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The Crystals are Alive and Well in Final Fantasy VII

      In most of the early Final Fantasy games, the plot revolves around the protection of four or more magical crystals. These crystals are always connected to the four natural elements of earth, air, water, and fire. I propose that the four crystals also exist in Final Fantasy VII, particularly in the form of the Huge Materia. Explaining the connection between the Huge Materia and the four crystals requires delving into the details of not only Final Fantasy VII, but of a few other games as well.

      Traditionally, the four crystals represent the natural balance of the planet. If their power is disturbed, chaos ensues (sometimes literally). This was the case in Final Fantasy I, in which the crystals (referred to in the English translation as orbs) lost their power and resulted in the degradation of the environment. In Final Fantasy IV, the crystals hold the power to open a gateway to the moon. Similarly, two sets of crystals in Final Fantasy V seal an ancient evil, grant powers to the main characters, and bridge the gap between two worlds.*

      As stated before, each crystal represents an element (earth, air, water, and fire). Final Fantasy VII marks the first time that these elements are sufficiently balanced within the series' magic system. In the previous Final Fantasies, there are three sets of tri-level magic spells. These spells are fire, ice, and lightning. Final Fantasy VII is the first game to include a tri-level version of quake. Assuming that lightning is linked to the air element, the magic system in FF7 gives equal emphasis to each of the four elements. This equality is further demonstrated in the four spells that make up the Contain materia. These spells are freeze (water), break (earth), tornado (air), and flare (fire). It is worth mentioning that the four elements are not always linked to the eight elemental attributes of FF7. For example, although I consider the flare spell to represent the fire element, the spell technically causes non-elemental damage.

      Clues to the elemental properties of the Huge Materia can be found by walking up to each of them in the observatory in Cosmo Canyon. The blue one has a "cold" glow (water or ice), the red one has a "fiery" glow (should be obvious), yellow is "quiet" (earth), and green is "gentle" (like a gentle breeze, wind). However, this is not the only indication of the Huge Materias' elemental properties. The color of each Huge Materia also provides clues.

      In Chrono Cross, the elemental system is strongly linked to color. The system is as follows: blue = water, red = fire, yellow = earth/electricity, green = air/nature, white = holy, and black = dark. This elemental system is not overtly present in the Final Fantasy series, but there are occasional references to it. In Final Fantasy IX, the Conde Petie mountain path has a statue that will give a Moonstone when four colored stones are inserted. Incidentally, these colored stones are blue, red, green, and yellow. These stones are considered Key Items, and so they each have a short description. These are the descriptions for each stone (provided by Final Fantasy Online, http://www.ffonline.com/ff9/keyitems.htm).

      Blue Stone: "Blue Water flows with time. It streams and sings as it travels intae the ocean."

      Green Stone: "The tree nurtures all. It protects and gives birth tae life. Let us pray tae it every day."

      Red Stone: "Fire was a gift from the heavens. It must never be used fer evil."

      Yellow Stone: "Yellow earth is sometimes harsh, sometimes gentle. Travel the earth tae see its heart."

      Now, looking at the Huge Materia in terms of the same elemental color scheme, note that the pattern is the same as the materias' "glow" descriptions. Red represents fire, blue is water, green is air/nature, and yellow is earth.

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      I have another theory that the four crystals are represented elsewhere in Final Fantasy VII, but the case is not quite as strong as it is for the Huge Materia. I propose that the four Natural Materia that can be obtained in the chocobo breeding sidequest are also linked to the elemental crystals. I have two reasons for believing this to be true:

      1. The Natural Materia are not in the typical sphere shape when they are still in the ground. Instead, they appear to have a crystalline structure, and they only become spheres after they are picked up.

      2. The natural setting of each materia is linked to the four elements. The Quadra Magic materia is from a cave that has sand dunes, and sand dunes are created by the wind. The Mime materia is in a rocky cave, and the materia itself is sticking out from a crack in the ground, so it represents earth. The HP/MP materia is found in a cave with small trickling streams of water. Finally, the Knights of the Round materia is in a cave on a volcanic island, and the cave itself is filled with dead and dried wood: the perfect kindling for fire. Therefore, even though the materia themselves have no elemental attributes in their functions, they each appear to have been generated by elemental energies.

      This is not the only instance in the Final Fantasy series that a location can be used to infer elemental energy. Looking back at Final Fantasy IX, a similar situation exists with the four jewels that summon Alexander. Each jewel is the treasure of a particular city, and each city is discreetly linked to a particular element. Garnet's Silver Pendant is the treasure of Alexandria, and its castle resides in the middle of a large lake, indicating a water affiliation. The Falcon Claw, Lindblum's jewel, comes from a city that depends on the might of its industry and machines (not to mention that red colors dominate this city and are indicative of fire). The Desert Star is from Cleyra, a city in a tree that is protected by an ever-blowing sand storm caused by the jewel's power (a strong indicator of the air element). Finally, Eiko's Memory Earring is the jewel of Madain Sari, a ruined stone city that has an earthen hue.

      I know that this interpretation is open to speculation, and I welcome questions and comments. Let me know what you think!

      -Telepathetic

      * - I have not played enough of Final Fantasy IIIj to know the crystals’ role in that game.