Okay, the next chapter is up and running.

Disclaimer: The Dragon Quest series was created by Squaresoft.

Chapter IX: The Lleviathan

The next morning, Arianna and her companions left Alltrades Abbey, and headed for the blue tree.

They sat near it as Trent addressed the violet haired Celestrian"So what's our next destination?"

Arianna replied"I cannot say for sure. Sasha, There is another town on this island, right?"

The Martial Artist responded"Aside from Alltrades Abbey, there is a small port village just south of our location. It's called Porth Llaffan."

"How do you know this? I didn't think of you as much of a traveller" said Conrad.

Sasha shot a look at the male brunette"For your information, I was born in Porth Llaffan. My father gave me a world map to use in my travels when I set out to train my body and soul."

"May I see it?" spoke Arianna.

The Martial Artist reached into her bag, pulling out a rolled up parchment and handing it to the violet haired teen.

The new warrior unfolded the map and studied it. Several islands laid in between five bigger landmasses on the map itself.

"It's kind of a small map, but it should still help" said Sasha.

The violet haired teen folded the map"I can see what you mean, we have a lot of ground to cover in our mission. Porth Llaffan is our next destination."

"So let's go" chirped Alicia.

The group walked on south, until they reached a small port village.

"Is this your hometown, Sasha?" said Trent.

"Indeed" nodded the black haired martial artist.

As they entered, they saw a group of people gathered behind a young woman in her mid to late teens.

"Who's that?" inquired Conrad.

The Martial Artist replied"Let's just watch and see what's happening. She seems to be in the middle of prayer right now."

Moments later, the group was met with an astonishing sight.

The waves from the coast of Porth Llaffan seemed to stir as a massive aquatic creature appeared. It was blue and red.

The being seemed to respond to the girl's prayer, as it splashed some fish onto the shore.

"How can that be?" wondered Conrad, as the villagers collected the fish that the sea being gave them.

After the commotion died down, Arianna approached the girl"That was incredible, who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Jona" said the other girl.

"It's been a while" interjected Sasha.

Jona was surprised"Sasha?"

The Martial Artist nodded"I left not too long ago, but I decided to return."

Arianna spoke"So what was that about? That sea mollusk seemed to listen to you."

Jona flushed"Well, you see, about that... Hm, would you mind coming to my house in a bit? I needed to talk to someone about what you just saw."

"We will" nodded Arianna.

The six dispersed to visit the local shops and houses. Trent purchased a new sword for himself and some herbs for his sister while Alicia tossed out the herbs that had gone bad.

Sasha and Conrad went to the inn to visit someone who was lodging there.

By nightfall, Arianna, Trent and Alicia went to Jona's house at the south east corner of Porth Llaffan.

"Sorry to bother you like this" said the younger girl.

"Not at all, so what's up?" said Arianna.

Jona replied"That creature you saw earlier... Since my father passed away, the Lleviathan, that great sea being you saw, has been providing the village with fish through my ability to summon him."

"Why should that be a cause for concern?" inquired Trent.

"You see, it didn't feel right for me or the village to keep relying upon it. Before, the people used to fish on their own without divine intervention. But since the sea no longer yielded fish, I was depended on for my ability to call on Lleviathan" said Jona.

"So that's Lleviathan? It seemed too gentle for that, but it could just be my imagination" said Alicia.

"Not long after my father died, the mayor offered to adopt me. But I want to tell him that I want, no, I need to stop calling on Lleviathan" said the younger girl.

Arianna shrugged"If it's the right thing to do, then why not do it?"

Jona replied"I'm not sure how the villagers would react, or what Mayor Bryce would say."

"You want to take a chance? Be my guest" said Trent.

"Don't say that, Trent. What if something bad happens?" said Alicia, incredulously.

Jona sighed"Regardless, I must tell him that I must stop summoning Lleviathan. Look, I don't know what will happen, but I must tell the mayor."

Alicia and Arianna thought for a moment, before the pueple haired teen said"Go for it."

"I will, oh and would you like to stay here for tonight?" inquired Jona.

"I hate to impose, but I appreciate the offer" said Arianna.

Jona smiled, then left the house.

Alicia could not help but feel a sense of forboding"I don't think this is a good idea."

"If anything bad happens, we will help" said Arianna.

"Well, you have never let us down before, so I shouldn't really be questioning your decisions" shrugged the Priestess.

"Sorry I'm late" said Raymond as he caught up.

Alicia smiled"No problem, where were you?"

The mage shrugged"Just asking around about a Fygg. Seems no one here knows about them."

"We'll keep looking, tomorrow. For now, let's get some sleep" said Arianna.

At dawn, Trent, Arianna, Raymond and Alicia woke up, only to find that Jona had not returned.

"What kind of hostess is she?" sighed the mage.

"I wouldn't jump to conclusions, I am sure there is an explanation" said the Celestrian.

The group stepped outside to be greeted by another young man.

"Who are you? Have you seen Jona?" said Arianna.

The man replied"Actually, she's in trouble, the mayor took Jona to the cave west of town. Most of the villagers went with them."

"You just had to jinx us, didn't you sis?" said Trent, turning on Alicia.

"I don't think the jinx is over, either" frowned the Priestess.

"I wouldn't worry" said a cool voice, as Conrad stood not far from there.

Arianna turned"Conrad, did you see them go? And wasn't Sasha with you?"

Conrad replied"Sasha and another guy who I assume is her father saw what was happening this morning as we were resting at the inn together. They probably went after Jona and the mayor."

"I'm still worried, either way. Will you go after them? I will open the gate at the west side of town for you" said Bryson.

The group rushed to the west side, where Bryson opened a gate"The Twyll Cave is that way."

Arianna nodded"Thanks for the info."

As Trent, Arianna, Raymond, Conrad and Alicia rushed out, Bryson followed behind.

Soon enough, they came to a cave.

"They went through that?" said Trent.

Arianna nodded, then hurried on"We can still catch up to them. Come one!"

The group entered the cave, the interior of which was comprised of stone platforms on a watery surface.

Just then, two monsters called the Man-of-War attacked.

Trent cut one down while Raymond stopped the other with Sizze.

The group trudged onwards, hoping to find Jona and find out what's going on.

Just a bit deeper in, Sasha had managed to fight past some monsters with the aid of her teacher.

The older man spoke"These caves are treacherous these days."

"Sure you're all right, Master Johansan?" frowned the younger Martial Artist.

The man replied"Do not trouble yourself. I cannot fathom how they'd get past this many monsters, perhaps we ought to wait for you companions."

"No, I can keep up. You did teach me everything you knew" said Sasha.

"Sasha, here you are" cried Arianna as she and the rest of the group caught up.

The younger Martial Artist shrugged"About time you were up, not that I can blame you. I don't know what Mayor Bryce is thinking, but I'm going to kick his greedy butt."

"Sasha, need I remind you of our family's code?" said the older man, who had graying hair and eyes the color of his daughter's.

Sasha shrugged"I know, but I doubt that whatever is going to happen will be pleasant. By the way, these are my companions: Trent, Arianna, Conrad and Raymond."

"It's an honor to meet you" said Alicia.

Master Johansan nodded"I wish our meeting was under better circumstances. I may have retired, but I still had to do this last job, I know Jona's father, well."

"Where does the cave take us?" said Trent.

Sasha replied"There is a cliff outside the second floor."

The group rushed onwards towards the second floor.

It was an hour later when the group caught up to the mayor and his ilk.

Arianna caught sight of Jona being forced to summon Lleviathan again.

Bryson yelled at the mayor"Hey!"

"Keep your distance, we musn't act until we know what the situation is" said the aged Martial Artist.

Soon enough, Jona had summoned the great sea creature again.

This time, before their eyes, the Lleviathan attacked, swallowing Jona.

"Oh no" gasped Bryson.

Arianna drew her sword"It's not too late, we can still save Jona. We'll just have to slay the Lleviathan."

Trent nodded, then the two rushed towards the massive mollusk.

Lleviathan swiped with it's tail and launched a tidal wave. The villagers in the area stood back.

Alicia healed Trent and Arianna, while Sasha threw a knuckle sandwhich punch at the monster.

Lleviathan retaliated with another tidal wave.

Drenched, Trent and Arianna slashed at it.

Raymond cast Sizz on Lleviathan, while Conrad threw a rock at the creature's eye.

"Thieves don't play fair, huh?" remarked Sasha.

The infuriated Lleviathan launched another tidal wave before Conrad could respond.

Raymond cast Bang, while Trent double slashed the monster.

Lleviathan smacked Raymond with it's tail, knocking him down.

Alicia proceeded to slam her staff onto it's head, only to be knocked down as well.

While Arianna stopped to heal her allies, Trent proceeded to slash at the creature's face, only to be shot back by a tidal wave.

Arianna threw a heal spell at her allies before facing the Lleviathan herself, thrusting her blade at it.

Lleviathan launched another tidal wave, only to be intercepted by Raymond's bang spell.

"Foiled" smirked the mage, as Trent took one final stab at the monster.

The Lleviathan seemed to succumb to it's injuries as it collapsed. It's mouth opened, and Jona rushed out"Thanks."

"No problem" said Sasha.

The Lleviathan began to glow as the ghost of a man appeared.

"Father?" gasped Jona, turning to see it.

The villagers and the mayor were shocked to see him.

The man's spirit spoke"Jona, everyone, I must apologize. Though I had fell from the earthquake, I ate a strange yellow fruit that fell from the sky. I was transformed as a result.

"So it was just a shell" said Trent.

The ghost nodded"My name was Dylan, Jona's father. I became Lleviathan to look after her. Jona, if you shall wish, I can take you away from here from these greedy townspeople. We can live together peacefully."

Jona shook her head"I'll be fine, father. I can stand on my own two feet."

The mayor, who was watching, paled"S-so you were Lleviathan?"

Bryson stood at Jona's side"Sir, I can watch over Jona in your stead."

Dylan's ghost smiled"I understand. Jona, it's time we said good-bye."

Jona said good-bye to Dylan as he and the 'Lleviathan' disappeared. Mayor Bryce fainted nearby after blurting a cowardly apology.

Sasha sighed"I wonder what else the Fyggs can do."

"No idea, but it looks like we may have missed that one" frowned the Priestess.

As the villagers departed, taking Mayor Bryce's unconcious body with them, another yellow fruit appeared.

Arianna picked it up"Well, now Jona's father can find peace as well."

The heroes and Master Johansan returned through the caves back to town.

Upon their arrival, Johansan spoke to Sasha"So you intend to continue your journey?"

"Yes, master" nodded the younger Martial Artist.

Johansan sighed"This may have been the beginning of your trials. Sasha, never forget, whichever path you may choose, I shall be with you spiritually. I am getting too old to fight, but I bid you good luck."

"Thank you, father" said Sasha.

Conrad shrugged"So, what next, Arianna?"

The Celestrian replied as they walked back to the inn"There is another continent to the east of here. So far we have two Fyggs."

"There is a ship that will ferry us there, right?" said Trent.

Sasha nodded"Yes, the port after this is called Slurry Quay. I went there with my father once."

Arianna sighed"Well, I'm pretty tired after our fight with Jona's father's spirit. Tomorrow, once we get to the next port, our destination after that will take us east, according to the map."

The six went to the inn for another night's stay after escorting Jona to her house.

Took me about four days, but now this chapter is ready. My apologies for the wait. As for the OC Sasha's father, he dosen't count as a party member, just a 'guest' for this chapter, I promise.

I know that I didn't give much background information on three of my OCs: Conrad, Arianna, or Raymond, but the Celestrian is pretty obvious, no offense.

Considering how Dragon Quest IX was designed, I might throw in a character or two from previous DQ games temporarily as guest characters, the rest of the fic will solely focus on the six OC heroes (Guests don't count, I promise). Except possibly where Aquila, Erinn, Patty and Sellma are considered if I decide to include some of the post game content after the Fygg chapters and the Gittish Empire and Corvus arcs (Excuse the spoilers).

Besides, considering how short the storyline of DQIX seems, the 'main story' portion should only take up to around twenty or twenty five chapters, can't make any promises though But who am I kidding? 'The special guests' might not fit in storylinewise, so I might just leave that out. I appreciate any advice/opinions on this matter, thanks.

Please feel free to review.