Kai: Hey guys :D Well I'm putting this chapter up and I hope you all enjoy. *stares at the reviews I already received* Do I really have that many fans O.O

Cao: Seems so. Don't know why though.

Kai: Shut up Cao DX

Cao: Make me -.-

Kai: I will cause I created you :D

Cao: O.O

Kai: *slaps him across the face*

Cao: OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Hope hummed as he walked through the village, carrying a basket full of bread. A red book in his left hand, holding it out in front of him and reading. He was always interested in reading and enjoyed it very much. Everyone else didn't seem to think so though. He was quiet and he really had no one to talk to. He had gone out to get some bread for his father who was planning a trip to the fair.

He ducked under a sign and lifted up another one to block some water falling as he read the book. Stories of mystical creatures and fairy tales. Okay, yes he did enjoy fairy tales the most. They were so full of adventure and excitement. He loved reading about knights in shinning armor and how they save the damsel in distress from a fearsome dragon. When Hope had reached the exit of the village and was heading to his cottage, he was stopped by a girl. She was about fifteen years old at least and she had long brown hair that reached to her mid back. A slender but well toned body and sharp cunning brown eyes like a cat.

Hope looked at up at her and blinked a bit. "Oh... hi Ruby." he greeted as he watched her prowl over to him.

"Well hello darling! Oh look at you, reading again. When are you going to get your nose out of those books? And come and spend time with me?" Ruby asked with a sugar sweet smile.

Hope raised a eyebrow a bit. Ruby was one of those girls who wanted to marry the most handsome guy around. Sure there was older men who was more handsome then him but Ruby seemed to have in mind that Hope would be very handsome when he was older. She also sort of wanted some of his wealth. Hope didn't find Ruby very appealing. She was too.. well he wasn't sure. He knew he should like a girl like this but he wanted something different.

He wanted a girl like no other. He wasn't sure what but he knew Ruby wasn't the one. Hope smiled a little at the girl, trying to be polite.

"Um... sorry Ruby but I do enjoy my books and I must get to my father." Hope said as he walked passed her. "I'll see you later." he said as he walked, thanking the gods that he got the hell out of there. He heard the girl growl in annoyance and then rant to her brother, Cao. Cao was the best known hunter and tracked anything he could find. Long black hair with snake like green eyes. He was highly respected in the village.

As Hope reached his home, he heard a huge explosion. Hope blinked then sighed, knowing that his father invention blew up once again. He quickly ran and went to the basement and saw his father down there.

"Dad, did you blow yourself up again?" Hope said in amusement as he watched his father scramble out of a pile of scrap metal.

"I just can't get this damn thing to work! I give up!" his father yelled out, throwing a wrench down to the ground in anger.

"Oh you say that all the time. You can do, I know you can. If you just put your mind to it." Hope laughed as he went and sat on one of the wooden chairs in the room.

"You think so? Ya your right, Son!" grinned his father then continued to work on the machine which was suppose to be able to chop wood.

"Dad, do you think I'm weird?" Hope asked.

"My son, weird? Who in the bloody name of god would find my son weird?" said Bartholomew as he tweaked some wires and bolts.

"Well, I don't really have anyone to talk to in town is all." Hope said with a slight sigh.

"Well what about that... um.. that girl Ruby? She seems like a pretty girl." Bartholomew suggested as he used his wrench to tighten a pipe.

"Maybe... but she... just isn't for me... she's so selfish and I don't think she sees me for me." Hope answered with another sigh then jumped a bit when the machine roared.

Bartholomew stood and backed away and watched as the machine started chopping wood and flung the pieces over his head and into a neat pile.

"It works! It really works!" Bartholomew cheered with a wide grin.

Hope smiled and laughed. "I knew you could do it, Dad!"

"Off to the fair!" Bartholomew announced, before he got hit in the side of the head by a piece of flying wood.

~Later~

Bartholomew rode his carriage, being pulled by his trusty Chocobo. Chocobo stopped as they reached a fork in the rode. Bartholomew looked at his map then at the fork wondering which way to go.

"Which way do you think we should go, Chocobo?" Bartholomew asked in wonder.

Chocobo glanced back at his master then at the fork. He looked to the left path, seeing it was calm and sunny but when the bird looked to the right path, it was dark and gloomy. Chocobo shrugged, it was obvious to take the safer looking path so he turned to the left. But Bartholomew pulled on Chocobo's reigns and veered the bird to the right path.

"Let's go this way, Chocobo. Don't worry it's a short cut!" Bartholomew stated as they walked along the dark path.

Chocobo groaned loudly. Why does it always have to be the scary looking path? Just why? As they walked along, wolves could be heard howling loudly through the dark air. Bartholomew looked around worriedly.

"I think we better turn us around. Where have you taken us now, Chocobo?" Bartholomew demanded as he looked around fearfully.

Chocobo muttered angrily at his master's statement then kweh'd loudly when a pack of wolves appeared out of no where. The large bird quickly darted away, the wolves on the bird's heels. Bartholomew desperately tried to hang on but when Chocobo took a unexpected sharp turn, the man found himself flung off the cart and onto the ground. The carriage soon disappearing into the darkness. Bartholomew groaned as he stood then stared in horror as wolves stalked toward him.

Bartholomew backed away and looked around, then saw a huge dark castle behind him. The man soon ran for it, the wolves launching out after him. Bartholomew threw himself through the gate, kicking a wolf in the face then kicked the gate shut. He slowly stood up, wrapping his cloak around himself to block the cold. He looked at the castle and slowly walked through the snow. Soon going up the stairs and opening the large castle doors.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Bartholomew called into the darkness of the castle. Only hearing his own echo. He closed the door behind him and walked around a bit.

He then wandered into a room with a fireplace, a large red comfy looking recliner sitting in front of the warm fire.

"I hope they won't mind if I warm myself up a bit." Bartholomew said as he walked over and sat down comfortingly in the chair.

He let the warmth over come him and he yawned comfortably. Whoever lived here had good taste in furniture. He jumped a bit when he heard a voice.

"I wouldn't be sitting there if I was you." said a feminine yet strong voice.

Bartholomew looked down a bit and saw a large black female wolf with black like eyes. He stared a bit at the wolf.

"You... you talk?!" he exclaimed in surprise.

"Ya! Don't worry she doesn't bite very much." giggled another feminine voice, coming from his shoulder.

Bartholomew looked to his left and saw a light reddish female cat climb down from his shoulder to the left armrest of the chair. He couldn't believe this.

"Dude! Lightning is going to be so mad if she catch's you here!" yelled a male black crow that flew down and landed on the right armrest.

"She might kill all of us even." said a male golden retriever that trotted over with a orange cat on the dog's head.

The orange cat sighed. "We hope not, but we never know with her." she said.

Bartholomew stared at all the talking animals. The golden retriever raised a eyebrow in amusement.

"What? Never seen a talking animal before?" he said with a amused chuckle.

Bartholomew shook his head. "How is this happening? It's impossible." he said.

"Well around here it ain't." stated the wolf with a grin.

"Quit playing around kids! We got to get this guy outta here!" said the crow with slight annoyance.

"Does he have to leave though? It's always nice to see a new face around once in awhile." said the reddish cat with a purr.

The crow rolled his eyes. "You know as well as I do that if Lightning finds out about this she will---" he said till he was interrupted when the doors slammed open, so hard that the force blew the fire out.

Bartholomew shrunk into the chair and looked around in the darkness warily. The animals had instantly bolted away to a corner in the room. The man swore he could hear the slight heavy footsteps. He turned his head to his left and came face to face to cold blue eyes. The creature raised its head, twice the man's size. This creature had red like fur, long sharp claws and razor like fangs. A long tail and wore a black shorts with a white like tank top. Armor on some parts of the body and a red cape hanging from the left shoulder armor. It looked like a werewolf at that.

"What are you doing here?" the beast growled coldly, feminine indicating it was female.

"I... I just needed somewhere to stay... for a bit... I mean no harm." Bartholomew said, afraid.

"So you just go barging into someones property without even a knock?!" the beast growled as she circled the man and examined him.

"I--I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you... I just needed somewhere to rest and...." Bartholomew stuttered then screamed when he felt the beast grab the front collar of his shirt.

"I'll give you a place to stay." the beast replied coldly.

"No...No! Noooo!" Bartholomew screamed as the beast carried him off. Through the darkness of the castle.

The animals staring helplessly after them.