My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Wiki
For the animal and the song within this episode, see Creatures#Vampire fruit bat and Bats (song).
Bats!
Season №: 4
Season episode №: 7
Overall episode №: 72
Original airdate: December 28, 2013
Written by: Merriwether Williams[1]
Storyboard: John Young and Corey Toomey[2]
Song: Bats
See also
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animation errorsstatisticsspeculation
Episode guide
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Bats! is the seventh episode of the fourth season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the seventy-second episode overall. In this episode, Applejack asks her friends to help stop an infestation of vampire fruit bats at Sweet Apple Acres, though they accidentally create a new apple-eating menace in the process. The title could be a pun on the interjection "rats", which expresses disappointment or frustration.

Production and development[]

On April 1, 2013, Meghan McCarthy wrote as part of an April Fools' Day joke that the eleventh episode of the fourth season would be titled "Bats" and that "It's just like the musical 'Cats', but with, you know, bats. And ponies. But mostly bats."[3]

The episode's premise was originally pitched to be a musical episode by Amy Keating Rogers[4] and its script was locked in October 2012.[5] The original opening credits of the episode incorrectly credited Meghan McCarthy as the episode's writer instead of Merriwether Williams.[1] This was corrected in reruns.

Summary[]

Apple Bucking Day[]

Applejack looks at the rotten apples S4E07

Something weird's goin' on here.

One morning at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack watches dawn break over the apple orchard and excitedly declares the advent of Apple Bucking Day. When the first tree she bucks yields only mushy, wilted fruit, however, Applejack cries out in dismay as a swarm of bats passes overhead:

"They're back!"
— Applejack

Applejack summons her friends for a "Sweet Apple Acres code red" and tells them that vampire fruit bats are swarming the apple orchards and sucking the fruit dry. She shows off a massive apple that she plans to enter into a produce competition and asks for their help in warding the bats off. Fluttershy proposes asking the bats nicely to stay away from the apple, though her attempt to communicate with them proves unsuccessful.

Stop the bats![]

Fluttershy and Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres S4E07

Which side would you pick?

In a song, Applejack insists on removing the bats and rejects Fluttershy's suggestion of letting them inhabit part of the orchard, despite her point that the apple seeds spat out by the bats grow into more fruitful trees. The rest of the Mane Six end up agreeing with Applejack, though while trying to find a middle ground, Twilight Sparkle comes up with an idea to deter the bats from eating apples in the first place.

The friends regroup at the Golden Oak Library, where Twilight finds a spell to stop the bats from eating apples so long as she has their undivided attention. Pressured to use her Stare for this purpose, Fluttershy expresses discomfort with the idea of altering the nature of the vampire fruit bats but ends up acquiescing.

Twilight casting a spell on the bats S4E07

A seamless operation.

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, after the Mane Six round up the vampire fruit bats onto a single apple tree, Twilight casts her spell while Fluttershy stares them into submission. The spell succeeds in making the bats no longer interested in apples, and Applejack thanks her friends for their help.

An orchard stakeout[]

The next morning, Applejack begins harvesting apples only to once more find them sucked dry of their juice. She assumes Twilight's spell failed and calls her friends over again for help, though upon locating a group of vampire fruit bats nearby, they find them wholly disinterested in eating apples. Unaware of what other animal could be responsible, Twilight proposes the group hold a stakeout to catch the culprit.

Flutterbat revealed S4E07

Fluttershy has transformed into Flutterbat!

The ponies return to the orchard that evening and split up to search for unusual activity. Applejack soon signals the others to her location, where they find Fluttershy sucking the juice from apples while perched upside-down on a branch. When they try to intervene, Fluttershy hisses and flies aggressively by them with bat-like wings. Twilight theorizes that her spell on the vampire fruit bats ended up transferring their nature into Fluttershy as she used her Stare on them.

The group determine to catch Fluttershy so they can reverse the spell, though after several failed chase attempts, Applejack agrees to use her prize apple as a lure by slicing it open. Attracted by the smell, Fluttershy flies over only for Applejack to kick the apple aside and reveal a mirror behind it. As Pinkie Pie and Rarity cut off Fluttershy's escape with their own mirrors, Twilight casts a spell that reverses their friend's transformation and restores her to normal.

You've got to share[]

Applejack setting up vampire bat sanctuary S4E07

A place for the bats.

In the end, Applejack agrees to section off part of the orchard for the vampire fruit bats and apologizes to Fluttershy for not listening earlier. The two join up at Fluttershy's Cottage to dictate a journal entry to Spike recounting what happened and reflecting how you shouldn't let others pressure you into doing something you don't think is right.

Quotes[]

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.
Applejack: Attention! This is a Sweet Apple Acres code red! I need all hooves–and claws–on deck!
Applejack: Well? What'd he say?
Fluttershy: Um... yes.
Applejack: Huh?!
Fluttershy: But... it could've been a no.
Applejack: Oh.
Rainbow Dash: What about the cider? There was still cider, right?
Applejack: Not... a... drop.
Rainbow Dash: No cider?! No cider?! We need to round up these monsters, and we need to do it now!
Fluttershy: That apple... It looks... so juicy... and sweet...
Rarity: Uh... Fluttershy, sweetness, please come down, and... do stop being a vampire bat.
Fluttershy: What happened to me?
Pinkie Pie: You turned into a vampire pony!
Fluttershy: I tried to eat ponies?!
Pinkie Pie: Of course not!
Fluttershy: So I wasn't a vampire?
Pinkie Pie: Yes!
Fluttershy: Yes I was, or yes I wasn't?
Pinkie Pie: Yes, you were!
Fluttershy: But I didn't try and eat ponies?
Pinkie Pie: Yes!
Fluttershy: I did?!
Pinkie Pie: No!
Fluttershy: I'm confused...

Gallery[]

Bats! image gallery

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 That credit for BATS! is wrong.. Twitter (2013-12-28). Retrieved on 2013 December 28. Archived locally
  2. Jim Miller (2013-12-28). @TheBiggestJim: Whoops, slept in! Today's.... Twitter. Retrieved on 2013 December 28.
  3. MMeghanMcCarthy: Episode 411: "Bats" It's just.... Twitter (2013-04-01). Retrieved on 2013 November 25.
  4. #MLPSeason4 Fun Fact! BATS.... Twitter (2013-12-28). Retrieved on 2013 December 28.
  5. @MMeghanMcCarthy If BATS! had a Nightmare Night.... Twitter (2013-12-29). Retrieved on 2013 December 29.
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Episodes, films, and animated shorts
Friendship is Magic
Season one
Episode 1
Friendship is Magic, part 1
Episode 2
Friendship is Magic, part 2
Episode 3
The Ticket Master
Episode 4
Applebuck Season
Episode 5
Griffon the Brush Off
Episode 6
Boast Busters
Episode 7
Dragonshy
Episode 8
Look Before You Sleep
Episode 9
Bridle Gossip
Episode 10
Swarm of the Century
Episode 11
Winter Wrap Up
Episode 12
Call of the Cutie
Episode 13
Fall Weather Friends
Episode 14
Suited For Success
Episode 15
Feeling Pinkie Keen
Episode 16
Sonic Rainboom
Episode 17
Stare Master
Episode 18
The Show Stoppers
Episode 19
A Dog and Pony Show
Episode 20
Green Isn't Your Color
Episode 21
Over a Barrel
Episode 22
A Bird in the Hoof
Episode 23
The Cutie Mark Chronicles
Episode 24
Owl's Well That Ends Well
Episode 25
Party of One
Episode 26
The Best Night Ever
Season two
Episode 1
The Return of Harmony Part 1
Episode 2
The Return of Harmony Part 2
Episode 3
Lesson Zero
Episode 4
Luna Eclipsed
Episode 5
Sisterhooves Social
Episode 6
The Cutie Pox
Episode 7
May the Best Pet Win!
Episode 8
The Mysterious Mare Do Well
Episode 9
Sweet and Elite
Episode 10
Secret of My Excess
Episode 11
Hearth's Warming Eve
Episode 12
Family Appreciation Day
Episode 13
Baby Cakes
Episode 14
The Last Roundup
Episode 15
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Episode 16
Read It and Weep
Episode 17
Hearts and Hooves Day
Episode 18
A Friend in Deed
Episode 19
Putting Your Hoof Down
Episode 20
It's About Time
Episode 21
Dragon Quest
Episode 22
Hurricane Fluttershy
Episode 23
Ponyville Confidential
Episode 24
MMMystery on the Friendship Express
Episode 25
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1
Episode 26
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2
Season three
Episode 1
The Crystal Empire - Part 1
Episode 2
The Crystal Empire - Part 2
Episode 3
Too Many Pinkie Pies
Episode 4
One Bad Apple
Episode 5
Magic Duel
Episode 6
Sleepless in Ponyville
Episode 7
Wonderbolts Academy
Episode 8
Apple Family Reunion
Episode 9
Spike at Your Service
Episode 10
Keep Calm and Flutter On
Episode 11
Just for Sidekicks
Episode 12
Games Ponies Play
Episode 13
Magical Mystery Cure
Season four
Episode 1
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1
Episode 2
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2
Episode 3
Castle Mane-ia
Episode 4
Daring Don't
Episode 5
Flight to the Finish
Episode 6
Power Ponies
Episode 7
Bats!
Episode 8
Rarity Takes Manehattan
Episode 9
Pinkie Apple Pie
Episode 10
Rainbow Falls
Episode 11
Three's A Crowd
Episode 12
Pinkie Pride
Episode 13
Simple Ways
Episode 14
Filli Vanilli
Episode 15
Twilight Time
Episode 16
It Ain't Easy Being Breezies
Episode 17
Somepony to Watch Over Me
Episode 18
Maud Pie
Episode 19
For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils
Episode 20
Leap of Faith
Episode 21
Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
Episode 22
Trade Ya!
Episode 23
Inspiration Manifestation
Episode 24
Equestria Games
Episode 25
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1
Episode 26
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2
Season five
Episode 1
The Cutie Map - Part 1
Episode 2
The Cutie Map - Part 2
Episode 3
Castle Sweet Castle
Episode 4
Bloom & Gloom
Episode 5
Tanks for the Memories
Episode 6
Appleoosa's Most Wanted
Episode 7
Make New Friends but Keep Discord
Episode 8
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone
Episode 9
Slice of Life
Episode 10
Princess Spike
Episode 11
Party Pooped
Episode 12
Amending Fences
Episode 13
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
Episode 14
Canterlot Boutique
Episode 15
Rarity Investigates!
Episode 16
Made in Manehattan
Episode 17
Brotherhooves Social
Episode 18
Crusaders of the Lost Mark
Episode 19
The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows
Episode 20
Hearthbreakers
Episode 21
Scare Master
Episode 22
What About Discord?
Episode 23
The Hooffields and McColts
Episode 24
The Mane Attraction
Episode 25
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1
Episode 26
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2
Season six
Episode 1
The Crystalling - Part 1
Episode 2
The Crystalling - Part 2
Episode 3
The Gift of the Maud Pie
Episode 4
On Your Marks
Episode 5
Gauntlet of Fire
Episode 6
No Second Prances
Episode 7
Newbie Dash
Episode 8
A Hearth's Warming Tail
Episode 9
The Saddle Row Review
Episode 10
Applejack's "Day" Off
Episode 11
Flutter Brutter
Episode 12
Spice Up Your Life
Episode 13
Stranger Than Fan Fiction
Episode 14
The Cart Before the Ponies
Episode 15
28 Pranks Later
Episode 16
The Times They Are A Changeling
Episode 17
Dungeons & Discords
Episode 18
Buckball Season
Episode 19
The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
Episode 20
Viva Las Pegasus
Episode 21
Every Little Thing She Does
Episode 22
P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)
Episode 23
Where the Apple Lies
Episode 24
Top Bolt
Episode 25
To Where and Back Again - Part 1
Episode 26
To Where and Back Again - Part 2
Season seven
Episode 1
Celestial Advice
Episode 2
All Bottled Up
Episode 3
A Flurry of Emotions
Episode 4
Rock Solid Friendship
Episode 5
Fluttershy Leans In
Episode 6
Forever Filly
Episode 7
Parental Glideance
Episode 8
Hard to Say Anything
Episode 9
Honest Apple
Episode 10
A Royal Problem
Episode 11
Not Asking for Trouble
Episode 12
Discordant Harmony
Episode 13
The Perfect Pear
Episode 14
Fame and Misfortune
Episode 15
Triple Threat
Episode 16
Campfire Tales
Episode 17
To Change a Changeling
Episode 18
Daring Done?
Episode 19
It Isn't the Mane Thing About You
Episode 20
A Health of Information
Episode 21
Marks and Recreation
Episode 22
Once Upon a Zeppelin
Episode 23
Secrets and Pies
Episode 24
Uncommon Bond
Episode 25
Shadow Play - Part 1
Episode 26
Shadow Play - Part 2
Season eight
Episode 1
School Daze - Part 1
Episode 2
School Daze - Part 2
Episode 3
The Maud Couple
Episode 4
Fake It 'Til You Make It
Episode 5
Grannies Gone Wild
Episode 6
Surf and/or Turf
Episode 7
Horse Play
Episode 8
The Parent Map
Episode 9
Non-Compete Clause
Episode 10
The Break Up Break Down
Episode 11
Molt Down
Episode 12
Marks for Effort
Episode 13
The Mean 6
Episode 14
A Matter of Principals
Episode 15
The Hearth's Warming Club
Episode 16
Friendship University
Episode 17
The End in Friend
Episode 18
Yakity-Sax
Episode 19
Road to Friendship
Episode 20
The Washouts
Episode 21
A Rockhoof and a Hard Place
Episode 22
What Lies Beneath
Episode 23
Sounds of Silence
Episode 24
Father Knows Beast
Episode 25
School Raze - Part 1
Episode 26
School Raze - Part 2
Season nine
Episode 1
The Beginning of the End - Part 1
Episode 2
The Beginning of the End - Part 2
Episode 3
Uprooted
Episode 4
Sparkle's Seven
Episode 5
The Point of No Return
Episode 6
Common Ground
Episode 7
She's All Yak
Episode 8
Frenemies
Episode 9
Sweet and Smoky
Episode 10
Going to Seed
Episode 11
Student Counsel
Episode 12
The Last Crusade
Episode 13
Between Dark and Dawn
Episode 14
The Last Laugh
Episode 15
2, 4, 6, Greaaat
Episode 16
A Trivial Pursuit
Episode 17
The Summer Sun Setback
Episode 18
She Talks to Angel
Episode 19
Dragon Dropped
Episode 20
A Horse Shoe-In
Episode 21
Daring Doubt
Episode 22
Growing Up is Hard to Do
Episode 23
The Big Mac Question
Episode 24
The Ending of the End - Part 1
Episode 25
The Ending of the End - Part 2
Episode 26
The Last Problem
Clip shows
Episode 1
A-Dressing Memories
Episode 2
Cakes for the Memories
Episode 3
Memnagerie
Episode 4
Deep Tissue Memories
Episode 5
Harvesting Memories
Episode 6
Memories and More
Pony Life
Season one
Episode 1
Princess Probz
Episode 2
The Best of the Worst
Episode 3
How Applejack Got Her Hat Back
Episode 4
Cute-pocalypse Meow
Episode 5
Bad Thing No. 3
Episode 6
Pinkie Pie: Hyper-Helper
Episode 7
The Trail Less Trotten
Death of a Sales-Pony
Episode 8
Bighoof Walking
The Fluttershy Effect
Episode 9
The Fast and the Furriest
Disappearing Act
Episode 10
Badge of Shame
Discord's Peak
Episode 11
A Camping We Will Go
Campfire Stories
Episode 12
Friendship Gems
Dol-FIN-ale
Episode 13
Potion Mystery
Sick Day
Episode 14
Meet Potion Nova!
Pony Surfin' Safari
Episode 15
All Bottled Up
All That Jitters
Episode 16
I, Cookie
Keynote Pie
Episode 17
Ponies of the Moment
One Click Wonder
Episode 18
Zound Off
Unboxing Day
Episode 19
Don't Look a GIF Horse in the Mouth
The Root of It
Episode 20
The Mysterious Voice
The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies
Episode 21
Game Knight
Director Spike's Mockumentary
Episode 22
Whoof-dunnit
Dear Tabby
Episode 23
Pie vs. Pie
Superb Six
Episode 24
The Debut Taunt
Flutterdash
Episode 25
The Rarity Report
The Great Divide
Episode 26
The Great Collide
Sportacular Spectacular Musical Musak-ular
Season two
Episode 1
Cute Impact
The Crystal Capturing Contraption
Episode 2
The Comet Section
Cotton Candy-Colored Glasses
Episode 3
Close Encounters of the Balloon Kind
The Tiara of Truth
Episode 4
Terrorarium
Bubble Trouble
Episode 5
Time After Time Capsule
The Great Cowgirl Hat Robbery
Episode 6
Planet of the Apps
Back to the Present
Episode 7
Magical Mare-story Tour
Life of Pie
Episode 8
The Rarest of Occasions
Portal Combat
Episode 9
What Goes Updo
Communication Shakedown
Episode 10
Lolly-Pop
Little Miss Fortune
Episode 11
Playwright or Wrong
The Shows Must Go On
Episode 12
The De-Stress Ball
Mad Props
Episode 13
Magic is Ahoof
Journey to the Center of the 'Cord
Episode 14
One Last Wish
Wild Heart Beats
Make Your Mark
Episode 1
Izzy Does It
Episode 2
Growing Pains
Episode 3
Portrait of a Princess
Episode 4
Ali-Conned
Episode 5
The Cutie Mark Mix-Up
Episode 6
The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over
Episode 7
Hoof Done It?
Episode 8
Have You Seen This Dragon?
Episode 9
Top Remodel
Episode 10
The Jinxie Games
Episode 11
Sunny Side Up
Episode 12
The Manesquerade Ball
Episode 13
A Little Horse
Episode 14
Missing the Mark
Episode 15
Cutie Blossom Bash
Episode 16
Family Trees Pt. 1
Episode 17
Family Trees Pt. 2
Episode 18
Father of the Bridlewood
Episode 19
Mane Smelody
Episode 20
Nightmare on Mane Street
Episode 21
The Isle of Scaly‎‎
Episode 22
Roots of All Evil Pt. 1‎
Episode 23
Roots of All Evil Pt. 2
Feature films
Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks Friendship Games Legend of Everfree
My Little Pony The Movie A New Generation
Specials
Dance Magic Movie Magic Mirror Magic Forgotten Friendship
Spring Breakdown
Rollercoaster of Friendship Best Gift Ever Spring Breakdown Rainbow Roadtrip
Sunset's Backstage Pass Holidays Unwrapped Make Your Mark Winter Wishday
Bridlewoodstock Secrets of Starlight
Animated shorts
Rainbow Rocks shorts Friendship Games shorts Summertime Shorts Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 1)
Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 2) Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 1) Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 2) Equestria Girls Minis
Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook Rarity's Peek Behind the Boutique Fundamentals of Magic My Little Pony Established 1983
Friendship is Magic shorts Hello Pinkie Pie Stop Motion Shorts Tell Your Tale (season 1)
Tell Your Tale (season 2)