I was rewatching AC and I noticed some details in the way SE presented their scenes concerning Cloud's strength...

Tifa first brings it up in the airship before Sephiroth appears:

What is this "strong feeling"? It is the strength from Aerith, but this will be proved later in this analysis.

Near the beginning of fight between Cloud and Sephiroth, a scene Denzel groaning and Marlene comforting him. All of a sudden we see a water droplet splashing onto a lake or a huge water puddle.

Marlene, of course, is referring to Aerith by calling her sister. In Asian cultures, you can call people who are a little older than you and close to you "older sister" or "big brother," even if they are not your blood relations.

The scene flashes back to Aerith's church, in which water is practically flooded.

We then go back to the fight and the first thing Sephiroth says is...

I find it very interesting that Square-Enix just chosen this scene to preceed the scene in which Marlene senses Aerith's presence. I do not think it was an accident or a coincidence. The purpose of placing that scene right before Sephiroth asks what made Cloud stronger is to symbolically suggest to the audience that the strength came from Aerith. Or if not from her, a strength at least [mainly] related to her.

This isn't to say that his friends' strength isn't combined into this. It is, but that is not the forefront of his regained strength, nor do I think is it the strength that I think Sephiroth is referring to. (Because if it was, they would symbolically suggest so, but they didn't. The last scene that was shown was representing that was when Cloud was fighting with Bahamut. Instead, the scene shows his friends keeping their hands off, not getting involved and silently watching.)

But still, Cloud's friends were always there for the last two years supporting him. They always tried to give him strength, but he shunned it. It wasn't until Aerith helped him get over his guilt that he was able to accept his friends' support and strength. Tifa mentions that during those two years after FFVII, Cloud's strength disappeared. He had lost it all: his will to live, his will to fight. Who helped him to regain it? Who was the catalyst? Aerith. So where does the root of his newfound strength come from? Again, the answer can be traced back to Aerith.

This is further reinforced later on the movie. After Cloud defeats Sephiroth and his friends are celebrating in the airship, a water droplet lands and Tifa looks outside to thank Aerith.

Again, I don't think it's an accident that SE had Tifa say this during the celebration of Cloud's defeat of Sephiroth.

Aerith was there to help Cloud defeat Sephiroth. Before, Cloud couldn't sense her presence because of his overwhelming guilt. It wasn't until he reached his breaking point/shattering point that he was able to see her spiritually and start forgiving himself. Now that his guilt has gone, her presence within Cloud is clear and strong--which gives Cloud strength and his will to live and fight back.

I think SE indirectly suggests this. ^^

If he was able to regain his strength after he was able to get over his guilt and his guilt could only be lifted by Aerith herself, then his strength could only have been from (or at least initiated by) Aerith. This also means that his strength did not come from his comrades so much, but from Aerith. It could not have happened without her, with or without his friends' support.

Because you see, Aerith is his strength, his light...as always.

*Guilt is connected with Aerith's death, not so much Zack's--which is why Nojima states that the "incredible guilt" is there because of her death.

That is a very indepth and thoughtful anylais, Pinkribbion. Well done.

yeah..great analysis..i like it very much,pinkribbon.. :yes:

personally,i always think that cloud's strength came from aerith(mainly)..i mean..just put these 2 quotes together..from tifa alone..

i think,at this point,she was still trying to understand what makes cloud change..

--cloud-kadaj/sephiroth fight scene,aerith-cloud-kadaj scene,healing geostigma scene..then.. --

when tifa and avalanche celebrate the victory,note that after the water droplet lands in front of her,she was like froze for a while,deeply thought about something,(i think,this is the point where she actually understand what make him stronger)
and then,come this line..

after that,she quickly turning her face,gaze at cloud,without changing expression on her face from the same smile she gave to aerith..then nod,while said "hmm!"
well,cloud didn't look at her,he was gazing at the sky..

then,comes the very lovely claeris scene(for me)..you know,when cloud smile peacefully while feeling/kissing the rain.. :)

i've bold that word-him because i saw some people arguing about this(you know,when come a claeris part,it's always mistranslation :yawn: ) altough him is the most logical phrase to put in there..(for me)

anyways,great analysis..love it!makes me understand more about this strength thing.

p/s:i hope you understand what i was saying..i'm not fluent in english..so,forgive me if i make so many mistakes.. :(

very well done! you are right, Aeris was Cloud's strenght, i like when sefirot asked cloud: tell me what you cherish most...will you give me the pleisure to take it away?

and then cloud thinks about aeris, he thinks when she was praying, why? because once, sefirot had taken something precious to him, Aeris and know he know that he want to do the same thing..

I think what i love most in ac is in the end, when cloud is looking the rain, just before this we know that aeris was the water ( tifa said thanks to the drop) , just after this cloud closed his eyes feeling the rain...it was like he was kissing aeris, so romantic!

I think she knew, from her words and her tone. She sounded pretty confident, but this if from listening to Ayumi Ito, so...

Yes, I was watching the English version and they omitted "him" from the movie. I mean, it's pretty obvious w/o it, but some rabid CloTis say otherwise...I daresay it's the Western audience who needs the "him" in more than the Japanese audience.

It's fine. I can understand what you're saying clearly, just make sure to space and capitalize according to punctuation/grammar. Otherwise, you're good. ^^

Thanks for your comments and/or analysis, Bellebelle3, sha, and Daga15!

Yeah,that is my most favourite scene..I love it too.. :cleris:
Rabid clotis must say cloud's action in that scene was similar to everyone(who were infected by geostigma) but,but..Cloud was already healed before that,so..

Oh,really?Maybe I just judging from her facial expression..I must watch it again.. ^_^

Thanks for the advice..Thanks,I'm still working on that..
See,I've already make a change,but a little,though.. :D

Anyways,you're welcome!
Well done.. I really love your theories..

I don't know how it sounds like from the English version though, mind you. I only clearly remember it from the original [Japanese] version.

I can see that. :)

I really love Pinkyribon's analysis about Sephiroth's question: "what makes you stronger?"
I can accept the explanation that Cloud decides to fight for his family and friends' sake. But the reason that makes him do that is Aerith.

Q1.What makes Cloud stronger---Aerith's with, Aerith's forgiveness

Q2.The "purpose" to be stronger----to protect family, friends
(& to fulfill Aerith's wish)

Sephiroth's Q1. has been answered here~~ :D

Poor Sephy didn't get the answer cuz our Cloud says: "I'm not planing to tell u!"

:P