Hi everyone, I hae just been thinking about AC lately and a question came up for me, Why did Aeris appear to wait to heal the Geostigma?

I hate that the question sounds negative, I apologize but this came up when I was thinking back when some "fans" began calling Aeris a murder which was truly stupid and I know we have a whole thread on that, but in debates and things has the question I asked ever been used against Aeris? I am so sorry because I can't remember when the Geostigma started showing up so anyone who can refresh my memory I would greatly appreciate it.

The Geostigma hadn't killed anyone yet correct? But many people were suffering so I doubt Aeris was like hey let them suffer for dramatic effect but in any case this question came into my head and I was hoping you guys could help me with it. I would just hate to see Aeris bashed(more) over this and hope a counter arguement has already been made. Thanks.

During On The Way To A Smile (Case of Denzel), people do die of Geostigma. It appears shortly after the end of FFVII, after the Lifestream covered the surface of the planet.

I haven't heard of a counter argument for this. But if she were to heal everyone and negate all of the trouble in AC, well there wouldn't really be an AC, would there?

Hmm, good question. Maybe she couldn't act until Cloud had got his strength back? The first time she actually assists in battle (when she grabs his hand during the Bahamut fight) is after Cloud has spoken to her in the flowerfield and Vincent in the Sleeping Forest, and after he says that he 'feels lighter'. The more belief in himself and strength that Cloud shows, the more times she seems to be able to help. If she lives on in Cloud's consciousness, then maybe she drew on Cloud's regained strength to affect the 'upper world'.

Either that, or she was being blocked by something. The healing rain starts to fall after Sephiroth has been defeated, so maybe it was something like in FFVII where Holy was being blocked by Sephiroth.

Or maybe it's a plot hole. :lol:

This is what I thought, too, that Aerith was being blocked by something, like in the game.

Another question would be: Why wasn't Cloud able to see Aerith before AC? Again, I feel as if she was being blocked. Not intentionally, of course. But, I feel as if Cloud's own guilt was keeping Aerith from making herself known. It was only when Cloud was approaching a place of great spiritual power (The Forgotten City), that Aerith was able to break through and speak to him. It is a lot like that scene in MotP where Aerith cleansed Dyne with a touch and he was able to merge with the Lifestream and see Eleanor again. Before, he was unable because of his guilt.

Yukari:

FFG:

Maybe it's a combination of all three of these ideas. I really feel that Cloud's own guilt was a big reason why Aerith didn't make herself known sooner. It wasn't until he decided he could face his guilt by going to the Forgotten City that he was actually able to communicate with her. It seemed as if she was waiting for him to take the initial step in overcoming his sin. It's another one of those ordeals where she's going to let him figure things out for himself because she believes in him. As for the curing of the geostigma, that was most probably being blocked by Sephiroth too, so maybe that was something that couldn't take place until Sephiroth's defeat. Her bond to the 'upper world' seems to be strongest through Cloud. However, I feel that in order to take actions, she has to draw on his strength as well as the strength of everyone else willing to fight for the Planet.

Gawdz, you guys. It's because she had to wait for her Limit Break meter to fill. :P

I have said before that I believe Aerith's ability to act seems to be inversely proportional to Cloud's guild.

She lives primarily in his consciousness, and if something like guilt blocks her from interacting with him, she can't do much but watch from beyond the grave.

Cloud was in her Church the first time whitespace descended, but she neither spoke nor manifested. His guilt was still relatively strong and made worse by Tifa's defeat, Marlene's capture, loss of the materia, and so on.

As Cloud makes the decision to go, he hears Aerith's voice. "Dilly Dally Shilly Shally, isn't it time you did the forgiving?"

When Cloud gets there, we get the back to back scene. Aerith has manifested, though his guilt hasn't cleared enough that he can look her in the eye yet.

His guilt has cleared a little more by Bahamut...enough to let him see her face to face...and enough for her to use a level 2 limit break. It's still not enough for her to use Great Gospel, not yet.

He has to beat down Loz and Yazoo and scuffle with Kadaj's lightning bolts...in the church...before she's able to create her Ultimate Limit. She speaks but does not manifest this time...Great Gospel was likely too draining to be able to maintain form at the same time.

Then Sephiroth shows up. Marlene goes "Is it her?" This is probably because Sephiroth's control over the Negative Lifestream is being opposed by Aerith on the spirit plane while Cloud fights Sephiroth's body in the living world. She's trying to summon up the Lifestream on a Global Scale by this point...any time Sephiroth appears, she has to go all out.

And so she does. Sephy gets himself Omnislashed again, and sure enough, a global version of Great Gospel goes off, similar to her control of the Lifestream used against Meteor. While she speaks to Kadaj, note Cloud had to be HOLDING Kadaj at the time. It may well have been the physical contact between Cloud and Kadaj that let her speak to him. She certainly doesn't bother talking to Loz and Yazoo, after all.

But then he gets shot in the back. and exploded. Sephiroth is capable of ressurrecting himself, but Aerith can resurrect other people. In this case, Cloud. Not just for romantic reasons, but because he's her conduit to the living world, and she doesn't want to be cut off from it. Ressurrection is perhaps the ultimate expression of healing, especially considering Resurrection is a sort of taboo power (else, why didn't Aerith create a remnant of herself, then revive herself using, say, the White Materia?)

But because Cloud's guilt has mostly vanished, along with his wolf, Aerith can now manifest fully and look him in the eye. And she even has the power to drag Zack along with her. Even if she does let that darn lucky bastid walk through a door with her. We all know how important walking through doors with people is. Anyways, the Church is not whitespace...there's only whitespace beyond the door.

In Calling, with the addition of Zack's forgiveness...hey, Zack does rate on the cherished list, so it's important...Aerith can now manifest without any whitespace at all around. She looks very solid, too, not ghostlike at all. It may be a spirit form, but...well, it's tangible enough that Cloud can do without the technicalities.

Thanks everyone for your replies I think you all have good theories. I must also single out Angelalex242, that was a great explanation and I love all your details. It makes alot of sense that her power would be able to grow in conjuction to Cloud getting stronger since they are connected.

I am really impressed everyone and thanks again for your posts. Of course if anyone else has anything to add feel free :blush: Didn't mean to sound like that had to be it.

It's also occured to me that since the SHM are made by Sephiroth of negative Lifestream, the 'body' that appears when Aerith does is likely made of positive lifestream in much the same manner. This also explains the lack of manifestations doing both great gospel useages...she's too busy using the Lifestream that would normally make up her form to do other things with it.

That would be Tifa who said "Dilly Dally..."

Yeah, but I believe that guilt has nothing to do with it. Aerith appeared in the church with an abundance of Lifestream. She appeared in the Forgotten City. etc.

Don't they both say it? :P

In addition the last part of your post ... I don't know ... maybe sounds rather negative to me ... if not guilt then what? Do you have another positive reason why Aerith might not have acted then? The way you put it ... it seemed like Aerith could have acted whenever she wanted but if one knows Aerith's character well then they know that Aerith isn't the type to leave innocents in suffering - she doesn't have that type of mean bone in her body :)

ZOMG! That is hilarious! xD

On topic, I think everyone already said it. Something blocked her. But like Angelalex242 already said, when marlene senses her presence, i think that is when Aerith was able to do something n.n

Or CG's idea. Her gauge didnt fill up yet xD