Rendezvous and Reunion
Sector 7 Slums/Subway Tunnels
| Ether - 2 | All Materia | Hi-Potion | Phoenix Down | Tent | Potion |
After you rendezvous with your party on the train, you'll take the train to Sector 7 and the bar "7th Heaven." When you arrive, Barret will throw out all the patrons and clear the way for you to enter. Inside, you'll meet Tifa, the bar owner and an AVALANCHE member. Barret will come and take you to the hideout, where you can rest up and get paid. After everything is all said and done here, you'll be ready to leave for your next mission: taking out Reactor #5.
Before leaving town, shop around. Buy some Iron Bangles and some materia, now that you can use it. I recommend buying fire since you don't have any yet and lightning because many enemies in the next few areas are weak against it. Next, go up to the second floor of the three story shop and learn any basics you need. Don't miss the All materia and the Ether in the chest here. It would be a good idea to attach that All materia to Restore so you can cure everyone at once. Buy whatever else you want/need in the shops and head out.
Board the train and go talk to Tifa. When the ID scan hits, move fast because if you don't, you'll have a long walk ahead of you. However, take the time to pick up some nice items. In Car 1, talk to the bum sitting near the back. He'll give you a Phoenix Down for your trouble. On Car 2, talk to the man at the front and you'll get a Hi-Potion. Make sure to watch out for pickpockets on Cars 3 and 4 who will take your money. Follow them and they'll eventually give it back.
Once you jump, you'll end up in the subway tunnels. Head away from the screen and towards the security sensor. If you go the other way, you'll eventually wind up at a guard bank where you can fight guards over and over if you want to gain XP, but you really don't need to do that yet. When you reach the sensor, go in the duct and head towards the reactor. Just follow your team. On the way, pick up an Ether in a tunnel, a potion near where Jessie is, and a tent near Biggs and the save point. Save and enter the reactor.