The Secret Sweetheart was a seasonal event in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis. Coinciding with St. Valentine's Day, this event takes place in a festive alternate reality of the Sector 7 slums created by a portal in the lifestream.
Synopsis[]
While exploring the Mythril Mine, the party is once more drawn through a portal back to Seventh Heaven, where Valentine's Day prep is underway. But, once again, the local shops are out of ingredients for the sweets and treats Tifa, Aerith, Red XIII, and now Yuffie plan to bake. Barret arrives perplexed by the goings-on, but the ladies explain that they want to bake for Cloud in appreciation of all that he has done thus far. With his query answered, Barret joins in.
Soon after, the area is attacked by chocolate flans, from which the group gets the ingredients they need as they swiftly dispatch the fiends.
Cloud walks in after the battle, with the gang pressuring him to eat the sweets and smile; they were apparently told that putting a smile on the mercenary's face would bring happiness. Cloud refuses to yield to the crowd, but examines his gifts moments later as they leave.
What happens next depends on the party that fought the Sweet House, a treat-themed Hell House fought in the Score Battles of this event:
- Yuffie: Some time later, Yuffie meets Cloud at the arena near Wutai, where she admits to making treats as part of a plot to have him give up the party's materia. Cloud rebuffs her despite her dogged persistence.
- Aerith: Cloud meets Aerith at her church in Sector 5, where he brings the treats she baked (he had not yet sampled them), and offers to sit with her and chat while they try her creations. She also admits to spreading the rumor about him. Unfortunately for the pair, Aerith's confections are overdone, with Cloud commenting that his jaw is getting a good workout. Aerith tries them next and says they are awful, that she must have missed something while baking as she is not a skillful baker. However, Cloud cheers her up, promising that she will get her next batch right.
- Tifa: Cloud heads out with Tifa at the Water Tower in Nibelheim, when night is already settled. Cloud seems hesitant at first, before greeting his friend. He thanks Tifa for her chocolates which were really good in his opinion. He then casually says that he should thanks the one who started the rumor. Tifa shyly admits that it was her. When Cloud asks why, she answers that she wanted to see his smile. Cloud then sits next to her, asking what was the use of the rumor if it was fake. Tifa denies it, comparing how the smile of the customers makes her happy every time. She adds that Cloud's smile was even more special with how rare it is. Cloud replies that he smiles all the time. Tifa, not believing him, challenges him to actually smile and Cloud failed spectacularly. As she laughs, Tifa explains that he seems more scary than genuinely happy. She then apologizes to laugh at him and offers some chocolates, which Cloud gladly take, praising her once more for her cooking skills. At the moment, Cloud's smile was exactly what Tifa wanted to see and when she tells Cloud, he replied a bit playful that it will cost her to see it once again. It only fuels her desire to make her childhood friend happy, planning to add more dishes to Seven Heavens and of course, Tifa specials just for him.
- Red XIII: At dawn or dusk, Cloud meets Red at the highway. Cloud asks him how his chocolates could be so delicious and Red answers cryptically that he made them but didn't. He then explains to Cloud, when the mercenary is perplexed, his reasoning. Red states that the air was the true key to cooking, to know how to adapt the quantity of ingredients for example. Cloud concludes that Red made the chocolates with everyone and Red confirms, adding that he merely used his own strengths to help everyone as they helped him. Cloud then takes out a red box of chocolates, complimenting his batch for the blend of flavors. It's at this moment that Red tries to gently ask some chocolates from Cloud, which is the reason why he started the rumors : if Cloud received a lot of chocolates, it was more likely that he would received different blends of flavors, something that Red is interested to test lately. Cloud points out to his friend that he acted like a little kid, for starting the rumor for this reason. Red then growls, asking for just one bite to satisfy his own curiosity.
- Barret: Cloud hooks up with Barret in the slums. When Cloud greets him, Barret is sitting on a wood box. Barret thanks him for coming and Cloud replies that it was the least he could do, and then asks what is the subject of their discussion which requires them to be in private. Barret begins by explaining the rumors, which Cloud is well aware of. Cloud then wonders who could have started such a rumor and Barret asks, after a pause, if the blond was annoyed. Cloud reassures him that it wasn't the case. Barret inquires about his favorite chocolate and Cloud answers that all were good, praising his as well. Barett then stands up on the box, shouting his relief because it means that those chocolates could be given to his daughter Marlene. Cloud then realizes that he was just a guinea pig and Barret justifies his doing for the love of his daughter. Barret wanted to know if his treats were as good as everyone else. Cloud doesn't take offense, adding that even with all the treats, he could just work out to make up for the gain of weight. Barret extends his offer to anytime Cloud would like chocolates, adding that he could at least do this for Cloud. Barret then quickly adds that the mercenary could only have what would be leftovers of the chocolates made first and foremost for Marlene. Cloud finally understands now why his chocolates are so good, all because Barret poured all his heart and love for Marlene in the recipe.
Event rewards[]
Following the format of the prior Christmas event, players could fight Chocolate Flans and the Sweet House for Heart Cookies, White Boxes of Chocolates, and Pink Boxes of Chocolates to trade in the shop. The featured items were Tifa's Oven Mitts and Matt's Giant Fork rapier.
Featured draw[]
This event was also accompanied by a Stamp Card draw for Yuffie's Diner Tray and Sparkling Skater garb. A later draw was added for Aerith's Floral Wand and Floral Gown.
Musical themes[]
A big band/jazz remix of "Honey Bee Inn" was used as the menu theme for this event.