QUICK NOTE! This is just me rewriting the final scene in Tales of Berseria. I don't own anything.

Sorey shielded his eyes from the bright light. "Woah!" Rose yelled, looking away. When the light left, the Shepherd and his group looked around in fascination. They stood on a platform made from powerful Artes. The Lady Calamity's group recognized this place immediately. "This is...!" Eleanor stated. That's when they heard footsteps approaching from the left. The looked to the left and saw Velvet's group. "This is our past..." Magilou said with realization. "Wait, who's the kid?" Dezel asked, motioning towards the younger kid. "His name is Laphicet... A Malak..." Velvet said, emotion heavy with those words. "Wait, but aren't you Laphicet?" Mikleo asked Velvet's brother. "Just... watch." He said. The group stopped and glared ahead of them. The Shepherd looked to the direction and saw a Man in a white and gold rope with a sword in his left hand. Beside him was... "LAPHICET!?" Sorey yelled, confused. "Sorry to keep you waiting, 'gentle' Shepherd! The Lord of Calamity and her friends are here to see you!" The past Magilou stated.

"I can't wait to strike down the world's greatest swordsman." Rokurou had said, with a smirk. "You picked a fight with the Aifread Pirate crew! Now, we're here to finish it!" Eizen had said, with a look of anger. "So much hatred and anger... No wonder you became a dragon..." Lailah said to the real Eizen. "Yeah..." He replied. "Lord Artorius, I follow my own will now. And I'm going to stop you!" Eleanor said to the old Shepherd. "... In my sword lie the hopes of mankind. The potential for a perfect world." Artorius said after a moment of silence. He then banged his sword on the floor, electing a powerful blast of wind. Velvet's group covered their faces. "Do you really believe that Will without reason will break it?" he questioned the group. It was then that the Sorey's group saw Velvet start to get pushed back by the wind. All of them were struggling and grunting to stay standing. That's when the wind died down. "Your sword is strong." Said the young Malak. Artorius glared at the child. "But... it is still only a weapon, just like ours." He said.

This made Sorey picture all the Armatus' in his mind. "Why don't you test that theory. With your life, of course." Artorius told them. The Laphicet beside him stared a Velvet with anger and disappointment. He then looked at the other Malak. Laphicet then put his hand on his cheek. "Ever since you hit me, I've had this really annoying feeling in my chest. But I can't figure out what it is." He said, glaring at the Malak. "Then I'll just have to hit you again and see if that helps." He said to Laphicet. This shocked Sorey's group. "Oh my! What confidence!" Lailah said with a gasp. "Hm..." Laphicet had grunted. "I'm sure I'll feel better If I eat you." He said to the Malak. "Huh!?" Mikleo questioned, looking at the young boy beside them. "Back then... my mind was tainted by evil..." Laphicet told the group. The second Laphicet grinned evilly. Velvet then moved in front of the Malak and glared at her brother. "...Arthur." Velvet called in an angry voice.

"I finally have an answer to your question, 'Why do you think birds fly?'" she told him. "Oh? Then please, enlighten us, Velvet." Artorius told her (I KNOW THAT WASN"T CANON, BUT IT'S BETTER THEN COMPLETE SILENCE!!!!). "Wait... Arthur asked you that question first?" Sorey asked the Velvet beside him. "And all the Shepherds were asked this question. Took them years to figure it out themselves." Magilou told them. "Birds fly, because they want to fly. They don't need a reason. Even if their wings snap and doom them to die. They don't fly for anyone's benefit. They don't fly cause they were ordered to. Birds fly because they want to fly, and for no other reason!" Velvet had snapped at the man. "... So, that's your answer..." Artorius said with disappointment. "Yes. Because that's who I am." She said. "You were always like this..." Artorius said with anger. "That sort of foolishness is what creates daemons, and plunges the world in tragedy and despair." He continued. "Then you drive the daemons out! Isn't that right, Shepherd Artorius!?" Velvet spat out venomously. The man drew his sword and Laphicet got ready. "That has been my plan all along!" Artorius said, rushing forward. Laphicet followed him. Artorius slashed at Velvet, who intercepted the blade with her own. Laphicet's blade was made from paper and was blocked by the other boy.

Rokurou ran in, his twin daggers drawn. He helped Velvet fight off Artorius while Eleanor helped fight off Laphicet with the boy. Magilou and Eizen had created twin fireballs and shot them at Laphicet who dodged last second, vanishing and appearing behind them with his sword mid-swing. The boy, appearing from nowhere blocked the attack, saving both human and Malak. "If you want to kill us, then you'd better finish the job! Because if you don't..." Velvet snarled. "I'm going to Devour you!" she yelled out. "Woah..." Rose said with fascination. "So this is what the Iris Gems was showing us... Our past..." Magilou stated with a smirk. The group watched the memory play out and watched as they had the upper hand for a while. When they broke apart, Velvet's group looked exhausted, but Artorius and Laphicet looked fine. "Tenacious, you daemons." He said to Velvet's group as the young Malak boy healed Velvet. Laphicet glared at the young Malak and said "He's the reason, right there."

He then flew towards the other Laphicet at fast speeds. Velvet saw this and stiffened. The other Laphicet stopped healing and looked at the one coming towards him with a cold stare. "I'll take care of you!" yelled the Laphicet flying towards Velvet's group. Velvet sidestepped into the path, causing her brother to come to a halt. "Stand aside, Velvet." Laphicet told his sister. "Not happening!" Velvet growled, swinging her sword towards her brother, who merely dodged the attack. Velvet and Laphicet then began clashing swords, anger radiating off both of them. "Why are you attacking each other?" Sorey asked Velvet. "Because he wasn't himself." She stated simply. That's when Laphicet was about to go in for the kill, catching Velvet off-guard. Velvet merely lifted a bronze comb and let that suffer the blow. This time, Laphicet was off-guard and Velvet managed to knock him away. "Huh..? Velvet..?" Laphicet asked, sounding surprised and confused. He still looked shocked.

"Why... do you have my comb..?" He asked his sister. "That was... the comp that Laphi gave me. Not you, Innominat." Velvet told Innominat, her voice cold, but also soft. "O-Of course... I'm Innominat, now reborn, and you're the Lord of Calamity." Laphicet said, sounding confused and shocked. He looked up, like he was in a trance. Velvet just stared at him. "...Aah... Artorius, I'm hungry." Innominat said, sounding like he was in a trance. "Wait... What's happening?" Mikleo asked confused. "The main reason why the Armatus was created." Eleanor said with so much hatred. "Wait, this era was when the Armatus was made?" Dezel asked. "Yes. It was a horrible thing. If you weren't powerful enough to keep it up..." Rokurou said, trailing off. "They'd die. Along with the Malak." Eizen finished. The Shepherd's group gasped. "You mean...!" Lailah said. "That if Sorey was too weak, then he would have died along with Lailah the first time they fused!" Edna said, with a horrified look. Artorius walked to an in pain Laphicet. "My stomach's empty... my chest is empty... my body is empty, too... I'm..." Laphicet said in a trance.

"It hurts... It hurts so much..." he said, looking like he was really in pain. "It looks like we won't be able to harvest "Despair" from eating you anymore." Artorius stated, standing beside him. "Well, then... Birds must fly, because they possess strong wings. Mankind must be suppressed, because it possesses great sin." He said, answering the question Velvet asked. "Malevolence, tragedy, war, anger, tears, even love must all be suppressed. With the grace of my beating wings, I will grant humanity the tranquillity it deserves." He continued. Malevolence began spreading from Artorius. "He has his own Malevolence!?" Mikleo questioned. "A Shepherd with Malevolence... a scary thought." Lailah said, shivering. "Innominat! Come, devour my despair!" Artorius called. That snapped Laphicet out of his trance and he turned, sitting up straight and bit into Artorius' neck, devouring the Malevolence. Velvet gasped. Laphicet vanished and Artorius raised his sword to the air, chanting "Nevn Hiw Ejuam!" A ball of golden light crashed on his sword, blasting a bright light across the area, blinding Velvet's group.

Artorius' sword changed into a humongous broadsword with purple matter flowing in the middle of the blade. He gained purple wings and gained a purple cloak. His hair was let down and he wore a white and gold skin tight suit. "Innominat's Armatus!" Laphicet called out. "Now! With the full might of my Armatus... I shall supress all creation!" Artorius yelled. That's when the true fight began. It was just a flurry of attacks after attacks. While Artorius had gained the upper hand, Velvet was slowly gaining it back. After a series of Mystic Artes and regular Artes, they had regained it. "... You've grown strong." Artorius said, commenting Velvet. "Let us settle this once and for all, Lord of Calamity." Velvet ran at Artorius, yelling "Shepherdddddd!" Anger was clear on her face. They clashed blades and jumped away from each other. "I swear... I will finish this!" she yelled again, clashing blades again. "I will devour all this hatred!" she yelled. Upon the next clash, Velvet's gauntlet blade broke upon impact. "Not done yet!" Velvet yelled, not caring.

"GO VELVET!" Sorey cheered. Everyone laughed as the Shepherd and Rose cheered till their hearts content. "Stop struggling!" Artorius yelled, clearly frustrated. Velvet threw a punch at Artorius, only for it to be blocked. Velvet unleashed her daemon hand, only for it to be blocked by Artorius' hand. "Give up your fight! I will end this world's sadness! I HAVE to end it!" he pleaded. Lailah made note of Artorius' behaviour to explain to Sorey, later. "Arthur's Forgotten Maxim!" Velvet said, leaning her head back and head butting Artorius. He groaned in pain. Velvet then bit Artorius' neck and pulled back. A bright light unleashed from Artorius and Innominat went flying in the air screaming. Velvet heel kicked the back to normal Artorius' sword into the air. Artorius fell from the air and landed on his back. Velvet grabbed the falling sword and yelled "Don't despair... NO MATTER WHAT!" And with that said, she brought down the blade and impaled Artorius through the chest. Artorius coughed up blood. A little life came back into his hollow looking eyes.

Blood poured from the corners of his mouth as he opened his eyes with a small smile. "... Spoken... like a true hero..." he said to her. "It's what you told me once, long ago." Velvet said, a sad smile on her face. "On the day... of the Opening..." Artorius said, realization on his face. "Velvet..." Sorey said, a sad look on his face. "It's fine. I made my peace with him." Velvet said to Sorey with a smile. Magilou just regarded her friend, realization on her face. "Velvet... You're hiding something..." she muttered to herself, shocked. The Velvet holding the blade, still impaled in Artorius just smiled. "Velvet... the Arthur you knew died that day..." Artorius told her. "It was always there, in the back of my mind. 'If only it wasn't Celica and my son who were killed that day. If only it had been you two instead...'" He explained to her. "To think such thoughts..." Lailah said with a sad sigh. "He wasn't worthy to be a Shepherd." Edna stated calmly. "I thought the same thing. So many times. If only it had been us, then I know... I know you would have fought to save the world for us." Velvet told Arthur.

Tears fell from the present and past Velvet eyes. Arthur smiled slightly. "It's true... I wanted to save everyone..." he told her. "Such... a pity..." he said with his final breathe. "Goodbye..." The young Malak boy said with loads of emotion. "It's over." Rokurou had said with a relieved and exhausted sigh. "I'm hungry. I'm hungry. ... hungry. I'm hungry. I'm hungry. I'm hungry." Laphicet mumbled repeatedly. "No. It's not over yet!" Magilou said, looking at Innominat. Laphicet stood up, repeatedly saying 'I'm hungry'. A white aura surrounded him. "I'M SO HUUUUNGRRRYYYYY!" he then yelled, a crazed look on his face. A powerful force blasted through the area. "Nngh! His power is running wild!" Eleanor yelled out over Laphicet's cries. "No one is keeping his power in check anymore! This is bad..." Rokurou told his companions. "We still have time to kill him!" Eizen yelled, running towards Velvet. "KILL HIM!?" Rose gasped, horrified. "Brother! What is the meaning of this!?" Edna snapped, turning to face the present Eizen. "He looks terrified!" Sorey yelled, looking at the past Laphicet.

"Wait!" past Velvet informed him, halting his movements. "I'll do it!" she told them. "Velvet... your own brother..." Mikleo said, horrified. The present Laphicet just held onto his sister's good arm. "Continue watching..." he told them. "I endured it all... Even though I was scared! Even though it hurt!" Laphicet had yelled, so much emotion on his face. Velvet merely walked up to him and brought him into a hug. "Velvet..." Sorey said, his eyes widened in shock at the turn it took. "I know." Velvet said with a small smile. "I drank that gross medicine! I stopped myself from doing what I wanted to do, eating what I wanted to eat! I tried so hard... Why won't you give me this!? I hate you! I hate you, Velvet!" Laphicet cried, tears running down his cheeks. "Laphicet... you tried so hard. But you don't have to fight anymore." Velvet said, her voice heavy with emotion and a happy smile on her face. Laphicet then bit his sister's neck. A gasp rang through Sorey's group. "It's time for us to rest, Laphi." She then said, unleashing her daemon hand and impaling Velvet with it.

"Ah... Aaah... Vel... Vet.." Laphicet grunted. He then bit Velvet's neck again. Both of them were in an infinite loop of absorbing the other. "Velvet, what are you doing!?" The young Malak asked, horrified. The rest of her group was also horrified. "So that's it... Velvet will let Innominat devour her forever, with her devouring him in return." Magilou had explained, emotion heavy in her voice. "She will seal him while keeping him alive. An infinite contradiction, a perpetual cycle of destruction." She had continued saying. "Velvet, you can't!" The young Malak cried out in a desperate plea. "You and I are a part of Innominat, Phi. If he dies, both of us will die too. I dug my own grave. But... But you..." Velvet explained. "I don't care about myself! I'm not scared of dying, as long as I'm with you!" 'Phi' cried, running towards Velvet. She tossed an Apple at him, making him stop and catch it. Velvet and Laphicet were now in an orb of white light.

"Good. Then die." Velvet told him. Now the Shepherd's group and Velvet's group watched in sadness and silence. "But only after eating. Living. Doing everything you want in life." She told him. 'Phi' gasped. Velvet gave a hollow chuckle, the sad smile on her face confirming the end of her journey. "I really am horrible, aren't I? Just a selfish failure of a human being." Velvet stated. "But despite all that, you still saved me. With your unwavering kindness." She said with a smile. "I didn't do anything... Velvet, you were the one who—" Phi stated. "Phi," Velvet said, interrupting him, "you must have seen it during our travels. Humans spend their lives in constant struggle... That's why they end up making the so many mistakes." She then looked down at Arthur. "Even my poor brother..." she said. "That's why... I'm asking his of you... Please, live. I was the cause of so much chaos and destruction. Help the world I've ruined. Help people like me. Help the weak. This is... my last selfish request." Velvet then laid her head on Laphicet's shoulder.

"That's... That's not fair!" Phi cried. "I'm truly... sorry." Velvet said. Like that, she began to fade away with Laphicet. Phi looked down at the apple in his hands and took a big bite from it. "... It's okay! I forgive you! Velvet, I love you!" he cried to Velvet. "Thank you... I... I love you too, Phi..." Velvet replied, turning into a gigantic ball of light. And with that, they were thrown back into their current time. "Th-That was your pat?" Sorey asked. "Yes. And sadly, it was a horrible one based off of revenge and despair. Using people was also a problem I had." Velvet replied. "Well... it seems like we have one more Iris Gem left to look at." They all said, looking down at the one at their feet. Sorey put the one currently in his hand away and picked up the other. Immediately it sent them into the past again.

A burning village in a canyon was the setting of the scene. A woman with long brown hair, which is braided down to her back, with bangs swept to her right. She had lavender eyes, ones that held fear, betrayal, and sadness. She was wearing a white dress with black sleeves and a red coat with a ribbon tied around her neck and long black boots. Around her head was a golden circlet. In her arms was a bundle of cloth, stained with dried blood. She was limping as she made her way to an elderly man. He was short, about 4'4", and had white hair, with a small tuft of yellow hair. He also wore heeled sandals, giving him an extra inch or two. He wore a blue ancient robe. He had a pipe in his hand and was looking around with a saddened look. Beside him stood a brown-haired man in a red ceremonial robe.

"Zenrus!" the girl called weakly, grabbing the elderly man's attention. "Muse!" he called, approaching her with the man. "What happened?" he asked, sadness filling his voice. "We were betrayed... The Rolance Empire used this place as their battleground when they promised us protection." Muse said, looking down at the bundle of cloth in her arms, tears slowly falling. Before the old man could reply, they heard a ghastly scream ring through the air. All three of them quickly rushed to an ancient structure. A little boy, dressed in a white, ancient robe was screaming in pain, Malevolence flowing from him. Beside him was a dead body, charred black from the fires on the Shrine like structure. That was the body of the previous Shepherd, the cause of the boy's Malevolence and the destruction. "Lord Maotelus!" Muse called, rushing towards the boy. Zenrus sent the brown-haired man away with the objective to find any survivors and quickly followed Muse.

"Velvet! Help!" the boy called out in pain. A magic circle appeared and a red daemon hand came out. It slowly grabbed Maotelus, halting both Seraph and human. The Malevolence began to flow into the hand, helping Maotelus. The hand then opened leaving an exhausted Maotelus. "Lord Maotelus! Are you okay?" Zenrus asked the young boy. "I-I'm fine... Muse... I'm so sorry for your child." Maotelus told the woman. A tear fell from her eye as she looked down at her deceased child. "Lord Zenrus! Come quick!" the man from earlier yelled from the village. All three of them ran down to the ruined village to find the man with a bundle of cloth in his hands. A soft cry was coming from the bundle. "Where did he come from?" Muse asked, taking the bundle from the Seraph. "Selene had her body around the child in a protective manor." The Seraph explained. "She had a child? When?" Muse asked. Lord Zenrus and Maotelus ignored them and looked from both bundles of cloth. The silent and bloody one to the soft crying and dusty one.

Both sensed a strong presence from both. "Zenrus." Maotelus called. Zenrus raised his pipe and both bundles floated and circled each other. The crying stopped and left slight laughter. The living baby released a white light to the point where he was rivaling the Sun. "Incredible... He is the new Shepherd." Zenrus exclaimed with fascination. "Argh!" Maotelus grunted raising a hand to grip his chest. "M'Lord?" Muse questioned. A blast of light erupted from the altar back on the hill. "Ahhhh!" Muse screeched in fear. A large ball of Malevolence rose from the light and shot towards the two boys. "No!" Zenrus yelled, stomping his foot, erecting a barrier around the two boys. The ball hit the barrier and broke it immediately. "Velvet!" Maotelus called. The ball stopped above the two bundles and hovered. It slowly formed into a female figure with long hair. The female had her eyes open, but they were scarlet red like her body.

The woman reached for the dead child and kissed his forehead. The dead child shined and everything about the child changed. The bundle of cloth changed into teal and white clothing. The dead child wasn't dead anymore as he cried. Muse's tears fell and her eyes widened. "He's alive..." the other male Seraph said in wonder. "She turned him into a Seraph..." Maotelus said in wonder. The woman let go of the floating child and reached for the living child. The child giggled and reached for the woman. "M-M... Mamma!" the child laughed out as the woman tickled the child. The woman laughed and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well little one." She said as she let go of the bundle of cloth. "Velvet..." Maotelus said with tears and a smile. The woman gave the boy a closed mouth smile. "Laphicet..." she said, messing up his hair.

Maotelus, or better yet Laphicet, just laughed and pushed her hand away. The woman smiled and dispersed into many different fragments. The scene then faded into darkness.    

A/N: Dear GOD! That took ages! Literally 3728 words later! Hope you like this SUPER long chapter!