Fate/Grand Order story · Interludes, Interlude

Return of Ishtar

Interlude. Interlude

6 scenes, 429 lines

1. Before the battle

161 lines
Mash

Here you go, Senpai. I tried making green tea today.

...Oh, wow, these are tea stalks, right? I've heard it's good luck to have them floating in a cup of tea like this.

Ishtar

Hellooo, Master! How're you doing today? Feeling good? Tip-top shape? Ready to fight at a moment's notice?

Wonderful, wonderful! That's just how I'd expect the Master who restored humanity to conduct himself!

I couldn't be prouder to have a contract with you♪ Though of course, I was already the proudest goddess around to begin with!

Aaanyway♡

On a completely different subject, I've got some good news, and some reeeally good news. Which would you like to hear first?

Your choice

(In a most refined tone of voice) Good day, fair goddess.

Ishtar

O-oh, right. Good day.

...Nice of you to show me the proper respect. In fact, now you've got me thinking about my position around here.

As the goddess of beauty, I should generally conduct myself in an elegant, ostentatious, more daring fashion.

Your choice

Neither! Go away! LALALALALA!

Ishtar

Cover your ears all you want. It won't do you any good♡

We're Master and Servant now, remember? If push comes to shove, I can always whisper right into your brain.

Mash

Telepathic whispering...! I didn't even know that was a thing you could do!

?!

Ishtar

But I digress. Since there's no way you're getting out of this, I'll be nice and fill you both in.

Mash

Aah! Senpai, the tea stalks just scattered apart as if they'd exploded! And I didn't even touch them!

I think I can already tell how this latest escapade is going to end up!

Ishtar

Wow, really? That's great! This can only mean this is going to end in an explosively spectacular fashion!

Mash

(I guess it shouldn't be any surprise at this point how relentless Ishtar can be when it comes to positive thinking!)

Ishtar

Anywho, if you two have been around Uruk, you must also know about the Bull of Heaven, right?

Your choice

Yup. Good old Gugalanna.

Ishtar

That's right. He's the strongest being in all of Mesopotamia, not to mention my darling pet♡

Your choice

The one you lost? Sure do.

Ishtar

Never mind THAT part! The point is, his name is Gugalanna, he's my familiar, and he's the most powerful Divine Beast to ever live!

?!

Mash

Yes, of course we know that. I can't help but feel sorry for him...for so many reasons.

I especially remember how sad it was when Gugalanna Mark II showed up only to leave again almost immediately.

Ishtar

Right? No sooner did he come back than he was literally broken up about it. Poor Gugalanna☆

Wait, no! What I'm saying is, I've been looking for him all this time, and I finally found him!

...Well, maybe "found" isn't exaaactly the right word here, but trust me, it's such a small difference that it's really not worth worrying about.

Mash

I'm sorry, Ishtar, but given your past record, I can't let you gloss over what you consider to be "small differences." I have to ask that you be very exact with your wording.

Ishtar

Wait, really? Why are you being so hard on me, Mash? This isn't like you.

Your choice

She's not wrong. You have gotten up to some major shenanigans...

Ishtar

Hohoho, shenanigans? Why, whatever do you mean? Anyway, let's not dwell on the past. Especially when there's money to be made in the future!

Your choice

I'm impressed. It takes a lot to make Mash this guarded.

Mash

I-I don't know if I'd say I'm being guarded. And I do remember that the past incidents mostly ended positively...

?!

But the fact remains that every proposition you've gleefully brought us before has had a danger level of A or higher.

Ishtar

I guess you're right... And I am sorry about that...or at least, I think I look like I am...

But that's just hindsight speaking. It's not like I knew things were going to turn out the way they did.

I've always just tried to do what I thought was best (...for me.)

I'm the goddess of beauty and prosperity. I just want to resolve everything peacefully, so that everyone can be happy...

Mash

Ishtar...

Your choice

Aww, I'm touched...

I think we can at least hear her out, Mash.

Mash

?!

Yes, I agree. I'm sorry, Ishtar.

If nothing else, I'm glad you managed to find something you lost. Is that the good news you had to tell us?

Ishtar

I don't know if I like the "if nothing else" part, but yes, it is.

As for the reeeally good news, I think it'd be better if I told you there.

Mash

Told us where, exactly?

Ishtar

Oh, you'll see. A picture is worth a thousand words and all that. Trust me, Master, when you see this, your eyes will practically be lighting up with stars♡

Mash

That's...your temple on Mt. Ebih, in ancient Mesopotamia.

Although, it looks a little different now than when we came here during the Grand Order. I'd almost say it's...decrepit?

Ishtar

Not at all. This is definitely the right place.

Mash

I, uh, I see. Well, I certainly don't remember those enormous pillars being there the last time we

No, wait! Those aren't pillars at all! They're legs!

Ishtar

Hehehe, you're absolutely right. Now try looking up.

Mash

I-is that!?

Your choice

There's an enormous body up in the clouds!

I can't tell where the bull ends and the sky begins...

Mash

?!

Ishtar

Heh heh heh♪ Surprised?

This bad boy is none other than my invincible bovine Divine Beast: Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven!

...Mark III.

...Don't ask me why he's the third in line. Trust me, it's for your own good.

Also, to be clear, I want to keep this whole incident off the record, okay?

Got it, Mash? No writing anything down about it in that event database thing, okay?

Mash

I'll, um...take your request into consideration.

Anyway, does this really good news you had to tell us have something to do with this Bull of Heaven?

Ishtar

Hmm. Well, it's not entirely unrelated, but no, it's not about him per se.

Don't worry, there'll be plenty of time to discuss Gugalanna later★

No, right now, I want to ask you this: do you know why I brought him here in the first place?

Mash

!!! Ishtar, you don't mean!

Your choice

I'm starting to get an extremely bad feeling about this!

You're not going to try to recreate your own mythology, are you?

Mash

?!

Ishtar

Hehehe... I knew I made a good choice for my Master. You nailed it!

It's time for my legendary revenge match, The Return of Ishtar! Get ready, Mesopotamia, 'cause I'm back and better than ever!

Not only that, I made this Mesopotamia myself using the knowledge I gained at Chaldea, so it plays by Venus rules!

I even modified chronology and causality to work pretty much how I want!

Now, finally, I'm going to give that smarmy Gilgamesh and that obnoxious Enkidu the beatings they so richly deserve!

Your choice

Now you've gone and made your own Singularity!?

Ishtar

?!

Your choice

Didn't you learn your lesson at the summer race!?

Ishtar

?!

Mash

P-please be reasonable, Ishtar! Think about it!

If you go up against people from ancient epics like those two with the same fighting forces as before, you're just going to lose again! Please reconsider!

Ishtar

You really think I don't know that? Of course I've accounted for that.

Why do you think I brought you two here?

Speaking of which...ta-daaa☆

Mash

Wh-what the!? Galahad's Spirit Origin reactivated!?

Ishtar

Hehehe, we goddesses can do anything when we put our minds to it. Now there's nothing stopping you from fighting the way you did before.

Mash

I mean, this is wonderful, and it's going to be a big help, but still! I'm so sorry about this, Galahad!

Ishtar

Ugh, get the stick out of your ass already, Mash. There's nothing wrong with a little cheating.

Oh, by the way, I've got an even more special surprise in store for later, so you can look forward to that, too♡

Your choice

I'm sorry, could you say that again?

Exactly what kind of surprises are we talking about!?

Ishtar

?!

Oh, don't worry.

Even I wouldn't do anything that could overturn the Restoration of Humanity you two worked so hard to achieve.

I arranged this stage solely for my own purposes this time. The only other people here are those I invited myself.

I told you this was a Singularity, didn't I? I made sure ahead of time that nothing I do here would have any effect on human history.

Mash

I, um... I don't think that's what Senpai is worried about...

Ishtar

Oh, are you talking about that existence verification thing you guys are always doing, since this time period's still unstable?

Well, don't worry. I'm handling all that stuff on my end, too.

Mash

So you're even handling our existence verification? Well...I suppose it should be possible, since you made this Singularity yourself...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since you are the great goddess of Mesopotamia... Though at the same time, I also can't help but wonder why an ostensibly great goddess is going to all this trouble...

Ishtar

Oho, speak of the devil. Looks like I won't have to wait long for my first revenge match at all.

Just one look at that killer doll is enough for me to see its murderous intent.

Mash

Is that the real Enkidu!?

No, wait. That's Enkidu, the Heroic Spirit...

...but not Enkidu, the Servant who was summoned to Chaldea...

Enkidu

...I'm surprised to see two figures so pure of heart alongside the malevolent presence I came here to deal with.

Your choice

Hello, Enkidu.

(Something tells me I'd better not mention Kingu...)

Enkidu

?!

It seems you two have met me before, though I have no recollection of that meeting.

Unfortunate though that is, there is nothing I can do about it. Right now, I'm afraid I don't know much about anything except Ishtar there.

I think the land itselfor possibly its lordis what called me here.

It's telling me: "Destroy the invader threatening this world."

I wasn't summoned by the Counter Force, or even coerced into coming here at all, but I still agree with that idea.

Even if this world is only fleeting and transient, that doesn't give anyone the right to do with it what they please.

Your choice

Looks like we're the bad guys here, Ms. Goddess.

Ishtar

Don't be silly, of course we're not! Besides, I'm a goddess of good, so everything I do must be good by definition!

Your choice

Whaddaya gotta say to that, Boss?

Ishtar

I'm not your boss! And who cares what that walking lump of clay thinks!? You shouldn't be listening to it!

?!

Anyway, you're half right, half wrong, Enkidu. I'm the one who brought you here.

Enkidu

...I see.

You never learn, do you, Ishtar?

Ishtar

I sure don't!

I've never forgotten how humiliating it felt when you squashed me like that!

It was so traumatic I still have flashbacks of it whenever I'm feeling really down.

So as a sign of thanks, I'm going to return the favor right here and now!

Enkidu

A sign of thanks, you say? Whether you're being sincere or sarcastic, I'm surprised that you're able to thank me at all for giving you a taste of defeat.

Are you really Ishtar? Or did the shock of losing a fight cause you to lose your mind as well?

Yes, I remember now. These are the same legs I hit you with back then.

Seeing how these pillars can easily level mountains, does that mean they also managed to knock some sense into you?

Ishtar

Hmph. And here I went out of my way to summon you as a Heroic Spirit because I thought I'd feel bad about utterly wrecking your real body. I guess I didn't have to bother after all!

Enjoy that smug look while you can, 'cause this is the last time you'll ever get the chance to use it!

I'm going to crush you three times over as payback for what you did to me!

Okay, Fujimaru, you're up.

Your choice

Huh?

Come again?

Ishtar

?!

Mash

Ishtar, I think you really, really need to explain yourself now! And without glossing over any details!

Ishtar

Sure, no problem.

See, Mark III here is still sort of...warming up, so he won't be much help for a while yet.

And it doesn't help that the overgrown mud pie there showed up a little sooner than I expected.

So I'm counting on you guys to keep them busy for a while, okay? Great, thanks!

Your choice

I can't even with this deity...

Goddess-dammit!

Ishtar

?!

Enkidu

...This may be a strange thing to say to people I don't recall having met before, but...I'm sorry you got caught up in this.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I won't change how I fight. My job is to defeat my opponent, no matter who they may be.

As for you, Ishtar, I believe I already warned you what would happen the next time we fought:

"When next you are within my reach, you will suffer the same fate as the Bull of Heaven."

Now then... Let's get the reenactment of our epic battle underway, shall we?

2. After the battle

82 lines
Enkidu

Khh...!

Mash

We somehow managed to incapacitate Enkidu, Master. The battle is over.

Ishtar

That's enough, Mash. Nice work, Fujimaru!

Enkidu

(The way they read my movements, it was almost as if... That's it. They DID know how I was going to attack. I see... They really do know me well.)

Ishtar

(That aside...I'm impressed, Fujimaru. All you had to do was stall for time, but you actually managed to win. You really have grown, haven't you...)

But, enough about that!

Hohohoho! Poor little Enkidu! How the mighty have fallen!

You know, I think I enjoyed that waaay more than if I'd wiped the floor with you myself!

Enkidu

(There it is again... This Ishtar seems to be considerably less self-centered than usual.)

(For one thing, she actually recognizes other life-forms as beings worthy of respect.)

(I never thought I would see the day...)

Ishtar

Now then, what to do with you...

Real talk here: You defied me not just once, but twice. I can't let you get away with that.

I'm the goddess of beauty, prosperity, and wara goddess among goddesses the goddess who stands above all others in Mesopotamian mythology.

Letting someone walk away scot-free after disrespecting me would set a bad example for all the other goddesses.

That said...

As the goddess of war, I'm also nothing if not gracious in victory. If you have anything to say in your defense, I'm willing to hear you out.

Enkidu

Right. It's easy to forget given how you usually act... but you are indeed the goddess of war and victory.

As long as you have capable soldiers and command them ably, the very concept of defeat simply does not exist for you.

Today, by employing an astrologer skillful enough to beat me instead of blindly trusting your own strength...

...you have proven yourself worthy to be the goddess of war, and eliminated the one flaw holding you back.

Perhaps I never had any hope of winning this battle to begin with.

Ishtar

(Honestly, the fact that Fujimaru came through as much as he did was just as much of a surprise to me, too...)

U-uh, yes, exactly. Couldn't have said it better.

Very well then, I'll take that as an admission of your guilt.

Now I, Ishtar, shall pass judgment upon you, and in the name of Venus, I will punish you accordingly!

Know that my punishment is a mercy I extend only to the vanquished, and be grateful for it.

Enkidu

...I am but a weapon. I would never beg for my life after suffering a defeat. By all means, punish me as you see fit.

Still, if I were to make one request, I would ask that you please spare me from being forced to serve as your weapon.

Mash

Um, Ishtar? I think punishing Enkidu like this might be going too

Ishtar

(Don't worry. It'll be fine.)

Mash

...!?

Ishtar

Okay then, here you go.

Enkidu

Huh? Um... What is this?

Ishtar

A clay tablet that proclaims how much of a loser you are for all the world to see. I even inscribed it myself.

Now, you're going to wear that while standing in front of the gates of Uruk until I'm good and satisfiI mean, ready to forgive you.

Enkidu

I'm surprised, Ishtar. Is that really all you would demand of one who once openly defied you?

Ishtar

I know what you mean. Before, I'd have torn you limb from limb on the spot. But when you think about it, that would all be over in a moment.

So now, I think revenge like this where you get plenty of time for it to sink in is the way to go.

Hehehe, trust me. I've been through it, and I can say it's a lot harder than it looks.

Enkidu

I have no idea what your game here is... Or perhaps I should say, I can't imagine what led to it.

How in the world did the Ishtar I know end up like this?

Mash

...In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu incurs the wrath of the gods for humiliating Ishtar and sending her back to the heavens.

After a painful bout with a cursed fever, they fall prey to another curse they received when they defeated Huwawa.

Enkidu then ends up dying in Gilgamesh's arms...

...just as foretold in the prophecy that said they would never outlive him.

Ishtar

Yup, good times. But this time, since my loyal underlings won, and I'm in an excellent mood right now...

...I decided to hand down a more fitting punishment myself!

Enkidu

...Now I see. Then this brings that matter to a conclusion.

Ishtar

Hmph. That's not exactly what I had in mind, but if that's what you want to think, go ahead.

Enkidu

Back then, all I wanted was for my dear friend to forget.

Even if he does remember everything, he should never have concerned himself with an insignificant tool like me.

But instead...once I was gone, he protected that which I truly wished for...

...even though it ended up being a crueler pair of shackles than any punishment the gods ever devised.

Good grief. I can't even tell if these are my own memories or not. Perhaps they come from this other me you knew.

Regardless, if there is new meaning to be found in your punishment for me, goddess...

...I will be happy to accept it.

Mash

Enkidu... Now I see...

So that's why you're doing this, Ishtar. You really thought it through!

Ishtar

(Actually, I was only doing it purely out of spite...but I think it'd be better if I don't tell them that.)

Enkidu

Oh, it's nothing. Just as whimsy led Ishtar there to perform something of a good deed, I am similarly moved to accept my punishment.

Besides, I don't hold a grudge like she does, and I don't have anyone to cry to after suffering a defeat either.

Ishtar

Hey, stuff it!

Go on, get out of here before you say something that changes my mind!

Enkidu

...I expect you may already know this given what I just said, but I'm not the only one who was summoned here.

If this world is a stage Ishtar set herself in order to reenact the events of the epic, then just like me...

...the epic's namesake would have come here at the same time she brought out the Bull of Heaven, if not sooner.

I speak, of course, of Gilgamesh.

Mash

Good point... I think you're right.

Ishtar

Well duh. You were just the appetizer; he's the main dish.

This time, I'm going to make sure he suffers a miserable defeat at my glorious hands.

Enkidu

Oh? Are you sure he's going to follow your script the way you expect just because you called him here? This IS Gilgamesh we're talking about, after all.

Ishtar

Why don't you ask him after I've sent him over to join you with a clay tablet of his own?

Enkidu

All right. That should be very interesting. Now then, I think I'll be on my way.

Ishtar

Come on, Fujimaru, we're moving out too!

Mash

Um... What about Gugalanna?

Ishtar

Oh, I already ordered him to follow me once he's done booting up.

Don't worry. He might not look it, but he's actually a very good boy who always does just what I say.

Your choice

I'll believe it when I see it.

I can already tell this is going to bite you later.

Ishtar

?!

I'm telling you, it's true, dammit! Now come on! The enemy awaits at Uruk!

3. Before the battle

24 lines
Gilgamesh

...So, you've come.

Ishtar

Oho, what's this? You've come to greet me in full armor out in an open field? It almost makes me feel like complimenting you, Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh

Hmph. Don't be ridiculous.

Having some time on my hands, I decided to answer this world's call on a lark, only to sense evil lurking within.

Thanks to the dark clouds gathered around Mt. Ebih in the distance and the reflections from your gaudy crown, I have already determined exactly what is going on here.

My Uruk has no place for a worthless goddess and her worthless bull...even if that bull appears to still be very much confined to its pen.

Ishtar

That's right, Gilgamesh. Laugh it up while you can, 'cause soon, Gugalanna's gonna show up and smoosh you good.

But until he does, my handpicked champion Fujimaru will be your opponent!

Your choice

You mean Gugalanna's STILL out of commission?

Are you sure Gugalanna's actually working?

Ishtar

?!

Mash

Ishtar...

Ishtar

Hey! Now don't you two start looking at me like that!

Hm, that IS odd... He really should be up and moving by now.

Look, just buy as much time as you can, okay!? It shouldn't be that much longer!

Gilgamesh

...Oho. You must be the ones who defeated Enkidu.

I don't know who you are, but you should be ashamed of yourselves for siding with such an ignominious invader!

Your choice

You're really angry about this, huh?

Are you angry? You are, aren't you?

Gilgamesh

?!

Me? Angry? You forget your place, nameless mongrel.

I feel even less concern for you than I do for the insects that may happen to be in my way when I swat this wicked god out of the sky!

Ishtar

Who're you calling wicked!? And I don't know who you think you're fooling, 'cause you're obviously pissed off!

Mash

Be careful, Master! King Gilgamesh is armed and ready for battle!

4. After the battle

53 lines
Gilgamesh

Fuhahahaha, pitiful, pitiful! Once again, none can so much as touch me!

You have promise, young mage, but your fate was sealed the moment you threw your lot in with Ishtar!

Mash

This isn't looking good, Master! King Gilgamesh isn't holding back one bit!

Ishtar

Damn, it figures he'd put up a good fight... All right, guess I'll just have to bring out my special surprise!

Mash

Your special surprise? Would this have something to do with the "reeeally good news" you mentioned earlier?

Ishtar

Yes it does! Now check this out! Divine Garment! Heavenly Voyage Deity Attire!

Your choice

What's going on?

What're you trying to pull?

Ishtar

?!

I am the center of all! The heavens... The earth... The very universe itself revolves around me!

Behold my shining body! My seven ornaments! My eyes burning bright with the color of Venus!

I am... Super Ishtar!!!

Your choice

...

...

Ishtar

?!

Mash

(...I can't tell what's different about her...)

Gilgamesh

(...There's almost nothing different about her.)

Your choice

Sooo...are we playing spot the difference, or...?

Gilgamesh

?!

Ishtar

Hohoho! I see you're so overcome by my super form that you're utterly at a loss for words!

Your choice

She's not even fazed by our confusion!?

Unbelievable... I've never seen such an unshakable spirit!

Ishtar

?!

Mash

Huh!? Now King Gilgamesh has stepped out of his combat stance!?

Ishtar

Oh? What's this now? Have you finally realized you're completely outclassed? Well, I can hardly blame you.

Now that my grueling one hour-per-day fitness regimen has allowed me to power up without relying on Father's gifts, and boosted my Noble Phantasm's firepower even further...

...I'm sure that even the vaunted King of Heroes would have no choice but to admit defeat before we

Gilgamesh

It's not that. That worthless bull of yours has begun to move.

Ishtar

...He has?

Mash

Yes. Gugalanna Mark III is slowly lifting his leg.

Ishtar

Sweet! Everything is coming up Ishtar today!

Now that Super Ishtar and Gugalanna are teaming up, it's finally time for you to pay the piper too, Gilgamesh!

Gilgamesh

... (Looking at her with the same pity he would for a flailing piglet.)

Mash

Um, Mark III has started to raise his leg, but...something doesn't seem right...

Ishtar

What're you waiting for, Gugalanna? Hurry up and crush Goldie here into gold ingots!

Once that's done, I'll cast them into coins, engrave them with my portrait, and spend them on something completely frivolous.

Maybe I'll scatter them from the sky to boost my popularity, or toss them into Kur as an offering.

Gilgamesh

... (Pitying her like he would a gambler who just bet everything she had on a single horse and lost)

Mash

Gugalanna is slowly starting to move his legs faster...except he still isn't going anywhere.

Your choice

Wasn't there something important over near his hooves?

Isn't your temple over there by his hooves, Ishtar?

Mash

?!

Ishtar

Wait. What!?

H-hang on, Gugalanna. If you start stomping around there

Aaah!!!

Mash

...Mark III just flattened Ishtar's temple with a single step...along with the rest of Mt. Ebih...

Ishtar

Nooo! No no no! M-my templeee!!! Most of my wealth is still in there!!!

Hang on, Ishtar. Get a hold of yourself! This world is temporary, remember? That isn't really your wealth there!

Okay, technically, that might not be my wealth per se, but I still saw a ton of money and jewels in there!

Mash

Given how huge Gugalanna is, I'm afraid all that stomping must have pulverized even the hardest of jewels in your collection to no more than dus

Ishtar

Wait, Mash! Don't say another word! It's taking everything I have just to keep from fainting!

Gilgamesh

Ah yes, there's the Ishtar I know! Seeing your own worthless bull destroy the wealth you prize so much has been the most entertaining spectacle I've seen in a long time!

And of course, I doubt this debacle is over just yet.

5. Before the battle

64 lines
Gilgamesh

To recap:

Ishtar suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of my overwhelmingly invincible self and my merciless friend...

...and has been plagued by traumatic flashbacks every day since.

Now, this wicked goddess has gotten into her head that taking petty revenge is the only way for her to be free of this suffering, regardless of the trouble it could make for others.

I am willing to commend her drive in going so far as to create her own Singularity and resurrect Gugalanna.

However, Ishtar still has yet to realize...

...that the human girl she is using for her vessel is in fact the dullest tool in the shed!

Thus, we Enuma Elish the final episode of Uruk's ongoing serial "Ishtar Dies Thrice: A Farewell to Elegance..."

Mash

We have a new situation! Gugalanna Mark III has changed direction and begun charging towards us!

Your choice

Now who was it he was set to home in on again?

Get out of here, Ishtar! Quickly!

Mash

?!

Ishtar

Wh-wh-what's the problem!? Everything'll be fine if I just stop him now, right!?

In the name of Ishtar, your lord and master, I command you:

Stay, Gugalanna! Stay!

Mash

Gugalanna Mark III isn't slowing down! He's still charging towards Uruk!

Ishtar

Why isn't it working!?

Gilgamesh

...I thought it was odd that the Bull of Heaven's enormous lapis lazuli horns Enkidu and I enshrined in the temple of Uruk after we defeated him seemingly disappeared of their own accord.

It was you whole stole them, wasn't it?

Ishtar

...Yeah, that's right. Except it's not stealing when you're just taking back something that used to be yours!

Besides, I didn't have a choice, since I can't activate or control Gugalanna without them.

What's it to you, anyway?

Gilgamesh

You poor, hapless fool. Just when I think you can't fail any harder, you manage to surprise me once again. Those horns you stole are replicas.

Ishtar

Huh!? Replicas!? That doesn't make any sense!

If they weren't the real horns, then why would you hang them up where everyone can see them!?

Gilgamesh

A foolish question. Did you truly think that I, of all people...

...would fail to foresee that you would one day try to steal the horns to satisfy one of your absurd, inane whims?

Needless to say, I am not so foolish as to leave the genuine article out for the taking.

However, I also knew that if I were to hide the horns completely, you would cause no end of destruction as you turned Uruk upside down looking for them. Thus, the answer was clearly to leave out an imitation to draw your eye, and to guard it as though it were real.

Still, to see you carry them off and try to use them for such ludicrous ends without ever suspecting they are mere fakes...

Ahh, how did my poor Uruk end up with such a buffoon of a goddess as its guardian deity? I knew we should have cut ties with the gods long ago...

Ishtar

D-don't you play the victim on me! I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you pretend like your pompous arrogance is MY fault!

Besides, you know just as well as I do that there's no way I'd ever be fooled by a fake if I was at my full strength!

Still... You're right.

I'll admit, the sheer size of those lapis lazuli did make me a little giddy.

Sure, I thought it was odd that they didn't have so much magical energy, but I figured I could just make up for that by adding some of my own.

And hey, now that I think about it, if you knew all this was gonna happen before you even answered the summons, why didn't you stop me before I did all this!?

Gilgamesh

Ridiculous! I can think of no greater fool's errand than that!

If I had warned you ahead of time, you would have only grown more stubborn in your reckless quest for revenge!

Ishtar

Well of course I would've!

I mean, can you imagine me NOT trying to go around you if you'd told me this to my face ahead of time?

Mash

Excuse me, but I think that's enough Uruk talk for now!

All right, so based on everything you two have said, it sounds like the Bull of Heaven is currently

Your choice

Out of control?

The ancient equivalent of a runaway train?

Mash

?!

Ishtar

...Well, yeah, I guess you could put it like that.

Mash

I knew it! It won't be long now before Gugalanna Mark III gets here!

Enkidu

Hey there. Sorry to butt in, but I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help?

Gilgamesh

Surely you can figure out what to do without anyone giving you orders. Now throw away that silly tablet and go do what you must.

Mash

Um... Is that okay with you, Ishtar? That tablet is proof of your victory, right?

Ishtar

Tsk... Okay, okay, I get it already! I know we don't exactly have many other options to choose from right now!

Okay, you cold-blooded machine, you've served your sentence, all right!? Now go on, get out of here!

Enkidu

I knew it. You have changed, haven't you? This new you might make for a dull opponent, but at least she's not bad to talk to.

In fact, just this once, I'm willing to help you clean up your own mess now that you've turned over this new leaf.

Gilgamesh

Fuhahahaha, now that's more like it! You know, since I'm here, I think I'll go see the worthless goddess's latest failure for myself!

Ishtar, since you have so amused me, I will reward you by vanquishing this beast of yours myself! Consider yourself lucky!

Indeed, considering this is all taking place outside the realm of our mythology, I see no harm in a silly side story where we fight side by side!

Ishtar

Grr... Who do those two think they are, anyway!?

Ugh, fine! If my poor Gugalanna's got to be broken again, I at least want to break him myself instead of giving them the satisfaction!

Get back here, you callous cretins! I'm still the star of this show, dammit!

Mash

Ishtar just ran off to join them! This really should be an amazing show, Senpai!

Your choice

I'll say! This has got to be the ultimate Uruk team-up!

Mash

?!

6. After the battle

45 lines
Mash

Gugalanna Mark III has completely shut down! They did it, Senpai!

Gilgamesh

Hmph, that was a far cry from you in your prime, Bull of Heaven. Had I known you would be this weak, I wouldn't have bothered coming here at all.

Enkidu

I'll go retrieve the horns. I trust you're all right with that, Ishtar?

Ishtar

(Sniff) Yes...

Mash

That takes care of that. Oh, by the way, Ishtar.

Ishtar

What is it, Mash?

Mash

Remember how you requested that this incident be kept off the record?

Ishtar

Yes... What about it?

Mash

Well, you should be aware that your request is denied. I'm going to record everything that happened, including the warnings about what will happen if you try something like this again!

Ishtar

...Teehee.

Your choice

You can't "teehee" your way out of this, O Goddess.

You could at least pretend to be sorry, O Goddess.

Ishtar

?!

Yeah, you're right...

But come on, you saw how awesome my super self was, right? With a few more good workouts, I'm sure I could pull all this off next time!

It helps that I have a concrete goal now, you know? Collecting jewels is all well and good, but seeking revenge is really motivational in its own right!

Your choice

You're over it already!?

You can't even pretend!?

Ishtar

?!

Gilgamesh

Hmph, some goddess of prosperity she is. The nature of the lineage of the great earth goddess is far worse than any of the supposedly wicked gods.

You there, the mongrel with the misfortune to get caught up in all this! Keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't get into any more foolish trouble!

Your choice

Isn't that a lot to ask when you couldn't even do that yourself, King?

Isn't that a lot to ask when you didn't do anything to stop her yourself, King?

Gilgamesh

?!

Don't be ridiculous. Of course I could have done something about her had I chosen to.

Just as there is no need to pluck a chestnut out of a fire when it is about to burst open, neither was there a need for me to have anything to do with her.

Besides, nature has a way of getting back at you, and that's just as true for gods. You can't go around destroying them without a very good reason.

Furthermore, while she may have fallen from grace a bit, she is still a full-fledged, genuine goddess.

If she ever truly wished to do so, she it would be a trifling thing for her to destroy all of you mongrels with but a twitch of her little finger. Don't you ever forget that.

If, for some unfathomable reason, you choose to continue your relationship with her, despite all she's put you through, be prepared to endure innumerable repetitions of this little farce.

That is my warning to you. Do with it what you will.

Your choice

Yes, sir!

Roger that!

Gilgamesh

?!

Mash

It was nice to see King Gilgamesh and Enkidu leaving together.

They may be very strict in their own ways, but they're also wonderfully capable allies.

Ishtar

Oh come on, I don't agree with his warning at all! You guys are still totally on my side, right!?

Your choice

.........Absolutely!

.........(Energetic thumbs-up)

Ishtar

?!

Right? Of course you are! I don't like how long it took you to answer that, but seeing as it's been a long day, I'll be generous and consider it your brain taking time to catch up!

Anyway... My revenge might've failed, but at least I got some valuable experience, and my Noble Phantasm is in better shape than ever...

So I'd say things turned out pretty well for you on the whole, right? After all, the only thing better than a dependable goddess is an even more dependable goddess.

Which is why I'm going to be nice and keep using my Noble Phantasm to destroy anyone who gets in your way!

All you have to do in return is kick back, relax like you're on my Boat of Heaven, and keep indulging my every request♡