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As the name may imply, FFVII: Advent Children is a successor to the FFVII storyline. While few solid details have been revealed, it's known that the story takes place two years after the events of FFVII (note: we're not sure which "end" is being referred to -- the end of the events involving Cloud and his silent commrades, or the end involving the Red XIII dude). Something happens to disturb the peace that was returned at the end of FFVII. Images revealed from the DVD seem to show Cloud and Sephiroth, but that's about it.

The following contains massive spoilers from Advent Children. You have been warned! If you don't wish to continue, click Back now!

The Opening

Set to a new theme, the movie opens with scenes of Midgar, combined with screens from Final Fantasy VII. The screens fade in and out, mixing new with the old. Soon a final scene with Sephiroth appears on the screen to the music of One Winged Angel.

The scene soon changes to a view of Midgar. The ruined Shin-Ra building stands in ruins, the Mako cannon has been overgrown and become a relic. A voice talks, it is Marlene, the adopted daughter of Barret. She talks of what has happened since the end of Final Fantasy VII. A scene of Aerith being laid to rest is shown and Marlene tells of what happened in the game.

The First Familiar Faces

The scene, Marlene at a boy's bedside. The boy is ill and Marlene is praying for him. "Do not take him away from me". Her friend, Denzel, she is praying for his recovery.

A dimly lit office. A woman is shown cleaning and a telephone is heard ringing in the background. "Strife Delivery Service" she answers. The woman is Tifa. The person on the other end asks her about Cloud, he tells her that he has a job for him. That person is Reno and he has some urgent work in the city of Healin [possibly refers to the Healin Lodge].

The scene changes to a motorcycle riding through a desolate area. The camera moves in. It is none other than Cloud. Cloud has answered the call from Tifa [on his FOMA p900iV phone]. A client is to be met.

Encounters

Cloud is shown riding through an industrial area. In pursuit are more people on motorcycles. His pursuers. The silver haired men of Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo. References to "brother" are made when they talk to him. After a failed attempt to stop Cloud from getting to his destination, the riders disappear.

Arriving at his destination, Cloud speaks to a person in a wheelchair. The person is covered in a cloth from head to toe. Their identity remains unknown. Who could this be? Only the person's companion may give a clue as to who it is. Reno and Rude of the Turks, is there a connection here? The man speaks of how he wants to change the world, how he needs Cloud's help, how he needs his protection. He speaks of the enemies, that they have the head of Jenova, that they could create another Sephiroth. But Cloud seems uninterested. He says he can no longer help anyone.

Soon after it is revealed that a man by the name of Kadaj will push Cloud to his limits. A man who has a determination to find his mother. And that children will play an important role.

Next we see an abandoned church, a church in ruins. It is this place that Cloud calls home. Is it the same church that Aerith used to grow her flowers? There is a flowerbed, it is likely. Tifa and Marlene walk through the church. After finding a bandage, Marlene tells Tifa that Cloud is affected [with Geostigma] too. Tifa tells of Cloud's decision to fight alone, that he has given up.

The scene changes again. Kadaj is shown speaking to the person in the wheelchair. Reno and Rude are on the floor, seeming to show pain. Kadaj wants something. He tells the person that he must find mother. The person he refers to as Mr. President. Cloud this person indeed be Rufus Shin-Ra? Or is it just a term he uses to address the person?

Tifa and Marlene are shown again. Footsteps are heard. She turns to see Loz who demands to know where Cloud is. Tifa does not want to tell the stranger. And soon after an intense battle ensures. A fine display of Tifa's martial arts skills is shown, but unfortunately she is no match for Loz. She is finally grabbed by her feet and hurled against the church wall. Marlene is taken away.

In another part of town, Marlene questions a boy. The boy looks dazed. Unsure. "You're got Geostigma" she says.

Cloud arrives back at the church. He sees a figure on the ground. "Tifa!", he yells. Is his friend alright? What has happened to her? He lifts her from the ground and takes her in his arms. She awakens a couple of hours later back at her home and and tells Cloud of what happened. Cloud appears that he is struggling with something. Soon after Reno and Rude arrive and again talk with Cloud. He now is convinced that he needs to save the children.

A crowd of children who are gathered around Kadaj. He is giving a speech. The children who are affected with Geostigma appear to be taken by what he is saying. That he has a cure for their disease and that their mother will give them power to fight against the planet that gave them that disease. He offers to heal them and light appears from his hands.

"I want to be Forgiven"

Cloud dashes after Marlene. Through an area which looks like the Sleeping Forest. Is he heading towards the Forgotten Capital?

Cloud is no longer riding Fenrir, but instead he is standing in a field of flowers, against a stark white backdrop. Something has been bothering Cloud for so long, and now he confesses his guilt. He lets it all out. Thoughts which had been inside him for so long. "I want to be forgiven".

The camera turns and we see another figure. First boots, then a pink dress and finally her face. It is Aerith. The sweet hearted flower girl from Final Fantasy VII who gave her life for the planet. Cloud feels guilt at her death, that it was his fault. Is this the spirit of the departed here to help soothe his soul? She does not blame him for her death. "You have to learn to forgive yourself" she tells him.

The following scenes are mixed with the previous scenes. The silver haired men await in ambush to attack Cloud. These are the scenes from many of the trailers, where Cloud is being attacked.

Confrontations and an Old Friend

Once again Cloud is speeding down a dark road. At the end of the road we see a group of children. Barely being able to stop in time, Cloud has to bail off his motorcycle in order to prevent hitting the wall of children. He is confronting Kadaj for the first time. Kadaj tells Cloud of what he intends to do. After an intense conversation where Kadaj tells Cloud he is his brother, Kadaj raises his sword. There is no where for Cloud to run, the children form a circle around him. Kadaj is ready to strike a deadly blow. From the sky a figure appears. A lost friend. Vincent swoops down and carries Cloud away. He has saved Cloud from certain death.

Vincent fills Cloud in on what he knows. Apparently Vincent has been studying what has been happening with the world and knows some information. Vincent talks of Geostigma being the reaction of a human body trying to expel toxins ... Jenova cells. That something like the lifestream is fighting against it.

While they are talking, Cloud hears footsteps. Thinking it is another attacker, he goes to reach his sword. But it is just Marlene, who begs Cloud to never leave again and to help the children After discussing things with Vincent, Cloud leaves with Marlene, now realizing the path that he will take.

Footage of Tifa talking to Cloud is mixed with action scenes, as Tifa tells him about the strength he possessed two years ago and that he should always remember that he is a fighter.

Chaos on Midgar

High above the city, Kadaj stands atop an unfinished skyscraper, the music of One Winged Angel helps to set the scene. By his side is "the president". No longer covered in a cloth he is shown to be in the deepest stages of Geostigma. Kadaj explains what the disease actually is, and and that the "mother" he is looking for is Jenova.

In the city below, creatures attack. The children stand in a circle. Their eyes have been changed. They are possibly under Kadaj's control. Kadaj smiles evilly, lifting his hand up, a blue glow can be seen. Thrusting his arm into the air, he unleashes a bolt of lightning into the air. The clouds part and from those clouds comes a summon. A summon which appears to be Bahamut.

Bahamut rains destruction on the city below. People scream and flee to escape. But Bahamut is ruthless, destroying everything in it's path and picking out people with it's claws.

Tifa runs out to try to save Denzel, but the boy just looks at her with a blank expression on his face. He is possessed by whatever Kadaj has done.

Can this new menace be stopped? If anyone can do it, it is Cloud's friends from FFVII. The heroes appear one by one, first Barret, his gun arm blazing, shooting towards the sky. Then Red XIII, leaping to attack. Cid with his spear. And finally Yuffie, never changing, adding comic relief to the scene with the words "who's been messing with my materia?".

Safe from any harm, Denzel asks Tifa who the people are. "They are our friends" she tells him.

Kadaj is shown riding his motorcycle towards the church. He is holding a container that contains something, "mother" he says. Does the container hold part of Jenova? He opens the container, but something is wrong. He screams out in anger. "Mother!!!!".

Scenes change back and forth. A motorcycle battle between Yazoo and Cloud, Reno and Rude fighting Yazoo and Loz.

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Article Sited http://ps2.ign.com/articles/451/451541p1.html and