Aerith still loves ZackI don’t believe Aerith ever moved on from Zack. If she did, the company can do a better job at showing it. I believe she was ready to finally move on, but never actually did. I believe that in the original game, Aerith is an unreliable narrator when it comes to Zack. As she is proven to contradict the creators more than once.Let’s start with the basics. Aerith was always meant to see her first love in Cloud. This has never changed. Aerith was always attracted to the traits of her first love that Cloud copied. This man was originally Sephiroth, but was changed to Zack.
Kitase: Like Nomura, I’d have to say the climax in the mental realm. The scene where the mysteries regarding Sephiroth and Cloud all become clear. I didn’t know until we were in the latter stages of development that Cloud’s memories were Zack’s. First of all, when I originally checked the scenario, the character of Zack didn’t exist. Zack was a character who came up as Nojima was building up the mysteries. So until that part was complete I was left wondering just how he was planning to solve this, and all the while making the event scenes, still in the dark about the truth.Nojima: But with Zack, I didn’t simply bring him in just because it was needed for solving the mysteries. When I joined the development team, the concept of Aerith seeing her first love again in Cloud was already there, so I brought him in to link that with solving the mysteries.Nomura: About the concept of her seeing her first love again in Cloud, at first we were thinking of making that man Sephiroth. When I got the request for the illustration of Zack we were already near the end of development, so when you look at it now it’s not even coloured, and I can’t really deny that it feels like quite a sudden request.
Zack was a last minute addition, but Aerith was ALWAYS meant to see her first love in Cloud.
“Aerith says she’s bothered by him being similar to Zack!”
Yet her behavior and the creators say otherwise. She’s bothered by Cloud yet asks him for a date? The creators have alsoconfirmed that Aerith is not bothered by it, but in fact was heavily attracted to Cloud BECAUSE of it.
First love Zack
Aerith’s first love was Zack, a young SOLDIER 1st Class who she lost contact with 5 years ago. He was Cloud’s best friend, and his personality has had a great influence on Cloud’s behavior. Aerith is unaware that the two were best friends, and takes an interest in Cloud because she sees Zack in him. –pg. 197 of the FF 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 1: Character guide
Aerith’s first love is Zack, the object of Cloud’s basic personality of being an “ex-SOLDIER.” . We could say Cloud’s speaking and acting like Zack is a big reason why Aerith started to have good feelings towards Cloud. -pg. 29, FF7 Ultimania Omega
Aerith has “good feelings” for Cloud because of him behaving like Zack. When Crisis Core released, the company purposefully connected Aerith’s scene of meeting Cloud to Zack, and CC also connected multiple moments between Cloud and Aerith to Zack and Aerith to hammer the point home that Aerith’s feelings for Cloud were a result of Zack. Certain shippers just didn’t seem to get that originally, so they had to show it blunt-force trauma to the head with CC. Aerith liked Cloud because of his similarities to her first love. A concept that was always there from the beginning. Why would the company spend so much time purposefully connecting those scenes and making us fall in love with Zerith if we weren’t supposed to walk away thinking “zerith” This brings me to Dismantled and Maiden, who’s canon status is left open and never confirmed to be a part of the compilation. Both Dismantled and Maiden were written by Benny Matsuyama who is not Nojima, Nomura, or Kitase. Maiden released in 2005 while Crisis Core released in 2007. Again, why waste the fans time with making Zerith so lovey-dovey instead of the relationship Aerith described in FF7? Even in FF7 Aerith likes Cloud because he is like Zack, and wants to date him, yet says she’s bothered by him acting like Zack. Creators confirm she was not bothered, but actually had good feelings and was interested and attracted. I feel it is very obvious that Aerith doesn’t want to think about, or accept that Zack is dead. She’d rather wait 5 years for him to return, she’d rather believe he left her for another woman but might return to her someday than she would accepting the man who loved her unconditionally died and left her all alone. Aerith says she doesn’t care she hasn’t heard from Zack, a man who was her boyfriend and first love, but she will cry over the death of Tseng. A man who stalked her for years, bitch slapped her across the face, and delivered her into the hands of Hojo. She also runs willingly into danger for a woman she’s never met before (Tifa) but when it comes to her first love she suddenly doesn’t care what happened to him? She doesn’t think it’s weird that the last time Zack contacted his parents was when he was dating her?Street-smart, savvy Aerith doesn’t think it’s WEIRD?Not only that, when she talks about Zack, Cloud can have two reactions. One is he calls Zack a “poor guy” for…whatever reason we get to feel sympathy for Zack in this scene but not Aerith who was shown to be crouching and seemed heavily disturbed. The other option is to feel jealous and envious for whatever reason. I don’t see why Cloud would feel jealous or envious of a man Aerith doesn’t care about or is over. I have seen a counter argument that he’s “jealous because Zack dated Aerith” which doesn’t make sense because according to some shippers Cloud had already dated Aerith and was going to have a second date, but even with the one date at the gold saucer doesn’t make sense because Cloud and Aerith are supposedly already dating but that is neither here nor there. My point being that Aerith DOES care and she’s trying not to show that she does because she doesn’t want to think about it. This is consistent with her personality of not wanting to think about depressing things such as how she’d rather have fun at Gold Saucer than comfort Barret, or how she cries for Tseng but says she’s not crying when she clearly is, and how when the talk about Cetras and Sephiroth gets to heavy for her she decides it’s the perfect time to go on a date.This isn’t even my interpretation this is fact. Aerith doesn’t like showing her pain so she deflects.
Aerith lives her life cheerfully, never letting her own pain show. -CC Aerith Profile.
Which makes her moments mentioning Zack all the more painful. She can’t hide it no matter how hard she tries. I got off topic,so returning to the topic at handWhy connect every iconic aspect of Aerith to Zack?
-Ribbon-Pink-Flowers.Also note that saying this is retconned information is also false. While I’m on the topic of retcon I’d like to say that Aerith knowing Zack is dead/sending his death is not one. While the 20th anniversary does say that she:
Although Zack is already deceased since the beginning of the story, Aerith is unaware of this fact.
It was established in FF7 that Aerith can feel when people die. She knows when Elmyra’s husband died.
“That’s because his spirit was trying to return to Elmyra”
First off, so was Zack. As in CC he is shown to be going to Midgar because of Aerith’s 23 wishes. He is then shown to be even more determined to return to her and says “Aerith, wait for me” Zack spent an entire year trying to return to Aerith.He crossed the ocean to get to her.Zack was very much trying to return to Aerith as well. Zack also died closer to Aerith than Elmyra’s husband did. Elmyra’s husband didn’t seem to make it out of Wutai. Wutai is on the complete opposite side of the planet, where as Zack died on the outskirts of Midgar, MUCH closer.Zack’s spirit also tried to make it back to Midgar to see Aerith. Not to mention Aerith could also hear her mother’s voice for years long after Ifalna had died. Aerith sensing when people die is not a retcon as it was something she was shown to be able to do. It doesn’t make sense how she’d NOT be able to sense Zack’s death. In Maiden, as some insist it is undeniably canon, Aerith is also said to know when people died and she sensed MANY souls dying and returning to the lifestream. So if people want to insist Maiden is canon they must also accept that Aerith knows when people die. End of story. Now returning to Aerith’s ribbon.Aerith picked out the ribbon. As shown, Aerith wore ribbons in her hair as a young girl. She asked Zack to look at the store for a little while, and Zack offers to buy her a present. Aerith picks out the ribbon, connecting with her hairstyle as a little girl. It was the pinkness of the ribbon that led to Zack telling Aerith she should wear pink. This is not a retcon either, as it is never stated why Aerith wore so much pink in the original game. A retcon is a changing of already known facts, not adding information. Genesis is a retcon. He is a changed fact. Why Aerith wears pink, is not. There is nothing stating why Aerith sells flowers or how she began selling flowers. There is only Dismantled that states she met Zack while selling flowers, but as discussed that is written by Benny and we are shown with Nojima that Aerith starts selling flowers because of Zack. Not that Dismantled also doesn’t help prove my case, as Aerith admits Cloud is unaware of her feelings for him, thus rendering the claim that Cloud and Aerith are canon lovers being false. While I’m on that subject:Why also confirm that Aerith is in fact waiting for Zack to return to her in FF7?
A suggestion by Zack to Aerith, to make a promise each time they have
a date, for when they meet again on their next date. Zack’s specific suggestion was that Aerith wear pink. Ultimately this promise was not fulfilled, but Aerith–who continued to wait for Zack’s return–starts to wear pink after making this promise (as demonstrated in this game, “FFVII, “”BC”, etc).-Crisis Core complete keyword guide.
FF7 is listed as a game demonstrating Aerith waiting for Zack’s return.Why is she waiting for a man she’s no longer interested in?It is extremely awkward to say Cloud and Aerith are canon lovers, yet she wears pink because she’s waiting for Zack, the object of Cloud’s personality. But it doesn’t stop there. With Theatrhythm the company again decided to smack shippers in the head with even more Zerith, stating Aerith is searching for traces of Zack within Cloud.
The Promised Land… A fateful encounter sets in motion the pendulum of fate. As Aerith searches for the traces of Zack living on in Cloud, the innocent love in her heart will make her destiny’s plaything…”- Aerith’s CollectaCard from Theatrerhythm.
But as I know people will yell at me for excluding Maiden, claiming it “must mean something” or that I’m being biased: Aerith is shown to only remember Zack’s traits as being Cloud’s personality, as well as Aerith admitting she has no idea if “Cloud” is even a real person.
Her whispers and thoughts became expanded into waves and spread out in the Mako.Her memories of being with Cloud came to mind again. Her impression was that even though he wasn’t very social, there was some cheerfulness about him.“I felt something odd about him, but was everything really just made up and part of his false character? Was there anything real about Cloud at all?…No, that can’t be true. There were things that only Cloud could think of. Things that he did because he was Cloud. There’s no such thing as a completely empty person!”But she couldn’t figure out the truth. Her thoughts just went in circles. Aerith delved into her memories again. Memories that showed Cloud’s individuality. The way he walked. She remembered all his actions one by one…Most of those thoughts merged into the Sea of Mako and awakened a character. The character recognized the image she recalled and he woke up.“Aerith… Is that you?”
Most everything Aerith remembers about Cloud, is Zack. The only things she knew about Cloud, is the traits that were different from Zack. Such as his coldness as compared to Zack’s cheerfulness. Aerith, upon hearing Zack mention Cloud, asks if Cloud is a real person.
“You were there then, Zack? Then what about Cloud…?”“Woah woah, hold it there! How do you know about Cloud too? And is he safe?!”“You know Cloud too. There really is a Cloud, isn’t there?”
Aerith needs to be told by Zack that Cloud is in fact real. Note this is different from Tifa. As Tifa wondered if the Cloud she was interacting with was the one she grew up with, or just a clone who shared Cloud’s name and face. Aerith didn’t know there was a Cloud, period. So no, I am not omitting Maiden because of bias, but because of the canonicity of it being unknown. There is PLENTY in Maiden (As I just showed above) that makes the case of Aerith still being attracted to Zack. From Final Fantasy Record Keeper, which involves reliving the FF franchise, Aerith’s line was changed from “I want to meet you” to “I want to know you” Showing that even Benny figured out Aerith didn’t actually know the real Cloud and loved him because of Zack.
It was changed to Aerith admitting she does not know the real Cloud during their date. She expressed the want to know, the want to meet him, but never did. Aerith’s love for Cloud was based entirely around her love for Zack. It is also unknown if Aerith would have even been attracted to Cloud’s true personality. Aerith has only ever interacted with the false persona Cloud. In spin-offs such as Kingdom Hearts, there is nothing shown that Aerith still harbors romantic feelings for him, the REAL him, and she is still shown as wearing pink. Pink: the symbol of her waiting for Zack. As KH3 is not yet released, I have no idea what will be done with the Aqua situation or the Aerith situation. So if information is presented that shows something going against my claim about KH I will adjust this content accordingly. So far, we do know Aerith never entered a relationship with Cloud in KH, and her pink rule still seems to hold up that she is waiting for Zack. That is, I believe, the most condemning evidence to Aerith falling in love with anyone else is her pink clothes are proof of her waiting for Zack.
The way Aerith behaves in the original can be taken many ways. Some like the idea she moved on from Zack and truly loved Cloud, others believe she never loved Cloud but wanted to try to know him better, some believe she never moved on at all. I personally believe that Aerith and Zack are bound as a romantic couple forever, as even post death Zack is stated as being by her side at all times.
At all times, her first love Zack is always by her side. -Aerith Gainsborough Dengeki profile.
Aerith dies, joins the lifestream, with Zack always by her side. Now as some like to ignore that although it is stated Zack is always with her, that Zack is actually asleep…this is due to Maiden. The flaw with this, is that even in Maiden, Zack appears after he goes asleep to aid Aerith.
“Hey Aerith, did you see Cloud’s finishing?”Zack guided his energy into the second wave as Meteor was thrown back losing its force. “That was one my sword techniques too. Doesn’t it make you fall in love again?”
The next case is of Aerith “rejecting” Zack in Maiden, but as it is confirmed Zack is always by her side so the only logical conclusion is that if Maiden is/was canon, Aerith got really lonely and called for Zack who is ALWAYS by her side now. There is also the case of the novella case of the lifestream, in which Zack is not present. However this is false, as Aerith is shown to talk to the dead spirits she “knew in life” and that were pitifully few in number.
She rushed through the Lifestream in search of other souls to help her. Ancients, on the verge of diffusing. These fragments of consciousness accepted her undertaking. When she found fragments of consciousness of people she had once known– pitifully few in number– she infused them with her own memories and sought their assistance. -Case of the Lifestream: White.
People she had once known who are now in the lifestream would include Bugenhagen, Wedge, Jessie, Biggs, Dyne, and Zack (and others I can’t think of off the top of my head). None who are mentioned by name, but as stated, Aerith knew few people and Zack is the only one other than Aerith who appeared to Cloud from beyond the grave. Aerith and Zack also appear together; this keeps up with the claim that Zack is always at her side, as he is proven to be in the movie. Zack and Aerith can also be heard conversing in the lifestream, and work together to help Cloud. Zack and Aerith also leave together to go back to where “they belong.” Zack is always by Aerith’s side and no amount of whining and attempting to shove interpretation as canon is going to change that.
In order to help Cloud recover, he assured him from the Lifestream together with Aerith. -Zack Fair profile, Zack’s map.
Zerith also didn’t see it’s end, as in 2014 it received a new years wallpaper, along with other cute pictures.
But as recent as 2015 Zerith appeared alongside canon couples during Christmas. Christmas is a romantic holiday in Japan.Zerith was featured with Cloti alongside couples such as Cecil x Rosa, Locke x Celes, Squall x Rinoa, Zidane x Garnet, Steiner x Beatrix, Yuna x Tidus, and Wakka x Lulu. I feel this is no accident that Zack x Aerith was chosen over Cloud x Aerith. After all, Rinoa x Seifer was not shown and Locke x Rachel was not shown. Aside from all the above quotes, there’s multiple showing Zack and Aerith were in love. Also quotes confirming that Aerith stating they “weren’t serious” is not true, just her trying not to show her own misery of Zack’s disappearance. Zack and Aerith are said to be fated.
Having fallen into the sector 5 slum church during a mission, Zack has a fateful meeting with Aerith, a young girl who was tending to flowers in the church. -CC ultimania Aerith profile.
And more Zerith quotes you can enjoy besides the ones stated above:
Aerith, the girl whom he met at the slum’s church. The existence of the girl, who had earnestly come to love Zack with sincerity, eventually became irreplaceable to him.- Zack’s Profile FF7 10th Anniversary Ultimania
Zack and Aerith meet by chance in a church in the Slums. They become intimate with each other.- FF7 10th Anniversary Ultimania Compilation Timeline
Crisis Core -FFVII-
“CC” shows her meeting and relationship with Zack, and the budding love between them. However, fate would tear the couple apart. – Aerith’s Dengeki Profile
However, Aerith alone appears to have been truly special to him, and he tells his parents in a letter that he found a girlfriend (Aerith). –Crisis Core Complete Guide
Other translations from Aerith’s CC profile are
The destined encounter with Zack makes them become the irreplaceable existence to each other (Aerith’s profile, FF VII CC Ultimania)
Aerith never talks about her bitterness but lives brightly. It is growing by degrees into an inseparable relationship (Aerith’s profile, FF VII CC Ultimania)
“Like him… My first boyfriend… My first love. I think I must see him in you.” —Aerith to Cloud
When Cloud regained consciousness, he found himself in the Church. He saw the familiar faces of his friends and the orphans watching over him, and a smile slowly spread across his face. Aerith and Zack stand beyond the door, watching over them. At last, Cloud is no longer alone. -pg. 119, Reunion Files
And when he turns around— ‘she’ is starting to leave. Together with the friend who had given Cloud his life. Cloud no longer has to suffer in loneliness… And so they too go back to where they belong. Back to the current of life flowing around the planet.” –FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania. Page 131, Revised Edition
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