While walking down the S6-5 Road, Lailah caught a glimpse of something in the distance. She walked ahead to see the bright and colorful lights were actually buildings. She saw a wall built around the lit-up area. She titled her head in confusion as Cloud and Aerith joined her.

Cloud also spotted the town in the distance. "And that's...?"

"The underside of Sector 6. "Wall Market." A real special place," Aerith said. "But...I'm sure you two already knew that, right?"

"We didn't tell you? I enlisted pretty much right after I left home, and Lailah only arrived in Midgar a little while ago. We dunno much about this place, or any of the slums," the blonde explained.

"Well, it took a lot of people to build Midgar. And they all needed to blow off steam. So some traders built an entertainment district. Inns, shops, bars, the works. Folks started pouring in from all over. Business was booming, money was flowing... Which attracted the attention of some guys who...didn't much care for the law."

"And now there isn't any."

"Right. But instead of trying to solve the problem, the government decided to just wall it in. And that's how Wall Market began. "Out of sight, out of mind," as the old saying goes. For the folks in charge, there's no better way to deal with it."

Cloud started walking in the direction of Wall Market when he saw Lailah wander down the road a little ways. "So it's like a giant veil."

Aerith caught up to them. "Yeah. Wanna see what's behind it?"

"Not really."

Lailah, on the other hand, was curious. Never had she seen a place lit up in such a manner, but she did want to avoid it because of the dangers it might posses. She then felt a hand wrap around her wrist.

Aerith had been the one to grab not only the shapeshifter's wrist but Cloud's as well. "That's good—'cause I know a better way to get to Sector 7." She pulled them towards a tunnel and released them. "One that—tragically—doesn't go through Wall Market. And it's just through this tunnel here. At least it was, back when I was a kid."

The snowy-haired girl peered down the tunnel. She wondered about this shortcut Aerith was talking about until she heard a familiar roar. It was the one she heard while infiltrating Mako Reactor 5. It had to be Boreas.

Aerith and Cloud also heard the roar.

"What was that?" the girl asked.

Lailah looked up to see the white-scaled dragon soaring above Wall Market. She could imagine the horror and confusion he was causing and knew she had to step in. Looking over her shoulder, she met Cloud's gaze.

"Be careful," he told her.

She nodded with a grateful smile. Running down the path, she transformed into a bird and flew toward the dragon. She rammed her body into Boreas' to grab his attention. He growled and slammed back into her as he flew away from Wall Market.

She followed him all the way to an open area. Turning back, she stood in front of the beast. She wasn't bothered by his ferocious glare.

Once Boreas calmed down, he spoke to her. "You are alive and well. Good. This world needs you." He lowered his head and nudged his snout against her abdomen. "Do you believe you are worthy of my blessing, Rhea?"

Lailah's eyes narrowed in confusion. She wasn't familiar with the name.

Boreas chuckled at her confusion. "You were too young to learn of your heritage. I shall enlighten you." He laid down and told her the knowledge she lacked of who she truly was. "You may believe your mother to be of ancestral descent, but you would be wrong. Your mother was Gaia herself, the goddess of life who once resided within this planet. She left the core to birth the Twelve Deities, you being one of them. Rhea is your true name that would have been bestowed upon you once you turned of age. However, that day did not come. You escaped the bloodshed and wandered the land for a year before coming across Nibelheim. You grew up alongside humans, naïve of who you truly were."

Lailah was in disbelief at the truth. She tried to wrap her head around the information.

The dragon lowered his head a second time and sniffed her. "It seems Gaia has given you vellabloom. Will you use it to regain your voice?"

She nodded and patted the pocket the vial was in.

Boreas lifted his head. "Now, I will ask again: Do you believe you are worthy of my blessing?"

Lailah looked away unsurely. She didn't feel worthy of any of the ancestral beasts' blessings.

The dragon spoke with a joyful tone. "Your doubt is proof enough. I bless you with my powers, Rhea."

With a powerful roar, Boreas passed on a portion of his power to her. Once he bestowed his blessing, he took to the sky and vanished.

Lailah waved to the beast before looking around the open area. She could see Wall Market in the distance and knew which way she needed to rendezvous with Cloud and Aerith. Transforming into a bird, she flew through the sky and searched the area around the Sector 7 gate. Near the gate, she spotted a playground and saw Cloud and Aerith. Swooping down, she landed on the street and reverted.

"Lailah!" Aerith shouted excitedly. She and Cloud climbed off the playground equipment they were sitting on top of. She jogged over to the snowy-haired girl with a smile. "Your markings are blue. Did something happen?"

The shapeshifter pulled out her notebook. She wrote down her answer.

'Boreas gave me his blessing.'

"Boreas... Boreas..." Aerith tapped her chin while thinking. She then gasped in realization. "Oh! The beast of the Glacies Tribe."

"You know a lot about her people," Cloud commented.

"Yep!" she cheerfully replied. "I've loved the Children of Gaia ever since I was little. When I was growing up, I learned everything I could about them. Mom also knows a lot about them because she's met quite a few of them. She even was able to visit Tellus herself with their blessing."

This confused Lailah. Her mother, Gaia herself, has told her they didn't converse with humans. She wondered how Elmyra was able to visit Tellus let alone know where it was located. Then again, she didn't know how Shinra found her home but they did and laid waste to it.

Aerith, realizing she said too much, tried to change the subject. "Now then, let's get into Sector 7!" She jogged over to another cat-like playground gym. Once Cloud and Lailah joined her, she held out her hand towards the playground equipment. "Here. This won't take long." She crawled through the opening.

Lailah bent down and peered inside alongside Cloud. She tilted her head in confusion. How was playground equipment supposed to help them get back into Sector 7?

"Ready! Wanna get to Sector 7 in style? This is the passageway for you." Aerith crawled out after removing the manhole cover.

Lailah and Cloud exchanged looks, knowing it was time for Aerith to go home.

"So..." Cloud and Aerith said in unison.

Lailah smiled in merriment while Aerith giggled. "Go ahead."

Neither he nor Lailah moved.

"You gonna be okay getting home?" Cloud asked.

"And if I said I wasn't?" she asked.

"We'll go with you," he said, starting to walk off in the direction of the collapsed expressway.

"Thought you needed to get back?" Aerith chuckled. "Don't worry. I have a backup route for emergencies. And it's safer too."

Lailah still didn't feel like leaving Aerith. She had broadcasted her concern on her face, which was noticed by the girl.

Aerith stepped closer to the shapeshifter and squeezed her cheek gently, smiling. "You're too adorable when you worry, Lailah. Just like Cloud when he doesn't know how a high-five works."

The ex-SOLDIER looked away when Lailah gazed at him questioningly. She wasn't sure what happened in her absence, but now she wanted to know.

Noticing Cloud was becoming embarrassed, Aerith released Lailah's cheek and asked, "Guess this is it, then. Ready?"

The couple nodded and were ready to return to Sector 7.

Just as they were about to crawl into the gym, the gate to Sector 7 opened. They watched a carriage pulled by a chocobo turn down the side road leading to Wall Market. Cloud caught a glimpse of who was riding in the back of the carriage.

"Tifa?!" The ex-SOLDIER ran after the carriage, leaving behind a puzzled Aerith and a stunned Lailah. He caught up to the carriage and hopped onto the back.

Tifa gasped and jumped out of her seat, falling to her knees at seeing him. "Cloud! You're alive! I thought we'd lost you! A-And Lailah, she's..."

"She's okay," he told her. "What's going on?"

Tifa shushed him for being too loud. "Shh. I'll explain everything later. But now, I'm on my way to see Don Corneo. You and Lailah should head back to Seventh Heaven, meet up with the gang."

Cloud was reluctant to leave. "But—"

She smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine. You've seen how much ass I can kick."

"I have..." Cloud begrudgingly hopped off the carriage. He watched it disappear before turning to return to Aerith and Lailah.

Both girls were already there. Aerith placed her hands on her hips. "Oh no you don't. You're going after her."

"She's a big girl. She can handle the likes of him. And worse," Cloud remarked.

She dropped he hands from her hips. "Uh-uh. You don't know Corneo. It doesn't matter how strong or smart you think you are. He'll find a way to turn it against you. And where's she going to meet him? A mansion filled with his goons. Come on. Aren't you worried what might happen in there? You have to help her! What do you say, Lailah?"

The shapeshifter nodded with a look of determination. She was more than ready to save Tifa from Corneo.

"All right!" She grabbed her hand and tugged her down the road. She did the same to Cloud. "Come on!"

Cloud didn't argue. "'Kay."

The trio headed in the direction the carriage went. It wasn't long before they arrived on the outskirts of Wall Market. They found the carriage Tifa had been riding in and approached the man by the chocobo.

"Hey there! Where you headed?" The stablehand greeted them.

"You gave a ride to a girl earlier. Do you have any idea where she went?" Aerith asked kindly.

The man waved them off and went back to tending to the chocobo. "No, and if you don't need a ride, then get the hell outta here. Can't you see I'm trying to work?"

"Can't say I can, no," Cloud remarked.

This irked the stablehand. "What'd you say to me, you little—"

The chococbo jumped into the air with a squawk, alerting another man who was inside the building. The doors swung open as he stepped outside. "What's all the ruckus out here?" He saw the trio. "Hmm... I don't know you. What's your story?"

"We're looking for a girl who took one of your carriages," Aerith explained. "Can you help us find her?"

"Depends. What d'you want with this girl of yours?"

"Guess. We want to save—" Cloud started but was interrupted by Aerith.

"Save her from a life without this handsome guy and this beautiful girl!"

Lailah's eyes widened when Aerith dragged her into it.

"So that's how it is, huh?" The man inquired. "Well, I get a lotta customers. Hard to keep track of 'em all. This girl, what's she look like?"

"Well..." Cloud glanced over at Lailah for help. The girl shrugged, figuring it would be difficult to describe her seeing as she didn't get a good look at what Tifa was wearing. He decided to answer with, "Um...she's a great fighter."

"I'm not sure that helps," Aerith commented.

Fortunately, the man knew who he was talking about. "Wait a minute, you talking about Tifa?"

"That's her," he stated.

"Oho, looks like someone's got a bit of a crush! And here I thought you were with this little lady," he rebuttaled, gesturing to Lailah. "Hate to break your heart, kid, but it's gonna be a long while before she sees the light of day again."

Lailah didn't even bother to correct the man. She simply crossed her arms and let Cloud handle him.

"What do you mean?" the ex-SOLDIER questioned.

"She's a real pretty girl. Corneo's hosting another audition, and Tifa was chosen as a candidate," he exclaimed.

"An audition for what?" Aerith asked.

"For the title of the next Mrs. Corneo. She's what he likes, all rolled into one sweet package. Having scouted girls for so long, I know his tastes better than my own. And considering those tastes, I can guarantee you this: she won't be walking out of that mansion anytime soon...if at all."

Cloud asked the next question. "So where can we find this Don Corneo?"

"What're you asking for? Thinking of raising holy hell or something? Do what you gotta, but—" The man took a closer look at Lailah. He saw the blue markings on her face. "You're that gal from the reactor 5 incident."

Lailah tensed. How did they know she was involved? She unconsciously took a step back while Cloud placed himself between her and the stranger. "No idea what you're talking about," he tried to lie.

"There ain't no way of hidin' it," he said. "Some hacker hacked into the Shinra database and found images and videos of you. You could say you're a star here in Wall Market. Some fellas even started a fan club. Something 'bout the "mysterious beauty" with strange markings."

"A fanbase...?" Aerith muttered.

"Seein' you're the girl from the photos, I could make an exception and squeeze you into the audition. But you gotta spruce up. How 'bout it?"

Cloud was about to deny the offer but Aerith intervened. "She'll do it!"

The blonde turned to her in disbelief. Lailah was also taken aback.

"Then you're in luck," the man stated. "I've got some spare dresses left behind by some of the other girls I picked up. Come inside when you're ready." He walked back into the building.

Lailah was frightened at the idea of doing the audition, but she decided it would be the easiest way to get to Tifa. If she could break her out, then they could go home together. She was torn from her thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to do this, Lailah," Cloud said.

The snowy-haired girl swallowed the lump that had been forming in her throat. She shook her head and decided she would do this for Tifa. Taking a deep breath, she entered the building and found the man. She learned his name was Sam and he showed her the dresses. She picked out one, changed, and styled her hair. She slid the golden moon clip into her hair, which was the finishing touch.

Lailah examined her appearance in the mirror before deciding she was ready. Before leaving, she slid the vial of vellabloom into the golden sash of the dress. She tried to push aside her nervousness as she stepped out of the spare room. She headed downstairs to where Sam was waiting.

"You can't miss Corneo's place. It's the giant one at the center of Wall Market," he told her. "If you survive, come back here."

His words caused her nervousness to escalate tenfold. She forced herself to move to the front door but stopped when Sam said, "Before you go, take this." He tossed her a coin and she caught it. "It's your way into the audition. Good luck, little lady."

She held the coin tightly and exited the building. She immediately saw Cloud and Aerith staring at her, stopping her in her tracks. She was tempted to run back inside.

Cloud continued to stare in awe while Aerith smiled and walked up the stairs to her. "You look beautiful, Lailah. I know Cloud's thinking the same thing." She assisted her down the stairs and then nudged her towards the ex-SOLDIER with a mix between a smirk and a smile. "You better keep her close, Cloud. Wall Market is a dangerous place."

Lailah rubbed her arms. She appreciated Aerith's compliment but it didn't get rid of her nervousness. Her attention was drawn to Cloud when he offered her his hand. She slid her hand into his, feeling some of her anxiety wash away.

Cloud squeezed her hand. "Let's go."

Aerith smiled and followed behind the couple as they walk through the entrance of Wall Market. Even as they were walking through the streets and people were looking their way, Cloud didn't let go of Lailah's hand. He could see the attention she was getting because of the way she was dressed. He thought she looked amazing in the dress, but he didn't appreciate the stares of strangers. He pulled her closer after seeing a small group of people approaching them.

Seeing the group walking towards them, Lailah noticed they had paint on their faces in a fashion that resembled her markings. Then, she recalled what Sam told them—she had a fan club. What confused her was the headbands they were wearing. They had fluffy white dog ears on them.

"Aaahhh!" One of the girls shouted as she ran the rest of the way. She attempted to grab Lailah's free hand, but Cloud intercepted her by pushing his girlfriend behind him.

"She's actually here!" a boy hollered as he and the rest of the group caught up.

They tried to get to Lailah, but Cloud wouldn't budge. He acted as her shield to protect her from the group of strangers. Glaring at them, he said, "Don't touch her."

Aerith stepped forward and examined the group. "What's with the hair bands and face paint?"

"They're to show our support for the super cool girl who stood against that crazy Shinra robot," the redhead boy said. "Those assholes got what they deserved."

"It was so cool seeing you transform!" a blonde-haired girl giggled.

"Hey, wasn't this guy with her too?" the brunette girl asked while pointing at Cloud.

"He definitely was!" The sable-haired boy answered. "Spiky was kickin' ass with her!"

The redhead clasped his hands together. "Could you come with us to our fan club? We'd love to get to know more about you! You can even bring your boyfriend and sister!"

"We don't have time for this," Cloud remarked. He tried to push past them but they didn't budge. "We've got somewhere to be."

"W-Well, maybe we can help you get to where you need to go," the blonde girl offered. "Where are you heading?"

"To Corneo's audition," Aerith replied before lying. "My sister has an audition."

The fan club gasped.

"N-No way! You can't seriously be going there!" The redhead boy protested. "That guy's a creep and a weirdo!"

"Don't worry," Aerith smiled. "There's no way Cloud or myself is going to let Corneo have her. We're just playing along to get inside."

"Well, in that case..." The sable-haired boy pointed to his left. "Corneo's place isn't far from here. Just keep walking down this path until you reach the store and take a left. It's straight up that way. You can't miss it."

"Thank you," Aerith beamed gratefully.

They followed the directions given to them by the fan club and found Corneo's mansion. While crossing the bridge, Aerith stared at the large structure. "Check it out! I think we might've found our man...and he's a gaudy one."

"Yeah," Cloud chuckled lightly.

Lailah stared at the large building. She stopped on the bridge, feeling her anxiety taking over. Placing a hand over her chest, she exhaled a shaky sigh and forced herself to follow Cloud and Aerith.

Cloud pushed open the two large doors. Aerith and Lailah followed him into Corneo's mansion. They approached three men standing before the ornate doors in the back of the room.

A silver-haired boy, known as Leslie, stopped Cloud. "Not so fast, buddy. Back it up. Got no need for pretty boys here."

"We're looking for someone," the ex-SOLDIER explained.

"Lemme guess. First time in Wall Market."

"Yeah, so?"

"So people can't just walk through the don's front door. Especially men," he retorted.

Steeling herself, Lailah stepped forward. She tossed the coin Sam gave her to Leslie.

He caught it and saw it was a gold coin with a chocobo printed on both sides. He looked up at the girl and met her gaze. "Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?"

Lailah nodded. She thought she saw a hint of reluctance flash through his eyes but figured it was a figment of her imagination.

The man standing to Leslie's right stepped toward the snowy-haired girl with a smirk. "She's a real beauty. You're that chick from those photos and videos, right? I recognize those markings and that hair. I bet she'd make a nice toy if Corneo decides to choose someone else."

On behalf of Lailah, Aerith got angry over such vulgarity. "Cloud...requesting permission to kill."

Cloud, too, was glaring daggers at the lackey. He was tempted to swing his own blade at him for saying such a thing about Lailah. In the end, he decided to keep the peace. "Denied."

Leslie put the coin in his pocket. "Since you've got Chocobo Sam's approval, I'll let you in. Are you ready?"

Lailah took a deep breath to calm herself. Now that she was ready, she went to take a step toward Leslie. However, Cloud seized her wrist and stopped her. She whipped her head around, eyes locking with his. She could see how worried he was about her.

"It's not too late to find another way," he said.

She looked away, wondering how long it would take to find a second option. Even if they did, it might be too late to save Tifa. She shook her head and forced a smile.

He tightened his grip on her wrist just a little. "If you and Tifa aren't back soon, we're coming for both of you."

She felt some relief at his words, but she still worried about what would be waiting ahead of her inside the mansion. As his hand slid from her wrist, she turned back to Leslie. Once again, she saw a look of turmoil on his face. Like before, it vanished within seconds. He and the two other lackeys led her through the ornate doors.

As the large doors began closing, she looked back at Cloud. Their eyes met one last time before the door closed.