Snow White

AU: Elena x Sephiroth

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE:

In this story, Elena's father has long since died, and Rufus's father has married her mother. Lazard and Rufus will be referred to as Elena's brothers. Instead of the mother being the jealous one, it will be Elena's sister, Gun, who will be called Elizabeth in this story. Also, there are not 7 Dwarves, but seven Turks (hint hint), and the environment will be more like ours than the one present in Final Fantasy VII, though the creatures will be pretty much the same. A few characters, however, will be OOC, such as President Shinra (King Shinra).

Chapter One: Everything is About to Change

"Elena! Elena come here!"

The blonde looked up from her book with a sigh, turning her head to watch her sister approach. She wore a scowl unbefitting her role as a princess, twisting her face into one that was completely different from the delicate facade she wore around their parents.

"Elizabeth you must calm yourself. What's wrong?"

The older girl's scowl deeped. "Let me borrow one of your dresses, one of your best dresses."

"But why? Can't you wear one of your own dresses?"

"Do not question me, just do it!"

Elena sighed once more, rising from her spot on the cushioned bench of her chamber's bay window. She narrowed her eyes at her sister as she passed her, walking over to a large wardrobe. "I was not questioning you, I just want to know what you plan to do with my dress. You can't really blame me, what with you bringing so many of my dresses back completely ruined."

"How dare you accuse me of something like that! I am your sister!"

"And that is exactly why I still allow you to borrow from me. Here, take this blue one, but when you return it I don't want anything and I do mean anything, wrong with it!"

Elizabeth clicked her tongue. "Of course..."

Elena watched her older sister leave with the dress before changing into her favorite soft pink one. It wasn't like she was unused to her sister's actions, it had been normal since their father died when Elena was ten. Their father had always treated Elizabeth better, giving her the better clothes, the better food, like he was trying to better the older sister's looks through an elaborate front, only to have it back fire when she became overly spoiled, demanding the very best and ruining everything that she considered lesser.

Their mother's new husband was quite the opposite, as he had immediately recognized Elena as being the ideal daughter, so kind and patient, able to calm any visitor that became too riled up during their stay. Her very presence made the staff happy, and they went about their work with smiles, listening to their beloved princess's songs echo through the palace. In return for her peacekeeping, he had begun early to treat her much better, spoiling her by granting her every wish, and her ever growing library was one example. Even his two sons liked Elena better, treated her better. The older brother, Lazard, even let her ride his personal gold chocobo, Blaze. The other brother, Rufus, gave his pet Guard Hound's only pup to her, and seemed to take a bit of joy out of watching his younger sister play with the small creature.

Elena smiled as the now two year old pitch black hound pranced over, carrying the girl's tiara to her. The blonde giggled, petting her hound as she took the gem encrusted metal from her. She put it in place atop her head, and picked up her basket as a knock sounded at her door. The princess was quick to answer it, smiling at her three armor clad guards as they bowed to her. The only man among them, who was also the only blond, looked away with a scoff.

"Princess Elena, you requested our presence?"

"Yes, I did Cloud. I wish to go to my garden."

The older woman of the group nodded. "I believe the cleric Aerith was on her way there not long ago, along with sir Zack."

"I see. Well, we should be off."

The younger woman smiled. "Yes ma'am!"

Elena nodded, giving them a smile as she started down the hall. "Come along Dark Rose!"

The hound yipped and pranced alongside her, making Cloud sigh as he tried not to trip over her. "Princess, are you aware that Prince Sephiroth will be here today? Princess Elizabeth was supposed to tell you, but I believe we all know she has failed to pass on information to you before."

"And you are right. Tifa, when are they to arrive?"

"Later today Princess. They will be in your court tomorrow."

Elena sighed. "Then I will worry about it tomorrow."

Yuffie laughed, skipping along behind them. "That attitude is just another reason Princess Elena is my favorite!"

The princess giggled, leading her guards out to the stables, when she was happy to find Lazard saddling up Blaze. He gave his sister a smile and led the chocobo over, and Elena ran her fingers over the creature's beak as she took the reins. Blaze cooed, dipping his head before hunching down so she could take her place in the saddle. Lazard chuckled and lifted Dark Rose into her lap.

"Be careful Elena."

"Of course." the woman placed a gently hand on her brother's shoulder. Her guards wasted no time in mounting their own chocobos, and soon they were off, riding down a secluded mountain path to Elena's secret garden. Dark Rose barked as the garden came into sight, but it wasn't the flowers that caught anyone's attention.

Elena halted Blaze and looked at the sight before her. Aerith and Zack weren't anywhere in sight, but three men with black chocobos were sitting in the garden. The tallest one, the one with long silver hair, sat on a large rock in the center, the same spot where Elena usually sat. Standing on either side of him was an armor clad guard, one with medium raven hair, and the other with short red hair.

Elena carefully lifted Dark Rose to her chest as she slid out of her saddle, and let the hound jump down to run forward as her guards hurried to dismount. The princess walked gracefully down the path, the three newcomers not even noticing until Dark Rose reached them, barking and growling. The silver haired man stood, motioning to his guards to stay put as he approached Elena to meet her halfway down one of the perfectly manicured paths.

The blonde raised her hand, signalling her own guards to stay back, as she came to a stop before the man. "Who are you, and why are you in my garden?"

The man rubbed the back of his neck before he bowed. "I'm sorry miss. We were exploring and thought this a nice place to rest. My name is Sephiroth, Prince of Nibelheim. These are my guards, Angeal Hewley and Genesis Rhapsodos."

Cloud walked forward, catching the Prince's attention. "Lord Sephiroth? You've changed since I left."

"Ah, the Strife boy. Finally a knight I see." Sephiroth chuckled.

"Dreams can take you far."

"Yes, indeed they can..." he turned back to Elena. "And you are, presumably one of the princesses?"

"Yes, I am Princess Elena." she smiled, but gasped quietly when he gently pulled her hand up, kissing the back of it as he kneeled.

"Princess Elena, it is an honor to finally meet you. The stories of your kindness have traveled far, even as far as my own small kingdom. You are the very reason I journeyed here."

Elena felt her face heat up with blush. "O-Oh?"

He looked up at her with a smile. "Yes, your majesty. I have come to speak to your father about courting you."

"I-I don't know what to say..."

"How about no?!" the two turned to see Elizabeth riding over on her chocobo with her guards Heidegger and Scarlet. The older girl glared at her sister as she dismounted, making Elena back away. Sephiroth was quick to step in front of her, not at all liking the sinister look on the face of the older Princess. However the blonde sidestepped the Prince, and made all those gathered gasp when she slapped her sister. She was struck with such force she was knocked aside, straight into Sephiroth's arms when he turned to catch her. Tifa and Yuffie pulled Elizabeth away, Angeal and Genesis held her guards at bay. Elena whimpered, holding her cheek as Sephiroth held her close, glaring daggers at her sister. Even Dark Rose was upset, and had to be held by the scruff by Cloud as he tried to keep her from launching after Elizabeth, taking the brunt of her claws.

Luckily, at that moment Elena's parents and brothers showed up, a few of their guards in tow. The boys were quick to realize what was going on, and hopped off their chocobos to run over to their dear sister's side, joining their glares with Sephiroth's. Elizabeth was slow to back away, Tifa and Yuffie making sure she didn't try to slip away, but the two women backed off themselves when the King put a hand on his eldest daughter's shoulder.

"I am very disappointed in you Elizabeth." King Shinra frowned. "I expected you to behave more considerably, but I can see now that there is not an ounce of any sort of kindness in you. You are unbefitting to be a princess of my kingdom."

Elizabeth gasped, looking completely broken as her guards forced her to remount her chocobo, then rode with her back down the path toward the palace. Elena looked at her father in shock, but was even more surprised when he gently pulled her from Sephiroth's protective grasp.

"Elena, my dear, go back to the palace with your guards. Your mother and I need to have a word with our visiting Prince."

The blonde gave the silver haired man a glance before dipping her head to the king. "Of course, father."