Fanfiction Review: A Drop of Moonshine · 10:10pm Feb 20th, 2013
Last week, we looked at Past Sins, one of the most famous fanfics in FiM's massive fandom. Today, I'm looking at another one of Pen Stroke's works; in fact, this was the story that directly followed Past Sins in publication. Will it be better? Worse? Somewhere in the middle? We'll find out when we finish looking at A Drop of Moonshine.
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SYNOPSIS:
After Celestia has a rather stressful day running the country, Luna tries to help by searching for her hidden liquor bottle. To her dismay, however, alcohol was actually banned in Equestria shortly after Luna's banishment, on account of Celestia's rampant alcoholism after such a traumatic event. But Luna can synthesize alcohol through moonlight, and surely a single drink can't hurt...
REVIEW:
I'm going to get this right out of the way: A Drop of Moonshine is my absolute favorite Pen Stroke fic. It's crazy, funny, a little sad at parts, and just a lot of fun to read through.
The central premise of the story is that Celestia was so distraught over banishing her sister that she turned to drink, becoming a rampaging, out-of-control alcoholic who ruined lives and screwed up formal events in her stupor. Her advisers then banned alcohol entirely, since as long as a single drop existed, Celestia would find it. So we have Celestia as a recovering drug addict, more or less, who gets tempted by her unwitting sister into trying that old habit of hers. Way to go, Luna.
The rest of the story is about the two drunk princesses acting like idiots, going to Ponyville, and sucking up Twilight into their escapades. And in one of the other nice touches, alcohol has been outlawed for so long that Twilight has no idea what's gotten into the princesses, what alcohol even is, and how to deal with two drunk demigods. As the story continues, it becomes about Twilight trying to restrain a totally sloshed Celestia as she attempts to eat all of Applejack's apples and chew on...well, you have to read the rest to get that.
There are really only two real weaknesses I can find with the story. The first is that Luna more or less vanishes from the picture halfway through, returns again briefly towards the end, and is passed out entirely during the last scene. While the Celestia/Twilight stuff was strong, it would have been nice to see more of drunk Luna in the process. (This might be explained by it being a pre-Luna Eclipsed story, and thus before Luna had much of an established character.) And second, the story just...stops. The ending scene is funny as all get out, but the narrative just feels like it comes to a screeching halt.
There was a sequel, A Mug of Hard Cider, but I'll probably review that one by itself down the line.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
If you like stories about Celestia and Luna getting drunk, then this is a good one to look at. It's nothing deftly serious or moving, but it's still just a lot of good fun. It's still my favorite work by Pen Stroke, and it's kind of sad that it's doomed to be forgotten in the shadow of Past Sins.
Blogger: http://blogofpony.blogspot.com/2013/02/fanfiction-review-drop-of-moonshine.html
YAY a fic by penstroke that actually good!
850170 THEN WHO WAS PHONE?!?!?!?!
This is what I was talking about in your last review. Pen Stroke is kinda like the Joss Whedon of fanfic writers. When he hits, he hits HARD. When he misses, he not only misses the shot, but he also accidentally sends his bullet ricocheting into a petroleum truck and leveling a city block.
This was one of his hits, and it's still one of my favorite fics ever, even after so long since its publication.
Past Sins... I liked when it was first coming out, despite its problems. Now, after so many rewrites, it just feels bland as all getout.
One of the classics.
there really needs to be more Drunk Princesses fics
Ooh, I love this story! I remember the sequel being pretty good too, but it's been a while since I read it. If I didn't already have so much stuff to read, I'd just go through both of them again. Oh well.
And now we know why alcohol was outlawed.
Unanimously.
Even though there was an explanation, it was probably also because they could troll Celestia (if only to give the alcoholics a reason).
850244 Agreed.
Yes, this one was undoubtedly very good, I would even agree with you in saying that it is probably better than Past Sins.
My only regret is the alcohol STAYED outlawed. This story was hilarious.
850244 Well, there's "A Finer Vintage."
851885
oh man Lunestia is like, my second favorite ship. I think I've read all of them I can find on this site, and some not on the site as well.
There was a sequel?
Iiiinteresting....
One you may want to take a look at sometime is Celestial Mechanics In Midsummer.