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"Yes, father,' Gabriel said, a small blush on his face. He watched as his brother walked up to the first girl in line and walked up to the second girl. "Ah, hello. Welcome to our home. I'm Prince Gabriel, but you can just call me Gabe," he said with a smile, extending his paw to her as well.

Chariste blushed and smiled, giving the Prince her paw and giggling a little when he kissed it. "I'm Chariste," she murmured demurely. "It's very nice to meet you, ah...Gabe." It was strange to her to be calling a prince by his given name, but they both seemed to insist on it.

Celestia had been at it all morning. There was still so much to be done before the celebration of her sons birth tonight and they were nowhere to be found. Leo hadn't arrived yet either, and she knew from his letter that he was brings a rather large group with him this time, so it was more work. She had to make sleeping arrangements for those coming with him, and she had no idea how many there were, if any of them were married, and if not, if they were male or female. She was all prepared to scold Leo for being so vague in his letter. "NO! NO! NO! Not there! It goes over there!" she said in a very loud voice to one of the servants who was quickly moving the item to where the princess indicated. "Would someone PLEASE try to find the princes?" she implored. They still had one more class on etiquette to finish before tonight.

"Why Celeste, I have the boys right here with me," announced Prince Leopold as he sauntered into the ballroom with the boys and girls trailing behind him. He looked at all of the finery, and flowers in the room and once again was glad he had not decided to lifemate with the princess. There were those who though he was a fool for not snatching her up, but they didn't know the real Celeste like he did. The Celeste behind the crown, behind the title. His would have been a very aggravating life, what with all the parties and celebrations that the princess liked so much to put on.

Celeste turned at the sound of Leo's voice. "You're early!" she chided, but with a smile on her face. "And who are those lovely young ladies you have with you? Are these the guests you wrote to me about?" Leo started to answer, but Celeste continued on. "Oh never mind, of course they are. Come here girls, I won't bite." She looked at Leo and said, "I have just the job for you my prince. The boys need their final lesson in etiquette before tonight, and you are just the person to give it to them. Boys, go with your father into the sitting room, and girls, you come with me. I'll get you settled in your rooms, and you can rest before the celebration tonight.

Leo looked at the boys and winked. "Come along princelings. It seems I have a lesson to teach you. Now where did you mother put the sitting room?" he asked, laughing so only the boys could hear him.

The four girls followed Celeste through the hallways and up the staircase to the second floor. Each of them was given their own room, and these were no simple rooms. There was a beautiful canopied bed in each room, covered in soft pillows. In a corner, behind a floor screen was a depression in the floor where they could bath in privacy. Each room had a balcony that looked out over the gardens behind the house. Celeste left the girls to freshen up and rest, telling them that someone would come and fetch them when dinner was ready.

Alamara felt out of place in the luxurious surroundings. Her parents were not rich enough to have such beautiful things in their house. She supposed that was one of the reasons they had encouraged her to come with Prince Leopold. She suspected that they hoped one of the prince's would ask her to marry him, and become his lifemate. Not that she was against the idea. From what she had seen of the princes so far, either one of them would be acceptable as a mate. She heard a knock on her door, and she went to answer it. Standing in the hallway was Keeva. "Hey, come on in."

Mara closed the door, walked over to the bed and jumped up on it. She beckoned Keeva to join her as she answered her question. "They seem like any other young male I guess. Of course their manners are better." She laughed and continued, "but I do like the way they greeted us. I've never had my paw kissed by anyone before, let alone a prince." She giggled again. "Do you like them?" she asked Keeva. Just then there was another knock on the door. "You don't think it's time for dinner already do you?" she said as she got down to see who was at the door this time. It was not someone from the staff, but another of the girls. "Hi Bunnie! Come on in and join the party." She allowed her to enter and closed the door. "Do you think we should go get Chariste? It doesn't seem right to leave her out of our little gathering."

Mara closed the door behind the girls and ran over to the now crowded bed. "Come on, make room," she said as she looked for a place where she could jump up. The others moved around in order to give her room to sit. Bunnie said, "Isn't the Princess beautiful? I don't think I've ever seen anyone so beautiful."

Mara replied, "She is very pretty, but I hear her sister, Princess Luna is just as pretty. I wonder if she will be coming to the celebration tonight. I'd love to meet her. So Keeva, which prince do like best? I think I like Prince Raphael myself."

Bunnie listened to the girls giggling and acting like school children and answered, "They are both nice enough looking, but I'm just here to have a good time. I don't think I would want to stay here or anything. I like my life the way it is. Don't get me wrong. I'd like to have a child or two some day, but I think Princess Celestia has the right idea; don't get tied down to any one male. Play the field, that's my motto. I wouldn't pass up the chance at one of the princes, or even Prince Leopold, if I was to be so lucky, but I certainly wouldn't consider spending the rest of my life with him."

Mara and the other two girls were shocked by what they had just heard. How could anyone even think like that was all Mara could think. "Are you serious Bunnie? You'd really pass up a chance to live in a castle like this? I would give my eye teeth to have one of the princes ask for my hand in marriage. Sure, I'd miss my life back home, but my father would come to visit me; I'm sure he would. And I'm sure there wouldn't be a problem if I wanted to go back home and visit him either."

Well, since the other two seemed to be okay with Bunnie decision, Mara said, "So, shall we help each other get all pretty for the princes this evening? Bunnie, if you don't want to, you can just help us instead. We could pair off, and each help one another. What say you girls?" She jumped down off the bed and did a little dance. "I for one can't wait for tonight! I want to dance with all the eligible boys and young men."

Bunnie got down off the bed and joined Mara. "Now I would't mind some dancing. Do you suppose there will be other young males at the party besides the boys? I hadn't thought about that. And I would be happy to help you girls with anything you need. I suppose we could all use a bath after the journey. Do you think we can all fit in the one bath here in your room Mara?"

Mara walked over to the screen and looked at the bathing pool. "I think we can all fit, if we don't mind being so close to each other."