Disclaimer- I do not own Final Fantasy VII nor East of the Sun West of the Moon fairy Tale

The Wolf Prince

Chapter 1

The Promise

Once upon a time, as most fairy tales start, a king ruled over a vast kingdom. After many years, he took a wife and together they ruled with peace and prosperity. Then one day a princess was born. The king and queen loved her so much. She grew up to be kind as well as beautiful.

Weeks before her sixteenth birthday her father, the King, went on an excursion to another kingdom and asked his daughter if she wanted anything. The king loved to spoil his only daughter with gifts, but the young princess never acted spoiled because of this. As the king left the princess simply whispered that, she wished for only her father's safe return.

King Gast was on his return trip with his procession. The lead knight stopped the procession when they came to a bridge. Below the bridge, several feet down was a raging cold river. The king, who was riding his chocobo, moved forward to see why they had stopped.

"Your Highness," The knight bowed his head to him. "The bridge does not seem stable. I do not think it will be able to hold us all."

"Tseng, do you think if we move one at a time it will hold us?" The King asked.

"Possibly sire, but it will be much safer if we find a different route."

The king shook his head. "My daughter's birthday is in a few days. If we go around we shall arrive late."

Tseng knew how much the king greatly cared for his daughter. Her happiness outweighed his. Tseng bowed to his king, accepting his plea.

"Then allow me to proceed first."

The king nodded, gratefully. Tseng carefully rode his chocobo across the rickety bridge. The entire procession watched him as he moved slowly. Once he was finally across, he waved back to everyone. Soon the procession began walking across one by one.

When it came to the King's turn, his chocobo reluctantly stepped onto the bridge. King Gast became irritated at his pet's incompetence. The king urged his bird forward but it was freezing every few steps. When King Gast made his bird move forward, again it refused letting out a loud cry. Foolishly, the king forced the bird forward rather than calming the creature. In doing so, its foot plunged right through the bridge.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Tseng shouted.

The king's chocobo was now startled. It began thrashing trying to get its leg up. In the process, it began shaking the bridge violently. The king tried his best to steady the shaken bird but failed. Seconds later, there was a loud snap and the bridge collapsed beneath them. The king and the bird fell down into the depths of the cold water below them.

The groups on both sides of the gap stared in horror. Tseng, after a second of realizing what happened snapped the reins of his bird, urging him down the path that would take them down to the river.

"Hurry!" Tseng ordered. "We must find the king!"

With that, the procession scrambled along to search for their king in the cold water.

X, X, X,

The king awoke to find himself in a nice warm bed and his clothing clean and neatly folded on a chair. He was dressed in different clothing than his own. It was a material, foreign to his own country and the crest upon it none he had ever seen. Sitting up and looking around, he began to wonder where he was. He noticed that his side was bandaged as well as his arm. He lifted his clothes, examining them. He also noticed that the neat stitching on his clothes, probably from holes he received in his fall.

The king saw a table covered in food and drink waiting for him. Approaching it, he stared, hungrier each second he moved toward the table. He was about to gather food onto a plate when he noticed there were two plates but curiously only one set of silverware and a goblet. He wondered if someone would be joining him. As if on cue the door to his room opened. The King gasped at what entered, nearly collapsing to the floor.

Standing in the doorway was a black wolf like creature with sharp blue eyes. It was large and could easily be the size of a normal human if it stood on it back legs. Its fur came off its body like spikes. Its sharp claws clicked against the ground as it walked along the polished marble floor. It sat on the ground, looking regal and dignified. The eyes focused on the king and then with a slight bow of its head, it spoke.

"I see you are doing well," The wolf said. "Your company will be quite pleased."

"How is this possible…" The king asked, near faint.

"I was out wandering the forest when I saw you body being pushed down the river. I jumped in and pulled you out. As I was pulling you free, your companions discovered me. At first they were about to harm me; thinking I was about to devour you but my servants came to my aid. They were skeptical at first but I led them to my home where you reside now. They are comfortable and being well taken care of."

"No… how is that you… can speak."

The wolf did not respond. Instead, he nodded over to the table of refreshments. He sat upon a seat in front of the plate with no silverware. He bent his head to pick up a pile of fruit with his teeth. The wolf placed it on his plate. He looked at the king who was now standing, after picking himself off the floor, quite alarmed.

"Sit and eat." The wolf commanded softly. "You have been unconscious for two days. My seamstress has repaired your clothing and cleaned them for you, as you noticed. Change back whenever you are ready."

"Forgive me for not changing sooner… a king in such garb in front of a… I say kind wolf are you the master of this fine place."

"I am the prince of this palace." He confirmed. "Now, please, eat my servants have prepared the meal for us."

The king sat and placed food on his plate. He placed several of the fresh looking fruit, some meat, cheese, and bread on his plate. Next, he poured water from a crystal pitcher into a crystal goblet. When he was done, he looked at the wolf. He had not touched his food. The king wondered if the wolf wanted water but there was no goblet for the creature. After that thought passed through his head again, he realized the wolf would not even be capable of lifting a goblet. There was no saucer or a bowl for the wolf either. The king would have asked but he felt he would have offended the wolf if he did. Instead, he remained silent.

The wolf waited until the king began to eat before he did. Once the king started, the wolf bent his head and politely ate. The king's eyes watched the wolf eat, stealing glances from his plate to see the wolf. He ate in such a manner that was dignified rather than animalistic. Had he been a human being he would was more likely to believe that he was a prince. Yet, servants who served a beast seemed ludicrous! King Gast however kept his comments to himself. After all, this beast did save his life.

Together they dined in silence. When they finished their meal, the wolf looked at the king. The king felt he needed to reward the beast with something. After all if this creature did not save his life, he would be dead.

"I owe you my life." The king blurted.

"Do not say things which you do not mean," replied the wolf. "I detest liars."

"I must repay you for you heroism… and your hospitality. You took in my entire company and shared your room and food with us. You saved me when you could have easily overlooked me. Please, I must repay you."

The wolf sat silently, pondering the king's request carefully. After a moment, he nodded once, agreeing to the king. The king smiled.

"What is that you wish? Gold, jewels, fine silks? My Kingdom has many lovely treasures."

The wolf shook his head. The king felt foolish for even suggesting those material items. The wolf lived in such a fine palace that rivaled his own, if not was more luxurious. King Gast looked at the wolf who spoke seriously.

"I have of no need for those… however what I want is this." The wolf stared directly at the king. "When you return home, whether it is man or beast, whoever greets you first must return here to me forever. Servant, pet, knight, or lady… whoever it is must return to my home. You may tell your traveling companions the promise but they are not allowed to warn anyone who approaches you."

The king gasped, his mouth hanging open. The king found the wolf's piercing blue eyes staring directly into his. He found himself nodding, afraid to say no. Those eyes were staring directly at him and the king felt his body shiver. Satisfied with King Gast's response the wolf nodded kindly to the king.

"You may leave when you are ready," Said the wolf leaving his seat. "I shall see you in seven days to retrieve whoever greets you first. For your sake sire, do not go back on your word."

X, X, X,

Author- A story I wrote a while back that has been sitting inside a folder for a while. Decided to upload it today. It is based on the fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." Hope you all enjoy.