In a sea of Mako, how do senses work? Hearing and seeing are, clearly, in play, and touch seems to be an “extension of sight.” There’s no need to eat, so taste is irrelevant. But what of scent? The blood on Dyne had no smell and was simply metaphorical.
While Aerith is unsure, she suddenly smells something rotten. Not only was is rotting, but from where the smell came from was an area where the Mako was weak. A weak spot in a river? An old man begins to appear and recognizes Aerith’s face, but doesn’t know her name.
Aerith sees the phantom of President Shinra. Not Rufus, but his father, who is, oddly, never named. He’s dressed in the pomp and circumstance of a man of the status ensured during his life. He also has the same personality as he doesn’t even think Aerith’s name matters. She gets upset at this as Shinra only judges her based on her race, which isn’t very high. He spends this entire conversation insulting Aerith. Shinra believes the only thing that matters in life, and seemingly death, is luxury and position. It’s all about power. He tells Aerith that she could have lived a better life if she joined Shinra. She could have moved out of the slums on onto the plate where she’d mingle with the high class of society. He thinks himself the greatest man to ever live as he opened the way not just for Mako Power, but to space, weaponry, and a great metropolis. All by giving people an easier life. “...it became something like an addictive drug to the ignorant people and took over their minds.”
To make this short, Aerith disagreed on every point, and the two left on negative terms. Shinra remained unrepentant and cares not about returning the planet he helped destroy.
Chapter five gives us a reference point for the story. Aerith senses Cloud fall into the Lifestream. It tells us that Sephiroth has summoned Meteor. However, Aerith's current interest in on Cloud. The Cloud who had been discarded by everyone at this point. From unknown birth, to traitor, to tossed away by the planet. Aerith had tried to speak to Cloud while he was down here, but to avail. In her grief, she hears a new voice. Her memories of Cloud end up summoning the only person who both Aerith and Cloud know well: Zack Fair. The man who was Aerith’s first love and Cloud’s best friend. The two are shocked to find each other dead. Just a note, this portion is why the canonicity of this story is questionable. Aerith should, is later confirmed, to know that Zack is dead. I’m not gonna let get one bad paragraph ruin this, though. Zack fills Aerith in on the truth if the Nibelheim Incident while Aerith fills him in on the last few months.
Zack has maintained his chipper and irreverent personality and brings hope back to the true hero when he promises to help Cloud as beat he can to stop Meteor. The story continues adjacent to the game until Cloud and Tifa fall into the Lifestream. When they fall, Aerith helps the two of them stay together and brings Tifa into Cloud’s heart. Aerith is upset she can’t save Cloud herself but remains an example of selflessness. Tifa fixes Cloud, and we return to Zack praising his ... ex(?)girlfriend. She plays hard to get in a short, but adorable game of playful teasing. Eventually, Zack is unable to remain in the Lifestream and says he needs to take a nap but will return. The two say their goodnights as Aerith, not just for Cloud, because she saw Zack, or because there is hope in the fight against Sephiroth is happy.
"Aerith is happy."
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