Christ they might as well say there's 3 Highwind versions...
EDIT:
Also even though it'll start shit... here's an essay I wrote the other day:
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This essay is a little different from my other ones. Instead of analyzing a quote, I'm going to address a couple arguments that have been going on for quite some time. It's unfortunate that the LTD has come down to this, but due to feelings both girls had as teenagers, each side grasps onto certain ideas of what Aerith and Tifa are really in love with, as if to prove they don't love Cloud. Of course because a love triangle involves two people who are in love with a third member, to say either girl doesn't actually love Cloud seems a bit weird to me, but let's look at the evidence anyway. Note that not all Clotis and Cleriths think alike on this. I admit that I'm generalizing quite a bit here.
Argument #1:
Aerith was in love with Zack when she was younger. This is why she is attracted to Cloud, because he had a lot of similarities to Cloud. She never got to know the real Cloud, and thus cannot truly love him for who he is.
Argument #2:
Tifa doesn't actually want Cloud. The only reason that she even took interest in him is because when they were young he promised to her that he'd return a hero. She doesn't truly love the real Cloud for who he is, but in fact an ideal version of him that she created for herself.
Thoughts: The funny thing about these argument is both sides are right up to a certain point, but it's the end point that gets muddled. I'll make both of these very simple. Let's look at Aerith first.
Was Aerith's initial attraction to Cloud because he had Zack like qualities?
The earliest quote we have on this issue is from Aerith herself while on her date with Cloud.
First off, it bothered me how you looked exactly alike. Two completely different people, but look exactly the same. The way you walk, gesture... I think I must have seen him again, in you... But you're different. Things are different...
From Aerith's own mouth, we had admittance on her part that she thought Cloud was very similar to Zack.For those out there who believe the date may or may not have happened, there is also this quote from one of Aerith's monologues from the FFVII Dismantled book.
At first when I met Cloud, I believed he was similar to Zack. Little actions, the way he spoke... his kindness. But Cloud is Cloud. I, now undoubtedly, love Cloud much more than Zack.
But Cloud is clueless.
Again we have Aerith admitting that Cloud was very similar to Zack. There is also this that comes as late as the 20th Anniversary Ultimania
Aerith's first love, a young first class SOLDIER named Zack, went missing 5 years ago. He was Cloud's best friend and the person who largely affected Cloud's behavior. Aerith doesn't know the two of them were best friends. Aerith sees Zack's behavior in Cloud, and took an interest in him.
Conclusion: There is no denying that Aerith was initially attracted to the Zack in Cloud. Multiple sources have stated this so there is no point in arguing against it. Before I go further into Aerith, I'd like to discuss Tifa.
Was Tifa's initial interest in Cloud only because he said he'd be her hero?
I don't need to go much further than the Ultimania Omega on this one.
Despite Cloud having a good will, Tifa did not have any interest towards Cloud, and it was only at the time when they exchanged their promises that she started to take more notice in him. Part of that reason may be because of her loneliness of losing her friends around her, but more than that, him saying he will become a hero had the biggest impact of all.
There is also this quote, once again from the UO.
In those days, Tifa didn't take much notice of Cloud***. The reason why she said to him "To be saved by a Hero" was only to satisfy her childish princess desire.
Conclusion: The quotes speak from themselves. Tifa's attraction to Cloud began because he made a promise to her to be a hero. She had no interest in him before that.
So does this mean neither girl truly loves Cloud?
Here's a quote from the FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania.
Although in the beginning, Aerith felt close to Cloud because he behaves like Zack, her interest in Cloud himself grows and is attracted to him.
This quote states plain as day that, yes, while she was initially attracted to the Zack in Cloud, her interest in Cloud himself grew and she is attracted to him. As in she is attracted to Cloud himself, not the Zack in him. As for Tifa, there is a second part to the first UO quote posted and it goes like this:
However when the promise was exchanged, at that moment, Cloud became a special existence to her, which later, he now holds a huge position (in Tifa).
Once again it's explained that while at first the attraction was for the wrong reasons, Cloud became a special existence to her. But while we're at it, I'd like to post a couple more quotes from the 10th Anniversary Ultimania.
Both of them share feelings for Cloud — Tifa was close to Aerith, who can also be called a love rival.
In addition to FFVII’s heroines Tifa and Aerith both having feelings for him, AVALANCHE’s Jessie and young Priscilla in Junon both also fall for Cloud soon after they meet him.
[FFVII]Both Aerith, who is forthright, and Tifa, who is demure, have feelings for Cloud but he is none the wiser to them.
Conclusion: Although both girls were initially interested in Cloud for reasons other than the fact that he was Cloud, both of them have feelings for the real Cloud and continue to do so throughout the Compilation.
***The literal translation of this line (当時のクラウドは、 ティファには印象の薄い存在だった
would be "Tifa's impression of Cloud's existence was sparse." but because that's really Engrishy, I simply changed it to what the translation meant.
