Aqua Flash was about ready to jump up from her seat and run over to her friends. Today was the last day of school before winter break, and also the day Aqua was inviting her friends over for a Hearth's Warming party.
"...And remember, class! Your homework will be to... play in the snow this break! I hear we're supposed to get a lot!" Play Write concluded as the bell rung. The foals of the classroom quickly threw their books into their saddlebags and ran outside. Aqua walked over to Flora, Star Chaser, Rain Kicker, and Sun Catcher.
"Ready? I can't wait! This is gonna be so fun!" Aqua remarked as her friends all nodded.
"Yep! I know whoever gets my white elephant gift is gonna love it!" Star responded, hovering in the air.
Aqua giggled. "Alright, then! Let's go!" She and her friends ran out of the school into the cold, winter air.
The snow was like a blanket on the ground. It shimmered when sun hit it, and was pure white.
Rain smiled at the sight of snow as she felt something cold and wet hit her face and drip down her body. She shook it off and saw Astral and Mythic cracking up.
"Why do you look so cold, Rain? I thought you liked the snow!" Astral said as Rain got a small look of anger in her eyes.
"Well, being hit in the face by a snowball isn't my favorite thing!" She bent over and started making little balls of snow. She stood up and positioned her fore-hoof; getting ready to throw. "Hitting you with snowballs is a real pleasure of mine!" She then threw the snowballs and hit both Astral and Mythic, who shivered from the cold.
"This is why you don't mess with me, you bullies!" Rain remarked as she high-hoofed her friends and trotted off; Aqua Flash in the lead.
The five walked into Aqua's house, cracking up.
"I still can't get over the looks on their faces!" Flora remarked as Rain stuck her head in the air.
"I know. It was a very impressive shot on my part."
Sun nodded. "Definitely. I don't think they'll throw any more snow at you! Mythic looked like she was concerned that her mane got all wet!"
Star giggled. "You probably seemed like a big bully to them, Rain!" She teased as Rain nudged her in the shoulder.
"They deserved it and you know it!"
Aqua then set her saddlebag against the wall. "Who's ready to have some fun? Just so you know, my parents aren't here yet. They'll arrive after the party is finished, since they have to work for a long time today."
Flora smiled and started bouncing. "So... what do you want to do first?"
Aqua didn't waste any time deciding. "Let's sit near the Hearth's Warming tree and do the white elephant gift exchange!" She then trotted over to the tree and levitated a wrapped gift.
"This tree looks really nice, Aqua," Flora remarked as she looked at all of the ornaments.
"Thanks! Well, my mom did most of the work decorating it. She is a designer, so she normally goes over the top with these things."
Everypony got out their wrapped, unidentified gifts. They sat in a circle; breathing in the nice smell of pine. Aqua then set a timer of thirty seconds.
"Ready... go!" She remarked as the five passed the gifts around in the circle.
The timer went off; causing the room to be engulfed in the loud noise. Aqua turned it off and smiled.
"Now... open the gift you have! If you got your own gift, trade it with someone."
Flora scanned the package, which was pretty sloppily wrapped. "Uh... should I be scared of what's in here?"
"I don't think so! Take risks, right?" Star responded as she opened her package. Inside was a fancy Hearth's Warming ornament that looked like a sun.
"Wow! I love it!" Star remarked as Sun smiled.
"Thanks. I managed to get it when my parents and I were out shopping," Sun remarked as he smiled back.
Aqua looked at the ornament and gasped. "Sun! I said we only have to spend under ten bits on gifts! It looks like you went overboard!"
Sun Catcher looked over at her. "My parents told me that I should stand out: my gift should be the 'most expensive'!" He responded; imitating his mother's voice.
Flora raised an eyebrow. "Uh... alright. It's my turn to open!" She then opened the poorly wrapped package and saw a cardboard box. When she opened it, she saw a jar inside that was protected by cushions. She lifted it to see little holes in the lid, and what looked to be water inside.
"Is this just a jar full of water?" Flora asked.
"Well, kinda," Rain responded. "The water inside is like one of those good smelling candles; it will cause your room to smell like spring rain!"
Flora smiled. "Yay! That's one of my favorite smells of the spring! Good choice, Rain!"
"Thanks! Now, it's my turn!" Rain responded as she opened her gift, which was nicely wrapped. Inside was a blue cape with many white stars on it.
"Sweet! I could fly with this on! Who wrapped this one?"
"I did!" Aqua responded, smiling.
"Nice choice!"
"Thanks! Now, it's my turn!" She remarked as she picked up her package. She opened it and found a box with holes punched inside. She opened it and found a flower vase with some white lilies adorned with red markings on the inside.
"They're beautiful! I'm guessing Flora brought this one!" Aqua remarked as Flora nodded.
"Yep! I made sure to get some of the prettiest flowers in the shop!" Flora responded as she looked over at Sun. "Well... there's one pony left!"
Sun smiled. "Alright!" He then opened his package. Inside were glow-in-the-dark stars that could be hung from a ceiling.
"Ooh! I'm putting these up in my room!" Sun remarked as he looked over to Star Chaser. "I'm guessing you brought these."
Star nodded her head. "Of course! I have tons of these hanging from my ceiling at home!"
Aqua smiled and put her hooves together. "Alright! Now that the white elephant gift exchange is done, let's go outside and have a snowball fight!"
They all bounced up and down as Rain got a determined look on her face.
"Oh yeah! I'm gonna nail you all like I nailed Astral and Mythic!"
As Sun Catcher looked up, he was greeted by a wet, cold snowball.
"Hah! Got you!" Flora remarked as Sun used his magic to make a snowball. He then threw it and hit Flora.
He then felt another cold impact. He looked around to see everyone but Aqua shaking snow off of them.
"How'd you like that? A quadruple hit! You can't beat me!" Aqua remarked as the four all got snowballs in their hooves and threw them at her. She felt four different snowballs hit her.
"That's what you get!" Star teased as Aqua started laughing. Laughter then arose from everyone else. Soon, they were all laughing on the ground, letting the cold snow touch their fur.