. She picked up a green card. "Prim and Proper. Otherwise known as reserved, modest, prudish."

"Anypony got Rarity for a card?" Rainbow smirked.

"Hey!"


"Hah! My first one!" I smiled as I pulled the green card towards me.

"I suppose paying your bills is pretty prim and proper," Pinkie said. "I don't have any good cards."

"Well, you're the next judge anyway, so you get to pick," I said.

"Really? Yay!"


"Of course you'd pick Rock Candy," Sunset chuckled as Spike got his first card and held it triumphantly up with a wide grin on his face.

"Whaaaat? It's crunchy!" Pinkie smiled.

"Welp, it's my turn," Sunset said as she picked up a card. "Now here's a tough one. Famous. Well-known, celebrated, distinguished." She looked at me and chuckled. "I wonder who will win?"


"How did Pinkie win?!" Rainbow asked. "What even are The Beatles?"

"They're a famous singing group from Earth," Sunset explained. "I'm surprised Pinkie knew it."

"Weeell, I didn't have anything to put down, so I just went eenie meanie miney moe," Pinkie admitted.

"My turn, then," Mica said.


"Yes! Mah first one!" Applejack exclaimed as she picked up Fun. "What is the State Fair, though, and is it really fun?" she asked me.

"It's a year long fair that would take place in each state in the United States," I explained. "They have all kinds of fair food, rides, and stuff like that."

"Oooh! Can we go to one sometime?" Pinkie asked.

"The one in Washington back on Earth is down near Tacoma," Sunset explained. "That's a long way to go."

"Is there a train or something that goes down there?" I asked.

"I think so, but I'll have to go back to Earth and check sometime," Sunset said.

"I can go back and check too," I said. "Maybe we can do that sometime this summer. I wonder if the human versions of you would like to go?"

"Diane will, I know it!" Pinkie giggled.

"Just remember, you guys, that some of the food down there is meat," I cautioned.

"Hey, a critter's gotta eat," Applejack said.

"Oh, yes that's true," Fluttershy said.

"My turn to judge!" Spike said eagerly, picking up a card. "Now here's a good one! Magical, or enchanting, miraculous, marvelous."

Sunset smirked. "I've got the perfect one for this…"


"Told you I did!" Sunset shouted triumphantly as she grabbed the card with her magic.

Twilight was looking at the red card Spike had chosen. "Unicorns - Imaginary horse-like animals. A long, pointed horn grown from the middle of their foreheads." She looked over at me. "Do we look imaginary to you?"

"Hey, on Earth Unicorns are completely fictional," I said, raising my hands in defense.

She chuckled. "I'm just teasing."

"Right. Okay, so I have a card, Spike has one, Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie, Sunset, and Rainbow Dash all have one. Rarity, it's your turn to judge."

"Hmmph, I shall choose the best one ever," Rarity said with pride as she picked one out. "Aha! New & Improved, upgraded, enhanced, revised."


"Hah! Another card!" Rainbow Dash said as her red card, The 21st Century, was picked. She grabbed the green card and set it down beside her. "I rock at this game!"

"Pride cometh before a fall, Rainbow," I smirked. "Besides, you won't get a card this next round. It's your turn to judge."

"Hehe, I'll pick something cool!" she boasted as she picked up the next green card. Her reaction to what was on the card, however, seemed to drain the life from her. "Oh, come on…really?" she muttered.

"Well, what is it?" Rarity asked.

"Nnng…can't I choose another?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh no, you don't," I said. "Show us the card."

"Put it down, Rainbow," Scarlet, who'd apparently seen the card, smirked.

"Oh fine," she said, slowly putting it down. "Adorable, lovable, charming, delightful."

"Hah! Anyone got Rainbow Dash's reaction to that card automatically wins!" Scarlet joked.

"I'll get you, Scarlet," Rainbow growled. "Just put your cards down, everypony."


"Revenge is quite sweet, isn't it Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked as she picked up her very first card.

Rainbow's ears were flattened as she muttered, "I can't help it…I don't do adorable…"

"Still, you picked a pretty adorable card," Twilight said, holding up one that read Flowers & Candy - When "I'm sorry" is not enough.

"I thought that was Pinkie's card," she admitted.

"Nope! Mine was Freckles!" Pinkie giggled.

"Yep. Freckles are pretty adorable," I said. "Especially on one very amazing farmer Pony in this room," I added, looking over at a blushing Applejack.

"Aww, shucks," she said, hiding her head a bit with her hat.

"My turn," Scarlet said, picking up her card to judge. "Now this is an interesting one," she said as she put the card down. "Big & Tall, large, bulky, gigantic." She gave me a sideways glance and a wink. "Welp, place your cards down, everyone!"

Jesus, that mare…is she just constantly in heat?


"Yes! Another one!" Twilight exclaimed as she took the card.

"Alright, ah admit, castles is definitely bigger than A Cabin In The Woods," Applejack said as she grabbed the next red card in the deck.

"Shoot, I really thought I had that one," Mica said as he too grabbed another card.

"It was pretty close," I admitted, "but seriously, I've been inside four castles since coming here. They're always built big. Especially Canterlot. Seriously, that place is like Minas Tirith on whimsey."

"And not exactly the best defended," Mica observed.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"He has a point," Sunset said. "The palace is on the very edge of a cliff. It really should have been placed against the mountain."

"Well, in the show they could extend a magical shield around the palace," I said, remembering the Canterlot Wedding, "so I'm guessing it's the same here."

"Even so," Sunset argued, "they should have built the palace against the wall. There are so many abandoned caves down there that could be useful for escape."

"True," I conceded as I grabbed the next green card. "Okay, everyone. Next card is Bright, brilliant, radiant, shiny."


"My first card. Yay," Fluttershy exclaimed in her typical quiet fashion as she grabbed her card.

"Aww, I was so sure I had that one," Twilight pouted.

"Well, I left it up to chance," I said, holding up the bit in my hand which I'd flipped to choose. "That was an impossible choice."

She smiled. "True. Congratulations, Fluttershy."

"Thank you," the yellow Pegasus said with a small smile.

"Your turn, Zecora," I said.

My fiancée nodded and reached down, picking up a card. "Here we have Global, world-wide, spherical, universal."


"Finally! My first one!" Scarlet said in an exasperated tone as she picked up the card.

"Well, The Earth is a pretty global thing," I chuckled as I ruffled Zecora's soft and warm mane. She leaned against me, nuzzling me affectionately as Applejack picked up the next green card.

"Now here's an easy one!" the Earth Pony said. "Crisp and Delicious, tasty, crunchy, savory."

I immediately grabbed one and slammed it onto the ground triumphantly. "Oh, I'm gonna win this round," I said with utter surety.

"Is that so?" Fluttershy asked in an oddly competitive voice as she quickly slipped a card onto the carpet, giving me a knowing grin. "I don't think so, Jethro."

"I've got the perfect one!" Pinkie said, putting her card down as well.

"Not as perfect as mine!" Rainbow Dash said as she slammed a card down.

"My my, but this sounds like it will be an interesting round," Rarity said.


"How in tarnation did this happen?" Applejack asked as she looked at the few cards she was debating over. All of them apple themed. There was Apple, Apple Pie, Apples and Oranges and Mom and Apple Pie. The others she'd discarded, but she was now staring at the four cards in the center with confusion. "Wow, ah just don't know…they're all pretty good…"

"Just go with your gut," I said.

We all watched as Applejack pondered over her choices. Slowly, she put down Apples and Oranges. "Ah like oranges just fine," she said, "but they ain't crisp."

"Aw, nuts!" Rainbow said as she crossed her forelegs and huffed.

"And…ah think this one should go too," Applejack said, putting Mom and Apple Pie down.

"Aww…well I guess you're right," Pinkie said.

I locked eyes with Fluttershy, who still had that oddly competitive look in her eyes. I grinned back at her, raising an eyebrow. Applejack was too engrossed in her decision to notice until finally she threw up her hooves in frustration. "Anypony got a bit ah can flip?"

Pulling out one I'd used earlier, I handed it to her. "Here you go, AJ."

"Thanks, sugarcube." With that, she held it up in her right hoof, its golden surface reflecting the fire and the lights on the tree. "Heads fer Apple, Tails fer Apple Pie." She tossed it in the air…

And it landed heads.

Smiling triumphantly, I grabbed the card.


"Hmm…Woebegone, dismal, sorrowful, bummed out," Fluttershy said a half minute later as she put down the new green card.

"Aww, that's not a nice card," Pinkie said as she put down one nearly immediately.

"I know, but you can't have all happy cards in a game like this," I replied as I searched through my deck for the perfect one, "You wouldn't be able to play as long."

"Still, who wants to think about sad stuff?" Pinkie asked.

"I get what you're saying, darling," Rarity said, "but not everypony can be happy all the time."

"Unfortunately," Pinkie said sadly.


"Finally!" Mica said as he picked up his first green card.

Fluttershy shuddered as she put down the red card she'd chosen, which was Whips and Chains. I gave her a sympathetic look. A lot of the cards put down were good ones, but Whips and Chains was definitely one that Fluttershy would not have cared too much for. "Congratulations, Mica," Fluttershy said nervously.

"Thanks!" he said excitedly as he placed it beside him. "Ah, I'm a bit thirsty now," he admitted, "Can I go get a glass of water?"

"Ah'll do yah one better," Applejack said. "Ah'll break out the cider!"

"Aww yeah!" Rainbow said excitedly, rubbing her front hooves together.

"I'll break out some glasses," I said as I stood. "We'll resume the game in a bit, okay?"


"Yay! I'm not only famous, but warm and fuzzy too!" Pinkie said about five minutes later when Twilight picked out her card Saturday Morning Cartoons. She grabbed her card, took a large swig of her cider and beamed happily.

"Ugh, why couldn't it have been awesome?" Rainbow asked. "I've got the perfect card for that!"

"What, does it read Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom?" I asked in a teasing tone, which got plenty of laughs from the others.

"No, but it's almost as awesome as that!" she exclaimed.

"I don't doubt it," I chuckled as Twilight picked up another green card.

"Okay…let's see…Boisterous, loud, rambunctious, rowdy."

"Anyone got a card named Pinkie Pie?" Scarlet joked.

"Hey!"


"Alright! Mah second one!" Applejack said happily as she picked up her card.

"Pigs are pretty loud," Spike agreed. "And dirty."

"Yeah, true," Applejack said as she put the card next to her first one.

"I've always wondered why farm animals in this world are treated in much the same way as farm livestock back on Earth," I said suddenly, turning to Applejack. "I mean, the cows and pigs and sheep on your farm can talk, same as you. So why keep them there?"

"They ain't livestock here," Applejack explained. "We pay em pretty well, and give em plenty of freedom. Think of em more like Sweet Apple Acre employees. The goats prefer tah sleep in the open fields durin' the warmer months and in our barn durin' the colder months. Same with the cows and pigs. Believe me, ah've asked. We've even offered tah build some better proper housin' fer em, but they keep insistin' they're fine."

"Huh…I wonder why they can talk properly but other animals can only speak Phoenix," I said.

"I believe I can answer that," a familiar female voice said as a pair of talons landed on my shoulder.

"Gah! Damn it, Hestia, you're almost as bad as Pinkie," I said.

A second pair of talons landed on my other shoulder. I turned and saw a giggling Eve standing there. She waved her wings, and to my surprise, actually spoke. "Hi!"

I raised an eyebrow then turned back to Hestia. "Hold the phone…did she just-?"

"She can talk now?!" Pinkie exclaimed eagerly, bouncing up from her pink bean bag.

"I've been teaching her to use common speech for about a week now," Hestia said, "but I'll explain that later. First of all, our kind taught all animals across the continent to speak. Just this continent. Some even became more intelligent than we anticipated and began mimicking normal speech until they could actually talk and reason just like anyone in this room can. That includes cows, pigs, dolphins, sheep and goats. Animals across the oceans, however? They're pretty much the same as those on Earth. Dumb animals."

"So them being able to talk was just a side effect of you teaching them?" I asked.

"That's correct," Hestia said. "It surprised those of us who taught them, too. I was one of the only ones who really ever tried to talk, and it took me years to learn. Fortunately, it seems the younger generations of Phoenixes have changed enough that we can learn to talk fairly quickly."

"Jephro! Hi hi!" Eve said again, mispronouncing my name in the most adorable way possible before she switched back to her own language. "How did I do?"

"It's Jethro, not Jephro," I corrected, "but you're doing pretty well so far. How much do you know?"

"Just a few words," Eve explained. "It's hard."

"She'll get better quickly, I'm sure," Hestia said. "And perhaps I can teach Philomena as well. If she's willing to try and learn. But in the meantime, it looks like everyone here's playing a game. Mind if we sit and watch?"

"Not at all. Be my guest," I said.

"Thanks." Hestia and Eve both sat in my lap. "So, what kind of game is this, anyway?"

"Well, while the only Pony who looks like a Phoenix here chooses the next card, I'll explain things to you," I said. I saw Sunset roll her eyes at me as she picked up the next card.


"Sweet! Another one!" Spike said as he picked up the green card which read Believable, trustworthy, credible, convincing.

"Um, what exactly are Pokémon?" Fluttershy asked. "Some kind of animal from Earth?"

"No, they're fictional creatures from a famous Japanese anime and card game," I explained. "I honestly never watched the show or played the games, but even now, they're really famous back on Earth."

"When I was dating Flash, I found some old vintage Pokémon cards in his room," Sunset said. "I almost destroyed them when he broke up with me. Some of them are worth a decent chunk of change."

"Flash is into that, huh?" I asked. "Interesting…okay, Mica. Your turn to judge."


"So, not only am I hot, but I'm also swift?" Zecora asked me as her card, Lions and Tigers, was chosen.

"If you want to play it that way, sure," I said as I kissed her cheek.

"Hope I'm not as swift in the way you like," she said sultrily in my ear, "that wouldn't be fair to you."

"Scarlet's been a bad influence on you," I whispered back.

"My turn to judge!" Spike said as he picked out the next card. "Okay, this one says weird, abnormal, peculiar, odd."

"Ah, I've got the best one for this!" Pinkie exclaimed as she put one down.

"I believe I have you beat," Rarity replied, putting one of her cards down as well.


"I told you I had you beat!" Rarity exclaimed as she took her green card. Spike had chosen the one which read Flannel Shirts.

"Aww, I was sure Dr. Seuss would win," Pinkie said.

"It was a hard decision," Spike admitted. "I've seen a Dr. Seuss book before back on Earth when we first went. They're really weird."

"They were children's stories, Spike," Twilight said. "And the Smith family liked them."

"He's a household staple," I said. "I loved it whenever Mom would read the books to me whenever I was a kid and we were getting ready for bed."

"Still weird," Spike said.

"You've grown up with Twilight," I smirked. "Lemme guess, she read you more intellectual books before you went to sleep?"

"N-Not all the time!" Twilight shouted nervously.

"I bloody knew it," I smirked. "Okay, Rarity? You're up to judge."


"That's a third one for me!" Spike exclaimed as he grabbed his third green card, which read Dreamy, fanciful, whimsical, heavenly. His card had been Pajamas, and since none of the other cards there seemed to match dreamy, she'd chosen that.

"Pajamas are dreamy," I agreed, "especially if made by one Miss Rarity Belle."

Rarity blushed at that. "Only the best for my friends and my customers, darling," she said after recovering.

"I'm next!" Rainbow picked up a card. "Awww, why do you all get the best card in the bunch!?" she asked as she put down a card that read Awesome, amazing, remarkable, majestic.

"Hehe, I've got this one," Scarlet said as she put down a card.


"Aww, I was sure I had that one," Scarlet said as Sunset picked up the card. The dark gray Pegasus picked up her red card, which read My Love Life.

"She doesn't know anything about your love life, though, does she?" I whispered, surreptitiously giving her flank a pinch. She jumped and squealed slightly, giving me a naughty look. "Besides," I said in a louder tone, "thanks to these wings, I've tried skydiving, and I have to say it's awesome."

"I did it back on Earth once," Sunset said. "Scary as hell, but the adrenaline rush is something else."

"There's something super exciting about having your wings strapped to your side and falling!" Rainbow agreed.

"Welp, my turn to judge," Scarlet said as she picked up a card. Only to pause and show it to me privately. "Um…this might seem weird for me to say, but is this appropriate? There are younger people present."

I read the card, which read Sultry, sweltering, humid, sensual. Looking over at Spike, I quickly nodded and put the card away in the box they came in. "Not that one," I said.

"Why not?" Twilight asked.

"Not appropriate," I said as Scarlet picked up another one.

"Oh," was all she could say, glancing briefly at Spike.

"Here's a good one," Scarlet said, putting another card down. "Tasty, flavorful, savory, appetizing."

"Ooooh nice!" Pinkie immediately put one down.

"Ah bet this one's gonna be good," I heard Applejack say as she put her card down.


"I'm sorry, Pinkie, but I just can't agree about this," I said after she won the next round, getting her tied with Spike with three. "Candy corn is not something I'd willingly eat."

"But it's sooo tasty!" Pinkie countered.

"I used to be okay eating them, but now I don't really care for them," I replied. "Not really a fan. They're popular on Earth, sure, but they're just not for me. Just like marshmallow Peeps are during Easter season."

"Oh, I'm there with you," Sunset said. "Can't stand Peeps."

"I thought Easter was a religious holiday?" Twilight asked.

"Like Christmas, it started out that way, but it's become more secular in how it's celebrated," I explained. "And as far as I know, you don't have an equivalent in Equestria. Anyway, it's my turn to judge." I picked up another card. "Oooh, here's a good one." I put down the card, which read Hardworking, industrious, diligent, busy. "Sheee's gorgeous, pragmatic, industrious and kind! She downright radiates agrarian allure," I sang, glancing teasingly over at a quickly blushing Applejack. "If there was a contest for winsome country class, there'd be a bright blue ribbon headed straight to her!"

"She gets her own song?! Dude, that's not fair," Rainbow pouted.

I turned to Rainbow and grinned. "When you're flying up there, in the sky, rising high, every hue, it's like a dream. Out of this world, into a new. When you're soaring up there in the sky, spread your wings, and you will see the cirrus swirl shimmering down below. And you'll recognize the glow from the Double Rainboom. A Double Rainboom."

"Double Rainboom? Huh…never thought about trying that before," Rainbow said.

"Please don't try it around Ponyville," I cautioned. "I don't know how dangerous that could be. Do it in some unpopulated area."

"Yeah, yeah," she said. "Anyway, here's my card."


"Oh my, I got a second card," Fluttershy said as she picked up her new card.

"Bugs are really hardworking, I'll give you that," I said. "Back on Earth, scientists have poured molten metal into abandoned ant hills and taken them out. You should see the intricacy that ants have when making their homes. I should show you A Bugs Life sometime…but anyway, Zecora? You're up."


"Finally!" Scarlet said, exasperated as she picked up the card that read Sweet, sugary, caring, good.

"Not sure how bubble gum is caring, but it is sweet," Twilight said.

"It's really good!" Pinkie giggled. "Just like this eggnog stuff. Can I have some more?" Pinkie held up her eggnog glass towards me.

"Sure, I'll go get some more," I said. "There's enough for everyone to have just one more glass. Anyone?"

"Ah'm fine now," Applejack said.

"Yes yes! Me me!" Rainbow shouted.

"Me too, please," Twilight said.

Nearly everyone else wanted more, so I stood and grabbed the pitcher, pouring everyone a half glass of eggnog before sitting back down. "Alright, Applejack? Your turn to judge."

The Earth Pony picked up the next card. "Ah, here we go. Overwhelming, exhaustive, breathtaking, monumental." She put the card down and we all looked through our cards.


"Did…I just win?" Spike asked, eyes wide in astonishment as his card, homework, was chosen after Applejack recollected her time in school and how she absolutely hated doing homework but did it anyway so she could play.

"Sure looks that way," I said as I put my cards down on the ground. "Congrats, sonny boy. You're the first winner of Apples to Apples in Equestrian history."

Spike spread his wings and stood, fist pumping the air. "Yes yes yes! I won! I WON!"

"Calm down there," Twilight said, chuckling as she gently pulled on his arm with her magic, "you don't want to accidentally break something, do you?"

Spike immediately stopped, and sat back down, blushing. "Sorry…"

"Hey, it's alright," I said. "It's perfectly fine to celebrate. Like I said, you're the first in Equestrian history to win this game." I looked around the room. "So, how did you like the game?"

"I thought it was fun," Scarlet said, "even though I only got one card."

"Ah bet this game could be remade fer Equestria and become pretty popular," Applejack said. "Ah know ah'd buy one."

"Of course you would," Rainbow said, "it has apples in the name!"

"So what? Ah like what ah like," Applejack said. "And ah know yah liked the game."

"Yeah, but I lost," Rainbow said. "I hate losing."

"Well, we could play again, or we could watch another movie? I know one that I think you'll all like. One of the most famous Christmas movies from Earth."

"Die Hard?" Sunset asked with a teasing tone.

I chuckled. "I actually haven't seen that movie," I admitted. "And it's not really appropriate for the company here. No, what I was thinking was one of the older Rankin and Bass stop motion movies."

"What's a stop motion movie?" Twilight asked, eager to learn something new.

"Well, that depends on if you all want to watch some more Christmas movies," I asked. "I can show you three of the more famous ones which are each about an hour long."

"Yes please!" Twilight shouted eagerly.

"Eh, sure, I don't mind," Rainbow said nonchalantly.

"I've never actually seen any of those movies even though they played on TV every Christmastime back on Earth," Sunset said, "so I'm curious."

"If it's all the same to you, I wouldn't mind a film or two," Zecora said, smiling up at me.

When the others nodded and said yes, I nodded. "Well, let's get things set up. Then we'll watch."

"What's it called?" Scarlet asked as I stood and began cleaning up the Apples to Apples game as the others began rearranging the couches again.

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."


Final Score:

Jethro Bethridge: Crisp and Delicious, Prim and Proper

Zecora Mtunga Dawa: Hot, Swift

Applejack Apple: Fun, Boisterous

Fluttershy: Bright, Hardworking

Twilight Sparkle: Shy, Big & Tall

Pinkie Pie: Famous, Warm & Fuzzy

Sunset Shimmer: Magical, Awesome.

Mica Grayfur: Woebegone

Sir Spike: Crunchy, Believable, Dreamy, Overwhelming

Rarity Belle: Adorable, Weird

Rainbow Dash: Dash Cheesy, New & Improved

Scarlet Dusk: Global