//------------------------------// // Act III, Scene 12: Honey Trap, Vinegar Trap // Story: If You Give a Little Love... // by Quillamore //------------------------------// Babs Seed really shouldn’t have fallen for this. She knew that from the very second she got caught up in this trap, and yet that didn’t stop her. She certainly didn’t anticipate what the enemy could do to her, but what she did know is that she might never have another chance like this. For a slight moment, every opportunity was opening up to her, and even as a filly, she understood the implications. After the night of research she’d had with Cameo and Coco, she’d come to realize that the main Orange residence was a place that she passed by every day. It was just along the route she took to get to the theatre, an unimposing building compared to the mansions she’d seen in Ponyville, but ornate nonetheless and far nicer than the condo she lived in. Every once in a while, she’d stop and stare at it, confusing the foals walking back with her. To anypony else watching her, she was swept up in the vintage architecture of the structure. But, in her eyes, it was simple recognition that the enemy lay inside and could be planning at any time. That, even if ponies removed them from their mind, they would always be a few steps away, unavoidable. Babs didn’t know what the news about Pink Lady would be today, but the morning before brought all the context she needed. Even after over an hour of theorizing at Cameo’s place, the search had still been fruitless. Nopony had been willing to discuss the mystery at the Orange family meeting, and nopony had come forward with information. Bambi had tried to lighten the mood with breakfast pastries and the like, but by the time Coco left, Babs still had the feeling that the Oranges’ attack could go on forever. At this rate, for all anypony knew, it would. And even though she’d tried to push them out of her mind the night before and had one of the best times of her life doing it, today was back to seriousness. Even though the two older mares at home had tried to assuage the situation, Babs was still trapped in thoughts that no filly her age should be having. As she half-heartedly completed her assignments, memories began to flash through her head. She’d been trying to the best of her ability to suppress the traumatic effects they had on her, or at least to hide her reactions to the best of her ability. But for once, the event that flashed through her mind didn’t end with her being hurt. I am her destiny! And I won’t let it slip away again! That same voice kept ringing through her head as she studied. Her mind fixated on it, watching as Coco sacrificed herself over and over again for the sake of her own safety. Every time Babs looked at her mother’s matching scar, she knew that, if given the chance, Coco would charge into that same moment again. Before, it’d been comforting to have that much protection around her. Before, she didn’t realize what it really meant. Will it ever really end? The gears in her mind wouldn’t stop turning as the sun flew across the sky. It’d never really been about her, or at least, it’d stopped being about her after the foalnapping. Sure, with the way the Oranges handled Mosely, they would have liked to make everypony think Babs was at the center of the situation. But even then, their eyes were locked straight onto Coco, not as her mother, but as a pony who could help them somehow. Every time Coco or Bambi had gone on the offense, though, it was to protect her and nopony else. They still didn’t realize. They’d fallen into the trap. But not Babs. Not anymore. She still wasn’t sure what she could do to stop it, but if the situation was never about her, that would mean that the Oranges wouldn’t suspect a thing if she brought herself into it, either. Now, it was just a matter of figuring out what it would take for them to stay away from her family forever. With all these thoughts in her head, it was almost like back then, before anything had happened at all. Back when she was at the foster home and pushed everypony away from her life. Just like Bambi had, come to think of it. Just like everypony had, before circumstances somehow brought them together. Some creepy rich family couldn’t tear something like that apart on her watch. School was a blur to her, just like then. There were a couple occasions where ponies started to notice, like when the teacher called on her to read and received no response. She’d gotten used to hiding this sort of thing lately, though, just like how she’d gotten used to covering her scars and hiding the other stallion from her thoughts. Moments flashed by in her mind faster than ever every time she thought about coming back to reality. If it was any other time, it would be overwhelming, but for once, she let them take her over, remind her of everything she needed to do by the time she got to the theatre that day. “Are you going to eat that?” a single voice interrupted. Babs stared at the aqua filly, suddenly realizing that she’d been silent all throughout lunch. She couldn’t even bring herself to remember anything the other Manehattan Crusader had said, she’d tuned herself out so much. Without even thinking, she pushed the half-eaten sandwich towards her friend, hoping she wouldn’t connect the dots. “Something happened with that one weird alien family targeting you guys?” the other filly continued, fishing for conversation. “Is that why you haven’t been sayin’ anything? Or who’s to say they haven’t replaced you with one of their own?” Normally, Starrider’s conspiracy theories were an entertaining diversion from the very real struggles Babs had to face on a regular basis, but today, they seemed as blank as everything else. Sure, Starr meant well, but anything she could do at this point would just make the brown filly want to hide behind the table in embarrassment. “They’re aliens, not changelings,” Babs replied with a shake of her head. “’Sides, if they’re as bad at their jobs as changelings are, I think you would’ve noticed me disappearing by now.” “But what if changelings were aliens?” Starr countered, still wearing her typical wide white grin. “That’s not the point—“ “Think about it, Babs. We still don’t know for sure where changelings come from. Equestrian scientists have spent years wondering about this. And y’know, if we haven’t cracked some great mystery yet, who’s to say it doesn’t come from another world?” She’s dealing with this the best way she can, Babs reminded herself, doing everything she could to keep herself from sighing at the other filly’s delusions. “They’re not aliens or changelings,” she finally muttered. “I don’t know what the hay they are. But what I do know is that if I don’t do something, they’ll bring my mom into their ranks.” “I dunno, all that ‘assimilate or die’ stuff sure makes them sound like aliens to me.” For once, out of all the things Starr could’ve said, all Babs could do was give her a confused look. Every once in a while, when the teal filly got into her science fiction talk, she’d throw out a few big words and confuse everypony around her, even the shocked teachers. But, judging from the look on both fillies’ faces, they both recognized that listening to Starr’s technobabble was better than listening to her advice. “Sorry,” she whispered, looking at the other Crusader. “I shouldn’t be joking around about stuff like this when it gets to you so much.” “It’s fine. I get that you’re tryin’ to help me, but I think I have something better in mind.” As anticipated, Starr shook her head and tilted it slightly, simultaneously perplexed and intrigued by the offer. “So suppose the Oranges were aliens,” Babs finally said. “Wouldn’t it be the best plan of action to spy on their lair before they do any more damage?” And sure enough, there they were. Crossing over to what could very well be one of the most influential buildings in Manehattan, just as Coco was likely going about her daily business. It was a risk, sure. But it was one that Babs was willing to take, and one that Coco would never have to know about. She’d planned it just about as best as she could on short notice for a filly her age. She had a lookout, and somepony who could report to anypony if anything went wrong, just like how she’d practiced it when the Crusaders tried to get their secret agent cutie marks. It was almost like she knew how it would end. Like she knew it would be a trap. “So it’s right over there?” Starr asked her just as Babs was about to canter off. “Yeah. Not quite the evil lair I’d imagine, but it’ll do.” Just as her fellow Crusader was about to take off alongside her, Babs shoved her ever so gently. This wasn’t something she ever wanted any other filly to have to go through. And, if she played her cards right this time, she wouldn’t have to go through it anymore, either. Everything blurred as she galloped, just like it had during the rest of the day. But for the first time then, Babs could see herself focusing on something. Somepony was standing just outside the Orange residence, not moving even once. Almost as if she was waiting. Almost as if their meeting was fate. Only one more block, and she would meet that pony, older than almost everypony she’d ever met besides Granny Smith. She’d ask her just why all this had to happen, why the Oranges thought removing Mosely would remove the trouble when they created it all on their own. And she’d convince her with everything she had to bring change, even if it would bring her to violence. But what she never knew was that the Oranges didn’t facilitate change. It wasn’t a word in their dictionary. She would never get a word in. Because, like it or not, she was still a pawn in her scheme. Babs Seed trotted up to the mare, not noticing the other ponies lurking behind her. The last thing she saw in that moment was the silver sheen of Starr’s mane. **** Midsweet Orange, matriarch of the family that’d plagued the Spellshock cast for so long, watched as a brown mass of fur tumbled along her bed. As conveniently as things had gone for her then, she knew that she would have waited outside her building for as long as she could to make sure this moment occurred. Despite what others would think, she was no fool, not even in her old age. She knew that her family couldn’t sustain themselves through superficial ties alone. Belladonna, the one daughter who had given the Oranges more foals than anypony, already had two who were no longer eligible. The one heir still left from that side, Valencia, had no foals, at least none that were viable enough for them. And the same thing kept on going down the line onto Satsuma, the one good thing the new traitorous Orange had ever given anypony and who outright rejected everything they stood for. They wouldn’t stand for this any longer. She couldn’t either. But as it would happen, the day Midsweet first expelled Mosely was the day she also discovered her saving grace. That there had been a perfectly legitimate Orange heir all along, right in plain sight. It didn’t matter what sorts of traps she and her like would have to push Coco’s way, because it was never about that simple and plain costume designer. Because she would’ve gone through everything to get to this moment. To find the one pony that, in her eyes, had more potential than anypony else. Because once, Midsweet had been called illegitimate as well. And if anypony was capable of giving the Oranges a new start, it would have to be the one who was just like her. Who she would form further in her image. “We’re not so different, you and I,” she whispered, just as the foal’s eyes fluttered in and out of sleep. “I can show you the pony you’re really meant to be." As Coco interrogated Belladonna, as the plan was set into motion, the next thing Babs would see was an orange painted over her flank.