Parting with Aeris

Parting with Aeris is the twenty-fourth chapter of Final Fantasy VII, and the fifteenth chapter of the second act, "Pursuit". After Sephiroth obtained the Black Materia from the Temple of the Ancients, Aeris Gainsborough told Cloud Strife she was going on alone to stop Sephiroth herself. Concerned for her, Tifa Lockhart and Barret Wallace awoke Cloud and the group agreed to search for Aeris.
== Walkthrough ==
=== Gongaga ===
Immediately after "Within the Temple of the Ancients", a story sequence takes place, following which Cloud awakens in Gongaga. Cloud then begins in a party with Barret and Tifa, though this can be changed on the world map. The Tiny Bronco is near the beach on Gongaga.
If Gongaga was not previously visited for "Gongaga, the Village of Sadness", some items can be obtained here: Titan Materia in the destroyed reactor, White M-phone in the upper left house (though this weapon for Cait Sith will be dated by now and must be sold), X-Potion in the inn, and Deathblow Materia (on left hand path leading out of the village).
The next destination is to head north to the northern continent with the Tiny Bronco. From where it is parked, the player can head east and then north up the river running through the western continent.
Battle #10 at Condor War for five X-Potions is available at this time if the player completed all battles thus far.
=== Bone Village ===
Bone Village is found on the southern tip of the northern continent. To proceed past the village to the Forgotten Capital (referred to in the game as the City of the Ancients), a Lunar Harp is needed. One can be dug up from the digging minigame can be begun by talking to the non-player character at the doorway near the entrance.
To easily acquire the Lunar Harp, the player must talk to the man and say that they are searching for the Lunar Harp, beginning the minigame. The option is then granted to hire digging staff, which cost 100 gil a person. Setting five staff on the upper level, southwest of the tent, then beginning the dig around that spot will grant the Lunar Harp first try.
Before leaving Bone Village, the man at the entrance who begins the digging minigame also has a store selling armor. One is the Diamond Bangle that grants five Materia slots (four of which are linked), and the Rune Armlet, with four unlinked slots and lower stats but double AP growth. Rune Armlets can be used when improving Materia's levels, and at least one or two Diamond Bangles are useful to obtain for the party (though the player should have the Dragon Armlet from the previous chapter).
Once the Lunar Harp is obtained, the next destination can be reached by heading north from Bone Village's upper level, and then to the northwest.
=== Sleeping Forest ===
Sleeping Forest is a short area that was previously seen in Cloud's dream during the story sequence at the start of the chapter. The forest can only be passed through with the Lunar Harp.
After awakening the forest, the player can backtrack to partake in Battle #11 of Condor War for another five X-Potions, the reward available at this time if the player completed all battles so far.
On the second screen, Kujata Materia runs along the ground, and must be caught before it leaves the screen. If the Materia inventory is full when picking it up, Kujata will be lost forever (unlike normal circumstances where the game notifies the player to remove Materia first).
The third screen is shared with the next area, Corel Valley.
=== Corel Valley ===
Corel Valley is a short dungeon leading to the Forgotten City. The enemies here include Boundfat, which teaches Death Sentence after using it as a final attack to being killed with the Magic or Summon commands (other E.Skills do not count). Otherwise, the enemies here are mostly unremarkable and deal little damage. The area therefore serves as a great place for level grinding and to level up Limit Breaks if the player needs to do so.
Despite the vine in the southeast of the first screen of the valley (third of the forest), this vine is a red herring that cannot be climbed or used. Instead, the player must proceed north (before using the steps up left) for the treasure chest with the Water Ring (a vital accessory for the next boss battle), before then taking the steps up left and running north through the next screen, a simple path to the world map, and then to the Forgotten City.
=== Forgotten City ===
thumb|A house in the Forgotten Capital.
The Forgotten City has no random encounters, but a few items can be obtained before continuing the story. A boss will be fought at the end.
From the fork in the road at the beginning screen, head left up until a gray stone building is found. Inside is a save point, and up the stairs is a Magic Source. Leaving the building and heading right leads to an amphitheater-like building, where on the lower floor is a treasure chest containing an Aurora Armlet, an armor that absorbs Ice-elemental attacks and has powerful stats but only four Materia slots (in two linked pairs).
After this, the player should return to the fork at the start of the city, heading right instead and right again to a building with a cone shape, where a Guard Source is obtained at the top. Leaving it and heading north to the next building leads to a building with an Elixir on the bottom floor, and an Enemey Skill Materia behind the beds on the top floor. Reaching the beds will cause the party members to prompt Cloud to rest there, and the player must rest to continue the quest.
After resting, the player can leave town and backtrack to Fort Condor to partake in Battle #12 at Condor War for five further X-Potions, the reward available at this time if the player completed all battles thus far.
The player must return to the fork at the start of the city, until reaching a screen with another building. Inside the building, a Comet Materia is found; Comet spells deal powerful non-elemental damage (meaning they are not resisted or powerful against any element that ignores Reflect, and should be given to Cloud or another spellcaster on the party. Halfway down the building is a translucent blue staircase found in a gap in the fence, leading to a long path down.
At the very bottom, a save point can be used. Jumping onto the platforms below leads to a story sequence as the player finds Aeris. During this, the player needs to keep pressing the OK button to proceed, and a cutscene and boss battle follow.
=== Jenova∙LIFE boss battle ===
Jenova∙LIFE uses Water-elemental attacks, is defended with Reflect, and counters attacks with Magic Hammer or another magic attack. It also uses Aqualung often. Because of its mostly Water-based attacks, equipping Water Ring will make a party member near-invulnerable against it, and pairing Leviathan with Elemental can also provide great protection to another. It is best to give Water Ring to any party member who predominantly uses healing spells, and one equipped with Restore and Revive with Water Ring can greatly benefit the party.
Due to Jenova∙LIFE's Reflect, Comet is the best spell to use against it, while other summons and E.Skills can be used; alternatively, DeBarrier can be cast if the player has it. Most of the rest of the damage should come from physical attacks, especially from Limit Breaks, or using Death Sentence on Tifa while she has Powersoul equipped. Otherwise, Big Guard or Haste are important to keep up on all party members.
Once Jenova∙LIFE is defeated, it drops a Wizard Bracelet, an extremely powerful piece of armor that is the only armor in the game with four pairs of linked Materia slots, making it one of the ultimate weapons. A story sequence and cutscene then follow. On PlayStation, the player is then prompted to save and required to switch to Disc 2; on later versions, the "End of Part 1" is listed and the player is still prompted to save.
After this, the next chapter, "Beyond the Snow Fields", begins.
== Citations ==
Category:Chapters in Final Fantasy VII