Terra's Story

Terra, Bartz and Vaan were walking along the boundaries of a huge forest, straining their eyes and ears for any signs of their allies. The sky had enveloped them in darkness with the faint glimmer of the stars and moon as the only source of light, but still they continued on their journey.

Suddenly, Terra stopped on her tracks. "What's wrong?" Bartz asked, but Terra ignored his question, and focused her eyes and ears on the forest on her left. Both Bartz and Vaan looked at her confusedly; they could not detect any signs of activity from behind the leaves which rustled gently due to a gentle breeze.

"I'll be right back," Terra said and rushed into the forest before Bartz or Vaan could stop her. She tore through the woods. As the forest grew thicker, the faint light of from the heavens were soon blocked completely by the majestic crown of trees. With a twist of her hand, Terra lighted a small glowing flame by magic on the palm of her hands, using it as her guide through the darkness. She was certain that she had sensed some sort of magic power radiating from within the forest. Her immense capability in magic had given her a greater degree of sensitivity towards magic as compared to Bartz or Vaan. There is definitely someone around here, she thought.

She came to a halt in a clearing where the moonlight shone through and momentarily put out the flames she held. As she pondered over which direction she should take, the swing of a giant sword brought her back to her senses. She elegantly evaded the sword's crushing blow and came face to face with Cloud.

"Cloud!" Terra exclaimed.

"Terra!?" Cloud asked, "What are you doing here? I'm sorry… I thought you were a manikin."

Terra shook her head kindly and said, "No, it's alright. Better be safe than sorry."

"Anyway, you better be careful. Sephiroth he- Look out!" Cloud pulled Terra away just in time from a dangerous shard of ice which struck the exact spot where she was standing.

"Gyahhh! Missed it!" An insane angry howl can be heard echoing through the quiet forest before the flamboyant form of the mad clown Kefka materialized in front of the pair. So HE was the source of magic power I felt earlier, Terra thought. Kefka chuckled as though he could read Terra's thoughts. "Gehehehe… What a lovely night for a stroll I must say. You two came at the right timing!"

Cloud assumed his fighting stance and pushed Terra behind him before angrily addressing Kefka, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What do you want? Surely you didn't come for a stroll."

""Gyahahahaa," Kefka laughed, his voice ringing with delirium and excitement, "OF COURSE NOT! I'm healthy enough without the need for one. Congratulations! You two are my targets for today!"

"As if!" Cloud retorted savagely as he swung his sword in Kefka's direction, but the clown dodged it, laughing even more as he did. Terra threw a ball of flame in his direction, but the clown had created a dome around him, barricading the assault.

"Now puppets must remain puppets," Kefka said slowly, his voice no longer shrieking and laughing, but deep and menacing. The purple dome of light around him grew larger and larger as he spoke with his hunched form at its very core. Cloud rushed to Terra's side and tried to shield her from the queer magical force, but the dome-shaped apparition soon consumed them within it. As Cloud and Terra both feel their bodies being sucked into Kefka's magical force field, they found their sights hindered by a blinding white light. All they could hear was Kefka's dangerous voice saying, "You two puppets shall serve my cause. Yes! Even you… Puppet of Sephiroth…"

…

The next thing Cloud knew was that he was lying face down on the forest floor with Bartz at his side, desperately shaking him. But he did not feel normal. His brains seemed to be pounding violently on his skull and even though he should have regained consciousness, it was as though he was only half-awake.

"Owaaaaaaa!" Vaan screamed in shock, "Terra!" As Cloud strained his blurry eyes, he could make out Terra's figure looming over Vaan who had tripped and fell onto the ground. Yet something was not right about Terra. Her eyes were glowing purple and radiated with the presence of demons. She held her hands high up in the air, forming a ball of fire, ready to launch onto Vaan as her face contorted into a demonic smile.

Cloud could no longer think clearly, but he knew by gut instinct that he had to get Terra away from the other two; not only Terra, but himself too. Fighting against the dizziness, he rushed towards Terra and grabbed her by the waist. The sudden distraction stopped Terra's spell and the flames disappeared. Without hesitation, Cloud ran deeper into the woods, escaping from his allies with Terra in his arms. The Terra in his arms growled, hissed and struggled. Having no other choice, he knocked her unconscious before carrying her further into the woods.

Cloud could hear hissing voices in his head, chanting the words, "murder", "pupper", "orders", "kill", "dead" and many other horrifying things. Yet a flicker of conscience deep within his soul kept telling him that he had to resist. It's the… only way… I can… protect Terra… he thought as he dropped himself down on the forest floor, sufficiently far from harm; harm that he or Terra may cause…