The Past - Long Version
This is the long winded version of Terra's story. Super spoilery goodness below the cut...think of it as an extended edition of the History section in the app.
Terra has lived in the Land of Departure for as long as he can remember. There he grew up training with Aqua and later Ven to become a keyblade Master. This was done under the guidance of Master Eraqus. On the day of the exam Terra accidentally lets his control of the Darkness slip and is told he has failed to qualify for the Mark of Mastery. Upset by this turn of events, especially since Aqua passed, Terra wanders off to brood only to run into Master Xehanort who tells him that he doesn't need to suppress the darkness but harness it. Terra is grateful for this advice but is soon called back to the hall by Master Eraqus who senses danger for the Princesses of Light. He assigns Terra and Aqua the task of traveling the worlds and investigating the matter. He also tells Terra that this would be a good chance to redeem himself and gain the mark of Mastery. After some parting words with Ven, Terra blasts off into the Lanes Between.
The first World he arrives at is Enchanted Dominion where he encounters a witch named Maleficent in front of a castle. After exchanging pleasantries (and I use that loosely) Terra goes into the castle to see about a girl with "light" named Aurora. He finds her in a deep sleep and thinks of Ven. However, Maleficent has figured out who Terra is and what power he has and "whispers" to his dark half. This causes Terra to go into a trance state and steal Aurora's heart for Maleficent. Distressed Terra accuses Maleficent of manipulating him but she says it was his own doing and tells him his work here is done. Of course, she tries to get Terra to work for her but he refuses flat out.
Terra proceeds to Dwarf Woodlands and finds himself in the castle of the Queen there where he notices her talking to an all-seeing Mirror. Thinking this might be where Xehanort has gone he reveals himself to the Queen who tells him he can use the mirror if he BRINGS SNOW WHITE'S HEART. Terra takes the box and goes to find Snow White. While he's worried he might steal another Heart he goes anyway to see the young maiden. Before he can say much to her though the Unversed appear again and scare her away. Terra returns to the castle, out of options, and the Queen is, of course, furious that she doesn't have her freaking heart in a box. She uses the mirror against Terra but it'll take more than a face in glass to take our hero down. Terra gets his answer of where Xehanort is and once again leaves, deciding it is time to pay Master Yen Sid a visit.
When he journeys to Castle of Dreams Terra meets a young maiden in distress named Cinderella. He tries to encourage her by telling her to be strong...but it doesn't work out very well. He decides to follow her to the ball to learn more about how Cinderella's belief changes her and gives her strength. Terra ends up acting as an escort to get Cinderella pass the Unversed and later defeating a large Unversed who crashes the ball. It is here that he first learns of Vanitas or the Boy in the Mask who is causing trouble. This is also when he learns that Ven ran away from home. Aqua tells him she thinks it's because he wanted to find Terra and Tera realizes that Ven wanted to tell him something. The two also discuss Xehanort's plans and Terra tells her he's not there. He also requests that Aqua thank Cinderella for him before parting ways again.
Terra doesn't learn much from Yen Sid, only that the Masked Boy and Xehanort might be connected. When he leaves, he hears Xehanort calling to him and travels to a mysterious place known only as the Bad Lands. Xehanort confesses that he made the Masked Boy, Vanitas, and his connection to Ventus. Xehanort uses Terra's sympathetic nature against him by making him think it was all an accident. The conversation seems to trigger a sort of vision for Terra who isn't quite sure what to make of all this. Xehanort asks for Terra's help and hints that Vanitas might be in Radiant Garden next.
Again Terra sets off, this time for the world of Radiant Garden which teems with light. Unfortunately the Unversed are there in large numbers and sizes. Terra follows a rather big one through the town and is eventually lead back to his friends: Aqua and Ven who were also chasing similar Unversed. They team up and destroy the thing and Ven rewards them with lifetime passes to Disney Town. Unfortunately the reunion is cut short as Terra, Aqua, and Ven realize they have different ideas about what they need to do next. Terra wants Ven to go home and Aqua reveals she may have been spying on Terra. Terra gets upset and splits from the pair to go on his own. On his way out the door he runs into a mysterious stranger who says he's taken Xehanort prisoner.
Terra, of course, investigates the matter. Confronting the stranger, he learns that the man only seeks to take the Keyblade for himself and plans to fight Terra for it. The stranger, being an ass, cheats in the fight and tells Terra if he makes a move he'll make Xehanort "go boom." He then proceeds to shoot Terra multiple times with his special gun. Just as Terra is looking bad, Xehanort snaps him out of it and tells him to fight back no matter the cost. He argues that Terra would bring shame to his Master and his friends if he just lost to this idiot gunslinger. Unfortunately this is enough to trigger Terra's anger and he once again loses control over the power of darkness. He goes so far as to shoot out the stranger's eye with a blast of it. Once he realizes what he's done he sees himself as a failure but Xehanort is there with kind words to make Terra see it differently and further bring him to the "dark side." Xehanort offers not only to make him a pupil but also a Master.
Terra parts ways with Xehanort and winds up in Disney Town in time for their Million Dreams Festival. Of course, he's nearly run over by Unversed in the process but, well, these things happen when you run out into the middle of the road. Somehow he also gets talked into the races going on at the time (apparently to defeat Unversed) and ultimately wins as well. While there, Terra learns how to be a good citizen and follow the rules.
He continues his journey of morality by heading to the Olympus Coliseum. There he meets a young Hercules and rescues him from the Unversed. He enters the Games to find out how strong he really is thanks to Hercules' suggestion. Unfortunately for Terra he runs into Hades, Lord of the Dead, who wants to join in on the 'let's manipulate Terra' game the villains seem to be playing these days. Hades, of course, makes Terra an offer that involves entering the games and conquering the darkness. And, as you may have guessed, things go horribly wrong. Terra is forced to confront a darkness possessed Zack controlled by Hades. He saves Zack and is dubbed a great hero.
Having had a nice confidence boost or two, Terra takes off again only to be attacked in the Lanes Between by a hoard of Unversed. Unfortunately, after the battle he is abducted by aliens and taken aboard a spaceship. After being confined he sees the Unversed attacking some crew members and proceeds to break out of his cell. He runs into Jumba who convinces him to not only release him but also the mysterious Experiment 626 as well who can apparently fight Unversed. However, when Terra learns the truth of the Experiment he is shocked. Even more so when the creature ends up stealing his Wayfinder. Threatened by the destruction of his Wayfinder, Terra becomes upset and pleads with 626 to give it back. This causes Terra to realize that despite his desire to become stronger and more independent he truly misses his friends. Dr. Jumba refuses to believe 626 has feelings and creates another experiment to fight Terra and prove him wrong. 626 returns and Terra thinks it's because he wants to learn about friendship. The happy moment is ruined however when the three are exposed as having broken out of their cells. Terra high tails it off the ship before he can be caught.
As Terra continues to travel and find himself, he comes across the world of Neverland. There he is tricked and employed by Captain Hook to transport and then guard his treasure chest of 'light' from Peter Pan. Peter makes an appearance and ends up dueling Terra. However, Terra quickly realizes he's been duped by Hook who was really looking after gold and other loot. Peter shrugs it off as no big deal but then flies off when he hears Tinkerbell may be in danger. Terra is about to part as well but then hears the two Lost boys crying for help. He rescues them from the Unversed, as well as Captain Hook who shows up shortly after the battle. Terra also helps out Tink and is even prepared to fight the Captain before he runs off. The Lost Boys are disappointed about their lost treasure but Terra comforts them with the idea that they can put their OWN treasures in the chest. As they leave, Terra is left wondering what he would put in the chest if he could.
As he leaves this world, Terra finds himself drawn to a warm light in the middle of the Lanes Between. He finds himself on an island with a familiar shaped fruit...one that was the inspiration for Aqua's Wayfinder design. Terra is confused as to what he's supposed to do now that he feels his friendship with Aqua and Ven is being pushed apart. While contemplating this, Terra encounters a young Riku who sees right through Terra as a traveler from other worlds. After a brief conversation and another strange vision of the future, Terra decides that Riku should be made his successor. He makes Riku promise to keep it a secret before parting. Riku has reminded Terra that he still has things he needs to protect and given him renewed faith.
Xehanort once again summons Terra to meet with him and reveals the Ven has found out about his origins and is furious. He urges Terra to go after Ven to make sure the boy is safe. Unfortunately things look bleak as Terra arrives home only to find Eraqus pulling a keyblade on Ven and threatening to destroy the boy. Just before the blow can hit, Terra jumps in to save Ven. Terra throws Ven into a portal and decides to use the power of Darkness to fight Eraqus. Things get out of hand though as Eraqus is left near death after the fight. Terra realizes his mistake but it is too late as Xehanort deals the finishing blow and erases Eraqus from existence. Terra breaks down into tears at the loss of his Master. Xehanort scoffs at Terra and decides he needs to push Terra over the edge into darkness by destroying his home and also threatening to destroy his friends as well.
Realizing he can't turn back now, Terra leaves his dying world to go save Aqua and Ven. He winds up at the Keyblade Graveyard where he again finds Aqua and Ven. Aqua confronts Terra about his actions and Eraqus's death but little can be said at their reunion before Xehanort and Vanitas show up. They engage in a large battle over the wasteland. Terra eventually winds up facing Vanitas and Xehanort alone (though his concentration is mostly on Xehanort). When Vanitas is ordered to go after Aqua and Ven instead, Terra tries to go after him but is stopped by Xehanort. Terra swears revenge and fuels the darkness inside him with rage and hate for Xehanort and what he has done to his family. After a difficult battle, Terra forces Xehanort to exhaustion...just before the x-blade is forged and Terra realizes that Ven is in trouble. Xehanort, meanwhile, sets up the final stage of his plan: freeing his heart from his old body so that he can take over Terra's.
Terra has lived in the Land of Departure for as long as he can remember. There he grew up training with Aqua and later Ven to become a keyblade Master. This was done under the guidance of Master Eraqus. On the day of the exam Terra accidentally lets his control of the Darkness slip and is told he has failed to qualify for the Mark of Mastery. Upset by this turn of events, especially since Aqua passed, Terra wanders off to brood only to run into Master Xehanort who tells him that he doesn't need to suppress the darkness but harness it. Terra is grateful for this advice but is soon called back to the hall by Master Eraqus who senses danger for the Princesses of Light. He assigns Terra and Aqua the task of traveling the worlds and investigating the matter. He also tells Terra that this would be a good chance to redeem himself and gain the mark of Mastery. After some parting words with Ven, Terra blasts off into the Lanes Between.
The first World he arrives at is Enchanted Dominion where he encounters a witch named Maleficent in front of a castle. After exchanging pleasantries (and I use that loosely) Terra goes into the castle to see about a girl with "light" named Aurora. He finds her in a deep sleep and thinks of Ven. However, Maleficent has figured out who Terra is and what power he has and "whispers" to his dark half. This causes Terra to go into a trance state and steal Aurora's heart for Maleficent. Distressed Terra accuses Maleficent of manipulating him but she says it was his own doing and tells him his work here is done. Of course, she tries to get Terra to work for her but he refuses flat out.
Terra proceeds to Dwarf Woodlands and finds himself in the castle of the Queen there where he notices her talking to an all-seeing Mirror. Thinking this might be where Xehanort has gone he reveals himself to the Queen who tells him he can use the mirror if he BRINGS SNOW WHITE'S HEART. Terra takes the box and goes to find Snow White. While he's worried he might steal another Heart he goes anyway to see the young maiden. Before he can say much to her though the Unversed appear again and scare her away. Terra returns to the castle, out of options, and the Queen is, of course, furious that she doesn't have her freaking heart in a box. She uses the mirror against Terra but it'll take more than a face in glass to take our hero down. Terra gets his answer of where Xehanort is and once again leaves, deciding it is time to pay Master Yen Sid a visit.
When he journeys to Castle of Dreams Terra meets a young maiden in distress named Cinderella. He tries to encourage her by telling her to be strong...but it doesn't work out very well. He decides to follow her to the ball to learn more about how Cinderella's belief changes her and gives her strength. Terra ends up acting as an escort to get Cinderella pass the Unversed and later defeating a large Unversed who crashes the ball. It is here that he first learns of Vanitas or the Boy in the Mask who is causing trouble. This is also when he learns that Ven ran away from home. Aqua tells him she thinks it's because he wanted to find Terra and Tera realizes that Ven wanted to tell him something. The two also discuss Xehanort's plans and Terra tells her he's not there. He also requests that Aqua thank Cinderella for him before parting ways again.
Terra doesn't learn much from Yen Sid, only that the Masked Boy and Xehanort might be connected. When he leaves, he hears Xehanort calling to him and travels to a mysterious place known only as the Bad Lands. Xehanort confesses that he made the Masked Boy, Vanitas, and his connection to Ventus. Xehanort uses Terra's sympathetic nature against him by making him think it was all an accident. The conversation seems to trigger a sort of vision for Terra who isn't quite sure what to make of all this. Xehanort asks for Terra's help and hints that Vanitas might be in Radiant Garden next.
Again Terra sets off, this time for the world of Radiant Garden which teems with light. Unfortunately the Unversed are there in large numbers and sizes. Terra follows a rather big one through the town and is eventually lead back to his friends: Aqua and Ven who were also chasing similar Unversed. They team up and destroy the thing and Ven rewards them with lifetime passes to Disney Town. Unfortunately the reunion is cut short as Terra, Aqua, and Ven realize they have different ideas about what they need to do next. Terra wants Ven to go home and Aqua reveals she may have been spying on Terra. Terra gets upset and splits from the pair to go on his own. On his way out the door he runs into a mysterious stranger who says he's taken Xehanort prisoner.
Terra, of course, investigates the matter. Confronting the stranger, he learns that the man only seeks to take the Keyblade for himself and plans to fight Terra for it. The stranger, being an ass, cheats in the fight and tells Terra if he makes a move he'll make Xehanort "go boom." He then proceeds to shoot Terra multiple times with his special gun. Just as Terra is looking bad, Xehanort snaps him out of it and tells him to fight back no matter the cost. He argues that Terra would bring shame to his Master and his friends if he just lost to this idiot gunslinger. Unfortunately this is enough to trigger Terra's anger and he once again loses control over the power of darkness. He goes so far as to shoot out the stranger's eye with a blast of it. Once he realizes what he's done he sees himself as a failure but Xehanort is there with kind words to make Terra see it differently and further bring him to the "dark side." Xehanort offers not only to make him a pupil but also a Master.
Terra parts ways with Xehanort and winds up in Disney Town in time for their Million Dreams Festival. Of course, he's nearly run over by Unversed in the process but, well, these things happen when you run out into the middle of the road. Somehow he also gets talked into the races going on at the time (apparently to defeat Unversed) and ultimately wins as well. While there, Terra learns how to be a good citizen and follow the rules.
He continues his journey of morality by heading to the Olympus Coliseum. There he meets a young Hercules and rescues him from the Unversed. He enters the Games to find out how strong he really is thanks to Hercules' suggestion. Unfortunately for Terra he runs into Hades, Lord of the Dead, who wants to join in on the 'let's manipulate Terra' game the villains seem to be playing these days. Hades, of course, makes Terra an offer that involves entering the games and conquering the darkness. And, as you may have guessed, things go horribly wrong. Terra is forced to confront a darkness possessed Zack controlled by Hades. He saves Zack and is dubbed a great hero.
Having had a nice confidence boost or two, Terra takes off again only to be attacked in the Lanes Between by a hoard of Unversed. Unfortunately, after the battle he is abducted by aliens and taken aboard a spaceship. After being confined he sees the Unversed attacking some crew members and proceeds to break out of his cell. He runs into Jumba who convinces him to not only release him but also the mysterious Experiment 626 as well who can apparently fight Unversed. However, when Terra learns the truth of the Experiment he is shocked. Even more so when the creature ends up stealing his Wayfinder. Threatened by the destruction of his Wayfinder, Terra becomes upset and pleads with 626 to give it back. This causes Terra to realize that despite his desire to become stronger and more independent he truly misses his friends. Dr. Jumba refuses to believe 626 has feelings and creates another experiment to fight Terra and prove him wrong. 626 returns and Terra thinks it's because he wants to learn about friendship. The happy moment is ruined however when the three are exposed as having broken out of their cells. Terra high tails it off the ship before he can be caught.
As Terra continues to travel and find himself, he comes across the world of Neverland. There he is tricked and employed by Captain Hook to transport and then guard his treasure chest of 'light' from Peter Pan. Peter makes an appearance and ends up dueling Terra. However, Terra quickly realizes he's been duped by Hook who was really looking after gold and other loot. Peter shrugs it off as no big deal but then flies off when he hears Tinkerbell may be in danger. Terra is about to part as well but then hears the two Lost boys crying for help. He rescues them from the Unversed, as well as Captain Hook who shows up shortly after the battle. Terra also helps out Tink and is even prepared to fight the Captain before he runs off. The Lost Boys are disappointed about their lost treasure but Terra comforts them with the idea that they can put their OWN treasures in the chest. As they leave, Terra is left wondering what he would put in the chest if he could.
As he leaves this world, Terra finds himself drawn to a warm light in the middle of the Lanes Between. He finds himself on an island with a familiar shaped fruit...one that was the inspiration for Aqua's Wayfinder design. Terra is confused as to what he's supposed to do now that he feels his friendship with Aqua and Ven is being pushed apart. While contemplating this, Terra encounters a young Riku who sees right through Terra as a traveler from other worlds. After a brief conversation and another strange vision of the future, Terra decides that Riku should be made his successor. He makes Riku promise to keep it a secret before parting. Riku has reminded Terra that he still has things he needs to protect and given him renewed faith.
Xehanort once again summons Terra to meet with him and reveals the Ven has found out about his origins and is furious. He urges Terra to go after Ven to make sure the boy is safe. Unfortunately things look bleak as Terra arrives home only to find Eraqus pulling a keyblade on Ven and threatening to destroy the boy. Just before the blow can hit, Terra jumps in to save Ven. Terra throws Ven into a portal and decides to use the power of Darkness to fight Eraqus. Things get out of hand though as Eraqus is left near death after the fight. Terra realizes his mistake but it is too late as Xehanort deals the finishing blow and erases Eraqus from existence. Terra breaks down into tears at the loss of his Master. Xehanort scoffs at Terra and decides he needs to push Terra over the edge into darkness by destroying his home and also threatening to destroy his friends as well.
Realizing he can't turn back now, Terra leaves his dying world to go save Aqua and Ven. He winds up at the Keyblade Graveyard where he again finds Aqua and Ven. Aqua confronts Terra about his actions and Eraqus's death but little can be said at their reunion before Xehanort and Vanitas show up. They engage in a large battle over the wasteland. Terra eventually winds up facing Vanitas and Xehanort alone (though his concentration is mostly on Xehanort). When Vanitas is ordered to go after Aqua and Ven instead, Terra tries to go after him but is stopped by Xehanort. Terra swears revenge and fuels the darkness inside him with rage and hate for Xehanort and what he has done to his family. After a difficult battle, Terra forces Xehanort to exhaustion...just before the x-blade is forged and Terra realizes that Ven is in trouble. Xehanort, meanwhile, sets up the final stage of his plan: freeing his heart from his old body so that he can take over Terra's.