OVA
Description
Born on August 11, 1986, in Nibelheim, Cloud Strife lost his father young and was raised by his mother Claudia Strife. Residing next door to Tifa Lockhart, he felt excluded from her circle, fostering a superiority complex. At nine, he trailed Tifa and her friends on a perilous mountain crossing; her resulting fall caused a seven-day coma, leaving Cloud burdened with guilt and anger.
Inspired by Sephiroth, fourteen-year-old Cloud left for Midgar to join Shinra's SOLDIER unit. He failed qualification, becoming an infantryman instead, and severed ties with his past. During a 0001 mission guarding Professor Rayleigh, he unexpectedly demonstrated sword skills alongside the Turks. Subsequent missions to Modeoheim and Junon forged his friendship with SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair. In 0002, Cloud returned to Nibelheim with Zack and Sephiroth to inspect a mako reactor. Sephiroth uncovered his origins, burned the village, and killed Cloud’s mother. Cloud confronted him, impaling Sephiroth with Zack’s Buster Sword before casting him into the reactor’s mako pit.
Professor Hojo captured Cloud and Zack, subjecting them to Jenova cell and mako experiments. Mako poisoning left Cloud catatonic. After four years, Zack freed them, but Shinra forces killed Zack outside Midgar. Partially conscious, Cloud claimed the Buster Sword and trudged toward the city. Trauma, Jenova cells, and Zack’s death merged Zack’s memories and SOLDIER persona into Cloud’s identity.
Late in 0007, Tifa discovered Cloud delirious in Midgar’s Sector 7 slums. She recruited him into her Avalanche cell, concealing his inconsistencies to uncover the truth. During a reactor bombing mission, Cloud overcame mental breakdowns to succeed. Later, with Tifa’s aid, he unraveled his fabricated past and reconciled his true history.
Post-Meteorfall, Cloud helped build Edge from Midgar’s ruins. He co-managed Seventh Heaven bar with Tifa and operated Strife Delivery Service using a motorbike named Fenrir, acquired for lifetime bar privileges. Cloud, Tifa, Barret’s adopted daughter Marlene, and orphan Denzel lived as a family. Denzel—orphaned by Sector 7’s plate collapse—collapsed near Aerith’s church from Geostigma. Cloud found him, sensing Aerith’s guidance, and brought him home.
Cloud wrestled with guilt over failing to protect Aerith and Sector 7’s residents. Contracting Geostigma—a Jenova-linked disease—intensified his shame. He distanced himself from family, avoiding calls and extending delivery trips. During Kadaj’s attack, Cloud defended Edge and cured Denzel’s Geostigma using Lifestream-infused water from Aerith’s church. This act, coupled with accepting his need for forgiveness, reunited him with his family. His emotional reconciliation culminated in a rare smile.
In later years, Cloud aided the World Regenesis Organization against threats like Deepground, maintaining his bond with Fenrir. He and Denzel visited the Midgar outskirts where Zack died, reflecting his enduring ties to the past.
Inspired by Sephiroth, fourteen-year-old Cloud left for Midgar to join Shinra's SOLDIER unit. He failed qualification, becoming an infantryman instead, and severed ties with his past. During a 0001 mission guarding Professor Rayleigh, he unexpectedly demonstrated sword skills alongside the Turks. Subsequent missions to Modeoheim and Junon forged his friendship with SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair. In 0002, Cloud returned to Nibelheim with Zack and Sephiroth to inspect a mako reactor. Sephiroth uncovered his origins, burned the village, and killed Cloud’s mother. Cloud confronted him, impaling Sephiroth with Zack’s Buster Sword before casting him into the reactor’s mako pit.
Professor Hojo captured Cloud and Zack, subjecting them to Jenova cell and mako experiments. Mako poisoning left Cloud catatonic. After four years, Zack freed them, but Shinra forces killed Zack outside Midgar. Partially conscious, Cloud claimed the Buster Sword and trudged toward the city. Trauma, Jenova cells, and Zack’s death merged Zack’s memories and SOLDIER persona into Cloud’s identity.
Late in 0007, Tifa discovered Cloud delirious in Midgar’s Sector 7 slums. She recruited him into her Avalanche cell, concealing his inconsistencies to uncover the truth. During a reactor bombing mission, Cloud overcame mental breakdowns to succeed. Later, with Tifa’s aid, he unraveled his fabricated past and reconciled his true history.
Post-Meteorfall, Cloud helped build Edge from Midgar’s ruins. He co-managed Seventh Heaven bar with Tifa and operated Strife Delivery Service using a motorbike named Fenrir, acquired for lifetime bar privileges. Cloud, Tifa, Barret’s adopted daughter Marlene, and orphan Denzel lived as a family. Denzel—orphaned by Sector 7’s plate collapse—collapsed near Aerith’s church from Geostigma. Cloud found him, sensing Aerith’s guidance, and brought him home.
Cloud wrestled with guilt over failing to protect Aerith and Sector 7’s residents. Contracting Geostigma—a Jenova-linked disease—intensified his shame. He distanced himself from family, avoiding calls and extending delivery trips. During Kadaj’s attack, Cloud defended Edge and cured Denzel’s Geostigma using Lifestream-infused water from Aerith’s church. This act, coupled with accepting his need for forgiveness, reunited him with his family. His emotional reconciliation culminated in a rare smile.
In later years, Cloud aided the World Regenesis Organization against threats like Deepground, maintaining his bond with Fenrir. He and Denzel visited the Midgar outskirts where Zack died, reflecting his enduring ties to the past.