Volume 5 Alterations and Commentary.

Volume 5 Chapter 1

Everyone needs a mental health break after their trek from Saunus to Anima. Especially Ruby and Jaune. I allowed them to be lazy and with Ruby training in hand-to-hand combat, it actually appears later in the Canon Volume 5.

Taiyang was brought in as an extra set of hands for the most part. He allows for Ruby to feel more at home. Him checking out Raven makes for an interesting conflict between Taiyang, the Ex and Reuben, the current. Raven's outfit is changed for the first time in years, and stays this way until around the end of Volume 8.

Weiss not knowing how to cook is based off of a RWBY Chibi episode. The gigantic robot that Sam Henry is working on won't appear in the series for a while, but its teased here. Weiss going to Mistral does fit with the original timeline, but it is done here for different reasons.

Cinder plans her assault on Haven. She has heard of Reuben from Roman Torchwick who he has crossed paths with.

Raven and Reuben are still a new couple. Reuben treats Raven much differently than Taiyang did when they were together. They will also have sex many times going forwards, but none of it will be vivid.

Volume 5 Chapter 2

Yes, they had sex for almost 2 hours and Reuben makes fun of Taiyang. This also adds fuel to the divide between these two men. Henri Ducard serves in the same role as Glynda Goodwitch.

The Combat class setting is entirely original. One would assume it was a standard feature since Beacon and Atlas in the main series have them.

Weiss learning about Winter returning to Atlas is very different from the Main timeline. But her picking up Sam Henry's order instead of a carrier corporation shows how much Weiss has become involved in such a short while with this man. Argus's fleet being recalled will be another Plot point for Volume 6.

Ruby's new power was hinted at in the Volume 4 Prologue. She also displays them here as she is trying to hone the powers of a silver-eyed warrior. Reuben fights Taiyang, but before that he makes a slight at Signal Academy. This is the Academy that Ruby trained at and her father and uncle teach at.

The Ironwood scene in Atlas is glorious. The Happy Huntresses are established as an opposing force to Ironwood's faction right away. The video that Reuben sends Ironwood is meant to back the General off of the ledge. So he becomes less paranoid of the people around him. He tells him exactly what Ruby and the rest of her friends hid from him in Volume 7 which really made him lose his mind. Ironwood has a mini breakdown with himself crying at the end.

Taiyang brings up good points in his fight against Reuben. Mainly, where had he been prior to Volume 5. He holds him accountable for the death of Summer Rose because Taiyang views him as an all-powerful Hunter. While there is truth to this, there is another reason that will be stated later why he didn't save Summer. The Fall of Beacon was fought on many fronts and Reuben has a much larger role in it, which will be expanded upon when the time comes in Volume 3 and future Volumes.

Volume 5 Chapter 3

Large parts of the main timeline remain intact. Such as Yang going to search for Ruby and ending up running into Shady Mann and being taken into the Branwen Tribe. While this isn't shown, it does in fact happen mostly like in Volume 5. Most of the dialogue between Raven and Yang is from the Main series, and still fits. The fight begins when Yang insults her outfit, just like Taiyang did. Raven was going to kill off the weaker members of her tribe, which fits with her character in canon that the strong deserve to survive. She has her colder persona for outsiders and reserves her new warmer feeling for Reuben.

This line given by Henri Ducard to Oscar is actually from Liam Neeson's character, High-T in Men in Black: International. The following ones are taken from Batman Begins. Oscar is inexperienced at fighting, since no Huntsman training, so Ducard trains him.

Raven is testing the strength of Yang and Weiss in their brief fight. At this point, Raven is about 15% stronger than in Canon.

This end bit has a conversation between Taiyang and Raven. Even with them separated, she still cares a little about him which is evidenced when she visits in the Canon Volume 5 finale. Raven also gives a small insight as to why she left Yang and Tai all those years ago. But the real reason is not as simple as she leads him to believe. There is also some foreshadowing in their conversation to future events.

Volume 5 Chapter 4

Blake's story is unchanged in it's entirety. That is why she largely has been absent along with the events not cleanly lining up. RNJR and Qrow basically teleported to Mistral and bypassed the Nuckelavee entirely. Reuben hired guards because he literally came to power in a Military coup. Reuben also smugly interrupts a moment between Yang and Blake. He also tells them of the upcoming Battle of Haven. This battle will be radically different from the canon one. Also, Ilia having her parents saved is a nice little touch, which allows her and other Faunus to view Reuben favorably.

I also decided to keep Sienna Khan alive for a future project. Adam is dissuaded from killing her by Hazel, who made him an offer he couldn't refuse. A White Fang Civil War, while teased, could prove good fodder for a spin-off series.

Reuben draws up actual battle plans. Something that was absent in canon with both Academies. The coordination with Team STRQ allows them to have a much better chance at Victory. The strategy also prevents them from being too overwhelmed and slowing down Cinder.

This last scene also teases the Sentinels once again. Ironwood is said to be preparing to go to war. This is why in canon, they put the blockade of dust into effect. They thought other Kingdoms would go to war with them.

Volume 5 Chapter 5

This first scene sets up the defense of Haven.

The Weapon upgrades are completely original. Team RWBY was able to access the full resources of Haven for their weapons much like Atlas. Blake did not get an upgrade, because she was in Menagerie around the time of the upgrade.

The ironic part about the Team JNR Scene is that they weren't given a fourth member because it was unlikely for an attack to happen from the south. But, Cinder and Hazel came anyways. Hence why Ilia and Sun are just vibing indoors.

Adam Vs Team RWBY never happened in canon as Blake and Yang would fight him in Volume 6. This fight is a substitute for that other fight.

Reuben shoots Cinder with his rifle when she gets close. One of the rare uses of his weapon due to him preferring Hand-to-Hand combat. I also loved that during their fight, Nora comes to the rescue with her hammer.

Doctor Merlot makes his first of a handful of Cameos. His Grimm Mutating research has evolved from the game he originated from. He is literally just there to take notes for his future projects.

Ilia and Sun also make themselves useful by taking out Mercury and Emerald fairly quickly.

The last scene has Jaune using his Aura to heal up Reuben for the Volume 5 Finale. Cinder is also more destructive than in the original Volume 5. She hates Reuben and wants to kill him with the reason being addressed later on. His Semblance also evolves close to the end as he unlocks more power that had been slumbering within him.

Volume 5 Chapter 6

This chapter picks up where the previous one left off. Reuben is comfortably fighting Hazel and Cinder. It was originally intended for Reuben to accidently kill off Hazel with that punch to his gut, but this was changed before the first draft was complete.

I actually like that Yang cut Adam's eyes out. Unlike his odd branding in Volume 6, this one allows her to take revenge for her arm left at Beacon.

Cinder is absolutely going for broke in this battle. She needs to retrieve the relic because failure is not an option. Hence why she didn't return to Salem until Volume 8 with the Lamp in canon. Reuben's Semblance, Pure Progress does not make him unbeatable. Like everyone else, there is a limit to how much damage he can take without his aura breaking. This was not meant to kill off Reuben but provide Raven enough rage and determination to beat back Cinder.

Hazel has his Ozpin moment, like he does in canon. He then is left to deal with the rest of the defenders including Ducard, whom Team RWBY leaves on the ground outside Haven.

Raven shows off her training in full as this battle closely resembles the duel in the original Volume 5 with her using her full power. Raven is stronger than Reuben, by a third in this battle. Raven also doesn't have her Aura break in this match while Cinder's completely shatters.

Raven freezing Cinder mirrors canon, and this was actually meant to be her death. This was changed to benefit a future volume. Reuben gets healed up by Ducard, and then has the events of the battle relayed back. Overall, they won the battle of haven, with massive impacts on the story going forwards.

Reuben fighting Ozpin over the lamp shows a clear divide within their groups. Ozpin loathes Reuben and wants the Relic in Atlas. This would've had the groups divide as they took the Argus limited to try and reach Atlas. Reuben asked Jinn the two questions that the main cast would ask in Volume 6, and another about the Summer Maiden. Yang hates Reuben, because Raven and any future children would have the life she was deprived of.

So, That has been RWBY Reloaded: Volume 5!