Origin

Before Final Fantasy 7

Tifa, waiting for Cloud

Tifa was born in Nibelheim along with Cloud. The two lived next door and grew up with each other, eventually becoming close friends. Cloud admired Tifa very much, but he had always felt like an outsider and therefore, never really got too close with her. Her mother passed away when she was only 8 years old. Shortly afterwards, Tifa believed that her mother’s spirit could possibly pass through Mount Nibel. She and three of her friends decided to explore Mount Nibel, and so they began to climb it. Following closely behind, but unknown to Tifa, was Cloud. Eventually her friends would get scared and abandon her midway. Tifa decided to proceed anyways, in hopes to see her mother one last time. While trying to cross an unsturdy bridge, she missed her footing on one of the ropes and fell. Cloud tries to save her but he was unable to save her as both of them fell. Cloud was able to escape the fall with a few scratches, however, Tifa fell into a week long coma. Cloud was blamed for Tifa’s coma, and he in turn began to blame himself for being too weak to save Tifa. Cloud began starting fights in town because of the anger he had at his own weaknesses, eventually Cloud would learn about one of the most power SOLDIERS ever, Sephiroth, and he set his goals to become just as powerful as Sephiroth to protect Tifa.

Years would go by and Cloud’s relationship with Tifa was still distant, due to the bridge incident. When the two were 14 years old, Cloud asked Tifa to meet him at the water tower in the middle of the town. Tifa arrived early, and Cloud would eventually arrive also. He would tell her that he would soon leave to go to the city of Midgar and train to become a SOLDIER. Oddly enough, even though their relationship was never as close as Cloud had hoped, Tifa was disappointed that Cloud was going to leave town. She then made him promise to protect her whenever she was in danger, to which Cloud agreed. Eventually the time for Cloud to leave for his training would arrive, and Tifa found it more difficult to see him leave than she expected. After Cloud left, she began to think about him much more frequently. She even began reading the newspapers in hopes that she would stumble on an article that mentions anything about him.

Tifa with her dying dad

Tifa trying to kill Sephiroth

A year goes by and Tifa gets word that some Shinra SOLDIERS were arriving in Nibelheim to investigate something. Tifa acted as a guide for the SOLDIERs and she would escort them to the mako reactor on Mount Nibel. Unfortunately for Tifa, Cloud was not among the SOLDIERS, but rather it was Sephiroth, Zack, and a couple low class soldiers (Cloud was one of them, but was too ashamed to show his face to Tifa). After the tour and the investigation, Sephiroth went insane after discovering Jenova and the experiment notes in the Shinra Mansion. Eventually, the whole town would be set on fire by Sephiroth, and he would kill most of the townspeople. Tifa was able to stay out of harms way, but when she discovered what had happened to her loved ones and her town, she went after Sephiroth, who was heading back to the mako reactor and Jenova. When Tifa arrived at the mako reactor, she discovers that Sephiroth had just murdered her father. She picked up Sephiroth’s sword and charged at him blindly. However, Sephiroth was too powerful and was able to disarm her easily. Sephiroth then slashes her with his sword, nearly killing her. Zack had also tried to save Tifa from Sephiroth, but Sephiroth knocked him unconscious. Cloud would eventually make it to the mako reactor to see Tifa lying on the floor, nearly dead, and Zack unconscious near her. Cloud moved Tifa to a more comfortable position, then enraged at what Sephiroth had done to Tifa, Cloud takes Zack’s buster sword and charges and stabs Sephiroth in the stomach. Sephiroth then stabs Cloud back, but with Cloud’s last ounce of strength, lifted Sephiroth with the Buster Sword impaled in his stomach, and threw him off the ledge.

As for Tifa, she was discovered and taken to safety by Zangan (Tifa’s martial arts teacher). Zangan took her to Midgar for medical attention. Zangan left her in the care of a doctor and took off to return to his travels. After Tifa awakens, she decides to stay at Midgar hoping to also one day reunite with Cloud, and started a bar called “7th Heaven” in Sector 7. Tifa would then meet a man named Barret Wallace, and joined his Shinra resistance group called AVALANCHE. She joined the resistance because she wanted to take revenge against Shinra for what they had done to her home town, Nibelheim.

Final Fantasy 7

Seven years had gone by since she last saw Cloud. While Tifa was wandering around Sector 7, Tifa would discover a confused Cloud sitting at the Sector 7 train station. When Cloud and Tifa began reminiscing through each other’s memories, Tifa became confused when Cloud acted like they had only been separated for 5 years (Cloud’s memories were twisted to be Zack’s memories). Tifa was confused because she did not see Cloud at the destruction of Nibelheim, but decided to stay quiet about it for awhile. She decided to persuade him into joining the AVALANCHE to get his mind off the past, then she convinced Barret to hire Cloud since he was a “mercenary for hire” at that time.

Final Fantasy 7 version

Tifa did not accompany Cloud on his first mission with the AVALANCHEs because she stayed behind to watch Marlene and her bar. Tifa did accompany then on Cloud’s second mission, destroying another Mako reactor. They succeeded, but were ambushed by Shinra and a guard robot. The group then had to battle the robot, after they defeated it Cloud fell off the bridge as Tifa tried to catch him. Tifa was worried about Cloud, but knew he’d survive and he could take care of himself. Another important task was that AVALANCHE had to figure out how Shinra knew where they’d be. The plan was for Tifa to infiltrate Don Corneo’s hideout and get some answers from him. Tifa had to pretend to be a prostitute to get invited to Don Corneo’s place, which she did successfully. While in the basement waiting for Corneo, she reunites with Cloud and meets Aerith. The three of them then proceed with the plan, discovering that Shinra knows the location of AVALANCHE and are planning to destroy the entire Sector 7. Tifa, Cloud, and Aeris rush back to Sectory 7 where a battle was ensuing between AVALANCHE and Shinra Turks. Aeris went to Tifa’s bar to move Marlene out of the Sector. Shinra was successful at destroying Sectory 7, killing the entire population including AVALANCHE, except for Tifa, Cloud and Barret. They were also successful at capturing Aeris, who they have been after for a long time.

With Tifa, Cloud, and Barret being the only ones left, they made sure Marlene was safe and left her in the care of Aeris’ adoptive mother. Then the three of them went to rescue Aeris from Shinra. They successfully infiltrate Shinra Headquarters and free Aeris, also meeting Red XIII, another Shinra prisoner used for experiments. On their way out, the entire group was kidnapped by Shinra and imprisoned. Later that night, Cloud wakes everyone up and alerts them about the situation. The group heads to the top, following a blood trail. Cloud then tells Tifa and everyone else to head for the exit and he will be with them in a bit. Tifa and the group found a truck and hopes on it, while Cloud finally arrives on a motorcycle. The group heads for the Midgar outskirts, but are attacked on the way. Cloud protects the truck with his buster sword on the motorcycle. They all eventually arrive at the outskirts safely. They then head for a nearby town to reorganize the current situation.

While at the nearby town’s inn, Cloud talks to Tifa about what had happened during the Nibelheim destruction. Tifa did not say anything because she is still confused how he knew everything, despite “not being there.” The group then decides to go after Sephiroth, and head for Nibelheim for answers first. On their adventure, they meet more teammates including Yuffie, Vincent, Cid, and Cait Sith. Tifa’s relationship with Cloud was up and down during the adventure, she showed obvious signs of feelings for him. However, Cloud had mixed emotions for both Tifa and Aeris. At the Gold Saucer, Cloud can either choose to go have fun with Tifa or Aeris. Picking either one will earn Cloud a kiss from them. They eventually learn about Sephiroth’s plan to use the Black Materia to summon Meteor. His goal was to injure the Earth enough for the Lifestream to show itself and heal the Earth, opening the doors to the “Promise Land.” Aeris eventually leaves the party to head for the City of Ancients. The party heads after Aeris, where they arrive just in time for Sephiroth to stab her through the heart. Afterwards, they wait for Cloud to set Aeris in the water for her burial, then head after Sephiroth.

When Cloud falls into the Lifestream, Tifa and company find Cloud at a tropical resort island. Cloud was in a catanoic state and the WEAPONs had been unleashed on the world. One of the WEAPONs were wrecking havoc near by and it split the island open. Cloud and Tifa fall into the Lifestream, where she helps Cloud reconstruct his memories. They learn that he was at Nibelheim during the fire, but was a low class soldier. They then learn about the five years that Cloud and Zack had to suffer before Cloud ended up in Midgar. After the truth is revealed, Cloud reawakens and rejoins Tifa. They learn Holy was already activated by Aeris, but first assisted Shinra in defeating the WEAPONs. The party then heads after Sephiroth, where they encounter him turned into a monster. The entire group battles Sephiroth, eventually defeating. Then Cloud was taken to fight Sephiroth one on one, where he unleashes Omnislash. After the battle, Cloud sees Aeris and grabs her hand. Aeris fades away and it was really Tifa, she pulls him up and the party was able to escape on Cid’s Highwind. Victorious against Sephiroth, they begin help on rebuilding the Earth.

Waiting for him...

On the Way to a Smile: Case of Tifa

On the Way to a Smile is a two story collection. The first story was entitled Case of Denzel, which follows the story of Denzel, a character in Advent Children. It was published on the official Final Fantasy 7 Advent Children website in Japanese. The second was Case of Tifa and was released with the Advent Children DVD in a book, it tells the story of Cloud, Tifa, Barret, and Marlene from Tifa’s point of view in the 2 years between Final Fantasy 7 and Advent Children. With Midgar destroyed during the events of Final Fantasy 7, a new city was being built right outside of Midgar called Edge. Tifa, Cloud, Barret, and Marlene move to Edge city where Tifa sets up a new bar also called “7th Heaven.” They set up a new life as a family, eventually Barret had to leave to take care of his past. Tifa and Cloud took care of Marlene and an orphan named Denzel while Barret was gone. Cloud eventually leaves them and moves to Aeris’s church, where he stays for a lengthy period.

Advent Children

Fighting Loz

Tifa was still living with Denzel and Marlene at the 7th Heaven Bar while Cloud lived at Aeris’ church. One day she receives a call from Rude, to which he asks to speak with Cloud. Tifa sends Cloud a voice message telling him that Reno wanted to offer him a job. She also asks him how he has been doing, as they have not seen each other in a long time. Tifa later takes Marlene to Aeris’ church, hoping Cloud had returned already. Unfortunately, Cloud was not back yet. She is then confronted by Loz, who challenges Tifa to fight. Tifa displays many of her limit breaks in this fight, appearing as if she had the upper hand. However, Loz was much too powerful for her and he would defeat Tifa easily. Loz then kidnaps Marlene and takes a chest full of Materia. Eventually Cloud returns to the church to find Tifa laying on the floor. Cloud rushes to tend for her but was overcome by his Geostigma. Tifa and Cloud were taken back to the 7th Heaven bar by Reno and Rude. They then tell them about Kadaj kidnapping the orphans and taking them to the City of Ancients. Cloud then goes after the kids by himself, but was unsuccessful at freeing them. Kadaj and his brothers take the orphans back to Edge City to line them up around the middle of the town. Tifa finds Denzel in the middle of the town and tries to get him to escape. However, Kadaj had summon Bahamut and sent over towards them. As Bahamut shot his Mega Flare, Tifa pulls Denzel out of the way in time. Denzel was finally able to turn back to normal, Loz then summons beasts and made them attack the crowd, one was about to hit Tifa and Denzel until Cid arrived and saved them. Cloud also arrives with Marlene at the same time the party arrived. The party then began it’s assault on Bahamut, eventually Cloud would succeed at destroying it. He then goes after Kadaj and battles him one on one. While Tifa and everyone else was on Cid’s Highwind allowing Cloud to take care of a Sephiroth look-a-like. After Kadaj turns into Sephiroth, Cloud would battle him and emerge victorious. The group then returns to Aeris’ church, where they were able to use her Lifestream water to cure the orphan’s Geostigma.

Kingdom Hearts II

In Kingdom Hearts II we find Tifa running around Hollow Bastion looking for Cloud.

Video game appearances

• Final Fantasy VII

• Ehrgeiz

• Itadaki Street Special

• Itadaki Street Portable

• Kingdom Hearts II