Aerith places her hand to her cheek, "maybe she is right my father's death is my fault I should have stopped him I don't deserve to be in this family." She looks over to her cat who is looking at the Soldier building. She strokes her cats fur looking out at the freedom she will never have.
Meanwhile at Soldier the recruits are having a meeting they are going to discuss news on the top soldier Cloud. He is the best Soldier they got he comes out a winner in every mission and the ladies love him, he is also a great model of other boys to join Soldier. Cloud cannot ride his motorcycle without being chased by a sworn of girls. Soldier put him in his own little room with countless luxurious. Cloud had everything every Soldier dreamed about but why was he not satisfied?
Cloud yearned for adventure he wanted to stroll around and outside Midgar without having a mission to do. Cloud sat in his room plotting his escape plan. The next morning Aerith awakes early to find the two other servants whom work with her are up making breakfast. They don't talk much but Aerith is fond of them. They work real hard because there used to be another servant who worked with them. Ami thought he was slacking off and sold him to be sent off to another city so they don't the same fate as the companion.
Aerith smiled as she opened the back door to reveal the sun which was rising behind the mountains. She could smell the fresh air in which she enjoyed. She didn't get to go out often only when her chores were done which was rarely since her stepmother made her work all day and the other time is when she goes to the market to sell the ripe apples growing in the backyard or to buy groceries. The apple trees were her mother's and her project. They planted it before she died and Aerith hated to see that her stepmother was telling her to sell these lovely apples but she dare not defy her stepmother.
She walks over to the tree to see how luscious the apples have grown and begins to pick them. She is distracted by a loud sound coming toward her she turns around to see a motorcycle turn the corner. She is startled and losses her balance from the tree branch and falls in front of the motorcyclist path. The driver was looking back and didn't see the girl in his path. He looks forward to see the 20 year standing in front of him dusting off her dress. He swerves out of the way sending his bike one direction and him the other.
Aerith panics thinking it was Soldier chasing a thief who just stole something. She picks up and apple and throws it at the lifeless body as hard as she could. Cloud felt a sharp pain hit his back bring consciousness back to him. He gets up just to be hit by another apple. Aerith keeps throwing apples at the man unable to get a good look at his face. Cloud yells, "Lady will you stop it." Aerith drops her apples when she sees the Soldier first class outfit. She drops to her knees realizing it was the great Cloud Strife.
She overheard Tifa talking about him and even framed his picture on her wall. Aerith begin to plead, "I am so sorry Cloud I didn't recognize you it was you I thought you were some thief please forgive me and spare me." Cloud looks down to see her dress ripped and dirt all over her he knows right away she is servant, "Never mind that how about an apple and ouch you really have a good arm" he picks up his motorcycle and grabs the apple from Aerith's hand and hands her a coin before jumping on his bike and riding off.
Aerith walks back to the house with the apples. Akko one of the servants grabbed them and was off to sell the apples at the market before she leaves she tells Aerith that the servant that was sold off to work in another city are leaving today. Ami, Yuffie, and Tifa were already gone for the day to go do there daily routines. Aerith rushes to her room and opens the little drawer to reveal a sack of coins. She then walks over to closet which hasn't been open in years she forces the door open which send a cloud of dust into the air. The door slowly opens making a squeaking sound to reveal a row of lovely dresses. She takes out a fancy yellow one. She dusts it off and puts it on.
After zipping up the dress she heard something hit her window. She walks over to see her childhood friend Kadaj waving at her. She motions him to come he enters her room just to burst into laughter, "what are you trying to do act like your stepmother and her 2 daughters?" Aerith places her hand on her hips and says, "No I am going to the market to buy back Tenchi. Akko, Hina and myself miss him. Now will you help me do my hair?" Kadaj doesn't argue and braid back her long chestnut hair.
Aerith leaves the house and takes a shortcut to the market hoping not to see anyone she knew. She arrives in front of a cart with a big cage filled with servants that were sold off. She sees about five of them inside the cage guilty that she could not save them all. She stands in front of the truck with her hand extended out. The man gets out of the truck and demands that she moves. Aerith refuses she lifts up the sack of money, "I am here to buy back my servant Tenchi." The man burst out in laughter and grabs his belly which was shaking with his laughter, "These worthless animals are not for sale missy NOW MOVE" the man yells.