Chapter XXVI: Through the Barrens

After spending the night at Nello's house, Nello told the group of the city of Donau, which was a little to the north of Feltz. Nello also mentioned that Donau was the city being attacked most by the thieves recently, so the group decided they would go there and investigate what was going on. In order to reach Donau, though, they would have to pass through an area known as the Barrens.

Before leaving the city of Feltz behind, the group gathered in the center of the outer residential sector.

Dart: So there are no signs of Lloyd here.

Shana: I cannot imagine that Emperor Doel told us a lie.

Albert: In his last moments, my uncle was himself again. I think we can trust the information that Lloyd is headed here for Tiberoa.

Stryfe: So in that case, we'll cross paths with him again soon enough.

Rose: In any case, it seems the king is getting along with a motley crew like us.

Haschel: I was concerned at first. I even imagined that we were going to be pushed around by the king's ego.

Stryfe facepalmed himself when he heard Haschel say that.

Albert: Please, stop teasing me, you two! What I would like you to do is just treat me as equal. As a friend traveling with you!

Shana: Well, Stryfe and Dart aren't good at speaking with courtesy. They get cramps in their tongues when they try for a long time.

Stryfe: Shana, you can save the flattery for later. I think Dart needs it more than me.

Dart: Oh, thanks a lot, Strife! Anyways, I appreciate your solicitude, Albert.

Albert: Of course. Now, our priority right now should be to pursue Lloyd.

Stryfe: Well, let's head on over to Donau. Maybe we can find out what's going on in this country more over there.

Leaving the city behind, the group proceeded north east along the trails until they came across the canyon passage of the Barrens. After traveling through the canyon pathways for some time, the group finally came across a fork in the road that led to two pathways. As they were about to make the turn towards the road leading to Donau, an eerie laugh rang across Stryfe's eardrums.

Stryfe: The hell was that!?

When the group looked behind them, they saw three suspicious individuals standing on a cliffside watching them.

Mappi: Hee Hee Hee! You dating those girls in a place like this!?

Stryfe: D-Dating!?

Dart: Who are you!?

Mappi: Hee Hee Hee! Did you hear that, boys? They are asking us "who we are"!

Gehrich Gang Member A: I guess they think we're a bunch of doctors!

Gehrich Gang Member B: Should be a quack! Ha ha ha!

Mappi: Surprise, surprise! We are the one and only Gehrich Gang! We're so bad we scare ghosts back to Hell!

Stryfe: Are you kidding me?

Dart: They have no class.

Stryfe: I've heard better speeches from a three year old.

Gehrich Gang Member A: What did you just say!? Yo Mappi! How should I cook these dumbheads!?

Mappi: Well, hmmm. I know what! Let's get our reward of money and the bimbos!

Albert: We have nothing to give you.

Stryfe: But if you insist, we can give you a "miserable ending".

Mappi: Stop yapping! Just leave your valuables! It's that simple!

Stryfe quickly reached for his zwiehander, and in a display of impressive speed and strength, quickly slashed Mappi's arm before he could even see what was going on. As the thief screamed in pain as his arm barely hung on by a ligament, the rest of the group drew their weapons.

Stryfe: And that was just a warning.

Dart: Unless if you want to end up as shishkabob, I suggest you get out of our way!

Rose: Otherwise, you may need more than a real doctor to save your life.

Mappi: You...YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT! SMASH THEIR HEADS, WILL YA!?

As the thieves charged at the group, Stryfe, Dart and Rose fought off Mappi while Albert, Haschel and Shana fought off the two thieves accompanying him. Although Mappi was injured from Stryfe's attack, he was quite nimble on his feet and his attacks were very fast, so there was barely enough time to block them each time he got close to either of them. Stryfe, Dart and Rose counterattacked each time by using a low sweep kick to knock Mappi off balance, then quickly attack with their swords, getting in as many blows as possible before Mappi gained enough distance from them.

After Albert, Haschel and Shana finished off Mappi's allies, he used a trick to temporarily vanish from view. At first, he was able to use this technique to get in a few cheap shots on the group, but they eventually figured out Mappi's strategy by watching for the light of the sun being reflected off of his claw weapon. Just as he was about to attack Stryfe, Stryfe saw his weapon's blade being reflected by the sunlight, jabbing his zwiehander backwards and stabbing Mappi clean in the chest.

As Stryfe swung his sword to fling the blood off of the blade, Dart slowly walked towards the wounded thief.

Mappi: Wh, wait a minute! Please! I won't do it again! Please forgive me!

Unfortunately, Dart let his guard down just enough for Mappi to get another cheap shot in. The attack struck Dart's pocket, knocking his Dragoon Spirit out of the damaged pouch. Although Stryfe and Rose tried to get it back, Mappi managed to escape into the deeper parts of the canyon.

Albert: He's gone.

Stryfe: What the hell, Dart!?

Dart: Damn...What was I thinking!?

Rose: A Dragoon Spirit being stolen is the LAST thing I wanted to happen.

Stryfe: *sigh* Let's just keep moving for now. Hopefully we'll find out more about this "Gehrich Gang" when we get to Donau.

Although Stryfe knew how important recovering Dart's Dragoon Spirit was, he knew it would be reckless to travel into the unknown parts of the Barrens without a plan. Continuing further through the pathway, the group eventually found themselves back on the roadside. Continuing North East, the city of Donau came into their view...