Cold Bonds

I looked down at the guard ponies below, marching in a synchronized step to a place unknown to me. Spears in hoof, their shinny, golden armor glistening as they went on by. Their faces stoic, their postures full of unwavering strength, their professional attitude. I couldn't help but stare in awe.

I've always wanted to be a guard, always wanted to hold a sword and fight evil ponies, creatures, and monsters alike. And I did. A lot! I would try my best to fight the evil teachers and their evil homework, the neighbors mean ugly dog, and even the other foals at school (bullies I mean of course). Most considered me a troublemaker, always getting into fights, always breaking things, but I honestly don't mean to be all that. I like helping other ponies out, whether that means beating up other ponies or not. And that usually gets me in trouble, because after I beat them up, they go to the teachers and other grown ups and tell on me, saying I beat them up for whatever reason. That they're the victims. Even after I try to explain myself, they just call me a liar. Of course no one listens to Bandit.

Oh, whoops, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Bandit, I'm 7 years old, and when I grow up, I want to fight bad guys. Right now I am in Canterlot with my mommy. My mommy is a professional dancer, she performs all over the city! She's really cool and really, really nice. I love my mommy. Right now I'm with her because there was no one who could watch me at home and mommy couldn't afford a babysitter (I know, she's a really good dancer! But she tells me that she doesn't make enough bits to get one, but I don't care, I like coming with her to see her dance when she lets me).

Probably wondering where my daddy is huh? Well, before I was born, my mommy told me that daddy used to be a guard pony. Cool right? I think it is. Anyway, before I was born, daddy went on a dangerous mission, along with other guard ponies, to go fight an evil dragon that was attacking a town full of ponies. He, along with other guard ponies, fought the dragon bravely, they even slayed the evil dragon! But daddy was severely hurt by the dragon after he tried to roast a bunch of foals alive! (I know, evil right?). My daddy bravely pushed the foals out of the way, but he was really hurt in the process of it. So much so that he eventually passed away. I didn't know my daddy, but I know that I would love him if I did, to me, he's a hero. My hero. One day, I want to be just like him and defend other ponies from evil.

Anyways, right now I'm waiting for mommy to start her dancing, so I'm just on the balcony of the place she's going to be dancing in tonight. Sometimes she doesn't let me watch when she has to go to the scary buildings in town. I'm pretty sure she doesn't want me to see her dance tonight, says its for adult ponies. Don't know how certain dancing can only be for adults, but I'll listen to her. I brought my little army ponies to play with, and my blanket for when it get late. I'm on the second floor in one of the back rooms, I know mommy isn't going to get done until late tonight, but I'm going to stay awake for her (its a school night, but I don't care). She wakes up really early, stays awake all day doing chores, makes me lunch for school, makes me dinner when I get home, and then dances until after midnight! She does a lot for me, because she loves me, and I'm going to stay awake until shes done tonight, like every night, because I love her. Ponies think I'm weird because I tell my mommy I love her everyday when she walks me to school, I don't know why honestly. If I do, I should tell her no?
Oh well I guess.

Anyway, I set up my little army ponies to fight each other, making strategies to defeat one another. Though, to be honest, I like the green ponies more than the tan ponies so I always make them win. I don't make it easy for them though, I throw everything I have at the green army ponies. They are my favorite, but I want them to try as hard as they can. I have my green ponies surrounded by the tan army ponies, their little barriers are all they have for cover from the archers. The tan army ponies outnumber them, they are on their last leg, many wounded, but the injured still are ready to fight to their last breath. The green army commander pony was hurt too, but yet he still stood, fighting through the pain, for his stallion comrades. The tan spearponies are advancing on their position, despite the green army ponies' efforts. There seems to be no hope for survival, but the green army ponies still fight on with everything in them. When it seemed to be the end for the green army ponies, suddenly a shower a of arrows rained down upon the tan army ponies. Reinforcements have arrived for the green army ponies! With now hope and determination in them, the soldiers of the green pony army rushed out of their foxholes and their cover and skewered as many tan army ponies as they can. With the talons of victory on the green army ponies' side, they finished off whats left of the remaining tan pony army. Those that could from the tan army escaped with their lives. It was a glorious day and a glorious victory for the grand green army!

Now that my green army had won the fight, I am now very, very tired. Mommy must have started dancing a while ago. So I wrapped myself with my blanket I brought and cleaned up my toys. I took out one of my books I brought out of my bag and began reading to myself the best I could. The story was about a blue train that had a lot of problems but never gave up and continued to be a train. I like it, I read it a lot. My eyes grew heavy, it was late, the music downstairs was but a distant dream. I snuggled up with my book in my blanket and laid my head down on the old couch.

"I'll stay awake mommy... I'll... stay... awake..."

With that I gently fell into a deep sleep. Goodnight mommy, goodnight daddy.