History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E7Bats

* EarWorm: The hook from "Winter Wrap-up" makes yet another appearance as an in-universe earworm, this time invoked by Pinkie Pie with new plot-relevant lyrics.

Applejack is up bright and early for Apple Bucking Day, the first day of the harvesting season. But, much to her dismay, she finds her apple orchard has been infested with vampire fruit bats that are sucking all of the juice from her crop. She gathers the rest of the Mane Cast and [[PestEpisode insists that the bats need to be driven off]] -- besides just her livelihood, Applejack is concerned with protecting a giant apple that the Apple family is growing for a competition in Appleloosa. The ever animal-loving Fluttershy, however, argues that vampire fruit bats are vital to producing stronger, healthier apple trees, and suggests they build a sanctuary for the bats instead. To her dismay, Applejack does the better job of persuading the rest of the Mane Six that immediate action must be taken to save the orchard.

** Also to the first Creator/TimBurton ''Film/{{Batman}}'' film, Flutterbat briefly poses in full wing spread in front of the moon before divebombing the others, akin to Batman briefly doing the same with the Batwing in the final battle.

Applejack is up bright and early for Apple Bucking Day, the first day of the harvesting season. But, much to her dismay, she finds her apple orchard has been infested with vampire fruit bats that are sucking all of the juice from her crop. She gathers the rest of the Mane Cast and insists that the bats need to be driven off -- besides just her livelihood, Applejack is concerned with protecting a giant apple that the Apple family is growing for a competition in Appleloosa. The ever animal-loving Fluttershy, however, argues that vampire fruit bats are vital to producing stronger, healthier apple trees, and suggests they build a sanctuary for the bats instead. To her dismay, Applejack does the better job of persuading the rest of the Mane Six that immediate action must be taken to save the orchard.

** As part of her transformation, Fluttershy can hang from trees with her tail. Thus proving that she [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E23PonyvilleConfidential ditched her tail extensions]] (or, it was gossip, and she never had them.)

* YouAnsweredYourOwnQuestion: When everypony is wondering who could be sucking all the apples after the bats had been reconditioned by Twilight's spell. {{Averted| Trope}}, as nopony yet realizes who the culprit is.

'''Twilight:''' ...who is? Fluttershy - you're our animal expert.

'''Fluttershy:''' But...I didn't try to eat ponies?\\

'''Fluttershy:''' ''(shocked)'' I did??\\

* AppealToIgnorance: Applejack's main argument against the vampire fruit bats.
-->'''Applejack:''' 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.

* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: {{Averted}}; Fluttershy, the complainer in this episode, argues the long-term benefits that the vampire fruit bats would have for Applejack's orchard. The others don't listen because they're more concerned with apple starvation, Applejack's livelihood, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking cider shortage]], but eventually relent once they see what greater problems lie beyond the immediate ones.

* EmpatheticEnvironment: Throughout the song, the bats' behavior reinforces whatever is being said at the moment.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment

** Also Fluttershy's "long term solution" could only work in a magical land where all animals are at least semi-sapient; in real life it would be disastrous. "When pests are destroying your orchard, hand over part of your land to them. [[SarcasmMode They'll definitely understand and respect the boundary you set and not, for example, breed explosively, expand to ravage your orchard anyway, and then either starve to death or move on to destroy someone else's orchard]]."

* FriendToAllLivingThings: This episode [[DeconstructedTrope slightly deconstructs]] Fluttershy's nature as one: her friends point out that by refusing to interfere with the vampire fruit bats in their natural habitat, she'd be putting Applejack's entire orchard and livelihood at risk.

* KangarooCourt: Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle are quick to take Applejack's side against the vampire fruit bats, and completely disregard Fluttershy's arguments in their defense.

* NightmareFuel: In-universe example. Applejack admits that hearing about Granny Smith's last infestation with the bats gave her nightmares.

** As part of her transformation, Fluttershy can hang from trees with her tail. Thus proving that she [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E23PonyvilleConfidential ditched her tail extensions]].
*** Or simply never had tail extensions to begin with, as not all of Gabby Gums gossip was true and she has made certain motions with her tail in previous episodes.

* DarkerAndEdgier:
** The vampire fruit bats are this compared to the mostly-harmless and rather comical fruit bats from "Apple Family Reunion".
** This episode also brings Fluttershy into a serious conflict with her friends.

* SpaceWhaleAesop: Turning animals against their basic nature can backfire on you in... unexpected ways.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent[=/=]OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Fluttershy is accidentally transformed into a vampire pony by Twilight's spell. However, she's only took on the characteristics of the vampire fruit bats (she gains fangs, her wings turn bat-like, her eyes change color, her [[PointyEars ears turn pointy]], and she can hang upside down from trees) and nothing really mystical beyond that. She only targets the apples as her food source and still has her reflection in mirrors (though she is warded off by them). Oddly though, she doesn't speak while in this form, mostly hissing until she's changed back. Even more odd is that her cutie mark changes to bats after she's transformed. Additionally, Fluttershy has the standard werewolf AlternateIdentityAmnesia upon being turned back to normal. So it's a weird combination of the two.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Also having traits of [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]], Fluttershy is accidentally transformed into a vampire pony by Twilight's spell. However, she's only took on the characteristics of the vampire fruit bats (she gains fangs, her wings turn bat-like, her eyes change color, her [[PointyEars ears turn pointy]], and she can hang upside down from trees) and nothing really mystical beyond that. She only targets the apples as her food source and still has her reflection in mirrors (though she is warded off by them). Oddly though, she doesn't speak while in this form, mostly hissing until she's changed back. Even more odd is that her cutie mark changes to bats after she's transformed. Additionally, Fluttershy has the standard werewolf AlternateIdentityAmnesia upon being turned back to normal. In short, while vampire imagery is used heavily throughout, Flutterbat is much closer to a lycanthrope (nyctohip?).

--->'''Pinkie Pie:''' STAND BACK! I VANT TO SUCK ITS JUICE!!!

->'''Pinkie Pie:''' STAND BACK! I VANT TO SUCK ITS JUICE!!!

* AppealToInherentNature: Fluttershy's objection to using her [[DeathGlare stare]] to help Twilight remove the vampire fruit bats desire to suck juice from apples.

* YourSoulIsMine: When Twilight's spell interacts with Fluttershy's [[DeathGlare Stare]], the essence of the vampire fruit bats is transferred to Fluttershy.

* HypnoticEyes: Fluttershy's ability to entrance others with "The Stare" is an important part of Twilight's initial solution, the MagicBackfire, and the plan to stop and cure Flutterbat.