User blog:BenRG/Predictions for Volumes 3 & 4

Cross-posted from this forum thread. Okay, no great unique ideas on my part but here goes:

Predictions for Volume 3

 * 1) Main setting is the Tournament section of the Vytal Festival;
 * 2) Cinder is participating and is using special tactics and tailored Dust that neutralise both Semblance and weapons tactics to win easily; this has the effect of creating a crisis of confidence in the defeated;
 * 3) Climactic battle begins when Adam leads a regrouped White Fang into Vytal; this is assisted by the Black Queen virus going active, knocking out all computer-controlled defences (incluidng the vast majority of Ironwood's forces - maybe even a few airships crashing on the city?);
 * 4) Cinder's motive is to destroy hope - show that the champions of humanity cannot save them (as a frightened populace is easy to conquer or scatter back to being hunter-gatherers);
 * 5) Ruby, who is the only one who knows Penny's true nature, is able to use her advanced anti-virus heuristics to 'cure' the city's defences, turning the tide.
 * 6) Cinder is going one-on-one with Ozpin (who is all "You have so much still to learn, my young Apprentice with her) when the defences suddenly light up and start making mincemeat of Grimm and White Fang alike; she's not stupid and calls a retreat;
 * 7) At some point, Adam challenges Blake to join him; she tells him to get lost but you can see she's conflicted - this will be a subject to which the story will return in future;
 * 8) Pyrrha's back is to the wall when Ren steps in and beats Mercury into a pulp, remarking that "real strength is more than weapons or Semblance";

The epilogue is Ozpin watching several bruised and battered Hunters and Huntresses being 'flushed' of Cinder's depowering dust in a spa or something. He turns to RWBY, CRDL, JNPR and SSSN; he informs them that, with so many senior hunters and huntresses dead or requring considerable treatment to recover from Cinder's bio-sabotage, he must accelerate their training considerably. As of now, the newly-minted sophomore year of students will be very much learning the trade on the streets.

Prediction for Volume 4:
The teams will be working as apprentices under a senior Hunter of Huntress - RWBY under Ooblek (because he has previous experience with them); CRDL under Glynda (because she feels she needs to keep a close eye on the reckless Cardin); JNPR under Port (because the thought of Jaune as Port's XO is genuinely funny).

Ren starts training his friends (and possibly RWBY) some of the aura-channeling hand-to-hand fighting techniques that he used to beat Mercury).

Ruby, having been beaten pretty easily (maybe by Emerald) because of her reliance on Crescent Rose, starts working on a secondary weapon. I wonder if it will be a Aura channeling blouse, inspired by Cinder's dress.