Gaming | Analysis
The True Nature of Reality: Eternity, Core to Understanding Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Eternity, Destiny, and The Fates meet The Lifestream and The Edge of Creation
Y’know… If you think about it, life and death are just two sides of the same coin. Our bodies may disappear when we die, but our spirits still live on. We return to the planet, rejoin the lifestream, and — in time — give rise to new life. — Aerith
The Golden Thread
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth has a lot to say, with a finale in need of much to unpack. Discussions of multiverses and various versions of each character, living or not living, abound. I want to take a step back and do a focused analysis of The True Nature of Reality scene — that is core to understanding the events of Rebirth, connect to Remake, the original Final Fantasy VII and lay groundwork for understanding Part III of the Remake Series.
Aerith’s Answer of Life and Death
Before analyzing this key scene, let’s briefly rewind to before Cloud goes full Gollum-mode. The party, save Cloud himself, faced their individual tragedies. They stand in a circle, sullen, and Aerith steps forward to deliver a speech. Let’s focus on what she says in the beginning:
Y’know… If you think about it, life and death are just two sides of the same coin. Our bodies may disappear when we die, but our spirits still live on. We return to the planet, rejoin the lifestream, and — in time — give rise to new life.
I’d suggest watching for the full impact. The quote ends at 0:38.
Final Fantasy VII deals in many important themes and among them, Faith, is important. Aerith is a figure of faith and in this key moment, she steps forward to battle the group’s despair and renew their hope. Keep her words in mind as we consider the following scene.
The True Nature of Reality… Threads
Cloud was just in the church with Aerith. She gave him the white materia before pushing him down through a prismatic portal. This space will reoccur from this point onwards through to the end of the game. I think it is an important distinction to note that it is Aerith that brings him to the ‘dream’, as she calls it, where she eventually brings him to the church — and it is her that pushes him into this space.
Cloud is encircled by Light Whispers. They indicate a protective nature to me, which is highlighted when Dark Whispers appear and begin to attack. The Light Whispers fend them off.
Sephiroth appears, which means that he too has access to this space, and begins to instruct Cloud. It is clear throughout all iterations of Final Fantasy VII that Sephiroth manipulates Cloud. His perspective is not to be wholly disregarded, but it should be kept in mind that he tells half-truths serving his own intentions.
SEPHIROTH: Behold… The true nature of reality.
Saying that this is a loaded introduction from Sephiroth would be an understatement. As mentioned before, Sephiroth has his own intentions for revealing information and Cloud is here because of Aerith, following which Sephiroth immediately intervenes and begins to explain.
S: When the boundaries of fate are breached, new worlds are born.
Visions of different events and scenes play before Cloud’s eyes. A thrumming hymn plays with purpose. A consistent weaving of prismatic light plays throughout the space. Something that is very clear: this appears entirely differently than the Lifestream we saw with Tifa, chapters before.
S: The planet encompasses a multitude of worlds, ever unfolding. Some quickly perish…while others endure. Yet even the most resilient worlds are doomed to fade. Nevertheless, their loss is not to be mourned. For it is not death, but a homecoming that awaits them. And in the planet’s embrace, all life is as one.
The word encompass means: ‘surround and have or hold within’ and this is ever unfolding or revealing. This is all consistent with what we know of the Lifestream. He says all life is as one, yet there are multitudes of them ever unfolding.
SEPHIROTH: All born are bound to her. Should this world be unmade, so too shall her children.
Subtitles in italics here appear to be quotes Cloud recalls from memory.
All born of the planet are bound to her. The word ‘world’ here is supposed to be a continued reference to the planet, as a direct quote from the past that Cloud is recalling. Sephiroth was speaking of the planet — and he always refers to the planet as her. The structure would then continue that when he says ‘all born are bound to her’, this still attributes to the planet. The reference to children again calls back to this entire discussion around the planet.
AERITH: He’d tell you that he only cares about the planet. That he’d do everything in his power to protect and preserve it. But this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be.
Cloud recalls that Aerith says this, casting doubt. What isn’t the way it’s supposed to be? I’m wrestling with this statement. Though, it derives from the destruction of Fate and the consequences that Sephiroth has elaborated on here. More later.
S: Listen to the planet, Cloud. To her ecstatic cries — her rapture.
CLOUD: Screaming — It’s screaming!
S: Oh, Cloud… I thought you might finally understand.
This illustrates a clear difference of perspectives. Sephiroth declares the cries of the planet are of ecstasy of rapture. Cloud hears screaming. We can hear screaming too, confirming the difference for ourselves, despite Sephiroth’s suggestion that Cloud just doesn’t understand.
SEPHIROTH: Cloud, lend me your strength. Let us defy destiny… together. Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it? Let’s see.
Call back to defying destiny in Remake with the outcome that Sephiroth wanted. The number seven is a deep religious symbol worthy of exploring within the context of Final Fantasy VII. The statement ‘seven seconds till the end’ will likely be fully realized, but I do not think it will until the final encounter of the final game.
S: Let go of the past, Cloud. For the future is bright. We are to bear witness to the reunion of worlds.
Both Aerith and Sephiroth have suggested letting go of the past within this same chapter, though referencing different things with very different intentions. Aerith wanted her friends to let go of despair and be driven to pressing forward to make things right. Sephiroth throughout this scene has presented a ‘true nature of reality’. A distorted nature of reality. It isn’t the way things are supposed to be.
C: The reunion.
[distorted mind effect]
C: Re…un…ion[distorted mind effect ends]
C: Leave me out of it.
Noting that the dialog following the distorted mind effect is not in italics, which, if intentional, means that this is not something that Cloud is recalling as a direct memory of his. This is something that Jenova and Sephiroth are trying to force into Cloud’s mind, but that he catches as tampering, and he directly refutes it to Sephiroth.
S: *Hm*. How very stubborn of you. Perhaps you need…a little push.
S: I give you…my blessing.
Sephiroth toys with him, but also seems to be the direct source with which Cloud is able to leave this place and continue.
Eternity, Fate, The Edge of Creation, and Threads
Okay, there are a lot of details, but what does it all mean? As suggested earlier, this space shares many similarities to the Lifestream, Aerith has access to it and will continue to utilize it later in the game. Sephiroth also has access to it. But it is very clear that this is not the Lifestream, at least not how it originally was. We have experienced the Lifestream firsthand with Tifa. There appears to be existing variations of the Lifestream that interweave and interconnect at this point in the game and that we will pass through as we play through the final chapter and extended boss gauntlet of the game; the true Lifestream, The Edge of Creation, and Eternity.
The Lifestream, A Brief Overview
The Final Fantasy VII wiki defines it: “also known as spirit energy and mana, is an ethereal substance that streams beneath the surface of the planet of Gaia introduced in Final Fantasy VII. When within the planet, it appears as many separate bands of green-white fluid flowing as a whole. In several places, such as Mt. Nibel and Mideel, mako springs shoot out of the ground, creating a local spectacle.” This quote from Cosmo Canyon from an NPC adds: “…spiritual energy is actually a manifestation of our knowledge and memories… our hopes and dreams.” This is reiterated by Aerith and with the existence of the White Materia’s various states of being full or empty. Remake presented Heralds of Fate that protect a natural order of things.
The Edge of Creation, A Brief Overview
Sephiroth confronts Cloud and the party here at the end of Remake, where Heralds of Fate seek to confront him. He is able to trick Cloud and the party into destroying Fate. Remake series Sephiroth seems a much wiser and patient Sephiroth than the one in the original game. Cloud and the group successfully stop Meteor and defeat Sephiroth in the original game. Sephiroth was already a part of the Lifestream and was changed, he continued to persist and found a way to change things.
Eternity
The place of white and prismatic energies, I am going to call Eternity. It exists outside of time, where ever unfolding threads and possibilities pass before the eye. The Lifestream is distorted and chaotic, the screams of the planet are heard. Sephiroth is able to dwell in Eternity and manipulate the threads, acting as the Nordic Norns weaving through outcomes and drawing them together, then like the Greek Fates he snips them. Sephiroth is directly manipulating an outcome where he wins. After Aerith activates her White Materia with her prayer and death, she has been empowered within the Lifestream. She is able to act outside of time and manipulate Eternity. She can preserve Zack, she can pass the White Materia with Cloud through Eternity, she gains influence over the Light Whispers to fight against Sephiroth, protect her friends, and even delay Cloud so that her prayer and sacrifice complete the activation of the White Materia. During the final battle, Zack passes through Eternity and helps Cloud battle Sephiroth at The Edge of Creation. After Sephiroth removes Zack, Aerith herself appears and directly changes The Edge of Creation.
Research Is Ongoing
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this rough first draft. I am gathering more information playing Remake and Rebirth. Bringing this information together has made me want to review the original Final Fantasy VII with a focus on these concepts. I also believe important information about the Lifestream is prevalent throughout Final Fantasy X and is in need of analysis. I intend to prune away unnecessary information where needed and would like to primarily analyze these ideas of Eternity in the context of Final Fantasy VII, but include further analyses from religion and philosophy.
Enjoyed what you read? My name is Brandon and I write about games, game development, storytelling, history, folklore, wanderlust, or short stories. To see my stories appear on your feed, I’d love for you to follow me [Brandon Trimble]. And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to my newsletter.
