The winner of the End of Summer Poll is... Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz! Join me on the Spacebattles forums if you want to discuss what I've been working on or check out other suggested summons. Or you could shoot a review or PM about your ideas. The only reason I tried Gilgamesh (and Godzilla) is because I wanted to show the difficulty of using OP characters in this role, and despite the problems, it's been fun to have Golden Prick hijack the plot.

Now to reveal some things I've been keeping on the down low. Enjoy the Epilogue!

"Pentagon of the five elements, bless this creature, and may it be bound to me for all eternity."

It was rather embarrassing to be a young girl kissing a man's hand. But Louise had worked hard for this moment. She wasn't going to let a minor thing like nerves get in the way of securing her greatest accomplishment ever. Besides, there was no one else around to see it. This ceremony would forever be remembered only by the two participants.

Gilgamesh glanced down as glowing lines burned themselves onto his hand. "What annoyance is this?"

"Familiar runes," Louise replied simply.

"I see. So, this is how you bind your familiars into your service, ensuring their loyalty," the king said with a nod. "It certainly is different from the ones described in those useless books. Still, I would not advise testing their effectiveness. No one can force me into compliance."

"They do not force anything," Louise said in exasperation. "They are just markings that confirm the contract and sometimes grant the familiar abilities. Nothing else."

"The ignorance of the humans of this world disgusts me further and further with each passing day," Gilgamesh scorned as he examined the runes further. His ruby eyes glittered. "Oh? Now that's intriguing…"

"What is?"

"It appears that this 'Founder' of yours had more ingenuity than a typical magus."

"Of course, Brimir was far superior to an ordinary mage!"

"Which means I should expect to see even greater things from you," Gilgamesh said smugly. "After all, Louise le Blanc de la Valliere, you have the highest privilege of being acknowledged by I, Gilgamesh of Uruk, the King of Heroes.

Louise felt a tug on her Willpower and a tingling on her hand. She gasped in surprise when red markings formed on her skin. It was segmented into three parts, the bottom of each followed a segmented but smooth arc just above her wrist. The side marks had two peaks while the middle mark had three, and the peaks grew larger the closer they were to the center.

"What are these?!" she squealed in panic.

"Command seals, of course," Gilgamesh responded airily. "Did you forget my earlier lessons so easily?"

"Ah…" Louise blushed, not wanting to admit that yes, she had momentarily that detail. To be fair, it had been a very eventful past few days. "I remember, they allow me transfer Willpower to you and issue absolute commands."

"The proper term is magical energy, or od, but I can abide by your culture's terms. Also remember, if you dare use a command seal without my permission, your life is forfeit."

"I won't," Louise vowed, eyes greedily drinking the sight. She frowned as she looked closer at it. "Why do the marks form a seven-pointed crown? Is this your idea of a joke?"

"I do not have any influence over the design of the runes," said Gilgamesh. "Their pattern is determined by the summoner, not the summon, as is the case with your own runes."

"They are?"

"Truly, it is amazing how little you know about the few interesting parts of your world's paltry excuse for magic."

"Perhaps you could grace me with a small explanation?" Louise suggested, frowning as she noticed something else. "If the command seals allow me to supply you with Willpower, why do I barely feel anything?"

"A variety of factors. Unlike in my garden, your world has no consciousness that actively repels my current existence. There is a seal that tried to keep me out, but it's of little consequence. Your world also holds an abundant amount of ambient mana. Your prana capacity and efficiency are leagues above the common rabble. And I've been siphoning your Willpower regularly, so your body is already used to the strain."

Louise blinked at the last statement. "…what?"

"I refuse to waste my time repeating myself.

"You've been siphoning my Willlpower?!"

"Your repetition is flattering, but unnecessary."

"I thought the point of earning your approval was so that I would confirm our pact and you would get my Willpower. You've been taking my Willpower without the contract… you've been using me!"

"Hardly," Gilgamesh drawled. "I merely took what was owed for compensation."

"Compensation for what? Summoning you?"

Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes. "Do not take that tone with me, girl," he warned. "Your outbursts are only amusing so many times before they chafe my royal hearing."

Louise bit her lip to keep quiet, but her firm gaze demanded answers.

"As I once said, Servants are summoned from the Throne of Heroes by taking a portion of a Heroic Sprit and containing it within a vessel. That vessel is denoted by the Servant's class: Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker. While it is possible to summon other classes, those seven are the most consistent and stable ones, so naturally, they are the ones who are usually summoned.

"Your summoning, however, was an interesting case. Whether because of your complete lack of control or the strength of your desire, you managed to bypass the system humanity had established and attempted to connect with the Throne of Heroes directly."

"I connected with the record of legendary heroes?" Louise said in shock.

"No," Gilgamesh swiftly corrected her. "You attempted, and failed. Miserably, I will add. I reached out to you because I was curious what sort of magus could brute force their way in such a barbaric matter, and I could sense that you were different. Your spell ripped out various attributes of myself and attempted to drag me out of the Throne of Heroes by force. I went out to meet you, fully intent on punishing the mongrel that dared make such a botched attempt at forcibly summoning me directly from the Throne. But when I realized that you were a fledgling diamond in the rough, I had mercy on you and gave you the chance to prove yourself."

Louise stared at Gilgamesh, trying to piece together what he was explaining. "So I tried to do the impossible, failed, but summoned you… as a Servant of different class?"

"I hardly classify as a Servant," Gilgamesh replied. "You pulled aspects from myself that resonated best with you, mostly attributed to my Archer and Caster classes. However, much of myself was lost in the process due to your sloppy performance and that silly gate. Any other servant would have fallen apart or been forced to acquire a human vessel. You are very fortunate that my ego is infallible. Even then, I had to make use of the incomplete summoning pact and spend an exorbitant amount of time near you, relying on your unique 'Willpower' to stabilize my form."

Rosy eyes widened in realization. "Is that why I had Willpower exhaustion?"

"Indeed. As you were going to spend most of the day busy, I took a little more than usual. When I realized you had pushed yourself far beyond your limits, I temporarily stifled our fragile connection to give you time to recover. You should be grateful that I showed such consideration, interrupting my personal pleasure for your health."

Louise's brow furrowed as she glared at the arrogant king. That would explain the time she had seen his clothes dissolve as he had stepped through a portal. Still, she had been fortunate that she only had a minor case of Willpower exhaustion that had cleared up in a day. That extra siphoning could have had a much worse effect on her body. She decided not to press Gilgamesh on it, knowing he held no guilt for his actions. "And now that the ritual is complete, we won't have issues like that again?"

"Correct. Our contract has stabilized my existence in this world thanks to the power you've inherited. It's more than likely that your power will pass down through your bloodline as well. Although, I won't bother contracting again unless your descendants prove to have potential."

Louise blushed. "It's a little early to be thinking of children," she said. "I haven't even graduated from the Academy, and Wardes and I are yet to be wed. We have years before we'll be having kids."

The king chuckled.

"What?"

"You'll find out eventually, within the year if my sight doesn't fail me," Gilgamesh replied with amusement. "Surely, my contract with you will be far from boring."

Louise yelped as she felt the corset tighten around her waist.

"Is it too tight, Lady Valliere?"

"It's fine," Louise replied curtly. She could breathe properly, but she still wasn't used to the way the ribs of the corset pressed against her body. While Louise wasn't as tall and well-endowed as her mother, sisters, or Kirche, she had gotten a final growth spurt in the past three years. Not so much vertically, but she was no longer in any danger of being mistaken for a child. Ironically, she had previously wished for Henrietta's further filled-out figure, but now she wished for Henrietta's more modest curves.

'Such complaining is unbefitting of a woman of your station.'

'I don't see you taking the time to get fitted," Louise shot back. 'This is an important day for me. The least you could do is make an effort.'

'Your concern is unwarranted. I would never wear anything but my finest. Effort is not necessary in the face of perfection.'

'You better not show up shirtless.'

'Is that a threat?'

Louise didn't bother to respond to that. The voice only she could hear scoffed before fading away. Telepathy was both incredibly convenient and terribly annoying at the same time, especially with someone like Gilgamesh at the other end.

Then again, he probably felt the same way about her.

A knock came from the chamber door. "It is time, your highness."

"Very well," Louise said. She examined herself in the mirror, ensuring that her appearance was flawless. After all, this was going to be the most unforgettable day of her life.

"Presenting her highness, Lady Louise Francoise le Blanc de Tristan!"

Louise's physical appearance wasn't the only thing that had changed for her over the years. Henrietta had officially adopted her into the royal family, making Louise her younger sister and current heir to the throne. As a result, she had given up the Valliere name to adopt the royal family name of country.

The young lady had also gained a reputation for her understanding of magic and performance in battles against Gallia and the Reconquista. While the runic name "Louise the Zero" had stuck, she was also referred to as "Louise of the Void" and "The Second Coming of the Founder", among other, more outlandish titles.

The church had been reluctant to charge her with heresy ever since she had decimated an entire Reconquista army with one spell.

Louise stepped through the towering doors of the grand hall as the national anthem of Tristan began to play. The walk had always been the hardest part of the rehearsal. Every step was slow and purposeful. Her chin was held at the perfect angle to look dignified but not conceited. Head straight, gaze forward, the barest hint of a smile on the lips and fair sternness in the eyes.

Her dress had three petticoats underneath to give it volume. The tailors had originally wanted to use five, but Louise had put her foot down. Even though the layers were made of delicate material and hung on a frame to not drag on her legs, the weight still added up. Despite the hassle, the final result was worth it. The dress was white with gold trim that formed a pattern of Tristan's national crest along the hem, giving the dress a very distinguished appearance without being overly gaudy. The petticoats underneath gave a gradient of rosy pink, so the lowest hanging layer was a matching shade to her hair. Louise made sure to make limited movements with her hips as she walked to make sure the dress didn't flounce. Founder knew what people would think if she was anything but prim and proper during the ceremony.

As Louise walked down the aisle, she used her peripheral vision to scan the seats for familiar faces. Her former classmates and teachers were the first she came across. Louise had, in fact, completed her education at the Tristan Magic Academy. Despite a several week long hiatus, she had returned to the academy with grades topping her previous remarkable scores. While she still couldn't perform magic of the four elements, her non-elemental, runic, and ritual magic had quickly become leagues above any of the professors.

Old Osmond gave her a nod and a wink as she passed. She only knew about half of the teachers sitting in his row by name. There had been a culling of the academy's faculty over the years, which had resulted in multiple replacements and an overall reduction in staff, but there was no denying that the current teachers were the crème of the crop. Louise was confident that the security and education of future mages were being left in responsible hands.

Kirche was sitting next to her newlywed husband, Professor Colbert. The Germanian had proposed two years prior, but Colbert had waited until she had graduated before they had gotten engaged and subsequently married. Despite Louise's initial misgivings, she had attended their wedding. And whatever happened in Germania, stayed in Germania.

Guiche and Montmorency were another seated couple. Montmorency wore a lovely lavender gown, while Guiche was decked out in his military attire. After the threat of the Reconquista, he had finally made something of himself and followed in his father's footsteps. Louise had to admit, he had grown to be a reliable officer. Montmorency's talent for potions and perfumes had brought the couple out of borderline poverty as well.

Louise could see her sisters, Cattleya and Elenore, sitting near the front with their mother, Karin, and father, Sandorion. While Louise was now officially a member of the royal family, she hadn't excluded her birth family from her life. Her mother, as serious as she was, always kept an eye and ear out for whatever craziness Louise got herself into. And Catteleyna, the darling older sister she was, invited Louise over frequently to share tales of her exploits. Sandorion and Elenore weren't quite as involved in her life—they never had been—but still made time to see her when their business took them to the capital.

Ahead of them sat Tabitha. Or at least, Louise believed it was Tabitha. She still couldn't tell the young queen and her identical twin sister apart when swapped places—and it had been a surprise to find that Tabitha even had a twin. Either way, as foreign royalty, she was entitled to a front row seat at the ceremony. While Louise wouldn't say she and Tabitha were particularly close, they had a cordial relationship, which was a big boon to foreign relations.

Forming rows up to the steps were representatives of each military division. Cain stood among them, the crest of the Griffon Knights pinned on his shoulder. Louise suppressed a stab of pain as she remembered her old fiancé before shrugging off the memory. Wardes' treachery had hurt, but she was past that point in her life. She had become more than he had ever imagined. More than even she had ever imagined. The only person who had believed in her was her annoyingly smug familiar.

Who, curiously, she had yet to see.

As the national anthem reached its crescendo, Louise ascended the stairs. In front of her sat an empty throne. To one side of it were Henrietta and her fiancé, King Wales of Albion, standing hand in hand. Further past them stood Cardinal Mazarin. She gave a slight nod to acknowledge them as the musicians fell silent and a hush fell over the room.

"We gather here today to witness a sacred occasion," Queen Henrietta began. "As you all are aware, I am engaged to King Wales de Albion. When we marry, I will be joining his side as the Queen of Albion. Albion and Tristan have a long history of marrying their family lines, but our countries are and shall always be separate, just as the Founder intended. Therefore, I, Queen Henrietta de Tristan, hereby abdicate the throne of Tristan to my dear sister, Louise Francoise le Blanc de Tristan."

Cardinal Mazarin then stepped towards Henrietta, who dipped her head. An abridged version of the national anthem played as he gently removed the crown from Henrietta's head.

Louise, recognizing her cue, turned primly and sat down on the throne. As she took in the sight of the crowd, she noticed a conspicuous golden throne atop a familiar sleek airship. The throne's occupant was lounging in his seat, a golden goblet in one hand as his ruby eyes glittered in amusement. Louise briefly wondered if he had cast an illusion to hide himself from the people below, but upon closer inspection of the crowd she noticed that occasional the guards' eyes would flick upwards. Gilgamesh had done nothing to hide his presence, but at least he hadn't tried to draw attention to himself.

And he was wearing a shirt. The outfit he wore was outlandish and clearly foreign, but at least it was presentable.

"With the power invested in me by the Church of the Founder, I, Cardinal Jules Mazarin, recognize Louise Francoise le Blanc de Tristan née Valliere as Tristan's new queen. All Hail, Queen Louise!"

"All Hail, Queen Louise!" the crowd thundered.

'I always knew you would one day be queen." The look in Gilgamesh's eyes was brimming with smugness.

Louise's allowed the very edges of her mouth to curl upwards. 'And I always knew I'd never steal the throne from Henrietta.'

'I was right that you would be a very entertaining summoner, even if you are not my retainer.'

'What queen puts herself under a king?'

'I wouldn't be opposed to making you my queen.'

'Ha. Are jokes your gift to me on my coronation?'

'I would never joke on a matter like this.'

Even as he said those words, Louise could feel the mocking amusement dripping from his mental voice. She decided not to think too hard about his words. After all, it was her day. The start of a new era.

And thus began the reign of Queen Louise de Tristan.

EXTRA: Gilgamesh's Parameters

Class: V()1D F4MI|14R (ERROR: IMPROPER SUMMONING)

True Name: Gilgamesh

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Parameters:

Strength – D

Endurance – D

Agility – E

Mana – A

Luck – A

N.P. – A++

Class Skills:

Independent Action (A-) – The ability to act without reliance on a master. Rank is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

Magic Resistance (E) – Able to ignore basic magic. Rank is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

Personal Skills:

Charisma (A+) – The commanding presence needed to rule any country.

Divinity (B) – A demi-god with high amounts of divinity.

Golden Rule (A) – A ruler abundant in riches.

Riding (D) – Demonstrates the ability to pilot any vehicle and ride many magical creatures. Rank is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

Sovereign of Magical Wands (B) – Emphasizes a style of magecraft relying on tomes and staves. Rank is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

Noble Phantasms:

Sha Naqba Imuru (Ex) – Provides passive Clairvoyance to an impossible degree. Its effectiveness is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

Gate of Babylon (E—A++) – Holds all the treasures of Gilgamesh.

Enuma Elish (Ex) – A weapon capable of destroying the world.

Enkidu (D++) – The chains of heaven and named after his only friend. It is more effective on higher ranks of divinity. Its effectiveness is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

Vimana: Throne of the Heaven-soaring King (D) – A flying airship throne. Its effectiveness is currently reduced due to improper summoning.

EXTRA: Story Timeline

Day 1: Louise Summons Gilgamesh (Chapters 1-2)

Day 2: Gilgamesh meets Henrietta (Chapter 3)

Day 3: Gilgamesh goes exploring (Chapter 4-4.5)

Day 9: Louise asks Gilgamesh to teach her magic (Chapter 5)

Day 10: Gilgamesh meets Karin (Chapter 6)

Day 11: Louise goes to capture Fouquet (Chapters 7-9)

Day 12: Louise and Gilgamesh confirm contracts (Epilogue)

1 Month Later: ? (Post-Story Omake 1)

4 Months Later: ? (Post-Story Omake 2)

1 Year Later: ? (Post-Story Omake 3)

3 Years Later: Louise becomes Queen (Epilogue)

Well, that's been a ride. This story was lacking in violence, but that was because the main conflict couldn't be resolved by hitting things with a magic stick. Louise has found a new way to grow, and while she may get arrogant, Henrietta, Kirche, and Tabitha should be pretty effective anchors.

Louise has managed to do what few magi have done before: tap the Root without completely losing her mind. Gilgamesh is now a stabilized(?) Servant of an unusual (unique) class. That's why he doesn't act exactly 1 for 1 as any of the previous versions of Gilgamesh, especially the infamous FSN Archer (I saw a couple of people seemed to have sussed that out). His parameter sheet reflects the components Louise managed to draw out.

This story will get some updates later for the post-story scenes. There are 3 major conflicts that need to be resolved before Halkegenia is saved, but I didn't want to spend the last 3 chapters doing massive timeskips. Plus, the story takes place over a week and a half, so this way ends it nicely while hinting at what happened during the time skip. Yes, the scenes will involve some violence. But I'll leave it to y'all to guess what the three conflicts are. Remember, reviews are food for a writer's soul!