Our tale begins in an unlikely place: the Honeybee Inn.
On his quest to complete the ultimate drag outfit with which to infiltrate Don Corneo's Mansion,
Cloud Strife goes to the Don's Honeybee Inn, a house of ill repute located in
Midgar's Wall Market. After a brief (no pun intended) encounter with Mukki, Cloud
decides to take a peek inside the keyholes of some of the other rooms. Inside
the Lover's Room, Cloud spots an old man and woman; the following are selected
snippets of their conversation:
"...I know our son rented this for us and all,
but... it's too nice for us. Big round bed, gorgeous tub, I just can't get comfortable."
"Don't worry about it. It's a high class neighborhood in the Big City."
"...Hey
Grandma. What's the name of the company our son works for?"
"...It's Shinra, you
know, Shinra, Inc.? It's the biggest company in the city."
"If it's the biggest
company, it must be something."
"Yeah. It IS really something. He's doing well,
and he told me that he's been promoted to department head."
"Oh... thanks to him
we're able to stay in a room like this."
"Yeah, I'm really grateful."
Cloud scans the room some more and sees, off to the right, a tiny grey and white cat on top of a fat lavender Moogle. Thinking nothing unusual about this, Cloud continues on to the next room, and the rest of the mission.
Meanwhile, in Shinra Tower, President Shinra is going over the plans to drop the Sector 7 plate. Also present at the meeting are Heidegger, the head of Peace Preservation, and Reeve, the head of Urban Development. President Shinra asks Heidegger how the preparations are coming:
Heidegger: Gya ha ha! Smoothly, very smoothly!
I assigned the Turks to this.
Reeve: President! Are we really going to do this?
Simply destroy a group with only a few members...
President Shinra: You want out?
Reeve: ...No. But as head of the Urban Development
Dept, I have been involved in the building and running of Midgar. That's why...
Heidegger: Reeve, flush your personal problems
with the rest of your crap!
Reeve: The Mayor's against this anyway...
Heidegger: Mayor? He just stis in this building
all day feeding his face! You still call that a Mayor? Now if you'll excuse
me sir.
(Heidegger leaves the office. Reeve starts running
after him and stops short in anger. President Shinra comes up behind Reeve)
President Shinra: You're tired. Why don't you take
a couple of days off and go somewhere?
(Reeve leaves the office)
President Shinra: We'll destroy Sector 7 and report
that AVALANCHE did it. Then we'll send in the rescue operations care of Shinra
Inc. Heh heh heh... this is perfect.
Cut ahead to the Shinra Tower, at the heart of Midgar. Shinra has felled the Sector 7 plate and Tseng of the Shinra Turks has kidnapped Aeris. Now, Cloud, Barret, and Tifa are here at the tower to rescue Aeris before Hojo starts experimenting on her. Stealthily making their way through the building, the group comes to the 64th Floor, home of the employee gym. On an item search in the locker room, Cloud comes across a locker that contains a megaphone. He picks it up, exclaiming, "A megaphone? What good is this?", before putting it back.
Again, Cloud thinks nothing of this.
*****
Cloud and his group continue on until they reach the 66th floor, where they spy in on an executive meeting. As they peek in, Reeve is presenting the damage report for the Sector 7 incident:
Reeve: We have the damage estimates for Sector
7. Considering those factories that we already set up and all the investments,
the damage is estimated at approximately 10 billion gil... The estimated cost
to rebuild Sector 7 is—
President Shinra: We're not rebuilding.
Reeve: What?
President Shinra: We're leaving Sector 7 as it
is, and restarting the Neo-Midgar plan.
Reeve: ...then the Ancients?
President Shinra: The Promised Land will soon be
ours. I want you to raise the Mako rates 15% in every area.
Palmer: Rate hike! Rate hike! Tra la la! And please
include our Space Program in the budget!
President Shinra: Reeve and Scarlet will divide
the extra income from the rate increase.
Palmer: Oh man!
Reeve: Sir, if you raise the rates, the people
will lose confidence...
President Shinra: It'll be all right.. The ignorant
citizens won't lose confidence, they'll trust Shinra, Inc. even more.
Heidegger: Ha ha ha. After all, we're the ones
who saved Sector 7 from AVALANCHE!
As the meeting breaks up, Cloud and the gang continue on up to the lab, where they find Aeris...
Cut ahead again, this time to the Gold Saucer amusement park. Cloud has acquired a new member of his party, Red XIII, and they have traced Sephiroth to this spectacle of the desert. While exploring the various Squares of the Saucer, Cloud eventually finds himself in Wonder Square, where he is immediately confronted by a fortune teller—a cat wearing a crown, red boots and a cape, and riding on top of a giant stuffed Moogle. This cat offers to tell Cloud a fortune:
"Hey you! What're you lookin' so down for? How 'bout it? Want me to read your fortune!? A bright future! A happy future! Oh, but don't hold it against me if it doesn't come true. Oh, so sorry! I'm a fortune telling machine. The name's Cait Sith."
Cloud: You can only read the future?
Cait: You kidding? I can find missing things, missing
people, anything!
Cloud: Then can you tell me where a man named Sephiroth
is?
Cait: Sephiroth, right!? Okay, here goes!! (Moogle
dances)
Cloud: (reading the fortune) "Ordinary luck.
It will be an active fortune. Give into the good will of others, and somethin'
big'll happen after summer." ...Wait... hold on...
Cait: Huh? Let me try that again (Moogle dances)
Cloud: (reading the fortune) "Be careful
of forgetfulness. Your lucky color is... blue?" ...Forget it.
Cait: Wait, wait give me another chance! Wait!
Let me try it again! (Moogle dances really fast)
Cloud: (looking at the fortune) What the?
Aeris: What?
Cloud: (reading the fortune) "What you pursue
will be yours. But you will lose something dear."
Spooked by the cryptic fortune, Cait wishes to see how it will eventually turn out. Thus, he forces his way into Cloud's party.After leaving the Gold Saucer, Cloud and his crew (Cait being the newest member) head toward Gongaga. There, they have a run-in with the Turks, and Tifa suspects that there is a spy in their group who has been tracking them. Cloud doesn't believe this, saying, "I don't even want to think that there's a spy. I trust everyone", and they continue on to Cosmo Canyon, Nibelheim, and Rocket Town without incident.
Soon, the group hears of the Keystone, the gem which opens up the Temple of the Ancients, where the Black Materia is located. In an effort to get to the Keystone before Shinra or Sephiroth do, Cloud and the gang go back to the Gold Saucer, where the Keystone is kept. After retrieving the stone, they find that the Ropeway is down, and they have no choice but to stay at the Ghost Hotel for the night. Later on, as Cloud comes back from a date, he runs into Cait Sith—who has taken the Keystone! After a brief chase, Cloud corners Cait in Chocobo Square, but not in enough time to stop him from tossing the Keystone to Tseng, who takes off in a helicopter. Now Cloud knows the truth: Cait Sith is the spy, sent from Shinra to keep track of Cloud's doings. Needless to say, Cloud is furious:
Aeris: (being Cloud's date in this particular
scenario) I trusted you! I can't believe you!
Cait: I couldn't help it. How 'bout if we go on
like nothing ever happened?
Cloud: No way, cat! You gotta lot of guts acting
like a friend but being a spy!
Cait: Then what are you goin' to do? Kill me? You'd
just be wastin' your time if you tried. This body's just a toy anyway. My
real body's at Shinra Headquarters in Midgar. I'm controllin' this toy cat
from there.
Aeris: So you're from Shinra. Who? Who are you!
Tell me!
Cait: Whoa, I can't tell you my name.
Cloud: We're not gettin' anywhere.
Cait: See? I told you! Talking won't do any good,
so can't we just continue our journey?
Cloud: You think I'm jokin'!?
Cait: ...Alright, yes, I am a Shinra employee.
But we aren't entirely enemies... Something bothers me. I think it's your
way of life. You don't get paid, you don't get priased. Yet, you still risk
your lives and continue on your journey. Seeing that makes me... it just makes
me think about my life. I don't think I'd feel too good if things ended the
way they are now.
Aeris: And so on, and so on...
Cloud: He'll never tell the truth. Once a spy,
always a spy. We can't go on with someone like that. C'mon get real!
Cait: Just as I thought. Talking won't make a bit
of difference. But I prepared something in case this happened. Why don't you
listen to this?
Cait Sith pulls out a two-way radio, from which voices are heard, calling out in desparation:"Papa! Tifa!" Aeris exclaims, "Hey! That's Marlene!" From the radio, Marlene says, "Hey! It's the flower lady! Flower lady..."
Cait: So, you have to do as I say.
Cloud: You're the lowest...
Cait: I didn't want to do this... using dirty tricks
and taking hostages... But this is how it is... no compromises. So why don't
we go on as we did?
So in the end, Cait stays with the group, as they head out to the Temple of the Ancients. When they get there, they find out that the Temple itself is the Black Materia, and can only be transformed from the inside out. Cait overhears Cloud's problem and calls him on his PHS:
Cait: ...Don't forget about me. Everything you said
makes perfect sense! You can use my stuffed body for the future of the Planet.
Cloud: We can't let Sephiroth get his hands on
the Black Materia. And we can't let the Shinra get theirs on it either.
Cait: But Cloud. There's really nothing else you
can do. Everyone, please trust me.
Cloud: I guess we have no choice.
Cait: All righty then! Leave it all to me! Please
hurry, you've got to get out of there! I'll be waiting at the exit!
When Cloud and the others find their way to the exit, Cait Sith bursts through the doors:
Cait: Sorry to keep you waiting!! It's me!! I'll
handle the rest! Well, everyone.. Take care of yourselves!
Aeris: Cait Sith... Come on, Cloud... Say something.
Cloud: I'm not good at this.
Cait: Mmm, I understand. I feel the same too.
Aeris: Why don't you read our fortunes?
Cait: Say, that's right... I haven't done it in
a while, huh? I'm so excited. Right or wrong, I'm still the same 'ol me. Now,
what should I predict?
Aeris: Hmm, let's see how compatible Cloud and
I are!
Cait: That'll cost ya. Exactly one date! Here I
go! (Moogle dances)
Cait: This isn't good. I can't say it. Poor Tifa.
Aeris: No! Tell me! I promise I won't get mad!
Cait: Is that so? Then I'll tell you. Looks good.
You are perfect for each other! Aerith's star and Cloud's star! They show
a great future! Cloud, I'll be your matchmaker, preacher... I'll do whatever
you want me to! You just call me when it all happens!
Cait turns to the doorway, then pauses and says, "Thank you for believing in me, knowing that I was a spy. This is the final, final farewell!"
As Cait bounds toward the Temple's central podium, he ponders Aeris' words. "She told me to 'Be strong.' I feel so happy." Cait's Moogle trips and falls; "Owwww......" Upon getting up, Cait asks,"What happened?" The moogle starts hopping; "I can still move more." Finally, Cait reaches the altar.
Cait: This must be it! The Ancients sure did a great
job making this. I can protect the Planet too! I'm kinda embarrassed...
Cait: There's plenty of stuffed toys like my body
around, but there's only one me! Don't forget me even if another Cait Sith
comes along.
Turning his attention to the altar, Cait says, "Good bye, then! I guess I'm off to save the Planet..." The Temple of the Ancients collapses in on itself, crushing Cait Sith with it. Shortly afterward, a second Cait Sith ("Cait Sith No. 2") shows up to join the party.
Cut ahead to Junon. Aeris has been lost to Sephiroth's blade, Meteor has been summoned, and the WEAPONs of the Planet have been awakened. Cloud has fallen into the Lifestream and remains missing. Meanwhile, Tifa and the others were brought aboard Shinra's airship. A week later, Tifa awakens, finding herself, and Barret, in Junon. Soon, they are escorted to a room to be executed by Scarlet. However, a reporter thwarts the Shinra executive's plans by spraying her with Sleeping Gas... as Barret looks on dumbfounded, the reporter sheds his disguise: it's Cait Sith! After a brief battle with some guards, he approaches Barret and says, "I'm here to help!"
Barret: Why you......? Ain't you part of Shinra?
Cait: Let's just say I'm against capital punishment.
Besides... I hate this broad. Come on, we gotta help Tifa. I'll keep watch
at the entrance.
As Cait guards the door, Barret pulls at the hatch to the Gas Chamber, where Tifa has been trapped. Finding that it won't open, and then finding that they're trapped themselves, Cait tells Barret that they should head for the Airport. They meet up with Yuffie on the way, and eventually reach the Highwind, which they use in a daring attempt to save Tifa.
Later on, after the crew finds a poisoned Cloud in Mideel, Tifa leaves the party to take care of him. Back on board the Highwind, Cait Sith finds out about Scarlet and Heidegger's plan to ram the Huge Materia into Meteor using the Shinra No. 26 rocket. The crew eventually recovers all four Huge Materia, during which Cloud regains conciousness, and he and Tifa rejoin the party.
Cut ahead again, this time to Diamond WEAPON's surfacing from the ocean. Junon's super-cannon, the Sister Ray, has been moved to Midgar, and Reeve is put in charge of overseeing its energy output. Meanwhile, on the Highwind, Cait Sith's controls go haywire as the WEAPON rises up out of the ocean and starts heading toward Midgar:
Cloud: The new weapon should stop him, right?
Cait: I don't know if it's ready or not...
Barret: Hey! What's gonna happen to Marlene!?
Cait: Doncha worry none, Marlene's in a safe place.
She's with Aeris's mama.
Cait: Barret!! What was that scratching just now!?
As long as Marlene is safe, who cares what else happens, right? I been itchin'
to say this to ya fer a while now! When ya blew the Midgar No. 1 up, how many
folks d'ya think died?
Barret: ...that was for the life of the planet.
Ya gotta expect a few casualties.
Cait: A few? Whaddya mean 'a few'? What may be
a few to y'all is everything to them who died...... Protect the planet. Hah!
Y'all sure sound good! Ain't no one that'd go against ya. So ya think ya can
do whatever y'all want?
Barret: I don't wanna hear that from no one in
Shinra...
Cait: ......nuthin' I can do 'bout that...
Cloud: Stop it!
Tifa: Cait Sith...... Barret, he knows what he
did. What we did in Midgar can't be forgotten no matter what the reason. Right?
We haven't forgotten, right? I know you. You can't quit the company because
you're worried about the people in Midgar, right? ......Cloud?
Cloud: (after a pause) OK! Let's go! We'll
beat Weapon ourselves!
The crew are unable to stop Diamond WEAPON, but the Sister Ray does, destroying the energy barrier on the Northern Crater in the process. Unfortunately, a fireball from the WEAPON hits Shinra HQ; in his office, Rufus gets caught in the fireball's path. The other Executives convene in the conference room to decide what to do next.
Heidegger: Strange, I can't reach the President!
Reeve: Not the President. To Sister Ray!
Scarlet: Kya, haa, haa. What is it Reeve? You're
speaking strangely.
Reeve: None of that matters! The reactor's output
is increasing all by itself!
Scarlet: Wait a minute. That's not wise! It must
cool for 3 hours or it won't work. Reeve, shut off the machine!
Reeve: We can't do that! It's inoperable! (picks
up the phone)
"Someone has switched the machine over to mainframe operation! We can't operate it from here."
Reeve: What about the mainframe? Who!? (to Heidegger)
Hey, call the mainframe!
Heidegger: (starts to call, then stops)
Huh? Why are you giving the orders?
Reeve: I don't care how you do it!!
Meanwhile, at the Sister Ray's main controls...
Hojo: Ha, ha, ha... Just you wait, Sephiroth. I'll
give you all the Mako you want.
Reeve: (over the intercom) Hojo, STOP! The
cannon, no, Midgar itself is in danger!
Hojo: Ha, ha, ha... One or two Midgars? It's a
small price to pay.
Reeve: Hojo! HOJO!!
Hojo: Show me... Sephiroth. It should be near.
Ha ha ha... go beyond the powers of science... Before your presence, science
is powerless... I don't like it, but I'll comply. Just... let me see it. Ha
ha ha
And back on board the Highwind...
Barret: YO! Do somethin'! Ya big cat!
Cait: We're sunk. Hojo's doing this on his own...
(...?...? Huh?) I don't like this...
Barret: You're busted, Reeve! Too late tryin' to
hide it now...
Cait Sith's true identity is revealed! However, the situation in Midgar is so tense that no one stops to dwell on this new revelation...
Cloud: Can't you stop the Mako reactor?
Cait: We can't stop it.
Barret: You're from Shinra, ain't ya? So why's
it impossible!?
Cait: ...
Cid: We came a long way to get here. You better
not double-cross us now!
Cait: I can't make you trust me...
Cid: You damn fool! Don't you understand anything
I'm saying? I don't give a damn about Shinra. If you're a man... no, if you're
a human being, you'll save the planet! Don't you even care?
Cait: No way! If we shut down the reactor, all
hell will break loose!!
Cid: Why? Can't you just shut off the valve?
Cait: Yeah, it's easy to shut off the reactor's
pipe valves... But the reactor made a path from below. Once you open that,
it'll be impossible to close it until everything blasts out... And we can't
try to stop the energy from gushing out...
Barret: An explosion!!
Cait: This blast'll be way stronger than when the
Sector 1 Reactor blew up!
Barret: Damn!
Cait: Forget that... the CANNON! We've got to get
to Midgar! That's the first thing!!
Cloud: Must stop Hojo... first
Back in Shinra HQ...
Reeve: Looks like Cloud and the others are on their
way. Stay out of the way!
Heidegger: Gyaa haa ha ha! Don't be foolish! I
don't remember anyone putting you in charge! The Peace Preservation force
will do their best to beat the enemy! Because of them, I... I...
Reeve: That's a private matter...
Heidegger: The President is dead! Now I'm doing
things my way! Gyaa haa ha ha!
Scarlet: Kya, ha, ha! Now I'm going to use the
new weapon!
(Two Shinra MPs enter as Scarlet and Heidegger leave
to activate the Proud Clod. The MPs come up to Reeve, ready to arrest him.)
Reeve: Cloud, everybody! Sorry... But!!
Cait: But! But you'll come, won't you?
With that, the crew parachutes into Midgar, with Cait Sith leading the way.
After defeating the Proud Clod and stopping Hojo, Reeve is essentially the last high-ranking
Shinra official left. The Turks have run away to parts unknown, and the company
is left in ruins. "Shinra's... finished," Cait muses on the Highwind after
Hojo's defeat. On board the ship, Cloud asks the crew to leave for the night,
to discover what it is that they want to fight for, and indeed... if they
even want to fight at all. Much to Cloud and Tifa's suprise, everyone comes
back the next day, ready to make the trip into the Crater to fight Sephiroth.
Reeve's Cait Sith body, which was deactivated when everyone else had left,
springs back to life. Cait bows his head and apologizes. "Uh, excuse me. I
wanted to come with the main group, but I couldn't get away. So some people
in Midgar took me in." So since Reeve couldn't make it in person, he continued using
Cait Sith, and fought the final battle with the robotic cat and Moogle.
After Sephiroth's defeat, the crew barely manages to escape from the crater
on board the Highwind. The ship flies back south, and the heroes on board
watch with horror as Meteor tears Midgar apart. Cait Sith tells everyone that
he's managed to evacuate everyone from the Upper City into the Slums, but even
so... all seems hopeless. Then, without warning, wafts of green light come
from all around the world to surround Meteor. A bright flash of light—and
the game ends on an image of Aeris...
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