A big thanks to Hitoshura who has now finished translating the new installment from the On the Way to a Smile book; the Lifestream White and Lifestream Black chapters. Each of these chapters were at the end of each On the Way to a Smile story of the book, for a total of 6 chapters. Three for Lifestream White, and three for Lifestream Black. Enjoy reading these new entries, they’re quite interesting.
Lifestream Black 1
The man could sense the Lifestream trying to erode his spirit– the memories of his former experiences, thoughts and emotions. If he allowed himself be taken into the current, the being he once was would soon disseminate and disappear amongst the spirit energy cycling around the planet. The man thought this unacceptable. The planet was to be his to rule, and to become a part of that system would be nothing short of defeat.
The man sensed a large flux in the Lifestream. A sign of another, different defeat. When the Lifestream erupted onto the surface of the planet, the man thought that Cloud was no doubt certain of his victory. Cloud was the one who had twice sent the man into the Lifestream. The man knew that if one could hold onto some core of their spirit, then one could remain a separate entity, independent from the planet’s system. Cloud. The man decided to make Cloud that core. And he wanted to let Cloud know of that. I’m still thinking of you. And I’ll show you the proof of that as well.
Lifestream White 1
The woman was an Ancient. Which explained how she was able to maintain her individuality even within the Lifestream. If she so wished she could become part of the planet at any time, but the woman thought it too early for that just yet.
The woman had sensed a different presence within the Lifestream cycling around the planet. It was the vehemence of a strong will, one that would never join with the planet. She knew this consciousness. It was the man who had taken her life. A merciless spirit hidden behind a beauteous wall. That spirit was now operating from within the Lifestream. The woman sensed that he was planning to exert his influence to the surface of the planet. She wondered what she could do.
Because it would be dangerous for her to come in contact with him, the woman tried to keep away from the man’s consciousness. Because of this, she couldn’t learn much of the man’s plot. However, just once, when the man’s spirit had suddenly appeared near her, she discovered that he had made his memories of Cloud the core of his being.
Cloud was her friend, her beloved — a symbol of what was important to her, and someone to be protected.
Lifestream Black 2
When the Lifestream erupted onto the surface of the planet, the man had already surrendered his inconsequential memories to the planet. Memories from when he was a boy, of his few friends, of the battles when he was still unaware, of his life in bygone days– all these became a part of the inundation, encased around Meteor, and finally receded. At the same time, the core of his spirit, and those memories deeply related to it, moved from torrent to torrent, and traveled around the land, from city to city. When the people who were trying to escape, or those left unable to do anything but stand still, were enveloped by those streams, he decided to leave them with his stigma. If Cloud noticed that stigma, the man was certain that he would never disappear. As long as Cloud remembers me, I can continue to exist. Within the Lifestream, and on the surface. Even if my spirit disseminates, even if just one fragment of a memory courses around the planet, in the end I can count on Cloud’s consciousness to bring me back, the man thought.
Lifestream White 2
The woman discovered that there was a growing number of spirits within the Lifestream who refused to be absorbed by it. While they were different from the man’s spirit, they rejected the Lifestream due to the same emotion. Hatred. Their feelings towards the planet were steeped in hatred, just like that man’s. This is the result of his influence reaching the surface, she thought. The woman drew closer to the souls that had just entered the Lifestream, spirits filled with hate, and tried to heal them. Beneath the surface of enmity were hidden memories. Memories from their lives as normal people. While unremarkable, they had many joyous memories as well. She released those thoughts and dissolved them into the Lifestream. Having lost the core of their emotions, the surface animosity disappeared. The woman had found a solution, however more and more spirits steeped in spite appeared, and it was too much for her to bear. She rushed through the Lifestream in search of other souls to help her. Ancients, on the verge of diffusing. These fragments of consciousness accepted her undertaking. When she found fragments of consciousness of people she had once known– pitifully few in number– she infused them with her own memories and sought their assistance. She had more spirits on her side now, but even so the hatred borne by that man did not decrease. She then thought of Cloud, living in his reality up on the surface. In order to reduce the hatred lingering in the Lifestream, she would have to remove the hatred flooding the real world. The woman wondered if Cloud could help her. However, that might lead to Cloud getting hurt as well. The Cloud she knew had a very fragile heart.
Lifestream Black 3
Despite mankind’s troubles, life on the planet had returned to normal. The man became aware of the increase in spirits— they could be called the darkness of the heart— melding with the Lifestream. He cherished that lingering darkness. Even more so when he considered that the stigma he had left on the surface was what created it. He thought that he could possibly enjoy himself with that. Filling the Lifestream with this darkness.
The man hid himself within the life on the planet and traveled around the world, branding even more people with his stigma. On the surface there were many people who no longer had their normal lives, and at the man’s temptation the dark parts of their hearts grew even larger.
Soon the man thought to himself; I want Cloud to know this is my doing. I want the humans to know this is my doing. For that he needed a body. There were things he wanted to say in his own voice. Things he wanted to shatter by his own hand.
He had decided he would use his Mother’s power. With a fragment of Mother’s body, I too can get a body again, the man thought. And so firstly, he tried to manifest on the surface as just a spirit, but his attempt failed. He had already returned the memories of his own appearance to the planet, and so he was not able to produce an image of himself. So the man found memories of a suitable appearance from the Lifestream, and with that form produced an image. It was the form of a boy. Soon the man remembered that being on the surface was incomparably more limited than the freedom of being a spirit. He created two more agents to do his work. These three were separate entities, and at the same time he himself. These three, created by the strength of the man’s will and detached from the system of the planet, were both at once a part of reality and monsters out of fantasy.
The man thought of the future. As my servants are looking for Mother, if they come across someone who knows me, then from that spirit I can learn of who I once was. And with Mother’s further assistance, I can become fully real. Even if there’s something lacking, it doesn’t matter. Cloud will make me complete.
— That will be the beginning, the man thought.
Lifestream White 3
The woman considered ways of telling Cloud of the crisis. As she thought, all the feelings she couldn’t tell him about came back to her vividly. There were many things she wanted to tell Cloud. However, she did not know what she should tell him or how she should tell him. It had been a while since she had worried. In the end, the woman decided she would see Cloud first and then think about what to do.
Eventually the woman discovered that the man, spreading hatred around the world, was trying to manifest on the surface. She wondered how he was planning to do that. Summoning up all her courage she approached the man’s spirit. However, he spotted her and chased her off, but soon gave up chase. She knew the man was laughing at her. You can’t do anything. However, she had caught what he was planning. He was apparently going to use separate entities to be his agents. The woman asked herself if she could do the same. However, she soon changed her mind. Even if it were possible, I want to meet Cloud the way he knows me.
Thanks hito and Mako.
First off, the Clephiroth undertones are staggering.
Second, this seems like the basic idea of Maiden and removed the runny eggs.
I’m still thinking of you. And I’ll show you the proof of that as well.
-Sephiroth
Clephiroth?
Also, not sure what to think about this novella.
Thanks for the translations hito and Mako.
Aha, that was quite an interesting read, and a hundred times better than that piece of crap, Maiden. w00t
The ending seemed rather clever. A clear reference to the Aerith date. Last line seems rather ambiguous, though. Does that mean that Aerith decided to not make her own remnants because she wanted to talk to Cloud herself?
Also Sephiroth is such a creeper in this story. “I’m still thinking of you. And I’ll show you the proof of that as well.” Just wtf CREEPY!!!! XD
I know Sephiroth is such a lurk lol
He never gives up but Cloud still beats him anyway so the creeper dies…
again
whoa…hmmm..I dunno what to think of this.. ..Sephy is quite obsessive.. lol
Thank you Hito for translating!!!
Good work Gents… nothing really shocking here, dead Aerith motivated by her love for Cloud, dead Sephy motivated for his hatred for Cloud; yet in the end it’s the barmaid who gets his attention
Too Bad for the pink and silvers.
You’re right, because it’s Clack in the end. :awesome:
Riight, because Cloud really notices Tifa, he’s been living with her for years and yet…nothing has happened, no relationship, no emotions from his side shown, just him thinking of Aerith. He’s friends with Tifa and ifa cares for him deeply but, I don’t see him giving the same feelings of love and devotion back.
And protecting Tifa does not mean he loves her, she’s his friend of course he’ll protect her, just like he would with anyone else.
He sure does notice her. And yeah, totally no emotion from Cloud at all, with the blushing, smiling, and saying that their being together is different now. Uh huh… Because moving in and starting a family with someone is “nothing.”
Yeah, he’s so thinking of Aerith all the time. What with him promising to be there with Tifa and blushing and smiling. And him wanting to protect Aerith doesn’t mean he loves her either. Way to go at totally ignoring reality and substituting your own.
FYI, Barret & Marlene also live inside 7th Heaven, and maybe even the whole crew of FFVII. So how can you just count Cloud’s moving in as a sign of, “Ohhh I like you Tifa”??? Family does not mean Cloud is Dad or something, wtheck lol. It’s more like, the whole crew is family. That picture in AC where Cloud is w/ Tifa, and the 2 kids, it could mean they’re close but its for the kids man. It’s platonic between them. Right beside that picture, is yellow flowers and a whole bunch of pictures of the yellow flower field at the end of AC. So maybe theres a place/someone Cloud visits often eh?
Read the revised version of Case of Tifa. It shows Cloud’s state deteriorating but in the first 3 pages or so but there are obvious signs he feels more than platonic love for Tifa eg. there’s some blushing going on, Cloud saying how he now has her and it’s ‘kind of different’ this time, Cloud going out of his way to surprise her with rare ingredients etc. At the end there’s also a little conversation in which they are discussing whether Cloud loves ‘Marlene’ but it’s obvious they’re not just talking about her alone; he says yes but that he sometimes doesn’t know how to approach ‘her’. Hmmm…
She also appears more than once in his flashbacks of what he cares about most when he’s stabbed by Sephiroth, whereas Aerith appears only once (though this may have changed in ACC… we’ll see).
To be honest we need Square Enix to either show them kissing, Cloud full-on admitting feelings for one or the other, or giving us some super ‘clerith’ footage that will force us to conclude he actually loved Aerith all along. I don’t think we’ll get it though because SE suck like that.
thats true but i doubt squenix wuld show dem kissin
It’s true Square Enix never showed a scene for a Cloti moment but an idea where both of them came out of a chocobo stable and Tifa was looking around was suggested but it was rejected because it was considered too extreme. I think Cloud cares about Tifa, as more than just a friend, and in AC he is trying to find out his true personality, since he was living like he was Zack for years.
I think thats BS. Cloud found himself at the end of FFVII and was getting to know himself during the on a way to a Smile or Case of Tifa stories. He was only living like Zack for not even years, it was only in that segment of the FFVII original game :S. I did think it strange for Cloud to be blushing (?) a couple times when talking to Tifa? But blushing is a sign of embarrassment, doesn’t necessarily always mean ‘he likes her’ :/. To Raquelborn, Cloud thinks of Aeris, then the kids, then Tifa, only once each my friend, that’s it. There is no thinking of Tifa “afew more” than whoever. :/.
actually, aerith is seen twice when cloud was about to be stabbed by sephiroth…the first was in the forgotten city and second was when he reached her hand in the fight with bahamut sin.
And at the end of the movie when it’s going through all the characters (once each) as Cloud rides his bike, we are given three shots of Tifa and two of Aerith (and also two of Zack).
Does that mean anything as well? To be honest it’s hardly worth looking at, it’s only interesting for the sake of it, just like the flashes before Sephiroth attempts to maim him.
Thanks for the translations. And yes, the Clephiroth undertones were staggering…
Also, “Cloud was her friend, her beloved — a symbol of what was important to her, and someone to be protected.” Uhm…hi, physical representation of Zack. Let me look after you. Which actually makes perfect sense.
Cloud isn’t Zack, he didn’t become Zack, he just took on some memories and traits, but he didnt believe he lived in Gongaga and dated Aerith so no,Cloud didn’t become Zack.
Cloud is a “living legacy” of Zack though, which is the implication right there. No one said he was Zack. He’s just a symbol of him and a representation of his importance, since…he’s Zack’s living legacy.
My opinion is that both Aeris and Cloud are living legacies of Zack. Yeah, Zack was a good hero story legacy etc., but his story is in the past, and it’s because of him that Aeris and Cloud were able to become the people they were in FFVII original and defeat Sephiroth and save the world. Zack will definately be remembered though, he contributed to alot of the history of FFVII original and its characters.
Yes, i agree with Chris said. if FF& remake from original. Aerith will be a main female character and defeat sephy together
Great job, hito. I agree with null’s assessment — the “white” part is a streamlined Maiden. I’m chuckling at how obsessed with Cloud Sephiroth is.
Whoa Sephy…take a step back from the Cloud pills…same to you Aerith…
I actually think I prefer MoTP….at least that is continuous with the Zack appearance in ACC…now its just feels random…
Well people do crazy things when they are in love, and hate for that matter. 9.9
I don’t think this is exactly competition for Maiden, just maybe a side note. But then again it could mess with the chronilogical order of it all, so idk. If Zack would appear I think it would be out of order for the writing style for all of this. It is showing Sephiroth and Aerith’s thoughts (Unless they are talking to themselves. XD) and if Zack came in, there would be conversation. And plus it would mess with the intended theme. Now “The story of light vs. dark…and Zack” just doesn’t seem right to me…0.0
(Psh, btw did you get your name from the book “The tenth circle” :])
I like the idea of Aerith remnants for communication. They could have been young girls that Cloud picks up among the orphans.
It’s better than her mentally distracting him while he’s driving a motorcycle.
I always thought that was poor timing…and more his doing than hers. You know, driving through the Sleeping Forest…on the way to where your friend (the one you’re so guilty over you can’t emo properly even) dies, and in thinking about her, he triggers that scene. Maybe I’m over thinking it.
Thanks, you guys. This was very interesting to read- I actually thought Sephiroth’s part was boring, though. I really liked the Aerith portion.
I really enjoyed the part about Aerith saying she wanted to appear as Cloud remembered her. Though, I gotta wonder if she had chosen the other way, what would have happened? XDD
Kind of funny that Seph chased her off his porch. Shoo!
“Get offa my lawn, damn Cetra!”
Pardon me for adding:
“You’re causing happiness, and making flowers grow!”
On another note, and if I interpreted it right, a person’s memories actually make up his/her spirit energy. So basically, the nice (or more human) Sephiroth we knew in CC pre-Nibelheim did technically die when he was tossed into the reactor. Or am I just making up what I want to see.
This has got to be the funniest image to ever grace my imagination. XD
I’m quite interested in all the Cetra around that Aerith can contact. Another stab to the mangled corpse of maiden, which had not even her mother around.
But yes, Aerith loves Cloud. Woo…
The interesting bit was Sephypoo destroying who he is to keep hold of himself.
Oookay, so the LTD isn’t over? And I will comment, I am a bit disappointed that Zack didn’t show up, but he and Angeal must be a little busy *winks*.
Lol, I did NOT need that image.
*giggles* Sorry.
Everybody loves Cloud. Some are even obsessed with him. ;D
Thanks for this, Hito and Mako!
That was quite interesting to read!
Thanks so much, this was incredibly fascinating!
Sephiroth’s deal with Cloud having him in his memories reminds me a lot of their dialogue in Kingdom Hearts II, though I can’t recall it all right now it had very similar implications, about Cloud always calling Sephiroth back from within himself. pretty awweessome.
I also like the thought of Sephiroth picking through an assortment of possible avatars and being like “CLOSE ENOUGH ::makes a kadaj::”
Poor Aerith, she’s still so busy. If she’s having to react to things as they happen, it kind of explains why she wasn’t able to magically help out with geostigma a lot sooner.
Aww youre right :[ lol. Aww I didn’t think of that before, that maybe, she was so busy healing etc. maybe thats why she came around the middle of the movie or so. I love you Aeris! XD
Wow, these stories are actually pretty cool, and explain a hell of alot of ambiguity in the compilation. I’d even venture to say that this is probably my favourite OTWTAS entry so far.
Still can’t wait to see Case of Shinra. Keep up the good work, translators
Yes, thank you so much for translating these!
. I also agree, it helped me explain many things about AC that now make way more sense (like the how Sephiroth created Kadaj etc). Also, now I know Aeris does love Cloud ^^. Thanks. 
Agh please don’t squish names, they sound awful and don’t even make sense!
But, this just proves how obsessed Seph and Cloud are with each other and I don’t believe it’s all hate–FoeYay for the win!
I wonder exactly how “complete” Sephiroth was when he got a new body in ACC. Did all his memories return? Were those old memories completely destroyed/dissolved forever?
It does sound like that— that his memories would return.
“…if they come across someone who knows me, then from that spirit I can learn of who I once was. And with Mother’s further assistance, I can become fully real. Even if there’s something lacking, it doesn’t matter. Cloud will make me complete.”
Or maybe what he means is that Kadaj needs to come into contact with someone who remembers what Sephiroth looked like in order for Sephiroth to regain his own appearance, since he forgets what he looked like. (Lolwhups, was that memory important?)
I wonder if this is what was happening when Kadaj kneels in front of Rufus and we see flashes of Sephiroth. (“But sir…surely you’ve noticed.”) I always thought it was Rufus realizing “OSHIT THIS GAI LOOKS LIEK SEPHYKINS.” But Rufus knew what Sephiroth looked like, so maybe Kadaj was somehow accessing Rufus’s memory of Sephiroth’s appearance, which Kadaj or his cells (or Jenova’s cells?) later use(s) for him to take on Sephiroth’s appearance.
…Which would make me also ask, why the HELL did they not make that clearer sooner if they knew that long ago that that’s what was going on and what needed to be done?
Perhaps Cloud’s just seeing shit, =D.
That would explain a lot, really, and knowing that Cloud has a history of mental illness.
Some points:
* Nobody (besides the viewer) sees him fight with Seph
* He doesn’t die / isn’t injured at the end of the movie.
* Random flashbacks of dead wimmen.
* Speaks to swords / dead dudes
* Emos in a church, probably talks to himself there as well
The second point is the strongest one – he gets stabbed, stabbed again, shot, cut up, and OVER NINE THOUSAAAND!111ed, but looks just fine a few minutes later, hair and all.
Tifa, Cid, Barret, Yuffie, Vincent, Red XIII and Cait Sith all see him fighting Sephiroth from Cid’s plane.
In ACC, you can see all of the injuries that Cloud has sustained. And Aerith ends up healing him in sorts while his spirit’s in limbo in the Lifestream.
OMG did you just make a DBZ reference?
That was interesting. Thanks, Hitoclito. :monster:
So the appearance of the Shinentai was picked out of the memories in the Lifestream?
So I guess we had a real Kadaj etc. walking around the planet once upon a time. Probably without silver hair and cat eyes though.
lol actually everyone who meet cloud fall in love with him
i bet after 2-3 years there will also be cleiss and clenesis’ fans around the world.
Ooooh boy, now you’ve started something.
lol Maybe Weiss will insert himself all shirtless into his mind just like Sephritoh did. I mean, Weiss has no shirt to begin with. XD
…Well if all this is true about Seph needing Cloud to exist…why the hell would he keep trying to kill him in Advent Children?
I’m disappointed that Aerith chickened out. She and Sephy had a lot of things to work out. What makes her so special that she gets to decide who can stay an individual in the LS, and who doesn’t? She’s not Minerva, after all. Sephy has just as much right to exist as she does.
He’s not trying to kill Cloud. He wants Cloud to SUFFER. And presumably, he can sustain himself after his advent.
As I understand it, Sephiroth only needs Cloud to exist while he’s in the lifestream. Once he has a body in the physical world the lifestream can no longer try to dissolve him, therefore he no longer needs Cloud.
oh i thought it was awesome how Aerith tried to confront Sephiroth’s spirit but he was just too much for her and chased her away and mocked her attempt. I don’t think she chickened out, i think thats just Sephiroth for you…
And she doesn’t decide who gets to keep their spirit intact, she just can do it herself because she is an ancient.
Aerith is special~ That’s the point. Besides she was just helping people, what exactly is so bad about that? She was curing/healing people as she could – because yeah as a Cetra/Ancient that is something she can do. She may not be Minerva but she’s still a Cetra. Plus she follows the will of the planet for the most part – you think the planet wants Sephy hanging around?
Good point ^^