Tifa Lockheart

Tifa lost both of her parents between the ages of eight and fifteen. During that time, she had met Cloud, her neighbor. For the most part, she had been oblivious of him, but after she lost her mother she became friends with him and developed a crush on him. She asked him to promise to be her hero, to come save her when she was in a pinch one day since he had decided to leave Nibelheim and become a SOLDIER like Sephiroth.

The next time she saw him was when she was fifteen. He never made it into SOLDIER, but arrived as back-up for Zack and Sephiroth. As Sephiroth lost his mind from seeing Jenova within the reactor Tifa had started to guide them to, he slew her father. In turn, Tifa took up his masamune to try and exact revenge, but was nearly slain herself. Zack also came, but was overwhelmed by the crazed man. It was then Cloud came on the scene and found her, and she always treasures the memory of him coming to save her that day before blacking out. As Cloud took down Sephiroth at the expense of himself, Tifa's sensei Zangan came and whisked her away to Midgar. She spent the next five years training with him and learning his fighting style.

Eventually, she met Barret and joined AVALANCHE. She opened up the infamous Seventh Heaven and it doubled as a hideout for the so-called terrorist group. Five years after the incident, Tifa found Cloud unconscious at the railway. She nursed him back to health and asked him to join AVALANCHE so she could keep an eye on him due to the peculiar things he said. Not wanting to disturb him in his already unstable state, she went along with the things he remembered the best she could with the hopes that once he did remember things for himself, she could be there to help him through it.

Throughout their time with AVALANCHE, the Turks were ordered to drop a plate on one sector of the slums. They lost many people and were also shocked to find Aerith had been taken by ShinRa. When trying to rescue her, Sephiroth appeared again mysteriously and killed the President ShinRa. Along the way, they met many other people to help them try to track down the elusive man. Sephiroth desired the black materia to fulfill Jenova's wishes. In the process, Aerith was killed and though it was a terrible blow to the group fighting against him - they pressed on until the very end.

In the Norther Crater, Sephiroth laid in wait. As a team, they went in and stopped him with the last blow dealt by Cloud who had become stronger than any had originally anticipated--especially the insane scientist, Hojo, who had deemed him nothing short of a failure. Tifa brought Cloud out of his reverie as the crater began to erupt around them and the meteor Sephiroth had summed with the Black Materia neared Midgar. As she fell off her ledge, Cloud saved her at the last minute then they were both pulled up into Cid's airship to watch in awe as Aerith's last prayer was granted and the Lifestream came to stop the meteor. Midgar was no longer suitable for living, but they had won.

With Sephiroth gone, Tifa and what was left of AVALANCHE sought more peaceful existences, to live out their lives as though they had never been adventurers nor heroes. She settled in the town of Edge built after Meteor's destruction of Midgar, and eventually reopened the Seventh Heaven bar. The friends that had remained eventually all went their separate ways, and Tifa was left tending the bar with Marlene. The original purpose of reopening Seventh Heaven was to cheer up victims of Meteor, those who'd lost their home. It would give them a secure place to go, something she felt everyone needed.

Despite Cloud often leaving, Tifa managed to keep house and make the best of their situation. Her sadness became a little more apparent the longer Cloud stayed away. It was during that time of estrangement he encountered Denzel. Rather, Denzel used his phone and called Tifa in tears over his own sad situation because of the Geostigma. Not knowing who he was, she took the boy in without question. To find Cloud staying at Aerith's old church troubled her, but she concerned herself with Denzel. For awhile, Cloud helped out but eventually he moved out entirely.

When Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz arrived to stir up trouble, the hero in Cloud came to fruition again. Strained as her friendship with him had become, Tifa implored him not to shoulder everything on his own. He felt that he couldn't protect anything, and she insisted he could -- that even Denzel was fighting. Her words didn't immediately reach him, but he soon came back to them as the Cloud she knew and loved. Their family was repaired and they settled into an easy life in Edge. Later she joined the WRO to help Reeve out, but before she could do a thing she was plucked from her world and awoke on the Balamb City coast.

Exuro Fatum

Prior to arriving in VIII's world, Tifa temporarily did a stint at an Academy as a Kickboxing instructor. It was something she got used to doing and actually found it to be enjoyable. Her workaholic tendencies helped keep her mind off of the lack of her friends being around and she even had time to center herself as an individual. Though as soon as she had a chance to return home, she took it and ran. Unfortunately, she had very little time to spend and couldn't even get involved with Reeve as much as she wanted for the WRO before finding herself in a new world.

Glad to have at least some experience in being shuffled around, Tifa adapted rather quickly. She was given help to open Seventh Heaven in Balamb City and even took a day job of working as a Kickboxing instructor once again at Garden. She had decided to open the bar as a way to attract her friends to the city if they had also been drawn to the world. It was her mark and it worked out in her favor. She also made plenty of new friends and saw some old faces, too. Before long, she had settled into her life with even Denzel and Marlene around inexplicably.

Things stayed quiet until Sephiroth emerged in the world. She promised that she wouldn't go to face him by herself as she was fully aware he was an opponent beyond her own capability of handling, but she didn't have a choice in the matter. She encountered him purely by chance within the city and refused to tell him where Cloud was. She ended up fighting him and had it not been for Byakuya Kuchiki's intervention, she would have died by his hand. She came close, however. So close in fact that Byakuya resorted to turning her into a Shinigami just to give her a chance to continue living.

He took responsibility for her and trained her. He also ended up fighting Sephiroth once more over Deling City. It was a swift battle and there was no victor, but Sephiroth has been unheard of for the time being. Tifa has continued her training with Rangiku Matsumoto when she has the time.

Somewhat of the girl next door, Tifa counters the stigma with her own strength and tomboy-like attitude. Growing up, she was the center of attention, but never let it go to her head. However, because of this she had a tendency to miss out on the ones still pining for attention and would have loved to reciprocate it if given the chance. Anymore she tries not to dwell on it, as the past has been put to rest. She still carries some of the weight of her actions as a young, bold, and adventurous girl but doesn't let it trouble her as much as she used to. Rather, she has tried to accept her past life as every bit of who she is and has found her own stability through the lives of others. She's as independent as she is dependent, needing to unconsciously lean on someone else to gain a sense of self.

Generally, she's an outgoing girl with a dry, sarcastic edge depending on who's around. She smiles more at ease and has rekindled a bit of a playful streak. She treasures her friends and would do anything for them, especially Cloud. Likely unknown to him is that his own discovered peace has put her at ease, too. Once being so determined to make a family of herself, Marlene, and Denzel with him, she is no longer concerned with the image and has dismissed the idea entirely in favor of letting things run their course. She remains the children's caretaker and treats them like she would her own.

Though a sensitive soul, Tifa is a closed book. While you can examine what she shows you on the outside, it speaks little for what she feels on the inside. She always tries to give her best face and encourages everyone around her. Hope is something carried not for herself, but for her friends. Always concerning herself with the well being of others, Tifa often forgets to take care of herself once in awhile. She's constantly struggling to remain composed as she does not want to worry anyone. Being around people is what keeps her spirits high and makes it easier to cope.

Nevertheless, when the chips are down, Tifa is always there to try to be the optimistic voice of reason. She endlessly supports those she cares about, and doesn't let the lack of esteem she has in herself affect that idea. Fortunately for her, it doesn't hinder her ability to be outgoing and friendly either. She is always willing to help someone out with whatever they made need. Sometimes she keeps to herself, but she likes--and prefers--making friends. Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt in her eyes, and she is never one to judge. Her heart rests with her childhood friend Cloud, but it doesn't keep her from befriending guys. In fact, she's more comfortable around the opposite sex and prefers it that way. Shades of her old tomboyish attitude. Matters of love are a sensitive topic that she'd rather not broach, at least not when it comes to her own love life. She flusters easily in that regard and will quickly change the subject.

Since the meteor days, her disposition has dramatically improved. She's not nearly as sad and lovesick as she used to be. Though she has always carried a certain level of maturity, she now finds herself to be a self-assured young woman. She still packs a punch and she should never be taken lightly, as her temper is something best kept sealed. It's not easy to make her actually angry, but when she is, Tifa becomes a force to be reckoned with. Doubtless determination and the drive to see what she believes in through to the end are attributes that don't necessarily set her apart from any other girls, but have certainly made her every bit of the upstanding woman she is today. While she may still find herself to be plain and ordinary, her own quirks and personal beliefs make her very distinctive--a girl sure to be remembered.

Category: Characters