At the heart of the Grasslands Area, you'll find Choco Bill & Choco Billy's Chocobo Farm. Enter the house and talk to Bill. He'll tell you a man in black went into the marshes to the southwest and the only way to cross the marshes without being attacked by the deadly Midgar Zolom is by riding a Chocobo. Though this isn't entirely true (a carefully timed dash will get you across on foot), it's probably better to take his advice and buy a Chocobo from his grandson. Head for the stables and talk to Billy. Unfortunately, he has none for sale and you'll have to catch your own. He'll sell you a CHOCOBO LURE MATERIA for 2000 Gil and send you back out to the Grasslands Area*. Before you leave the farm, talk to the Chocobo at the near end of the paddock and you'll receive the CHOCO/MOG MATERIA. Catch a Chocobo*, ride it across the marshes, and enter the Mythril Mine*. Go right and around the bend, climb the step-like rock formation on the right, pick up the ETHER, and open the large chest to find a TENT. Head back and climb the vines on the left wall to reach the ledge above and grab the LONG RANGE MATERIA. Return to the entrance, go left along the path, and open the chest on the near-right corner to find a MIND SOURCE. Head left and you'll encounter the Turks, who let it slip that Sephiroth is headed for Junon Harbor. Before climbing the roots and following them out, take the far path, open the chest to find an ELIXIR, and grab the HI-POTION on the far-right.
Fort Condor, a tall structure marked by the giant bird nesting on its crown, stands to the south. If you wish to help its inhabitants wage their war against Shinra, head for the base of the mountain and take part in this Optional Quest. You also have the option of adding a new member to your party by scouring the forests for the Mystery Ninja (a.k.a. Yuffie). When you're ready to continue tracking Sephiroth, head for Junon Harbor, located 'in the shadows of a small hill' on the west coast. |
*NOTES
Grasslands Area:
Before catching a Chocobo and heading across the marshes, consider taking the time to track down a Mu and learn its L4 SUICIDE Enemy Skill. Then look for a Level 16 Chocobo (usually flanked by two monsters of the same species, use Sense if you want to be certain) and feed it Mimett Greens. Immediately attack with L4 Suicide and the Chocobo will riposte with the fabled CHOCOBUCKLE Enemy Skill (this will work on any Chocobo with a level evenly divisible by 4). Don't forget to win the battle to complete the process!
Catching a Chocobo:
Equip the Chocobo Lure Materia and locate a set of Chocobo tracks. Walk around near them until you enter a battle with two monsters flanking a Chocobo. Defeat the monsters without harming the Chocobo and you'll catch the animal. If you're having difficulty defeating the monsters before the Chocobo runs away, consider purchasing greens from Choco Billy. Feeding them to a Chocobo will keep it occupied during the fight. Mythril Mine:
While you're inside, consider taking the time to fight a Madouge and an Ark Dragon. You can steal the GRAND GLOVE from the Madouge and you'll learn a new Enemy Skill when the Ark Dragon attacks you with its FLAME THROWER. Outside, in the Junon Area, you'll be able to steal the BOOMERANG from a Formula. |
