//------------------------------//
// Comforting 
// Story: Dark life to light. 
// by Sugarcube66 
//------------------------------//

Banana shivered, as she sat behind a black alicorn filly. She kept shooting glances at Ruby Pinch and her friends, blushing and hiding behind her class book every time they spotted her. She whimpered softly, as she tried to stay focused on the lessons. But, it was almost impossible, as she felt a harsh glare on her vest-covered back. She teared up, almost crying but knew she couldn't. She looked behind her, unshed tears evident in her eyes, spotting the colt who had been bullying her earlier; Silver Specter. Her eyes widened as she turned back around, gripping her book tighter.

Ruby blinked, watching the filly from her location on the other side of the room. She tapped Dinky, who sat in front of her. The periwinkle filly looked up, as Ruby pointed to Banana and then at Silver. Dinky nodded, levitating a small piece of paper and wrote on it, in disappearing ink so that Miss Cheerilee didn't see it. 'What do we do.' She wrote, before tossing it behind her to Ruby.

'Not sure.' Ruby wrote back, before thinking for a second. She glanced at the clock that sat above the blackboard. 'It's only 5 minutes until the bell rings for break time. He won't get her, we can protect her then and even ask for help from the CMC, I've seen Nyx smile at her after all.'' As she passed it back to her straw maned friend, she frowned. Motioning her eyes to the clock, she frowned. She couldn't wait for the bell to go, just so she could keep Banana safe.

She blinked, a second later, to see that the piece of paper was back on her desk. She read the message as quickly as her eyes would let her, before she almost growled, but managed to restrain herself. 'I understand, but how do u plan on keeping that mean colt away from her? He obviously hates her.'

She frowned again but before she could reply, her eyes caught sight of Silver Specter shooting rubbers at the poor filly, who only seemed to shrink more. She snarled, almost about the get out of her seat to smack the life out of the colt. But before her hooves controlled her moves, Dinky took hold of the pink unicorn's hoof, another message on the paper. 'Keep calm, you can't get in trouble. He may be a horrible colt, but she'll be fine soon and you know that.' Ruby frowned, looking at and reading the message over and over, trying to stay as calm as her body would allow her.

Her hooves shaking with fury, she looked up at the clock multiple times, waiting and waiting for the bell to ring. When it finally did, it was almost like the weight of the world was taken off her. She walked to the other side of the classroom, but she was quickly stopped by Diamond Tiara, who had a grim frown on her face. She whispered, as her eyes trailed to the poor orange filly, who was still whimpering softly. ''Ruby Pinch, I know we aren't on good terms after my bullying of your group and the CMC, but I have happened to notice that colt bullying the new filly. Protect her. My daddy often comes late to pick me up, and she's always still there, I don't think her family pick her up. I'm not sure if she's on good terms with them.''

''I will.'' said Ruby, nodding her head affirmatively. All Diamond offered in response as a grim smile and a 'good luck'. Ruby closed her eyes softly before turning around to see that Banana was crying as the black alicorn filly, who sat in front of her, attempted to comfort her. She gasped, getting closer to the filly and hugging her. ''Hey now, it's alright, it's alright. Banana, he isn't going to hurt you anymore.  Not if I have my way about it.'' As she felt the orange unicorn relax in her comforting hug, Ruby turned to the alicorn filly and smiled softly. ''Thanks, Nyx. I think she'll be okay now, so you should be getting back to Apple Bloom and the others, I think they're waiting for you.''

The alicorn filly closed her dragon-like eyes before nodding. ''Okay, Ruby Pinch. Keep her safe, there's a aura of sadness around her and I fear it's only going to get worse. Be there for her.'' The alicorn filly then turned, her wings suddenly unreeling in a gust of black feathers, as she seemed to glide out of the schoolhouse, perhaps just to make a dramatic exit but who knew.

Ruby simply frowned, not liking anything she was hearing about the filly she was cuddling. Banana had seemed to freeze in her embrace, but it didn't last long as she started to shake and cry again. ''Oh, shh. It's okay.'' She stroked the filly's mane. ''I'm not going to let anypony hurt you, alright.'' She didn't get a reply, just a whimper and a snuffled and teary nod. Ruby deepened her hug, continuing to stroke the filly's mane as she tried to relax her. ''What's going on, Banana. Your so quiet and it's like your going through some trauma.''

Banana whimpered softly, before she whispered. Her voice was like bells in Ruby's ears, but it was strained and teary. ''....I'm f-fine.'' The orange filly whimpered softly, before looking down. She was clearly lying, but Ruby decided not to forced it on her. ''Miss Pinch....'' Banana continued. ''W-why are you looking out....for me.......'' She stopped for a second, before crying again. She pushed the pink unicorn away from her, her eyes redden from crying as she looked into Ruby's green eyes. ''Y-you don't know me......'' She hiccuped, as she strained to speak through her tears.

Ruby closed her eyes, almost sighing. She reopened them and softly smiled, wiping the tears from the orange unicorn's eyes. ''I don't need to know you, to want to be your friend. Your a sweet, beautiful and vulnerable filly, who anypony would love to protect. Basically, to sum it, I just wish to protect you from harm and be your friend.'' She looked down, smiling. There's was a evident blush on the green-maned filly's face, but it didn't distract Ruby. ''So, Banana. I just want to know that you are happy, and not suffering. Silver, me and my friends can handle, but I get the feeling that your sadness doesn't originate from him, does it.''

Once again, Banana froze. Her body shuddered, as a rip formed on the very back of her vest that didn't go unnoticed by Ruby. But, before the pink filly could question what was causing the rip, Banana ran off out of the schoolhouse, terrified. Ruby gasped, reaching her hoof out in a attempt to stop the filly. But she was too late, Banana was already gone. She punched the white and green wall beside her, splinters getting into her hoof; causing blood to roll down her hoof. The pain rippled through her nerves, but she ignored it. Biting her lip a bit, she glanced at the door. Her eyes widen when she saw Nyx standing there, her purple vest no longer on with her wings spread. ''What happened? I got a bit shocked when I suddenly saw Banana run out, crying. She ran behind the building and into the news press room.''

''I was trying to calmly ask her what was upsetting her.......''

''Ruby. You know as well as I that she isn't going to reveal what's going on in her life quickly. Be patient with her and I'm sure she'll reveal what's going on.'' She closed her eyes, before stepping in. Her turquoise magic closed the door behind her. ''I did see something that I hope nobody else did. But, her vest ripped off and surprisingly, she was revealed to be a alicorn. I have the idea that she isn't a pure alicorn like me and the 2 royal sisters, but a mortal alicorn like my mom, aunt and cousin.''

Ruby's eyes widen more, as she gasped. ''She's afraid of her alicorn status? That would explain the vest she wears, but why is she scared of her alicorn status and how is she an alicorn!? Your story is understandable.....with you being a....'' She quietened down before saying her next word, as to not offend the alicorn before her. ''Reincarnation.'' She then became louder, frowning. ''Your mother hid your wings to protect you. However; I get the feeling that with the case of Banana, it's different......''

Her mouth became wide. ''Diamond Tiara said something about Banana's family not being nice to her! 	Maybe they don't like her alicorn status and so are telling her to hide it?'' She didn't make it clear what she was implying, but she didn't like the concept of it either. ''Please tell me this isn't the case.......'' Tears rolled down her eyes as she ran past Nyx and to where Banana would be.