Disclaimer: I own nothing involved in this story unless I invented it myself. This is written for fun, not for profit. All forms of feedback eagerly accepted. Concrit is loved the most, but everything is welcome.
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal
Series: Order of the Outcasts #1
Title: Origins: Chapter 20: Birth of the Barians
Characters: Nasch, Merag, Durbe, Mizael, Gilag, Alit, Vector, Don Thousand
Word Count: chapter: 2,537||story: 52,389
Genre: Fantasy, Drama||Rated: PG-13
Notes: This series takes place in a quasi-medieval fantasy world originally inspired by the concepts set forth in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying, but is not restricted by those concepts. They simply give it some of the foundation.
Summary: [20/20; Seven Barian Emperors; au: fantasy] A bard. A priestess. A mage. A druid. A gladiator. A ranger. A man of mystery. A quest to find a stolen item brings them all together. And thus a legend begins.

"Excellent work," Don Thousand praised the seven of them, holding Kuragari's treasure by the chain it hung from. "I'll have this returned to the King and Queen at once." He set it down into the box Vector held out to him and turned his gaze onto them thoughtfully. "You've done even better than I anticipated."

Ryouga shrugged. "It's what you hired us to do. That's all."

The king's lips curved upward. "And yet you did it so well." Again he regarded them, clearly with something in mind. "I have other tasks that could use the skills you all possess."

Each of them fidgeted to some degree. Ryouga was the one who spoke, though. "I thought this was a one-time job."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not." Don Thousand shrugged, his every movement as elegant and refined as could be. Stories said that his family line held elven blood in it, contributing to their spectacular good looks. Ryouga didn't know if that were true, nor was he especially interested in the king's looks, but as a bard, he did appreciate the elegance of it.

Alit shifted forward. "You said I might be able to..." His gaze flicked to the others, then back to Don Thousand. "What about those rewards you promised us?"

"Of course. It might take some time to gather them all, I'm afraid," Don Thousand replied, waving one hand casually. "In the meantime, you could occupy yourselves with some of these tasks I need taken care of."

Alit's hands clenched at once. If it weren't for Gilag's hand resting on his shoulder, he might've said something out of line. Instead, he turned away a little. "Let me guess, there are going to be a lot of these 'jobs', aren't there?"

"I do have much that needs doing and that you could help with," the king admitted. "But rest assured, I will do everything within my power to see to it that you're well taken care of while you work for me, and that you will be given the rewards I promised."

Mizael folded his arms over his chest and gave the king a stern look. Royalty held little sway over the freeborn Ranger. "Ending those who poisoned Jinlong and the forest I take care is all the reward that I need or want. Or was promised. What other reason do I have to stay here?"

Don Thousand's gaze moved for a moment toward Vector, then back to Mizael. "I'm aware that you have few needs that wealth could meet, Ranger, but wouldn't it be useful in acquiring items and information to continue the protection of your lands? My informants tell me that those three were but part of a larger web that could bring damage to many more places if left unchecked as well."

The blond hissed softly from between his teeth but said nothing more. There were few things that could sway him more than the thought of putting a stop to those who caused harm to others, especially when those others were of the forest persuasion.

Don Thousand glanced one by one at the others. "All of you have causes and goals that you wish to pursue. I can help you with them all of them, but in return, you will need to perform these tasks for me."

"Just how long will all of these take?" Durbe asked cautiously.

"That depends on all of you. It could take quite some time. But you're always free to depart at any time."

None of them would call Don Thousand's smile 'creepy', but it certainly skirted the edges of that. Rio spoke up.

"We'll have to think about it."

"I would expect nothing else," the king said, gesturing them away with one wave of his hand. "You will be shown to your rooms. Do feel free to take your time."

One by one the group left the room, encountering servants outside who seemed to already know what was needed.

Only Mizael noticed that Vector hadn't emerged with him. He glanced back at the receiving room, his steps slowing a trifle before he turned away and hurried along after the servant who guided him to his room.

"And what do you think of them?" Don Thousand lounged backward, far more dangerous and deadly than few others saw him in this private moment.

Vector toyed with his knife, trimming his nails as he did. "Most of them are really annoying." A smile sliced across his features. "The ranger is pretty, though."

Don Thousand only failed to roll his eyes because he was a king and kings did not roll their eyes. "Another toy, Vector?"

"I haven't had one in a long time. There's a lot to like about this one. I could keep him for a long time." Vector giggled, a sound not that many had heard and lived to keep talking about. "They noticed. And I think they don't like it."

"Of course not." Don Thousand leaned forward. "Now, what I said about keeping all of you together is true. That includes you."

Vector dropped his giggling in a heartbeat. " Of course it is. You still want the Key, don't you?"

"That I do, and the one bound do it." Don Thousand's eyes glimmered with an unholy fire to possess. "But they still need to become stronger to be able to bring it to me."

"Of course," Vector said. He understood how Don Thousand thought better than most people ever would imagine. "I'll agree to it." This gave him a chance to get closer to Mizael anyway.

"I expected nothing less from you, my dear son." Don Thousand smiled. Vector's smile echoed his in every way.

"I know you didn't, father."

Rio and Ryouga didn't share a room, but only moments passed before he knocked on her door and she let him in. Before the door closed, he was already talking.

"He's up to something."

"Which one? Vector or Don Thousand?" Rio had expected her twin to turn up, but she did wish he'd given her more time to rest. She knew how he thought and followed long as best that she could when she really wanted to get some sleep.

Ryouga's lips moved into something that wasn't even close to a smile, but looked like it was trying to pretend to be one. "Both of them." He took a few paces back and forth. "I don't think we should leave, though. Not yet."

She didn't say anything, but waited for him to continue with whatever he had in mind.

"We can't go home until we can afford a better army, and a way to deal with him." Ryouga's eyes sparked fire. "And if we can get that by staying here, then I think we should."

That didn't surprise the young priestess at all. They would need so much more than they had in order to get what was theirs back. And she wanted to go home, she wanted it so much that it hurt in every part of her just to think about. Being in this castle brought back a shimmering wash of memories. So much like home and yet not home.

"Then we stay, at least until we have enough funds and warriors to stage a coup," Rio said. Ryouga nodded. She knew he'd want to talk it over with Durbe, but that would be no problem. The two of them seldom disagreed on much, and they'd always planned for what they needed. This was just a method to get it.

"We stay."

"Vector lusts after you." Jinlong stated what Mizael already knew. "I could smell it very clearly on him."

Mizael ran a brush through his long hair, only glancing toward his shapechanged companion for a moment. "I know." It had been hard to miss. Vector certainly hadn't been trying to hide it.

A smile slipped over Jinlong's features, one that would've had him showing most of his teeth if he were in his dragon form. "But he fears me as well."

"Good." This was hardly the first time in his life that someone wished to approach him. Jinlong didn't exactly decree who Mizael could and couldn't sleep with, but those who didn't find the dragon intimidating on some level were to be carefully watched.

Jinlong worked his way over to one of the seats nearer to Mizael and watched his companion. "So the king here wishes you all to remain together?"

"He has a point on wealth being useful to protect the forest," Mizael said. It wasn't one he especially liked, but he could at least admit the truth of it. "And if there are others who wish to poison the forests, then I need to stop them."

Jinlong made a somewhat noncommital sound. "If that's what you want to do."

"I could have worse companions for doing it," Mizael observed, working harder at one of the knots in his hair. "The twins and Durbe are tolerable, at least. And I think Gilag appreciates the forest almost as much as I do."

"A druid is not quite like a ranger, though," Jinlong said. "It won't be the same."

"So?" Mizael didn't care about that. "And I've seen worse suitors than Vector as well." Not that he'd made up his mind about accepting the other's offers as of yet. Nor had Vector made a proper offer.

Jinlong grumbled at that. "I have." He shook his head. "So you intend to stay?"

"For now." Mizael finally worked the last knot out of his hair and stood up. "I still owe Rio, Ryouga, and Durbe for what happened with you as well."

Jinlong stood, moving closer to Mizael. "It's your decision."

Mizael knew well that whatever choice he made, Jinlong would be there to stand with him. Or fly with him, as the case might be. He'd never known a truer friend.

Though perhaps he might be getting to.

Durbe knew well what thoughts were going through Ryouga's mind. They were the same ones that went through his. They had a goal to reach and working for Don Thousand offered a way to accomplish it. It would be a much more successful method than taking random jobs that might or might not provide the money they needed.

And perhaps Don Thousand's informants could give them more of a lead to follow for the mysterious man who'd caused their problems in the first place. A face would be nice, something to go with the only name that they knew: Shingetsu Rei.

"So, we're staying?"

Alit slammed his fist against the rock wall. He hadn't even needed to think about this a lot. Beating his fists like this just gave him something to do with his hands. Not to mention he was also more than a little furious about not getting the reward he wanted.

"Sure are. Until he can tell me what I need to know." Gilag knew what he needed. No one else did, and Alit wasn't going to tell any of them. Not unless and until he got to know them a lot better than he did now.

Gilag nodded. He had no major reasons to live; Ponta could teach him anything new that he needed to know here just as well as he could anywhere else, and he knew there were several stretches of forest in the area where he could relax if he needed to.

He wanted to talk to Mizael and Rio as well, to see how their methods resembled his, and what else they could do together. A ranger, a druid, and a priestess? He could only imagine what their magic might do when they combined it.

Once again the group stood before Don Thousand, who merely raised one eyebrow toward them, wanting to know their decision.

"We're going to stay," Ryouga said, indicating himself, his sister, and Durbe. "We'll work for you."

"As am I," Mizael agreed, nodding his head. He didn't look at Vector. He suspected a certain smug little smile he already had grown to know would be on his lips.

Alit shrugged. "I don't have anywhere better to be right now." At least not that I can be.

"This place is as good as any other," Gilag agreed. Only one remained uncommitted.

Vector smiled. It looked as if he'd been practicing. "You don't think I'm going to leave all of you this soon, do you?"

"Not before you get laid, that's for sure," Alit muttered. Vector gave him a look that spoke eloquently of death. Alit paid him no mind at all.

Don Thousand cleared his throat. "Very well, then. You'll have quarters here whenever you are resting in between missions, and I will have my healers tend to any injuries or illnesses you must deal with. Recover your strength, then I will inform you of the next mission I have."

Again they departed the audience chamber, but this time in more of a group, including Vector.

"So now we're a team," he said, grinning at the thought. "We should have a name, then."

Almost all of them rolled their eyes at that. Alit shook his head. "What is with you?"

"What? Teams have names. It's how they get known. Right, Ryouga?" Vector stared at the bard, who reluctantly nodded.

"He has a point there." Ryouga really did not look as if this thought pleased him in any kind of a way.

Gilag turned the idea ovoer in his mind. "The Seven Strangers?" Most of them had been strangers when they'd arrived here, after all.

Vector scrunched up his nose. "No." He didn't bother giving a reason. None of them argued over it.

Names were tossed out and discarded quickly, until finally Durbe said, "Why not the Seven Barians?"

Barian. An old word, seldom used, but one he knew. Alit looked a little confused, however.

"What's that mean?"

"It means 'outcast'," Durbe replied, glancing at them all. "And in one form or another...that is what we are."

Silence fell between the seven. Vector nodded slowly and reluctantly. "It does."

"The Seven Barians," Ryouga said, tasting the words carefully before he nodded. "I think it's us." It felt more right than he could begin to explain.

Mischief lit Vector's eyes suddenly. "Are you sure it shouldn't be the Seven Barian Lords? Why should we just be Barians? Why not Emperors? The Emperors of the outcasts?"

Mizael reached over and smacked the back of Vector's head. "Quiet down." He refused to comment on Vector's chances if he didn't. The threat was more than clear enough in his voice.

Durbe glanced at Mizael, a soft smile on his lips. He still held no deep trust toward Vector, but perhaps Mizael could keep him in line.

"What will our next assignment be, I wonder?" he mused out loud, willing to let all of that slide in anticipation of the future.

"I think he has something in mind concerning some issues with dark mages in another part of the kingdom," Vector said. "But I can't say for certain."

No one who looked at him believed that entirely. There was much Vector hadn't told them.

And much, much more that they all knew they had to learn about each other, as the future unfolded before them.

THE END

Note: So, this is how they all formed an adventuring team together. There will be one short chaptered piece (somewhere between twelve thousand and sixteen thousand words) to expand on Mizael and Vector and then the major story of this world will begin. We do not know when that major story, or even the short chaptered piece, will be written, but watch out and it will turn up!