It was an early afternoon in Canterlot, and the sun was high in the sky. Bandit, aged 11 years old, was walking alongside Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, also known as Princess Cadance. Despite Bandit being twelve, he was much larger than the average colt, not by much, but the difference was easy to spot. On his back was a small nymph with bright purple eyes, a red carapace, and a grey mane that was spikey. This was Chad, at only the age of three.
“You looking forward to your playdate with Twilight?” Cadance asked Bandit. Bandit looked back at her.
“Are you kidding? I’m spending the day with my best friend and my favorite babysitter of all time ever. How can I not look forward to this?” Bandit asked with his tail wagging.
“Aww, you just saw the sweetest things don’t you?” Cadance said as she nuzzled his cheek. She then looked at Chad. “What about you Chad?”
“I can’t wait to play with Spike.” Chad said with a wave.
“Hopefully Spike is in the mood to play.” Bandit said as he looked towards Twilight’s house. “Oh who am I kidding, Spike will be ready to play as soon as he see you show up.”
Cadance got over to the door and went to knock, but the door was flown open and Twilight ran out straight to Bandit.
“Bandit!” She called.
“Twily!” He said as Chad slid off his tail. Twilight ran to Bandit and hugged him. Bandit hugged right back. Spike peered out and saw Chad, quickly running out and the two of them did the same.
Night Light walked out and looked upon the scene with a smile.
“We’ll be back before sundown Night Light.” Cadance told him. “Tell Shining Armor I said hi!” Cadance said. She turned and doubletaked to see Twilight on Bandit’s back, with Spike and Chad on hers. Bandit smiled with a squee leaving his muzzle and Cadance rolled her eyes with a smile. She began to walk to the park.
At the park, Bandit lowered himself so Twilight, Spike, and Chad can get off.
“Come on!” Twilight said as she grabbed Bandit’s hoof. “Let’s get on the swings.”
Bandit pulled a frisbee out of his cape and gave it to Spike. Spike grabbed it and Chad ran off to go long. Bandit went with Twilight over to the swings, only for a light green filly in a sun hat with a white diamond cutie mark to get on one of the sings.
“Hey! Bandit was supposed to sit there so we’d swing together.” Twilight said to her.
“Sorry, but I got here first.” The filly said in a condescending tone.
“You aren’t even gonna swing, you’re just gonna sit there so Bandit can’t get on.” Twilight confronted. Bandit patted her back.
“Take it easy Twilight. We’ll just take turns on this one.” Bandit told her. Twilight looked back at Bandit.
“But I wanted to swing with my BGCFF.” Twilight told him. The filly looked confused.
“Best Giant Changeling Friend Forever.” Bandit told her.
“I don’t recall asking.” She told Bandit coldly.
“River Lilly, don’t start.” Bandit said with his eyes narrowed.
“Or what? You gonna tell on me?” She mocked, faking like she was crying. “Wah, wah, wah.” Bandit rolled his eyes.
“Come on Twilight. Let’s head to the single swing.” Bandit said as he started moving to the other side of the playground, still in Cadance’s line of sight. He saw the single swing and he made eye contact with a white coat that had a pale yellow mane and a purple diamond cutie mark. The two of them looked at the swing and then both took off for it. Bandit was much faster and got to the swing, grabbing it.
“Hey!” The colt exclaimed as he ran over. “Give up that swing!”
“Not happening Solar Comet.” Bandit told him.
“I saw the swing first.” Solar responded aggressively.
“I got here first.” Bandit responded.
“You think you can do anything you want because you’re Celestia’s son?” He confronted.
“Yes. Because my mother definitely raised me to be a spoiled brat.” Bandit sarcastically said. “Listen, there’s a swing by your friend/sister/cousin River Lilly. I don’t know your relation to her.”
“She’s my cousin.”
“Right. Cousin. There’s an open swing over there. Use that one.” Bandit said.
“But I want to use this swing!” He exclaimed to him.
“Then run faster next time. I got to the swing first, I’m using the swing first. First come first serve.” Bandit told him. “Maybe if you were polite, I would’ve gave you the swing.”
“Gave me the swing? What like you own it you spoiled brat of a prince?” Solar antagonized.
“Solar, if you call me a spoiled brat again I’m gonna kick your spine into your vocal chords.” Bandit glared. Solar glared at him but walked off without another word. Twilight and Bandit watched him leave and Twilight shook her head.
“What is their problem with you?” Twilight asked as she looked at Bandit.
“Same two problems everyone who has issues towards me. They don’t like what I am, and they love making trying to make me seem like a spoiled brat just because of my mother’s royalty.” Bandit said as he helped Twilight onto the swing. She held onto the ropes and Bandit began pushing her. “I mean, me being different is one thing, but why do so many of them assume I use my royal status to be an entitled jerk. They also have a habit of talking at me rather than to me.”
“You’re the kindest, sweetest changeling I’ve ever met Bandit.” Twilight told him as she swung.
“Twily, the only other Changeling you’ve met was Chad. The competition isn’t exactly stiff.” Bandit brushed off. Twilight giggled a bit.
“Okay. You’re the kindest colt in Canterlot. Maybe even all of Equestria.” Twilight told him. “You’re nice, you’re generous, you’re modest, and you never let those cowards get to you.”
Bandit blushed with a smile and pushed a little harder.
“Thanks, Twily. You’re the best friend I could ask for.” Bandit smiled.
Solar Comet got to River Lilly and sat on the swing next to her.
“Stupid bug.” He said.
“He beat you to the swing?” River Lilly asked.
“Yeah, and then threatened me.” Solar Comet answered.
“I told you to be on the swing before he got over there, but noooo, you wanted to see if you were faster.” River Lilly rolled her eyes.
“Why did Celestia decide to keep that little freak in the first place?” Solar Comet said as he kicked a rock. River Lilly groaned in agreement.
“If I was the princess, I would’ve kept him chained in the basement like the animal he is.” River Lilly said.
“That’s nothing. I would’ve watched him go down that waterfall.” Solar Comet said. Whistling as he raised his hoof and gradually lowered it to signify an artillery missile hitting the ground. He then grabbed the ropes on his swing again.
“Wonder if he’ll ever get the message that no one likes him.” River Lilly said. Solar Comet looked at the frisbee Chad and Spike were throwing and got an idea.
Cadance looked over at Bandit and Twilight, smiling as they seemed to be having quite a good time. At that moment, Chad ran to Spike and pounced on him, resulting in the two beginning to wrestle, which got her attention right back to the two. She kept an eye on them, just in case one of them got too serious, though they both didn’t intend on doing so.
As Cadance turned to look at the nymph and baby dragon, Bandit was hit in the side of the head by a raw frisbee. It didn’t do anything but slightly startle him as he didn’t see it coming. He pushed Twilight one last time in order to go and pick up the frisbee. Picking up the frisbee, he turned it over so he could throw it back to whoever threw it, and that’s when he saw what was written on it. His mouth dropped open and shock was written all over his face. He looked around and saw Solar Comet silently laughing with River Lilly. His ears flopped and he looked like his heart shattered. He looked back at the frisbee, reading what was on it again. He looked back at the two and saw the marker in Solar’s mouth, used to write those words. He saw that marker and then saw nothing but red. His teeth gritted and an angry look, he began to storm over to the two.
“Oh hi Bandit. Do you need something?” Solar asked him in a condescending tone. Bandit got to him and shoved him off the swing. Solar hit the ground and sat up.
“Hey! What’s your prob-” Solar tried to ask him, but Bandit hurled the swing right into his face, hitting him right in the nose. This knocked him flat and he grabbed his now bleeding nose.
“Hey!” River Lilly got off and tried to shove Bandit. “What is wrong with you?!
She was shoved harder by Bandit which knocked her to the ground.
“You think that was funny!?” Bandit shouted at Solar before punching him in the face multiple times. Cadance looked up and saw this, quickly running over to him. Bandit got another hit off before Cadance snatched him off.
“Bandit, what happened? What’s wrong?” She asked as she backed away from the situation. Twilight ran over as well.
“What’s going on?” Twilight asked. Chad and Spike ran over to the situation. Bandit looked at Cadance and pulled out the frisbee he was hit with earlier.
“Bandit, please talk to me. What happened?” Cadance asked him.
“I shoved him off the swing and I hit him with the swing. I did that, because he decided it would be funny to write this to me on a frisbee.” Bandit said as he pointed to the words on the frisbee, there was a picture drawn on above the words. “He wrote, on this frisbee, ‘next time your real mom wants to get of you, she should try this’, and drew a noose on the frisbee.”
Bandit showed the frisbee and Cadance was shocked at what she was seeing written on the frisbee.
“If you want to take me home, that’s perfectly fine, but I’m killing him before we leave.” Bandit said. Cadance got in front of him, placing his hooves on his shoulder.
“No no no no no no, Bandit, come on, let’s just go home.” Cadance quickly told him. Then Bandit’s ears picked up Solar’s poor attempt to lie.
“He just attacked me for no reason.” Solar was telling his mother, who was checking his nose. Bandit looked at him, pushing past Cadance who had to hold him again to keep him back.
“I did have a reason! YOU DREW A NOOSE ON THE FRISBEE! SAYING THAT’S HOW MY MOTHER SHOULD’VE TRIED TO GET RID OF ME!!” Bandit shouted at the top of his lungs towards him. Cadance physically picked Bandit up off the ground. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU EIGHT LAYERED STACK OF TRASH!!”
“Come on come on come on. Let’s go home.” Cadance said as she started to carry him away. Solar Comet’s mother looked at him with a very aggravated expression and grabbed him by the ear.
At the Canterlot Castle, Bandit was sitting outside of the throne room with Twilight next to him. There was quite some shouting on the other side of the door from Celestia and Solar Comet’s mother. Both are directed towards Solar Comet.
“I know I raised you better than this! Have you lost your mind!” Solar’s mother shouted.
“I cannot even fathom the amount of trouble you’re in for writing such a degrading message!” Celestia shouted.
“You should be ashamed of yourself! You are gonna go apologize right now!” Solar Comet’s mother said. Bandit’s ears twitch as Solar Comet walked to the door and opened the door. He looked at Bandit and tried to close the door.
“Leave. The door. Open.” Celestia told him. Solar Comet did that and looked at Bandit.
“Prince Bandit. I am very sorry for writing those words and antagonizing you. I’m also very sorry for trying to take your swing and not listening to you.” Solar Comet told him. Bandit towards him and looked at him for a few seconds.
“*Hooooock*” Bandit built up before spitting right on his face. Solar Comet was in shock as he felt the saliva land on him. Twilight gasped and covered her mouth in shock.
“Your apology wasn’t worth spit. Nor is it accepted.” He told him. Solar Comet’s mother walked over to him. “Now Get. Out.”
Solar’s mother grabbed him and began walking off, she turned around.
“This will never happen again your highness.” Solar called out before she walked out of the castle. Bandit sat back down, still angry from what just transpired. Celestia walked out towards him.
“Are you okay Bandit?” She asked. Bandit shook his head.
“No. I-I’m-” Bandit tried to say, Celestia pulled him into a hug. Bandit wasted no time hugging her back. Cadance then walked to them.
“Do you want me to take Twilight home?" Cadance asked.
"If you wouldn't mi-"
"Actually, momma. Is it okay if Twilight and Spike spend the night here?" Bandit asked. Celestia looked at Twilight, who nodded frantically.
"If it's okay with Twilight's parents, then okay." Celestia told him. Twilight smiled and began to run home to ask.
The sun had been lowered and Bandit was tucking Chad into his bed as Twilight zipped up Spike’s sleeping bag.
“I’m really sorry about all of that Bandit.” Twilight told him. Bandit walked over to his own bed.
“It’s fine Twilight. Honest.” Bandit said as he climbed onto his bed.
“No, Bandit it isn’t fine. If I’m being honest, Solar Comet got off easy.” Twilight said as she rolled out her sleeping bag.
“Twilight. Do you think I’ll be liked by others outside of you and Mother?” Bandit asked. Twilight stopped and looked at him.
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“Well, you like me. Moondancer and the others like me. Your family likes me, my family loves me. But…..Do you think ponies outside of Canterlot would think of me the same as the ones here? A freak and potential spoiled brat?” Bandit asked her as he got in his bed.
“They might be.” Twilight answered, making Bandit’s ears flop. “But, anyone who tells you who you are and how you act clearly doesn’t know you. And I know no matter how others think of you, you’ll still be my BGCFF.” Twilight told him. Bandit smiled, hopped off the bed, and walked to her, giving her a hug.
Twilight didn’t hesitate in hugging back.
“Thank you Twilight.”