History Fanfic / WeightOfTheWorld

* {{Doorstopper}}: Together, the five installments has reached over 600,000 words and counting.

** Penny and Cinder die during the Fall of Beacon.
** Neo dies in Haven's Vault.
** Lionheart is [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness killed by Salem]].
** [[spoiler:Atlas/Ciel dies during the Fall of Atlas.]]
** [[spoiler:Tyrian is killed by France in the woods of Vale.]]
** [[spoiler:'''[[AnyoneCanDie Blake]]''' dies protecting Yang from the [[EldritchAbomination Warden Grimm]].]]
** [[spoiler:Vale dies [[HeroicSacrifice saving America's life]].]]

* AmbiguouslyEvil: [[spoiler:Ozpin]] did something to Vale to keep her from sharing his secrets. Vale is ''terrified'' of him, and begs America to be careful when doing something as simple as asking him questions. When America rhetorically thinks [[spoiler:Ozpin]] would not kill people for asking questions, Vale shudders.

* AssholeVictim: No one will mourn [[spoiler:the abusive and bigoted Jacques Schnee]], not even [[spoiler:his younger daughter. This lack of grief makes Weiss question if something is wrong with her.]]

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Upon realizing the man he talked to [[spoiler:is an Atlas soldier and was in-part responsible for America's kidnapping and torture]] [[NiceGuy Lithuania]] begins beating him to a bloody pulp until Poland pulls him off the guy.

** Lithuania, Prussia, Austria, and Poland are saved from [[spoiler:the Byakko Grimm by an Atlas soldier (named Copper).]]

** [[spoiler:Russia]] attacks America in an attempt to force him to get over his PTSD and depression. [[RealityEnsues It doesn't work.]]

* CaptivePush: [[spoiler:America]] is captured by Ironwood and his men. They handcuff him, put a drug-injecting collar around his neck, and begin marching him off the airship. [[spoiler:America]] manages to escape and fight his captors off.

* CutHimselfShaving: [[spoiler:Russia]] attacks America, leaving him with noticeable cuts and bruises. When confronted about the injuries, America claims he tripped into the shower. Canada, Weiss, and Winter do not believe him.

* HavingABlast: [[spoiler:An Atlas spy's]] Semblance allows him to turn air into massive explosions.

* MeleeATrois: [[spoiler:Ironwood]] and Hazel both want to capture [[spoiler:America]] while they themselves are on opposite sides. [[spoiler:Ironwood]] attempts to capture [[spoiler:America]], but he escapes and immediately runs into Hazel. [[spoiler:America]] is forced to fight and escape both of them while trying to get out of a burning airship they are trapped in.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Russia leaves his teleportation necklace in Woodland. A little boy finds it and gives it to Watts.]]
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[spoiler:Roman]] viciously beats up and shoots Romano simply because he is America's friend.
* NoSympathy: [[spoiler:Russia]] has no patience for America's [=PTSD=], depression, trauma, and touch aversion so he tries to force him to get over it by roughly [[TraumaButton grabbing]] and attacking him. It doesn't work, and only makes America feel worse.

* PowerIncontinence: America is overwhelmed by the negative emotions of the suffering people of Woodland. Their feelings enhances his own depression and he suffers from extreme migraines. He becomes more and more despondent the longer they stay in town to the point where he starts [[spoiler:considering suicide like some of the citizens.]] He snaps out of it.

* TearsOfBlood: [[spoiler:America's left eye bleeds profusely during Salem's attack on Frontier, reminding Ruby of bloody tears.]]

** Russia is not free of blame either. He is the one who [[spoiler:purposely dropped his necklace to stop Canada from sending him back to Earth.]]

* WillNotBeAVictim: America is tired of being captured, manipulated, and tortured again and again. [[spoiler:So when Ironwood tries to recapture him and Hazel shows up to do the same, he fights tooth and nail to escape. And he ''succeeds''.]]
* WithMyHandsTied: [[spoiler:America]] fights off Ironwood and Hazel while in a drug-injecting SlaveCollar and handcuffs. He manages to escape them.

* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Due to the series being written before Volume 5 came out, Adam and Raven's personalities differ from canon. Adam is a compelling leader, former WellIntentionedExtremist, and less AxCrazy instead of the GeneralFailure PsychoExBoyfriend from the show. Raven is ALighterShadeOfBlack SocialDarwinist who refuses to fight for Ozpin because of how Summer Rose died. Meanwhile in the show Raven is a DirtyCoward who has no defensible reason for abandoning the fight against Salem.

** Salem and Ozpin [[spoiler:were never lovers]] in this series.

* SymbolicMutilation: Two {{Wide Eyed Idealist}}s, Ruby and [[spoiler:America]], are blinded in one eye.

* AnyoneCanDie: The body count includes: Penny Polendina, Cinder, Mantle, Neo, [[spoiler:Ciel/Atlas, Doctor Polendina, Jacques Schnee, Tyrian, Vale, and '''Blake'''.]] The last death solidifies this entry as the death was a [[spoiler:main character]] performing a StupidSacrifice with little fanfare. ''No one'' is safe.

** Ozpin's habit of keeping vital information to himself comes to bite him. His secret-keeping damages [[spoiler: the nations', RWBY, and JNPR's]] trust in him, preventing them from telling him that [[spoiler:Sun is Vacuo.]]

* PyrrhicVictory: [[spoiler: [[BigBad Cinder]] [[DeathByAdaptation is dead]] and [[SparedByTheAdaptation Pyrrha survived]] but Beacon is overrun by Grimm and the rest of Vale's Aura went to America, making him lose his memories.]]

* MercyKill: [[spoiler:Raven]] claims to be doing this to [[spoiler:Alfred]] to keep [[spoiler:him]] from [[TheManBehindTheMan Salem]].

* SecretKeeper: Of the nation-tans back on Earth, [[spoiler: Australia]] is the only one aware of England and company's mission to bring back America and Canada from Remnant, and that Remnant exists at all.

* ForcedToWatch: In a flashback, [[spoiler:the Atlas scientists hook Canada up to machines that track his vitals and force him to watch America's vivisection.]]

* PyrrhicVictory: [[spoiler:The heroes on Remnant save Haven from the White Fang and Team RWBY reunites but they lose the Relic of Knowledge to Salem.]]

* SecretKeeper: Only the nations who went to Remnant (plus Australia and Pyrrha) know about America's amnesia and that America and Canada were abducted by soldiers from another world.

* DiggingYourselfDeeper: This is said almost word for word when [[spoiler:America asks Winter if she is going to cuff him to something to keep him from leaving.]] He realizes what he said and claims he was joking and [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial never experienced that or expected]] that to happen. He babbles on until [[spoiler:Winter]] holds up a hand to silence him. She coolly tells him she would never do such a thing, much to his chagrin (and relief).

* ForcedToWatch: Polendina makes America watch a recording of Penny's death during the Tournament. He puts the recording on repeat and leaves.

* MercyKill: [[spoiler:Italy shoots America in the head so he [[GoodThingYouCanHeal can heal]] in peace rather than let him continue to [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice suffer from the horrific wounds]] Atlas inflicted upon him.]]

* DiggingYourselfDeeper: PlayedForDrama. When Ironwood's suspicious reports on him appear, America tells [[spoiler:Atlesian Military Doctor Charon]] vague information about what Ironwood did to him. He realizes he is making Ironwood sound like a monstrous StalkerWithACrush and backtracks, only to accidentally reveal that he and Canada were captured and experimented on by the General.

!!Warning: Each folder contains unmarked spoilers for the previous books. [[note]]For example, ''The Depths of Deception'''s folder contains unmarked spoilers for ''Weight of the World'' and ''The Shattered Soul''.[[/note]] The General folder contains spoilers for ''Weight of the World'', ''The Shattered Soul'', ''The Depths of Deception'', ''The Atrocities of Atlas'', and ''The Charlatan of Choice'', with spoilers for the first three books left unmarked. Please read at your own risk.

* AnyoneCanDie: The body count includes: Penny Polendina, Cinder, Mantle, Neo, [[spoiler:Ciel/Atlas, Doctor Polendina, Jacques Schnee, Tyrian, and '''Blake'''.]] The last death solidifies this entry as the death was a [[spoiler:main character]] performing a StupidSacrifice with little fanfare. ''No one'' is safe.

* ColdBloodedTorture:
** [[spoiler:An ex-Atlas soldier tortures America and carves the word "Sacrifice" into his back in an attempt to make him activate Penny 2.0 through desperation. It doesn't work, but the soldier succeeds in making his "message" [[ScarsAreForever stick]].]]
** [[spoiler:Once America is at her mercy, Atlas slowly and maliciously impales him with a spear, repeatedly stabbing him clean through his stomach and out his back. She knows [[ImmortalLifeIsCheap he'll survive]] whatever she does to him so she does not hold back, causing him as much pain as possible as she demands he submit to her.]]
** After that [[spoiler:Atlas tortures Canada with an electrified baton.]]

* HeroicSuicide: Defied. [[spoiler:America contemplates killing himself so Salem can never get the Relic of Choice and win the war. England and Australia convince him no one wants him to make that sacrifice and killing himself won't save anyone.]]

* AmbiguouslyEvil: [[spoiler:Ozpin did something to Vale to keep her from sharing his secrets. Vale is ''terrified'' of him, and begs America to be careful when doing something as simple as asking him questions. When America rhetorically thinks Ozpin would not kill his followers for asking questions, Vale shudders.]]

* TheBusCameBack: After not being seen since ''The Depths of Deception'' [[spoiler:Roman returns and takes the Relic of Creation from Nora and Romano to give it to Salem.]]

* CaptivePush: [[spoiler:America is captured by Ironwood and his men. They handcuff him, put a drug-injecting collar around his neck, and begin marching him off the airship. America manages to escape and fight his captors off.]]
* CareerEndingInjury: [[spoiler:Atlas's spear went through Qrow's spine. He has lost the ability to walk and will never be a Huntsman again.]]

* CatsAreMean: The Grimm that attacks [[spoiler:and nearly kills]] Lithuania, Austria, Poland, and Prussia is a tiger-like Grimm called a "Byakko". It is one of the most dangerous and vicious Grimm in the series. [[spoiler:It nearly crushes Lithuania beneath its paws and bites into Austria's shoulder before swinging him around like a rag doll.]]

* EmotionBomb: [[spoiler:Salem can enhance the negative thoughts and emotions of her targets. She can also create those emotions out of nothing. She uses this ability to make everyone except America increasingly antagonistic to each other to the point where they come to blows. America realizes [[OutOfCharacterAlert something is off]], retreats to figure things out, and [[AllAccordingToPlan runs into Salem]].]]
* EvilOnlyHasToWinOnce: Once Salem [[spoiler:steals the Relic of Creation (the last Relic she needed other than Choice), keeping America out of her hands becomes the heroes' top priority. If Salem gets America and Choice, [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the heroes lose]].]] The realization of this puts a lot of stress on America, who passes out upon being told [[spoiler:he's the last guardian of the Relics remaining.]]

** [[spoiler:Austria stabs the Byakko Grimm]] in the eye to blind it.

* {{Fainting}}: Emotional Fainting with some Exhaustion. America has a panic attack and passes out when he finds out [[spoiler:Salem's forces took the Relic of Creation, leaving Choice (and by extension, him) as the last thing Salem needs to bring her plans to fruition.]]

* ForcedSleep: [[spoiler:England puts a sleeping spell on America that can be triggered in order to keep Salem from being able to use him to unlock Beacon's Vault and Relic of Choice. America can only be woken from the spell by a specific phrase. As he is about to be taken to Salem, America uses the spell, falling into a DeepSleep.]]
* FramingTheGuiltyParty: "Framing a Known Guilty Party for Something Else" version. Ironwood did some terrible things, which include approving of the Transformation Institute. However, [[spoiler:America suspects the investigators are planning to make Ironwood appear to be his StalkerWithACrush at the [[ScarpiaUltimatum very least]], along with pinning Ironwood for other crimes the General did not actually commit.]]

* IfItBleedsItLeads: [[spoiler:VNN runs a story about the discovery of a mass grave under Atlas. They are about to show footage of the site when Nora turns it off.]]

* KangarooCourt: [[spoiler:Ironwood's trial has a predetermined verdict of guilty. The trial is a sham. Its real purpose is to make his crimes as public as possible.]]

* MeleeATrois: [[spoiler:Ironwood and Hazel both want to capture America while they themselves are on opposite sides. Ironwood attempts to capture America, but he escapes and immediately runs into Hazel. America is forced to fight and escape both of them while trying to get out of a burning airship they are trapped in.]]
* MercyKillArrangement: More like a "Mercy Coma Arrangement" since [[NationsAsPeople personifications]] cannot die and instead go into a coma when they are badly injured. [[spoiler:America asks England to put a sleeping curse on him that can be activated if he is about to be captured by Salem. Fatal wounds would only keep him unconscious for a small period of time, so he needs the curse in order to stay down. As long as he is comatose, Salem cannot use him to get the Relic of Choice and Remnant and Earth will be safe. America also hopes to use the spell to avoid being tortured.]] The request is treated much like asking for a mercy kill in the face of capture, with [[spoiler:England]] agonizing over the decision as he is horrified that [[spoiler:his little brother]] would ask him to "kill" him. He eventually agrees.

** Hazel grabs [[spoiler:Roman]] and lifts him by his throat after he disobeys Hazel's orders and [[spoiler:attacks America]]. After warning him not to do that again, Hazel drops him, leaving him gasping for breath and coughing on the ground.

** [[spoiler:Hazel]] kills a soldier this way, just by [[SuperStrength clenching his fingers]].

* NeverSmileAtACrocodile: [[spoiler:The Vale-bound heroes encounter crocodile-like Grimm after the airship crashes into a lake. The smaller one grabs Yang and pulls her into a death roll before she is freed and leaves visible bite marks in her robotic arm. The larger one has a mace-like tail and teeth as long as America's arm.]]

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[spoiler:Roman viciously beats up and shoots Romano simply because he is America's friend.]]

* QuoteMine: Lampshaded. After being "interviewed" by [[spoiler:Charon]] America realizes that his interviewer may manipulate and splice his words in order to make it seem like [[spoiler:Ironwood is a StalkerWithACrush at best. The "testimony" will then be used at Ironwood's sham of a trial, making him seem like more of a monster in the public's eye.]]

* WithMyHandsTied: [[spoiler:America fights off Ironwood and Hazel while in a drug-injecting SlaveCollar and handcuffs. He manages to escape them.]]
* YetAnotherBabyPanda: VNN runs a story about four newborn Pomeranian puppies. [[spoiler: The next story is about the discovery of [[MoodWhiplash a mass grave under Atlas]].]]

* AnyoneCanDie: The body count includes: Penny Polendina, Cinder, Mantle, Neo, [[spoiler:Ciel/Atlas, Doctor Polendina, Jacques Schnee, Sun, Qrow, Klein, Whitley, Tyrian, and '''Blake'''.]] The last death solidifies this entry as the death was a [[spoiler:main character]] performing a StupidSacrifice with little fanfare. ''No one'' is safe.

* BigDamnHeroes: Lithuania, Prussia, Austria, and Poland are saved from [[spoiler:the Byakko Grimm by an Atlas soldier (named Copper).]]

* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Qrow, Whitley, Klein, and Sun are killed when Salem attacks Frontier.]]

* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: [[spoiler: If Ruby didn't jump into the fight between Japan and Neo (which Japan was winning) she wouldn't have lost an eye and fallen unconscious, leaving her Silver Eyes dormant and the [[EnemySummoner Grimm Dragon]] circling Beacon.]]

* ArbitrarySkepticism: At first, Weiss doesn't accept that [[spoiler: a Semblance capable of messing with minds]] is possible when Jaune suggests it but she quickly comes around and considers it. Played straight with [[spoiler: Ironwood,]] who dismisses [[spoiler:Penny]] when [[spoiler:she]] brings up such a possibility.

* BrutalHonesty: Qrow goes for this approach when [[spoiler:telling America the risks of accepting the rest of Vale's Aura.]]
* BystanderSyndrome: When [[spoiler:Yang beats up America while under the influence of Emerald's Semblance]], none of the present Academy students or civilians step in to stop [[spoiler:her]] and help [[spoiler:him]]. They all stand by and watch. This is especially noteworthy since all of the students have Aura and could have intervened with a low risk of getting hurt. A man interviewed by the news calls them out for their inaction, and other interviewees express dismay and disgust at the students' lack of interference.

* DeathOfPersonality: What [[spoiler:America]] fears will happen if [[spoiler: he agrees to do the transfer and receive Vale's remaining Aura.]] [[spoiler: He loses his memories.]]

---> [[spoiler:'''Yang:''' ''(To Alfred)'' Continue that sentence and I'll punch you in the gut so hard you won't wake up until the end of the Vytal Festival.]]
** Chapter twelve: [[spoiler: America records a message for Canada in the Vault.]]

** Ozpin shouts when interrogating [[spoiler:Ironwood]] about Amber.

* TitleDrop: Ironwood says the title [[spoiler: as part of his chant to activate Canada and America's Auras.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Ironwood''': For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of strength and power to shield others from the [[TitleDrop weight of the world]]. Infinite in potential and unbound by fate, I release your soul, and for my Kingdom, give this burden to thee.]]

* BloodyHandprint: [[spoiler:In Pyrrha's nightmare, Dream!America leaves a trail of bloody fingerprints on the glass of the Aura transfer machine as he dies.]]
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Adam turns the Faunus Blake brought to fight him against each other. It's unclear if this is his Semblance or something [[MoreThanMindControl more]].]]
* CanonCharacterAllAlong: [[spoiler:The kindly doctor seen in the flashbacks is actually Penny's creator, Doctor Polendina.]]

* FakeDefector: In order to [[spoiler:find Neo/Mistral in Kuchinashi, Yang, Jaune, Nora, and Ren pretend to defect from Ozpin's side and search for employment in Torchwick's gang.]]
* FedToTheBeast: [[spoiler:Summer's fate. According to Raven, she was devoured by a horde of Grimm while Salem's forces watched.]]

* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler:England tries to manipulate America into doing a ritual that would sever his connection with Vale's people, thus taking away those people's national identity and leaving them scattered and lost. He does this by claiming the ritual would simply [[ExactWords sever the connection that is causing America pain]]. America finds out the truth and is deeply hurt and furious.]]

* PlayingWithSyringes: [[spoiler:After America has a nightmare, Canada confirms that the twins' [[HealingFactor regenerative abilities]] were tested by the Atlesian scientists, including "testing how long it took [them] to heal from grievous injuries".]] [[spoiler:America has a flashback to one such procedure in chapter thirteen and another in chapter twenty-one.]]

* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler:Due to Mantle's deterioration, Canada is slowly freezing to death with the doomed city. He hides it from everyone in an attempt to keep them from worrying and "wasting their time" attempting to help him, which angers Cuba when he finds out. Cuba says Canada's friends would rather waste their time trying to save him than unknowingly stand by and do nothing as he dies.]]
* SmallStepsHero: [[spoiler:Ruby chooses to save Yang, Jaune, Nora, and Ren instead of the Relic. She declares she will not sacrifice more people she cares about for the world.]]

* TheseHandsHaveKilled: [[spoiler:Yang is upset after killing invading rival criminals while working for Torchwick's gang. The criminals didn't stand a chance against her and Nora and the girls could easily have subdued them, but there was no way for the team to let them go [[IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten without compromising their cover]].]]

* CyanidePill: [[spoiler:America creates a ring with poison inside to inject himself with if he is about to be captured. Since he is immortal he cannot die, so the best thing he can do is keep himself unconscious as long as possible. America wonders if Polendina had a cyanide filling in case his [[BigBad "frie]][[TotalitarianUtilitarian nds"]] found out about him tricking them both.]] [[spoiler:America uses the ring on Atlas. The cyanide is faulty so it doesn't immediately kill her, though it causes her to vomit and sweat among other nasty symptoms.]] [[spoiler:It eventually finishes the job.]]

* ElectricTorture: [[spoiler:Atlas tortures Canada with an electric baton. It leaves blackened burns on his body.]]

* ForcedToWatch: Polendina makes America watch [[spoiler:a recording of Penny's death during the Tournament. He puts the recording on repeat and leaves.]]

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:After having a HeelRealization, Ironwood chooses to assist America in rescuing his friends by refraining from shooting him, telling him where his friends are, and giving him the passcodes to get through the Institute, thus turning his back on Atlas. However, he knows he has gone too far to be forgiven by the public and is resigned to go down in [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade history as a villain]].]]

* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Downplayed. [[spoiler:America is on the receiving end of this from the AxCrazy soldier, though his intentions are geared more towards torture than lust. He does trail his lips along America's neck, though he may only do that to mess with his victim. Either that or it's implied the soldier planned to sexually assault him... It's up to interpretation.]]

* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Deconstructed. [[spoiler:Yang is furious and hurt that Blake left without telling her why. She points out that Adam would still come for her whether Blake was there or not, and that she is in danger regardless of Blake's presence because she's a Huntress and danger is part of her job.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Ruby goes to comfort a distressed Polendina and tells him she's looking for Alfred without knowing who Polendina is. As a result, Polendina thinks he's out of time and threatens America with an Aura-draining gauntlet.]]

* PlayingBothSides: [[spoiler:Polendina manipulated and made deals with both Atlas and Salem in his quest to revive Penny. One or both of them promised to let him use the Relic of Creation if he retrieved America for them but Polendina kept America's capture a secret, instead attempting to use [[{{Technopath}} him]] himself to bring Penny back.]]

* PoisonRing: [[spoiler:America creates one to use on himself if he's facing capture, in the hope of delaying the time when he will awaken in captivity.]] [[spoiler:He uses it on Atlas.]]

* RejectedApology: [[spoiler: Yang does not forgive Blake for abandoning Team RWBY after the fall of Beacon.]]

* ShamefulStrip: [[spoiler: The AxCrazy soldier rips off America's shirt before cutting his back.]]

* TimeDelayedDeath: Variant. [[spoiler:America jabs Atlas with his PoisonRing. She goes on to fight Japan, loses an arm and ear to SE!Ruby, and runs off. Then she fights Canada and England, losing an eye and getting her leg broken before the cyanide in America's ring kills her. At first the heroes are confused how she died but Ren notices the needle-mark on her neck and guesses she was poisoned.]]
* ToThePain: [[spoiler:Atlas sadistically describes to America what she and her men will do to him when she captures him. She promises to break his bones, cut out his tongue, and have her men stab and kill him over and over until he begs her for death and goes insane.]]

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Atlas loses her cool when America jabs her with his cyanide ring. Her [[NotSoStoic stoic]] [[BitchInSheepsClothing mask]] crumbles and she stabs him multiple times while demanding he beg for her forgiveness.]]

** ''Weight of the World'''s Salem does not want to capture Ruby. Since America is her target, Ruby did not defeat Cinder, and [[spoiler:Silver-Eyes are a [[SuperPoweredEvilSide hindrance]] more than an asset]] Salem has no interest in her other than as an enemy.

* TheAgeless: The Remnant nation-tans stop aging in their late teens or early twenties. If they avoid getting a fatal injury, they could live until their Kingdom falls. None have managed it yet.
* AlternateUniverse: For RWBY. Everything is mostly the same except there are no Maidens. Instead there are Remnant nation-tans. The series was also written before Volume 5 was released so it follows mostly-original plotlines and certain characters' personalities and motives differ from canon. See the AdaptationPersonalityChange entry above.

** While listening to your elders is a good idea, they should listen to you too. Don't remain silent just because the ones in charge are more experienced, especially if there are problems with their plan.

** Just like in canon, Adam chops off Yang's arm.

* AnyoneCanDie: So far the body count includes: Penny Polendina, Cinder, Mantle, Neo, [[spoiler:Ciel/Atlas, Doctor Polendina, Jacques Schnee, Sun, Qrow, Klein, Whitley, Tyrian, and '''Blake'''.]] The last death solidifies this entry as the death was a [[spoiler:main character]] performing a StupidSacrifice with little fanfare. ''No one'' is safe.

* BenevolentConspiracy: Ozpin's group, as in canon. Though not all of them are benevolent.

* ChastityCouple: Pyrrha and Jaune. They get together after Beacon's fall, flirt and tease each other, often hold hands, and occasionally kiss. It is never hinted they have slept together, nor does either show any interest in doing so. Since they are in the middle of a war, often accompanied by others, and the author has little interest in writing romantic plots, it makes sense.

** Penny is told to guard America by Ironwood in chapter twelve of ''Weight of the World'' in a cute little sequence that focuses more on her budding friendship with America, Canada, Sun, and Neptune than anything. Three books or ''sixty-two chapters'' later [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 is activated with Penny's memories but nor her Aura. Her only non-corrupted mission is to protect Alfred F. Jones.]]
** Pyrrha becomes America's bodyguard in ''The Depths of Deception.'' Once she returns to Remnant that will never come up again, right? Wrong. Twenty-two chapters into ''The Atrocities of Atlas'' [[spoiler:Pyrrha's position as Alfred's bodyguard is the only reason Penny 2.0 doesn't immediately kill her.]]

* {{Coma}}: Nation-tans of Earth fall into a coma-like state whenever they receive what would be a fatal wound on a human. They awaken as soon as their body heals.
* DeathWorld: Remnant is this, especially from the view of the nations. Civilization only survives in small pockets throughout the world, and humanity is constantly threatened by the Grimm.

** [[spoiler:America is knocked out by a soldier. He wakes up naked, in considerable pain, and leaves drops of blood behind as he walks. When he exits the shower, two guards come in and attack him, forcing him down onto his knees.]] The scene plays out like the aftermath and lead-up to another sexual assault, as several readers have noted.
** [[spoiler:The ex-soldier catches America again and taunts him about their "bond". The soldier rips off America's shirt, pins him down and lays on top of him, and runs his hands over America's skin. America has no intention of fighting back and simply lays there, letting the soldier grope and torment him. When the soldier makes to stab him, America finally fights him off and kills his attacker before breaking down. America blames himself for not trying to stop the ex-soldier sooner is deeply ashamed.]] The above three scenes play out painfully similar to rape and/or Attempted Rape and the victim's traumatized reaction to it.

** When America confronts [[spoiler:Ironwood]], it plays out much like an abuse victim confronting their abuser. [[spoiler:Ironwood]] tries to get America to go with him, blaming him for fighting back and getting hurt, subtly manipulating him and insinuating America is a bad person if he doesn't do what he wants, and pulling something akin to a IfICantHaveYou when he refuses.
** The scene where [[spoiler:Winter takes America into her home is reminiscent of a kidnapped RunawayTeen being taken in by a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and the investigative questions that follow. America refuses to share his story, partially out of fear that Winter will never believe him over Ironwood.]] America's secretiveness, dialogue, and actions (such as viciously scrubbing his skin and his self-disgust) could easily allude to him having been raped with a few minor tweaks.

** [[spoiler:Russia's attacks on America]] in the bathroom brings DomesticAbuse to mind. The attacker corners the victim in the bathroom, grabs them by the throat and shoves them around, while insisting this is the victim's fault. The victim is too terrified to move because of past encounters like this but accidentally resists out of survival instinct. The attacker slams them into the wall and pins them there while touching them and the victim shuts their eyes and doesn't fight back. The victim is left with visible cuts and bruises but makes excuses and defends the attacker's actions when confronted by their family and friends. As they are attacked again and again they continue to deny what the attacker is doing is wrong and believes they somehow deserve it.
** How characters react to America and Vale can be seen as an allusion to someone being biromantic[[note]] Not bisexual since America is ace. [[/note]] and others failing to understand them or believing they're just "confused". America sees nothing wrong with caring about both Earth and Remnant, but others are unhappy that he likes and feels connected to both worlds. Some try to pressure him into choosing one world over the other and scorn him when he refuses to adhere to what they think is right. America eventually ignores those that want him to choose between one or the other and chooses both; because that's what ''he'' wants.

** England has green eyes, and is the strongest magic user of the nations.

** Yang is manipulated into attacking Alfred (who she hallucinated as Neo) on live TV, beating him before shooting him in the stomach and painting herself as a murderous, violent monster. In ''The Depths of Deception'', this causes a barkeep and other travelers to fear and mistrust Yang. Last they knew she was sitting in jail awaiting trial, so they believe she is running to Mistral's criminal underground to escape justice. With [[FakeDefector Jaune, Nora, and Ren]] as her team, Yang uses her "criminal past" to get into [[WretchedHive Kuchinashi]] to look for Neo without raising suspicion.

* InSpiteOfANail: Despite the nations' presence on Remnant Pyrrha still kills Penny, Ozpin is killed by Cinder and reincarnates in Oscar's body, and Beacon still falls.

* SplitPersonalityTakeover: After Remnant nation-tans are reborn and reach a certain age, they'll remember who they really are and their nation memories and personality will take over, presumably erasing the human personality they had before. If the human identity is different enough, at most the nation-tan will get two Semblances for that life. In ''The Shattered Soul'' this is [[AscendedFridgeHorror confirmed]] by Neo when she dismisses the idea of Alfred's "human identity" surviving the merge with Vale.

** England calls out Qrow for Atlas' experimentation on Canada and America and how Ozpinati handled Vale's situation in general. Specifically he mentions how they pretended America had a choice on whether to take the Aura or not when in reality that choice was nonexistent. England goes on to point out America's choice was taken from him the moment Ironwood put him in the Aura transfer machine. Although Qrow did not take part in the initial experiments, Ozpinati's (albeit reluctant) acceptance of Atlas and Ironwood's actions and agreement to finish the transfer [[TheNeedsOfTheMany for the good of Remnant]] disgusts everyone present.

* TheCorruption: [[spoiler:The Grimm essence is in Canada less than a day before it begins affecting his mind. After Ozpin's betrayal, Canada hisses that they should ''destroy'' him.]] He realizes what he said (and what it implies) and is horrified.

* AMillionIsAStatistic: How Atlas/Ciel views the people of Earth. She is willing to sacrifice them to keep herself safe. [[spoiler:It's revealed this mindset extends to everyone, even her own people.]]

** Though their pasts are still unknown, [[spoiler:Salem and Ozpin were never lovers]] in this series.
** Adam and Blake hold no romantic feelings towards each other and were instead partners and friends before Blake left the White Fang. Adam's anger towards Blake is due to her betraying the White Fang [[spoiler:and the personification of Menagerie]] rather than being a scorned and abusive ex-boyfriend.

* DeathWorld: Remnant is this, especially from the view of the nations.

** [[spoiler:The ex-soldier catches America again and taunts him about their "bond". The soldier rips off America's shirt, pins him down and lays on top of him, and runs his hands over America's skin. America has no intention of fighting back and simply lays there, letting the soldier grope and torment him. When the soldier makes to stab him, America finally fights him off and kills his attacker before breaking down into traumatized sobbing. America blames himself for not trying to stop the ex-soldier sooner is deeply ashamed.]] The above three scenes play out painfully similar to rape and/or Attempted Rape and the victim's traumatized reaction to it.

** The scene where [[spoiler:Roman forcefully feeds a captured America bread]] could come across as a rape scene with a few minor tweaks.

* HealingFactor: Earth nation-tans have this. Remnant nation-tans do not.

* IWantThemAlive: Justified. America has Vale's Aura, and is the only one who can reach and unlock the Relic of Choice. Salem orders her forces to bring him in alive for this reason. Seeing how her non-Grimm forces primarily consist of sadists and sociopaths, (who would happily torture or experiment on America given the chance) she needs to emphasize this point to avoid any unfortunate accidents.

* NeverWasThisUniverse: A case of Never Was The Canon Verse. The plot of ''Weight of the World'' sticks close enough to canon that readers may believe the series will vaguely follow it. However, the story veers off into an original plot and completely detaches from canon after ''The Shattered Soul''. What seals the deal is how Remnant's history does not follow RWBY canon's [[note]] helped by the series being planned and written before Volume Five [[/note]] and there is no specific divergence point from canon. Case in point [[spoiler:it was Salem who destroyed the moon, not the God of Darkness, and Word of God implies Ozpin and Salem's origins and backstories are completely different.]]

** [[spoiler:France kills Tyrian this way. He also stabs him through the chest [[DoubleTap to be sure he stays down]].]]

** Pyrrha and Roman survive the Battle of Beacon.

* SplitPersonalityTakeover: After Remnant nation-tans are reborn and reach a certain age, they'll remember who they really are and their nation memories and personality will take over, presumably erasing the human personality they had before. As stated [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12649987/22/Weight-of-the-World here]] if the human identity is different enough, at most the nation-tan will get two Semblances for that life. In ''The Shattered Soul'' this is [[AscendedFridgeHorror confirmed]] by Neo when she dismisses the idea of Alfred's "human identity" surviving the merge with Vale.

** [[spoiler:America]] calls Ozpin out for being a coward when he tries to convince him to [[spoiler:let him put him to sleep before sacrificing him.]]

* ShoutOut:
** America's fight with the Beowolves is reminiscent of the Red Trailer. He also calls Ozpin [[{{Film/TheWizardOfOz}} "The Wizard of Oz"]], compares him to [[{{Literature/HarryPotter}} Dumbledore]], and references [[{{Film/RevengeOfTheSith}} Order 66]] when the Atlesian Knights turn on the Huntsmen.
** The title itself is from lyrics in "When It Falls", the opening to Volume 3.

* ShoutOut: America uses ComicBook/ProfessorX as an example of a hero with memory-erasing powers.

* SlashedThroat: How [[spoiler:France kills his guards.]] He does this with [[spoiler:Winter's rapier.]]

** Yang is manipulated into attacking Alfred (who she hallucinated as Neo) on live TV, beating him before shooting him in the stomach and painting herself as a murderous, violent monster. In ''The Depths of Deception'', this causes a barkeep and other travelers to fear and mistrust Yang. Last they knew she was sitting in jail awaiting trial, so they believe she is running to Mistral's criminal underground to escape justice.]] [[spoiler:With [[FakeDefector Jaune, Nora, and Ren]] as her team, Yang uses her "criminal past" to get into [[WretchedHive Kuchinashi]] to look for Neo without raising suspicion.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Blake dies protecting Yang from the [[EldritchAbomination Warden Grimm]].]]

* KilledOffForReal:
** Pyrrha accidentally murders Penny during the Vytal Festival Tournament. [[spoiler:Her body can be rebuilt with her memories mostly intact, but her Aura (what made her Penny Polendina) is gone forever.]]
** Cinder is beheaded by Canada. Needless to say, [[DeaderThanDead she never comes back]].
** [[spoiler:Due to her Kingdom's [[CivilWar divi]][[LaResistance sion]], Atlas will not [[BornAgainImmortality reincarnate]].]]
** [[spoiler:Tyrian Callows]] is killed by [[spoiler:France]].
** [[spoiler:Blake dies protecting Yang.]]

* AdviceBackfire: France encourages America to [[spoiler:talk with him about his trauma and accept what happened to him. Rather than give America the strength to push forward, he instead realizes the [[PlayingWithSyringes horribleness]] of [[ColdBloodedTorture everything]] he's [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice gone]] [[EtTuBrute through]] and that he's likely [[YourDaysAreNumbered going to die soon]]. This causes America to cross the DespairEventHorizon.]]
* AmbiguouslyEvil: [[spoiler:It is all-but stated Ozpin did something to Vale to keep her from sharing his secrets. Vale is ''terrified'' of him, and begs America to be careful when doing something as simple as asking him questions. When America rhetorically thinks Ozpin would not kill his followers for asking questions, Vale shudders.]]

* DespairEventHorizon: America finally crosses it in chapter four. After discussing his trauma with [[spoiler:France]] and getting hit by everything that has happened to him, he loses all hope that things will get better and he'll [[YourDaysAreNumbered survive]]. America completely shuts down. Canada stops him from laying in bed and [[DeathByDespair waiting to die]] [[spoiler:but he [[RealityEnsues doesn't recover because of one talk]] and stays in a depression.]]

* {{Fainting}}: Emotional Fainting with some Exhaustion. [[spoiler:America has a panic attack and passes out when he finds out Salem's forces took the Relic of Creation, leaving Choice (and by extension, him) as the last thing Salem needs to bring her plans to fruition.]]

* SickeningCrunch: [[spoiler:During the attack on the Vale town of Wells, and later during the Warden Grimm's attack, America's]] leg breaks with a crack almost as loud as his scream of pain.

* TalkingDownTheSuicidal: [[spoiler:After Ruby's MomentOfWeakness, America flies off and Australia follows him into the woods. He asks America if he's going to do anything stupid and America admits he should not be left alone. Australia panics but talks to America and tells him Blake's death and Canada's capture are not his fault. He demands that America give him his weapon and tries to cheer America up. America hands over Cobalt Striker and, to Australia's dismay, begins crying. England arrives and America asks him if he should kill himself to keep Salem from capturing him. England gives a vehement "''No.''" and tries to convince America that there is worth in his life and no one wants him to sacrifice himself to save them. America breaks down crying in his brother's arms.]]

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: In a MomentOfWeakness [[spoiler:due to grieving for Qrow]], Ruby shows a selfish and petty side when she does not stop [[spoiler:Russia from dragging an unwilling America into the woods. She does not help Alfred because she [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming blames him]] for Qrow's death.]]

* YouShouldHaveDiedInstead: [[spoiler:A part of Ruby [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming blames Alfred]] for Qrow's death because Salem attacked Frontier to hurt him.]] She realizes she's blaming him for things that are not his fault but [[MomentOfWeakness cannot help herself]].

** [[spoiler:'''[[AnyoneCanDie Blake]]''' dies protecting Yang from the [[EldritchAbomination cage-like Grimm]].]]

* EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler:The cage Grimm. It is a gigantic hovering, Dementor-like monstrosity with seven arms, an exposed cage-like ribcage, and dagger-tipped tendrils that form a tattered "cloak".]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Blake dies protecting Yang from the [[EldritchAbomination cage-like Grimm]].]]

* GameBreakingInjury: Due to [[{{Synchronization}} a series of attacks]] on [[spoiler:Vale, America goes blind in his left eye. He later loses one of his kidneys and part of his liver. Salem purposely attacks him in ways that will hurt but not kill him in order to weaken and torture him.]]

* IfItBleedsItLeads: [[spoiler:VNN runs a story about the discovery of a mass grave under Atlas. They are about to show footage of the site when Nora turns it off.]]

* TheCorruption: [[spoiler:The Grimm essence is in Canada less than a day before it begins affecting his mind. After Ozpin's betrayal, Canada hisses that they should ''destroy'' him. Canada]] realizes what he said (and what it implies) and is horrified.

* LeyLine: The temple the heroes are in is over a magical nexus attuned to Ozpin's magic, [[spoiler:which is why he tries to sacrifice America there in order to regain some of his lost power.]]

* SadisticChoice: No matter what America chooses [[spoiler: to do with Vale's Aura]] millions of people will suffer. [[spoiler: In the end, the choice was taken from him anyway.]]

* AmnesiacHero: [America/Alfred.
* AmnesiacResonance: Alfred remembers how to fight, what Grimm are, and other common skills from America [[spoiler:and Vale.]] [[spoiler: He's getting back memories from both of them too.]]
* BattleAmongstTheFlames: [[spoiler: In Kuroyuri.]]
* BloodFromTheMouth: [[spoiler: Prussia]] coughs up [[spoiler: purple]] blood thanks to [[spoiler: Tyrian's poison.]]

* DullEyesOfUnhappiness: Alfred has them when [[spoiler: he is held hostage by Emerald and Tyrian.]]
* DwindlingParty: Non-lethal version. One by one, [[spoiler: the nations are returned to Earth, leaving RNJR behind thinking they and Pyrrha are dead.]]
* EtTuBrute: When their lies are discovered, [[spoiler: Roman, Mercury, and Neo attack Alfred, rob him, shoot him, and leave him to die in Grimm-infested woods.]] Ouch.

* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler:Ruby has to choose between going to Haven and possibly saving the Relic, leaving Yang, Jaune, Ren, and Nora to die at Roman's hands, or saving her friends and risking the Relic's retrieval at the hands of Salem's forces. She chooses to save her sister and friends.]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** [[spoiler:Yang]] gives a vicious [[AesopAmnesia and]] [[DirtyCoward well-]][[IWorkAlone deserved]] one to Blake about her abandonment of Team RWBY.
** [[spoiler:Atlas]] gets an epic one from [[spoiler:England about how her actions will cause her people (the people responsible for her very existence) to turn against her. He rakes her over the coals for what she did to his brothers and concludes that she will fail to [[BornAgainImmortality resurrect]] because of everything she did, and she only has herself to blame.]]

* NeckSnap: [[spoiler:Hazel]] kills a soldier this way, just by [[SuperStrength clenching his fingers]].

* CharacterDeath: Penny and [[spoiler:Cinder.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone:
** Yang when she [[spoiler: sees she attacked Alfred and shot him.]]
** Canada when he realizes [[spoiler: killing Cinder sent all of Vale's Aura to his brother.]]

* CharacterDeath: [[spoiler:Neo dies in Haven's Vault.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Canada is horrified after he [[spoiler:strikes America hard enough that he is knocked off his feet and is left with a huge bruise.]] His expression says it all.

* ChekhovsBoomerang: Penny is told to guard America by Ironwood in chapter twelve of ''Weight of the World'' in a cute little sequence that focuses more on her budding friendship with America, Canada, Sun, and Neptune than anything. Three books or ''sixty-two chapters'' later [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 is activated with Penny's memories but nor her Aura. Her only non-corrupted mission is to protect Alfred F. Jones.]]

** It appears [[spoiler:calling America naive or an idiot has become one for him as well. Vale constantly berates him with such insults, and when France calls him "a naive idiot", America grows noticeably [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness quiet, uncertain, and passive]].]]

* AnArmAndALeg: Just like in canon, Adam chops off Yang's arm.

* TheReveal: [[spoiler: Remnant has nation-tans. Thanks to experimentation at the hands of Atlas, Canada is Mantle and America has part of Amber/Vale's Aura]]

* WhamLine:
--> [[spoiler:'''Ozpin:''' You are not walking away. You are going to sit down, and you are going to tell me the truth, General Ironwood. What did you do to Amber? What did you do to my Kingdom? ''What did you do to Vale?!'']]

* TheReveal: [[spoiler: Canada erased his and America's memories of the lab with his Semblance.]]

* WhamLine:
--> [[spoiler: '''Canada:''' The things that erased our memories... was ''my Semblance''. ''I'm'' the reason we forgot everything. It was ''me''.]]

* AnArmAndALeg: Germany lost an arm when Italy brought him through the [[TeleporterAccident portal while he was unconscious]]. Luckily, [[GoodThingYouCanHeal it's growing back.]]

* TheReveal:
** [[spoiler:America's Semblance is {{Technopathy}}.]]
** [[spoiler:Ozpin sent Summer on a mission to kill Salem despite knowing Summer would die according to [[UnreliableExpositor Raven]].]]
** [[spoiler:Adam is Menagerie.]]
** [[spoiler:The ritual severs a nation's connection with their people, leaving them [[LossOfIdentity lost]].]]
** [[spoiler:Doctor Polendina is the one trying to capture America. He succeeds.]]

* WhamLine:
** This one in chapter eleven:
--> [[spoiler: '''Raven''': Ozpin is the reason Summer Rose died.]]
** And this one in chapter twenty-six:
--> [[spoiler: '''Adam''': [[PunctuatedForEmphasis I. Am. Menagerie.]]]]
** And ''this'' one in chapter twenty-seven:
--> [[spoiler: "And you are going to bring. Her. '''Back'''." Doctor Polendina snarled.]]

* TheReveal:
** [[spoiler:Silver Eyes cause the S.E.W. to go [[SuperpoweredEvilSide berserk while using them.]] The Warriors attack anyone around them; Grimm, foe, or friend.]]
** One of the reasons Ozpin didn't let Ruby go to Kuchinashi is because [[spoiler:he was afraid of what might happen if one of her friends died in front of her (or she saw something terrible in the city), causing her to use Silver Eyes.]]
** [[spoiler:''Sun Wukong'' is Vacuo.]]
** [[spoiler:America has been getting "random" nosebleeds and other pains because the Kingdom of Vale is dying and taking him with it.]]

* WhamLine:
** From chapter eight:
--> [[spoiler: "This device will remove part of your Aura and place it in my body." Polendina said casually. "That way I can use your Semblance myself. I'm not certain if you will go into a permanent coma like Vale, but considering your regenerative abilities you should recover just fine." \\
America stared at the gauntlet, heart in his throat. Oh yes, he'd recover just fine from ''having his soul ripped apart''.]]
--> [[spoiler: [[AC: Mission: Protect Alfred F. Jones.]]]]
** From chapter fourteen:
-->[[spoiler:'''Sun Wukong''': I'm Vacuo.]]
** From chapter twenty-eight:
--> [[spoiler:'''Amber/Vale:''' ''(to America)'' Vale-- my Kingdom-- is dying. And you're dying with it.]]

* WhamShot: The man the Woodland boy gives [[spoiler:Russia's necklace to is Watts.]]