Keep Gaming, Baby! (or perhaps [redacted] since I don’t really like calling grown mares baby) Krastos “Gluemaker” Bear?

1) This is why you really need to explain exactly what you mean in the ask you send. I do these in the order I get them and there are nineteen waiting after this set of eight.

2) I’ll keep your concerns in mind.

3) REGURGITATION, ASSOCIATION, OR MISDIRECTION OF PONYNET REFERENCE GOES HERE.

4) While she does have that power, Princess Celestia is wise enough to not wantonly indulge everypony’s fancy. She only acts directly upon matters of grave importance and otherwise lets us govern ourselves. On the other hoof, the average pony just doesn’t care and the upper-crust actively oppose anything that doesn’t benefit themselves.

5) Fool me, fool me.

6) Familiar with the name. Never read it.

7) The old mare’s tale? It was an all-consuming creature of toxic corruption. Even if it is real, why would you take the risk worshiping it?

8) “Gluemaker” Bear! Of course! I knew there had to be a way to fit him in there! I got hung up on his last name, Arctos.

Delightful, considering I used to be forced into theft.

Dragons stay at bay because of our magically capable numbers, but back before the formation of Equestria even pegasus and earth ponies were capable of deterring dragons.

And the only strength leaders possess is what their followers give them. Griffon history is the perfect example of what happens when leaders take advantage of their subjects. Riddled with assassinations, rebellions, and governments overthrown overnight. Why? Because their leaders don’t respect the power their followers possess, which is far greater than their own. And those followers remove them.

Even Princess Celestia only rules over us because we allow her to do so. Even with her being immortal to anything we’re capable of, she and Princess Luna could still be removed from power. Our numbers and individual strength are far too great to defend against.

Leadership is only a byproduct of society, and society is formed around ponies working together to specialize in their craft, field, or talent. Unity is our strength.

1) B: Slim, though the possibility does exist. As early as in a year or so, in fact. Somewhat recently a chief justice was married and subsequently asked why she took her husband’s last name. Her reply was very interesting, to the many present who were not aware. As a filly she was emancipated from her abusive parents and she choose to drop her last name to distance herself from them. Under current law, she had no alternative but to take her husband’s last name in order to marry. And to quote her, “Were my husband and I to have both retracted our surnames, marriage between us would have become a legal impossibility.” If you watch and listen to the video of the interview, you can easily hear somepony in the background quietly remark, “Well, that’s stupid.”

B: Every fire starts with a spark.

B: However, none of this is information Lyra doesn’t possess herself. But for her to accept this knowledge and willingly relay it to others would be accepting the possible repercussions it may one day carry. Our Lyra has never faired very well with the concept of hope. I assume I need not explain why.

2) B: Let’s see now… I believe it was: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and then Lyra would likely not finish the quote and offer some wholly unnecessary remark about sexism.

B: Ordinarily if an intelligent being comes to Equestria seeking citizenship, they’d go through immigration. Pretty simple process. Barred from holding any government sanctioned position for a year, and within that year they must prove they’ve integrated into Equestrian society and are able to pay the tax. After that they’re an Equestrian citizen, free to bask in all the rights and protections that offers until such time that they are either unable to continue or prove themselves unfit as a citizen.

B: However, due to the changlings’ unique talent, things become much more complicated. Being unable to tell who may or may not have been involved in an attack against our nation, all changlings would have to be considered ex-criminals. They would be assigned a probation officer and a rehabilitation/reintegration councilor. The process of rehabilitation and reeducation would last as long as necessary- possibly a year, possibly more. After proving they’re able to behave within Equestrian borders, the process to become a citizen could begin.

B: Of course, you don’t have to live in Equestria as a citizen. There’s nothing illegal about being unregistered and without a temporary visa. However, you’re prohibited from engaging in any government related activities, like voting or receiving a permit, and are not protected under Equestrian law. If you’re not a citizen and you get mugged in broad daylight with a hundred witnesses, you do not possess the right to press charges. Somepony else would have to do it for you.

1) The only time you have to use your legal name is in legal capacities. You’re free to tell any random passerby on the street that your name is whatever you want to go by.

Unless they can prove that they’re a member of the guard and are asking for your name on official business, which still falls under legal capacities.

2) Can’t go wrong joining the Illuminati. Just be careful; I’ve heard it’s like Hotel Coltifornia. You can checkout anytime you like, but you can never leave.

3) Like someone lifting you up only to slap you back down.

4) Wouldn’t matter if he did or not… Equestrian society requires that in any marriage involving a pony, both participants must take the surname of the pony. It was put into place when interspecies marriage was legalized in an effort to ensure proper Equestrian societarian integration.

…

It’s… It’s fine, though. Was never all that interested in getting married anyway… I mean, it’s just a formality, right?

…

…

His last name is Arctos.

…

…

Maybe, maybe not.

Seems to me your society has a lot more freedoms than ours. Plus, our taxes are pretty steep and all but necessitate having a job.

See, Equestria isn’t taxed on income like your society. We’re taxed on possession. The more you own, it’s assumed the more you make, and thus the more you owe. If you’re out of work, this will quickly eat away at everything you have left.

Both of our worlds still have intolerance toward race. Only ours also has intolerance towards other sapient species. These aren’t just people that look different or come from different backgrounds, they fundamentally are different. Paws instead of hooves, beaks instead of muzzles.

Both of our worlds have a problem with underage relationships, only ours in spades. Ponies don’t like to talk about it, but there are far too many that think it’s okay for a child and an adult, or two children to be in a romantic relationship. Some even go so far as to think it’s “cute.”

Even a Utopia has it’s share of problems. And all of that is ignoring the situation between us and the griffons.

If I remember right, and I probably don’t because I’m horrible at history, after Princess Celestia banished Princess Luna to the moon she wasn’t the only pony upset. The law was put into place to try and lift spirits. There isn’t really a penalty for ignoring it, but there’s a huge tax break for those that abide by it.

It’s based upon a number of puns per year, but a certain number of those puns have to be different and spaced out over a certain number of days. You can’t just say the same thing over and over again on the last day (that day always being your birthday).

It’s not really enforced, it’s just sort of tradition at this point. Even if somepony accuses somepony else of ignoring the law, there has to be pretty sizable evidence to prove it.

That or the defendant has to be stupid enough to plead guilty.