Title: Friendly Competition (2nd Gen Royals in shenanigans)

"I don't like this at all," Forrest mumbles as he grips the hem of his freshly tailored shirt. His eyes shift from Siegbert, who fumbles around with a bow and arrow to Kiragi as he twirls an arrow between his fingers. "Can't we do something else?"

Kiragi snorts. "No way! We did your silly –"

"It's not silly!" Forrest cuts in.

"…Not silly game of ultimate seamstress last time, and of course you won!"

Siegbert smiles. "Not very gracious losers, are you?"

"Hell no!" Shiro cries. "Especially after that, 'last one to sew up a kimono has to give up tonight's dessert' crap! I pricked my finger a million times."

Forrest giggles. "I promised Oboro that I'd make a few kimonos for her. I just had you guys help out a little. It was for the greater good, wasn't it?"

"Not if it means skipping out on chocolate cake because you lost," Kiragi grumbles. "Today, we're doing target practice! Winners gets the losers' dessert for a week!"

Forrest's lips begin to form into a pout. "That's hardly fair, Kiragi. You're the best archer I know."

While Kiragi scratches the back of his head sheepishly while Shiro grins. "Heh, flattery will get you nowhere, Forrest."

Siegbert places a gentle hand on his cousin's back. "It's alright Forrest," he says. "I'm sure Kiragi will give himself some kind of handicap to even out the playing field."

Kiragi sighs. "All right! I'll stand further than the rest of you, how's that for leveling the playing field?"

"A perfect solution," says Siegbert.

The boys ready their bow and arrows as Kiragi explains the rules of game. They're simple enough to follow, so the archery competition begins rather quickly.

What amazes Kiragi is that the rest of the boys aren't half bad. They could definitely use some work though, he thinks, as he watches Forrest's somewhat sloppy form.

"Hey! Try keeping your posture straight, Forrest!" He cries.

Shiro frowns. "Just whose side are you on anyway?"

"No one said it couldn't be a friendly competition," Kiragi beams. His eyes focus on Forrest once more. He looks a little better than before. A lot more focused too.

When he fires, the arrow misses the target, and flies straight through one of the castles windows. There's a shriek, and the boys are absolutely mortified.

"Felicia! What's going on here? Did you break more plates?"

Siegbert's blood runs cold. "F-Father?"

"No, an arrow! It came through the window and shattered one of the statues!" She explains.

"What? An arrow? Is it some sort of ambush?"

Kiragi gasps. "Uncle Ryoma?"

"I don't know! Everything was so quiet up until now! Why would they fire one arrow? Unless we're being invaded!" Felicia cries.

"Come, Prince Xander. We must investigate immediately," Ryoma says. "We could very well be under attack."

The boys stand in silence for a moment before Shiro cries out, "Okay, new game!"

"Now's not the time for games, Shiro!" Siegbert scolds him.

"No, you'll love this one! It's called ditch!

"Ditch?" Forrest repeats.

Shiro drops his bow to the ground and begins to run off. "Slowest one gets lectured to death by Dad and Prince Xander!"

Soon, the rest of the boys drop their bows scatter like wildfire.