"I...I don't know when we'll get another chance to investigate the past." Ruby chewed on her thumb thoughtfully. "General...can you focus your efforts on locating the Summer Maiden in Vacuo?"

He nodded. "I can. I'll devote some resources to Mistral, as well – whether Roman and Neopolitan are loyal or not, I don't wish to leave things in their hands."

"I won't argue with that." Weiss pursed her lips in thought. "It would be useful if we could establish a line of contact, in case something happens while we're in the past..."

It is likely that Neopolitan could contact me with moderate effort.

Ironwood scowled. "I'll...attempt to open a line of communications with them. In an emergency...I'll do what I can."

"Thank you, General." Blake nodded. "We appreciate you working with us."

He released a deep sigh. "After seeing what the enemy is capable of – I am glad we found common ground. We'll need you, as much as that truth pains me." After a moment, he rallied. "What do you need, to return to the past?"

"We'll need to return to Beacon. We'll take it from there...but if you need us to return quickly, you may want to have travel accessible from there on our return."

He nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

"...You're wearing that dress?" Ruby blinked at her, and Blake found herself glancing to the side, slightly embarrassed.

"I - they gave it to me. I know it isn't the most practical, but...it should make a good impression, and it'll be easier for them to recognize me."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "From the way you told the story, I can't imagine them having any difficulty recognizing you. Weren't you, like, the only Faunus – sorry, Wilder – in the city?"

"Yang, if she thinks she should wear that then she should. She's the expert, not us." Weiss smiled. "It still looks wonderful. How practical is it for combat?"

"Surprisingly...not bad. It isn't perfect, but...well, my magic makes it a lot more practical than it could be."

Weiss nodded. "Is there anything we need to be aware of? Etiquette, perhaps? You know if you require proper behavior, it might take these two a bit to adjust."

"What – hey! I'm not that bad!" Yang crossed her arms. "...If you give me some warning..."

"You kinda are sometimes, Yang." Ruby smiled.

"Nothing much. They were...surprisingly easy going. Just be respectful, okay? And remember our cover story."

They nodded, and for a while there was silence as they finished packing what they needed. Out of the corner of her eye, Blake watched Ruby make several aborted motions to speak...before finally gathering her courage and deciding on her words. "We're – we're sure this will be okay for Obsidian, right? I mean, after the last time..."

The logic is sound. The Frozen Flame will remain in the present, while Blake's connection will persist into the past. My mind shall accompany her as Arbiter, but if I am called to the Flame...I shall answer.

Yang bit her lip. "If Obsidian says so...I mean, it isn't really like any of us can say otherwise, right?"

Weiss frowned. "It is a risk...but there isn't anything we can do about it at this point, short of leaving Blake here or reclaiming the Flame from Mistral. And neither of those are realistic."

Ruby didn't look completely convinced...but she nodded, nonetheless. Blake gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Ruby. For worrying."

Her leader glanced to the side, embarrassed. "...Obsidian's part of our team, you know? As leader, it's my job to worry."

Blake couldn't help but smile wider.

Penny was waiting for them at the crater's edge, head tilted to one side. "This place feels...odd. I can't quite place my fingers on it, though..."

"I, uh, think that phrase usually refers to just one finger, Penny." Ruby smiled.

"Oh! My mistake. Thank you, Ruby!"

"You're...probably sensing the Gate. It's dormant now, but it still feels...weird." Blake stepped forward, frowning at the odd feeling of space and time coiling together...then frowning at how familiar she was becoming with that kind of sensation.

"You can feel it? I don't feel...anything, really." Yang shrugged.

Weiss looked at her oddly. "I...can't either. I – I know it's there, I watched you step through it, but..."

She smiled. "I think it's an Arbiter thing. Sorry. But it does make this easier to do." She stepped forward towards where she could feel the distortion at the edge of the crater, until she was almost standing in the same spot she'd first disappeared from. She raised Shroud and Veil, blade firmly sheathed, and plunged it forward into the empty air. It rippled, half of the blade becoming hazy and indistinct, and she felt resistance building as she pushed it until it would go no further.

Then she twisted it – turned it, like a key. And the air around it swirled, colors and shapes blending together in a frenzied storm of incomprehensible nonsense, and a sound like the nails of reality scratching the chalkboard of reason – and then it was over, and there was a perfectly flat circular plane in front of them. On the other side lay the grass that she'd landed on, so long ago now.

She lowered her blade and glanced over her shoulder. "Ready?"

"I am temporally prepared!" Penny raised her hand triumphantly, stepping through without hesitation.

"No time like the present, right?" Yang stepped through, then tilted her head to one side. "Hey, wait, the present's different now, isn't it?"

"Yaaaaang, quit! Now's not the time!" Ruby blinked as her sister laughed, then blushed and jumped through the portal. "Quit it!"

Weiss...simply facepalmed with a sigh, stepping through without looking.

Blake shook her head as she stepped through, allowing the portal to close behind her and leave behind the sound of her team's laughter and the wind across the ancient plains.

She glanced towards the horizon. I'll keep my promise, Salem. Just wait a bit longer, okay?

End of Arc 8.

I may take a few days before the next main story chapter is posted; I have a bit of planning work to do.

In the interim, I might post an AU or Doomed Timeline or two, depending on where my muse takes me. If there's something along those lines you've been thinking of, feel free to toss ideas my way – if one inspires me, it may just get written.