The question I will most likely get from my visitors
is why would I, as a Cloud/Aerith supporter, would bother making a website
about the relationship between Cloud and Tifa? The answer is there
are many reasons why I made this site, but it narrows down to this: I
wanted to make something original. As a Tifa
fan, I decided that it was time for me to put in my two cents. I like
the relationship between Cloud and Tifa, I believe that they were
wonderful friends, but to call them lovers would be way too farfetched even though the both had crushes on each other at certain periods in time. Since there are hardly any sites out there that focus on the
friendship between two characters such as Cloud and Tifa, I decided one should be made.
As for the name, I looked through a thesaurus and looked up some synonyms for friendship, and found the word "Amity". Throughout the game and movie featuring both Cloud and Tifa, it's easy to see that Cloud and Tifa have done very kindly things for each other, which brought them to be rather good friends. Since it suited the characters' friendship for each other, the site was given the name Amity.
As for the color, I wanted to try something new for a site dedicated
to Cloud and Tifa. Since dark colored starry colors are overused on many CxT sites, I
didn't want to jump on that bandwagon. I have thrown some blue in for Cloud's sake and light hearted colors for the purpose of contrasting it with the darkness permeating Cloud and Tifa's friendship.
Now that we are on the subject of Cloud and Tifa's friendship, I do not want to bring down
anybody's opinion or belief towards the relationship of Cloud and Tifa. While I am a Cloud/Aerith supporter, I like Cloud/Tifa as friends and I am a multishipper. I like Cloud/Yuffie and even Cloud/Tifa in the pre-FF7 anime Last Order. I am a huge Tifa fan (I have been for nearly 10 years when I first played the game.) Their friendship is something special,
and they are important people to one another. Tifa is very selfless and will do anything keep Cloud happy and safe including falling into Lifestream to restore Cloud's memories or sacrificing her own happiness at the end of FFVII when she realizes that Cloud wishes only to be reunited with Aerith in the Promised Land. She hangs her head in resignation, accepting that Aerith is the only one in Cloud's heart.
I have never
really pictured Cloud as being an incredibly romantic character. Romance
seems to be a mystery to him, and it seems to confuse him a lot from
time to time. He was never very good at expressing his feelings and
sometimes seems confused and unsure towards people who have feelings for
him. I'll be honest when I say that I can't really picture him kissing Tifa or telling her "I love you", if they were to ever get together because Cloud is a very complex
character. To say "I love you" would be too direct of him, and we know
Cloud isn't very direct with his feelings or words from time to time. His eyes tell the audience what is in his heart and that person who be Aerith, she is his kobito (sweetheart/girlfriend). Cloud was her friend, her koibito — a symbol of what was important to her, and someone to be protected." (Case of Lifestream: White)
I was very touched by how worried Cloud got over Tifa's well being in Advent Children (it shows how important she is to him as his best friend). Tifa was a good friend to Cloud and I don’t deny she also had feelings for him. But I also know that when they were kids growing up in Nibelheim, Cloud was antisocial and Tifa didn’t really pay attention to him until he left home to join SOLIDER. In the end, it was Tifa who helped Cloud put his mind back together.
The end of the game puts an end to the
love triangle, especially taking the Highwind scene into consideration.
Cloud and Tifa were the only two with nobody to go home to or spend
time with however there are two possible scenarios of the Highwind scene. One where Cloud is for warm and affectionate to Tifa and talks about their promise, hearing her in Lifestream and learns something from her in their Lifestream sequence. The other scenario is the exact opposite where Cloud is cold and standoffish to Tifa, implying it is the player's choice their affection for Tifa neither or which has been canonized, unlike the Aerith Gold Saucer date which is canon, suggesting that Cloud has feelings for Aerith and since Tifa isn't a
very selfish person, that is why she ultimately sacrifices her happiness for Cloud as shown when she accepts Cloud's decision to meet Aerith in the Promised Land.
An answer from the Planet…
the Promised Land…
I think I can meet her… there
This scene alone shows that Tifa will do anything for Cloud, no matter what the cost. This is what Tifa does for Cloud. She is an unselfish individual who will give everything for him to be happy.
for him to be happy…
There is something in her statement that just isn't right for someone who has taken place as Cloud's new love interest. She believes him without even questioning why Cloud suddenly says, “I think I can meet her… there”. No questions asked, no doubt in her words.....
.....acceptance
Tifa: "EXCUSE me. You know, Aerith. I have a question."
Aerith: "What?"
Tifa: "Does the Promised Land really exist?"
Aerith: "...I don't know. All I know is... The Cetra were
born from the Planet, speak with the Planet, and unlock the Planet. And......then...
The Cetra will return to the Promised Land.
A land that promises supreme happiness."
Tifa: "...What does that mean?"
We still don't know what the Promised Land truly is, but we do know that it does provide supreme happiness to those who reach it. Whatever it is, Cloud wanted to meet her there... because with Aerith, Cloud is truly happy. Tifa finally understood what it meant… and at that point, Tifa makes a sacrifice which rivals Aerith's own sacrifice. Her own happiness… for Cloud.