The Ancient Forest

THE ANCIENT FOREST

ENEMIES:
Diablo
Rilfsak
Epiolnis

ITEMS:
Supershot ST
Spring Gun Clip
Slash-All Materia
Typhoon Materia
Minerva Band
Apocalypse
Elixir

The Anicient Forest is right next to Cosmo Canyon, but you cannot reach it until you have defeated Ultima Weapon or until you have bred a Green, Black, or Gold Chocobo. The earlier you can reach the Forest, the more worthwhile the items are, such as Cloud's Apocalypse sword.
The Ancient Forest is basicly a giant maze puzzle that you need to get through using bugs, frogs, and other interesting objects. Here is an explanation of the different items in the forest.

INSECTS:
When placed in a pitcher flower, the flower shuts and creates a bridge. After a while, the flower will have finished digesting the insect and reopen, and the insect will be gone. Insects can also be used to lure a frog out from a hollow tree. Insects will reappear after you leave the area and re-enter.

FROGS:
Frogs can also go inside pitcher plants, just like insects, except the frog will pop back out after a while. If Cloud stands on the plant while the frog bursts out, Cloud will be catapulted to another area.

BEEHIVES:
If you throw a beehive into a mutant flytrap, then you can pass the trap without taking any damage. Beehives will not leave the mutant flytrap until you have left the area.

PITCHER FLOWERS:
Pitcher plants will capture insects and frogs inside their petals. When the insect or frog is inside the plant, it will be closed shut and create a step or bridge for Cloud. Usually, a insects close effect lasts longer than the frog.

MUTANT FLYTRAPS:
If Cloud walks into one of these flytraps, then he and his companions will be injured. Sometimes, you can find a way around the flytraps, and other times you must find a beehive.

STAMEN:
Stamen are the pink things that hang from the top of the forest. You can use these to propel Cloud to upper levels of the area you are currently in. Try to look for these, as they are the easiest way around an obstacle.

HOLLOW TREES:
If you place an insect out infront of a hollow tree, you can lure out a frog to use. The insect cannot be used again until you have left the area and re-entered.

First, you need to pick up the three insects near the start and move transport them to the spot near the pitcher plants. After you have them there, quickly move to get one insect inside a pitcher plant and step across to get to the other side. If you really want the Supershot ST in the mutant flytrap, then you just slowly step up to the plant and barely step on it. You should be able to manage to get the item without being hurt.

Pick up an insect and then jump to the high ledge. Put the insect down on the left so that it jumps into the pitcher flower. If a frog eats the insect, place the frog into the pitcher plant and use the " bridge" to reach the opposite side.

Once across, pick up the nearby frog and put it into the pitcher plant on the left. Stand on the top of the plant so the plant launches you onto the high ledge with the beehive. Use the beehive to get past the mutant flytrap. You can now get the Slash-all Materia. While there, pick up the frog and put it into the pitcher plant. Use it to catapult yourself to the right edge exit.

First, pick up the two insects and place them in the pitcher plant so Cloud can reach the spirngy stamen. This puts him deep in the forest's canopy. Follow the limbs up and all the way to the right ot find the Typhoon Materia.

Go back all the way to the left and climb down the limb to Area 2 and to the item that was previously inaccessible, the Minerva Band. To return to Area 3, you need to hop down and use the frog trick again.

Make your way back to the treetops and go about halfway to the right. Walk behind the broken limb just before the three stamen to find the path that leads back down to Area 3.

Place an insect in the open pitcher plant to reach the beehive. Put the beehive in the mutant flytrap the same way you did in Area 2, and then use the second insect to reach the left area gain. Grab an insect and place it in front of of the hollow tree to lure out a frog. Leave the frog for a moment and go grab the other insect in thes area. Place that insect in the pitcher plant to the right and grab the frog and hop back to the other side.

Run to the right and set the frog down near the rightmost pitcher plant so that it jumps inside. Stand on the flower to jump to the cave on the right.

There is nothing in the cave. Thats right. No puzzles, no traps. Its clear sailing from here. Just grab the Apocalypse sword and the Elixir. Exit the top of the cave to leave the Ancient Forest.