So does anyone understand why Marlene has such a strong connection with Aerith even after she dead? I mean, she never knew her for very long at all except when Aerith took Marlene to her house for safety.

Yet, Marlene talks a lot about Aerith in AC and in the ending of FFVII too. And she even wears a ribbon in her hair like Aerith. I don't understand how those too are connected.

Anybody have a guess?

I'm guessing that in that short time they were together, Aerith must have had some sort of impact on Marlene. We all know she's incredibly charming and most people take a liking to her instantly. Plus, Aerith surrendered herself to Shinra to save Marlene. I'm sure Marlene must've known how important that act was.
There's also probably some kind of connection Aerith has with children... in AC the children are the only ones who see her in the church, and the young moogle girl is the one who hears her, "Sister said you would come here."

Also in FF7, after her death, when you go back to her church you see two kids in there tending to the flowers. (correct me if I'm wrong on this) I would just think kids and Aerith get along exceptionably well. :)

Aeris has that kind of affect on people. Assuming we've maxed our time on FFVII, we've played 99 hours of the game, 1/3 of the game contains scenes from Aeris. So I'll guess around 10 hours or so of Aeris being in the story before her death. In just 10 hours we've gotten to know what we know about Aeris, and by that time(I assume) we all fell in love with her and even dedicated this website partly for her. Sooo... I don't find it surprising that Marlene, who's actually met her, would have a strong with her even after death. =O

Terrible example, I know. Oh well. =D

I think Marlene has/had a great connection with Aerith because
a) she is lovable ,B) I think Aerith has a great bond with kids , c)I think she knows how important Aerith is and was to herself and to the planet.
But other then that I think SQ-EN only made Marlene with the bow because they wanted to portray Aerith as still being around in everything even though she is gone.
To kind of show that Aerith is everywhere,Grass,sky,water,ect.

just my opinion though :unsure:

My opinion is much the same as yin-chan's. Aerith seems to know kids and develop bonds with them quickly. Aerith, not in a bad way, has a child-like personality that I think kids relate with, PLUS she has a maternal side to her, too, which I think the kids find comfort in.

As for the ribbon, well, everyone else in Avalanche was wearing ribbons in memory of Aerith, so Marlene jumped on the bandwagon? :lol:
Marlene wears her hair similar to Aerith's in AC, so maybe she's trying to imitate Aerith? Kids tend to imitate their role models...

Aww.. that made me happy to think of... Hehe. I'm that Marlene does wear her hair like that to imatate Aerith.... But yeah I thought about FFVII AC's connection with children as a reason. But I can't help but think, exactly why Marlene?

I'm sure Aerith did a huge impact on Marlene when she knew her, but enough for that kind of lifestream connection... Maybe Aerith choose Marlene... as someone to speak through and stuff since she is dead. I wouldn't doubt it...

In Reunion Files Artbook it was writen that Marelene has "taken elements of both Tifa and Aeris". Also she's "basically mini-Tifa, but bears psychical resemblance to Aeris"
I guess that Aeris really made great impact on her.

I kinda think it was because Marlene's the closest child to the "family." I mean, there is Denzel, but Marlene's been there longer, has personally spent time with Aerith, and she relays her feelings much the same way Aerith used to.

I read somewhere that Marlene does wear the bow in rememberance of Aerith just like AVALANCHE wears the red ribbons on their arms.

So, if she portrays Tifa and Aerith, the Tifa part might be seen were she kinda yells at Cloud in the FC, and Aerith as she takes care of Denzel?
Awwww, I luff Marlene ^^

Theres also suppose to be an easter egg about going back to Aerith's church after she passes away. She'll be seen tending to flowers to standing the aisle, and if you walk up to her, she dissapears.

Side Note: I heard in the japanese FFVII game, theres a cheat were instead of Aerith dying, Marlene comes in and takes the blow.
:sad:

I think it's only a gossip. Like thousands of other Aeris' revivals.There's no way to protect Aeris or something....unless you use Gamesharck code.
And about the Aeris ghost...it's only a bug. You can go to the church with Aeris in your party and still see her ghost. They forgot to remove her completely, just like dead soldier in Hyrule Castle Town in Legend of Zelda Ocarina of time.

Yeah, it seems that those things are just too good to be ne? So unfair...

Makes me wish that did could have some control over what happens in the game...

But yeah, I can see Marlene as partly Tifa and partly Aerith as well. The two biggest female role models in life, so it just makes sense.

Are you sure about that? Because if I remember correctly, if you go into the church after Aerith's death, see the ghost, and walk forward anyway to talk to the kids sitting in her flowers, one of them says something along the lines of "Hey, where did the flower girl go?"

That's also what I remember about the ghost thing. ^_^

Well, I've never seen that happen mostly because I didn't know about it so I guess when I get there in the game, I'll have to check it out.

I always thought the kids were just asking a simple question as to where Aerith went to since they're aware she used to hang around the church all the time. I never thought it was because they saw her ghost, I always considered it a conveniently placed bug. :lol:

Really? Because in the ending of AC when Cloud spots Aerith, her ghost is again kneeling with children. Seems a little coincidental to me, so I always thought of it as a bit of an Easter egg. ^_^

I noticed in the "greatest hits" version of the game, when you enter the church later you only see Aeris for a fraction of a second, and she's disappeared before you can even move. D: I was wondering why I couldn't see her ghost anymore...

Considering Advent Children, and that Cloud is the onscreen character at the time...

IS her ghost in the church a bug? Or a foreshadowing to 'Maiden over the Planet' and 'Advent Children' where her spirit is quite active, despite being in the hereafter.

I've wondered the same thing for a long time. I always make it a point whenever I play the game to go and see her "ghost". Right when you walk in the church doors, you can see her sitting in the flower bed, but if you walk just a little too far forward, she'll disappear.

But it's not like she really "fades away" like a ghost would. She's just there for a second, then she's not. :huh: Cloud doesn't even react. So I always thought that if Aerith's ghost was really meant to be there (as in, not a glitch), there would have been some recognition from Cloud or something.

But I still tell myself that it's her ghost just because it's sweet. :lol: But what the children say after she disappears is interesting too.

That's what I thought too. But with Aerith kneeling with the children in AC, it just seems sort of like a sweet Easter egg. :fangirl: So... I'm not sure where I stand on this. I could see it as either a glitch or Aerith's ghost.

Damn, didn't think the ghost comment would start a big convo o.O;

I remember the kids asking that, maybe the kids at the end of AC were the same kids asking for her? Or well..
Hm, that wouldn't make much since since it would of been two years after that. They might of forgotten about her.

Or maybe not?
Hehe, I went back to my game just to see her ghost, my heart fluttered.
:fangirl:

I actually would disagree, and say she does fade away. Once you walk forward to a certain point, her figure flickers for a few seconds, and then disappears. It doesn't just vanish in one instant, so I would still say it's not a bug, especially since they have Aerith kneeling with those two kids in the church at the end of AC.

Really? Wow, it's been a while since I played that part, and didn't remember her image flickering, but since it does, I'd say that's more reinforcement for the possibility that it's a special Easter egg! ^_^

It could still be a bug and they could still have put Aerith kneeling beside the kids in AC. It's been several years people have been discussing Aerith's "ghost" in the game, maybe SE decided they liked the idea of her ghost being seen in the church, even tho it was a fluke? Y'know, a bug-turned-easter egg due to popularity.

Hmm.. ghost.. sounds unfriendly... can we say 'Guardian Goddess' instead of ghost :P heheh... n what about Zack? is it becoz of the 'ghost' idea being popular.. so they add in Zack in the church as well? or actually SE wanna give us a hint that what we see in AC, actually kids can see/communicate with her 'ghost' form, thus her 'ghost' form in FFVII wasn't a bug?? So, as a conclusion, Aerith haven't die becoz of her spirit still there, n she can talk to certain people or kids... n Cloud realise it n say 'I'm not alone' at the end...??

About why Merlene likes Aerith even they knew each other just for a short period.. In my opinion... I think becoz Aerith personality is more like a mother (a cool mother who can have fun, joke n etc with), n Merlene had lost her mother since she was a baby... so maybe she sees Aerith as 'mother' or Aerith shows 'mother's love' to her.. or maybe like others say... Idolize ~:)

If it isn't bug, than WHY she appears even if you have living and breathing Aeris in your party and take her with you too the church? XD
It can be called "convential bug", though.
I heard bug was erased in newer versions of game, altough this is not confirmed.
Two more things: AC COULD BEEN inspired by discussions of the bug, but it's definilty bug.
And...we don't know if children relate to disapearance of Aeris' bug ghost, because we can't talk to them before she disappears. I think even if there was not any bug-spirit they would still talk about her going somewhere, because it refers to her walking away from church with Cloud & co.
Please, everyone, if you have FFVII-when you have Aeris in your party, take her to the church and see that im not lying. I can't prove it, any screenshot won't prove that it was taken at the begining of the game. You must see it yourself.
And compare it with Zelda's death of soldier and it's bug:
>>Brave soldier dies<<
>>His bug spirit<<

Yea.. it's true.. I remember now.. if U (Cloud) n Aeris escape from the church.. before going back to her house.. u can enter the church again.. then those kids were there and asking where does she (Aeris) gone...

I checked it(with Aeris in my party)and in my version of game Aeris'spirit is standing in front of kids and she is visible for a second, when you just entered the church. Then she disappears before you can even move Cloud.
I thought now-if i have before Don Corneo save, i can prove it(cloud in dress;). I must check it ^^
And first time when you talk to children, they ask Cloud let them take care of flowers for "flower lady". If they see Aeris' guardian spirit, why don't they ask her in person?
Aeris sighting->convenient bug.

You mean anytime after you escape the church from Reno you can return and the kids are there tending to the flowers and still ask where Aerith has gone? I'm sorry, I couldn't quite understand what you posted. :lol: But if that's the case, then the kids were really only asking where Aerith was and not where her ghost went.

Yup :) and so sry about my poor eng.. I guess I have to improve it :P