There’s no denying the fact that the personal and intimate tale of Cloud and Aerith has always been tragic and sad. It’s one of the reasons why most of us are drawn to this pairing. There’s just something “extraordinary” about it in comparison to other couples. It's no wonder that this pairing had stayed strong in our hearts despite constant claims that the relationship shared between these two is over. It’s quite obvious that the bond shared in this pairing wouldn’t end that easily. No matter how much others try to deny or ignore the facts of their story, they can never change the conclusion that Aerith is still very much in Cloud’s life even after she died. This is clearly seen in Advent Children and Advent Children Complete, as well as in the novella Maiden Of The Planet.
Even In the darkest tragedy, there is light. Cloud and Aerith share a personal tragedy even as the world shares their triumph. It is the drive to seek something more then what is common or easily possible - to be transformed into something extraordinary. A transformation that, in fact, could never have happened if Aerith had lived. While some say that her death ended Cloud and Aerith's relationship, her death in fact has brought them closer in a way that could never have been predicted. Sheared of the flesh, Aerith's spirit remains strong in Cloud's heart.
"Most humans thought death meant that they would become nothing. Having their consciousness engulfed by darkness, never waking again, a nothingness that can't be comprehended? They thought death meant to be totally annihilated. That's why humans feared death. They were afraid of losing their existence. Even if they themselves realized that they were a race that had a short lifespan, there were many that wanted to avoid it. Even those that had reached an old age after a fulfilling life.
Aerith knew that death didn't mean to be annihilated." ~Maiden of the Planet
Maiden of the Planet goes on to explain that once a person dies, they simply enter a new state of being.
You see, death never ended Aerith’s story and her bond with Cloud. She continues to stay with him in this new form. For this reason, Aerith's death alone doesn't mean that her connection with Cloud has ended.
In the world of Final Fantasy VII, death is not an end, but a new beginning. Aerith, in fact, is stronger in death then she ever was in life, and most of her major accomplishments take place after her death. In her life, Cloud was not fully himself and difficult to reach. After her death, though, Cloud's heart opened to what Aerith meant, and she was at last able to reach him despite the guilt and despair which had plagued him.
"It was a place full of energy where countless souls were merged together along with their knowledge and experiences. Even their memories were unbound from them. But Aerith was "whole". She remained herself in the place where the consciousness of the dead flowed and swirled about, keeping the character she had when she was alive. She retained the consciousness of the Aerith Gainsborough she once was and she was now drifting with the Lifestream." ~ Maiden Of The Planet
This story reveals that once a person dies, they return to the Planet, so that their consciousness joins and merges with the Lifestream along with countless others. Though Maiden of the Planet shows other spirits regaining their original state in Aerith's presence, those spirits lose their form to once again join the Lifestream when she is no longer in their midst. Yet, Aerith is unique because her consciousness does not merge with the other spirits in the Lifestream. Instead,
Aerith retains her individuality and remains the same person despite the loss of her physical being. She remains who she was throughout Maiden of the Planet while helping the planet and looking after Cloud.
It becomes even more interesting when both Advent Children and Advent Children Complete reveal that Aerith is still close to Cloud. Two years had passed, and Aerith continues watching over him. Some people say that the movie finally brings closure to Cloud and Aerith's relationship and that both are now able to move on. However, one of the creators has provide an almost entirely different conclusion.
While humans return to the planet upon their death, the Cetra (and half Cetra) apparently do not. At least, not quickly. Aerith's self remains constant after her death for at least two years straight, and she doesn't seem ready to return to the planet after Advent Children/Complete, either. Her bond with Cloud is even more pronounced, as she is able to manifest to him in a visible, tangible form. She is also able to do this for the children, and perhaps for Kadaj at the moment of his death so that she might redeem him. Yet, Aerith does it repeatedly for Cloud. She is not, apparently, able to do it for her other friends in Avalanche. Only Cloud.
"The words “memetic legacy” are used a lot in the film…but in Advent Children, rather than focusing on memories we wanted to show that consciousness is what lives on. We took the ending of the game and expanded on that idea. Even if they’re dead, their consciousness is still with us. As for Cloud…he sees Aerith several times throughout the film. It’s not that he sees her because he feels her presence. He sees her because her consciousness…lives on inside him." ~Nomura; Distance Interview
Even though many people assume that Cloud and Aerith can never be together again, it seems that Nomura has actually managed to bring them closer than ever before. Rather than having them reunited in life, Nomura has instead given us confirmation that they'll always be together no matter what. A fitting “closure” for an “extraordinary” tale wouldn't you say? Although others believe that the bond between Aerith and Cloud ended after her death, it becomes quite clear through countless sources that their bond is stronger than death itself. Perhaps stronger than anything Cloud ever had with anyone else.
Love transcendent -.does the flesh need to be present for love to live on? That, perhaps, is the question that continues to make certain people question the CloudxAerith pairing even now. And yet, the progression of the story starts with Cloud trapped in lies, and Aerith, perhaps, trapped in flesh. As Cloud sheds his lies and Aerith her life, each grow to become significantly more then they were before. As they grow personally, so they also grow together. One might wonder why the creators were so adamant about Aerith staying dead. Having achieved a higher state of being, it would not be fitting for Aerith to return to her physical body. It is, instead, more fitting to reward her with love now that she no longer has life...and past that life, past everything.
Doubt
Many pro-CloudxTifa arguments usually revolve around the idea of their actions being viewed as normal and natural. CloudxTifa fans consider it natural for Cloud to move on. They also interpret certain actions of Cloud and Tifa as being romantic, and they consider this enough to prove that Cloud indeed loves Tifa. For evidence, they use things like Tifa resting on Cloud’s shoulder in Final Fantasy VII, and Cloud “blushing” in Case of Tifa. Advocates of the CloudxTifa pairing feel that the romantic nature of these actions is so glaringly obvious to everyone that it shouldn’t be questioned. Other examples have been provided by CloudxTifa supporters as they make claims about this supposedly obvious romance. There is, however, one common theme that most of these examples share.
Essentially, Cloud and Tifa seem to be 'normalized', as if their relationship is standard. It's all perfectly normal and natural for them to fight, for them to struggle, for them to have all the problems that would seem to be...standard in a realistic relationship. And yet, isn't this taking place in a world of fantasy? Fantasy couples simply do not have problems as a rule. If they do, then something is very, very wrong. CloudxTifa supporters claim that it’s natural and normal to view their actions as being romantic. They claim that anything else would be unacceptable and abnormal.
However, the truth is that it's nothing more than a simple appeal to nature. A fallacy that is often the main cause of conflicts, wars and strife all across the globe. A flaw in our logic that has us encased in a world we grew up with, while being unaware that others might experience something different. Such people believe that what they consider "normal" and "natural" is the same for everyone else. In short, “This is how the world is, and this is how the world should be”. The true core of Love Triangle debates is a never-ending debate about our own view of the world and relationships, while things that truly matter are ignored.
The problem is, such appeals to nature do not pertain to worlds of fantasy and magic. In the world of Final Fantasy VII, magic is common, world-destroying magic exists, and the main source of electricity (Mako) is basically made from the essence of souls. Our own world is very different.
Cloud and Tifa
We’re all so very focused on our own points of view that we manage to ignore certain things. All of the romantic examples offered by CloudxTifa supporters really don't matter when we see Tifa ask this question of Cloud in Case of Tifa:
"Do you love me?" ~Tifa; Case of Tifa
Tifa's question doesn’t fit with the so-called “romantic gestures” that advocates of the CloudxTifa pairing use as examples.
If it’s so glaringly obvious, why then did Tifa feel the need to question Cloud’s feelings for her? Why is it that CloudxTifa fans are so sure that Cloud loves Tifa when she herself doesn't know? Why did she doubt Cloud’s feelings when it’s so clear to others? Truth is, some people are so busy trying to prove their own point of view that they fail to see Tifa’s point of view.
At the very least, "Do you love me?" is a statement of supreme insecurity. It also reflects a need to know and a need to hear the words. If Cloud's actions have been so obvious, Tifa would have no reason to ask.
At times, it is asked, "How do you say 'I love you' in Japanese?" The answer normally given in reply is, "You don't." In a culture where saying the words is not commonly done, then there is only one conclusion to draw from Tifa's statement. Tifa has to ask because she doesn't know herself. If Tifa herself doesn't know, then Cloud hasn't said or done anything to make Tifa think he loves her.
Therefore, all of the examples given to us by CloudxTifa supporters who claim that the love of Cloud and Tifa is so obvious were actually negated by Tifa herself.
By Angelalex242
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"The words “memetic legacy” are used a lot in the film…but in Advent Children, rather than focusing on memories we wanted to show that consciousness is what lives on. We took the ending of the game and expanded on that idea. Even if they’re dead, their consciousness is still with us. As for Cloud…he sees Aerith several times throughout the film. It’s not that he sees her because he feels her presence. He sees her because her consciousness…lives on inside him." ~Nomura; Distance Interview
Nomura makes it clear in this statement that Aerith is more than just a memory to Cloud. He also specifies that Cloud doesn't see Aerith simply because he senses her spiritual presence.
According to Nomura, Aerith actually lives on... inside of Cloud.
But how is this possible?
In the world of Final Fantasy VII, the Lifestream is already a 'bonding of souls' on a macro scale. 'Returning to the Planet' is simply allowing one's self to fully experience the other souls of the world. The 'Promised Land' for most people, therefore, is simply a spiritual unity with everyone else. It is a bonding of souls on a massive scale. The Promised Land would essentially be equivalent to Heaven in our own culture. It seems that Aerith has done the same on a micro scale - or a one to one basis - with Cloud. Essentially, Aerith has bound her soul and her consciousness with Cloud in the way most souls do with the Lifestream.
And what does this mean for their relationship?
The merging of souls actually makes a love relationship between Cloud and Aerith possible beyond the grave. Their merged consciousness allows Cloud to have something to relate to, in spirit form or otherwise. After all, Cloud can see her whenever he desires. And if the merging of their souls is complete, then so is their love for one another.
In many religions, people speak of their "relationship with God", despite the fact they've never seen or heard God in any sort of direct form. Since it is possible for Cloud to speak with and hear Aerith, it is therefore possible to directly have a relationship with her. The possibility of Cloud enjoying an actual loving relationship with Aerith cannot be discounted.
This option seems to be unavailable to other humans in the living world. Yet, Aerith is half Cetra and Cloud is a Jenova plus Mako halfbreed of a man. Neither Aerith nor Cloud can be considered to be typical human beings. They are both extraordinary beings, when one is only half human to begin with and the other has cells from the Crisis in the Sky in his veins. They are extraordinary beings in a magical world.
Besides, it is in fact possible for other souls to merge within the Lifestream itself, as shown in the novella Maiden of the Planet.
When Aerith first meets the spirit of Dyne, he is an angry soul tormented by guilt for taking the lives of many people. The blood of those Dyne killed is thickly layered upon his skin, signifying his sin. However, when Aerith touches Dyne's bloodied arm, the layers of blood start to fade from him along with his guilt. The following then happens:
For the first time, Dyne smiled from the bottom of his heart and quietly, his image faded away. The tip of the gun on his left arm disappeared.
"After dying and experiencing all that, I can finally stop turning my back against Barret and Marlene. Let me say my thanks..."
Just before he sunk into the Lifestream, Aerith saw it.
She saw Mako particles make their way towards Dyne and huddle together on him as if they had a will of their own. Dyne's faint, surprised voice could be heard.
"Eleanor?"
~Maiden of the Planet
In this passage, it is shown that Dyne's guilt has served as a barrier between his soul and the soul of his wife, Eleanor. It is also quite obvious that their love for one another continues to be strong, despite their respective deaths.
Eleanor's spirit has actually been waiting to reunite with him within the Lifestream. Once Dyne's guilt is healed by Aerith, the soul of Eleanor is finally able to join with the soul of her husband.
In much the same way, Cloud's guilt prevented him from communing with the spirit of Aerith prior to Advent Children/Complete. Yet, once Aerith touched Cloud's arm in the flower field, his guilt started to heal. Cloud was living with tremendous guilt for two years after Final Fantasy VII, which is another parallel to Dyne's situation. However, in Cloud's case, the guilt he bore was for letting Aerith die.
Both Dyne and Cloud also consider the deeds behind their guilt to be sins, which Cloud expressed to Vincent in the Sleeping Forest, and the story of Advent Children/Complete revolves around Cloud resolving this guilt.
Once their guilt was resolved, both Cloud and Dyne were able to reunite with the women they love. This is clearly shown once Aerith hits center stage near the end of Advent Children/Complete. She and Cloud actually become the main focus, even getting their own music video with a song that speaks of love, hope, and sadness.
......
But does Cloud want a relationship with the spirit form of Aerith? Having been healed of Geostigma already, he wouldn't be seeking her out again repeatedly for his health.
The fact that Cloud went to live in Aerith's church prior to Advent Children/Complete spoke of his continuing desire to be near her, even before the start of Advent Children/Complete. The ending of the movie, along with the video Reminiscence, suggest that Cloud frequently goes to visit her in the flower field. Even though Aerith's spirit form has merged with his own, Cloud actually seeks out time to be in her presence. This can only speak of Cloud's continuing desire to be with her.
What other necessary purpose could there be for Aerith to remain in this world besides Cloud wanting her to be there? She has no more cosmic reasons to stick around, such as Geostigma or Meteor. Her work is done. Besides, Cloud is the only person to whom Aerith appears. Would there be any other reason for Aerith to stick around, except that Cloud wants her to? There seem to be no alternate explanations for Aerith's continued presence, other than Cloud wanting to be with her... perhaps forever.
By Angelalex242
