A/N: Happy Fourth of July to those who celebrate it! We're back~!

WARNING~! This chapter's violent. Jack lives up to her namesake here, and then some.

So does Berserker!Atalanta. You'll see soon enough.

Been a bit, hasn't it? I'll understand if some of you need to catch up.

Had a particularly persistent chap asking me to update this, so here we are. Looking forward to everyone's feedback~!

My health has been...better. Between back and breathing problems I'm feeling the pains of being old. I still refuse to take those bloody muscle relaxers. Not a chance.

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

"You are no god of mine...!"

~?

Shoot Down The Gods

The Blue Faction had begun to falter.

One by one, powerful Servants fell.

Only a handful remained.

But the battles raged on.

Ever onward.

(.0.0.0.)

Jack stabbed Lancer.

She stabbed her again and again and again, thrusting her knife deep into her torso, heedless of Brynhildr's cries-still lost in Shakespeare's Noble Phantasm as she was-and the subsequent pleas for mercy that followed in their wake. Mercy? What mercy? Her side hadn't shown Papa any mercy. Why did she deserve any?

And so she ignored her.

Ignored Lancer of Blue's wails for mercy.

Ignored the blood.

Ignored it all.

She kept stabbing, for Papa, for herself, for her friends, until Lancer stopped moving. Then she stabbed some more.

Up.

Down.

Down and up.

Up and down and up.

Rip and tear. Until it is done.

(.0.0.0.)

"Oh, my~!" Semirams sneered as she dug her heel into Rider's face. "Not so smug now, are you?"

The Servant of Blue growled impotently up at her, wasted and gasping for air.

Her scowl deepened as she ground their face into the mud.

"Perhaps you relied on Naruto's kindness, his reluctance to kill in cold blood. His willingness to give second chances." she twisted her heel, drawing blood now. "Let me assure that I subscribe to no such niceties."

"Damn...you...!"

He sneer became vicious indeed.

"What's this? Nothing else to say? THEN DIE."

(.0.0.0.)

"Atalanta~! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

Were she still an Archer class, Atalanta might've taken Artemis up that challenge.

Even now she found herself tempted to; rush out and destroy the demented Servant hunting her down.

It was a powerful need, one she almost couldn't deny.

But she did. She had to.

She must.

Artemis wanted her exposed, the better to feather her with arrows and bring her low. She couldn't face her in a ranged battle. They both knew that. Any attempt to do so on her part would render her a human pincushion and that would be the end of it. Instead she ducked behind the cover of a ruined building, trusting to her new instincts and body to heal her wounds.

Atalanta gnashed her teeth.. Golden eyes considered the gaping tear in her arm. It closed before her eyes, far faster than it had any right to.

Huh. Maybe Naruto had the right of it. Berserkers really did have an absurd luck stat.

Still, regeneration wouldn't save her if she took an arrow to the head.

She was stronger as a Berserker, faster, but with her bow gone, she lacked a ranged equivalent. Fighting from afar was impossible. She had to get in close if she wanted to win this. Artemis knew that and she was making in damnably difficult. The longer this fight dragged on, the more dangerous it became-already she could hear other servants fighting out there, Red against Blue. She would find no help here; Naruto's allies were busy holding off the rest of the blue faction.

No telling the outcome of their battles there; likewise, she had no way of knowing their fates. If she didn't finish this soon her allies would be was going to be swamped by enemy reinforcements. She couldn't keep running forever; but what choice did she have?

But the worst part of it all, the part that absolutely galled her...

"Artemis!" she raised her voice, hollering from cover." Is this what you're really like?"

"Like what?" her former mentor crooned back.

"Like this!" She'd always imagined Artemis as being above it all, a being of peerless grace...not this utter ditz of a harlot with that strange, silent, fuzzy bear on her shoulder. She'd been cooing at it for the last five minutes almost as if it were alive. Not once did it speak back to her. Utter ditz indeed!

"Why are you doing this?!"

A merry giggled answered. "I dunno...why am I fighting...? Because its fun, maybe?"

The words served as a reminder. Ditzy or not, this version of Artemis was still deadly. Not to mention her-

"I see you! Awww, you're such a mess."

Atalatna's head snapped up.

Above her!

"Tri-Star Amore Mio!"

Not that bloody Noble Phantasm again!

Atalanta flung herself out of cover and well that she did; just as an azure shaft of purest light whistled past, raking across her arm. It was enough. The world went sideways as the side effects set in. She gagged and fell to a knee, swearing loudly...that settled it. If she survived this grail war she was swearing off every godly thing in the world and having it out with Berserker. So she swore!

"Hold still and let me convert you~!" This time, the goddess' giggle sounded tinny even to her own ears. Empty. False. Hollow. "You'll look much better in Blue, Atalanta~!"

'Move or die! MOVE!'

Arrows arced in again. She forced herself up and away, dancing between them like a ghost. On and on she ran, vaulting over cover through fire and flame .But there were only so many she could avoid. One struck her shoulder and another her knee. She went down, head hanging. Everything was going fuzzy. Her head felt like it was filled with cotton. Couldn't think straight...

"Good kitty!" Artemis banished her bow and sashayed after her, hips swaying. "Now just let me sever that pesky tether of yours." a hand came up under her chin, forcing her to meet her gaze...and see the cruel smile lurking on her lips. Even her once vibrant blue eyes seemed lifeless somehow. "You'll feel much better once you forget aaall about Naruto-

His name stirred her. The fog in Atalanta's head cleared with startling dispatch.

Forget? She didn't want to forget. She mustn't; she'd made a promise...

Clawed fingers bit down around Artemis' wrist, drawing blood.

The goddess-made-servant granted her a strained grin.

"H-Hey now, that hurts Atalanta...

The clenched knuckles that barreled up into her face and broke her nose probably hurt even more. Atremis gasped, only to find herself reeled in again for a second punch. A third, now. Followed by a fourth. It was a good showing Atalanta thought-right up until she remembered Artemis could fight without her bow. She'd forgotten but she remembered now as an uppercut blasted her backward. She righted herself, carromed off a crumbling wall and lunged back in. Artemis met her with a flinty smile.

Two punches landed in unison.

Their heads snapped back as one.

From there it dissolved into a delirium of madness, blood and violence.

They raged back and forth with no grace, no decency, only savagery. Sense and reason had no meaning here; it was all madness and chaos and shouts. There was no salvation here. Only damnation. Destruction. Disaster. It couldn't even be called a proper fight anymore; they were too busy trying to hurt one another, seeking only to cause pain.

"You are no goddess of mine!" Atalanta turned her head from a punch and spat. "I reject you!"

Artermis' smile grew thin. "You're so silly, Atalanta. Take that back!"

"Never!"

"In that case...

She swayed aside from a clawed fist, leaped away, called her bow back to her hands, and pointed it toward the heavens. An ominous whine arose from her weapon to set her teeth on edge. Artemis' smile gained a crazed edge as she drew her bowstring taught...then let it loose.

"YOU CAN DIE!"

Countless bolts of light hurtled into the clouds, arcing up, up, up, and what goes up...

.

..

...must come down.

Atalanta had already turned tail and fled from the Noble Phantasm by the time it reached her. There was nothing else she could do. The air was full of light, countless arrows arching down from on high. She pushed herself further still, tumbling into cover, flinging herself out of it, running as hard as she possibly could.

Not fast enough.

An arrow struck her leg and she went down with a furious hiss. Golden eyes squeezed shut, refusing to look at the end, unwilling see her world bathed in light. Her last thought was that of an apology, for her allies, for all those she had failed, for the brash blond berserker she hadn't been able to save. 'Naruto...I'm sorry." She closed her eyes and braced herself for the pain-

It never came.

Artemis cried out suddenly, a noise of such outrage that it stilled Atalanta's soul.

Without warning, the barrage died off. The battered Berserker looked up, shielding her face with an arm, utterly baffled.

A large figure stood over her, arms spread wide countless arrow shafts jutting from his broad back and arms besides. And yet still he stood tall. Atalanta blinked, scrubbed at her eyes with the back of a bloody hand, to no avail. It was too bright. She couldn't see her savior's face.

"Well, that's some welcome!" an all-too-familiar voice rang in her ears. "Reeeaaally helped me work that kink out of my back."

With but a roll of his shoulders, the arrows impaling him dissolved. His wounds closed immediately thereafter.

Atalanta's heart backflipped in her chest.

Naruto? No.

It couldn't be him. He was gone.

Who was this, then? Another stranger with his face?

"Hey, why the long face?" a golden limb reached down for her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

She had. She was looking at him right now.

Trembling fingers reached for his hand, afraid he'd dissolve into mist.

Imagine her surprise then when this "ghost" seized her palm and hauled her upright.

"New fur coat, eh?" Red eyes stared back at her. "Not a bad look for ya. You even changed your class on your own. Guess we match now."

"Berserker...?"

For it was him, but not as she knew him, not entirely. His eyes were different, a calmer shade of slitted scarlet rather, and his smile brighter than the sun itself. Or maybe that was his body. He shone so brightly, so very bright that it made it almost painful to look at him.

But still...alive! He was alive!

She hiccuped a little. "Is that really you?"

"Sure is." he patted her head. "Everything's gonna be alright now.

"Naruto?" Artemis tutted behind them, considering him as one might an apple gone rotten. "So you're the one she threw everything away for. I never thought I'd meet you face to face. Still," her dainty smile grew into a dark grin, "I'm glad you're here. A miracle like that won't happen again, and there's nowhere for you to run this time. I'll kill you myself."

Naruto twitched.

"...heh."

Atalanta should have been prepared for what came next.

After all this time she'd known Berserker, as one herself now, she really should've. Naruto was a right unpredictable bastard but she thought she at least had the measure of him.

He threw his head back and laughed at the sky. The sheer intensity of it startled Atalanta. The hackles on the back of her neck rose. Times like these served as a poignant reminder. A cardinal rule.

Berserkers. Weren't. Sane.

And neither was he.

"Run?" Naruto stopped laughing abruptly and turned to face Artemis, whiskered visage eerily blank. "Who's running? Where...and why?!"

CRUNCH.

There was no word beyond that savage shout. No warning. Just that awful sound as Naruto's clenched fist burst out of Artemis' back. He'd impaled her right through the chest, obliterating her spirit core. She gasped, eyes wide. Trembling hands reached down to grasp the golden limb impaling her, to no avail. Blood bubbled past her lips and ran down her chin as she struggled to speak.

"Why...you...that's...not fair...at all...

Naruto tore his limb free.

She fell to her knees.

And smiled.

Atalanta tensed, expecting one last gambit.

She needn't have worried.

"Ah...I can finally think straight again." Artemis turned a trembling, quivering look upon them. "Thank you. You've no idea what its like, having no control of your own body. It gets into your head, make itself the center of your world, all you want to do is please it..." Her smile became a pained one. "Finish me, please. Let me die."

...I see." Naruto made a face. "So the orders persist even after the Greater Grail's been dealt with."

"They do." the wounded Archer slumped down onto her side as she began to dissolve, not caring to cradle the hole in her chest. "It hates you so much. You'll have to kill all of us to make it stop for good.

...I will."

"Good." she sighed. "I can go be with my Darling again." Misty blue eyes sought hers. "And Atlanta...

She blinked quickly, scarcely trusting herself to speak in light of this revelation. "...yes?"

Artemis' smile became an impish one. "You chose well. He's got a nice tush."

She sputtered, face flaring red. "Goddess!"

Artemis dissolved into motes of golden light with a smile. They soared up into the sky and vanished as she looked on. Soon enough they were gone from sight entirely

Silence reigned over their portion of the ravaged battlefield.

Now that things were calm, all the burning questions came roaring back.

.

..

...and with them, something else.

She walked to him, slowly at first, then quickly, all but running up to embrace him.

Her head hid his chest and she held tight, letting her tears fall at last. A great heaving sob tore its way out of her.

"You died." she whispered at this Naruto-who-may-not-be-her-Naruto in a hoarse rasp. "I saw you die. I thought you were stuck fighting in the Grail."

I did. I was. I got better." he stroked the small of her back and answered those questions, each in order with a rueful smile. "Forced a class change on myself before I beat the damn thing senseless."

That made her ears twitch. She pulled ehr head from his chest and looked up at him "...what are you now?

"Got myself a double class like Semiramis." he winked her way. "I'm still Berserker, but also Ruler now, seeing as Jeanne gave up her class."

"Is that why you're glowing?"

He laughed at that remark. "Ehhhh, that's a bit of a long story."

Another thought occurred to her. "Yous said destroyed the Grail? Then how are we still here...?

"I said I beat the Grail." he held up a finger. "The grail system's still intact, which means it can grant a wish, but as for that rotten personality it had...well, I rooted it out and reset it."

There was something in his words just then. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I battled her, beat her...and I broke her. Like so."

He opened his cloak and swept it aside.

Atalanta gasped as she saw the small child strapped to his chest in a crude leather harness. Her bright red eyes, pale skin and white hair. She couldn't have been more than two years old. The child's face screwed up in a curious expression as she regarded her for a long moment, trying to puzzle out her identity.

The ex-Archer blinked right back. "Who is this small lost child?"

Naruto gave the little bundle of joy a nudge. "Say hello, Illia."

Atalanta choked. "You went and named her?!"

"Sure did. She's her own person now."

Abruptly, the child's red eyes lit up like so many fireworks.

Little pudgy arms reached for Atalanta. "Mama!"

"Ma...?!"

Atalanta squeaked.

Oh, dear. Jack was going to be jealous...

A/N: And so was the Greater Grail humbled~!

Aaaand scene.

So here we are. Some may live. Some may die. Won't say who, save that we're on the path to the to the true ending foiks...and its gonna be one helluva race to the finish.

Thanks for joining me on this wild ride, and I hope to entertain you all for many more yet to come.

As ever, reviews keep me alive. I literally. Cannot. Write. Without them.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

Only a few previews this time.

She jumped him, pressed him against the wall, and pressed her lips to his.

Fran ran.

What remained of the Black Faction burned behind her.

They'd all be taken. Converted to the Blue by Siegfried. Had to run!

You know...a wise man once told me something. Some seasons are better than others. One bad weed can kill a whole crop. Some people burn an entire field just to save their farm. Truth is, there's a simpler solution. If you want to save the field, the harvest, you take the weeds and..

He seized them both by their necks, one to each hand, hoisting them into the air.

...pluck. Them. Out."

Then he leaped.

"He's mad."

"You think?!"

None of his clever quips. No angry screams. No tears. Just silent wrath.

Did you think I forgot about you, Shiro?"

Kill the masters! Without them, the Servants will cease to exist!"

"Daddy!"

"Ack! Down, Jackie! Down!"

R&R~!

~Nz.