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The first five steps of the Hero's Journey. They include: the call to adventure, refusal to the call, the supernatural aid, crossing the first threshold, and the belly of the whale.
Departure
The first step of the hero's journey is the call to adventure, usually the hero is living a normal life, going through his daily grind, wishing that things would change. Although the hero rarely states he wishes to break out of the norm. Cloud's call to adventure comes in the form of a job offer from his childhood friend, Tifa. New in Midgar he offers to help her out, presumably as a way to have somewhere to stay for at least one night and to make some cash. He is unaware that by assisting Tifa and AVALANCHE with their goals that he will be spiraled into a twisted tale to save the world. He does not know that he will face the demons of his past.
The refusal to the call is often due to the hero's humility. In Cloud's case it is actually his pride. He refuses to stay on with AVALANCHE and keep doing missions for them because the pay is terrible. He states that he doesn't care about the planet and that he has nothing to do with Shinra, not as an ex-employee or someone trying to stop them. It is only after Tifa guilts him into helping with an old promise that he concedes and joins her. Though he is still hesitant to join the cause of "saving the planet."
Next, the supernatural aid is Cloud's Mako and JENOVA cells from having undergone the SOLDIER procedure. As an ex-member of Shinra he is imbued with great strength. It is this strength and this supernatural glow that make him a valuable ally. People are familiar with the mako glow and fear and respect him.
Crossing the first threshold is usually a boost of confidence for the hero to continue his journey. For Cloud, I would say that his meeting with Aeris is the first threshold. He tried very hard to be suave and cool, stating he will help her but only for payment. She hires him as a bodyguard because he is an ex-SOLDIER, stating that the price will be one date. Cloud agrees because he sees Shinra is after her. This also boosts his confidence because Barret was hesitant and always questioning him, Aeris's absolute trust after only a few minutes helps Cloud to believe how strong and cool he is.
Once he helps Aeris, he crosses into the belly of the whale. By assisting her, he brands himself an enemy of Shinra. While protecting Marlene, Aeris is taken by the Turks. Tifa and Barret want to help because they feel it is their fault. Cloud, still under contract with Aeris, decides to storm Shinra Inc. to retrieve her. There he finds President Shinra dead with an all too familiar sword from his past. Seeing the Masamune and knowing that Sephiroth is somehow inovled sets him into a journey to find him. By choosing to save Aeris he can no longer stay in Midgar. Knowing that Sephiroth is on the loose, Cloud decides to go after him. Every thing he knows is turned upside down.
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