A morning alarm clock was quickly silenced by the light press of a feminine hand.
Releasing a soft exhale, Enkidu slowly opened his eyes. With its enticingly warm embrace, the fluffy white pillow that held his face attempted to seduce him to further slumber. Though he often found himself content to do so, today was not one of those days. This morning, he was able to muster just enough energy to forgo the extra hour of heavenly rest. He had to get changed for the curious day ahead.
The weekend arrived, and today would be his first experience with a Chaldean community event.
Slowly, the androgynous individual sat up in his luxurious bed. The quilted covers were refined like the rest of the high-class bedroom, which mirrored the kingly status of his friend's suite. However, the walls and upholstery were painted in luxurious greens and accompanying white accents. Even the refined hickory wood of the cabinets, shelving, and other assorted furniture added to the natural theme.
It made him smile how thoughtful Gilgamesh was to choose this connecting suite as opposed to another. The natural tones and aesthetic melody made him feel very comfortable, which was something he preferred over resplendent luxury. Still, his friend ensured the suite was rich in its own ways. In particular, there were lots of potted plants of exotic origin that made the living space look and feel more like the forests it aspired to emulate.
After stretching his feminine arms above his head, Enkidu carefully tossed the blanket off his body. Wearing just loose, white hot pants and a matching well-fitted shirt, the lancer quickly got out of bed and allowed the lush blue carpet to caress his bare feet. A small smile graced his lips as he walked over to the closet to pick out his clothes for the day, picking his precious friendship cord off a display cabinet along the way. Enkidu momentarily paused before the small enclosure to toss a brief glance at the flanking, empty display shelves; He was still unsure what to fill them with.
While most of the closet was empty, there were a few sets already present that Gilgamesh managed to acquire from Uruk. Just looking at them brought fond memories to his mind, but they would not just be present in those alone. Wearing them here, they would become part of the new memories among other, more interesting wardrobes that he had curiously ordered.
To suit the day's event, he pondered about going with one of the more flexible options. He grabbed an athletic beach set from the hanger, which consisted of white jammers with a shortened, emerald shirt. The top part would expose a bit of his midriff, as Naomi had warned, but he hardly minded. He always dressed as he pleased, though unlike his friend, usually went for practicality over regality. At least this would be easier to move in.
His hearing picked up footsteps gently making their way down his suite's hall; It could only be Gilgamesh. "Enkidu? Am I disturbing you?"
"I'm just getting changed, Gil, feel free to come in!" Enkidu replied back as he turned the wardrobe in his hands and smiled. Yes, this would be fine.
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Fragment 50: Of Growing Bonds
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"This should be fine, right, Gil?" Enkidu asked as he turned around like a model while smiling.
Pleasant chuckling coupled with the archer's reply, "There is no reason for doubt. It looks great on you, Enkidu."
Gilgamesh leaned in the doorway of the bedroom, arms crossed with an amused smirk. Enkidu turned to glance curious at his friend's red gaze which was partially obscured by loose, blonde bangs. His golden jammers were stretched taut over his muscular form. It was coupled with a white Hawaiian shirt which had stylized, golden weapon designs plastered over it to form palm tree shapes. It rested open and hung loose at its sides to expose his toned chest, matching cord, and golden necklace.
The clothing order that came with the Hawaiian shirt had been one of the many surprises Enkidu had the pleasure of learning. The archer had openly acknowledged the high-quality of the clothing department and acquired his first order after the seventh singularity; This was only a day before he arrived. The small praises weren't limited to them either, which made Enkidu even more happy when he personally witnessed how Gilgamesh was acting.
After their tearful reunion, Enkidu quickly learned Gilgamesh had been striving to become everything the lancer believed he could be. It was heartwarming, and made him smile just thinking his friend would go to such lengths out of his belief and trust of him. He has truly become an incredible and considerate king, but still held that sense of overwhelming confidence and prestige only his friend could embody. As the perfect icing to the cake, they were together again so he could see it for himself.
To his delight, this facility was also proving to be one of the greatest experiences he could ever hope for as a servant. He didn't have to fight Gilgamesh, but fighting any other present servant was only out of interest to spar. Already he had been requested for a bout by Irish and Chinese lancers, but he had yet to take them up on the offer; There was just so much to discover and do here. Chaldea had a mix of everything from activities to relaxation area, but the Fantasia Resort remained his favorite.
Shifting gears, Enkidu began to ponder the timing of events. Everything was happening at the resort today, so breakfast would be in two hours. The actual main event wouldn't take place until after lunch, so they had plenty of off time to enjoy the beach and boardwalk activities. Even though Enkidu often visited it a lot, there was one place in particular he wished to enjoy with some of the morning's flexibility.
"The masters are still holding that little meeting?" Enkidu asked curiously. He was aware Gilgamesh could not spend time before breakfast with him, but it never hurt to ask.
"I'm afraid so, but that is fine. Roman and Da Vinci are finalizing how they wish to handle newly recruited masters, should any of the staff meet the requirements. I am also invested in this since they will be giving orders in the future."
With a chuckle, the lancer smirked at Gilgamesh. "But you're only going to listen to Gudao's orders."
"He has earned my upmost respect, therefore he is granted that sole privilege. The rest shall be considered… suggestions at best," the archer declared with a smile. "Regardless, I will still have a say in the process for handling new masters. It is unfortunate it must cut into our time, however."
Enkidu nodded in understanding as Gilgamesh smiled apologetically. "It's okay. If they get the important stuff out of the way, that means more relaxation later without worry!"
His friend laughed. "Of course, my friend! And today, we shall prove once and for all the uncompromising might and glory of Uruk!"
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Fantasia Resort was losing its amber glow as the sun rose, but there was never a poor day in Chaldea's paradise. A few clouds speckled the vibrant sky as a gentle breeze blew across the beach. Over the light rustle of the many flowers and palm trees, Enkidu could hear the budding activity on the boardwalk. Many were already setting up some games to play after breakfast while others were preparing the beach for the afternoon's main event.
With quiet steps in his flip-flops, Enkidu decided to enjoy his time peacefully in the garden. Usually Gilgamesh would walk with him here or in the forest every morning, but he was more than content walking it alone; This wouldn't last much longer. Though the rainbow of flowers and countless butterflies gave him silent company, one of his first Chaldean friends also loved to preside among nature. With a big smile, the big behemoth turned to him and waved happily as a monarch butterfly landed on his horn.
"Hi, Enkidu!" Asterios greeted. He looked down briefly to ensure a butterfly did not land on his swim trunks, which depicted dozens of sunflowers on a light blue background.
"A good morning to you too, Asterios," Enkidu warmly replied as he calmly approached the small patch of grass he sat. Among many cobblestone walkways, there were a few grassy areas for small groups to have a picnic. With a flick of his flip-flops, the footwear was flung onto the lawn as the androgynous man set foot onto the lush spot. "No Euryale with you this morning?"
"Stheno and Medusa fussing with her hair," the berserker replied with a smile as he pointed to his own, flowing mane. "She wanted try bun hair… Then Stheno want one too. Probably force Medusa to have one too so they look alike but she want to surf so that bad idea. Where is King of Heroes?"
"He's having a meeting regarding the new masters," he replied while he eyed an emerald butterfly circling his head.
"Ah okay. Just us and the butterflies then," Asterios smiled as he patted the nearby grass. "Come have seat! Food still no ready yet!"
Enkidu nodded quietly as he took a seat beside the berserker. Feeling the grass between his fingertips, the lancer breathed in and out in content. The rich smell of the flowers sang to his mind, letting his muscles relax even further than they already were. It reminded him of the many times he fell asleep in the wild before he made contact with anyone. It harkened back to the few memories of those early days, but none of them were fonder than those spent in Uruk.
However, this love of nature made him a quick companion among the flowers. He and Asterios could likely sit there for hours, making only small talk, but feeling perfectly content with how their time was spent; There was satisfaction to be found in pure simplicity. Relishing in shared splendor of the tropical paradise became his favorite thing to do, regardless of the company kept. Whether it was Gilgamesh, Asterios, or someone else, it was hard for him to be upset in nature's realm.
He looked to the side at his berserker friend, watching as he stared cross-eyed at a red lacewing that landed upon his nose. The intricate pattern and colors of this species was always an eye-catcher, but its current seat made it seem like an attention seeker. Asterios merely chuckled at him as they watched its proboscis curl and uncurl gently as it rested. It made Enkidu smile and miss one that hovered above him.
Asterios chuckled louder, making the androgynous servant blink in confusion. "You have clearwing on head!"
Knowing he couldn't see it, Enkidu still tried to look with a smile. His hair tingled in one spot, and he could feel it gently moving across his head. "My hair has no nectar for it."
"But you pretty like flower so it just made a mistake," the gentle giant replied, making both of them smile.
Nodding gently to ensure it didn't get scared, Enkidu chuckled. "What a kind butterfly."
With moments like this, it was difficult for him to believe he was summoned to help defend humanity. He wasn't surprised because of how the throne worked, so of course the Chain of Heaven would make for a great weapon. It had been a long time since he thought of himself like that, though, especially when Gilgamesh despised that thought. Regardless of his lost belief that he was a tool, he was still a powerful ally that would gladly help Chaldea with its task… when there was something to be done, of course.
This second life felt unbelievably peaceful, with the only reminder being a lone supply sortie this past week. Many had assured him humanity was very much in peril, but the need to keep spirits high made this just as paramount. It was a fair point, since people tended to make more mistakes when heavily stressed and anxious. If anything, it at least let him see Gilgamesh in the light he always imagined.
However, there was still one small part he found disappointing, but had yet to voice.
Even though Gilgamesh had become more approachable and mannered, he was still at a distance. He was closer to many, which surprised Enkidu at first, but they were not the bonds he hoped he would forge. He loved being Gilgamesh's closest friend, and would never trade that for the world. The problem was, of all the respect and admitted praise he's given to some, he was still his only friend. Among so many he found some company with, he never used that term for anyone else.
It was upsetting! Enkidu was heartbroken to hear Gilgamesh had purposefully kept everyone away from him before Babylonia. Between his insufferable attitude and his promise that no one else would ever have that title of friend, he had remained almost alone. That's exactly what Enkidu wanted to ensure his friend never had to go through again, yet he willingly pursued that! While it made him feel warm that Gilgamesh treasured their bond so highly, it also made him sad he's not pursuing other connections.
This was a troublesome point the lancer was interested in remedying.
Compared to Gilgamesh, he was not as forward or assertive by a longshot. Enkidu was far calmer and more reserved, but was not against making friends in Chaldea like he did in Uruk. However, if so many impossibilities were made reality here, then that means his current, simple wish was more than viable. Even if he had to fight Gugalanna again, he would definitely push Gilgamesh into forging new friendships!
"Are you okay, Enkidu? Your smile go away a bit. Not as big," Asterios asked with a concerned look.
Enkidu turned to the friendly berserker's caring eyes, making him smile in reassurance. "I'm okay. Just a passing thought, that's all."
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Laughter and cheerful voices echoed from the boardwalk, enticing others to join the activity. Others remained content to lounge underneath the palm leaf roof of the outdoor cafeteria. It was mostly empty now, leaving Enkidu's small table as one of the few with guests. The space between filled tables was ample, allowing those who stayed to enjoy leisurely chat without interruption.
Usually Enkidu wouldn't mind having relaxed conversations with Gilgamesh, but that slowly faltered with her approach. Thankfully, they had only been making small talk when the goddess in a pink sweater slowly floated over. Her white monokini could be glimpsed through the gap in her unzipped pink sweater, and underneath its hem. With a calm smile, she sat down across from the quiet pair as if it were natural.
"Good morning, King Gilgamesh and Enkidu."
"You as well, Ishtar," the King of Heroes replied casually with a small motion from his hand. Enkidu remained silent, but his expression was even as he subtly nodded to her. It had taken him many days just to get to this point, since a part of him still wanted to hurl more than just insults her way.
Truth be told, Enkidu was still baffled that this black-haired goddess was actually Ishtar. She still had her own aura, selfish greed, and pride, but she was far more approachable, sympathetic, and understanding. Even her temper had toned down considerably, and she was actually a decent individual in conversation. It was as confusing as the goddess and his friend's even civility towards each other.
Gilgamesh idly glanced towards the beach where a large volleyball net was being setup. He smirked and turned back to Ishtar. "I, the King, trust you will hold nothing back at the match? A lot rides on this."
Ishtar feigned an injured hand over her heart, but smirked back. "How dare you insult the Glorious Ishtar, Patron Goddess of Uruk. I will have you know your victory is already guaranteed with my presence alone."
"Such arrogance... That is my line," Gilgamesh chuckled, and she joined him. Enkidu remained quiet, looking between them quietly. "Very well. There was never any worry to begin with."
It was difficult getting accustomed to the idea she would occasionally make civil conversation. The hardest part about adjusting to Chaldea was wrapping his head around the idea Ishtar could also be different. Still, he gave it a chance, even if she still baffled, irritated, and secretly angered him. After all she's done, just like that, she was casually talking to him and his friend? He was well aware of how much she subtly helped him in Babylonia, and yet…
He was still perplexed, and couldn't not hold his curiosity in any longer. "Ishtar... Why are you so friendly to Gil? I won't accept 'because this goddess deems it proper' as an answer any longer. I want real reasons."
With no concern or emotion, he blurted it out, making both of them turn to him curiously. From what he understood, they had been borderline antagonistic before the singularity. After several trying weeks, now they looked more like friends. Yes, Enkidu would normally be happy his friend was making new companions, but Ishtar was the lone exception. Perhaps he was being petty, or maybe even jealous, but this wasn't adding up in his mind.
Yes, he was aware her disposition was affected by her summoning conditions. By becoming friends with her host's own, they also helped placate the notoriously unruly and spoiled goddess. It was like night and day how much of a difference they made, but this was still Ishtar who was rejected by Gilgamesh. The Goddess of Fertility, who should still hate him outright for his actions. She should have had no reason to even want to help Gilgamesh, yet she casually did! ...Why!?
To his surprise, Ishtar wasn't even fazed. She merely smiled. "There's a few reasons, but the biggest of which is that he's become quite the admirable king from this goddess' point of view. It was a win-win, since his insufferable attitude is now tolerable and everyone gets to see a truly charismatic, respectable, and civil side of him now."
"Such strong words while in my presence..." Gilgamesh grumbled with a warning glare to Ishtar.
"You know this is true though," She merely shrugged and smiled. "This goddess was optimistic that your kingdom and Enkidu would help bring out your best... just, not as ruthlessly as it did in the singularity... I only tried sincerely to help bring it out while we were in Uruk, like a proper ally and goddess. The gamble paid off. Now there's no question this handsome king looks much more fitting of his title, and it's more than just himself who benefits from his calmer attitude."
That was a strong point, but it still didn't honestly answer why she was still being so nice. "And the other reasons?"
There was a dip in her smile, and a slice of irritation in her tapping finger, but her honesty remained in her eyes. "He's also seen fit to leave my friends alone. That's another big one, and the reason I was more willing to bless him with a second chance after everything he's done to them."
Enkidu heard about that as well. His friend's fascination with the King of Knights had been subdued greatly with his admittance that she would lose that sheen if she no longer opposed him. It was strange, but it made as much sense as his silenced hatred for her significant other. Though he never openly voiced it anymore, he still called that archer by his mocking title. However, that's as far as it went recently. Still, that should only make her roughly neutral to him…
Ishtar caught his curiosity, and he watched her smile turn slightly devious. He knew it. There was only so much someone could change, and he saw her eyes flash with haughty pride. Enkidu grew more frustrated by the second, especially when the goddess laughed. Gilgamesh's own expression had fallen to serious suspicion as he asked, "…what is suddenly so amusing, Ishtar?"
"Just one of the more interesting reasons…" she admitted as she turned to Gilgamesh with a teasing look. "We never did discuss this yet, but I believe it's time this goddess brought it up. After all, you're one of my precious benefactors now, Gilgamesh. It's only proper I treat you with kindness and respect."
Enkidu's frustration was shoved aside by his growing confusion. "…benefactor?"
"Yes! Benefactor!" Ishtar cheered quietly with a cheerful smile as she eyed Gilgamesh like a cat toying with a mouse. The archer didn't seem to appreciate it, but his expression was growing with unusual concern and disbelief. Enkidu was becoming more confused watching the open worry on his friend's face grow as fast as Ishtar's spirits. "Correct me if I am wrong… which I'm not… but we made a deal didn't we, King of Uruk? …Or more specifically… Inanna and your living self did?"
Gilgamesh's face was now completely aghast as Enkidu looked at his friend in shock. "Gil…! You actually…!"
"Oh no, Enkidu. Worry not~! That little memorial essence I got didn't mean we're getting married or anything…" Ishtar reassured him, though her eyes remained locked on Gilgamesh. "…It just means I get a beautiful portion of all gem-related items from the Gate of Babylon… Twenty. Percent… to be exact."
His friend was looking for words to voice, but they were all jumbled in his throat as Ishtar giggled gleefully. "This goddess has no concern~! King Gilgamesh would not go back on his promise, for that would mar his status as the greatest king... A title I am willing to help you two confirm this afternoon!"
Ishtar only playfully placed her head in her hands as she and Enkidu watched Gilgamesh's mixed expression. Angered realization, guilty acknowledgement, total disbelief… Many messages flew through Gilgamesh's red eyes, but Enkidu could do nothing to help. As much as he wanted to, this was something Gilgamesh apparently agreed to. He would definitely ask about this later, but the fact he didn't deny it meant it was the truth.
Gilgamesh only pinched the bridge of his nose and growled loudly in aggravation, bewildering everyone nearby.
Enkidu rubbed his friend's shoulder while Ishtar giggled in total victory. "Oh, but don't worry, Gilgamesh~! We can iron out the details later~!"
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With his curiosity and enthusiasm running rampant, Enkidu was leading Gilgamesh across the boardwalk. By his own amused smile, his friend was hardly disgruntled by his antics. The lancer knew his friend was more of the type to sit aside and observe, but if this place was about making new memories with friends, then he was going to ensure that. Keeping that in mind, the androgynous individual easily convinced the archer to participate in some fun games with him.
It was a beneficial system Enkidu was secretly giving Gilgamesh. By making him do activities like bean bag toss and cornhole, they were ensuring their bond remained as strong as ever. It also made Gilgamesh actually participate and admit to having fun in some games, if only because he was doing it with his friend. Finally, it would make the King of Heroes look that much more respectable to the others. Though not as prideful as his friend, Enkidu was beyond confident in his own plans and strategies.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu waited patiently for their turn beside a rather curious game. They had been enticed over by the boisterous King of Conquerors, who the androgynous man had found was on exceptionally good terms with his friend; The lancer was keen to drag him over instantly for a chance to boost that bond. Though it was a competitive game against him and his retainer, Enkidu was more than positive this could become a friendship if Gilgamesh finally admitted it.
To his curious surprise, he wasn't the only one trying to forge a new bond between others, though he was being far more subtle. He looked across from them at the trio of servants. Iskandar stood proudly behind the other two, quietly eyeing them with a mischievous grin. He stood with his hands akimbo on his black swim trunks, allowing his muscles to shine in complete display. It was definitely obvious he wasn't trying to take his time with his fairly obvious scheme.
His stance was a huge contrast from Lord El-Melloi II, who stood with a thinking pose and narrowed eyes. His red tropical shirt flapped gently in the breeze and covered the top of his own black swim trunks. Occasionally, his eyes would shift in exasperation to the woman beside him, who shifted on her legs impatiently as she stared at the game. Her yellow bikini had black paw prints all over them, and from what Enkidu knew of the unusual deity, this was only to be expected from the clementine-haired lancer.
"How about I just pick one, nyaah?" Jaguarman asked with a finger to her lips. "You're taking forever! This isn't some grand strategy!"
"The boy's just being himself!" Iskandar offered with a chuckle. "He always knows the right moves to make!"
Enkidu chuckled while Gilgamesh shot an entertained glance at the large rider. With a roll of his eyes and shake of his head, the caster sighed, "Right moves…"
With a raise of his hand, he pointed towards the large, wooden tower between their two teams. The large construct was made of several stacked wooden blocks, and was almost a head taller than Iskandar. Several pieces were missing from the center, leaving it dangerously teetering as he pulled yet another with telekinetic prowess. Slowly, the large Jenga block slid out of place with only a bit of movement.
Lord El-Melloi II smirked as he stacked it on top perfectly as his king clapped. "That finishes our turn."
"Can I pick the next one, Gil?" Enkidu asked enthusiastically.
His friend smiled and nodded, allowing him to go quickly to work. "I have no doubt you'll choose a good one to defeat out opponents."
"This will be a defeat for you, King of Heroes!" Iskandar boasted proudly as Enkidu looked at the blocks quickly.
Gilgamesh merely smirked back and laughed. "You're getting ahead of yourself, King of Conquerors. I may have acknowledged your title, but one always shines brighter among us! Your imminent defeat is before us!"
The lancer enjoyed his friend and the boisterous rider's hearty banter with a smile as he made his decision. With no hesitation, Enkidu swiftly took out a block from an untouched row, making the tower wobble slightly. The other team eyed it in hopes, but is stabilized. Enkidu and Gilgamesh merely chuckled at one another as the lancer looked at him. "Would you mind helping me?"
"Must you ever ask?" There was no hesitation as Gilgamesh calmly kneeled into the sand. Enkidu quickly walked over, and while balancing the massive Jenga block above his head, gingerly sat himself onto Gilgamesh's shoulders. After glancing to ensure he got no sand on the archer, Gilgamesh gently grasped his bare legs and moved them over to the tower. With a simple reach over the construct, he casually deposited the block to end their turn. While Gilgamesh knelt down to let him off, Jaguarman's eyes were shining.
"Oh! Oh! That looked fun!" she exclaimed. While the rider chuckled, and before the caster could voice any complaint, the deity's ears twitched happily as she ran over and yanked a block out of place. The tower shook uncontrollably from the unrefined act, but she didn't care as she leapt over to the retainer-
Caught completely off guard, Lord El-Melloi II was sputtering incoherently in irritation as the bikini-clad lancer clung to his torso with one arm. "Waver! Put me on your shoulders right meow!"
"Taiga-! What do you-!?" The caster lost his footing as the giant tower fell down on top of them. With a small groan, and a dazed expression, Jaguarman dropped her lone Jenga piece as she sat up on the male caster. To his disbelief, she hardly cared what kind of position they were in, but the rider loved it.
The man was far too stunned, but stared incredulously between his clapping king and the carefree lancer who scratched her head bashfully, "Hey! I thought you were stronger than that!"
"That was great! Truly losing with a prize! Well executed, boy!" Iskandar gloated with a thumbs up to his former master, who glared at him. This only served to make the rider, and their opponents, laugh louder.
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The morning had come and gone quickly. With all the games and activities spread across the boardwalk, and the delicious buffet lunch, time passed in an instant. Enkidu had truly enjoyed what Chaldea had to offer as one of its more mundane community events. It made him look forward for more to come later, but the main event had yet to begin.
If anyone was looking forward to this part, it was his friend, who glanced briefly at the crowd gathered by the palm trees. Blankets and lounge chairs were spaced evenly for comfort, but it was apparent no one wanted to miss this, and for various reasons. With a chuckle, Gilgamesh nodded in approval and smiled. "Even Merlin is here... Good. Everyone should witness the King's triumph!"
Gilgamesh stood proudly on one side of the large, outlined court with his two teammates beside him. With one hand on his golden jammers, the king tossed his tropical shirt aside but left the cord in place; There was a few whistles from the body admirers in the audience. Enkidu merely smiled from beside him, as did the floating Ishtar from the male archer's other flank. Her own sweater had been discarded to reveal the white monokini that embodied allure and seduction with its cut-out design.
Their opponents took to the other side of the net as Helena, wearing a slender referee colored bikini, took her spot by the net. She was joined briefly by Gudao, who nodded towards Gilgamesh and then to their opponents. Helena handed the blue-swimsuit wearing master a cordless microphone, which he quickly turned on without causing feedback. The noise from the audience died down as Gudao waved to them.
"Good afternoon everyone! I'm admittedly not really good at these sort of speeches-"
"Such an obvious lie!" Gilgamesh called out jokingly, earning lots of laughter as the male master half-heartedly glared his way.
Without missing a beat, Gudao fixed himself and continued. "Welcome everyone, to the main event! The spectacle that will decide once and for all, who the true greatest is amongst these two mighty kings! A long-standing rivalry will finally end with this grand finale between two of Chaldea's strongest!"
"That's more like it, Gudao!" the olive-skinned rider declared as his laughter boomed from the other side of the net. Enkidu looked across from them with a small smile aimed at one of a handful of individuals who had a direct hand in helping Gilgamesh. Ozymandias stood proudly, with his own hands crossed over his perfectly chiseled bare chest. He wore his own black jammers, which had golden hieroglyphics across the top.
Flanking him were the two female pharaohs, since Iskandar could not rightfully aid either side without bias. Nitocris, with fan-like hair in perfect order, stood with an enthusiastic smile in her white one piece with side cutouts. With its red accents and firm design, it was clearly more for functionality when compared to Cleopatra's daring monokini. With its teal and silver accents, the black designed swimsuit was quite the eye-catcher, but none dared look too much unless they invoked the ire of Caesar.
As the pharaohs' golden jewelry shined in the sunlight, Gudao motioned with one hand towards them. "On one side, we have the ever lively and proud King of Kings, Ozymandias! He is supported by the two lovely female pharaohs, Nitocris and Cleopatra! Together, they form team Glory of the Nile!"
Ozymandias blinked and quickly shot an accusing stare at Nitocris, who flinched and cowered under his gaze. "Pharaoh Nitocris! What is the meaning of this!? I informed you our team names would be The Glorious and Perfect Pharaohs Ozymandias, Cleopatra, and Nitocris who blesses Chaldea with their lasting presence!"
"Th-The name was t-too long!" Nitocris cowered as Ozymandias' stare intensified. "I had t-to-"
"Compose yourself confidently, Nitocris! That is now way for a pharaoh to act!" Ozymandias' voice boomed, making her fidget more and fiddle with her fingers.
To her relief, Cleopatra giggled and caught the male pharaoh's attention. "Please let the poor girl off easy, Ozymandias. She meant well, and the name is still very catchy."
With a small sigh and a shrug, the rider relented. "…Then I shall overlook this as a mild offense... We shall discuss this later, but our future victory will soothe any irritation! Come, pharaohs, so we may show them the might of Ancient Egypt!"
After Gudao and the crowd got over their own chuckles, he motioned to their side of the field. "On the defense, we have the mighty King of Heroes, Gilgamesh! To assist the great archer, his dear friend Enkidu and the Patron Goddess of Uruk Ishtar stand ready to defend his claim as the greatest! Together, they form team Urukian Legends!"
Gilgamesh nodded in approval at Enkidu's choice of a name. He was entrusted to write it down for Gudao and Helena, but it had taken a bit to come to a decision. With a small lingering feeling of displeasure towards Ishtar, many titles he came up with just didn't feel right. In the end, he passed it off as a minor inconvenience and an agitation that was slipping away. They had a battle to win, and she was willing to lend their aid.
"The rules are simple. The clock will stop with every dropped ball until the next serve. Knocking a ball out of bounds does not count as a point, but gives the other team the serve. Each team member is only allowed to touch the ball twice to get it over the net, but never two times in a row. The ball must go over the net and touch within bounds to count, and opposites teams cannot reach over from their side to interfere. The end of the hour-long timer ends the match with no overtime… Any questions?"
"Simple enough rules. There will be no risk of breaking any since this match will be a landslide!" Ozymandias boasted as he shot Gilgamesh a challenging stare.
The King of Heroes merely smirked back and chuckled. "How considerate of you to acknowledge my team's victory in an accepting tone! I shall grant you a close match if only to help you maintain your image! Consider it a gift!"
As some in the crowd already clapped and cheered for the growing competitive arrogance, Gudao chuckled and motioned towards Helena. She smiled as she spun her whistle by its cord. In her other hand, she picked up one of the many white volleyballs with a golden crown on it. "Just say the word, Gudao."
"Then without further ado, let the battle between kings commence!" Gudao declared as Helena blew the whistle. She threw the ball towards the center of the net, catching both teams off guard momentarily. Gilgamesh and Ozymandias quickly responded by running towards the ball. They leapt at the same time, reeling their arms back to slam at the volleyball and hopefully catch-
Enkidu blinked in amusement as the two kings smashed the ball into oblivion with a resounding pop, making them touch hands in a high five. Their torsos bumped against each other with the net between them, but did not make any mention of the contact. Both of them merely stared at the remains of the volleyball before looking at each other. Their blank gazes quickly turned to laughter to join their teammates' reaction. Gudao scratched the back of his head as Helena held up one of the spare volleyballs, which currently glowed a bright blue.
"…I'll just make sure to reinforce all the other balls from here on."
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
"Go Gilgamesh!" "Take him down a few more pegs, Ozymandias!" "Good hit, Cleo!" "Oh! Ishtar with the save!"
Almost half of the game had already elapsed, but the competition hadn't faded from either party. Enkidu was really excited about watching Gilgamesh openly participating in the activity without hesitation. He watched with a smile as his friend slid on his knees across the sand, smacking the ball upward and towards him. Enkidu leapt into the air after the ball, before striking it with a backflip to confuse the other team.
Cleopatra had eyed it carefully, though. The assassin dove on her back and palmed the ball as it reached her. The strike set the ball up perfectly for Nitocris who ran by to redirect it to Ozymandias by the net. With timed precision, he jumped up, attempting to confuse the other team by looking to backhand the ball. Instead, he spiked it towards their side, but Ishtar perceived it.
The flying goddess quickly zoomed across the sand, causing some to blow aside in her wake as she countered the move. The ball flew up into the air allowing Gilgamesh to return the strike to the opposing side. Nitocris returned the volley swiftly before it could even land, but Enkidu knocked it up just before it hit the sand. This recent round had been back and forth like this for nearly three minutes, but it was about to end.
As the ball returned to their side, Gilgamesh casually struck the ball to send it high into the sky. Using their aerial advantage, Ishtar zoomed into the air and struck the ball downward with the force of a meteor. The reinforced volleyball zoomed through the air, directly between Nitocris and Cleopatra. As expected, the two pharaohs dove for the ball, accidentally forcing a collision between them as the ball smashed into the ground beside their heads. Ozymandias stared in surprise as the ball casually bounced on the sand.
Gudao raised a hand to Gilgamesh's team as Ishtar landed with a proud wink. "A point for the Urukian Legends! The score is once more tied at four to four!"
"Ha! I see you've finally managed to even the scores again, Gilgamesh!" Ozymandias proclaimed as Cleopatra held the ball ready to serve. "A shame you have yet to hold the lead."
"Ah, but that is part of my plan," Gilgamesh countered evenly with a shrug, surprising Enkidu slightly. He was almost certain the idea of losing would get to his friend, but the smirk proved otherwise. "As the true king, I found it permissible to grant you a few moments in shining glory before I prove my rightful superiority! The game has yet to be won, and we have yet to get serious, after all!"
To take advantage of Gilgamesh's supposed aloof state, Cleopatra quickly served the ball towards him. Without missing a beat, he calmly knocked it back over to their side, but Nitocris was by the net in an instant. She slammed the ball downward to spike it into-
There was no worry from the archer, for his trust in his friend was absolute. Enkidu appeared in an instant to slam the ball upward. It was quickly followed by Gilgamesh's airborne spike into the ground before any of the pharaohs could react. To wild applause from the audience, Gilgamesh landed and ran a hand through his loose, golden bangs playfully. Gudao raised his hand, "Another quick point for the Urukian Legends! They take the lead!"
He smirked as Ozymandias stared in disbelief. "Should that provide enough evidence for the truth, Ozymandias?"
Quietly, Ozymandias turned a shade more serious as Gudao called the point score. He turned around and looked at Cleopatra and Nitocris, who watched him nervously as the caster caught the ball to serve. With a quiet exhale, he glanced at both of them evenly and nodded. "Pharaohs... I trust you understand what it means for us if we lose. The consequences for the losing team were obvious, but there will be greater ones not listed should we lose. Our pride as pharaohs is one such damage. Do not allow that."
As the two women turned to each other in open concern, Ozymandias turned back around with a small smirk. Enkidu would admit he was good at reading people. From what he knew of Ozymandias, the small smirk and amusement in his eyes just showed it was a mild threat as a reminder to take this seriously. He loved his pride, and he did not wish to lose this as much as Gilgamesh did; The rivals were fairly similar, so he hoped he could push them into a friendship at some point.
However, to Enkidu's own amusement, Ozymandias' quick and entertained glance to the sidelines made his threat unintentionally more potent. In the audience, Astolfo was chuckling happily as the pink bikini clad rider was climbed on by the sphinx kittens. Between his own and watching the pharaohs' pair, it made for a cute sight. It was enough to draw attention from other servants as they joined in to play with the cute divine beasts.
Cleopatra and Nitocris stared between him and the objects of his quick glance in total horror, unbeknownst to him. Enkidu could see the gears turning in their head at the thought of consequences. The losing team had to do whatever the winning one wished for the remainder of the evening, which already had the potential to be a nightmare. Couple with the unintentional inference that that glance sparked…
…the sudden fire of competitive resolve in their eyes was beyond understandable. He'd have to step his game up further.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Gabrielle gawked in total disbelief from her seat on the beach blanket. It was an expression worn by many others, but equal amounts of heightened excitement contrasted the shock. She merely sat there, in her orange and white striped bikini, mouthing words without a sound. Medb rested beside her in equal astonishment on her stomach, no longer trying to flirt with the nearby Cu using her frilly, skimpy white bikini. She wasn't even bickering with the sunbathing Scathach on Gabrielle's other side.
In fact, no one could tear their eyes away from what could only be described as a warzone.
Helena eyed the timer nervously, noting that there was still fifteen minutes left in the match; That was an eternity with current conditions. As the timer continued to tick down, the pressure mounted for the pharaohs. Beginning with the sudden ferocity of the two female pharaohs, the… combat escalation, as it could only be described, was immediate, yet neither team had scored since.
The current ball had been airborne for more than ten minutes, with neither team letting it go anywhere near the sand. Using loopholes in the rules, each team was doing whatever they could to win the edge. Though the strikes were blindingly fast, it was a miracle this ball hadn't been destroyed yet. The biggest raise in disbelief was when the servants began using their own abilities to bolster their side.
Dozens of Medjed filled the sandy side of the pharaohs. They scrambled between them to instantly intercept any ball with their heads, almost always causing them to topple over. A few celestial sphinx juveniles joined them, running about like lions to help intercept any ball. Even Cleopatra's golden snake, which floated into the air to help counter Ishtar's moves, had been deployed to their side. Ozymandias, however, could do little that wouldn't vaporize the ball or destroy the arena.
His rival king, on the other hand, had no such issue. Golden portals appeared above the sand where the ball would hit, summoning shields to deflect the strikes. Enkidu's electrified hand held steady on the sand to temporarily form golden chains with attached infused earth. They acted like paddles to smack back the ball like a ping pong tournament. Ishtar remained completely airborne, giving their team accurate strikes from above where the enemy's positions could be best viewed. Her chosen and precisely detonated wind-element gems also assisted in redirecting the ball.
As Ishtar's rocketed spike was countered by Cleopatra's cobra, which coiled like a spring to absorb the ball's impact, Gabrielle finally yelled out, "What the hell kind of volleyball is this!?"
"The best kind!" Someone yelled from elsewhere in the audience, causing laughter to erupt among them. She looked to Scathach, who sat up on her elbows to view the match. The lancer in a magenta, lacy bikini merely shrugged slowly in just as much confusion. Gabrielle turned back to join Medb's own actions of openly eyeing the two kings' bodies since their tight swimsuits and glistening, majestic forms left little for the imagi-
An accidentally redirected ball flew towards the sidelines, slamming into the side of Cu's head as he stood up to presumably fetch some refreshments. While it bounced upward, the lancer fell limp from the magically strengthened strike and groaned as his body slammed into the sand back first. His eyes spun dizzily as the volleyball landed beside his loose, green Hawaiian shirt. Coupled with some gasps and laughter from the audience, Illya's voice rang out in surprise. "Ahhh! Rin killed a lancer!"
"No, no! It's okay! I'll save him!" Medb shouted out as she immediately clambered onto the dazed lancer and straddled him. His vision returned temporarily, only to switch to incredulous horror as Medb eagerly and seductively licked her lips. "Sit back, handsome! I just learned CPR~! You're in good care~!"
"Hey, hey! Fergus! Get your woman off me!" Cu cried out as he tried to break free. His only answer was the Irish saber's entertained laughter as Helena ran to grab the ball.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
"You're doing great, Rin!" came a chorus of girlish voices from the sidelines. It was like Illya and Kuro, joined by their friends and the King of Knights from what Enkidu could decipher. Unfortunately, the words of praise got to her head, and she momentarily smiled to the audience. It was enough of a delay.
The volleyball slammed into the sand right in front of Ishtar, making Helena whistle and stop the timer. Enkidu watched Ishtar blink in disbelief at missing such an easy counter by a split second. There were some chuckles from the audience at her expense to boot while Gudao turned on the microphone. "Close but no cigar! The pharaohs have tied the score with seven more minutes on the clock!"
"Since the game is going longer than expected, we're not going to stop the clock after the next serve!" Helena called out as she spun her whistle.
With a small growl, Gilgamesh turned to Ishtar picked up the ball. "Ishtar! What was that!?"
"Hey! I made a mistake, aright!? I'm allowed to make mistakes!" she admitted with a huff of her own, making the pharaohs laugh in triumph. "At least we're doing this without the assistance of others!"
"These are not others!" Ozymandias proclaimed proudly as he swept his hand over their allies. "They are the glorious assets of Ancient Egypt! You are just angry your side lacks such glory!"
"Lack such…" Ishtar mumbled incredulously. "You think Babylonia lacks assets!?"
"Depends what assets you raise," Nitocris teasingly raised as she nestled her arms underneath her chest. Ishtar saw that, making her eyes twitch as Cleopatra giggled. "Truthfully, you do lack some~!"
"It's not the goddess' fault she pales compared to the pharaohs," the assassin noted, joining in with the subtle teasing. The pharaohs smirked at her as Enkidu recognized their subtle plan.
"Do not let such simple teases get to you, you fool! They are attempting to anger you so you make more mistakes! Do not fall for that!" Gilgamesh reprimanded as he faced the goddess.
"Ishtar…?" Gudao asked curiously, but was stunned into surprise when she opened her devious eyes to reveal they had gone golden.
Enkidu recognized those eyed and sighed in disbelief. Whenever they turned from their regular shade of red, she was excited or infuriated, but this time it was a mix of both; She fell for their trap. She clutched the ball eagerly as her emitted prana began to soar, unnerving the female pharaohs. Ozymandias merely raised an eyebrow as Gilgamesh stared at her incredulously. Her response was to cackle, "If that's how it is… then I will not be shamed by anyone!"
Her body glowed golden as a summoning circle opened up beneath her. Gilgamesh and Enkidu instantly recognized it as the male archer shouted over the growing growl of her energy. "Since when have you had it!? You foolish goddess! You intend to summon the Bull of Heaven here!?"
"You think that memorial essence was all it had! I saw it! His face! Gugalanna has come to my side!" Ishtar proclaimed proudly. "Come to me, Gugalanna, so we may put the pharaohs in their place! Answer this goddess' call so her majesty may never be questioned again!"
Upon hearing the powerful, divine beast's name, Helena gasped as Ishtar began her summoning chant. Enkidu was frozen as the small memories of fighting the grand beast rocketed through his mind. While they could take him again, its sheer size would destroy this place! He found his own anger rising at Ishtar's impulsive action, and quickly resolved to stop her before she made that mistake. The goddess, while better, was still clearly temperamental to an extent. If he had to throw part of the Bull of Heaven at her again to remind-
A bright flash erupted before he could react; She had summoned him so fast! As the light faded, he looked around above him anxiously, prepared to secure it with the first strike so Gilgamesh could counter. Instead, he found himself still looking in confusion. Gugalanna was a massive beast, yet he couldn't even sense its- Ishtar's shocked voice rang out. "Waaaah! Gugalanna!? Why are you so tiny!?"
Enkidu blinked in confusion at the sudden cooing from the audience. Slowly, Enkidu turned to face what Gilgamesh and the pharaohs were clearly laughing at. The tiny little bull, barely the size of the volleyball, stared up at Ishtar happily as she dropped to her knees in dismay. Its brown flanks and spiked back were reminiscent of the great beast, but it was definitely a juvenile form. It even lacked the golden armor and white hide of its adulthood.
Instead, it stared with cute, beady black eyes at the goddess and spoke in a disembodied, transient voice that sang through the air. "Hi, Ishtar~! You look a little different! Where is this? It's really warm!"
Any fleeting anger over the goddess' loss of composure vanished in an instant. He suddenly felt bad for wanting to tear into the damned beast upon seeing its baby form. He also admittedly felt apologetic towards Ishtar, who pouted and gently put the volleyball down to hug the little bull. In her state of dismay, she rocked the bull in her arms as it squirmed playfully. "Ishtar! Ishtar! What's wrong?"
"I'll be fine…" she murmured, making Gilgamesh laugh louder. She glared at him. "Sh-Shut up! I didn't think he would turn out like this!"
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ X ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
It turns out, Gugalanna was actually far more potent than he looked as a young bull. With unbelievable speed, but surprising precision, it soared through the air with each jump to slap the ball back towards the pharaohs. It was like having a fourth member that was better than any of the assets the Egyptians had deployed. Its delighted squeaks filled the air. "This is fun! This is so much fun~!"
"Yeah! Get them, Gugalanna!" Ishtar cheered as she assisted the divine bull's aerial assault with her own. Between the two of them, the air was completely secured for setting up proper spikes and counters. Enkidu chuckled in delight as the bull landed nearby and rocketed back into the air.
"I shall rescind my previous laughter… Gugalanna is doing wonders," Gilgamesh admitted as he blocked a spike with the flat side of a summoned, golden axe. She smiled smugly back in appreciation, but the clock was still ticking down. Their attitudes turned serious once more as they renewed their assault. Only two more minutes remained, yet neither side had yet to score.
Enkidu knew with the incredible amounts of pride from both his teammates and the enemy, they would not allow a tie. The question was how much would this escalate to ensure that? He was answered with Ozymandias' tap of a quickly summoned staff, bringing forth an assault of blinding light. The bright light was not damaging, but it was intensely bright to sew confusion. With their side incredibly lit, it became more difficult to perceive the ball's position.
However, they had two archers and he had improved detection abilities. Gugalanna was also completely unaffected as it continued to bounce into the air. With their enhanced vision, Gilgamesh and Ishtar easily countered the incoming strikes with well-timed shockwaves from wind-element gems or perfectly summoned gates. Enkidu's own counters supplemented them, since he could still sense the ball's moving position. Ozymandias' ploy was not working out.
With the battle's pace increasing tenfold, Helena and Gudao shared an uncertain glance; They likely believed they would destroy the last ball, like they did the other nine. As the clock ticked down, it was a very real possibility. Each strike from opposing sides made the ball's velocity increase, and its top-tier reinforcement might not let it survive for much longer. The blindingly fast game of redirection merely continued with neither side willing to yield with so much on the line.
Enkidu didn't want to have Gilgamesh at the beck and call of his rival. That would sting his pride far more than the lancer could bear to watch, so he increased his own speed and attacks. He transfigured his parameters to rank his agility and luck parameters as high as possible to ensure his friend would never kneel. Gilgamesh was the King of Heroes and Uruk, and should never kneel to another! As his clutch saves numbered in the dozens, Enkidu ensured that would remain true.
But as the final seconds ticked down, neither side was managing to secure the final score. Still, by the look of true composure on his friend's face as opposed to Ozymandias' crafted one, he still had a concealed trump card. His friend always had that trump card that could defeat anyone. For Enkidu, it had been the precious cord that still hung around his neck. He clutched the firmly wrapped cord gently and briefly, if only as a subtle encouragement for himself to guarantee Gilgamesh would not lose today.
With a proud laugh as Gilgamesh sent the ball soaring towards the distant illusionary sky, baffling even Ishtar, he looked at Ozymandias. "You were truly a worthy opponent, Ozymandias! Someone who could rightfully be called my rival! That, is something I shall acknowledge and admit! …However, Ozymandias... There was only ever one outcome."
As the final few seconds ticked down, a golden portal opened in the sky. The ball, barely holding itself together on its last threads, flew into the gate while golden ripples swiftly opened above the net. With the same velocity, the ball was redirected outward from the Gate of Babylon to slam into the sand at Ozymandias' stunned feet. It came apart on impact, followed by the ringing buzzer from Helena's flying automaton. Enkidu laughed happily as the crowd erupted into cheers.
Gilgamesh smirked with an exceptional shine in his eyes, "…Checkmate."
"Victory goes to team Urukian Legends!" Gudao exclaimed into the microphone as Helena launched a few fire spells into the air to mimic fireworks. "A hard game well fought by both sides!"
To Enkidu's surprise, Ozymandias exhaled and ran a hand through his loose, handsome locks. He slowly chuckled, ignoring the female pharaohs falling to the sand behind him as their summoned allies disappeared into golden dust. He boomed in laughter as some in the crowd approached, but he only looked to Gilgamesh.
"Well played, King of Heroes! I will gladly admit my defeat, as is proper of one bearing the title King of Kings! This is your victory!" Ozymandias proudly declared as he approached the net. Though the net served to divide them, Enkidu could not see any gap between them; He only saw the potential of a beautiful friendship as they shook hands. "Well played! This is a defeat I have no right to be angry about!"
"You take your defeat well, Ozymandias. As expected of my great rival king," Gilgamesh offered with a nod. They released their handshake as the archer chuckled. "I trust you are ready for the consequences then?"
With a small dip of his grin, Ozymandias nodded. "It pains me, but a deal is a deal! To break that would tarnish my name an image! That is never allowed, for a pharaoh must shine brightly like the sun! Therefore, bring your worst, Gilgamesh! You as well, Ishtar and Enkidu! We shall handle your consequences with all the prestige and elegance that rightfully describes the pharaohs of-"
"OZYMANDIAS PLEASE NO! HAVE MERCY!" two voices practically screamed together.
The rider fell into total confusion as he turned around swiftly. Astolfo stood a few meters away, bashfully scratching his head while holding his sphinx kitten. He looked down quickly to see the teary-eyed Cleopatra and Nitocris, clutching their little squirming kittens to their chests in dismay. The rider looked between them in confusion as Enkidu walked beside Gilgamesh to enjoy the scene. Even Ishtar floated over, withholding a chuckle.
Nitocris was already crying. "N-No! Not my little marshmallow! Don't t-take Kamilah away! P-Please!"
"I love Princess! I beg you for forgiveness, Ozymandias! You can't take her away!" Cleopatra held herself strong a little longer, but her tears were threatening to spill as Caesar ran over.
"Ph-Pharaohs! Compose yourselves! This is not how we must act in defeat!" Ozymandias managed to stutter through his complete confusion and disbelief. The Urukian team only laughed louder.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Dinner had come quickly, and already the losing team was committed to their punishment. While not much of a fan of luxury, Enkidu was enjoying the current predicament. He was relaxed on a lounge chair with a tropical drink on a side table, complete with an umbrella. It was matched by Ishtar's own which was brought to them by their current helpers. Cleopatra made pleasant small talk with Ishtar as she fanned her with a palm leaf, much like Nitocris did for him.
"Do you require anything else, Enkidu?" Nitocris asked as she made a tiny glance to the ground between the beach lounging chairs. He looked overly briefly to enjoy the sight of a perplexed Fou staring at Gulaganna as it ate from a tiny fruit bowl alongside its three new sphinx kitten friends.
"It's okay, Nitocris. I don't require much," Enkidu happily replied, earning him a relieved and grateful smile from the pharaoh. The only real wish was talking to Gilgamesh about making friends, but that conversation could come later. "You're doing a lot already, thank you!"
"Do you wish for more luxuries… Perfect Goddess Ishtar?" Cleopatra asked, still getting used to the heresy of speaking the title.
Ishtar smiled haughtily and shook her head with a dreamy sigh. "Such sweet music to my ears…"
Though Ozymandias' laughter echoed on his other side, Enkidu stared curiously at Ishtar. Even if she had lost her temper through some insults, there was no denying how much effort she put into helping them. There was no reason to, especially with having a guaranteed income from Gilgamesh's gate. By all means, she should have put through minimal effort like her real self… and yet she was so bafflingly different from the one they knew.
"Ishtar… You never said any of the other reasons why you're so nice to Gil and I," Enkidu asked out of the blue, making the three turn to him curiously.
Ishtar's relaxed face turned a touch serious in thought. He figured she wouldn't answer, but she surprised all of them with a small sigh. After taking a tiny sip from her drink, she looked at Enkidu apologetically, not caring the pharaohs were witnessing this. "…I'm sorry."
Enkidu blinked in confusion. "…sorry for…?"
With one last sigh, she steeled herself. "…My apology will never be enough for what I did, but you two at least deserve one for everything this goddess has done against you. I'm nice because I want to reassure myself that I've helped make things as they should be. I'm not seeking forgiveness... I'm seeking to ensure things stay right. That's all…"
Enkidu raised an eyebrow curiously as Ishtar gently nodded to him again. "I wanted to tell both of you at the same time but… I intend to make sure your happiness is never shattered again. My sister spoke quite highly of you and… I admit, she's right. You're a wonderful individual, just like Gilgamesh is now. So just keep doing what you're doing and don't mind me… I'm just trying to ease my own regrets, that's all."
Acknowledging that last sentence was the only one with a hint of a lie, Enkidu nodded slowly with a small smile. Ishtar stared at him in bewilderment as the pharaohs watched on quietly while fanning them. Yes, this was definitely an Ishtar he could accept and talk with rather than her true self. Even if it took a bit more time to get used to, he was willing to give her another chance if his friend had already done so… and maybe help her with that temper problem.
"Perhaps we can talk more often? I know Ereshkigal a bit, but maybe I can learn about you too?" Enkidu asked with a pleasant smile. "So long as you don't try and throw Gugalanna at Gil and I again."
He shocked Ishtar. She was silent at first, attempting to mask her optimism through a show of thinking; Neither him or the pharaohs bought it as they chuckled. Slowly she smiled and nodded to show her appreciation. "…This goddess would like that… and I promise not to throw Gugalanna-"
"No! Don't throw me at anyone!" Gugalanna complained as the bull quickly jumped onto Ishtar's chair in distress. The four servants laughed as Ishtar gently petted her new ally.
"This goddess will never, I promise," the female archer comforted her divine beast with gentle petting. With a chuckle, Enkidu guessed he should do the same for Gilgamesh.
"Speaking of reassuring…" Enkidu spoke up, making Ishtar and Cleopatra grin in amusement as Enkidu turned to his friend. His own chair was a bit farther away from theirs, if only for more space for demanded luxuries. Nitocris and Cleopatra had gotten off easy compared to Ozymandias… but the male pharaoh had his own means of delightful counterattack. Enkidu inquired, "Gil! Are you enjoying yourself?"
"How can I, the King, enjoy myself among this!?" the archer answered in disbelief, making the four laugh happily to join Ozymandias' bellowing amusement.
By his order, Ozymandias was fanning Gilgamesh in an unusual outfit. As acquired from previous supply sorties in preparation for this day, the rider now wore a bikini version of the French maid outfit. Its skimpy black and white top was coupled with a frilly miniskirt and accompanying apron. It was even topped with a tiara-style headdress that read 'Loser,' ensuring he would be completely and totally humiliated by any who witnessed.
...That plan completely backfired.
Gilgamesh was the only one visibly cringing as Ozymandias proudly wore the outfit and grinned. "As a true pharaoh, anything I wear becomes grander on my body! Behold, how it showcases my incredible midsection while I bless you with an Egyptian breeze! Ah, but fear not, Gilgamesh! I have seen fit to call for assistance! You need not enjoy just my presence alone!"
The King of Heroes looked at him in disbelief. "What do you mean assist-"
"I'm here~!" Astolfo cried out happily as the barefoot, feminine rider jumped to the pharaoh's side. Enkidu chuckled upon seeing the pink-haired rider in his own little French maid outfit. The torso was cut a little short to expose his midriff, and the skirt was certainly small. That didn't stop him from happily bending over in front of Gilgamesh to pick up another palm leaf, causing his mouth to open in clear abhorrence. "Don't worry, King of Heroes! We'll make sure you feel very kingly!"
"The King did not ask for this!" Gilgamesh stammered, but Ozymandias merely laughed as he readjusted his top.
"Oh, but you did, King of Heroes! It was in the deal for winning! Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your victory!"
...Perhaps Enkidu should wait another day before bringing up the topic of making more friends.