Compilation of Final Fantasy VII | Advent Children
Pre-Release Speculation | Aeris' Appearance

(Originally posted September 9, 2004)

The first images we saw of Aeris were from a remake of her funeral scene:

However, some new ones appeared months later, featuring her and Cloud standing back to back in a field of flowers. It was not a scene from the original game, but something completely new:

Seb was among the first to comment on these pictures, saying, "I wonder if the Aerith thing is a flashback or dream sequence or something. I sure hope so." Uncle Elmo added the idea that she's a ghost. In regards to the new setting, Sir Chester had this to say:

"Hmmm... I don't recall Cloud and Aerith alone in a big field like that. That means either the previous story is having more details fleshed out, or she's going to be in more than just flashbacks (A lifestream reunion maybe?)"

I didn't think about it at the time, but a reunion with Aeris in the Lifestream itself would make some sort of sense (and would actually be really cool). Remember the end of the game, after Cloud falls into the Lifestream and defeats Sephiroth? And Aeris' hand reaches toward him from the light?

I would like to toss out another theory: the field of flowers is the very Promised Land that Aeris went to after the end of the game, and Cloud somehow gets transported there through some sort of prophetic dream (similar to the one that led him to the Sleeping Forest in FFVII). Aeris is still there to guide him, but this time, she's not in a place that he can physically reach.