1) Uh… Am I supposed to?

2) If all I did was eat, sleep, and pee I wouldn’t have been a very useful commodity, now would I?

3) Despite having the power to defeat Twilight and all her friends all at once, Nightmare Moon opted to go the indirect, subtle route and use traps and tricks. In doing so she inadvertently granted Twilight the means to win by giving her the chance to realize what the sixth element was and the opportunity to reach the Elements of Harmony.

Let’s not waste any time on how badly Chrysalis kicked the proverbial dog into the reinforcement warehouse.

4) It’s in the queue. I’m elsewhere at the moment.

5) No comment at this time.

6) Seduction is just one of the many forms of deception. But not one I’m very good at.

7) An interesting proposal, but ultimately one I will not be considering. You make a decent argument, but I just have no intention of changing my tumblr address.

1) Shapeshifters aren’t a race; they’re a loose collection of unclassifiable ani-… Can’t even call them animals because some share characteristics closer to other kingdoms or even domains.

It’s not about a species, it’s about power. Shapeshifters don’t have to work for their power; they’re born with it. It’s easy to them. Even Twilight Sparkle or Rainbow Dash had to train for years to reach where they are now, and they’re far from peaked. Shapeshifters just can. Little to learn; requires no more training than walking. There’s nothing to harness, no muscle to build, and once they’ve got it, that’s it. Nothing more to learn, nothing to train, no reason to even practice.

And with this easily gained, already questionable ability… When you have to work for power, there’s at least a chance you might recognize what it was like before hoof and use it responsibly. Shapeshifters have no reason to care. Shifting isn’t even second nature to them. It is their nature. It’s too much power given too fast and too freely.

2) Of course not! What a silly thing to ask!

3) He didn’t shapeshift; he transformed with his reality altering “magic.” Magic in quotations because it isn’t technically magic, the same way five out of the six Elements of Harmony aren’t technically magic.

Shapeshifters are so called because they shift their genetic makeup to an approximation. They don’t literally become what they shift to; if they did they couldn’t turn back. Transforming is literally becoming something else. Unless you’re using time-limited magic or in possession of nigh-unlimited power, it’s permanent. Of course, these are just technical terms.

I don’t even know if Draconequus as a species had as much of, or any of the powers Discord has. They aren’t around anymore, if there ever even was more than one. Lots of rumors surround that.

4) Quick! Everypony become paranoid for the rest of eternity!

Is it any wonder why the public didn’t know about Changlings?

5) Sounds like you’re more of a fan of me than the music.

Don’t have many free days anymore. More of free evenings. Of which I am free this evening.

I don’t think so.

If I somehow embodied such a concept, to remain in harmony I’d have to use it appropriately, right?

It’s a differing tactic, and yes, it conflicts at it’s core. But only if used incorrectly. The same can be said with honesty. Even Applejack has secrets.

Considering everything I’ve done in my life, the element of deception would probably work best.

And that’s not some self-loathing garbage either. We all have to lie a little, to ourselves and others, to spare their feelings, or get through the day.

It’ll never be a popular opinion, because it’s so easy to take things too far. But deception is just as important to harmony as honesty.

All things in balance.