Bop it
by Dirty Bit
At an apartment building in the city of Manehattan, a filly was waiting patiently for her older sister to return with a surprise. The filly was an orange earth pony named Babs Seed. She blew a lock of her mane out of her eyes as she sat on her couch, beginning to grow tired of waiting.
The reason her sister was coming back with a surprise was because today was her birthday. While she doesn't have extravagant parties much like the average filly, she still enjoys the time spent with her two new friends and fellow members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders: Manehattan Branch. Whatever the surprise was, she was bound to show it to her friends after seeing it for herself.
Babs' ears perked up when she heard the door to her apartment open, and there she saw her sister, Anna Seed. She had a burgundy coat and a goldenrod mane and tail; her cutie mark was an apple with some seeds next to it. She was seen holding a wrapped gift box with a smile on her face.
Anna approached her sister and presented the box to her, her smile growing wider as she noticed Babs' growing curiosity.
"Open it." She said cheerfully.
Babs took a moment to glance at her sister before she decided to tear open her gift. When she tore off the wrapping paper, she noticed it was a box containing some kind of game. She squinted her eyes as she read the title aloud.
"Bop it?" Babs asked in bemusement.
"Try it!" Anna said encouragingly while observing her sister. Babs opened the box and pulled out the strange gaming device, noticing how it resembled a small black stick with a yellow cone on one end, a large sphere containing a button with the word 'Bop it' under it, and a blue piece on the other end. Carefully pressing the large button, a voice was suddenly heard.
"Bop it!" The masculine voice said. Babs instantly complied, bopping the button and being rewarded with a smack sound.
"Twist it!" Babs was confused before she studied the device and noticed how the cone had a spiraling pattern to it. Taking it in a hoof, she twisted the cone and elicited a cranking sound.
"Pull it!" The small filly decided to pull on the blue piece since it was the only one left, and game made a slide whistle sound after doing so.
"Bop it!" Babs complied and bopped the button again. As she heeded to each request, they were getting faster and appearing in random order, urging her to rise to the challenge as she narrowed her eyes in focus. When one command was sounded twice, however, Babs ended up messing up by reaching for another device and the game screamed in anguish over her mistake. She groaned before taking a deep breath and looking up at her smiling sister.
"Like it?" Anna asked inquisitively. There was a pause before Babs shared her sister's smile.
"Love it." Babs replied happily.
Satisfied with her sister's response, Anna nodded to Babs and trotted towards the fridge to see what was inside, thinking of what to make for dinner. Sadly, she noticed that the food supply was dangerously low, causing Anna to moan in complaint.
"Darn it!" Anna snapped. She regarded Babs with an embarrassed smile and let her know that she was going to go grocery shopping, allowing her sister to enjoy her new toy. After gathering some bits for herself, she saw herself out of the apartment once again, leaving Babs to pass the time and see how far she can get with each command. She carefully pressed the button again as she started up another game.
"Bop it!" Babs pressed the button.
"Twist it!" She twisted the cone.
"Pull it!" The orange filly pulled the blue piece with ease.
"Bend it!"
That was a new one. She was certain that it was impossible to bend this game since it was basically a plastic stick. She examined the game until she noticed a flap located on the edge of the large sphere near the yellow cone. Acting quickly, she got a good grasp on it and pulled it back as a secret piece was revealed, locking itself onto the bottom part of the game and covering the blue piece. The piece turned out to be a combination of a trigger and the butt of a rifle.
"Flip it!"
Babs decided to inspect the other end of the sphere and flipped it, causing what appeared to be a sniping scope to appear. This was beginning to confuse her for some reason.
"Extend it!"
Feeling as if there was nothing left to explore on the bottom, Babs decided to brave tugging on the yellow cone to see if it would actualy extend. To her surprise, it actually did, only to replace the entire top of the game with a long gun barrel. Now the game resembled a well-made sniper rifle.
The orange filly wondered what kind of game turns into a weapon as you play. Were toymakers running out of ideas, or was this a way to appeal to the younger generation and their violent tendencies?
"Load it!" The game commanded.
"Load it?" Babs parroted in confusion.
"Load it!"
Babs turned towards the box and wondered if there were any contents inside of it. Using her free hoof, she grabbed the box and tilted it sideways, shaking it as the box emptied out what appeared to be copper bullets and a small booklet. Grabbing one of the bullets with her teeth, she carefully placed it inside of an open slot seen on the game-turned-weapon.
"Cock it!" Babs did as commanded, albeit reluctantly. The weapon made cocking sound as it was properly loaded.
"Read it!" Picking up the booklet, the orange filly read the contents to herself.
Your target is Senator Mudd Slinger.
The fifteenth floor of the Hoofmore building will provide an unobstructed vantage point.
What kind of game did her sister purchase again?
"Memorize it! Burn it!" Babs had no trouble memorizing the exact location of her next destination since it was a block down from her apartment, but having to burn something for the first time wasn't something she wished to do here.
She trotted to the door and slowly opened it up, carefully peering outside to see if there are any possible witnesses.
"Move it!" The game snapped impatiently. Babs flinched before she shut the door and quickly made her way down the halls leading towards the staircase, but not before tossing the booklet down the nearest incinerator chute.
When she made it outside, Babs galloped with a rifle on her back, starting to feel as if she shouldn't go through with what could be considered a wrong turn in her new game. What did her Bop it want with the recently-elected senator? Was it because of his somewhat questionable tactics to acquire his position?
Babs decided to hold off any further internal questioning when she noticed a large apartment building come up into view. No doubt it was the Hoofmore Building. After reaching the glass doors in front of her, Babs carefully opened it and went inside with her Bop it in tow. She galloped across the lobby, breezing past an old stallion who stumbled briefly before shooting a glare at the running filly.
"Watch it!" He called out to Babs, was stopping in front of an elevator door.
Setting her game(?) down briefly, Babs hopped up and press the button with a down arrow, patiently waiting for the elevator to descend. There was a ding sound before the door slid open for her.
"Ride it!" Bop it said encouragingly as Babs picked it up and went inside the elevator. As it moved up, Babs lightly swayed from side to side to the calming elevator music, her mind slightly at ease. She was still confused about Bop it's motives, but maybe it could be some kind of ruse.
It was only a game, right?
A ding was heard, and the elevator stopped as the door slid open to reveal the fifteenth floor she was said to be on. Stepping out, she looked both ways until she chose to move to the leftmost hallway, noticing a door was open three rooms down. Babs trotted to the open room and saw it contain some supply drawers, boxes, and a dusty diploma.
"Close it!" Bop it commanded, to which Babs nudged the door shut with a hind hoof as she made for the window on the opposite side of the room.
Looking out of the window, she noticed many ponies below gathered in a crowd and listening to a bald grey pony in a black tuxedo talking at a podium. That must be Senator Mudd Slinger giving some speech. She opened the window and looked outside as she held Bop it in her forehooves, which were beginning to shake anxiously.
"Aim it!" Bop it said with vigor as Babs complied, shaking more as she did so. She peered into the scope to see a smiling Mudd Slinger behind a set of crosshairs, the vision shaky due to the orange filly's building anxiety.
"Kill it!"
The scope's vision became more shaky from Bop it's latest command. Now she felt that this was no longer a game with such an awful request.
"Kill it!" The game repeated itself. Babs hesitated further, not sure if she should even comply to her game's request. Why hasn't it screamed in anguish like it did back in her apartment? Was she really about to do this?
"Kill it!" Babs shakingly drew a forehoof to the trigger, trying to steel herself and keep a good lock on her target.
"Squeeze it!" There was a pause before Babs craned her head back, gritting her teeth in fear as she shook her head, not wanting to be held responsible for something that was commonly seen in the action movies she watches with her sister.
"Squeeze it." Bop it repeated, although more sternly than before, to which Babs frantically shook her head. The game repeated the same exact command, but with more impatience than the last time. Babs felt a lump in her throat and quickly sucked a deep breath before she regained her lock on Mudd Slinger and pulled the trigger.
There was a loud bang, followed by a series of gasps and screams as a corpse fell backwards on another pony, with blood leaking out of his head. Babs slowly lowered her confirmed weapon with eyes wide as dinner plates as she contemplated on what she had actually done today. It was beginning to dawn on her that her life's about to make a big change...
"Beat it! Hoof it! Book it!"
That was, until Bop it shook Babs out of her reverie with his hasty commands. Feeling adrenaline rushing in her system, Babs leapt away from the window and made for the door with Bop it close beside her. However, when she got near the door, it flew open to reveal stallions in police uniforms; one was a blue unicorn and the other a red earth pony. They both regarded Babs with glares that demanded an explanation of why she was in this very room.
"Fake it..." Bop it said smugly as its barrel was still trailing with smoke. Consumed by her own fear, Babs tried twisting the truth, claiming that she was playing with her toy and desired to see her sister. Her fear heightened when they raised their eyebrows towards the gun, which was still smoking, much to their curiosity. Babs couldn't take any more pressure on herself at the moment.
"End it!" Whether it was from the adrenaline in her body or the fear in her heart, Babs reflexively grabbed the gun and placed the barrel in her mouth, ready to pull the trigger, only to be tackled harshly by the earth pony cop, struggling under his weight as she cried out in fear. The toy in her hoof was then covered in a blue magic aura.
"Give it!" The unicorn said as he fussed with Babs before prying the dangerous weapon from her grip. Babs could only continue to struggle and cry while being held down by the earth pony.
Today just wasn't her day.
_____
The ride to the Manehattan Police Station was silent, but when she got to her holding cell, Babs sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes as she sat on her bed.
"Blew it..." She whimpered to herself as she bided her time inside what could possibly be her new home. There was the sound of hoofbeats approaching her cell, and she perked up to see it was not only a police pony, but Anna as well, who didn't look happy to see Babs at all. There were many emotions that her sister had trouble conveying, namely sadness and confusion, and Babs nearly felt a loss for words. She went to explain to Anna about the situation she was dragged into, hoping she would understand.
"Save it." Anna said before Babs could even say a word. It was hard for either Apple to keep it together at this time, but that didn't mean that they were without love for each other despite the current circumstances.
The police pony was kind enough to open the cell door for Anna to trot inside. Where Babs expected a harsh venting and beating from her sister, she was instead met with a tight embrace, followed by a river of tears courtesy of Anna. Babs was tempted to join her sister, only for Anna to face the orange filly as she wiped her tears. She informed her little sister about an upcoming case tomorrow, and wanted her to answer as honestly as possible.
"Win it." Anna said with faint hope beneath her sadness before she left Babs behind in her cell, trotting out with the police pony as the cell door slammed shut.
Feeling some new energy build within herself, Babs knew what she had to do: She had to make things right, even if the thought of getting punished for it scared her out of her wits. All she had to do was bide her time and wait until tomorrow until it happens.
There was the sound of clanging bars that caught Babs' attention as she trotted towards her door and peered towards her right, noticing a cell adjacent to her own along the right wall. The one who clanged at the bars was none other than her dreaded accomplice in her latest act of murder.
Many questions swam in the orange filly's mind? Why is this happening? Why is her day getting worse? How is that cursed game even moving? Why did those incompetent officers place it in a cell instead of destroying it?
"Wing it..." Bop it said calmly, undoubtedly referring to tomorrow's court case. Babs couldn't take anymore senseless commands, especially since she's been cooped up in a cell next to the game from Tartarus.
"Stop it!" She shouted, wanting her living nightmare to cease any further conversation. Being rewarded with silence, Babs took a deep breath and trotted back to her bed, curling up and laying down as she tried to catch some much-needed sleep.
_____
Babs' heart was beating loudly as she made her way down the corridor, guided by a unicorn bailiff on her left, and an elderly lawyer carrying that which shouldn't be named on his back. The yellow stallion had a white balding mane, wore a blue tuxedo and a winning smile, although anxiety was clear in his purple eyes. He must be one of the bad lawyers; the kind that would have a case slip out of their hooves faster than a Wonderbolt race.
...How did that game even manage to get a lawyer?
They reached two wooden doors that opened to reveal a courtroom with ponies murmuring and chatting amongst themselves. The only pony that didn't follow the crowd was her sister, who gave the orange filly a hopeful look in her eyes. Babs gulped as she went to take her seat on the right table in the courtroom. She never caught a glimpse at the plaintiff or prosecutor on the other side, but felt it was better that way since she didn't have the heart to look at them.
As everypony continued chatting amongst themselves, an imposing silver figure wearing black robe strode into the courtroom and took his place onto the bench. He had a cold expression on his face, and his red mane was similar to that of a flame. It was famous Manehattan Judge Swift Hammer, who shifted his red eyes at the ponies as they held their tongues under his gaze.
"Raise it!" The bailiff called out to the public residing in the courtoom as they rose from their seats. There was a brief pause while Swift Hammer looked upon all who were present before nodding to the bailiff, who returned it to the judge before facing the crowd.
"Park it!" The bailiff said, to which all of the ponies reflexively sat back down in their seats. Swift Hammer then proceeded to address the current case, allowed both the defense attorney and prosecutor to state their claims - although the former's was more shaky - and wasted no time with allowing Babs to take the stand when she was called by the prosecutor.
"Plead it." Swift Hammer said to Babs, to which she instantly voiced that she's not guilty, leading the judge to ask if the real mastermind behind the assassination of Mudd Slinger was actually in the courtroom today. Babs looked over at one unique suspect in particular sitting next to a sweating defense attorney.
"Zip it..." The game hissed in warning. It took plenty of resolve for Babs to refrain from saying things she might regret in the future, even if she had already did something she regretted yesterday. With a calm and collected breath, she slowly raised a hoof and pointed it at Bop it, causing the entire courtroom to gasp. Swift Hammer seethed in anger as he spotted the culprit, and some ponies thought that his mane was actually billowing like a flame.
"Jail it!!" Swift Hammer yelled as he pointed his gavel and Bop it before banging it on his bench. This was considered to be the quickest court case since the trial of the criminal Snake N. Grass. Babs felt as if a weight were lifted off of her shoulders as she stepped out of her stand. She noticed her sister race towards her, and she couldn't help but do the same as Anna and Babs shared a hug. After breaking the embrace, Babs stared up penitently at her sister, who smiled warmly.
"Forget it." She said softly as she ruffled the orange filly's mane. It's like she completely forgot that she was responsible for Babs' horrifying tribulation throughout a two-day period. But the sisters' moment was interrupted when a bailiff was seen with some kind of magic brace, holding it out towards Babs with a stoic face.
"Wear it." He said authoritively, waiting for Babs to hold out a foreleg. The orange filly was shocked at first, but didn't mind it when she realized that she was being placed under house arrest. Anna was quick to ask why this was being implemented, only for the bailiff to answer that Swift Hammer's anger problem often clouds his true judgement, and that Babs was a confirmed accomplice despite her pleading innocent.
Babs didn't have a problem with wearing her new accessory, even if it meant her travelling privileges were limited. After all, it's probably better than what her 'game' had been sentenced with...
_____
In a cell, two prisoners now sit.
They both could not possibly bear it.
One looked towards the other; he was ready to smother.
He then stood up, unzipped, and said.
"Suck it."
"Damn it!"
_____
The zebracorn looked at the monstrosity laying in front of his typewriter with a blank stare. How it even got there was a mystery to him. After regaining his senses and straightening his top hat, he activated his horn and grabbed the monstrosity in his magic, seeing fit to give it the fate that it properly deserves...
"Scrap it." He said to himself as he flung it into the depths of oblivion, along with the other monstrosities before seeing fit to leave the area in search of cider.
Screw it
Author's Note
Watch it.
Comment it.
Enjoy it. 