A/N: Quadruple update today. Took a lot out me, but I had to update something fun, lest I lost my mind.

Running to the Edge and Claws of a Lion need more time in the oven before they're ready.

Slifer's helping me with Blood Upon the Snow; I definitely need it.

In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Like a sledgehammer paired with concrete.

Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head anymore.

I don't even know why I'm feeling this way! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. On and on, round the bend, forever and without end! Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. Meanwhile, my doctor insists that I'm fine. Take a health walk he says. Go fishing. You'll be fine.

*siiiigh*

Right. Suuuure.

Don't bloody feel fine, doc.

As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes! They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I.

I'm just an old man who writes as a pastime. I don't make any money doing this, not a single cent.

And this...well. Is it the end of a story, or the start of something new?

Rise of the Beasts references further below as well.

We all know good 'ol Optimus...

"This moment will define your future. Choose carefully.

You would do well to think before you act.

Will you choose salvation?

Or destruction?

CHOOSE.

~?

A Most Unlikely Decision

Naruto gazed upon at the Holy Grail.

It was hideous, ugly, twisted and tainted, everything he'd hoped it wouldn't be. He'd wanted to believe, to ignore the truth, the protests of it all. He'd slain six Servants in six nights to get here, and yet now that he stood before it, now that he saw what lurked within...he recoiled. Even now, wounded as he was, he could see what was wrong with it. This wasn't something he could fix, something anything could ever hope to repair.

"No," the word escaped in a dry rasp. "That can't be right...

He wanted to save his village. That was all. To undo a future where everything went wrong at the hands of the Akatsuki and Pain. To that end he had fought and fought and fought then fought some more. Pushed through his fears and doubts, not allowing himself to hesitate, not even allowing himself to love. He...he had killed. He had killed and killed and killed until his hands were dyed red to their very wrists. Because it was simple. Easy, rather, easier to listen to his Master and just crash through the opposition like the Class he encompassed.

He had fought.

He had betrayed.

He had triumphed.

Now even his Master lay dead at his feet, bleeding out behind him. And yet now that he looked upon the Grail...

His heart quailed in is chest.

Was this what he'd fought for? It couldn't be. It shouldn't be. It must not be...but it was.

Any wish made on this thing would be tainted, any plea given would unleash an unspeakable evil into this world.

He had to destroy it.

Blue eyes sparked into livid, molten gold.

His right hand clenched with chakra, conjuring up a Rasengan.

"Don't, Berserker." it crooned at him, its voice the darkest seduction. "I can give you everything you want."

Naruto took a deep breath to steady himself and closed his eyes.

"Everything I've ever wanted, huh?"

"Yes." the silken words washed over him, clung to him like black tar as countless images oozed through his thoughts. "Release me, become my champion, and you could be as a god. Reality itself would be at your fingertips. You would possess power unimaginable, be loved by countless women. Become the ruler of this world, an emperor beyond compare. Your children would outnumber the very stars themselves. All shall fear you and rejoice. You need never be alone again."

It was that last word that ultimately broke the spell.

"Alone, huh?" he stood and faced the Grail-no, All the Worlds Evils. "I'm used to being alone. Loneliness is an old friend."

"Fool. I offer you hope and you would spit in my face?

"Don't need your hope." His right arm swung back, feeding more chaka into his palm. "You said you'd give me everything I want." it swelled in his grasp, growing larger with each passing moment, until it dwarfed him in its all-encompassing light." Well, right now, I only want one thing."

It pleaded with him one last time. "I could give you everything!"

His life flashed behind his eyelids. They snapped open.

Let the madness end.

"Then die!"

His attack struck straight and true, puncturing the wicked Thing before him. The Holy Grail burst.

Black mud washed over Naruto, thick and cloying. He closed his eyes against it. And with it...

...came sweet oblivion.

A/N: Aaaand scene~!

I deliberately left this mostly threadbare for a reason. Its a template, to see what folks might think of it.

Well? What do you think? Don't hold back, I can't take it...I hope.

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.

So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?

Only a few previews this time.

(Previews)

"No, no, no! Nope! Not touching that!"

"EXXXXX!"

"That's more like it! Gimme everything you've got!"

She slammed her blade forward. "CALIBUR!"

And his hands rose. "Bijudama!"

R&R! =D