The Purpose Neo finds in Ever After | RWBY Volume 9 Theory

A possibility no one likes to consider is that a beloved character may meet their end but it is something that is always a possibility. In Volume 9 it may sadly become a reality...
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Endscreen:
Character - Seraphina Vermillion created by Phoenix/Night
Art by HoshiOujo

[neocoolest]

If Neo dies i'm never going to get over it. She's such a huge comfort character for me and if I find out she dies my heart is literally going to shatter.
I know she's fictional but i'm so attached to her that its crazy

[GreyLion]

Jaune is the only one capable of pulling Neo out of her internal/emotional hell regarding vengeance for Roman. If she survives Volume 9, it’ll be because of his efforts.

[cyrus]

The logic is sound but I really want her to give up on revenge and just go live her life.

[moeheil]

To your second point, I don't think neo would disrespect Romans wishes and instead, I think it would have the opposite effect and force her to try to move forward, work together with team rwby to escape, then go on a journey of self discovery, simultaneously creating the set up for a neo spinoff series

[MelvinDRosaria]

If Neo does piss off some kind of queen, I think that it would be Ruby to defend her (strangely enough). To start off my thoughts is: that Neo blames Ruby for Roman's death eventhough it's not, as Roman got swallowed whole by a grimm in volume 3 (that the White fang and the negativity that Cinder unleashed in Vale attracted to the city), at first Neo did go after Cinder, but Cinder was able to spin that rage to Ruby in volume 6, as Ruby was the last one to see Roman on top of the air ship. So it's fitting if Ruby was the one that defended Neo, showing her that Ruby has no ill intends.
Then there is offcourse Ruby that overheared everything that was said to Neo by Cinder, while Ruby did her bluff of *"I hope it was worth it"* before using her petal burst to get behind Neo and tackle her off the platform, Ruby was there hanging on Neo's leg as Cinder kicked off Neo's umbrella Hush and saw how Cinder betrayed Neo. So I can get why Neo would be furious, losing her only friend and she doesn't know how yet, losing her weapon in to the void (so I am half expecting a cute little moment when she finds her umbrella back, maybe that would calm her down) and getting knocked into the void herself by Cinder, she's angry to the point where she didn't even care about her own fate anymore, as she probably expected to die when reaching the void. Even when falling she still was going after Ruby as we saw in the volume 9 short, purely out of anger as we saw on her expression.
So I am still wondering if my predictions about Yggdrasil are going to be correct. If there really are multiple realms connected, we might get offcourse a heart tearing scene of Jaune talking to the realm of the dead (with Pyrrha) and maybe another for Weiss who get some closure with Jacque (because I think nobody knows yet, that Ironwood shot Jacque in the cellcomplex), but hopefully also some confirmation about Roman, Jaune could ask Pyrrha in a way off (as Neo stands there next to Jaune) Jaune could ask *"Pyrrha do you know if Roman also made it over to the realm of the dead?"* Neo closing her eyes as she's expecting to speak to Roman at that point, only to hear Pyrrha say *"Roman is not here"* and Jaune coming to the conclusion *"Doesn't that mean that Roman is alive?".* If there also are other realms, another one that would be important would be the realm of the gods, Ruby coming to the conclusion of *"What are you?".* Well Ruby is all these things: The leader of team RWBY, a silver eyed warrior, Taiyang (or Qrow being her dad is still on the table) and Summer's daughter, Yang's little sister, Blake's friend and Weiss's partner, the ones that's going to stop Salem (just to give them all purpose and new resolve at the end of volume 9), so Ruby can trace back the silver eyes AND Ambrosius to the God of light, so they are connected, Then Ruby could realise that she could open a rift using her silver eyes to get back to Remnant.
I also just though this up, but is Alyx also a silver eye warrior? Maybe we'll run into her in volume 9.
Edit: It's indeed also possible that Roman is dead from that grimm that ate him and if Neo does choose to join him in the afterlive, as long they do it in a beautifull way, then we will offcourse miss Neo, but she will be with Roman for all of time.

[_NIKOS_NIKOS]

Honestly, killing off Neo seems like a bad idea to me. All the character development potential and popularity among the fandom aside, she must be a very convinient character to work with on a technical level (considering that she doesnt have a VA that needs to be payed an all).

Hopefully, Jaune will somehow manage to get through to her (assuming that he doesnt cause the volcano to erupt due to his own emotions).


Pluss I really want her, Ruby, Winter and Jaune team up and kick Cinder's ass

[moeheil]

To the first point, neo's emotions effecting the weather makes me believe it's more likely that she gets redeamed, simply cus she will be flat out too powerful to defeat, therefore theONLY option is to try to calm her down

[IAmTrash]

I don’t want this to happen. Neo is so awesome and it would be such a shame and a waste of a character. Really stinks to see such a strong character literally shrunk down to a follower the whole time

[torchperish]

I would be OK with Neo's 'death' if it meant that Trivia would return. Could be a good way to resolve her character arc in determining who she is as a person without us having to lose the character herself.

[trentawsome]

I have always loved neo but I've never truly asked why. Since she first showed up she was cool and mysterious. She was able to beat yang with style and finesse during their first fight and that really captivated me. After that she was already my favorite character and one that could do no wrong but as a character in RWBY she has only been a plot device. At first it was to help Roman then Cinder. Her drive for revenge kept her going but I have to ask what next? Hypothetically let's say ruby goes up to her and tells her she is willing to neo kill her if she tells ruby what she plans to do next I wonder what neo's response would be. All she has left is revenge because that is her character. We learn so much from her novel about why Roman meant so much and what it means to lose him but she needs to take a page out of Nora's book and find out who neo really is and what she actually wants. Revenge is just a distraction from the pain she feels but maybe this is her chance. She needs to properly grieve as I don't think she has. Once she found out about Romans fate she probably just started hunting ruby only spending time to get stronger to make sure the job is done. She feels that she has no purpose without him and she's lost so all she can do is avenge him but that's not good for her. She needs to take this time to grieve her lose and move past it. As much as she cared about Roman he brought this on himself. Ruby didn't kill him and neither did that Grimm, it was suicide because of his choice. Maybe he would have died no matter what but it doesn't matter now because we will never know. Jaune may be able to help her come to terms with his death and move past it to find her true self. Neo was made long before she knew anything about Roman but it's like she thinks she is nothing without him and that's not true. She may not forgive ruby or anyone for that matter but she should try to forgive herself. She should try to make new choices and change for no one but herself. She doesn't have to join team RWBY or fight Salam or anything but as a fan of hers I just want her to be happy. I do want her to live as her dying would be the easy way out. Living out life without Roman would be hard but I know for a fact he would want the best for her

[jaredhildebrant]

Regarding your second point, if they do end up allowing her to choose to go to her to go to the after with Roman (once again building on the idea of choice) as painful as is may be, it would be fitting. That being said, I SERIOUSLY HOPE THAT’S NOT THE CASE. Especially when you consider the possibility for character interactions (specifically with Jaune and Weiss). Jaune and her could bond over the loss of someone important while her and Weiss could bond over having to grow up in a household where they were BOTH forced to conform to their parent’s ideas and be someone they weren’t.

[heero]

I hope you do breakdowns for all the characters, if you do I can't wait to see Blake and Yang.

[attioking]

Neo becoming a ferryman of death is a possibility. Taking souls to their proper spot, having a stable, legal, job, and all the time in the world to spend with Roman.

[AaronS]

The next video Phoenix should talk about Jaune state if he doesn't met up with neo first.

[darkreflection]

I really hope Neo doesn’t die she’s one of my favorite characters she has the best line’s

[dreadrath]

"He's a dumb-dumb. But he's my dumb-dumb." - Chibi Neo before happily jumping through the trap door to who knows where that Roman fell into.

Hey, RWBY Chibi could've been foreshadowing something there.

[xLotusAngelx]

I would be very sad if Neo died she is one of my fav characters but it’s possible for this to happen.

[mckenziebryant]

I hope Neo will find a new purpose with Jaune and Team RWBY. But I will a departure that is fitting for Neo.

[johnrhogan]

Wow, this theory was a little cryptic. Also, Neo may also want revenge against Cinder, for betraying her at V9's end. Hopefully we'll finally get to hear her speak, though I doubt it.

[justinmarcotte]

I really don't think it's going to happen that way but you got a point! Nah I have a feeling something's going to happen where like you said Juan could help her out at the end of the day