1) Look again. Your question is now diamonds.

2) What a slippery slope we descend…

Pegasus have to train to fly. Unicorns have to train to cast. For the most part we use it responsibly. Or even in the darkest of views, we use it to alter our environment, but our environment alone.

Shapeshifting at its core is about deception. Ideally it would only be used to defend oneself from attack. And if that’s all it was being used for, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But that’s not what shapeshifters do. Nearly all shapeshifting creatures are predictors that use their power to manipulate their pray in order to destroy them from the inside out. There may be upstanding individual shapeshifters, but no species of shapeshifter has a positive reputation.

You want to call me a bigot, fine, but history doesn’t lie. At best, as individual species, they’re mischievous, manipulative opportunists. At worst, they attack a nation unprovoked and attempt genocide.

3) Well, you can’t do that on somepony else’s property, that’s trespassing.

I think the reason you don’t see ponies do that is mostly a modesty thing. If somepony cut the grass, dried it and served it I’m sure no pony would be able to tell the difference, other than size. So, no. No fine if it’s your own property. Might be negatively viewed from a social standpoint. Unless I’ve missed my mark, be about like a human grabbing a walnut off the ground, smashing it open and eating it.

4) Sort of got to this late. Sorry about that. How about tomorrow?

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.