Final Fantasy Seven’s love triangle debate has been raging for the better part of twelve years now, and caused no end of interfandom tensions. For those of you unfamiliar with the whole debacle, I first congratulate you on your luck in remaining free, and I next explain that it is the debate over which of Tifa or Aerith Cloud Strife loves. Many a year, and countless hypotheses have been spent trying to argue that Cloud and Tifa are not a couple despite all the best evidence, and that Cloud and Aerith have a relationship despite the latter’s unfortunate condition. For some time, the love triangle debate has been in what could aptly be described as its death throes. Today, hopefully, we can perform a mercy killing.
Just this morning, our translator Tres dias, who is translating the FFVIII keywords and character profiles, who co-wrote the Dissidia FAQ with Mako Eyes, and who has written a comprehensive FAQ on this subject, received the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania Scenario in the mail. He wanted me to be the one to make this post, and it is my honor to now provide you with his scans, and translations, of page 394 of the guidebook, on ‘For the one I love.’
The header to this section reads
Of direct interest to we fans of Final Fantasy Seven, however, are two images and their associated text, which we have provided, zoomed in on, so those playing at home can check our work.
First, is a picture discussing the Gold Saucer date. The text describing it reads
Secret date
At the Gold Saucer, Cloud receives an invitation from one of his companions. Who comes around with the invitation is dependent on Cloud’s behavior.
Nothing so amazing, no, all it tells us is that the date itself is up to player control, so no one version is ‘official,’ but the next section is not only what hopefully will make for a swift end to the LTD, but also confirms a scenario I have been arguing in favor of for quite a number of years.
As you can see, the image is of Cloud and Tifa’s night under the Highwind. That on a page entitled ‘for the one I love’ is very conclusive in its own right. The text, however, takes it a step further, and reads
The night before the final battle
Thanks to Tifa, Cloud regains himself, and before the final battle with Sephiroth, without using words, he confirms with her that their feelings match.
Read that again. ‘without using words, [Cloud] confirms with [Tifa] that their feelings match.’ So, not only can we unequivocally state that these matching feelings are those of love, but that these feelings of love are confirmed without words. In other words, physically. So, yes, there was almost certainly sex under the Highwind that night. I do not wish to bore everyone with a regurgitation of all the related materials, but this does confirm that yes, Cloud and Tifa’s relationship past this point are that of lovers. And that, my friends, settles the Love Triangle. Even if you don’t want to believe it.
Also of note is that this page shows all the other ‘canon’ couples in the main parties, Ingus and Sara, Cecil and Rosa, Locke and Celes, Squall and Rinoa, Steiner and Beatrix, Zidane and Garnet, and Tidus and Yuna in their moments of revelation. So Cloud and Tifa are certainly in good company, hugging together underneath the Highwind along all the other canon couples of Final Fantasy.
One last thing, before I go. I have one thought, from Tres himself, that he asked me to relate to everyone. That thought is, “All that’s left to say is: Abandon ‘ship!” Wise words indeed, since that ship has been undeniably sunk, if you’ll pardon the pun, by canon.
UPDATE: If you wish to see the translation of the page as a whole, please follow this link to Tres’s translations of what the rest of this page says about revelation of romantic feelings in other games, and what the box in the lower right says about displays of non-romantic feelings.
Oorah, motherfuckers!
Well written, Ryu. Congrats.
Oh damn you’re just so smug. Let the shit storm begin because you know it’s coming. XD
As King Théoden said of the Uruk-hai army: “Let them come!”
Tbh, I picture something more along the lines of Merry trying to convince Denethor that Faramir is not, in fact, dead.
“LALALALALAL CAN’T HEAR YOU STUPID LITTLE MAN”
We knew that already, didn’t we? *iz shot*
LULZ is all I have to say. It makes it better with all the other canon pairings, I have to admit. XD
I sense a shit storm about to happen, lol.
LOL. XD.
.
I can die happy now. I can now link to this page and say it’s Cloti.
Thanks for the post.
~Cal
Yay! This makes me undeniably happy, and now I can go and gloat(not bash) politely over this revelation!
*pulls of glasses dramatically*
I see.
LOL. ^_^. haha. you’re weird dude.
This just made my day.
Still not sure that I can wrap my mind around them having sex then for a number of reasons, but it’s great to finally–after all these years–get a definitive answer for this whole ridiculous debate. I’m sure hardcore Cloud/Aeris fans will keep denying everything even after this, but we can just smile and know that we have the truth.
Thanks for this.
I read in a sort of review/compilation of official interviews that in one of the prior versions that Cloud and Tifa were supposed to have a very “risque” conversations or comment (blah blah something to that effect) where it then fades to black and there’s a very strong implication that they do indeed have sex, so…
Original Cloud was also supposed to have slick-backed black hair. Who’da thunk it, huh.
I’m not sure why anyone bothered thinking Aerith and Cloud were an item, Aerith just liked the aspects of Zack that she saw in Cloud. So… yeah. They can go have post-death angel sex in the lifstream lol
Ohohohooo Oh god after 5 years this is glorious. Glorious.
FINALLY.
(I mean, we all ready knew cloti was canon, but it’s nice for it to be official anyways.)
“despite the latter’s unfortunate condition”
I almost died laughing at that.
Just because something is canon and has plenty of canon evidence that won’t stop the shippers. Just check out the Harry Potter fandom lol. And anyways, this is what fanfiction is for XD.
It’s not about shipping it fanonly. I think no one has troubles with that. XD
It’s all about idioties being spout :monster:
YESSS.
God, it’s nice to have it finally over.
I mean.
Aerith loves Zack anyway.
Duh.
The placement of that particular scene on that particular page was telling–even without the translations. Which, thank you, TRES, you rock socks <3 !! I'd gloat, but let's be honest, most of us 'compilation narrative' supporters have been smugly gloating for years.
Ryu will be our new god
Pffffffffffffft.
Adored, sure. God-worthy? Not yet.
Indeed – I wouldn’t allow it.
Yay thank god it’s over at last! I’m so happy that Cloti is the canon couple!
El Em Ay Oh
Go go, common sense!
[...] just in, the love triangle is officially over: This just in: The Love Triangle Debate- over. | The Lifestream __________________ Quexinos It's brave to keep on fighting for what you believe, but I found it [...]
Holy Shit! This just made my day! Kudos to all the translators!
He’s just practicing for Zack. =]
-Read: Tifa’s a man-
*shot*
xDDDDDD Yay, yaoi! xDDDDDDD
Still, even yaoi fangirl and all, Cloti is canon ^^. Tifa is great and with Cloud, they’re a ass kicking couple :3