While I was online a while ago, I noticed a rumor floating around that Aeris was supposed to have been brought back... but that, because of a lack of time to complete the coding, the part was cut from the English version of the game. It made a lot of sense, and I believed it whole-heartedly.
This is what the rumor claims was supposed to happen. Remember that guy in the pipe in Midgar that had absolutely no purpose? Well, in the first CD, you were supposed to get a key back to Midgar and go find the guy. He was dying, and nothing could be done to save him, but Aeris comforted him and he died as his friend, 'the General', looked on.
You went about your merry way until after Aeris died. Then you went back to Midgar and to the spot where the man had died. 'The General' was there, and he inquired about the flower girl. Cloud informed him of the tradgedy, and the man gave Cloud 'underwater materia'.
Then you went to the church where Aeris had *snif* planted the flowers. You spoke with her ghost and, if you had been nice to her, she said she wanted to go with you on your quest. You took the materia and went back to the ancient city and the stairway with the fish, and it opened up again and let you down, allowing you to use the materia to retrieve Aeris.
This is, of course, all rumor. I decided to check it out for myself, so I went to the SquareSoft website. It stated plainly and firmly that there is not and never has been, in the Japanese or American version of the game, any way to resurrect Aeris or prevent her death. *sigh* So much for that hope...
Anyway, although this news greatly depressed me, I felt obligated to inform you all of the truth of the matter... that Aeris really is dead, and that nothing can bring her back.
