It was the next day when I woke up, I noticed that Rarity was not with me. I guess she woke up before I did, but then I saw her with two mugs she was carrying with her magic, she was also dressed out of her hero outfit from last night.

"Morning darling, hot coco?" she offered.

"Oooh yes indeed, thanks love." I replied as I took one of the mugs from her and drank it.

We then heard a knock on the door.

"I'll go and get it, dear." Rarity said as she kissed me before she left the room with her mug.

I drank mine and got out of bed, I noticed I had my agent costume on. I took it off and walked downstairs with my mug and into the kitchen and placed the mug in the sink as I finished drinking the hot coco.

"Bond, it was Twilight. She says Applejack needs all six of us for an emergency."

"Emergency?" I asked, "Well, looks like our quiet moment of romance will have to wait."

We then left the house and I got Rarity on my back before we flew up and to the farm whilst Rarity held on to me. When we arrived, I landed down outside the entrance and she got off me as we heard the bell going off several times.

"Attention! This is a Sweet Apple Acres code red!" Applejack yelled, "Ah need all hooves on deck!"

"Code red? I don't see any planes or tanks around here." I replied.

"Not that sugarcube, this is a different code red!"

"Calm down, Applejack." Rarity responded.

"Calm down?! How can ah 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.

"The fruit bats do, but these aren't just your everyday ordinary fruit bats. They're vampire fruit bats! I'll be darned if they think they're gonna sink their fangs into my blue ribbon apple."

Applejack then pulled a cloak away to reveal a huge red apple, they were all amazed by it while I was a bit...meh.

"This here's our entry into the Appleloosa State Fair's produce competition. You know how much TLC goes into getting an apple to grow like this?"

"Applejack! When you go big, you really go big!" Rarity commented.

"That's what she said..." I muttered.

"Them vampire bats want to shrivel it up like a raisin!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Oh, I'm sure if we just let them know how special that particular apple is to you, they'll leave it alone." Fluttershy responded.

"Yeah, right. Be my guest."

Fluttershy then flew towards one of the apple trees with the bats in them and after a moment, she came back.

"Well? What'd he say?"

"Um... yes."

"Huh?"

"But... it could've been a no."

"Oh.

"This is the first vampire fruit bat I've ever met and, well, it might take some time for me to really understand their language."

"Uh-huh. And in the meantime, this pest and his vermin friends are gonna go after my prized apple and, while they're at it, every other apple in the orchard! These vampire bats are nothin' but a bunch of monsters!"

"Monsters?! Oh, that's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"No, I do not."

Suddenly, I heard background music playing, time to watch a Thriller knock-off, I thought.

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

They don't care about nada, not zilch, no, nothin'

'Cept bringin' about an orchard's destruction

Fluttershy intervened in the song.

Now wait just a minute, there's another side to this

And if I did not defend them, then I would be remiss

These bats are mamas and papas too

They care for their young just like we ponies do

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

That's where I have to disagree

They're loyal to their family

Spreading seeds both far and wide

You see one comin', you'd better run and hide!

They're big and ugly and mean as sin

Will ya look at the state my trees are in?

They help your trees, they'll grow stronger faster

They've turned my life to a total disaster!

Rarity and Dash joined in the song.

Well, I for one don't have a doubt

These vermin must be stamped right out

I second that, they've got to go

These bats, they've got to hit the road

It comes down to just one simple fact

They've crossed the line, it's time to fight them back!

The rest joined in except me and Fluttershy.

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!

Whilst they were singing, I put on a familiar costume.

Yes, it comes down to just one simple fact

They've crossed the line, it's time that we attack!

Applejack finished the song and then I got their attention.

"Cause this is thriller, thriller night!" I sung which confused them. "Oh never mind, forget what I just said."

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but I believe Applejack has made the better argument. These vampire fruit bats sound downright dreadful." Rarity said.

"So let's get to roundin' them up so they don't destroy the rest of my orchard." Applejack ordered.

"Fruit bat round-up, fruit bat round-up!" Pinkie sung whilst bouncing.

"Um, excuse me, but, um, what if instead of rounding them up, we...let them have part of the orchard?" Fluttershy suggested.

"Have you lost your pest-lovin' mind?!"

"They're only here because they're hungry! If we build a sanctuary for them, they could have their 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!"

"Listen, Fluttershy. That sounds real nice 'n' all, but every second we spend buildin' this so-called 'sanctuary' is a second they'll spend destroyin' orchards! You don't know what it was like the last time there was an infestation, but Granny Smith has told me enough stories about it that just the thought of it gives me nightmares! Granny says we lost a huge section of orchard that year. They had to ration out apples all winter!"

"What about the cider? There was still cider, right?" Dash asked.

"Not...a...drop."

"No cider?! No cider?! We need to round up these monsters, and we need to do it now!"

"If Granny Smith wasn't with Apple Bloom an' Big Mac checkin' out our produce competition in Appleloosa, she'd be here tellin' us to do just that!"

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but I think Applejack is right. I just wish there was another way we could convince them not to eat them in the first place. Maybe there is...!"

Shortly afterwards, we were in the library where Twilight was going over several books.

"So, there's good news and bad news." she said, "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. But in order for the spell to work, I need the bats' full and complete attention."

She looked at Fluttershy and this gave us the assumption of what she was thinking.

"Oh no." Fluttershy gasped.

"Fluttershy, I need you to do your Stare on the bats."

"Oh, gosh, I don't know."

"What's the problem? You've used the Stare plenty of times before!" Dash said.

"Yes, but it's not something I take lightly. I've made a vow not to use it except in dire circumstances."

"This circumstance is plenty dire to me!" Applejack

"Me too! Think of the cider! Won't somepony please think of the cider?!" Dash cried in dramatic fashion.

I looked at Rarity...she was not amused by Dash's diva-ish behaviour.

"I'm sorry. I just don't like the idea of taking away the thing that really makes the vampire fruit bats," Fluttershy paused as she gasped "Vampire fruit bats! It just feels wrong!"

"But if we don't do this, there won't be any apples left for anypony here in Ponyville. Doesn't that feel wrong, too?" Twilight asked.

"Hold on second, let's not put any peer pressure on Fluttershy. I have a bad feeling about this, what if Fluttershy gets bitten by one of those vampire bats?" I asked. "Wouldn't she turn into one of them and therefore lose our only hope of getting rid of them?"

"Don't be so dramatic dear, I'm sure Twilight would be able to reverse that curse." Rarity assured.

"Well umm...I guess...but I should be Plan B just in case."

We all then left the library with Spike in tow and walked over to the Apple Farm.

"So what's it gonna be, Fluttershy? Will you do your Stare on the bats or not?" Applejack asked.

"Um...Um...Okay, I'll do it." Fluttershy sighed.

"Good choice. I knew you wouldn't side with those icky bats!" Rarity said, whimpering.

"They're not icky."

"First round of cider's on me!" Dash declared.

"Hold it right there! We've gotta round up these beasts with wings first. Time's a-wastin'!" Applejack exclaimed.

After a while of rounding up the bats with mostly random methods, it was time for the spell to happen.

"Good work, everypony!" Applejack praised, before turning to Fluttershy, "Ah think we got 'em all! Now all we need is for you do to your Stare."

"Oh, um, are you sure I really need-"

Fluttershy was cut off as we all nodded.

"Okay. I really, really, really hate to do this to you... I just hope you can forgive me..."

The bats hissed before Fluttershy began to use her stare of them which got all their attention.

"Good... Now you go, Twilight!" Applejack said.

"Alright." Twilight replied.

She used her magic on the bats and created an aura around them, I then noticed some of aura going to Fluttershy, before it disappeared.

"You can stop staring, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy then stopped and flew back down.

"Did it work?" Spike asked.

"Only one way to find out for sure." Applejack replied

Dash brought up an apple ot one of the bats and the bat looked away and flew off along with the other bats.

"Ye-he-heah, whoo!" Dash exclaimed.

"My crop is saved! Yee-haw!"

"We'll be drinking cider all winter long!"

"Ah wanna thank you for your help. Ah couldn't have done it without you."

"Aw, don't mention it, Applejack. It was my pleasure! Really!" Spike replied.

Wait a minute...Spike didn't do anything, unless he was being sarcastic.

"Now all we gotta do is sweep up these cores so I can start buckin' fresh tomorrow mornin'!"

I then heard Fluttershy sniff at one of the apples...uh oh, I sense a side effect.

"Umm Applejack, would it be alright for me to watch over the apple trees tonight?" I asked.

"Why do ya wanna do that, sugarcube?"

"I just have a bad feeling that the spell may have created a new problem."

"But my spells are one hundred percent fool proof." Twilight assured, "They couldn't have possibly made things worse."

"I just have a bad hunch and you all know what happened last time you chose to ignore the signs."

"Yes, we know." They all replied.

"Okay partner, come by the apple farm at night and ah'll have you look over the apple orchard."

I smiled and nodded as we left Applejack and the farm.

"So are you sure about it, Bond?" Twilight asked, "You're not just overreacting?"

"Twilight, if I was lying to you, I wouldn't be saying that." I replied, "You remember the lesson Celestia learned about trusting your instincts back at that wedding, right?"

"Yeah, that's true. Well in any case, you shouldn't do it alone at night if something does happen."

"Speaking of which, I'll need some sort of light, like a torch."

"I have a spare lantern in my library, you can borrow that for the night."

"That's good to know."

When we got back, we split up and went to our homes as it was the late afternoon. When it was sunset and I had my dinner, I left my home and went over to Twilight who had a lantern ready for me. I took the lantern with my magic and was on my way until Rarity opened her door and trotted towards me and gave me a hug.

"Do be careful, darling." she said.

"With the apple family watching over the farm, I will." I replied before I kissed her softly and walked onwards to the farm.

When I arrived, I just saw Applejack go inside her family home.

"Oh there ya are Bond, just be sure to let me know if ya find anything." she said.

"I will Applejack, you just go on and sleep well." I replied.

I then lit up the lantern and when it was nightfall, I began my patrolling over the farm. After a while of not seeing anything, I began to see apples which were already sucked away and left to rot.

However, I then spotted one tree which had a huge cocoon shape hanging on the branch. When I looked closer, I could see that they were wings. I then saw a head and it looked at me before hissing.

"ARGH!" I yelled, "What the...is that you, Fluttershy?"

She hissed again and began to swoop at me and I ducked.

"Woah! I knew I was right all along...that's not Fluttershy, that's Flutterbat!"

I then heard a pair of hooves galloping before stopping beside me.

"Bond, ah heard ya screaming, what did ya see?" Applejack asked.

"Fluttershy has turned into a bat and tried to eat me!" I exclaimed.

"Bats don't eat ponies. Not even vampire bats."

"DUCK!" I yelled as we hit the ground when we saw Flutterbat swoop at us again before it perched on the branch upside down.

"Woah nelly! How did this happen? That's what ah don't understand."

"I think this was actually our fault."

"And how'd you figure that?"

"Well, we would kinda need Twilight for this, but I'll try my best."

I used my magic to create a display with a few silhouette pictures.

"Okay, so this is Twilight, these are the bats, and this is Fluttershy doing her Stare. The spell was supposed to go right onto the bats like this, but somehow the spell must have backfired. It took the vampire fruit bats' desire to be vampire fruit bats and transferred that desire into Fluttershy. We just need Twilight to reverse the spell and make it right!"

"Look out! Whoa!"

We ducked as Flutterbat swooped at us again before it flew out of sight.

"If she keeps this up, your whole crop will be gone in no time!"

"That's the least of my worries. Ah just want my friend back."

We then heard another voice.

"And we will!"

We turned to see the rest of the mares with us.

"We'll never get her back unless we corner her and catch her so I can reverse the spell!" Twilight added.

"I'm glad you're all here, I guess I kinda forgot that we do have the power to overcome anything we face together." I said as I scratched my mane. "But anyways, let's go and get Fluttershy back."

"But even if we can lure her to us, how're we gonna get her to stay still long enough for you to do your reverse spell?" Applejack asked.

"What about a mirror?"

"A mirror, that's it!" Twilight exclaimed. "If we can get Fluttershy to stare at her own reflection, it'll daze her long enough for me to perform the spell."

"Okay, let's get a mirror and something big to get her attention."

Moments later, we brought out the big red apple and a mirror we put behind it.

"Okay, let's get our friend back. Action stations!"

"So much for having the winning apple in the Appleloosa State Fair, huh?" Dash asked as Applejack sighed and sliced a part of the big apple so the juices fell out and Dash used her wings to blow the scent to Flutterbat's direction.

"She's coming!" I exclaimed.

Flutterbat hissed and swooped towards us before Applejack kicked the apple away to reveal the mirror which caught Flutterbat instantly. Twilight then used her magic on Flutterbat which engulfed her into a spiral and after a bright light, we saw the normal Fluttershy back, before she landed neatly on the ground.

"Oh... where am I?" she asked.

"Thank goodness you're okay!" Applejack exclaimed as she hugged her.

"But...what happened to me?"

"You turned into a vampire pony!"

"I tried to eat ponies?!"

"Not really, you tried to eat anything that looked like apples." I answered. "Now I think after going through that trauma, we should definitely do what Fluttershy suggested earlier today."

The others nodded in agreement.

When it was the next day, we watched Applejack put up a bat sign and have it reserved for that area to have vampire bats only.

"Fluttershy, Ah'm real sorry ah didn't take your suggestion in the first place." Applejack apologized.

"And don't forget, now you'll get seeds that will grow into even bigger and better apple trees." Fluttershy replied.

"Does that mean what I think it means?" Dash asked hopefully.

"Yup! More cider too."

"Yea-he-heah, whoo!"

"Okay, got the part about the spell, Fluttershy turning into a bat, building a sanctuary..." Spike said as he was writing today's lesson down.

"Be sure to put in there that I came to see that my short-term solution was a little short-sighted." Applejack said.

"And that you shouldn't let anypony pressure you into doing something that you don't think is right. Sometimes you have to tell even your closest friends 'no'." Fluttershy added.

"Now, how about we celebrate our stronger than ever friendship with a nice, ripe, juicy apple?"

"Stand back! I vant to suck its juuuice!" Pinkie intervened, imitating a vampire voice.

We all laughed at her failed attempt.

"Oh by the way all, tomorrow will be the start of the fashion week competition and it's taking place in Manehatten." Rarity told us, "I would love it if all of you could come along to support me."

"Fashion week in Manehatten? That's quite a long way from here." Fluttershy responded.

"Well, if you do come along, I'll have a surprise for you all."

"Alright, we'll make sure to be there with you." I replied.

"Fabulous my dears, I'll see you all tomorrow, we'll need time to pack."

"Whee, let's go!" Pinkie bounced excitedly.

We then waved at Applejack as we all walked back home and exchanged our farewells and agreed to meet together at the station tomorrow morning since that's when Rarity will need to be there before fashion week starts. I gave Rarity a quick kiss when the others weren't looking before I walked back to my home.

I recapped on what happened yesterday and today...first the stare, the hulk size and now a bat. No wonder Fluttershy is completely shy, she possess powers that she's not proud of. Oh well, at least she's back to normal now and I hope we'll never see her as a bat again in the future. Next Chapter: Rarity Takes Manehatten Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 2 Minutes