I do not own Final Fantasy VII, any of its characters, or the Advent Children movie. Even though I really like the game and it would make a great Christmas present if I get all of the reserved rights, Square-Enix owns them and will probably never give them up. However, I do own this story and whatever uniqueness comes from it.

Vincent Valentine: …

FreeCorpKnight: What?

Vincent Valentine: You have one long pen name…

FreeCorpKnight: I know… (weeps)

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Heroes.

Saviors.

Protectors of the Planet.

These titles meant nothing to the eight figures standing in the distance, gazing at the brilliant sunset before them. All of them were thinking about the friend they have lost, the one who had given up her life so that the rest of them may live. The one who had paid the ultimate price and will never be able to see what she saved.

"Aeris…" Her name came out as a whisper, almost as a plea for her to come back into the land of the living. The blond-haired swordsman who spoke her name wavered a bit, his bright blue Mako-enhanced eyes filled with tears. "You… You should be the one with us… You, out of all of us… Deserved it the most… Goodbye…" Then, he quickly turned away and ran off toward the waiting airship with tears coming down his face.

As the leader of the group left, a pair of wine-colored eyes followed him. They belonged to his childhood friend and secret lover. Hopefully, he will one day learn the feelings she has and return them. Not now though. He doesn't need a lover but a friend. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and made a silent prayer to the dead flower girl: 'Aeris, I hope you're happy in the Promised Land. Cloud was right. You're the one who should be here. You're the one who saved us. Thank you… For everything.' With that, she left.

Six remained, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon. One of them shifted, his tattered red cloak adjusting to his new position. Piercing blood-red eyes stared out in the distance, contemplating what the group had done by defeating both Sephiroth and Jenova. "I have atoned for a sin," he murmured, his words barely audible due to the high collar of his cloak. "This crisis is finally over… I hope…"