Dragon Quest 9: The trio's journey

Chapter 1

The day was so young, the sun was shining, the grass was green. Wide open spaces and fresh country air. Nicole was sitting by a creek singing privately to herself, her auburn hair in a ponytail and pale skin reflecting calmly off the water. Her companion Nick was sitting on an old tree stump, he was tall and had brown hair so dark it almost looked black. Both of them quite carefree and minding their own business. Both of them were appreciating the flowing clear creek and the soft wind. Both of them were getting very, very, impatient.

"Where's Zak?" Nicole asked Nick.

"I don't know. Maybe he's dead".

As if on cue a figure appeared on the other side of the creek. He was wearing simple armor and moving at a steady pace. It wasn't hard to recognise that it was Zak.

"Hey guys!" He called. "Can I have some help please?" It was obvious that he was stuck on the other side. Nicole moved to get up but Nick stopped her.

"It's okay, I'll do it." He then closed his eyes and began to concentrate. After a few moments a block of ice appeared above the water. It wasn't too long before it fell in and remained stationary, disrupting the flow of the creek. Using this opportunity Zak ran across the creek, almost tripping over when he got to the other side. He gave Nick a hearty handshake and Nicole a hug.

"Are you guys ready?" He asked. "Today is the day".

It had been two months since Nicole appeared in Angel Falls. In that time she had made an unlikely friendship with Nicholas and somehow met Zak when she was searching for help with her minstrel work. So when Nicole had the urge to go somewhere to find out more about herself, Nick felt obliged to go with her and Zak was just bored. He was from the next town over, Stornway and came to Angel Falls to start his journey with them. Zak sat down next to them and took off his helmet. His dark brown hair completely unchanged.

"I've seen Nick do magic but nothing like what your hair does". Nicole giggled.

"What kind of sorcery is this?" Nicholas agreed.

Zak just laughed. He was raring to go, after waiting two months for this journey he was quite impatient. But he happily waited for the others to get ready. Especially Nicole as it would be an emotional journey for her as well as an exhausting journey. Nicholas strung his bow and hoisted it over his shoulder. A crude, handmade design but it did the job. He pretty much grew up learning how to shoot arrows. Sadly making them wasn't in his repertoire, but he still insisted on trying anyway. Zak prefered his axe, a heavy weapon that could easily sever a limb or two. He had that attached to his back via straps. Nicole on the other hand tried every weapon she could. However she found that her weaponry skills lied in singing. Being a minstrel, music was her weapon, along with a sword she fashioned herself with birdsong nectar imbued into it.

"I still don't know why you would use such a thing." Zak commented. He had skill with a sword but much preferred his heavier utilities. Even though no one in the realm would admit it, they would give anything for the sword skill that Nicole possessed, or the axe skill zak had earned, along with Nicholas's skill in the bow and arrow.

After about 15 minutes the trio were ready to leave. The trio took one last look at the creek, for it would be the last chance in a while that they would have to catch a glimpse of something so peaceful.

After trekking through grassy terrain for the rest of the day, night finally fell. Zak voted to set up camp for the night, since they'd been walking most of the day.

"Alright, Zak get some wood and Nick start a fire, I'll go get us some food". Naturally she was the one to do the hunting. Nicole possessed the power of whistle which drew animals near her, so