Sector 5 - Aeris
......You all right?
......Can you hear me?
Cloud
......Yeah......
Back then...... You could get by with just skinned knees......
Cloud
......What do you mean by 'back then'?
What about now? Can you get up?
Cloud
......What do you mean by 'that time'? ......What about now?
......Don't worry about me. You just worry about yourself now.
Cloud
......I'll give it a try.
Flower girl
Oh! It moved!
Whew... Am I glad.
......How about that?
Take it slow now. Little by little......
Flower girl
Hello, hello?
Cloud
......I know.
Hey... who are you?
Flower girl
Hello, hello!
Cloud struggles for a second, then manages to sit up, finding himself in a flower bed in an old, run-down church.
Flower girl
You okay?
This is a church in the Sector 5 slums.
It suddenly fell on top of me. It really gave me a scare.
Cloud
......I came crashing down?
Flower girl
The roof and the flower bed must have broken your fall. You're lucky.
Cloud
Flower bed...... is this yours?
He leaps up.
Sorry about that.
Flower girl
That's all right. The flowers here are quite resilient because this is a sacred place.
They say you can't grow grass and flowers in Midgar.
But for some reason, the flowers have no trouble blooming here.
I love it here.
......So, we meet again.
......Don't you remember me?
Cloud
- Yeah, I remember you......
- Never saw you before
- Yeah, I remember you......
- You were selling flowers
- You're the slum drunk- You were selling flowers
Flower girl
Oh! I'm so happy!
Thanks for buying my flowers. [If you didn't buy a flower, she says "You didn't buy any flowers from me though. Well, that's okay."]
- You're the slum drunk
Flower girl
Excuse me, but that's really rude!
I don't remember a thing.
But I'll forgive you, because you bought flowers from me. [If you didn't buy a flower, she says "Well, that's okay."]
- Never saw you before
Flower girl
......I guess you don't remember. You were walking in a daze.
But I'll forgive you, because you bought flowers from me. [If you didn't buy a flower, she says "Well, that's okay."]
Flower girl
Say, do you have any materia?
Cloud
Yes, some.
Nowadays you can find materia anywhere.
Flower girl
But mine is special. It's good for absolutely nothing.
Cloud
......good for nothing? You probably just don't know how to use it.
Flower girl
No, I do...... it just doesn't do anything.
I feel safe just having it. It was my mother's......
Say, I feel like talking. Do you feel up to it?
After all, here we are meeting again, right?
Cloud
- I don't mind
- Got nothing to talk about
- I don't mind
Flower girl
Wait here. I've got to check my flowers. It'll just be a minute.
- Got nothing to talk about
Flower girl
......oh, I see.
Ahhh. I wonder whose fault that is. It takes a lot to grow them, you know. Poor flowers.
She crouches down by the flower bed. Cloud walks over to her.
Flower girl
Just a little longer.
Oh!
Now that you mention it......
We don't know each other's names, do we?
My name is......
I'm Aeris, the flower girl. Nice to meet you.
While they're talking, a redhead in a blue suit (Reno) walks into the church and stops near the door.
Cloud
The name's Cloud.
Me......? I do a little bit of everything.
Aeris
Oh...... a jack of all trades.
Cloud
Yeah, I do whatever's needed.
What's so funny? What are you laughing at?
Aeris
Sorry...... I just
She notices Reno and stops.
Sorry, bad timing on my part.
Cloud! Don't let it get to you!
Cloud shrugs.
Reno
Don't worry about me.
Aeris
Say, Cloud. Have you ever been a bodyguard?
You DO do everything, right?
Cloud
......Yeah, that's right.
Aeris
Then, get me out of here. Take me home.
Cloud
OK, I'll do it... but it'll cost you.
Aeris
Well then, let's see......
How about if I go out with you once?
Cloud steps back and shakes his finger at her. Then he walks forwards towards Reno.
Cloud
I don't know who you are, but......
You don't know me......?
......I know you.
Flash of white.
Cloud
Oh yeah...... I know you.
that uniform......
Three soldiers run enter behind Reno, laughing.
Soldier(?)
......Hey sis, this one's a little weird.
Cloud
Shut up! You Shinra spy!
Soldier
Reno! Want him taken out?
Reno
I haven't decided yet.
Aeris
Don't fight here! You'll ruin the flowers!
She runs towards the exit in the back.
The exit is back there.
She and Cloud run through. Reno walks forward across the flower bed.
Reno
They were...... Mako eyes.
Yeah, all right. Back to work, back to work.
He starts towards the exit and then runs back.
Oh!
And don't step on the flowers......
Soldiers
Hey Reno, you just stepped on them!
They're all ruined!
You're gonna catch holy hell!
In the back room of the church, Cloud and Aeris hurry up a set of stairs towards the rafters. They stop before a broad gap in the floorboards as Reno and the soldiers run in.
Reno
There they are, over there!
Aeris
Cloud... that one!
Cloud
I know. Looks like they aren't going to let us go.
Aeris
What should we do?
Cloud
Well we can't let them catch us, can we? Then, there's only one thing left.
He jumps the gap.
Aeris! This way!
She walks to the gap and shakes her head. Cloud nods.
Cloud
All right. I'll hold them off.
Aeris
Right. Make sure they don't get through!
Reno
The Ancient is getting away! Attack! Attack! Attack!
The soldiers fire at Aeris and she tumbles down through to the church's basement.
Aeris
Eaygh!!
Cloud
Aeris!
Reno
Think we killed 'em? They shouldn't have put up a fight, I say!
One of the soldiers advances on Aeris.
Aeris
Cloud, help!
Cloud
Damn!
He looks up at the barrels on the rafters.
What's that......?
Aeris!
- Hold on a minute!
- Fight 'em!
- RUN!
Somehow or another, Cloud and Aeris have to dispatch the three soldiers, and then Aeris joins Cloud up in the rafters.
Cloud
Aeris, this way.
He leads her up through the hole in the roof made by debris from the reactor. They stop for a moment outside.
Aeris
Ha, ha...... They're looking for me again.
Cloud
You mean it's not the first time they've been after you?
Aeris
...no.
Cloud
They're the Turks.
Aeris
Hmmm......
Cloud
The Turks are an organization in Shinra. They scout for possible candidates for SOLDIER.
Aeris
This violently? I thought they were kidnapping someone.
Cloud
They're also involved in a lot of dirty stuff on the side.
Spying, murder... you know.
Aeris
They look like it.
Cloud
But, why're they after you? There must be a reason, right?
Aeris
No, not really. I think they believe I have what it takes to be in SOLDIER!
Cloud
Maybe you do. You want to join?
Aeris
I don't know... But I don't want to get caught by THOSE people!
Cloud
Then, let's go!
They start off across the roofs, Cloud running ahead.
Aeris
Wait... Wait, I said!
Cloud turns to wait for her to catch up.
Aeris
Puff... wheeze...
Slow...... down... Don't leave me......
Cloud
Funny...
I thought you were cut out to be in SOLDIER?
Aeris
Oh! You're terrible!
They both laugh.
Aeris
Hey...... Cloud. Were you... ever in SOLDIER?
Cloud
......
...I used to be. How did you guess?
Aeris
...Your eyes. They have a strange glow...
Cloud
That's the sign of those who have been infused with Mako...
A mark of SOLDIER.
But, how did you know about that?
Aeris
......Oh, nothing.
Cloud
Nothing...?
Aeris
Right, nothing!
Come on, let's go! Bodyguard!
They continue on and jump down from the roofs.
Aeris
Whew! Finally made it off! Now what...
She looks around.
My house is over here. Hurry before he comes.
If Cloud runs back into the church, he finds two small children there.
Boy
Um, we're, um taking care of the um, flowers for the um, lady here.
......is that ok?
Cloud
- I don't mind
- No it's not!
The children run back to the flower bed.
Boy
They're purty!
Girl
I'm gonna water them later......
Cloud and Aeris continue through Sector 5. Two men are blocking the way to Sector 6.
Brown-haired Guy
Aaaaah...... what a drag. You wanna go to that store in Sector 6 again?
Redhead
Huh? The hell are you? The hell do ya think you're talkin' to!!
Not far from them is what looks like an old sewer pipe converted into a small, one-room home.
Person outside the pipe
That guy in the pipe's a weird one. No matter what you ask him, he only answers 'uuh' or 'aahh'.
Aeris
This guy are sick.
He passed out nearby and someone must have helped him here.
They step into the pipe.
Man
ooh...... aaah......... aghhhh......
Aeris
This is the one...... Won't you help him?
Man
ooh...... aaah......... aghhhh......
Cloud
Listen, I'm no doctor.
Aeris
No... I guess not...
Hey... that man has a tattoo. I think it was the number 2.
They go back outside and continue towards her house.
Man in a straw hat
You ever hear of Wall Market?
Cloud
- Yeah
- Nope
- Yeah
Man in straw hat
Oh yeah? Then maybe I should have you pick something up for me next time you're there...
- Nope
Man in a straw hat
It's a market in the slums of Sector 6. They've got everything you could ever want there.
If you can get there, that is. The road's something else.
Woman walking around
What am I doing? I'm walking around looking at the ground.
You find a lot of things people dropped when you look down. You never find them when you're looking up. Right?
Inside the Materia Shop...
Shopkeeper
I don't care if it's scrap metal or materia. We can get anything here in the slums.
Got a lot of good materia here. Why don't you look it over?
Inside the Item Shop...
Shopkeeper
...stare... ......hmph... we only trade items for gil here.
In a nearby house, a man is watching TV.
Man
Hmph......! Everything President Shinra says is a lie.
But then again, you can't trust that AVALANCHE, or whatever you call them.
You can bat it around all you like. But in the end it comes down to wanting to be like those who live up above.
So who do you believe in? Oneself! Me! I never lie to myself, that's for sure!
I only believe what I say. That's because I never lie to myself.
And now for the news.
Due to a terrorist attack by the group named AVALANCHE, parts of Midgar that were temporarily out of power will be restored momentarily.
Following President Shinra's lead, Mayor Domino also spoke out public against AVALANCHE. |
Upstairs...
Flyer
Turtles Paradise News No. 1
For delicious wine with a nice ring to it......
Stop on by the "Turtle's Paradise"!!
Kid sleeping
glug... glug...
Now... no one... will find it... num...
The top one... and the bottom one...
Cloud walks to the set of drawers.
Cloud ............
......huh?
- Open the top drawer
- Open the bottom drawer
- Open the hidden drawer between the drawer
The top and bottom drawers are empty, but in the hidden drawer is 5 gil, which Cloud has the option of taking.
Back outside...
Person running around
Outta the way! Move! You want something... move into the store!
Inside the Weapon Shop...
Man
Huh? You want weapons? That's too damn bad......
I ain't got no weapons to sell ya! And the reason why is...
...the weapon store's over that way.
Shopkeeper
Take care of yourself. It's the law of the slums. But to do that, first you need weapons, right?
Kid
Toot toot! Next stop... Midgar Midgar.
Any passengers getting off on Midgar should please ring.
You know, Midgar's supposed to be sparkly 'n' springy 'n' sleeky.
Oh yeah. Someday, I'm goin' there.
Onward to Aeris's house.
Aeris
I'm home, mom.
This is Cloud. My bodyguard.
Elmyra
Bodyguard......? You mean you were followed again!?
Are you all right!? You're not hurt, are you!?
Aeris
I'm all right. I had Cloud with me.
Elmyra
Thank you, Cloud.
She turns and walks upstairs.
Aeris
So what are you going to do now?
Cloud
...Is Sector 7 far from here? I want to go to Tifa's bar.
Aeris
Is Tifa...... a girl?
Cloud
Yeah.
Aeris
A girl...friend?
Cloud
Girlfriend?
- No way!
- Yeah, that's right
Aeris
Well, that's... nice.
Let's see, Sector 7? I'll show you the way.
Cloud
You gotta be kidding. Why do you want to put yourself in danger again?
Aeris
I'm used to it.
Cloud
Used to it!?
......Well, don't know... getting help from a girl...
Aeris
A girl!! What do you mean by that!?
You expect me to just sit by and listen, after hearing you say something like that!?
Mom! I'm taking Cloud to Sector 7. I'll be back in a while.
Elmyra comes back down from upstairs.
Elmyra
But dear... I give up. You never listen once you've made up your mind.
But if you must go, why don't you go tomorrow? It's getting late now.
Aeris
Yeah, you're right, mom.
Elmyra
Aeris, please go and make the bed.
Aeris disappears upstairs.
Elmyra
That glow in your eyes... you're from SOLDIER, right?
Cloud
Yeah. Rather I used to be...
Elmyra
......I don't know how to say this, but...
Would you please leave here, tonight? Without telling Aeris.
SOLDIER... the last thing Aeris needs is to get her feelings hurt again...
Cloud heads upstairs.
Aeris
You need to go through Sector 6 to get to Sector 7. Sector 6 is a little dangerous so you'd better get some rest tonight.
Cloud...
Good night.
She turns and goes downstairs.
Cloud
Oh, man...
Cloud goes to sleep.
...seem pretty tired......
Cloud
.........!?
I haven't slept in a bed like this ...in a long time.
Cloud
...Oh, yeah.
Ever since that time.
Flashback to Cloud's house in Nibelheim, where Cloud is lying sprawled on his bed, his mother walking about nearby.
Cloud's Mom
My, how you've grown.
I'll bet the girls never leave you alone.
Cloud
...Not really.
Cloud's Mom
...I'm worried about you.
There are a lot of temptations in the city...
I'd feel a lot better if you just settled down and had a nice girlfriend.
Cloud
...I'm all right.
Cloud's Mom
You should have...
an older girlfriend, one that'll take care of you.
I think that would be the perfect type for you.
Cloud
......I'm not interested. |
Cloud wakes up.
Cloud
...I must've fallen asleep.
Sector 7's past Sector 6... I should be all right by myself...
Cloud starts past Aeris's room, but if he hits the creak in the floorboards, Aeris runs out of her room.
Aeris
Cloud! I thought the Turks came back! Get some rest!
Cloud goes back to sleep for a bit.
Cloud
Can't get caught this time...
Slipping past her room, Cloud goes downstairs and leaves Aeris's house.
Cloud
Through Sector 6 to get to Sector 7. I should be able to do it alone...
He heads through Sector 5 alone, only to find Aeris waiting at the exit.
Aeris
You're up bright and early.
Cloud
How could I ask you to go along when I knew it would be dangerous?
Aeris
Are you done?
Cloud scratches his head sheepishly.
Aeris
You have to go through the slum in Sector 6 to get to Tifa's 7th Heaven.
I'll take you there. Come on!
She runs off, and Cloud follows.
<< Sector 4 - Sector 5 - Sector 6 >>
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