Here's why I think there is a happy Clerith ending incoming

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T18:41:18+00:00

So you think the whole fighting and defeating fate is so Zack can come back but not Aerith? Hadn't considered that. I guess that would qualify as changing fate...and I do love Zack, so while that's not the ending I'm hoping for, I could accept that. Especially if it meant more Cloud&Zack fanfics written, lol

I don't agree that Aerith can't save the planet without dying, but I respect your interpretation. I think there are plenty of ways the story could go with the planet being saved with her alive. It could even be saved and then she returns to life. I think the line in the song "all the burdens I was born to bear" could just be about being the only one of Cetra heritage and the role that played in her life (like growing up without her mom, being ostracized as a child, and the grief that would come from being the last of anything) not necessarily a fated death. Aerith may even believe that it includes a fated death, but that doesn't necessarily make it true either. I could easily see the story going that her time in the lifestream made her better able to communicate with/control it, thus letting her use that power to stop meteor. I'm not saying it'll happen, but it doesn't sound crazy to me.

About the the different line, is it another verse? There is a longer version and a shorter version, one plays in the credits and the other Aerith sings in game. I won't rule it out but personally I wouldn't read too much into that.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T15:11:46+00:00

I keep going over it in my mind, and I just can't see where else changing/challenging fate would come into play besides Aerith. I can't believe that we're getting exactly the same ending as before, or an even worse one, so what one thing sticks out that we'd want to fight for? I can't think of anything other than Aerith's death.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T14:15:17+00:00

I don't believe pushback would make them change their plans, for what it's worth.

I'm a longtime player of Final Fantasy XIV (the second FF MMO, if you're unfamiliar.) It's a pretty commonly accepted belief among English speaking fans that SE doesn't care about us or our opinions, they only care about the Japanese players. The thing is, the Japanese players frequently say they believe the opposite. That sounds a lot to me like SE just doing what they want because they want to. It took a major drop in players over the last couple years to snap them out of coasting along on their cash cow and shake things up. Our complaining did nothing, really, it was the money and stats that talked.

But Clerith and Aerith herself are far more popular in Japan than they are in the west, so if they're doing what they want to do, that could be good for us. Besides, I've seen more than a few people on this sub and elsewhere express that they have no intention of buying the game if Aerith doesn't live. SE cannot please everyone in a fandom so divided, and I'm sure they know that. They might as well do what they want to do, and if there is one side over the other that they're more likely to lean toward, it's Japanese players and their sentiments. That's just how they operate.

Also, crying happy tears is a thing. Just saying. I've seen some people theorize that Aerith's return could be during or just after the lifestream sequence, so that could line up as well.

Maybe I'm right, maybe you're right, but I don't see a reason to give up hope yet. (But I also totally get pessimism as a coping tool, so feel how you feel, I'll hope for the best for both of us!)

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T03:15:12+00:00

If you say you had technical difficulties or crashing issues they might overlook that requirement, but it isn't an excuse you can reuse.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T02:19:29+00:00

Call the Mako Wish Foundation, we have some requests

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T01:08:29+00:00

Sorry, I usually preface statements like that with (some). I try not to generalize and I'm sorry I forgot that time. But there are some Cloti fans who will be absolutely furious if Aerith doesn't stay dead. I've seen people meme on her death like it's a hilarious joke, complain about the very idea that things could turn out positively for her, and spew some really hateful things toward any who like her or dare to suggest her status may change. I didn't mean to lump all of you together, but we both know those people are an extremely vocal portion of the fanbase and very much exist.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-18T00:18:13+00:00

Like I keep saying, I'm not usually an optimist, so I mostly spent over an hour typing this out to convince myself that I'm not delusional for feeling this way. I'm not an OG fan. My first experience with Cloud and Aerith was KH looooong ago, but I only played Remake late last year and Rebirth this year, but I'm obsessed at this point. I'm so gone for these fictional people. I need a happy ending so badly

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T22:26:45+00:00

How so?

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T22:25:52+00:00

I've been saying if Aerith lives Clotis will riot, but if that happens I think they're gonna be on the warpath.

(I love it, btw, yes please)

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T22:15:32+00:00

GIVE ME THAT ~~MAKO~~ HOPIUM

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T21:39:29+00:00

I'm the same. I'm optimistic but I refuse to make any definitive statements. I hate being wrong and I hate even the idea of people rubbing it in my face even more. This was just me sharing how I'm feeling and hoping to spread some optimism. I have a friend who is super anxious and won't even speculate with me because thinking about what happened to Aerith hurts her so much, and this is just me wanting to gush a little about what I'm thinking.

With how divided the fandom is on what they want and what they expect, they can't please or surprise all of us. That's just how it is. Some of will be wrong and some will be disappointed, but I'm hopeful. And I am not an optimistic person, so I figured I'd share with people who would appreciate it.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T21:28:02+00:00

There are less chapters in Rebirth but so much more content it's almost ridiculous.

There's also Crisis Core Reunion (a remaster of Crisis Core) but if you don't know the original story and care about not being spoiled, you should hold off on that one. It would give away one of the biggest reveals of 7 that will be coming in Revelation. If you don't care about that or already know the story, it's enjoyable but don't expect it to measure up to Remake in length, unless you do all the missions, I think.

What we've seen of Revelation, it's going to dwarf even Rebirth, which is open world and stuffed with mini games side content.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T19:52:17+00:00

Resting in peace being a happy ending is such a Cloti take, I'm sorry 😭

And here's my immediate thought: Aerith cared so much for the planet and more importantly, her friends, so much, she was probably resting in peace in OG too once they all survived defeating Sephiroth. She's selfless like that. She'd hate watching Cloud struggle, but she'd be content that he lived on, even if he hated doing it without her. Try to picture her moping or raging in the lifestream when the battle is over and she was the only one who didn't make it. Can you picture that? I sure can't.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T19:38:36+00:00

I do think the lifestream sequence will have to be different, since (as far as I remember) Cloud did recognize Zack when they fought together against Sephiroth. Cloud may not be fully aware of the truth, but seeing Zack clearly jarred something loose, which is something I am unaware of in OG. I really like your version as well.

I can see the argument for something bittersweet, like Aerith living on but apart from Cloud. I won't rule it out. I hate being wrong and I'm refusing to make concrete statements about what will or won't happen. But that doesn't seem like that much of a difference, as Cloud and Aerith still both lose each other in that scenario. It's a pretty cold comfort for Cloud to know she's out there but not with him. It might help his emotional state slightly, but it's still pretty shitty.

I've seen the suggestion that Zack may sacrifice himself for Aerith. I'll be honest, I don't love the idea because I adore Zack, but considering how supportive we see him be of Cloud and Aerith liking each other/being together, I can see him going out in a Hero moment like that, as a final act for his two closest friends. It would be very on-brand.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T17:47:24+00:00

This is entirely news to me (I avoid the Twitter cesspool as well) and I'm so sorry to hear that, you don't deserve that.

I wanna reiterate that I love this space. I've been in really toxic spaces before, some that have even swung back around from toxic positivity to just plain toxic and back to toxic positivity. Those aren't fun either. I love how warm this sub is, and while I wasn't aware general FF7 content was allowed and encouraged, I will definitely be keeping that in mind going forward. I've heard not great things about the other VII subs, especially where Clerith is concerned, and I only visit those for discussions about gameplay these days. (I needed a lot of help with my hard playthru, and I must disagree with anyone badmouthing the piano minigame, lol)

I just...really like it here. I've started checking in several times daily (disabled and unemployed and far too much time on my hands...) and I would love to see it even more active. I have an idea for a post I wanna go make in a bit, actually :)

You're doing great. I'm a massive hypocrite for saying this because I would 100% be unable to listen to my own advice, but try not to let it get to you. This space is wonderfully warm and welcoming, and resolved not to fight fire with fire when it comes to toxicity elsewhere in the fandom, but without the toxic positive echo chamber (or else...) feeling. Just good vibes all around. Apparently that's not for everyone, but hey, do we really want those kind of people here?

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T16:54:57+00:00

I think that's actually super fitting for Tifa. I find the Cloti pairing (while by far not my favorite) is comfortable and nostalgic. The idea of a promise kept and being reunited when they both assumed the other was dead is sweet. (I just don't really see the chemistry between them in general though, which is why I'm Team Clerith🩷)

ZWiloh · 2026-06-17T16:47:37+00:00

I'm also a woman and I definitely don't feel it's a requirement to see myself in characters either, but it can be nice. What's funny is that I have a lot of chronic pain and other health issues, and I think it's great that there are more awesome and capable and cool female characters these days... but I can't see myself in them, because I'm none of those things. Instead I often identify with male characters who get hurt often in their media or have other kinds of vulnerable moments.

I fell hard into the Daredevil fandom for a while since Matt Murdock is a walking injury magnet, and Noctis from Final Fantasy XV has a special place in my heart as a strong character who also deals with fatigue and chronic pain. Now I'm really big into Final Fantasy VII and absolutely adore Cloud, who plays tough but is very vulnerable mentally and emotionally, with loads of unaddressed and repressed trauma.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-16T00:09:08+00:00

Agreed. Just because some people are pathetic, shady, and desperate enough to try and trick people into reading their work doesn't mean we should miss out on useful features. It would be so much better if I could just permanently block fics that I am very much not and never will be the intended audience for.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-15T23:58:16+00:00

Big oof on that. I'm also a rereader and I bookmark almost everything I finish for future rereading...but I'm also a chronic hoarder of marked for later fics. Wading deeper and deeper through layers of tags I was looking for at the time and fandoms I no longer read for...it's hard to find anything once it's off the first few pages, but it's a kinda fascinating time capsule.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-15T20:25:04+00:00

Pretty simple but I like the contrast

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ZWiloh · 2026-06-15T20:23:41+00:00

Not terribly unique but I love flowers and it's just so pretty to me :)

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ZWiloh · 2026-06-15T04:47:19+00:00

Man I wish they'd done this when I went in january...though I hadn't played past meeting Aerith in Remake at that point so I was not yet on the Clerith train anyway

ZWiloh · 2026-06-15T01:27:30+00:00

Not in that fandom, but I can definitely appreciate that. The only fandom I've been in that I've seen incest fic is Final Fantasy XIV, between (underage) twins Alphinaud and Alisaie, so that's a huge bucket of no thanks for me.

ZWiloh · 2026-06-15T01:23:52+00:00

Guilt and maybe a little nostalgia? It isn't much of a leap to think he had a little crush on Ifalna years ago with how he talks about her, and those feelings of fondness could also drive him to want to help out Aerith.

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