Author : Genevievebarbie
Source : fanpop.com
Author's Summary : Prequel to Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses. The story of how Prince Randolph and Lady Isabella faced hardships and difficulties and later on, fell in love and got married. This is my first fanfiction so please no flames. Lastly, please read and review!
Rating : T
Category : Romance, Drama
Disclaimer : The main characters of the story are owned by Mattel. I own all the supporting characters and the plot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 16 : Lalaina's Plan

The next morning, Isabella was greeted with such a heartbroken look from her friends, she thought someone had died.

"What's wrong, girls?" she asked, fearing their reply.

" 'Monsieur Mystery Admirer' didn't leave you anything last night," said Lalaina, heartbroken, "He couldn't have possibly gotten over you, could he?"

"What if he was toying with Isabella's feelings? Oh, I'm going to kill him for hurting my sister!" said Ilana.

"Seriously, that's what you're worried about? When I saw the looks on your faces, I thought someone was dead!"

"So you aren't worried about it?" asked Lalaina, "How could you not be?"

"Well, I.. no.. I em.."

"What is it?" Natalie broke the awkward silence.

"Ifoundoutwhoheis."

"Sorry?"
"What?"
"I couldn't even understand you," the girls voices mixed up together, making it difficult for Isabella to understand who said what.

"I found out who he is," she repeated again, slowly.

The replies began clashing over each other once more.
"What?!"
"Eee!"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Who is it?"

"I..."

"Yes?" came the chorused reply.

".... Can't tell you...?" Isabella finished lamely.

"Well, how rude!" said Ilana, in a mock-angry tone.

"Why not?" asked Natalie.

"Ooh, I get it," began Lalaina, as everyone turned to look at her, "You're trying to keep your relationship a secret for now, and then when you know you love him, you'll tell us! Oh, how romantic!"

All Isabella could do was mentally slap her forehead.

_______________________________________________________________

"Randolph, hey, Randolph!" Dylan tapped his shoulder.

"Sorry, what?"

"Are you even listening?" asked Dylan.

"Of course I am!"

"Really? Tell us, what were we just talking about?" asked Micheal, in an exasperated tone.

"Sure! You were...um...talking about...er....."

"I knew you weren't listening!"
"We both knew it, Michael."
"You only knew because I told you so."

Randolph, meanwhile, just got lost in his thoughts again. Thoughts that mostly revolved around Isabella. Occasionally Athena. He felt a teeny bit guilty for 'betraying' Athena – but then, they weren't even dating, so it didn't bother him so much.

As for Isabella's question on where they were going out, he already had everything in mind.

_______________________________________________________________

A week later, Isabella had just finished getting ready. Early that morning, she had found a note on her bed that said, "Meet me at midnight. North courtyard." She didn't have to ask who the note was from, so she simply got ready to go. The girls knew where she she was going, but not who she was meeting.

Little did Isabella know, her friends had a plan to find out.

_______________________________________________________________

"Ahem. Now that we are in our secret hideout, may I have your attention please," Lalaina spoke in a regal tone.

"Um, Lalaina...this is just your bed with the curtains closed," said Natalie, while Ilana giggled.

"Quiet. Now then, allow me to explain our master plan. We –"

"–your master plan, " Ilana intergected.

"Yes, yes. We will not go and spy on Isabella ourselves, as she will somehow find out we are there. Instead, we shall use – I mean, take help – from our furry friend," she continued her regal tone, picking Midnight up, who gave a little purr.

"And how will we do that?" asked Natalie, while Ilana simply raised her eyebrow.

"Simple. Isabella has just left. She was told to be in the north courtyard. There's only two ways to get there. Either through the eastern side of the castle, or through the western side of it. We are at the north-eastern side, so naturally Isabella has to take the eastern path, and so will Midnight. All our furry friend has to do is go to the north courtyard, and she will automatically end up following our girl."

"That's nice and all, but how will Midnight tell us who the mystery man is? She can't speak," said Natalie.

"Err....."

"You didn't think of that, did you?"

"Not really....." Lalaina said. Midnight meowed at her.

"That's it!" Ilana suddenly said, making everyone, including Midnight, look at her, "Midnight can lead us to the person during the day tomorrow or after that, or if she can't lead us there, she'll meow in his direction!"

"That's actually pretty good."

"Any chance Midnight's understood us?" asked Lalaina. Midnight meowed again. "Oh, good."

And so, Ilana took Midnight and descended downstairs, made sure the coast was clear, and let Midnight out, into the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N : Hey guys! How was this chapter? Isabella and Randolph's date will probably be in the next chapter. I am so sorry chapters are now shorter. RL has been really busy. As always, read, review and favorite. Laterz!