Devotion 2.0 - CloudxAerith

[Ite]

View attachment 7188

Automatic trophy for the "Budding Bodyguard" chapter: REUNION.

 

[BlankBeat]

I love how Cloud's Mom tells him to find a girl that calls him a "silly goose" and in the Remake, Aerith calls Cloud "silly."

I also love how Aerith is able to bring the REAL Cloud to the surface with this memory being triggered inside her house.

So touching that the Flower Girl is able to show us the REAL Cloud and "melt his frosty exterior."

So happy that Cloud's Mom endorses Clerith in the Remake!! Yay!!

 

[Clear A]

A story of a love-Cloud x Aerith

Cloud "I'm coming for you"

 

[Shademp]

Wholesome Clerith.

- Art by ancotsubu

 

[Clear A]

Clerith is confirmed as the canon OG pairing.

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The MOST OBVIOUS transformation of Cloud’s “frosty exterior” in the Remake is when he starts doing high-five’s with Aerith on the reg.

Aerith is evoking the REAL Cloud to the surface.

Cloud’s love for Aerith is giving us glimpses of who he truly is.

Not only are the high-five’s and quest to save Aerith from Shinra HQ significant, clear-cut examples of Cloud’s transformation, but Cloud also has a REAL memory of his mother telling him to have an “older girlfriend” – someone who will call him a “silly goose” when he needs to hear it (Aerith calls Cloud “silly” in FF7R).

Aerith shows us the REAL Cloud's personality and triggers him into having a REAL memory of his Mom telling him to pick Aerith as his girlfriend (ie: "older" -- "silly goose").

Cloud and Aerith dominate once Cloud falls to her flower bed.

Just as in the OG, when both women are present, Cloud's preference is Aerith (something that continues even in death and makes Tifa jealous).

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Saying that even though the Real Cloud chooses to live in Aerith’s Church, has his heart broken every time he visits her grave, reconnects with her in Flower Fields (and cameos), and seeks to find her in the Promised Land, is all due to guilt over the death of a mere friend. Saying that anything romantic shown in the OG is all a result of Zack (ie: attempted delegitimization).

I guess the symbolism of Cloud’s continued love for Aerith, and all the nuances that entails, is too cultured & sophisticated for them to comprehend. Or maybe they are purposely not comprehending the obvious?

Thankfully, the Japanese understand what all of this means. So why don’t western fans?

The only logical conclusion is because of their deep, burning, irrational hatred of Aerith as a character. Always minimizing & downplaying her role as the first & true heroine & love interest to Cloud.

But now, with the Remake perfecting Aerith’s look & personality, and making it crystal clear that these are Cloud’s REAL feelings, and that Aerith wants to move FORWARD from Zack, you are now seeing a significant swing within the fandom towards Cloud x Aerith.

The other side has spent years using Crisis Core & Advent Children to their advantage:

Essentially saying Crisis Core makes Zerith canon, and Advent Children makes Cloti canon. Simple & easy for the masses to understand, right?

So how, exactly, did they convince millions to believe their great myth?

1. Cloud & Aerith only liked each other because of Zack.

Response:

The relationship between Zack & Aerith in CC is officially described as a minor infatuation between two juveniles, much like Cloud’s childhood crush on Tifa.

In the OG, Aerith says her and Zack were NEVER serious, that their relationship is “in the past now,” and that he probably moved on to someone else because he’s a “real lady’s man.”

On the normally occurring CxA Gold Saucer date, Aerith confirms that although she initially liked Cloud because of Zack, she has grown to like Cloud for Cloud.

Within the lifestream, Aerith tells Zack that she prefers Cloud’s personality over his, and that she will only call Zack if she gets “really lonely.”

In the Remake, Aerith states she wants to move FORWARD with her life in regards to Zack.

Aerith triggers Cloud into a REAL memory of his mother suggesting he have an “older girlfriend.” This REAL memory proves the REAL Cloud was present during his interactions with Aerith. She is bringing the REAL Cloud back to the surface.

Yes — Cloud adopted some memories & mannerisms from Zack, but he never transformed 100% into Zack.

I agree with everything except for this, "Cloud adopted some memories & mannerisms from Zack, but he never transformed 100% into Zack."

That is incorrect, as a matter of fact Cloud has adopted no identity of anyone. Instead, the FFVII remake made it even more clear that Cloud was and is essentially a "blank slate". We can see that his mako energy is giving Cloud "glimpses" of the pieces of his past, and future events only pieces. After Cloud was knocked out he totally "forgot" who he was even Zack but something triggers his memories to piece together. CLoud is just piecing himself back up after mako poisoning and amnesia. That is all. He is not carrying Zack's personality or memories. He just forgot who he was he forgot he never became SOLDIER but believed it because...well...he forgot. It will all piece together when Tifa and Cloud join together in the mainstream after he has had yet another unconscious episode. It is all about Cloud forgetting some events that defined who he is in the present. We finally realize that he was not FIRST CLASS SOLDIER but a merc. Cloud only forgot that he was just a mercenary, and took up Zack's sword and SOLDIER alias only as his persona, not Zack's personality or image.

 

[Clear A]

I agree with you actually blank beat, Cloud was always Cloud he never adopted Zack's persona or personality 100%. Cloud has always been the real Cloud throughout and out. We all will be affected by someone somehow but we don't become them. Memories are apart of us. That is all.

 

[Clear A]

Welcome Shademp, I was an LTD debator at the adventchildren.net forums.

 

[Maidenofwar]

So much CxA goodness and food in the new Ultimania especially in terms of musical tracks and scene comments, even more than was known before, I'm so happy with what I got, my feeling of it was a date the whole time from when Cloud met Aerith in Chapter 8 and through all chapter 8 and including through Chapter 9 up until certain point until focus changed, the staff comment of a precious date mean everything to me, I feel so validated, and that the experience I had while playing and the memory counted and wasn't just me dreaming or wishful thinking or anything. To play those scenes again while knowing the comments about the musical backgrounds, the scenes and the staff comments in mind is going to be so good and special, I am going to be floating on cloud nine. Also happy with the Cetra lore/heritage stuff/art/etc coming out of the Ultimania as well, the Cetra staff asked to be designed to look like (similar to) Aerith?, I'm in love. More wife YAASSS!! It's all just so great.