Final Fantasy VII: The Kids are Alright - A Turks Side Story is an entry in the Final Fantasy series, an installment in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, and a prequel to Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. It was written by Kazushige Nojima, co-scenario writer for Final Fantasy VII, in 2011, with an official English version published in 2018.
Two years have passed since Meteorfall. Evan Townshend is a former Midgar plate-dweller who operates a detective agency with his best friend, former thief Kyrie Canaan. One day, they take on a case that finally gives Evan hope of finding his mother, who vanished two years ago. Complicating matters is that the Turks, Shinra's ruthless enforcers, have taken an interest in Evan.
This book provides examples of:
- Dark and Troubled Past:
- Kyrie is a former thief whose parents were murdered when she was young after stealing from the wrong person. She also blames herself for a fire that killed her boyfriend and two of their other friends.
- Leslie used to be one of Corneo's cronies, while his girlfriend Merle was one of Corneo's victims. Final Fantasy VII Remake would go on to elaborate on their pasts.
- Dead Person Impersonation: Kadaj has the ability to make others see him as dead people (or in Dr. Drake's case, people Kadaj believes are dead). To Evan, he appears as Fabio. To Kyrie, he appears as her dead boyfriend (whose name he stole).
- Disappeared Dad: Evan's dad died fighting in the war with Wutai, although his mom refuses to go in to detail. His real father was President Shinra, who had no part in his bastard son's life.
- Distant Finale: The last few scenes of the book take place a few months after Evan and Kyrie's adventure and shortly after the events of Advent Children.
- Easily Forgiven: Evan and Kyrie are quick to forgive the Turks for killing Fabio. However, Bits does not and is not happy that his new adoptive parents are chummy with the people who killed his entire family.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Tseng attempts to beat Dr. Eugene to death when he learns that Eugene tricked Annette into abandoning her son and going on a dangerous mission that got her killed.
- Everyone Can See It: Everyone knows that Evan and Kyrie are dating except for Evan and Kyrie.
- Evil Counterpart: Kadaj is Evan's. Both of them are sad teenagers looking for their mothers, but Evan was able to make friends to alleviate his loneliness.
- Missing Mom: Evan's mom Annette vanished two years ago to take on a dangerous job to pay for what she thought was life saving surgery for Evan.
- Morality Pet: The Turks develop a soft spot for Evan and Kyrie and go out of their way to protect them on their journey.
- Never Found the Body: Don Corneo survived falling from Mount Da-chao, although he lost the use of his legs.
- Phony Psychic: To promote her detective agency, Kyrie pretends to be an Ancient who communicates with the Planet to find answers to her clients' questions. She based this routine off of stuff she saw Aerith do when they were children. Reno and Rude convince her to stop lest a wannabe Hojo take her at her word and try to experiment on her.
- Promotion to Parent: Fabio has been his younger brother Bits' primary caretaker ever since their parents died when the Turks destroyed Sector 7. Evan and Kyrie adopt Bits after Rude kills Fabio.
- Really Gets Around: President Shinra fathered so many bastards that Rufus now finds meeting long lost half-siblings to be rather mundane.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Annette died taking on a dangerous mission so she could afford to pay for life saving surgery for Evan, who has a serious medical condition. Except that Dr. Eugene made up this medical condition to con Annette out of a lot of gil.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Evan looks just like his half-brother Rufus to the point where Reno tries to hire him to be Rufus's bodydouble.
- There Is Only One Bed: Downplayed, the Icicle Lodge innkeeper hustles Evan and Kyrie into renting a one-bed room for the night, but the two of them trust one another enough that sharing a bed isn't too awkward for them.
- Took a Level in Badass: Elena is a lot more skilled and competent than she was in the original game.
- White Sheep: Evan is the only known relative of President Shinra who is neither evil nor manipulative.
