I do not own RWBY or Tales of Berseria. They belong to their respective owners. Thanks for all the ideas you guys have posted for Velvet's semblance so far. I haven't decided on one yet, but I will soon so keep them coming. Anyway, here's chapter 10. Enjoy.

Chapter 10: A Little Pep Talk (sort of)

Velvet and Ruby are returning to their dorm room after a session of training with her new weapon, Lethal Pain, which she has strapped to her right arm, though she decided to keep her old blade as a backup just in case.

"Well, it looks like you've really gotten the hang of using your new weapon, Velvet. I'm glad it turned out well," Ruby says.

Velvet looks at her gauntlet, "It feels just like my old blade, but stronger, so I haven't had much issue with using it. Thanks again for this Ruby," Velvet replies.

Ruby rubs her head and blushes out of embarrassment a little bit, "Oh, stop it. I was just happy to help you out. We're friends and friends help each other out," she says.

As they near their dorm room, Velvet notices Team JNPR, except for Jaune, heading their way. She also notices the despondent look on Pyrrha's face.

"Ruby, you go on ahead. I need to talk to Pyrrha about something," she says and starts to walk away.

"Talk about what?" she asks.

"Nothing special. I won't be long," Velvet replies.

Ruby hums a moment but nods, "Okay. Say hi for me," she says and enters their dorm room.

Ren and Nora wave to Velvet, who nods to them, but Pyrrha doesn't notice until Velvet stops right in front of her.

Pyrrha looks up and then notices, "Oh, Velvet, I'm sorry. I didn't notice you were there. Can I help you?" she asks.

"We need to talk. Now," Velvet says, and immediately grabs Pyrrha's arm and starts dragging her off somewhere.

…

The two girls end up on the roof of their dorm building with no prying eyes or ears around.

"Velvet, why did you bring me up here?" she asks, wrapping her arms around herself defensively.

"You need to tell me what's been bothering you. So start talking," Velvet half-demands.

"Velvet, I-I'm fine. It's nothing you need to worry about," Pyrrha tries to play it off.

"So there IS something. That something wouldn't happen to involve Jaune, would it?" Velvet asks, already knowing the answer.

Pyrrha's eyes widen a bit, but she looks away, "I don't know what you mean. Jaune is fine…He's just fine," Pyrrha mutters the last part, a pained expression showing.

"Right, and the fact that he's been hanging out with you guys a lot less, and hanging out with that overgrown monkey, Cardin Winchester, has nothing to do with it," Velvet replies with sarcasm.

Pyrrha starts to step back, "I-I don't-," she begins before Velvet grabs her by her armor and pulls her face close to look her straight in the eye.

"Enough crap. Start talking. What the Hell is going on with you guys?" Velvet demands.

Seeing that she could not escape, Pyrrha sighs and explains what happened.

…

Back in Team RVWBY's room, everyone is busy doing their own thing until Yang looks at Ruby.

"Where's Velvet anyway? Weren't you guys coming back from the training room together?" she asks.

Ruby looks up from her textbook, "Uh, yeah we were, but as we got back, she noticed Team JNPR coming back and said she had to talk to Pyrrha about something. Said that it wasn't a big deal and I should go on ahead," Ruby says.

"Pyrrha, huh? I've noticed that she doesn't really have her usual happy attitude the past few days. She and Jaune haven't talked much either. Maybe she wanted to talk to Pyrrha about that?" Yang suggests.

At this point, Blake joins in, "…You know, we don't know all that much about Velvet, don you think?" she says.

"I'm sure she has her reasons. We just have to give her time. Although…"Ruby drags out.

"What is it, Ruby," Weiss asks, getting in on the conversation.

"After her sparring match with Yang a while back, I found her on the roof of our dorm building. I was about to talk to her when she said she was a monster. She told me that when she got her semblance, everyone she knew back home hated her, called her a monster, and were afraid of her. She looked like she hated her semblance, calling it a curse," Ruby explains, looking down in sadness.

This makes everyone look a little sorrowful.

"On her initiation day, I had breakfast with her. The way she reacted when she started eating a simple breakfast, it looked like she hadn't tasted any real food in a long time, and she said as much. Make me wonder exactly how long that amount of time was," Blake adds.

"When I talked with her in the library, before we tried our little Dust experiment, we were explaining our own reasons for being here. We all know that huntsmen and huntresses are supposed to protect the people. She said that wasn't so bad, but she also said she was mainly her at Beacon for one person in particular, though she wouldn't tell me who," Weiss says.

"…When I fought her during our sparring match, I could tell that she had a lot of experience, and that she wasn't going 100% throughout the whole match. It was a little scary to be honest. I can only imagine how much fighting she had to do before we met her," Yang finishes.

After explaining all their own experiences with Velvet, the girls look down as they contemplate what they just went over.

"Velvet…" Ruby muses with concern.

…

"…And we haven't really talked to each other since," Pyrrha says as she finishes explaining her story to Velvet.

Velvet holds her chin in one hand as she thinks about what Pyrrha told her.

"…So the idiot faked his way into Beacon, and let some stupid macho crap run his mouth for him, and now he's been hanging out with Cardin. If I were to guess, I think Cardin may have overheard your conversation and blackmailed Jaune into being his little pet," Velvet figures out.

"What do we do about it then? I want to help Jaune, but he's made it perfectly clear he doesn't want my help, and I'm still a little upset with him as well," Pyrrha wonders.

"…Let me see what I can do for now. I'll have a little chat with Jaune," Velvet decides.

"If you want to help him, I don't think he'll accept," Pyrrha counters.

"I won't exactly be 'helping' him. However, after I do what I need to do, the rest will be up to him," Velvet says and starts to walk away.

"Velvet…" she catches her attention. "…Thank you," she says.

Velvet nods to her, "Don't mention it," she says and leaves.

…

Later that night, Jaune is on his way back to his dorm after running another errand for Cardin.

"Man, Cardin's been running me ragged, and Pyrrha won't even talk to me…I starting to think I made a big mistake in coming here," Jaune thinks as he goes on his way. As he turns one corner to head to his room, he sees Velvet leaning against the wall before noticing him. "Uh, hey Velvet. What are you doing here?" he asks.

Velvet leans off the wall and walks up to him, "We need to talk," she says.

Jaune rubs his head, "Um, I'm not sure I'm in a talking mood right now. I just want to get back to my dorm and-," Jaune begins before Velvet grabs his head with her demon claw.

"That wasn't a request," she mutters darkly and begins to drag Jaune off to who-knows-where.

A few minutes later, the two are found in one of the training rooms as Velvet throws Jaune onto the floor before deactivating her demon arm.

"W-what *cough* what was that about?" he coughs out.

"That was about you being an idiot and hurting Pyrrha when she was just trying to help you," Velvet replies.

This makes Jaune's eyes widen, "You mean…You know. Pyrrha told you!" he freaks out.

"Every last detail. Personally I don't care about how you got here. What pisses me off though was you hurting your teammate rather than let her help you," Velvet says.

Jaune stands up and starts to get a little angry, "You wouldn't understand. You've got all these cool powers and abilities. You got into this school easy. And you did it all on your own. I need to do that to, otherwise how can I be a hero like my family before me!?" Jaune shouts.

Velvet strides up to him…only to punch him hard in the gut, making him gasp for breath as she leans in close.

"You think I got here all on my own?" she whispers before throwing him back onto the ground. She then picks him up again, only to punch him back a few feet. "News flash, I didn't get this strong on my own. I admit, at first I wanted to handle things myself…in order to pursue my goals," she starts as Jaune gets up and tries to punch her, only for Velvet to dodge and kick him back. "But over time, I gained allies that helped me through thick and thin, people who were always there to back me up," she continues as she spin kicks Jaune again, making him roll on the floor. "People who I eventually learned to call friends…And now I'm a part of Team RVWBY. I got these new abilities and weapons, not by myself, but because of them," she ends as she picks Jaune up by his shirt. "I'm here because of them, just like you're here because of your teammates," she says as she drops him onto the floor. "You want to be a hero, Jaune? Then let your teammates help…Heroes can't do anything on their own," Velvet concludes as she walks away.

Jaune sits up and looks down as he thinks about Velvet's words.

…

The next day, Teams RVWBY, JNPR, and CRDL are seen walking with Professor Goodwitch through the Forever Fall Forest. The students take in the scenery with excitement.

"Didn't really have anything like this back home," Velvet notes as she watches the leaves fall from the trees.

"Yes students, the Forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful, but we are not here to sight-see," Professor Goodwitch explains, even though the students can't help but admire the landscape. "Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so."

Goodwitch turns around and everyone stops in front of her. However, Jaune doesn't notice and collides into Cardin's back while carrying a cardboard box and seven empty jars. Cardin looks back and growls, making Jaune nervously laugh and begin to whistle while avoiding his gaze.

"Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap," Goodwitch instructs the class while holding a jar filled with red sap. "However, this forest is full of the Creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at 4:00. Have fun!" Goodwitch says as they begin their assignment.

Jaune tries to sneak away, but Cardin grabs him by his hood, "Come on, buddy, let's go," he says.

Jaune sadly look over to Pyrrha who watches back as the others move to their positions. Jaune hangs his head and begins following Cardin. Pyrrha looks on, sad, and sighs before joining the rest of her teammates.

"You alright Pyrrha?" Velvet asks as Pyrrha joins them.

Pyrrha sighs again, "Sort of. I don't think your talk with Jaune helped much," she says.

"Like I told you, I'd have a chat with him. But in the end, he'll have to figure this out himself. He is an idiot after all," Velvet shrugs her shoulders and gets on with the assignment.

Meanwhile, with Team CRDL, the team members are just lounging around, sitting on their butts until Jaune comes back with seven jars filled with red sap. He drops the jars on the ground, stands a moment, looking tired, before falling flat on the ground, exhausted.

"Hey, great work, Jauney-boy. Now, that wasn't too hard, was it?" Cardin says.

"I think I'm allergic to this stuff," Jaune says, his face looking slightly swollen.

"Greeaatt, great, great. So, Jaune, I bet you're asking yourself 'Why did my buddy Cardin ask me to collect seven jars of tree sap when there's only five of us?'" Cardin says as his team stands around Jaune.

"That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes," Jaune replies before sitting up.

"Well, come with me, and you'll find out," Cardin says, smiling.

"Ooohhh," Jaune gulps.

The five of them sit up on a hill overlooking the other three teams collecting their sap, with Jaune in between Cardin and Russel Thrush. They look to see that everyone has collected the sap they need or are almost done with their assignment. Down there, Ren is giving a full jar of red sap to Nora, who gives him an empty jar to fill while eyeing the red sap. As Ren is filling the second jar, slurping sounds can be heard behind him, and when he turns around with a full jar of red sap to Nora, he sees her jar empty, and red sap on her face, making him angry. Meanwhile, Velvet is finishing up her jar, but turns around as Yang tries to smear some sap onto her face and grabs her arm, looking unamused while Yang giggles nervously.

"Cardin, what's going on?" Jaune asks him.

"Payback," Cardin answers without looking at him.

"…Pyrrha and…Velvet?" Jaune mutters, looking to the two as they collect their sap.

"What are you-," Jaune starts.

"That's them. Red-haired know-it-all thinks she's so smart. And that black-haired chick thinks she can humiliate me," Cardin says before pulling out the cardboard box from earlier, showing a big, black "W" on the side, buzzing sounds heard from within. "Alright, boys. Last night, old Jaune here managed to round up an entire box full of Rapier Wasps. And now, we're gonna put them to work," Cardin says, while Russel pats Jaune on the back, and Jaune having a fearful expression on his face. "Now according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things love sweets. I'm thinking it's time we teach those two a thing or two," he says as they all get up and shoves a jar of sap at Jaune. "And YOU'RE gonna do it," he declares.

"Do what?" Jaune asks.

"Hit them with the sap, either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first airship out of Beacon," Cardin says.

Jaune looks down at the jar of sap in his hands before looking back at Team CRDL, all looking back at him with smug smiles on their faces, and turns towards Pyrrha, taking a throwing stance. He stares at her while his hand is shaking, seeing her smiling. He hesitates for a moment before getting a determined look in his eye.

"…No," he says, dropping his stance.

"What did you say?" Cardin asks, his team shocked.

Jaune's hand shakes with anger, "I said…NO!" he yells before throwing the jar at Cardin.

He then gets a scared look on his face as he sees the jar broken and sap all over Cardin's chestplate armor.

Cardin chuckles, "You've done it now," he says.

Jaune laughs nervously as Team CRDL grab his shoulders and pull him towards them.

…

Back with the other teams, they have collected the rest of the sap they needed…after getting Nora to stop eating the rest of it until they get back. Velvet and Ruby notice Pyrrha looking melancholy and stride up to her.

"Pyrrha, are you okay?" Ruby asks.

This gets Pyrrha out of her stupor, "Huh? Oh, yeah I'm fine. Just-," she begins before a loud roar is heard from nearby.

"Did you guys hear that?" Yang asks as they all look around.

A second later, three members of Team CRDL are seen running towards them.

"Ursa! Ursa!" Russel yells as they run past them, only for him to crash into Yang who picks him up like the collision never happened.

"What?! Where?!" she demands.

Russel points behind him, "Back there, it's got Cardin!" he yells.

Pyrrha then drops a sap jar, "Jaune!" she says before Yang drops Russel and he runs off.

Ruby moves into action, "Yang, you and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch!" she orders her sister as Russel gets out of her grip before Yang and Blake move to find Goodwitch.

"You two, go with them! There could be more," Pyrrha commands Ren and Nora while taking out her weapon along with Ruby and Velvet.

The four girls run to where they heard the sound and see Cardin crawling away from an Ursa Major. He tries to defend himself with his mace, but the Grimm knocks it out of his hand. Just when the Grimm is about to kill him, Jaune suddenly jumps in to block the attack with his shield. Weiss prepares to join the fight, but Pyrrha stops her.

"Wait," she says.

Jaune pushes the Grimm's claw back, and swings his sword, hitting its chest, making it stumble back. The Grimm regains its footing before attacking Jaune with its right claw, but Jaune rolls out of the way. It attacks again with its left claw, but Jaune jumps over it, making it hit the ground. The Grimm quickly attacks with its right claw at Jaune while he is in mid-air, and knocks Jaune back onto the ground. Jaune quickly rolls back onto his feet and charges at the Ursa Major, jumping in the air at it, only for the Ursa Major to hit him again in mid-air with its left claw, knocking Jaune back onto the ground. Jaune slowly gets back on his feet and looks at his scroll, seeing it showing his aura level at the red. Jaune looks back at the Ursa Major before charging back at it as the Grimm charges at him. As they get close, everything goes into slow motion as Jaune swings his sword while the Grimm swings its right claw. Still in slow motion, Pyrrha notices that Jaune has his shield lowered and is going to get hit. As the two opponents get closer, Pyrrha raised her left hand as black energy flow around it. Suddenly, Jaune's shield is encased in that same black energy, and is pulled upwards. The shield blocks the Grimm's attack, and Jaune sets one foot don on the ground before performing one more swing with his sword that slices the Grimm's entire head off of its body, killing it. The slow motion scene ends as the Grimm's body and decapitated head fall to the ground, and Pyrrha lowers her hand, smiling.

"Uh, what?" Ruby asks in confusion.

"How did you-," Weis slowly begins to ask Pyrrha.

"Well, Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs, and Velvet has her claw. My semblance…is polarity," she informs them.

"Oh, you can control poles," Ruby mutters in awe.

"No, you dunce. It means she has control over magnetism," Weiss corrects her.

"Magnets are cool, too," Ruby mutters as Pyrrha turns to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" Weiss asks her.

"Yeah, we gotta tell them what happened," Ruby says.

"We could…," Pyrrha begins as she looks over to Jaune who sheaths his blade. "…Or perhaps we could just keep it our little secret."

However, another Ursa Major appears along with two Ursai flanking it. Jaune steps back as Cardin runs away, preparing to fight, but Velvet steps in front of him.

"You've had your fun. Now it's my turn. This way I can test out my new blade in a real fight," she says as she prepares her arm blade.

The Grimm charge her, and she runs at them while firing off her gauntlet's gun at the left Ursa, the shots hitting in in the head a few times before it dies. She jumps over the Ursa Major as it tries to strike her with its claws, and lands behind it. The second Ursa jumps at her, but she spins over it, swinging her blade several times in order to slice the Grimm into several pieces. As she lands back on the ground, the Ursa Major swings its right claw at her, but she stops it with her demon claw with ease. Conjuring up a fire arte, she blows up the Grimm's right arm and then stabs it in the head with her blade. She pulls out the blade as the dead Grimm falls onto the ground.

Velvet sheathes her blade, "Not bad for a live test," she says as she walks back to the group.

"Nice job Velvet," Ruby cheers for her, to which Velvet smiles back.

…

Later that night, Team RVWBY were in their dorm room, getting ready to head in after a long day from the field trip, however Ruby notices Velvet still in her regular attire getting ready to leave the room.

"Hey Velvet, where are you going?" she asks.

"Oh, don't worry. Just going to see Nora about something. I won't be long," she says and closes the door. She knocks on Team JNPR's door, and Nora ends up opening the door. "Hey Nora," she greets her.

"Hey Velvet, what's up?" she asks.

"Nothing. Just thought I could use your help with something. Do you have your weapon with you?" she asks.

"Yeah. Why?" she asks back.

Velvet just smiles…

…

The next morning, Velvet and Nora are in Ozpin's office, with Goodwitch looking almost livid.

"So why are we here again?" Velvet asks, arms crossed.

"We are here, Miss Crowe, because Cardin Winchester is in the medical center, with BOTH of his legs broken. And he said you and Miss Valkyrie here were behind it. Care to explain yourselves?" she interrogates them while Ozpin tries to hide his smile behind his coffee mug.

Velvet shrugs her shoulders, "Wasn't our fault," she nonchalantly answers…

And there's Chapter 10. Keep those semblance ideas coming people, because I won't have her semblance be known for a while. Thank you to those who have been following me. I'll have chapter 11 up soon enough. Please Read and Review. Happy Memorial Day!