- 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 | |
| credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation | |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous Power Ponies | Next Rarity Takes Manehattan |
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
Something weird's goin' on here.
Applejack awaits the sunrise atop a hill at Sweet Apple Acres. As a rooster crows, Applejack declares it officially Apple Bucking Day. She trots past a few of the apple trees, bucks one, and watches the apples fall, only to find them rotten and mushy. Applejack looks up and sees a colony of bats flying 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 orchards. She's determined to keep the fruit-sucking bats away from her prized blue ribbon apple—a much larger apple that she plans to enter into a competition in Appleloosa. Fluttershy proposes asking the bats nicely to stay away from the apple, but Applejack is skeptical.
Which side would you pick?
When Fluttershy tries talking with the vampire fruit bats, they spit apple seeds at her. Fluttershy admits that she is unsure of the bats' answer because she has never communicated with vampire bats before. Applejack is unwilling to let the vampire bats claim any more apples, calling them "nothing but a bunch of monsters".
- "They've crossed the line, it's time that we attack!"
- — Applejack in the song Bats
Stop the bats!
The rest of Applejack's friends, except Fluttershy, agree to round up the vampire fruit bats. When Fluttershy suggests letting the bats have part of the orchard, Applejack briefly snaps. Fluttershy elaborates that a sanctuary for the bats would give them their own apples to enjoy, and that the seeds they spit out would grow into more productive trees. Applejack is still very hesitant about the idea, as she recalls Granny Smith's stories of the last vampire fruit bat infestation. Thinking for a moment, Twilight formulates an idea to stop the bats from eating apples.
"What's it gonna be, Fluttershy?"
The friends regroup at the Golden Oak Library, and Twilight says she found a spell that will stop the bats from eating apples, but it requires the use of Fluttershy's Stare. While Fluttershy is reluctant to use it, her friends convince her once she realizes what's at stake.
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, the Mane Six round up the vampire fruit bats onto a single apple tree, where Fluttershy stares them into submission. When Twilight uses her spell on the bats, they refuse to eat apples afterward. With their mission accomplished, Applejack thanks her friends for their help. As they go to sweep up the rotten apple cores, Fluttershy looks over at an apple.
An orchard stakeout
The next day, Applejack is back on the hill for "take two" on Apple Bucking Day. A rooster crows, and she sets off to buck apple trees. However, she finds that the apples are still rotten, sucked dry of their juice.
Fluttershy, is there something wrong?
Applejack rounds up her friends again, with Twilight surprised that the spell didn't work. The friends track down the vampire fruit bats and find that they're still not eating apples—the spell seems to still be working. Twilight asks Fluttershy if any other creature could have done this, but Fluttershy doesn't have an answer. Twilight thus proposes a stakeout to catch the true culprit in the act.
That evening, the seven friends walk through the orchards, with Fluttershy remarking of hunger and looking ravenously at the apples. When the ponies split up, they see a figure lurking in the shadows. Applejack signals the others to her location, and to their complete shock, they discover who's been eating the apples: Fluttershy, who's been turned into a vampire pony!
Enter Flutterbat!
Fluttershy has transformed into Flutterbat!
The ponies try to talk with the transformed Fluttershy—or "Flutterbat", as Rarity calls her—but she only hisses at them in response. When they try to make sense of how this happened, Twilight theorizes that, when she cast her spell on the vampire fruit bats, it transferred their desire to be vampire fruit bats into Fluttershy through her Stare. When Flutterbat flies off, Twilight and her friends give chase, but she easily eludes them due to her heightened bat-like senses. Pinkie Pie makes a comment about Fluttershy's Stare, and Twilight comes up with an idea.
Applejack sacrifices her giant blue ribbon apple to lure Flutterbat into a trap. When she swoops down to eat the apple, Twilight and friends surround her with mirrors, causing her to use the Stare on herself and enter a trance. Twilight casts her spell again, and Fluttershy returns to normal.
Epilogue
In the end, Applejack decides to take Fluttershy's advice and sections off a part of the orchard for the vampire fruit bats. She apologizes to Fluttershy for not listening earlier, and Rainbow Dash expresses her excitement for the upcoming cider season.
Looks like Flutterbat isn't over yet.
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.
- Pinkie Pie: [to the tune of Winter Wrap Up] Fruit bat round-up, fruit bat round-up!
- Rainbow Dash: Think of the cider! Won't somepony please think of the cider?!
- Applejack: Apple Bucking Day, take two!
- Rarity: That's not Fluttershy... That's Flutterbat!
- Rarity: Uh... Fluttershy, sweetness, please come down, and... do stop being a vampire bat.
- Fluttershy: But... what happened to me?
- Pinkie Pie: You turned into a vampire pony!
- Fluttershy: [gasps] 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...
- Rarity: Me, too! And I was there!
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 That credit for BATS! is wrong.. Twitter (2013-12-28). Retrieved on 2013 December 28. Archived locally
- ↑ Jim Miller (2013-12-28). @TheBiggestJim: Whoops, slept in! Today's.... Twitter. Retrieved on 2013 December 28.
- ↑ MMeghanMcCarthy: Episode 411: "Bats" It's just.... Twitter (2013-04-01). Retrieved on 2013 November 25.
- ↑ #MLPSeason4 Fun Fact! BATS.... Twitter (2013-12-28). Retrieved on 2013 December 28.
- ↑ @MMeghanMcCarthy If BATS! had a Nightmare Night.... Twitter (2013-12-29). Retrieved on 2013 December 29.
| Episodes, films, and animated shorts |
|---|
| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 9 Bridle Gossip | Episode 10 Swarm of the Century | Episode 11 Winter Wrap Up | Episode 12 Call of the Cutie |
| 
| 
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| Episode 13 Fall Weather Friends | Episode 14 Suited For Success | Episode 15 Feeling Pinkie Keen | Episode 16 Sonic Rainboom |
| 
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| 
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| Episode 17 Stare Master | Episode 18 The Show Stoppers | Episode 19 A Dog and Pony Show | Episode 20 Green Isn't Your Color |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 5 Sisterhooves Social | Episode 6 The Cutie Pox | Episode 7 May the Best Pet Win! | Episode 8 The Mysterious Mare Do Well |
| 
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| 
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| Episode 9 Sweet and Elite | Episode 10 Secret of My Excess | Episode 11 Hearth's Warming Eve | Episode 12 Family Appreciation Day |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 9 Slice of Life | Episode 10 Princess Spike | Episode 11 Party Pooped | Episode 12 Amending Fences |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 9 The Saddle Row Review | Episode 10 Applejack's "Day" Off | Episode 11 Flutter Brutter | Episode 12 Spice Up Your Life |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 17 Dungeons & Discords | Episode 18 Buckball Season | Episode 19 The Fault in Our Cutie Marks | Episode 20 Viva Las Pegasus |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 9 Honest Apple | Episode 10 A Royal Problem | Episode 11 Not Asking for Trouble | Episode 12 Discordant Harmony |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 13 The Perfect Pear | Episode 14 Fame and Misfortune | Episode 15 Triple Threat | Episode 16 Campfire Tales |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 5 Grannies Gone Wild | Episode 6 Surf and/or Turf | Episode 7 Horse Play | Episode 8 The Parent Map |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 9 Non-Compete Clause | Episode 10 The Break Up Break Down | Episode 11 Molt Down | Episode 12 Marks for Effort |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 13 The Mean 6 | Episode 14 A Matter of Principals | Episode 15 The Hearth's Warming Club | Episode 16 Friendship University |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 17 The End in Friend | Episode 18 Yakity-Sax | Episode 19 Road to Friendship | Episode 20 The Washouts |
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 
| 
| 
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| 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 |
| 
| 
| 
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| Episode 5 The Point of No Return | Episode 6 Common Ground | Episode 7 She's All Yak | Episode 8 Frenemies |
| 
| 
|
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| Episode 9 Sweet and Smoky | Episode 10 Going to Seed | Episode 11 Student Counsel | Episode 12 The Last Crusade |
|
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| Episode 13 Between Dark and Dawn | Episode 14 | Episode 15 | Episode 16 |
|
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| Episode 17 | Episode 18 | Episode 19 | Episode 20 |
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| Episode 21 | Episode 22 | Episode 23 | Episode 24 |
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| Episode 25 | Episode 26 | ||
| Feature films | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 
| 
| 
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| Equestria Girls | Rainbow Rocks | Friendship Games | Legend of Everfree |
| |||
| My Little Pony The Movie | |||
| Specials | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 
| 
| 
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| Dance Magic | Movie Magic | Mirror Magic | Forgotten Friendship |
| 
| 
| |
| Rollercoaster of Friendship | Best Gift Ever | Spring Breakdown | |
