ChocoBongo
Chocobo Breeder
I must read that some time. I'm afraid I gave up reading those things not a quarter of the way through the 'denzel' story. OMG, spare me the agony of having to read that again....
You should - simply because I think its often misinterpreted by factions looking for one line answers. Aeris says she loves Cloud's romantically in the first few paragraphs, ergo, Aeris' love in AC towards Cloud is romantic. Not true. The whole drive of Maiden is to show how Aeris, romantically smitten in FF7 could change to the more maternal protective power she is in Advent Children; it shows how she grows and comes to comprehend the truth about Cloud (that we see in FF7 after she dies) and how she starts to realise that her feelings for Cloud were made up of her residual feelings for Zack, given he was effectively role playing Zack. She learns to appreciate Cloud for who he truly is but understands his destiny is with Tifa, something she blesses, which leads her into the distant guardian she is in Advent Children. It also shows Zack appearing to her and her initial reproach to him (bear in mind this was obviously written before Crisis Core). He stands patiently for her to come to terms with what Maiden has told the audience; that Aeris' ideas of who Cloud is, are essentially confused nuances that she carries for Zack. While Maiden doesn't end with Aeris coming to terms with her past, Zack is waiting patiently for her to sort through her confusion.
This is actually a very pro CloudxTifa piece (as The Compilation is), but the fact that ALL the commpendiums ignore it and the fact it wasn't written by any of the official team, does make its relevance a little dubious. It makes a nice filler to show Aeris' progression, but really doesn't tell us anything we couldn't have worked out ourselves given our understanding of Aeris and the events of FF/AC. The biggest problem for me is the fact it doesn't really follow through with the heavy romantic overtones of Crisis Core makes it a poor resolution to their fairy tale romance, and I suspect that's why the Compilation has since ignored this little prologue.
Crisis Core finds a better resolution in AC than Maiden - I think ignoring Maiden's concept of Aeris' being all huffy with Zack, the guy she wears pink in memory and hope for, makes AC's reunion of Aeris and Zack a lot more satisfying. We don't get to know how they interact, just simply they are together there, and I think that makes for a far more satisfying end to the romance of Crisis Core - an unspoken reunion which the audience can fill the gaps in!
Tuthfully, this is just my opinon, the term 'slut' has no basis in this game/argument whatsoever, and should therefor be promptly abandoned. If Cloud and Tifa (or Cloud and Aeris, take yer pick) kissed once in the course of the game (which I believe to be the extent of sexual intent in that particular scene) does not immediately render either girl a 'slut'. It is an improper use of the term, and was used only because of highly biased and offended fanboys. Thus, it's use should be discontinued.
I agree wholeheartedly.
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