I decided to type a series of predictions I have concerning Volume 4 and onward. They aren't connected unless I say so. Some will have multiple chapters, like this one, and separate theories will be labeled in the chapter titles. These will all be speculation on my part. This particular chapter is based on my belief that ghosts probably exist on some level in this world. I mean, we already have magic, and Red like Roses Part II includes a part from Summer's perspective. Also, let's not forget that creepy spirit realm thingy we saw with that Salem person at the end. So, interaction between the spirit and physical realm on some level should be possible, right? Enjoy.

First, there was pain. Then, everything was hot. Then, she felt cold. So cold. She was breaking apart, scattering, falling…

A few seconds passed. A few eternities marked the opening of her eyes.

She was lying on a patch of grass. The first thing she noticed was that it was gray. Then, she realized that everything was gray. She was in a colorless field. The sky above was pale and flat. Only the occasional black, skeletal tree broke the monotony of the scenery.

She stood up slowly, noticing as she did so that her own body still retained its color. Where…?

"Salutations!" a chipper voice called from behind her.

"Huh?" The girl spun around, finding herself face to face with a smaller girl with ginger hair and a bow. She looked strangely familiar.

"Welcome, Pyrrha Nikos," the girl chirped again. Her voice and smile seemed genuine, whoever she was. And what was that name she had said?

"Pyrrha Nikos." The taller girl repeated the name, and it felt as if a light was suddenly shining in her mind. All at once, her memories flooded back. "No…" She looked around desperately. "No, no, no!" She clutched at her head. "Jaune! I left him! I can't believe-"

She was silenced when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her middle. The smaller girl was hugging her. She remembered her name. "Penny… I am so sorry." She started sobbing as she returned the embrace.

"It wasn't you," Penny murmured, her voice strangely calm. "If they hadn't used you to kill me, they would have used someone else or killed someone else. The end result would have been the same."

She drew back. "You don't have anyone else you're close to in the other place, so I decided to come. No one should be alone when they get here." Her tone suggested that she had been alone upon her arrival.

"So, I'm…" Pyrrha's throat closed. "I'm…"

"Dead." Penny nodded. "You put up a valiant fight, though."

Pyrrha's eyes closed. Dead or not, the tears streaking her cheeks felt real, wet, and hot. "I left them. I left him." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have kissed him. It was selfish. Now, he'll just be… He'll just be thinking about it for…" Why couldn't she finish sentences anymore?

"It happened." Penny touched her arm. "You can't change that. Just focus on the future."

"What future? We're dead!" Pyrrha sobbed, falling to her knees. "What else is there?"

"We can still help our friends," Penny assured her, kneeling in front of her. "Spirits have power in the world. I learned that while here. When we die, our Auras become one with nature again. We can use that to be near the living. We can guide them. Give them hope. Sometimes, we can visit their dreams."

Pyrrha shook her head. "That would only hurt him more."

"Maybe it would now, but I'm sure he'll be glad to see you once he's done grieving. A reminder that we're there is sometimes all someone needs."

"Have you been with Ruby?"

Penny nodded. "I was there when she used my sword to save you." She smiled softly. "She was so brave. I will miss her."

"I'm so sorry," Pyrrha said again, though she knew it was pointless. She stood up, helping Penny to stand with her. "Why is this place so gray?"

"It's the place between worlds. It reflects how you felt when you died." Penny looked at the landscape with a frown. "You were so sad…" She walked over to one of the trees and pulled at its branches. It held firm. "But you were also determined. You refused to yield, even at the end."

"Was it wrong to go after her? To try being the hero?" Pyrrha asked.

Penny shook her head. "There's no point in asking that. It's over." She held out a hand. "Ready to go?"

Pyrrha glanced once more at the grayness before taking the android's hand. Strangely enough, the hand felt warm and organic when she touched it. She blinked and the gray landscape disappeared. They were in a deep pine forest. The trees cleared away into a campsite. Sitting there were Jaune, Ren, and Nora.

A gasp left Pyrrha as she stared at her team. They were talking quietly. Jaune had an empty look in his eyes and his voice sounded so hollow.

"Ruby will be ready in a week or so," he muttered. "We need to be in shape when we go to Haven. We don't want any more…" He shook his head and let out a choked sob.

Nora moved to his side and hugged him tightly. "I know, Jaune. I know."

Before Pyrrha could start crying, Penny tapped her arm. "Go to him." She nodded at Ren.

Ren was silent, but he looked contemplative, as if he was trying to figure out whether or not to say something. He was closer than the others and Pyrrha touched a hand to his shoulder, keeping her eye on Jaune and Nora.

As she touched him, she could feel his Aura like a lance going through her. It was so familiar. For a moment, she was caught up in that kind, quiet, maternal personality she had grown to love.

Ren sat up and looked at Jaune. "She would want us to carry on, no matter what," he said. "We're still a team, Jaune. We will get through this." His eyes carried a slightly brighter spark than before.

Jaune looked up and nodded shakily. "Yeah. I know."

Pyrrha walked over and wrapped her immaterial arms around him. As she touched him, she felt that warm, familiar presence flooding her soul. For a moment, she could almost imagine that she was holding him for real. She felt him take a sharp breath before suddenly standing up.

"Let's keep moving." His eyes were hardened and his mouth was set in a line. "We can't risk staying in one place for too long. If my parents find me, it'll be just you guys and Ruby."

"And Yang?" Nora added hopefully.

Jaune shook his head. "I don't think so. From what I've heard, she hasn't gotten any better."

As Team JNPR started to pack up camp, Pyrrha turned toward Penny with a concerned frown. "What happened to Yang?"

Penny held out a hand, her eyes taking on a sadder look. "It's better if you see for yourself."

Pyrrha's heart sank. Why was this happening? What had any of them done to deserve this? Yang had already suffered enough. What else could have happened to her? And where were Blake and Weiss?

Knowing that she wouldn't like any of the answers waiting for her, Pyrrha looked over her shoulder. Her team was still working to pack up camp, their faces grim and sad, but more determined than before. I'll be with you, she silently promised. Whenever you need me, I'll be right with you. Always. Have courage, Jaune. I'm always here.

Taking a shuddering breath, Pyrrha blew a kiss that Jaune would never feel before taking Penny's hand and vanishing once again.

Okay, rant time. WHAT THE HELL?! Seriously, that was a new kind of low. Hey, let's give the main couple of the series two songs on the soundtrack (which I can never listen to again without sobbing, by the way!) and then kill Pyrrha just as she's starting to develop as a character in her own right! I'm sorry, but that sucks from a writing standpoint. It just sucks. As far as I'm concerned, all three deaths in this series have been cheap and badly-timed. Penny dies just as we start to get hints of her life in Atlas and her plans to come to Beacon. Roman dies seconds after his only moment of humanity in probably the stupidest way possible. Now, Pyrrha dies in the middle of her character development RIGHT AFTER her first and last kiss.

If they were determined to break my Arkos heart, they should have killed Jaune. I'm serious. They should have killed him instead. This is coming from someone who has Jaune as their second favorite character, okay? It would have made more sense. He's fully-developed, and the whole burning to ashes thing would have made more sense since he's based on Joan of Arc. While I still would have felt cheated, I would have seen the purpose: Force Pyrrha to cope and develop as a person as the series progresses. But this? This basically turned Pyrrha's entire character into a tool to flesh out Jaune's character.

Ahem. By no means am I quitting the fandom. I'm still just as invested as before. I just hope that they don't pull anything like this again. What's next? Develop Ren or Nora a bit, hint at their backstories, and then kill one or both of them?! (No, that was not a suggestion, Miles and Kerry! Team Sloth is my OTP, now! Don't kill it!)

My rants and statements concerning the finale could take up several pages, so I'll just make small statements in the Author Notes as I publish more chapters here. I hope you enjoy my theories. Hang in there, guys. We can survive this. Hopefully.

Despite my anger, I would like to make it clear that I do still love RWBY. It has been one of my biggest inspirations practically since it started. Now, after watching the finale, I'm more determined than ever to finish editing my own book. Thank you, Monty. Your spirit remains with us always.

Peace out.