"They want you to make a speech."

Ozpin's words echoed in her mind.

Standing behind closed curtains Ruby stares out at the crowd; an apparition of faces.

Her hands clench at the fabric of her skirt anxiously. She doesn't feel prepared for this. It was all very last minute. After what happened, she wasn't sure if there was anything left to say.

A weight on her shoulder causes her to jump at the unexpected touch. Ruby's looks over to see a hand and trails up the arm to find Yang's warm grin and her soft lilac eyes.

Footsteps beside her reveals Blake looking at her with a calm smile and giving her a confident nod.

Someone then takes her hands, their touch soft and soothing. Ruby looks toward them to find Weiss standing before her.

"You can do it."

Ruby isn't sure who said it first, or if they said it altogether, but those few words suddenly meant so much.

Ruby kept the tears at bay, she didn't want to look a mess right before she gave this speech.

She nodded vigorously instead making everyone's smiles grow wider. Yang began chuckling and ruffling her hair a bit.

On the other side of the curtain she could hear Professor Goodwitch announcing her introduction.

Her team stepped aside, Weiss giving her hands a gentle squeeze before letting go.

Ruby looked out at the crowd once more, blank faces now becoming familiar.

Upon the sound of obligatory applause she squared her shoulders and kept her chin up, keeping in mind a simple phrase to push her onward as she walked on stage.

"Keep moving forward."

"If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve."