Just out of curiosity, I wanted to know, how did you portrayed in your mind the plot for Cloud's death. But not only for the time of his death, but some time before, and some time after it. Just in case, this is not to make interpretative spoilers of AC, but only the timeline surounding his final moments, like for example, which were his resolutions about his life, the determination he might have had in those moments, his feelings in that time, his mood, what happened with him after his death, where do you portray his final battle and his death, that kind of stuff. Like your conclusion for Cloud's story. :cloud:

Well, if you honor me with your thoughts about it, I'd be very glad. :lol:

I haven't thought about Cloud's possible death in as much detail as you suggested. If he dies, however, I think it'll be in a grand finale with Sephiroth or Jenova.

I think something would happen like Cloud realizing that the only way the children can survive is if Jenova is dead. Maybe Geostigma can only be stopped if Jenova dies, for example. When Cloud realizes that Jenova must die, he then decides to fight her with everything he's got. After all, he's got nothing to lose. If Jenova lives, then everyone with Geostigma (including Cloud) will die. But if Cloud dies will fighting Jenova, then at least the Planet and children will be saved. Cloud knows that Aerith would want the Planet and children saved, too, so if he does this for her, he may find forgiveness. So Cloud dies while fighting Jenova, possibly sacrificing his own life so that she will die.

After his death, he'd meet with Aerith in the flower field. Cloud would finally be able to look into her eyes because he's forgiven himself. I'd love to see him embrace her and tell her he loves her. A kiss would be even better, but I'm not sure Square will go that far. Square may end it with Cloud finding Aerith, or maybe they'd have the others find Cloud's body. If so, they'd probably find Cloud holding the ribbon with a smile on his face. It would make them realize that Cloud had finally found peace, once he was reunited with Aerith.

That may be predictable and sappy, but it's all I can come up with off the top of my head. :lol: :blush:

I think it would be sublime, if in order to stop Geostigma, that he doesn't have to kill only JENOVA or Sephiroth, or wichever might be the final threat. But after an epic battle (with wichever the final "Boss" is), in the Forgotten City, he finds out that he has to sacrifice his life, by using Holy, like asking the Planet to forgive humanity by exchanging his life. He does it in the same place where Aerith did her sacrifice, then some cool scene happens showing that Geostigma has been stopped.

After this, the others (Barret, Tifa, Vincent, etc...) find Cloud lying lifeless, with a smile in his face and holding the pink ribbon, then they bury him in the same place where he buried Aerith. After that, everyone returns to their life, and then we are shown Vincent saying thanks to Cloud and Aerith, because they returned him the will to live. And after all of that, we are shown Cloud in the Promised Land, maybe in the flower field, were he finds Aerith and tells her that he loves her, I would put here that he gave her a kiss, and a final zoom out, but I'm not sure that Square would reach that far, but we don't lose anything by dreaming, right? :cleris:

Yes, I've been thinking a lot about this. :P

Haha, looks like everyone has the same basic idea. I too, see Cloud's death as coming from such a dramatic fashion as by being mortally wounded in a battle with Sephiroth (which Cloud will ultimately prevail over), or from the realization that the only true way to utterly destroy Jenova will have to involve Cloud having to destroy himself in the process (I'm less sure of how the specifics would play out, lol). I would imagine that the others (Tifa, Barrett, Marlene, etc...) would come upon Cloud before he met his demise, and he'd have a few dramatic last words with some of them (particularly Tifa and Marlene), say his goodbyes, then pass on... The ending scene would involve him encountering Aerith in the flower field... with them either embracing or exchanging glances... I think that would be nice.

Ahhh, very cool. I like this idea! Good call C-S.

I think he'll die of Geostigma. By the time he's done battling with Sephiroth, he'll be too weak to fight the virus.

Or maybe he'll kill himself... or maybe Aerith will take him... I dunno...

I like the idea of Cloud sacrificing himself better than him dying of Geostigma or in the final battle. Let's be honest: a 23-year-old dying is a terrible tragedy, especially one with a past like Cloud's and who has gone through so much pain
In AC, it seems he no longer cares if he lives or dies, as long as he slays the emotional demons that have been plaguing him for so long. He might be racing against death and time…he must take care of everything that’s been bothering him before the deadly disease strikes him down. A sacrifice would bring new meaning to all of that, wouldn't it? Here he is, a young man who's been living a 'selfish' life up till this time...now he gives it up so life on the Planet can continue. I hope, though, that if they decide to make Cloud sacrifice himself, they won't forget his inner demons and the way he deals with them. I'd hate to see him go out in a blaze of glory but without one iota of wisdom gained from everything he's been through.
CS, I like the idea of Vincent thanking Cloud and Aerith for what they've taught him. I would also like to see Tifa realize that Cloud didn't die in despair or in pathetic surrender the way she thought he would, but in an honorable sacrifice. Despite her grief, she would probably be happy to learn that.

I really like your thoughts Kusari, especially in regards to Cloud coming to terms with his inner demons instead of just going out in a mindless blaze of glory. I think that would be an excellent ending - Cloud's issues get resolved, but only in the sense that he makes "peace" with them, not that he becomes uncharacteristically happy and bubbly. Perhaps that combination of making "peace" and making a noble sacrifice for the sake of the betterment of others is the key to him finding Aerith in the Promised Land?

I also really like your ideas about Vincent and Tifa. I think Tifa coming to terms with her unrealistic views of "heroism," recognizing that Cloud always truly was a "hero" in his own way, coming to terms with the importance of him making a noble sacrifice, and thusly reconciling the strain in their relationship before Cloud dies would also be a great "conclusion to her character" (a sort of personal growth for her). I would love to see a "pragmatically hopeful" ending for all of the surviving FF7 characters.

Thoughts on this: Cloud making "peace" with his personal demons is much more in league with his character than him finding "happiness"?

Anyway, great stuff Kusari!

I also hope that in some point of the movie, Tifa accepts Cloud's feelings for Aerith, and that she supports him on that. So that at the end, when they find him laying lifeless, she says something like: "Go after your beloved, Cloud!", or something like that.

But also, in order that my point fulfill my expectatives, his final battle should be really, really epic, very touching, so that it would make our hearts burn beacuse of the battle, and that his death/sacrifice would be so sublime, so heroic, that he and Aerith (remember that she also sacrificed herself on the game) would become legends among all the Final Fantasy characters, and couplings. Quite expectations that I have, don't I? :P

I like that idea, too. Making peace with the issues that bother him is definitely more characteristic than Cloud actually putting them behind him. I think too many people expect Cloud to resolve them in the sense that he will forget about them. That's what I hear when people say that he should "move on" with his life. I don't think that Cloud will ever "move on" in the sense of forgetting about them or even putting them behind him. I think he can make peace with them, however.

Yes, and what better way to make peace with his personal demons than sacrificing himself, for the Planet's and the people sake. Finally, he can say that he did something worth with his life (even if he had already saved the world). I think that, that would give him real peace, would take out his guilt, and make him feel worth to be with Aerith. :cleris: