"Ram, Bharat, Lakshman, Shatrughan," Dasharath began, addressing his nine-year old sons with pride. They all looked up at him, eager to please, except Shatrughan, who, as always, looked as if he had planned an elaborate prank and everything was going to plan.

"Tomorrow, my fellow ruler, King Vanshik of Mahisthami is arriving. We will be negotiating a potential alliance. This is a very important friendship for us to make, as Mahisthami is almost as powerful as Kosala. He is bringing his child, who is only a few months younger than the twins. Make sure to be on your best behavior, as he will meet you all." Ram nodded, Bharat swallowed, and Lakshman scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Right, he thought, don't start any fights, Lakshman.

"Ah, yes, and before you go, Lakshman, Shatrughan." Dasharath called. Said two turned back. "Dress the same, now would you? I want uniformity." The twins looked at each other. They hadn't dressed alike since birth. This would be interesting! Shatrughan wanted to see how similar they looked. Even though they were born identical, no one seemed to have any trouble telling them apart.

The next morning, Bharat and Ram were breakfasting, while the queens stared at them lovingly. Suddenly, Sumitra, a sudden chill taking over her, asked,

"Where are Lakshman and Shatrughan?" All chatter stopped. Even the birds outside stopped chirping. Everyone knew that if one thing was the same between the twins, it was their love for food. The last time Shatrughan didn't come in time for food, he was busy planning a prank. He had caused multicolored confetti to fall upon the court officials and ambassadors, resulting in chaos and multiple resignations. Sumitra had twisted his ear so hard that Shatrughan claimed that he had sprained it.

Lakshman followed Ram around like a shadow. When Ram showed up, chances were that Lakshman was close behind. If he got separated from him, unless Lakshman was harmed, something highly unlikely, it was intentional and important.

"W-what if they're planning something?" Bharat asked, voicing everyone's inner fears. Silence was the only reply. Shatrughan was quite the comedic genius himself, but if Lakshman joined, the kingdom could already say good-bye to the world. Laksh had a dark sense of humor and determination, as well as intimidation on his side, (he could be quite scary if he was angry) and if they combined their forces....well, the queens shuddered to think what would happen.

Images of fiery explosions and mass deaths came to mind. Allies lost, the kingdom's fall from glory, food shortages, particularly sweets, (the twins' favorite food), and vast devastation. Or maybe something as simple as paint everywhere.

Thankfully, minutes later, the combo walked into the dining hall wearing matching golden dhotis and royal blue wraps, looking utterly embarrassed, and refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

"Sorry, father for being so late. We didn't have any matching clothes, for some reason." Shatrughan glared at his twin who sighed. Lakshman had made sure that they had no matching clothes from the beginning.

"Forgive me if I don't want to be associated with a goof  like you!" he exclaimed, and both rolled their eyes at the same time. Bharat shook his head, and tried to admonish them.

"Don't fight, Laksh, Shatru," They looked at him all offended. "We're not fighting!" they cried in unison, then looked at each other in awe.

"Wow!" Shatrughan cried. "We really-" "-are identical!" Lakshman finished. None of the royal family was used to the twins behaving alike; sometimes, they even forgot that they weren't simply brothers, but identical twins. So, this demonstration of unified excellence bewildered everyone.

Lakshman and Shatrughan were very different from each other. Shatrughan had amber eyes which were filled with a childish twinkle, as well as a light sense of humor that involved pranking anyone and everyone around him. He also was a flirt, and expressed his emotions without second thought. Lakshman had the darkest eyes anyone had ever seen, and a dark sense of humor to match with it. He often teased Shatrughan and Bharat. His emotions were top secret around anyone else other than immediate family members, but usually he was either happy, or angry. You didn't want him to be the latter.

Two hours, later, a large golden carriage stopped in front of Ayodhya's main castle. The king, queens, and four brothers were there to welcome the arrived King Vanshik graciously, although the brothers were anticipatory, and a bit queasy.

Out stepped a king. The thought that would strike most people immediately was that he was tall, looming, and had a pointed, shrewd sort of look about him that would disconcert anyone. The first thought that struck Shatrughan, however, was "bad." Following him, another person stepped out. A much shorter person. Who was wearing a ghagra. The first thought that struck Shatrughan this time was "problem,"

"His child's a girl?" Shatrughan whispered incredulously to Bharat, who had also frozen. "How are we supposed to talk with her while feeling comfortable?" The girl had the same shrewd look about her as she surveyed the city with a sense of superiority that no one liked.

"Raja Dasharath!" cried Vanshik, his face breaking out into a smile. Only Lakshman, master of hiding emotions, noticed that it was strained. "How lovely it is to finally meet you! And these must be your queens, charmed, my dears." They nodded. "And your sons! Our future is bright! Nice to meet you." He held out his hand to shake, and Ram took it, being the eldest, giving it a firm up-down.

"Great to meet you too!" he replied, elbowing Lakshman, who stood beside him, cuing him to say something. Mistake. Talking was not the 3rd prince's strong point.

"We are honored to be acquainted with you at last, king-sir-raja?" he blurted out, and Bharat could barely contain back laughter, and stuffed a fist into his mouth, Shatrughan didn't even bother, and began to giggle, and even Ram inclined his head amusedly. Lakshman sunk his head into his hand, but the king wasn't insulted, rather surprised at their manners.

"It's good to have some respect from the younger ones, Dasharath, you have taught them well." All four princes' eyes widened, and they turned to stare at Lakshman, jaws dropped. He was not exactly known for manners.

"When did you get such a strong vocabulary?" Bharat whispered into Lakshman's ear. He shook his head, bewildered.

"Just, sort of, came to me?" he mumbled. Dasharath, meanwhile, had decided to return the compliment to Vanshik, turning towards his daughter.

"Hello, what is your name?" he asked, and the girl replied with a sneer very clear in her voice that made everyone stiffen.

"Rajkumari Phooljani. Your kingdom is very...natural. Not much gold. Very humid, as well. What is that smell?" Lakshman's eyes narrowed, and Ram went on alert mode. They couldn't afford a prince accidentally losing his temper, much less Lakshman.

"By all means, Raja, come inside!" Dasharath led the entire procession into the palace, where the queens separated from the group, and into the meeting room.

"While we are talking, Dasharath, perhaps two of your children could show my daughter around the palace, while the other two can stay here. You know, some touring areas." Raja Vanshik suggested, raising a thin, hairy eyebrow. Dasharath nodded complyingly, as Ram smiled graciously, Bharat froze, Shatrughan crossed his fingers, praying not to be chosen, and Lakshman just hoped his bad luck wouldn't show up.

"Lakshman, Shatrughan." Said princes froze. "Show Rajkumari Phooljani around, now would you?" Bharat facepalmed, and Ram sighed. Lakshman just slumped. God, my luck is just awful, all day, every day. Why do I even bother thinking differently?

"Of all of us, they choose me and Lakshman? At least choose Ram, who's genuine and kind, or Bharat who is naturally calm! I'll end up accidentally offending the princess, and Lakshman will probably destroy half the palace's architecture by punching the walls!" Shatrughan protested in a whisper. Bharat patted him on the head, and the twins reluctantly agreed, leading the princess out.

"Your palace is not nearly as extravagant as ours!" Phooljani remarked to the Throne Room. "Our throne has emeralds embedded in the armrests. And gold on the ceilings and floors."

"Well princess," Shatrughan decided to employ a bit of his flirting skills, untactfully, "Your eyes shine like an emerald, so I can see why they are on the throne." Phooljani whirled around, looking ready to scream, and Lakshman quickly intervened.

"What he means to say, princess, is that your kingdom sounds amazing, why not tell us a bit about it while we walk to the royal weaponry unit, hmmm?" Phooljani squinted suspiciously, but began talking about her hometown of Mahisthami.

"We have hanging gardens, and the gates are made of gold, and it's not nearly as hot..." While the princess droned on and on, Lakshman hissed,

"No flirting. No advances. Nothing that could possibly be an insult, okay Shatru? I want to kill something now too, but it matters a lot to father that we have this friend." He nodded. They arrived in front of a pair of steel doors that led to a room filled with swords and arrows, and all sorts of weaponry.

"Mahisthami's armory is much better stocked. Honestly, how do you plan to win a war with this many supplies only? I wonder how this place is thriving." Phooljani couldn't resist from commenting, even though it was a definite lie.

"How do you use that?" she asked, pointing to a long, steel rod with a sharp arrowhead on the end.

"See princess," Shatrughan began picking up a lethal spear, and she turned towards him. "A spear works like this!" he jabbed it towards the girl, and Lakshman quickly pulled her out of harm's way, even though he would have loved it if Shatrughan had run her through with a spear.

"Sorry," he began. "My brother is a bit hard of seeing. But yes, that is how a spear works." Phooljani's eyes widened, and at this point, she was a bit scared of the second boy. The first one, Lakshman, was it? He seemed courteous and kind, although she clearly saw through his explanations for his twin's behavior. The first time, that Shatrughan was obviously trying to make an alliance through marriage. As if! And then, right now, he was trying to make her angry so that she would go away. Not happening.

"Let's see the gardens, please. I don't think that there should be any problem for his eyes there, if there are enough colors. Unless your kingdom lacks colorful flowers as well. I wouldn't bs surprised." she stated, trying to be nice. Both twins shook their heads truthfully.

"Come on, there is a very beautiful willow tree in the center," Shatrughan ran towards the Royal Gardens, and sighing, the other two followed.

"Eeeeeek!" Phooljani cried, jumping away from the hibiscus flower growing near the willow. "Bees! There are bees everywhere! Our kingdom doesn't have these horrible creatures anywhere! Your Ayodhya seems a bit wild for my taste. And not enough gold!" she backed away towards the willow, and Shatrughan opened his mouth.

"Princess! Branch!" He shouted, pointing towards a thick, lethal looking hanging branch, which broke, and fell slowly, right above the princess. Lakshman turned his head right as the branch splintered from the tree.

"Phooljani!" roared Raja Vanshik, from the balcony above, and Dasharath gulped. There was no saving now. If they went to war with Mahisthami, which was unavoidable if the princess died, or even was injured, then he would have to pray with all of his might that they come out alive. 

A/N: This is a two part chapter, my very first, and hopefully you might figure out the reason for the title when I next update. I was originally considering naming this "Tour Guides", but I reconsidered. This chapter was made to focus on the twins more, as they are so much fun to write about! Also, don't worry about the nonexistent plotline! These short stories won't be all fun and games. I plan to include some drama, sadness, injury(?) when the brothers go off to Gurukul. That's for a later date, however. For now, adios amigos, until we meet again!