Cloud leaves the inn, and goes to the group. They are joined by the photographer.
Inn
* Innkeeper: So, what do you need, Cloud?
* Where's Sephiroth?
I think you probably know better than I do, but...
Nibelheim
* Mansion
Sephiroth: Hey, stay over here!
* Try to leave
Hey, calm down! Wait over here.
* Right guard: ...Late again.
* Left guard: I was so nervous. I couldn't get any sleep...
* Photographer: Think they'd let me take a picture?
* Tifa's father: If I knew this was going to happen, I would've made mountain climbing off-limits.
* Sephiroth: Once the guide gets here, we're heading out.
Cloud goes to talk to the guards. Tifa runs on, wearing that ruling hat.
Tifa's father: Listen to me, Sephiroth. In case something happens...
Sephiroth: ...Trust me.
Tifa: I'll be all right, Dad! I have two men from SOLDIER with me.
Tifa (to Sephiroth): I'm Tifa. Nice to meet you.
Cloud: Tifa! You're the guide?
Tifa: That's right. It so happens I'm the number one guide in this town.
Cloud (shakes): It's too dangerous! I can't get you involved in this!
Sephiroth: There's no problem if you protect her.
Sephiroth: ...Let's go.
They start to leave.
Umm...
Mr. Sephiroth! Please let me take one picture for a memento!
Tifa, can you ask him for me too?
Tifa turns to look at Cloud. He shrugs. Cloud and Tifa line up for a photo. After a moment, Sephiroth joins them.
Cheeeeese!
Flash. Sephiroth leaves the group again.
Great, thank you!
I'll give each of you a copy once I get it developed.
All leave.
Movie: Flyby of the mountain. Over:
A Mako Reactor was built in Mt. Nibel. The cold mountain air of Mt. Nibel was the same...
Pan over some mountain. The group are walking along.
Nibelheim
* Tifa's father: I hate myself for asking you this, but... Don't take your eyes off Tifa! Hurry up and go back to her side!
* Photographer: What's Sephiroth doing?
* Zangan: Oh? Did you come crying home?
* Innkeeper: Hey, you want to rest?
* Yes, please
It's already been paid for. Go on, get some rest.
* Forget it
Rope bridge
* Tifa: It gets harder from here! Follow me!
She walks on, and the guards take up the rear.
* Guard: Let's hurry.
* Tifa: Uh... the bridge!
Movie: The bridge collapses. Cloud grabs Tifa's hand as she falls.
Some mountain
Cloud and Tifa come around. Sephiroth enters from another part of the mountain, followed by a guard.
Sephiroth: Everyone seems to be all right. Will we be able to get back?
Tifa: These caves are intertwined, like an ant farm... Oh, and Sephiroth... One person seems to be missing...
Sephiroth: It may sound cruel, but we've no time to search for him. We can't go back, so we must go on. We'll travel together from here.
Cave
Cloud: What's this?
Tifa: A mysteriously colored cave...
Sephiroth: It must be the Mako energy. This mountain is especially abundant in it. That's why the Mako Reactor was built here.
Mako fountain
Cloud: ...And what's this?
Sephiroth: A Mako fountain. It's a miracle of nature.
Tifa: It's so beautiful...
Tifa: If the Mako Reactor continues to suck up the energy, this fountain will dry up too...
Sephiroth: Materia. When you condense Mako energy, Materia is produced. It's very rare to see Materia in its natural state.
Cloud: By the way... Why is that that when you use Materia you can also use magic too?
Sephiroth: You were in SOLDIER and didn't even know that?
Sephiroth: ...The knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients is held in the Materia.
Sephiroth: Anyone with this knowledge can freely use the powers of the land and the Planet. That knowledge interacts between ourselves and the Planet calling up magic... or so they say.
Tifa examines the fountain.
Cloud: Magic... a mysterious power...
Sephiroth (laughs): Ha, ha, ha!
Cloud: Did I say somethin' funny?
Sephiroth (shakes): A man once told me never to use unscientific terms like 'mysterious power'! It shouldn't even be called 'magic'! I still remember how angry he was.
Cloud: Who was that?
Sephiroth: Hojo of Shinra, Inc.... An inexperienced man assigned to take over the work of a great scientist. He was a walking mass of complexes.
Tifa: A Mako fountain... So this is where the knowledhe of the Ancients is.
They continue the journey.
Entrance to the Reactor
Tifa: We finally made it. We sure took the long way though.
Cloud: Tifa, you wait here.
Tifa: I'm going inside, too! I wanna see!
Cloud shakes his head. Sephiroth makes to enter.
Sephiroth: Only authorized people are allowed in. This place is full of Shinra's industrial secrets.
Tifa: But!
Sephiroth: Take care of the lady.
Sephiroth and Cloud enter the reactor. The guard stops Tifa. She stamps her foot.
Tifa: Mm, man!
Tifa: Better take real good care of me, then!
Inside, containment area
* Sephiroth
Cloud: This is... Jenova, right? It won't open...
Sephiroth goes to investigate something.
Sephiroth: This is the reason for the malfunction. This part is broken. Cloud, close the valve.
* Sephiroth: Did you close the valve?
* Valve
Cloud kneels and closes it.
* Sephiroth: Why did it break?
He looks through a window, and thinks.
Sephiroth: ...Now I see, Hojo. But doing this will never put you on the same level as Professor Gast.
Sephiroth: This is a system that condenses and freezes the Mako energy... that is, when it's working correctly. Now, what does Mako energy become when it's further condensed?
Cloud: Uh, umm... Oh yeah! It becomes Materia.
Sephiroth: Right, normally. But Hojo put something else in there. ...Take a look.
* Try to change Sephiroth's Materia
Sephiroth: ......
* Sephiroth: Look through the window.
Cloud climbs to the window and takes a look. Inside, we see a humanoid monster. Cloud falls over.
Cloud: Wh... what is that!?
Sephiroth: Normal members of SOLDIER are humans that have been showered with Mako. You're different from the others but still human. But, what are they? They've been exposed to a far higher degree of Mako than you.
Cloud: ...Is this some kind of monster?
Sephiroth: Exactly. And it's Hojo of Shinra that produced these monsters. Mutated living organisms produced by Mako energy. That's what these monsters really are.
Cloud: Normal members of SOLDIER? You mean you're different?
Sephiroth begins to shake, and holds his head.
Cloud: H..hey, Sephiroth!
Sephiroth: No...
Sephiroth: ...Was I?
He draws his sword and starts slashing at the air. Cloud leaps back.
Sephiroth: ...Was I created this way, too?
He starts attacking the pods.
Sephiroth: Am I the same as all these monsters?
Cloud: ...Sephiroth.
He continues attacking the pods for a while, then stops, breathing hard.
Sephiroth: You saw it! All of them... were humans...
Cloud: Human!? No way!
Sephiroth: Ever since I was small I've felt... ...that I was different from the others. Special, in some way.
Sephiroth: But... not like this.
Movie: There is a hiss, and one of the pods breaks open. The monster falls out and lies twitching on the floor.
