Does anyone know whether it was fully stated by the developers, that No Promises to Keep is Aerith singing about her feelings about Cloud? If anyone does have an interview or line that concretely said, from the devs, that the song is about Cloud then please disregard the following cause I’ll admit to the below being wrong.
For me personally, I seriously struggle with the idea that No Promises to Keep is just about Cloud. And I am usually loathe to analyse and hypothesise about lyrics from songs, because arguably lyrics from any song can be open to interpretation, as is the nature of lyricism and poetry etc. BUT given the full context of everything that happens in Rebirth, and what they show in regards to Cloud, Aerith, and yes ZACK, I fail to see how the song can only be about Cloud, and not implicitly also about Zack. Arguably if not more so.
In the song (that she wrote herself, writing what’s in her heart being a very important and defining aspect to her relationship with Zack the guy she wrote 89 letters to) she’s singing about meeting someone again.
Now again, correct me if I’m wrong, but at the point of time in the story Aerith is singing this, it’s before she’s made aware of her likely death? Like, at this point what reason would she have to believe she’ll be separated from Cloud and the party? She didn’t have this impression in the original, and her future memories of her fate were taken from her, so why would she sing about meeting Cloud again?
Meeting Zack again on the other hand? Her first love who she has been separated from.
I know some have argued she’s singing about meeting the real Cloud, but she says in the song meeting again, so I don’t think that’s what she means cause if she hasn’t met the real Cloud it’s hardly her meeting him again.
Thematically, post final standoff, Zack’s entire story and arc is literally about finding Aerith again.
“Promises to keep - we won’t ever need.”
Again someone correct me, but Cloud and Aerith at this point haven’t made any promises to each other? There is a very important promise made between Cloud and Tifa, but also promises kept between Zack and Aerith. Zack even makes a promise to Aerith beneath the same water tower Cloud made his promise to Tifa.
So again I find it hard to see Aerith singing about her and Cloud not needing to keep promises, when it feels more likely that if and when she and Zack meet again, they wouldn’t need to keep promises anymore, because they’ve found each other.
That just makes more sense within the entire framework of the story and characters right?
“Still, I know some day you'll come and find me”
Again and I don’t want to be beating a dead horse, why would she be saying this about Cloud? He’s literally right there.
And regarding the story going forward, there’s nothing to suggest Cloud will be seeking to find Aerith in the context Aerith implies, unless it’s a reference to finding Aerith in the Promised Land (together with Tifa)
It speaks more to what’s being shown in the story with Zack, and further implied by Zack’s final line in the story about worlds uniting.
Zack has yet to truly find and reunite with Aerith. So that line again reaffirms to me the idea that deep within her heart, Aerith wrote that song about Zack, her first love, who she has complicated feelings about still. The song definitely conveys the conflict Aerith feels about her feelings for Cloud but I can’t come away from hearing the song thinking it’s just about Cloud. It’s about how Cloud found her, be it fate or destiny, and how that brought about a desire on Aerith’s part for Zack and her to see each other again.
It’s not against Aerith nor her character for her to both want to find and meet the real Cloud, and for her to see Zack again, and for there to be no more promises to keep.
That’s how I see the song anyway.
And it’s backed up by Aerith’s intimate date.
Lastly, Cloud and Aerith are 100% not the types of people the hardcore Cloud and Aerith shippers think they are. Because in their date, when the Skywheel shudders and the two are accidentally flung together closely, and there close enough where it looks like they’ll kiss, Cloud and Aerith both quickly pull away, and both their body language and expressions say that they both know that would be a bad idea. They’re good people, who both know and care about Tifa and Zack.
Cloud wouldn’t act on feelings that would be upsetting to Aerith, who does still have feelings for Zack. He wouldn’t act on feelings that would be an insult to the memory of his best friend, who he knew loved Aerith. And he wouldn’t play both girls along by kissing Tifa and then kissing Aerith. He hates the idea he could hurt Tifa in any way, and as the original shows, he completely falls apart when Tifa’s faith in him falters. So he absolutely would not do anything in this scenario that would be upsetting to Tifa or disrespectful of her feelings.
And Aerith too proves in her date that she isn’t the terrible homewrecker some are trying to paint her as on the opposite side of the debate. She’s not trying to steal Cloud. And her body language and expressions show this. She knows how bad an idea it would be. For Cloud himself, for her own feelings, and for her friendship with Tifa.
Her reaching out and resting her head on his arm is an act of intimacy yes, of reaching out and needing someone to anchor her in the emotional turmoil she’s feeling. And Cloud recognises that and responds to it. It’s a beautiful scene that fully conveys the understanding and respect they have for each other, in that given moment.
Any true fan of their relationship should be happy the developers understand these characters and this relationship, and were able to fully convey this in their date.
Special to all of them and indeed the children and peoples of sector 5, etc, especially when the flower bed becomes healing pool.
