Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-28917352-20160703195106

Okay, so before I start, I would just like to say, I came up with this theory a lot of months ago. Around the end of Vol. 3. Of course, that doesn't mean that any of you have to believe me when I say this, nor does it mean it will come true. Heck, someone out there probably had the same idea already. But then there's that feeling, clawing at the back of your mind, and you really have to get it out of you. So, that's what I'm doing. I'm getting it out. And I want to see what other people will say. But please, let's try to keep this a friendly discussion.

Okay, so to start, I just wanted to say right out...who I think the Four Maidens are. Now, that might be obvious to some, others are saying things like it could be Ruby and some others. My thoughts are, maybe they've all been on screen, but you haven't really noticed.

First, the summer Maiden, Glynda Goodwitch. As you all may be able to tell. Everyone in RWBY(series) relates to a color. What stands out to me is the Wizard of Oz aspects of RWBY.

First there was Ozpin, Glynda, Ironwood, Qrow...four characters from the Wizard of Oz, Oz, the Good Witch, Tin Man, and Scarecrow respectively.

Then there was the Four Maidens, so my thought was...there has to be a connection to everything going on.

Then when Salem showed up, the theory began to build.

So I thought, maybe...the story of the Four Maidens related to the Wizard of Oz.

Ozpin, aka Oz, was once the old man who gave the Maidens their powers. Four Maidens. Four Witches in Wizard of Oz? I don't think it's a coincidence.

Then I broke down, why does Salem hate Ozpin? Why is she his enemy? Of course, there was the obvious Salem Witch trials, but how about Wicked Witch of the West?

I don't think I'm crazy there. But to those of you all who know about Oz the Great and Terrible, you know he had a relationship with the Wicked Witch. A close one, and after some events, she turned evil.

So maybe, that was her connection. Maybe Salem was the Winter Maiden, and she was close to Ozpin. In love with him. Of course, he did something that resulted in her transformation.

Glynda, the Summer Maiden. Also having a close relationship with Ozpin, see where I'm going with this?

Perhaps, the Maiden's powers preserve their bodies over time. Keeping that in mind, that would mean youth, or at least slowed aging for those with this power. Making sense of how all three of them would be alive to date.

Backing this up. The Maidens are represented by colors, just like everyone else in RWBY.

White/blue-Winter, Green(Limeish/bright)-Spring, Purple-Summer, Orange-Autumn.

Salem's appearance greatly matches that of the Winter Maiden.

As for Glynda, notice her aura's color? It's purple, just like the Summer Maidens. Then we think about her semblance. She was able to put things together. Manipulate them. Not only that, but just like Cinder, when she'd activate her powers, magical circles and runes would show up. So maybe, the entire time, while we were thinking that it was her semblance to put things back together, she was actually putting them back together with the wind around her. Not only that, but taking a look back at the very first episode of Vol 1. You see Glynda do something...she created storm clouds. She brought lightning unto Cinder and Torchwick as they attempted their escape.

Of course, we know they got away.

But the point is, nothing in RWBY happens as a coincidence. We all know there is a specific outline which Monty Oum wrote down. So, Glynda bringing a storm, what does that make you think of? Perhaps Amber when she used her Maiden Powers?

No, I think it was the exact same thing. It wasn't just something small, it was a hint that she is the Summer Maiden.

I do have more on that, but whether I continue or not depends on who/if someone responds.

As for Fall, we all know it is Cinder ATM. So I won't get far into that.

And I kinda already explained that Salem was the Winter Maiden already.

So who is the Spring Maiden?

Penny.

Now hear me out people. I know, Penny DIED.

But think about it.

She was noted as being the first synthetic being capable of emitting an Aura, no way would they drop this.

Plus if anyone knows anything about robots, technology, and AI, you know that things like hardrives, memories, can be backed up. SO with that in mind, who's to say that Penny won't return? Maybe, she's going to, and when she does, she'll be given the Spring Maiden's powers.

My reasoning for this stems out, more than just the color of her aura, it being a matching green to the Spring Maiden. But even her character says it.

Penny was a cute, innocent, girl. Even if she wasn't really human, she still was a friend and comrade. But think about who she's based off of. Pinocchio. What was he made out of? Wood. Plants, life. it grows in Spring. Polendina, [polen] Pollen.

I know I'm stretching this out. But I do believe this is not just coincidence.

Think about what this would mean.

Penny would return, be granted the powers of a Maiden, presumably to defeat Cinder or someone. and what this would mean. It would show, that even something made as a machine, someone so artificial, can become someone pure and good, someone more alive than anyone else out there in a world ravaged by war. So why can't we be just like that?

The things that I've said here should be taken witha grain of salt. I don't know if it would ever come true, and I don't know if anyone else would have thought about this yet. I do have more on it. But this is the top of my mind, that I at least wanted to put down. If anyone wants to add, or comment on this, or ask a question. Go right ahead.

Now, one last thing, that isn't too connected to the Maidens. However, it's gotten me thinking. Maybe there was more to the Wizard of Oz aspect than what was known.

We have Oz, the Good Witch, Tin Man, and Scarecrow...but where is Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion?

So it got me thinking. Breaking things down, three of the said were based in Vale. However, Ironwood, is from Atlas. So that left Vacuo and Mistral. Of course, Vacuo didn't make much sense, though I did try that scenario. I did end up going with...may be... he was the Headmaster of Haven Academy in Mistral. We do know that Salem's forces were pushing onto Mistral. But, think about it.

Where did Dorothy meet the Cowardly Lion? The forest. Qrow states that Mistral was home to lowlifes and thugs. Not only that but it was described as swampy. Foresty perhaps?

Then I took a look at those that hailed from Mistral. We have Neptune, and Pyrrha (RIP). But both of them shared a Greek aspect to their design. Then it all clicked.

Lowlifes and thugs? Something that common every day "heroes" face. Even the smallest villains.

With that in mind, it came to me.

What was a Lion in Greek Myths, slain by a hero? Heracles(Hercules) and the Nemean lion!

So there it was, the Cowardly Lion, at least in my theory will be a hybrid between the two, hopefully cause I really love both. Imagine that. The unbeatable Heracles as the Cowardly Lion. That'd be interesting.

Then, there's the matter of Dorothy...Ruby anyone?

Yes, I know, Ruby is little red riding hood. But where does it say she can't be both?

Exactly, it doesn't!

Now for her. My theory started with how she was a girl on a journey, like Dorothy, set on a path with three friends, also like Dorothy. Though, I'm not sure if she took Zwei with her, but I believe he is her Toto.

Anyways, then it really burned in my head. What did Dorothy use in order to get home? RUBY SLIPPERS! RUBY GOD DAMN IT!

And in the original writing for the Wizard of Oz, the slippers were SILVER. Silver eyes anyone?

Maybe that's a key part of this. I can't really say for certain. But those are my two theories...enjoy. And again, please, don't hate. I just needed to get this out...thank you and have a very nice day... 