The Perfect Princess

"Maaaaaaacia!"

Marcia's eyes shot open and the young girl dove out of her bed landing on all fours with her back arched. There was a loud thudding noise as Star landed atop her bed, in the exact spot Marcia had been laying in.

"Wow, you've gotten so fast!" Star said

"Yeah, guess I have." Marcia stood up dusting off her night pants. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Oh! We have got so much to do! We are gonna have so much fun! I'm going to give the official grand tour of the Mewman Kingdom! We can go shopping and on awesome adventures!" Star cheered

She grabbed her friend's hands and started dragging her out of the room.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Star, wait! At least let me change out of my jammies," Marcia said

Star stopped pulling and looked at Marcia. Her friend was wearing a pair of blue striped pants with a matching blue shirt.

"Right, right, okay I'll be waiting right outside. Oh, today is going to be soooo fun!"

Star beamed as she cartwheeled her way out of the room managing to close the door behind her.

Marcia just chuckled before walking over to the armoire in her new room. She opened the doors and stared at her rather empty closet with only three outfits inside.

"I….should've packed more. Huh, I'm usually more prepared than this. I did grab plenty of essentials though."

Marcia grabbed one of the outfits and slipped it on. After that, she sat at the vanity desk pulling out a brush and running it through her hair. When she was done Marcia put the brush back but paused seeing makeup resting on the desk.

"Oh, yeah." Marcia chuckled as she pulled out one of the makeup palettes.

"Mom got me this in case I wanted to glam up." She gazed at the palette wondering if she should try out something new. She looked at herself in the mirror, her twitching black red-tipped ears, her tail swaying behind her.

"New place….New me…." Marcia mumbled

"Marcia! Hurry up, girl!" Star shouted, banging on the door.

"Maybe another time," Marcia said, slipping the makeup back into the vanity.

She got up and made her way out of the room, where Star anxiously waited. The blonde was beaming, bouncing on her heels.

"Let's go!"

Star grabbed Marcia's wrist and pulled the girl down the massive hall. They reached the large staircase and Star hopped on the railing, Marcia right behind her. The two girls slid down to the bottom, Star front flipping off, Marcia doing a roundhouse off. They landed on the floor next to one another and sent each other a smile.

"Star. There you are."

Star sighed at the sound of her mother's voice. She and Marcia turned to find the Queen approaching the duo.

"Can't talk right now Mom, Marcia and I got places to go!" Star tried to quickly walk off but her shoulder was grabbed and she was pulled back.

"Not yet a young lady. You've still got lessons," Queen Moon said

Star groaned, throwing her head back.

"Lessons?" Marcia asked

"Boring princessy stuff. How to eat, how to drink tea. Gah! I know how to do those things already," Star huffed crossing her arms.

"Come along Star."

Queen Moon grabbed her daughter's hand and started to drag the groaning princess off.

"Um… Can I come?" Marcia asked.

"Oh, Marcia, I'd almost forgotten you were here. Well, I don't see why not. Come along." Queen Moon beckoned Marcia to follow her and Star out of the room.

Marcia wasn't sure what to expect when she decided to join Star, but finding herself sitting at a table with a rather intricate and extensive place setting was not what she had in mind. Resting on the table before the cat-eared girl was three plates, four glasses, and several utensils. Sitting across from Marcia was Star, the princess with her own matching place setting.

"Now girls we are going to go over the proper rules and etiquette for a formal dinner. Before you is the place setting you'd find. Now the first plate is the salad plate or the appetizer plate, it will be the first plate you shall use. Next to that is the bread plate an–"

"Ugh," Star interrupted her mother with a groan. "What does it matter what spoon I drink with, what soup or what fork I eat what with?"

"Star this is very important. It's customary and using the wrong utensil can be seen as rude to the host or guest."

"But none of this makes sense. I mean come on why do I need to eat–" Star picked up a small fork and spoon, "–meat with specifically this fork and drink soup from this exact spoon."

"Acutely Star that's a fish fork," Marcia said.

"Huh?" Star questioned.

"And that spoon is to stir your tea," Marcia said.

"Oh." A small look of surprise popped up on the Queen's face. "Why that's right Marcia."

Moon wasn't the only one surprised, befuddlement was clear on the Princess's face.

~Montage Time~

"A true lady must learn to walk with grace and elegance no matter the situation."

Queen Moon sat with her back straight looking ever regal perched upon a decorative chair. She watched with a stolid expression as Star and Marcia walked across the room. Each girl had a stack of books resting on their head. Marcia walked with ease, almost gliding across the floor, the books resting atop her head undisturbed. Star, however, was not faring as well as her friend.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

Star stumbled with almost every step, her arms flailing about at her sides as she tried her best to keep the books balanced. The stack teetered and wobbled, rocking back and forth threatening to tip over.

Marcia made it across the room and Queen Moon nodded her head. Marcia smiled before turning around, she found Star struggling to get across the floor each step a labored effort. Silently Marcia cheered on her friend as Star made it to the halfway point.

"Hey, I think I got the hang of–Ah!"

Star cried out as the weight of the books tipped back pulling the Princess down. Marcia winced as Star fell to the floor, landing atop the pile of books. Moon gave a soft sigh, shaking her head. The Princess dug herself out of the pile and frowned, spotting the look on her mother's face.

"Mewman history is a rich and long tapestry, woven…."

Moon lectured going over Mewman history; charts, pictures, and maps displayed behind her. Marcia listened to the lecture with fascinated eyes, her sole attention on the Queen; she looked like a rather eager student sitting in class.

"And that brings us to–"

A snort cut Moon off and all attention turned to Star. The blond was hunched over, her head lulling as she slept.

"Star," Queen Moon sternly said.

She got no response from her daughter except for another light snore.

"Star. Star!"

Star snorted and sat up fast. "Wha–huh! I'm listing!"

Queen Moon sighed, pinching her brows. "Star, this is very important. Please pay attention like Marcia."

Star glanced at her friend, who had a notebook out taking notes. Star's bottom lip poked out a tad as she pouted.

"A Princess should be well versed in the fine arts."

Star was grinning, rather proud, paint smeared on her face with a few stray splashes on her clothes. The cause for the mess was due to the Princess painting with fervent enthusiasm. Moon stepped back as a wave of paint flew her way, the Queen doing so just in time to avoid her dress from being stained.

"Done!" Star cheered.

She turned her easel around showing her mother the painting. It was a rather detailed depiction of herself riding atop a waricorn holding her wand as she blasted away at some monsters.

Queen Moon gave her daughter a small smile. "Oh Star…How lovely…" Her words came out in a fraught tone.

Suddenly gentle soft music started to fill the air. Moon and Star turned to find Marcia with a lyre in her hand. Her fingers danced across the strings, plucking delicately to create serene music. Behind Marcia, her tail moved in a speedy fashion, a paintbrush wrapped in the furry appendage; painting a lovely portrait. The portrait was of Marcia's parents, the couple almost glowing.

"Astounding Marcia," Queen Moon complimented

Star frowned, looking towards her mother and then Marcia.

~Montage Over!~

"Excellent work Marcia."

"Why thank you, your Majesty."

Moon and Marcia shared a small chuckle as they clinked a set of tea glasses together.

After all the training the day brought the three ladies to a small little tea party. They sat at a small round table a display of treats and tea laid before them.

"Marcia, how are you so good at this stuff?" Star asked

"I was in cotillion classes when I was younger. They teach stuff just like this. Although Mewman's got more cutlery dedicated to corn, it's pretty much all the same. Also, my balance has gotten really good since I got these cat features."

"I'm rather impressed by your impeccable mannerism and etiquette," Queen Moon complimented.

"Thank you."

The edges of Star's lips pulled down, her frown getting deeper, the look of displeasure evident on her face. There was a bubbling feeling that brewed in her stomach, a horribly uncomfortable feeling that made its way up threatening to travel up and out of her throat. She clenched her fist and then abruptly stood up, her chair scraping across the polished floor. Moon and Marcia's conversation stops.

"Star?" Moon questioned.

Star's bottom lip quivered and tears started pooling in her eyes. Concern flickers between Moon and Marcia their concern for the blonde growing rather quickly.

"Star?" Marcia said, with worry.

Without a word or a whimper Star turned on her heels, her long hair whipping as she swiveled, and she booked it out of the room.

Marcia and Moon jumped to their feet instantly calling out to the distraught girl.

"Star!"

"Star! Star! Star!"

Star ignored the voices calling out her name as she hid away in her secret spot. She sighed, pulling her legs in close, resting her chin on her knees.

Marcia had been going up and down the halls of the castle searching for the girl. Their search had brought the duo to a garden.

"Star come on! You're making us worried!" Marcia said.

Star kept silent, leaving her whereabouts a secret.

"Oh dear, where could she have gone?" Moon questioned.

"I'm sure she didn't leave the castle, why don't you go back inside and I'll keep looking out here," Marcia said.

From her hidden spot Star could hear the troubled sigh of her mother.

"Okay."

There was a shuffling of feet as Moon left the area. More shuffling sounded and the noise grew louder as someone drew closer to Star's hiding spot. There was a small almost inaudible thud, causing Star to glance up.

"Hey, Star."

Star silently gasps, putting her hands over her mouth.

"I know you're there Star. Look you don't have to talk, but I'd like it if you'd at least listen."

No words left Star, as she sat quietly, not like she could really do anything else seeing as her hiding spot only had one way in and one way out.

"Your mom's really worried Star. We're all worried." Marcia let out a sigh. "I think… I think I know why you're so upset."

"Of course you do," Star said a tad crushed. "You know everything, even how to be the most perfect Princess."

"Oh Star…"

Star's head popped up from her knees. "Mom?"

"Star, would you please come out?" Moon asked.

Star shook her head. "Un-Un."

"Oh, dear…Star."

"Mom you can say it Marcia makes a much better Princess than me."

"Star, that's not true," Marcia said.

"You can walk with books on your head and-and you even knew what spoon to use," Star said.

"Star…" Marcia sighed.

"Star, dear," Moon lifted the edges of the dress she wore to kneel next to her daughter's hiding spot. "Star you are perfect just the way you are. I love you with all my heart, no matter what. I just want you to be the best that you can be but even then I'd never want another daughter other than you. And no amount of etiquette and poise manners can change that."

There was a small sniffle.

"Really?"

"Really."

"I'm sorry, Star. I didn't mean to make you feel that way," Marcia apologized.

"No."

Star shuffled around as she got out of her hiding spot, her head popping out of a bush.

"I'm sorry."

Moon smiled, "A true lady knows when to say she's sorry."

"Aww, I love you mom," Star said.

"I love you too dear. Now I think you girls have done enough for today, why don't you go out and have some fun?"

"Yay! Fun time!" Star cheered.

She grabbed Marcia's wrist and started to pull the girl along.

"By the way Marcia, how'd you find my secret hidey hole?"

Marcia smiled tapping her nose. "I was able to sniff you out."

"Sniff me out?" Star raised an arm sniffing around her person.

Marcia chuckled, "You don't smell Star. But you do still have some paint on you, that odor is rather pungent."

"I have paint on me where?"

Star raised her arms and looked at her legs, and all over her body trying to find the paint. When she turned around, Marcia suppressed a laugh seeing the paint splotch on her friend's back.