Chapter 6
The nationals had been showing the buddies around the castle. Nathalie and Budderball walked on the ground floor and snuck into the kitchen.
"Sweet mama," said Budderball happily. "It's even bigger than my owner's family's kitchen."
"I know," said Nathalie her tail wagging happily. "What's your favourite food?"
"I like all food" said Budderball dreamily.
"Me too!" cried Nathalie. She looked over at one of the cooks and a smile came on her face. "Watch this" she said.
Nathalie walked over to the cook who was putting a tray of dinner rolls down, when he noticed Nathalie.
"Hello Nathalie," said the cook.
Nathalie looked up at the cook with puppy eyes and whimpered.
"Okay," humored the cook. "Just one." And he threw one of the rolls to the ground. Nathalie picked up the roll in her mouth and walked back to Budderball who hid in the corner of the kitchen near the door.
"You're good" he said impressed.
Nathalie dropped the roll on the ground and the two retrievers grabbed each end of the rolls, causing them to touch snouts.
…
"And this is the ballroom" said Nora leading B-dawg into the ballroom.
"it's amazing" said B-dawg.
"It's my favourite room in the castle," said Nora. "Don't you love dancing?"
"Yes, I do" replied B-dawg softly.
"I love dancing too," said Nora.
B-dawg watched as Nora went to behind a pillar and then revealed a small radio. She pushed a button to turn on the radio. Tchaikovsky sleeping beauty played and Nora danced the enchanted garden dance.
B-dawg stared mesmerized by Nora's dancing.
Nora twirled around on her hind legs and fell over into B-dawg's front paws. B-dawg snapped out of his daydream to hold out his front paws to catch Nora. Nora smiled and licked him, surprising him.
"Impressive," said B-dawg. "But I'm into rap and hip-hop music."
He walked over to the radio and pushed a button. The music changed to hip-hop music and he started break dancing. Nora tapped her paws and shook her head to the music.
…
Rosebud and Nathanial walked into a room on the top floor.
"Are you sure we should be up here Nathanial?" asked Rosebud. "Lady Rose said the top floor is where the royal family sleeps."
"Don't worry," said Nathanial. "I'm one of the royal pups remember? My sisters and I live in the castle you know. Come on, I wanna show you something."
Nathanial led Rosebud into a bedroom. There was a two-poster bed with ivory sheets and furniture with silver cushions.
"This is queen Kristi's room," said Nathanial. There was a door in the room that was open slightly. Nathanial walked over to the door and used a paw to open it wider and then the two puppies walked inside.
And there, Rosebud saw the most wonderous sight. It was a walk-in closet. There were shelves of shoes and dresses. And in the middle of the closet were six manikins, each wearing a gown.
"They're totally fashionable!" cried Rosebud walking up to the nearest one. It was a silvery blue color and the bodice was a paler blue.
"I love it here" sighed Rosebud happily.
"I look in a lot of fashion magazines," said Nathanial. "And I know just how to match clothes and accessories. I always look in them when the queen is done reading them."
…
Nina and Buddha were in the throne room.
"The wedding ceremony will be taking place here," explained Nina. In front of the throne was a stand and on the stand was a copy of the bible.
"I've loved religion for my whole life," said Nina. "I've been devoted to Christianity and I love the quotes and stories from the bible. But the lord stood with me and gave me strength" she quoted from the bible.
"I'm glad to meet someone who's interested in religion," replied Buddha. "I'm more interested Buddhism. I can teach you yoga if you'd like."
"That would be nice" said Nina sweetly.
…
Mudbud and Nancy were out in the garden. Nancy kept her distance from Mudbud and looked at the flowers.
Mudbud was rolling in the dirt having a good time.
"Be careful of the flowers," called Nancy. "Especially the crocuses, they're the queen's favourites."
"Don't worry Nancy," said Mudbud. "Have some fun."
"I'm like the pretty roses," declared Nancy stroking her fur. "I don't do mud."
"Live it up and stop being so stuffed up why don't you" said Mudbud encouragingly.
Nancy stood there hesitant. There was something cute about him, and he did look like he was having fun.
"Okay," she said giving a small smile. "Gives me an excuse to have another bath today anyway."
She joined in with Mudbud. The two retrievers rolled around in the dirt and laughed.
…
The sun was setting by the time the ten puppies met with Lady Rose in one of the back halls.
"How has the day been going?" asked Lady Rose.
"It was wonderful" said Rosebud rubbing her head against Nathanial's arm.
Just then Mudbud and Nancy came walking in, all covered in dirt and Nancy had purple roses all over her too.
"Nancy?" said Nina. "Is that you?"
"Yes," said Nancy.
"Why are you so relaxed?" asked Nora. "You like being outside in the garden, but if even a bit of dirt touches you, you usually freak out."
"Mudbud showed me that getting dirty isn't so bad," said Nancy admittingly. "And I'll get to have a bath."
Just then they heard voices talking. They turned to look to see two ladies walking down the hall. Both of them had blond hair, but were different ages and wore different clothes. The older of the two wore an orange gown and had emerald earrings. The other one wore a pink cocktail dress.
"So, before I left Italy yesterday mom, I bought two new coats and six pairs of shoes, and I bought a new dress and some rings in Ireland today."
"That's wonderful my dear," replied her mother.
Just then Bethany stopped in front of the buddies, the nationals and Lady Rose and screamed.
"Get away from me you filthy animals!" cried Bethany furiously. "I don't need your fur all over my clothes!"
"Bethany?!" called a voice.
Bethany and Alyvia looked up to see a young man rounding the corner. He looked like he was in between his late teens and early twenties. He had tanned skin and dark hair like the king and wore a black suit.
"Edward," said Bethany putting on a happy face. She hugged the prince and the prince looked at the buddies and the nationals.
"It looks like the nationals have made some friends," said Edward. "The owners of one of the buddies have come to Dove's Isle for the contest."
"Yes," said Bethany sweetly. "They're the cutest puppies in the world."
He then noticed Nancy all dirty.
"Nancy," he scolded playfully. "You're all dirty, that's so not like you. Let's get you cleaned."
He picked up Nancy and walked away with Bethany and Alyvia.
"Who was that dudes?" asked Mudbud.
"That was prince Edward," said Nathalie. "And that was his fiancée lady Bethany and her mother countess Alyvia."
"She's normally very nice" added Nathanial.
"Yeah, when the prince is around" retorted B-dawg who had curled up under the chair when Bethany had started yelling.
"B-dawg might be right," said Buddha. "It's obvious that lady Bethany only acts like she likes animals because there's no way he'd marry her if he knew she has that attitude."
…
Later Edward was in his bedroom starring out the window, when he heard the door open. He turned around to see Dorothy walking into the room carrying a tray with a fancy pot of soup, a teacup and a tea pot.
"You weren't at dinner your highness," said Dorothy. "So, your father asked me to send you some soup."
"Thank you, uh…" said Edward trying to remember her name.
"Dorothy," replied Dorothy kindly. "Dorothy Coyne."
"Ah yes," said Edward smiling.
Dorothy bowed respectfully and then left the room, with a sad look on her face.
Author's note; It looks like Bethany isn't as nice as she appears to be and the buddies will have to stop her before she and the prince get married.