Update 1 (06/11/2017): Added a few new additional scenes at the end of the first chapter.

Kevin and the rest of the Cul-de-Sac clique laughed and pointed at the three Eds. Their latest scam, a stand called Ed's Backpack Emporium, designed for selling backpacks to kids for the upcoming new school year, which will start in a few days, had proverbially went up in flames no thanks to the efforts of Ed's wild imagination. Eddy scowled at the jeers thrown their way, while Double-D could do nothing but lament their current sorry state―and Ed just swam in the wooden carcass of their stand like a carefree whale.

"You Eds are so lame!" Kevin wiped a tear away from his eye. "I guess dorks will always be dorks!"

"Rolf agrees with Kevin, Ed-Boys! Village idiots are doomed to live the life of a village idiot, yes?"

"When will you Fat-Heads and my idiot brother learn?"

"You all, like, need to grow up man."

"Even Plank and I are not that unpopular, Eddy!"

Jimmy shook his head. "What woeful circumstances the Eds have found themselves in."

All this jeering and cackling had only made Eddy furious. "You all don't know a good scam when you see it, you know that?! How are we supposed to rip you all off if you don't keep coming to us!?"

"It's simple logic, Eddy, but I guess a dork like you wouldn't understand." Kevin sneered at him. "Ever heard of this thing called 'avoiding a scam?'"

"Wait until this town hears word of your dishonest, money-grubbing deeds Ed-Boys! Us good folk will never more be swindled by the likes of you!"

Sarah and Jimmy blew raspberries at the Eds.

"Seriously, like, come on, do you guys really think you'll be able to rip us off forever?"

"Sorry Eddy, but Plank says we got better things to do than waste money on another one of your scams!" Then Jonny pulled out a 20 dollar bill from his pocket. "Like buying jawbreakers for everyone! Except for you guys, of course!"

The clique cheered for Jonny and they all went away from the Eds, heading off for the neighborhood candy store. No one else but the Eds had remained.

Growling, Eddy pulled down on his hair and screamed. "This stinks!" He stomped to the stand wreckage and kicked a snapped plank that had stuck out, but Eddy yelped in pain and hopped around holding his inflamed foot. When the pain went away, Eddy stomped on the ground and screamed out again. "This really stinks!"

Double-D sighed. "While I perfectly understand your emotions at the very moment, yelling and kicking things are not going to get us anywhere Eddy."

"But that stupid Kevin and his stupid friends practically mocked us! Oh, when I get my hands on Shovel-Chin," Eddy imagined a chokehold in front of him. "I'm going to-"

"Ooh ooh, I know, I know!" Ed popped out of the junk with a stupid grin. "Eddy's going to get beaten up, wedgied and hung from the branch of a tree from his underwear by Kevin's big brother and his friends again!"

Eddy spun to Ed with a glare. "Cardin and his pals aren't even in our school anymore, you numbskull! Besides, that was only one time!"

"You mean like that time when the Lemon Brook Lemons made you their mascot?"

Eddy dangerously stared at him. "Ed, do I need to smash your stupid head open with a plank?"

"Nope! Already done that, Eddy!"

Ed's face was smashed by a flying rock; it peeled off, yet it hadn't even erased the grin off of his sunken face. He chuckled. "Looks like I can cross that off the agenda for the day too."

Double-D sighed again and turned to the others. "Fellows, can we please restrain ourselves for the moment?"

"What's there to be restrained about, Sock Head?!"

"Have you not listened to Kevin and the others? Did you even paid attention to the gravity of their threats?!" Double-D threw his arms out into the air. "We've been already ostracized by the dominant clique in the Cul-de-Sac's social hierarchy, but now they're expanding their efforts to make us infamous throughout Peach Creek itself!"

Eddy scoffed. "So what?" He turned around and went down the Lane alleyway, then shot his hand back at the houses of the Cul-de-Sac behind him. "Everyone around this stinking neighborhood knows who we are! So what if they told everyone else here, it's not like we haven't scammed anyone outside of your so-called 'dominant social clique' around here-

"Wait a minute," Money signs suddenly popped up in his eyes. "That's it! Why haven't I thought of this before! Instead of scamming this neighborhood's kids, why don't we try scamming another neighborhood's kids? This place ain't the only neighborhood around Peach Creek, you know."

Double-D facepalmed. "Weren't you listening to me, Eddy?!" Then the intelligent Ed snatched Eddy's shoulders. "Kevin and the others are trying to make us proverbial outlaws in the eyes of everyone in this town! While our scams have only garnered minimal attention from kids outside of the Cul-de-Sac's social hierarchy, there's no doubt that word will spread of our questionable business practices everywhere in Peach Creek, not just here! Why," Double-D let go of Eddy and wandered off a bit, gazing gloomily into space. "I wouldn't be surprised if this scam will be the last one to have a sliver of chance to succeed after this."

After a moment of thought, Eddy's eyes became wide with horror. "Say it ain't so, Double-D!" Eddy leaped onto him and pulled on his collar, their faces close together. "You mean Shovel-Chin and his friends will tell everyone in Peach Creek that we're nothing but broke, sore losers!?"

"Eddy," Double-D narrowed his eyes. "Are you stepping your dirty feet on my shirt again?" Eddy quickly got off. "Thank you, Eddy. Anyways, I'm surprised that the Cul-de-Sac clique hadn't spread word of our misdeeds after all of these years. But I suppose that our latest scam has become the metaphorical straw that broke the proverbial camel's back for them."

"Is there anything we can do to stop this? You gotta have a plan like you always do, right?"

"Not that I know of right now, unfortunately." Double-D crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. "The best we can do right now is to lay low for a while, prepare for school, and hope for the best."

"But what about the scams? The cash? The jawbreakers?"

"Jawbreakers good for Ed, guys!" Ed popped up right between them and pulled them together into a crushing hug. "We three Eds sure are popular these days, am I right?!"

Double-D smirked. "W-Well, I suppose our negative reputation would garner attention from all corners of town…"
"This stinks." Eddy pulled himself out of Ed's embrace and began walking away. "I'm going home."

"I always told you that this day would come, Eddy! It was only a matter of time!"

"Yeah yeah," Eddy waved him off. "Karma and all that fate stuff coming back to bite us in the," He began mumbling to himself.

The two other Eds watched Eddy walk off. Double-D frowned, uncertain of their future as scammers, while Ed still grinned stupidly. "Double-D," He turned to the intelligent Ed. "Do you think Eddy skipped breakfast this morning?"
"Let's just prepare for school, Ed. I'm sure Eddy will come around soon enough!" He quickly shot another frown at Eddy before turning to Ed with a smile. "In the meantime, in a few days we'll be starting out this school year as 8th graders! Only one more year before high school; isn't that exciting?"

"Not as exciting as my mom's gravy cabbage stew, Double-D!"

"Dad, are we there yet…?"

"We're almost there, Ruby! Don't worry, we'll get out of the car soon enough!"

Ruby groaned and let her head lazily lie on the back of the seat's headrest. The car ride to her family's new home had been nothing short of excruciating. And boring. Compared to Yang and Dad, only Ruby was the depressed one here. She was feeling rather hot in the car and was tempted to remove her black, crimson-striped hoodie, but knowing her fickleness for temperature she decided not to. Besides, it was September.

Yang, who sat in front of the car, reached out and touched Ruby's shoulder. "Come on baby sister, cheer up! We're gonna meet all sorts of new friends at school in a few days!"

"Easy for you to say," Ruby scowled and crossed her arms. "I had to leave all my friends back at Signal. Right Zwei?"

The corgi yelped in agreement, snuggling in Ruby's gentle embrace.

"For goodness sake Ruby, think positive! You can still call your friends! Besides, you're an honors student! You're gonna be the bee's knees around here, 'cause my baby sister doesn't need to go through 7th Grade, that's for sure!"

"I don't wanna be the bee's knees, Yang! I'm just a normal girl with normal knees, okay?! Besides, you're in 9th Grade. I'll be all alone in my grade…"

"Which is why I'm gonna help you level up your social stats!" She rubbed her chin and hummed. "Let's see, you already maxed out Knowledge and Diligence, and your Understanding's pretty good, so we should start by increasing your Expression and Courage. They're, like, unbelievably low."

"Yang, this isn't Mask 4: Emerald, you know…"

"Eh, I like Mask 3: CEL better. Or most of the mainline Shin Megumi Sensei series, for that matter."

"Yang," Taiyang's eyes skillfully remained on the road. "Remember what I said about twisting your body to face the back of the car like that?"

"Sorry Dad." Yang properly sat back on her seat, straightening out her white tank-top, blue gray-yellow hoodie and skinny jeans.

"Now Ruby, do you remember why we're moving out here to Peach Creek in the first place?"

Ruby sighed. "Because Uncle Qrow―who's a guidance counselor at Peach Creek Junior High―said he can call in some favors and get you a P.E. coach position here―which pays a lot more than the one back at Signal."

"That's right. You have your Uncle Qrow to thank!"

"Yeah, he's awesome, but," Ruby frowned. "I wish we were back home."

"Ruby," Yang laid her head on the front seat's headrest. "We are at home. Peach Creek's our new home now. It's out with the old and in with new, y'know."

"Doesn't mean I miss my friends…"

"It may not seem like it, but I do kinda miss Signal."

"Oh really?"

"There's no way I ain't missing the lunch menu! They got the best chicken sandwiches, best mashed potatoes," Yang threw her hands up. "B-Best everything! Now we're just gonna be stuck with regular ole' public school food, and I heard it stinks."

"Well, at least we still have Dad's cooking."

"Anyone in the mood for Dad's Spaghetti tonight, then?"

Both Ruby and Yang shot up and happily cried out oh me I want some.

Taiyang chuckled. "That's the spirit."

With the mood lifted up by the promise of Taiyang's spaghetti, the Xiao Long family's car drove down the street of the neighborhood. After passing by the shopping district, they reached the residential area, made a right and headed down to the Cul-de-Sac. There, the car turned to the left and parked into the lane of a two-story house that was built two houses away from the cul-de-sac area itself.

"We're here, girls!" Taiyang shut off the engine and got out of the car.

Yang threw the door open and stretched out her arms and legs. "Finally! Oh yeah," She smiled as she felt her joints pleasurably cracking. "It's good to be standing up again!"

Ruby got out and let Zwei on the ground; he obediently sat down, panting, and looked up to his master. She smiled wide and massaged Zwei's head, and he panted even more with delight.

The house's door, situated off to the left of the parking lane, opened. Clad in dress pants, three-fourths dress shirt, undershirt and boots, Qrow came out and smirked at his relatives.

He approached the girls' father first with a smirk. "Good to see ya' here, Tai."

"Same here, Qrow." Taiyang shook hands with him.

Ruby squealed and zipped right into Qrow, wrapping her arms around his abdomen. "Uncle Qrow! Did ya' miss me?!"

Qrow chuckled and looked into Ruby's silver eyes. "Nope." He playfully pushed her down before picking her back up―Ruby yelped with delight―and hugging her back. "How's my little niece doing these days?" He kissed her forehead. "Doin' good in school as always?"

"Of course Uncle Qrow!" Ruby gave him a peck on the cheek. "I don't know about Yang, though," She shot a sneer at Yang.

"Of course my grades are good!" Yang scowled at Ruby and crossed her arms, but then began gazing elsewhere. "I-It's just that math is p-pretty difficult, y'know?"

Qrow chuckled, grabbed Yang's waist―she shrieked in surprise―and kissed her forehead as well. "As long as my nieces are not failing and have good habits, it's fine with me. Besides," He shot a smirk at Yang. "You're not supposed to get math on the first shot anyway―or even on the 50th shot for that matter."

"Come on, you too Uncle Qrow?"

"Just some friendly advice for school. Math don't deserve the hate it usually gets."

Yang frowned. "Yeah, I guess so…"

"I can always teach you math, Yang!" This time, Ruby shot a genuine smirk at her sister.

"Oh can it, you little monster."

"I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, y'know."

Qrow frowned at the both of them. "Come on you two, calm down. Now, once we're all settled in, why don't we go shoot some guns after lunch? I know a good shooting range in town."

The girls―especially Ruby―excitedly agreed to their uncle's offer. After Qrow released his nieces from his firm grip, the four family members went to the car and began unloading Ruby, Yang and Taiyang's luggages. As they carried them into their new home, Ruby's eyes wandered around the neighborhood for a bit and she immediately spotted at least three moving trucks at the other houses. There was also one fancy-looking limo at another one. Huh. Guess they were not the only ones moving in.

On Qrow and Taiyang's advice, Ruby and Yang took their luggage upstairs and went straight to their separate bedrooms, but Ruby simply put her backpack and suitcases on her plain bed before heading to the downstairs floor. She just realized she forgot her headphones back at the car and really didn't want to leave them for anyone to take, so she hurried as quickly as she could. But as soon as she reached the stairs she heard Dad and Uncle Qrow speaking.

"So how they're holding up, Tai? Y'know, with Summer."

Ruby crouched down and stared at Dad and Uncle Qrow from above.

"Ruby was too young to remember, so there shouldn't be any issues with that, but Yang's been holding up pretty well so far."

"They still haven't found her body?!"

"Keep it down! No, the brass said they're still looking for her. But they are sure that Summer's," Ruby heard him hesitate, "dead somewhere in Iraq."

"I know it doesn't get any easier, Tai."

"It really doesn't. If only I was still deployed…!"

"Hey, you got Ruby and Yang to take care of. As much as I love my nieces, I'm not the kind of guy who's able to raise them properly; I don't want them ending up like me."

"Qrow, you make a way better parent than I would. Yang had to take care of Ruby all be herself when Summer died."

"Tai, what has happened to you? You're not the tough and reasonable Marine I used to remember."

Ruby heard her Dad growl. "I don't want to hear it, Qrow."

"You have to man up, Tai. You think Summer would want to see you like this?"

"Qrow, shut it."

"...Alright, fine."

Hearing them talk about Ruby's deceased mother was like listening in on a discussion about a fandom you had no knowledge about. Ruby never really had a mother, nor did she ever remember her. And it was frustrating too. Neither Dad or Uncle Qrow knew about this, but sometimes Ruby wished Dad would find a mom for her and Yang.

"They're still talking about mom, huh?"

Ruby nearly shrieked when she saw Yang standing right behind her. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Shh!" Yang put a finger on her lips. "And sorry!"

"Whaddya' doin' here, anyways?"

"I was hungry, so I was gonna go down the stairs when I saw you eavesdropping on Dad and Uncle Qrow talking about mom."

"Sorry…"

"It's okay."

"Yang," Ruby frowned at her pale feet. "I don't know if it's right of me to say this, but I wish Dad would find a mom for us. I kinda wanna know what's it like to have a mom…"

However, Ruby only heard a cold scoff from Yang. "Yeah, and I'm sure you like to experience what it's like to be abandoned too, huh?"

Ruby stared at her older sister with wide, shocked eyes. "Yang…?"

"Oh crud," Yang's cold face quickly became regretful and she shook her head. "S-Sorry, never mind, just, forget what I said, okay?"

"Okay…"

With all honesty, after hearing what she had to say about her wish, Ruby became worried for Yang's wellbeing.

Without another word, Ruby raced down the stairs and yelled out that she forgot her headphones back at the car. Taiyang threw her the keys, Ruby caught them and sped out of the door. With Zwei tagging behind her, Ruby unlocked the car and went to the passenger's door, She threw the door open and snatched her red headphones that had sat alone on her seat.

She hugged them. "Almost got away now, didn't you?"

As she closed the door and locked the car again, Ruby looked around the neighborhood again. With the three moving trucks, she spotted three families already inspecting their new homes.

One of them featured a tall, yet dorky-looking blonde kid dragging in luggage for what appears to be his seven sisters; poor guy, Ruby couldn't imagine having that many siblings. Of course, the parents were helping out, but still.

Another one had a tall Chinese boy―and he looked fully Chinese compared to Yang and herself―carrying all the luggage for a short, energetic ginger girl―maybe she was Scottish, or at least European―who was bouncing around him; Ruby never knew that someone could be that hyper. However they don't look related, and their parents hardly resemble them either.

There was a rather tall, European redhead girl with the final family; she possessed grace and kindness as she and her family carried all of their luggage together into their new home. Ruby pursed her lips, realizing that she had seen that girl somewhere before, but couldn't remember where. Huh. Something about that girl rings a bell…

A few houses down her new home was that limo Ruby had spotted earlier. Out of the door, handled by a butler, was a rich European girl with the iciest appearance Ruby had ever saw in her life. She glanced at her servants as they carried luggage out of her limo, but then an older-looking woman looking like your regular average housewife came out of the house with a sheepish smile. They appeared to talk, but Ruby couldn't understand them, and when they finished the servants simply put away the luggage on one spot of the parking lot and retreated into the limo. Both the rich girl and the woman began carrying them all into the house in their place as the limo drove away.

Whoa. She had no idea that there were other kids like her moving in. Well, besides that icy rich girl that is.

"Ruby?" She heard Dad gasping from the door. "You're not wearing any shoes?"

Looking down, Ruby realized her feet were bare―and then she finally felt the cold Autumn fingers of the pavement tickling her soles. Ooh, she better start wearing warm for this weather from now on.

Smiling sheepishly, Ruby apologized and made her way back to the door, stepping only on the sides of her feet as the ground felt strange, cold and callous if she just walked normally. As Dad told her to wear shoes next time and come inside so he could wash her feet, the younger girl protesting she can wash them on her own with a blush, Ruby just noticed a sports car pulling up at the parking space of a house opposite to theirs.

Glynda turned off the engine of the sports car, unlocked the doors, then turned to the passenger occupying the front seat. "Well Blake, this is your new home. I hope you don't mind living out here in the countryside."

Blake, holding her books against the breast of her sweater, smiled softly. "I like it, actually. It's peaceful and quiet out here."

"I'm glad to hear that," Glynda smiled at her.

The pair got out of the sports car, Blake carrying her suitcase and backpack, and headed towards the door. If anything, anxious was too light a word to describe Blake's feelings at the moment. New home, new family, new life. It was too good to be true.

Still, better to not jinx it now.

Adjusting her jacket wrapped around her waist, Blake stood behind Glynda as her new stepmother knocked on the door. Glynda shot a smirk at her. "Stay quiet, I want this to be a surprise."

Blake nodded, then found herself glancing at her leather boots and cargo pants. Ugh, even with her hairbow, she was probably one of the least girliest girls on the planet. She doesn't even put on makeup or paint her nails for goodness sake–

Oh gosh, why was she even caring about that in the first place?

Quiet. Then quick footsteps down the stairs. Locks unlocked. Then the door opened.

A young, nerdy boy wearing a black sock-like cap and a friendly smile peered his head out. "Hello there good fellow! Now how may I help–" He looked up to his visitors and his eyes became wide with shock.

Glynda chuckled. "It's so good to see you again, Eddward."

The boy named Eddward gasped. "M-Mother? I-Is that really you?! You got back from your business trip awfully early today!"

"Yep, it's Mother all right, here in the flesh!"

Blake felt her heart melting as she witnessed mother and son embracing each other, reunited once more. Apparently, Glynda must've been a busy woman for her son to react like that.

"You want to know why Mother's early today? She's gonna be working as a guidance counselor in your school from now on!"

"Oh that's delightful–" Eddward's eyes shot wide open. "Hold on, do you mean you're leaving your old job!?"

Glynda chuckled as she let go of Eddward, her hand still on his shoulder. "Being an office worker pays good money, but it kept me away from my son. Besides, I was getting tired of using sticky notes and I'm sure you were too."

No more sticky notes? Was this a dream? Eddward grinned big at his mother, and she grinned back.

Blake cleared her throat, risking being rude in front of a reunion, and caught both of their attention. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but it's cold outside…"

"Oh how careless of me!" Glynda showed Blake and Eddward inside, though the latter was staring at the former. When she closed and locked the door behind them, Glynda removed her coat. "Eddward, I'd like you to meet our new family member," She gestured to the quiet girl. "Blake Goodwitch."

Eddward inspected her, noting her introverted demeanor and the books in her hands. "You never told me we were to be receiving a new relative, Mother."

"Sorry about that, this was a last minute notice. I just adopted her from the orphanage a few days ago."

"She has no parents?"

"Yeah," Blake quickly said―but she it had pained her to lie. "They died in a car accident."

Eddward's discerning face became concern. "Oh how unfortunate! I could only imagine the pain of losing one's parents and having to be relocated to live with a new family in a foreign environment. Well don't you worry Blake, I'll be sure to help you adjust in your new surroundings as best as I can!"

"Thank you." Blake smiled at him. At least nobody's going to be avoiding her like the plague anymore. Not in this quiet part of the country, anyway.

"Glad to hear that, Eddward," Glynda also smiled at him. "Now Eddward, I'm going to go ahead and prepare lunch, so why don't you show your stepsister to her new room?"

"Of course, Mother!"

While Glynda went to the kitchen, Blake followed Eddward upstairs. The pair went down the hallway, and when they reached the end there was a door next to another one that was labeled 'Eddward.' Probably his room. The door they were standing in front of was labeled 'Guest.' Maybe Eddward would replace that with 'Blake.'

"Here is your bedroom, Blake," Eddward opened the door and revealed a plain, yet clean and organized room.

Everywhere, to Blake's surprise, were strips of labels stuck on every household object one could think of: from the windows, the fan, the closet, to the bed, the bookshelf―that's rather convenient for Blake's books―and the trash can. Even every minute detail had a label on it.

Blake went inside and glanced at all of the labels permeating her room. "There's so many labels…"

"Ah," Eddward went inside after her and began removing the labels. "I apologize for that! You see I'm quite the organized person, though it tends to border on neuroticism, but I'll remove the labels for you if you'd like."

"Sure." Her stepbrother was already removing the labels, anyway.

As he scoured her room for more labels, Blake set her backpack next to her desk, which sat at the front of the window, and her suitcase on the foot of her bed. There was something about Eddward's family that had struck her odd when she had met her earlier, but she thought it would've been rude to ask about.

Still, it was better to get this out of the way now. "Eddward, um, I don't know if this is sensitive to you, but where's your father?"

"You can call me Double-D, Blake. It's a nickname everyone here refers to me by." Eddward paused from peeling the label off the closet and turned to Blake. "Oh, Father? My parents are unfortunately divorced, but they still keep in touch with each other."

"Where is he right now?"

"Oh, he's currently working as the principal of Lemon Brook Junior High. Before I was born, he actually worked as an officer in the British Armed Forces."

"...How did your parents meet, then?"

"Oh, they met at a pub in London. Mother was in our Air Force at the time, too."

Blake's eyes became wide. "Your parents actually told you that?"

Eddward chuckled. "Not quite. I only found that out after I came across some collages of their time together while I was cleaning the entire house once."

Not wanting to intrude anymore on family matters, even if she was part of the Goodwitch family now, Blake decided to help out Double-D remove the rest of the labels. After they finished, their mother called for them shouting she had prepared dinner. As they went downstairs, Double-D politely asked if he could tell a bit about herself―but Blake only said she would tell him and Glynda about her personality and not her past. Not yet, anyway.

Or maybe they'll never know. That was probably for the best. After all, who'd want to harbor a former criminal?

8th graders filed into homeroom, excitement and anxiety murmuring among their numbers. A few members of the Cul-de-Sac clique, who were Kevin, Rolf and Nazz, took their seats next to each other at the very front of the classroom. Greeting them all was a tall, young, well-dressed man whose hand was waving rather energetically.

"Greetings, greetings to all of you students, welcome back to your final year in junior high!" Mr. Oobleck, adjusting his glasses and straightening out his wild, unkempt, green hair, was smiling to his students–

"Excuse me, but that's Dr. Oobleck to you, thank you very much! I expect everyone, even my colleagues, to refer to me as Dr.! Omniscient narrators are no exception to this!"

...Dr. Oobleck―"Thank you very kindly, good person!"―adjusting his glasses and straightening out his wild, unkempt, green hair, was smiling to his students. Ah, the final years of junior high. These youths will, before he knew it, graduate and head on out to high school―and, hopefully, to college. Just thinking about all the memories that will be made and the knowledge that will be passed on excited him to no end.

Two particular students came into his classroom, and Oobleck was about to wave at them when he recognized their clothes. Oh dear, they were in his homeroom, weren't they?

"Oh, uh, g-greetings, Mr. Carnegie and Mr. Lovecraft…"

Eddy was scowling as took the nearest desk "Mornin', teach…"

"Greetings to you too, Mr. Ooble!" Ed smiled stupidly and waved at the distraught teacher, taking a seat next to Eddy. "Ed is ready for the torment that will be inflicted upon me known as 'education!'"

"That's Dr. Oobleck, Mr. Lovecraft– Oh, who am I kidding," Oobleck sighed and shook his head. "Well, I might as well prepare for another 'interesting' year, especially with those two around."

But then Oobleck noticed the absence in their midst. He leaned over right in front of them. "Mr. Carnegie, Mr. Lovecraft, where's your good-mannered and upstanding friend, Mr. Goodwitch?"

"I don't know." Eddy shrugged with the same scowl. "Guess he's running late."

Ed also shrugged. "Beats me, Mr. Poblocka. I haven't seen our smart, sock-wearing pal Double-D since yesterday."

Eddy's arms were crossed, but his eyes shot wide open and he pulled Ed in for a whisper. "Wait a minute Lumpy," He snickered. "You think Double-D's playing hooky?"

"'Hooky?'" Ed pulled out a fishing pole and showed it to Eddy. "You mean Double-D went out fishing?"

Eddy groaned, snatched the fishing pole and threw it away. "No you lummox!" The fishing pole ended up smashing someone's face. "What I mean is," He whispered right in Ed's ear, failing to resist his chuckles. "Do you think Double-D's skipping school today?"

"Skipping school?" Ed stared at Eddy, then began sweating. "Double-D would never do that!" He snatched Eddy's collar and began biting his fingernails. "He always comes to school 20 minutes before it even opens, Eddy!"

Oobleck nodded. "I must agree with Mr. Lovecraft, Mr. Carnegie, however shocking that may be! Unlike the both of you, Mr. Goodwitch always arrives to class on time—it just so happens that being a human being has finally caught up to him! Let us not jump into conclusions now, we should wait until we receive our upstanding student and see what has kept him–"

The door opened, revealing a panting Double-D and a shadow behind him.

"–Ah, perfect timing!" Oobleck zipped right up beside Double-D. "Mr. Goodwitch, your friends and I were discussing about your unusual tardiness today! Mind if you explain the reason behind it?"

Double-D chuckled abashedly. "W-Well, technically the late bell hasn't rung yet, but if you must know for my unusual tardiness, well…" He glanced over his shoulder.

Ed, Eddy and Dr. Oobleck all leaned together and saw a black hairbow behind Double-D's sock head. The intelligent Ed's eyes widened and he stepped back, revealing a pale Goth-like girl—or rather what a Goth girl would've looked like without her makeup. Her golden eyes blinked in surprise as she hugged her stack of books tighter against her chest. Her black boots and dark-grey cargo pants scrunched as they bunched together with caution. The girl zipped right behind Double-D and her eyes only peered out, her long black hair falling down all the way midway on her back.

"Fellows," Double-D smiled and clasped his hands together. "I want you all to meet my newly-appointed–"

"Double-D's got a girlfriend!" Eddy burst out cackling, shooting up before he fell back down on the floor. He rolled around, holding his stomach, unable to control his laughter. "Check it out, Lumpy!" Eddy's hand reached out to Ed's chin and turned his head towards the pair. "Looks like Double-D was getting lovey-dovey with his girl!"

Ed stared at Double-D and the girl, then he too burst out laughing. "Naughty naughty, Double-D! Skipping school so you could make out with your emo love-partner!"

Most of the homeroom, including Kevin, Rolf and Nazz, became hysterical from the two Eds' laughter. Double-D and the girl glanced around the cackles, the former confused and the latter utterly blanched with horror.

Kevin held his stomach, as he was roaring the loudest. "Double-Dork skipped school so he could get it on with his girlfriend!? Never knew he had it in 'im!"

"Rolf is amused by the tenacious passion of the Sock-Headed Ed-Boy, for Rolf was unaware of Double-D Ed-Boy's concupiscent pursuits!"

"I-I'm sorry Double-D, b-but, it's cute and all, b-but, I can't imagine you having a girlfriend!"

A pause, a single moment spent trying to decipher why everyone was laughing at him and Blake, then Double-D's eyes shot wide with anger and he strode towards Eddy—cheeks flushed with red and sweat already permeating his face. "Eddy, what is the meaning of this?!" He snatched his collar and lifted Eddy off the ground.

"Calm down, Sock-Head!" Eddy smoothly wrapped his arm around Double-D's neck and pulled his face right next to his; he wiped a tear from his eye. "Why didn't you tell us before, Double-D! You've been holding out on us all this time, haven't you!?"

"Class, calm down!" Oobleck shot up and raised his hand. "Yes yes, you are all now hungry for your usual gossip about our honors student and his private love life, but you are all being too loud! Besides, you must let the poor man explain himself first! You're all jumping into conclusions too early!"

Everyone's laughter died down a bit, but there were still chuckles among the students.

Double-D, satisfied that he was free to talk, sighed, swallowed and faced the class. "Before I was rudely interrupted by particular people," He glared at Eddy and Ed, who suddenly shied from his ire. "This lady right behind me—whom you've all terrified and embarrassed now thanks to all of your presumptuous, gossip-starved laughter —is my new stepsister, Blake Goodwitch."

"W-We were running a bit late," Blake suddenly peered out from Double-D's shoulder, though she still only revealed her eyes. "B-Because, I woke up late."

"See, Eddy?" Double-D turned to Eddy with crossed arms. "Blake and I are stepsiblings, nothing more and certainly nothing less!"

Eddy blinked, staring at the intelligent Ed. "That it?" Then he grinned and pulled Double-D in for a whisper. "In that case, why don't you hook me up with that cute sister of yours, eh Big Bro?"

All of the sudden Ed's head smashed right into Eddy's chin and the conman Ed flew away from the pair. "You can't do that, Eddy! Double-D's a big brother now, and he has to take care of his little sister just like me!" He turned to the surprised Ed. "Ed will teach you everything he knows about being a good big brother, Double-D!"

"Ah," Double-D chuckled. "Thank you very much, Ed! I'll be sure to consider your offer."
"Now then," Oobleck cleared his throat and caught the Eds' and Blake's attention. "Can we all take our seats now so I can perform roll-call?"

Without another word, the Eds quickly took their usual seats at the right side of the classroom, with Blake sitting right behind Double-D. For her first day at school, that was… an enlightening experience. Of course, Blake was not satisfied with being already known as "Double-D's girlfriend" in spite of the fact they were now stepsiblings. She was already beginning to hear some of the kids here gossiping about her and Double-D. What a pain.

But more pressing was those friends of Double-D's. Maybe Blake should acquaint herself with them now so she could save unnecessary headache later. As she ruminated over her thoughts, she felt eyes piercing her back and she glanced over her shoulder—only to stare into the eyes of a cool kid wearing a red cap backwards.

Kevin eyed Double-D's supposed girlfriend carefully. She was cute, but it turned out that Double-D never had a girlfriend at all. Then again, in retrospect, the dork was too much of a dork to get one in the first place.

But man, first day in school and she was already starting to associate with the Eds. This could be bad for her.

After breaking eye contact, Kevin leaned over to Rolf and Nazz. "Check it out, guys—that girl over there's already associating with the dweebs."

"Oh," Rolf pursed his eyes. "You mean Double-D Ed-Boy's not-girlfriend but unrelated sister?"

"I never seen her around here before, actually." Nazz too was looking at the Goth-like girl. "You think she's a new kid?"

"I did see a couple moving trucks coming in to the Cul-de-Sac a few days ago," Kevin said. "Looks like there's gonna be a lot of new kids coming in today."

Rolf glanced at Kevin with a raised eyebrow. "Rolf sees no wrong in the arrival of new folks, Shovel-Chin Kev."

"Don't call me that." Kevin glared at Rolf, but it cooled off. "Eh, as long as they don't associate with the Eds, I'm cool with them."

He shot another glance at the new girl one last time, pursing lips. He should try talking to that girl at lunch. Then again, that could be difficult given she was Double-Dork's stepsister.

I haven't seen a RWBY x Ed Edd n' Eddy crossover here that transplants the RWBY cast into the latter's setting. And it's a shame too, because there's a missed opportunity in this section of the site that could actually be really great if written write.

Now, this kind of crossover is strange enough already such that writing a literal crossing between the two shows is going to be quite difficult. RWBY is a show that was meant to be serious eventually, even if the creators failed to foreshadow that well, and Ed Edd n' Eddy is inherently comedic, and while it is sadistic to its cast it's ultimately light-hearted and not terribly serious even during the movie. I think that by combining the comedy and light-hearted moments the fans had initially expected from RWBY and the slapstick comedy and contemporary setting of Ed Edd n' Eddy in this fusionverse fic, you get yourself a crossover that works well. Strange, given the fandoms being crossed here, but works well.

At least, I hope Ed Edd n' RWBY works well!

Think of this fic as a new season for Ed Edd n' Eddy, only it's expanding upon the cast and setting with the addition of the RWBY cast. Of course I'll have to take creative liberties to accommodate the RWBY characters into a contemporary Earth setting, but hopefully all of their personalities will remain largely intact.

Having written a previous RWBY crossover, for those of you following From Ranger To Huntsman I'm afraid it'll be continued to be on hiatus. Considering the breadth and complexity of a such a fic―and the fact that From Ranger To Huntsman is planned to be a series―I just don't have the experience needed to competently pull it off. My apologies to followers of that fic. But Ed Edd n' RWBY is definitely my first true foray into a multi-chapter fic, and considering its largely episodic and inherently comedic nature this should help me learn more about writing multi-chapter fics for future projects.

With all that said, I hope all of you readers have enjoyed the first chapter of Ed Edd n' RWBY. Technically we're not done with Episode 1 yet, as this is most definitely going to be a two-parter. Expect the next part to come along in the next several days.

Until then, fare thee well!

-SdaTheArtist.