Okie, so this is the fic I mentioned in my recent journal. Again, it is an AU and certain characters will be OOC (don't shoot me) but only because it works better with the storyline as it progresses. I REALLY hope you guys are at least a little intrigued by the prologue. Please let me know what you think about it. Constructive Criticism and suggestions are most definitely welcome.

Also, this is just the prologue to the story so it is a bit short, but the future chapters will be much longer

I'm very nervous because I've never written a story like this before so please be gentle XD

I hope you enjoy it!

*Flashback*

"Come now, young prince...don't you want to look nice the queen of Nibelheim and young princess Tifa?" "Someday, when you are all grown up, you're going to marry her, you know.

A young blonde prince at the age of nine sat in a chair in front of a tall, wide mirror as his appointed chamber-maid continued her ministrations to attempt to control his pale blond, exceedingly unruly hair.

"This is so stupid..I don't wanna get married, EVER!" the young prince shouted, reaching his hands up to fluff his hair back to it's original unruly state.

The plump, older women chuckled and shook her head at the way the little prince groaned and whined about how gross getting married is. Trying to explain to him that he would think differently when he was older was about as useless as getting that hair tamed.

Today, the young prince of Midgar was to be escorted along with his mother to meet his betrothed. Upon the day that princess of Nibelheim was to come of age, prince Cloud Strife, son of Queen Ifalna and King Odin and princess Tifa Lockhart, daughter of King Zangan of Nibelheim, were to be bound together in matrimony. Naturally, a marriage of convenience, Midgar was one of the most powerful kingdoms to ever rule and the resources which Nibelheim could offer, if under Midgar's rule, would undoubtedly be beneficial to the kingdom's already supreme wealth.

Reluctantly, young prince Cloud was dressed in his formal attire to meet the king of Nibelheim and his betrothed. Dressed in a fitting white silk button up shirt with a deep brown vest overlaying it, he donned black suede trousers and knee high leather boots. There he sat in the carriage with his mother on sitting on the opposite side of the carriage, facing her tempestuous son. He mindlessly toyed with his thin gold crown and wore a frown which hadn't left his face since his parents had told him of his destiny. Queen Ifalna took notice of her son's boredom and took the crown from his hands to place it back, gently atop his head, where she attempted to flatten his hair, but to no avail.

Queen Ifalna could sympathize with her young son's disdain to get married. Although for him, the thought of being married to a "girl" was enough of a reason to cause him to be completely against the very idea. Whereas Ifalna knew all too well, the hardship of being betrothed to someone you hardly know. In fact, Ifalna didn't meet her betrothed until the day of the ceremony. She despised Odin at first, but as the years carried on, they grew to love each other and eventually, that love turned into a deeper love than either of them could have ever hoped for. Not all betrothed marriages were that lucky though. Ifalna instantly thought of her sister Elmyra, who even after being married to King Heidegger of Junon for well over a decade now, she still despised him due to his adulterous and misogynistic behavior. She desperately hoped that her son would not be forced to suffer through a loveless marriage, but either way, Cloud would have no choice in the matter. Once a marriage proposal was decreed and signed by the parents of both children, there was no going back.

Ifalna drew in a deep breath and released it slowly as the carriage approached three figures standing in the distance in front of the castle gates. Once the carriage stopped moving, two servants dressed in formal attire opened the carriage, holding out one hand for the queen of Midgar which she graciously accepted as she stepped out. The young prince, however, swatted away the servant's courteous hand and proceeded to hop out of the carriage, causing his thin gold crown to fall lopsided on his head.

Ifalna smiled demurely and nodded her head in acknowledgment of the King of Nibelheim. A kind man, Zangan was a gracious ruler, known to maintain peace above all else within his kingdom. He was, quite frankly, the opposite of King Odin, who was known to rule with an iron fist.

A six year old princess Tifa, stood next to her father, dressed in a frilly pink gown with her thick chocolate hair pulled to one side, a pink ribbon tied into the ends of her hair.

Zangan smiled at his daughter, the apple of his eye and proceeded to greet Queen Ifalna of Midgar and his daughter's betrothed. "It is good to see you Ifalna, It is unfortunate that Odin could not come as well." Odin was busy dealing with negotiations with Icicle village and was unable to take the 3 day trip to Nibelheim, he trusted his wife could handle the situatuon.

"Yes, it is quite unfortunate." Ifalna acknowledged. She tugged forward her son, who was purposefully looking in every direction expect Tifa's, by the hand to present him to his future wife and her father. "May I present my son, Prince Cloud Strife."

Thoroughly annoyed with how he was forced into greeting them, Cloud shot a knowing glance to his mother who in turn, gave him an angry scowl, letting him know silently that he would be reprimanded should he not obey. He was suddenly taken off guard when he felt the princess cling to him in a tight embrace.

He scowled at the brat clinging to him and she looked up at him and smiled sweetly. He took notice that both of her front teeth had fallen out relatively recently, leaving a gaping hole in her smile.

"We're gonna be soooo happy together, Cloud...I'll even share my toys with you so we can play together." She continued embracing him and Cloud forcefully pushed her off, his gaze returning to his mother.

"MOM." he whined loudly, "Why do I have to get married to HER!?" he pointed to the young princess, her lower lip trembling as she was ready to burst into tears at Cloud's rejection.

Iflana rolled her eyes and sighed at her undisciplined son. "Because it is your duty at as a prince, you'll understand when you're older." She reassured.

Cloud snuffed, his lips twisted in disgust as he pointedly glared at the little brat he was eventually going to have to marry.

Zangan crouched to be at his daughter's level. "You two stay outside, while the adults go inside the castle and have a chat." He got up and tousled the young prince's hair, now earning one of the prince's disdainful looks.

Ifalna put a hand to her son's shoulder. "Be nice Cloud." She warned and followed Zangan and the two servants past the castle gates.

Once the adults were out of site. Tifa turned to him with that same gaped grin and proceeded to chase him. Cloud ran frantically, trying his best to avoid her, weaving in and out through the gates. When she finally caught up with him, he shoved her to the ground, causing her to fall flat on her behind.

Tifa began crying instantly, incredibly taken back by his actions. "I just wanted to play with you! Why don't you wanna play?!" She shouted in between sobs.

Cloud rolled his eyes and folded his arms into his chest. "Oh c'mon you big baby, don't be such a whiner, I don't wanna play with you EVER, you can't even play boy games!" he shouted to her, a touch of resentment laced his voice.

Tifa wiped her eyes and picked herself up off the ground, the entire back side of her frilly dress now coated with dirt, marred with a few pieces of crushed grass. "Sure I can! Why can't I?" she shouted back to him, determined to get him to play with her.

Cloud shook his head and pointed to her. "Because you're a GIRL and girls can't play boy games."

"CLOUD!"

Cloud winced at the recognition of his mother's voice piercing the atmosphere. He slowly turned to face his scowling mother. "Sorry mom..." he said with contempt.

She shook her head and took her son's hand. "Come now, it's time to leave."

After thanking Zangan for his hospitality, She turned to place a hand on top of young Tifa's head and nodded as means of saying goodbye to her.

Cloud shot Tifa one more curt look and turned back to walk to the carriage.

Tifa watched them board the carriage and stroll off. She clasped her father's hand with hers and tugged it a few times to get his attention. "Where are they going daddy?"

Zangan smiled at his daughter and proceeded to pick her up, one hand supporting her while she rested at his hip. "Don't worry, my sweet, you'll see each other again one day..you're going to be the queen of Midgar, one of the most powerful kingdoms in all of Gaia."

With a toothy grin, Tifa clung to her father, pressing her cheek against his.

It was done, the marriage proposal had been signed. Prince Cloud and Princess Tifa, were now betrothed.