![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
eternal-edge.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ship_manifestoTitle: A Reflection of You in Me
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
eternal_edge
Pairing: Zack/Cloud
Spoilers: FFVII game, Last Order
The Game
Final Fantasy VII is, at its heart, an unforgettable game. Ask anyone who has ever played at least one video game if they've heard of FFVII and the answer is almost guaranteed to be yes. Ask any hard core gamer what they think of it and you'll get the agreement that it is a legendary game.
I could give you stats about how well it has sold and I could tell you what the experts say, but I'm not. Suffice to say, it's the first game to ever get its own movie, cell phone, cell phone game, anime prequel, and two other prequel games. Needless to say, FFVII is big, very big.
Personally, I can't tell you about the plot in depth. I've actually never finished the game (but then again, I haven't finished a single video game in my life) and the story of the game itself is way to complex for me to put here without typing another gazillion pages. So I'm just going to give you the bare minimum.
Final Fantasy VII is about saving the world. It's about the hero being someone so strong, yet so fragile, and a hero that doesn't fit the mold of one at all. It's about misunderstandings and mistakes so big that the entire Planet suffers. It's about memories and friendship and regret and pain so great that you hurt for the characters.
Mako is the lifeblood of the Planet, condensed Lifestream, which is the spirit of the Planet, and all things that lived and will live. Shin-Ra, centered in Midgar, is a company that has grown so powerful from extracting Mako it's basically become the government just a step away from a monarchy. They even have their own military power with elite members referred to as SOLDIERS, men enhanced by mako. At the head of the SOLDIERS is the legendary Sephiroth, also known as The General.
In the past an alien being by the name of Jenova came to the Planet and warred with the Cetra, a people that could communicate with the Planet itself. Eventually, both died out and were forgotten by all except the scientists. The plot starts out with a rebel group (terrorists really) going against the Shin-Ra government because they want to stop the extraction of Mako. But soon it morphs into something far more complex with twists and turns at every angle.
The SOLDIER
Background:
In the game itself Zack is a very minor character and up until recently not much was known about him. Zack only had a few brief appearances in the game but his influence was greater than anyone else's on Cloud. (This will be further addressed in Cloud's section) What we do know from the game is that Zack is a first class SOLDIER, friend of both Cloud, Sephiroth, and Aerith. When Sephiroth went insane in Nibelheim, Zack tried to stop him but was defeated and wounded. The sword Cloud takes to battle Sephiroth with, and the sword Cloud starts out the game with, is Zack's Buster Sword.
After Sephiroth's defeat, an injured Zack and Cloud are taken by Hojo, a sadistic scientist, and experimented on for 5 years. It's Zack who finally breaks out, taking a comatose Cloud along with him. Zack then makes his way towards Midgar with Cloud and makes plans to become a mercenary. However, right before they reach the city they're ambushed by a group of Shin-Ra troops and Zack is shot multiple times and left for dead. It is not known if he actually died or not (see Theories).
With the recent release of Advent Children came the animated extra, Last Order, which focused on Zack and his escape from Nibelheim. There is wide controversy over Last Order since it deviates from the game at some points and some fans don't consider it canon. However, since it is official I'm going to go ahead and use the new information presented by it.
Last Order confirms that yes, Cloud and Zack were friends, not just acquaintances, and that SOLDIERS were very strong and mako modification made them into something of a super human. It also gave us a closer look at Zack's personality. As expected, he is very loyal. Who wouldn't be if they dragged their friend along with them on their escape even though leaving said friend behind would increase his chance of success? Zack's a very easy going and laid back guy who tries to make the best of things. If asked the classic "it the glass half empty or half full" question, Zack would probably say half full.
The great mystery of Zack's age is solved!!! During the Nibelheim mission he was 18, making him 23 when he escaped from Hojo's lab. Sadly, his last name still remains a mystery...
Blood Type/Personality:
The Japanese strongly believe that a person's blood type indicates what type of person he is. Thus, I took the liberty of looking up Zack's blood type (O) information.
"Type O Blood people are said to set the mood for a group and to take on the role of creating harmony among its members. Their image is one of taking it easy, of being peaceful and carefree. They are also thought to be big-hearted and benevolent, and they tend to spend money on others generously. O Types are generally "loved by all." But, they also, surprisingly, have a stubborn and strong-willed side, as well, and tend to secretly have their own opinions on things. On the other hand, they have the flexible, adaptable side of readily accepting new things. They are easily influenced by other people or by what they see on TV. They seem to appear levelheaded and trustworthy, but they often slip and make big blunders inadvertently. But that is also the point that makes O Types lovable." ~[http://www.tapanime.com/Subpages/japculture.html]
Theory:
In the game, it is never outright said that Zack died. Yes, he was shot full of bullet holes, but remember that he's a SOLDIER, a man enhanced by mako. We don't know all the effects that mako can have on a human but it's not impossible to say that mako could heal wounds fatal to normal humans. Zack did survive the beating Sephiroth gave him anyway (which included impalements). Thus, it is plausible that Zack could have survived being shot. There's a theory that the man in the pipe down in sector 7 is really Zack. If you look around the pipe you will find the numbers 02. In Hojo's notes he said that Zack had been a successful experiment and thus, he would have gotten a number. If Sephiroth were 01 then Zack probably would have been 02.
The Trooper
Background:
Cloud is the "hero" of the game. "Hero" because it wasn't him that actually saved the world in more ways than one. As a child, Cloud was an outcast. None of the other kids in Nibelheim played with him and even the adults disliked him. This was seen in the one scene where Tifa's father was hitting Cloud for him supposedly getting Tifa injured even though it was all Tifa's fault. None of the other adults stopped Tifa's father. Cloud lived next door to Tifa who never paid any real attention to him until the night before Cloud left for Midgar to become a SOLDIER. Right before he left she made him promise to save her whenever she'd be in trouble.
Not much is known about Cloud's time in Midgar except that he did not become a SOLDIER and he became Zack's friend. Apparently, Cloud's ashamed of not being a SOLDIER because on the mission back to Nibelheim Cloud put on his helmet and refused to take it off for anyone to recognize him. It is here that there's a conflict between the game and Last Order. In the game, Cloud defeated Sephiroth by shoving Sephiroth (using the Masamune, which Sephiroth had impaled Cloud on, for leverage) into the mako in the reactor. In Last Order, Sephiroth jumped into the mako himself. Either way, Cloud was injured and Hojo took both him and Zack to the basement of the Nibelheim mansion and experimented on them for five years. While Zack was a successful experiment Cloud was not. Hojo tried to turn Cloud into a clone of Sephiroth but failed so Cloud was never given a number.
We don't know what happens to Zack or Cloud after Zack is shot but somehow Cloud ends up in Midgar with Zack's clothes, weapons, and memories, which are assimilated into his own. For the majority of the game, Cloud becomes Zack, believing that he was a 1st Class SOLDIER and friend of Sephiroth and such. In this aspect, although Zack wasn't physically in the game much, he had a greater influence than anyone on Cloud and was in most of the game through Cloud. We will never know what Cloud's original personality was really like since he "became" Zack. Even after he found out the truth, bits and pieces of Zack still remained in him and most likely influenced the way he acted and thought. In the end, it's Zack that saves the world. Zack through Cloud, and Aerith through Holy (which stopped Meteor from crashing into the Planet).
Blood Type/Personality:
Cloud's blood type is AB.
"People with Type AB Blood are said to have a delicate sensitivity. They are considerate of other people's feelings and deal with them with care and caution. On the other hand, though, they are strict with themselves and those close to them. They, therefore, seem to have two personalities: one for those "outside," and another for people on the "inside." They often become sentimental, and they tend to think too deeply about things. AB Types have a lot of friends, but they need time to be alone and think things through, as well." ~[http://www.tapanime.com/Subpages/japculture.html]
Bio:
The Ship:
For me, the Zack/Cloud pairing is glaringly obvious.
1) Zack was Cloud's friend in Midgar, possibly his first and only friend. We know Cloud didn't have any friends in Nibelheim and having been treated the way he was Cloud would have been very cautious around people. Zack, being the loveable guy he is (see Blood Type analysis) somehow worms his way into Cloud's heart and is there to stay. For Cloud, one who's never had friends before, Zack would have been very important. Much more important than a regular friend would be to us.
2) Zack took Cloud with him when he escaped from Nibelheim. At the time, Cloud was in a comatose state and would have done nothing to help with the escape. In fact, he would have hindered it. Zack would have had a much higher chance of survival if he had left Cloud, but he didn't. This act in itself speaks volumes about Zack's feelings for Cloud.
3) Zack doesn't abandon Cloud. After taking Cloud away from Nibelheim Zack could have just left Cloud somewhere. It would have made it much easier for Zack to move on with his life (and not be caught) if he didn't lug around a comatose person. In Last Order, Zack's being pursued by Shin-Ra troopers and Turks and it would have been a lot easier to just leave Cloud to fend for himself. But he didn't. In fact, he protects Cloud with his Buster Sword and fought off everyone barehanded. When he left to get a motorcycle the Shin-Ra troops all thought he'd abandoned Cloud, but Zack came back. (and proceeded to kick some Shin-Ra ass XD)
4) Cloud became Zack. This is the strongest piece of evidence of Cloud's feelings for Zack. After Zack "dies" Cloud can't let go of him, refuses to accept the fact that Zack is gone. Thus, he takes Zack's memories and makes himself into Zack. Then, it wasn't Zack that died, but Cloud.
You have to really love a person to be willing to die instead of having them die. In the same aspect, Zack really loved Cloud because he kept Cloud as safe as he could by taking Cloud along with him instead of abandoning him. Even when the Shin-Ra troopers ambushed them, Zack could have left Cloud and ran. Instead, he chose to protect Cloud, even if it meant dying.
Websites:
Unfortunately, I came into the FFVII verse late, really late. Therefore, most authors had moved on to other fandoms making an already scarce ship even scarcer. Also, lots of fics and sites that were once up are now gone. Here are a few of the remaining ones that I could find.
General
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
zack__cloud = a Zack/Cloud lj community
Yubinbasya = the site of Yubinbasya, the most amazing Zack/Cloud doujinshi circle. The art is so beautiful. I really wish I knew how to get into her gallery on this site. If anyone figures it out please let me know.
Love is Blind = japanese Zack/Cloud fanart
So Da Sexy = a site with lots of scanned doujinshi on it. LOTS of Zack and Cloud and Zack/Cloud
Swimming in Gray = another site with Zack/Cloud doujinshi
False Innocence = another site with a few Zack/Cloud doujinshi scanned
Yours Truly = a shrine to Zack with lots of Zack/Cloud fiction
Ghost in the Machine = a fansite for Zack with some Zack/Cloud fiction on it
Fics
speakerchild writes good Zack/Cloud fiction. Check out her multichapter "Forgotten Daze"
![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vollykins also writes nice Zack/Cloud fiction. She's recently started on Zack/Cloud for 30_kisses so we can expect more from her in the future.
Dreamer This author also has another Zack/Cloud oneshot
Thorne Scratch has a few very good oneshots. Check out her lj for more.
Purple = a sweet drabble
Beautiful = a chilling and heartbreaking drabble about Zack's last moments
Rydia Highwind has a few nicely written fics
Christmas Day in the Morning = just like the title says, a Christmas fic
Peanut Butter and Jelly by kuraokamiko who's more well known for Harry Potter fics, but this sweet FFVII fic is just as good as her others
Willow = a fic from the amazing Akuma no Tsubasa
Zacks-clone has a lot of Zack/Cloud fiction
Stargazers by Rogue Shadow
These are all the ones I can come up with at the moment. If I've missed any, please let me know.
NOTE: Omnislash is apparently a fairly famous Zack/Cloud fic by Kaliflwr. Unfortunately, I've never read it and I can't find it anywhere. If anyone knows where it is or has it and would be willing to send it to me PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I've been dying to read it for years now. XD
Author:
eternal_edgePairing: Zack/Cloud
Spoilers: FFVII game, Last Order
The Game
Final Fantasy VII is, at its heart, an unforgettable game. Ask anyone who has ever played at least one video game if they've heard of FFVII and the answer is almost guaranteed to be yes. Ask any hard core gamer what they think of it and you'll get the agreement that it is a legendary game.
I could give you stats about how well it has sold and I could tell you what the experts say, but I'm not. Suffice to say, it's the first game to ever get its own movie, cell phone, cell phone game, anime prequel, and two other prequel games. Needless to say, FFVII is big, very big.
Personally, I can't tell you about the plot in depth. I've actually never finished the game (but then again, I haven't finished a single video game in my life) and the story of the game itself is way to complex for me to put here without typing another gazillion pages. So I'm just going to give you the bare minimum.
Final Fantasy VII is about saving the world. It's about the hero being someone so strong, yet so fragile, and a hero that doesn't fit the mold of one at all. It's about misunderstandings and mistakes so big that the entire Planet suffers. It's about memories and friendship and regret and pain so great that you hurt for the characters.
Mako is the lifeblood of the Planet, condensed Lifestream, which is the spirit of the Planet, and all things that lived and will live. Shin-Ra, centered in Midgar, is a company that has grown so powerful from extracting Mako it's basically become the government just a step away from a monarchy. They even have their own military power with elite members referred to as SOLDIERS, men enhanced by mako. At the head of the SOLDIERS is the legendary Sephiroth, also known as The General.
In the past an alien being by the name of Jenova came to the Planet and warred with the Cetra, a people that could communicate with the Planet itself. Eventually, both died out and were forgotten by all except the scientists. The plot starts out with a rebel group (terrorists really) going against the Shin-Ra government because they want to stop the extraction of Mako. But soon it morphs into something far more complex with twists and turns at every angle.
The SOLDIER
Background:
In the game itself Zack is a very minor character and up until recently not much was known about him. Zack only had a few brief appearances in the game but his influence was greater than anyone else's on Cloud. (This will be further addressed in Cloud's section) What we do know from the game is that Zack is a first class SOLDIER, friend of both Cloud, Sephiroth, and Aerith. When Sephiroth went insane in Nibelheim, Zack tried to stop him but was defeated and wounded. The sword Cloud takes to battle Sephiroth with, and the sword Cloud starts out the game with, is Zack's Buster Sword.
After Sephiroth's defeat, an injured Zack and Cloud are taken by Hojo, a sadistic scientist, and experimented on for 5 years. It's Zack who finally breaks out, taking a comatose Cloud along with him. Zack then makes his way towards Midgar with Cloud and makes plans to become a mercenary. However, right before they reach the city they're ambushed by a group of Shin-Ra troops and Zack is shot multiple times and left for dead. It is not known if he actually died or not (see Theories).
With the recent release of Advent Children came the animated extra, Last Order, which focused on Zack and his escape from Nibelheim. There is wide controversy over Last Order since it deviates from the game at some points and some fans don't consider it canon. However, since it is official I'm going to go ahead and use the new information presented by it.
Last Order confirms that yes, Cloud and Zack were friends, not just acquaintances, and that SOLDIERS were very strong and mako modification made them into something of a super human. It also gave us a closer look at Zack's personality. As expected, he is very loyal. Who wouldn't be if they dragged their friend along with them on their escape even though leaving said friend behind would increase his chance of success? Zack's a very easy going and laid back guy who tries to make the best of things. If asked the classic "it the glass half empty or half full" question, Zack would probably say half full.
The great mystery of Zack's age is solved!!! During the Nibelheim mission he was 18, making him 23 when he escaped from Hojo's lab. Sadly, his last name still remains a mystery...
Blood Type/Personality:
The Japanese strongly believe that a person's blood type indicates what type of person he is. Thus, I took the liberty of looking up Zack's blood type (O) information.
"Type O Blood people are said to set the mood for a group and to take on the role of creating harmony among its members. Their image is one of taking it easy, of being peaceful and carefree. They are also thought to be big-hearted and benevolent, and they tend to spend money on others generously. O Types are generally "loved by all." But, they also, surprisingly, have a stubborn and strong-willed side, as well, and tend to secretly have their own opinions on things. On the other hand, they have the flexible, adaptable side of readily accepting new things. They are easily influenced by other people or by what they see on TV. They seem to appear levelheaded and trustworthy, but they often slip and make big blunders inadvertently. But that is also the point that makes O Types lovable." ~[http://www.tapanime.com/Subpages/japculture.html]
Theory:
In the game, it is never outright said that Zack died. Yes, he was shot full of bullet holes, but remember that he's a SOLDIER, a man enhanced by mako. We don't know all the effects that mako can have on a human but it's not impossible to say that mako could heal wounds fatal to normal humans. Zack did survive the beating Sephiroth gave him anyway (which included impalements). Thus, it is plausible that Zack could have survived being shot. There's a theory that the man in the pipe down in sector 7 is really Zack. If you look around the pipe you will find the numbers 02. In Hojo's notes he said that Zack had been a successful experiment and thus, he would have gotten a number. If Sephiroth were 01 then Zack probably would have been 02.
The Trooper
Background:
Cloud is the "hero" of the game. "Hero" because it wasn't him that actually saved the world in more ways than one. As a child, Cloud was an outcast. None of the other kids in Nibelheim played with him and even the adults disliked him. This was seen in the one scene where Tifa's father was hitting Cloud for him supposedly getting Tifa injured even though it was all Tifa's fault. None of the other adults stopped Tifa's father. Cloud lived next door to Tifa who never paid any real attention to him until the night before Cloud left for Midgar to become a SOLDIER. Right before he left she made him promise to save her whenever she'd be in trouble.
Not much is known about Cloud's time in Midgar except that he did not become a SOLDIER and he became Zack's friend. Apparently, Cloud's ashamed of not being a SOLDIER because on the mission back to Nibelheim Cloud put on his helmet and refused to take it off for anyone to recognize him. It is here that there's a conflict between the game and Last Order. In the game, Cloud defeated Sephiroth by shoving Sephiroth (using the Masamune, which Sephiroth had impaled Cloud on, for leverage) into the mako in the reactor. In Last Order, Sephiroth jumped into the mako himself. Either way, Cloud was injured and Hojo took both him and Zack to the basement of the Nibelheim mansion and experimented on them for five years. While Zack was a successful experiment Cloud was not. Hojo tried to turn Cloud into a clone of Sephiroth but failed so Cloud was never given a number.
We don't know what happens to Zack or Cloud after Zack is shot but somehow Cloud ends up in Midgar with Zack's clothes, weapons, and memories, which are assimilated into his own. For the majority of the game, Cloud becomes Zack, believing that he was a 1st Class SOLDIER and friend of Sephiroth and such. In this aspect, although Zack wasn't physically in the game much, he had a greater influence than anyone on Cloud and was in most of the game through Cloud. We will never know what Cloud's original personality was really like since he "became" Zack. Even after he found out the truth, bits and pieces of Zack still remained in him and most likely influenced the way he acted and thought. In the end, it's Zack that saves the world. Zack through Cloud, and Aerith through Holy (which stopped Meteor from crashing into the Planet).
Blood Type/Personality:
Cloud's blood type is AB.
"People with Type AB Blood are said to have a delicate sensitivity. They are considerate of other people's feelings and deal with them with care and caution. On the other hand, though, they are strict with themselves and those close to them. They, therefore, seem to have two personalities: one for those "outside," and another for people on the "inside." They often become sentimental, and they tend to think too deeply about things. AB Types have a lot of friends, but they need time to be alone and think things through, as well." ~[http://www.tapanime.com/Subpages/japculture.html]
Bio:
The Ship:
For me, the Zack/Cloud pairing is glaringly obvious.
1) Zack was Cloud's friend in Midgar, possibly his first and only friend. We know Cloud didn't have any friends in Nibelheim and having been treated the way he was Cloud would have been very cautious around people. Zack, being the loveable guy he is (see Blood Type analysis) somehow worms his way into Cloud's heart and is there to stay. For Cloud, one who's never had friends before, Zack would have been very important. Much more important than a regular friend would be to us.
2) Zack took Cloud with him when he escaped from Nibelheim. At the time, Cloud was in a comatose state and would have done nothing to help with the escape. In fact, he would have hindered it. Zack would have had a much higher chance of survival if he had left Cloud, but he didn't. This act in itself speaks volumes about Zack's feelings for Cloud.
3) Zack doesn't abandon Cloud. After taking Cloud away from Nibelheim Zack could have just left Cloud somewhere. It would have made it much easier for Zack to move on with his life (and not be caught) if he didn't lug around a comatose person. In Last Order, Zack's being pursued by Shin-Ra troopers and Turks and it would have been a lot easier to just leave Cloud to fend for himself. But he didn't. In fact, he protects Cloud with his Buster Sword and fought off everyone barehanded. When he left to get a motorcycle the Shin-Ra troops all thought he'd abandoned Cloud, but Zack came back. (and proceeded to kick some Shin-Ra ass XD)
4) Cloud became Zack. This is the strongest piece of evidence of Cloud's feelings for Zack. After Zack "dies" Cloud can't let go of him, refuses to accept the fact that Zack is gone. Thus, he takes Zack's memories and makes himself into Zack. Then, it wasn't Zack that died, but Cloud.
You have to really love a person to be willing to die instead of having them die. In the same aspect, Zack really loved Cloud because he kept Cloud as safe as he could by taking Cloud along with him instead of abandoning him. Even when the Shin-Ra troopers ambushed them, Zack could have left Cloud and ran. Instead, he chose to protect Cloud, even if it meant dying.
Websites:
Unfortunately, I came into the FFVII verse late, really late. Therefore, most authors had moved on to other fandoms making an already scarce ship even scarcer. Also, lots of fics and sites that were once up are now gone. Here are a few of the remaining ones that I could find.
General
zack__cloud = a Zack/Cloud lj communityYubinbasya = the site of Yubinbasya, the most amazing Zack/Cloud doujinshi circle. The art is so beautiful. I really wish I knew how to get into her gallery on this site. If anyone figures it out please let me know.
Love is Blind = japanese Zack/Cloud fanart
So Da Sexy = a site with lots of scanned doujinshi on it. LOTS of Zack and Cloud and Zack/Cloud
Swimming in Gray = another site with Zack/Cloud doujinshi
False Innocence = another site with a few Zack/Cloud doujinshi scanned
Yours Truly = a shrine to Zack with lots of Zack/Cloud fiction
Ghost in the Machine = a fansite for Zack with some Zack/Cloud fiction on it
Fics
speakerchild writes good Zack/Cloud fiction. Check out her multichapter "Forgotten Daze"vollykins also writes nice Zack/Cloud fiction. She's recently started on Zack/Cloud for 30_kisses so we can expect more from her in the future.Dreamer This author also has another Zack/Cloud oneshot
Thorne Scratch has a few very good oneshots. Check out her lj for more.
Purple = a sweet drabble
Beautiful = a chilling and heartbreaking drabble about Zack's last moments
Rydia Highwind has a few nicely written fics
Christmas Day in the Morning = just like the title says, a Christmas fic
Peanut Butter and Jelly by kuraokamiko who's more well known for Harry Potter fics, but this sweet FFVII fic is just as good as her others
Willow = a fic from the amazing Akuma no Tsubasa
Zacks-clone has a lot of Zack/Cloud fiction
Stargazers by Rogue Shadow
These are all the ones I can come up with at the moment. If I've missed any, please let me know.
NOTE: Omnislash is apparently a fairly famous Zack/Cloud fic by Kaliflwr. Unfortunately, I've never read it and I can't find it anywhere. If anyone knows where it is or has it and would be willing to send it to me PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I've been dying to read it for years now. XD
