Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.

'What's so wrong with gypsies?' Ven Strife thought as he stood at the very back of the rows of knights. He was a Twilight knight in training for the Kingdom of Twilight. The kingdom's main targets; Gypsies. 'Are they really as bad as the legends say?' he asked himself as stared off into space.

"VEN!"

Ven jumped from the call and quickly turned his head back to the front where his Captain, Leon, stood.

Leon charged angrily through the rows of bound and pensive knights in training. He stopped when he stood inches in front of Ven's skittish but stiff form. "Ven! If I catch you staring off into space again I'm not only going to kick your lazy ass out of training for good, I'll see to it your father never let's you back into his castle without dishonoring your family name! Is that clear?"he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Yes, Sir!" Ven yelled back nervously.

Leon straightened and walked slowly back through the lines with his hands behind his back. "Let Ven be an example to all of you soldiers of how day dreaming will get you no where but perhaps killed by one of those heartless gypsies!" he turned back around to face his trainees once again. "Now, as you know, this today will be your final day of training before you go out into the village for your first set of rounds. We'll assign you the parts of town you'll keep watch on to make sure no unwelcome travelers come into the Kingdom."

Unwanted travelers meaning gypsies. Ven's father, King Cloud, absolutely hated gypsies. Why? Ven had no idea, no one would tell him and every time he would ask, his father's gaze would harden and the atmosphere grew cold. He would never answer him, he would only go back to whatever was he was doing as he left his frustration to hinder.

Ven's relationship with his father was a bleak one, since the day his father announced that Ven was not fit to be king one day. Instead, against Ven's own will, Cloud made him train to become a knight, so he could muster up even the slightest bit of honor to his family crest. His cousin, Vanitas, was now next in line to be King of Twilight. Ven though, didn't have the slightest interest in being a knight or even king. But he'd do anything to make his father proud.

Leon finished his speech while Ven kept his composure, making everyone else think he was listening when he still wrapped up in his own thoughts. He knew they weren't going to let him help guard the town. Not only because Captain Leon despised him beyond all reasoning, but he really had no incline on how to be a well-rounded knight. He could never keep his attention on one thing for long, always being distracted by the most in-crucial thoughts It was because of this, the former prince never learned anything in his entire experience in training. Even though Leon threatened to kick him out various times in the past because of his daydreaming, he knew his father would never allow it; hoping that someday, Ven would learn.

"What is your business here, Captain?" King Cloud asked Leon from his large, wooden desk inside his castle library.

"Your highness, tomorrow is the day the knights I am training go out on their routines for the first time," he informed.

"I'm well aware of this event. What of it?" he asked casually; though he had an idea.

Leon sighed, becoming slightly remorseful. "I don't think Ventus is ready."

Cloud's eyes tightened, waiting for him to explain.

"Ventus hasn't passed any of his exams no matter how many chances I give him, not even

the physicals," he insisted.

Cloud put his elbow to the table and chin into his hand thoughtfully. His eyebrows furrowed, thinking of what he should do.

Leon noticed his disappointment as guilt consumed him. Cloud was not only his king, but his very good friend. It wasn't like him to have a problem he couldn't solve. "If I may, Sire, perhaps sending him on his routines with you would help him see what an honorable knight illustrates."

Cloud pursed his lips for a moment before deciding. "Good plan," he told him as he stood from the desk and slowly walked to him with his hands placed behind his back. "But I believe he'd do better if he had real knight show him the ropes," he advised, placing a hand on Leon's shoulder. "Why don't you go with him?"

Leon eyed him skeptically. "Your highness, as my king's son it would be an honor to escort him, but as the son of my very good friend, I must speak my thoughts by saying you as the father should symbolize your honor to your son yourself."

The king frowned. He knew Leon was right, but even though he was a strong and powerful ruler, he still feared the awkwardness that would surely come between him and Ventus. "I... don't think that's such a good idea..." he thought aloud before he looked back to Leon, not even realizing his gaze had turned to the floor. "You should do it, Captain. You're his mentor after all."

The captain was somewhat surprised by his king's statement. He didn't understand why he would be the mentor of his friends own son. He didn't get a chance to ask him about it before Cloud strode out of the room without another word.

The cold king did not want to have to admit that he was ashamed of his own son...

Ven sat at one of the many benches in the castle garden, sighing pitifully to himself. He held a single red rose in his hand, marveling it's beauty.

"Ventus!"

He turned his head around to see the duke Ansem's daughter in her favorite white dress that went just below the knees.

"Hello, Naminé," he smiled at her gleeful appearance. "What are you so cheery about this evening?"

She took her left hand from behind her back to reveal a large, diamond engagement ring. "Vanitas proposed!"

Ven gaped at the confession. "Proposed?"

"Yes!" the blond teen cried with complete and utter joy. "He decided, since we will both be turning eighteen soon anyways, we should get married now! Before he becomes king."

"I suppose that makes sense…" he was almost trying to convince himself. This surprised Ven, seeing as how Naminé was never one to rush into anything. She had been too shy to even meet the new prince. Now, after only seven months of being a couple, they were engaged?

And to Vanitas of all people!

He frowned as he remembered the time Naminé came crying to him one night after Vanitas had made a cruel comment concerning her sister Kairi, whom had been banished from the kingdom years before for losing her innocence to a gypsy man.

He shook his head from the memory, trying not to anger himself when she was so happy. But he still felt like he should say something before it was too late for her. "Namine… you can't-"

"Naminé!" they both turned to the voice behind the new wife-to-be. It was Vanitas, waiting for Naminé. He had an impatient look on his face.

"Oh! One moment, Vanitas," she called back over.

"Naminé!" he shouted angrily. "We need to leave to announce our engagement to the public now!"

"Oh…" she looked back to Ven. "Sorry, Ventus. We'll discuss this more later. Good bye," she waved before she ran to Vanitas.

Ventus watched in disappointment as Vanitas put his arm around the naïve angel.

Vanitas gave one last look to Ven and frowned as if telling him to stay away from her. The yellow eyed menace knew how much Ventus disapproved of his relationship with Naminé and he wouldn't allow him to interfere. Especially since he knew the blonde already had feelings for his fiancé.

The blonde huffed in annoyance as he threw the rose somewhere amongst the small portion of the garden where the rest of the flowers grew. It wasn't enough that he knew Naminé would never feel the same way about him (she only looked at him like a big sister would look at her immature sibling) but now she was officially going to be wed to his cruel cousin Vanitas.

Just outside the village of Twilight, was a dark and dim forest that no one ever crossed the boundary of. For it is told, within it, are cold, heartless and murderous beings known only as gypsies. They sneak into the village late at night, stealing anything they might need for living. They're known to kill any witnesses or anyone who stands in their way.

Gypsies were nothing like the stories that came from Twilight's "noble" King. They never kill. If they did, they were banished. The women were not sluts or whores. If they lose their virginity before marriage, they were looked down upon. Gypsies were very generous, and they never stole unless they needed to.

There was a young eighteen year old girl within the clan, with short hair that fell just over her left eye. But in fact, her eyes were the most intriguing feature about her. They were an abnormal color of red, but they were still beautiful to anyone who looked her way.

She was the most stunning gypsy in the whole village.

Fuu. A simple name for the most intriguing girl. She was the daughter of the leader of the gypsies. Tifa Lockhart.

However, she never talked to anyone to ever notice these things about herself. And when she did finally speak up, it would be in less than two words concerning the subject.

On that very day, Fuu sat at the very top branch of a tall oak tree in the forest, thinking of her undecided future.

"Fuu!" she heard a familiar voice call up to her. She looked down to see her best friend Kairi. "Fuu! You need to come help with the ceremony for tomorrow!"

The princess sighed and jumped down from the tree. She began to walk back with her messenger.

"So…" Kairi started with a mischievous grin. It made Fuu wonder what she was up to. "I heard about you and Seifer's little outing yesterday."

Fuu frowned. "Terrible."

"What? But Seifer's the most eligible man in the camp right now! Surely his charms affected you a little?" she was a little let down.

Fuu shook her head. "Disgusted."

"Why?"

"Selfish."

"Oh, I understand now. I can't stand it when guys talk about themselves too much," she agreed.

"Sora?"

The violet-eyed girl shook her head. "No, Sora actually likes to talk about me most of the time," she giggled. "Even when I want to talk about him. It's like… he worships me."

"Grateful," she told her.

"Yes, I'm sure he is very grateful I left my home for him. But I didn't actually leave, I was banished. Everyone knows that…" she stated sadly.

"Aware," she put a hand on Kairi's shoulder. "Sorry."

"It's fine," she smiled back. "I'm more anxious to find you a husband. You're almost eighteen, you know. What about Roxas?"

"Unnecessary," Fuu scowled at her comment. Like she needed a man. Her mother never did.

"But it's tradition for a woman to marry before her twenty-first year!"

"Mother."

"I know! Your mother was the only one that never did after your father died, but I know she wants you to be happy still," she insisted.

"Very happy," the stubborn princess concluded.

So, there is chapter one and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I've had an itch to write this type of story for a while and now I have all the knowledge on gypsies to finally do it. I thought it worked out perfectly for this particular pairing, seeing as their personality and roles are so different.

Thank you so much for reading! R&R please!