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This just in: The Love Triangle Debate- over

by January 22, 2010 0 comments

[Administrative note: For more recent articles with further research and additional perspectives on the subject of the FFVII Love Triangle Debate, please see the following:

“This just in: A private apology to Clerith fans (in public),” by Squall_of_SeeD (posted as a retraction to and apology for elements of “This just in: The Love Triangle Debate- over”)
—”Dilly Dally, Shilly Shally — An LTD Analysis,” by Squall_of_SeeD
Reflections on the LTD, by June]

Final Fantasy Seven’s love triangle debate has been raging for the better part of twelve years now, and caused no end of interfandom tensions. For those of you unfamiliar with the whole debacle, I first congratulate you on your luck in remaining free, and I next explain that it is the debate over which of Tifa or Aerith Cloud Strife loves. Many a year, and countless hypotheses have been spent trying to argue that Cloud and Tifa are not a couple despite all the best evidence, and that Cloud and Aerith have a relationship despite the latter’s unfortunate condition. For some time, the love triangle debate has been in what could aptly be described as its death throes. Today, hopefully, we can perform a mercy killing.

Just this morning, our translator Tres dias, who is translating the FFVIII keywords and character profiles, who co-wrote the Dissidia FAQ with Mako Eyes, and who has written a comprehensive FAQ on this subject, received the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania Scenario in the mail. He wanted me to be the one to make this post, and it is my honor to now provide you with his scans, and translations, of page 394 of the guidebook, on ‘For the one I love.’

The header to this section reads

For the one I love
Through the long journeys, the love of the protagonists develop. Occasionally they become separated, but the two’s value to one another gives them the great strength to overcome whatever crisis may come.

Of direct interest to we fans of Final Fantasy Seven, however, are two images and their associated text, which we have provided, zoomed in on, so those playing at home can check our work.

First, is a picture discussing the Gold Saucer date. The text describing it reads

Secret date

At the Gold Saucer, Cloud receives an invitation from one of his companions. Who comes around with the invitation is dependent on Cloud’s behavior.

Nothing so amazing, no, all it tells us is that the date itself is up to player control, so no one version is ‘official,’ but the next section is not only what hopefully will make for a swift end to the LTD, but also confirms a scenario I have been arguing in favor of for quite a number of years.

As you can see, the image is of Cloud and Tifa’s night under the Highwind. That on a page entitled ‘for the one I love’ is very conclusive in its own right. The text, however, takes it a step further, and reads

The night before the final battle

Thanks to Tifa, Cloud regains himself, and before the final battle with Sephiroth, without using words, he confirms with her that their feelings match.

Read that again. ‘without using words, [Cloud] confirms with [Tifa] that their feelings match.’ So, not only can we unequivocally state that these matching feelings are those of love, but that these feelings of love are confirmed without words. In other words, physically. So, yes, there was almost certainly sex under the Highwind that night. I do not wish to bore everyone with a regurgitation of all the related materials, but this does confirm  that yes, Cloud and Tifa’s relationship past this point are that of lovers. And that, my friends, settles the Love Triangle. Even if you don’t want to believe it.

Also of note is that this page shows all the other ‘canon’ couples in the main parties, Ingus and Sara, Cecil and Rosa, Locke and Celes, Squall and Rinoa, Steiner and Beatrix, Zidane and Garnet, and Tidus and Yuna in their moments of revelation. So Cloud and Tifa are certainly in good company, hugging together underneath the Highwind along all the other canon couples of Final Fantasy.

One last thing, before I go. I have one thought, from Tres himself, that he asked me to relate to everyone. That thought is, “All that’s left to say is: Abandon ‘ship!” Wise words indeed, since that ship has been undeniably sunk, if you’ll pardon the pun, by canon.

UPDATE: If you wish to see the translation of the page as a whole, please follow this link to Tres’s translations of what the rest of this page says about revelation of romantic feelings in other games, and what the box in the lower right says about displays of non-romantic feelings.

No comments yet

  1. Squall_of_SeeD
    #1 Squall_of_SeeD 22 January, 2010, 13:37

    Oorah, motherfuckers!

    Well written, Ryu. Congrats.

    Reply to this comment
  2. Tennyo
    #2 Tennyo 22 January, 2010, 13:56

    Oh damn you’re just so smug. Let the shit storm begin because you know it’s coming. XD

    Reply to this comment
    • Squall_of_SeeD
      Squall_of_SeeD 22 January, 2010, 14:06

      As King Théoden said of the Uruk-hai army: “Let them come!”

    • looneymoon
      looneymoon 23 January, 2010, 03:21

      Tbh, I picture something more along the lines of Merry trying to convince Denethor that Faramir is not, in fact, dead.

      “LALALALALAL CAN’T HEAR YOU STUPID LITTLE MAN”

  3. Syneiam
    #3 Syneiam 22 January, 2010, 14:11

    We knew that already, didn’t we? *iz shot*

    LULZ is all I have to say. It makes it better with all the other canon pairings, I have to admit. XD

    Reply to this comment
  4. Celes Chere
    #4 Celes Chere 22 January, 2010, 14:35

    I sense a shit storm about to happen, lol.

    Reply to this comment
    • kira
      kira 6 February, 2010, 09:53

      LOL. XD. :D.

  5. Calenlass Greenlaef
    #5 Calenlass Greenlaef 22 January, 2010, 14:38

    😀

    😀

    😀

    I can die happy now. I can now link to this page and say it’s Cloti.

    Thanks for the post.

    ~Cal

    Reply to this comment
  6. JD
    #6 JD 22 January, 2010, 15:21

    Yay! This makes me undeniably happy, and now I can go and gloat(not bash) politely over this revelation!

    Reply to this comment
  7. Vendel
    #7 Vendel 22 January, 2010, 15:26

    *pulls of glasses dramatically*

    I see.

    Reply to this comment
    • kira
      kira 6 February, 2010, 09:55

      LOL. ^_^. haha. you’re weird dude. 😀

  8. punkiemonkie
    #8 punkiemonkie 22 January, 2010, 15:27

    This just made my day. 😀 Still not sure that I can wrap my mind around them having sex then for a number of reasons, but it’s great to finally–after all these years–get a definitive answer for this whole ridiculous debate. I’m sure hardcore Cloud/Aeris fans will keep denying everything even after this, but we can just smile and know that we have the truth.

    Thanks for this. 🙂

    Reply to this comment
    • Kaseixjaa
      Kaseixjaa 21 November, 2010, 07:19

      I read in a sort of review/compilation of official interviews that in one of the prior versions that Cloud and Tifa were supposed to have a very “risque” conversations or comment (blah blah something to that effect) where it then fades to black and there’s a very strong implication that they do indeed have sex, so…
      Original Cloud was also supposed to have slick-backed black hair. Who’da thunk it, huh.

    • Uwowjw
      Uwowjw 9 February, 2016, 01:09

      Actually, there are two versions of the highwind scene, and there is no telling which version is canon, so it really depends

    • hwah
      hwah 20 October, 2011, 00:57

      I’m not sure why anyone bothered thinking Aerith and Cloud were an item, Aerith just liked the aspects of Zack that she saw in Cloud. So… yeah. They can go have post-death angel sex in the lifstream lol

    • Sofal
      Sofal 25 April, 2023, 12:55

      The above article is false information

  9. Oki
    #9 Oki 22 January, 2010, 15:54

    Ohohohooo Oh god after 5 years this is glorious. Glorious.

    Reply to this comment
  10. amethyst_key
    #10 amethyst_key 22 January, 2010, 16:07

    FINALLY.

    (I mean, we all ready knew cloti was canon, but it’s nice for it to be official anyways.)

    Reply to this comment
  11. S and G
    #11 S and G 22 January, 2010, 16:44

    “despite the latter’s unfortunate condition”

    I almost died laughing at that.

    Reply to this comment
  12. cosmosin_strife
    #12 cosmosin_strife 22 January, 2010, 17:11

    Just because something is canon and has plenty of canon evidence that won’t stop the shippers. Just check out the Harry Potter fandom lol. And anyways, this is what fanfiction is for XD.

    Reply to this comment
    • Syneiam
      Syneiam 22 January, 2010, 17:51

      It’s not about shipping it fanonly. I think no one has troubles with that. XD

      It’s all about idioties being spout :monster:

  13. Sollace
    #13 Sollace 22 January, 2010, 17:17

    YESSS.
    God, it’s nice to have it finally over.

    I mean.

    Aerith loves Zack anyway.

    Duh.

    Reply to this comment
    • Sofal
      Sofal 25 April, 2023, 12:44

      No.
      Aerith loves the cloud.

    • Sofal
      Sofal 25 April, 2023, 12:47

      Cloud Tifa Couple = Truth
      Aerith zack Couple = False

  14. fairheartstrife
    #14 fairheartstrife 22 January, 2010, 17:22

    The placement of that particular scene on that particular page was telling–even without the translations. Which, thank you, TRES, you rock socks <3 !! I'd gloat, but let's be honest, most of us 'compilation narrative' supporters have been smugly gloating for years.

    Reply to this comment
  15. Quexinos
    #15 Quexinos 22 January, 2010, 17:33

    Ryu will be our new god 😀

    Reply to this comment
    • fairheartstrife
      fairheartstrife 22 January, 2010, 18:59

      Pffffffffffffft.

      Adored, sure. God-worthy? Not yet.

    • Cthulhu
      Cthulhu 8 February, 2010, 14:10

      Indeed – I wouldn’t allow it.

  16. myPEACEFULsanctuary
    #16 myPEACEFULsanctuary 22 January, 2010, 17:39

    Yay thank god it’s over at last! I’m so happy that Cloti is the canon couple!

    Reply to this comment
  17. OWD
    #17 OWD 22 January, 2010, 18:39

    El Em Ay Oh
    Go go, common sense!

    Reply to this comment
  18. DillyDally
    #18 DillyDally 22 January, 2010, 21:29

    Holy Shit! This just made my day! Kudos to all the translators!

    Reply to this comment
  19. Nana
    #19 Nana 22 January, 2010, 21:53

    He’s just practicing for Zack. =]

    -Read: Tifa’s a man-

    *shot*

    Reply to this comment
    • Asamisa
      Asamisa 6 March, 2011, 09:38

      xDDDDDD Yay, yaoi! xDDDDDDD

      Still, even yaoi fangirl and all, Cloti is canon ^^. Tifa is great and with Cloud, they’re a ass kicking couple :3

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