The Princesses test
The princesses of Royal Prep were gathered in the ballroom.
"What ind of dance do you think we'll learn today, Amber?" Sofia inquired.
"Oh, more ballet, I hope." Amber started dancing. "Chaînés, chaînés, haînés... Jeté!"
Amber spun around, almost losing her balance.
"I meant to do that." She bluffed.
"Children, may I have your attention, please?" Flora announced, as she, Fauna and Merryweather entered the room. "We won't be having dance class today."
The princesses collectively "Awwww"ed.
"How come, miss Flora?" Madeline asked.
"Because instead, you'll be preparing for a very important test." Flora declared.
"The Princess Test." Merryweather announced.
The class gasped and muttered excitedly.
"What's a princess test?" Sofia asked Amber.
"The Princess Test is your chance to show us everything you've learned about being a true princess." Fauna summarised.
"Everything?" June gasped. "But we've learned so much!"
"Can you at least give us a hint about what's on the test?" Lena asked.
"I'm sorry, but that's all we can tell you." Fauna admitted.
"Except that it will take place right after school." Flora added.
"Right." Fauna nodded. "But that's it."
"In the ballroom." Merryweather said quickly.
"Right." Fauna sighed. "After school, in the ballroom. And that's all we're saying."
"You have the rest of the school day to study." Flora told the class.
"Good luck, everyone!" Fauna declared, as the three headmistresses left the room.
"If we're going to be tested on everything we've learned, maybe we should go to the library and study." Madeline suggested.
"Good idea." Sofia nodded.
"I'll go with you two." June offered.
"Thanks." Madeline smiled. "Want to come Amber? Hildegarde?"
"Amber and I already everything about being a princess." Hildegarde boasted.
"But we should go with them." Amber declared. "In case they have any questions."
"Which they will." Hildegarde. "So let's go."
The students arrived at Royal Prep's library.
"Where do we start?" June asked, taking in the vast amount of books.
"Let's ask the librarian." Sofia suggested. "Mrs. Higgins?"
Mrs. Higgins came into view, pulling a trolley full of books.
"Hellodilly-odilly-odilly, dear princesses." She greeted them.
"Hi there, Mrs. Higgins." Madeline giggled. "Can you help us with something?"
"Why, surely." Mrs. Higgins smiled.
"We have an important test today, and we all need to do well." Sofia declared. "Do you have any books about being a good princess?"
"Oh yes, I have a whole wall of them." Mrs. Higgins showed off a large bookcase.
"Wow." Sofia, Madeline and June gasped.
"I hope you can read fast." Hildegarde chuckled.
"These two are my favorites." Mrs. Higgins took two books off her trolley.
"Thanks, Mrs. Higgins." Madeline smiled.
"Oh, absototely-otely!" Mrs. Higgins smiled, moving her trolley elsewhere. "Good luck on the test, ladies!"
The girls sat down to read the books.
"Oh, do they really expect us to know all these things?" Sofia groaned. "I mean, 'banquet manners'?"
"Learned those when I was three." Amber declared.
"'Tea party conversation topics'?" Madeline read.
"Ooh, ooh, I know that!" June announced. "Weather, the news, your dress, my dress, scone recipes, and that's it!"
"Okay." Sofia mused. "Then what about 'correct ways to use a handkerchief'?
"Like so." Hildegarde demonstrated with her own. "Dab, dab, dab, and blot."
"Oh, so all of you know everything already." Madeline said nervously.
"Oh, not everything." Amber admitted. "I can only name a hundred and thirty-eight kingdoms."
"But Amber, that's all there are!" Hildegarde declared.
"Huh, maybe I do know everything." Amber smiled.
Sofia and Madeline buried their faces in their books.
"You'll do fine, girls." June consoled them.
"But we haven't been princesses very long!" Sofia despaired. "There's so much we don't know."
"Oh, it's true." Amber agreed, closing Sofia's book. "But if you want to pass the princess test, I'll show you what really matters. Come with me"
"Okay." Sofia and Madeline said together.
Amber led them back to the ballroom.
"Oh, take it from me, girls." She sighed elegantly, at the same time showing Lena spinning elegantly. "This is the most important thing about being a princess."
"How to... turn around in a circle really slowly?" Madeline shrugged.
"No, your gowns, silly." Amber declared. "Just make sure they look gorgeous, like mine, and you'll do fine."
"Oh, that's it?" Sofia asked.
"Not quite." Hildegarde proclaimed. She walked over to a dresser, upon which was a wooden box. "Inside this box is the key to being a great princess."
Hildegarde pulled out a colorful fan.
"My great grandmama always said 'proper fan fluttering is the most imprtant part of being a princess'." She declared, passing out the fans. "Now: Hold it firmly, open it gently, and flutter like so." She demonstrated. "Watch and learn, ladies. Watch and learn."
"And don't forget, every princess has to know how to curtsy." Lena added, throwing in a curtsy as an example.
"And dance." June stood up on her toes. "One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three..."
"Gown, fan, curtsy dance." Madeline recited. "Got it!"
"Good, because it's almost time for the test." Hildegarde declared.
"We'd better head over to the ballroom." June prompted. "We don't to be late."
"We most certainly do not." Amber agreed. "Come along, ladies."
"I hope we're ready for the test." Sofia worried.
"Me, too." Madeline agreed.
As the princess exited the building, Sofia and Madeline were reciting "Gown, fan, curtsy dance."
"Princess Amber." Mrs. Higgins called. Her barrow was lying on the grass, missing a wheel. "Hello, dear. Can you help me?"
"Oh, I wish I could, Mrs. Higgins." Amber sighed. "But the princess test is about to start."
"Oh, I understand, dear." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "Princess June, could you help me, please?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Higgins." June said hastily. "I want to, but I can't, even though I really want to. So sorry!"
"Oh, not to worry, dear." Mrs. Higgins waved her off. "Uh, princess Hildegarde? Excuse me, princess Hildegarde?"
Hildegarde walked past without even looking at Mrs. Higgins.
"Princess Sofia, princess Madeline!" Mrs. Higgins called. "Can you help me, dears?"
"What's the matter, Mrs. Higgins?" Sofia asked.
"Oh, well, thank you for stopping." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "I have to bring these books home, but my wheelbarrow broke, and I can't carry them myself. Could you please help me?"
"Um..." Madeline mumbled.
"I don't live very far." Mrs. Higgins pointed. "Just a wee bit, just a wee bit."
"Oh, Mrs. Higgins." Sofia said, torn. "The princess test is starting soon. But if you live close by..."
"I guess we could help you real quick." Madeline finished for her.
"Oh, well that's very kind of you, dears." Mrs. Higgins, Sofia and Madeline picked up the books. "Now you take those, and I'll take these They're a bit heavy."
Sofia and Madeline struggled to lift the books over their backs.
"Sofia, Madeline!" Amber hurried over. "Um, where are you going?
"To help Mrs. Higgins." Sofia declared.
"But what about the princess test?" Amber asked.
"Mrs. Higgins doesn't live far." Madline announced. "We can make it back in time."
"Well, you'd better." Amber huffed. "Being late is not a good way to start the test."
"Don't worry." Sofia smiled. "We'll see you soon."
"Come along, dear." Mrs. Higgins declared. "This way."
The three females walked off down the path.
"I just love books." Mrs. Higgins announced. "I can't wait to get home and start reading them. In fact, I'm not going to wait." She took a book out of the holder and starting reading. "'Once upon a time, there was a'..." Not looking where she was going, she bumped into a tree. "Opps, dizzy!" She backed up into a nother tree. "Woozy-dozy-doozy..." An acorn fell on her head. "Oh, my goodness."
"Are you okay?" Madeline asked.
"Oh, yes, yes." Mrs. Higgins chuckled. "I'm fine." As they made to leave, Mrs. Higgins started reading her book again. "Now, where did I leave off? '...And they all lived happily ever after'. Oh, that was fast"
Mrs. Higgins barely missed a large log.
"Mrs. Higgins, maybe you should wait until you get before you start to read that." Sofia suggested.
"I suppose you're right." Mrs. Higgins snapped the book shut. "My cottage is just across this bridge-oh, huckleberry!"
The bridge had been destryed by a fallen tree.
"The bridge is broken!" Mrs. Higgins gasped. "I don't think we can get around that fallen tree."
"Then how are we supposed to get to your cottage?" Madeline asked.
"Well, there is another way." Mrs. Higgins mused. "But it'll take a bit longer."
"Longer?" Sofia gasped. "But that might make us late for the princess test!"
"Oh, I understand if you need to go back." Mrs. Higgins declared. "I'll be okay on my own."
Sofia and Madeline looked at each, then silently agreed.
"No." Madeline said. "We can't let you carry all these heavy books by yourself."
"lead the way." Sofia smiled.
"Oh, Sofia, Madeline." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "You're such dears for going out of your way to helpme, you know that? All the other princess just rushed right past me."
Back at Royal Prep, the princess test was about to begin.
"Gather round, girls." Fora declared. "The princess test is about to begin. As you know, a princess meets kings and queens from all around the world, so let's see how well you know your royal greetings. Princess Hildegarde, you're up first."
"this is going to be so easy." Hildegarde boasted.
"Now, Hildegarde, imagine you're visiting the kingdom of Waylin." Flora instructed. "How would you greet the emperor?"
"I know this!" Hildegarde beamed. "I would, uh, you know.. I would just... uh, then I'd... I'm sorry, I can't remember!"
"That's okay, dear." Flora smiled encouragingly. "Princess May? It's your turn."
"I can't believe I forget the answer!" Hildegarde groaned. "Amber, I'm going to fail the princess test!"
"Oh Hildegarde, the test is just beginning." Amber reminded her. "I'm sure you'll do better at the next part."
"But... what if I do worst?!" Hildegarde gasped, walking away.
"Hildegarde!" Amber called.
"Um, where's Sofia?" Lena asked.
"She isn't back yet?" Amber inquired.
"Back from where?" June asked.
As Mrs. Higgins, Sofia and Madeline kept walking, Madeline asked "Is your cottage far from here?"
"No not really." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "I'll draw you a map."
"Oh no, you don't need to." Sofia declined.
"Okay..." Madeline sighed.
Mrs. Higgins started scrawling symbols in the dirt with a stick.
"If my cottage is this x, and we are the o over here, then just put an x here and an x here, and tic-tac-toe, I win!" Mrs. Higgins yelped. "I just love a good game!"
"Ha, funny." Sofia said dully.
"Maybe we should keep going, Mrs. Higgins?" Madeline suggested.
"Yes, indeed." Mrs. Higgins agreed. "My cottage is just up this way a while bit let's go."
As the three females came to two rocks, the split inbetween only able to let one at a time through, Mrs. Higgins said "After you, my dears."
"Thank you." Sofia smiled.
Madeline stopped her sister by saying "Sofia, this isn't what proper Princesses would do. "
"You're right, Madeline." Sofia realised. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Higgins. A proper Princess would have done the polite thing and let you go first.
"Don't be silly, you two." Mrs. Higgins chuckled, strutting through the gap. "You're both proper princesses."
"Not Really." Sofia admitted, as she and Madeline followed.
"At least, we don't always feel that way." Madeline sighed.
"Why, what do you mean?" Mrs. Higgins asked.
"We're weren't born as Princesses." Sofia declared.
"And sometimes, we feel like we have to keep proving that we belong." Madeline added.
Sofia: We study hard, we read the books
But everywhere we turn
It seems like there's a zillion things
That we still need to learn
Madeline: We've got the shoes, we've got dress
That makes us princesses, I guess
We have all the stuff
But is it enough
To make us a success
Sofia: Oh how do we keep on trying and just stay strong
With so many times,we wonder if we belong
They look at us, what do they see
Are we royal or just pretending to be
But this is the day, to make them all say
That we did it perfectly
Madeline: We've got to keep on trying and just stay strong
Cuz' this is our chance to show them that we belong
Is it all about the fan, which dress some wore
Cuz' we would think, that what's inside should mean a whole lot more
Sofia: So we got to go and take this test, we're gonna try our very best
To make the right move
And finally prove
We're as Royal as the rest
Both: Yes We're gonna keep on trying and we'll stay strong
Cuz' this is our chance to show them that we belong
There may be things, we may get wrong
But we gotta just stay strong
We're gonna finally show them...we belong
Sofia and Madeline picked up the books, and walked with Mrs. Higgins down the path.
"From what I've seen, girls, you make wonderful princesses." Mrs. Higgins told them.
"Thanks, Mrs. Higgins." Sofia smiled.
Back at Royal Prep, the fan portion of the princess test was in full sway. Amber flung her fan into the air, deftly catching it and switching it from hand to hand.
"Very nice fan fluttering, Amber." Merryweather noted.
June also performed some intricate fan manoeuvres.
"Ooh, impressive." Merryweather gasped.
Hildegarde was staring glumly at her fan as Amber and June walked over to her.
"Hildy, what's going on?" Amber asked. "Why aren't you flapping?"
"I need to, um... warm up my fingers!" Hildegarde exclaimed. "One must stretch before one fans. One little finger, two little finger, three little finger, four..."
"Okay, what's really going on?" Amber asked. "You're the best fan flutterer in the school. You should be out there... fluttering!"
"I know, but... what if I mess up again?" Hildegarde despaired. She walked over to a chair. "I'm better off not trying at all!"
"We can't let Hildegarde miss the rest of the test, or she won't pass!" Amber exclaimed.
"I know!" June nodded. "But what can we do?"
As the girls was still walking, Madeline said "Oh no, it's getting late. The test must be halfway over by now."
As the girls kept walking, Madeline said "Oh no, it's getting late. The test must be half-way over by now."
"We're almost there, dear." Mrs. Higgins consoled her. "We just need to cross this stream a little ways. Sof
"Where's the bridge?" Sofia asked.
"We don't need a bridge." Mrs. Higgins declared. "We can just walk across the rocks."
"Walk across the rocks?" Sofia repeated.
"Okay, let's go." Madeline nodded.
"Follow me, girls." Mrs. Higgins instructed as she walked across the rock.
As the sisters followed, Madeline said "Just a few more." But they both lost their balance, dropping their fans into the water.
"Our fans!" Sofia gasped. As they made it across the stream, she said "Hildegarde told us that fan fluttering was a huge part of the test. Now we've lost ours fans, and we're late!"
"Why don't you two go back to your test?" Mrs. Higgins offered. "I'm sure I can make it home from here."
"We promised we'd help you get get home" Madeline declared.
"So we aren't leaving until we get there." Sofia added. "Besides, our dresses still look nice, and our sister said that's the most important part of the test."
"Did she, now?" Mrs. Higgins asked.
"Mmm-hmm." Madeline nodded, as both sisters pick up their books again. "So, which way to your cottage?"
"Just through those trees." Mrs. Higgins pointed. "We aren't far."
Back outside, Mrs. Higgin' cottage was finally in sight.
"Your cottage, I can see it!" Madeline beamed. She and Sofia ran to it, but suddenly stopped in their tracks. "Whoa!"
There was a large expanse of mud in their path.
"There?" Sofia gasped. "Across all that mud?!"
"Amber said our gowns had to look perfect for the princess test." Madeline remembered.
"If we get on them, we'll fail the test for sure!" Sofia realised.
"The last thing in the world that I want is to ruin your chances on the test." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "I know how important it is to you. You go along now, dears. I can go the rest of the way myself."
"I know!" Sofia realised. "We can just hold our dresses up, like this!"
"Good idea, sis." Madeline followed suit. "Alright Mrs. Higgins, we're ready to go!"
Mrs. Higgins laughed.
"You are quite the pair of young ladies!" She declared.
The three females tentatively made their way across the mud.
"Be careful." Sofia warned. "This mud is slippery."
"Oh, it certainly is!" Mrs. Higgins agreed. "But if we move slowly, we should make it just fine."
They continued their trek.
"That's it." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "We're almost there. Just a few more-WHOA!"
Mrs. Higgins slipped, bumping into Sofia and Madeline and knocking them in the mud.
"Are you okay, Mrs. Higgins?" Madeline asked.
"Yes, well, a little bit of mud never hurt anyone." Mrs. Higgins shrugged as she got to her feet.
"Our gowns!" Sofia gasped at the mud-stained dresses.
"Oh, huckleberry." Mrs. Higgins exclaimed.
"H'ohhh!" Sofia groaned loudly.
"Now we'll never pass the princess test!" Madeline groaned.
"Oh, I am sorry, girls." Mrs. Higgins apologised.
They finally made their way out of the mud.
"If it makes you feel any better, here we are, at my cottage." Mrs. Higgins declared. "You know, dears, I couldn't have made it home without you. Thank you both."
"You're welcome." Sofia said quietly. "We may not have made it to the princess test, but at least we got you home."
"Don't give up on that test." Mrs. Higgins smiled cryptically. "We may still get you girls back in time."
"Really?" Madeline gasped. "But how?
"I know a shortcut." Mrs. Higgins sang.
"You do?" Sofia asked.
"Right this way, girls." Mrs. Higgins opened the door to her little cottage
"But... this is your cottage?" Madeline said, confused.
"You'll see, you'll see." Mrs. Higgins smiled.
Both girls entered the cottage, and turned to face Mrs. Higgins, who waved her hand to get them to turn around. As they did, the cottage fade away, and Sofia and Madeline found themselves back in the school ballroom.
"What?" Sofia gasped.
"Huh?" Madeline gaped.
All the girls gasped as they saw Sofia and Madeline.
"Did you see that?" Jun said.
"Mrs. Higgins?" Hildegarde asked.
"Sofia, Madeline?" Amber gasped. "Where did you come from, and what happened to your dresses?"
"Are we back at School?" Madeline asked.
"Indeed we are." Mrs. Higgins smiled. "Welcome to the princess test Sofia and Madeline."
"But, but... how did we get here?" Sofia asked.
Just then, another Mrs. Higgins entered the room, pushing her trolley.
"Wait, there are two Mrs. Higgins?" Madeline gasped.
"No, dear." The first Mrs. Higgins shook her head. "I'm not really Mrs. Higgins."
She palled out a wand and waved it, changing into Miss Fauna.
"Miss Fauna?" Sofia and the other princesses gasped.
I used magic to make myself look like Mrs. Higgins." Fauna explained.
"So we were helping you carry those books all this time?" Madeline asked.
"Yes you were, girls." Fauna nodded.
"I was here at the school the whole time." The real Mrs. Higgins declared.
"But why?" Sofia asked.
"Oh, it was all part of the Princess test." Fauna declared.
"It was?" Madeline asked.
"Absotootely-ootely!" Fauna chuckled.
"Girls, you are all wonderful Princess." Flora said. "Amber your curtsy are commendable."
"Thank you, Miss Flora." Amber smiled.
"And Jun, your fanning is flawless." Merryweather declared
Jun giggled modestly.
"Hildegarde's posture is positively perfect." Flora added.
"Thank you so much." Hildegarde beamed.
"But, one of the most important things about being a princess is kindness." Fauna proclaimed. "So I made myself look like Mrs. Higgins, and asked each of you for help, because a true princess always helps those in need."
"Even if it means giving up something very important to you." Flora added.
"Of course!" The princesses realised.
"Now, all you other princesses will get silver stars for the fine job you did today." Flora waved her wand, causing the stars to appear on the princesses' chests.
"But since you, Sofia and Madeline, were the only princesses to stop and help Mrs. Higgins..." Merryweather started.
"It gives us all great joy to announce that you've passed the princess test with the highest honors." Fauna finished.
"We passed?" Sofia gasped.
"And because of because of your excellent work today, we're awarding you a very special trophy!" Flora announced.
The three fairies waved their wands today, causing a large gold trophy to materialise.
Sofia and Madeline gasped.
"Oh, congratulations, dears!" Flora gave them the trophy.
"Thank you so much!" Madeline beamed.
The other princesses cheered.
"Wooh-hoo!"
"Way to go!"
"They learned it all from me." Amber said smugly. "Pretty trophy. Can I hold it?"
"Oh, Amber." Sofia giggled.