Aeris is one of the favorite characters of Final Fantasy. She is one of the last true Cetra (Ancient) left. Her parents are Professor Gast, a former Shinra scientist, and Ilfalna, an Ancient. Hojo and Shinra attack Aeris' home, trying to capture Ilfalna and Aeris, but Gast sacrifices his life so his wife and daughter can survive. They run, and make it to Sector 5, where Ilfalna dies, and Aeris is taken in by a foster mother at the train station. Throughout Aeris' childhood, she is chased by Shinra, and their ruthless agency, the Turks. Her adventure begins when she first meets Cloud in Sector 1 of Midgar City, after the explosion of the Sector 1 Mako Reactor. After that short meeting, they meet again, as Cloud falls into a church in the slums, after trying to destroy the Sector 5 Mako Reactor. Cloud saves Aeris from an attack by the Turks, and she joins your team. She is captured by the Turks, though, as Shinra destroyed the plate above the Sector 7 slums in order to destroy Avalanche. She turns herself in in order to save Marlene's life. Cloud and the team make a daring effort to save her by going straight into Shinra HQ to save her. Aeris and Cloud both have feelings for one another as is apparent in the time they spend together at Enchantment Night in the Gold Saucer. They would not have much more time to spend with one another, though. They both head off to the Temple of the Ancients, to try to grab the Black Materia before Sephiroth can, but Sephiroth takes the Black Materia from Cloud. The team figures that their fight to save the planet is over, but Aeris realizes what she must do. She heads to the City of the Ancients, and prays, activating the power of the materia given to her by her mother, Holy, the materia that could defend the planet against Meteor. However, she is killed by Sephiroth as she finished her prayers, in front of Cloud and the others. Cloud emotionally gives Aeris a parting ceremony, unaware of the brave feat Aeris had done, and with a new determination to destroy Sephiroth.