Waking up as night falls is a creature that was considered a scary vermin - Vampire Fruit Bat! Like the rest of his chiropteran kind, he goes from tree to tree sucking fruits, particularly apples, of their juice. Despite its creepy appearance, this batlike creature plays an important role in Equestria’s ecosystem as it would then would spit out the fruits’ seeds, which would result in long-term benefit of growing healthier, more productive fruit trees. When these bats began ravaging Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack asked Fluttershy to use “The Stare” on the bats while Twilight cast her spell that would strip them of their frugivorous diet, even though she didn’t approve of this; she insisted on the bats’ long term benefit while stubborn Applejack wanted to do the short-term approach of having them stop eating the apples. And what happened next did more than speak volumes. The bats’ diet was accidentally transfered to Fluttershy, turning into a werevampire-bat-pony - Flutterbat - and she did more damage than it had to be. Fortunately, the Mane Six restored Fluttershy. Applejack ultimately agreed to build a sanctuary for the bats to live and feed without ruining her orchards. And I imagine it really gave her family business quite a boom for better, healthier apples than the Apples ever had in history.
 
For all those who are curious why I submitted this, next Friday is Bat Appreciation Day. Bat Bat Blue Bat And in honor for this batty event, I decided to make vectors of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’s bats. I won’t be able to submit vectors of the other fruit bats since their references are hard to come by, but at least I can do their vampiric counterparts. Ironically, I didn’t love “Bats!” (partly because it was subtly political in the whole environmental v. business debate, and how Applejack and the Mane Six disagreed with Fluttershy, whom I supported in that episode, and they made the situation worst), but I think the vampire fruit bats need a better image. I will admit though I think the notches in its ears and wings only enhance the fear factor it doesn’t deserve. I’ll see if I’ll make a vector of these chiropteras without the notches.
 
I already made more vectors, and I will submit them soon. So get ready to have your week turned upside down for the world’s only flying mammals. :D (Big Grin)
 
Traced from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 4 Episode 7, “Bats!”
 
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic created by Lauren Faust and owned by Hasbro
 
Free to use with credit.