ITEMS TO GET: Hi-Potion, Ether, Phoenix Down, Maiden's Kiss (x2), Tent (x2), Mithril Spear, Thunder Cane, ? Bell

   Zidane's party is now on the world map, on the north side of Gizamaluke's Grotto. You can head back through the Grotto to the waterway area, if you want, but there's really no reason to. Instead, hug the mountains and travel northeast to the Gate. You can't get through the gate, but you can collect the Hi-Potion and Tent from the chests in front of it.

   After getting the items, leave the Gate area and continue following the mountains until you get to the town of Burmecia. (If you want to earn some experience quickly, the Sand Scorpions in the desert to the west yield 100 experience points per character. There's also some Chocobo tracks to the north of the desert.)

   As soon you'll soon discover, there's few people left alive in Burmecia, and the town is swarming with monsters. The principal enemies here are upgraded version of the green thief guys and Basilisks (the big green lizards). The latter can be easily defeated with VIVI's Blizzard spell.

   Head forward into the city. On the second screen in, Thorn and Zorn appear again and send two more Black Mage Type As after you. Defeat them, then climb up the stairs and enter the door on your right. Grab the chest on the bottom for a Maiden's Kiss, then climb up the stairs. The chest on the second floor is a Mimic; if you approach it, it will leap at you and attack. You can avoid the battle by just staying away from the Mimic, but if you do get into a fight, the Mimic will summon thieves. Kill the Mimic first, then the thief, or the Mimic will just create another one.

   There's only one open door; go through it. Head left through the courtyard and you'll be back inside, on the third floor of the inn. Step onto the plank and it will teeter and fall down a level. Work your way back down to the front of the building (where you fought the two Black Mages) and go in the door on the left. Pick up the two chests here for a Potion and a Maiden's Kiss. Climb up the stairs and cross the plank. Stay away from the chest -- it's another Mimic -- and head right. Exit this room through the southeast corner and select the top option to jump from window to window.

   Talk to the Burmecian guard in this room. He dies. Walk into the background and check behind the shelf on the left for an Ether. Then move right and look for the path that leads up to the right wall. Activate the question mark sign and you'll receive another bell. Jump back through the windows, cross the plank again, go outside, and climb back up to the courtyard area with the large door in the background. Use the bell to open the door, then go through.

   The party stops to converse. Dan, a Burmecian guard, confronts Zidane, but lets them go once he recognizes Freija. Climb up the stairs and go in the center door. In an automated scene, Zidane helps out a wounded soldier. Once all is said and done there, leave the room and climb up the stairs. Enter the door on the left. Grab the two chests closest to the entrance for a Phoenix Down and a Tent, but skip the one on the right side of the room; it's a Mimic. Go north through the door.

No comment.

   You're now in the town square. Check the building on the left first; Freija will take the Mithril Spear from the statue. Equip it on her; not only does it boost her attack, it grants her her first Action Ability. Then enter the building on the right; you'll find a Save Moogle waiting. In addition to the ususal Save/Tent/MOGNET options, you'll see a fourth option on this Moogle's menu; select it and you can buy equipment. Buy everything you need to; in particular, be sure to get the Needle Fork for Quina, as it will boost his attack significantly. Then collect the chest in the back; it contains a long-awaited new weapon for VIVI. VIVI gets Thundara, the second thunder spell, from it. As you turn around, a second Moogle will enter. You can buy a Maiden's Kiss, Hi-Potion, and Ether from him in a package for 333 gil; since you still can't buy Hi-Potions and Ethers yet, you may want to take him up on this offer. Save if you haven't already, then leave the building.

   Travel north towards the smoking castle in the background. When you reach the castle, Freija stops. Choose the second response; the first and third just bring you back to the same question. Freija and Zidane climb up the statue into the palace, where they witness a meeting between Brahne and Beatrix. Freija has a flashback about her boyfriend Flatley, then Kujya (the androgynous blue-haired character) shows up and starts talk about Cleyra. Zidane and Freija jump down to help out a Burmecian guard, and are soon joined by VIVI and Quina.

If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, where is Kujya from?

   The four heroes square off against Beatrix. This battle can be fairly difficult; Beatrix's normal attacks do about 200 damage, and her Shock spell can do up to 700. Your best bet is to just go on the offensive and not to bother trying to revive defeated characters; they'll just get killed again. Hit her with Thundara and Jump while Zidane and Quina use physical attacks. It's possible to steal some good equipment from Beatrix, but more likely than not, you'll just end up with Phoenix Down.

   When you do about 3750 HP damage to Beatrix, she blasts your party down to 1 HP, allowing the bad guys to escape while your party lies in the rain. Yes, folks, it's time for the infamous "VIVI moons the audience" FMV; while VIVI struggles to keep his pants up, Kujya departs on its dragon. Disc 1 ends, and you're given a chance to save your game. (If you're playing the game via a plug-in device, you must save your game to continue playing on the next disc.)