I'll return knowing you'll be here.

Zerith is canon. Deal with it.

[wabi-sabiiii]

[wabi-sabiiii]

Aerith Gainsborough (my heart) 

[wabi-sabiiii]

Aerith Alternative Outfit 1 “Delicate Lace” 

[wabi-sabiiii]

“Follow them. The yellow flowers.” 

[enigmaphenomenon]

[zaxxusu]

Did Aerith change Zack’s fate? How much is the price of that freedom? continued from [x] and to [x]

[silver-wield]

Cherry blossom petals, daisy embroidery and accessories, pink, a waterfall hem, her OG hairstyle and neckline and she chose it herself. This dress is full of Zack coding to show us this is the outfit Aerith would've worn on her date with him if he'd made it home.

In OG, Aerith chooses her own dress, which Cloud shakes his head at when she asks what he thinks, which is why she says he's no fun.

Three daisies on her necklace and more embroidered around the neckline. The strap is identical to the OG style. She has the big, floppy bow and identical hairstyle, too and we know for a fact that Aerith picked this outfit and went against the choice by Madam M.

Johnny throws cherry blossom petals as children gather around. Cherry blossoms are the symbol of samurai and their moral code and signify a fleeting life. The children are because Aerith likes kids and Zack did many child related tasks with Aerith in Crisis Core.

Aerith chose this dress with Zack in mind, which is why she likes it and in JP Cloud even agrees it looks nice.

She even has similar bracelets to OG Aerith with the chunky design.

The waterfall hem is lined with more daisy embroidery, which is Zack's flower.

And she even has abstract flower earrings, which are hard to see because of her hair, but they also look like some kind of daisy.

It's sad she never got the chance to show him her dress, but maybe after they reunite we'll get a short scene of her in it and he can call her an angel 😁

[madctys]

In this world, those who have fallen in love cannot make clear judgements.

[ria-neearts]

Devils

[gojuo]

Let’s sell flowers underneath the sky together.

[soldierhero-and-flowergirl]

Zack was back. He covered Aerith’s eyes with his hands and put his nose close to her hair, the familiar fragrance intoxicated him. Aerith has not recovered from the shock, because all of this was so unreal.

3D art by DRAYQIN, published originally on Deviantart on Aug 22, 2020  [x] [x] Posted with permission.

[hercbledaesthetics]

                ENDLESS ZACK FAIR AESTHETICS. [ ft. AERITH. ]

                                  ❝     Aerith, wait for me. ❞        INSPO

[enigmaphenomenon]

Aerith–who continued to wait for Zack’s return–starts to wear pink after making this promise (as demonstrated in this game, “FFVII, “”BC”, etc).-Crisis Core complete keyword guide.

[cateringisalie]

Nope.

You’re trying to push an angle that makes no sense and this reads very oddly and Uematsu is clearly misremembering something:

The first time Aerith’s theme is played is during the flashback to her life with Elmyra, not the Forgotten City. So this is factually wrong. The interviewer’s implication is that Aerith’s theme first plays on her death - it doesn’t. Nor is there a scene where Aerith waits for Zack at the train station: instead there is a scene where Elmyra waits at the train station for her husband. Oddly enough, this has Aerith’s theme playing over the top of it, because again this is the first usage of her theme in Final Fantasy VII.

Also; this conversation is entirely suspect don’t you think? Uematsu queries if the theme plays at the train station where Aerith is waiting for Zack. The interviewer says it was. But the only scene the interviewer can possibly be referring to (without being involved in the writing of FFVII and therefore knowing all the answers to these questions before Uematsu gives them) is the scene with Elmyra.

The fact that Uematsu has talked elsewhere about his intentions and motivations for Aerith’s theme (she has had a less than great life being the main conceit) and that this is literally the only place in all the BTS stuff where this is claimed makes it less than reliable.

Now, I know you’re about to suggest there’s a cut-scene here of Aerith waiting for Zack. And I can’t prove or disprove that and neither can you prove it exists outside of this offhand comment where again Uematsu is clarifying something he doesn’t remember quite right and the interviewer (incorrectly) confirms he is correct with regards to something that does not occur in the final releases (seriously, if you think the interviewer is more in the know than Uematsu here (to the point again Uematsu is asking for clarification not correcting the interviewer), I’m really not sure what you’re trying to prove). But again, not only is that scene never described anywhere outside of this interview (its not in CC or BC or Remake (and why the fuck would they not have PUT THIS IN if this was a factor?!)), its also not alluded to literally anywhere else.

As above there is a scene of someone waiting at a station where Aerith’s theme plays and its far more likely this is what both the interviewer and Uematsu were thinking of and both have gotten confused. It’s Elmyra. Now you might be able to argue that this was originally Aerith or there was an additional scene of Aerith doing the same, but guess what?! Not in the game. Not mentioned in the oral histories. And I suspect its far more likely that Uematsu’s confusion on this point stems from the later changes CC caused to create a mangled answer - because again, this has all but one of the right elements:

Person waiting at station who keeps on waiting without resolution

Aerith’s theme playing

That it’s Elmyra and not Aerith is an easy mistake to make if you’ve not revisited Final Fantasy VII in a while and had this concerted push to make Aerith’s entire character revolve solely around Zack.

And yes, I am clearly biased (and salty and FUCK OFF if you’re about to tell me later retconned canon should override what I liked about Final Fantasy VII, the FUCKING basis of the whole Compilation which is pretty awful and really shouldn’t be regarded as the weird compromised thing that needed replacing. It was the foundation and people want to make out its an embarrassment) about this whole situation but:

DON’T FUCKING MAKE AERITH’S FUCKING THEME ABOUT FUCKING ZACK.

Tifa’s theme is not about Cloud, Barret’s theme is not about Marlene or Myrna. Nanaki’s theme is not about Deneh or Bugenhagen. Yuffie’s theme is not about Godo. Cid’s theme is not about Shera. Vincent’s theme is not about Lucrecia. The main theme (normally considered Cloud’s) is not about Tifa. Cait Sith’s theme has nothing to draw on, but guess what? It’s not about Reeve’s fucking love interest.

DON’T FUCKING MAKE AERITH’S FUCKING THEME ABOUT FUCKING ZACK.

And let her move on with her goddamn life for fuck’s sake.

[enigmaphenomenon]

Dude. Chill out.  If you don’t like what the creators are doing with FF7 then leave the fandom. I am not Uematsu, or Nomura, or Nojima, or Kitase. SE has thus far linked pink, her ribbon, her job, her necklace, and now her theme with Zack and that is THEM doing it, not me. Yeah, maybe Uematsu is misremembering, maybe he’s referencing an old scenario on accident, who knows, but he did say this so I don’t understand why you’re attacking me for posting an interview of something he said or things the devs are doing I have no control over. Sorry you’re pressed about it but it isn’t my problem. 

[silver-wield]

“Tifa’s theme is not about Cloud”

Oh, honey, I’ve got news for you from the material ultimania. It is.

[callmederok]

Wow, for once i’m putting myself on the line in the fandom, okay let’s go:

@cateringisalie first, chill a little, take a deep breath, drink some chamomile and relax ^_^

Now you can read this: Parallels are a thing in FF7.

I should be done writing/talking but i explain myself:

Elmyra’s husband dies in a war while Aerith is a little girl and Elmyra waited for him for so long while taking care of Aerith. 

This is a parallel with Aerith’s situation related to Zack because this situation happens in Crisis Core: He is a soldier who go went Missing in Action (like Elmyra’s husband) and after a while he “comes back” (in the Original Game’s introduction) as a “life-stream ghost“ which is exactly what happens to Elmyra’s husband.

This is a parallel or a similarity, call it however you like it, but it is what it is.

Sure, not everything in a story is about love or romances, but we’re talking about a romantic parallel between characters where the theme is “waiting for someone who died far away“ both Elmyra and OG-Aerith experience this.

By putting that theme during Elmyra’s flashback the authors/writers are telling us that Elmyra is like Aerith and Aerith is like Elmyra, they both have a beloved one who died away from them.

[enigmaphenomenon]

Yes, very good post! It is AERITH’S theme, and so it makes no sense that Aerith’s theme would be written for something that happens and is relevant to ELMYRA.  Aerith and Elmyra have parallel stories of waiting for their soldier loves who never returned to them. 

[under-the-azure-sky]

The replies on this...I think it’s less about Aerith as a character and more about hating men and the fact that Aerith is not the strong independent don’t need no man type they headcanoned her to be. In OG we see how dependent she is on Cloud as she bases her self-image on what Cloud may find appealing.  Aerith being sentimental and wearing pink and the ribbon her first love got her as a gift is not a bad thing. Sentimentality is not a bad thing but I feel like this is only an issue because Zack is a man. I don’t see any harping on Avalanche wearing pink ribbons in honor of Aerith who only knew her for 2 weeks, some characters knowing her for less than 2 weeks.  Zack made a big impact on Aerith’s life and for once she had someone who genuinely liked her for her and didn’t care that she was a cetra or treat her different because of it. Even Elmyra states that it wasn’t easy dealing with Aerith’s powers which indicates a level of irritation or discomfort on Elmyra’s part about them.  

[enigmaphenomenon]

Aerith–who continued to wait for Zack’s return–starts to wear pink after making this promise (as demonstrated in this game, “FFVII, “”BC”, etc).-Crisis Core complete keyword guide.

[enigmaphenomenon]

For the “not-normal” Aerith, spending time with Zack is an irreplaceable blessing/happiness. But the time they have together is short…-CC Ulti, Aerith’s profile pg. 23 

Before leaving for Nibleheim, Zack tells Aerith to wear pink-colored clothing when they meet again, a promise that leads to Aerith changing into her familiar clothes from FVII. -CC Ultimania

Zack, accompanied by Aerith, walks through the slums. Aerith is pleased to see that he looks strangely at home in this unfamiliar place. - CC Ultimania, DMW explanation page “secrets”

A suggestion by Zack to Aerith, to make a promise each time they have a date, for when they meet again on their next date.Zack’s specific suggestion was that Aerith wear pink. Ultimately this promise was not fulfilled, but Aerith–who continued to wait for Zack’s return–starts to wear pink after making this promise (as demonstrated in this game, “FFVII, “”BC”, etc).-Crisis Core complete keyword guide.

“The Promised Land… A fateful encounter sets in motion the pendulum of fate. As Aerith searches for the traces of Zack living on in Cloud, the innocent love in her heart will make her destiny’s plaything…”- Aerith’s CollectaCard from Theatrerhythm.

Aerith, the girl whom he met at the slum’s church. The existence of the girl, who had earnestly come to love Zack with sincerity, eventually became irreplaceable to him. -Zack’s Profile 10th AU.

At that chosen day, she accidentally met Zack, SOLDIER 1st Class, and they were attracted to each other… –Aerith’s Profile FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania

Zack and Aerith meet by chance in a church in the Slums. They become intimate with each other. –FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Compilation Timeline

She joined the Lifestream, but even then she carries on watching over the planet and Cloud. At all times, her first love Zack is always by her side. –Aerith Gainsborough, ACC Dengeki Profiles

[enigmaphenomenon]

My chest was tightened by loneliness and despair My heart felt like it would break But your smiling face remained in my memories

[enigmaphenomenon]

Aerith’s Ribbon

The pink ribbon given to Aerith in Scene 04-09 as a ‘one day anniversary gift’. In “FFVII” and “BC” she wears the White Materia, a memento of her mother, with this ribbon. -Crisis Core Complete Guide Keyword Collection.