Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, nor any of the Disney Princesses.
Royal Realities
Starfire was an excellent actress, Raven knew that much. Almost constantly the vibes emanating from the princess were forced or half-truths. There was enough perkiness there to get her off the ground, but not enough to be completely genuine. Only when the princess was shooting star bolts or eye beams did she actually feel the righteous fury required do so. So when Starfire's emotions were a mix of happiness and bitterness after a marathon of Disney princess movies, Raven wasn't the least bit concerned.
Starfire did enjoy watching those movies, she truly did. It gave the team time to unwind after a hard week if kicking butt and time to bond over what three out of five of them often watched as children, excluding the more recent princesses of course. It also made her happy to know that children were being taught at a young age to hope for prosperous and glorious futures. However, Starfire knew the harsh reality of being a princess. Unbeknownst to everyone on the team, besides Raven and Robin, Starfire had a cynical side to her. At this point, only Robin was aware of her past, but Starfire's royal reality of being a princess was prevalent in nearly everything she did. She was a fierce warrior, but she was hesitant with her feelings for Robin because she knew, despite her promise to choose her own husband, she may be called back to Tamaran in an instant to get married to some notorious ruler from across the universe threatening her home planet. More than anything she knew that happy endings were nearly non-existent for princesses, or any member of royalty for that matter. On Tamaran, happy endings were hardly ever a result of "true love." Starfire only knew of one couple on Tamaran who ended up marrying because they were in love. Those people were her parents, and they had a tragic ending to their lives. "Happy" played a very minute part in their lives, as small as a dwarf.
Starfire couldn't help but let a bitter laugh escape from her dried out lips at the end of Beauty and the Beast. She figured if she were able to relate to any of the Disney princesses it would have to be either Ariel or Rapunzel. Starfire could relate to Rapunzel being taken from her parents at a young age, but from the story, Rapunzel wasn't abused day in and day out as Starfire was. Ariel she could relate to because Ariel wanted to be a part of someone else's world, yet Ariel wasn't forced to be a part of the people who walked on land; she willingly fought for and desired it so she could be with a man she wanted. Earth, on the other hand, was the nearest place of sanctuary for Princess Koriand'r, and she wasn't readily accepted by those living there.
"What's so funny, Starfire?" Inquired Beast Boy from the floor. He was propped up on his elbows and had turned at his waist to look at her. Beauty and the Beast was his favorite movie since he was little, but more recently it was giving him hopes about himself and a certain book lover in the tower.
Starfire reacted with a glorious smile, realizing she would have to put effort in making her bitter laugh seem happy. All of the Titans had their eyes on her now. "Oh, nothing, dear friend! I just think it is positively glorious that the beauty in this movie of animations was able to give the beast a chance. It truly is a glorious story about the forgiveness that we can extend to those who harm us and beauty and love being more than skin deep, is it not?" She giggled to make herself seem more believable. Most of the Titans shrugged and turned their attention back to the screen, now rolling through the credits. Robin, however, kept a speculating eye on his friend.
Starfire didn't have the heart to tell Beast Boy her opinions about Disney princesses, that in her perspective, fairy tales and happily ever afters were just children stories, nothing more and nothing less.