"Over here, Cloud, everyone. The door's unlocked, so just come on into this room. Make yourselves at home," said Bugenhagen.
Nodding to each other, Cloud, Tifa and Barret obediently walked into the room, where Bugenhagen was waiting for them, and he turned around to face them.
"It looks like you're all here. Then let's begin. I'll stand there," said Bugenhagen.
They all went on a platform, which quickly moved and went higher until they stopped beneath a big model of the Planet's solar system.
"This is all so pretty. It's just like the real thing," said Tifa, looking around at the model in amazement and awe, and Cloud could see why in an instant; the model looked almost like the real solar system itself, only in much smaller size.
"Yes, it is pretty good. This is my laboratory…my Planetarium. All the workings of space are entered into this 3D holographic system," said Bugenhagen.
"It just looks like Dyne's fifth grade science project to me," said Barret, shrugging.
Bugenhagen simply laughed in response.
"Appearances can be deceiving, yes? You, the first of AVALANCHE, should know at least that much by now," said Bugenhagen.
Barret turned to face the old man with a very puzzled look on his face.
"You know us? I mean...AVALANCHE?" asked Barret, bewildered.
"Of course. AVALANCHE'S founder was raised in Cosmo Canyon. He had such big dreams for the Planet, moving to Midgar, promising to destroy Shinra. I heard he died not too long after reaching the city," said Bugenhagen.
"There was a train crash in Sector 4 in Midgar, about six or seven years ago, when I was still in training in SOLDIER. They said that he was one of the victims, but now I'm not so sure I believe that, it might just have been another one of their cover-ups," said Cloud.
"I remember hearing about that. And after that, AVALANCHE began putting messages up on the Shinra World-Wide Newsgroup about the guy. Even then, no one really knew who the hell he was. That's how I got introduced to AVALANCHE and became the new leader," explained Barret.
"Well, enough about that. It's time to look towards the future, not the past," said Bugenhagen.
"Hey, a shooting star!" exclaimed Tifa.
A model shooting star suddenly straight flew past them and the model Planets, as if it was actually happening in space, and it quickly flew out of sight.
"Wow, how wonderful," exclaimed Tifa, clearly in awe and amazement, as she stared around at the animated model, which clearly seemed to somehow move of its own free will, as if it all was really happening in reality.
"Yes, this Planetarium certainly is something truly amazing, isn't it now? Well anyway then, let's get back to the subject, shall we? Eventually, all humans will die, reaching the end of their lives. What happens to them after they die? The body decomposes and it returns to the Planet. That much everyone knows. What about their consciousness, their hearts and their souls? The soul also returns to the Planet. And it's not only humans, but also every single living thing on this Planet. In fact, all living things in the universe are the same. The spirits that return to the Planet, merge with one another and roam the Planet," explained Bugenhagen.
"They roam, converge and divide, becoming a swell called the Lifestream. Lifestream, in other words, a path of energy of the souls roaming the Planet. Spirit energy is a word that you should never forget. A new life, children are blessed with spirit energy and they are brought into this world," explained Bugenhagen.
"Then, the time comes when they die and once again, they return to the Planet. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is simply the way of the world. I've digressed, but you'll understand better if you listen to this," explained Bugenhagen.
"Spirit energy makes all things possible. Forests, rivers, and even all living things. Spirit energy is what allows Planets to be Planets. What would happen if all the spirit energy disappeared? The Planet would instantly die, and wither away into dust. These are merely the basics of the Study of Planet Life," explained Bugenhagen.
"If the spirit energy is lost, then our Planet is destroyed," said Cloud, realising this truth.
"Spirit energy is efficient because it exists within nature. When spirit energy is forcefully extracted and manufactured, it can't accomplish its true purpose," explained Bugenhagen.
"You're talking about Mako energy, right?" asked Cloud.
"Yes, indeed. Everyday, Mako Reactors suck up spirit energy, diminishing it. Spirit energy gets compressed in the Reactors and processed into Mako energy. All living things are being used up and thrown away. In other words, Mako energy will only destroy the Planet. At this rate, I'm afraid that it will not be long before the Planet simply just withers away," explained Bugenhagen.
The platform of the Planetarium quickly lowered itself as Bugenhagen operated it, and they all stepped off it, and stood in the room below the Planetarium. Bugenhagen began to speak up again, and everyone else listened intently.
"This is known as the story of the Planets, and those who lived with them. You want to know more? Then you must listen to the words of the elders," said Bugenhagen.
Cloud, Barret and Tifa left Bugenhagen's house and the other houses. Cloud, Tifa and Barret went to the Cosmo candle – a bonfire in the middle of the town, which had been alight for many, many years in Cosmo Canyon as a tradition.
Cait Sith, Red XIII, Aeris and Yuffie were already sitting around it so Cloud, Barret and Tifa sat around it as well, all of them lost in their own thoughts.