Final Fantasy IX/Evil Forest

After a cutscene you will find yourself in a wooded area known as the Evil Forest. Here you find out that Princess Garnet was also thrown off the Prima Vista from the impact. You are also taught about ATE (Active Time Events) which will show up plenty of times throughout the game. To access an ATE, press psx: select. Activating the ATE will show you Garnet and Vivi running away from something.

As soon as you have learned about ATE, grab a Phoenix Down from the corpse above the Moogle and then talk to the Moogle to save your game. Once you have done so, move onto the next area accessed through the large tree trunk. There is nothing special in this area, but to make the upcoming events easier, it's best to train Zidane to level 4 or 5. When you are happy with his level carry on to the next screen.

On the next screen you'll first see Vivi backing away, and instantly you'll be able to tell something is wrong. Steiner happens to be here now, shouting at a strange looking creature from the forest. You'll be thrown into battle.

Prima Vista
Following the battle, Zidane finds himself back on the Prima Vista, arguing with Baku. When the conversation has finished, look next to Baku for a chest with Bronze Gloves. Walk to the left to go downstairs and trigger several new ATEs. At the bottom of the stairs is another chest containing a Wrist. Look in the room behind Blank to talk to Vivi and collect a few more items: an Ether is in the chest, and 116 is on the top bunk.

Upon leaving Vivi's room and talking with Blank, head through the door to the left and down the stairs. Here, search the northern part of the room for a Rubber Helm, then go south to find a Leather Hat. Backtrack a room and head east to find Baku. Be sure to get the Potion before reentering the cargo room, because now you're in for another fight.

Upon Baku's defeat, head back upstairs and into the western storage room to re-recruit Steiner into your party. Head 'back' into that room again to collect an Ether from the chest before going east into Vivi's room again. After talking to him, head back downstairs and south to receive some hints as well as Blank's Medicine.

Finding Garnet
Before heading back out into the enemy-infested forest, be sure to equip new, improved equipment and abilities on everyone in your party. Especially important is giving Vivi a Silk Shirt to learn Thunder and giving Zidane and Steiner the 'killer' abilities. These will all come in great handy throughout the next few areas.

If need be, you can restock on basic items by talking to Cinna. When ready, continue into the forest past where you earlier fought Prison Cage. Several screens later, you will approach a natural spring. Pressing psx: x on the fountain will restore your characters' HP and MP. There are no monster encounters in this area, so feel free to heal and talk to Monty the Moogle. Give him the letter you have been holding for him and read it twice to have him show you his letter from Stiltzkin. Then save and heal for a potentially difficult boss fight two screens later.

After the battle, run as fast as you can to avoid battles with the pursuing plant creatures. If you do end up in battle, roast them all with Vivi's Fire (press psx: L1 to target all enemies at once). Once out of the forest, learn (or review) a few of the finer points of the game with the Moogles. Finally, you will find yourself out on the world map. Controls here are similar to most areas, but press psx: S to call Moguo the Moogle at any time using your Moogle Flute.