Terra Branford (Trance)

The protagonist of Final Fantasy VI shown in her powerful esper transformation form. A half-human, half-Esper girl with magical powers in Final Fantasy VI. Terra Branford, known as Tina in the Japanese version, is a playable character in Final Fantasy VI. Terra begins the game as a soldier for the Gestahlian Empire, who used her to further their experiments with Magitek due to her unique ability to innately use magic. After she is freed from the mind control of Kefka, Terra finds refuge with the Returners, a rebel group whose members convince her to ally with them for protection and to stop the Empire from conquering the world. While initially apprehensive about fighting and reluctant to use her powers, Terra comes to accept her true nature and fights alongside the Returners to bring about peace and create a better world for the future. Terra is an eighteen-year-old woman with long hair tied in a ponytail, a red dress with a purple or pink sash around her waist, red boots, and red bracers. The details of her outfit differ considerably between her concept art and sprite art. In her concept art, Terra has blonde hair, a cape and tights with floral patterns, and a pink hair ribbon. In her sprites, Terra has green hair, purple shoulder pads, and no tights. At the onset of Final Fantasy VI, Terra is confused, fearful, and has amnesia, strengthening her hesitations. She has no idea who or what she is or what the war she has been caught up in is about. The few memories she has imply that she was a willing soldier of the Empire, disturbing her and causing her to be wary of joining the Returners, uncertain if she belongs with them or can trust them. Terra comes to hate and fear her powers as she feels that they are only good for destruction and alienate her from others who fear her or would exploit her abilities. Following her connecting with the magicite of her father, Maduin, Terra regains all of her memories and gains better control over her powers. She becomes more proactive in aiding the Returners to try and establish peace between humans and espers. However, she still rejects her power, having now seen what the Empire has used magic for and feeling that others are hungry for power only to fight. In the World of Ruin, Terra fully accepts her powers at last when she defends the children of Mobliz from Humbaba. Realizing that she loves the children, an emotion she was afraid she was incapable of feeling, Terra rejoins the party to defeat Kefka and create a better, peaceful world for the kids. Her courage and resolve are settled from then on and she is determined to use her powers as needed—not to destroy or cause war, but to protect the things and the people she cares about. Terra has a fondness for moogles, which is expressed in many of her spin-off appearances where she interacts with the creatures. In Final Fantasy VI, Terra can equip most weapons and armor, including heavy armor and mage robes, making her a versatile character. Terra is generally associated with the Fire Fire element, able to cast spells like Fire, Flare, and Meltdown. She is adept in a variety of offensive magic, but fire-themed spells are her focus. Terra's ability in Final Fantasy VI is Trance, where she transforms into her esper state. She can only sustain it for a short period of time before she reverts to her human form. In addition, Terra is able to fly while in her esper form. Due to her time as a pawn for the Empire, Terra is skilled with a Magitek Armor, being able to use advanced abilities with the Magitek command not usable by other characters, such as Banisher and Magitek Missile. Terra Branford's Trance, her greatest asset in battle, in which she temporarily assumes her Esper form, gaining the ability to fly and drastically boosting her attack and defense stats; Magitek Armor Proficiency, a result of her time as a soldier for the Gestahlian Empire, granting her exclusive use of advanced combat commands and technologies such as Banisher and Magitek Missile; and incredible Combat Versatility, translating into the physical and technical capacity to equip everything from swords and heavy armor to mage robes and staves, enabling her to adapt to any strategic role on the battlefield.