History WMG / WeightOfTheWorld

* She may also be a HeroismAddict.

Theories for ''Fanfic/WeightOfTheWorld''. '''Beware of unmarked spoilers.'''

[[WMG: Sun knows who Vacuo is.]]
He is from Vacuo, and responded strangely when [[spoiler:the personifications of Remnant]] were brought up. He also said "You remi-- told us about [[spoiler: the nations.]]" "Remi-" for a cut off "reminded". He already knew about them but kept it a secret to keep [[spoiler: Vacuo's]] identity safe. Since WordOfGod said she refuses to use {{original character}}s [[spoiler:as personifications]] the possible candidates are:

** [[spoiler:Jossed.]]

** [[spoiler: Jossed.]]

** [[spoiler:Jossed.]]

** [[spoiler:Jossed.]]

** [[spoiler: Confirmed. Sun is Vacuo.]]

[[WMG: Salem will gain a new ally: Atlas]]

* Confirmed. [[spoiler:Atlas fights with Emerald and Watts to try to capture Canada. She promises to give them the Relic of Creation after fixing her [[AnArmAndALeg body]] and puts her petty vengeance over Remnant and her own Kingdom. [[KilledOffForReal It doesn't last very long]].]]

[[WMG: Hypocrite]]

[[WMG: Penny 2.0 is taking orders from Ironwood and will bring America to him.]]
He is the one who gave her the mission to [[spoiler:protect Alfred F. Jones]]. She is also in contact with him and took specific interest in his allegiances.
* The above is Confirmed. [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 leads America into the mines and to Ironwood on Ironwood's orders.]]
* If that happens [[spoiler:America will be captured and taken to Atlas and Penny 2.0 will realize her mistake. She will then turn against Ironwood and free Alfred.]]
** Partially Jossed and Confirmed. [[spoiler: Penny turns against Ironwood and saves America ''before'' he can be taken to Atlas.]]

[[WMG: A past betrayal.]]
[[spoiler:Ozpin]] betrayed [[spoiler:Vale]] in the past. It is not clear how the betrayal happened, but there are hints that she despises [[spoiler:Ozpin.]] She says his name with vitriol and later says "Screw Atlas and [[spoiler:O--]]" when talking about people they don't care about saving. [[spoiler:Ozpin]] is the only named character other than [[spoiler:Oscar and Oobleck]] with that first letter in their name.
* More evidence: Whenever she tries to talk about [[spoiler:Ozpin]], she cuts herself off or chokes even though she's [[spoiler:only a voice in America's head.]] She might have been [[TongueTied geased]] by [[spoiler:Ozpin]] not to say anything incriminating about him.
** Confirmed. [[spoiler:Ozpin used the Relic of Choice to [[TongueTied geas]] Vale so she cannot speak ill of him or share his secrets.]]
[[WMG: Ozpin will try to kill America.]]
Characters like [[spoiler:Ironwood]] already said they are willing to murder America if it kept the Relic of Choice safe from Salem. This is {{Foreshadowing}} for Ozpin trying the same thing. Ozpin will do this as a last ditch effort to keep America out of Salem's hands. If anyone could figure out how to permanently kill a nation, it would be Ozpin.
* Raven also tried killing America to keep Salem from finding him. Two out of five [[spoiler: current/former]] Ozpinati members tried that tactic. More {{Foreshadowing}}?
** Confirmed. [[spoiler:Ozpin realizes how close he is to losing the war and tries to [[HumanSacrifice kill]] America in order to regain some of his lost power.]]
* Alternatively, Ozpin will try to [[spoiler:kill Sun, the personification of Vacuo, to keep Salem from getting him.]]
** [[spoiler:The Sun section is Jossed since Emerald took part of Sun's Aura and successfully stole the Relic of Destruction for Salem. Ozpin did not find out Sun was Vacuo until after.]]

She is DeaderThanDead and her Aura is gone forever. [[spoiler: Penny 2.0 will instead evolve into her own person.]]
* Confirmed. [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 gets Aura, but confirms it is not Penny Polendina's.]] Penny Polendina is [[KilledOffForReal gone forever]].
* [[spoiler:Or Penny 2.0 might not evolve at all and remains JustAMachine.]]
** This part is Jossed. [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 develops emotions and her own personality. She also activates Aura, proving she has a soul.]]

[[WMG: Hazel will betray Salem.]]
Of all of Salem's henchmen, [[AntiVillain Hazel]] is the one most likely to betray her. Tyrian worships his Goddess, Emerald is too wrapped up in revenge, and Watts is a mad scientist psychopath with a habit of attaching Grimm parts to people. Hazel is different. His reasons for working with Salem aren't currently known, but that work directly conflicts with his principles. The compassionate (and nearly kind) way he treated [[spoiler:America as he was trying to capture him]] hints that those morals may overcome his loyalty to Salem if he's given proper motivation. He did not treat his target as an enemy and showed a lot of reluctance to hurt him.

[[WMG: Agent RedHerring]]
Jasper Tarleton is a RedHerring and [[spoiler:someone else is the spy.]]
* Confirmed. [[spoiler:Tarleton is innocent. Agent Aster is the spy.]]

[[WMG: Ironwood [[spoiler:will die.]]]]
Specifically, [[spoiler:he will die trying to kill Atlas/Ciel. He sees no redemption for himself and is resigned to go down in [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade history as a terrible tyrant]]. Attempting to kill Atlas will be his ultimate act of atonement, and [[DeathEqualsRedemption he will die in the process]]. Whether he succeeds at killing her [[AllForNothing or not]] is uncertain.]]
* The above is Jossed. Ironwood was not present [[spoiler:when Atlas died.]]
* Alternatively, he [[spoiler:dies trying to kill Salem.]]
** The Salem part is jossed though the core idea of the WMG is confirmed. [[spoiler:Ironwood dies in a HeroicSacrifice to kill the Grimm Dragon.]]

[[WMG: One of the heroes will be arrested...]]

[[WMG: America was raped by the ex-soldier.]]
This happened offscreen or when he was unconscious. If it happened while he was unconscious, America is not sure it happened but suspects. It might have happened before he woke up in the bathroom. He was in pain and left drops of blood where he was laying. The ex-soldier stripped him and then raped him while he was knocked out. If it was offscreen it happened one of the times the ex-soldier was [[spoiler:torturing him.]] It is why he is so traumatized. England and Canada will find out when America has a breakdown.
* The soldier ''does'' grope him a lot. And America is in pain in suspicious places when he wakes in the bathroom. He has trouble standing and walking and instead limps around. Not to mention his lack of surprise when the ex-soldier kisses the side of his neck. He isn't ''shocked'' that the ex-soldier is going that far, only terrified and resigned to let the soldier play his "game". And when the soldier rips America's shirt off and pins him facedown he only thinks "Not again." It could just be referring to the soldier carving him up [[FridgeHorror but]]...
* America was forced to stand for weeks in chains, even when he was asleep. Of course his legs hurt and he's limping. The "Not again" refers to [[spoiler: the soldier cutting him up]], nothing more. And his trauma comes from everything that he has gone through since the lab, not just what the soldier did.
* America might have [[RepressedMemories suppressed his memories]] of it too.
** If that is the case he may possibly recover them through a TraumaButton.
* Officially [[https://archiveofourown.org/comments/178882056 Jossed]] per WordOfGod. To say the author was blindsided by this WMG is an understatement.
* Also Jossed in-story. [[spoiler:Doctor Charon]] outright asks America if the ex-soldier sexually assaulted him and America tells him no. He does stammer that the soldier kissed the side of his neck during their last encounter but clarifies that it was simply to terrify him. [[note]]The section that Josses this WMG is practically confirmed to be in response to it, with the review asking whether it happened being mentioned by the author. Apparently several people saw implications the author did not intend.[[/note]]

[[spoiler: Penny 2.0's "Aura Moderation Module" will turn on]] and Penny Polendina will come back, emotions and all.
* This is likely Jossed. [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 refers to Penny Polendina as "her" and indicates they are two separate people ex: Pyrrha was "her" (Penny Polendina's) friend. "She" (Penny Polendina) was killed by Pyrrha. Penny 2.0 may have Penny Polendina's memories, but she is ''not'' Penny Polendina.]]
** It's not Jossed yet, though it brings up a new possibility. [[spoiler:Since they are implied to be two separate people, if Penny Polendina returns, Penny 2.0's [[DeathOfPersonality personality will be erased]].]]
** Jossed. [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 gets Aura, but confirms it is not Penny Polendina's.]] Penny Polendina is [[KilledOffForReal gone forever]].

[[WMG: Qrow will die.]]

* Jossed. [[spoiler:He does not die, though he suffers a CareerEndingInjury and is taken out of the fight.]]

...[[spoiler:the Atlas spy in the US government and the one who told Atlas America and Canada's identities]]. His name refers to a red gemstone and is related to a color, [[spoiler:like other people from Remnant]].
* Jossed. [[spoiler:Tarleton is innocent. Agent Aster is the spy who told Atlas America and Canada's identities.]]

[[WMG: [[spoiler:America will [[TheHeroDies die]].]]]]
Whether through a HeroicSacrifice or [[spoiler:Vale's status [[YourDaysAreNumbered killing him]]]], he will not make it to the end of the series. This may lead to a BittersweetEnding, or even a DownerEnding if they do not stop Salem. He has [[TraumaCongaLine suffered constantly]] throughout the series, and may only find [[PeacefulInDeath peace in death]] at this point. There's also the author's [[AnyoneCanDie track record]] to consider.
* Jossed. [[spoiler:He survives and [[EarnYourHappyEnding lives happily ever after]].]]
[[WMG: England will not forget, and he will not forgive.]]
America has forgiven [[spoiler:Ruby]], but England will not forgive her for [[YouShouldHaveDiedInstead what she said.]] England cares about her and vowed to protect her, only for her cruel words to nearly push his brother to [[spoiler:commit suicide.]] As shown with Blake and Yang, actions have consequences in this series, and things are not immediately forgiven because someone is sorry. This might not just apply to England either, but most of the nations, as shown by [[spoiler:Australia's]] [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness reaction]] [[GetOut to her]]. [[spoiler:Ruby]] might have just [[NiceJobBreakingItHero ruined her (and maybe her world's) relationship with England and the other nations.]]
* He seems to be working with her well enough after the incident, though that could be because they're [[spoiler:trying to rescue America]].
* Jossed. [[spoiler:England is amicable enough with Ruby up to when the nations leave Remnant.]]

[[WMG: Viorel has a twin.]]

[[WMG: Ironwood [[spoiler:will die.]]]]
Specifically, [[spoiler:he will die trying to kill Atlas/Ciel. He sees no redemption for himself and is resigned to go down in [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade history as a terrible tyrant]]. Attempting to kill Atlas will be his ultimate act of atonement, and [[DeathEqualsRedemption he will die in the process]]. Whether he succeeds at killing her [[AllForNothing or not]] is uncertain.]]
* The above is Jossed. Ironwood was not present [[spoiler:when Atlas died.]]
* Alternatively, [[spoiler:he dies trying to kill Salem.]]
** Jossed though [[spoiler:the core idea of the WMG is confirmed. Ironwood dies in a HeroicSacrifice to kill the Grimm Dragon.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Unsorted Theories]]

[[WMG: Ironwood will die.]]

[[WMG: America will [[TheHeroDies die]].]]
Whether through a HeroicSacrifice or [[spoiler:Vale's status [[YourDaysAreNumbered killing him]]]], he will not make it to the end of the series. This may lead to a BittersweetEnding, or even a DownerEnding if they do not stop Salem. America has [[TraumaCongaLine suffered constantly]] throughout the series, and may only find [[PeacefulInDeath peace in death]] at this point. There's also the author's [[AnyoneCanDie track record]] to consider.

[[WMG: Viorel has a twin.]]
His name is derived from the Romanian word for the scilla bifolia. Bifolia means "twin-leaved." The chapter he reappears in also has two other sets of twins: America and Canada and Qrow and Raven.

[[spoiler:Atlas/Ciel]] has shown how far over the line she is willing to go and has little concern for other people of Remnant (as seen when [[spoiler:her Atlesian Knights massacred Vale's people in Westwind]]). So why not [[spoiler: ally with her enemy to save her own skin?]]

Linked to the above WMG, [[spoiler:Atlas]] only cares about herself. She goes on and on about protecting Remnant but in reality only cares about herself and will be revealed to be hugely selfish, self-centered and hypocritical. And by "herself" that means ''only'' herself: even [[spoiler:her own people]] are expendable in her eyes.

* Confirmed. [[spoiler:Atlas doesn't care about anyone except herself, and only helped to save Vale in order to flaunt her superiority and choose Vale's successor. She didn't stage any heroics, but she was perfectly willing to play the part of the hero so everyone would worship Remnant's savior.]]

[[spoiler: Ozpin]] betrayed [[spoiler: Vale]] in the past. It is not clear how the betrayal happened, but there are hints that she despises [[spoiler:Ozpin.]] She says his name with vitriol and later says "Screw Atlas and [[spoiler:O--]]" when talking about people they don't care about saving. [[spoiler:Ozpin]] is the only named character other than [[spoiler:Oscar and Oobleck]] with that first letter in their name.
* More evidence: Whenever [[spoiler:Vale]] tries to talk about [[spoiler:Ozpin]], she cuts herself off or chokes even though she's [[spoiler:only a voice in America's head.]] She might have been [[TongueTied geased]] by [[spoiler:Ozpin]] not to say anything incriminating about him.

Characters like [[spoiler:Ironwood]] already said they are willing to [[spoiler:murder America]] if it kept [[spoiler:the Relic of Choice]] safe from Salem. This is {{Foreshadowing}} for Ozpin trying the same thing. Ozpin will do this as a last ditch effort to [[spoiler:keep America out of Salem's hands.]] If anyone could figure out how to [[spoiler:permanently kill a nation]], it would be Ozpin.
* [[spoiler: Raven also tried killing America to keep Salem from finding him.]] Two out of five [[spoiler: current/former]] Ozpinati members tried that tactic. More {{Foreshadowing}}?

Of all of Salem's henchmen, [[AntiVillain Hazel]] is the one most likely to betray her. Tyrian worships his Goddess, Emerald is too wrapped up in revenge, and Watts [[spoiler:is a mad scientist psychopath with a habit of attaching Grimm parts to people.]] Hazel is different. His reasons for working with Salem aren't currently known, but that work directly conflicts with his principles. The compassionate (and nearly kind) way he treated [[spoiler:America as he was trying to capture him]] hints that those morals may overcome his loyalty to Salem if he's given proper motivation. He did not treat his target as an enemy and showed a lot of reluctance to hurt him.

[[spoiler: ...for owning a copy of Remnant: The Game.]] Time was taken to say it has been [[spoiler:banned in Atlas]]. The heroes will cause trouble and someone in authority will use [[spoiler:the game]] as an excuse to arrest them. The most likely victim is [[spoiler: Sun or Blake]] since they are in [[spoiler:[[FantasticRacism Atlas]]]].
* Alternatively, [[spoiler:Weiss is arrested and taken back to her father.]]

This happened offscreen or when he was unconscious. If it happened while he was unconscious, America is not sure it happened but suspects. It might have happened before he woke up [[spoiler: naked in the bathroom. He was in pain and left drops of blood where he was laying. The ex-soldier stripped him and then raped him while he was knocked out.]] If it was offscreen it happened one of the times [[spoiler: the ex-soldier was torturing him.]] It is why he is so traumatized. England and Canada will find out when America has a breakdown.
* [[spoiler: The soldier ''does'' grope him a lot. And America is in pain in suspicious places when he wakes in the bathroom. He has trouble standing and walking and instead limps around. Not to mention his lack of surprise when the ex-soldier kisses the side of his neck. He isn't ''shocked'' that the ex-soldier is going that far, only terrified and resigned to let the soldier play his "game". And when the soldier rips America's shirt off and pins him facedown he only thinks "Not again." It could just be referring to the soldier carving him up [[FridgeHorror but]]...]]
* America was [[spoiler:forced to stand for weeks in chains, even when he was asleep.]] Of course his legs hurt and he's limping. The "Not again" likely refers to [[spoiler: the soldier cutting him up]], nothing more. And his trauma comes from everything that he has gone through [[spoiler:since the lab, not just what the soldier did.]]

* More possible evidence: When [[spoiler:Ironwood]] restrains America from behind, [[spoiler:Ironwood's [[TraumaButton breath brushes his ear.]]]] America freaks out and [[spoiler: thinks Ironwood is the ex-soldier]]. The narrative mentions how he "won't let [[spoiler:the soldier]] hurt him this time" and America screams "''You won't touch me again!''" and burns [[spoiler:Ironwood.]]
** Officially [[https://archiveofourown.org/comments/178882056 Jossed]] per WordOfGod. To say the author was blindsided by this WMG is an understatement.
** Also Jossed in-story. [[spoiler:Doctor Charon outright asks America if the ex-soldier sexually assaulted him and America tells him no. He does stammer that the soldier kissed the side of his neck during their last encounter but clarifies that it was simply to terrify him.]] [[note]]Interestingly, the section that Josses this WMG is practically confirmed to be in response to it, with the review asking whether it happened being mentioned by the author. Apparently several people saw implications the author did not intend.[[/note]]

* [[spoiler:Jossed. He does not die, though he suffers a CareerEndingInjury and is taken out of the fight.]]

* [[spoiler:The above is Jossed. Ironwood was not present when Atlas died.]]

His name is derived from the Romanian word for the scilla bifolia. Bifolia means "twin-leaved." The chapter he reappears in also has two other sets of twins: America and Canada and [[spoiler:Qrow and Raven]].

He is from Vacuo, and responded strangely when [[spoiler:the personifications of Remnant]] were brought up. He also said "You remi-- told us about [[spoiler: the nations.]]" "Remi-" for a cut off "reminded". He already knew about them but kept it a secret to keep [[spoiler: Vacuo's]] identity safe. Since WordOfGod said she refuses to use OCs [[spoiler:as personifications]] the possible candidates are:

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Unsorted Theories]]

[[WMG: Hazel will betray Salem.]]
Of all of Salem's henchmen, [[AntiVillain Hazel]] is the one most likely to betray her. Tyrian worships his Goddess, Emerald is too wrapped up in revenge, and Watts [[spoiler:is a mad scientist psychopath with a habit of attaching Grimm parts to people.]] Hazel is different. His reasons for working with Salem aren't currently known, but that work directly conflicts with his principles. The compassionate (and nearly kind) way he treated [[spoiler:America as he was trying to capture him]] hints that those morals may overcome his loyalty to Salem if he's given proper motivation. He did not treat his target as an enemy and showed a lot of reluctance to hurt him.

[[WMG: Agent Jasper Tarleton is...]]
...[[spoiler:the Atlas spy in the US government and the one who told Atlas America and Canada's identities]]. His name refers to a red gemstone and is related to a color, [[spoiler:like other people from Remnant]].
* Alternatively...

[[WMG: Agent RedHerring]]
Jasper Tarleton is a RedHerring and [[spoiler:someone else is the spy.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Unsorted Theories]]

[[spoiler: Penny 2.0's "Aura Moderation Module" will turn on and Penny Polendina will come back, emotions and all.]]

Alternatively…

[[WMG:The original Penny will ''never'' return.]]
[[spoiler: She is DeaderThanDead and her Aura is gone forever. Penny 2.0 will instead evolve into her own person.]]
* [[spoiler:Or she might not evolve at all and remains JustAMachine.]]

[[WMG: Ozpin will try to kill America.]]
Characters like [[spoiler:Ironwood]] already said they are willing to [[spoiler:murder America]] if it kept [[spoiler:the Relic of Choice]] safe from Salem. This is {{Foreshadowing}} for Ozpin trying the same thing. Ozpin will do this as a last ditch effort to [[spoiler:keep America out of Salem's hands.]] If anyone could figure out how to [[spoiler:permanently kill a nation]], it would be Ozpin.
* [[spoiler: Raven also tried killing America to keep Salem from finding him.]] Two out of five [[spoiler: current/former]] Ozpinati members tried that tactic. More {{Foreshadowing}}?
* Alternatively, Ozpin will try to [[spoiler:kill Sun, the personification of Vacuo, to keep Salem from getting him.]]
** [[spoiler:The Sun section is Jossed since Emerald took part of Sun's Aura and successfully stole the Relic of Destruction for Salem. Ozpin did not find out Sun was Vacuo until after.]]

[[WMG: A past betrayal.]]
[[spoiler: Ozpin]] betrayed [[spoiler: Vale]] in the past. It is not clear how the betrayal happened, but there are hints that she despises [[spoiler:Ozpin.]] She says his name with vitriol and later says "Screw Atlas and [[spoiler:O--]]" when talking about people they don't care about saving. [[spoiler:Ozpin]] is the only named character other than [[spoiler:Oscar and Oobleck]] with that first letter in their name.
* More evidence: Whenever [[spoiler:Vale]] tries to talk about [[spoiler:Ozpin]], she cuts herself off or chokes even though she's [[spoiler:only a voice in America's head.]] She might have been [[TongueTied geased]] by [[spoiler:Ozpin]] not to say anything incriminating about him.

* Of all of Salem's henchmen, [[AntiVillain Hazel]] is the one most likely to betray her. Tyrian worships his Goddess, Emerald is too wrapped up in revenge, and Watts [[spoiler:is a mad scientist psychopath with a habit of attaching Grimm parts to people.]] Hazel is different. His reasons for working with Salem aren't currently known, but that work directly conflicts with his principles. The compassionate (and nearly kind) way he treated [[spoiler:America as he was trying to capture him]] hints that those morals may overcome his loyalty to Salem if he's given proper motivation. He did not treat his target as an enemy and showed a lot of reluctance to hurt him.

Theories for ''Fanfic/WeightOfTheWorld''.

[[WMG: Sun knows [[spoiler: who Vacuo is.]]]]

[[WMG: Salem will gain a new ally: [[spoiler:Atlas]]]]

[[WMG: [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 is taking orders from Ironwood and will bring America to him.]]]]

[[WMG: America was [[spoiler:raped by the ex-soldier.]]]]

[[WMG:[[spoiler:The original Penny will return.]]]]

[[WMG:[[spoiler:The original Penny will ''never'' return.]]]]

[[WMG: Ozpin will try to [[spoiler:kill America.]]]]

[[WMG: Ironwood [[spoiler:will die.]]]]

[[WMG: [[spoiler:America will [[TheHeroDies die]].]]]]
Whether through a HeroicSacrifice or [[spoiler:Vale's status [[YourDaysAreNumbered killing him]]]], he will not make it to the end of the series. This may lead to a BittersweetEnding, or even a DownerEnding if they do not stop Salem. [[spoiler:America]] has [[TraumaCongaLine suffered constantly]] throughout the series, and may only find [[PeacefulInDeath peace in death]] at this point. There's also the author's [[AnyoneCanDie track record]] to consider.

* [[spoiler:Confirmed. Atlas fights with Emerald and Watts to try to capture Canada. She promises to give them the Relic of Creation after fixing her [[AnArmAndALeg body]] and puts her petty vengeance over Remnant and her own Kingdom. [[KilledOffForReal It doesn't last very long]].]]

* [[spoiler:Confirmed. Atlas doesn't care about anyone except herself, and only helped to save Vale in order to flaunt her superiority and choose Vale's successor. She didn't stage any heroics, but she was perfectly willing to play the part of the hero so everyone would worship Remnant's savior.]]

[[WMG: [[spoiler:Penny 2.0 is taking orders from Ironwood and will bring America to him.]]]]
He is the one who gave her the mission to [[spoiler:protect Alfred F. Jones]]. She is also in contact with him and took specific interest in his allegiances.
* [[spoiler:The above is Confirmed. Penny 2.0 leads America into the mines and to Ironwood on Ironwood's orders.]]
* If that happens [[spoiler:America will be captured and taken to Atlas and Penny 2.0 will realize her mistake. She will then turn against Ironwood and free Alfred.]]
** [[spoiler: Partially Jossed and Confirmed. Penny turns against Ironwood and saves America ''before'' he can be taken to Atlas.]]

[[folder:Jossed Theories]]
[[WMG: One of the heroes will be arrested...]]
[[spoiler: ...for owning a copy of Remnant: The Game.]] Time was taken to say it has been [[spoiler:banned in Atlas]]. The heroes will cause trouble and someone in authority will use [[spoiler:the game]] as an excuse to arrest them. The most likely victim is [[spoiler: Sun or Blake]] since they are in [[spoiler:[[FantasticRacism Atlas]]]].
* Alternatively, [[spoiler:Weiss is arrested and taken back to her father.]]
** This entire entry is Jossed.

[[WMG: America was [[spoiler:raped by the ex-soldier.]]]]
This happened offscreen or when he was unconscious. If it happened while he was unconscious, America is not sure it happened but suspects. It might have happened before he woke up [[spoiler: naked in the bathroom. He was in pain and left drops of blood where he was laying. The ex-soldier stripped him and then raped him while he was knocked out.]] If it was offscreen it happened one of the times [[spoiler: the ex-soldier was torturing him.]] It is why he is so traumatized. England and Canada will find out when America has a breakdown.
* [[spoiler: The soldier ''does'' grope him a lot. And America is in pain in suspicious places when he wakes in the bathroom. He has trouble standing and walking and instead limps around. Not to mention his lack of surprise when the ex-soldier kisses the side of his neck. He isn't ''shocked'' that the ex-soldier is going that far, only terrified and resigned to let the soldier play his "game". And when the soldier rips America's shirt off and pins him facedown he only thinks "Not again." It could just be referring to the soldier carving him up [[FridgeHorror but]]...]]
* America was [[spoiler:forced to stand for weeks in chains, even when he was asleep.]] Of course his legs hurt and he's limping. The "Not again" likely refers to [[spoiler: the soldier cutting him up]], nothing more. And his trauma comes from everything that he has gone through [[spoiler:since the lab, not just what the soldier did.]]
* America might have [[RepressedMemories suppressed his memories]] of it too.
** If that is the case he may possibly recover them through a TraumaButton.
* More possible evidence: When [[spoiler:Ironwood]] restrains America from behind, [[spoiler:Ironwood's [[TraumaButton breath brushes his ear.]]]] America freaks out and [[spoiler: thinks Ironwood is the ex-soldier]]. The narrative mentions how he "won't let [[spoiler:the soldier]] hurt him this time" and America screams "''You won't touch me again!''" and burns [[spoiler:Ironwood.]]
** Officially [[https://archiveofourown.org/comments/178882056 Jossed]] per WordOfGod. To say the author was blindsided by this WMG is an understatement.
** Also Jossed in-story. [[spoiler:Doctor Charon outright asks America if the ex-soldier sexually assaulted him and America tells him no. He does stammer that the soldier kissed the side of his neck during their last encounter but clarifies that it was simply to terrify him.]] [[note]]Interestingly, the section that Josses this WMG is practically confirmed to be in response to it, with the review asking whether it happened being mentioned by the author. Apparently several people saw implications the author did not intend.[[/note]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Unsorted Theories]]

[[WMG: America was [[spoiler:raped by the ex-soldier.]]]]
This happened offscreen or when he was unconscious. If it happened while he was unconscious, America is not sure it happened but suspects. It might have happened before he woke up [[spoiler: naked in the bathroom. He was in pain and left drops of blood where he was laying. The ex-soldier stripped him and then raped him while he was knocked out.]] If it was offscreen it happened one of the times [[spoiler: the ex-soldier was torturing him.]] It is why he is so traumatized. England and Canada will find out when America has a breakdown.
* [[spoiler: The soldier ''does'' grope him a lot. And America is in pain in suspicious places when he wakes in the bathroom. He has trouble standing and walking and instead limps around. Not to mention his lack of surprise when the ex-soldier kisses the side of his neck. He isn't ''shocked'' that the ex-soldier is going that far, only terrified and resigned to let the soldier play his "game". And when the soldier rips America's shirt off and pins him facedown he only thinks "Not again." It could just be referring to the soldier carving him up [[FridgeHorror but]]...]]
* America was [[spoiler:forced to stand for weeks in chains, even when he was asleep.]] Of course his legs hurt and he's limping. The "Not again" likely refers to [[spoiler: the soldier cutting him up]], nothing more. And his trauma comes from everything that he has gone through [[spoiler:since the lab, not just what the soldier did.]]
* America might have [[RepressedMemories suppressed his memories]] of it too.
** If that is the case he may possibly recover them through a TraumaButton.
* More possible evidence: When [[spoiler:Ironwood]] restrains America from behind, [[spoiler:Ironwood's [[TraumaButton breath brushes his ear.]]]] America freaks out and [[spoiler: thinks Ironwood is the ex-soldier]]. The narrative mentions how he "won't let [[spoiler:the soldier]] hurt him this time" and America screams "''You won't touch me again!''" and burns [[spoiler:Ironwood.]]
** Officially [[https://archiveofourown.org/comments/178882056 Jossed]] per WordOfGod. To say the author was blindsided by this WMG is an understatement.
** Also Jossed in-story. [[spoiler:Doctor Charon outright asks America if the ex-soldier sexually assaulted him and America tells him no. He does stammer that the soldier kissed the side of his neck during their last encounter but clarifies that it was simply to terrify him.]] [[note]]Interestingly, the section that Josses this WMG is practically confirmed to be in response to it, with the review asking whether it happened being mentioned by the author. Apparently several people saw implications the author did not intend.[[/note]]

[[WMG: Salem will gain a new ally: [[spoiler:Atlas]]]]
[[spoiler:Atlas/Ciel]] has shown how far over the line she is willing to go and has little concern for other people of Remnant (as seen when [[spoiler:her Atlesian Knights massacred Vale's people in Westwind]]). So why not [[spoiler: ally with her enemy to save her own skin?]]
* [[spoiler:Confirmed. Atlas fights with Emerald and Watts to try to capture Canada. She promises to give them the Relic of Creation after fixing her [[AnArmAndALeg body]] and puts her petty vengeance over Remnant and her own Kingdom. [[KilledOffForReal It doesn't last very long]].]]

[[WMG: Hypocrite]]
Linked to the above WMG, [[spoiler:Atlas]] only cares about herself. She goes on and on about protecting Remnant but in reality only cares about herself and will be revealed to be hugely selfish, self-centered and hypocritical. And by "herself" that means ''only'' herself: even [[spoiler:her own people]] are expendable in her eyes.
* She may also be a HeroismAddict.
* [[spoiler:Confirmed. Atlas doesn't care about anyone except herself, and only helped to save Vale in order to flaunt her superiority and choose Vale's successor. She didn't stage any heroics, but she was perfectly willing to play the part of the hero so everyone would worship Remnant's savior.]]

[[spoiler: Ozpin]] betrayed [[spoiler: Vale]] in the past. It is not clear how the betrayal happened, but there are hints that [[spoiler:she]] despises [[spoiler:Ozpin.]] [[spoiler:She]] says his name with vitriol and later says "Screw Atlas and [[spoiler:O--]]" when talking about people they don't care about saving. [[spoiler:Ozpin]] is the only named character other than [[spoiler:Oscar and Oobleck]] with that first letter in their name.

* [[spoiler:Thae above is Jossed. Ironwood was not present when Atlas died.]]

Whether through a HeroicSacrifice or [[spoiler:Vale's status killing him]], he will not make it to the end of the series. This may lead to a BittersweetEnding, or even a DownerEnding if they do not stop Salem. [[spoiler:America]] has [[TraumaCongaLine suffered constantly]] throughout the series, and may only find [[PeacefulInDeath peace in death]] at this point. There's also the author's [[AnyoneCanDie track record]] to consider.

Linked to the above WMG, [[spoiler:Atlas]] only cares about herself. She goes on and on about protecting Remnant but in reality only cares about herself and will be revealed to be hugely selfish, self-centered and hypocritical. And by "herself" I mean ''only'' herself: even [[spoiler:her own people]] are expendable in her eyes.

* [[spoiler: Raven also tried killing America to keep Salem from finding him.]] Two out of five [[spoiler: current/former Ozpinati members]] tried that tactic. More {{Foreshadowing}}?