Now, I can guess what you're thinking. Of all the stories to rewrite, why did I choose this one? The story that started probably my most elaborate series ever in terms of lore and characters, and not my older stories, like my Stryder series or Agent Rhode Island series? Well, that just answered the question. The fact that the SHDW series is so mixed in with lore and interesting characters. Agent Rhode Island almost got there, but Red vs. Blue doesn't quite have enough lore to work with as much as RWBY does.
I had started the SHDW series with barely any big plans for it. It would've been just another generic story if not for the intervention of and his characters and lore. If I had known then what I know now, this story would've turned out a LOT different. Well, maybe not too much, but enough for me to have a rewrite instead of simple editing. Also, Team SHDW Volume 1 was still one of my early stories, so some rewrites are certainly needed.
But without further ado, enjoy my rewrite of Team SHDW Volume 1!
Team SHDW Volume 1 [REWRITTEN]
Prologue: Ruby Rose
Flashback
"Christina, are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Richard, you know we have to! They're after us now that we've defected! Is the basement entrance still hidden?"
"Yes, but... our son? You want to use the last of our experiments on our own child? I know we're in a desperate situation, but-"
"It's the only way to be able to keep our research intact and out of the White Fang's hands. Even if they found what's in the basement, they won't have the completed product."
"But after what happened to Zander?!"
"If you remember, Zander didn't go insane. He was in a coma."
"You act as though that's supposed to reassure me that putting the same stuff that we put into Zander's body into Skyler's would be a good idea."
"We've worked on the essence since then. That was months ago. You know the progress we've made!"
"I know, I know... it's just... I'm worried, just as I know you are. Once the condition starts rearing it's head, they're gonna find out, one way or another. And you know how violent Sienna can get. Especially now with Zander's condition."
"I'm aware... And I'm not just worried. I'm scared out of my mind. What if they find us sooner than we think they will? What if they find the basement? What if they find out about Skyler and the things he'll be capable of once his body matures?! Oh gods, I'm so scared right now..."
"Hey... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. But don't worry so much. There's nothing wrong with a little caution. We'll need to watch our backs."
"Right... let's just get this over with."
Present Time
"Oh, I can't believe my baby sister's going to Beacon with us! This is the best day ever!!"
"Please stop..."
Of all the things to have happened, Skyler Yin, dressed in his regular green shirt and blue jeans, wasn't expecting his younger female childhood friend, aka Ruby Rose, to be in the same freshman year as the rest of them. And by them, he of course referred to himself, Ruby's older half-sister Yang Xiao Long, and Dante Williams, the middle currently crushing her sister in a hug, and the latter awkwardly watching alongside Skyler, wearing black pants and a long red jacket over a white shirt.
"It is rather surprising," Dante admitted, messing with his white hair, "You're two years younger than the rest of us. What did you do to get the headmaster's attention like that?"
Ruby escaped from Yang's death grip and sweat-dropped, "Eh... nothing much... really, guys, it's nothing."
"Only you would call getting the attention of Headmaster Ozpin 'nothing'," Skyler smiled teasingly.
"He's right!" Yang grinned wider, "It was incredible! Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees."
"Who on Remnant says 'the bee's knees'?" Dante whispered to Skyler.
"Not us."
"I don't want to be the 'bee's knees', okay?" Ruby protested, "I don't want to be any kind of knees! I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees."
"What's with you?" Yang asked, puzzled, "Aren't you excited?"
"Of course I'm excited... I just..." Ruby sighed, "I got moved ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything."
Yang went over and gave her sister a one-armed hug, "But you are special."
"Yeah, and besides," Dante said, "You won't have to worry about making a lot of new friends because you got us! Us four musketeers will be going at it again! Who knows, we could all be on the same team!"
"Yeah, but what would we be called?" Skyler asked, "YRDS (Yards)?"
"That's assuming you want Yang as a leader. Do you want that?"
"Good point."
"Hey!" Yang argued, "I'm right here! And what's wrong with me being in charge?"
"No offense, Yang," Skyler replied, "But you're not exactly the pinnacle of leadership."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Yang huffed, crossing her arms indignantly.
"Need I remind us all of the dreaded Jockstrap Incident?" Dante retorted.
Ruby shivered, "Please don't..."
"Okay, sure," Yang admitted, "But that was one ti-"
"Or the time you went to train Ruby out in the middle of nowhere woods," Dante continued, "Or that night at Junior's, where you beat the absolute crap out of everybody there. Or that time Skyler got locked in a public re-"
"Can we please not bring that up," Skyler interrupted, groaning, "I've tried to block that out of my memory, I don't need to be reminded."
Yang sighed in defeat, "Maybe so... but you didn't have to be so harsh about it."
"I know," Dante grinned playfully, "I'm just giving you a hard time."
Skyler thought about adding in the time Yang dragged all of them out to the middle of nowhere when they were kids to find a hint about her mom, but shook away that thought, thinking bringing that up would be a bit below the belt. Then all their attention was drawn to the newscast on Vale News Network playing nearby, talking about a robbery and showing a mugshot of Roman Torchwick.
-The robbery was led by nefarious criminal Roman Torchwick, who continues to evade authorities. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Vale Police Department. Back to you, Lisa.-
The mugshot then changed to Lisa Lavender, the regular news lady, along with a photo of animal-eared demonstrators holding signs saying 'WE ARE NOT ANIMALS!', followed by an image of the logo of a growling red wolf's head with three scratch marks.
-Thank you, Cyril,- Lisa said, -In other news, this Saturday's Faunus Civil Rights protest turned dark when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony. The once peaceful organization has now disrupted—-
The news feed was cut off and a hologram of a woman replaced it. If everyone's attention wasn't on the TV, everyone's was now on the projection.
-Hello, and welcome to Beacon!- the hologram lady greeted.
"Who's that?" Yang asked.
-My name is Glynda Goodwitch.-
"Oh."
-You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy! Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world.-
Glynda's projection disappeared and the giant castle that was Beacon Academy came into view.
"Oh, wow!" Ruby said among several other cries of surprise, "Look, you can see Signal from up here! I guess home isn't too far after all.
Yang put her arms around her friends and gave a warm smile, "Beacon's our home, now."
The four then heard a passenger with blonde hair and armor groaning and hunched over nearby, before eventually running to the back of the ship.
Yang rolled her eyes, "Well... I guess the view isn't for everyone."
"It was a nice moment while it lasted," Ruby smiled awkwardly.
"I wonder who we're gonna meet!" Dante stated.
"I just hope they're better than Vomit Boy over there," Skyler grimaced, nodding over to the nauseas passenger.
Ruby then looked down and shrieked, "Oh, Yang, gross! You have puke on your shoe!"
"Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross!!"
"Get-Get away! Get away from me! Get away from me! Get away from me! Get away from me!!"
XXX
And this is already a far cry from what I originally wrote. You can tell I'm already setting up future events that won't even happen this volume. And that's how you set up lore, my fellow writers. You know, something RoosterTeeth doesn't seem to know. Because they abandoned their lore and world-building a long time ago. But enough bashing on the show, that's not what I'm here to do.
Also, this is the new canon. Feel free to ignore the original version and only pay attention to this version. Prepare for the introduction of new characters/teams, more world-building, and an overall better story. Till next time guys!