Torin sighed as he got out of bed. Today was another day of manners training. "I don't feel like it today… I'll just skip it." He pulled himself out of bed and started to get ready to leave for the day.

Zack got ready for the day and walked towards Torin's room. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

Torin figured it was just someone here to tell him he had classes. When he opened the door, he was excited. "Zack! How did you get in here?"

"I asked one of the maids if I could take their jobs for the day and they said yes." Zack smiled brightly and walked into Torin's room. "Do you need any help?"

"Yeah. Can you help me button up this shirt? I always mess up when I do it myself." Torin wasn't very good at being independent. He wanted to be a bit more but with his lifestyle as it was now, it was hard for the prince.

"Heh, okay." He helped the young prince button up his shirt and helped him get ready. "Torin, is everything all right? You seem troubled."

"I don't wanna go to mannerism classes. They are so boring." Torin mumbled something incoherent under his breath. "Let's just go. I don't want my father to see you here."

"I don't know why you need those stupid classes anyways. You're good at your mannerism already. Why do you need to take more?" He sighed under his breath and headed towards the door.

"I wanna know the same thing. Being a prince is so dull. Can I take your place instead?" Torin was joking and all but he certainly wouldn't mind it. He walked through the house, making his way to the front gates. "Okay. So what are we going to do today?

"That would be so much fun if you did that! But what about your father? He doesn't like us hanging out together…" Zack followed quietly behind Torin.

Torin closed the door behind them. "I don't care what he thinks right now. He's just mad cause he doesn't have any friends." Torin was more angry at his father than usual. Earlier that week, he acted more like his father than ever by hitting one of the maids out of anger. He apologized but hated how he acted.

"What do you want to do? We can go into town if you'd like." Zack smiled as the sun shone through the clouds down on them. He ran a hand through his hair and held Torin's hand in his.

"Yeah. I'd like that. Could we go to that field beyond town and eat berries afterward?" Torin grasped Zack's hand and leans in closer to him.

Zack could feel his cheeks grow warmer. He started fidgeting and stepped back some. "Umm sure. What do you want to get from town?"

"Umm I heard there is a festival so they are selling all kinds of stuff. So let's see if we can try some of the food and wear some of the masks and clothes!" Torin eagerly took Zack's hand and pulled him towards town.

Zack followed behind Torin and gripped his hand. Once they got into town, everyone was busy getting ready for the festival. "Where should we start?"

Torin looked around at the vendors, shops and booths and gripped Zack's hand. "You pick. We'll do anything you want to do first. I always get asked what I want. So today is your day."

"Really? You're the first one, besides Grace, that cares for me." Zack smiled sweetly and hugged Torin. "We should go and get some clothes. I've seen them from last year and they are so beautiful."

"Of course I care for you. When we get there, I can dress you so you look so noble. It would be so cute on you! We'll be a cute couple at the festival!" He waved his tail in excitement. He wasn't sure why Zack would say something so sad. He tried cheering up his friend a bit. He still didn't understand why his father was so against their friendship. Theirs was like any others he thought anyways.

Zack smiled and led them toward a clothing store. "Thank you so much." After multiple outfits and a few minutes, Zack and Torin left the store wearing matching festival clothes.

"See? We look like a pair! So let's go get something to eat. I'm ssssstarving." Torin hissed his words, something he had a hard time controlling. Sometimes he would even accidentally bite his tongue to try and stop and speak properly.

Zack giggled and spun around. "You're so much fun to hang around with! I've never had this much fun before!" Zack smiled and took Torin by the hand and led him through the crowd.

Torin smiled at the comment. It meant a lot to him because it meant that he wasn't a full clone of his father. Torin's cheeks light up as he dragged through the crowd by Zack. He even stopped thinking for a moment.

Zack stopped by a small vendor and picked up one of the masks. He looked it over and laughed. "Torin! These masks are so cool!" He handed him a Politoed mask and looked at the other ones with excitement in his eyes.

"You don't need a mask. You have such a pretty face anyways." Torin picked up a Vulpix mask and tried it on. "But they are nicely made I think."

Zack's cheeks flushed again and he thanked the vendor, paying for both of the masks. They started walking and he took Torin's hand in his. "Thank you." They continued walking to the field, walking past vendors with food and clothing.