Applejack froze in mid-strike, holding her torch just barely above Twilight's head. Their muzzles were just an inch away from each other, forcing the two ponies to stare each other awkwardly. Applejack gave Twilight a look that basically said "What in the hay do you think you're doing Twilight?" While Twilight's look responded 'I should have probably think this plan through.'
Applejack calmly went back on her four hooves, blew out the torch before setting it back on the ground. She asked Twilight "Why did you stop me Twilight?"
Twilight lowered her front hooves back on the ground, which helped released tense from her body. This gesture made the shivering bat ponies relax the tension in their bodies as well. However, their attention kept switching back and forth from Twilight to Applejack.
Twilight responded to Applejack's question with "Applejack…you were about to hit these ponies with a burning torch. All because they scared us? Which is what they're supposed to do?"
Applejack answered with frustration in her voice "Oh heck no! Did you see the way they were looking at us? They weren't just gonna scare us, they were…they were…they were about to do something we may soon regret!"
Twilight returned the frustration with "How do you know that? We don't even know them!"
Applejack pointed to the bat ponies behind Twilight, which made the purple alicorn look behind her into the eyes of the scared bat ponies, "Just look at them Twi! They are not just some trickster ponies in costume prancing about Nightmare Night, they're REAL bat ponies."
After looking into the teal eyes of the bat ponies, Twilight quickly turned her attention back to Applejack and remarked "So what if they're real bat ponies. What difference does that make?"
Applejack scolded "It makes a HUGE difference!"
Twilight gripped the sides of her head in anger and said "I don't understand this Applejack. We've never met any bat ponies. YOU have never met any bat ponies!"
Applejack cried out "FLUTTERSHY WAS A BAT PONY!"
Twilight's eyes widen in confusion and she calmly stated "Huh?"
Applejack then hung her head in shame, and this directed the bat ponies' attention towards the emotional orange earth pony. Applejack uttered "Fluttershy…she…she was a bat pony. Being a bat pony turned our sweet sugar cube into a hissing monster who barely recognized us. Us…her friends! She may have not been a vampire pony who sucks ponies' blood…but the way she glared at us with those orange eyes…the way she sucked the life of the apples hanging in the trees…the way she moved in the shadows as if she was a shadow herself…it sent shivers up my spine. The way…that she was…it was unnatural. She wasn't a pony anymore…she was an animal. A mindless animal."
Applejack took a deep breath and closed her eyes before continuing "I know that Fluttershy could never be that way again. I know that bats, no matter what kind they are, are not monsters. But ever since that whole incident…I couldn't get Flutterbat off my mind. I kept having nightmares about her. I kept having nightmares about bat ponies! I know it sounds crazy but…but…"
All of sudden, Applejack felt a warm yet gentle hoof on her shoulder which made her look up to see her friend Twilight. Twilight gave her a comforting smile, as if trying to say 'It's okay to be scared.' Applejack soon felt some of her fears, her nightmares, and her insecurities went away when she smiled back at her friend. The two friends gave each a tight and healing hug, to release all of the stress and events that happened earlier.
While Applejack was hugging Twilight, she looked over her friends' shoulder to find the trio of bat ponies with their heads hung low. As if they felt guilty for what they did to them…what they did to Applejack. Their expressions to Applejack…in that moment…looked like a small filly ready to be scolded by her mother. Their faces became very…pony-like to her.
Applejack slowly released Twilight from her grip, and gradually approached the group behind her friend. It wasn't until Applejack was directly in front of them did the bat ponies noticed the earth pony's presence. They quivered back into each other's embrace, and shut their eyes tight. Preparing themselves for Applejack to attack them. Applejack's ears dropped, and her mouth slightly parted open. She was shocked to find these terrifying creatures…quivering at her hooves.
Applejack offered her hoof to them and sweetly whispered "It's alright now."
One of the bat ponies looked up and saw Applejack's motherly green eyes staring back at her. Then the bat pony noticed Applejack's hoof right below her gaze. She looked at the hoof before returning her gaze back at Applejack. Applejack gave the bat pony a side smile while saying "I'm…real sorry there sugar cube. It…it won't happen again. I promise."
After Applejack's statement, the two other bat ponies lifted their heads from the huddle to look at Applejack. The first bat pony kept looking at Applejack while slowly taking the offered hoof. Applejack helped her up first, before gently helping the other up as well. Twilight gradually approached the group with a smile on her face, letting the bat ponies know that she is a friend too.
The bat pony, who first took Applejack's hoof, quietly asked "Is it…is it true? You know Fluttershy?"
Applejack and Twilight look at each other in astonishment first before Applejack answered "Yeah…she's a friend of ours."
Twilight added "How do you know her?"