By: Lil' Chill Kitty
***MAJOR SPOILERS: TO PPL WHO DIDN'T FINISH 2ND DISK!!!***
When we think about it, we all believe Cloud truly loved Aeries. Wrong.
Those of you who think this, probably didn't finish the second disk, but unless you want to spoil this part, turn back NOW.
When Cloud and Tifa falls into the lifestream in Mideel, shortly after Cloud is what seems like Mako Poisoned forever, Tifa explores Cloud's insane mind, to free the real Cloud inside. In Cloud's mind, the truth behind everything is Cloud had strong feelings for Tifa. It isn't that Cloud wasn't fond of Aeris, but truthfully I believe the Zach part of Cloud believed that he loved Aeries. Perhaps he (Cloud) did love Aeries, but at the end of the 2nd disk it reveals who Cloud really had eyes for.
This jumbled love triangle is very confusing, but I was paying close attention through the whole game, and my theory is (most) likely true. We all do remember how Cloud had mixed memories about Nibelheim 5 years ago, right? (Ahem, for those of you not at this part yet then of course you wouldn't understand any of this.) Well, seems like Cloud joined SOLDIER to impress Tifa, but it seems he didn't make it! He was embarressed and kept to himself thru the whole mission, but the point remains he tried for Tifa. Not Aeries. Cloud stabbed Sephiroth at the reactor 5 years ago when he slashed Tifa, he unveiled himself for the sake of Tifa. Not for Aeries. He came to protect Tifa. Even if it was 5 years since then, I believe it didn't change. (Certainly wouldn't have for Aeris, right?)
Here another part that makes you believe why Cloud does, or should love Tifa. Like I said before, Tifa freed Cloud's mind while in the lifestream, Cloud revealed the many thoughts he had, most of them to do with Tifa, and the incident at Nibelheim. Tifa had hung out of three other boys when she was young, and Cloud had envy them, and when Tifa went to Mt. Nibel, Cloud tried to save her when she fell over the cliff. (Shows how ya never know?) It also reveals how Cloud thought Tifa hated him, how he wanted her attention. (Tifa's always saving Cloud's ass, this part I didn't get.) Again, not Aeris. The lifestream shows how Cloud had deep affection for Tifa, and although the arrival of Aeris slowed it, I'm positive, and believe me, didn't destroy it.
Again, I have more goodies for the Tifa fans, (who again didn't finish the game) about why again Cloud wouldn't love Aeris. Aeris may have been attractive, even charming, but one reason remains to be dealt with, Aeris wasn't around as long as Tifa was. Once again about the lifestream, I do believe Cloud's Zach mix-up was what drew him to Aeris, because after Tifa freed him, he seemed to talk alot less about his feelings toward her, if he even did. (Bwa) Perhaps that was drew Aeris to him, as well. Tifa also proved how her feelings were towards him, especially when Cloud seems disabled for life when he Mako Poisoned, Tifa says she doesn't care about anything but Cloud, and pledges her life to taking care of him. (That so... Beautiful! *pulls out a hanky*)
Cloud was with Tifa since childhood, he made the promise with her, and the deep affection he shows towards her at the end of disk 2 proves thier destiny. Speaking of destiny, if you defeated the demon gate at the Temple of the Ancients, and recieved Cait Sith's fortune about Cloud and Aeris destiny, then perhaps like Cait Sith's other fortunes, this one wasn't meant to be. (Only one did, Aeris death.)
**SUPER DUPER SPOILERS FOR AERIS (AND TIFA) FANS!!**
Now about the end of disk 2. If you an Aeris fan who are reading this didn't get to the end of disk 2, don't feel discouraged after reading this and screw the game, sometimes when I tend to not get my way to do that, just don't you! (Spoiled Brat?) :) Now, anyways, down to it. At the end of disk two, Cloud sends everyone off to find thier reason for saving the planet, (Excuse for time alone with Tifa, maybe?) and when everyone leaves, (except Cloud and Tifa, duh) They sit outside the Highwind and pour out thier emotions. (This part made me smile, dunno why) Tifa and Cloud both tell eachother how in their darkest moments they could hear eachother calling out, Cloud says he's wanted to tell Tifa so much, but when they're alone can't think of anything. (Awww) Then Tifa says (Important! LISSEN) "Cloud... Words aren't the only thing that tell people what you're thinking..." Then the camera zooms to the sky and night falls. (No, they don't do what you think... Or do they? :o) It's dawn, and Tifa wakes right next to Cloud, and they were gonna leave to find others... but decide this may be the last time they have time alone together. (Another love proving sentence :P) That's the last time they do anything lovey-dovey I know, but who knows, I still need to finish 3rd disk. (Friend lent it, takes bad care of games, won't work, damn!) However, according to sources, that's all they have time for, maybe FF7-2? (*Hopes*)
Now, I may have finished my Love Triangle theory, but I'm deciding this too damn short, so let's throw in a story to boot! Aeris fans may not wanna read this, it continues with the game's flow, (So, yes Aeris will still be dead, and Cloud will still love Tifa. Actually, I think I'll add in a part about Aeris, but what she’ll say will surprise Aeris fans!) Not saying, you can't, if you don't want to... just saying. Here goes my story!
Who Says Love Dies?
Once again: Lil' Chill Kitty
It was early morning, and Cloud Strife woke in his camp. Climbing from out of his tent, he packed up and loaded his stuff upon his golden Chocobo, Hikari, and with a sharp tap from his ankles and a loud wark from Hikari, was riding off towards the rising sun. "Tifa will be expecting me." He muttered as the wind blew back his spikey blond hair.
Hikari, being an S-rank Chocobo, got Cloud back to thier villa in Costa de Sol in little time, clutching the sacred script all the while. "Wark, wark!" Hikari halted before the villa, her head bobbing up and down.
"Wow, calm down, Hikari." Cloud patted the Chocobo's back. "Wark!" Hikari 'warked'. Cloud searched for the villa's keys, and when he found them opened the door. When he stepped inside, not wanting to make a ruckus, stayed silent, then took off his boots and went to have a coffee. "Wark!" screeched Hikari from the mini stables. Cloud jumped at the piercing sudden noise and went downstairs to quiet her down, but Tifa was already there.
"I figured you were home when I saw Hikari at the stables." Tifa said, smiling.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure if you were up so I didn't say, sorry." Cloud scratched his back.
Tifa took Cloud's hand. "That's ok, you're probably hungry. Where were you, anyways?" Cloud raised the hand holding the sacred script. "I heard of this..." Tifa stared at it curiously. “What exactly is it?”
Cloud sighed, examining it. “That’s what I’d like to know...” Tifa shrugged, yawning. “I’m still tired. I’m going back to bed.”
Cloud nodded and looked upwards. “I think I’ll stay up, I gotta find out about this thing.”
Tifa sighed, and squeezed his hand. “Just don’t kill yourself doing it.” Then she let go and walked back upstairs.
“Well, Hikari, looks like it’s up to me to solve this.” He patted the Chocobo’s back then went back upstairs to look over it.
Cloud spent countless hours looking at it, not being able to translate the odd writing scrawled across the worn-down surface. Then, suddenly, the doorbell rang.
“Yo, open up! We here and we want in!” Said a voice.
Cloud got up and opened the door, Barret and Red 13 walked in.
“Finally, we been comin’ all week and waiting fer ya to back.” Barret said.
“For what reason?” Cloud asked curiously.
Red jumped swiftly over to the middle of the floor, “Bugenhagen told me that there was a disturbance in the lifestream proccess.”
Cloud looked shocked, “You don’t think... that Aeris...?”
Barret sighed, “That what we figured, an’ thats why we came ta see you!”
Cloud held up the script, “The last time I saw Aeris without actually being there, was in a dream, maybe it’d have the same results?”
“Then go to sleep, ya look like you were tossed off a tower and ran over, anyways.” Barret stated.
Cloud nodded, “I don’t want to disturb Tifa, I think I’ll just crash on the couch.” He stretched before he lied down, then came darkness.
When Cloud awoke, he was a forest, the same one where he saw Aeris before. “Aeris, are you here?” He called.
Suddenly, a figure dropped down from the sky and Cloud looked into the face of Aeris. “Yes, I am Cloud. I never truly died, for as long as everyone believes in me, my spirit will never vanish.”
“Aeris...” Cloud began, “So much has happened while you were gone... and...”
Aeris nodded. “I know about you and Tifa, Cloud. I understand.”
Cloud gave her a puzzled look, “You do?”
Aeris smiled, “I was watching. After Tifa freed you of your Zach presence, I realized that your eyes were on her, even if you were still fond of me... abit.”
Cloud looked at the ground, “Yes... You.. Would have had to been there the whole time to understand.”
Aeris nodded again. “Oh, but I was. I know what happened now, and all I have to say is... I suppose it wasn’t meant to be.”
Cloud looked into her green eyes. “I... Guess.”
Aeris sunk into the ground, and her voice echoed thought out the forest. “Wake up, they’re waiting.” Then the forest disappeared, and Cloud found himself staring into the eyes of Tifa.
“You’re awake. Red and Barret told me, what happened?” Tifa asked.
Cloud stood up and gently kissed her. “She said she knew, and perhaps she always will.”
THE END
Woo! Talk about sappy endings. :P Oh well, you have to agree, it’s not like Aeris would kick Cloud’s ass if he loved Tifa, right? Right. There’s one positive thing I have to say, she’s a very opening person. Well, of course there’s lots of positive things, I don’t hate Aeris, the point of this whole thing was to prove Cloud loved Tifa... more anyways. Well, I might do some other stuff, so look out for more my stories, or theories and such. If you want to e-mail comments, or ask questions, here’s my e-mail again. kittysamerai@hotmail.com Aeris fans who now hate my guts, please don’t e-mail me to say rude or unexplainable things! In other words, don’t e-mail me so you can call me a piece o’ shit. Thank you! :/