Aerith Gainsborough

Aerith is the last of the Cetra, an ancient race with powerful magical abilities. Because of this, the Shinra Electric Power Company has hunted her throughout her life, seeking to exploit her powers. She meets Cloud Strife in Midgar and the two become close, leading her to join his quest to fight Shinra and hunt down Sephiroth. Aerith is upbeat, carefree, and joyful, being flirtatious towards Cloud and compassionate towards others.

Aerith is compassionate, upbeat, and joyful, as well as street-smart with a spunky and cocky attitude. Aerith maintains a hopeful and positive outlook in the face of sadness and danger, cheering the others on when she can and always tries to see the good in people. She is nonetheless still able to identify an unequivocal evil in the form of Shinra and Sephiroth. Against such threats, Aerith wishes to help however she can, but is morally opposed to violence and sees it as a last resort. Of course, she is not above harboring resentment for those who wrong her, although she puts on a front of cold defiance and conceals her weaknesses when distressed. Aerith loves nature, particularly flowers, and tries to commune with them.

Aerith craves freedom and the ability to make decisions for herself. Raised in the slums of Midgar, she is almost entirely unfazed by the danger of monsters or Shinra. Aerith is familiar with the slums, imparting her knowledge to Cloud, and has grown to love her surroundings for the few flowers that grow, as well as the passions of the denizens, to the point that she wants to stay.

Aerith is quick to make friends, as can be seen with Cloud, Tifa, Marlene, and Red XIII. Aerith supports them and pushes them forward, though she also relies on them to have her back when she is unsure of herself. his can be seen in her close friendship with Tifa, whom Aerith greatly admires for her beauty and fighting skills: Aerith helps put Tifa's mind at ease when she is distressed, while Tifa in turn promises to protect her and help find a way through her struggles.

As the last living Cetra, Aerith has many unique powers in her ability to commune with the planet's life force. This leads her to being able to sense the loss of life around the world, seen most clearly with the loss of Elmyra's husband. he exact means of her communication with the planet are unknown: though Aerith talks to flowers, she confessed to Cloud that they do not simply have a conversation with her, but nonetheless, she believed that they had something important to say.

In combat, Aerith is a powerful mage who wields staves and cast spells. Her limit break abilities have primarily defensive and supportive powers. For instance, Healing Wind allows her to heal her allies, Fury Brand empowers their own limit breaks, Seal Evil renders enemies harmless, and both Planet Protector and Great Gospel allow her to render them invulnerable. Aerith calls forth these powers by communing with the planet directly and asking it to bless them.