Hey! It's my first time writing a FF7 fanfic, so please don't kill me! XD

This is (obviously) based from Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite books! I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own FF7, Advent Children, or Pride and Prejudice.

PROLOGUE

It's Midgar High, and people are stamped and sorted into two big classes: The Accepted, and the Rejected.

It's a simple system started by the rich kids of the school, who were a tad bit too disgusted by culture of "the other side". They made a list of people who were the spoiled brats, the big celebrities, the tough jocks, or anyone who fell under the category "cool and awesome." The others; who composed of the overachieving nerds, the middle-class students, and other people that just seem weird; were obviously excluded and henceforth labeled as "Rejected".

They couldn't do anything about it. Even though if they were so angry of the treatment that they were receiving, they just weren't rich or powerful enough.

The Rejected were bullied, physically or emotionally. It ranged from toilet pranks to mocking-in-your-face. This later created a division between the two groups, obviously noticed in the Canteen, in the classrooms, in the Assembly. All the Accepted were on the right side, while the Rejected were on the left. Little groups formed from the two groups, but they were never mixed. And whoever crossed over, well, one would have to wish them good luck. Lots of it.

There have been teachers that had tried to stop this, especially those of the Accepted group. But their hopes were futile. They just couldn't change the whole student body's opinions of one other anymore; it was just forever embedded in their brains that they just can't mix. Teachers who have used force usually ended up fired, and could not be employed anymore. It didn't take an idiot to know that their families were backing up on their children.

So after that, the system just stuck, and it went on for years and years. The Accepted continued on with the bullying, while The Rejected ones stuck together to make the torment more bearable. One may call it unfair, or ludicrous, but hey, it happens. There's always going to be prejudices, and there's always going to be pride.

Besides, it's High School.

CHAPTER 1

BRIIING - Klang!

"Ugh..." Tifa murmured as she fumbled her hand to the alarm clock. She pushed herself off her bed and stumbled her way to the bathroom, to be warmly greeted by a nice shower. Quickly, she dried herself, slipped into her uniform and ran down to the kitchen to have breakfast. Her father was there waiting, reading a newspaper and drinking some coffee. Tifa kissed him to greet him.

"Goodmorning, Dad."

"Goodmorning, Tifa." Her dad smiled warmly. "Ready for school?"

"Uhuh."

He glanced at his watch, and faced her again. "The bus should be here any minute."

"I know."

After taking in one last spoonful from her cereal, she got up, kissed her dad again, and grabbed her bag to leave the house. "Bye, Dad!"

Just before the door closed, she could hear a faint sound of chuckling from her father.

Name: Tifa Lockhart
Age: 16
Level: Junior
Status: Rejected

It was no surprise to know that Tifa's pretty. In fact, she is very pretty. She had hair as smooth as silk, crimson-brown eyes, and a flawless, porcelain complexion. She also got the But why does this pretty girl end up being a Reject in High School's big society? For one thing, Tifa was not part of Midgar's High Society. And for another thing, she had acted too much of a tomboy in her previous years that it mostly just stuck. Entering Midgar High, she had already punched a guy for eyeballing her chest during lunch break.

She immediately earned detention, and a cross-out from the Accepted List.

(I guess they were just scared of her.)

"Thanks for saving me a seat, Aerith." Tifa said as she sat next to her best friend in the bus. The brunette sweetly smiled back. "Of course, Teef. How have you been?"

"Same old, same old." Tifa shrugged. "I had my training. It gets harder and harder each day..."

"At least you're improving!" Aerith smiled. Tifa laughed.

"True, and now I don't have to scream whenever I get into trouble."

"Oh, I hope you don't."

"What about you? What have you done this summer?" Tifa asked the Cetra, who was fixing her pink bow.

"I helped out in a nearby hospital after my work in the flower shop." Aerith said cheerfully. "I had to take care of the sick kids."

"They must've been a handful."

"Oh, they were!" Aerith giggled, remembering something that might have happened in the Hospital that caused the Cetra to laugh. "But they were sweet nonetheless. They gave me flowers before I left. One boy, Kevin, gave me a whole bouquet!"

Tifa smirked. "I'd say he has a little crush on you."

"I'm sure he's just a very sweet boy." Aerith smiled.

Name: Aerith Gainsborough
Age: 16
Level: Junior
Status: Rejected

Aerith was a beauty too! Long brown hair, sparkling green eyes and a bright smile. In fact, they have asked her if she wanted to hang out with them. But Aerith, knowing them better and knowing what was better, she chose to stay with her two Rejected best friends, Tifa Lockhart and Yuffie Kisaragi.

She never regretted her decision ever since.

"TIFA!! AERITH!!" A loud scream erupted from a nearby block as Tifa and Aerith stepped out of the bus. They turned to look (not to mention others who have heard it too). From afar, they could see an ecstatic ninja running after them, arms wide open and ready for a hug.

It took them a few seconds to be knocked down by the hyperactive bowling ball. People already stopped looking by then -- they knew it was none other than Yuffie Kisaragi, former princess of Wutai, doing her usual First-Day-of-Classes Routine.

"I missed you both!" She squealed, hugging them tight.

"...We missed... you... too!" Tifa struggled, not really meaning it because she found herself not breathing. It was a good thing their friend finally let go and helped them both up.

"How are you both?! I hope you two didn't have too much fun without me! I was practically bored the whole summer in my place!" Yuffie complained aloud, putting both each of her arms around a friend and began walking into the school. "You know, I already started wishing for school to start."

"I did ask you if you wanted to help out in the hospital or in the flower shop," Aerith reminded her.

"And I asked you if you wanted to take some martial arts classes with me." Tifa added, crossing her arms. "You have no right to complain."

"Oh, Teef! You know my Ninja classes happen the same time as your martial arts." Yuffie began to explain. "And you know I'm allergic to cris... crisan... crisantamoms--"

"Chrysanthemums." Aerith corrected.

"Chrysa-- whatever." Yuffie waved her hand dismissively. "And I don't do well with kids."

"Actually, I never knew you were allergic to chrysanthemums..." Tifa remarked, and raised a brow at Yuffie. The ninja grinned widely.

"Err... Um, I'll just go... to the bathroom! Yes, yes. You know, all that walking... Makes you wanna pee... Yeah, bye!" And Yuffie dashed off. Aerith was already laughing.

"She'll never change, huh?"

"That's Yuffie." Tifa sighed, smiling slightly.

Name: Yuffie Kisaragi
Age: 15 1/2
Level: Junior
Status: Rejected

As you have heard, Yuffie's an ex-princess of Wutai, who lives in an apartment near the school. How, you ask? It all started with an incident during her freshman year which involved a kleptomaniac and missing valuables-- she being the kleptomaniac. Apparently, that was her last chance of proving her parents worthy of her title, and failing that, they chose to cut her off from the family. It may sound harsh, but there was enough shame brought from her ever since she stole some candies when she was just four years old.

So her stay in the Accepted List was very brief. Since she was not rich anymore, and she was a kleptomaniac on the loose, they had decided to take her off.

After that incident, she never stole again. Still, she had enough money in her bank account to pay for her necessities, rent and her tuition.

For now.

Okay, that's it for now! Cloud and Zack will come out in the second chapter.

I'd like to thank Nikki and Marc for beta-ing. :))

Please review! No flames please, but criticisms will do! :)