Epilogue

In the months after Weiss' demise Yuffie had made a full recovery, Vincent rejoined the team, and Aeris had been laid to rest. It had been a simple funeral with everyone saying at least one thing.

Barret was first and said,"For the time that I knew her she was a strong willed and determined individual. I'll never forget the first time she sacrificed herself to save my daughter Marlene back when this was a simple battle with the Shinra. We managed to save her and she became a good friend. She was one of the few people who completely understood the battle for the planet and she will be missed."

Red XIII took the podium next and said,"Me and Aeris first met under extreme circumstances as I was acting like I would attack her to get Hojo's attention. She never held it against me and even though I never really liked it I'll miss the way she scratched behind my ears to get my attention. I'll miss you greatly Aeris."

Yuffie was next and she said,"I don't think she trusted me much and I never really gave her a reason to. When I first joined all of you I had only joined to get my hands on your materia but your strength and determination resonated with me. It's the strength I wish my father would have had against the Shinra. Aeris really wasn't a fighter but she stood by us until the end and I'll miss the way she always gave me a crooked look when I got even a little close to materia."

Cid walked up to the podium and took out a bouquet of flowers. "I am not good at the whole speech thing but I'll say this. In the short time that I knew her she was a great friend and I regret that I was never able to grant her wish and let her fly on my original airship the Highwind. Your sacrifice will be remembered forever."

Cait Sith shed a few tears and said,"After I betrayed you she was the first person who thought I deserved at least a little forgiveness. That has to be the one thing I'll miss about her the most. Her strong heart and willingness to look past anything."

Vincent fired his gun a few times in a tribute and said,"She was one of the people who talked me into going after Sephiroth with all of you. She could be stubborn at times but her heart was in the right place. I'll miss her for showing me that life isn't filled with all the doom and gloom I was used to. Thank you Aeris."

Tifa was next and wiped her tears away. "Me and Aeris had a connection from the moment we met. I guess it had something to do with the fact that we had a mutual interest in Cloud. She was my best friend and I will never forget the sacrifice she made for us. She was the strongest one of us and even though she is dead she still lives on in us."

Cloud walked up and took the podium. "I met Aeris back when I was first contracted with Avalanche and I bought a single flower from her for only 1 gil. During my second mission I fell through this very church and she nursed me back to health. I became her bodyguard but the thing was that she didn't need protecting. She could more than carry her own in a fight. I think that she showed me the vision of her going alone to the City of the Ancients because she wanted me to be there when she died. She wanted me to ensure that she got the goodbye she deserved. It's only been about a few years but I am glad that I can finally give her the proper sendoff she deserves. This church was her life before I entered it so it's only fitting that this be her final resting palce. Goodbye Aeris and may you finally rest in piece."

THE END

Author's Note

Well this is it. I finally finished my first fanfic and I have to say that Final Fantasy fanfics are most easy for me to write when I am able to listen to music from the games. As I wrote this one I heard the songs "Eyes on Me" from FFVIII, "Melodies of Life" from FFIX, "Isn't it Wonderful?" from FFX and the ending credits of both FFVII the game and FFVII: Advent Children. I also heard "Tifa's Theme", "Aeris' Theme" and the music that played during the battle against Bizarro-Sephiroth. I have to thank the people who took the time to read the first few chapters and who took the time to review. I also have to thank the creators of this great franchise for creating characters and stories that resonate with most players. I hope to create a lot more fanfics and will do so. My next fanfic will serve as a sequel of sorts to this one and will be called "The Wedding of Cloud and Tifa" or something to that affect. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy.

Paul