Summary
The conclusion toFinal Fantasy7,perhaps the most iconic and recognizable game in the series, was mindblowing and left fans with just as many questions as they had answers. With such popularity, spin-offs, sequels, and remakes were practically inevitable.
As the events of the original 1997Final Fantasy 7and its remake trilogy differ, the ending of the remake trilogy will undoubtedly be different as well. With that in mind, here’s a look into the stories of each of the originalFF7cast as they continued after Sephiroth’s defeat and the end of the Meteor Crisis.
Cid Highwind
Ever The High-Flying Maverick
Cid’s fascination with air travel hardly died down after saving the world (which makes sense consideringhow cool airships areinFinal Fantasy). He began work on a new airship in Rocket Town with his partner, Shera. It is implied that once he got it airborne, he used his ship to ferry those with severe Geostigma (a disease left behind by Sephiroth) to get the medical aid they needed.
He also provided air support in his newly-named airship, the Shera, in the fight against Bahamut SIN and Sephiroth’s remnants. He later became affiliated with the World Regenesis Organization (WRO), heading an airship division. Along with the WRO, he participates in the Battle of Midgar against the leftovers of the Shira Electrical Company military wing, Deepground.
Yuffie Kisaragi
The Materia-Hunter-Turned Healer
After expecting a hero’s welcome after returning home, Yuffie found her hometown devastated by the lifestream after it coalesced to stop Sephiroth’s meteor spell. Using some healing materia that she collected on her adventure, she took care of the sick and injured. After briefly being quarantined by her father after being mistaken for Geostigma’s patient zero, she escaped,only to become infected with the diseaseafter encountering black water in a cave.
She began her search for materia that could cure Geostigma but was ultimately cured by the lifestream’s purified water at the end ofAdvent Children, along with other bearers of the illness. She accompanied Vincent in his assault against Deepground during the Battle of Midgar.
Aerith Gainsborough
Living On Through The Harmony Of The Lifestream
In possibly the most famous (or infamous) spoilers in the history of video games, Aerith died partway throughFinal Fantasy 7,shocking gamers across the world. However, the death of her physical body was not necessarily the end of her. Cloud encountered her while having visions of the lifestream, and when the holy spell was not enough to push back Sephiroth’s meteor, she brought the lifestream itself up to push it away.
She also appeared to Cloud in visions during the Geostigma epidemic, telling him that he need not be forgiven and that he should move forward with his life. She aided him in the fight against Bahamut SIN, allowing him to break the summon’s attack.
Cait Sith
The Pupper And The Puppet Master Usher In A New World
Cait Sith is really two people, although the crowned cat does demonstrate some sentience of his own apart from Reeve Tuesti (the former head of Shinra’s Urban Development department),despite being a puppet. Tuesti went on to found the WRO, having proven himself as a strong anti-Shinra figure.
Cait Sith, while presumably deactivated after Meteorfall, joined the party to fight Bahamut SIN with Cloud and the rest of the party. The Scottish-accented puppet also appeared inDirge of Cerberusto battle alongside Vincent (although he still hadn’t gotten better at fighting). Sometime after, Tuesti created a fifth Cait Sith with all the memories of the previous versions.
Barret Wallace
Lending A Hand (Or A Gun) Where It Is Needed Most
After finally taking down Shinra Electric Company, Barret began to adjust to a life without a fight. He commissioned a mechanical hand from the same engineer who created his gun-hand. Although his life’s enemy had been defeated, Barret still had a fight in him, so the engineer created a steel hand that could transform into a weapon if needed.
As well as pitching in during the Battle of Midgar and searching for a cure for Geostigma, Barret used his time and strength to help rebuild the world in a more down-to-earth way by lending a hand in farm and construction work.
Vincent Valentine
The Heart Of Chaos Put To Rest
InDerge Of Cerberus,Vincent plays a pivotal role in saving the planet from Omega,one of the planet’s powerful weapons, which was awakened by Deepground to trick it into extracting the planet’s lifestream. In fact, it was revealed that the Chaos that had turned him into an immortal being was created as a herald to Omega. It was designed to return all life to the lifestream before Omega could carry it to another planet as a last resort.
Thankfully, Vincent put an end to Deepground and the weapon before that could happen. Since Vincent is immortal and is set to live longer than even Red XIII, it is unknown what happened to him between the completion of Edge City and nature’s reclamation of Midgar. Hopefully, being purged of Chaos, he found a way to live a happier life.
Tifa Lockhart
Pulling The Community Back Together
After helping to avert the end of the world, Tifa focused on building a small family with Cloud, Barret, and Barret’s daughter, Marline, in the newly constructed city of Edge, built on top of Midgar’s eastern ruins. She set up a bar called “7th Heaven” and focused on cultivating wellness and a sense of much-needed normality in her small community.
Tifa continued to help mend Cloud’sshattered mental healthbut with mixed results. During the Geostigma crisis (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children), she combatted Sephiroth’s remnants, preventing his resurrection, along with Cloud and the rest of the old party. A year later, she joined Cloud, Barret, and Vincent in the battle against Deepground and their attempt to extract the planet’s life force.
Cloud Strife
A Soldier’s Battle Never Ends On The Battlefield
Cloud’s battle never ended, even after saving the world from Sephiroth and his Meteor spell. Between putting down Deepground, preventing Sephiroth’s return via his remnants, and operating a delivery business (Strife Delivery Service), he struggled topiece together his still-shattered identityand purpose.
While he seemed to be adjusting to his new family life with Tifa, Denzel, and Marline, he was secretly struggling with depression and loss. Gradually, with the help of his former party and through defeating Sephiroth’s memory (symbolically and physically), he was able to begin the process of healing.
Red XIII (Nanaki)
The Storied History Of The Long-Lived Wanderer
Red XIII, or Nanaki, to use his real name, traveled the planet after stopping the meteor spell from destroying the planet. He continued to maintain contact with the rest of the old party but became despondent upon realizing his longevity would force him to see his friends age and die many times over.
He confided these fears in Vincent, an immortal himself, who encouraged him to see the world and promised to meet with him once a year in Midgar. Nanaki can be seen during the opening ofFinal Fantasy 7: Advent Children500 years into the future with two cubs looking over Midgar’s verdant ruins.
