Progress



Progress is a My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic fanfic by Andrew J. Talon, which originally started as a one-shot titled Luna vs. the Microwave. The story stars Princess Luna as she attempts to catch up on how much life has changed in Equestria.

It can be found here.

This My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic fanfic contains the following tropes:
""Did you know hooves aren’t very good for getting things out of your eye? They’re not.""
 * Aborted Arc: For the time being, Andrew has abandoned "PONIES IN SPACE" in order to focus more on Luna as a character; he mentioned plans to resume it at some later point, but later removed it entirely from the FIMFiction version of the story.
 * Adorkable: Princess Luna.
 * Adult Fear: Played for Laughs, but Sundance's fear that definitely counts.
 * Luna takes it seriously, however.
 * Adventurer Archaeologist: The Cutie Mark Crusaders' attempt at Archaeology ends up utterly destroying the ruins they were investigating.
 * All Just a Dream:
 * All Part of the Show: In "Luna vs. Vigilantism 3", Sundance thinks the Great and Powerful Trixie (who is trying to steal a powerful book of magic from the Canterlot Library) is part of Luna's superhero play-acting.
 * Amusing Injuries: Luna casts a spell during a baseball game, making all foul balls fly towards her and her friends. However, she also forgot she can't catch the balls without revealing her true self. As a side note, she now has a major phobia for all things baseball.
 * And I Must Scream: In "Luna versus the Dreamlands" Part 2,
 * And Knowing Is Half the Battle: Done humorously in Luna vs Threesome after an accident with "cooking".

""I am a very old pony. I’ve seen things. And banishment? Isn’t nearly creative enough.""
 * Angels Pose: The Cutie Mark Crusaders in Luna versus Ponyville 7.
 * Armchair Psychology
 * Badass: The unnamed warrior colt from Luna Vs. Storytelling; see the Crowning Moment of Awesome entry of this page for details.
 * Berserk Button: Don't break Luna's glasses. Ever.
 * Also, don't in any way damage Abacus. Or imply that a calculator would be more efficient. Or use rude language in front of him. Or forget to read him a story before tucking him into bed.
 * Luna also doesn't take too kindly to others messing with her subjects as numerous characters discover: a Kong and Rex who threaten the Cutie Mark Crusaders in "Luna vs. Ponyville Part 7", Prince Blueblood after he shamelessly hits on Sundance in "Ponies in Space Part 2", and
 * Celestia's is Luna getting hurt. Quoth the Princess:

""The statistics about ponies and... sheep... they can't possibly be accurate." "Ask your friend Big Macintosh.""
 * Bilingual Bonus: In "Ponies In Space 2", Sundance insults Prince Blueblood in French, telling him things like "Your brain must have been optional," and "Reality and you don't get along, am I right?"
 * Borrowed Catchphrase: It's subtle, but in "Ponies in Space 1", Luna says "Eeyup!", Big Macintosh's catchphrase.
 * Bond One-Liner: "Sweet dreams."
 * Book Safe: In "Luna vs. Vigilantism 3",
 * Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: A list of items found on one tourist in "Ponies in Space" includes "Chocolate bars, caramel bars, fruit pops, candied apples, cotton candy, gummy bears, jelly babies, gum drops, peanut butter chocolate cups, hot chocolate, cherry twists, lemon snaps, pressed sugar glass, a butterfly knife-"
 * And that tourist was.
 * Bullying a Goddess: Sure Angel, let's go pelt the local Lunar Goddess with baseballs, what could possibly go wrong?
 * But You Screw One Goat!:

""FOR THE GLORY OF GODDESS QUEEN CELESTIA!"
 * Though that wasn't what Celestia meant. Maybe.
 * And it seems that per canon, sheep are sentient beings in the Ponyverse...
 * The Cameo: In part 3 of "Luna vs. Lodging", Doctor Whoof and his companion Derpy pop in for a quick spot.
 * Chapter 21 features the ponified Myth Busters as scientists in the space program.
 * Canon Dis Continuity: The "Ponies in Space" arc was cut from the story as of "Luna vs. Vigilantism 3", with a new chapter to replace it in the works (as otherwise Sundance's pregnancy comes out of nowhere). The same author's note that declared this also made "Luna vs. Threesomes" canonical...
 * Catch Phrase: "Eep!"
 * Mare Fight: Luna and Sundance in "Luna vs. The Heat", the heat having put both of them on edge. Hoyden of course can't help but stare.
 * Caught With Their Nethers Exposed: Luna walks in on Sundance and Hoyden... er, "being together." Celestia decides to have Luna visit Ponyville to let it all simmer down.
 * Chivalrous Pervert: Sundance's coltfriend Hoyden is prone to interesting fantasies about his marefriend and Luna, but he is supportive of Sundance, and he knows when he messes up.
 * Clark Kenting: Luna disguises herself as "Selene" by hiding her wings and/or horn and putting on a pair of glasses. It works with the Apple family and Rainbow Dash, but not so much with Sundance or Pinkie Pie.
 * The Apple Family actually justifies how they could have missed that: Most of them had never seen Luna's true appearance before, and Applejack claims she didn't get a good look at Luna before Luna left for Canterlot.
 * Companion Cube: Luna's abacus.
 * Named Abacus. Which she apparently has a hat, pajamas, and a little bed for. She also tucks it in at night, and reads it bedtime stories.
 * Continuity Nod: Occasionally refers to the plot of episodes from the show, which are happening parallel to the stuff going on in Luna's life. For example, at the beginning of "Luna Vs Communication" Luna has received a letter from Big Macintosh, about how his sister is handling the upcoming harvest while he's suffering from a back injury. This is after she spends a good deal of time reading up on a recent Parasprite infestation in Fillydelphia.
 * Later, Fluttershy says the pieces of Apple Bloom's Celestia costume are "leftovers from (her) modeling career."
 * "Luna Vs. The Dreamlands 2" definitely takes place after The Return of Harmony Part 2 as it deals with Discord, and "PONIES! IN! SPAAAACE! Part 4" is set after "the Discord incident." The latter also follows "Luna Eclipsed", as Luna mentions a colt "who isn't fully grown yet but is so darling" - clearly Pipsqueak.
 * Word of God says that the series starts after the events of "Luna Eclipsed."
 * Cool Big Sis: Celestia really cares for her sister.
 * Crazy Prepared: The Cakes are insured against acts of goddesses. (Though considering that they live with Pinkie Pie, Reality Warper extraordinaire, it may not be so crazy after all.)
 * Deadpan Snarker: Sundance, in chapter 14, when Luna is attempting to construct an air conditioner for the house from scratch. Luna wants helium to make an ideal heat sink, but the only way to get it, as Sundance points out, is through nuclear fusion, and "I'm not in the mood for a second sun, your majesty."
 * Department of Redundancy Department: "... actually... the um... she washed mine. Telekinetically. You know. With her telekinesis."
 * Ditzy Genius: Luna reorganized the irrigation system for an entire province, established a whole new system of emergency response and management for the entire kingdom, and made sense of the tax code, but is even more socially awkward than Twilight Sparkle, and thought twenty seven minutes was the perfect amount of time to cook popcorn.
 * In addition, when wanting to make an ideal heat sink to cool off the house, she outlines her plan to separate the hydrogen and oxygen from the water and fuse the hydrogen into helium. It takes Sundance to point out that doing so would probably be a bad idea.
 * In "Ponies in Space", Luna figures out a mathematical theorem to prove that pi and e are transcendental numbers from scratch... Despite the fact that if they're already building moon rockets, it means her theorem would have been revolutionary about a century ago.
 * Do Not Taunt Cthulhu: In "Luna vs Ponyville Part 6" Angel Bunny finds out the hard way that even Luna has her limits.
 * Double Entendre: Luna guiding Applebloom through the astronaut training simulator in "Ponies in Space 3", much to the amusement of Snips and Snails.
 * Dream Weaver: One of Luna's powers as the pony goddess of the night. Her power is absolute in the dreamworld, something found out the hard way.
 * Dull Surprise: Pinkie Pie's parents barely blink when a several ton rock smashes in to their house, accepting with equanimity the damage since it seems it's not the first time dragons had done it... then five seconds later:

"DEATH TO THE DRAGON FILTH!”"

"Sundance's eyes literally popped out of her head. Then popped back in. And then she rolled around on the ground in pain for a few minutes."
 * Erotic Eating: In "Luna vs. Ponyville, Part 2", Luna faints with embarrassment after reading a racy romance novel then watching Applejack eat an apple.
 * Even the Guys Want Him: According to the fanmade sidestory "Luna versus the Threesome", Big Macintosh. Even Hoyden has had fantasies about Big Mac.
 * The Exit Is That Way: In "Ponies in Space 3", Luna offers to show the Cutie Mark Crusaders the simulator room where they train astronauts, and the Crusaders eagerly rush through the nearest door... which turns out to be the janitor's closet.
 * Eye Scream: After a "cooking accident".
 * Sundance too:

""What!? No, why would she do that? She’s my sister. That’s gross. No, she told me to fetch five or six of her guards, and then she was going to get them to run a train on me! I don’t like trains, Hoyden! I always worry that the car I’m riding in is going to get separated from the others and jump the tracks and I’ll wind up in another country!"
 * The Family for the Whole Family: In the "Luna vs. Vigilantism" arc, Luna's career as a superhero becomes pretty boring because even Canterlot's mafia turns out to be pretty well-behaved..
 * Fish Out of Temporal Water: Luna.
 * Flat What: On several occasions. In the side story "Luna vs. Threesome", Hoyden goes the extra mile to say "What is this I don't even" to Luna's attempt to seduce him and Sundance.
 * Also in Luna vs Threesome:

Hoyden’s jaw worked, but between the arousal, the sudden panic, the confusion, more panic, and then even more confusion, his brain decided to just give up and go play reruns of Equestria’s Funniest Home Videos."

""Nooooo!" Rainbow Dash, the greatest flyer in Equestria, wrapped her hooves around Pinkie Pie and shook her. "Nooo! You can’t leave me alone! What about..." She sobbed dramatically but wiped her eyes, "what about our future?! Our dreams and hopes?! Our... Our child!"
 * Follow the Leader: This story started the recurring MLP meme that Luna has an abbacus, which has been mentioned in fanart and fanfiction countless times since.
 * Glasses Pull: Celestia at the end of "Luna vs. The Heat". Horatio Caine would be proud.
 * Green-Eyed Monster: A bit in Luna vs. Lodging 3 - reason was Celestia's close contact to Twilight Sparkle. They even crossed horns!
 * Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: An Imagine Spot had Rainbow Dash insisting that she is not gay, despite a few seconds before mentioning she and Pinkie were adopting a child together. It's as silly as it sounds.

"Wait, you have a child?" Twilight asked.

"We were going to adopt, you got a problem with that?!" Rainbow Dash snarled. Twilight raised her hooves.

"N-No! No! No problem!"

"We’re not gay if that’s what you’re thinking! I’M NOT GAY! I’LL DO EVERY COLT IN EQUESTRIA IF I HAVE TO PROVE IT!"

"Rainbow Dash, sugah, yer makin’ her die faster," Applejack pointed out."

"Both tyrannosaur and megaprimate were treated to the rare sight of a deity in wrath beating her head against the wall."
 * Head Desk: In "Luna vs. Ponyville, Part 7", Luna makes a Badass Boast to a T. rex and a giant ape... who, much to her frustration, completely fail to recognize her. Cue this trope.

"Sundance: Well, how were you supposed to know that Twilight Sparkle had such... Issues?"
 * Humongous Mecha: Luna built a giant robot alicorn dubbed "Mechapony 1" to push and pull rockets. Since she based it on a robot she built 1000 years ago for the purpose of killing Celestia, Mechapony 1 also comes equipped with eyebeams and thrusters (with missile launchers coming in the following week). When Twilight asks why a robot built for moving rockets needs so many weapons, everyone else asks "Why not?"
 * "Luna vs. Vigilantism" reveals that it promptly went berserk when they put Twilight Sparkle behind the controls (for whatever reason), and that's why Luna isn't in the space program anymore.
 * Imagine Spot: There is usually at least one a chapter, usually by Luna, wildly exaggerating the current issue.
 * Lampshaded in Vs Ponyville part 3 by Applejack and Big Mac.
 * I'm a Humanitarian: In the non-canon (Cupcakes parody)"Gelatin", the Jello is made from humans.
 * Jerkass: The two colts who try to hit on Luna.
 * Angel Bunny too.
 * Legacy of Service: Sundance.
 * Lethal Chef: Luna manages to light her kitchen on fire after trying to use the microwave. Subverted when she takes it as a learning experience, and is able to prepare a decent meal a few weeks later. Double subverted when
 * Long List: The baseball fan paraphernalia offered to Luna during "Luna vs. Baseball".
 * Mad Scientist: Luna becomes a good-natured one in the "PONIES! IN! SPAAAACE!" chapters.
 * Meaningful Name: "Luna vs. the Dreamlands, Part 2" suggests that, due to Luna's Dream Weaver powers, Nightmare Moon was more than a pun.
 * Never Live It Down: In-Universe: When Sundance goes to the bathroom, Hoyden tells her not to fall in. Her response? "That only happened once..."
 * Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: "Ninja Pony Spa Attendants! Coming to the CW this fall! Don't miss it!"
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: While viewing television in "Luna vs. Ponyville, Part 1", Luna is transfixed by a show with an older-looking colt who plays piano while singing, asking viewers if they want to be his neighbor.
 * Noodle Incident: According to "Luna vs. Vigilantism, Part 1", Luna was forced to resign from the space program when the Mechapony incident ended badly.
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: While viewing television in "Luna vs. Ponyville, Part 1", Luna is transfixed by a show with an older-looking colt who plays piano while singing, asking viewers if they want to be his neighbor.
 * Noodle Incident: According to "Luna vs. Vigilantism, Part 1", Luna was forced to resign from the space program when the Mechapony incident ended badly.

""Oh yes! Mmm... Sometimes I just see a colt and I think to myself, 'Oh, if only I was an immortal, beautiful, sexy goddess that all would love to mate until I couldn't stand up.' And then I think 'Oh wait! I totally am!' And then-!""
 * No Social Skills: Guess who?
 * Not So Above It All: In the side-story "Celestia vs. Time", Celestia admits to Luna that she once mistook a gas stove for a wood-burning stove, seriously freaking out Sundance's great-grandmother in the process. Celestia also admits to making the same mistake with a microwave oven.
 * She also mentions in "Luna vs. The Microwave" that she had a great deal of confusion over the first airplane, wondering why it's wings didn't move and it didn't have feathers.
 * Oblivious to Love: Luna doesn't realize that the two colts who asked to buy her a drink are actually flirting with her. She reacts... violently when they start making stronger advances on her.
 * Subverted with Big Mac as she seems to completely overblow their not-so-blind date, punctuated with a ridiculous Imagine Spot.
 * Oh Crap: Sundance and Hoyden freak out when Luna, on Sundance's advice, starts revealing the secret wishes they made on stars which, being the pony goddess of night, Luna can hear. Hoyden is especially frightened when Luna innocently reveals that he wants a threesome with her and Sundance.
 * Oh, Wait!: Celestia, in "Luna vs. The Facts of Life":

""Oh Macintosh," Sundance breathed, "I simply cannot contain my wild pony passion for you another second longer! Make love to me! Make me a mare!"
 * One of Us: The author says of Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome, "If you don't know what that is, go look it up on TV Tropes".
 * And in case you came to this entry to look it up: it's Sanity Slippage caused by a pony believing that they are failing to live up to the talent represented by their Cutie Mark.
 * There's a massive book in Celestia's Library titled "Trope's Library of Literary Tools." It's now into its hundredth edition, with over a score of volumes.
 * Only Sane Mare: Sundance finds herself feeling this way, between Hoyden's exuberance and Luna's ... reason for this fic being written.
 * Twilight joins in as the only other pony to question why something meant to act like the crawler-transporter for the Space Shuttle ended up with all the trappings of a Giant Robot, including lasers. Then Twilight was apparently set up to steer it ...
 * Pals with Jesus: Sundance, after Luna moves in with her.
 * Paper-Thin Disguise: Luna attends a baseball game with the Apple Family, wearing only large glasses and using magic to hide her wings and horn. Nobody can tell.
 * It's somewhat implied she didn't even hide her horn or wings seeing how she cast a spell later that day, oh and she mentions she used to be Nightmare Moon.
 * It was also noted that Applejack only saw her for a few minutes, while the rest of the Apples had never met her. When she tries using it on Sundance, who's around her on a regular basis, she sees right through it.
 * However, Pinkie Pie sees through it immediately, while only viewing her previously for the same amount of time Applejack did. (Then again, it is Pinkie Pie we're talking about here.)
 * Rainbow Dash doesn't recognize her with the glasses and without a horn.
 * Fluttershy also doesn't recognize her. However, her rabbit Angel does.
 * In Chapter 8, it seems as though Rarity can see through her disguise. In Chapter 9 though, it's revealed Rarity had no clue whatsoever until Luna hints at it. To her credit, she tries to maintain the illusion in front of Twilight but fails. At this point Luna pretty much just gives up.
 * Poor Communication Kills: "Luna vs. Communication".
 * Really Gets Around: In the (possibly) canon Luna vs Facts of Life, Celestia, evidently. She was so distraught when she originally banished Nightmare Moon that she sought comfort in physical pleasures; at this point it's too fun a habit to give up.
 * At one point she casually (probably canon) reveals that she's the mother of every other famous fictional horse in history. (Seriously; among the names she drops are Shadowfax and Epona.)
 * Recursive Fanfiction: Has inspired three fan-made side stories: Luna vs. Videogames, Luna vs. Threesome, and Celestia vs. Time.
 * Ring Ring CRUNCH: Luna is startled by Sundance's alarm clock and ends up blasting it through the walls.
 * Royals Who Actually Do Something: Blueblood's family founded and run a charity foundation, a wildlife preserve, a shelter for unemployed ponies, and a supermarket chain.
 * Then again, Blueblood himself was only in charge of each operation for a week.
 * Running Gag: Luna getting pegged by foul balls thanks to a faulty attractor spell in "Luna vs. Baseball".
 * As a result she's now afraid of baseball.
 * The Imagine Spot. Each more sillier than the last one.
 * Macintosh being a Sex God. Each more sillier than the last one.
 * From the sidestory "Luna Vs. Threesome:"

"Weeellll," Macintosh drawled, shifting the stalk of hay between his teeth from one side of his mouth to the other, "ah reckon that'd be alright." The draft pony rose onto his hind legs and, despite his hooves, deftly unzipped the tight blue jeans he was wearing for no discernible reason."

"Somewhere, a brown pony with an hourglass cutiemark sneezed. Finding the sensation enjoyable, he and his companion headed off to procure some pepper."
 * Hoyden reveals that everyone has fantasies about Big Macintosh, and that he lives up to his name, but "Don't ask him how he knows that."
 * Sanity Slippage: In "Luna vs. Communication", Sundance suffers Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome when she thinks she is failing to make Luna happy. This and a misplaced book on truth potions eventually leads to.
 * Security Blanket: The abacus again.
 * Shout-Out: A few...
 * The scene in "Luna vs Baseball" where Grey Marex steps up to bat features a subtle reference to "Casey at the Bat"
 * Also in that chapter, when Applejack doesn't recognize her until after her glasses are broken, she asks, "How could you be fooled by a pair of glasses?"
 * Also in that chapter, Luna's "TO THE MOON" imagine spot is likely one to a certain fan video
 * Luna's speech when getting a room with Sundance in "Luna vs. Lodging 1" is extremely reminiscent of when The 11th Doctor was getting a flat in "The Lodger."
 * The scene at the Baseball game where she attempts to give a badass boast in response to a simple statement of team pride is also based on that same episode.
 * One of the stallions Hoyden suggests as a possible boyfriend for Luna is named Thistle, is rather depressed, and lives in a tent made of sticks.
 * In "Luna vs Ponyville, Part 1: Television", where the first show that Luna watches on Pinkie's television is a pony version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and after changing the channel and trying to find it, she apparently stumbles across a horror movie known as Cupcakes.
 * In "Luna vs Ponyville, Part 2", Luna finds a copy of the pony equivalent of Twilight, which is apparently a good deal... racier.
 * Also, "AHA! Gentlecolts! You will always remember this as the day you almost caught Captain Sethisto-!"
 * Also Hoyden's cutie mark, which is a skull with a pair of crutches. His job is testing very dangerous safety equipment.
 * Angel has read Luna's book.
 * "Luna vs. Ponyville, Part 7" features Luna breaking up a fight between a giant ape and a T. Rex.
 * In the same chapter, Luna's Badass Boast to said giant ape and T. Rex is similar to one done by the Eleventh Doctor in his first episode.
 * The Rex monster is a nod to Rex from the original My Little Pony cartoon's second TV special.
 * Also in the same chapter, the Cutie Mark Crusaders crash to the rescue in a familiar pose.
 * At the end of "Luna versus The Heat", Celestia does the infamous Horatio Caine Glasses Pull.
 * In "Luna vs. Storytelling", the old movie Sundance is watching is a pony version of It Happened One Night. There are also references made to Fallout Equestria, Kamarena, and the Smooze.
 * "Luna vs Ponyville 9" gets a massive one for Warhammer 40000... by Pinkie Pie's parents, who bust out heavy weapons and shout about exterminating "xenos" in the name of God-Queen Celestia when they think their farm house is under attack by dragons. Apparently, it runs in the family.
 * In "Ponies in Space 2", we meet pony versions of Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. Also, Luna's description of the God-Alpha of the Diamond Dogs sounds a lot like Crunch the Rock Dog, and after Blueblood gets scared out of joining the program, Luna quotes Still Alive.
 * In "Ponies in Space 3", Cherilee's tour group gets caught in "Situation 18", a training scenario that involves the possibility of hostile, crab-like aliens on the moon.
 * In addition, Luna mentions her plan for a fusion-driven starship to deal with killer space monkeys and killer space tigers, the latter of which they'd teach a lesson with their fusion drives...
 * "Luna vs. The Dreamlands 2" has a lot of shoutouts to Inception, primarily in the accelerated time the deeper you go into the Dreamlands and the abrupt transitions between dreams.
 * In "Ponies in Space 4", Sundance brings up the possibility of teleporting rockets around the launch pad, and Luna replies that they're not going to try that "after what happened with the cat." Also, Rarity thinks painting Luna's design for a giant robot red will make it go faster.
 * "Luna vs. Vigilantism" opens with Luna reading a Batpony comic (which appears to be inspired by The Killing Joke). Later Luna (as Mare-Do-Well) performs a dead ringer for the entrance of Darkwing Duck.
 * "Well then! Someday, the citizens of this city will not have their toys delivered with their meals, and will instead look up to me with a cry of 'Help us!' and I shall reply, 'No! Petition the manager instead!'"
 * And prior to that, when pondering things for Luna to do? Sundance suggests charity boxing. Maybe she's read (or, likely, hadn't read) 'Of Packages and Punches''.
 * Even the Recursive Fanfiction does this!
 * All of the guards Celestia tries to hook up with Luna in "Luna vs. Threesomes" are named after male porn stars.
 * In the side story Celestia vs. Time, reference is made to Trope's Library of Literary Tools, and two guards discuss the likelihood of an alternate universe where everypony has their gender swapped male for female and visa-versa.
 * Shown Their Work: The author admits to referencing a real mathematical theorem, the Lindemann–Weierstrass theorem, in "Ponies in Space". "Yes, I am a colossal nerd. But given I'm writing MLP fanfiction, that's kind of a given."
 * Sister Bear: Celestia over Luna,
 * Sneeze Cut: In Luna Vs Lodging, Part 3, Luna thinks to herself how she's too old for Big Macintosh; too old for anypony, when she thinks about it. After all, who else is more than 1000 years old, besides her sister?

"Luna: Who made this? What kind of sick, twisted monster would do such a thing?! It's not even a good plot! A pink pony invites her friend over for a party... Just so she can gut her, dismember her and turn her into cupcakes? That's ridiculous!"
 * Also happens to Pinkie Pie in "Ponies in Space".
 * Spit Take: Hoyden, when Luna calls their dinner a threesome (in "vs the Threesome").
 * Strange Minds Think Alike: Sundance has a worrisome Imagine Spot where Luna has her thrown into a dungeon, then banished, and finally sent to a dungeon in the place she was banished to, the same fate Twilight Sparkle thought would happen to Fluttershy in A Bird In The Hoof.
 * Suicide as Comedy: Luna's Imagine Spot of Fluttershy's possible reaction to her true identity.
 * Sure, Let's Go with That: In "Luna vs. Threesome", Celestia decides to let Luna believe she was just joking about letting her have an orgy with some of the guards... then tells said guards that Luna isn't interested.
 * In "Luna vs. Vigilantism 3", the Great and Powerful Trixie has this reaction to Sundance assuming she's in on Hoyden and Luna's plan to stage a superhero/supervillain battle at the Canterlot Library.
 * Suspiciously Specific Denial: When Pinkie asks Luna in "Luna vs. Ponyville, Part 3" if she's still hung up over becoming Nightmare Moon, Luna insists she isn't, saying "I'm not thinking about it or worried over it and she doesn't appear in my dreams!"
 * Luna and Fluttershy's attempts to keep Luna's identity a secret at the start of Luna vs. Ponyville Part 7. "This is not at all an elaborate deception to conceal anything."
 * Luna returns to form in Luna vs. Ponyville part 9: "Y-Yes! A perfectly normal librarian who is not in any way, shape or form Princess Luna so nopony needs to feel embarrassed for any behavior they may have committed!"
 * Heck, Luna usually does this at least once a chapter.
 * Take That: Towards Cupcakes in Luna vs Ponyville, Part 1: Television.

""You want to slay a goddess, your Majesty-Nothing short of the Elements can do that," the technician said gravely.
 * Technology Marches On: The whole point of the first story. Also mentioned by Celestia in that same story when it came to the first planes.
 * Tempting Fate: At the end of part 1 of "Luna vs. Lodging", Sundance lets Luna move in with her, thinking to herself "What was the worst that could happen?" In part 2,  In "Luna vs. Communication",
 * In the non-canon side story "Luna vs. Videogames",
 * Luna catches herself doing this in "Ponies in Space". When Sundance tries it, thinking Luna is being silly, they're nearly hit by an out-of-control booster rocket.
 * Hoyden does it in Luna vs Vigilantism 2. Sundance promptly reprimands him.
 * Back in 'Ponies In Space part 4', this conversation:

"Ah well... I suppose I'll just have to steal them from her," Nightmare Moon said with a shrug. "What's she going to do? Use them against me?""


 * This is EQUESTRIA: "YOU. BROKE. MY. GLASSES!"
 * Too Much Information: In "Luna vs. Lodging, Part 3", Sundance learns Luna used to listen in on wishes made on shooting stars, and suggests using that for conversation starters. Luna gets more than a little carried away...
 * Luna also discovers a few things about Celestia's social life in 'Luna Vs the Facts of Life', all but asking for Brain Bleach.
 * Trademark Favorite Food: Hoyden is quite often seen eating spicy oats.
 * Tranquil Fury: Luna when dealing with Prince Blueblood after he makes inappropriate and unwelcome advances at Sundance. She remains perfectly calm...while allowing him to undergo a potentially lethal training exercise. Sundance wisely resolves to never make Luna mad.
 * Luna is pretty calm throughout 'Vs Dreamlands 2', as she
 * Upperclass Twit: Prince Blueblood shows up in "Ponies in Space 2", volunteering for the space program on the grounds that he's "dashing" enough for the job.
 * When he lists off the other positions he's held, making a big deal out of them, Luna notes that he's never held any of them more than a week.
 * Versus Title: The chapter titles.
 * Very Loosely Based on a True Story/Lighter and Softer: Apparently, the '80s My Little Pony movie covers historical events, but was "the storybook version" of the much darker true tale.
 * Villainous Breakdown: In "Luna versus the Dreamlands" Part 2,
 * Villains Want Mercy: Discord is reduced to frantically pleading for mercy in the space of a few seconds, even though he openly said he was irredeemable early in the chapter. Given what happens to him, though, you probably can't blame him.
 * Voice of the Legion: Luna in "Luna versus Lodging Part 2" when she nuked the bar.
 * What Are Records: In the first chapter, Luna's maid Sundance doesn't know what an abacus is.
 * Why Did It Have To Be Baseballs.
 * Studyaholic: Luna spends most of her time back catching up on the modern world, enough that Celestia almost has to force her to get outside.
 * She's also a Workaholic as well as she spends the rest of her time helping her fellow ponies.
 * You Need to Get Laid: Celestia's reaction to learning that Luna was considering "Abacus" as a potential name for a foal in the side story "Luna vs. the Threesome".
 * Your Mom: Sundance responds to Prince Blueblood's attempts to hit on her in faux-French by firing off genuine French at him. Naturally, this allows her to insult him without him being the wiser. This culminates in "Ta mere suce des ours dans la foret." ("Your mother sucks bears in the forest.")