http://hometown.aol.com/angelleafken/page5.html You will still get the Mascot Dress-Sphere if you skip around, as long as you don't see any episode concluded, and Zanarkand is not the last Episode Complete.
You'll need the Mascot Dress-Sphere once you get to certain levels in Bevelle.
You can also do the chocobo's later, but you might want to start working on it, it's a bit of a pain.
The Mi'hen Hidden area that is found by the chocobo's is NOT required for %.
