Patch and Cherry soon hurried to Atticus and Mo.
"Time for some shopping." Atticus smiled.
"Yep." Mo smiled back.
"Hey, um, mind trading?" Patch and Cherry asked them.
"Uh... I don't know if that's allowed," Mo replied. "Why?"
"No reason." Patch told her.
Mo looked a little suspicious.
"I'm not sure if we're allowed to switch," Atticus said. "I'd ask Applejack if I were you guys."
"Come on, Spot, let's ask Applejack." Cherry said.
"It's Patch, and I agree." Patch said.
"You know what I mean." Cherry replied.
"Hmm..." Patch hid a roll of his eyes as Cherry got his name wrong.
They soon went off to ask Applejack.
"Hey, Applejack." Cherry said.
"Howdy." Applejack replied.
"Uh... Um, Applejack, is it against the rules to trade names?" Patch soon asked. "Like if I had a better idea for somebody special? I mean specific?"
"If you can figure out who has the pony you want and they're okay with tradin', Ah uess it's fine." Applejack replied.
"Whew, thanks." Patch smiled.
"Any special reason?" Applejack asked.
"Uh, just asking," Cherry replied. "Thanks, Applejack."
"Sure thing, what're friends for?" Applejack smiled to them.
Patch and Cherry soon hurried back to Atticus and Mo. As they walked along, they soon saw a familiar face in the crowd.
"Is that Jake Long?" Cherry asked the others in surprise.
"Looks like it." Mo said.
Jake soon came out as he explored Ponyville a bit before seeing the others in their own Equestrian forms.
"That would be Atticus and the others in their Equestrian forms." Drell told Jake.
"Oh... Okay..." Jake replied. "That would explain why they're looking at me funny."
"That, and dragons are kind of an issue in the Pony World," Drell told him. "Most of them can be real jerks, especially Garble."
"Who? "Jake asked.
"Let's just hope you never find out." Drell told him.
"Um, hey, guys." Jake said to Atticus, Cherry, Mo, and Patch.
"Hey, Jake, long time no see." Cherry greeted the American Dragon.
"How have things been for you back in New York?" Mo asked Jake.
"Eh, a little tough, but that's mostly from Mr. Rotwood." Jake rolled his eyes about his least favorite teacher back home.
"And how has Cerberus doing?" Atticus asked.
"Seems to be doing alright," Jake replied. "I just didn't expect to spend my Christmas Break in a world of ponies. This looks like something Haley would like."
"Oh, trust us, this isn't all mushy and girly." Mo said.
"If you say so..." Jake rolled his eyes. "I don't know why I'm here. Gramps just said I had to come over and help somehow."
"That's the world of magical adventures for ya." Mo smiled.
"Whatever." Jake scoffed as he seemed to hate Equestria already.
"Trust us," Atticus smiled. "You'll love Equestria soon."
"If you say so," Jake scoffed about being stuck here. "Couldn't Trixie or Spud at least come with me?"
"Sorry, but not this time." Drell told him.
"Aw, maaan!" Jake groaned.
"You'll survive," Drell told him. "Besides, this way, Spike will finally have another dragon other than Ember and Smolder to hang with."
"Spike?" Jake repeated.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle's assistant." Drell said.
"Ugh... Twilight Sparkle?" Jake shuddered to that name.
"Just go to the castle." Drell told him.
"What if I don't want to?" Jake replied.
Atticus, Cherry, Mo, and Patch looked scared from that retort.
"Tartarus." Drell smirked.
"Uh, on second thought, let's go see Princess Twilight Twinkle." Jake's eyes widened.
"Sparkle." Drell corrected.
"Like it matters." Jake shrugged.
Drell gave a small gaze, not liking Jake's attitude. "Looks like someone isn't going to Sesame Street."
"Oh, yeah, like that's a real place." Jake deadpanned.
"Just get in the castle." Drell told him.
They soon walked off to check on the famed Princess of Friendship.
"Hey, Twily." Atticus smiled.
"Oh, hey, guys." Twilight replied as she decorated her castle.
"Looks like someone's finally getting to her decorating." Atticus teased playfully.
"Yes, first I'll decorate for the family, then I'll shop." Twilight smiled innocently.
"Great." Mo smiled back.
"So, what are you getting your secret pony?" Spike asked her. "Something expensive or fashionable?"
"No!" Twilight replied. "Those aren't really the kind of things my pony likes."
"Oh... Well, I gotta go." Spike said as he made his way out.
Twilight nodded to him.
"Wish me luck!" Spike told her.
"With shopping?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"Well, yeah!" Spike replied. "If everypony's only getting one gift, we have a ton of responsibility to make sure it's extra-special good."
Twilight soon looked worried as Spike left. Atticus looked over and soon decided to help out his Equestrian sister figure.
"I didn't think of it that way," Twilight panicked to herself, thinking she was alone. "The present I get for Pinkie Pie should make or break her holiday. I can't just go shopping and hope to find something nice. This needs forethought, planning, research! I'll decoarate later. Knowing Pinkie, she probably already has a perfect idea what to get her pony."
"Twilight, calm down; I'm sure Pinkie Pie will be fine with whatever gift you-" Atticus told her before seeing that she had already gone off to do research. "Or you could just go crazy with trying to find the perfect present for her."
"I know what to do!" Twilight told him.
"Alright, alright." Atticus shrugged.
Cherry sighed as she came over to visit Sweet Apple Acres where Pinkie Pie was with her family since last year, the Apples visited The Rock Farm.
"I have no idea what to get my pony!" Pinkie Pie cried out.
"That's a first." Cherry said.
"Cherry, thank goodness you're here, you can help me!" Pinkie Pie said, grabbing Cherry and pulling her inside of the house.
"I can?" Cherry asked.
"Oh, Cherry, meet my other sisters," Pinkie Pie then said. "Maud, you know, but this is Limestone and Marble."
"Ah, not Inky, Binky, or Clyde?" Cherry replied.
"You're silly." Pinkie Pie giggled, not getting Cherry's joke.
"Anyway, how can I help?" Cherry asked Pinkie Pie.
"You can help me find the perfect present for my Hearth's Warming helper." Pinkie Pie replied.
"There's a pile of presents right there," Limestone Pie scoffed. "Pick one, and you're done."
"Those were for when I was getting all of my friends matching harmony Hearth's Warming hats! Now it's just Twilight!" Pinkie Pie cried. "I can't give one pony a matching present with nothing to match it! I need something special for only her!"
"Wait, your secret pony is Twilight?" Cherry asked.
"Mm-hmm..." Pinkie Pie nodded before whispering to Cherry. "Don't tell her though!"
"Um... Your secret is safe with me," Cherry replied. "So, how can I help?"
"I just need help picking out the perfect gift for Twilight!" Pinkie Pie told her, shaking her so hard that her glasses flew off.
"Okay, okay." Cherry replied.
"I've got it." Maud spoke up.
"I don't think Twilight likes rocks as much as you do, Maud." Pinkie Pie said to her sister.
"Don't rock it 'til you try it." Maud replied as she took out a jack-in-the-box with a rock inside of it.
This was funny for one of the sisters. Gummy soon stuck his tongue out.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Gummy, but this is the biggest holiday challenge I've ever faced!" Pinkie Pie told her pet.
'She soon gets excited in 3, 2, 1.' Cherry thought to herself.
Limestone looked mad as a present was crunched from her sister.
"Uh, this one's for you," Pinkie Pie smiled bashfully before getting an idea. "Hey! This is the biggest holiday challenge I've ever faced! How exciting is that?! Am I up for the challenge? I know I'm good at gift-giving, but am I the best at gift-giving?"
"Who's the best at gift giving?" Cherry asked.
"Who would say they're the best at gift-giving? That's ridiculous." Limestone scoffed.
"Uhhhh..." Marble stammered.
"Marble, you're a genius! Yaks would say they're the best at gift-giving!" Pinkie Pie smiled to her quiet sister before putting on her winter gear. "If anypony knows what to do, it's them! I gotta go to Yakyakistan! Thanks! These Pie sister talks are the best!" she then kissed them all on their cheeks in thanks.
"So, then, you gonna get going?" Cherry asked.
"But what about your secret pony? Who did you get?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Oh! Uh... You know..." Cherry blinked. "A very special somepony."
"Ooh, I know that means," Pinkie Pie smirked. "You wanna come to Yakyakistan with me!"
"What?! No! Pinkie Pie, I-" Cherry's eyes widened.
"Great, then let's go!" Pinkie Pie beamed.
"I got Patch!" Cherry told her.
"Ooh, I'm sure Prince Rutherford can help you find a special gift for him." Pinkie Pie smiled.
"Yeah, probably." Cherry said.
"Come on then!" Pinkie Pie beamed, dragging Cherry along.
Cherry yelped as she looked trapped.
"Pinkie! Cherry!" Spike called as they dashed by.
"We don't have Rarity!" Pinkie Pie told him.
Spike looked a little confused of how Pinkie Pie knew that.
"Whoa," Jake said as he came to help Spike. "You okay, man?"
"Yeah, just confused of how Pinkie Pie knew I was gonna ask her who she and Cherry had as their secret pony." Spike told him.
"Hm... That's interesting," Jake said. "You must be Spike."
"Yeah, I am," Spike replied. "Who are you?"
"I am known as The American Dragon: Jake Long." Jake smirked. He soon saw Spike simply blinking which caused a random wind blow.
"Um... Nice to meet you, American Dragon: Jake Long?" Spike replied. "I can't say I've ever seen you before."
"Haven't you ever been taught about the American Dragon?" Jake asked.
"Can't say I've heard of that," Spike said. "What is... America?"
"Well, I'm from Chinese descent, but I was born in America," Jake replied. "Isn't this Earth?"
"Earth? Oh, you mean like where Atticus, Cherry, Mo, and Patch come from," Spike then said. "No, this is Equestria."
"So, then Equestria isn't apart of Earth?" Jake asked.
"I guess not," Spike replied. "The only earth around here are ponies who don't have wings like a Pegasus or horns like a unicorn."
Jake soon saw Rarity right behind Spike.
"Oh! How's your shopping going, Spike?" The unicorn fashionista smiled.
"Uh, fine!" Spike smiled nervously to her.
Jake smirked playfully as he already knew why Spike was smiling nervously.
"Oh, hello there," Rarity said. "Are you a friend of Spike's?"
"Well, uh, sorta, I'm new in town," Jake replied. "The name's Jake Long."
"Hello there, Jake Long, my name is Rarity." Rarity smiled politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Rarity." Jake replied.
"Likewise," Rarity smiled before looking down to Spike and whispered to him. "Which pony did you get?"
"I can't... Remember?" Spike replied.
"I've got Applejack, darling," Rarity smiled. "She's going to adore her present. There's a brilliant designer in Manehattan, Fedora Felt, who makes the most marvelous hats. I asked for a new take on western chic that would be the envy of every farm pony in Equestria."
"Whoa, that's impressive." Jake said.
"Oh, thank you, darling." Rarity smiled to that.
"That's a great gift, Rarity," Spike replied. "I hope I can find something for my pony as special as you are," he then got nervously before zipping off suddenly. "Uh, she is! U-Uh, bye!"
"I better go, and see if I can help him with his present." Jake said before flying after Spike.
Rarity looked surprised, but she then waved them off.
Mo was soon seen with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.
"Okay, what about your favorite food?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Ooh. I couldn't pick just one," Fluttershy replied. "What if it hurt the other foods' feelings?"
"Um, right." Mo said, looking confused.
"But there's gotta be something you really, really like." Rainbow Dash said to Fluttershy.
"I really, really like... Everything!" Fluttershy smiled. "Why do you ask?"
"Juuuust getting gift ideas. Uh, for my pony. Who isn't you," Rainbow Dash replied. "So, uh, is there anything you don't like?"
"Yeah, anything?" Mo asked.
"Hmmm... Not liking things!" Fluttershy replied which made Rainbow Dash groan in defeat. "I hope that helped!"
"Uh, sure," Mo said before noticing where they were. "Let me guess; you got Rarity, right?"
"Ooh, is it really that obvious?" Fluttershy smiled.
"Well, we are at a jewelry store." Mo smiled back.
"Yes, I suppose that's a good point." Fluttershy giggled.
They soon saw Spike and Jake coming over.
"Hey, Fluttershy!" Spike greeted. "Thinking of getting that for your Hearth's Warming Helper?"
"Mm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded. "She loves shiny things."
"I wish I knew what my secret pony wanted," Spike sighed over dramatically. "She's so hard to shop for."
Mo and Jake could already tell what Spike was doing.
"Oh, no. Maybe I could help," Fluttershy said. "Unless you don't want to-"
"Rainbow Dash." Spike said as he showed the pony he got.
'I can already tell what's going to happen next.' Jake thought to himself.
"Oh! I was just talking to Rainbow Dash about these-" Fluttershy smiled to Spike.
"Great idea! We should trade ponies!" Spike smiled back.
"Wait. Trade?" Fluttershy then asked.
"Well, Applejack said it's not against the rules, and you know what Rainbow Dash likes, so it's perfect," he then took a look to see the new name before gasping like he was surprised. "Rarity?! What a surprise! Thanks!" he then flew off with a chuckle.
"Well, that just happened." Mo said.
"Does this happen a lot?" Jake asked.
"Mostly when Rarity is concerned." Mo told him.
"Wow," Jake said. "He's got it bad."
"You think so?" Mo smirked playfully.
"With how eager he seemed to get Rarity's name for his secret pony, yeah." Jake nodded.
"You feel that way about a certain girl back home?" Mo smirked.
"Maybe." Jake blushed bashfully.
Mo giggled to that before looking around. "Hmm..." she then paused for a moment. "I should get Cherry something... We are family after all."
"Did you get Cherry as your secret pony?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well... No..." Mo admitted.
"Whoever got Cherry as their pony should get something for her," Fluttershy smiled. "Maybe you should find something else for who ever your pony might be."
"It's Atticus." Mo smiled back.
"Ooh, I just know you'll give him something very special," Fluttershy smiled. "Especially with you two being Special Someponies."
"Yeah." Mo sighed dreamily.
Fluttershy smiled back to that. They soon saw Applejack coming over.
"Hey, AJ." Mo smiled to the country mare.
"Howdy," Applejack replied. "Ah need yer help."
"Do you want to trade names, too?" Fluttershy asked.
"What? No," Applejack replied. "Ah just need help figurin' out what to get Spike."
"Did you try asking Clark?" Mo asked.
"Ya think Ah should?" Applejack replied.
"Yeah, he could give you some good advice." Mo smiled.
"Well... Ah guess Ah could..." Applejack replied. "He makes me mighty happy." she then smiled back about her time with Clark ever since he moved into Sweet Apple Acres.
"Plus he's a guy, so he'll probably know what Spike will like." Mo said.
"That's a good point," Applejack replied. "Thank ya, Mo. You sure do give good advice."
"I try my best," Mo smiled. "Thank you, Applejack."
Applejack soon went to find Clark and get his advice at what present would be perfect for Spike.
Clark was helping Bright Mac chop some logs for the fireplace.
"Nice work, son." Bright Mac smiled to the colt.
"It's no problem, sir." Clark smiled back as he had cut much more logs than any ordinary colt would take days to do.
Applejack soon came over.
"Hey, Applejack." Clark smiled to her.
"Can Ah ask for yer help?" Applejack smiled back hopefully.
"Sure thing." Clark smiled back as he finished chopping the last log.
Bright Mac soon carried the logs and took them inside.
"So, what's up?" Clark asked Applejack.
"Well, Ah need to get a present for Spike." Applejack said.
"Well, what does he like?" Clark asked.
"Ah know he likes to eat gemstones..." Applejack began to think. "Oh, and there was also that time he was reading those Power Ponies comic books."
"Hmm... You should go with comic books so then he doesn't eat his present." Clark said.
"Heh... Good point." Applejack smiled.
"Glad I could help." Clark smiled back.
"Oh, don't mind me; Ah'll just be carrying in the logs." Bright Mac teased.
"Ooh! Let me help you, sir!" Clark replied as he helped out which was easy with his strength.
Applejack chuckled and smiled to her father and boyfriend bonding.