Cloud Strife was a young boy who was born and raised in the backwater town of Nibelheim, by his mother Claudia Strife. Cloud was a shy boy who strayed away from making many friends, although he had an intense attraction for a girl named Tifa Lockhart. Wanting to not only impress her, but improve himself, Cloud decided he would leave for Midgar and become a SOLDIER, like his role model, Sephiroth.
Cloud’s life would not be favorable to him, however, as he reached the Shinra Building in Midgar and would be quickly shuffled into the Shinra Infantry, a step below SOLDIER. No matter how hard he tried to stand out or for how long he served, he was never once made a SOLDIER candidate.
A few years passed and Cloud would be sent out on a mission to track down the rogue SOLDIER, Genesis Rhapsodos. Leading the campaign was the SOLDIER 1st Class, Zack Fair, who bonded with Cloud over their backwater-origins, and formed a friendship.
Cloud and Zack would quickly grow to be good friends over the next few years, although Cloud’s dream of being enlisted for SOLDIER never came true, despite how much Zack motivated him. The day came when Cloud would be sent out on a mission back in his hometown of Nibelheim, which greatly scared him.
Cloud, terrified and embarrassed that he was returning to his hometown without having become a SOLDIER, hid himself behind his helmet the entire trip; especially when he ran into Tifa. Unfortunately, this campaign would be the very same one that saw Sephiroth learn of his origins, and be driven insane. Sephiroth massacred the entirety of Nibelheim, including Cloud’s mother, before heading to the Mako Reactor.
Zack, Tifa, and Cloud each made haste towards the Mako Reactor to intercept Sephiroth. Unfortunately, Tifa was taken out, and Cloud was forced to comfort her while Zack went ahead. Zack, too, lost after a fierce battle, leaving it up to Cloud. Cloud took up the Buster Sword and surprised Sephiroth, stabbing him through the abdomen.
After a short scuffle, Cloud overpowered the severely weakened Sephiroth, and threw him into the Lifestream, presumably killing him. After the fight, Cloud passed out alongside Zack and both were found by Professor Hojo, who retrieved their bodies and experimented on them for four years.
Cloud was bathed in Mako for those four years, and even when he was rescued by Zack Fair, he still suffered the consequences. Cloud was not inflicted with Mako poisoning, which greatly affected his mind and made him vegetative. After Zack passed away trying to escape the Shinra army and make it to Midgar, he entrusted the symbol of his honour, the Buster Sword, to Cloud. Cloud also unintentionally adopted Zack’s identity as a SOLDIER.
Cloud would go on to believe himself to be a former SOLDIER and now mercenary, which led him into the organization called Avalanche, which was hell-bent on saving the planet from things like Shinra, and soon the return of Sephiroth.
Cloud formed an entire party alongside him that he would soon consider his family, as he travelled the entire planet on his journey to take down Sephiroth and recover his memories. He lost people along the way, but was able to fully recover his sense of self and grow comfortable with who he is.
Finally, Cloud confronted Sephiroth once and for all, with the entire sake of the planet on the line. Using his Omnislash, Cloud was able to take Sephiroth out and send him back into the Lifestream. The next few years would be tough for Cloud, however, and the survivor’s guilt over Zack and Aerith’s deaths began to settle in.
Furthermore, Sephiroth’s return began to grow apparent to Cloud, as he was inflicted in his left arm by a horrible plague known as Geostigma. His worst fears were realized, when three Remnants of Sephiroth appeared searching for the remains of Jenova. Cloud opposed them along with the rest of his party, but was unable to stop Sephiroth’s return.
Finally visited by Zack and Aerith, who assured him that they never blamed him for their death, which gave Cloud the strength he needed to face Sephiroth once again. After striking him down once and for all, Cloud finally found true peace; watching Aerith and Zack return together into the Lifestream.
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