Part 1
—Leonardo da Whinny: play on Leonardo da Vinci
—Baroque was a style of art and music popular in 17th and 18th century Europe, characterized by ornate detail.
—Baroque Brush's eyes and coat (purple and yellow), and the colors of his mane and tail (red and green) are complementary colors, opposite each other on the color wheel, which cancel each other out.

Part 2
—Vitruvian Pony: play on The Vitruvian Man.
—The Mare Lisa is, of course, a reference to the Mona Lisa.

Part 3
—"tenderhoof": play on the phrase "tenderfoot," a term for a beginner.
—Charlie August Silvertongue is based off of one-time Sherlock Holmes nemesis, blackmailer Charles August Milverton.
—The group's plan to distract Silvertongue by offering him an item for sale while Daring and Phil break into his mansion is based off of The Adventure of the Illustrious Client.
—Japonese: from Japony, play on Japan.
—Cowsaka: play on the Japanese city of Osaka.

Part 4
—Murphy's Law is a phrase that says, "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."
—Saddlebred Dali: reference to impressionist painter Salvador Dali. The painting mentioned is Dali's most famous work, The Persistence of Memory.

Part 5
—The chapter title, "The Great Escape," is a nod to the 1963 film of the same name.
—Both pairs share a tender moment.
—The idea of a hidden message being placed on the back of the painting is a nod to National Treasure, which this story is partially based off of.
—Phillip is beginning to realize that his feelings for Daring are a bit stronger than he first thought, but can't quite put those feelings into words.

Part 6
—Flash is a bit paranoid when Twilight's safety is involved.
—None can resist the Twilight pout.
—Llamazon: play on the Amazon rain forest.
—Cowhili: play on Swahili.
—The reason that Daring left was because she was frustrated by the emotional distance that Phillip put between them--she, too, had feelings for him that neither of them realized.
—I came up with the gag of Pinkie literally drinking water from a glass upside-down a while ago, and was looking for a chance to use it.

Part 7
—The chapter title "Into the Woods" is a nod to the musical of the same name.
—Daring doesn't appreciate having to work with a "kid" like Flash. Flash does not like being patronized.
—"You see but you don't observe": quoting Sherlock Holmes in A Scandal In Bohemia.

Part 8
—Applejack's challenge is loosely inspired by the tale of George Washington and the cherry tree.
—"I don't think I'm in Ponyville anymore.": reference to The Wizard of Oz: "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
—Pinkie sings her signature Smile Song.
—"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" : reference to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Daring's fear of snakes (ophiophobia, in case you were wondering) is a nod to her character model, Indiana Jones.
—"I am brave! I am adventure! I am Daring Do!": parody of the iconic line "I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!" from Batman: The Animated Series episode Nothing to Fear.
—The Trial of Focus refers back to Phillip's origin story (The Pony in the Gray Trilby), Doctor Nevermore (The Face in the Darkness), and Zugzwang (Checkmate): all of which cause extreme emotional reactions in Phillip that make it harder for him to concentrate.
—Originally, Phillip was supposed to take the Trial of Endurance, but I decided to give that to Flash.
—Originally, Twilight's trial was supposed to be Wisdom, and she was supposed to solve a series of sophisms and paradoxes to prove her wisdom, but I decided that making it a trial of magic/friendship would make more sense.

Part 9
—"Like Sombra's door in the Crystal Empire": reference to The Crystal Empire Part 2
—Flash and Twilight's first kiss!
—Clover the Clever: reference to Hearth's Warming Eve.
—The painting that Fluttershy is examining depicts Fausticorn, Lauren Faust's alicorn OC, in a parody of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus.
—Equegyptian: play on Egyptian. The statue that Pinkie is examining is a ponyfied version of the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld, Osiris. This scene parodies National Treasure.
—Daring's archenemy, Ahuizotl makes an appearance--and is quickly shown up.
—"I will get you eventually, Daring Do, and your little friends too!": reference to The Wizard of Oz: "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!"

Author's Notes:

Chapter notes from the story.