Bats!
Pony's Log Number 407: "The Stare" is a very dangerous tool everypony. I knew there was danger if it was ever misused, but I never expected something like this...
It was just a few minutes of the dawn of a new day, Applejack was crouched down slightly as she eagerly waited for the sun to come up. Soon the sun made its appearance over the hills and the rooster began to crow.
"Yee-haw!" said Applejack as she waved her fore-hooves excitedly before walking through all the apple trees, "It's officially Apple Bucking Day! Look at all those apples! Ripe and juicy, perfect for buckin'!" She then gave a tree a good buck with her hind legs. As the apples fell from the trees, some angelic music could be heard as she stood on her hind legs and smiled as all those beautiful, juicy apples fell around her with her fore-legs raised in the air. She then went to grab one apple with her fore-hoof.
SPLAT!
The apple not only lost its sparkle, but it became mush when Applejack tried to grab it. She then noticed that all the apples she had bucked were also all shriveled up.
"What the heck is goin' on?" Applejack asked as she looked up and gasped, "They're back!" There above her head were various bats chattering and flying in the sky. These were not just regular fruit bats.
They were vampire fruit bats!
(Main theme)
It wasn't long before Applejack began to ring the bell on top of the barn.
"Attention!" Applejack called out as the rest of the Mane seven and Spike rushed over to the barn, "This is a Sweet Apple Acres code red! I need all hooves - and claws - on deck!"
"Calm down, Applejack," said Rarity as she approached the orange pony and the rest of the group had arrived behind them.
"Calm down?!" Applejack exclaimed as she got into Rarity's face defensively, "How can I calm down at a time like this?! Vampire fruit bats are attackin' Sweet Apple Acres!"
"But I thought the fruit bats usually stayed put in the west orchard," Twilight said curiously.
"The only exception was during the Apple Family Reunion," Mario said to himself.
"The fruit bats do," said Applejack as she paced about in front of the group, "but these aren't just your everyday ordinary fruit bats. They're vampire fruit bats!" A dark shadow appeared over her face as she said vampire fruit bats.
"I'll be darned if they think they're gonna sink their fangs into my blue ribbon apple," Applejack continued as she walked over to an apple tree and removed the cloth to show a red apple the size of a pony, which sparkled in the sunlight.
"Wow," said the girls.
"That is one BIG apple," said Mario.
"Awesome!" said Spike.
"This here's our entry into the Appleloosa State Fair's produce competition," said Applejack as she breathed into the apple's surface and started to shine it with her tail, "You know how much TLC goes into getting an apple to grow like this?"
"Applejack!" said Rarity in amazement as she walked up to the apple and admired her reflection, "When you go big, you really go big!"
"Them vampire bats want to shrivel it up like a raisin!" said Applejack worriedly. It was then Fluttershy hovered over to her.
"Oh, I'm sure if we just let them know how special that particular apple is to you," said Fluttershy, "They'll leave it alone."
"Yeah, right," said Applejack with an eye roll, "Be my guest!"
"Hey, didn't you forget who's the animal expert around here?" Mario said sternly as he hovered by Applejack and went to go see if he could help Fluttershy.
A little later, several trees were filled with ominous looking bats that were perched in the branches with several shriveled up apples littering up the grounds. Mario made a face at the sight as he and Fluttershy flew up to one of the bat infested trees.
"Ugh," said Mario, "and I thought moldy apples looked nasty." Then he and Fluttershy landed.
"Um, excuse me, Mr. Vampire Bat-" Fluttershy began.
"GAH!" Mario yelped as the bat tossed the recently drained apple at their fore-hooves, causing it to splat.
"We were just wondering if maybe you wouldn't mind leaving that really big apple alone?" Fluttershy requested kindly but also sheepishly. One bat opened its wings and fired a barrage of apple seeds at Fluttershy, who gasped and ran off.
"Hey! No need to be rude!" Mario scolded, "All we asked is if you leave the giant apple alone. If you and your family are that hungry. We can find a way to help you out! YAH!" The bat simply hissed in reply and shot seeds at Mario as well.
"Well? What'd he say?" Applejack asked as Fluttershy and Mario arrived with apple seeds in their manes.
"Um...yes," said Fluttershy as she and Mario removed the seeds from their manes.
"Huh?!" Applejack exclaimed hopefully.
"But...it could've been a no," said Fluttershy.
"Oh," said Applejack in disappointment and irritation.
"This is the first vampire bat I've ever met and, well, it might take some time for Mario and I to really understand their language," said Fluttershy in her defense.
"Uh-huh," said Applejack with a rather annoyed look on her face, "And in the meantime, this pest and her vermin friends are gonna go after my prized apple and, while they're at it, every other apple in the orchard!"
"Calm down, Applejack," said Mario, "being impatient isn't going to help us find a solution to your problem!"
"I ain't got time!" Applejack snapped as she stuck her face into Mario's, "These vampire bats are nothin' but a bunch of monsters!"
"Monsters?!" said Fluttershy, "Oh, that's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"Not to mention a bit closed-minded," Mario added.
"No, I do not and no, I ain't," said Applejack casually.
[Applejack - the view showed Fluttershy, Mario, and Applejack looking at a tree of vampire bats, which disperse into a large cluster of flying bats with creepy red eyes. As Applejack sang, the coloration resembled an old Technicolor horror movie. She raised her fore-hooves near her chin before getting into Twilight's face and then Spike's. Applejack then marched down the path and looked toward an apple tree showing two bats grabbing an apple and gobbling them up. Then another bat appeared from the branches and shot a shriveled up apple at Applejack's fore-hooves.]
Those vampire bats will give you a fright
Eating apples both day and night
They rest for a minute, maybe three
Then they're eatin' every apple in your apple tree
[Applejack - She stomped the wilted apple, got into Rarity's face, then wrapped a fore-leg around Pinkie as she sang. Pinkie and Rarity shared worried looks with each other. Applejack then walked away and faced the group. As she mentioned the orchard's destruction, the branches and leaves of the trees behind her erupted into dozens of black bats.]
They don't care about nada, not zilch, no, nothin'
'Cept bringin' about an orchard's destruction
[Fluttershy - she and Mario appeared beside Applejack, the coloring returning to normal. Applejack turned her head away as Fluttershy sang. Fluttershy and Mario hovered to the others. The rest of the group look at the yellow Pegasus as Applejack walked behind her glaring at both Fluttershy and Mario.]
Now wait just a minute, there another side to this
And if I did not defend them, then I would be remiss
[Fluttershy and Mario - As they sang together, a small bat family showing a mother, father, and baby bat are together on a tree branch. Fluttershy and Mario hovered before them as the baby bat flew around them and Fluttershy nuzzled it.]
These bats are mamas and papas too
They care for their young just like we ponies do
[Applejack - As she sang, the ominous coloring returned as she glared at Fluttershy and Mario. Applejack walked away from the ground in the fore-ground as Fluttershy and Mario hovered over to the group. Above Applejack in another tree, a bat was sitting at a restaurant style table with an apple on a plate. Then another bat stole the apple on the plate. Applejack then got into Spike's face with Rainbow hovering behind the little dragon. Applejack then walked over to the bats that were fighting over the apple. A quick horizontal swipe of her fore-leg shooed the two bats away from the apple.]
Oh, give me a break, you're bein' 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
[Fluttershy - She sang alone for a bit before she showed two bats sharing and eating an apple together. Mario then joined her as the view showed a shower of seeds raining from above and into the grounds of the orchard.]
That's where I have to disagree
[Fluttershy and Mario]
They're loyal to their family
Spreading seeds far and wide
[Applejack - her ominous background reappears as she sang. She held a black cloth around herself to make her resemble and imitate a vampire. As she does so, a shadow of a bat appeared behind her while all but Mario and Fluttershy watched her. They stepped back when the bat shadow flew away and showed them a orchard of ruined trees.]
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?
[Fluttershy and Mario -As they sang, a new apple tree grew above them, but Applejack refused to listen.]
They help your trees, they'll grow stronger faster.
[Applejack - She raised a fore-leg to knock down the tree like it was a cardboard backdrop. Mario and Fluttershy flew away.]
They've turned my life to a total disaster!
[Rarity - As Fluttershy and Mario landed, Rarity sang and walked around the two ponies.]
Well, I for one don't have a doubt
These vermin must be stamped right out
[Rainbow Dash - As she sang, she got into Fluttershy and Mario's faces. The former looked intimidated while the later glared angrily at the blue Pegasus.]
I second that, they've got to go
These bats, they've got to hit the road
[Applejack - She approached the others as they followed her.]
It comes down to just one simple fact
They've crossed the line, it's time to fight them back!
[All except Fluttershy and Mario - the rest of the group marched around Fluttershy and Mario as they chanted. The two ponies caught in the middle looked at the group. Then each chanting pony was given their own backdrop as they kept chanting. Applejack pointed a fore-hoof at both Fluttershy and Mario.]
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!
[Applejack - As she sang, she got into Mario and Fluttershy's face. Fluttershy cowered down fearfully, unable to stand her ground. Mario tried to stare Applejack down and defend Fluttershy, but Applejack got so aggressively close to his face that Mario fell onto his back. As Applejack finished singing, the others nodded in agreement.]
Yes, it comes down to just one simple fact
They've crossed the line, it's time that we attack!
Mario glared at the group indignantly. Poor Fluttershy was still rather shaken up at being out-sung. Rarity soon appeared before the shivering yellow Pegasus.
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy and Mario," said Rarity as she helped the former to her hooves and the latter got back on his hooves, "But I believe Applejack has made the better argument. These vampire bats are downright dreadful." Mario just rolled his eyes indignantly.
"So let's get to roundin' them up so they don't destroy the rest of my orchard," said Applejack as she walked across the foreground toward the orchard.
"Fruit bat round-up, fruit bat round-up," Pinkie sang in a melody similar to the Winter Wrap Up song as she bounced by.
"Um, excuse me, but, um," Fluttershy stuttered, "what if instead of rounding them up, we...let them have part of the orchard?"
"Not a bad idea, Fluttershy," said Mario in agreement, but Applejack froze in place and gave a shocked whinny.
"Have you two lost your pest-lovin' minds?!" Applejack snapped as she turned around and faced them.
"They're only here because they're hungry," said Fluttershy and Mario nodded in agreement before approaching the orange pony, "If we build a sanctuary for them, they could have their very own apples to enjoy! After a while, they could 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!"
"Think of this like an investment into the farm, Applejack," Mario added, trying to add a more business perspective to entice Applejack into the idea, "This sanctuary could increase apple production and increase the quality of your apples! That means more money in the Apple Family budget and higher quality apple goods!" Despite his efforts to be persuasive, Applejack just looked unamused as the others just gave the two ponies blank looks.
"Listen, Fluttershy, Mario. That sounds real nice 'n' all," said Applejack then got into the two ponies' faces, "but every seconds we spend buildin' this so-called 'sanctuary' is a second they'll spend destroyin' orchards!"
"Ugh, seriously AJ, will you quit being so short-sighted about this?" Mario retorted, "What's got you so polarized about these bats, besides the fact they eat your apples?"
"You don't know what it was like the last time there was an infestation," Applejack explained to Fluttershy and Mario as the rest of the group came up to them, "But Granny Smith has told me enough stories about it that just the thought of it gives me nightmares!" It was then a flashback was seen of young Granny Smith and her family giving out single apples to other members of the family carrying buckets. Right behind them were several destroyed apple trees.
"Granny says we lost a huge section of orchard that year," Applejack explained, "They had to ration out apples all winter!"
"What about the cider?" Rainbow asked worried as she hovered nearby, "There was still cider, right?"
"Not...a...drop," said Applejack in a deadpan tone.
"No cider?! No cider?!" said Rainbow frantically as she got into Applejacks face, then Fluttershy's, and then Mario's, "We need to round up these monsters, and we need to do it now!" Rainbow waved her fore-legs about as the others watched Rainbow hover around them.
"Oh quit being such a drama queen, Dashie, you're not helping!" Mario retorted annoyingly.
"If Granny Smith wasn't with Apple Bloom an' Big Macintosh checkin' our produce competition in Appleloosa," said Applejack, "she'd be here tellin' us to do just that!"
"Or telling you stop being a stubborn mule and listen to reason," Mario remarked to himself.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy, Mario," said Twilight as she walked up to them, "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...!" Twilight got a smirk on her face. Mario looked worried.
"Honey...what are you thinking?" Mario asked worried but didn't receive an answer.
It wasn't long before they were back at the Library where Twilight had been searching her books until she found the book she was looking for.
"So, there's good news and bad news," said Twilight.
"Do we get to chose which we want to hear first?" Mario asked bluntly as he stood next to Fluttershy.
"No," Twilight replied bluntly as Mario glared at her, "The good news is that I found a spell that can get the vampire fruit bats to stop wanting to suck the juice from the apples." Mario's eyes widened.
"Is this spell similar to that one you cast on the parasprites way back when?" Mario asked wearily.
"Yes," said Twilight before she walked up to Fluttershy, "but in order for the spell to work, I need the bats' full and complete attention." Mario and Fluttershy gasped.
"Oh no..." Fluttershy said worried.
"You're not suggesting..." Mario said in the same tone.
"Fluttershy, I need you to do your Stare on the bats," Twilight told the yellow Pegasus.
"Oh gosh," said Fluttershy, "I don't know."
"What's the problem?" said Rainbow as she got into Fluttershy's face, "You've used the Stare plenty of times before!" Mario then used his magic to push Rainbow away from the yellow Pegasus.
"Yes, but it's not something I take lightly," said Fluttershy.
""The Stare" is a very powerful tool, but it can be dangerous if it is not used properly," said Mario, "Plus the spell Twilight is considering is not very reliable. Several ponies have tried to use that spell in a justifiable manner and things have never worked out in their favor. In fact, this spell might makes things worse..."
"Besides that," said Fluttershy firmly, "I've made a vow not to use it except in dire circumstances, especially after I traumatized Mario."
"Mario's fine!" said Rainbow before pondering and saying in an ominous tone, "The Stare!"
"YAAH!" Mario shrieked before ducking behind Fluttershy and shivering fearfully. Rainbow just groaned.
"This circumstance is plenty dire to me!" Applejack retorted.
"Me too!" Rainbow added, "Think of the cider! Won't somepony please think of the cider?!" Rainbow then squatted down on the floor on the verge of tears.
"Oh brother," Mario remarked as he finally recovered and stood back up.
"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy firmly, "I just don't like the idea of taking away the thing that really makes the vampire fruit bats..." She inhales to project her point, "...vampire fruit bats! It just feels wrong!"
"I agree," said Mario, "There has to be a better solution!"
"But if we don't do this," Twilight protested as the others surrounded Fluttershy, "there won't be any apples left for anypony here in Ponyville. Doesn't that feel wrong, too?" Fluttershy was feeling very put on the spot until Mario stood in front of her.
"Alright, back-off, back off!" Mario yelled sternly, making the others step back, "Listen to all of you! You're getting so impatient trying to deal with these vampire bats that you're forcing Fluttershy into doing something neither she or myself feel is right!"
"Those bats are going to destroy my orchard if we don't do something now!" Applejack yelled as the others bickered in agreement.
"Enough!" Mario shouted loudly as he raised his fore-legs into the air, "Listen, give Fluttershy and I some time to think this over. She has a right to say yes or no to your idea and none of you are going to pressure her into something she doesn't want to do. Not this time! Come on, Sis!" Mario then headed for the front door as Fluttershy sighed before following him. The rest of the group just looked at each other wondering what Mario and Fluttershy would decide, except for Applejack. She was just glaring at Mario and fuming to herself. Outside, Fluttershy and Mario were just taking a slow flight around the town.
"Thanks for getting me out of there, big brother," said Fluttershy, "I'm still not too good with confrontations."
"You were doing just fine," said Mario, "The trouble is that everypony is too closed minded to listen to us." Fluttershy just sighed.
"I still have to make a decision," said Fluttershy.
"I thought you already did," said Mario.
"Well, the bats are still eating up the apples," said Fluttershy, "I don't want anypony not to have any apples this winter, or cider in Rainbow's case." Mario sighed.
"True," said Mario, "But there just has to be another way..." The two best friends just continued their flight a little longer before they had finally come to an agreement about what to tell the others. Then they headed back to Sweet Apple Acres.
"Okay, so when they asked what your decision is?" said Mario, "what are you going to say?"
"I won't use my Stare on the bats," said Fluttershy firmly, "but Mario and I have come up with an idea of what we can do."
"Then I'll explain how we found a small strip of land on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres that has good soil, and with my growth spell, will produce a nice little apple sanctuary for the bats in under a hour," said Mario, "Alright! We're good to go!" The two shared a hoof-bump as they made their way toward the barn. The rest of the group was waiting for them.
"So what's it gonna be, Fluttershy?" Applejack demanded, "Will you do your Stare on the bats or not?"
"Um...um..." Fluttershy hesitated since everypony was staring at her. Mario patted her shoulder with a fore-hoof and gestured for the yellow Pegasus to answer. Applejack gave Mario a dirty look, making Fluttershy nervous. She was afraid of what the orange pony might do to Mario if she said no. As a result, she cracked under the pressure.
"Okay, I'll do it," Fluttershy conceded. Mario's jaw dropped as a strained squeak escaped his mouth.
"Good choice," said Rarity, "I knew you wouldn't with those icky bats!" Rarity flinched at the thought.
"They're not icky," said Fluttershy indignantly to herself.
"First round of cider's on me!" Rainbow announced as she flew up to the rooftop of the barn.
"Hold it right there!" Applejack retorted, "We've gotta round up these beasts with wings first! Time's a wasting!" Fluttershy just looked back to see Mario looking very hurt and upset. She just looked away as the others headed into the orchards to round up the bats. Mario eventually followed, but made no effort in rounding up the bats.
As the bats just chittered amongst themselves, Applejack tied a basket of apples on Pinkie's head. She then bounced past several vampire fruit bats so they would follow her. Rarity, now wearing a hazmat suit, used her magic to hold a net and try and capture a bat. But then an apple went splat all over the part of her mask she used to see.
"Ew, ew, ew, ewwww!" Rarity yelped as the bat pasted itself onto her mask to eat the apple mush. Rarity ran off with several more bats chasing after her. Elsewhere, a bat in another tree was eating an apple before spiting the seeds away. It was then Rainbow zoomed up.
"Gotcha!" she shouted as she captured the bat, as well as several other bats in the tree and those nearby. Pinkie then giggled as she set her apple basket down near a bare tree that Twilight and Fluttershy had set up several baskets loaded with apples. Rarity then ran by as the bats that had been chasing her came to rest in the tree. Rainbow then did a multi-colored cyclone to deposit all the bats she had captured into the tree. One bat tried to leave but Rainbow blocked its way to keep it from escaping.
"Good work, everypony!" said Applejack as the others minus Mario gathered around her, "I think we got 'em all!" She then turned to Fluttershy, who still looked uncertain and worried.
"Now all we need is for you to do your Stare," Applejack told Fluttershy.
"Oh, um, are you sure I really need-" Fluttershy looked back to see that all the girls and Spike were nodding.
"No, you don't have to do this!" said a firm voice as they all looked up to see Mario hovering in front of the tree with his fore-hooves crossed.
"Move aside Mario!" Applejack ordered sternly. Mario glared back.
"No!" said Mario sternly as Applejack growled at him.
"Mario, we don't have time for games!" Twilight told him, "Move aside so Fluttershy can use her Stare on the bats!"
"No!" Mario repeated firmly. Twilight blinked.
"What did you say to me?" Twilight retorted in shock, "You do not say "no" to me!"
"Twilight, I'm trying to help you here!" Mario protested, "I don't think you should do this! The last time you tried this spell, you nearly had all of Ponyville gobbled up by parasprites! Nothing good has ever happened when using this spell!"
"Listening to me would be for the greater good!" Twilight retorted.
"Yeah, well stopping you from doing something dumb is the greatest good!" Mario protested.
"Excuse me?" Twilight snapped, "I'm your wife. I'm the greatest good you're ever gonna get!" Mario just rolled his eyes.
"Mario, please," said Fluttershy softly, "I know we had our own plan, but...everypony wants me to do this!"
"Yeah and we all want Rainbow to wear ribbons in her mane and Rarity to go out in public without makeup," Mario remarked sarcastically, "but they're not giving into the pressure, Fluttershy! Don't let our friends force you into doing this! Stand up for yourself!" Rainbow and Rarity blushed at Mario's remarks and glared at him.
"Mario, I've made my decision," said Fluttershy firmly. Mario's glare just melted as he slowly hovered back down to the ground.
"Will anypony please try something else? Please listen to me! You're going about this all wrong!" Mario pleaded but Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow glared. Rarity, Pinkie, and Spike just gave him sad looks. Fluttershy just looked away.
"You never listen to me," Mario said sadly, "You're going to destroy the orchard and when you do...don't come crying to me!" Mario then took off and flew away. Applejack snorted.
"Now that the drama queen is out of the way," Applejack remarked spitefully, "Fluttershy go and do your thing!"
"Okay," said Fluttershy as she hovered up to tree and looked at the bats, "I really, really, really hate to do this to you...I hope you can forgive me..." Fluttershy then performed "The Stare" at the bats. The bats just hissed at Fluttershy as first, but soon start to stare back at her.
"Good...Now you go, Twilight!" said Applejack. Twilight then focused intensely so her horn glowed brightly. She soon encased all the bats in her magic glow as the bats continued to stare blankly at Fluttershy. Fluttershy was in full concentration as she stared at the bats intensely. Twilight was soon sweating a little when she finally finished the spell.
"You can stop staring, Fluttershy," said Twilight. Fluttershy appeared to be in deep focus, even sweating a bit before the yellow Pegasus finally snapped herself out of her concentration.
"Did it work?" Spike asked as the others watched as Applejack gave Rainbow a nod. Rainbow nodded back before presenting a nearby bat with an apple. The bat just sniffed at it before flying off.
"Ye-he-heah, whoo!" Rainbow cheered.
"My crop is saved!" said Applejack as she raised her fore-legs into the air excitedly, "Yee-haw!"
"We'll be drinking cider all winter long!" Rainbow added with glee.
"I wanna thank you for your help," said Applejack as Twilight and Fluttershy approach her, "I couldn't have it without you."
"Aw, don't mention it, Applejack," said Spike as he walked past the girls in the fore-ground, "It was my pleasure! Really!" The others just stared at him and said nothing.
"And Mario thought something bad was gonna happen," Applejack muttered before spitting on the ground definitively, "Puh! Now all we gotta do is sweep up these cores so I can start buckin' fresh tomorrow mornin'!" The rest of the group followed the orange pony with Fluttershy following close behind. Fluttershy then noticed a sparkling apple and started to sniff it.
And nopony seemed to notice!
It was already nightfall when Twilight and Spike returned to the library.
"Honey, I'm home!" Twilight called out but was surprised to see that Mario was nowhere to be seen.
"Mario?" Spike called out as he checked upstairs on the second floor but found nothing either. Twilight then headed to their bedroom and found Mario on his side of the bed snuggled inside the blanket. She couldn't tell if he was asleep, hiding, or even sulking. Twilight just rolled her eyes.
"Pouting isn't going to do you any good you know," said Twilight sternly to her husband, "What's done is done and it all turned out okay! You can't go having a pity party because nopony wanted to do things your way!" Mario said nothing and didn't move. Twilight just groaned and headed back downstairs. If she had bothered to approach the bed, she would have seen that Mario was crying.
The next morning, Applejack was once again waiting for the start of the new day.
"Apple Bucking Day, take two!" said Applejack eagerly. It wasn't long before the sun appeared in the horizon and the rooster crowed.
"Yee-haw!" said Applejack excitedly before she walked through the orchard, "Time to collect those juicy, sweet apples!" Applejack then bucked a tree watched as they fell from the branches. The minute she saw the apples, her smile turned into a whimper. Applejack wasted no time rushing as fast as she could to the Library. She was about to knock on the door when Mario open it to leave for his early morning run and parkour. The two ponies exchanged dirty looks before Mario revved his hooves and raced away. Applejack kept her game face on as he disappeared. Twilight then made her appearance.
"Morning Applejack," said Twilight, "Ignore my husband's bad attitude, he's still having his little tantrum over..."
"Is Mario out of hearing range?" Applejack asked bluntly.
"Yes," said Twilight slowly, "why..."
"Something's gone wrong!" Applejack said frantically with a panicked look on her face. Twilight wasted no time rounding up Spike and the rest of the girls so they could head to Sweet Apple Acres.
"What about Mario?" Fluttershy asked the group when they came to her cottage.
"Forget about him!" Applejack and Twilight snapped and that was the end of that. Once they were back at the orchard, Twilight was shocked to see all the shriveled up apples.
"The spell didn't work!" Twilight exclaimed.
"You're darn tootin' the spell didn't work!" Applejack retorted angrily, "I think we're gonna have to take more extreme measures!"
"I hear ya, Applejack!" said Rainbow as she hovered above the group, "C'mon everypony! Let's track down those vampire bats!" Rainbow then took off as the group went to track down the bats. They soon found the bats chittering about in some apple trees. But other than just flying about the trees, none of the apples were being eaten. One bat was even reading a comic book when Rainbow offered it an apple. The bat just swatted the apple away. The apple went splat as it was punctured by Rarity's horn.
"Wait a minute...I don't think these bats are the ones that sucked my apples dry," said Applejack as Rarity used her magic to pull the apple off her horn and dropped it on the ground.
"But if the vampire bats aren't eating your apples..." said Rarity.
"Who is?" said Twilight before turning to the yellow Pegasus, "Fluttershy, you're our animal expert. Do you know any other creatures that might be capable of this?"
"I'm sorry, I don't," said Fluttershy as she looked away.
"I bet it was Mario," said Applejack sternly, "He didn't want our plan to work. I bet he snuck out during the night and did something to make the apples shrivel up so I would admit our plan wasn't a good idea!"
"Applejack, such an accusation!" said Rarity aghast, "I'll admit that Mario was a bit...unreasonable...yesterday, but he would never do such a thing to prove you wrong!"
"Yeah," said Rainbow, "Mario may get really mad or annoyed with us when we ignore him, but he'd never try to get back at anypony over it!"
"Well, there's only one way to find out," said Twilight, "We'll have to catch whoever it is in the act."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Rarity asked curiously.
"A stakeout...!" said Twilight with a smirk.
It wasn't long before nightfall and the moon was high in the sky.
"The witching hour..." said Rainbow spookily from above the five girls and Spike. They all just exchanged nervous looks with each other as an owl hooted and they stood outside the now spooky looking apple orchard.
"So...did you ask Mario if he would help us?" Rarity asked Twilight, who just snorted before sighing.
"Mario left a note saying he's helping Mrs. Cake for the day," said Twilight, "then sent another note that he was going to be working late. So...I didn't bother to ask him."
"We don't need his help!" said Applejack sternly, "We can handle this without him!" Fluttershy then looked about nervously.
"Maybe we should just call this off," said Fluttershy as she looked around, "Not sure about the rest of you guys...but I'm really hungry..." Fluttershy suddenly sounded a bit zoned out as she looked at a nearby apple, drooling as she looked at it.
"Oh, Fluttershy," said Rarity and Fluttershy regained her senses, "it'll be okay. Don't forget, darling, we're all in this together."
"That's right," said Twilight, "We can handle this situation without my husband. Nopony leaves this orchard until we've solved this mystery. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" said the rest of the group as the ventured into the apple orchard.
"Does everypony have their pony signals?" Applejack asked as Twilight and Rarity made some beacons appear from their horns that showed their cutie marks on it. Pinkie did the same but used a regular flashlight to do so.
"Now remember, Pinkie Pie," Applejack told her, "only use the signal if you see somethin' suspicious."
"I got it," said Pinkie as she shinned her flashlight into Applejack's eyes, dazing her and knocking her out, "Something suspicious..."
(lose a life fanfare)
As one of the other ponies gave Applejack a green and white mushroom to revive her, Pinkie narrowed her eyes and looked cautiously from side to side. She then saw Fluttershy sniffing an apple.
"Whatcha doin'?!" Pinkie demanded as Fluttershy stopped sniffing the apple, said nothing, and walked off. Pinkie just tucked her flashlight into her mane as the rest of the group ventured down the main path.
"Alright, now everypony split up," Applejack instructed, "We'll each patrol our own row of the orchard. Whoever or whatever's destroyin' my apples has gotta be here somewhere." Rarity, Spike, and Twilight nervously ventured forward as Pinkie and Applejack suspiciously looked around. Fluttershy then went off to the side.
"I have a bad feeling about this," said Fluttershy nervously, "A really bad feeling about this..." It was then Fluttershy noticed another apple and suddenly started to zone out again.
"That apple...it's looks...so juicy...and sweet..." Fluttershy said in a droned out tone, Suddenly, her eye color changed from blue to red. Her mouth began to drool as she licked her lips hungry when one of her upper teeth turned into a fang!
Meanwhile, Mario was still at Sugarcube Corner. He had finished his work a long time ago, but was still not really interested in returning home. Mrs. Cake had been aware that Mario had been upset, but with the day being so busy, she had decided to wait until things had settled down before speaking up. Once the day's work was done, she made Mario a special chocolate malt, his favorite flavor by the way, and they sat down at a nearby table to talk. Mario explained between some slow slurps about the situation.
"I just don't know what else to do, Mrs. Cake," said Mario sadly with his fore-legs crossed on the top of the table, "I knew that having mostly girls as best friends would mean that I would end being teased and such, but this constant disregard for my feelings and opinions is getting on my nerves! Ever since that whole incident with Philomena, Mom, or Princess Celestia, encouraged me to stand up for myself when I feel like something isn't right. I'm not perfect, but...these girls are just too headstrong for my own good and that includes my own wife..."
"I see..." said Mrs. Cake attentively.
"I used to think that standing firm and speaking up would make me lose my friends," said Mario, "But just because I love and care about them so much doesn't mean I should let them reduce me to some sidekick or doormat. If I feel what they're doing isn't right, I should have the right to call them out on it!"
"True," said Mrs. Cake, but her tone urged Mario to continue.
"But what do you do when they refuse to listen?" said Mario, "This isn't the first time I was ignored and they later realize that I was in the right. I'm not looking to say "I told you so". I just want to keep them from making those mistakes, but this keeps happening over and over again. The worst of it being from Applejack, Rainbow, and even Twilight. Does being a stallion really mean my opinion has no value?"
"Now hold on there for a second, dear," said Mrs. Cake, "Being a stallion doesn't mean that you're feelings are not important. You just have six very strong minded ponies for best friends. I can understand that you would feel ganged up on or outnumbered from time to time." Mario sighed.
"I try to be a good, supportive friend," said Mario, "and even a supportive husband when it happens with Twilight. I thought I could swallow my pride and accept that I'll be shut down all the time...but it hurts my feelings when it happens. I'm just looking out for them and they would rather learn things the hard way. This is the first time I didn't want to stick around and watch them have to deal with the consequences. Am I being selfish? Should I let them learn the hard way? I don't know...I thought I was finally putting my hoof down. I shouldn't have to keep cleaning up the messes they make because they disregarded what I have to say..." Mario then took a long slurp of his malt. Mrs. Cake was quiet for a few seconds.
"Let me ask you this, Mario," said Mrs. Cake, "How do you feel taking a step back and letting them handle things on their own?" Mario sighed.
"Lonely..." Mario replied, "I want to go see if they're okay, but...would they finally learn to listen to me? I feel like every time I do show up, they're thinking: Hey, he was right all along but since he came and saved us we don't need to learn anything!" Mario snorted.
"Mario, do you love your friends, wife included of course?" Mrs. Cake asked him.
"Yes, yes I love them very much," said Mario.
"Does repeating the same mistake really mean that you should stop caring and looking out for them?" Mrs. Cake asked him next. Mario then realized what Mrs. Cake was saying.
"Of course not," said Mario, "A good friend is always there for his friends, even if its appreciated or not. I remember learning that lesson after I rescued those radio ponies during Twilight and I's honeymoon."
"And unlike them, your friends do acknowledge that they hurt you when this happens," said Mrs. Cakes, "and they do acknowledge their mistakes correct?"
"Yeah, they do," said Mario, "They've even cried because of the fact it's happened over and over again. I can tell they're sorry, despite that it does happen over and over again."
"You wouldn't like it if your friends stopped caring because you kept making the same mistakes over and over again, would you?" Mrs. Cake replied as Mario shook his head as tears began to fall down his cheeks.
"I wasn't trying to turn my back on them," said Mario sadly, "I just couldn't take watching them make a poor decision and seeing the consequences unfold, consequences that I tried to stop but wasn't strong enough to prevent..."
"Mario, sometimes ponies need to learn their lessons the hard way," said Mrs. Cake firmly, "and I'm sure you did all you could. But in the end, if they need you, are you going to turn them away?"
"Never," Mario sniffled, "because I love my friends and they do care about me...despite making me feel this way sometimes." Mrs. Cake smiled as she handed Mario a spare cloth to dry his eyes. Mario then finished off his malt before getting up and making his horn glow pink. He stayed quiet for a moment before humming to himself.
"I can sense they're in trouble," said Mario, "Time to go be a true friend, or husband in Twilight's case." Mrs. Cake chuckled as Mario gave her hug.
"Thanks for the advice and the malt," said Mario with a smile. Mrs. Cake nodded as Mario walked out of the shop, then took off into the sky.
Don't worry everypony! I'm coming! Mario thought to himself.
Pinkie was then startled when she heard someone taking a bit out of the apple and a black shadow ran past Pinkie in the foreground.
"What was that?!" said Pinkie when she saw another shriveled up apple and gasped, "Suspicious! It's pony signal time!" Pinkie giggled to herself as she poked the apple with her mane and got ready to send her signal. It was then the shadow hissed and ran across the foreground again, making Pinkie drop her flashlight and look around nervously.
Rarity was also looking around on her own when a mysterious shadow hovered above her.
"Who's there?" said Rarity when she saw the shadow, "Oh, well, there's obviously no need to worry about that shadowy figure overhead." It was then the shadow hovered a little too low for Rarity's comfort, making her duck.
"Or maybe there is!" said Rarity, clearly frightened, "I'll think I'll just go see how Rainbow Dash is doing..." Rarity then picked up her pace to find the blue Pegasus. At the moment, Rainbow was sternly hovering low to the ground when the mysterious shadow hovered above her.
"Uh...who's there?" Rainbow asked timidly. The wind just howled eerily when she noticed a pony silhouette not too far away.
"Answer me or you'll regret it!" Rainbow demanded, but the silhouette said nothing.
"Fine have it your own way!" said Rainbow as she charged at the silhouette and tackled it to the ground, "Take that, you, you, you...scarecrow...Oh." Rainbow just groaned as she saw the now beaten up scarecrow pony on the ground. The shadow figure then appeared in the foreground and flew off. As for Twilight, she was just nervously looking around her section of the orchard and was startled by a noise. She turned to see that it was just an owl sitting on a tree branch hooting.
Mario, I wish you were here with me right now Twilight thought sadly when she saw the beacon with Applejack's cutie mark in it. Twilight quickly rushed over to Applejack's location. As some slurping could be heard nearby, Applejack was just sitting next to her flashlight with her eyes wide and her jaw hanging from her mouth.
"Applejack, what is it?" Twilight asked worried when a shriveled up apple hit her on the head. There up above them in a tree branch was a giant sized vampire bat hanging upside down from a nearby tree branch. Pinkie then flashed her light on it. Surprisingly, this bat was...pale yellow?!
"Suspicious!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly when the "bat" opened its wings and hissed at Pinkie. It wasn't a bat...
...it was Fluttershy!
As the rest of the group arrived, they were in shock of seeing Fluttershy looking like a bat. Fluttershy then used her bat like tongue to grab an apple and sucked up the juice from it.
"Fluttershy? Yoo-hoo!" Pinkie taunted as she flashed her light and waved a fore-leg into the yellow Peg...uh...bat's face, "Fluttershy!" Fluttershy just hissed at Pinkie again, making the Pinkie fall off the tree and onto her head, leaving the pink pony dazed.
"That's not Fluttershy!" Rarity exclaimed, "That's Flutterbat!"
"We've gotta get her down from there!" Twilight said worried.
"Uh...Fluttershy, sweetness," said Rarity, "please come down, and...do stop being a vampire bat." Fluttershy...er...Flutterbat...simply hissed at Rarity as she used her tongue to grab another apple to eat.
"Fluttershy! It's me, Rainbow Dash!" the blue Pegasus told the yellow bat as she got into the pale yellow bat's face, "Why don't you cut the bat act and come on down?!" Flutterbat then hissed at Rainbow and used her newly acquired bat wings to swat the blue Pegasus away.
"Whoa!" Rainbow yelped as she went into a tailspin and recovered before she hovered over to the others, "Maybe we should just let her come down when she's ready." Flutterbat then dived at them, making all but Pinkie duck.
"Flutterbat on the loose!" said Pinkie, "Run for your lives!" Flutterbat then went for another attack when she was suddenly knocked away by somepony's homing attack. Flutterbat hissed when they others looked up to a familiar stallion hovering above in a fighting stance.
"Mario!" they all shouted.
"Well, bat girl, wanna play?" Mario challenged sternly. Flutterbat hissed at him when Mario pulled out a cape with a giant picture of an apple on it.
"Toro! Toro!" said Mario as he held the cape to his side with his magic. Flutterbat squatted down despite being in the air and charged for the cape as Mario pulled away at the last second.
"Ole!" the others shouted. Mario did the same trick again as Flutterbat made another pass.
"Ole!" the others shouted again as Rarity, out of nowhere, tossed him a red rose. Mario caught it with his fore-hoof and sniffed it.
"WAH!" Mario yelped as Flutterbat smashed right into him and sent him into a tailspin and dropping the red rose. Before Mario could fully recover...
"YIPE!" Mario yelped again as Flutterbat narrowly missed diving at him. Mario was soon flying for his life as Flutterbat chased after him. While Mario's flying speed had improved, the fact Fluttershy was now a bat made it easier for her to keep up with him.
"Use your brakes!" Pinkie called out as Mario then tilted his wings to make himself slow down, allowing Flutterbat to fly past him as Mario charged up his horn. He then fired a green magic blast at Flutterbat.
BOING!
When the magic blast hit Flutterbat, she was sent flying higher into the air and away from the group, where she landed in a tree with a thud.
"What kind of magic blast was that?" Rainbow asked as Mario came in for a landing.
"Bounce magic," said Mario, "it's like if a pony ran into a trampoline head on."
"You may have stopped the Flutterbat for now," said Pinkie before adding frantically, "but she's gonna attack us again!" Pinkie then started to dig herself a hole underground.
"Pinkie Pie, calm down!" aid Twilight as she came up to the panicking pony, "See? She's back on her...branch."
"Hopefully as long as we don't antagonize her or she stays put," Mario added, "I won't need to fight back..."
"She's just bidding her time!" said Pinkie fearfully, "Waiting for the right moment to pounce!"
"Well that's why I'm here!" Mario said as a matter of fact, "To protect you!" Pinkie then hugged him tightly.
"I don't wanna see her eat you!" Pinkie cried out.
"Pinkie Pie, bats don't eat ponies," said Applejack, "Not even vampire bats."
"True," said Mario, "they don't even bite ponies. Or turn them into vampires either..."
"But maybe vampire ponies eat other ponies!" Pinkie pointed out as she was now back in her hole, "I'm not taking any chances!" Pinkie then turned the tip of her pink mane into a drill and burrowed underground.
"Pinkie she's not gonna...ugh, forget it!" said Mario in exasperation, "Nopony listens! Why did I even bother coming out here?"
"Because despite all that you love us," said a very sad voice behind her. Mario turned around to see Applejack, giving a look that showed sadness, worry, and even desperation. He looked to see the others looking just as sad and worried, maybe even a little afraid.
"Yeah, I do," said Mario, "disagreements or not, I had a feeling you guys were in trouble so I'm here to help anyway I can." The others gave him a small smile. Ones that Mario could tell where filled with gratitude.
"How did this happen?" Rarity pondered, "that's what I don't understand."
"I think this was actually our fault," said Twilight sadly.
"Our fault?" Rainbow exclaimed.
"And how'd you figure that?" Applejack asked. Twilight then used her magic to created a holographic LCD screen before them all.
"Okay, so this is me, these are the bats, and this is Fluttershy doing her stare," said Twilight as some silhouettes appeared of herself, the bats, and Fluttershy. "The Stare" was emphasized by the red waves coming out from Fluttershy's silhouette moving toward the bats.
"The spell was supposed to go right onto the bats like this," said Twilight as she made her silhouette's horn glow and the bat's desire for apples was now its own red beam, "but somehow the spell must have backfired. It took the vampire fruit bat's desire to be vampire fruit bats and transferred that desire into Fluttershy." The screen then showed the bat silhouette and their desire beam merged with Fluttershy's silhouette, turning her into a bat with a darker silhouette.
"That's what I was worried about," Mario added, "your spell required the bats to be at full attention of Fluttershy's Stare for it to work. However, you forget that for Fluttershy to use her Stare, she also had to be at full attention. Thus the spell..."
"...became a transfer spell!" Twilight realized as she made the screen disappear, "Ugh, so that's why you were trying to stop us from using it! C'mon, we'll reverse the spell and make it right!"
"Let's a go!" said Mario when the ground rumbled and Pinkie surfaced.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Pinkie said excitedly, "Let's save Fluttershy before that thing eats us all!"
"Ugh, for the last time..." Mario growled.
"Honey, remember, Pinkie doesn't even listen to herself," Twilight reminded him.
"Right..." Mario groaned when Flutterbat appeared in the air and dived at them.
"Hit the deck!" Rainbow yelped as everypony else ducked. Mario then looked at Twilight.
"Honey, can you use your reverse spell while she's within range?" Mario asked.
"I don't think so," said Twilight, "she needs to be still for me to use it!"
"I see," said Mario quietly before he hovered up toward Flutterbat. The yellow bat hissed at him as Mario gave her a raspberry. Flutterbat charged as Mario then curled up into a ball and landed on her back, sending her plummeting down. Mario then drew up a force field for a battle once they arrived near the ground.
(cue favorite "Mid Boss" battle)
"Mario, what are y'all doing?" Applejack asked worried.
"Tiring her out!" Mario replied as Flutterbat hissed and then tried to dive at him. Mario jumped over her with ease. Then she seemed to disappear as Mario walked about the area, keeping his ears open. It was then Flutterbat dived straight down at his location, with Mario rolling out of the way just in time. Flutterbat did this attack two more times. Each time she did, some stars appeared from the ground. Mario then used his horn to suck them up, creating a much larger star above his horn. Then Flutterbat went in for another dive. Before Mario jumped over her, he fired the giant star at her. While the strike didn't break her momentum, she still flinched, which was a sign she had taken damage. Flutterbat then hovered to the foreground and then tried to charge at his location as she made her way to the fore-ground at high speed. Mario then cartwheel to avoid the first attack, then rolled to avoid the second, and jumped to avoid the third. Then Flutterbat did her air strike again, this time attacking five times instead of three. Mario gathered up all the stars into an even bigger one. When Flutterbat went for another basic dive, Mario fired the star at her. This time Flutterbat was knocked backwards. Flutterbat gave a loud hiss before she looked at Mario angrily. Flutterbat then hovered a good distance away from Mario and glared at him.
"What's she doing?" Twilight asked worried.
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Fluttershy hissed loudly, producing sound rings that came at Mario. He rolled out of the way to let the waves go by. The rest of the group covered their ears.
"Ow!" Spike yelped, "I forgot bats could do that!" Flutterbat then went for another screech, but this time Mario rolled just beside the sound waves and used his horn to sucked up a sound ring. He then squatted.
Mike Mario!
Mario then reappeared wearing some headphones on his head.
"What kind of copy ability is that?" Rainbow asked, clearly unimpressed.
"I'd just cover your ears if I were you!" said Spike, already doing so.
"He's right!" Mario called out as he dodged another screech attack, "I'm about to sing off key!" The others winced and covered their ears.
Mario then approached Fluttershy as she tried to go for another basic dive attack.
Mario gave a loud scream that shook the ground and generated three sound rings. Each of them hitting Flutterbat for damage. Mario then did the move again, but this time producing five sound rings that dealt damage to the yellow bat. Mario then took a deep breath and screamed as loud as he could into his mike, generating seven sound rings at Flutterbat. Just as the seventh ring hit her...
CRITICAL STRIKE!
Flutterbat dropped to the ground, looking very woozy as the force field was lowered.
(Battle victory fanfare)
"Nice work there, Mario!" said Rainbow, "talk about a dangerous set of pipes!"
"Though, we appreciate it if you'd stick to singing on key from now on, darling," said Rarity wearily. Mario smiled but then remembered something.
"Twilight, try your spell before..." Too late. Flutterbat had already recovered and was flying away from the group.
"Follow that bat!" said Pinkie as the others gave chase, but the Flutterbat had already shaken them off and was sitting above the tree branch watching the group run off. She then cringed and held her head a bit before her ears shaped into a more bat-like appearance.
"I can't believe we lost her!" said Rarity once they found they had lost sight of Flutterbat.
"Oh, Fluttershy, where are you?" said Twilight worried.
"This won't be easy," said Mario, "Bats have a special ability called sonar that allows them see in the dark using their ears."
"So...Fluttershy can outmaneuver us?" Rainbow asked, slightly puzzled.
"It also makes her hearing extra sensitive," Mario added, "It's why I used the mike ability to try and tire her out."
"So that's why you used a screaming attack," said Twilight, "very clever!" Mario smiled, but then the group heard a familiar hiss as Flutterbat went for another dive. The rest of the group tried to run to get away. but then Spike tripped over an apple as Flutterbat dived down at him. She then grabbed the apple next to him before slurping it up, squirting apple juice next to Spike. Flutterbat then hovered in front of the moon, impersonating a famous DC superhero logo.
"Look out!" Applejack called out, "Whoa!" The group ducked as Fluttershy dived down at them again, tossing the shriveled up apple and shoot its seeds at them.
"If she keeps this up, your whole crop will be gone in no time!" Rainbow said worried. Applejack just watched Flutterbat hover above before sighing sadly to herself.
"Guess it's the price I pay for ignoring the one pony who was only trying to help me," said Applejack quietly.
"B-b-b-but, the cider!" Rainbow pleaded.
"Is that all that matters to you?" Applejack snapped, "Mario warned us that this would happen and we didn't listen. Now I lose my crop and you lose your cider because of it!" Rainbow just landed softly, knowing Applejack was right. However, the thought of no cider that year just broke Rainbow's heart and she began to quietly cry.
"Rainbow, please don't cry," said Mario gently, "We're not giving up yet! There's still time to save the orchard and the cider!"
"That's the least of my worries," said Applejack sadly, "I just want my friend back."
"We'll never get her back unless we corner her and catch her so I can reverse the spell," Twilight remarked.
"Guess I better prepare for a rematch," said Mario.
"No, sweetie," said Twilight, "Fluttershy recovers too fast from your attacks. We need to think of something else." Mario then nodded in agreement before they went to track Flutterbat down. The sound of a wolf howling in the distance could be heard when they saw a familiar yellow bat hanging from a tree branch.
"There she is" said Twilight as Mario tried to rush as quietly and quickly as he could to try and capture her, but Flutterbat hissed and flew off just before Mario could even get within grabbing range.
"There she goes!" said Applejack.
"Shoot!" said Mario before heading back down the ground, "That's as quiet as I can get! Her hearing is too strong for me to sneak up on her!"
"Oh, this is no use," said Twilight, "I think the only way we're gonna catch her is if we find a way to lure her closer to us."
"And find a way to keep her still long enough to cast your reverse spell," said Mario as he pondered, "but how..."
"Aww, if only we had Fluttershy to do her Stare on the Flutterbat," said Pinkie.
"Stare...staring at herself..." Mario pondered aloud when he and Twilight gasped.
"That's it!" said Mario and Twilight together before smirking to each other.
It wasn't much longer before the group had brought along a large object behind a tarp and set the object just outside of the orchard. Rainbow then removed the tarp to reveal that the giant object was Applejack's giant apple.
"Okay, let's get our friend back," said Twilight, "Action stations!"
"Oh yeah! Mario time!" Mario chanted as he pumped his fore-legs, making himself glow orange to activate his "hero's sight" spell, before heading back into the orchard. Pinkie, Spike, and Rarity then took off as well. Applejack and Rainbow stayed behind as Applejack grabbed a fruit knife, holding the handle part with her mouth.
"So much for having the winning apple in the Appleoosa State Fair, huh?" Rainbow pointed out. Applejack just sighed.
I'm REALLY paying the price for ignoring Mario aren't I? Applejack thought to herself. Mario just stayed behind his tree as quietly as he could until he saw a familiar yellow bat fly by. As soon as Flutterbat was at the right angle, time slowed down as Mario peeked out of his hiding spot and fired a green beam at Flutterbat.
BOING!
Flutterbat was sent flying into a tail spin, but then while she was in momentum, Mario fired a second time, sending her even higher and further away and much closer toward the giant apple. Rainbow noticed both blasts and smiled impressively.
"Nice shot, Mario!" Rainbow remarked. Applejack then made a surface cut into the apple with her fruit knife, causing the juices to ooze out of it. Rainbow then used her wings to fan out the apple scent into the air. Flutterbat hovered nearby and caught whiff of the scent. She sniffled the scent suspiciously before hissing menacingly and she dived for the giant apple.
"She's coming!" Rainbow told Applejack in a hushed tone. Once Flutterbat was only a few yards away, Applejack bucked the giant apple away so Flutterbat was looking at herself in a mirror that was being held up by Spike. Flutterbat was stunned for a moment before she held her head and tried to fly off. She then found herself looking into another mirror that was being held up by Pinkie. Flutterbat shook her head again and tried to escape, but then ran into a third mirror being held up by Rarity. Flutterbat just gasped and was now staring at herself with her jaw hanging out.
"She's stunned," said Mario, who had arrived just in time, "Honey now!" Twilight then made her horn glow and slowly surrounded Flutterbat into a thick ribbon of purple magic. Slowly but surely, Flutterbat's teeth and ears were returned to normal, as well as the rest of her body and wings. Then a bright flash of light was seen before the magic ribbon disappeared. Twilight then held the now cured Fluttershy in her magic grip and set her gently back on the ground, where she plopped to the ground on her stomach. Twilight then made her horn stop glowing as Mario hugged his wife close for a job well done. Fluttershy slowly woke up.
"Oh...where am I?" she asked rather puzzled as the others cheered and gathered around her.
"Thank goodness you're okay!" said Applejack with relief.
"But...what happened to me?" Fluttershy asked as she rose to her hooves.
"You...don't remember?" Mario asked curiously.
"I know you weren't with us when we got here," said Fluttershy, "but now when you joined us."
"You turned into a vampire pony!" Pinkie told her as she got in front of Applejack. Fluttershy gasped.
"I tried to eat ponies?!" Fluttershy explained.
"Of course not!" Pinkie answered.
"So I wasn't a vampire?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes!"
"Yes I was, or yes I wasn't?"
"Yes, you were!
"But I didn't try and eat ponies?"
"Yes!"
"I did?!"
"No!"
"I'm confused," Fluttershy remarked.
"Me too...and I was there!" said Rarity.
"I'll explain everything to you later, Flutters," said Mario, "We're all just glad your back to normal again." Mario hugged her close.
"Um, why do I have this urge to slug you right now?" Fluttershy remarked as she hugged Mario back.
"Please don't," said Mario with whimper, "Whatever you remember me doing was me only trying to tire you out so we could help you get back to normal. Plus I'm tired of feeling like the group's punching bag right now."
"You're not our punching bag," said Applejack, "You're a really great friend who cares about us even when we're being too stubborn and unreasonable. Thank you for helping us out."
"Anytime, everypony, anytime," said Mario as they all shared a group hug together.
The next morning, the vampire bats were heading to their now designated part of the orchard as Applejack finished hammering down the sigh showing that this was the bats new sanctuary.
"Fluttershy, Mario," said Applejack, "I'm real sorry I didn't take your suggestion in the first place."
"All is forgiven Applejack," said Mario, "We might have trouble communicating to each other sometimes, but that doesn't mean we still don't care for each other." Applejack smiled and the two shared a hug.
"And don't forget, now you'll get seeds that will grow into even bigger and better apple trees," Fluttershy added.
"Does that mean what I think it means?" Rainbow asked hopefully as she wrapped a fore-leg around Applejack and Fluttershy.
"Yup! More cider too!" said Applejack.
"More higher quality cider," Mario added.
"Yea-he-heah, whoo!" Rainbow cheered excitedly as she zoomed off.
Back at Fluttershy's cottage, the Mane seven had gathered so Spike could write Applejack's journal entry.
"Okay, got the part about the spell, Mario protests about it, Fluttershy turning into a bat, Mario coming to help, and the Sanctuary," said Spike as he lay on the floor on his stomach with the book in front of them.
"Be sure to put in there I came to see that my short-term solution was a little short cited," said Applejack as she knelt forward beside Spike from the left.
"And that you shouldn't let anypony pressure you into doing something that you don't think is right," said Fluttershy as she knelt forward on Spike's left. Her remark made Applejack blush in embarrassment.
"Sometimes you have to tell even your closest friends "no"," Fluttershy added as the rest of the ponies stood behind her.
"Well said, Sis," said Mario.
"Anything you would like to add there Mario?" Applejack asked.
"But this is your..."
"I would like if you added something, sugarcube," said Applejack, "I'm sure you learned something from all of this." Mario just hummed before pondering for a second.
"Communication is important, especially between good friends," said Mario, "Sometimes even the best of friends don't always see eye to eye. But in the end, it is important to always be there for your friends, even if they can be a tad stubborn." Applejack blushed once more.
"Yeah, well this stubborn friend is very grateful that you care so much, Mario," said Applejack.
"Same here," said Twilight, "I knew sometimes I still tune you out when I get to focused on doing something, but just know that it's not in purpose. It's just a bad habit I struggle with, but I promise I'll try harder to listen to you, okay?"
"Okay," said Mario, "I'll try not to get so upset about it either. I mean, I'm the only stallion among six very strong minded mares. This certainly won't be the last time this is gonna happen, but in the end, just know that I'm here for all of you. Whenever you do feel like you're way in over your head, just know that I'll be there to help you. I love you guys and that's never gonna change." The others just smiled before the gathered around him for a group hug, including Spike.
"Now, how about we celebrate our stronger than ever friendship with a nice, juicy apple?" Applejack proposed as Fluttershy stared at it wearily. Even Mario looked a little nervous at the blank look Fluttershy was making.
"Stand back!" said Pinkie as she appeared with fake vampire teeth in her mouth and speaking in a Trottsilvanian accent, "I vant to suck its juuuice!" Pinkie then went to take a bite but only got her vampire teeth stuck into the apple. Pinkie just gave a squeaky smile. Everypony else just laughed. But when Fluttershy laughed, it was revealed that part of a fang was still existent in her teeth.
Mario had seen it and had Twilight check on Fluttershy later to make sure the spell had been removed completely. The couple and Fluttershy's minds were put to rest once they found the fang had disappeared a couple of days later.
Thus the threat of Flutterbat is no more!
...
I hope...
I hope nopony found it too disappointing that I didn't make Mario go batty and that I had him be the character in the right. Because in the end, he learned an important friendship lesson as well. It wasn't just an "I told you so" scenario and Mario learned that despite Applejack's headstrong attitude, she really appreciated that he's there to help her. So Mario got a little character growth. (yay!)
And I actually did consider typing out the screams when Mario did the parody of Kirby's Mike attacks, but I just didn't know to spell the last scream...the one where Kirby goes punk rocker.
Kudos if you got my parody joke from the Incredibles! It just didn't fit on the Power Ponies chapter.
Next time, we take to the big city! And we get some Rarity and Mario bonding!
Peace Pony Fans!