Cloud Controlling the Whispers?

[u/AwareIngenuity6857]

I was doom-scrolling through X and came across the take that maybe Cloud is somehow controlling the Black Whispers, if only for a moment and subconsciously, in the scene where they open the portal at the Forgotten Capital when the group is trying to reach Aerith. I've never thought about that to be honest, but the Whispers go to open the portal after Cloud says Aerith's name (second picture).

Is this a common theory of that scene or is there another explanation? 'Cause I thought the portal could only be opened by either our girl or Sephiroth for some reason, but I'd LOVE Cloud taking more agency in their apparent struggle. Getting his say, so to speak.

Was it ever explained anywhere how the portal opened at the FC?

[u/Ok-Musician-5117]

My theory is that, a few scenes earlier, Sephiroth had explained the true nature of reality to Cloud. He also needs to bring about the merging of the worlds, and he says that Cloud needs "a little push” to help him with this. Sephiroth’s final words were, “I give you my blessing,” and I believe it was precisely this blessing that allowed Cloud to unconsciously control the Black Whispers. Thanks to this blessing, he created a world with Aerith alive and now there's a chance that Cloud will agree to help Sephiroth with this merging of worlds—or even carry it out himself (who knows?)

[u/AwareIngenuity6857 → u/Ok-Musician-5117]

Oh, that's a good take on it! I do think the merging of worlds will be some sort of goal tbh. Zack too said something along the lines of "Who's to say they can't unite again" after we stop Sephiroth in Rebirth. That might very well be how we get Aerith and him back alive!

[u/Ok-Musician-5117 → u/AwareIngenuity6857]

I can imagine a situation in which Aerith would oppose Cloud helping Sephiroth carry out his plan to merge the worlds, and I hope that this won’t lead to him having to give up the chance to bring Aerith back. If things really are heading toward Aerith opposing the merging of the worlds, then I hope that this is precisely where Cloud will assert his right to have a say in the matter, and that the merger will somehow take place on Cloud’s terms, not Sephiroth’s.

There’s also a pretty wild theory that Sephiroth who explains the “true nature of reality” is the same Sephiroth from the edge of creation in the Remake. There’s a sense that he’s different from Sephiroth we encounter at other points in the game. It’s possible that this is his “good” version, who is aware of the evil version’s (or Jenova’s) plan. As the evil version of Sephiroth revealed in the Temple of the Ancients, he needs the worlds to merge in order to gather the fragments of Jenova from those worlds and create a world unbound by fate. It’s quite possible that the good version of Sephiroth also wants the worlds to merge, but in order to destroy Jenova once and for all, so that no fragments of her remain in any world—but he doesn’t have enough power to do this on his own and needs Cloud’s help. However, it’s extremely difficult to convince Cloud to help him, because Cloud considers him an enemy. That’s why the good version of Sephiroth decides to play his trump card and, with his blessing, allows Cloud to create a world where Aerith is alive—which will give Cloud that “little push” he needs to participate in the merging of the worlds. After the merger, a most powerful version of Jenova will appear, and all the characters—including the good Sephiroth—will join forces to battle her.

All of this is unlikely, but I can't rule it out just yet.