haven't tinkered with RPG Maker since RM2000

so I have a few questions (sorry if I'm in the wrong place but I wasn't sure so I took a shot)

1. I want to start with just 1 party member, then have him turn evil and have him fight my party at some point, maybe even turn good again and join me (like Kain in FFIV) how do I do this?

2. How do I get the character to move on his own? (chances are the answer staring me in the face).

3. I'm gonna have an earthquake, and I want the world map effected, I have two maps one with the crack and one without, after the quake how do I get it to use the map with the crack?

In order?

1. Use the "Change" commands for "Party" if you wish for him to be overpowered in the beginning, you don't have to make two chars, but if you make him get stronger, you might have to (I can never remember the parameters inside of "Party")

2. You can set the "Move Event" commands as moving the player rather than the event.

3. It would be easier to make the crack out of events, then have them activate after the earthquake (via a switch)

I'm very new to this, you wouldn't happen to have links to step-by-step guides in plain lamemans English by chance would you?

it's OK now, looks like I figured something out.

Does anyone know how to get a horse riding script?