Author's Note: Hope you all enjoy this! I'm having so much fun writing it! Aerith is TOTALLY a Cinderella type. That is NOT saying she is passive and weak, because that is never how I pictured Cinderella. I always pictured her as a hard worker, as someone who chose to be loving and kind despite the things life handed her. But that is just my humble opinion.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII/Final Fantasy VII Remake belong to Square Enix.
Once upon a time, in another world, there was a very powerful and energy-inefficient kingdom named Midgar. Midgar had two sides to it: the posh world of the Upper Plate, and the Slums below. Everyone above lived a life of decadent ease: food supplies were never short, there was always enough water, and entertainment was readily available. Meanwhile, on the lower plate – or as some liked to call it, "underneath the rotting pizza" - workers never seemed to make ends meet. Factories were always filled with accidents, the fumes of the Mako Reactors causing sickness and disease daily. The streets were littered of children with empty bellies, their eyes sunken.
The all-powerful Shinra dynasty had ruled over the kingdom for many years. Among its many retainers was a noble man named Professor Gast. He was a man of science, always researching, but he also had a kind heart. He saw the starving families of the slums, the harsh accidents in the unsafe factories, the many deaths of men, women and children...and decided to do something about it. Together with is associate Director Tuesti, he formulated a grand proposal for the king to clean up the slums and make life better for all.
That is, until Professor Gast met...her.
One day inside Shinra castle, he collided into a young woman. She had fallen backward, her thick brown hair covering her face. As she brushed her hair behind her ears, he caught a glimpse of bright green eyes and a lovely, kind face. It was only a few seconds, but it could have lasted forever. The spell was broken when, muttering a quick apology, she stood up and dashed in the other direction. A few moments later Gast saw his associate, Professor Hojo, chasing after her lecherously. So Professor Gast went to see Mayor Domino to find out about this woman.
Ifalna, he had thought to himself. What a lovely name.
She was only a servant girl, and yet she had captured his attention. He made every effort he could to see her, speak with her. She was shy and apprehensive at first, but once realizing his intentions of simply getting to know her, she became much more open. Ifalna proved to be every bit as charming and intelligent as she was beautiful. Being a woman from the slums, she provided marvelous insight that greatly aided Gast and Tuesti's research.
His affection for her only grew as time passed, until he could hide it no longer. Gast was not only surprised when she reciprocated his feelings, but also relieved that she accepted his immediate proposal. A lot of people in the castle had much to say about an esteemed professor marrying a servant girl, but the two of them paid no heed. There couldn't have been two happier people. A short time later, as their love deepened, Ifalna became with child. She bore a perfectly healthy little girl, whom they named Aerith. She was every bit as beautiful as her mother, right down to her bright green eyes.
All was well. Or so it seemed.
Professor Hojo was far too interested in their getting married, particularly in their daughter. He wanted to use her for his twisted, scientific purposes. Hojo knew of Ifalna's true lineage, and devised a plan.
No one in the kingdom of Midgar ever figured out how Professor Gast died. It was very sudden, especially for a man rather young and healthy. But whenever it was brought up in conversation, Professor Hojo seemed strangely knowing about it. But he never said a word. Three months later, Ifalna died under similar suspicious circumstances. However, most everyone simply said she died of a broken heart.
Little Aerith, being only five years old, had no one to care for her. Gast had no living relatives, and Ifalna's family tree was unknown. Reeve Tuesti, being the late Professor Gast's best friend and associate, insisted that he take Aerith into his care. Hojo, however, knew of this and pulled many more strings to put his plan into action. And so it was that Aerith did not end up in the care of someone who cared for her, but of someone who could not care less.
Lady Scarlet never wanted another child. She already had two daughters of her own: Delilah and Jezebel. They were every bit as selfish, spoiled, rude, and conceited as Aerith was not. But after hearing of Hojo's plan and of the large sums of money she could obtain from it, she accepted.
Hojo only had one rule for Lady Scarlet: "Keep the girl alive and in reasonably good health." Scarlet stood by that rule steadfastly.
However, that did not mean that she treated Aerith like a daughter. Far from it. From the time she was a little girl, Aerith was made a scapegoat. She was abused, humiliated, and treated as if she were an animal rather than a human. And yet, through it all, Aerith remained ever gentle and kind. She was still a lovely girl, with light brown hair that curled down her back, bright eyes and a sweet smile. Despite the way she was treated by her stepmother and stepsisters, Aerith chose to look at life in a positive light. She, of all people, knew there was pain and harshness in the world. So she decided to try and make her own little world a good place.
Little did Aerith know, her entire life was about to change.