I am new to the forums here, and I just wanted to share some thoughts on Cloud and Zack's relationship from my point of view. It's long and drawn out, so if you don't want to read it I won't be offended. At the end, I have a question/opinion that hopefully should get some good feedback. Happy reading =)
After just finishing CC, I was finally able to fill in the conversation between Zack and Cloud that leads to FF7's opening. It really does make sense now as to why Cloud's mind was so distraught throughout the original FF7 as well as AC. From the original scenes in FF7 (flashback of Shinra Mansion), it seemed that Cloud only heard Zack die because all we hear is gunfire while Cloud lay on the floor poisoned with mako. In AC, we find out that Cloud, after re-visiting Zack's final resting place, said "I said I'd live for you, too". It's at that point that we finally know that some sort of promise was made between them. I have to say that CC's ending was beautiful. Even though the game itself could have used some more plot and character development leading up to that point, I still empathized with Zack to protect his honor in the end, and I empathized with Cloud as to why he took on Zack's personality...as a defense mechanism for the horror he witnessed that day and the guilt he felt about being helpless.
However, I recently realized something interesting. I don't know if this was done on purpose, or if it is a minor detail. At the end of AC, we see Cloud brought back to life after the final scene. Zack and Aerith are the ones responsible for allowing him to return (from what I've read).
After Zack and Cloud were best friends, don't you think he would have done more than a simple wave and a half-ass smile as he walks back into the lifestream? Aerith kept contact with Cloud throught AC after her death. I am starting to wonder if Zack was disappointed with Cloud. He asked Cloud to "live for the both of them", not to become his personality and forget that he existed without telling those he met of his heroic deeds.
When Angeal died and passed on his sword to Zack, Zack stayed true to himself and to his mentor by passing on his legacy and beliefs to people such as Cloud (Cloud sends an e-mail commenting on Zack's new hair and how his words have been motivational to help him become stronger). Cloud however, does no such thing. He is weak minded, and there is no mention of Zack beind his best friend. Even when Cloud realizes that he has taken on Zack's personality, he doesn't make mention of him.
What is everyone's thoughts on this topic?
Thread Recap (last 10 posts from newest to oldest)
Aug 08, 12 at 1:30am
Fen
On the subject of Zack and Cloud not seeming like they were as "best friends" as FFVII led us to believe. They may not have been... until they spent FOUR YEARS trapped were in the nibelheim mansion together. Yeah they were in tanks, but if you check out some of the original FFVII extras [url]http://www.kuponut.com/games/ff7/secret_scenes.html/url] they weren't unconcious the whole time, they were even able to manage a few secret messages. Even if they were only mainly able to communicate with eye contact or vauge gestures, if two people are trapped in a situation like that for even a small length of time it creates a bond on whole different level. Its basic psychology. Here's an example.
If you have never watched V for Vendetta don't read this.
Spoiler:V for Vendetta
V never actually got to meet the woman in the other cell, but just the notes she left him changed him completely, he even says his whole revenge scheme is for what they did to her and she said she loved him, without ever meeting him or having any idea who he was, simply because he was another person trapped in that hellhole and he was able to read her letters.
So after going through shit like that together for four or so years, yeah it doesn't surprise me that Cloud went bat shit when Zack died. But I think CC could have done a better job showing that 4 years had past, because it doesn't seem too obvious unless you pay attention.
Sep 30, 11 at 7:07am
Loujack
So when Cloud was turned down to join SOLDIER because he wasn't strong enough but was able to kill Sephiroth. Prof. or Doctor idk Hojo found both Cloud and Zack so he took them back to a lab and injected Cloud with Jenova cells (which give SOLDIER operatives such as Genesis Angeal and Sephiroth there extraordinary power.) Cloud had been purified i guess later in FF VII of his red energy or Jenova power as only the green light continues around him. Prior to this however Cloud had suffered from over exposure to the Mako energy leading to the glow of his eyes and his enhanced power. With this he suffered in a coma status while Zack took care of him and I believe that those memories began to imprint upon Cloud's mind as Zack continued to talk of how they were friends and Zack would confess his own memories to Cloud which could have left Cloud's mind to store these and when he became to come to later on Zack had been dead and buried with the buster sword marking his grave. When Cloud did come to consciousness those imprinted memories would have been those remembered and his other sad memories of losing his best friend Zack repressed leading Cloud to believe he was the 1st Class SOLDIER and so on and so forth. Cloud struggles with his past as you can see in Advent Children but he knows that the memories he had believed were his were actually Zack's.
Aug 29, 10 at 5:38pm
BioHazardXxX
what if everyone just walk out huh nothing would ever get done
Aug 29, 10 at 5:22pm
biohazardxxx
look it would be nice to see zack alive and well but look if zack just walks out of a lifestream what about all the people zack just died to kill. huh?
Jun 11, 10 at 9:17pm
thofswordsman
it may be old but its deep weres the host of this thread anyway.
yes i would love to see zack come back.
Mar 26, 10 at 6:42am
Venus
This thread was old. O_________O
And i'm a bit confused about what you're talking about. This is CC forum not KH. And whats the deal about blog?
Mind to make your post clear?
Mar 26, 10 at 1:24am
ccloveless
at the end of the game cc it shows cloud on the train and the life stream with aerith does that mean she can bring zack back it would add a twist to the game and clouds double personality would stop i miss the happy cloud. Trust me zack was not done teaching cloud.think with zack back u could throw him into kingdom hearts 3 key blade war or in the next ff id love that and i have over 4million vote on my blog that agree they would pay to see zack back. and on my asian blog 1b all they would have to do is show zack walking out of the life stream wondring were he was
Jun 18, 08 at 6:52pm
Lazy Kerauac
I would have to agree with Mr Muffins on that. Zack was very upbeat, as it was put. He suffered during parts of the game where he felt incapable of saving anyone at all. Not only did he save Cloud, but through Cloud, he saved the whole world. I don't think that Zack was disappointed with Cloud at all.
Jun 17, 08 at 9:10pm
Mr Muffins
I feel like Zack had too much of an upbeat and positive personality to let any of Cloud's actions hurt him. Even though Cloud never tells anybody really about how Zack was a hero. Even though all that Zack wanted were people to think of him as a hero. However, I think he realized that people didn't have to think of him as a hero to be one. That is why I don't think Zack held anything against Cloud.
Jun 17, 08 at 7:35pm
CrystalLaser
Even though Cloud had Mako poisoning and was comatose, it's true he could see and hear everything Zack was saying.
So you make a good point! ^^
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