The ending of The Trials of Unity is a CMOA for both Do sisters. Upon finally reconciling with each other after years of bitter rivalry, Daring and Derring both tackle the final and most intimidating challenge of Unity together, in complete synchronicity. They complete it and retrieve the treasure almost effortlessly.
Much of the action in The Staff of Star Swirl the Bearded. Up until this book, we'd only heard stories of Bravado's accomplishments from the stallion himself. In this story, he and Daring both have some impressive moments, including engaging in a mid-air fight on the roof of the Explorer.
The climactic scene is pretty intense. Ahuizotl has the Staff, and Daring and Bravado are at his mercy. He moves to blast them out of existence, but instead meets defeat at the hooves of the pony no-one saw coming: Star Swirl the Bearded himself! The wizard explains how he long ago anticipated that others would eventually look for a way to gain his power, and so with the last of his strength, he sealed a portion of his mind within the jewel atop the Staff, so that he could judge for himself if the finder was worthy to inherit his power. Needless to say, considering who managed to summon him, a pretty epic Curb-Stomp Battle ensued.
And of course later Daring saves the day and averts eternal night with her hat.
Despite the fact that he is the most manipulative character in the series, the way Mareton finishes off Nagridge in Temple of Nightmare Moon shows that Evil is Mega Cool.
Mareton: (to Nagridge) You look down on earth ponies so long, but now you get to look at it from the perspective, looking up at your superior.
How Herpy gets through the Death Course in Ring of the Marengeti. He simply examines the hall for a few minutes, then simply WALKS through it, perfectly timed so that the dart guns, spinning blades, Spikes of Doom AND Smashing Hallway Traps of Doom all either go off too early or too late to hit him.
In Griffon's Goblet, after the whole book of Ambassador Hawkwings being a useless, obnoxious ass while hiding behind his position, Storm Talon smacks him in the face and gives him an epic "The Reason You Suck" Speech. Telling him he's an ungracious coward hiding behind empty threats of blacklisting against Platinius and political fallout against the Equestrians to avoid giving credit where it's due, and how ponies like the Dos and those killed in the war did more for the Griffon people than his useless rump ever would. Then he punctuates it by threatening to pluck him bare and use his feathers for a pillow if he ever hears him badmouthing them again. All with his his signature talkingstyle.
Apparently it stuck, because when Mareton nearly chokes him to death for being a fat, lazy, incompetent, racist jackass, the first thing he does after Platinius saves him was to give him a pay raise.
Miss Starlight has her moment in Cove Of Candles when she picks up a rapier and swashbuckles mooks like a pro. Up until this point, Starlight was a useless Distressed Damsel being kidnapped again. Her line after one mook manages to take a swipe of her hair is the icing on the cake.
Starlight: Oh IT...IS...ON!
In Alicorn's Shadow a giant minotaur statue comes to life and charges the heroes. Unfortunately for it, one of those heroes is Equastian Protection Brigade Commander Stalwart Shield, who meets it head on and manages to send it flying back!!
Whenever anypony manages to take Ahuizotl down a peg in his Let's Get Dangerous mode. Darrin plowing through his minions and bucking him, or Commandant Rex taking him by the neck.
Laurentia of the Red Mane taking on a mob of Diamond Dogs endowed with super magic powers in Temple of Nightmare Moon.
Four words. Then where is Herpy? And, of course, the ensuing ass-kicking.
Outback Jack's Establishing Character Moment in The Wooden Mask, when Desert Rose calls her out on her seeming cruelty to animals - specifically, her hat decorated with crocodile teeth. "I don't know, there's just something about bucking the teeth out of a crocodile that brightens up my whole day."
On the same note, Desert Rose deserves a mention for said calling out, and not backing down after the above line. She doesn't resort to the Eyes of Fatima, but she sure doesn't let Jack's behaviour slide.
The Coronet of Chaos may be one of the more contested Expanded Universe works, but Stan's Big Damn Heroes moment near the end deserves mention. Followed immediately by a Crowning Moment of Funnywhen he tosses a muffin at Daring's head after the ritual is completed, as revenge for Daring eating his muffin at the very beginning of the book.
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