It would've been kind of interesting in an alternate plot, if Cloud had decided to stay in Aeris's neighborhood.

I think it kind of would have been interesting for an alternate type theme if the fall Cloud had made him lose his memory and then Aeris tended to him and he lived with her, they became boyfriend and girlfriend and started dating. She told him about her past and he understood.

Then, after they had been dating for a long time, he starts to recover his memories about what had happened before he came here and then he took her with him. I think that if Cloud did not have the memories of what had happened in the present and he was able to stay with Aeris in the neighborhood, without having to return to the bar or to his mission, they would be dating. If they were able to spend time one on one together without him thinking about the mission, they would be boyfriend and girlfriend and in a relationship. Does anyone agree? If they were alone together and it was just them and not the party, they would be dating. Even back when I had supported Cloud and Tifa before I supported Cloud and Aeris and I had thought that Cloud and Tifa would be dating, I had noticed that Cloud seemed a lot more relaxed and open with Aeris and not as cold.

...Unfortunately, that relationship wouldn't last very long, since Sephiroth would be free to roam around and the planet would go kablooey. :mellow:

Just kidding. Sorta. Because it's hard to say what will happen if Cloud is taken out of the picture like that--either my scenario happens, or someone else steps up to the plate etc. Possibilities are endless.

I like to think that the characters all follow a thread of fate--that Cloud was fated to meet Aerith, that Aerith was fated to die. It evokes the sympathy of inevitability--that no matter what happens, or how hard the hero tries to resist something, he falls victim to fate anyway. There is beauty in the struggle, despair in the failure, and pride in the attempt.

Plus it creates crapload of angst. :giggle:

But hmm, it just occured to me that the scenario you described is almost exactly what happens in FF Tactics. :D You could imagine that, maybe after the final battle with Ramza, Cloud is found unconscious by Aerith and they both set up a little family together.

When I read the title I had thought about Cloud and Aeris being raised together in her hometown instead of Cloud and Tifa in Nibelhiem. I thik that would have been more interesting.

OAnd when I think about it, the whole angsty-storyline would be replaced with a more Lunar SSS-ish storyline.

Cloud wouldn't be depressed as a child... which would ultimately change his introverted attitude.

The storyline could be changed to "Aeris had to run away to Midgar with her mother afte her father died, so Cloud joined SOLDIER a few years later in hopes of meeting her again." And during all that, he gets swept away in the whole Sephiroth/Jenova/Meteor deal. How they introduce the other characters could be pretty interesting to since they would have to alter a few things. >=)

I think it has potential... >_>

Like what Lynn and Mista has stated, it is a very interesting idea that could work. It would already create a nice background for Cloud and Aerith and would create much more romantic situations with them.

But I feel that I enjoyed their love more because they fell for each other within a small amount of time. Plus how they met was unique and cute, falling through the roof into the small patch of flowers and becoming this unknown girl's bodyguard.

Still, this idea would of created lots of lovely scenes and nice information between the two.

Do you mean in the beginning of the game when Cloud falls through the church roof?

It's an interesting concept, and it would make a good plot for a fanfic. However, what really drew me to the Cleris relationship is the fated tragedy of it. For some reason, I seem to particularly enjoy couples that can't be together. :lol:

You idea would take away the storyline of how they slowly get to know each other and just when it looks like they're in love, Aerith dies. I just found that whole dynamic to be really bittersweet, and I don't think I'd like the couple quite as much if it wasn't there.