Although I do find it funny that you lump in “cloti” with the small segment of the fandom who doesn’t get it.

Even after Aerith dies, Cloud sought the Promise Land so he could reunite with her. At the end of the game Cloud exclaims: “…I think I’m beginning to understand. An answer from the planet…the Promised Land… I think I can meet her… there…” — anyone who doesn’t think Cloud is referring to Aerith is either an idiot or being completely disingenuous. Furthermore, this quest for the Promise Land and search for Aerith is also included in numerous material Squaresoft has released since Final Fantasy VII.

Furthermore, Cloud thought it was Aerith reaching for him during the end of the game. It was ultimately Tifa who was reaching for Cloud, but his heart wanted it to be Aerith. And although Cloud ultimately ends up with Tifa in many respects, it is only because Aerith was taken from us by Sephiroth. Even in Advent Children, Cloud is shown to be distant and cold towards Tifa while living in Aerith’s Church! If how he acts towards Tifa and where he’s living doesn’t tell you where his true feelings lie, I don’t know what does.

In all my years of being a fan of Final Fantasy VII, I never realized the polarizing nature surrounding the debate about who Cloud loves more — Tifa or Aerith.

What’s clear to me is that Squaresoft wanted Aerith to be the heroine of Final Fantasy VII from the very beginning. The opening scene of the game revolves around Aerith, with the “Loveless” sign appearing above her. The juxtaposition of Aerith walking the streets of Midgar, with Cloud simultaneously jumping from the train, sets these two up as the primary characters and love interest of Final Fantasy VII.

The creators of Final Fantasy VII have stated that Aerith, Barret and Cloud were the original three characters created for the game. This confirms, to me anyway, that Squaresoft always intended Aerith to be the central female character and love interest for Cloud. Just look at the original and official artwork Squaresoft produced. It’s all of Cloud and Aerith together! So the bottom line is this: virtually every Final Fantasy game has official artwork of the two intended love interests. Final Final VII’s original artwork shows Cloud and Aerith. ‘Nuff said.

Given the importance of Aerith during the opening scene, and the fact that Aerith was one of the three original characters, points to the theory that Cloud and Aerith were meant to be together from the start. Sadly, I’ve discovered on numerous forums that the majority of Final Fantasy VII fans prefer the pairing of Cloud and Tifa. This has led me to a state of shock and bewilderment. What seems so obvious to me —the pairing of Cloud and Aerith— is not what the majority of fans see.

From beginning to end, I always felt Cloud and Aerith were meant to be together. Cloud chose to be Aerith’s bodyguard with the promise of one date. When Tifa asked Cloud to join AVALANCE, he only did so when Barret promised him a large sum of money. See the difference?

And while Cloud was growing up, him and Tifa were childhood acquaintances, not friends or lovers. Tifa ignored Cloud when they were kids, and they only had one conversation together — a conversation Cloud doesn’t remember. During this conversation, Cloud makes a friendly promise to Tifa, a promise Tifa begged Cloud to make. Hardly a childhood romance.

The facts are, Cloud only laughed and cried for one character — Aerith. This suggests his emotional connection to Aerith was deeper than his emotional connection to Tifa. When Aerith dies Cloud exclaims: “My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!”

The fact remains, Aerith is the only character Cloud comes close to revealing his true feelings for. In Cosmo Canyon Cloud says, “But, I’m —I mean— we’re here for you, right?”…The reason Cloud comes close to revealing his true feelings for Aerith is because of the wonderful chemistry and love the two have together.

Those that say Aerith was meant for Zack are also mistaken. Aerith states that she recognizes Cloud is different than Zack, saying to Cloud, “But you’re different. Things are different…” — Aerith loved Cloud for who he was and recognized that the past was the past. Aerith also states in the game that she wasn’t in a serious relationship with Zack, and that he was a ladies man who had probably moved on. In addition, during Aerith and Cloud’s Golden Saucer date, Aerith claims that she wants to get to know the ‘real’ Cloud.

And finally, the official commercial approved and released by Squaresoft states: “A love that could never be…” — obviously referring to Cloud and Aerith. Cloti supporters can dispute this all they want, but the official commercial approved by Squaresoft includes the word “Love” during the scene when Cloud holds Aerith in his arms. I need no more proof than that. But if all this still doesn’t convince you, just go look at the official artwork.

I’ll end this with…

Cait Sith:
“Looks good. You are perfect for each other!”
“Aerith’s star and Cloud’s star! They show a great future!”

—You can claim Cait Sith isn’t always accurate with his predictions, but this was obviously an attempt by Squaresoft to further illustrate that Cloud and Aerith were meant to be together—

Cait Sith: “Poor Tifa!”

http://cloudxaerith.deviantart.com/

It’s like talking to a brick wall.

As a FFVII fangirl (GIRL!) who likes Cloud, Tifa and Aerith but doesn’t go mad shipping them with anybody, I can say I was/am safely neutral. And, in my neutral position, watching the two factions in battle was/is absolutely hilarious at times.

Yet, even with this confirmation, the AerithxCloud shippers descend like bats outta hell like “RAWR U LIE, CLOTI EEZ NAUT CANONZ!!1!!!1!”. And they still do. To this day. So no, the war is not over. It died, came back to life and continues to haunt the fandom as some kind of lust-fueled zombie. And this isn’t even counting the craziness that the yaoi options (which I also despise) bring to the table.

Yes, this is amusing indeed.

Nextly, no it’s not bad for the two to have officially had sex under the highwind, because Sex is not a panacea. Having it doesn’t mean that there cannot be trouble later on.
Nor, as you say, are Cloud and Tifa at odds with each other in Advent Children. They both want the same thing. The difference is that Cloud is depressed and doesn’t feel he deserves his family. And Cloud was happy and optimistic for quite some time after FF7. The first we see of him post FF7 is telling Tifa he can succeed in life where once he failed because he had Tifa with him.

Also, Tifa was interested in Cloud when he said he wanted in SOLDIER, but she believed he could make it and was waiting for his return- she wanted to impress him as he impressed her.

Tifa did NOT keep vital details from Cloud, she was confused because Cloud knew information that meant he had to have been at Nibleheim- which he was- even though she didn’t remember him being there.

As for seeking comfort, Cloud was not seeking comfort at the church. Cloud was seeking FORGIVENESS. Cloud had run from his comfort, from his happiness, to find that forgiveness.
And no, Cloud does not drive into a field of flowers. Cloud is heading home ON THE ROAD after a day of deliveries. Watch Reminiscence.

As for ‘no one but an S-E official can declare the love triangle over’, stating that Cloud and Tifa confirmed mutual romantic feelings in an ultimania is exactly that. Cloud and Tifa have declared their feelings for each other. That’s the end of the love triangle.

But again, please, join us on the forum. There is a thread dedicated to this topic already.

Nojima, the writer, has said that with Tifa is where Cloud belongs. Nomura described one of Tifa’s roles as someone’s beloved. They are stated to have a future together.

And no, there is nowhere near the quantity or quality of ‘quotes and references’ to the hypothetical relationship between Cloud and Aerith as there are to the one Cloud and Tifa have.

Also, my article is not canon and does not claim to be part of the canon. It is reporting on a canon fact. There is a difference.
All the information in this article comes from an official Ultimania. It is Square Enix, not I, who says Cloud and Tifa confirmed mutual feelings, and that these were related to romance.

If you wish to discuss this further, may I please suggest you sign up for the forums and continue the discussion there.