it was night time..a girls soft humming could be heard from the gardens of the palace she lived in..as the girl hummed away, the aurora borialis shot across the sky as if the planet complemented her humming.

the girl was none other than Aerith Gainsborough, the princess of a mighty but peaceful kingdom. after her mother and father died she was tasked with ruling the kingdom on her own and to make matters worse she had to choose a suitor before her 18th birthday by her fathers royal law.

after the princess was done in the garden she yawned and retreated to her bedroom where Zack, the captain of her royal guard, awaited her at the begining of the hall.

"your flowers are in bloom i see, Princess." Zack smiled as he escorted the Princess to her room. he always had feelings for the princess but could never admit them due to his place in the royal guard.

"they are blooming beautifully." was the princess's only reply.

"more suitors will be here tomorrow to see you."

Aerith sighed. she did not want to focus on marriage until her 18th birthday had passed yet her fathers law prevailed, plus she was not allowed to change the law until she was crowned queen.

"Princess? is something wrong?" Zack grew concerned as the princess stopped walking.

"i'm only 16..yet..my fathers law forces me to do something..i do not want to do." Aerith sighed.

Zack frowned, it pained him to see his princess like this and placed one arm around her to comfort her.

"Princess, you're father wanted you to be taken care of for when he wouldn't be around..all the king wanted is to see you happy."

"but if it's not what i want..how can i be happy?"

The princess was frustrated. she couldn't understand why her father wanted her married by her 18th birthday. she wanted to live her own life and marry for love..not because of the royal law.

Zack rubbed her back as he escorted her. "King Gast loved you Princess Aerith..he still does now, but you must understand that the royal law has been this way for years..even before he was crowned king."

"i do understand..but..if i do marry..i want it to be for love." she sighed again, entering her room.

"everything will brighten up soon my princess, i assure you of that."

"thank you, Zack." she gave him a gentle smile and closed her door, happy to have someone like him to reassure her in times of doubt.

The princess sat on her bed in deep thought..naturally, her sadness returned once she was alone. would this forced marriage be a good thing or would it be a bad thing?..what if the one she wanted to marry only wanted her for her family's riches?..what if they only married her to rule her kingdom? both ideas frightend her until a lightbulb lit up in her head..she would run away to a place no one could find her.

"i can't be here..i must go.." the princess then proceeded to pack a few items of clothing into a bag then put on some brown boots, a pink dress and a red jacket. she removed her tiara to avoid being noticed and put it in the bag.

"that should be everything." she then proceeded to open her window, put the bag around her shoulder and climbed down to the ground, thanks to the Ivy growing outside her window.

The next morning, Zack went to wake the princess after she didn't go to the dining hall for breakfast.

"Princess Aerith?" Zack called out, as he knocked on the door.

after not getting a responce he opened to the door, and to his horror, the princess was not there.

"Princess?!" Zack panicked. "we need to find her immediately.."

Zack then proceeded to head to the main hall, alerting everyone to the situation and had the servants call the princes that had intended to meet Aerith, also alerting them to the situation.

Meanwhile in the kingdom of Nibelhiem, a young Prince sat on his throne overlooking the large empty hall. his skin was flawless, his hair blonde and spikey, his eyes were the colour of the finest sapphire with the hint of the river of life that seemed to make them shine in the darkness. the young prince watched his servents fulfill their daily duties.

beside him sat a regal creature. it's fur was red and had a flame on it's tail. it had only one good eye and a black mane with two feathered accessories. the creature, who he had named Red XIII due to his fur colour and black markings, rested it's head on the princes lap as he petted him.

"Prince Cloud, here is your drink." a young girl named Marlene offered the drink to the prince.

"thank you Marlene..you may go." Cloud smiles as he takes his drink and the little girl ran off. "such a cheerful young thing." he then sipped his drink in content.

one of his servants: Yuffie was packing his things, like she was getting him ready for a trip when all of a sudden;

"News from the kingdom of the Cetra!" his personal trainer: Tifa Lockhart cried as she ran inside.."your highness.."

"yes?" Cloud perked up to the urgency in her voice.

"Zack fair, the royal guard of the kingdom of the Cetra has sent a message..we are simply to tell you that your trip has to be cancelled.."

"why? you know i do not wish to get prepared for nothing." the young prince growled alittle, his patience growing thin.

"thats just it..the princess..has gone missing." Tifa explained.

Alarmed, the prince stood up.

"send out search parties immediately, we need to find her before her people start to panic..and more importantly..before he finds her."

"yes sir. as you command!" Tifa then ran off to the head quaters of the royal guard to explain the situation.

the young prince then retreated to his room where he could be alone with his pet.

"Prince Cloud?" Red XIII spoke up.

Naturally Prince Cloud was the only one who was aware of Red's ability to speak, so it came as no surprise to him.

"i thought you did not care about the princesses you met..." Red XIII was concerned for the young prince..never before had he seen him so worried.

"i may not care about the princesses i meet but when one goes missing it is worrysome..especially when he is at large.."

"indeed..what will you do your highness?"

"i will find her myself.."

"are you sure young prince?"

"posetive..i must make sure she is safe..even if it means i have to put myself in danger.."

"Cloud.."

"i have to Red...i cannot allow him to take more lives..i have to stop him...no matter the cost".