the ending

The ending of Final Fantasy VII has always been one of great debate. Maybe it wasn't quite clear to other people - but I think I got it, at least, in my own way. As we reached the ending of Final Fantasy 7, we found that some things didn't turn out the way that we expected them to. And things didn't turn out the way I expected them to. That made it stand out - of all the Final Fantasy games, this one stood out. So much was left to the imagination, and the possibilities were truely endless.

After Cloud and your respective party defeats Safer Sephiroth, it comes back to Cloud, standing there, knowing that it is not truely over, until he finishes him off for good. On a real level, on a spiritual level, or on an emotional level, whatever it was, it was a sense that Cloud had to get rid of his demons before he could really move on. Which takes him straight to Sephiroth - not the boss with one wing, and not the boss with a demented suit of armor, but a Sephiroth that he once knew many years ago. Automatically, whether you obtained Omnislash at the Battle Arena or not, your ultimate limit charges up and Cloud slashes Sephiroth leaving him weak and blood stained.

As Sephiroth is destroyed, an amazing stream of green light surrounds Cloud, and he then sees it. A hand reaching for him. But who's hand is it? Was it Tifa's or was it Aerith's? I'm not sure if I even know, because, like I said before, the possibilities are endless. Then again, being the Aerith fan that I am, how could I not think it was her? It had to have been. Her theme was playing, and it was almost as if the hand was reaching down from the heavens to take him away.

There are indeed many opinions out there, so I thought I would try my own. Yes, it could have very well been Aerith's hand, but then when Cloud comes back to his senses, he sees not Aerith - but Tifa reaching for him. For a possible split second, Cloud may have actually considered letting go - letting go of it all. The pain, the suffering, and the unhappiness. After all the fighting and trying so hard, the build up of fatigue must has been extremely intense. To take hold of Aerith's hand, to say "yes" to her, yes, I will come with you may have been what he wanted in that second. But what made him snap back to reality? I think that maybe on a personal level, Cloud felt that his time on Earth was not yet over. He still had things to do - he still had a life to live. When he realized this, he saw Tifa - whom I believe symbolized a choice, a choice of life, or maybe just a choice to go on.

Though, Aerith's part is not over - in fact it is far from being over. When Cloud reaches for Tifa's hand and she helps him up, he mentions being able to "meet" Aerith, and Tifa says "yeah, let's go meet her." So CLEARLY Aerith's isn't finished. There are many meanings that could become from this. Either Cloud and Tifa have come to the realization they they WILL die when this is all over, or she could still be yet alive. I'm very reluctant to beleive that she was alive, but she can be alive in many different ways then physically standing on the ground. Her spirit was all around. Though her body was gone, she was still there watching over them.

I really do think that before Aerith died, she sent a prayer to Holy. Whatever it was, I'm almost positive that it was a cry for help - for Holy's help to save the planet from whatever is killing it. One thing that I find very interesting about this, is that Holy does what it right for the planet - not the humans. "When it's time for this planet to die, you'll understand that you know absolutely nothing." Had people ever taken the chance to stop and think, "What do we really know about this planet?" or "Who is the real evil here?" It is a time when everyone needs to take a step back and look at the broader issue here. It is humans who destroy the planet. Thinking back to stories of Adam and Eve; we see God allow Adam to have dominion over all the land and all the animals. However, was this really such a good idea? I certainly do not think so, for this gave all of mankind the impression that they owned the Planet - that it was their's to do what they want with it. So, ultimately, I think that the ending of Final Fantasy 7 indentifies a valuable lesson for people, whether it was crystal clear or ambiguous: respect the ground you walk on, and never take for granted the resources that the earth provides for you. Treat the Planet like Aerith and her mother treated their home in the Slums. And, lastly ... never mess with power that is beyond you. To do so is not only dangerous, but such power could destroy you in more ways than one.

Go Back