Temple of the Ancients
Hop aboard the Tiny Bronco and head toan island southeast of the West Continent and just southwest of the East continent. There, you'll find a ziggurat in the middle of the jungle. Enter it.
Inside, you'll find the Temple of the
Ancients, filled with a mysterious arcanum and mystique. Climb
north up the stairs and enter the premices. Inside, you'll find
Tseng, hurt badly with a blow from Sephiroth's sword. Receive the
Keystone from him and examine the altar in the center of the
room. You'll they place the Keystone in and literally sink
through the floor.
You land in a vast area seemingly below the Temple's surface. Follow the purple-clad old man as he frolicks throughout the area. He'll be your Save Point, Item Shop, and Inn all in one during your stay here in the Temple. After following him enough times, you'll end up in a corridor filled with rolling stones. Notice how each of the rolling stones have a niche in them. You'll have to fit right through those in order to pass by; otherwise, you'll roll backwards. Don't worry too much, though, as the stones don't damage you. Also, halfway through, don't forget to procure the Morph materia in the middle near the pool.
Once you reach the other end, a strange force beckons you back to the pool. Head west there and you'll be given a telepathic view of Sephiroth killing Tseng. After the vision, head back east (don't worry: no more rolling stones) and save the game with the old man before heading south.
In the next area, you'll find yourself in a mysterious clock hall. Explore around a bit and you'll find Aeris' ultimate weapon, Princess Guard, in door IIII. Also, getting struck by the second hand will lead you to Cloud's Nail Bat below. Once you're all through, enter door VI. Chase the old man, remembering the consistent patterns he produces. Once you reach him, save the game, then enter the door at the top.
In the next area, you'll find Sephiroth. You can't leave the room until teh entire conversation is over, and head east during the pauses in conversation. After Sephiroth fully reveals his plans to you, he leaves, leaving behind the Red Dragon, your next enemy boss! Avoid gravity- and fire-based spells on it, and the Bahamut materia will appear afterwards.
After the battle, examine the altar to the east. Cloud finds that he cannot retrieve it, so Cait Sith, with his toy body, offers to help. Leave the altar room and re-enter the clock hall (you might want to save and rest with the old man again). Head straight up to the only path available: door XII, where you'll find Demons Gate, yet another enemy boss. Since the boss has a great deal of Magica Defense, use normal physical attacks, especially Deathblow, on it.
Cait Sith appears after the battle and enters the altar room as you exit the Temple. The Temple then dissipates to a pit with the Black materia bobbing up and down in its center. Cloud and Aeris go down to retrieve it as the third ally remains atop. Sephiroth then appears and mesmerizes Cloud, commading him to give the Black Materia to him. Sephiroth leaves afterwards, and Cloud, overcome with madness, starts beating Aeris. The third ally and Cait Sith, who appears then, then stop Cloud by knocking him out cold.
Next Section: Excavating the Lunar Harp