NEVER EVER

Trauma

Today's happy face, today's sad face
Yesterday's weak self, tomorrow's strong self
today's sad face

Tifa Lockheart was born into the small town of Nibelheim. Although generally liked, she still lived in a degree of solitude; she lost her mother at a young age had considerably few -- if any -- young girls her age to socialize with. When the boys of Nibelheim had all run away to join SOLDIER, Tifa became a pupil of martial artist Zangan, taking the first step in becoming the fighter she is today.

However, skills alone do not make a fighter; motivation also plays a key role. Five years prior, Nibelheim became the target of a Shinra Army mission. Among the SOLDIERS in charge was the great Sephiroth: the famous general admired and respected by all. Tifa served as their guide to Mt. Nibel, the mountain range that cradled the Nibelheim Reactor where strange monsters had been reported.

Unfortunately, the secrets held inside the reactor gave the party more than they bargained for, ultimately resulting in Sephiroth spiraling into insanity and the destruction of Nibelheim. Tifa watched in horror as her neighbors and friends were murdered--including her father. Enraged, she challenged Sephiroth but to no avail; he effortlessly overpowered her, struck her with the famed Masamune blade, and she was left for dead.

Time is sometimes a cruel thing,
but the present is made by that cruelty

Tifa would have died that day had Zangan not found her; he slipped through Shinra's rapidly growing clean-up team and carried her to Midgar for medical help. With nowhere to go, Tifa decided to stay.

Previously she had been separated by her age and sex, and now she found herself secluded again, this time in a strange city with an alien lifestyle. The biggest change, however, was her hatred for Shinra and all that came with it. It is in Midgar that she joined AVALANCHE, a rebel faction dedicated to toppling Shinra from its enormous -- and corrupt -- pedestal.

Today's happy face, today's sad face
Yesterday's healed wounds, today's opened wounds

Tifa did take the initiative to better her situation; she opened a successful bar, the 7th Heaven, and made a home for herself in the slums of Sector 7. Despite the new familiarity, her violent encounter with Shinra remains a secret until she is forced to revisit the town with AVALANCHE; even then she is reluctant to tell her tale, preferring to stand by as Cloud elaborates the story to their companions.

Inspired by Ayumi Hamasaki's "Trauma" (LOVEppears); popular unofficial translation courtesy of Divine Ayu.

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NEVER EVER is a fansite designed and maintained by Stacey Anne and is in no way affiliated with Square Enix, Sony, Ayumi Hamasaki or Avex. No infringement is intended with the making of this site; this is just the work of a fan wishing to share her appreciation. All lyrics featured on the site written by Ayumi Hamasaki; translations courtesy of Divine Ayu and Centigrade-J.