Sector 5 - Aeris's Story
Aeris's House: Elmyra Explains
Wall Market: A Golden Shiny Wire of Hope
Cloud and the others arrive in Sector 5.
Person Outside the Pipe
Even with all that commotion, you went on like nothing happened. You must really been through the mill to get that.
Materia Shopkeeper
Living in a place like this, you could live out several lives,
and it still wouldn't be enough!
Well, how about some materia? Make some money and then scramble out of here!
Item Shopkeeper
...stare... ......hmph... we only trade items for gil here. No matter what.
Woman Walking Around
Never thought that would come tumbling down. Maybe I better walk around looking up from now on.
Inside the nearby house...
Man
The hell's up with that!? I don't care if they're AVALANCHE or Avant-garde or whatever you call them. Anyone who brings the plates down on us is nuts!!
This just in. An accident today...
...the worst in the history of the metropolis. But thanks to the quick response by those in charge, there were no civilian casualties.
The cause of the accident is unclear at this time, however, according to some sources it is believed to have something to do with the terrorist activities of the group, AVALANCHE.
Upstairs...
If Cloud took the kid's 5 gil earlier...
Kid
sniff......... sniff......... ......'n' I hid it...... so nuthin' like this...... would ever happen......... sniff......
If Cloud left it alone...
Kid
My dream is to grow up and become a big time dealer on wall market.
Back outside...
Kid from the Weapons Shop
...sniff... sniff...
First there was a rumbling...... ...then cracking... and then ker-blaMM!!...
...I was so scared... sniff...
Person in Blue
You finally think you're making a living in the pits of Midgar, and then a big piece of scrap like that falls down here... what's next?
Man in Straw Hat
Yeah, that's right! But, even so, where could we move to now...?
Inside the Weapons Shop...
Man
...sure is loud outside. Wonder what's happening?
Weapons Shopkeeper
You never know what's going to happen! It's a crazy world,
so you'd better at least have a weapon you can depend on! Am I right or what?
They continue onward to Aeris's house, where Elmyra is there to receive them.
Elmyra
Cloud...... wasn't it?
It's about Aeris, isn't it?
Cloud
...Sorry. The Shinra have her.
Elmyra
I know. They took her from here.
Cloud
They were here?
Elmyra
That's what Aeris wanted...
Cloud
Why is Shinra after Aeris?
Elmyra
Aeris is an Ancient. The sole survivor.
Barret
...What did you say? But, aren't you her mother?
Elmyra
...Not her real mother. Oh... it must have been 15 years ago...
...during the war. My husband was sent to the front. Some far away place called Wutai.
One day, I went to the station because I got a letter saying he was coming home on leave.
In the flashback, Elmyra is waiting at the Sector 7 train station. A pair who look very much like Biggs and Jessie is hanging around at the lamp post like a couple. A man gets off the train and lifts the woman waiting for him into the air. Another man gets off, and the woman waiting for him picks him up. No one else gets off. Elmyra runs up to the station man who shakes his head.
My husband never came back.
I wonder if something happened to him?
No, I'm sure his leave was just canceled.
I went to the station everyday.
Then, one day.........
Aeris's mother Ifalna is lying at the bottom of the steps, and a seven-year-old Aeris stands nearby crying. Elmyra runs over. Ifalna slowly lifts her head, and then falls still again.
You used to see this sort of thing a lot during the war.
Her last words were, "Please take Aeris somewhere safe."
My husband never came back. I had no child. I was probably lonely. So I decided to take her home with me.
As Elmyra continues, the scene changes to her house, with a young Aeris running around.
Aeris and I became close very quickly. That child loved to talk. She used to talk to me about everything.
She told me she escaped from some kind of research laboratory somewhere. And that her mother had already returned to the planet, so she wasn't lonely... and many other things.
Barret
Returned to the planet?
Elmyra
I didn't know what she meant. I asked if she meant a star in the sky,
But she said it was this planet... She was a mysterious child in many ways.
Aeris
Mom.
Please don't cry.
Elmyra
Aeris just blurted that out all of a sudden. When I asked her if something happened...
Aeris
Someone dear to you has just died.
His spirit was coming to see you, but he already returned to the planet.
Elmyra
At that time I didn't believe her.
But...
The scene shifts to show Elmyra sobbing at her kitchen table.
Elmyra
Several days later... We received a notice saying my husband died...
...and that's how it was.
A lot had happened, but we were happy. Until one day...
In a new scene, Tseng of the Turks has come to the house. A young Aeris is hiding behind Elmyra.
Tseng
We want you to return Aeris to us. We've been searching for her for a long time.
Aeris
No! Never!
Tseng
Aeris, you're a very special child. You are of special blood.
Your real mother was an 'Ancient'.
Elmyra
Of course I heard it. That she was an 'Ancient'.
Tseng
The Ancients will lead us to a land of supreme happiness.
Aeris will be able to bring happiness to all those in the slums.
That is why the Shinra would like Aeris's cooperation......
Aeris
He's wrong! I'm not an Ancient! I'm not!
Tseng
But Aeris, surely you hear voices sometimes when you're all alone?
Aeris
No, I don't!
Elmyra
But I knew. I knew about her mysterious powers...
She tried so hard to hide it, so I acted as though I never noticed.
Cloud
It's amazing how she's avoided the Shinra for all these years...
Elmyra
The Shinra needed her, So I guess they wouldn't harm her.
Tifa
But why now......
Elmyra
She brought a little girl here with her.
On the way here, Tseng found them. She probably couldn't get away fast enough.
She decided to go to the Shinra in exchange for the little girl's safety.
Cloud
Must be Marlene.
Barret
Marlene!! Aeris was caught because of Marlene!?
I'm sorry. Marlene's my daughter. I'm... really... sorry...
Elmyra
You're her father!? How in the world could you ever leave a child alone like that!?
Barret
...please don't start with that. I think about it all the time. What would happen to Marlene, if I...
But you gotta understand somethin'... ...I don't got an answer. I wanna be with Marlene... But I gotta fight.
'Cause if I don't... the planet's gonna die.
So I'm gonna keep fightin'!
But, I'm worried 'bout Marlene. I really just wanna be with her... always.
See? I'm goin' in circles, now.
Elmyra
...I think I understand what you're saying... She's upstairs asleep, Why don't you go and see her.
Barret goes upstairs.
Tifa
It's my fault... I was the one who got Aeris involved in this.
Elmyra
Don't say that. Aeris doesn't think that.
Tifa
I feel so depressed.
Elmyra
...sigh...
Upstairs, Barret is hugging Marlene to him.
Barret
I'm so glad...... I'm so glad you're all right...
Marlene
Daddy, don't cry. Your whiskers hurt!
Cloud moves to leave without saying anything, but Barret notices him.
Barret
Cloud!
You gonna go help Aeris, right? She's done so much for me...
If it's the Shinra you're dealin' with, I can't just sit here! I'm comin', too!
Marlene
Guess what? Guess what? Aeris was asking me lots of questions.
Like what kind of person Cloud is. I bet she likes you, Cloud!
Cloud
- I don't know
- Let's hope so
I don't know
Marlene
Stupid!
Let's hope so
Marlene
I won't tell Tifa!
Cloud goes back downstairs and heads for the door.
Tifa
You're going after Aeris, right?
Cloud
Yeah.
Tifa
I'm coming with you.
Cloud
We're going right into Shinra Headquarters. ...You gotta be prepared for the worst.
Tifa
I know.
Right now, I feel I have to push myself to the limit.
If I stayed here... I'll go crazy.
Barret comes thundering down.
Barret
Sorry, but can you take care of Marlene a bit longer?
Elmyra
Yes, I don't mind.
Barret
This place is dangerous now. You better go somewhere else.
Elmyra
...You're right. But promise me that you'll come back to her. Don't get yourself killed.
Barret turns to Cloud and Tifa. They all nod and run outside.
Tifa
How do we get to the Shinra Building?
Barret
There ain't no train that goes up there anymore...
Tifa
......
Well, let's just go to Wall Market. We might be able to find something there.
Back inside the house...
Elmyra
I mean it, come back to her. Don't get yourself killed.
Marlene
Daddy, Tifa,
Cloud! Please bring Aeris back!
Cloud and the others head for Wall Market to search the area for something useful. Outside the Honey Bee Inn, the redheaded punk sits blocking the entrance...
Punk
Hey!! It's you!!
Sorry, but I already heard about you.
In addition to dressing like a woman, it seems you like to smash and grind things.
We only let cultured customers in! Got it? Then you'd better leave!
Guy Outside Inn
Hey, ya'll. Please stay here!
Kid by Cat Statue
It came down from the sky.
But the old guy who likes tanks took all of it away. I wanted some too.
Punk
I never believed that Sector 7 would ever come down.
Man Outside Restaurant
According to that guy with the tank, if you're strong enough, anyone can make it to the top plate.
So, build your strength by having a plate of our food.
Man Outside Dress Shop
That was scary...
Clothing Shop Owner
You're dressed normal today. If something else interesting comes up, let me in on it.
Man Cooking Outside
Phew, it's all dusty ever since the sky came down. I'll have to start over.
Person 1
Is this pile of trash getting bigger?
Person 2
Yes, I think so.
A lot of things came falling down when the Sector 7 pillar fell.
Person 1
Right, right, you're right. The owner of the Weapons Shop scavenged all the stuff that came falling down.
Person 2
Oh is that why? He seems pretty suspicious these days.
Person 1
Oh, you mean he went out to the Plate cross section next to the Don's Mansion, right?
Person 2
Oh, you know! I wonder what he's doing?
Person 1
Yeah! It gives me the chills.
Inside the gym...
Beautiful Bro
So? How's it?
Man Using Punching Bag
More strength.
I bet you could climb all the way up to the upper plate if you used that pipe.
Don't you know? The old man at the Weapon shop can tell you more about it.
In the bar...
Redhead
Scary, isn't it? You just never know when the plate might come crashing down.
Redhead 2
Yeah. I'd like to climb up to the plate if I could.
In the Weapons Shop...
Weapons Shop Owner
You goin' up to the plate? You better have a Battery.
Cloud
You're gonna sell me something you just found?
Weapons Shop Owner
Hey, you knew? But I repaired it, so it's all right.
Cloud
Why do I need a battery to climb up to the plate?
Weapons Shop Owner
You'll find out when you get there. How 'bout 100 Gil for each?
Cloud
......
- All right, I'll take them
- I think you're full of it
All right, I'll take them
Received "Batteries"!
Weapons Shop Owner
Come again.
If you don't have enough money...
Weapons Shop Owner
Hmm, looks like you're a little short, son. Come back again.
I think you're full of it
Weapons Shop Owner
All right then, go see for yourself. You'll be back again.
As they approach Don Corneo's mansion, a trio of kids runs into the alley beyond.
Kid
Wanna see somethin' awesome? Follow me!
Corneo's mansion is empty, except for Kotch strapped to a table in the basement.
Kotch
Hey! You're... not them... you're...
Please, help me!
Cloud
- Help him
- Leave him
Help him
Kotch
Thanks!
You know what? After you left, some Shinra guys forced themselves in here saying things like 'information leaked' and 'good for nothing'.
They took Don somewhere and that's it...... I'm still here.
Oops! They're here again... I'm outta here! SEE ya
He runs off.
Leave him
Kotch
I... I was just following the Don's orders! Help me!
In the alley beyond the mansion, they find a girl standing at the bottom of a graffitied wall.
Girl
Everyone climbed up this wire. Looks scary...... Brrr.
Tifa
Can we climb it?
Girl
Yeah. It leads to the Upper World.
Barret
Awright! We'll climb this wire!
Cloud
There's no way we can do this. You know how far it goes up?
Barret
There IS a way! Look! What's that look like?
Cloud
Just a normal wire.
Barret
Oh yeah? Well to me it looks like a golden shiny wire of hope.
They all look up.
Tifa
You're right. This is the only way to save Aeris...
Cloud
Ok, that was a bad analogy, but, Barret, I understand how you feel.
Let's go!
Cloud and the others start up the wire. At the top of the wall, the other two kids are looking at the rubble of Sector 7.
Kid 2
Oh man! This is horrible...
Kid
Hey, scary, huh? Dad told me that it's the Shinra's doing.
Cloud climbs past them to where the wire ends and there is a tangle of piping and train tracks.
Cloud
Maybe if I put a battery in...
The propeller might work.
If you didn't buy a battery and had to come back, on the second time he will say, "It might work if I put a battery in it."
I guess I'll just have to believe the shopkeeper.
Cloud puts a battery in and the propeller spins, ending in a different position and opening up a path. He continues on up.
Need a battery here, too.
Looks like the only way is to jump onto that bar.
Should make it if I jump before it comes too close. (use OK button to jump)
If he misses it he'll say either "Jumped too soon..." or "Jumped too late..."
Making their way through the tangle of debris left by Sector 7's destruction, Cloud and the others eventually reach the upper plate...
< Sector 7 | Sector 5 | The Shinra Building >