Analysis of LOVELESS and Genesis/Angeal

Rydeen

In-KWEH-dible
Throughout CC, we live through Zack, sympathizing with his frustration and trauma, and confused by the motivations of our deserting teammates. Angeal and Genesis attempt to explain their actions and motivations in abstract ways - in Genesis' case, through quoting Loveless incessantly. During my real-time experience as a player, the villains' behavior was very frustrating and unrelatable to me and these feelings were unresolved by the end. I still feel like it was poorly executed, but I am trying to make an effort to understand what the writers were trying to convey because I don't want to hate Crisis Core. I don't want to believe that it's a pseudo-philosophical hot mess pretending to be something more profound. Perhaps the opacity of CC's characters and themes can also be partially attributed to translation or language barrier. After spending some time analyzing things, CC feels a little more cogent. But it's all still very nebulous and to get a consistent metaphorical structure is tough, especially when there could be triple meanings..

The content of Loveless that we are aware of embodies a theme of salvation (obviously through Jenova, at least as interpreted by Genesis). But this salvation is vague, as Angeal admits when he tells Zack that the "Gift of the Goddess" is a mystery even to him. The only thing that seems constant to their cult/belief system is a desire for destruction, essentially making it a death cult.

Below I expound on some thoughts and musings as I attempt to analyze Loveless from the perspective of Angeal and Genesis. Considering many of you guys have played these games many more times than I have (I played CC once, almost 7 years ago) and are much more intimately familiar with the pages and pages of Utimania materials, I'd like to know what you think.

Prologue
When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting

Jenova's arrival, depicted as a savior.

Act I
Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess
We seek it thus, and take to the sky
Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest.

I would consider Genesis and Angeal to be wandering souls. Their entire existence was designated to do nothing but serve Shinra's ends (as killing machines - of course they'd eventually bite the hand that fed), but only through the exploitation of the alien parasite that was permanently infused into their being. Their "lineage" "erased" and exploited, their lineage a monster. They felt betrayed by Shinra, which was their only reason for living (aside from their friendship), which created a psychological vacuum. I think "infinite in mystery" alludes to them seeking for a purpose and meaning that they will never find, because they no longer feel human and can't relate to other human beings. Perhaps the mysterious "Gift of the Goddess" they are searching for is just the meaning to their lives. Their only solace is in Jenova, whom they project onto the fabled Goddess, and her vague promise of salvation.

Act II
There is no hate, only joy
For you are beloved by the goddess
Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds

Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul
Pride is lost
Wings stripped away, the end is nigh

I don't know how they can view Jenova in such a way as the first stanza of this act, but perhaps this is the mind control talking.
Wings stripped away is ironic imagery if we apply it to the loss of their pride and dreams, because the wings that they have are what stripped their pride and dreams as humans. They bare their wings as Jenova exerts her influence. Is SE going for dramatic irony here?

Act III
My friend, do you fly away now?
To a world that abhors you and I?
All that awaits you is a somber morrow
No matter where the winds may blow

My friend, your desire
Is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess

Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return

Sounds like a pitch to convert their genetic, "monster" kin to "Jenova-ism."

Act IV
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess

My soul, corrupted by vengeance
Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey
In my own salvation
And your eternal slumber

Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at world's end
The wind sails over the water's surface
Quietly, but surely

I really don't know what to say about this - as it relates to the rest of the Loveless content.

Act V
Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies
I offer thee this silent sacrifice

Referring to the Reunion. Very ironic how Jenova is depicted as the one that will "become the dew that quenches the land" when she has an even more voracious appetite for the planet's life than Shinra.

Perhaps this epic refers to the Lifestream and Holy, and the tragedy is Genesis falsely attributing it to Jenova, a sort of false prophet and satanic figure, who seems to exert her insidious psychological and spiritual influence (especially when they become weakened by doubt in the first place, much like how Geostigma is contracted) over everyone except Sephiroth, who is able to use her for his own ends. Sephiroth, to me, was the only deserter whose motivations and personality made some degree of sense to me up front.
 
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S.L.Kerrigan

Pro Adventurer
AKA
molosev
Perhaps this epic refers to the Lifestream and Holy, and the tragedy is Genesis falsely attributing it to Jenova, a sort of false prophet and satanic figure, who seems to exert her insidious psychological and spiritual influence (especially when they become weakened by doubt in the first place, much like how Geostigma is contracted) over everyone except Sephiroth, who is able to use her for his own ends. Sephiroth, to me, was the only deserter whose motivations and personality made some degree of sense to me up front.

I think that you're right to emphasis that the epic could refer to the Lifestream. Genesis thinks that himself (guess at LOVELESS ).
Now if it is not related to Jenova as you're proposing. I think that it's still a very somber/tortured story.

I tried to read the entire compilation while keeping in mind that Lifestream and Jenova could be the same entity. It worked quite well, even better IMHO.

You should try it ;)
 
Ryvius, I feel you're quite heroic to undertake this task. Crisis Core is such a confusing mish-mash of half-baked beliefs and ideas - maybe it reflects the inside of Zack's mind? :monster: I always assumed Loveless was a piece of cod-poetry dashed off by the writers once they'd decided they were going to give Genesis a personality by making him obsessed about a poem. What we see in the game cannot be the whole thing. It would be the shortest work of classic literature ever - especially given that it aspires to be some kind of epic poetry. I don't mean that the game-makers wrote more of it; I mean they always intended us to understand that it was just a fragment of the complete work. The symbolism is opaque. When I was playing the game I thought the goddess meant Jenova and expected that at some point poor Genesis would discover what a deluded sap he'd been, but then Minerva suddenly appeared and redeemed him and I have no idea who she is or how she fits into their mythology.

When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting

What 'the war of the beasts' is, who knows? Is it their version of the Apocalypse? I rather assumed the 'goddess' here is Omega, which is an avatar of the planet's power. That is to say, to the extent that I struggled to make some sense of this poem in my mind, I assumed the fictional author was giving his/her own take on the apocalyptic vision of the planet being destroyed and all life being whisked off to a new planet.

Act I
Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess
We seek it thus, and take to the sky
Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest.

Infinite in mystery is the meaning of this poem. "We seek it thus"? How exactly do we seek it? Has the wandering soul been liberated from its body? Why can't it rest? Are we all wandering souls?

Act II
There is no hate, only joy
For you are beloved by the goddess
Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds

Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul
Pride is lost
Wings stripped away, the end is nigh

The first time I read this I thought it was the goddess who was the hero of the dawn and the healer of worlds.
The shattered soul can't fly because it has lost its wing; the end is night; and yet still this shattered soul dreams of the morrow? A futile dream, surely, since if the end is nigh there isn't going to be a tomorrow.

Act III
My friend, do you fly away now?
To a world that abhors you and I?
All that awaits you is a somber morrow
No matter where the winds may blow

My friend, your desire
Is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess

Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return

OK, now this one I understood. The 'world that abhors you and I' (though grammatically that should be 'you and me'), is Shinra and the world it made. Genesis is rebuking Angeal for not rejecting Shinra. As long as Angeal sticks with Shinra, his life will be crap no matter what changes take place. Genesis is telling Angeal that what he really wants is... the goddess, which here seems to symbolise life and hope. And he concludes by reminding Angeal that he'll be back, one way or another.


Act IV
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess

My soul, corrupted by vengeance
Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey
In my own salvation
And your eternal slumber

Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at world's end
The wind sails over the water's surface
Quietly, but surely

Life sucks, there's no point to it, but there's no getting offa this train we're on. It was my desire for vengeance that ruined my life, but guess what: I'm saved! And you'll die I guess. The legends will turn your death into a sacrifice. That's just the way the wind blows; you can't stop it.

Act V
Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies
I offer thee this silent sacrifice

If only Genesis had been silent!!!! Again we have this promise that he'll be back one day to make the soil fertile. Some implication here that he's saving the world with his silent sacrifice. I don't get that at all.

Anyway, here's Vergil's version:

Arms, and that man I sing, who, forced by fate
And psychopathic Hojo’s spiteful hate
Sicken’d and feather’d, left Shinra’s employ,
And sought, by air, by earth, by fire, his joy.
Ten score his mess-mates borne beneath his wings
Wrought in his likeness he to battle brings.
Condemn’d to die, the world with him he’ll take
And the corrupting thirst for vengeance slake,
And dearest friends betray; who best him know,
Their own misguided trust he will them show.
O Muse! Reveal what fault in this man’s soul,
Twisted his fate to one so sad and cruel.
O Goddess! Pity him his stolen weal,
Forgive his sins, and thou his heart shalt heal.
 

Rydeen

In-KWEH-dible
I think that you're right to emphasis that the epic could refer to the Lifestream. Genesis thinks that himself (guess at LOVELESS ).

I forgot about this. Thanks for sharing.

When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting


What 'the war of the beasts' is, who knows? Is it their version of the Apocalypse? I rather assumed the 'goddess' here is Omega, which is an avatar of the planet's power. That is to say, to the extent that I struggled to make some sense of this poem in my mind, I assumed the fictional author was giving his/her own take on the apocalyptic vision of the planet being destroyed and all life being whisked off to a new planet.

Perhaps Omega or Minerva was the intended Goddess entity of the poem. But maybe Genesis subconsciously interprets this under the lull of his genetics as a prophecy wherein Jenova, whom he projects onto Minerva, will guide [destroy] the world to bliss with the everlasting gift of returning to the Lifestream, while thinking that he's fighting for Minerva. That in reality, Jenova, whom he probably believes is an Ancient like pretty much everyone else believes, is exerting her influence over him, compounded by his own desire for revenge that he tries to dress up as a noble cause (a good call back to the themes of the OG), to kill everyone so she can gobble up the Lifestream.

Act I
Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess
We seek it thus, and take to the sky
Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest.
Infinite in mystery is the meaning of this poem.

:monster:

Act IV
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess
My soul, corrupted by vengeance
Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey
In my own salvation
And your eternal slumber


Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at world's end
The wind sails over the water's surface
Quietly, but surely


Life sucks, there's no point to it, but there's no getting offa this train we're on. It was my desire for vengeance that ruined my life, but guess what: I'm saved! And you'll die I guess. The legends will turn your death into a sacrifice. That's just the way the wind blows; you can't stop it.

This has me thinking. Perhaps the best way for Zack to achieve his dream of being a hero is for him to die. The longer a hero stays alive, the less likely they will remain a hero in public consciousness. I guess that's kind of the point to CC. He wants to be a hero, but instead of becoming a hero to the world he becomes the hero (martyr) to the person (Cloud), who will become the ultimate hero. I wonder if Genesis, the twisted character he is, wants to do this "for his own good" so Zack can achieve his dream - to be the First Class SOLDIER who sacrificed his life to try to stop the traitors to Shinra. Then again, Genesis is not the type who likes to share the spotlight or really think of anyone other than himself, so perhaps Zack is the same as the rest of humanity he wants to kill so that they can all return to the Lifestream, the "gift of the Goddess," and he can be the hero for taking everyone there.

Act V
Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies
I offer thee this silent sacrifice
If only Genesis had been silent!!!! Again we have this promise that he'll be back one day to make the soil fertile. Some implication here that he's saving the world with his silent sacrifice. I don't get that at all.

Maybe he views himself as the dew that quenches the land and the sparer of the world because if he destroys Shinra, they can no longer extract from the Lifestream, which is the sacred gift.

Anyway, here's Vergil's version:

Arms, and that man I sing, who, forced by fate
And psychopathic Hojo’s spiteful hate
Sicken’d and feather’d, left Shinra’s employ,
And sought, by air, by earth, by fire, his joy.
Ten score his mess-mates borne beneath his wings
Wrought in his likeness he to battle brings.
Condemn’d to die, the world with him he’ll take
And the corrupting thirst for vengeance slake,
And dearest friends betray; who best him know,
Their own misguided trust he will them show.
O Muse! Reveal what fault in this man’s soul,
Twisted his fate to one so sad and cruel.
O Goddess! Pity him his stolen weal,
Forgive his sins, and thou his heart shalt heal.

This is great!
 
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Clement Rage

Pro Adventurer
In universe, LOVELESS is a stage play about three friends and their love, that's probably two hours long, most likely what we have are the Greek chorus that begin each act (and the fifth is missing, so Genesis wrote it himself.)

When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting

This sounds like Omega and Chaos to me, the end of the world framed positively, 'beasts' in plural, and so on. Omega does spread wings when it takes off in Dirge.

The rest of it mostly fits too,

Act I
Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess
We seek it thus, and take to the sky
Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest.

The Lifestreams and the wandering souls in it get taken to the sky, literally. We don't know what comes next, but we'll take it over the dying world.

Act II

Act II
There is no hate, only joy
For you are beloved by the goddess
Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds

Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul
Pride is lost
Wings stripped away, the end is nigh

Chaos is a destroyer of worlds, but it's a necessary duty, don't stress about it. Your will will be taken away by the Planet anyway.

Act III
My friend, do you fly away now?
To a world that abhors you and I?
All that awaits you is a somber morrow
No matter where the winds may blow

My friend, your desire
Is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess

Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return

You may value the world over Omega, but it's going to happen, no matter what. Get on board, even if you manage to fend us off temporarily, it's going to happen.


Act IV
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess

My soul, corrupted by vengeance
Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey
In my own salvation
And your eternal slumber

Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at world's end
The wind sails over the water's surface
Quietly, but surely

Pretty much the same.

Act V
Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies
I offer thee this silent sacrifice

(Giving in to inevitability)

Genesis, naturally, has a completely different interpretation. The ' three friends' part has obvious applications for him, but they seem to interpret the 'lover' part differently.

For Genesis, his gift is being healed of his terminal illness.
For Angeal, it's his death (because it's the only way to rid the world of the ability to make monsters out of his cells.)
For Sephiroth, it's JENOVA.

So, for each of them, the poem is about their quest to find the thing they want or is destined to find.

IIRC, there's something about how the three friends have one death, one wandering the land, one hero. Angeal dies, Sephiroth becomes the hero (for a while at least), and Genesis ends up seeking redemption.

The problem with this interpretation is that an actual Literal Goddess shows up at the end of CC, dunno what to make of that.
 

Noble0ne

Pro Adventurer
AKA
Noble
Prologue
When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting

Considering were told loveless book writings & play were based on a ancient prophecy, wherein the last act was never found. I think this first book act is a prophecy of a future time to come where the the lifstream will require the use of mythical beast know as ‘weapons’ to defend itself, yet the very need for these Beast as a defense mechanism is a sign denoting the current world order or the world itself will come to a end., At this time, the goddess will be a guide to a new tomorrow. I believe ‘the goddess’ in this poem is a analogy for ‘overarching truth’ — the truth has both good and evil, thus it descends with wings of light and dark, it is even mentioned that pondering about it may be the gift in and of itself.

Act I
Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess.
We seek it thus, and take to the sky
Ripples form on the water's surfaces
The wandering soul knows no rest.

Three friends go into battle.
One is captured
One flies away
The one that is left becomes a hero.

I see this as a description of human motivations plus, a precaution about the effect that people actions do have on the lifestream, as well as the prophecy of 3 important key figures in a war to come.

— If, the gift of the goddess is synonymous with some sort of overarching truth, then ‘we seek it and take to the sky’s would be referring to the set affinity of people towards seeking the secrets of the universe as a inherent motivation.

Presuming Genisis theory about the water being the lifstream is accurate, the ‘ripples form on the water’s surface’ line is could be pointing out that the actions of people in pursuit of the secrets of the universe may have a effect that can ripple though time or more acutely ripple through the lifestream.

The next part here, about ‘the wandering soul knowing no rest,’ seems to me like a torment that befalls anyone who is not grounded in there conviction as to who or what they themselves want to stand for. In example, Zack knew he wanted to be a hero and was grounded in this conviction which was further grounded by the phrase he adopted from his mentor angeal to protect his soldier honor. However Angeal, Genesis, & Sephiroth, all ended up being tormented when when there convictions wavered the moment they started to see soldiers as monsters while questioning if monsters could even have honor. None of them could not rest until they got a answer that was satisfactory or went mad. then theres cloud who was tormented until he faced his demons and unraveled them. In short, I see this last bit as sorta being a precautionary tale that not being well grounded is like a identity crisis that throw you out of balance and ripple furher into throwing the lifstream out of balance like poison that festers even after you die. a soul that dies confused stays confused and restless forever as a symbol to what they represented. A best to find out before your time is out type deal.

Act II
Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul
Pride is lost
Wings stripped away, the end is nigh
There is no hate, only joy
For you are beloved by the goddess
Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds
I see this as words of consolation to the expected hero that will sacrifice everything for a better tomorrow.

— the hero who sacrifices everything will not have pride or hate or regret… just joy at in being the vessel in which the truth/the-goddess can pave way to a brighter tomorrow & what is personally good or bad or right or wrong for himself/herself wont even matter, as some sort of death (shattering) for himself/herself will be fully accepted (pride lost).

Act III
My friend, do you fly away now?
To a world that abhors you and I?
All that awaits you is a somber morrow
No matter where the winds may blow
My soul, corrupted by vengeance
Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey
In my own salvation
And your eternal slumber
I see this part as a example of what misguided evil will tempt a person to give into.

— many misguided people have good reason to feel justified in there misguided actions and they can be eager to invite others who have be wronged in a similar fashion to join there misguided cause. Hence, the opening calling out to another, claiming to be a friend while questioning the idea of there being any logic behind going to participate inside of a world that has seemingly proven to detest people like them. I think the wind symbolizes the pursuit of answers, and here the misguided figure is try to be convincing to another person with saying stop pursuit of any satisfactory answers because there is not any, & that there is only sadness no matter where you look. The misguided man goes on to identify that he believes only he can save himself and that the other person must be destroyed in order for his salvation to be complete.


Act IV
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess

My friend, your desire
Is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess

Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at world's end
The wind sails over the water's surface
Quietly, but surely

I see this act as a continuation of the last act. Something caused this man to loose hope that there is any chance at honor or dreams of a brighter tomorrow. The arrow leaving the bow of the goddess is the mans view that the truth itself he has found, is a assaulting destructive attack on a fixed course against any dreams or honor that could be had. He shares that understands that the bringer of life is what is sought to make sense of everything that seems wrong, but this is in more of a placating way sorta asking another person to let go of this and give in to a sacrifice at worlds end as the answer — at least that how it seems genesis looks at it. Yet, if Genesis is wrong, which I think he is, the 2nd line starting with ‘my friend’ could be the other man reaching out reassuring that the gift of the goodness is the answer to disparity, as the bringer of life, rather than a destructive arrow. A silver lining of salvation of sorts coming from a different voice. The wind again being pursuit of answers being found, maybe not quickly but surely over time.

Act V
Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies
I offer thee this silent sacrifice

Since the last act was unwritten, seems this last act as the final stage that genisis wants to write into existence and taking on the role of the misguided disparing person feeling justified in his rise to prominence & perfection healed of his degradation while seeing nothing but consuming sadness & offering destruction as a way to spare everthing from what he perceives is a hopelessness world. Despite Genesis having a strong will, I dont think the last act will plays out the way he intends to write it beyond the story of crisis core.
 
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Noble0ne

Pro Adventurer
AKA
Noble
…Came along way since back in the day

the Loveless version in Rebirth was sub titled loveless version G.

I would think this highlight strengthens the idea that the loveless version “G” with focus on the Prisoner as the protagonist is only one way to interpret loveless— coinciding with Genesis who accepts that his role was the prisoner to his own ambitions and his subsequent degradation plus further remaining a prisoner to become a guardian of the lifestream in exchange for Minerva rescuing him from his degradation with him acknowledging Zack’s soldier honor was the correct hero role way.

It’s possible that the book Genesis holds that is way bigger than the original poem was written by him, hence a credit being for the play being a version G. Yet considering, Weiss & Nero collected Genesis at the end of Crisis Core, and we don’t see him again until the secret DC cut scene, maybe it’s possible sometime in between this period Genesis was able to influence an interpretation of loveless centered on the prisoner.

Assuming this logic has merit, The implication of this version G could lead one to question other versions of loveless look? How would loveless look if it focuses on the Wanderer or the Hero? I have my thoughts that Loveless is a predictive prophecy about general character role types all people can fall into after birth, the hero, the prisoner, & the wanderer with there actions in life being like ripples in the waters surface during there life journey once born and the friends being other types of people encountered along the life journey way, and the last chapter being unknown because it’s up to the person to decide how the last chapter will be written. I presume the prisoner is blinded by there own ambitions but wants to do right, the wanderer losses hope in reality and want to change it, and the Hero upholds morals and honor to find the meaning of life in that… or essentially the gift of the goddess that all types are seeking. The war of beast at world end being the weapons ofc, and wigs of light and dark being the truth of what is both good and bad being revealed. Seems to me all three friends can speak the exact same words in the loveless Acts but from different roles it takes on different perspectives.

I think understanding loveless like this makes the rambling of Genesis more palatable. So basically, I think the idea of loveless being a predictive prophecy about 3 general characters types is not a stretch & a solid theory framework in understanding loveless and Genesis.

Loveless, word key idea​

Prologue
Beast = Weapons + a characters archetype final form
The goddess = Truth
Her gift = Purpose

Act I
The sky = Ambition
Ripples form = Action of people born
The water’s = The lifestream
The wandering soul = character archetype 1

Act II
Hero of the dawn = character archetype 2
The shattered soul (Wings stripped away) = archetype 3

Act III
From different archetype perspectives:
1. The Wanderer =>
  • Questions = If there is no hope, acceptance of the current reality, will end up somber.
  • His “return” = attempting to bring a changed reality.

2. The Hero =>
  • Question = if losing hope, running from reality, will end up somber.
  • His return = attempting to lean on their morals & honor.

3. The Prisoner =>
  • Questions = in self reflecting on the right way after many mistakes, course correcting that will be without any praise, will end up somber.
  • His “return” = attempting to course correct despite the past.

Act IV
• The bow = Revelations piercing deep
• Sacrifice at world’s end = giving up their past self for a new world foundation

1. The Wanderer =>
  • see’s fate as = A hopeless existence,
  • His “Salvation” = breaking current reality in favor of their own reality & destroying anyone in their way

2. The Hero =>
  • See’s fate as = ego shattering responsibility,
  • His “Salvation” = Forgiveness & letting go

3. The Prisoner =>
  • See’s fate as = ambition hampering prison,
  • His “Salvation” = self reflecting to compete with oneself & putting obsessiveness on outside perception to rest.

Act V
• Genesis promising a last act for himself to return as a hero

From Genesis about his held book said:
were told his loveless book writings & play were based on an ancient prophecy, wherein the last act was never found.
  • There are 3 friends, one ran away, one became a prisoner, and the last one became a Hero.
  • The prisoner escaped aided by a women of opposing nations, yet was badly injured
  • When the war of the Beast is at its peak, the prisoner leaves to keep his promise.
  • Genesis believes in theory the water is the lifestream
(Bugenhagen in rebirth also has a theory about ripples being the actions of people once born. Pared with Genesis theory about the water being the lifestream is accurate, the ‘ripples form on the water’s surface’ line definitely could be pointing out that the actions of people in pursuit of the secrets of the universe may have a effect that can ripple though time or more acutely ripple through the lifestream.)

From Kunsel emails & OG Cid we know some loveless play lines said:
“Do you really have to leave?”

“I promised. The people I love, are waiting.”

“...I don’t understand. Not at all. But...please take care of yourself.”

“Of course...I’ll come back to you. Even if you don’t promise to wait. I’ll return knowing you’ll be here.”


Force Stealer said:
Cid talks about the play in FFVII and Kunsel emails Zack about it in Crisis Core. Kunsel quotes one of the same lines that Cid remembers.

The stage production isn’t entirely accurate to the original poem, and the most important difference is that the play is told from the perspective of the girl, while the poem is told from the perspective of the hero. It’s also implied that the stage production varies from year to year and that it may be more or less accurate to the original during any given year. The original is also much more open to interpretation.

And yes, judging from the size of the copy Genesis reads from, it’s fairly long, probably about 200-250 pages judging from the width of the spine.

In AC, a Loveless sign falls on Rude’s head.

The Rebirth song Aerith sings could imply a tie in that means Aerith always sang her play closing song, but it merely was not depicted in the OG, thus making her image on the loveless sign a valid homage to her performance.

Likewise, Tifa look alikes on DC signs could mean Tifa participating as the rescuing girl in the loveless play cannon happened and she got some fan press.
• Loveless version “G”
• Secret DC end scene
• No promise next title return
• Ripple on water surface theme
• War of beast at worlds end theme
• Crisis Core tie ins & Deepground end
View attachment 15849
Hmmm…. how Genisus will return??

a loveless theory
(edit: decided to LOVELESS lore dive :/)
(Analysis under quote)
View attachment 15890

The prophecy of loveless existing might imply whoever wrote it might have had an awareness of the future, plus awareness that the future would not be affected by there poem writings possibly cussing any butterfly effect change.

Or it could have just been a flat out coincidence latched onto by Genesis. If not, & it is of the lifestream, I’d wrap my mind around it as, a wise predicting from the Planet due to having a familiarity with Character types & general life from past iterations of its life cycle (maybe even the mass Cetra loss).

A prediction character types concerning how things might come close to a end later on, would explain preemptively keeping weapons around in wait for the time a breaking point war of beast would come (& maybe with knowing Jenova was purged from its system)

But, I could see someone saying its easer to just assume someone read the future way back when loveless was first written. However, stacked against all the other proof & my own analysis of loveless I personally don’t think it’s a stretch to deem the more complex perspective here correct. It’s simpler overall with all things considered.

Yet, I do think Genesis plans to return as a good guy, if Sephiroth has read the future I’d think he would be seeking out Genesis too. But we won’t know any about that till part III or a after 3 dlc

What if at the end of CC Genesis got it right?
A prophecy about 3 friends who set off on a journey in search of a the meaning in life while promising to meet again once it was found:
1 becoming a trapped prisoner,
1 becoming a lost wanderer,
1 becoming a blessed Hero


its possible it’s a metaphor for character types:

(Represented by the wanderer.)
• There will always be someone whose madness brings their world to its breaking point. — They find no peace, & in the end never prevail. They run away from reality & only something monumentally significant (like a parent or a child) might have a slim chance to disrupt their tragic direction.

(represented by the hero.)
• There will always be people who’s potential or morals lead their world toward a better tomorrow. — They are fortunate to have/had the time to well grasp honorable teachings that are passed onto them from both bonds and hardships that become their life lessons. To arrive at any of the understanding they have plus to have any of the bonds they have, is a blessing since it quite easily could not have been the case. In the end, an effect of the goodness from their lessons prevails and they stand as a beacon of hope.

(represented by the prisoner.)
• There will always be someone who is blinded by their own false assumptions — They remain trapped until they are thoroughly tested & those false assumptions are forced to break. They get hurt by there own blind folly causing unrepairable damage, however, once they free there mind, it is not too late to use there story despite all odds to be a symbol for Good & set off on the right path.


Anyone can play the roll of any 1 of the 3 friends; becoming the wanderer is to be hopeless about any good, becoming the prisoner is tragic yet redeemable, becoming the hero is a both a responsibility & a fortunate blessing.

roles can even be varied for a same person under different sub story acs, in hard to explain or mysterious overlap. Therefore pining a role to a person have its nuance.


Any of the 3 friends if/when corrupted by vengeance continue to endure a torment and do not overcome it without changing their perspective through forgiveness.

The last act though lost, is not relevant because it can be whatever a character decided makes it.

Note: Bugenhagen in “Rebirth” title. says ‘lives’ are like ripples on a waters surface. Like it or not these ripples will go out and will either fizzle and fade or build up to become a crashing wave. He say suggest trying not to fade remaining a ripple and work to become a crashing wave!


Wanderer - Sephiroth is that friend -
The wanderer who flys away and as a soul that knows no rest, flying away getting lost into a madness, never finding peace in becoming one with the planet. Wandering the lifestream trying to create his own salvation until his demise. A somber loss & failure always await him no matter what he does or how the wind blows. no dreams of Sephiroth & no honor in his name will remain once Sephiroth is defeated for good.

Hero - Angel is that friend -
The hero that teaches Zack how to have soldier honor, who’s living legacy is then passed on & carried by Zack, Zack who’s legacy then passes on to Cloud after impacting both Genesis & Cloud to carry that soldier honor & saving them, Cloud who then saves the world from Sephiroth with the bonds & lessons learned from his friends along the way, and defies the odds from of having below average underdog beginning yet overcoming it to heal fractured worlds with Angel’s ideals remaining as the one that is left to stand the test of time in contrast of the 3 original friends.

Prisoner - Genisis is that friend -
The prisoner to his own ego & ambitions, who gets injured in the process trying to best Sephiroth, leading to him to be further imprisoned to a fate of fading away fate in degradation. He then meets a girl (Minerva in the lifestream) who helps him escape this prison after Zack shatters his ambitions, then with newfound understanding Genesis promises to return to the girl once he upholds his original start journey intentions made by his old friend circle. A Intention promise to find the gift of the goddess plus reunite after with those 3 friends

— if the writings Genisis wrote to complete the story come true, Genesis would be poised to still need to find & usher in the a descending gift of the goddess everlasting (by protecting the cast of Holy) making a sacrifice legend will speak of at worlds end, then leave to return to the lifestream with Minerva after seeing off Sephiroth & Cloud (cloud who holds the living legacy off Zack and Angela). — the last missing act written in by Genesis represents him making a oath that even if there is not anything in it for him going forward, nothing will keep him from returning to become a catalyst in saving the planet in silent sacrifice

Edit: Would ya look at that…
well then, wasn’t too far off, already typed all that analysis up, so I’m not deleting it… if you got this far here’s the official jist of it:
View attachment 15663
—CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Ultimania
—;(Translated by: ObsidianFire)
Genesis's original interpretation, inscribed on the stelae he left behind in the Banora Underground,View attachment 16424


View attachment 15916
Is that a loveless tie in
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Since G cells can transfer, does cloud absorb G cells from Zack’s blood then now have bothers and G cells…?

Could both Zack and cloud have infused with the disappearing endgame SOLDIER chairman Lizard and Angeal copy monster? Would this aid how clouds gets Zack’s memory so strongly.
 
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