//------------------------------//
// The Preparations 
// Story: My Princess 
// by EbonyPony 
//------------------------------//

	Rarity was perched at her balcony, waiting for the delivery carriages to arrive. She stared at the earth, so beautiful in its tranquility. Sometimes, she would go into town dressed as a peddler, and observe the ponies in their natural state. they seemed content to her, which was quite a good thing. She tried to be the fairest princess she could possibly be.
A brown cart pulled by a red stallion wheeled through the entrance at full speed. Rarity headed down towards the front lawn to greet the delivery and sign a paper. As Rarity approached, she noticed the pony running the cart was an orange mare with a brown hat on. A very attractive mare if I do say so myself she thought. What am I thinking? She pushed the thought away, but she couldn't help the lingering feeling of wanting to be closer to her.
"Your Highness," the pony bowed. Rarity blushed. What a cute southern accent. 
"Oh. please. You really don't have to call me that. Please, call me Rarity?" she pleaded. For some reason, she needed to be more comfortable with this beautiful mare.
"Umm... May I at least call you Princess Rarity?" she asked.
Rarity smiled. "Of course, darling..." Was that a blush? Did she just blush because I called her darling? She did! Rarity smiled, feeling pleased with herself. Maybe she wasn't the only pony with these feelings. "So are all of he snacks ready?" she asked, realizing she had a job to do.
"Oh... umm... yes. We have all of the apple pies, fritters, and cupcakes picked up from Sugar Cube Corner. The cakes will be here in a short while, and the plain apples are in the cooler," the mare said, her cheeks turning a darker red than her cutie mark. "Was there anything else you needed?" Your name Rarity thought, though she didn't say it out loud.
"No thank you. That will be all," she replied. 
"Yes You- I mean Princess Rarity," she smiled sheepishly, and began to turn the cart around.
"Will I be seeing you at the ball that evening?" she asked.
"Maybe. I'll probably be there for a short while," she answered. Rarity smiled.
"Until then," she announced, and they were off.