ITEMS TO GET: 2843 gil, Ether, Elixir, Gisahl Greens, Black ?, Virgo Coin

   Leave Conde Petie and walk back south across the plateau. Continue west and pass through the narrow forest to clump of trees at the north end. (Along the way, you may run into a Ladybug; use a black healing stone on it and it'll give you 20 AP.) The Black Mage runs off into the distance as you enter.

Remember: Only you can prevent forest fires.

   This is the obligatory "repeating forest" area; the same screen just repeats over and over, and the only clue you have as to where you "are" is the position of the owls. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to get through; go right, right, left and right to reach the Black Mage Village. (Along the way, however, be sure to have Quina Eat one of the Myconids -- the mushrooms -- to learn Mighty Guard.)

   In the village, go due north to reach the Chocobo stable. There's a Save Moogle here; talk to him and check MOGNET. Search the inside of the stable for some Gisahl Greens, then return to the entrance. On the far left, you'll find the weapon shop; however, you might want to save your money to build more powerful gear at the blacksmith. Do collect the Elixir on the weapon shop's front porch, however.

   Ascend the middle set of stairs and you'll reach the item shop. After a an A.T.E., you can finally buy Hi-Potions here; be sure to stock up. Search the shelf for an Ether, then talk to the Black Mage and choose the second option. (If you already bought something from him, you'll have to leave and re-enter to get the menu again.) While the Mage goes to look over the goods in the foreground, climb up the ladder he was guarding. Hop onto the bed; Zidane punches open the chest Mario-style and grabs a new accessory. It can give Zidane HP 20% Up or VIVI the Gravity spell.

It's now 3 AM. Do you know where your Black Mage is?

   Head left from the item shop; the first building you come to is the blacksmith's. Garnet is here, but leaves when you enter. Talk to the lower Black Mage; he's the blacksmith. There's a lot of cool stuff you get here; in particular, combine two Mithril Daggers (you can buy them at the weapon shop) to make a very powerful weapon for Zidane. Also search the back of the room for 2000 gil. Then climb up the ladder in and exit to the east tot the rooftops. If you look around at the south edge, you'll find an exclamation point; trigger it to listen to a conversation between Mages #192 and 32 -- this doesn't seem to have any point, though. In the north end of the screen, down on the ground, you'll find 843 gil.

   Continue west from the blacksmith's and you'll reach a hill with two Black Mages. Talk to Mage #288 (the one on the right); he'll give a long speech. Return to the item shop and go east into the inn. If you finished all the A.T.E.s and talked to #288, VIVI will be here, moping around as usual. But before you talk to him, search the far right side of the screen for the Virgo coin. Then talk to VIVI. A lot of scenes follow; VIVI talks to #288 while Zidane dreams.