Chapter 1: Call To Arisen
Author's Note: Hi everyone! Decided to jump on the bandwagon of increasing DD stories as I love the Dragon Dogma game to bits, I think its a real unappreciated gem and hopefully more of these fanfictions will start pouring in. This story stays true to the original Dragon Dogma, but as you can see I've added a different flavor to the storyline which hopefully should keep things interesting! Anyways, thanks for reading my story and hope you guys can leave valuable feedback. Onwards with the story :D
The rain pattered softly on the glass pane, outside the weather was damp and chilly. People scurried from sheltered spots to their cars, using books, bags anything to shelter them from the falling drops coming from the grey sky. Sitting upon a white bed with a steaming mug of tea, staring at the raindrops gliding down the window, a boy with black hair with a slight chubby appearance sighed. Suddenly, the door of his room swung open and there stood another boy, short, with messy hair and face dotted with acne scars, he saw the boy sitting upon the bed and a crooked smile appeared on his face, "So Kenny, how was your day?" Kenny glanced at the boy who just came in and muttered, "It was fine, Kenneth…" and continued to gaze outside. Wanting to strike some conversation, Kenneth pulled up a chair and said, "So… how was your Math exam?" Kenny sighed and placed the mug of tea gently on his table. "It was…. eventful in one way or another… didn't think I did so well though." Kenny said while gazing outside, a melancholy air suddenly filling the room. Eager to break the silence, Kenny suddenly leaped up from his bed and said, "Come on, let's go for a walk."
Dressed in light jackets, Kenny and Kenneth signed out of the hostel and proceeded to walk out of school and down to the nearby lake. They were both senior students at Fairview Creek International School, although they had fairly same names, they were defiantly bipolar opposites. Kenny was a warm and caring person, who would often be seen with a grin plastered across his face. He enjoyed the wild side of life, often summing up waterskiing, skydiving and extreme sports as his passion in life. Kenneth on the other hand, was more of an introvert often preferring to stay cooped up; he enjoyed more lazy pastimes that included sleeping till noon and a good book every now and then. It was surprising that they ended up roommates and good friends.
After a bit of a walk, they arrived at the lake not too far from the rear of the school, it was a secluded location, with a few moldy benches and a curving pathway that zigzagged to the end of the lake. Surrounding the lake was lush forest and was teeming full of life and in the rain, the lake was buzzing with dancing waterskaters and fish that swam lazily below. "We used to come here all the time as juniors. " Kenny spoke while skipping a rock. "Yeah, I remembered that the guys dared Zack to jump into the lake during the summer and when he came out there were like… five leeches on his back." They both laughed heartily and suddenly lapsed into silence. "Well, do you think-" Before Kenny could finish his sentence, he spotted Kenneth staring at something in the distance, "What is it." Kenny asked. "I thought I saw this lady further down the path…" Kenneth said. Kenny turned his head, and he suddenly saw this woman dressed in a white veil, a voice ringed within his head, "Arisen…." She stared at Kenny and wandered further down the path. Kenneth and Kenny looked at each other and they both knew they had the same idea, they rushed further into the forest, wanting to know who the mystery woman was.
Deeper into the forest they ran, careful not to slip on the slick pavement. Kenny heard thunder growl in the distance, "Kenneth, we should go back! It was probably nothing." "I just want to double check, who knows?" Kenneth replied. Pulling his collar further up his neck, Kenny braved the impending rain as they trudged deeper into the forest. Pretty soon they arrived at the furthest point of the lake, surrounding them was dense woodland, rain began pouring harder and harder, Kenny spotted a rusty gazebo just ahead not too far from the water's edge and motioned to Kenneth to rush there to shelter from the rain. In the gazebo, Kenny sat upon the ground, panting. "This… this was a wild goose chase, there's… there's… no woman." Kenny panted while brushing the water off his hair. "I swear, I saw something, and you did too…" Kenneth said. "Hey, I remember this rusty gazebo, Zack, Brian and I would sneak here and fool around during the spring months… sadly, this would come to an end soon…" Kenny said, his eyes vacantly staring into the distance. Kenneth said nothing, but Kenny felt a twinge of emotion on his face. Kenneth suddenly snapped from his trance, "Sigh, I suppose there really is nothing here, let's-" Kenneth was suddenly interrupted by a bubbling sound that appeared to be coming from the lake.
Both of them edged closer to the source of the bubbling, they both spotted the spot where the lake appeared to glow, as if… something was rising from it. Suddenly, a figure rose slowly from the lake. A beautiful young woman wielding an elegant gold staff with an owl on the hilt, she had crystal blue eyes and flowing blonde hair, as if she appeared from a dream. She smiled benevolently and spoke, "Arisens, the cycle has once again started, the dragon will seek your hearts as they as pure and wholesome of Arisen, face him and learn the real truth of your destiny, of your chosen path. She suddenly waved her wand in a circular arc, a bright light shining from within, Kenny and Kenneth stood there, being engulfed by the brilliant light. A sudden flash, then both the woman and Kenny and Kenneth disappeared from the spot, no trace of them being there remaining.
The sting of sea salt awaked Kenny, he gasped awake, panting. He was blinded by the brilliant sunshine on his face, shielding his eyes, he glanced into the horizon. He wasn't at Fairview anymore that for certain… he appeared to be laying on a sandy beach, waves gently lapping on his feet. He groggily stood up, where… am I? Kenny wondered. He surveyed his surroundings, he appear to be in some sort of fishing village but it wasn't like any fishing village he'd seen before. Nearby on the docks, ships with large sails laid dock, behind him just a few meters away, there was a quaint little fishing village, smoke puffed from several houses and the houses seemed ancient with their sun baked roof tiles and open air holes for windows. Kenneth! Kenny suddenly wondered, he surveyed the beach in desperate attempt to search for his friend, he found him lying down not far from where he was standing. Rushing over to him, Kenny crouched over him, slapping his face, frantically calling his name. Kenneth suddenly coughed and sputtered, Kenny breathed a sigh of relief, Kenneth slowly pulled himself up, scratching his head. "Ugh… where are we…" Kenneth said spitting salt water from his mouth.
"I… I don't know… and how did we get here?" Kenny muttered. "Let's try heading towards that fishing village, perhaps we can get some information there." Kenneth said. Kenny nodded in agreement and they both walked towards the village.
Heading into the village, Kenneth and Kenny walked through the empty streets; a wind blew and stirred the dusty streets. The village streets seemed to be void of people, "Hello!" Kenny cried. Silence was his only reply. "Well this is perfect…" Kenneth muttered. "We'll find someone, we'll just need to look harder." Just as Kenny said that, a pair of hands appeared from within one of a house, grabbing them roughly by the collar. Before they could scream, they were yanked into the dark recess of the house. "Are you trying to get yourselves killed!" the voice rasped, Kenneth and Kenny squinted in the faint light of the house and there was an old man, bald, terror fresh in his eyes. "What's going on here, why is everyone gone? Where is everybody?" Kenny questioned the old man. "The dragon has been spotted and is reported to be heading towards Cassardis at this instant… and once you hear reports of the dragon, you best hope is to stay within and pray…" "The dragon? Wasn't the woman talking about a dragon as-" Kenny's speech was interrupted by a thundering roar that made the old man's blood freeze. "The dragon has approached, lock the doors! Hide!" The old man pushed them out of the way, locked the door and coward in the corner of the room. Kenny and Kenneth peered from the window that overlooked the beach and what they saw paralyzed every muscle in their body.
A towering dragon, with wings that spanned as wide as a jumbo jet, its maw filled to the brim with wickedly sharp canines, brilliant red scales and embers and smoke coming from its mouth. It surveyed the beach before erupting a column of flame from its mouth destroying the ships that docked by the pier. Suddenly, Kenny heard a wild shriek coming from the beach, a young girl who appeared to have been hiding in one of the docked rowboats starting running towards the village but she tripped and stumbled, landing on the sand. Unable to get up, she watched in horror as the dragon edged closer and closer. "We've got to help her!" Kenneth cried. "Are you crazy, there's a forty foot dragon outside!" Kenny argued. "Well, a life is at stake and I'm not going to stand idly by." Kenneth cried as he burst from the door, Kenny followed in pursuit. Kenny noticed on the bench outside one of the houses there appeared to be swords, Kenny grabbed one, "Kenneth, catch!" he cried as he tossed one at Kenneth's direction. Grabbing it, Kenneth nodded in thanks as they rushed to the beach.
"Hey, lizard breath!" Kenneth shouted. The dragon suddenly paused and glimpsed at both Kenny and Kenneth, its attention diverted from the young girl. She limped up and hobbled away, looking at the boys with gratefulness. "Let's do this…" Kenny muttered and they both rushed head first to the dragon. Kenny tried striking one of its legs but the sword merely bounced off its razor hard scale, Kenny tried stabbing the sword through the scale but the scales would give no leeway. With one strike of its hand, Kenny and Kenneth were knocked back several feet, their breath winded. The dragon edged closer to them, to seal their doom but all of a sudden, their chests began glowing brightly and the dragon faltered. Kenny and Kenneth tried standing up but their strength failed them. Suddenly, the dragon lowered two of its claws on their chests. All of a sudden, white hot pain overcame both of them as their hearts were torn right from their chest cavity. "You two…. Arisens…." The dragon stared at them with intense red eyes. "If you wish to claim your heart back…. Defeat me…. Continue the cycle…." Raising its claws it proceeded to swallow their hearts. Kenny gasped, his breath constricting in his lungs. His vision began to blur… was he… dying…. The last thing he remembered was the final words of the dragon, "To claim your hearts… to continue the never ending cycle." Then his vision faded to utter black.