Aerith
Didn't Love Cloud Because of Zack
by Kuraudo and Chibica
One argument often used against the idea of Aerith loving Cloud is the claim that Aerith never knew the real Cloud because he "became ZacK" during Disk One of Final Fantasy VII. People who make this claim also believe that Aerith never got over Zack, and that she only loved Cloud because of his similarities to Zack. However, there's quite a bit of evidence to dispute this claim.
In the first place, Aerith makes it clear that she knows Cloud and Zack are two different people despite certain similarities. For example, look at the following statement made by Aerith during the Date scene with Cloud in Final Fantasy VII:
Aerith: 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..."
Her words make it clear that whatever similarities Aerith sees between Zack and Cloud, she’s still
fully aware that Cloud is
different from Zack. Also, notice that Aerith only says the way Zack and
Cloud walk and gesture are alike, which are merely certain behaviors. She
says nothing about Cloud’s personality being similar to Zack’s. The
fact that Aerith is able to see Zack and Cloud as two different people is
reinforced in the following passages from the FFVII Ultimania Omega:
"I'm looking for you."..."So you won't have a breakdown." - what Aerith told
Cloud reveals many deep meanings. Aerith detected that the present Cloud is
not the real him during their encounters. She knows it because of
her mysterious, inherent ability. ~page 29, FFVII Ultimania
Omega
When Aerith thinks of Cloud and Zack's
similarities, she sees that the present Cloud is not the real Cloud. Her meaningful lines
like, "I'm searching for you" and "I want to meet you" all
mean that she has discovered the existence of the real Cloud, although he's not aware of it himself.
~page 31, FFVII Ultimania Omega
"So you won't have a breakdown..." - Aerith appears
in Cloud's dream, and she seems to console him with such advice. This line can
infer that Aerith has seen through to the essence of Cloud. ~FFVII
Ultimania Omega
Furthermore, the FFVII Ultimania Omega explains in detail that
Cloud's personality in reality merged with Zack's in order to create
the present day Cloud, which resulted in a conflict of multiple
personalities.
Never did Cloud fully adopt Zack’s personality. The "real Cloud" was
in fact included in the overall personality which emerged, and the passages
cited above confirm that Aerith was able to discern the existence of the
real Cloud due to her inherent ability as a Cetra. The topic of whether the
"real Cloud" existed during Disk One will be explored more fully in
The Real Cloud on the
Cloud Shrine and under
The Ultimanias on this website.
One specific example of Cloud's real
personality being present in Disk One is that he's a very cold and introverted
loner at the beginning of Final Fantasy VII, while Zack was always a friendly, outgoing ladies man.
Cloud behaves this way even after he supposedly
“became” Zack. When Cloud first starts working with Avalanche, he is very cold to Biggs,
Wedge, and Jessie, even saying that he doesn’t care what their names are.
Cloud also says that he doesn't care about them, or about the planet’s
welfare. The FFVII Ultimania Omega specifies that this is actually
the real Cloud's personality:
After developing his personality by using Zack's
memory as a base, Cloud still
maintained the part of coolness even though Zack had cheerful
characteristics. The part of Cloud's
coolness that keeps him away from the surroundings and the part of his
asserting “no interests” all have nothing to do with the influence of Jenova cells.
They belong to the real Cloud’s personality.
~page 180, FFVII Ultimania Omega
So even though Cloud used part of Zack’s personality as a “base” for his new
personality, Cloud’s own personality and characteristics continue to be
present, which is obvious since Cloud’s personality is nothing like Zack’s. The influence
of Jenova’s cells on Cloud did not cause him to take on Zack’s entire
personality. The real Cloud was there the entire time.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, Aerith was able to see behind Cloud’s façade, due to her
mysterious, natural ability which allows her to see into the minds of others.
No matter what mask Cloud was hiding behind, Aerith was able to see beyond
it. It did not
stop Aerith from falling in love with him. This is further reinforced in
both the FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania and the FFVII Ultimania Omega:
Even though Aerith perceived that Cloud had lost
sight of his true self, she still has great affection for him. ~FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania,
Aerith's profile
Although in the beginning, Aerith felt close to
Cloud is because he behaves like Zack, her interest in Cloud himself grows
and is attracted to him. ~page 31, FFVII Ultimania Omega
Even though Aerith is initially attracted
to Cloud because of certain similarities to Zack, she soon comes to realize that Cloud is
different, and finds herself interested in Cloud himself. Aerith's character
description in the
FFVII Compilation Ultimania also specifies that Zack is
Aerith's first love, rather than her only love. Referring to Zack
as her first love clearly implies that Aerith fell in love again
after knowing Zack.
It’s easy to assume that her relationship with Zack remains very important
to Aerith after Crisis Core, but Aerith actually states otherwise early on
in Final Fantasy VII. Cloud asks her, when they’re together in Sector 6, if
her
relationship with Zack had been serious, and she tells him him no. This is
interesting, because if Aerith was still in love with Zack, why would she be
telling Cloud this? The obvious answer must be that she is over Zack. Here
is the conversation:
Cloud: "You
were...serious?"
Aerith: "No. But I liked him for awhile."
Cloud: "I probably knew him. What was his name?"
Aerith: "It doesn't really matter.”
Aerith states here that, not only is she over Zack, but their relationship
wasn’t that serious to begin with. Cloud even asks for his name, and she
tells him that it doesn’t matter. This is reinforced in the novella
Maiden of the Planet
when Zack is referred to only as a “very dear friend” to Aerith,
and nothing more.
Furthermore, the level of affection between Aerith and Zack in
the prequel to Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, is completely optional,
as shown in the
Crisis Core FAQ/Walkthrough by Absolute Steve at GameFaq's. The level of
their affection for one another in Crisis Core is determined by certain
choices made by the player in a fashion similar to the Date
Mechanism in Final Fantasy VII. The Compilation has also confirmed that
Zack had multiple girlfriends around the time he was dating Aerith.
It definitely sounds as though Aerith and Zack’s relationship wasn’t that
serious, no?
The subject of Aerith’s feelings for
Zack is brought up again when Avalanche reaches Gongaga, Zack’s hometown.
After learning that Zack had been missing
for five years, Cloud has the following conversation with Aerith:
Aerith: "What a
shock.... I didn't know Zack was from this town."
Cloud: "You know him?"
Aerith: "Didn't I tell you? He was my first love."
Cloud: "......"
Aerith: "Zack.... SOLDIER First Class. Same as Cloud."
Cloud: "Strange, there aren't that many who make First Class, but I've
never heard of him."
Aerith: "That's all right. It's all in the past now. I was just worried
because I heard he's been missing."
Cloud: "Missing?"
Aerith: "I think it was 5 years ago. He went out on a job, and never
came back." "He loved women, a real lady’s man. He probably found
someone else.”
A question that immediately comes to mind is, if Aerith was still in love
with Zack, why is she not more concerned for his well-being? At this point,
she does not know whether he is alive or dead, and all she does is assume that he’s found another woman. If Aerith was still
pining for Zack, then her reaction to this news would be much different.
We’re shown that she really isn’t affected by the information she’s learned,
and is fine with not hearing from Zack. She basically put the whole thing
behind her, which once again shows she no longer has any romantic feelings
for Zack.
The evidence shows that Aerith's
feelings for Cloud were not based on her feelings for Zack. Final
Fantasy VII and Maiden of the Planet both make it clear that
Aerith has gotten over her feelings for Zack. It is stated in the FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania and the FFVII Ultimania Omega that Aerith
realizes that Cloud is a different person from Zack, and grows to love
Cloud for himself. Aerith didn't love Cloud because of Zack, but because
she loved the real Cloud.
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