Any minute now…
Yeehaw! It's officially apple-bucking day!
Look at all those apples. Ripe and juicy.
Perfect for bucking.
What the heck is going on?
They're back!
Attention!
This is a Sweet Apple Acres Code Red!
I need all hooves and claws on deck.
Calm down, Applejack.
Calm down?!
How can I calm down at a time like this?
Vampire fruit bats are attacking Sweet Apple Acres!
But I thought the fruit bats usually stayed put in the west orchard.
The fruit bats do.
But these aren't just your everyday ordinary fruit bats.
They're vampire fruit bats!
I'll be darned if they think they're gonna sting their fangs into my blue ribbon apple.
Awesome!
This here's our entry into the Appleloosa State Fair's products competition.
You know how much TLC goes into getting an apple to grow like this?
Applejack! When you go big you really go big!
Them vampire bats want to shrivel it up like a raisin.
I'm sure, if we just let them know how special that particular apple is to you, they leave it alone.
Yeah, right. Be my guest.
Um, excuse me. Mister vampire bat.
We were just wondering if, maybe,
you wouldn't mind leaving that really big apple alone?
Well, what did he say?
Um… Yes.
But… it could've been a no.
This is the first vampire fruit bat I've ever met, and…
Well, it might take some time for me to really understand their language.
Aha.
And in the meantime this pest and his vermin friends are gonna go after my prized apple!
And when they're ready, every other apple in the orchard!
These vampire bats are nothing but a bunch of monsters!
Monsters?!
It's a bit harsh, don't you think?
No, I do not.
Those vampire bats will give you a fright
Eating apples both day and night
They rest for a minute, maybe three
Then they're eating every apple in your apple tree
They don't care about nada
Not zilch, no nothing
'Cept bringin' about an orchard's destruction
Now wait just a minute,
There's another side to this.
And if I did not defend them,
Then I would be remiss.
These bats are momma's and papa's too,
They care for their young just like we ponies do
Oh gim'me a break you're being too kind.
These creatures have a one-track mind
The orchard is not their restaurant
But do they ever think what others may want?
No! They don't! And that is just a fact
These bats, they simply don't know how to act
That's where I have to disagree
They're loyal to their family
Spreading seeds both far and wide
You see one comin', you'd better run and hide!
They're big and ugly and mean as sin
Will ya look at the state my trees are in?
They help your trees, they'll grow stronger faster
They turn my life to a total disaster.
Well, I for one don't have a doubt
These vermin must be stamped right out
I second that, they've got to go.
these bats, they've got to hit the road
It comes down to just one simple fact
They've crossed the line, it's time to fight them
Stop the bats! Stop the bats!
Make them go and not come back
Stop the bats! Stop the bats!
Make them go and not come back
Stop the bats! Stop the bats!
Make them go and not come back!
Yes, it comes down to just one simple fact
They've crossed the line, it's time that we attack!
I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but I believe Applejack has made better argument.
These vampire fruit bats sound downright dreadful!
So let's get to rounding them up so that they don't destroy the rest of my orchard.
Fruit bat roundup, fruit bat roundup!
Excuse me, but…
what if instead of rounding them up
we let them have part of the orchard?
Have you lost your pest-loving mind?
They're only here because they're hungry.
If we build a sanctuary for them,
they get to have their own apples to enjoy.
After a while, they can even help the rest of your orchard.
The vampire bats don't eat the seeds of the apples,
and when they spit them out,
they grow into even more productive apple trees.
Listen, Fluttershy.
That sounds real nice and all,
but every second we spend building this so-called sanctuary,
is a second they spend destroying orchard!
You don't know what it was like the last time there was an infestation.
But Granny Smith has told me enough stories about it
that just a thought of it gives me nightmares.
Granny says we lost a huge section of orchard that year.
They had to ration out apples all winter.
What about the cider?
There was still cider, right?
Not. A. Drop.
No cider? No cider?!
We need to round up these monsters, and we need to do it now!
If Granny Smith wasn't with Apple Bloom and Big Mac
checking out a products competition in Appleloosa,
she'd be here telling us to do just that.
I'm sorry, Fluttershy,
but I think Applejack is right.
I just wish there was another way we could convince them not to eat them in the first place.
Maybe there is…
So, there's good news and bad news.
The good news is that I found a spell
that could get the vampire fruit bats to stop wanting to suck the juice from the apples.
But in order for the spell to work
I need the bats' full and complete attention.
Oh no…
Fluttershy. I need you to do your Stare on the bats.
I don't know…
What's the problem?
You've used the Stare plenty of times before.
Yes, but it's not something I take lightly.
I've made a vow not to use it except in dire circumstances.
This circumstance's plenty dire to me.
Me too!
Think of the cider!
Won't somepony please think of the cider?!
I'm sorry, I just don't like the idea of taking away the thing that
really makes the vampire fruit bats
vampire fruit bats.
It just feels wrong!
But if we don't do this,
there won't be any apples left for anypony here in Ponyville.
Doesn't that feel wrong too?
So what's it gonna be, Fluttershy?
Will you do your Stare on the bats or not?
…Okay, I'll do it.
Good choice.
I knew you wouldn't side with those icky bats…
They're not icky.
First round of cider is on me!
Hold it right there.
We gotta round up these beasts with wings first.
Time to waste 'em.
Gotcha!
Good work everypony.
I think we got 'em all.
Now all we need is for you to do your Stare.
Are you sure I really need…
Okay.
I really. really, really hate to do this to you.
I just hope you can forgive me.
Good. Now you go, Twilight.
Allright.
You can stop staring Fluttershy.
Did it work?
Only one way to find out for sure.
My crop is save! Yeeehaw!
We'll be drinking cider all winter long!
I wanna thank you for your help. I couldn't have done that without you.
Don't mention that Applejack. It was my pleasure. Really.
Now all we got to do is to sweep up these cores, so I can start bucking fresh tomorrow morning.
Apple-bucking day, take two!
Time to collect those juicy sweet apples.
The spell didn't work.
You darn tootin' the spell didn't work!
I think we gonna have to take more extreme measures.
I hear ya Applejack.
Come on everypony! Let's track down those vampire bats.
Wait a minute…
I don't think these bats are the ones that sucked my apples dry.
But if the vampire bats aren't eating your apples…
Who is?
Fluttershy, you're an animal expert.
Do you know of any other creatures that might be capable of this?
I'm sorry. I don't.
Well, there's only one way to find out.
We'll have to catch whatever it is in the act.
And how do you propose we do that?
A stake-out.
Witching hour.
Maybe we should just call this off.
Not sure about the rest of you, guys, but I'm really hungry.
Oh, Fluttershy. It'll be ok! Don't forget, darling —
we're all in this together.
That's right. Nopony leaves this orchard until we solve this mystery. Agreed?
Agreed!
Does everypony have their pony-signal?
Now remember, Pinkie Pie. Only use your signal if you see something suspicious.
I got it! Something suspicious!
Whatcha doing?!
All right. Now, everypony, split up.
We'll each patrol our own row of the orchard.
Whoever or whatever is destroying my apples has gotta be here somewhere.
I have a bad feeling about this.
A really bad feeling about this.
That apple.
It looks so juicy. And sweet.
What was that?
Suspicious!
It's pony signal time.
Who is there?
Oh well. There is obviously no need to worry about that shadowy figure overhead.
Or may be there is!
I think I'll just go see how Rainbow Dash is doing.
Who's there?
Answer me! Or you'll regret it.
Fine! Have it your own way.
Take that!
You, you, you!…
You… scarecrow?
Applejack, what is it?
Suspicious!
Fluttershy?
Yooo-Hooo, Fluttershy!
That's not Fluttershy,
that's Flutterbat!
We've got to get her down from there!
Fluttershy, sweeteness, please come down and do stop being a vampire bat.
Fluttershy, it's me, Rainbow Dash.
Why don't you cut the bat act and come on down?
Maybe we should just let her come down when she is ready.
Flutterbat on the loose!
Run for your lives!
Pinkie Pie, calm down.
See? She's back on her… branch.
She's just biding her time, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
Pinkie Pie, bats don't eat ponies.
Not even vampire bats.
But maybe vampire ponies eat other ponies?
I'm not taking any chances
How did this happen? That's what I don't understand.
I think this was actually our fault.
Our fault?
And how'd you figure that?
OK, so this is me, these are the bats and this is Fluttershy doing her Stare.
The spell was supposed to go right onto the bats like this.
But somehow the spell must have backfired.
It took the vampire fruitbats' desire to be vampite fruitbats
and transferred that desire into Fluttershy.
Come on, we will reverse the spell and make it right
Then what are we waiting for?
Let's save Fluttershy before that thing eats us all!
Hit the deck!
Follow that bat!
I can't believe we lost her.
Oh Fluttershy, where are you?
Look out!
If she keeps this up, your all crop will be gone in no time.
That's the least of my worries.
I just want my friend back.
We'll never get her back unless we corner her and cath her, so I can reverse the spell!
There she is.
There she goes!
Ow, this is no use.
I think the only way we're gonna catch her is if we find a way to lure her closer to us.
But even if we can lure her to us,
how are we gonna get her to stay still long enough for you to do your reverse spell?
If only we had Fluttershy to do her Stare on the Flutterbat.
That's it!
OK, let's get our friend back.
Action stations!
So much for having a winning apple in the Appleloosa state fair, huh.
She's coming.
Where am I?
Woo-hoo! She's all right!
Thank goodness you're okay.
But… what happened to me?
You turned into a vampire pony!
I tried to eat ponies?
Of course not!
So I wasn't a vampire?
Yes!
Yes I was or yes I wasn't?
Yes, you were!
But I didn't try to eat ponies?
Yes!
I did?
No!
I'm confused.
Me too. And I was there!
Fluttershy, I'm real sorry I didn't take your suggestion in the first place.
And don't forget,
now you'll get seeds that will grow into even bigger and better apple trees.
Does that mean what I think it means?
Yep, more cider too.
OK, got the part about the spell, Fluttershy turning into a bat, building a sanctuary.
Be sure to put in there that I came to see that my short-term solution was a little… short-sighted.
And that you shouldn't let anypony pressure you into doing something you don't think is right.
Sometimes you have to tell even your closest friends "no".
Now how about we celebrate our stronger than ever friendship
with a nice ripe juicy apple?
Stand back! I want to suck its juice!
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anon2anon sunnysubs.com