It was not a typical day of school. In fact, the young lady who had just exited the principal's office believed that it was a decidedly non typical day and unfortunately it wasn't for the best.

"Next!" barked a male voice. She cringed at the sound. Who knew one word could hold so much harshness. She quickly put her bag back on her shoulder and proceeded to the library where she knew she would find the one capable of comforting her.

Belle sat in a secluded corner of the library surrounded by a fortress of books. As her eyes scanned a chapter of her newest favorite, she felt a shadow loom over her. She looked up into a pair of warm brown eyes and a forced smile.

"Hey," she greeted a strangled voice.

"He said no, didn't he?"

"It's no big deal. I mean, the script isn't even finished and I still don't have a song so..."

"That's not an excuse! This is the third time he hasn't even listened to you." Belle stood and draped an arm around her downtrodden friend. Her brown eyes began to blink suspiciously slowly and Belle sighed. "I'm sorry, Subira. I just...I don't want you to leave." Subira wiped her eyes quickly and smiled at Belle sadly.

"Well, I still have month left to make him listen." Subira pulled away slowly and picked up Belle's bag. "I suppose we have to tell the others now, huh?"

"What?"

"Oh no."

"He can't be serious!"

"This is, like, the third time!"

"What is wrong with 'im?"

"Yelling won't fix anything!" A hush fell over the gaggle of girls at Belle's outburst. A small titter erupted from Subira's throat which earned a deadpan glare from Belle.

"It kinda fixed that," she explained with a laugh. She was soon joined by Rapunzel and Anna. Belle allowed a small smile before turning back to her friends as they sat at the center cafeteria table. "Alright ladies, like I said, yelling at Monsieur Disney won't help Subira. We need a plan." At this the girls groaned.

"Did he give you an explanation this time, Subira?" Anna asked. Subira sighed heavily.

"No, Anna." Subira answered. Anna's face fell and Rapunzel gave her a quick hug in support. "Just like the last time."

"And the time before that," Mulan added, her voice dripping with scorn for the man.

"And the time before that. Ugh! How can we form a plan if we don't even know what he wants in a new princess?" Merida exclaimed. Her hands tore at her red mane as if she were determined to find an idea in it. Both Rapunzel and Anna tilted their heads in thought. Suddenly Anna perked up.

"Maybe that's the problem," Anna gasped. With one looked Rapunzel immediately latched on to her meaning.

"You're right!"

"'Cuse me lasses," Merida deadpanned. "Would you mind letting the rest of us in on the big secret?"

"Oh sorry," Anna started. "We just thought that-"

"Maybe the problem is Su-" Rapunzel added.

"Is too much like us," they said in unison. Both girls sported smiles liable to break their faces as their friends tried to understand their reasoning. Anna's face fell first.

"You don't get it?" Anna asked.

"Uhh, lass, look at 'er. She's nothing like us!" Merida exclaimed motioning to every other princess at their table. At first glance it seemed very true. While one could draw many comparisons between Anna and Rapunzel, Merida and Mulan and Belle, Subira stood out at first glance. Her long dark hair cascaded down her back unlike Belle's that was neatly coiffed, her native dress was drastically different to the demure clothing of her peers and if that wasn't enough she was not even close to a size 2. Although she was athletic due to her living conditions, it was very obvious that her hips were made for child bearing. However Rapunzel and Anna seemed to see more similarities than differences.

"No, she's just like us," Anna exclaimed. Both girls stood and began to circle Subira, pointing out her defining traits.

"She's a warrior like Mulan," said Rapunzel as she squeezed Subira's biceps.

"She knows magic like Elsa."

"She's read every book in the library. Not to mention all her African magic books," Rapunzel said as she emptied the contents of Subira's bag.

"Careful with that!"

"And Merida c'mon that hair!" Rapunzel added as she began to thread her fingers through Subira's dark curly locks. Merida smirked as Anna and Rapunzel began to sport their face breaking smiles again.

"Alright, you may be onto something with the hair," the scots lady snickered. Subira chuckled and snuck a look at Belle who wore a face that Rapunzel had dubbed 'the thinking face.' Her eyes were squinted and her mouth slightly parted. Subira could see almost every gear turning in her head.

"Belle...what are you thinking?"

"The girls do bring up a valid point," Belle said. "But I think they've forgotten the biggest difference." A smile broke out on her face to rival Rapunzel's and her eyes suddenly lit up. "This is perfect!"

"What now?" Merida asked

"Where are you from?" Belle asked excitedly, pointing to the red haired girl.

"You know where-"

"Where are you from?!"

"Scotland!"

"And you?" Belle asked pointing to Rapunzel.

"Uhh Germany?" Belle moved on to Anna.

"Arendelle."

"..."

"It's in Denmark"

"Ooh. You know I've never seen that on a map but, it's irrelevant," said Belle, "The point is most of us are from Europe. But guess who is not."

"Gee, that's a really hard guess. I can't think of who it could be," Merida quipped, rolling her eyes. "You know there are moors in Europe, right? Haven't you meet that new lass, Dido? She's dark skinned and english."

"You're missing the point!" Belle yelled. "Subira is African. How many other African Princesses are there around here?"

"Well technically she's an African Queen," said Anna.

"But so is Elsa," Rapunzel added quickly.

"Good point." At this Belle sighed exasperatedly and with a thud her head landed on the table. The girls watched in amusement at her theatrics. Somehow spending time with them had resulted in Belle becoming much more dramatic. Mulan chuckled softly and began to pet the mademoiselles head soothingly.

"I think what Belle is trying to say is there has never been an African Disney princess or Queen..at least not a human one."

"Yeah and?" Merida asked quirking an eyebrow. Belle sighed before raising her head again as Mulan answered.

"And it's a big risk to take." Subira hummed thoughtfully.

"I'm afraid Monsieur Disney is not one for taking risks," Belle added, her eyes shifting to Subira's hunched back and downcast eyes. This was not good. Poor Anna was the one to ask the fateful question.

"Do you think that's why he keeps rejecting her?" Subira chuckled darkly.

"Of course it is," she said standing to her full height and looking each girl in the eye before continuing. "Girls, you have been...no. You are fantastic but...I think it's time we gave up." Both Anna and Rapunzel gasped while Merida's mouth fell open and Belle and Mulan could only stare at Subira with perplexed eyes. Belle was the first to recover from shock and she stood to face her oldest friend head on.

"Absolutely not!"

"Belle, you said it yourself. I'm a risk! And unless you know to change this thing about me that makes me such a risk, than there's no point in trying again," Subira said gesturing to her hair and her body.

"Lass-" Merida started. Subira sighed her breath catching in her throat and her eyes opening and closing quickly to prevent a particular reaction she couldn't fight for much longer. She had never been one to hold it in but she also didn't want her friends to see her cry; she didn't want them to know just how much it hurt her; she didn't want them to worry anymore.

"Merida, if the real reason he refuses to give me a chance stems from my culture and what I represent, and I'll be honest, I think it is, then what use is it? It's a waste of time...and...I think we should stop." She grabbed her bag and swung it onto her shoulders.

"Subi?"

"I love you guys but I think I need to be alone for a minute."

"Of course," whispered Belle. Subira smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Belle's shoulder. With that she turn and left the boisterous cafeteria. Every other student was oblivious to their current predicament. They took this time in the day to unwind. But for five princesses the day could not be more tense.

"She's going up to the roof, isn't she?" Rapunzel asked. Anna nodded solemnly.

"You know she cries up there?" Merida asked. Belle slowly nodded. But with a voice that held more power than her small frame, the same voice that stood up to an entire village of people who claimed she was crazy, she spoke.

"But don't worry about it, girls. Trust me. This is not over!"