Hey guys, I'm back with another installment of RWBY 40K: Space Marineeee-ikes!*lasbolt impacts inches from left ear* Hey that was close! Ahem, anyways apologies for the delay, work has been taking up a lot of my time. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

But before that, reviews:

Guest: I will do my best in regards to the melta gun, and the power sword is a good idea.

wolves567: his identity will be revealed later on, but he actually does hail from the Heresy.

I do not own 40K or RWBY.

Titus surveyed the current spar with growing disappointment. As was the case for the past three weeks, Jaune Arc was facing off against Cardin Winchester, and he was not faring well as proven by the most recent blow Jaune took to the chest, courtesy of Cardin's mace. To the knight's credit, he got back up relatively quickly, but was exhausted to the point of leaning on his weapon for support, a fact which made his opponent laugh in a taunting manner. Now in a state of desperation, Jaune launched himself towards his opponent, swinging his sword in a downward arc that Cardin effortlessly dodged. This left Arc vulnerable to an attack that sent him flying across the arena along with losing his grip on the shield. Now armed with only his sword, Jaune swung at Cardin once more, only for him to block the attack with his mace, the resulting deadlock prompting him to taunt Jaune once more. "This is the part where you lose."

"Over my dead-" his defiant response was cut short by a knee to the gut forcing Jaune to double over in pain. This left him vulnerable as Cardin prepared to swing hi mace down on the knight in a finishing blow. Fortunately for Arc, Titus decided to end the match before thing got ugly.

"Enough!"

Despite his desire to pummel Jaune, Cardin was smart enough to relent, as Titus strode to the front of the arena in order to address the students. "As you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has dropped into the red. In a tournament style duel, it would mean that he would be deemed unfit for combat, and the official may call the match. In a live combat scenario, however, it would mean that the best course of action would be to retreat and recuperate. Now that is all the time we have for today. Remember, the Vytal Festival is merely a few months away, you should expect students from the other kingdoms to arrive soon. Continue your training, and know that should you and your team choose to participate, you will be representing the entirety of Vale. You are dismissed."

With that, the student body departed for their next classes, all except Jaune, who shrunk under the Astarte's calculating gaze. Except for you Mr. Arc. We need to talk."

With a nervous gulp, Jaune turned towards him, prepared to receive the expected lecture. "Honestly, I am quite disappointed. Over the past three weeks, your combat skill has not improved in the slightest."

Jaune then hung his head in shame as he responded. I know sir, but I really am trying. Perhaps if I try to..."

Titus immediately cut the knight off as he spoke once more. "What you need to do, Mr. Arc, is learn when to apply an offensive strategy, and when a more defensive strategy is required. After all, how can you hope to fight if you can't defend yourself. Gauging your Aura will help in that regard. I suggest you start doing so, if you ever want to earn your place here."

...

"Jaune? Are you okay?"

The Arc was snapped out of his thoughts as the hubub in the cafeteria continued on, his partner, Pyrrha Nikos, Looking at him with concern. "Huh? Oh yeah. Why?"

Ruby then answered with slight hesitation. "Well, you seem a little... NOT okay."

"What are you talking about? I'm fine. See?"

He then gave a double thumbs-up with a forced smile that only drew looks of pity from his friends, Pyrrha included, as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Jaune, if his is about Cardin, we can help."

Nora's eyes lit up with excitement as she leapt out of her seat with a not-so-sane grin on her face. "Ooh, we'll break his legs!"

"Guys, I'm fine. Cardin's just messing around, you know, guy stuff."

Yang voiced the entire group's collective thoughts in response. "He's a bully."

"Oh please, name one time that he's bullied me."

It was at that moment that the S, G, and D of ASGD took their seats and answered the knight's question. "The dozens of times he knocked your books from your hands?"

"The one time he activated your shield at just the right moment to get you stuck in the doorway to combat class?"

"How about when he shoved you into a rocket locker and sent you flying?"

Jaune countered the last point with a nervous tone, "I didn't land that far from the school."

The leader of ASGD then caught up in time to respond. "Jaune, Professor Port was the one who retrieved you, we ended up hearing that story for a week."

Jaune winced at the memory, but quickly recovered to form a response. "Even still, he isn't just a jerk to me. He's a jerk to everyone."

Right on cue, a cry of pain drew the groups attention to a female rabbit faunus getting her ears pulled by none other than Cardin as his team guffawed at her pleading. "Please stop!"

Cardin merely pulled harder on her ear as he spoke to his team with a mocking tone. "I told you they were real."

Russel Thrush then laughed at the faunus's predicament. "What a freak!"

Pyrrha then turned back around with a glare. "Atrocious, I can't stand people like him."

Blake brought her attention from her book to comment on that statement. "You and me both."

Alex then turned towards the nearest of his teammates, only to find him missing. "What do you think Saul? Wait...where did he go?"

He then heard the tiger faunus speak from CRDL's table. "Excuse me Cardin. Could you please release your grip so that Velvet may depart?"

Cardin gave a mocking laugh in response. "Oh, what are you going to do? Lecture me to death?

"No, I am simply requesting that you cease your harassment."

The condescending smirk did not leave Cardin's face as he asked. "And if I refuse?"

Saul's face contracted into a menacing glare as he answered. "Then I promise you, whatever you do to the poor girl, I will unleash on you tenfold. So I suggest you let her go. NOW!"

Slightly unnerved, Cardin reluctantly obliged. But moments later, his smirk returned as he threw an apple at Velvet's retreating form. But before it could hit her, Saul leaped over Cardin and caught it. This caught Velvet's attention, resulting in the two making brief eye contact before he took a bite out of the apple and threw it back hitting Cardin in the forehead. Saul then took the opportunity to head back to his team, where he was greeted by impressed looks, and an inquiry from Yang. "Any chance you could teach me that?"

"I'll think on it."

...

The day quickly returned to normal, as was proven in History Class by Profes-ahem-Doctor Oobleck's rapid-pace lecture and endless zipping about. "Yes! Yes, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution - more popularly known as the Faunus War - humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing Faunus population in Menagerie. Now, while this may feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events. Why, the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day! Now, have any among you been subjugated or discriminated because of your Faunus heritage?"

In response to this question, a handful of Faunus students raised their hands in acknowledgment - Velvet being the most timid of all - as the Doctor continued speaking. "Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence. I mean, I mean, just look at what happened to the White Fang! Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point in the third year of the war?"

Weiss – being the self-proclaimed 'smartest girl in class'– was the one to answer. "The Battle at Fort Castle."

"Precisely! And who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?"

In the silence that followed, Cardin flicked a paper football at Jaune's head, startling him awake and unintentionally raising his hand in the process, which caught Doctor Oobleck's attention. "Aha, Mr. Arc. Finally contributing to the class. So tell me, what was the advantage the Faunus possessed?"

The knight struggled to think of an answer prompting Pyrrha to give him hand signals in an attempt to help. "The...uh...Faunus...uh...had...well...they...uh..."

With an annoyed roll of his eyes, Daniel Fenris – who sat beside the Invincible Girl –expanded his scroll and displayed the correct answer to Jaune. "Night Vision."

"Correct Mr. Arc, and in the future, please refrain from falling asleep in my class."

Arc then hung his head in shame as he responded, "Yes, sir."

This prompted Cardin, gaining Oobleck's attention. "Do you have any thoughts on the subject, Mr. Winchester?"

The bully quickly answered with a sneer, "Well, it's easier to train an animal than a soldier."

Pyrrha then turned towards Cardin with a look of disappointment. "You're not the most open-minded individual, are you?"

"Do you have a problem?"

Alex beat Pyrrha to the punch with a retort of his own. All that needs to be said is that Lagune underestimated the advantage that the Faunus possessed. Perhaps if he paid attention in class he wouldn't be remembered as a failure."

This provoked Cardin into standing up in challenge, earning a rebuke from Oobleck. "Sit down, Mr. Winchester, and you can see me after class for additional readings."

As Winchester took his seat, Oobleck looked at his scroll and was surprised by what he saw. "Good grief, it's that time already? Alright students, class dismissed. Remember to cover the assigned readings by next class."

With that, the class eagerly departed for the day, all except for Jaune, who was tripped over by Cardin before he reached the door. Pyrrha quickly helped him up and out before speaking, "You know, I will break his legs."

Jaune then tried to respond, but was interrupted by Pyrrha as she drug him away. "I have an idea. Follow me."

Their commute led them to one of the balconies over the dorms, giving Jaune the wrong idea as he walked towards the edge. "I'm not that depressed, Pyrrha. I could always become a farmer or something."

Quickly realizing what he meant with dawning horror, Pyrrha pulled him away. "No! I just thought that since you're struggling, we could come up here after class and help you train."

"You think I need help?"

Before Pyrrha could answer the question, a deep rumbling voice answered for her. "You think you do not?"

This brought their attention to the source of the voice, Jaune being the first to recognize him. "Professor Titus?"

Titus then stepped into the light before speaking, "After your constant failures in my class, and the lack of improvement, it is safe to say that if you wish to have a chance here, you need help."

This was the last straw for Jaune as he suddenly snapped. "Don't you get it?! I'm tired of being the damsel in distress! What good am I if I can't fight my own battles?!"

Titus merely looked upon the knight with pity as he spoke. "There is no shame in seeking the aid of your allies. Remember that."

With that, the transhuman departed, leaving Pyrrha and Jaune alone once more. "He's right, Jaune. If you need help you can just ask. After all, you deserve to be here as much as anyone else."

"That's the thing, I don't"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't deserve to be here."

"How can you say that?"

"Because I cheated! I so desperately wanted to live up to my great-grandfather's legacy. So I forged my transcript in order to get into Beacon! I cheated, and I lied! I need to earn this on my own."

Shocked by this revelation, the only response she could muster before departing was a curt, "I understand."

As the door closed behind the Invincible Girl, Cardin climbed onto the balcony and spoke with a smirk. "Well, that was certainly a big reveal."

"Cardin?"

"Hello, Jauney-boy."

Warhammer is Games Workshop and RWBY is RoosterTeeth.

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Thx to my beta ShadexSlayer